morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Woody Gap, GA

To: Slaughter Creek Campsite
Miles today: 7.4

UPDATE:Packed up early ready to get back on the trail. Pack weight is minimal with only one night¢s food. The rest did us all good. After a hearty breakfast with several bikers, we were shuttled back to Woody Gap. Today¢s hike went over two mountains, preparing us for tomorrow¢s climb up Blood Mtn. I felt stronger even with the steeper climbs. My feet are worse I¢m afraid. So far all the planning was worth the time and effort. Our clothing choices are working, as is the gear and we are right on schedule. Chloe has settled down to the routine. She¢s jumping around in the morning, trotting along the trail all day and sleeping in the sun until dinner. As the sun goes down the temperature drops and she heads to the tent to snuggle down in a sleeping bag until we turn in. This night we chose a campsite on the side of Blood Mtn facing the sunset.Tomorrow we finish climbing this mountain and we can say we did it. Blood Mtn is the tallest peak on the AT in GA at 4,450 ft. The last 650 feet are hiked in one mile. The black flies are back. The top of my head and my temples are scabby. Who won the ¢Amazing Race¢? We want to know!
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Slaughter Creek Campsite

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Today starts our second week hiking the AT. We also reached the 30 mile mark and they estimate that 30% of hikers who start, quit and go home in the first 30 miles. Larry and I never had any doubts about each other except for the possibility of a serious injury. The climb up Blood Mtn was easier than expected. The views were superb. The climb down was 1000 feet in the first mile and 350 feet in the second mile. Both miles going up and then down were over large rocks. On the climb it was almost like stairs. Each step required lifting of body and pack. The way down was over large expanses of rock. Twice I followed Chloe and we lost the trail. Larry then backtracked until he found it. Those mistakes were grueling and took their toll. We don¢t trust Chloe to read the white blazes anymore.At Neels Gap the trail goes though the Walasi-Yi Center. An outfitter, gift shop and hostel occupy the old stone building. Larry bought a set of hiking poles so we each use two now instead of one. I bought a scarf that says ¢Hiker To Town¢ on one side and ¢Hiker To Trail¢ on the other. This will be useful hitchhiking. We called the proprietor of Goose Creek Cabins and he drove over and picked us up.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Neels Gap

To: Goose Creek Cabins
Miles today: 0.0

Goose Creek Cabins and Trout Farm. Rustic. Back porch above a swift flowing creek. Rustic. People fishing and catching trout, queen size bed, microwave and coffee maker with private bath. Did I say rustic?The sunny back porch was soon draped with washed gear, boots, camp shoes, cooking paraphanalia and the water bucket. We showered and Chloe had a bath. Mr. Bailey, proprietor, dropped us off later at the restaurant in town. After a couple of hours of TV in the lodge, we ended the day.This morning I made the ¢Hiker Special¢, scrambled pancakes. Don¢t ask! This was tame compared to some other meals so far. Mac & cheese with the last pepperoni was one. Grits with canned corn beef and parmesan cheese was another.I sorted out the supply box and divided the meals into two large bags. I carry the dinner bag and Larry carries the breakfast/lunch bag. This way each bag loses weight each time we eat and I know where everything is. We divide the tent items and stove parts also. Water bottles are managed with two for good spring water and two special bottles with filter cartridges for creek water. The two gallon nylon bucket holds water for camp carried from the spring or creek. It holds stove burner and cooking gear in my pack. It¢s extremely durable and easy to use.Today is another healing day for my poor feet. Larry may die of boredom waiting for my feet to heal. He¢s anxious to try out his new Leki poles and I will have to get used to two sticks instead of one.We haven¢t met too many thru-hikers. They are all ahead of us pushing for that last mountain. We prefer tent camping and that separates us from most long distance hikers using the shelters. Larry is so happy, he says he could do this forever. I¢m not sure I could play that much rummy. We did camp next to a hiker that played his Indian flute before turning in for the night. He¢s been playing for 10 years and was very good. We ran into him the next day in town as he was waiting for family to come and take him home after only 20 miles. His pack was over 50 lbs and he was trying to hike with no stove. Power Bars and trail mix will not sustain a hiker physically or mentally. I never thought he would make it. We hike tomorrow for 5 days straight. That¢s fully supplied. I dropped the mileage for the first day and added it to the next one. This will keep us on schedule and manage our endurance better.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Neels Gap

