morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-10-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This is my daughter. She's the one who thinks Im a bit nuts for taking this hike. She has a real cool job at UNC. Last weekend we went down to visit her. We had a chance to see a women's soccer game and also a football game both of which were fun. Sadly the soccer team lost to crosstown rival Duke. With a daughter at UNC and a son at Syracuse, Ive become an ACC fan for sure. Carolina is playing Syracuse at home in January. Ill have to bring two shirts for that game! While we were in NC, I had a chance to go to an REI store in Durham and check out some gear. The nearest REI to my house is about four hours away so it was a treat to find one so close to where we were. I checked out a few sleeping bags, some wool base layers, and some other little stuff. Ive settled on a Feathered Friends sleeping bag. I ordered a Swift UL20 which is on its way. A couple weeks ago I also picked up a pair of Salomon Ultra-X boots. Theyre mid height and gore-tex which I think will be a good choice in cooler, wetter, and potentially snowy weather. I also like the tread pattern with the potential of snow. I think Im down to needing the base layers, some decent gloves, a few little things, and a plane ticket. The puzzle is beginning to fit together!Not much hiking in the past two weeks other than a bushwack with an old friend. Keeping up at the gym with some regular cardio and some lower body weights. The weather is getting much cooler up here in the North Country with our first snow coming last weekend when we were away. The leaves are mostly down. The next time Ill see leaves on the trees will be somewhere in NC, TN, or VA. Strange thought! Planning on some kind of day hike this weekend to give another test run to those boots I mentioned. Hope everyone elses planning is coming along well.
Date: 2015-11-05
To: Indian Summer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We have had a wicked nice run of weather this week. Warm sunny days and cool nights. Highs have been to the mid 60s with some lows to freezing. My sleeping bag arrived a week or so ago so this seemed like a good week to try it out. Its a 20 degree down bag. Its fluffy, lofty, and seems like it'll be warm. I slept in it last night with high hopes of it being cooler for a real test run. Well, the bag was very comfortable but it never got cold at all with the low being 47 so I dont really know if it can keep me warm to 20 as advertised. Going to try again this weekend with forecasted temps in the high 20s after a cold front passes through tomorrow. I have a game camera posted in a spot I like at around 3000 feet. Got a few nice wildlife pictures including two bucks (Deer season starts in eight days!). A series of five pictures revealed this cow moose peacfully grazing on a sunny morning. I particularly liked this one!I think my day count is down to 117 until I start the trail. As Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part!
Date: 2015-11-12
To: Sleeping bag... Check!
Miles today: 0.0

A few nights ago I got a good chance to test drive the new bag. Temperatures were forecast in the low 30s so I pitched the Fly Creek and spent the night in the backyard again. I guess we're always kids at heart! It was a beautiful night. I jumped in about 11pm and slept until I had to get up for work. I got up once in the middle of the night to crystal clear skies and a million stars. Orion stood tall in the southern sky and the Big Dipper was standing on its handle in the northeast. My timing was excellent as I was treated to a very bright shooting star that ripped across the southern horizon for almost three full seconds. Cool! And speaking of cool, the daybreak temp was 29 degrees. I slept well but a little cool with capilene long johns and a thin fleece top. I just got a set of light weight icebreaker long johns so I imagine they will help with the warmth factor in the early sections of the trail. The coldest part was the frost on both sides of the tent fly when I took it off in the morning. I guess you dont have to worry about packing a wet tent if everything is frozen!
Date: 2015-11-29
To: Thanksgiving
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I am a lazy deer hunter. Today marked the last of a 16 day season here in Vermont and I can say that I got out for four of them. And only one full day. So, even though I saw deer on three of those days, there is no venison in my freezer this year(they were all does or white tails running away!). My usual passion for the hunt just wasnt there. Now I must explain that I am not the kind of hunter who picks out a stand site and sits and waits for a deer to walk by. Im a walker. Every deer Ive harvested but one came while I was on foot. I cant sit still in general. So while Ive tried it, sitting in a stand all day is out of the question for me. If youre not a hunter you have to know that walking really means moving as slowly as you possibly can through the woods. Take two or three steps, have a good long look around, do it again, and again, and again... all day long. It's amazing what you see when you do this. You develop an eye for really little things. You see, smell, and hear more than you ever could hiking. Its a whole different way to be in the woods which I highly recommend. And there was the rub. I couldnt slow my mind down enough this season. It's in high gear and all of my outdoor thoughts are focused on the AT. It's been far more important to me to log some miles, test out clothing combinations, and hike in the cold and wet, imagining early March weather in northern Georgia. With the hunt on hold, I logged two good local day hikes this past weekend. Friday saw my friend Earl and I hike up Mt. Abraham and Lincoln Peak. Mt Abe is the fifth tallest peak in Vermont at 4005 feet. Lincoln Peak, just to the north, is the summit of the Sugarbush ski area. The temp was in the mid to upper 40s for this one; plenty warm for shorts. It was fun to stand there in shorts and watch skiers get off the lift and head down! Friday night the weather turned with some rain and the wind shifting from the north. A hike up Camel's Hump (4083') the next day was well below freezing with some solid ice above treeline. It was a good choice to take the microspikes as I would not have gone across the summit without them. The view was incredible with a very nice undercast! Take a look at the other picture in my photos which shows three peaks to the south poking above the clouds. Another great hike!I tried out some icebreaker wool baselayers and they worked fine. Warm when wet or dry. Thats what I love about wool. The spikes fit well on the X Ultra boots which I will start with. I do not, however, think I will bring the spikes. Im just not sure they're worth the weight. Im curious if others are planning on bringing them?My other big distraction this week was Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. Heavy on the family, light on the commercialism, non-denominational, and lots of food and football! I got my boy back from college and was able to hang out with him. Everything about Thanksgiving is good in my book! I hope all of you had a great holiday as well. T minus 93 days.
