morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Morning: Advil, Bee Man, and I are heading back to the trail today after taking a nero (near zero). Went to a free pancake breakfast at a church that has fed 600 hikers since March 10; today was their last breakfast. The church picks up at the local hotels at 7am and brings us back after the breakfast. I had set my alarm but forgot to turn it on. Advil asked me at 6:59 if I was going; I knew that she was sleeping in. Thankfully she woke up and I jumped into my clothes and ran outside to catch the shuttle. Thank you First Baptist Church. They also provided envelopes, stationery, and took a picture of each hiker so we could write home and send a picture with the letter. I had just read Sara's Facebook posting and was starting to cry and as I started writing a letter the tears started flowing. I am in need of a good cry, but when I looked at the picture of me that they took I saw that I had put my shirt on backwards so I had to laugh. After getting my back-country permit today I will be legal to hike through the Smokies. Got a shuttle out of Franklin with a sweet woman named Lisa who just likes to meet the hikers. She just started shuttling after meeting Beverly, another shuttle person I met yesterday at Winding Stair Gap. Lisa is 70 and met Beverly at the muffler shop. Looks like good weather to hike today. Afternoon: Camping on Siler Bald, a short hike today from Franklin. The bruise on my thigh hurts when my water bottle bumps it. Didn¢t go to the shelter because some Boy Scouts are there. I camped with Advil, Bee Man, and someone else. It¢s very quiet and we have a fire going to shoo the bugs away.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Siler Bald

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Siler Bald this a.m. at 8:30; hiked up and up and up today. Nice view at the Wayah Bald Shelter lookout. Last mile was all up again and I am stopped at Cold Spring Shelter for the night, with Bee Man, Advil, TMI, Harry Potter, and Perk. Took pictures of the many wild flowers blooming. I will have to send them to my friend Karen, a botanist, who can identify them for me. I do recognize the violets (yellow, purple, and white) and trillium. Dogwoods and redbuds are budding. Spring is coming alive at my boot steps.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 11.7

It rained today and was very wet. I fell again but not badly. Hiking was all downhill today on a narrow trail and I am at the lowest elevation now since I started in GA. At one point the sky got very dark and I hesitated going further, but I hiked on and the clouds moved on. I didn¢t get any pictures on the trail because it was too wet to get my iPhone out. I don¢t usually stop for lunch, but eat while I hike. I hiked with Bee Man & Advil and had dinner with them and Right On at the NOC. $15 for a bunk, shower, and towel. I washed my underwear in the shower, dried it as best I could, and put them back on. Body heat is a good dryer. The NOC was the 1996 Olympics venue for whitewater canoeing and kayaking. I will get my papers here tomorrow to go thru the Smokies.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Rained all day. Big climb from 1749¢ to 4400¢. Moving up the trail like a muddy turtle. I slept on the top floor of a double-decker shelter. There was a homeless guy there.
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 12.0

Rained again today, very muddy. I had to very deliberately place feet and poles. Hiked up ¢Jacob¢s Ladder¢ - which is a 600¢ climb in 0.6 mile - very steep. The forest floor is full of the most beautiful flowers. The photos I take don't do justice to the beauty of the blooming forest. I had trail magic today! At Stecoah Gap road crossing there were two picnic tables. On one table a trail angel left apples, bananas, and oranges. Yum! Then a trail maintainer drove up with two packs of strawberries. He was from Knoxville and I met him coming SOBO earlier with another guy and they were there to cut and remove a tree that was crossing the trail. I told them about another tree across the trail about 8' around that I head butted. As I was climbing hunched over like a turtle but moving fast and not looking up whack with the top of my head. Rule 1: pants before shoes (thanks, Chris). Rule 2: look up now and then. First time setting my tent up in the rain. My feet are throbbing.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 8.7

