morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-30
From: Campsite just N of Suitor Rd, VA-615 AT mi 584.8

To: Lickskillet Hollow, VA-608, AT mi 604.8
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 119, Day 41, the end of Section 7, 6/30, Sun.From: Campsite just N of Suitor Rd, VA-615 AT mi 584.8To: Lickskillet Hollow, VA-608, AT mi 604.8Statistics:AT 20.0 mi, +3839, -4111, 7.5%Commentary:Good, fast hiking all day on good trail. Hot and humid but windy. Stepped on a large black rat snake (tree in face and logs across trail obscured view); snake appeared unharmed. Stopped at Jenny Knob shelter for water and to wait before Asta¢s arrival. Again thunder but no rain. At 1800, made it to VA-608, where I ended Section 1 in October . Asta arrived 1850. Worked on windshield gasket for a bit before heading home. Home ~0100.Observations on south 600 miles:1. Tent would have worked as well as hammock. Good tent spots everywhere in south 600 mi.2. My pack is shot; padding is shot; it chafes and is uncomfortable even with lighter loads.3. Smokies were too crowded.4. Grayson Highlands were a bit disappointing.5. My favorite area was the hike over Little and Big Hump mountains; great views on these balds without the crowds.6. I¢m glad this section ended when it did; water sources were almost dry towards the end.
Date: 2018-01-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

¢Why would you do that?!?¢As have many wannabe thru hikers before me, I¢ve spent hour upon hour watching videos, reading trailjournals, perusing blogs and vicariously living the hiker life through the stories of those who havesuccessfully overcome the Appalachian Trail¢s many challenges. I¢ve purchased gear. I¢ve done testhikes. I¢ve enlisted a trainer to help improve my fitness. I¢ve convinced my wife that yes, I¢m seriousabout this. (That alone took months!) I¢ve walked. And walked. And walked.In short, I drank the Kool-Aid¢¦ and asked for refills.So it was with no small amount of puffed up pride that I just ¢happened¢ to mention to one of theinterpreters who was working with my church group on a mission trip to Brazil last summer that I plan to hikethe Appalachian Trail this year. Since the Trail is understandably even less well known in Brazil than inthe US, this gave me the opportunity to describe the Trail in all its glory ¢ its starting and ending points,the terrain, the challenges and finally, the total length, approximately 3,500 kilometers. ¢And you planto walk all that distance and live in a tent for six months?¢ Why, yes, of course! ¢Why in the worldwould you!¢Hmm. This might require a bit more explanation¢¦
Date: 2018-01-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

How am I preparing? Physically I began working out with an athletic trainer (Hi, Adriane!) about 20 months ago in order to prepare physically for the trip. Since then, I¢ve lost about 35 pounds and converted several more pounds from fat to muscle under Adriane¢s persistent guidance and encouragement. Although she tried, Adriane hasn¢t yet managed to get me to improve my diet. I don¢t want to start liking food that is good for me just as I¢m about to be able to eat any junk food I want and still lose weight! Adriane doesn¢t seem to buy that philosophy, so I resort to my go-to explanation¢¦ ¢All guys are idiots.¢ THAT she can agree with! Endurance In addition to trying to get stronger, I¢ve spent a LOT of time walking. It¢s tough to find a hill around here that compares to the grade of the Trail, but I¢ve tried. Some of the uphills I have walked backwards in order to concentrate on my quads. I¢ve also walked portions of the Palmetto Trail, the Appalachian Trail, Table Rock State Park and a couple of other mountains here and there. None of this has fully prepared me for the daily pounding of the trail, but I tried. Mentally I have to tell you, this is the aspect that worries me most - am I tough enough mentally? That¢s also the aspect that I¢ve been least able to prepare or train for. I did spend four days on the beginning portion of the trail last April and I never woke up wishing that I wasn¢t on the trail despite encountering two all-night ferocious thunderstorms and wondering why in the world the trail designers decided that we have to hike over the top of every hill that on the map. (It seems to me that it would be much more efficient to go along the sides of the hills!) I did enjoy my time - however short - on the trail. We¢re just going to have to see how the mental part goes. My minimum goal is not to quit the trail on or after a bad day. I only get to quit on a really good day. Maybe that will help. Equipment I still don¢t have my gear perfected. I think I do have the right sleep system (sleeping pad, bag and liner) and the right backpack. I¢ve also gathered most of the smaller items such as a water filtering system, cooking pot and stove, etc. I¢m considering whether the tent I have is the one I need. While it is certainly comfortable and held up well on my four-day Trail ¢adventure¢ last April, I¢m not sure I want to work that hard to assemble my nightly abode. Maybe I¢m just too much of a klutz, but I think I want something simpler. I¢m sure there is still much to learn in all four of these arenas, but I¢m getting closer to being satisfied. We¢ll see how I feel on March 14, the night before the Trail.
Date: 2018-03-16
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Campground
Miles today: 7.4