To: Baggs Creek Gap
Miles today: 4.2

UPDATE:Started the day with perfect pancakes. Not easy with camping stove and pots. Larry cut the handle off a plastic spatula so that helped. The day before they were scrambled. Today I made them smaller so I could flip them. After a few purchases at the Outfitters we started climbing the first mountain. Thunderstorms were predicted by 2pm so we cut our mileage for the day. We went up and down 3 mtns. I started out feeling strong and the blisters are healing. The rain caught us at 1pm. It felt refreshing so we put on gaiters and the pack covers and continued on to camp. The rain, thunder and lightening stopped long enough to set up the tent, get water and bathe. It stormed on and off and finally stopped as night fell. Larry and I know the tent is heavy. It¢s a 3 man tent and everything goes inside with room to spare. The rain fly creates a vestibule on each side of the door. This is space for our dirty boots, camp shoes, water bucket and stove. I can cook just outside the door, sitting in my sleeping bag, if it¢s cool in the morning. We are so comfy in the tent we couldn¢t give it up for a lighter one.Leaving Neels Gap with 5 days food and water, Larry¢s pack weighed 40 lbs and mine 35 lbs. We can live with that.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Baggs Creek Gap

To: Cold Springs Gap
Miles today: 10.2

Today was the best I've felt yet. Then we came to Wildcat Mtn. and climbed 470 feet in a 1/2 mile. Even the switchbacks were steep with large rock stairs. I thought I would never see the top. It took everything I had and then some. Climbing, we average 1 mph with rest stops. Today was supposed to be 8 miles to camp. At Low Gap shelter we made good use of the privy and I removed my boots to doctor my feet for the last mile. I ate some pepperoni and cheese and a baby mouse came out for lunch. Back on the trail, Chloe and I were spent. She napped at the shelter and followed on Larry¢s heels instead of running ahead. Arriving at our planned campsite, we were disappointed to find a small spring that wouldn¢t do. We kept walking and walking. Finally we came to a running spring with plenty of water flowing from a very large pipe. A flat spot just off the trail was large enough for the tent. Oh the luxury of a cold bath with plenty of water. After a delicious dinner of chicken & rice, I made a pot full of chocolate pudding. We enjoyed it warm, but I put the rest in a freezer baggie and it¢s floating in the creek for breakfast unless some critter gets it. It¢s dark so my bed calls. Have to get my 11 hours sleep. Larry and Chloe are snoring already.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Cold Springs Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The plastic bag didn't keep out the critters, there were a few holes in the bag,but Larry ate what he wanted of the pudding anyways. Due to the extra miles searching for a camp with water, we found ourselves to be ahead of schedule. I worked out the mileage in different ways and finally said ¢How about a big hamburger with a beer?¢ So far the counties in GA. have all been dry, but Helen, GA is fashioned after an alpine village and liquor flows. Larry couldn¢t believe his ears or erase the smile on his face. We figured we could climb the next mountain and get to the road crossing by noon. The weather was cold and sunny. The hitch was super easy and we were in the motel by 1pm. After margaritas, I went to the library to get on the internet and Larry went to the store. I ran out of toothpaste this week and had been brushing with handsoap; Larry was afraid he would be too. Today we hit the 50 mile mark. Amazing! The fat is coming off this fat burning machine. I¢m not really hungry on the trail. The training I did for the last 4 months has paid off in general strength overall. With my arms working the sticks, it lifts some weight from my shoulders. The back, hips and gut carry most of the pack. The hips down to the toes carry you up and down each mile and mountain.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mtn Campsite
Miles today: 5.5

