morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-09
From: Unicoi Gap/Hiawassee

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Food. Water. Maps. It was a slackpack day.I arrived at Unicoi Gap at around 9:30-9:45AM. There was trail magic, I had a breakfast burrito courtesy of two former thru hikers. I put it in my pack and saved it for my lunch. It was delicious.Rocky Mountain has switchbacks to start, and then went straight up. This state is getting old fast.Tray mountain was a delight. Best views of the whole trip. It was windy up there, so I moved along.Then the trail went up and down over bumps, these were starting to take their toll on me. The trail went straight up, and then straight down. Rinse and repeat. That was my day.Thus far, these 16 miles were the toughest miles, both physically and mentally.Kelly's Knob was difficult. It went on and on. It has easily been the toughest climb of the trip. A few flase summits mixed in with a trail that goes straight up makes for a grueling climb.GATCL Please mark your summits. Thank you.At Dick's Creek Gap I took a break and ate some granola.I then began the three mile walk back to the Blueberry Patch. One mile away from the hostel, two day hikers offered to ride me the rest of the way. Trail magic number two.At the Blueberry Patch I packed my pack in preparation for the departure to Cloud9, the other hostel in Hiawassee.As I was waiting for the shuttle on the road in front of the Blueberry Patch, Mother nature and Smokestack drove past me. They ended up treating me to dinner, quite delicious. hank you very much Mother Nature and Smokestack. I enjoyed trading trail stories about the trail up to Dick's Creek Gap.I am now at Cloud9, enjoying a peaceful nght. All the other hikers are in town eating dinner.Apparently there is another 17 year old on the trail. I hope to track him/her down. There are very fiew of us out here, so I hope to connect with the ones I can.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-10
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muscrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

I went to bed at 12:00AM last night, so I did not wake up until 8:30AM, but I once again awoke in a warm room, tough life.Crutch made us some pancakes, quite delicious. It was nice to trade trail stories with him, I picked his brain about the trail ahead.Today's hiking was mostly up hill, funny how you walk up hill to get to a gap.I was not really paying attention to the things around me, I was focused on getting to North Carolina.It felt odd to be standing on the GA-NC border. After nine days, including a zero, I was finally entering a new state.I took my picture at the border, and Hillbilly took my picture in front of the gnarled oak tree at Bly Gap.The climb out of the Gap was steep. Since I knew it was bad ahead of time, I set a nice slow pace and slowly but surely finished my final up hill sretch for the day.Muscrat Creek shelter is nice. I am officially in the hands of the Nantahala Hiking club. Goodbye GATC.I just watched the sunset on Raven's Cliff. Life is good.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-11
From: Muscrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Physically, today's hike was easy, switchback were everywhere. Mentally, this was the toughest day yet.Woke up around 7:30AM, feelingh semi-shitty. Made breakfast, packed up, and moved out. I was on trail at 8:50AM.Standing Indian has switchbacks the whole way, so it was a fairly easy climb.I kept having to stop to take breaks today, I was not mentally wih it, I had no real urge to hike today, but that's all part of the game. I need to take the punches as they roll.Every now and then there were nice views, they are all the same now.I ate a lot of snacks today, it was my attempt to get my brain in the game.For the final part of the day I hiked with Hillbilly and Travis. Hillbilly is a funny man, and Travis is good company. Hillbilly and I are working on a trail name for him, we hope to have him one by Fontana Dam.I am now at a shelter for the night. There is a nice fire going. I am here with Hillbilly, Travis, Whitefish, and Wasabi.This journal entry has been difficuly to write, my brain is living in its own world today.Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-12
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

I have come to appreciate a warm breakfast, and my Jetboil makes that quite simple.I got off to another slow start this morning, it took about an hour and a hald to eat, pack up, and hit trail. My brain, for the start was in its own little world.The only mountain of significane was Albert Mountain, that was a steep climb. It reminded me of hiking in Maine. The climb kicked my ass.The summit was a delight. I deemed myself worthy of a warm lunch, I had a Lipton-like pasta packet. A little rest and relaxation goes a long way.The hike from Albert Mountain to Rock Gap Shelter was quite easy. I decided to hike as fast so I could, that made me feel a whole lot better.I spent most of today playing leapfrog with Travis and Hillbilly, I mostly hiked on my own.I have determined I hike faster than a lot of people out here. It is not purposeful, it just happens to be that my hiking speed is quicker than others. I enjoy my pace though, it makes my day a whole lot better.I am currently at the shelter for the night. There are several other hikers here as well.People are starting to drop, and I am noticing familiar faced at the shelter each night. It takes a while for everyone to get into the swing of things, but we are slowly but surely getting used to the life of a thru hiker.Tomorrow I shall go to Franklin, NC, where I shall stay with Ron Haven at the Budget Inn. I need to resupply and figure out my plan for getting to Fontana Dam. I also need to pick up a couple pieces of small gear.The life of a hiker. In the end, we lead very simple lives. Our purpose is o walk, nothing more, nothing less. We are out here to attempt to find a rational for all our life decisions, good and bad.Katahdin is no longer just a mountain, it is the representation of the end of an ideological struggle against one's self.Our sole purpose is to walk.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-13
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

