morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, 6 days and a wake up. The long range forecast has it raining on March 7th. Oh well, welcome to the AT. Over the past few weeks I have been going through my gear and have pulled a few things and added a few things. This week is the final cut week. I will lay out all my gear on the floor and really see what stays and what goes. I might even get down to the removing of lables and tags on all my clothes and gear. Hey it all adds up to weight. The past couple of weeks I have been trying to get my body ready for all the hiking. My daily routine consist of going to the gym at 7:00am to put 2 miles on the Elliptical trainer. Then in the aftenoon I hike 4 miles at the University of Tennessee Arboretume. They have a lot of wooded trails that have some good elevation gains and loses. I have been hiking with my boots and a 30 lb pack. The excitment and anticipation is about to kill me. My neighbor asked my how can I discribe the anticipation. Well its like being a high school freshman boy who has been asked to the senior prom by the head cheerleader and she said to make sure I bring condoms!!! Oh boy I can't wait. 6 days and a wake up. See you all on the trail.Tennessee Tom"Everything is within walking distance if you have the time"
Date: 2010-03-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the worst thing to happen within one week of departing for Springer is to get sick. 3 days ago I came down with some bug that put me in bed. I¢ve been looking at delaying my departure a few days so I could recuperate. Today I broke down and went to the doctors. After explaining that my start date was this Sunday March 7th, both the nurse and the doctor started laughing. They gave me a steroid shot and some antibiotics. They claim the steroid shot should make me feel like a million bucks by the 7th but if I decided to start on the 7th I¢d better limit myself to very short miles the first few days. If I decide to start on the 7th I plan on just hiking from Springer Mountain to Stove Creek shelter 2.8 miles down the trail.   The weather is supposed to be good on the 7th and 8th with cold rain moving in on the 9th. Stay tuned for updates from the trail.
Date: 2010-03-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well it's a go!!   I will be heading out to Springer Mountain tomorrow morning at 8:00 am. Garrett, my youngest son will drive and drop me off. I expect to be standing on Springer Mountain around noon to start my 6 month journey. I don't anticipate doing very many miles the first couple of days due to just recovering from some kind of bug. Needless to say I will still be on the trail. I want to thank all my family and all my great neighbors for putting up with all my anticipation and yacking about the trail. By this time some of them probably can't wait for me to leave. My next journal entry will be from the trail.Tennessee Tom
Date: 2010-03-07
From: Springer moutain

To: Stover Creek shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We'll the trip has started. It was a gorgous day, 3 inches of snow, My son "Garrett" dropped me off at Springer. I had a short day with only 2.8 miles to Stove Creek shelter. Great shelter, we had 7 other thru-hikers and 6 section hikers. One guy was from Scotland, 2 from Penn. 2 from Mich and a young couple from Knoxville TN. All were great people.
Date: 2010-03-08
From: Stover Creek shelter

To: Justic Creek
Miles today: 11.0

Ok, Georgia just kicked my butt, I think I had several things going against me. !, I just got over being sick, 2. My stuborn head made me hike furture tha I should have and 3, Georgia is none as the state that weeds out the hikers and now I belive it. The constant elevation gains and loses without switchback trails. For some reason Georgia only knows how to make trails go straight up and straight down. I stayed at a camp site along a creek with 7 others. The hammock was ok but a bed would be better, Tomorrow I only plan to hike 7 miles and then hitch a ride to the Hiker Hostel. I am just plain beat.
Date: 2010-03-09
From: Justic Creek

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: few clouds

Again Georgia has kicked my butt. I hiked "suffered" 6.3 miles and the hitched a ride to the Hiker Hostel. There are 14 others staying the night. First come first serve on the bunks. I got the floor, but I also got a shower, washed some clothes and they will give us rides to town for supplys and dinner. I'm seriously thinking of taking a zero day tomorrow. My body needs to get some rest. I have decided that from now until I reach TN its going to only be 7 mile days. I'll also get a chance to make a few calls home. Next update won't be for at least 3-4 days.
Date: 2010-03-10
From: Woody Gap

