morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-28
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter 

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 9.1

It was a cool but great day today. It started out with ice crystals on and around the tent (see photo in gallery ). I had to wear 3 layers, but the 15 degree bag kept me warm. The Army Rangers train nearby. About 1 am, the tent lite up with the Rangers moving through the area, but couldn't hear a footstep. Trail angels were at Cooper Gap where I had a banana, orange and coffee. I was the first of the 3 amigos to reach our planned overnight stop at Gooch Mountain Shelter, which was already packed with a scout troop and the good tenting spots were already taken and every other spot was on an incline. The 3rd amigo arrived 2 hours after I did, at which time another person told us about trail magic and flat tent sites at Gooch Gap. So the 3 amigos hiked another 1.4 miles to Gooch Gap. We were treated to chicken noodle soup, potato and sausage, and peach and cherry cobblers hosted by a church ministry. It was delicious and all you can eat. Going to be another cold night tonight.
Date: 2015-03-29
From: Gooch Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Also Palm Sunday. Praise the Lord. Last night was very cold, 21 degrees outside. Ice crystals formed in my water bottles inside my tent. The church ministry feed us breakfast of oatmeal and sausage sandwichs. The weather forecast was sun today and 100% chance of rain tomorrow, so I decided to go 14.5 miles to Neel Gap in order to hike over Blood Mountain, the highest peak in Georgia at 4462 feet, in good weather rather than rain. Thus, I reached Nell Gap in 3 days instead of 4. The other two amigos, Bruce and Jeff, decided to go 5 miles to Woody Gap and stay the night at Hiker Hostel. I left Gooch Gap at 9 am and reached Blood Mountain Shelter at 3:45 pm, took a half hour break, and reached Nelly Gap at 5:15 pm. Along the way, I met up with Special Ed at Lance Creek, and we hiked together most of the way to Nelly Gap. At the top of Blood Mountain, a family with very polite home-schooled kids put up a cross for Palm Sunday. Overall the day was tough, but doable. I felt good after the break on Blood Mountain.
Date: 2015-03-30
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 11.5

I had a good night's sleep last night at the hostel, the first night I used earplugs. Didn't hear snoring or the rain storm last night. After the long day yesterday, I wanted to take it slow and easy today. The 100% chance of rain for today did not materialize, just fog all morning but the sun came out after noon and it was beautiful. I hiked alone today, but when I stopped for lunch of my dehydrated Morrocan Delight, hikers were passing by every 5 minutes or so. After 3 days, you get to recognize most of the hikers in your bubble.
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Low Gap Shelter 

To: Cheese Factory site 
Miles today: 13.4

Today was the first day it was warm in the morning and sunny all day. I had this shadowy figure following me all day that I couldn't shake. Sometimes it would jump ahead, but only by a step. There were some hard climbs today, particularly a 1,000 foot descent, a 1,000 foot ascent, another 1,000 foot descent, and a 500 foot ascent, all in the space of 5 miles. Trail magic at Unicoi Gap of soda, Fretos and pastries by a woman originally from Franklin, Mass. After 10 hours of hiking, I reached the Cheese Factory site at 6:30 pm only to find there was no cheese. In fact there was no factory. Never was. Someone's joke to name a campsite in the woods the "Cheese Factory site".
Date: 2015-04-01
From: Cheese Factory site 

To: Dick's Gap, Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Another hard day, but beautiful weather. Except last night when I got rained on in an 8 pm lightning storm. Some rainwater bounced off the ground, under my tent fly, and into the tent, but not too much. The best views so far where from the top of Tray Mountain, elevation 4,430 feet. Thru-hikers are now more spead out. It seems you are the only one on the trail until stopping for water or at a shelter. Whenever we see someone, we always pause to chat. I caught up with Om again at the Tray Mountain Shelter where he spent the night and said they had pellet size hail last night. The descent to Dick's Gap was torturously long. Heading into a trail town, the only thing I thought of for two hours straight was a bed to sleep in and eating real food. I'm now at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee, GA for two nights, taking a zero (no hiking day) tomorrow. Enjoyed AYCE at Daniel's steakhouse next door.
Date: 2015-04-02
From: Dick's Gap, Hiawassee, GA

