morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.3

Night was supposed to be cold but was quite warm in tent. 20 degree bag and liner working like champs.Takes long time to pack, because I tend to take almost everything out. 45 minutes, too long, must either pack more the night before or take out less.Achin and I agree to head for Betty Creek Gap, 11.2 miles away and simply a camp area with water. We start up hill, but the trail is clear and compared to Georgia or even yesterday, easy to walk.Am trying to learn that nearing a summit, in this case Standing Indian Mountain, the peak is never just ahead. Even if the sunlight is wafting gently off the alluring rhododendron leaves...just...up...there...it's just a switch back. Keep walking. The peak is further still.After the peak is a long down hill and we get to the next set of shelters, 7.6 miles, in less than four hours. Eat a decent lunch, basically jamming in calories, to power through the remaining miles. Tortilla with peanut butter, tortilla with hummus, cheese stick, handfuls of dried cherries. Nom, Nom, Nom.Other hikers are there, Katie and Joey (who Achin decides should be called Butler because he's constantly serving her), Gazelle, Whisper (our second Whisper on the Trail, and she does). Everyone is in good spirits because we have better trail and the weather is great; sunny and warm.Off again after lunch and our hiking speed is even faster it seems. I'm beyond Achin in what seems a blink and cruise up a mile long hill without stopping. Trail legs coming? Stop at a great view and send a chat pic and phone call off to Mrs. Bunion.Reach Betty Creek Gap, and it is fantastic. Tucked at the base of two hills, in a rhododendron grove, with little nooks for places to camp. To get to the Creek, our water source, walk through a tunnel of rhododendron to get to a eight foot wide, shallow creek. Best water source to date, into which I drop my two aching feet. The water is snow-runoff cold, and invigorating. And then it's freezing.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

We are off to Rock Gap shelter, a bit more than eight miles away. Had a smattering of rain and wake at 5:30. Sleep was good, but won't return, so get up 6:30. Food is getting low, so skip my usual oatmeal, nosh on a tortilla with peanut butter and cranberries, and get started. Wearing a rain slicker since the pre-dawn sky is dark, but no more rain comes. The trail eases upwards gradually as I head toward Albert Mountain, which rises several hundred feet in 0.3 miles and is two miles away. Today's path at points is narrow, rocky and rooty, and if you look down to your right you realize that absent a few small trees if you fall it's sheer rock for a hundred feet or more. As I near the mountain's peak can see it has a fire tower, visible through the still bare trees. At the base, begin climb near a roadway heading up as well, but then the paths diverge and am left to face a steep incline of rock. There are some stairs, and other sections crawling up rock, or grabbing on to small trees to provide assistance while pulling yourself up. This is the steepest part of the AT to this point. It took me 18 minutes to get to the peak, and Katie, Joey, Jeep and one other are there already. Climbed up tower 2/3s of the way to take in the amazing view. Stayed around for a few, then continued toward Long Branch shelter, which is new, for lunch. Find the shelter itself is too far off trail, so sat by a stream nearby and snacked on tortilla and hummus, trail mix, plus more cranberries. Not having enough good food starting to impact performance during remainder of hike. Definitely slowing down as hike wears on.First to arrive at Rock Gap shelter, and who comes up 20 minutes later but Trudger. Achin follows about another 20 minutes, and the shelter fills up by 4. The night is probably the first night with a "bad" snorer. Trail etiquette is if you snore, you should avoid shelters (so others can sleep). I'll let this topic rest for later. Up tomorrow with Achin and Trudger to take shuttle for Franklin, NC with Trudger, dealing with injuries, sadly talking about stopping.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.1