Date: 2015-12-14
To: What season is this?
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Life seems on hold to some degree. I think about the trail and my hike daily. I ask my wife too many dumb questions. I think I have burned Lady Grey (my work colleague and 2013 thru hiker) out with more dumb questions. I know most of the answers anyway. I have complete confidence in myself and will definitely succeed. Im totally inept and could never do this! Its like Im just waiting to see what really happens. To execute, not think. Does anyone else feel this way?Frankly, I havent even planned that much. I have spent a lot of money. I have most of my gear although Im waiting to get my REI dividend to get some last small items like stuff sacks. I figure I'll plan the first two stints in terms of how much food to carry between resupplies. First stop Neels Gap, then Hiawassee or Franklin. Is this really as daunting as most of us make it sound? Or is it just a series of four or five day hikes like a thru hiker I met last summer said? I remember the old adage, "If you cant pack in ten minutes, you've got too much stuff!"I have a plane ticket to Atlanta on March 1 which seems like a long way off. However, after my kids go back to school from the holidays, I know time will seem very short until it is time to go! Lots to do then. Apply for financial aid, do the taxes, make sure Ann has the banking down, clean the chimney, bring in wood, gas in the generator in case the power goes out, tell the kids at my job Im going, orient my replacement, buy food for the trip, do a mail drop box for Fontana, not sleep for most of February, and finally... get out of Vermont and get this show on the road. I really cant wait to go!!It's not like its winter here or anything which I think makes it even harder to wait. Today the high was in the 50s with no temps below freezing in sight for almost a week. So what to do if you cant go skiing? Hiking of course! I did two day hikes this past weekend, an 8 mile Long Trail hike in about four hours on Saturday and a quick trip up Mt. Abe yesterday. While there I met a young woman from CT who will embark on the PCT next April. We agreed to a cross country wave. The picture is looking south to Mt Grant on the Long Trail. While sitting there it struck me that it could just as easily have been May 12 as December 12.I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season! 77 days...
Date: 2015-12-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It has been a great week with friends and family. My daughter has been home from Carolina and my son from college. We have always lived in Northern New England so the idea of hiking in shorts on Christmas Eve is (was) nothing short of preposterous. We took this short hike last Thursday to what's called Sunset Ledge on the Long Trail. Despite a stiff southwest wind, it was very warm!Hiking prep has been split between the gym and on trail. No snow cover has led to multiple hiking opportunities at all elevations. A couple days ago it was in the high 30s and raining steadily. A great day to sit around and watch the NFL. An even better day to test out clothing combinations for wet weather hiking. A seven mile r.t. hike to the Cooley glen shelter and Mt Cleveland gave me a chance to try on my new AT reality. A baselayer of thin icebreaker wool and rainjacket and rain pants was perfect while I was hiking (OK, as good as it gets once your wet). Once I arrived at the shelter things cooled down very quickly. I added a thin fleece layer for a casual poke around the ridge before heading out. I am considering adding a thin fleece vest to my clothing list for hiking in cold wet weather. I also had plenty of time to think about lots of other things I can bring to be comfortable and warm. Extra gloves, extra hats, handwarmers, maybe an electric dryer! Present concerns: Bringing too much stuff, dying of hypothermia on days like that! 60 days to go. Happy New Year to all and good luck to those of you starting in the next several days. Please keep us posted on the winter weather in the south.
