morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Aquone Hostel/Tellico Gap

To: Natahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 8.1

What a great day for hiking. Clear weather. I hiked in shirt sleeves. Today was the complete opposite of yesterday. I am finding my uphill climbing is improving and I can hike for 2 or 3 hours between breaks. I even pass hikers occasionally! Crossed over Wesser Bald at noon. The views were great. Tonight I am staying at the NOC and having a great cheeseburger for dinner. This place is great. There are white water rafters, cross country runners and AT hikers, all in one place. The restaurant overlooks the river. Cold beer and good food. The end of a great day.
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Natahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

One long climb out of NOC: 6.7 miles and 3000 ' elevation rise. These steep climbs are very taxing on me. I climb, take a break to catch my breath and try to continue on. All the time everyone seems to pass me. It's a mental and physical challenge. All the time I tell myself not to get discourage. I know at my age I can't keep up with the younger hikers but there must be someone who I can keep pace with. O well, another day another hill to climb!
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 12.0

Highlight of the day "Jacobs Ladder." This was a 460 climb in less than 1 1/2 miles. Very steep, no switch-backs. Just straight up. I kept singing to myself: Oh we're climbing Jacob's Ladder, straight up boys to the sky. Oh, we're climbing Jacob's ladder, we'll get there bye and bye (Bruce Springsteen sings it better.) Even with that climb, I put in a long day and walked 12 miles. At the end of the day I camped at Cody Gap where I met Crash who is also from St Augustine, what a coincidence.
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Cody Gap

To: NC 28 at Fontana
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: clear sky

I was hiking good until I started the climb out of Cable Gap. Then my legs were just spent from the last couple of days. It took me over 2 hours to climb the ridge and get to Walker Gap. Then I was so tired I took another hour to climb down the ridge into Fontana. But I made it and decided go take a zero day tomorrow to rest up, eat up and resupply so I will be ready for the Great Smokies Mountains National PARK.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: NC 28 at Fontana

To: Fontana Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

I am being lazy and resting up a day before starting in the Smokies tomorrow. They are predicting rain today and maybe tomorrow. But you are bound to get wet in the Smokies, you just need to ready. I'm waiting for the Post Office to open at 11:45 AM. No wonder they don't make enough $'s, this one is only open 5 hours a day!I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement. I plan to give it my all, so I expect to be hiking for quite some time.
Date: 2013-04-25
From: NC 28 at Fontana

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 6:30, packed my pack, had breakfast at Fontana Lodge at 7:30, got shuttle back to NC 28 at 8:30 AM and started hiking at 9 AM. After 2 miles of hiking, I crossed Fontana Dam and entered the Great Smokies Mountains National Park. The permit box was filled with permits, a lot of people are hiking the AT through the park. I saw my first bear in the park just before the Birches Springs camp ground. She was just over a small ridge, about 50 feet off the trail. Three of us made a lot of noise and she started to move further off the trail. I kept thinking, " You don't have to faster than a bear, just faster than the guy next to you." I decided to hike on to Mollies Ridge, so I had a 12 mile day, not bad for my first day in the park. The weather is great, cool & clear.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

Crossed over Rocky Top and Thunderhead mountains. Weather was clear as I crossed over the balds. On top of Rocky Top I did the Gator Chop for my daughters(Go Gators!)Things are turning green and Spring seems to be coming to the mountains. I am hiking stronger and seem to be getting my rhythm when hiking the climbs. The GSMNP does seem to keep the AT in good shape and the shelters are in good shape. They have stone walls and fire places, although no one seems to have the energy to start a fire at night.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: light rain

Rain came in during the night and we woke up to rain and wind in the morning. It was manageable until about 11 AM when the wind really picked up: 25 to 35 MPH. I got to Silers Bald just as it turned for the worst and for safety sake decided to hunker down there until the wind died down. It didn't. We ended up staying in the shelter all day. The shelter was warm and dry with 12 people waiting out the storm. I read my Kindle all day and kept dry in my sleeping bag. The Smokies can really be tricky, sunny one day and stormy the next. You really have to listen to other hikers and know when to say when.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Clingman Dome
Miles today: 4.3