In order to make it to Winding Stair Gap for the 9:00AM shuttle, I needed to be hiking by 7:00AM. I woke up at 6:00AM.The hike to Franklin was fairly easy, some ups and downs, twists and turns. Typical Appalachian Trail terrain.Ron Haven arrived at Winding Stair Gap around 9:00AM, like clockwork. I bumped into Wrongway again. He is one day ahead of me, I hope to catch him at some point and spend a day hiking with him. We shall see how everything shakes down over the coming days.Originally, Franklin was going to be a small stop for me, but as time went on, it became cleat there were a lot of things that needed to get done in town.Once I was in Franklin, I went to breakfast at Wilson's, damn good breakfast there. It is also reasonably priced and has a laid back atmosphere.I then showered up and did laundry, nothing like clean clothing.I then lounged around for a couple hours, it is always nice to do nothing for a little while.It seems my knees are in perfect condition for hiking, but not running. I attempted to run a little today, and my knees hurt every step of the way. I think I shall stick to hiking from now on.At around 4:30PM, Ron started his nightly town shuttle. This is where he loads all the hikers up in the bus and takes them where ever they need to go in town. It was nice to get all my town chores done in one big bang.A little later in the evening, Ron Haven and the hikers here at the Budget Inn celebrated my 17th birthday by buying me a pizza. My body can not handle cake. The pizza was quite delicious. I would like to thank Ron and all the hikers here tonight for that little celebration, it put the icing on a great day here in Franklin, NC.I am now packing my bag and preparing for my attach plan for the approach to Fontana Dam, where I shall stay at the Hike Inn in preparation for my assault on the Smokies.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Franklin, NC

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Today I walked 16 miles with a full pack, and damn did it feel good.I once again went to breakfast at Wilson's, best breakfast on trail thus far.I then packed up and got a shuttle with Ron Haven back to Winding Stair Gap, I once again lost my purist status by not walking across the road.Normally, today's hike would have had great views everywhere, but since I was walking in a cloud for most of the day, I had no views.In Franklin I picked up a small portable radio, and I listened to it all day today, headphones of course. I rocked out to Stairway to Heaven as I went up a hill here in North Carolina, it was amazing.Every now and then I stopped to take a picture. I was quite fonds of the cloud I was walking in, we had a special connection by the end of the day.I no longer look at my maps as ferquently as I use to. I know where I am starting for the day, and I know where I hope to be by the end of the day. Everything else in between is just in my way. That is the way the General put it to me, and it makes perfect sense.I am now at Cold Spring Shelter, and it is raining. There are several other people here, I believe we are all long distance hikers. Hal, Travis, Hilbilly, Wasabi, Snake, Whitefish, and myself are here for the night.It seems I might be spending the coming days hiking with Hal, a New Englander from Vermont.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-15
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Drip drop, splish splash, squish squash. Mother natuer once again unleashed her fury upon southern Appalachia, and today I had the honor of hiking in it.Since the shelter was completely full, I woke up quite warm this morning, although I had little to no wiggle room.I deemed myself worthy of cinamon toast cruch for breaskfast, so that's exactly what I had. I am at the point where I will pack anything out of town if I think it would taste good on the trail.I hiked all day through the rain with Hal today, We spent the day thinking about the trail ahead and trading trail stories, a nice change of pace for me.For the first part of today it was raining, but then it cleared up. I had a supurb view on Wesser Bald, the tower view made the slippery climb quite worth it.I then began the rolling descent into the NOC. There are plenty of useless ups and downs along the way.Today I was slippingh and sliding all along the trail. I had one complete fall and my side, and my trekking poles prevented many others.You learn to become excited when you see signs of civilization, it means warmth is near by. When you are cold and wet, warmth is a delight.My half day here at the NOC has been spent lounging around doing nothing, something I have become quite good at recently.Today I also made my reservation at the Hike Inn near Fontana Dam. Since I have reserved a specific date, I am bound to a certain tome table getting there.I have also started thinking about my assault on the Smokies. I have determined I will do one big push through and get the park behind me.There are 10-15 thru hikers in the vicinity of the NOC tonight. Most of them will walk 15 miles tomorrow, I will only walk 7. It has been nice being half a day behind the big crowd of hikers.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-16
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

