morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-02
From: FRANKLIN N.C.

To: WAYAH SHELTER
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

I DIDN'T WANT TO HIKE INTO A RAIN STORM BUT DID ANYWAYS. THE LEGENDARY RON HAVEN PICKED ME AND ANOTHER HIKER UP AND DROVE US TO THE TRAILHEAD TELLING ONE STORY AFTER ANOTHER IN RON HAVEN FASHION. IT STARTED TO RAIN ONCE I GOT TO THE TRAILHEAD. I HAD TO THROW ON MY RAIN GEAR AND BACKPACK COVER. I STARTED HIKING AND CHATTING WITH THAT OLDER FELLA DOING A SECTION TO FONTANA. AFTER A MOMENT HE SAID YOUR GONNA BE TALKING WITH YOURSELF IN A SECOND. HE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH ME. I WISHED HIM WELL TOLD HIM I WOULD SEE HIM UP THE TRAIL AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE WOODS. I HIKED BY THE FIRST SHELTER AND KEPT MOVING. THE RAIN WASN'T TOO MUCH OF A FACTOR. IT MADE THINGS SLICK BUT I JUST STILL KEPT MOVING. THE CLIMB FELT RELENTLESS AS IT WOULD KEEP GOING UP. I WOULD RUN INTO A COUPLE HIKERS AS ID BE TAKING A WATER BREAK. THEY SAID THEY JUST RAN INTO A FEW HIKERS BACK AT THE LAST SHELTER I PASSED. AFTER ASKING WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE I REALIZED IT WAS THE ICEMAN AND TARZAN AND SHORTLY AFTER, THERE THEY WERE. I HIKED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MEMORIAL TOWER AND MET UP WITH TARZAN AND ICEMAN. THAT WAYAH BALD WAS ONE HELL OF A CLIMB. ICEMAN HIKED ON AND AFTER TAKING SOME PICTURES TARZAN AND I WOULD START TO HIKE TO THE WAYAH SHELTER. MY ACHILLES WERE HURTING JUST BEFORE THE TOP. KELLY'S KNOB WAS BAD, BUT NOW THE BALDS. MANAGED TO CATCH UP WITH THE OTHER FOUR WHO I HAD TRAVELED WITH FOR SOME TIME NOW. GREAT BUNCH. LETS SEE ITS ICEMAN, TARZAN, ROCKY, AND MILES. I MET SOME OTHERS ON THE TRAIL UP IN THAT SHELTER AS WELL, THERE WAS A GIRL NAMED PATCH, AND A OLDER LADY WHO I CHATTED WITH FOR A LITTLE BIT. AQUAFRESH, AND THE CHINESE TOURIST SHOWED UP LATE. I'VE SEEN THEM IN FRANKLIN. A HARD CORE RAINY DAY, I HIKED IN IT THE WHOLE WAY. IT HAD STOPPED BY THE TIME I GOT UP THERE. I HAD A NICE FIRE AND ATE, ATE, AND ATE WHILE ALL THE OTHERS SLEPT. I LAID OUT THERE BY THE FIRE DRYING MY JEANS. I WATCHED THE STARS IN THE DISTANCE AS I WOULD LAY ON MY BACK BY THE FIRE. AFTER MANY HOURS I COULDN'T SEE THE STARS ANY MORE WHICH IS NOT A VERY WELCOME SIGN. IT STARTED TO RAIN A LITTLE AND I WOULD SCRAMBLE TO THE SHELTER. I SET MY DRY CLOTHES UNDER THE ROOF OF THE SHELTER, SLIPPED INTO MY SLEEPING BAG.
Date: 2009-05-03
From: WAYAH SHELTER