To: Hiker Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to take a zero day to let my body adjust to the shock of the trail. I am staying at the Hiker Hostel which is owned by a former Thr-hiker couple. Great Place, I went through my pack to see what I really don't need and was able to send home 5 lbs of stuff. This should bring my pack weight including food and water to under 40 lbs. Tomorrow I will set off in the morning, forecasted to rain for the next 3 days. Plan is to only hike 7 miles to the top of Blood Mountain. Followed by the next day for 3 miles to Neels Gap. I will stay the night at Neels Gap Hostel if there is room and then the next day head out again.
Date: 2010-03-11
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Today was a good day. Even though it rained all day and the temp was in the high 30's. It started out as a steady down pour but by the time we got to the top of Blood Mountain the rain was going side ways. The trail at times, seemed like I was walking in 3 inches of chocolate pudding. It's supposed to rain for the next 2 days so this is life on the trail. I didn't really like the last 2 miles of steep down hill which is hard on the Knees. I hiked with Squint and his nephew Josh. Squint had a great slow steady pace. I'm staying in the Neels Gap Hostel with about 10 other thru-hikers. The hiking community is such a close group whether you are 18 or 50. I plan the next 4 days to be staying in either shelters or my hammock. It will most likely be about 4 days before I will be able to update the journal unless I can get a signal with my phone.
Date: 2010-03-12
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Today was one of the most miserable hiking days of my life. It was raining from the very start and only got worse. Between the cold rain and the winds at sometimes in excess of 20 knots mother nature decided to throw in some thunder and lightning. Of course the lightning wouldn't start until each time we came to the top of a mountain. The rest of the trail was what we call "PUDs" pointless ups and downs. I was hiking with Jimmy, Squint and Josh. All I saw was the back of Josh's heels all day. My head was always looking down to prevent all the rain from blowing inside the hood of my rain jacket. I arrived at Low Gap shelter to get the last spot in the shelter. The shelters in Georgia aren't the best. My space consisted of 24 inches wide, you don't dare try to roll over in the night. The best part was at least the shelter keep us some what dry. We were able to put a couple of tent flys to partly cover the large opening in the shelter to prevent most of the rain from blowing in throughout the night.
Date: 2010-03-13
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

Just another day in the rain. Today mother nature decided to throw something different besides the rain. It sleeted and at times seemed to be a bit of hail mixed in. I am so tired of hiking in the rain. Of course to prevent going through all your dry clothes which is usually one extra set, you get up in the morning and hike with the wet clothes you were wearing the day before. This ensures you have something dry to put on for the night. This morning I seemed to hike in the middle of the pack. The young guys left first and were off like bullets trying to put in a 18 mile day. I left out by myself with the rest of the older guys starting about 30 minutes to a hour behind me. I ended up hiking all day by myself. I got to Unicoi Gap road and hitched a ride into the town of Hiawassee. I was planning on getting a hotel room to dry out but after I got the weather report of 4 more days of rain I was able to hitch a ride with a young couple to Athens Tennessee and my wife only had to drive an hour to pick me up. I'm at home drying out for a few days where I need to re-evaluate my gear to try and reduce the weight in my pack. Currently at 39 lbs I need to some how get it down to as close to 30 as possible. After just 50 miles of Georgia's trails I am completely worn out. Georgia doesn't know the concept of putting a switchback in a trail. I will try to get back on the trail in a few days.   (lack of trail photos are due the only being able to the see the trail while hiking in the rain).
Date: 2010-03-15
From: Unicoi Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, its back to the trail tomorrow morning. I have dried up a bit and went through all my gear and was able to drop about 4 more pounds of gear. I'm now down to a 35 pound pack, this includes water a 5 days of food. I plan on taking it a bit slower, I will try to make an average of 8 to 10 miles a day but at a slower pace. My problem has been I have a fifty + year old body and my brain thinks I have a body of a twenty year old. So I will try and start using some of this so called wisdom and hike slower. Maybe this time it won't be raining so much and I can stop and enjoy some of the views. I have hired a young college student from the University of Tennessee ( Morgan Williams) to drive me to Haiwassee Ga and drop me off at the last point I left. I plan on taking 5 days to get to Franklin NC. I will update my journal from there. Until later.Tennessee Tom.
Date: 2010-03-17
From: Addis gap