Date: 2016-01-12
To: T minus 48
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I feel like the jeopardy song is constantly playing in the background. Just kind of waiting to go. Sawyer will head back to school this weekend and then the holidays are officially over for me. Then its all about organizing my job so I can leave in good stead on February 26, and packing my bag. Working in a school is always very busy, especially when youre the Guidance counselor and everyone wants to change their schedule before second semester starts. Roll that in with the usual day to day and there arent many extra seconds to take a breath. My trail thoughts alternate between what am I thinking and I cant wait to get going! Anxiety and excitement are the same feeling biochemically Im sure.Anyone use Oboz shoes? Are they any different than Merrells? Im going to try a pair of Traverse mids with bdry to see if there an improvement over the mid height salomons which bother my left foot a bit widthwise. Id appreciate any reviews form actual users. It is exciting to read entries from Slipknot, Blizzard, and AK who are currently NOBO. I give them credit for their cold weather start. Im hoping things are a bit warmer than AKs reported 8 degree night when I start. I am going to miss my woodstove when I leave.GO PATS!
Date: 2016-02-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Nerves or excitement, you know how I feel about that. Same feeling different emotion. Im working to keep it excitement rather than anxiety! Recent trail preparation has had very little to do with hiking or gear. Here are some of the highlights... I filed my taxes, I swept the chimney, I completed the FAFSA and Profile for my kid (always a thrill), I sold his car cause my wife wont drive three cars while Im gone and his wasnt reliable enough to get him to and from school. (That actually worked out OK. We netted 1200 bucks for a 17 year old car with some large rusty holes in the sides. Not bad. Of course, now he'll be driving my truck since all Ill be doing is walking. Ill figure that one out later!) Im getting things together to leave work for the remainder of the school year. Im also processing the fact that my long time colleague and friend Lady Grey (NOBO 2013) has decided to retire at the end of this year. Many thanks to her for covering for me but another unknown when I return. Hmm, maybe I just wont!Took my first hike in ahwile last Saturday. A short seven miler up Mt Abraham. While Ive been a regular at the gym, I was a little tight after that. Microspikes were required. A reasonably nice day at 15 degrees on the summit. Ive enjoyed seeing The Hiking Viking's pictures on Instagram. He appears to be a bold guy. Ive also enjoyed following Slipknot and Blizzard so far. They might have been smart starting in January. It could be colder in Georgia in March than it was then. Anyone with insight into what to expect down there in three weeks, please feel free to let me know. While I have yet to pack my pack, I do have all my stuff. I have a week off from school starting Friday afternoon so I know what Ill be doing. Can there really only be 22 days until I leave?? Yikes!
Date: 2016-02-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Can anyone tell me that 21 pounds is a good base weight? Im not sure I can tell myself that. That is where I am at today. At 2 pounds of food/day and a three litre water bag weighing in at around five pounds full, Ill be starting with a pack that weighs about 33 pounds. Now this beats anything I ever did back in the day (yes, the 70s). But with all the hype about ultralight, Im giving myself a D+. Im open for critique. However, please remember I view this as a winter start and I fully anticipate hiking in 35 degree rain all day and being soaked to the skin at the end of at least a few days. Heres whats in the bag:Osprey Exos 58 packPack Cover20deg down bagThermarest Neo Air pad and small sea to summit pillowBA Fly creek UL2 with footprintJet boil mini mo with a 2" square sponge/scrubby and 1oz. of Dr. BronnersA titanium sporkA four blade swiss army knife (includes bottle/can opener of course)2 lighters and extra headlamp batteriesHeadlamp (3 AAA batts)First aid stuff and a teeny repair kit and very modest toiletriesSamsung S5, 7800 mah external battery and cordsTrail guide pages for a couple hundred milesSome P cord for hanging food1 lightweight set(upper/lower) wool long johns1 midweight set of the same1 wool Tshirt1 pr nylon shorts (I cut the liner out)2pr underwear3 pr wool socks2 bandannas1 quarter zip long sleeve light fleece topDown puffy jacket2 pr gloves, 1 thin fleece, 1 thin wool2 hats, 1 thin fleece, 1 thin wool (1 for at night that are always dry)Marmot minimalist rain jacketMarmot precip rain pants1pr Crocs5 stuff sacks and a few extra plastic bagsA Clint Eastwood style 357 magnum (Just kidding, no guns here!)So what dont I bring that's on this list? Ill definitely offload the extra set of long johns once Im north of the 6000 footers and I might nix the external battery if I dont use it enough. Other than that, Im stumped. If you choose to weigh in (no pun intended) on this, please be nice! Ive got 14 days to figure this out.
Date: 2016-02-17
To: Two weeks from tonight I'll be on the trail!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Here is a journal entry from my phone. I'm going to have to get used to this at some point so here we go! Thanks for the input on the weight factor. Maybe I was being a little hard on myself.  I did hit the grocery store today for a three day food supply to start and a seven day resupply that I'll mail to myself at Fontana Dam.  Lots of pasta sides, bag tuna,  oats,  granola, some candy,  PB, a few cliff bars, some tea bags,  and I'll get some tortillas and cheese right before I go.  I don't usually buy prepared or packaged foods at the grocery.  I never knew how much stuff you could find at a decent store.  Thanks for the kind comments people have left. I especially appreciate the comment from Bob who thru hiked in 05. Short entry tonight. Gotta watch the UNC Duke game. Go Heels!
