morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-12
From: Spivey Gap campsite

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 11.4

We got up and decided to go to Erwin. It is 4.7 to No Business Shelter. It was alot of up to the Shelter. took us 2 hrs. and 10 min. So 5.7 to Erwin took us 2 1/2 hours. When we got to the Hostel we asked about work to stay. so we then took the shuttle for a few things and caught up with Santa and Gnome. When we got back Scooter mowed the lawn and weed eated and I cleaned the men's and woman's bathrooms. We got to stay in a small cabin with kitchenette and private bathroom.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Couldn't sleep. Every time the heat and refrigerator came on, my eye's would open. Perhaps I got about 3 hours of sleep, but Scooter can just snore away! We got shuttled to breakfast at 9 a.m. and picked up at 10 a.m.. When we got back, Scooter was put to the task of tarring and mine was to clean 2 cabins and change the sheets. Poor Scooter's only set of clothing now has the remembrance. Washed clothes. Grim (the manager of the hostel)asked if we chose our bunks, but we chose to tent. Had Pizza Hut pizza and a salad. Hot feet ate with us. Hot Feet got his trail name from when he was back at Neels Gap purchasing the crocks, they only had one of his size and it happen to be hot pink! The pizza was any large pizza for 10 bucks. When we got back, Scooter started a fire. There were 9 of us. Went to bed about 10:30 p.m..
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: campsite after Be:auty Spot
Miles today: 13.1

Slept great in our tent! At 8:20 a.m. we headed out to the trail. We hiked 13.1 miles to our camp spot. The last 5 miles we were out of water. Arrived here about 5 p.m.. The Boy Scouts showed up and then 4 other thru-hikers. Two of the hikers are brothers and played the guitar. Great fire, and good laughter, but it sucks when your the only female and you have to pee. Went to bed at 9:30 p.m. the stars are shinning.
Date: 2012-04-15
From: campsite after Be:auty Spot

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 11.9

As we were packing up, the scout master gave us 4 hard boiled egg's, coffee packets, flavor packets, and hot chocolate packets. Scooter and I shared an egg and took 2 of the flavor packets for our water. Muck and the others took the rest. We started climbing up the hill on the trail about 8:20 a.m.. It's suppose to be 80 degree's. We are heading to Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel. We decided to get off of the trail due to running low on funds. We decided to go home to get more money then come back to the trail. We got to the hostel watched "Without a Paddle", then ate and went to bed in our tent.
Date: 2012-04-16
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up ate. Then at 1:30 p.m. we were shuttled to the bus station. There were others who needed to resupply so there were 8 people shoved into an older Bronco. It was fun to look out the window as we passed other vehicles and the people who saw all of us in there, it was funny the looks on their faces. Our bus was to take off at 2:50 p.m., but it was running late so we didn't start loading on the bus until 3:30 p.m.. The Greyhound have wi-fi and outlet's so one can charge their electronics.
Date: 2012-04-17
From: home

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We arrived about 2:15 a.m. at the Louiseville bus station. We walked to Waffle House to get a bite to eat. On our tek there, people were looking at us, as though we were homeless. It took us about 3 hours, by way of Waffle House, to get home. It was great to see Paul and Jamie.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: home

To: Campsite after Greasy Creek
Miles today: 1.0

What an adventure! On the way back to the trail, our vehicle broke down twice, but we made it! We arrived at Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel about 6 p.m. when we should have been here at 9 a.m.. We got to our campsite and set our hammocks up and went to sleep. It feels so good to be back on the trail.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Campsite after Greasy Creek

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was freezing, windy and raining all night. I was warm, but for what part of the body that was laying on the cloth of the hammock, wished we had brought the air mattress to help provide instillation. We were advised to slack pack Roan Mountain and wished that we had taken that advise. It was a heck of a climb in the pouring rain. The higher we climbed the worse it got. We met a homeless couple hiking the A.T. they were wearing jeans and had lack of food. We set up our hammocks on the second floor and went to sleep at 7:30 p.m. all wet!
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Doll Flats
Miles today: 15.0

Woke up once again freezing. Didn't sleep good and it didn't help with the music of snoring going on all night, I swear that the building was going to vibrate into a pile of stones! Scooter went to put one of his boots on and he is like "What the hell is in my boot?". He turned his boot upside down and cashews fell out. Then he went to put the other boot on his other foot and it too was full of cashews. I checked my food bag and those thieving sneaky little critters called mice chewed a hole into my food bag and got my cashews and not a few, but the whole bag and stored my cashews into Scooters boots, needless to say, they had stored some in one of my shoe's as well. We started hiking 9 a.m. with wet gear on. By the time we got to Round Bald we had to take a layer off. We stopped to eat on the bald. The homeless couple sat with us. They only had a little bit of rice when they needed two days worth of food along with hot chocolate and energy flavoring for their water. The right thing to do and we did was to give them some of our food, we even gave them a bandana each. We are camping at Doll Flats, unmarked, NC - TN border. It is warmer, so I hope tonight is a better night. There were a lot of balds. Full belly and a good fire, who could ask for more!
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Doll Flats