To: N.O.C.
Miles today: 16.3

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!BROKE CAMP EARLY.THE FORECAST IS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN TODAY. BROKE CAMP RIGHT AFTER MILES. IT WOULD RAIN AND I WALKED IN THE RAIN FOR A LONG TIME. PASSED A TRAIL ANGEL CAMPSITE WHICH WAS A TENT SET UP WITH SOME CHAIRS, A COOLER FULL OF COLD SODAS BY BURNINGTOWN GAP. I LATER DRANK ONE AT THE COLD SPRING SHELTER, A NEAT LITTLE PLACE. THE WEATHER WAS REALLY BAD. THE LOOKOUTS AT COPPER RIDGE BALD AND THE WESSER BALD OBSERVATION TOWER YIELDED NOT A VIEW. I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THE WESSER BALD OBSERVATION TOWER. THAT'S HOW MISERABLE IT WAS OUT. FOG WAS SO BAD THAT VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED. LEARNED A NEW WAY DOWN THOSE LOG STEPS THEY TEND TO BUILD ALONG THE WAY. SLIP...FALL...AND ROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. NOW THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT. I FELL DOWN AT LEAST SIX TIMES. IF I HAD A AXE I COULD OF HOLLOWED OUT A LOG AND FLOATED DOWN THE TRAIL. ABOUT 3 INCHES OF STANDING WATER AND RUNNING DOWN THE TRAIL BOTH ON THE UPHILL AND THE DOWNHILL SIDES. ARRIVED AT THE NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER. MET THE OTHER FOUR DOWN THERE. I WOULD OF BEEN THE FIRST TO ARRIVE BUT I HAD TO HIKE BACK UP THE HILL TO LOOK FOR A RAIN HAT I DROPPED. THAT'S WHERE I PASSED MILES WHO I THOUGHT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. HAD A INTERESTING TIME HERE AT THE N.O.C. I WILL UPDATE THAT LATER.
Date: 2009-05-05
From: BROWNS FORK GAP SHELTER

To: FONTANA VILLAGE RESORT
Miles today: 11.6

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! LETS WISH FOR THE BEST ONE. CONGRATULATIONS! LEFT CAMP FIRST EARLY. GOT TO FONTANA NC 28 AT 2PM. SOMEHOW IM IN A FANCY RESORT WHEN I WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AT THE HIKERS INN. I GUESS I WAS SUPPOSE TO HIKE ANOTHER 1.8 MILES. OH WELL A SHUTTLE PICKED ME UP AND SHUTTLED ME HERE. THEY WILL TAKE ME BACK LATER TOMORROW. THE WEATHER IS REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW. GOT LUCKY TODAY. WHEN I TOOK MY RAIN GEAR OFF IT STARTED RAINING. JUST KEPT HIKING. DID SOME LAUNDRY DOWN AT THE FONTANA STORE. GOT ME SOME ITEMS AND I HOPE IM GONNA BE ABLE TO HIKE IN ENOUGH STUFF. GOT MY SMOKEY MOUNTAIN PERMIT AND SOME OLD GUY I MET AT THE COLD SPRING SHELTER HELPED ME OUT. SHOWED ME HOW TO GET MY PERMIT FOR THE SMOKEY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. GOT ME A MAP. HE SAID EARLIER I WAS GONNA PASS HIM UP BUT HE HAULED BUTT. TOLD ME WITH HOW FAST IM MOVING I'LL BE THROUGH THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS IN FOUR DAYS. HE PICKED OUT FOUR SHELTERS ABOUT 13 MILES APART HE THOUGHT ID GET TO. BEAR COUNTRY! READ SOME INFO ON THE BEARS OF THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS AND I'M PREPARED TO FIGHT THEM OFF WITH EVERYTHING I GOT. I PLAN ON CARRYING A LOT OF FOOD AND ITS NOT FOR THEM. MAY HAVE TO WORK OUT A BEAR BAG. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE SOME BEAR LINES. SUPPLY IS GONNA BE TOUGH. IM QUESTIONING MY RATIONS FOR THIS STRETCH. IVE KNOCKED OUT SEVERAL 5000 FOOTERS NOW ITS ANOTHER MONSTER. CLINGMANS DOME COMING UP. THIS IS THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE AT. I WILL BE CLIMBING FROM 1700 FT TO 6643 FT IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS. MY PACK IS STILL REALLY HEAVY BUT IM USED TO IT. OTHERS ARE RUNNING LOW IM NOT. ASKED BY THIMBLE AND TIMEBOMB TODAY WHEN THEY CAUGHT ME IF I WOULD SELL THEM A POWERBAR AND I TOLD THEM IT WAS LIKE GOLD ESPECIALLY WHEN I CARRIED IT UP FROM FRANKLIN N.C. THEY SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD AND CARRIED ON. I PASSED THEM BY TOLD THEM THEY WERE DOING GREAT TOGETHER AND THEY SAID YEA BUT YOU CAUGHT US. I HURRIED UP THE TRAIL PAST THEM ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AND WHEN I GOT A WAYS AHEAD I DROPPED A PROTEIN BAR ON THE TRAIL FLOOR FOR THEM AS TRAIL MAGIC. I HEARD A THANK YOU FROM A DISTANCE. HEHE SUCKER AIN'T I. YESTERDAY I MANAGED TO GIVE SOME WATER TREATMENTS BACK TO THE TENZING WHO IS A FAST OLD GUY DOING 22 MILE DAYS. ASKED HIM IF HE LOST SOMETHING. CAUGHT HIM AS HE WAS LEAVING THE SASSAFRAS SHELTER AFTER HE ATE LUNCH DOWN THERE. PERFECT TIMING. TOLD ME HE WANTED TO MEET THE GUY WHO WAS CARRYING THE 68 POUND PACK. OFF HE WENT. NO REWARD FOR ME. SAW THE DAM FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND TOMORROW I PLAN ON WALKING OVER IT. GONNA NEED SOME MORE FUEL. PACK WILL BE 50 POUNDS AT LEAST AGAIN. SMOKEYS HERE I COME. IM AT THE FONTANA VILLAGE RESORT! NICE PLACE. SHAVED SHOWERED AND DRYING ALL MY GEAR. THE WEATHER DOESN'T LOOK GOOD BUT I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COOLER TEMPERATURES AND HIKING INTO IT. SUPPLIES OUT HERE ARE EXPENSIVE. DOING THE BEST I CAN. THIS PLACE COST A LOT BUT I NEEDED ENOUGH TIME TO GET SOME THINGS DONE. STILL THE TOUGHEST THING I EVER HAVE DONE AND ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING OVER. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BALD AND A KNOB? FLETCH
Date: 2009-05-06
From: FONTANA VILLAGE RESORT NC 28