To: camp site on trail
Miles today: 8.4

Georgia will not let me hike more than one at a time with the sun out. Today was more cold rain. All I saw was the trail as I took each step in the mud. I am sick of Georgia and all the rain and the trails that go straight up and down. Tomorrow I will cross the border of Georgia and North Carolina. I can't wait. I will also start gaining more elevation which means more snow and colder nights. Just one step at a time.
Date: 2010-03-18
From: camp site on trail

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today marked a great day crossing the Georgia , North Carolina border. Georgia was not going to let up all the way to the last mile. Georgia's Mother Nature gave me one more day of rain as her way of saying goodby and thanks for hiking the trails of Georgia. It let up just as I came to the border. Within a half mile into North Carolina a new Mother nature showed up with light rain which soon turned to light snow as the elevation increased. The main thing I did notice was the trails started having switch backs, something Georgia could learn from. I'm also starting to meet up with some different hikers.
Date: 2010-03-19
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

To day was a really good day of hiking. I started out before all the other hikers and enjoyed a peaceful hike. Even though it was 12 miles, the trails were nice until I got really higher in elevation. There was still lots of snow on top of Standing Indian Mountain. I hope the deep snow is over for a while. At Muskrat shelter we managed to fill it with older guys. As soon as the younger ones looked in they quickly set up their tents because us older hikers have a reputation of snoring. Boy did it get loud that night. Even though I had ear plugs it was quit funny to listen too. I'm sure I help with the noise myself. Each shelter has a log book everyone signs in and jots down a few comments. Of the 10 people I started with on March 7th only 3 of us are still hiking. The number of hikers getting off the trail for good is increasing on a daily bases. It didn't help with all the bad weather we had starting off. The next few days are supposed to be good.
Date: 2010-03-20
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Franklin North Carolina
Miles today: 15.9

Today was the best weather day I've had so far. I started out early right after sunrise wearing long pants and a jacket and soon changed to jogging shorts and a short sleeve shirt. North Carolina provided some great views especially from top of Albert Mountain 5220 feet. The climb to the top was the stair master from hell. There was log steps, rock steps and even root steps. The only way to not be always looking for the top was to figure I was gaining 6 inches in each step and it was taking me around 200 steps per 100 foot gain in elevation. So I just started counting to keep my mind busy. I stopped for about a minute for each 100 steps. It was a gain in elevation of 600 feet in just over 1/3 mile. The view at the top was worth it. I took a 30 minute break for lunch enjoying the few. My original plan was to only hike 11.9 to the next shelter. When I got there a trail angel had left goodies for the thru-hikers. Orange juice, apples, brownies, moonpies, and cookies. I sampled everything. This gave me the motivation and energy to continue on an additional 4 miles to the higway. I hitched a ride into town. I'm staying in a hotel tonight. Showers, clean cloths and good food. Tomorrow starts another day. The forcast is partly cloudy turning to rain and snow in the higher elevations. Oh well the journey continues.
Date: 2010-03-21
From: Franklin North Carolina

To: Wayah shelter 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Today started out with OK weather then within 30 minutes it stated raining. I started at 3700 feet and quickly climbed to 5300. The rain was really coming down. By late night the cold front was passing through and it stormed something awful. The next morning the temperature dropped to the high 20's. We got about 1 inch of new snow. Met back up with Broadaxe, Fish, Jay Bird. Also met a great kid named Squash. Tomorrow is higher altitude and more snow I will try to update my journal as often as I can. Tennessee Tom
Date: 2010-03-22
From: Wayah shelter 

To: Wesser Shelter 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light snow