To: campsite
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Froze another night. Started hiking about 8:20 a.m.. There was a old bike a 50's model maybe leaning on a tree good condition other than rusty. We ate lunch under a old tree on a bald. Came across a few water falls and walked along a river. Found a campsite next to a stream.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: campsite

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 23.5

Scooter froze all night. We were up and on the trail by 7:30 a.m.. We decided to go to Hampton, Tn for resupply and thin mat's for the hammock to insolate. Seen four snakes. Got to Hampton and everything was closed. We decided to eat at Subway, while we were in there a gentleman just got through section hiking and offered to take us to Walmart then to a hotel! Thank you so much!
Date: 2012-04-30
From: Hampton, TN

To: Wilbur Dam Road
Miles today: 11.0

Got up 6 a.m. had breakfast and was on the trail by 9 a.m.. We decided to have a short day. Walked along the lake and had lunch. Was at camp by 4:30 pm, but by 6 we wished that we pushed on. Tomorrow we plan on doing 23 miles.
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Wilbur Dam Road

To: campsite
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: broken clouds

Today was some what of trail magic. A church had left a metal locker container (One can tell it was made by the church) which was pretty cool, however, by the time that we got to it, it had bottled water and one Diet Mtn. Dew left, so Scooter and I shared it. We had to walk through a pasture full of cows. When we set up came and went to bed and the sun was down, we could hear a mother coyote and her pup's close by howling.
Date: 2012-01-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

**************You're Invited**************Who: YouWhat: A thru-hike of the Appalachian TrailWhere: From Georgia to MaineWhen: January, 2012 until ?Dear Vicarious Hiker,Have you ever wished you could get out more and experience the beauty of nature? Have you ever wanted to face the mental and physical challenges of a long adventure? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to leave many of the day-to-day conveniences of modern life and feel a different daily rhythm? Have you ever felt the need to finish a project started long ago that remains undone?Then you¢re invited to come along with me, through this journal, for a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. I hope to ¢see¢ you out on the Trail.
Date: 2012-01-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.                         -     Winston ChurchillDear Vicarious Hiker,What¢s the difference between 2128 and 2184?If you answered, ¢56,¢ I didn¢t phrase the question properly.The first is the number of miles to drive from Eugene, Oregon to Champaign, Illinois. The second is the number of miles to hike along the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine. These numbers are of interest to me because of the contrast they offer.Three weeks ago my husband, Angus, was just finishing a sabbatical at the University of Oregon, and I was busy packing up our apartment in Eugene in anticipation of our drive home to Illinois.   We cleaned out our apartment of six months, returning most of our furnishings to the design firm of Craig & Will, Craigslist and Goodwill, that is, from whence they came. With our car very fully packed - stuffed, actually - we drove the 2,000-plus miles back to Champaign, whizzing along at high speed. The changing landscaped rolled by with astonishing quickness. The lovely Willamette valley changed to mountains which in turn changed to high desert. The mountains and desert kept us company until we came down to Denver. From there the brown rangelands and barren, harvested fields saw us back to Champaign. We skidded home just in time to cobble together a Christmas celebration. That left a week to unpack from the Oregon trip, prepare as much of our 2011 tax return information as possible before I head for the Trail, make arrangements for my absence as well as prepare equipment and supplies for the hike.I had spent time the last weeks in Eugene planning and making lists of things to do before leaving for this hike, but I spent a lot of time on the drive thinking about all there was left to do. Equipment and supplies for the Trail had to be purchased and Christmas gifts ordered. There was our 2011 tax return information to organize since I won¢t be home when the deadline comes. Whew.Now I think about what my next adventure of two thousand miles will be like. The landscape will change only slowly, and only by the power of my own steps. The trip will take months instead of a handful of days.But perhaps a more important difference will be in the attitude. Instead of rushing through a drive across the country, looking ahead, making plans, being distracted from the beauty around me, I hope to slow down and enjoy my surroundings. The people I meet, the sights, sounds and smells of the Trail ¢ I hope I can be present and take all these things in.That will make a true difference.- Second Stage, second launch
Date: 2012-01-03
To: Second Child
Miles today: 0.0

