morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-07
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.Franklin, NC, Apr. 7, 2009 a Zero DayToday is the first day I did no hiking on the AT. It¢s a good day not to be in the mountains as the snow has arrived there and many hikers are coming into town and I know of no one going back to the trail.To recap yesterday, I hiked the short distance (3.5 miles) to Winding Stair Gap and waited in the cold snow showers with others for a shuttle that never arrived. At about 1 PM we were able to get a ride down to town and Gorgonzola, Improv, Knuckles and I shared a motel room. Journey continued on and did not come down to Franklin. After a lunch and getting cleaned up we met the 4 PM bus shuttle in which Ron Haven drives hikers around town. At the outfitters, I bought a new tent and saved myself 3 pounds of weight and then bought food to get me to Fontana Dam and my drop box. It was a little sad putting my old tent into the hiker box but after many bike miles and 2 weeks on the trail, it was time to let it go. Today, we saw many hikers in town. I had dinner at a local Mexican place with my roommates and Moxie.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.Wayah Shelter, Apr. 8, 2009 at mile 118.6 on the ATToday, I returned to Winding Stair Gap on the 9AM Ron Haven shuttle and found several inches of fresh snow on the trail and mountains. About 14 hikers started out with me and because of my gimpy ankle I was the slowest up the trail. The pain in my foot continued but lessened except when going down hills but I was determined not to let the injury set me back. The day was cool and clear and I even felt that I could do a little extra walking to gain the views from Siler Bald and I used the half-mile side trail as my lunch break. Then on to Wayah Bald and down to the Shelter about a mile further. Of course the shelter was full by then but I found a place to pitch my tent and do my nightly chores before dinner, writing, and going to bed. I did learn from Dream Catcher that Improv and Knuckles returned to Franklin to seek treatment for her shin splints. Also today. I met a couple of ¢mountain men¢ with there hunting dogs digging ramps, which is a wild leek or onion. Why they needed dogs I didn¢t ask but one of them took out this huge buck knife and dug one for me to taste and I must say they were very tasty and tender.
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Wayah Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.10.7 Wesser Bald Shelter, Apr. 9, 2009 at mile 129.3 on the ATToday it was sunny and the temperature between 40 and 55. Last night I heard an owl near the shelter and then made hot oatmeal after getting up. The new tent works fine but I am interested in how it will work in the rain. I was on the trail by 8:45 and hiked well to Tellico Gap but then struggled up to Wesser Bald where I ran into Thatch again. On the way down to Wesser Bald Shelter I heard the titmouse a then called it a day at 4 as my foot is still very sore. I shared the shelter with Gorgonzola, T-Suds and Sundown Chaser, and Jeff and I had texts from Journey and Knuckles who went back to Franklin with shin splints.
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: light rain

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.5.6 Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), Apr. 10, 2009 at mile 134.9 on the ATToday was a relatively short day, mostly down hill. My left foot is still very painful when I first step on it and I am taking 4 Ibuprofen twice a day for the pain. The morning brought thunderstorms so I lingered in the shelter and did not leave until 11:30. I was able to talk to Journey who spent last night at the NOC in a cabin and invited Gorgonzola and I to share her space, as she was taking a zero day. I made it down the gorge by mid afternoon and met up with the others, arranged to zero the next day by myself and then settled in. The restaurant at the NOC looks over the river and has a beautiful view of the gorge and those who were white water rafting it. After dinner with Journey, I was able to spend some time icing down my foot. Journey and Gorgonzola left the next morning and I spent most of the day watching TV while I iced my foot.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.16.0 Brown Fork Gap Shelter, Apr. 12, 2009 at mile 150.9 on the ATI had the cabin to myself last night and woke up at 5:15 thinking it was 6:15. I packed up, did my usual morning routine and also iced the foot before getting an early 7 AM start. It was about 7 miles all up to Sassafras Shelter where I arrived at 11. The trail, this Easter Sunday morning, started out foggy and when I emerged above the clouds the temperature actually dropped into the 30¢s. But as I was climbing this whole time I had to shed layers as I heated up and by noon I was in shorts and a T-shirt. I ran into a family of three generations, 3 boys, their father and the father¢s father at Locust Cove Gap where I ate my lunch. The grandfather was walking very slowly with one of the boys and they were all headed into the Smokies but I did not see them after that. On the climb out of Stecoah Gap, it was very steep, hot and sunny, and I ran out of water. Then I bonked. So slowing to a virtual crawl and taking many rest breaks I finally made the shelter at 5:30 where Journey was very surprised and elated to see me. I also found Butch, Dream Catcher, T-suds and Sunset Chaser there. Freebird and several other hikers arrived later. It was a great hike, especially in the morning but I learned my lesson about carrying enough water. It was also at Stecoah Gap that I enjoyed a little trail magic; someone had left a cooler of drinks and several packages of Little Debbies.
Date: 2009-04-13
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.12.7 Fontana Dam Shelter, Apr. 13, 2009 at mile 163.6 on the ATThe last 2 days my total mileage of nearly 29 miles has taken a toll upon my foot so I¢m going to take a zero day tomorrow. After a breakfast of oatmeal I was on the trail by 9:30 and stopped at Cable Gap Shelter for lunch with some of the other thru hikers. This part of the trail continues to follow the ridgeline with innumerable ups and downs until finally dropping down to Fontana Lake. I hiked with Journey the last mile or two to the shelter where I took advantage of the hot showers and running water. Many other thru hikers are here including Wrath, Sonshine, Mad Chatter, Houdini, Blessed, Lemon Head, and others.
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Fontana Dam, NC