To: MOLLIES RIDGE SHELTER
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

I GOT A SHUTTLE BACK TO WHERE I GOT OFF AT NC 28. I MET MILES AND TARZAN WHO HAD JUST GOT THERE AND WERE WAITING FOR A SHUTTLE TO FONTANA. I HADN'T SEEN THEM SINCE ROCKY AND I HAD WENT OVER CHEOAH BALD PAST STECOAH GAP AND TO THE BROWNS FORK SHELTER. I SAID HEY GUYS, GAVE THEM SOME INFO, TOLD THEM I WOULD SEE THEM UP THE TRAIL, AND THEN I HIKED ON. I HAD LEFT LATE AND GOT THE MILES IN. VERY TIRED BEFORE I GOT TO MOLLIES RIDGE. THAT WAS TOUGH. I WAS HOPING TO GET TO RUSSELL FIELD SHELTER. COULDN'T DO IT. THAT'S WHERE THE BEAR ACTIVITY IS REALLY BAD. I KNOCKED THIS LEG OUT. THIS OLD DUDE I PASSED UP TOLD ME THE SHELTER WAS AN HOUR AWAY. AFTER I GOT UP THE TRAIL TO A DRY SPOT I FLOPPED OVER AND PRACTICALLY FELL ASLEEP ON MY PACK. FIGURED I WAS CLOSE EVEN THO AN HOUR WASN'T REALLY A GOOD ESTIMATE. I WENT ON ONLY TO COME ACROSS A SIGN THAT SAID 3.1 MORE MILES TO THE SHELTER. I WAS WONDERING IF HE MEANT AN HOUR IF I RAN. WHEN HE GOT TO THE SHELTER IT WAS DARK. I BEAT THE RAIN AND HE DIDN'T. HE WAS HAPPY TO MAKE IT. I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE 1 HOUR 1 MILE TO GO AND HE SAID HE WAS WRONG. IT WAS GOOD FOR A LAUGH. MADE SPAM SANDWICHES AND OPENED A CAN OF FRUIT COCKTAIL. GOT A SMALL FIRE GOING IN THE SHELTER. UP LATE. THE ICEMAN, THIMBLE, TIMEBOMB, AND AN OLD DUDE HIKING THE BENTON MCKAY TRAIL WERE ROOMATES. TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE PAID ME BACK FOR THE POWERBAR THAT I LEFT ON THE TRAIL FOR THEM THE DAY BEFORE. NICE COUPLE.
Date: 2009-05-07
From: MOLLIES RIDGE SHELTER