First Child ... Second Child BY Ogden Nash FIRSTBe it a girl, or one of the boys,It is scarlet all over its avoirdupois,It is red, it is boiled; could the obstetricianHave possibly been a lobstertrician?His degrees and credentials were hunky-dory,But how's for an infantile inventory?Here's the prodigy, here's the miracle!Whether its head is oval or spherical,You rejoice to find it has only one,Having dreaded a two-headed daughter or son;Here's the phenomenon all complete,It's got two hands, it's got two feet,Only natural, but pleasing, becauseFor months you have dreamed of flippers or claws.Furthermore, it is fully equipped:Fingers and toes with nails are tipped;It's even got eyes, and a mouth clear cut;When the mouth comes open the eyes go shut,When the eyes go shut, the breath is loosedAnd the presence of lungs can be deduced.Let the rockets flash and the cannon thunder,This child is a marvel, a matchless wonder.A staggering child, a child astounding,Dazzling, diaperless, dumbfounding,Stupendous, miraculous, unsurpassed,A child to stagger and flabbergast,Bright as a button, sharp as a thorn,And the only perfect one ever born.SECONDArrived this evening at half-past nine.Everybody is doing fine.Is it a boy, or quite the reverse?You can call in the morning and ask the nurse. Dear Vicarious Hiker,OK, I¢ll admit it. So far, this journal for 2012 pales in comparison to my 2010 journal of my attempted thru-hike. By this point in my preparation, the day before my anticipated departure, I had * 21 * pre-hike entries to my name. I¢d spent hours thinking about the hike and just how it would be. Hours had been devoted to researching gear and agonizing over decisions about minutiae. I¢d read and reread trail journals from past years to get a better idea of the adventure I sought to experience. Thoughts of the Trail filled my waking hours, and glowing visions of it made up my dreams. Conversations always turned to my upcoming hike. This time it¢s different. I still hear the wail of the Trail, and it¢s no less compelling than before. The idea of a completed thru-hike draws me. Memories of natural wonders, large and small, whisper to me. As with the pain and difficulty of childbirth, the pain and difficulties of the Trail have faded. Memories of those days that were long and hard feel distant and remote. They have been replaced more strongly by memories of a shower of ice crystals dissolving into tiny rainbows, friends well met, rosy dawns, birdcalls at sunset, the view of a misty, green valley below me, and many others.This second attempt at a thru-hike is no less precious than the first was, and I feel luckier than ever that circumstances allow me to go again, but somehow it is different this time. I¢m less caught up with the details and less concerned with the perfection of the hike; I¢m more content to let it unfold as it will. I¢ll be happy as long as ¢Everybody is doing fine.¢ As for the rest¢¦ you¢ll have to ¢call¢ this journal as the hike progresses to find out more.
Date: 2012-01-05
From: Sassafras Mountain

To: Lance Creek Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

"This is like deja vu all over again."-        Yogi BerraThe night on Sassafras Mountain seemed long and chill. I was awake a lot, listening to the wind whip the trees and flap the tent¢s rain fly. Our site must have been somewhat sheltered, though, as the wind above sounded much worse than at ground level.Doc Rockett and I both woke before dawn and worked on getting ourselves ready for the day. The chill air kept us both inside the tent as long as possible as we prepared. The cramped quarters of the tent made for some odd yoga-like moves, trying to reach items at our feet, or locating items that had gotten under the sleeping pads we were lying on. At least the exertions of packing up in the crowded tent warmed us up enough to face the day. I tended to some blisters on my feet and hoped that they wouldn¢t get any worse. That is probably a forlorn hope, though, since any longer hike I¢ve been on has given me blisters. I guess I just have tender feet and have to go through it to get them callused.Because of the weather we decided to skip breakfast until we got down to Cooper¢s Gap, hoping that it would be a bit more sheltered. We got down off of Sassafras quickly enough. Shortly before we reached the bottom Doc Rockett went on ahead and heated water for coffee and such. It was a welcome sight when I got there. A couple of hikers had overnighted in the gap and were packing up when we arrived. However, they didn¢t seem interested in talking, so we never found out who they were or how far they were going. We enjoyed our late breakfast and continued on.As we went on I found myself remembering many of the twists of the Trail and the conditions from my thru-hike attempt in 2010 and a section hike here in 2005. Here¢s where I stopped for a snack back then. Here¢s where the trees were dropping chunks of ice on me. Oh, I remember that tree¢¦. It felt a bit like coming home and seeing what the folks have done with the place.We decided to continue on past Woody Gap and forgo the wonderful Hiker Hostel on this trip, so we climbed up and up Big Cedar Mountain and down the other side. We met some dayhikers and some section hikers heading south. The sun was near setting again by the time we finally made camp at Lance Creek Campsite. My foot ¢issues¢ had worsened through the day ¢ more blisters developed and my little toe was being mashed painfully ¢ so I limped into camp slowly and feeling totally beat.Fortunately it wasn¢t as cold or windy. The nearby stream provided a little night music for us, so after a hot dinner we crawled into our tent. I felt worn out but content. The memories of that feeling are coming back now. A good feeling, all in all.
Date: 2012-01-06
From: Lance Creek Campsite