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

April 14, 2009Fontana Dam ShelterMile 164Hi Everyone,Just a quick note and then off to dinner and tomorrow into the Great Smoky Nat'l Park for about a week. I've been experiencing a problematic left ankle that I turned on the last day before Franklin 8 days ago. Each day seems to be marginally better and when I am actually hiking it doesn't feel too bad. But the first several step after resting it is very painful in the heal area. I suspect there are some micro tears in the ligaments around the heal. I ice it when I can and take lots of anti-inflammatories.The trail has been lots of ups and downs, the ups are getting easier every day but the downs are still slow, especially with my bum foot.I received my first resupply here and now am ready to hit the high country. The weather is also up and down, sometimes dry and warm alternating with wet and cold. At least I was able to avoid the snow that caught some hikers in 6 inch plus drifts.I'll see you all on the other side of the Smokies.LeeBo
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Poem by Jed Hickson for LeeBo
Miles today: 0.0

This is a message I received from Jed Hickson while I was on the trail.Lee, I wrote the following poem for you journey. I would also like to amend your sig from Tolkein. I would say that the lost wander, the rest hike! He Walks      for Lee, who is walking the Appalachian Trail He walks and he walks       he walks along the ancient spine of the continent       mountains breathe             breath arrives in one place                            departs in another       in the persistence of one moment to the next & he walks       as the sun traverses             horizon to horizon       deep in the earth, deep in the mountain             beats the verbs of becoming & he walks       in time with the secret heart             as the verbs become       manifest possibility             what is possible is real & he walks       under a gibbous moon             in tune with the song of the continent       one step, one step            he walks, arriving in one place and departing in another & he walks, he       walks
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.13.8 Russell Field Shelter, Apr. 15, 2009 at mile 177.4 on the ATYesterday, I did no trail miles but Journey and I walked the road back to the marina to get a shuttle up to the village. There I picked up my food drop, did some shopping at the limited general store and used the computer. Then her and I headed up to the lodge for a nice dinner before getting the shuttle back to the Fontana Hilton. At the village I ran into Gorgonzola who had hooked up with Denali and Lu, Skywalker, and a few other thru hikers who I shared some of the goodies that Linda had included in my drop box. Back at the shelter the night passed slowly as there were 2 really loud snorers and then a stray dog showed up in the middle of the night. That dog followed a hiker up into the Smokies, which is a no-no, but fortunately a trail runner let it back to Fontana during the day. The hike to Russell Field was mostly up hill, cool and foggy at the higher elevations so I stuck to the trail. At the shelter several hikers behind me had seen a mother bear with 2 cubs just off the trail. All the hikers in the shelter had come up from Fontana today.
Date: 2009-04-16
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.9.2 Derrick Knob Shelter, Apr. 16, 2009 at mile 186.6 on the ATToday I saw my first bear, right on the trail about 200 feet ahead. At first I thought it was a tree stump but as I stood still watching it I reached into my pocket for the camera and got a really good close up of it before it moved off the trail and back towards the shelter. After I was sure it was significantly off the trail and out of sight I continued on down the trail but for the next hour I would take many furtive glance back over my shoulder. The day was bright and sunny and I had a nice lunch break at Spence Field. On my way up to Derrick Knob I noticed a fresh of deer track on the trail and just 50 feet before reaching the shelter I saw a large deer standing looking back at me. Before I was able to get my camera out it had moved off the trail and into the woods. Again the shelter filled by nightfall and I was able to tell every one of my sightings of both bear and deer.