It was still raining when we woke up around 6 AM, but the wind had died down a bit and seemed to OK for hiking. Bert, a hiker who has been at the same pace as me suggested we hike to Clingman's Dome where his father could drive us to Gatlinburg, TN. The hike was just 4.3 miles, but still very trying. Clingman's Dome is the highest peak on the AT and the wind was blowing all the way. I said more than a few prayers as I made the climb:"Lord protect me and guide me, Give the strength and endurance to climb this mountain Be with me" And He was and I got to the top ahead of schedule, around 11:30 AM.I met Bert's father in the parking lot but not Bert, he had gotten a ride into Gatlinburg with some other hikers. I checked in the Grand Prix Hotel. All I can say it's dry and fits my hiker needs. What a day,now I am drying out my cloths and making plans to hike a few more to finish GSMNP.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Clingman Dome

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Crossed the 200 mile mark at Mt Love. After all the rain, we've had some great hiking weather. At New Found Gap, I talked to several tourists, they all seemed impressed with anyone attempting a thru hike. One guy from PA lived in the area I did storm work last year. It's a small world!
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Tri-County Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Longest day so far. Davenport Gap is very green. Lots of flowers are budding along the trail.This is my last section in the Great Smokies National Park.The trail in the park is well maintained and has been great for the views from the ridges.
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Crossed my first Interstate Hwy, I-40. There will lots more along the way. At 9 AM, I stopped by Standing Bear Hostel which is just north of I-40. Showered, washed my cloths & ate lunch: 2 cheeseburgers! Then I decided to keep hiking and continued on to Grounghog Creek. Along the way I crossed the peak of Snowbird Mtn that has an FAA radar installation on it
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Met up with Subman,Frank and Frank's grandsons. They were hiking south from Hot Springs and we met up south of Max Patch. Later in the day I crossed over Max Patch, a bald that has some great views. The wind was blowing about 25-35 MPH, enough to push you around. At the top, I met a young German couple who gave me great German chocolate. Fantastic trailmagic! The weather was cold and windy at Walnut Mtn, the coldest in several days.
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.1

Woke up at 6 AM to howling winds and cold temp. Crossed over Bluff Mountain. It was cold,foggy, and windy. Once I crossed over the summit, I was on the leeward side of the mountain so the wind died a bit. But all day long the wind would blow on my back or in my face as the trail snaked through the mountains. I stopped and had some hot soup for Lunch at Deer Park Mountain Shelter then push on to Hot Springs. I got a bunk for the night at the Hostel at the Laughing Heart Lodge. This is a Jesuit conference center that runs a hiker hostel for us lost souls. A very nice place, clean and well maintained.
Date: 2013-05-05
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Dis a zero day in Hot springs at the Laughing Heart Hostel. Got up around 8 AM and went to church at the Presbyterian Church. There were about 25 people at the service and 5 of them invited me to breakfast after the service. Later in the day, about 8 of us went dinner in towwn. It was a raining day so there wasn't much to do but eat. All in all, Hot Springs was a nice little town, friendly to hikers and a great place to relax.
Date: 2013-05-06
From: Hot Springs

To: Hemlock Hollow Inn
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up at 7 am, packed up and walked into town to get breakfast. At the diner, everyone was talking about how the French Broad River was flooding due to yesterday's rain. I hike to the bridge and several hikers were looking at the river. A couple tried to hike the section parallel to the river but could not get pass the flood waters. A kind lady in a Suski offered to shuttle two of us to Tanyard Gap, so we could avoid the flood waters. So I am no longer a purist, I avoided 5 miles of flooded trail. Hiked to Spring Mountain Shelter, had lunch and continued on to Hemlock Hollow Hostel. Due to the rain, this hostel was so crowded the previous night that they were almost out of food. I decided to stay there since they were predicting rain tonight.
Date: 2013-05-07
From: Hemlock Hollow Inn