I awoke to rustling sleeping bags and creaking wood. The room was semi-dark, and the other hikers were planning ther assault plan for getting out of their sleeping bags. I wandered around the NOC complex for a little while, killing tome before I started the long and complex process of packing my backpack.I fnally started, but half way through I went to breakfast with three other hikers. The food was cheap and good.I was on trail around 10:30AM, at which point Hal and I began the 7.1 mile climb to the shelter, mostly uphill.About two miles before the shelter there was a nice view, I deemed myself worthy of a snack break, and it was also a Kodak moment.Straight up. Straight down. Turn left. Turn right. That describes the trail for the last two miles of today.I was originally going to camp on Cheoah Bald with Hal, thinking I might have a quiet night and a nice sunset. When I arrived at this shelter, I learned several other hikers were headinh up there, so I decided not to.At some point I would like to camp on a nice ridge on my own, but tonight is not the night. I would be seeking quietness, and I would not get that tonight on the bald.I enjoy the company of the small group of hikers I am moving forward with right now. I am looking forward to the thru hikers spreading out.Tomorrow I shall walk some more, slowly but surely getting closer to the next destination.The day after tomorrow is no longer on my mind. It is all about the here and now.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

A little less conversation and a little more exaustation. All this aggravation is making me sore.I awoke to a nice sunrise, and there was no effort involved in witnessing it. The best kind of sunrise.Hal and I hit trail around 8:15AM. We took a break atop of Cheoah Bald, there was a nice view up there, and the bald made a good short-nap spot.Hal seems to have a fetish for trees. It felt like we were stopping every 15 minutes to examine a tree. I have dubbed him "Tarzan". This was the second tiome I have given out a trail name on this trip.The climb out of Stecoah Gap starts at a gentle grade, and then sends you straight up and down two to three bumps. I counted one switchback in this section. Trail maintainers have a cruel sense of humor.The rest of the hike was gentle ridge walking.Hal and I have a strike system in place. We get a strike everytime we fall down. I currently have six strikes, Hal has three.Just before Brown Fork Gap shelter, I put my radio in "on" mode. Just as I turned it on, "We Will Rock You" was starting. I felt so good listening to that song, I decided to start running. I ran a solid 100 yards at sprint speed with my pack. Towards the end I launched off of a log step, and had my legs pulled from underneath me on the landing. I fel pure amazing after that fall.Some thru's are already pulling 20 mile days, which is idiotic this early in the trip.Tomorrow I will descend into Fontana Dam. I will stay at the Hike Inn tomorrow night and resupply in Robbinsville.If the weather holds, I will begin my assauly on the Smokies. The forcast is sketchy, so we shall see how things shake down.Here is some advice. When your body says stop, you better stop, you will be happy later on that you did.Hot chocolate is waiting for me.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-18
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam/The Hike Inn
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was not an ordinary day. In fact, no day on the trail is ordinary. Today was the final approach to Fontana Dam, the gateway to the Smokies.As I began my walk today, Fontana Lake became larger and marger, I was descending into the gateway. The Smokies loomed large over Fontana Lake.The lake has been hit hard by the drought, you can see the old shore line in comparison to the current one.Upon my arrival, I was greeted by the AT Crossings Center, and a kiosk with the backcountry permit I will be required to carry during operation GSMNP(Great Smokie Mountains National Park).I had the honopr of using my first flushable toilet in three days, it was quite a delight.I then began the 1.4 mile trot to the visitor's center.I discovered with hapiness that the center was closed until the start of May/ There were few people without backpacking backpacks around.I was then swooped up by the Hike Inn. I have been planning to stay here since before I hit trail.I then started the chores that come with resupply/ I emptied my backpack and sorted my clothes and food bags.Clean clothes and a shower are simply amazing these days. Cleanliness is good for the morale.I then got a ride to town to buy food for resupply. I had to buy enough food to get me to Hot Springs, North Carolina. I will send two to three days worth of food ahead to myself at Standing Bear Farm, just outside the Smokies.I am now preparing my backpack for tomorrow. I will most likely zero at the Fontana Hilton Shelter. Mother nature is preparing to unleash her fury upon the Smokies, and I am not going to take her on. The AT in the Smokies hovers between four and six thousand feet for most of the 70 miles in the park. Being caught on gthe ridge in bad weather is asking for trouble.I shall now go to sleep.I shall down rest my body.I shall now prepare for my assault on the Smokies.I shall now prepare to execute operation GSMNP.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-19
From: Fontana Dam/The Hike Inn