Date: 2016-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I did some very important hike prep this weekend. That involved a trip to Syracuse to see Sawyer before I head out. Visiting kids at school seems to involve a lot of eating. If you're ever in Syracuse, check out the Dinosaur BBQ. The place is cool and the food is awesome. Go see for yourself. Too bad this place isn't closer to the trail as it would be a must stop place. It ain't cheap however. So today instead of a real hike, I opted for a five mile "street hike". The good thing about that in my town is we don't have much pavement so it was dirt road trekking. A decent amount of elevation gain and loss as well. I took the 21 pound base weight, added a set of microspikes, three days worth of food, a quart of water and rounded out at 30 or so pounds in the pack. It rode well over him and dale and two hours later I was home thinking this will work!Anyone who lives/hikes in north Georgia or western NC, or who is on the trail now who wants to give advice on the need for microspikes PLEASE DO!! Bringing them is my last big question to answer. 8 days, YIKES!
Date: 2016-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Tomorrow is my last day at work for this school year. Feels very odd. A lot of see you laters, some goodbyes to seniors who I may not see again in the future. My single regret in leaving my job is missing graduation. We do that very well at our school. It is a fun family time.Ive been working on my local hiking buddy Earl "Ranger" Ray since last summer to see if he wants to hike the trail with me. He's been pretty clear that he isnt going to do it and I had given up. Last night, he said that he would like to do the Georgia section on his way down to Florida to see his mother. A big surprise! Looks like I will be starting with Ranger Ray and have a partner for a week or so. I must admit that I am happy about this. We are well matched in our hiking interest and ability. Two middle aged middle school boys. With him, I will have to work harder to start slow!I split up my guide book into seven peices and will have Ann mail them along the way. I have to double check my drop box that Im mailing to Fontana (seven days to Hot Springs??) and also go through my gear one more time. Everything is packed for the most part and just needs to fit in the backpack. I fly out in five days. Scared shitless, wicked excited! Someone please save me a camp spot on Wednesday night.
Date: 2016-02-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Great game tonight, UNC vs. Syracuse. The family watched together via text. Sawyer was in the studio in Syracuse, Aliza and Matt were at the game in Chapel Hill. Ann and I watched on ESPN in VT. As close to a family event as we can get these days!Well, my bag is in the car and Im up at five to catch a plane tomorrow morning. Thanks to all for the well wishes. Time to stop thinking and start doing. Ranger Ray is on his way and Ill look forward to seeing him at the Hiker Hostel. Ready or not. See you all on the other side!
Date: 2016-03-02
From: Springer Mtn 

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Well day one on the AT! For almost forty years I have wanted to sign a logbook GA-ME and this morning on Springer mtn, I did. Pretty cool! A dozen of us were dropped off in Big Stamp gap by Duffy at the hiker hostel. There were other people around too so lots of folks starting out. Left our packs there and backtracked 0.9 miles to the southern terminus. A few pictures later we were northbound! Great to have Ranger Ray along. Much banter and many jokes. Arrived at Hawk Mtn shelter around 2pm on a bright sunny cool afternoon. The Ranger, me, and a Florida woman named Dream catcher decided to load up on water and wound up in Horse gap shortly after 4pm. Now there are at least 10 people camped around here. A steady breeze and temps in the 30s had us all in our tents at dark.My body feels decent after 10.5 miles, plus 0.9. Hopefully that will be the case in the morning! I have a good attitude this evening. Far better than yesterday afternoon after no sleep the night before and traveling down. On the trail today, I thought a lot about something I saw at Upper Goose pond last summer. The girl in the bunk across from me had a sticker on her water bottle that said "It will be OK". Tonight I believe this!
Date: 2016-03-03
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

In an effort to make double digit mileage, yesterday's plan involved packing water into Horse gap for the night. In an attempt to avoid some cold rain, Ranger Ray, Dreamcatcher, and I called the hiker hostel yesterday and made a plan to stay here again tonight. While at first this seemed like a soft plan, it became very clutch as the rain started as snow and continued all afternoon. We arrived at Woody Gap to find snow covered roads and the Twelve Tribes serving some awesome lentil sausage soup and homemade pepper bread. It was hot and good! To make it better, we got a ride off the gap by a wicked nice guy from Blairsville who brought us out of his way to the Hostel. After dinner it was a fun surprise to see Kendra and Tyson. Ann and I had met them in the White Mtns last fall on a two day trip up to Owls head, her last four thousand footer in NH. A good small world experience! So far all is well despite a few aches and pains. I am very pleased not to be camping in the snow tonight though I feel it is inevitable. The forecast looks good for the next few days so on to Neel's Gap tomorrow.