Woke up with with temps in the low 30's. As I climbed up and down it snowed most of the day. Today was just plain cold. The hiking was pointless ups and Downs. 4600 feet, 4900,4500,5100,3800,4600 and finished the day at 4200. The night was very cold. When I went to sleep it was 28 degrees and light snow. In the shelter with me was Broadaxe, Sqaush, and two guys from Knoxville TN. Bob and Chris. Tomorrow will be a hard day on the knees. We only have 5.8 miles to go to get to the Nantahala Outdoor Center but is all down hill with a 2500 foot decent. Tennessee Tom
Date: 2010-03-23
From: Wesser Shelter 

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

This morning I woke to the coldest day of 25 degrees. It was very foggy and slightly snowing. I got a early start wearing all my cold weather gear. By the time I descended from 4100 to about 2800 feet I had changed into a long sleeve shirt and hiking shorts. The NOC was on the river at 1750 feet. It felt like spring time. Squash and I checked into the hostel where we were able to wash some clothes and take a shower. The nearby restaurant served up some of the best hamburgers. Tomorrow is a big uphill climb. We will have a elevation gain of 3000 feet within the first 5 miles. The weather is forecasted to be warm and sunny. 3 more days until I reach the Tennessee border.
Date: 2010-03-24
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust cove gap
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Today was a wonderful weather day. Sun shine and warm temperatures. The hike was a tough one. We started at 1750 feet and climbed to 5000 in 6 miles. Great views but slow hiking. Hiked another 4 miles to get to lower elevation of 3750 so it wouldn't be as cold at night. My left knee is starting to give some trouble. I'm. Camping with Wildman, Scout, Tornado, Quarter. Pounder, and Saguaro. Tomorrows plan is 11 miles.
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Locust cove gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Today was really windy and overcast with light rain. Only one really big hill to climb today. I ran into a lot of new guys on the trail. Everyone was moving up the trail to set up a push to Fontana Dam in the morning. I finally met up with Hyway who I had been following in Trail Journals for the past few months. We started the AT on the same day. Tonight we had 12 hikers staying at Cable Gap. 5 in the shelter and 7 in tents. One of the guys I met along the way was RA. He had left his food bag back at Neels Gap. They had sent it forward to Hiawassee but stuck in a heavy jar of pickled pig feet and he didn't notice it for 2 days. Tonight's big discussion was on the 3 main food groups and we all decided that there is a 4th food group that has one main item, the Snickers Bar. We discussed that the most important part in choosing the right candy bar is the ratio on weight and calories. It has to have at least 100 calories per 1 ounce of weight or its not worth carrying. Its funny how after just 3 weeks on the trail the main discussions at night are about the up coming days weather and food.
Date: 2010-03-26
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Today was a big day because we technically finish North Carolina once we cross over Fontana Dam. The day started as usual with light rain and over cast. The trail only had one minor hill to climb and then down hill to Fontana Dam. My left knee has been bothering me but only on the down hills. I brought a knee support with me just for the type of injury and it's really helped. I had planned on going home for my wife's spring break (she's a teacher) after I reached Fontana Dam. The next section is the 70 miles of the Great Smoky Mountains. I have previously hiked this section. I'm skipping this section and will come back to hike it in the fall once I complete the hike to Maine. I also hope to rejoin the group of guys I've been hiking with for the past few days. The highway the connects Fontana Dam with Knoxville was closed due to a rock slide. I managed to hitch a ride from Fontana to Cherokee NC and then another ride over the mountains to the National Parks visitors center, then hitched from there to Alcoa TN where my neighbor picked me up. Total miles hitched 125. The power of the thumb. I have also uploaded some more pictures. I will update the journal later next week with the date I will get back on the trail. I estimated I will start back up Monday after Easter.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Fontana Dam