To: Fontana Dam/Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today, I did not wear my trail runners. Today, I did not walk over any mountains, or pass any new whiteblazes. Today, I walked zero miles.I slept quite well at the Hike Inn, and I enjoyed my stay there.I packed up and was dropped off at the Fontana Post Office around 9:30AM. I mailed a mail drop ahead to myself and got some cash.This is a very expensive section of trail. If you are planning a "normal" thru hike, prepare to spend money in the first 300 miles.At the Fontana Lodge, I met up with Hillbilly and later Tarzan(Hal).Mother nature exploded on the Smokies today, wind gusts up to 60MPH on the ridge.I will hike out tomorrow, operation GSMNP will begin. The assault on the Smokies will be in full swing.Tonight I am at the Fontana Hilton Shelter with Tarzan and several other hikers.My next stop is Hot Springs, I do not have another "planned" zero until Damascus, I am trying to cut down on spending. Things become far more spread out as I head north, points between resupply will become longer.Life is good on the good ol' AT.Kirby"If nominated, I would not accept. If elected, I would not serve"
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Fontana Dam/Fontana Hilton Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

Kirby: Attention captain, requesting transmission, over.Captain: 10-4. Please state intent of transmission, over.Kirby: Requesting permission to execute operation GSMNP, assault on the Smokies, over.Captain: Roger that agent Kirby. Central Command just forwarded a memorandum from the joint chiefs, signed by the commander in chief, approving the execution of operation GSMNP, assault on the Smokies, over.Kirby: 10-4, preparing for execution. Over and out.I had an odd sensation walking over Fontana Dam this morning. After so much hype and excitement over the Smokies, I was about to start the formulation of my own opinion of America's most visited National Park.The climb out of Fontana Dam is not as bad at the maps make on believe.I enjoyed taking the short side trail to the summit of Shuckstack mountain. There was a nice view from the stairs on the tower.Depending on what side of the ridge we were walking on, it was either cold and windy, or warm and delighful. The trees were coated with ice, and the leaves were crunchy due to frost.The trail was quite easy today, it was a nice change of pace.I once again hiked with Tarzan today, I am getting used to hiking with him. We seem to get along well, and we spend our days trading random stories, a nice change of pace.The Smokies require you to sleep at the shelters, and tent only when full. This makes for a logistical nightmare.The shelter has a tarp over the front, and there is a fire going right now.Tomorrow is dependent on how I feel after the first 13 miles, I might go for 17.Operation GSMNP is under way.My assault on the Smokies has begun.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-21
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: few clouds

Today, I walked. It felt quite nice. I think I can get used to this lifestyle.The firsy 5.5 miles were quite easy today. After that, I experienced a major change in terrain and scenery. It was good for my morale, and it kept my mind occupied for a little white.I went over several bald-like features today, and there were many great views.I have mastered the art of dropping things from my pocket and onto the trail. Thus far, I have had good luck, everything I have dropped has found its way back to me.I spend most of my time these days thinking about random things. Everything out here starts to look the same, so I need to find ways to keep my brain occupied.Tomorrow I shall wake up early enough to see the sunrise on Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the entire trail.I want to get out of this park fast. The shelter regulations make things a pain.Kirby out.Kirby
Date: 2008-03-22
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Kirby: Attention captain, requesting status of pending operation, over.Captain: Roger that. Operation Sunrise has been approved by the Joint Chiefs, you are due to start at 0430, over.Kirby: 10-4. Commencing preparation for operation sunrise. Over and out.I had my eyes set on summiting Clingman's Dome for sunrise. A 4:30AM wake up is never easy, the cold weather just made it a tab bit more diffcult.As I finished packiong up VIA headlamp, I spotted two deer. One immediately bolted when my headlamp made contact with its eyes. I snapped a photo of the other one. My first piece of interesting wildlife.I was on trail at 5:00AM, and was sitting in the tower on the summit by 6:30AM. The sunrise was quite a delight, although there was a bitter wind.The descent into Newfound Gap was nothing special, although I walked across my first bog bridge, except these ones where designed to preven hikers from stepping in the mud, which would add to erosion.I spent the rolling descent listening to the Weekly Top 40 on my porable radio. This is a great investment, it makes dull miles seem semi-bearable.Newfound Gap was quite windy. I had my first "official" crossing into Tennessee. The trail has been stradding the NC-TN border for about 20 miles now. I do not cross into TN permanently until north of Erwin, TN.At the gap, I used a flushing toilet, a luxury item for a long distance hiker.The climb out of the gap was fairly easy, ice was randomly scattered along the trail.As of now, I shall try for 20 miles tomorrow, but we shall see. I am focused on getting out of this park.I have been on trail down for 22 days, but it does not feel that long. Springer is in the distant past, and I am very used to waking up and hiking each day.I am starting to think about Hot Spring, NC. That is my next overnight in a town, I have a maildrop I sent myself at Standing Bear Farm, just north of the Smokies.Well, I shall now commence with sleeping preparations, it is 7:43PM, and I am exausted.Good night, and good luck.Kirby