UPDATE:Helen was a cute little town. Bavarian styled and totally commercial. Not real, but strictly for tourists. We relished the good food, drink and rest. Now, back on the trail¢¦Easy hitch back to the Gap after buying 2 gallons of gas for the young man that stopped and picked us up. Rocky Mtn. was a struggle up 1,000 ft. A slow crawling pace finally got me to the top. Our packs were not as light as they should have been because of the town stop. Larry carries both bottles of water to lighten my pack. The Cheese Factory site was tempting, but it was only 1pm. Tray Mtn¢s 850 ft climb was looming above us. This would be our second 4,000 ft peak for the day. The struggle made my legs wobbly and brought tears to my eyes. I didn¢t even stop at the top. I was afraid I wouldn¢t get up and go again. It was 1 mile down to the shelter and I hobbled, leaning on both sticks all the way. At the shelter, Larry went for water. We were the only two there so a full bath with soap was wonderful behind the shelter. A hiker appeared as Larry was dressing. I bet he could hear Larry¢s yelps in the cold water as he approached. It feels so good when it¢s over and warm clean clothes have been exchanged for sweaty, stinky, cold , wet ones. Our campsite was 50 ft. before the shelter in a grassy area on the rock cliffs. A wide open view of the valley and surrounding mountains was our backyard. Larry and I set up the tent, he made a campfire while I cooked up linguini in sauce with tuna. Chloe was snoozing until she heard her dry meal hit the pan, then she was at my side watching every move I made. It was cool and windy at the top so we got comfy in the tent and waited for ¢House¢ to come on the TV. Did I mention the little weather radio also has TV and FM bands? Being on a mountain top has it¢s advantages because we had great reception. We split the headset and watched the show on the back of our eyelids. Leaving the tent for the last pee we were surprised by all the lights in the valley below and in the sky above. Mountain tops are great for this, but they can be miserable in cold or stormy weather.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Tray Mtn Campsite

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Hard push to do the miles today. Tray Mtn. was behind us, but ahead was Kelly Knob 4,276 ft and 1,000 ft climb in 1 mile. Kick ass all the way.This is how the day goes: You¢re looking at your feet¢picking each place to put each step. The trail narrows in places and a step off the side would end your trip. This is where two sticks or poles are handy. The downside stick keeps you centered on the path. Everything you see is brown. The packed earth, rocks, roots, boots, leaves and fallen trees. Weary of the color you look up ahead and it¢s all green speckled with golden sunlight. The rush of color turns your head to search for more in the forest. Now the red-orange flame azalea, or maybe lemon-yellow, dots the forest green. You let your eyes play along the hillside seeking out the mountain laurel, white cup-shaped blooms with red dots. This makes you stop because you have kept your eyes away from the trail for too many steps. But wait! What¢s that? It¢s a wild magnolia tree. Large dark green leaves with huge white blossoms. You might have missed it if you hadn¢t stopped. Momentum starts you walking again, but your mind still wants the excitement. Now your eyes must find the small brown centipede with yellow dots. The purple violets, pink trillium, yellow, white and red blossoms that line the trail bring lasting pleasure until the climb requires concentration and effort. Then all you see is brown.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Hiawassee Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Tough hitch from the gap yesterday. Cars were flying by the parking lot. I walked down the road so I could be spotted early enough for someone to slow down and make the pull-off into the lot. It worked and we were on our way into town and the Hiawassee Inn. Chloe was in the covered rear of the truck as soon as the tailgate was lowered. That dog learns fast. I can¢t say enough great things about Ron. He¢s a hiker¢s friend first and runs a fine inn. An hour at the library on the internet allowed me to check our banking, email, journal site and look up ramps (wild scallion) and poison ivy. Everything in the forest was looking like it so I thought a little research was necessary. The Ingles grocery store was across the street. Larry and I hit the salad bar first following the rule ¢never shop hungry¢. After a lb. of salad each, we re-supplied for our next 4 day stint into N. Carolina. The Inn has a charcoal grill and eating patio so steaks, baked potatoes and rolls were on the menu. Another hiker, Puddin¢ Foot, joined us with bok choy, asparagus, large mushrooms and he grilled all this with his tuna steak. He¢s 2 years out of culinary school and we enjoyed his talent. Of course Larry¢s steaks were superb from the time honored school of experience. Chloe has dog friends here at the Inn and is totally happy playing or laying in the sun.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Hiawassee Inn