To: DERRICK KNOB SHELTER
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I HIKED OUT OF THE MOLLIES RIDGE SHELTER AFTER BEING UP LATE AND HIKED UP TO DEVILS PATCH, DOWN TO LITTLE ABRAMS GAP AND STOPPED FOR A BREAK AT THE RUSSEL FIELD SHELTER. I TOOK SOME PICTURES AND CHATTED WITH TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE. THEN IT WAS A ROLLER COASTER RIDE UP TO ROCKY TOP AND UP EVEN HIGHER TO THUNDERHEAD EAST PEAK 5527 FT. I TOOK A BREAK AND TOOK SOME MORE PICTURES AS IT WAS KINDA WET BUT PRETTY NEAT UP THERE. BACK DOWN TO BEECHNUT GAP AND UP A LITTLE TO MINERAL GAP. DOWN 600 FT TO SUGAR TREE GAP WHERE I TOOK ANOTHER BREAK ANOTHER PICTURE AND I KNEW I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE DERRICK KNOB SHELTER. I FINALLY MADE IT AND SECURED MY SPOT. ONLY FOUR THRU HIKERS SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE. ICEMAN TIMEBOMB, THIMBLE AND I CLAIMED THOSE SPOTS AND MET KENTUCKY BLUE FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE WAS JUST WAITING AND TOLD US THE SHELTER WAS GONNA BE FULL FOR THE NIGHT AS ALL THE REMAINING SPOTS WERE RESERVED. IM A LITTLE INTIMIDATED BY THE RIDGE RUNNER BECAUSE I FEEL SHE'S LIKE A COP OUT IN THE WOODS. I ASKED HER IF I COULD HAVE A FIRE AND SHE TOLD ME OF COURSE JUST TRY TO NOT WANDER TOO FAR FROM THE TRAIL TO GATHER WOOD SO AS NOT TO DESTROY THE SURROUNDINGS WHICH I DID. ASKED HER IF SHE COULD SHOW ME WHAT POISON IVY LOOKED LIKE AND SHE BOUGHT ME OVER TO SOME PLANTS THAT I WAS TOLD WERE BLACKBERRY BUSHES. SHE THEN SAID SHE HAD SOME POISON IVY ON HER LEG AND SHE LIFTED UP HER PANTS AND PRODUCED A HAIRY LEG WITH SOME POISON IVY BLISTERS. YIKES! WHATS WORSE? THE POISON IVY BLISTERS OR HER HAIRY LEG. SHE NEEDS A GOOD SHAVE. I STRUGGLED TO HAVE A FIRE THAT NIGHT AS I SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT BLOWING ON A SMOLDERING FIRE. THE WOODS WET FROM THE WICKED THUNDERSTORM FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. I FINALLY CRAWLED INTO MY SLEEPING BAG FOR THE NIGHT AFTER A FUTILE ATTEMPT AT THE FIRE THAT LASTED FOR HOURS. I NOTICED MY ANKLES WERE A LITTLE SORE TODAY.
Date: 2009-05-08
From: DERRICK KNOB SHELTER