This morning, Trudger, Achin, and I head down to the gap and related road just below us at 8:15, hoping that the 9 AM shuttle from the Budget Inn in Franklin (same owner as the one in Hiawassee, Ron Havens) will pick us up by 9:30. At the gap, Ranger Bob is there with his wife offering morning trail magic. Where else can you eat Cheetos, Gatorade, moon pies, and Payday candy bars for breakfast, and not have people look at you aghast? Ranger is named after the lead character in his wife's children's books, and is joining Kokopelli and Bama as they head north. He lets them slack pack, or hike just with minimal supplies, and will meet them at Winding Stair Gap some three miles away with their full packs. This is totally acceptable on the Trail; you're still doing the miles.Shuttle shows up at 9:50 driven by Ron Haven himself. Hikers we know get off and tell us we're in good hands, and Ron spends the next 20 minutes filling us in. Shuttles leave at 9 and 11 for the trail, there no charge even if you don't stay on his properties (two motels and a hostel). At four PM the shuttle will go to Walmart, an outfitter, and the Ingles if Walmart doesn't have something you need.We get to the Budget Inn, and Katie and Joey are there. They suggest where to get the best burger, Mulligans just down the street. Achin and I share one room and Trudger gets another. We go to Mulligans, a local sports bar and I eat another 1/2 pound uber cheeseburger and spend time later walking the main street. A sign notes that this was one of the last places to surrender during the Civil War, and in an act of defiance against the Union Colonel from North Carolina who accepted the local troops surrender, a young lady of good reputation spit on his flag. Another sign notes that hundreds of Cherokee joined a Confederate brigade that was active in this area. Trudger confirms he's leaving; going to spend time in western NY where he's from, and then back to Peru. He was a good mentor early on in many different ways, and he will be missed. RIP, Trudger (rest in Peru).Ron returns as promised and Achin and I go into the outfitters while Ron brings the rest to Dairy Queen. I want to replace my alcohol stove, which is light but burns with the visual consternation of flame pots in the Wizard of Oz's throne room. Settle on a canister driven stove, which is compact and widely used. Think about swapping out my LED headlamp for one which will also do red (better in shelters) , but decide to hold off. Buy too much food at Walmart, partly because of packaging sizes, but also to ensure don't run out again. Return to Inn, pack bag, and am in bed at 915. Bag has returned to being heavy.
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

We get up early to be taken to breakfast at the First Baptist Church. I don't need the food, but do want the experience. The vans arrive at 715 as scheduled, but there are only five of us available to go. The church is nearby off the main street, and we are led to their hall where 12 people wait amongst seating for 30. We introduce ourselves to, then are offered pancakes, bacon, coffee, orange juice, squash butter, pumpkin butter, regular butter, and syrup. Having planned for many more, we could certainly have kept eating for hours. I comment on how good the squash butter is, and a woman shares a raspberry flavored butter made of green tomatoes.One member took our pictures so they could be printed and can be mailed to anyone we chose. Envelopes and paper are provided. I was surprised to see how sun burnt my face is, and expect Deb will have the same reaction when she sees it.The associate preacher spoke to us briefly, saying that this was their form of ministry, that they wanted to remind us of Jesus's message of love. That He said he was made of bread, and that this food was a form of His love and sustenance for us on the Trail.We ate, signed the large class of 2014 hikers sign, and noticed other signs going back to 2007. Some hikers had forwarded copies of their finishing at Katahdin and these were up on the wall. A really sweet group of people, each wishing us well and saying they'd be praying for us. Touching.Returned to the motel, we see Trudger waiting on his ride and say goodbye again. Our shuttle drops us back at Deep Gap at 10 and we decide to go to the next shelter eight miles away. We make the first section pretty easily, reaching Winding Stair Gap and are surprised to see Ent there, waiting with another hiker. She should have been days ahead of us. Basically said she needed a mental health day and was looking for people to hike with. Offered to hike with us a while when she gets back on trail, but when the other hikers ride came up, just got a feeling won't be seeing her again.Continue to our shelter after lunch about half way there, and it's an (ugh! useless) half mile off trail. Small shelter fills and about 12 here. Rain expected starting at 2 AM until maybe 10, and thunder storms tomorrow PM. Achin and I agree to just shoot for the next shelter six or so miles away and figure out what to do then (hunker down or push on another six).
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Wylah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 6.8