To: Dick's Gap, Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a zero day in Hiawassee, GA, resting my feet and buying food for the next three days to Franklin, NC. At noon, I chatted with Woody, Gorp-Gobbler, M&M, Special Ed and a few others outside the Ingles supermarket. The Holiday Inn Express has a great breakfast which I will take advantage of again tomorrow. I've arranged for a $15 morning shuttle to Dick's Creek Gap, 12 miles from town. I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that I reached a milestone yesterday in that I noticed my own hiker smell.
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Dick's Gap, Hiawassee, GA

To: Raven Rock Trail 
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter Amy. I love you. Today I made it through Georgia and into North Carolina. I am now a Georgia redneck. Literally. Should have used suntan lotion from day 1. Georgia was tough, although there was one flat section that was at least 100 feet long. Two nights in a hotel was nice, although all too familiar. I was ready to hit the trail again. Two of the hotels in Hiawassee were booked with hikers, but on the trail I only saw 6, Woody, Special Ed, JT, Rabbit Stick and a few others. The shelters are where you catch up with everyone. I camped on a ridge on Raven Rock trail, adjacent to the Muskrat Creek Shelter, with Houti. The Raven Rock trail takes 7 minutes to get to a rock ledge with a precipitous drop and an unobstructed view west. (Pic in photos)
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Raven Rock Trail 

To: Betty Creek Gap 
Miles today: 16.2

It's my birthday too, yeah. (Apologies to the Beatles) I got into my tent at 7 pm last night and got up at 7 am. In between it rained all night long and who knows how much sleep I actually got. Four miles into today's hike, a Baptist church set up trail magic at Deep Gap. I had a pulled pork sandwich, Cole slaw, baked beans, Fretos and a soda. After that, I had another plate of the same. While there, we caught up on trail news. Bruce, one of the two guys I hiked with the first two days, is off the trail. Gorp-Gobbler became seriously ill last night. Guys that were camping with him called 911 at 3 am. The EMTs arrived at 6 am after chain sawing fallen trees on the fire road so the ATVs could reach him. He's now in the Franklin, NC hospital. Today, Special Ed decided to come off the trail. These guys will be missed. Otherwise it was an uneventful day. The elevation changes were not as drastic and I hiked my longest day so far at 16.2 miles. I set up my tent again at Betty Creek Gap and hit the sack at 7 pm. Hiker midnight is when the sun goes down.
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Betty Creek Gap 

To: Winding Stair Gap, Franklin NC 
Miles today: 12.2

Christ has risen! Last night was below freezing again. The inside of my tent was all wet from condensation, a byproduct of breathing. I met Captain K (who is on trailjournals.com) while packing up in the morning. Day and section hikers were passing out Easter candy today. I had my sugar fix all day to keep me pumped up the inclines. Today's highlight was Albert Mountain. The climb to get there was the steepest climb yet, basically a rock scramble. It was perect weather and great views at 5,250 feet. The fire tower on Albert Mountain marks the 100 mile point of the thru-hike from Georgia to Maine. Only 2,080 miles to go! At Winding Stair Gap, someone offered me potato chips, an orange and a ride into Franklin, NC. Staying at the Budget Inn tonight. Had a steak dinner at Fatz with Rich, a retired Army officer from Springfield, VA, who paid for my meal when he found out it was my birthday yesterday.
Date: 2015-04-06
From: Winding Stair Gap, Franklin NC 

To: Wayah Gap 
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

(Apologies to the Carpenters). Great free pancake and bacon breakfast at the 1st Baptist Church in Franklin, NC, a town renowned for the Cherokee burial mount. One of the church members shuttled us back to the Budget Inn. He is a fellow Pilgrim decedent, a former Naval intelligence officer, and knew what NAVSEA was. Ronnie Haven, owner of the Budget Inn, shuttled us back to Winding Stair Gap. As it was raining lightly all morning and would be heavier in the afternoon, I decided to just do 5.9 miles and call the Aquone Hostel for a shuttle ride from Wayah Gap. Walnut had the same plan and we hiked together this morning. Aquone Hostel is fantastic, probably the best hostel on the AT. You have to take a shower immediately upon arrival and they give you clean clothes to wear while staying here. I met No Spring Chicken (also on trailjournals.com) and Tortoise at the hostel. Walnut and I plan to slack pack tomorrow from Wayah Gap to Tellico Gap and stay here another night. Maggie, one of the owners of the hostel, cooked a delicious 3 course dinner for us tonight. This is high-class roughing it.
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Wayah Gap 