After a great breakfast, Ann and I left our lodgings and traveled just a few miles to Amicalola State Park to sign me in as Thru-hiker Number 1093.  Then off to find the parking lot at Springer Mountain!Some 35 miles and 60+ minutes later, we parked just north of the summit of Springer.  Since I skipped the Approach Trail (it¢s not officially part of the AT), I hiked southward and upward for about a mile to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.  After a few pictures, the hike began for real.  A mile back to the parking lot to say some last goodbyes to Ann and then off.While Ann was waiting for my return, she had talked with another thru-hiker of approximately the same vintage as myself.  Richard and I met up for a time at Stover Creek.  He¢s an interesting guy who has hiked 890 miles along the coastline of Wales.  Sharing Welsh family roots, we had an enjoyable trail conversation until our different hiking speeds led us to part.  I did see him later at the campground where we shared a celebratory toast to new friendships.All in all,the first day went as planned, arriving at Hawk at about 4:00 to snag one of the first campsites.
Date: 2018-03-17
From: Hawk Mountain Campground

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Finally got out of camp at about 9:30 when there was a short break between rain showers. I decided that breakfast (biscuits and gravy, but not Mama¢s home cooking by any means) would wait until I made it the short distance to Hawk Mountain Shelter, where there was ... shelter.... for cooking and a water source to replenish my supply. I forced down some food (no Hiker Hunger here yet), repacked my belongings and headed out.As is common, everything was uphill leaving the shelter. Up over a smallish mountain, down to Horse Gap and up over Sassafrass Mountain, which is newbie-hiker TOUGH! That took a lot out of me and caused me to once again (I hiked this stretch last year) to question the intelligence and paternity of the trail designers. Sassafrass is basically straight up and straight down. Obviously ¢Sassa¢ means ¢Kicks your¢ in some Indian tongue. It sure kicked my ¢frass¢.Justus Mountain followed immediately, but rather than going over the top, the trail goes around, and although muddy, the trail was much easier. I finally stumbled into Gooch at about 4:30 and snagged what might have been the last campsite. Even rumors (fact, as it turned out) of hot dogs, cold drinks and beer 1.3 miles ahead couldn¢t get me to move any further. A quick set up of the tent and I laid down for an hour-long nap before tending to duties for the night. No cell coverage at all, except for a 2:12 am text that magically came through from Ann answering a question that I had not yet been able to ask!All is good.
Date: 2018-03-18
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek Campground
Miles today: 8.1