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Great views from the Firescab Knob. Rain cut my hike short, 12 of us were in the shelter built for 6 people. 9 on the platform, 1 in a hammock in the shelter, 1 on the table, and 1 under the table. Quite crowded!
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

We woke up early and hiked 3 miles down to Sams Gap. From there, we hitched a ride to Little Creek Cafe and had a great breaksat! A great guy in a pick-up, gave us hitch back to the trail. Those two trail angles saved us 5 1/2 mikes of extra hiking. Had a step climb to Big Bald and rewarded with great views!
Date: 2013-05-10
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We had great views from High Rocks in the morning but I got very tired in the afternoon. I even stopped and had a nap as I climbed Spivey Gap. A late lunch gave me some extra energy and I struggled into No Business Shelter. It was threatening to rain so I slept in the shelter with 5 other hikers and several mice. No Business needs to be cleaned!
Date: 2013-05-11
From: No Business Shelter

To: Erwin, Tenn.
Miles today: 5.8

Stayed at Uncle Johnnies Hostel. It is crowded and noisy and not very clean. Trash is piled up near the picnic tables where they were cooking a spaghetti dinner. We were too hungry to wait for it so 5 of us shuttled into town and ate dinner at Azeteca Mexican restaurant.
Date: 2013-05-13
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Beauty Spot Gap then back to Erwin
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: clear sky

Woke up and threw up. Norovirius strikes again! It has been hitting hikers all year. I must had caught it sometime in the last two days. Despite trying to avoid unclean surfaces, it found me. I called a shuttle service who picked me up at The Beauty Spot Gap and drove me to the Super 8 in Erwin. A couple of other hikers are here with the same story. I'll rest a day or two and see how I feel. I wanted to more safe than sorry, I did not want to injurer myself on the tail, so I came back into town.
Date: 2013-05-14
From: Beauty Spot Gap

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: clear sky

Woke up around 9 AM and ate a light breakfast at the Super 8. I didn't get sick again so I called Tom, the shuttle service who took back to the Beauty Spot. He is a great shuttle service, friendly, helpful and prompt. I hiked slow and took a lot of breaks. I was feeling tired all day. There was one other hiker at the shelter. It was nice not to be in crowd.
Date: 2013-05-15
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Friendly (Hostel)
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Still sluggish. I slept at the Greasy Creek Hostel bunk house. I was the only one there. A lot of hikers have gone to Damascus VA for trail days so the trail is empty. I am skipping trail days since I need to make up some time.
Date: 2013-05-16
From: Greasy Creek Friendly (Hostel)

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Roan Mountain is the last mountain over 6000 feet until the Whites. It was a challenge but I made it! The shelter is an old fire warden hut and is the highest shelter on the trail. Its a log cabin with an actual door & windows. It is near the site of the old Cloudland Hotel. That was a luxury hotel in the early 1900's that was abandoned and torn down. I'm finally hiking strong again. I feel like I'm back to my old self.
Date: 2013-05-17
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel (Roan Mountain, Tenn.)
Miles today: 15.8

A long day of hiking but good. I crossed over Little Hump and Big Hump. These are balds, mountains that are treeless. Both have grass slopes and tops so the views were great. A thunderstorm came up while I was hiking, so I pitch my tent in a low spot between the balds and waited out the storm. I slept for an hour and then continued my hike. I didn't want to be the hiker hit by lightning on a bald during a thunderstorm. After the storm I hiked on and crossed into Tennessee for good. Since the Smokies, the trail has straddled the NC/TN state line. Now no more North Carolina. 3 states down. It was 8 PM when I got to the hostel which was full. So I slept in my tent after I showered and had dinner. Like an idiot, I left my phone charger in Erwin at the Super 8. They are mailing it to me here. Hopefully it will be at the post office tomorrow.
Date: 2013-05-18
From: Mountain House Hostel (Roan Mountain, Tenn.)