To: Tellico Gap 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Steve, co-owner of Aquone Hostel, shuttled Walnut and I back to Wahay Gap where we slack packed (with day packs provided by the hostel) to Tellico Gap and got picked up for the shuttle back to Aquone Hostel. It was raining on and off throughout the day, with a real downpour around 1:15. The trail was fogged in all day and we had no views. There was supposed to be a fantastic view from Wahay Bald Tower, but visibility wasn't more than a few hundred feet. Met thru-hikers Pippi and Nome along the trail, and Katwalk, Bon-Bon, Harley, Loon, Forever and Waiting back at the hostel.
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Tellico Gap 

To: Grassy Gap 
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light snow

Unfortunately, I misplaced my earplugs before going to bed last night. Another thru-hiker that came in yesterday was a horrendous snorer. If he didn't have a trail name already, I would have named him "Supersonic" for the volume of his snoring. Maggie from Aquone Hostel shuttled Walnut and I to Tellico Gap where we resumed our backpack burdened journey northward. Despite yesterday's weather forecast calling for rain, it was a beautiful day and fantastic views. Along the way, white, yellow and violent flowers were seen along the trail for the first time. I also saw my first snake on the trail, a small gray snake about 14 inches long. Because of yesterday's weather forecast, Walnut made a hostel reservation at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), while I decided to take my chances and tent 2 miles north of the NOC. There were lots of tourists at NOC as it is a famous whitewater kayaking and rafting location. I ate my first half-pound hamburger at the River's End Restaurant at the NOC. We also ran into lots of familiar thru-hikers, including Om. I am currently tenting by myself at Grassy Gap, just finishing a freeze-dried lasagna meal (yum) and hung my food bag on a tree. No bear sightings so far, but we'll see what happens tonight.
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Grassy Gap 

To: Stecoah Gap, Cabin in the Woods Hostel 
Miles today: 11.0

Something was walking around near my tent before dawn this morning. I figured it was a small animal since it was threading lightly through the leaves. Or it may have been the ghosts of Cherokees past. I just went back to sleep for another two hours. Wardrobe changes: Today was the first day I wore only one layer of shirts, removing the polyester tee-shirt from under my capoline long sleeve shirt. I started wearing a bandana instead of the Sam Adams ball cap, as a bandana absorbs forehead sweat better and can be rinsed in a stream so I am not a hothead on the trail. I also noticed this morning that I have no slack remaining in the hip belt for my backpack, whereas I used to have two inches of slack when I started two weeks ago. I will probably need to order a smaller hip belt soon. The 3,313 foot climb out of the NOC in 8 miles is really difficult, straight up the mountain without northward switchbacks, but exhilarating once reaching the summit of Cheoah Bald at 5,062 ft elevation. The 1,900 foot descent to Stecoah Gap was equally hard. I've never seen so many steep ascents in such a steep descent. Pointless ups and downs (PUDS) they are called. Surely, Shirley, if the Georgia mountains weren't enough to cull out the crowd of thru-hikers, the North Carolina mountains will. The often quoted saying on the trail is that by the time thru-hikers finish the AT in Maine, the men look like POW camp survivers and the women look like Greek goddesses. Another is that the first 1,500 miles of the AT is training for the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the mountains of Maine. By the time I caught up with Walnut today, he was waiting at Stecoah Gap for the shuttle to the Cabin in the Woods Hostel. I got there just as the shuttle arrived. We had dinner tonight at the Stecoah Cafe.
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Stecoah Gap, Cabin in the Woods Hostel 