To: I-40
Miles today: 73.5

Ok!! lets talk. No I did not hike 73.5 miles in one day. I have decided to skip the Smoky Mountains. Why? Because, its in my back yard and I have already hiked this section several times. Yes in order to be considered a Thru-hiker you have to hike all of the trail in the same calendar year. I plan on returning to re-hike his section after I complete the entire trail. This will enable me to catch back up with some of the guys I have been hiking with. I will continue hiking at the I-40 mark of the trail. Start date is April 5th and my neighbor Barbara Fleming will drive me to the trail. I have completely gone through my gear and ordered a few things from REI to lighten my load. New sleeping bag and sleeping pad. I have completely become addictive to the trail. This week the weather has been a hikers dream and I'm at home completing the honey do list. Just watch, when I start hiking on this Monday it will rain and get colder with every step. But it doesn't matter, the trail is my life. I have become completely consumed with the Appalachian Trail. This time I will hike for about 3 weeks and 225 miles to the border of Virginia before I return home for a few days. After that the plan is to not return home until I complete the entire trail. I can not explain how the trail can consume someone but it's amazing. I will update this web site when ever I can. Tennessee Tom
Date: 2010-04-04
From: I-40

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a great day off the trail enjoying easter with all our friends. Life off the trail just isn't the same. I do miss the trail so very much and look forward to starting back tomorrow. Barbara will drop me off in the morning. My next venture will take me about 3 to 4 four weeks to complete. I will come back home for the last time at the end of the month once I reach Virginia. After I start Virginia I will not come back home until I complete the trail. I hope to be able to update the journal at least every 3 days.Tennessee Tom
Date: 2010-04-05
From: I-40

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 10.6

Great day to be back on the trail with a first time hiking in temperatures in the 70's. The hike was a tough one starting out with a 2800 foot gain in elevation which seems to be a normal start out of a town. Camping tonight with Soul Searcher who I met back on the 8th of March. I switched out from my hammock to my one man tent and it's a lot more comfortable. I also changed from a 15 degree bag to a 30 degree bag. Tomorrow is a big day since we hike over Max Patch Bald which has some of the best views. Lunch will be spent on the top. The plan is to do another 10+mile day .
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Brown Gap

To: Walnut Mtn
Miles today: 10.2

Today was the hottest day on the trail. It was unseasonably warm in the low 80's. I drank 5 liters today and still got dehydrated. The views were outstanding on top of Max Patch Bald. Several of us spent about an hour on top taking pictures and eating lunch. We had 2 big hills interrupted with great views and nice hiking. We are camping tonight at Walnut Mtn. Tomorrow will be a 13 miles into Hot Springs.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Walnut Mtn

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Third day in a row with sun shine. The temperature was again seasonally high. The name of the game was drink lots of water and use sunscreen. I've been hiking with Soul Searcher another retired Air Force Guy. We only had 2 good hills to climb and a long down hill into Hot Srpings. My knees have been holding up fine the only pains are just foot pains from all the pounding. Once into Hot Springs we stopped at the the first diner and ordered cheeseburgers and fry's. Tonight its hotel time, showers and washing clothes. Tomorrow I'll do another long day then take a zero day. I will try to upload some pictures tonight.Tennessee Tom.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Hot Springs

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: moderate rain

Today I decided to do what they call a slack pack. It's when you hike part of the trail with only your food for the day and water. This way your pack is light and its easier hiking. I got a ride to Allen Gap and then hiked 13.5 miles back to Hot Springs. This also enables me to stay one more night in a hotel. I started about a hour before sunrise and was back in town in about 6 hours. The rain came about mid morning and hit really hard for about an hour then settled in as a light rain the rest of the day. I managed to still get some good views of the town from the hill tops before the rain came. I saw my second snake on the trail today. I came up on it and it scared me to death and as usual I jumped straight up and yelled some colorfull words. I can't stand snakes even none poisonous ones. The next couple of days I plan on some shorter miles at first and then get back up to at least 10 a day. The weather is supposed to be cooler and sunny for the next 5 days. I will upload some more pictures when I get to the next town which should be the town of Erwin TN on Tuesday the 12 th. Hopefully I will have better luck with cell coverage the next 5 days. I will update when possible.Tennessee Tom