To: CLINGMAN DOME MOUNT COLLINS SHELTER
Miles today: 13.5

FIRST TO BREAK CAMP. DIDN'T WEAR RAIN GEAR. UP TO SILERS BALD ONLY TO BE WARNED OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING FAST AT 45 MPH. GOT MY RAIN GEAR ON. THEN IT HIT. I COUNTED THE LIGHTNING AND THUNDER INTERVALS WITH 17 SECONDS IN BETWEEN THEN AFTER AWHILE IT WAS 14 THEN 12 THEN BAMM! JUST AS I GOT TO THE TOP IT WAS ONE SECOND APART. THATS WHERE IT GOT REAL SCARY! A DOWNPOUR! FELT LIKE I WAS BEING WASHED AWAY WITH THE TRAIL. SO MUCH WATER. I BIT IT SEVERAL TIMES. I HEADED OUT WITH A SORE LEFT ACHILLES AND STARTED OUT SLOW UNTIL THE STORM HIT THEN ITS FUNNY HOW IT FELT BETTER AS I RACED THE WEATHER ONCE AGAIN. ALL DAY LONG IT WAS SORE. I KEPT MOVING. EVERYONE CAME UP FROM BEHIND ME. PRETTY EXCITED WE SURVIVED THAT CRAZINESS. ALL YOU CAN DO IS TAKE COVER OR KEEP ON MOVING. I CHOSE TO KEEP MOVING. GOT SOME GREAT PICTURES WHEN THE WEATHER CLEARED HOWEVER IT WAS PROJECTED AS SEVERE LATER IN THE DAY AS WELL. HURRY HURRY GOT TO BEAT THE WEATHER. MADE IT TO CLINGMANS DOME IN TIME FOR THE CLOUDS TO SPOIL THE VIEW. EVERYONE WAS STUNNED TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY ADVENTURE. THEY GATHERED AROUND TO LISTEN TO MY STORY. THE HOSPITALITY WAS AMAZING. I WAS PULLED ASIDE BY STRANGERS WHO HANDED ME OUT 70 DOLLARS IN CASH TO HELP WITH THE TRIP. I'M TOTALLY SHOCKED. I'M RELIEVED THAT I MAY ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF. THEY WERE DUMBFOUNDED BY ME HIKING IN TENNIS SHOES AND JEANS. I CERTAINLY ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION AND IT HELPED LEAD ME ON MY WAY UP MOUNT LOVE WHICH WAS CERTAINLY TOUGH AT THIS POINT. I DID IT ONCE AGAIN AND ARRIVED AT MOUNT COLLINS. CHASED TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE AS WE'VE TRAVELED FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER PASSING EACH OTHER ALONG THE WAY. THE ICEMAN WAS RELAXING AT THE SHELTER WHEN I ARRIVED. I ROUNDED UP WOOD FOR A FIRE AFTER A OLDER GENTLEMAN SAID HE HAD SOME FIRE STICKS TO LIGHT A FIRE WITH IF I WANTED TO GET ONE GOING. TARZAN SHOWED UP LATER AND CAME SKIDDING AROUND THE CORNER LIKE HE WAS BEING CHASED BY SOMETHING. HE DID 20 MILES TO CATCH UP TO US. MANAGED TO SCORE SOME MUCH NEEDED GUMBO BY A COUPLE OF WEEKEND HIKERS THAT HAD CAMPED IN THE SHELTER. MMMM! THAT HIT THE SPOT. IM OUT OF FUEL FOR COOKING DUE TO THE SHUTTLE BYPASSING MY FUEL RESUPPLY. FIRES ARE HARD TO GET GOING. BEEN A REAL HELP IN THE COOKING DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU DO GET ONE GOING. I HOPE THE WEATHER IMPROVES. ITS TREACHEROUS TO HIKE IN THESE CONDITIONS. EVERYONE KNOWS MY TENNIS SHOE PRINTS. THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM FOR A WHILE. THEY CAN SEE EVERY ONE OF MY SPILLS! AT LEAST I PROVIDE SOME COMIC RELIEF. LETS SEE WHAT TOMORROW THROWS AT ME.
Date: 2009-05-09
From: MT COLLINS SHELTER

To: GATLINBURG
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: overcast clouds