The expected raIn doesn't come at night, and on the trail 730. Trail starts out like other days, and begin to see similarities. Whether up or down, clear or deeply rooted, it has a sameness to it, and can understand why hikers can become bored. Spend time on each hike looking at the "AWOL Guide", which almost all hikers are using, which provides distances, elevations, detail on what's at various points (water, privies, bear cables, shelter, camping, resupply, etc.). Like many hikers, I'm not carrying the whole Guide, but about 500 miles folded in half and placed in a zip lock bag. As pages become useless after passing through an area, they are burned or trashed - no sentimentality when managing even modest weight. The rain arrives around 9 AM and increases in volume as the wind in turn picks up, so move through it after switching out my fleece for my LL Bean rain slicker. Achin and I don't hike together generally, but start together, agree on places to meet, but I am now faster on inclines and he on declines. So trooping in the rain is a solo task.Arrive near the top of Wylah Bald and am met with trail magic by "a retired guy who doesn't like TV much". The storm is starting to dissipate but it is raw and cold as the wind keeps up. Juice, fruit, Pringles all are a great boost after doing 1,000 feet In elevation. Continue on to the the stone tower which the bald is known for, and to this point a rarity in that it is accessible by cars. No tourists are there now, and learn that the tower was built in 1934 in memory of John Bernard Byrne, an early Forest Supervisor. Dropping my bag and climbing up, can see the vestiges of the storm wandering away and a great view of the surrounding area.Make it to the shelter about 45 minutes later, and Achin arrives 20 minutes after that. Mutton Chops is here getting a fire ready, he took a zero today after waking late. It is cold here, wind still blowing and shift out of wet clothes and into sleeping bag to warm up. We both stay in the shelter, which is crowded, and being crowded I spend a good part of the night pressed up against the side of the shelter.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: Wylah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Sheletr
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wake up to a cold morning, first one up but still leave about 20 minutes after Achin.Back on the trail and we are going two shelters out, about 11 miles, so a full day. Cover the first 3.6 miles quickly, and get to Burningtown Gap in time to get a second breakfast put on by the First Baptist Church of Burningtown. Usual fair plus sausage biscuits with gravy. Hearty fire going, they do this twice a year - we just got lucky hitting the second one.Back on trail make it to Copper Ridge Bald and with phone coverage, call Deb for 20 minutes since it's been a week since we've talked. Back on trail moving well, making it to Tellico Gap at 8.4 miles and stop for a bit of lunch with two other thrus and three section hikes we've been hiking near. A gentleman drives up and asks if we need anything, including a ride. Glad to go anywhere we want. We all say no. He asks if we are going to take the Trail or the road up (we are sitting on a dirt road) and we all say the Trail. He says the road is a little steeper but a little shorter. Makes no real sense so finish snack, and three day hikers head across road and disappear and I follow about 2 minutes later. So fast forward, I took the road which was indistinguishable from the Trail, unless I was more diligent in looking for the AT blazes (white rectangles on trees). It was steep and seemed quick when I arrived at the fire tower on top of the hill.The fire tower is open to the public, and about 50' up. Full panoramic view including Fontana Lake, the last major stopping point before the Great Smokey Mountains, about 4 days away. Day hikers including a couple with a six month old golden lab are here too.Continue on to shelter about a mile away, and stop for water 0.1 miles before hand. The water comes off a spring which flows into about a 100 pound carved stone block with a basin and a small "u" cut into one side to let the water flow. A relic of the WPA?I am first hiker to shelter which provides first shot at a campsite. Only one reasonably good flat site so set up there.Uneventful night.
Date: 2014-04-06
From: Wesser Bald Sheletr