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We are dressed in borrowed sweats supplied by Ron while all our clothes are washed. We said good-bye to Puddin¢ Foot and his dog, Bella. Ron took them to the trail this morning. He¢s a really nice guy doing a marvelous job with his 10 mo. old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He¢s hiking in a kilt and when asked ¢What¢s under that skirt?¢ he replied, ¢Nothing¢that would defeat the purpose.¢ He let us know he had to learn a whole lot of skirt etiquette as he became comfortable wearing it. We started to get into a serious discussion about skirt length when Ron and Larry called a halt to it. I was just getting into a man¢s skirt needs to be long enough for good coverage and his kilt was possibly making a profound statement. Maybe a little too much information.Larry and I suggested to Ron that we would like to barbeque chicken tonight. He took off with the idea and included a small group of motorcycle riders expected in today. We three went shopping and it should be a great party. Thankfully the BBQ grill was large. Larry cooked 18 chicken quarters. I made salad and Ron did a great job with the baked beans. Everyone ate hearty. We will be ready to hike tomorrow. In 2 days we say hello to N. Carolina and goodbye to GA! Amazing!
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Bly Gap, NC
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

UPDATE:Goodbye GA--------Hello NC! Georgia didn¢t let go easy. The day was filled with ups and downs. The packs were loaded with 4 days supply. Crossing the border was done with great ceremony. A small sign nailed to a tree said we had made it. Down the trail a short ways was the ¢old knarly tree¢ at Bly Gap. Dinner was instant mashed potatoes and chicken. Larry made a fire. We were expecting a cold night and we weren't disappointedo. The night before it was down to 32 degrees, but we were snug in bed at the Hiawassee Inn. Tonight we would be in the tent. After playing Rummy we settled down to a couple of hours of TV. We listened to Dateline and Law & Order before dozing off. I like the TV radio. It keeps us from going to sleep too early. Tomorrow¢s mileage is a little easier.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Bly Gap, NC

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

North Carolina may be tougher than Georgia. The forest is thinner. The elevation is managed in short steep climbs and then levels out with moderate ups and downs. Some of the trail today was rocky. Slow careful foot placement was necessary. The shelter on Standing Indian is fairly new and plenty of flowing water in the stream for bathing. One view today was wonderful. Best one so far. We could see a large lake which I suspect was Chautuga. The trail is lined with grass and we¢ll be sure to check for ticks tonight. Yesterday the poison ivy was everywhere. I¢m going to start dinner and feed Chloe. She had a great day, she's hardly tired. I¢m bushed.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Standing Indian campsite

To: Betty's Creek campsite
Miles today: 11.3

Longest day yet. The trail was a gradual long climb to the top of Standing Indian Mtn. at 5,500 ft; 740 ft in 1 mile. The closer we got to the top, the steeper it got. The weather has been cool clear sunny skies for weeks now so the views were wonderful. The trail skirted several mountain tops with gentle ups and downs. We played leap frog with several hikers finally meeting them for lunch at Carter Gap shelter. Chloe has discovered chipmunks. She is totally focused on them like she is with the squirrels at home.The mileage today took everything I had to finish. Thankfully the end was worth it. Betty¢s Creek was swift flowing with many pools. Our campsite was at the end of a small trail that ended in a pretty glade right along the creek. Chloe was the first one in the stream for a bath.. Next I washed my clothes and then poured pots full of ice cold water over me. After the first few you¢re numb enough for the rest to feel good. The evening passed quickly, my body and feet recovered and we listened to the last two hours of 24 before sleep ended this exhausting day.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Bett's Creek campsite

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

The miles were fewer, but the climb up Mt. Albert was every bit as hard as I had read. The hard climbs I plan for the mornings when I have the most strength. Later in the day I am depleted. The rock climbing went on forever. We were ascending 460 ft. in .3 of a mile. In some places footsteps were chiseled out of the rock. These were large enough for the toe of your boot only. Once committed to the climb over the rock, there was no turning back or stopping. A fall would have caused serious injury or worse. We went up ledge after ledge. Each step was planned before attempting and it went very slow. Larry only pushed me up twice. At times I had both sticks in one hand and used the other to grasp trees and rocks to pull myself up. Remember, this is all accomplished while balancing a 25 to 30 lb. pack hanging on your back. Finally we arrived at the top. Larry went up the firetower for a better view. I rested at the bottom and prepared myself for doing the same rock scrambling on the way down. Chloe had no problem at all. She kept returning because we were so slow. As we left the top I couldn¢t believe the ease of the trail descending. It was wide and gradual all the way down to Big Spring Shelter. I made coffee and hot tea to celebrate having Mt. Albert behind us and our 100-mile mark ahead.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