Slow hiking today in the rain (again) and mud. Saw gorgeous flowers but it rained so much I didn¢t want to get my phone wet to take a photo. Fontana Dam is still a couple hours away. No easy way down in the rain and mud. Sat by the fireplace with the Orr family hikers at Fontana Lodge. Had fried pickles and a bbq pork sandwich for dinner. The 3rd Annual Midnight Ride to Fontana Village For Wookies in the Woods 2015 is here - lots of VW Golf GTI¢s. Gave a list of stuff to Mike for my next supply box. Thank you Mike honey for supporting me on this nutty adventure. I've named my backpack Captain Marvel, after Mike. If anyone meets me on the trail traveling SOBO, I say Captain Marvel is behind me.
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero today to dry everything out. I¢m in Paradise. Paradise on the A.T. B&B, that is. We couldn't stay at the Fontana Lodge for more than the one night because of the car convention in town. Awesome trail angels brought us to this B&B. They were kind enough to wait until we had our laundry done, then ran us back up to our room to pack up and bring all our stuff down to the laundry where we repacked our packs. There was a general store where I got a few things to get me to Gatlinburg, but I was so worried about losing my place in line at the laundromat on site at the lodge that I just hope I got enough. There was a post office where I also mailed home a map. The woman who owns this place is a vet. She¢s Jewish, about our age, and just bought this place a year ago - it¢s very nice. She is making us dinner. She has a friend here from Wisconsin and she and he are going hiking tomorrow. No cell service here but she has a satellite phone can use. I got my permit for the Smoky Mountains printed here. Our trail angels got lost getting here and I bought them ice cream cones at McDonald¢s while they gassed up. Mudder and Spot slacked from here last night and will be back tonight. I hope to make it to Russell Field Shelter or Spence Field Shelter tomorrow. I had breakfast with Bee Man. I¢m glad Mudder caught up with us and hope he will go through the Smokies with us. A guy named Tabasco, because that¢s what color his shirt is, bought a box of dryer sheets and gave me a handful. I used a couple in the dryer and scattered the rest in my pack. I am going to go now and try to figure out how to dry my boots. I washed all the mud off this morning. The VW GTI cars were lined up behind the laundromat to wash their clean cars so I got in line to use the hose to wash my "wheels" and they are pretty wet. Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Good hiking day, I took lots of short breaks. It was cool to walk over the Fontana Dam at our start into the Smokies. Got cell service at one point and got to call Rachel, my daughter. Her husband, Chris, had just left their home in FL for a week-long kayak trip down the Neuse River in NC. I sure hope he has better weather than this sucky weather I've had. Got a spot in the shelter Saturday night at Russell Field Shelter. It rained all night and the wind blew so hard, I thought I'd heard some trees come down! In the Smokies I had to pay $20 for a pass. Section hikers are the only ones allowed to reserve a shelter and if you are in a shelter and a section hiker comes along and there are no spots left, a thru hiker has to leave and set up a tent. The first shelter we came to didn't have anyone in it but was too early to stop. There was a ridge runner there checking passes. He said we should go to the third shelter so we would have fresh legs for the climb on Sunday. Well, we made it to the second one and there were three spots left. We figured we had better chances here for a spot and we're tired anyway. Advil put up her tent before it started to rain figuring section hikers would come along and fill the spots in the shelter. I stayed put and there was enough room for the section hikers who came after me to squeeze in so I didn't get kicked out¢¦yeah! The shelter was stone, two-story, with two benches and a fireplace (no fire though because there wasn't a bit of dry anything to burn) in it and a double tarp hung separating it from a covered eating area. Lightning and Paddington started doing stretching exercises using the beams above our heads. We were on the second floor. Soon we were all doing them and laughing. It felt so good. I wish someone had taken a picture because it had to look pretty funny to look up and just see 7 sets of long underwear-covered legs hanging from the rafters!
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light rain

Advil and I started hiking at nine this morning. The wind was blowing hard but the temp was not bad and it didn't start raining for oh, let's see, maybe ten minutes and once again rained joined my hike. So no views and no pics today. Blah! The flowers covering the woods yesterday made it look like snow on the ground; they close up at night or in the rain, not sure which, but they never opened at all today. The song by Carly Simon, ¢Waterfall¢, kept running through my head all day, "¢¦like a waterfall washing me down..." because any downslope on the trail today was literally walking down a waterfall and so much mud I thought it would suck my boots right off my feet.   And then the slippery ups over rocks. Oy Vey. Oh well, made it to Derrick Knob Shelter. No space in the shelter, but it wasn't raining when I got here so I put up my tent and took off my wet clothes and crawled into my sleeping bag. Got here about three and it¢s nine now. It has started to pour rain again and added to tonight's noise is now lightning and thunder. When the wind would stop blowing today, I guess depending on which side of the mountain I was on, the sound of silence was music to my ears! I didn't take any breaks today, trying to get a spot in the shelter. Ha! I can't out-hike all those young¢uns out here so why did I try!! Oh well, I just need to chill a little and slow down. I hope I get to see some views soon. Now I just bypass all the vistas because I see nothing but fog no matter where I look. Ok, enough whining. I am still glad I am on the trail. Time to sleep.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

I left Derrick Knob Shelter at nine this morning and the young¢uns were all still in their sleeping bags. I had no energy today - it was hard to hike. I stopped at Silers Bald Shelter for lunch. It hailed and it¢s cold and muddy. Spent the night near Double Spring Gap Shelter. It was the coldest night and even hailed for a few seconds. I stayed warm and my campsite was in a pine forest, so pretty. The actual shelter was surrounded by a moat with so much standing water all around that we went a little ways farther for a good spot to tent. (If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then lefties are the only ones in their right minds. Thanks, Nancy.)
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8

Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the trail, 6,655¢. A volunteer was kind enough to watch our packs as we took the winding paved path up to the top. Advil and I met a woman on the trail hiking down to Newfound Gap from Clingmans Dome who was slack-packing her daughter for a couple days. Her daughter is a young woman named Boda who I met the first week. Mom and Boda were hiking opposite directions and when Boda got up to Clingmans Dome, where her mom left the car and hiked north, Boda drove to Newfound Gap where she picked up her mom...and they gave us a ride to Gatlinburg! Yeah, prayers were answered so we didn't have to hitch. They will give us a ride back to the trail in the morning. Tonight I am at the Gatlinburg Inn, recommended by the park volunteer at Clingmans Dome. Got laundry done. Ate across the street and had to re-supply at Walgreens because it was too late to catch the trolley to the grocery 3 miles away. This is a tourist town and the NOC outfitter and general store closed before we could get there, too. I am running low on fuel, now that I am finally cooking. But shower and laundry come first. I rinse out all my muddy clothes in the bathtub before putting them in the washer for a better chance to come clean. We have so much rain but NONE today! It was a really good day hiking. I left camp this morning wearing two pairs of socks, 2 wool undergarments, a long sleeve shirt, down coat, rain coat, gloves and a balaclava (not to be confused with baklava). I was very comfortable for the first two hours; then it warmed up and I shed the down and gloves and changed my hat. I was so happy to get to see views of the mountains today; pictures don't do it justice. I¢ve hiked over 200 miles! Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 13.4

Exited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park today - I can camp where I want to now! Stopped for a snack at Standing Bear Hostel and went on to Brown Gap, hiking right under I-40. The young man in one of my photos works there and was showing me his handiwork of installing the lamp post he was very proud of. Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos, including the metal railing he made crossing a footbridge. Ran across hiker feed trail magic at Brown Gap, from trail angels who do this every year at this spot, organized by Rat. They had ham, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, salad, brownies, chocolate bars, sodas, beers, cookies, chips¢¦yum!
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Brown Gap

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 0.0

Hiker feed trail magic again this morning¢¦biscuits & gravy, sausages, and omelets. In one of the photos in the gallery, the plastic tarp was a "bathroom" the trail angels built¢¦it had a padded toilet seat! You flip the orange flag over the tarp when it¢s occupied. Miyoshi, my sister, picked Advil and me up at Brown Gap and drove us to Hot Springs, NC, for two delightful zero days at Laughing Heart Lodge. The Lodge was built in 1892 and, for over 50 years, was a Jesuit Retreat Center. My trail angel sister is going to be slack packing us to Damascus! Mike will be arriving soon, too. I can't wait! I bought a compression sack for my sleeping bag to reduce the space it takes up in my pack. Sara & Robin from the Get Hiking! Meetup group were in the area on a hike and came here to give me trail magic¢¦thanks! I am so tired I yawned the whole time I was on the phone with Mike and fell asleep with the phone in my hand! Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Brown Gap

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Another zero day in Hot Springs, NC. Recharging our batteries¢¦Miyoshi, Advil, and me. Went to Wal-Mart and then met OJ (Miyoshi¢s hubby) for lunch in Weaverville, NC, at the Stoney Knob Cafe. Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Brown Gap

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: clear sky

I am ready to do a 23 miler today with my new pompoms¢¦thanks, Miyoshi. Making my way back to Hot Springs from Brown Gap. Beautiful day! 23 miles in 10 hours¢¦I flew. The pompoms didn't fare as well as me. Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left to see more photos.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Chestnut Log Gap, Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

Waited for the sun to dry my ground sheet before I could go. My Sawyer water bag broke so I need to get something else. Mike is bringing a Platypus bag. I¢ve hiked over 300 miles in a month. Looked down the road and saw Mom¢s store (see photos). Wondering if I should walk up and see if it's trail magic! Looked like hunters in front. Had a hot dog, two bags of chips, a coke, a Powerade, a fudgesicle, and bought a Texas-size honey bun for breakfast the next day.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Chestnut Log Gap, Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Devil Fork Gap
Miles today: 9.2

Started this morning from Jerry Cabin Shelter. Tented last two nights at really nice spots and had campfires. Yesterday was tough over rocks on a ridge line but beautiful views. Stopped for lunch at Flint Mtn Shelter. Met Wheaties from Raleigh. He filled up my water bottle for me since my Sawyer bag split open. A big climb coming, naturally. We (Advil and I) are headed west on NC 212. Big thunderstorm coming and we were just going to go up a ridge line. Decided not to. Going to Laurel Trading Post and Grocery to wait. Then, some Vermont bikers in their shuttle vehicle gave us a ride to Erwin, TN, where Miyoshi picked us up. Staying overnight at OJ & Miyoshi¢s in Gray, TN. [This may be the last post for a while because Mike is coming up tomorrow for 5 days!]
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Devil Fork Gap