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

Did a run from the shelter this morning, quite the assortment of terrain and harder than yesterday. I am now sitting in my black base layer (think fancy underwear), grey winter coat, and orange crocs by the side of the river flowing past the NOC while writing this. When you do the AT, nothing comes to you, you have to go to it. So "it" in this case is clean clothes, the wash is running now, so what few decent clothes you have left are what you wear while you wait. I look like a hiker hobo. But then, all hikers look like hobos. Hmmmm.The Nantahala Outdoor Center was founded in 1972 as the Trail crosses the Cheoah river as primarily a white water facility, but now with two restaurants, motel, hostel, general store and outfitter. I have visions of two hippy types coming up to the side of the river in '72 saying "far out, there could be a business here, man." Totally fictitious, but I like the narrative.We are staying in the hostel as the motel is full, and resting for a hard climb tomorrow, 3,000 feet in four miles, our biggest continuous climb. Supposed to become less hilly after that as we near Fontana, just before the Smokey Mountains. I got my Thru Hiker permit for the Smokies in the outfitters today, the only permit required along the whole AT.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.1

There's a car club meeting (S2000?) starting today, but some members arrived yesterday and a group decided to go out and fire up one of their cars to listen to the engine. Outside our room. At midnight.Take the shuttle from the Lodge back to the Trail. Stop at Fontana Dam's Info Center before continuing on. Today's climb was similar to one we've done before about 2,000 over three miles, but I'm not ready and go slooooow. Realize I'm carbohydrate low, so stop for lunch, make ramen and drink Gatorade while finishing a Snickers, and that helps.We stop for the night at Birch Spring Gap, the only campground without a shelter in the Smokies. There's a couple from Fort Wayne, Indiana here doing a short section, plus Big Shep, Achin, and Lasso. Not many hikers on the Trail today. I eat a huge dinner of chicken-sauce flavored noodles mixed with a full package of tuna. Hoping that sets me up better for tomorrow's hike.We had heard the gnats come out in force once the temps are consistently above 50 F, and they've been around, but today they are out in full force. Some bite, most just buzz around you if standing or sitting.Late that night, at 2 in the morning, hear a sudden scream in the woods by an animal. Then "woo woooo" twice, so know who won that altercation.
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and on Trail at 7:45. There are three shelters in the next 11 miles, so target the third one for the night but agree to meet at the second to see how things are going. First hill is Doe Knob, and from this point we begin to walk along the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. As Achin notes, we will be in our third state but completed only one. Have good energy and am in good spirits, much better than yesterday. Get a cell signal and am able to talk to Deb for the first time in days, which is great.Stop for lunch at Mollies Ridge shelter, and up ride about 10 horse people. Trail dogs aren't allowed in the Smokies, but horses are on parts. They were looking at us thinking "why would anyone walk this", and we were wondering why anyone would ride. They had a ton of questions, which we (about 10 hikers) answered. Then they turned their horses up the trail and let their horses leave presents to avoid for the next several miles.Get to Spence Field Shelter around 3 PM and a "Ridgerunner" is here, Carl. In the Smokies, everyone must sleep in the shelter if room is available. Once it fills up, thru hikers can camp (or must camp if there's not enough that volunteer). Carl is here because there's reservations for 8 day hikers, who get shelter priority, and he is there to make sure they do. Only two show up, two high school girls from Michigan, so there's no problem (except for one of them perhaps when she gets home. Achin tells me the next day her parents don't know she's on the AT, but told them she is "somewhere else".)I ask Carl about the trail conditions for the next day, and he points out two elevation we see can from the shelter, Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountain, and says getting to both is tough. In fact, he goes on, most of the trail to the next shelter is difficult. Achin and I look at our guides, and don't see anything harder then we've done before, so we hear his advice but also quietly discount it.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