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

In life as in dance: Grace glides on blistered feet - Alice AbrahmsSlept better with the sound of the Lance Creek as a lullaby through the night. Slept even better when the moon set and the tent wasn't as bright.Since the morning wasn't as cold and windy packing up was much easier than yesterfday.We only had about 7 miles to go to Neels Gap. Our plan was to pass through, pick up a few things, including a mail drop, and keep going, tenting somewhere beyond. So we set off, ready to rock and roll.I'd done this stretch twice before and had fond memories of it. Well, all but the first half of the climb down off of Blood Mountain... But this time my recollections of the Trail differed from the reality. Was there a relocation somewhere around Jerrard Gap?At first the miles rolled by, and my feet felt ok. It was clear that trail maintainers had been out. The Trail had even been raked of leaves, the tine marks lined up like the lines some people (not me!) get when they vacuum a carpet. Thanks for all your hard work, Maintainers! By the time we got to Slaughter Creek, however, I was gimping along. The feet were getting worse. We took a break to eat and so I could tend to my feet with Doc Rockett's help. Then we began the huff-and-puff up Blood Mountain. Before long we were at the top where we paused briefly for a photo op. We didn't stay long as all I could think about was getting down to Mountain Crossings, the outfitter at Neels Gap. They've helped me before with boot/foot problems. Would they be my heroes once again?Once down at the gap i hobbled along feeling a bit like I was in that computer game "Frogger" trying to get across the road without being squished. Lumpy checked the boot and explained the deal. He could put the boot on a stretcher for a couple of hours until the store closed. That might be enough to help, or to do it right it would need to stay on for 12 hours. In that case we'd need to stay long enough that we'd have an opportunity to do laundry and take showers. Wouldn't *that* be too bad!?Once we'd gotten ourselves and our gear squared away we talked with two other hikers: Bluevist and Winter Walker. Lumpy drove the rest of us to Blairsville for pizza, but Bluevist opted out. Thanks, Lumpy. The pizza and salad hit the spot.On our return to the hostel we chatted with Pirate who runs the hostel and headed for our bunks with hopes that the morning would bring a better fitting boot.
Date: 2012-01-07
From: Neels Gap

To: campsite north of Low Gap
Miles today: 12.0

I woke up early with high hopes for making an early start in a well-stretched boot. I could hear the rain coming down as we packed up. We were nearly ready to go when Pirate showed up and made pancakes for everyone. They were great with apple butter.By the time we were done with breakfast the rain had stopped. The boot did fit better and didn't mash my little toe as badly as before. The blisters were starting to heal a little.   It looked like it would be a great day.Bluevist started off ahead of us, and Winter Walker was just getting started on the day, so it looked like we'd all be spread out while hiking. In fact, I set out before Doc Rockett. He'd almost caught up to me when he realized that he'd forgotten a trekking pole back at the hostel and had to go back for it.   We almost kept catching up to Bluevist, but she stayed ahead of us until she took a break. We passed Porcupine and Miister; they looked like they were just breaking camp.We enjoyed the views from Cowrock as well as the breaks in the clouds that gave us a bit of sunshine. Down and down we went to Testnatee Gap and then immediately up and up and over to Hogpen Gap. We met Lt. Dan, a southbounder, just 40 miles from the end of his hike. We also met Rocky and Winkle, trail-maintainers out for a dayhike.As we approached Low Gap Shelter I was really running out of steam so Doc Rockett went on ahead to get dinner started. What a sweet guy! We had decided that we would have dinner at the shelter, and if my feet would hold up, we'd hike on and then camp. Winter Walker passed me shortly before I got to Low Gap Shelter. Miister and Porcupine arrived soon after. Another couple were already in at a campsite. We enjoyed our dinner and conversation and then packed up and moved along down the trail.I was beginning to question our decision to move on as I was getting very tired, it was starting to get dark and the clouds were more threatening. Fortunately we found a spot soon and set up camp. Just as we were finishing up it started to rain. Grabbing the last few things we dived into the tent and arranged ourselves in the small space.Doc Rockett was fine, but I was so tired and footsore that it felt wonderful just to lie down. What a relief to lie in the tent and listen to the patter of rain on the fly.