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.13.5 Mt. Collins Shelter, Apr. 17, 2009 at mile 200.1 on the ATToday was a beautiful day to hike with sun all day and mild temperatures, even on the top of Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the AT. I ate lunch at Double Spring Shelter and reached the Dome at 3 for an afternoon snack. At both places I ate snacks and did some Yogi-ing, getting tourists to give me food without asking for it. Many people were out on the trails and at the dome to the point of it being over crowded. But on the way up to the Dome the forest turned to spruce and fir and was very refreshing. After a good break at the dome, I continued down to Mt. Collins Shelter by 6 where there were only 3 other hikers, Blackbird, Lemonhead and a section hiker.
Date: 2009-04-18
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.7.5 Icewater Spring Shelter, Apr. 18, 2009 at mile 207.6 on the ATAt around 2 AM in the middle of the night, 2 hikers arrived and set up the tents a little ways in front of the shelter. It was kind of eerie seeing their headlights flickering in the trees but not hearing them. They slept though the morning after I got up and I never saw them before leaving the shelter at around 9. I made good time to Newfound Gap and on the way there met a member of the local trail club who was responsible for maintaining 0.7 mile of the trail. He comes out every 3 or 4 weeks and fixes water barriers clears small blow downs and whatever else he can do by himself. Newfound Gap is the major access point to the high country of the Smokies and very crowded with tourists. I rested there for about an hour and practiced my yogi-ing skills but was unsuccessful in that regard. I only had 3 miles to walk to Icewater Springs and arrived there by 2. I procured a space in the shelter, hand washed my hiking shirt and socks and just rested. By the end of the night many hikers arrived, I think over 30 total, and there were tents everywhere.
Date: 2009-04-19
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tricorner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.12.6 TriCorner Knob Shelter, Apr. 19, 2009 at mile 220.2 on the ATIcewater Springs is one of the nicest shelters with the best view in the Smokies. I was up and out by 9 as the skies clouded over with a light rain. The trail follows the ridgeline that marks the State boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina so sometimes I would be walking in one state and other times the other state. During the morning the rain intensified and the vistas diminished so I only stopped to rest as needed to eat or drink. My ankle is still very sore and tender but feels best in the morning after I have taken a dose of Ibuprofen. By 3:30, I had taken a spot in this shelter and by 4 it was full. This being the 6th day since my last shower, things as starting to smell and since it rained the entire day the shelter rafters were full of wet clothing. Even with that 4 hikers ended up taking floor space. It is great that the AT hiker community is such a close knit group because everyone cooperated to help fit everyone in.
Date: 2009-04-20
From: Tricorner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.18.1 Standing Bear Farm, Apr. 20, 2009 at mile 238.3 on the ATI didn¢t have to walk 18 miles today as Davenport Gap Shelter is only 3 miles before Standing Bear Farm but I really didn¢t have any dinners left to cook. Sure, I could have had oatmeal for dinner but hearing that there would be a pig roast going on here at Standing Bear spurred me on to keep walking. Today¢s hike was mostly down hill, only one good hill until I left the park at Davenport Gap. When I stopped for lunch at Cosby Knob Shelter, someone had left their water bottle so I ¢sherpad¢ it to the owners at the next shelter. It wasn¢t that difficult after I had emptied it of water and the going was all down hill and after all a water bottle really doesn¢t weight anything. At the Pigeon River the rains came again and I had to get under my poncho again but fortunately, I got a ride the last mile up to the Hostel. To say the least it seemed that everyone was here and I ended up putting my tent up in the big barn in the back of this former tobacco farm. I managed to get some dinner and to see many other hikers who have passed me these last 3 weeks.
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