Another late morning getting out of camp. My sleep pattern is really disrupted... I¢ll sleep from about eight until twelve or one o¢clock, then be awake for two or three hours, and then fall asleep again until about 7:30, two hours past my normal time to get up. I think I was the next to last to leave camp.Today either was easier than yesterday or I was a bit stronger. While still daunting, the mountains didn¢t exhaust me quite as much as yesterday. I maintained a pretty steady pace all day, leapfrogging with Wardrobe (she allegedly changes her wardrobe frequently through the day, depending on whether she is hot or cold) and Sniffles (because he, well, sniffles). They are the faster hikers, but they also take more time at their rest stops and viewpoints.  Lunch was an amazing gift of trail magic from the Glenloch Baptist Church. I had my fill of hot dogs (2), potato chips and a sugar free Coke. Very kind people and a blessing to all of us who passed through today. And they had CHAIRS! I think I miss chairs most of all. Logs, stumps and rocks just don¢t cut it.Supercharged by the fantastic lunch, I finished the day early, at about 3:30 at Lance Creek. I could have managed more miles, but the next section requires that overnight hikers have a bear-resistant canister and I¢m not willing to carry the extra weight to satisfy the requirement for one five-mile section. I momentarily considered continuing onward, but then I looked at the upcoming elevation profile. OMG!  Oh, well. Like Scarlet O¢Hara, I¢ll worry about that tomorrow
Date: 2018-03-19
From: Lance Creek Campground

To: NeelÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Gap
Miles today: 7.3

Blood Mountain lived up to its reputation!  I can see how it has broken the spirit of many thru hikers... it¢s like Sassafrass times 2.5 in elevation gain.  Early in the morning I saw Blood looming in the distance and it was truly inspiring and daunting.  About an hour and a half (and three mountains) later, I entered the challenge.All I can say is that it went up and up, then down and down.  And I had to take many breathers in both directions. On the uphill it was fifty steps and catch your breath over and over again.  Unfortunately, I had my first fall on the downhill.  It happened in slow motion and I wasn¢t really hurt.  Despite that, one bite at a time, I got that elephant eaten!I¢ve rewarded myself with an overnight stay at Blood Mountain Cabins.  It looks like i¢ll Be sharing the space with three other hikers - Snort (when she laughs), Splash (some kind of water event on the trail) and somebody they brought along for the ride.  The shower was so good that I may take another just because I can!Still having fun!
Date: 2018-03-20
From: NeelÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: moderate rain

Well, after patting myself on the back yesterday, I met the third of my cabin mates for the night. Big Luscious finished the same trail I oh so proudly described yesterday about two hours after I did.  The first thing you notice is that he¢s a truly big guy (his belt wrapped around Snorts¢ waist twice).  The second thing you notice is that he has a prosthetic leg. That¢s right, the one-legged guy did everything I did taking only a bit more time.  Truly a lesson in humility. I was late leaving Neel¢s Gap today.  Civilization in the form of real food makes it hard to get moving.  I also hung around a bit waiting on my cabin mates, but ultimately left on my own at 11:00.  A little short of 3:00, I was at Whitley Gap Shelter, our planned destination for the day.  I still felt good, however, so I decided to press on, thinking ¢daylight¢s burning.¢  Despite cold rain and dropping temperatures, I made it to Low Gap Shelter in time to catch a break in the rain and set up camp.  By 7:30 I was in my sleeping bag dead to the world.  But I had learned that I could walk further than I thought reasonable at this point in my hike and still feel pretty good.  That lesson would help my decision the next day.
Date: 2018-03-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7