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! GATLINBURG. SORE LEFT ACHILLES. STRONG STORMS, POURING RAIN AS I GOT TO THE NEWFOUND GAP ROAD CROSSING. TARZAN CAUGHT ME AT THE LAST SHELTER LAST NIGHT. HE ROCKS. HE WAS HANGING OUT UNDER A TREE ABOVE THE MONUMENT AND I TOLD HIM I HAD TO HIT GATLINBURG. I NEEDED SOME STRONGER MEDICINE. I THINK THAT WAS A WISE DECISION. A COUPLE OF GREAT GUYS TURNED AROUND PICKED ME UP AND TOOK ME INTO GATLINBURG. THEY BROUGHT ME TO THE VISITORS CENTER, THE OUTFITTER, WHO STEERED ME TO THE GRAND PRIX. THESE TWO GUYS, TRAIL ANGELS, WENT WELL OUT OF THERE WAY TO HELP ME OUT. THEY DROVE ME TO THE FOOD CITY AT THE OTHER END OF GATLINBURG AND ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE MOTEL. I LOADED UP WITH TOO MUCH FOOD. BUT IM OK WITH EATING IT TONIGHT. NOW WHERE IS THE CAN OPENER. I CERTAINLY ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE. I LIKE THIS PLACE. I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY ANKLES WERE SWOLLEN AND I MAY HAVE A TOE NAIL ISSUE. NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS THE CHINESE TOURIST. IM TAKING SOME ALEVE I SCROUNGED OUT OF THE HIKERS BOX. I RAIDED SOME MORE RAMEN, HOT CHOCOLATE, A RAZOR, SOME WHITE GAS, A FEW OTHER ITEMS AS WELL WHICH I MAY RETURN AFTER I DECIDE WHAT IM BRINGING. GONNA GET SOME ICE AND START SOAKING MY ANKLES IN IT TO GET THE SWELLING DOWN. A LOT OF THE OTHERS IVE TRAVELED WITH HAVE CAUGHT UP TO ME. ROCKY, MILES, THE CHINESE TOURIST, AQUAFRESH, MOSIE AND HIS CRITTER WHO I HAVENT GOT TO KNOW HAVE SHOWN UP AFTER BEING BEAT DOWN HARD IN THE POURING RAIN TODAY. I MANAGED TO MISS MOST OF THE HARD STUFF. LUCKY FOR ME I HURRIED UP TO THAT CROSSING. ICEMAN AND TARZAN WENT ON AND I WOULD OF LIKED TO AS WELL. TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE ARE HERE AS WELL. COUPLE MORE DAYS OF THE SMOKEYS AND I MIGHT HAVE TO TURN IT ON TO TRY TO CATCH HIM ONCE AGAIN. IF NOT, I KNOW HE IS ENJOYING EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS HIKE. ICEMAN HAVE A GREAT TIME OUT THERE AND IM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU ONCE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. KEEP ON KEEPING ON! AQUAFRESH INVITED ME TO A MEXICAN JOINT IN TOWN WITH ALL THE OTHER HIKERS BUT I CHOSE TO STAY OFF MY FEET, SAT ON THE FLOOR AND ALTERNATED ICE ON MY ANKLES ALL NIGHT LONG AS I WATCHED MARK MARTIN WIN A RARE SATURDAY NIGHT RACE.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: PECKS CORNER SHELTER