To: Fontana Dam Shelter 
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a nice stay and breakfast at the Cabin in the Woods Hostel. Phil and Donna have a beautiful home and comfortable guest cabins, and are friendly hosts. I recommend them. The Weather Channel app this morning had a severe weather warning, with torrential rain, lighting and 40 knot winds, even though it was only lightly raining outside. Phil noted that the mountains always break up these weather systems. I had previously concluded that weather forecasts were not very accurate for the mountains. It rained only lightly most of the day. Today's challenge out of the box was the infamous Jacobs Ladder, a 600 foot climb in 0.6 miles, straight up of course. As I was nearing the summit, I saw a figure in the fog at the top of Jacobs Ladder. Fortunately for me, it was Walnut and not St. Peter. My time on earth is not yet up. After that climb, the rest of today's hike was fairly routine. Routinely hard that is. The forest is ready to bloom as lots of green plants are popping up. We have had good views through the leave-less trees in the past two weeks. Soon however we will be in what the AT is alternatively known as the green tunnel. At Cody Gap, we met a nice kid doing a section hike during spring break from high school. His trail name is Atlas since he started with an 80 pound pack. We decided to hike all the way to Fontana Lake, camping near the shelter were there are tons of young hikers partying. Hope to have a more quiet day tomorrow.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Fontana Dam Shelter 

To: Fontana Dam Lodge 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful view this morning of Fontana Lake from my tent. I took the shuttle to Fontana Lodge to begin my zero day with the breakfast buffet with Walnut and Zen. I spent a relaxing day, sitting in the sun, showering, washing clothes in the bathtub, opening my mail drop, drying out my tent and watching a little TV. Tomorrow I head into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we are required to sleep in the shelters, due to bears, unless the shelters are full. Then the thru-hikers have to tent outside the shelters. I plan to tent with someone who runs slower than me, or someone whose trail name is Bearbait.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Fontana Dam Lodge 

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Forward: Contrary to any rumors that might be going around, I have not been attached and eaten by a bear. There is no cell service in the Smoky Mountains. The following is posted on 4/15, but contains my thoughts of 4/12. Today was the hardest day yet, both physically and mentally. There is a big difference between hiking downhill with no food in your pack vs. hiking uphill with 10 pounds of food, particularly when the uphill is a 2,820 foot climb. And that's just the first climb of the day. All the greenery we saw the day before was nowhere to be found today. Everything is brown. Brown dirt, brown dead leaves on the brown dirt, brown trees, and brown bear scat. Today would have no redeeming value if not for the 360 degree views from Shuckshack Fire Tower, elevation 3,800 feet. (See pics.) I only climbed to the second platform. I can hike mountain ridges with precipitous drop offs, but something about climbing fire towers scares me. All day was dreary brown. Then suddenly, the landscape was snow white with five pedal little white flowers everywhere. I felt like Dorothy on the road to the emerald city of Oz. I even saw a walking tree (See pics).
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter 

To: Derrick Knob shelter 
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

The Smoky Mountains are a butt-buster! The Georgia mountains are nothing compared to the Smokies. The AT was all mud after raining last night and parts of today. We were either in fog or in a cloud all day and had no views beyond the trail in front of you. It was cold and windy all day. Today was work, one of the days you question why you're doing this. In addition, I hyper extended my right ankle somehow and am feeling it. The only highlight today was summitting the famous Rocky Top Mountain in Tennessee, in fog/clouds. I don't know why it's so famous. It's not like it's the only mountain on the AT with rocks on the top.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Derrick Knob shelter 

To: Mt. Collins shelter 
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Another butt-buster day. More rain, more mud and water on the trail, and more fog so we couldn't see any views. My ankle hurt starting the day, but I got used to it after a while. Today's highlight was summitting Clingmans Mountain, elevation 6,655 feet, the highest point of the entire AT, and site of Clingmans Dome, a popular tourist attraction for it's stupendous views, except for when I was there. Just fog for me. Because my ankle was hurting, I tried to bum a ride to Gatlinburg from three people visiting the Dome. They all turned me down, probably because I looked (and was) a homeless person with wet and muddy clothes. As that was not working, I decided to continue hiking to Mt. Collins Shelter, which was full by the time I got there, so I had to tent outside with several others. Another highlight today was reaching the 200 mile point on the AT, although I didn't notice it as there was no marker and I was trying too hard, unsuccessfully, to keep my shoes from sinking in the mud.
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Mt. Collins shelter 