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 8.4

Happy May Day! I am enjoying spring as never before, up close and personal. I saw some red ferns in GA and they say they only grow where love is and I am definitely feeling loved on this trail. I could not be doing this without the love, support, and the encouragement I get from my family. Thank you Miyoshi and OJ. I have experienced in the most unexpected places kindness from strangers. These are the things that make life on the trail more than just a walk in the woods. Thank you to my friends and family who message me, email me, post comments on Trail Journals, and leave phone messages. I read and appreciate all of them even though it may take me awhile to respond. I practically ran the trail today to Sams Gap not just because there was trail magic there but because Mike was there to pick me up! It was so good to see him and get a big hug and kiss! He will be slack packing Advil and I the next few days. On Sunday we will meet up with Mudder and he will join us to slack pack for a couple days. The mountain sides today were covered with trillium and may apples. Just beautiful. Overnight in Gray, TN.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Sams Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.4

Left my sisters place in Gray, TN, where we spent a couple nights. The day was quite cool and sunny and was an easy hike with great views from Big Bald. It overlooked Wolf Laurel ski and golf resort and a nice couple who have a home there lugged trail magic up to the top of the bald. They were from Clemson, SC, and had a bright orange tarp spread on the ground and were serving up hot dogs with all the fixings! It amazes me the number of people who enjoy feeding us hungry hikers! Now we are at my sister and her husband¢s place in the mountains - Buladean. We had pizza for dinner and I had two beers. I am in a food coma! Had a great foot soak and am ready for bed and a good night¢s sleep cuddled up with Mike! I am so glad he's here and can find us at the trail crossings. Today he dropped us off at Sams Gap and picked us up at Spivey Gap. The countryside is so alive with the trees, flowers, dogwoods and azaleas blooming. It¢s great to see spring blooming in the mountains and then drive the country roads. Enjoying it all.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Erwin, TN - Nolichucky River

To: Beauty Spot Gap
Miles today: 11.8

Mike dropped us off and drove home. The hike today was fast. It was also the hottest day so far. A small taste of what's to come! Saw Dixie, Riga, Mtn. Goat, and a few others at a campsite cooking a very good smelling breakfast and visited with them. We got to Beauty Spot Gap at three. While waiting for Miyoshi we sat and enjoyed the views and visited with other hikers. Ran into Peaches and Paisley. Mudder made a small fire to keep the gnats off us. There was trail magic from Brother Tom today. He is from Johnson City and does it five days a week. Brownies, banana bread and sweet tea. He also sets up chairs and he had a huge umbrella hooked to the back of his pickup truck that he sits under. It was at Indian Grave Gap. When we got to Buladean there were two backpacks sitting on the front porch of the cottage. A hiker named Coyotay from Johnson City who's family Miyoshi knows was there. And he brought a German hiker with him who he just met today! I didn't catch his name but will get it tomorrow. He started April 4th I think he said. Coyotay started day after me. The German has hiked in Australia and the Alps. He is going to write a book. Miyoshi made fantastic ribs, green beans with bacon, tossed salad, and oven fried potatoes that were so delicious. They were sliced as thin as a potato chip - yum! I had chocolate eclair for dessert. The "boys" are staying in the big bunkhouse. They offered to help do anything after dinner so they took the trash out and hauled something heavy to the upstairs quarters for Miyoshi.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Beauty Spot Gap

To: Hughes Gap
Miles today: 17.7

Walked through a cool pine forest this morning. The trail was covered with soft needles. There was an unusually large number of south-bounders today who made sure we knew about the awesome trail magic ahead at Hughes Gap. Miyoshi and her friend Becky were there giving out ham and cheese and turkey and cheese sandwiches, dill pickles, BBQ and regular chips, candy bars, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, fudge, Coke, Mt. Dew, lemonade, hand sanitizer, and took their trash. They had about 20 hikers come through. They were thrilled. Miyoshi has never seen people get so excited about pickles! After the first group went through they were telling the rest about it and so they had a couple who said they had never walked more quickly. They were enjoying meeting all the hikers and even brought six of them home to Buladean! It had started to rain and they were going to camp there, deciding it was too far to the next shelter so they got the ultimate trail magic. The guys are up in the cabins and the women are in the bunk room. We had a great time. We had pot roast planned for dinner and Miyoshi rushed home and took out another one, thawed it and got it in the oven, with potatoes and carrots. We feasted! Ice cream sundae bar for dessert with every topping known to man. Since my sister and husband often host youth retreats, there is an abundance of sugar here! They were thrilled about the food. Yeah, it's a little bit of paradise here. They are in hiker heaven. They also told Miyoshi what a huge blessing it was to them. She will shuttle all of them back to Hughes Gap in the morning.