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel (Roan Mountain, Tenn.)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

The phone charger did not make it here today but as luck would have it I found one that works in the Hiker Box at this hostel. Hiker Boxes are where everyone dumps food & equipment they don't need to lighten their packs. The trail provides! Its raining today so I moved into the bunkhouse and decided to take a rest day.
Date: 2013-05-19
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel (Roan Mountain, Tenn.)

To: Mountaineer Falls 
Miles today: 9.3

400 miles!We had omelets for breakfast in the bunk house at Mountain Harbour Hostel. Then I started hiking. At 11 AM, I crossed over Buck Rd and and services were starting at Buck Road Baptist Church. I decided to join them and went inside. The congregation was about a dozen people, they seemed to all related. They welcomed me and it was good to be at church on a Sunday. I started hiking again at Noon and at 4 PM, the rain & thunder started. By the time I got to the shelter I was soaked from head to toe. Mountaineering shelter is new, so I hung up my clothes to dry (they didn't) and got into my sleeping bag to warm up.
Date: 2013-05-20
From: Mountaineer Falls 

To: Black Bear Hostel (outside of Hampton,TN)
Miles today: 15.6

Woke up to rain and wet clothes. The rain stopped while I was getting ready and my cloths felt OK wet. But I had to hike in another thunderstorm this morning, so it was about 2 PM before my cloths were dry. I decided to hike into Black Bear to clean up. This is a great hostel. Very clean. The bunk house is the best yet, I was the only one there. Like having a private room for $15/day.
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Black Bear Hostel (outside of Hampton,TN)

To: Watauga Lake shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

One of the roughest climbs since Georgia. Pond Mountain was a 2000 foot climb yet only 2 miles. But it seemed to last forever. Multiple switch backs and so many false summits I lost track. By the time I got to the shelter, it was full so I slept in my tent. Just as I was ready to go to sleep, a thunderstorm hit that lasted till midnight. To keep my sleeping bag dry, I slept in my rain suit. The rain stayed out of my tent but the condensation from my body heat made everything damp in the morning. I had to pack up my tent wet which just added more weight. What a night!
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Watauga Lake shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

It was still raining when I started hiking. At the Watuga Lake dam (owned by TVA) a work crew had bottles of water for the hikers. The trail crossed over the top of the dam. The real treat was they had a clean Port-O-Potty we could use. For some reason none of the shelters in Tennessee have privies. So that was a welcomed sight. I was only able to hike to the next shelter, my back is getting sore and slowing me down.
Date: 2013-05-23
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: few clouds

Another short day due to my sore back. And more rain. I rested in the shelter all afternoon and it rained all night. The wind added to the noise as we could hear trees cracking in the high winds. There were 8 hikers in the shelter that was meant go hold only 6.
Date: 2013-05-24
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abington Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

After resting yesterday, I was ready to do some miles. It was still foggy and raining when I started but cleared upped as the day progressed. The temperatures dropped as the front moved through so the day ended with cold clear skys. Great for hiking! I wore my rain jacket and pants most of the day as a wind break. My back felt much better after I shifted some weight and kept it warm with my jacket. At the road crossing for TN Route 91, there was some trail magic provided by a Evans Chapel Baptist Church. Cokes and snacks, it was great. Thanks so much. Just before Abington Shelter there was a disused shelter, McQueens Knob. It was a great example of the original shelters along the trail.
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Abington Shelter

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Crossed into Virginia! After walking from Georgia and across North Carolina and Tennessee, its great to be in VA. This was my home state from 1960 until I moved to Florida in 1981. I went to Old Dominion University (Class of 1974) and most of my sisters and my parents are here. Its good to be back. Now I need to make Harpers Ferry. I' m looking forward to hiking the Blue Ridge. The hike today was a quick 10 miles into town. Then I cleaned up and look forward to some good food. I am going to take about 5 lbs of clothes and equipment out of my pack to make the hiking a little easier. A lighter sleeping bag, a new water filter, a lighter pot and less clothes should do the trick.
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Damascus VA