I awoke at about 1:30 this morning to the sound of roaring winds, easily likened to the sound of a series of 747s taking off one after another.  In addition, sleet/snow was pelting my tent.  With nothing to be done for the situation and sub-freezing temps forecasted, I snuggled more deeply in my sleeping bag accompanied by a few of my friends: Mr. Water Filter, Mr. iPad, and Mr. iPhone.  Mr. Water Bottle wasn¢t invited since he sometimes wets the bed.When I awoke to the same weather conditions at 6:30, I attempted to fix a hot meal since I had skipped supper the night before.  Unfortunately, my stove wouldn¢t fire off due to the low temperatures.  Hmm.  Decision time.  Do I stay here today, warm, but with no hot food, making zero miles, looking at a forecast of the same conditions continuing through tomorrow and low on water or do I pack up and go?  A quick check of the topo maps on the Internet (thanks Al Gore and AT&T!) showed that the Trail would mostly be on the leeward side of the mountains so I wouldn¢t have to consider wind chill factors.  The distance to Unicoi Gap was manageable based on yesterday¢s performance.  And the elevation profile was no worse.Decision made, move out.Several people left from the shelter as I packed, which help to affirm/my decision. A quick call to Ground Control (Ann) to get reservations made in Hiawassee, Georgia and I was on my way.  I made a short stop to replenish my water, camel-ing about a liter in order to avoid having to stop again.  The Trail was both treacherous and beautiful.  Ice-slickened rocks and roots concealed by a thin layer of snow led to several slips during the day.  Slips, not falls.  (I have decided that a fall is defined as any unintended contact with the ground that would result in my being ruled ¢down¢ in professional football.)  I made the trek in under five hours, encountering General (his first name is Sherman) along the way.  Having two beds in the room that Ann had arranged, I offered to split the room with him and he accepted!  Based on the atweather.org forecast, we decided we would take a zero day on Thursday.  (I had asked Ann to make the reservation for two nights.). A zero day means that no Trail miles are walked, no matter how much walking you do during the day.Thirty minutes spent with our thumbs out at Unicoi Gap and we scored a hitch with a Trail Angel named DeeDee.  Moving too fast to stop for us as she passed by, she turned around three miles further down the road and came back to get us.  It was truly a blessing that she took us the eleven miles into town, depositing us on the doorstep of the Holiday Inn Express!  Once we warmed ourselves and showered, it was off to an AYCE (all you can eat) buffet and then bed.
Date: 2018-03-22
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Up at 7:30, I washed and dried all my gear muddied by the last two days¢s weather, ate breakfast, first lunch, trip to the AT&T store, second lunch, visit Sav-A-Lot for some groceries, Fred¢s for odds and ends, and supper.In addition to General, I¢ve met Buddha (a bit of belly), Buddha-pest (his sister), and several other hikers.  Nearly everybody is very transparent ... after all, we have nothing prove to each other and no reason for pretention.  I've enjoyed some great conversations already with hikers from 18 to 66 years of age.  Neat, neat, neat.
Date: 2018-03-23
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 11.3

As General and I were walking toward a prime hitchhiking location in downtown Hiawassee, a large pickup suddenly swooped in alongside us.  The female passenger, herself a thru-hiker named Bear Claw (she found one along the trail with a rim of hair intact), asked if we needed a ride.  Sure!  Within moments we were in the truck with her, her husband Batman (but he was wearing Captain America pajama pants?) and their five year old boy/girl twins.  Batman is home-schooling the kids and acting as Bear Claw¢s support team, meeting her each time she crosses an accessible road.  They have a camper that they move every week or so as she progresses along the trail. After dropping her at Dicks Creek Gap, Batman shuttled us the twenty miles to Unicoi Gap, where I said goodbye to General, who hikes much faster than I.Based on the snow remaining on the trail, we made the right decision to take a zero day yesterday.  The snow on the first peak was 4 to 6 inches deep in places!  The trail was extra soupy with snow melt, and extra treacherous. Late in the day, I experienced fall number two for this trip.  My right foot slipped three feet downhill and I ended up with my left heel lodged against my left buttock.  Those two body parts had not met each other in years due to a likely Baker¢s cyst behind my left knee.  My knee screamed and I immediately had visions of the trip coming to an end. I got up and hobbled the next mile and a half to my campsite.  After texting with Ann and starting a Tylenol/Motrin regimen, my knee started feeling better.  I didn¢t feel like walking half a mile down to the water source, however.  Surely, I had plenty for tomorrow.
Date: 2018-03-24
From: Addis Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 5.4

I decided to baby my knee with a short mileage day and a stay at the famous Top of Georgia hostel.  I errantly thought that since I would arrive early in the day no reservation would be necessary.  Wrong!  There¢s some kind of music fest in Hiawassee this weekend, so there was no room at the inn... or in almost all of Hiawassee.  No problem, I just found a room in Helen instead, only to find that the shuttle to Helen costs $70!  My shuttle driver suggested a place nearer, in Hiawassee, and I snagged the only room available, and that due to a cancellation. Unfortunately, the room in Helen is not refundable.  Another lesson in humility, and poor planning!Tomorrow, I plan to enter a five or six day stretch entirely in the woods, so no updates (or hotel expenses!!) are likely.  I plan to do the minimum miles necessary to be at Winding Stair Gap by Friday afternoon. If successful, I will have crossed the state line into North Carolina!
Date: 2018-03-25
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: moderate rain