April 21, 2009Standing Bear Farm, just north of the Smoky Mountain National Park.I arrived hear yesterday to find a full fledge party and pig roast going on.I also arrived here wet to the core having just walked though a sudden down pour and 6 days from my last shower. O, I forgot to mention I hiked my longest day, 18 miles, so as to be able to resupply as I was down to oatmeal and trail snacks for food. People on the trail have odd eating habits and I guess mine are sill in the development stage. It's been rather cool on the trail and I tend to eat cooked foods for dinner such as pasta or rice with a packet of tuna or grilled chicken. I heat it up all together and eat it as on dish. In the mornings if I haven't planned an early start, I make 2 packets of instant oatmeal, sometimes mixing 2 flavors. For lunch I generally eat trail mix and granola bars and sometimes again for mid-afternoon snack.The Smokies were long and difficult to start out and then got easier the last 2 days. I had rain the first day then 3 days of warm sunny days with incredible sights. The last 2 days the rain returned but the hiking was easier. In the Smokies on the AT all overnight hikers must stay at the shelters so that generally defined that days mileage. Of the 6 night only once was the shelter not packed to overflowing with some forced to tent near them.Oh, I had my best day the second day into the Park, the first really sunny nice day. I happened to get a late start and didn't leave the shelter until just afterr ten. There had been a mother bear and 2 cubs sighted the prior day but that was several miles back. Luckily I remembered to carry my camera in my pants pocket and not 5 minutes after getting on the trail, I stopped to look at a bear like stump some distance up the trail. The stump did not move but I took my camera out anyway and zoomed in and got a picture. Then the stump moved. IT WAS A BEAR!! On the trail right where I was headed but about 200 feet away. I took another picture before it moved off the trail and disappeared into the woods. I waited a few minutes before continuing up the trail but looking back behind me often for the next hour just to be certain he wasn't following me.Then as I neared the shelter at the end of the day I had noticed deer track in the mud of the trail for some distance. And not 100 feet from the shelter and between the shelter and me I saw a fairly large white tail deer. So, A bear to begin the day and a deer to end it, clear sunny 50 - 60 degree day made a perfect day of hiking in the Smokies.LeeBo and Ringer signing off.p. s. If I can find a photo processing place to upload some pictures, I'll put them on the journal.
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.7.3 Groundhog Creek Shelter, Apr. 21, 2009 at mile 245.6 on the ATToday even though a relatively short mileage day, was a difficult day. I shared tonight¢s shelter with Wrath, Blackbird, and Government Mule and there were a couple of people tenting as the night was clear. Seems like many other hikers either zeroed at Standing Bear Farm or went on further up the trail. Last night was interesting in the barn at Standing Bear, seems Government Mule had drank too much and was having some violent night mares in the a couple of stalls away from me. As there were many others in the barn he keep shouting out obscenities and threats all throughout the night. As soon as day dawned I was up out of my tent, pack up and moved everything down to the hiker area. There I washed clothes in a tub and hand ringer, put them in the electric drier, showered finally, resupplied out of the small store there and relaxed the morning away. Before lunch I went back down the road and walked the part of the trail that I missed yesterday by getting a ride in the rain. I paid my bill and was on the trail by 1:30 and the hike was not too bad, I just had to scale Snowbird Mountain before arriving at the shelter. As night settled in after have a usual hike dinner, Wrath set his mousetrap. I know he does this trying to rid the shelters of a nuisance that not only contaminates hikers food but also damages their gear. I have had mice in my pack and on the tent and that is why I always leave all the zippers open in my pack at night. But this was the first time I had shared a shelter with Wrath when he set his trap. As soon as it gets dark the mice appear and cannot resist the peanut butter and mayonnaise bait in the traps. Snap, and then re-bait the trap and set. Within 5 minutes, snap again, empty trap and reset. After about 30 minutes he has killed 6 mice and that is it for the night. Some hikers don¢t like the mice killing, some hate the mice, I can deal with it either way.
Date: 2009-04-22
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Garenflo Gap Stealth Camp
Miles today: 19.6

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.19.6 Garenflo Gap Camp, Apr. 22, 2009 at mile 265.2 on the ATToday is my longest day so far. I want to get to Elmer¢s in Hot Springs early enough to get a bed and getting to Garenflo Gap leaves only several hours of hiking for the next day. The day dawned cold and windy with snow showers. By Max Patch the snow stopped and there was more sun than clouds. It was a difficult day walking with the pain in my foot and I had resigned myself that I needed medical attention. I did meet up with many day hikers as well as some of the usual thru hikers. After lunch and Roaring Fork Shelter, I only had Bluff Mountain to summit before a long 5 mile down hill stretch. On the way down, I was able to get a phone message to Linda at home. (Little did I know that she would not get it before going to the hospital.) The long down hill really did a number on my injured foot and I had much swelling indicating to me that there might be some serious injury there. After setting up the tents with Blackbird, eating dinner, and hanging the food bags, a pick-up drove up the road and stopped. I went over and talked to the guy for a while. He said his name was Ron and lived only 0.7 mile down the road. A big burly guy, much like the mountain men I met just outside of Franklin, he offered my water, a joint, or any other assistance he thought I might need. I declined everything and then he drove back down the road and I went to bed.
Date: 2009-04-23
From: Garenflo Gap Stealth Camp

To: Hot Springs - Elmer's
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: clear sky

Note: The following entry from my on-trail journal from home.6.5 Hot Springs, Apr. 23, 2009 at mile 271.7 on the ATUp and on the trail by 7:30. A clear crisp morning, I hiked alone to Deer Park Mt. Shelter area where I made a hot second breakfast. Blackbird caught up to me at Deer Park and we hiked together uneventfully down to Hot Springs where I checked in at Elmer¢s at 11:45. My ankle is very painfully today from all the walking I¢ve had to do to get here this quickly. I had to wait to 1 PM for my mail drop, which included my new health card, then I showered and went over to the health clinic. No doctors are here today so I made an appointment for Friday afternoon, then went back and did a load of laundry and to the library for an e-mail session. On my way back to Elmer¢s I called Linda at home using the pay phone because I had no cell phone coverage. Elmer¢s has a great music room with a piano and many other instruments which I took advantage of before joining some of the other thru hikers for a gourmet vegetarian dinner.