100 miles ---- unbelievable. Rock Gap Shelter had two springs, both piped for easy use. Another couple was already in the shelter so we put up the tent in the gravel alongside. Nothing was level so we spent the night slip-sliding to the bottom of the tent. It was pleasant to cook and talk with hikers a little older than us and from Fla. where they hike the Florida Trail quite often. They were doing an 8 day section before returning to Fla. Owls hooted all night long. We awoke to find our propane tank empty. No coffee. No oatmeal or hot granola either, but that was okay since we didn¢t have any. We ate peanut butter crackers left by another hiker and drank spring water. Today we go into town. Real food and soapy showers with hot water is within our reach. The weather couldn¢t be better. The forest beautiful. One unexpected mountain climb and then down to the road. On the way Chloe alerted us to a noise on the ridge above. I turned just in time to see a bear go crashing through the woods away from us. All I saw was his big fat rump, the back of his head and ears. We were picked up and dropped off at the Sapphire Motel in Franklin.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Winding Stair Gap, NC

To: Sapphire Inn
Miles today: 0.0

I lost 10 lbs ----- amazing. Not really, the efforts is just paying off. The easy part is eating only what you can carry on your back and salads in town. Today we shuttled to Wal-Mart and Ingles. We made a detailed list so we wouldn¢t forget anything or buy more than we needed. Our beach shoes wore out so we joined the Croc set. They are very light, but a little bulky. Most hikers hang them outside their pack. It will be nice to have quick drying shoes for bathing. We are trying tortillas for lunch. Larry needs to eat more, he¢s losing weight too. We¢re going to experiment with different fillings. It¢s a bread that¢s durable packed. Larry likes the coffee singles bags and I like instant tea with lemon and sugar. The sugar makes it heavy. I like it hot. We both like pure cold spring water. I¢m afraid the lack of rain here is going to mean dry springs in the miles to come. I developed pictures at Wal-mart and posted them to trail journals.com for Betsy. Some pictures were better suited to the past entries so I changed them. Betsy did a great job without our pictures to work with. This may happen occaisionally when I have unlimited time on a computer. I am happy to help Betsy when I can. I send her my handwritten pages from each town, but the pictures are not as easy.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Sapphire Inn

To: Sapphire Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Another breakfast at Hardees across the street. Laundromat was just over the hill. Back in the room we sorted and packed fro tomorrow. I again used the computer in the lobby to look up Achilles tendonitis. It seems we older hikers are prone to several ailments having to do with loss of flexibility and an increase of strenuous exercise. In a nutshell, my tight calf muscles are pulling on the tendon attached to the back of my heel. It¢s a little stiff, but not too painful. I¢m stretching and using hot water compresses to increase the elasticity. It could be worse so I¢m thankful for these long frequent town stops. Tomorrow we head for the Smoky Mountains.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wine Spring Campsite
Miles today: 8.2

UPDATE:The shuttle to Winding Stair Gap was going to be late which gave us time to eat again at Hardees. I was afraid the dinner at Garibaldi¢s Mexican Restaurant last night wouldn¢t leave room for breakfast this morning. We thought we might have to stay at Siler Bald shelter, but the terrain was fairly level for a lot of it and we pushed on to the Wine Spring campsite. The spring was very ample, the tent site could have been more level. We again found ourselves slipping and sliding all night. The weather couldn¢t be more perfect. The blackflies are a bit bothersome. We enjoyed our favorite dinner of Bistro portebello mushroom pasta and 3 cheese sauce with tuna. I dozed off early but Larry stayed awake and listened to a basketball game. The days and nights are getting warmer.