A typical town day based on my limited experience... check out of the hotel after breakfast, try to find a ride to somewhere to resupply (didn¢t work this time, so I walked the mile to downtown Hiawassee), unpack and repack to accommodate the new food, then hitch or shuttle back to the trail.I knew that today was going to be a late start and I wanted to baby my knee a bit more, so I only planned a short hike, 4.5 miles to Plumorchard Gap Shelter. Despite getting started at 1:00 or so, I was in my tent by 4:30.While hiking, I received some bad news about a friend and spent much of my time thinking of and praying for her. I also spent some time mentally reviewing the trip so far. I¢ve come to realize that there¢s always another ¢OMG! mountain¢ to come. First it was OMG! Sassafrass, then OMG! Blood, then OMG! Tray Mountain, with more in my future, including Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the Trail at some 6,600-ish feet. And in New England, there are the Presidentials and the Whites, not to mention Katahdin, the northern terminus and goal for the Trail. I¢m going to try to avoid the drama going forward.I think we may have become a the-sky-is-falling society what with ¢reality¢ TV and 24-hour news coverage of every event. What used to be local stories are now blasted nationwide if there is video to go with them. Much like our mission trips to Brazil, this adventure is a respite from the constant news of presidents, disasters, heartbreak and even sports. I already have so little interest in what¢s hot now that I wonder if I¢ll care at all after this trip. (But I will always care about the ¢Hot Now¢ sign at Krispy Kreme!)The knee is doing fine. Almost 8 miles scheduled for tomorrow! I¢m still aiming to hit Winding Stair Gap on Friday.
Date: 2018-03-26
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today¢s hike wasn¢t too terrible. Probably because I was excited that it was my last day on the trail in Georgia. As I started upward from Blue Ridge Gap, I became very vigilant, watching for every landmark so as not to miss the 6¢ by 12¢ sign marking the boundary with North Carolina. When I arrived at the state line, a young woman named Bridget was already there taking a selfie with the boundary marker. Of course, that led to us taking pictures of each other, including a silly pose each.Departing from the state line, the trail was still the trail. Bly Gap lived up to its very windy reputation, so I didn¢t stick around long, just long enough to share good wishes with Kent, who was ending his day hike there and hiking back to his car. More on him in a future zero-day post perhaps.After a 7.9 mile day, I tucked into my tent at Muskrat Creek Shelter. Since there were only two other people there when I arrived, I gave momentary thought to spending the night in the shelter. It quickly became obvious that the mice there were very active. The shelter registry was mouse-chewed despite having been stored in a wooden box. The box had recently been mended with a metal plate, to cover a hole chewed by a very ambitious mouse! Thus my tucking into my own tent.Quiet night, with almost no text or phone access.
Date: 2018-03-27
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Beech Gap tenting area
Miles today: 9.3

As I prepared to leave camp this morning who should I hear but Snorts! She and Splash are still hiking together. I last saw them at Neels Gap, about 50 miles ago!I got an earlier than usual start with the goal to go a few miles beyond the next shelter to a tenting area about 4 miles short of the second shelter. If I can do the same the next two days, I will set myself up with a short hike to meet Ann on Friday.It¢s apparent that the NC trail maintainers believe in and use switchbacks to climb their mountains. That might not be universally true, but Ive already switchbacked here more than my whole time in Georgia. The trail is still hard, but we at least get an occasional break from the arduous uphills.I started to extend my hike beyond this point to the next shelter, but a hot spot (precursor to a blister) on my right foot said to stay right here. So, at 3:30, here I am, keeping warm and waiting for the delivery of a hot, fresh pizza.Just kidding!