To: Newfound Gap 
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

It rained hard all last night. My tent kept most of the water out, but a little seeped through the sil-nylon, as well as condensation from my breathing. My hiking clothes and shoes were still soaked from yesterday. Fortunately it was only 4.5 miles to Newfound Gap to get a ride into Gatlinburg, TN. The AT was a river with more mud than the days before. Due to the rain, I wore my ball cap to keep the rain off my glasses, the visor of which kept me from looking up since I'm looking down all the time for foot placement. Then I banged my head on a tree that overhung the trail, resulting with a nice bump. It seems the Smokies have it in for me. Upon reaching Newfound Gap, we stuck out our thumbs in the driving rain to hitch a ride 15 miles into Gatlinburg. After 10 minutes, someone stopped a gave us a ride. After a nice big hamburger and fries, we resupplied at an outfitter, then got a shuttle to the Smoky Pearl hostel in Townsend, TN. This hostel is really a log cabin with 10 bunks, but Walnut and I are the only ones here. A good value for $35 each, which includes a shuttle to and from the trail. I am finally warm and dry, with launder clothes and a ribeye for dinner.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Newfound Gap 

To: Icewater Spring shelter 
Miles today: 3.0

It was a nice day at the Smoky Pearl hostel this morning. The hostel owners shuttled us back to Newfound Gap at noon, where, surprise, it was raining again. It actually stopped raining for a few hours, but recommenced when we got to the shelter. My ankle felt good with the ankle brace on. I've been carrying it since the beginning, confident that I would eventually have this injury to my bum ankle. That is because of a dumb college stunt, rock hopping across the Merrimack River in Lowell, Mass during seasonal low water when there is a perfectly good bridge above it. I was in a leg cast for a month back then. Full house at the shelter tonight as the rain continues and the temperature drops. As people kept arriving at the shelter, we all squeezed in shoulder to shoulder, at least 20 people in a 12 person shelter. With so many, we were hitting the rack between 5 and 6 pm, talking and waiting the sun to go down. It was so funny the conversation, from the rules for fart baseball, Bigfoot, alien messages in crop circles, ostriches, and numerous subjects unmentionable in a public forum. The rain stopped around 7 pm. Someone got up at 8 pm to pee and said there was a tremendous sunset. So everyone in the whole shelter got up with their cameras to take pictures of the sun setting beyond a mountain range whose peaks popped above the clouds. (See pics).
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Icewater Spring shelter 

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

In the crowded shelter, it was difficult to get comfortable. I tried lying on my stomach with my right arm out of the sleeping bag, and felt a mouse crawling on my arm. Today was an awesome day, with no rain and great views of the Smokies that were not available all week due to the weather. All day was between 5,300 and 6,250 feet in a fir and pine forest. (See pics)
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter 

To: Davenport Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a beautiful day, the first day of sunshine since Monday. Finally getting great views in the Smokies, something other than fog, clouds and mud. The highlight today was Mt. Cammerer lookout tower, a difficult 0.6 miles off the AT but worth it. 360 degree views and visibility of about 100 miles. Tonight is the last night in the Smokies. Davenport Gap Shelter is the last one with a chain link fence on the open side of the shelter. The Park Service removed chain link fences from the other shelters because people staying in them were offering food to the bears from behind the safety of the fence. Elevation dropped below 5,000 feet for the first time in 30 miles. All the leaves are popping at ground level in the lower elevations.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Davenport Gap Shelter 

To: Green Corner Road, Standing Bear Farm Hostel 
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: light rain

Today I existed the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I hereby rename it the Muddy Smoky Mountains National Park. I saw a lot more mud than greatness. I also saw a lot of fog and clouds for which the Smokies gets its name. Essentially the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains is one long trough filled with mud, and when it rains, a river runs through it. Due to rain and my sore ankle, I took a short day into Standing Bear Farm Hostel. It took me 4 days vice the 3 I planned to get from Newfound Gap to Standing Bear Farm Hostel. Thus, I'm back on my original schedule to get to Damascus by 7 May for Amy's graduation. Hands and Hammer got to Standing Bear before I did and got the double beds in the cabin while I got a single bunk in the loft of the cabin. However as hikers were coming in all day from the rain, the hostel doubled up the double beds. Hands and Hammer got to share their beds with other hikers. Gorp-Gobbler and Woody were at the hostel also after being off the trail several days due to illness and injury. It was good to see those guys back on the trail. We sat around on the porch of the cabin in the afternoon while raining outside. I ate lots of food all afternoon trying to catch up on my calorie deficit.