On the Trail at the usual time, weather is nice, and trail up Rocky Top is steep but manageable. The views are a full 360, but neither of us can remember the words to the song (see video below). We enjoy the view for some time, then go to Thunderbolt with similar conditions but without the great views.From here to shelter about four miles away, it's rough. Ups, downs, rocks, roots, steep steps down and up. Run into a second Ridgerunner, and he says this section is the hardest on the AT in the Smokies. Takes 5.5 hours to make Derrick Knob shelter, what at this point would usually take us four hours. Kind of beat, but thinking the worst is behind us, decide to push on for Siler Bald shelter about five and a half miles away.I make pretty good time, about three hours, and would have done better but ran out of water for the first time. Have been carrying too much, but like to stay hydrated, but misjudged this time. Achin comes in about an hour later. We both agree, a long day.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Next morning our plan is to go the eight miles to Mt. Collins shelter, but first we get to go to Clingman's Dome, at 6,655 feet the highest spot on the AT. Get there around 11 AM, and Achin gets there about a half hour later after heading off on the wrong trail.There is a cement observation tower here built in 1959 with a sloping and curved walkway. Avoid it to begin with, since there has been a strong wind blowing since last night and it's been a cold blow. Families are here, and get a lot of questions about the hike and "good luck" from all. Walk to top of tower. As clouds blow off, get to look back at where we've hiked for the last few days.Stay at base of tower for about an hour, then continue to the shelter. Take our time and find an ATC (versus Park Service) Ridgerunner is here. Composition of hikers seems to be changing, more serious and no partying.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Mount Collins Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: light rain

Going to Newfound Gap to get a ride to Gatlinsburg, TN with the expectation we will stay there two nights, in part because I'm sick, also nasty weather is expected, and we haven't had a true zero in a while. Get up early and am on trail before sunup (640 AM) with Achin leaving around 7. Use my headlamp for first 20 minutes partly to see trail, but also to give warning to any critter. Trail has changed in the last three days in a couple noticeable ways. First, the trees are mostly pine (southern Balsam?) providing less views and a deeper, darker, quieter environment to walk through. Second, there are less drops in elevation after rises. So in Georgia we would rise to a peak, then lose most of that elevation in a following gap. Here we still lose elevation but it less pronounced and regaining that elevation is easier.So we arrive at Newfound Gap settle in to wait for the NOC shuttle from Gatlinsburg, What is it with waiting for shuttles? It is COLD and WINDY. We watch tourists run around in shorts and take selfies and group shots of the freezing fog that descends on us. Shuttle shows up on time (9:40) but I am about 5 degrees from becoming an icicle.Shuttle continues to Clingman's Dome and after dropping off some hikers, picks up more (including Purple Turtle, Professor, Hot Sauce, Good and Plenty, among others we've met) and we drive down to Gatlinsburg. Stay in the Days Inn which we find out after checking in has no laundry. This is important, dear reader, as we have been in the same clothes for a week. So we get some lunch (I eat a whole rack of ribs), then we investigate the nearest laundry; which is four miles away. We decide to walk up the hill to a hiker friendly motel and the owner is kind enough to let us do ours there.Do you wonder what hikers watch when they finally find a TV? The Weather channel and the local news, for the weather. We know or care little for what's going on in the World, but we have a pretty good idea what the forecast is for the next few days.Talked to a Uncle (brother in law) Dan in Charlotte, and he's coming to join us for the day tomorrow, so we will have no problem getting to resupply. Plus we will get more time to tour this tourist (close to DollyWood) town. Also asked him to bring sling a bathroom scale to see how my weight is holding up.
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Newfound Gap

To: Gatlinsburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Uncle Dan arrived around 9:30, and after breakfast at Crocketts (good!), he drives us to do a food resupply and a barbershop. I get a haircut, back to supershort, and a trim for my slightly rambunctious beard. Achin also gets a supershort haircut, his shortest since before high school. We then get back to the motel, lunch at a small Italian place nearby, then Dan starts back - it's a four hour drive home. Amazing he'd make the drive, but he's going to check map and see if we can meet up again closer to Virginia.Achin checks on getting a shuttle back to the trail and we begin to hear that three inches of snow are in park, and the access road may be closed. This would require another nights stay, and another zero day. We decide to book the shuttle anyway so absent anything else we will be back on the Trail tomorrow.We're making a six day push to Hot Springs, NC (mile 274).