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I spent the day walking around town talking to other hikers who are taking rest days. I bought a lighter knife, a Sawyer System water filter, and food for the next several days. On a sad note I found out that Highlander, an older hiker from Scotland & Australia passed away several days ago. He had heart problems and apparently died of a heart attack while hitchhiking into town to see a doctor. He was a great guy, very pleasant personality, and it will be a real lost that he is gone for everyone hiking this year.
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Damascus VA

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I have to take a second zero day today since the post office is closed for Memorial Day. Tomorrow I will pick up my mail, mail back some gear and then hit the trail. Today my goal is not to spend too much money on food while I'm here in town. I was looking for some local paintings of the mountains but there isn't any for sale. I wanted to buy some small paintings as mementoes of my hike as I progress up the trail.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Damascus VA

To: Pond north of Beartree Gap
Miles today: 12.0

I was planning to spend the night at Saunders Shelter but when I got there, 3 people were in the shelter and it looked like they were living there. They said they had gone to Trail Days the previous week and had a long story about either their food was stolen or a bear ate it. They had different stories for different people. The bottom line was I didn't feel comfortable so I moved on a couple of miles to a tent site next to a small pond. There were two other hikers there for the same reason. The trail does have some "trail bums" on it, they usually don't have good equipment and don't do much hiking. It's a sign of the times. Most hikers help each other and you want to be open hearted about people's problems. But at the same time nobody carries a lot of extra food and many hikers are on tight budgets. So the best thing is to move on and be aware of the folks around you.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Pond north of Beartree Gap

To: Whitetop Mountain camp site
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

A tough day of hiking. Almost all uphill. I decided to sleep in a camp site instead of hiking 7 more miles to the next shelter. The camp site has a nice strong flowing spring and had great night views since the side of the mountain was a large open field. Whitetop is the second highest peak in VA so it is higher than the surrounding area.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Whitetop Mountain camp site

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked thru Mt Rogers and Grayson Highlands. This was some of the prettiest country that I seen since the Smokies. Part of the area is a National Forest and part is a Virginia State Park. The area has everything: great views, rock climbing and wild ponies. I crossed the 500 mile mark at Wise shelter and hiked 5 more miles to Old Orchard. About a half mile from the shelter I saw a bear that ran up the hill as I was walking down it. He seemed more scared of me than I was of him. What a great day!
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

Hiking in Virginia is going great. The trail is in good shape, the hills aren't too bad and the trail has fewer hikers. Either the crowd is north of me or a lot of hikers have dropped off after Trail Days. I was the only one to sleep in Old Orchard Shelter and there was only 3 of us in Trimpi Shelter. I'm hiking stronger and faster. Maybe I finally got the "trail legs" everyone said I would get.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 10.6

Got up at 5:30 and got a early start to hike to Partnership Shelter at the Mt Rogers Visitor Center. A shuttle into Marion was suppose to leave at 11:00 but the AWOL hiking guide failed to mention that the shuttle only runs on the week days. I split the cost of a taxi ride with two other hikers and got into Marion at noon. Now a shower, clean cloths and some good food. I'll get back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Marion, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 12.0

Got up at 6AM and had breakfast at McDonald's in Marion, then got a taxi to take me back to the Mt Rogers Visitor Center. I started to hike at 8AM. It started to rain at 10AM. It wasn't too cold or windy, so it was OK to hike in the rain. I hiked through to Atkins and got here about 2:30 PM. I did slip and fell twice due some slick clay mud on the trail. Each time I rolled onto some grass to prevent getting too dirty in the mud. Some call the trail the longest creek in America. It gets that wet when it rains. The highlight of the day was the Lindamood one room school house and Settlers Museum. It has been preserved and is open for hikers to visit. It sits right on the trail and is a real neat place to stop and look at.