To: COSBY KNOB SHELTER
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

WEATHER IS A LITTLE BETTER. ALOT COOLER. WALKED THROUGH THE HIGH 6000 FOOT MT SEQUOYAH AND MT CHAPMAN. WET, WET, AND MORE WET. DIDNT WANT TO SET MY PACK DOWN TO MESS WITH MY FOOT OR CHANGE SOCKS. FELT A BLISTER COMING ON AND SURE ENOUGH I PAID FOR THAT INFRACTION. I WAITED WAY TOO LONG. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP AND LOOK AT MY FOOT AND I HAD THE BIGGEST BLISTER AND JUST TOUCHING IT WITH A NEEDLE, IT EXPLODED. THAT WAS PRETTY DISQUSTING. THATS AN INTERESTING WALK THROUGH THOSE MOUNTAINS. MISTY, FOGGY, AND DAMP. KNOCKED THEM OFF. COLD DAY AT THE SHELTER. EVERYONE IS FREEZING AND COUNTING ON ME TO GET A FIRE GOING. THIMBLE WAS REALLY COLD AND I TOLD HER IT WAS GONNA DROP INTO THE THIRTIES THAT NIGHT ACCORDING TO MY RADIO. THERE WAS A FEW GUYS THERE ALREADY AND WITH TEAMWORK WE ALL SUCCEEDED IN GETTING A FIRE GOING AND I TELL YA IT LIFTED EVERYONES SPIRITS. BURNED TILL THE NEXT DAY. A MIRACLE WE EVEN GOT ONE GOING DUE TO HOW WET EVERYTHING WAS. DRYER LINT WITH A LITTLE WHITE GAS AND PRESTO, FIRE. IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK AT FIRST BUT HEY, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. THANKS TERRY, THE TRAIL ANGELS IN GATTLINBURG GAVE ME A COUPLE OF BAGGIES OF DRIER LINT WHICH HELPED OUT HERE AT THE COSBY KNOB SHELTER. THIMBLE WAS COUNTING ON ME TO GET A FIRE STARTED. YOU CAN SAY MORE LIKE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT I WOULD GET ONE GOING. EVERYONE WAS WET AND COLD. SHE WAS MISERABLE IN THAT COLD WEATHER AND I DIDNT BLAME HER AT ALL. IT WAS BELOW 40 DEGREES. EVERYONE HERE IS FREEZING COLD. BUT IM DOING GREAT THANKS TO MY TRAIL ANGEL FRIENDS IN GATTLINBURG. I HELPED SAVE THE DAY. IT DEFINATELY TOOK TEAMWORK AS I COULDNT OF GOT IT GOING WITHOUT EVERYONES CONTRIBUTIONS. I MANAGED TO GO OUT AND GATHER WOOD THAT HADNT HIT THE GROUND YET AND HACKED IT UP WITH MY MACHETE THAT I CARRIED ALONG WITH. IT FIT NICELY IN A PERFECT LOCATION ON MY PACK ALL SECRETLY HIDDEN.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: COSBY KNOB SHELTER

To: STANDING BEAR FARMS
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

I LEFT EARLY THIS MORNING ABOUT 8 AM. THE BLISTER SEEMED ALL RIGHT BUT AFTER THE STEEP DROP TO DAVENPORT GAP IT REALLY MESSED WITH THAT BLISTER. CHANGED MY SOCKS A FEW TIMES AND DRIED MY FEET OUT, ATE SOME LUNCH AND ENJOYED THE DAY. STANDING BEAR FARMS IS SUPPOSE TO BE CLOSE SO I FIGURE I WILL TAKE A LITTLE BREAK IN MY HIKING TODAY TO REST RECOVER, SHAVE AND SHOWER. I TALKED MYSELF INTO HEADING TO THE STANDING BEAR FARM HOSTEL AND ONCE AGAIN I MADE THE RIGHT CALL. ITS THE HONOR SYSTEM HERE AND ITS GREAT SO FAR. THE SHOWER WAS STEAMING HOT. FIGURING I NEEDED CARBS SO I MADE A LARGE BATCH OF SPAGHETTI AND TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE HELPED ME EAT IT. CURTIS SHUTTLED US DOWN A HIGHWAY TO A CONVENIENCE STORE ON A BEER RUN FOR THOSE THAT WERE GONNA STAY THE NIGHT. I TAGGED ALONG AND GOT SOME MILK AND SOME OTHER MISC ITEMS. I'M GONNA UPDATE MY JOURNAL AS BEST I CAN ON A SLOW COMPUTER HERE AT THE HOSTEL TODAY AND MAYBE HIT THE SACK EARLY BECAUSE IM BEAT. I'M CRUISING RIGHT ALONG. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOT SPRINGS. THATS TWO BIG HIKING MILE DAYS AWAY, LETS SEE IF I CAN PULL IT OFF. PACK IS A LOT LIGHTER AFTER I ATE HALF MY STUFF. ACHILLES IS ALOT BETTER. ALEVE AND ICE WITH SOME REST TOOK CARE OF THE SWOLLEN BLACK AND BLUE ANKLES. NOT A PROBLEM NOW. DEFINATELY NEED SOME NEW SOCKS.
Date: 2009-05-13
From: STANDING BEAR FARMS

To: GROUND HOG CREEK SHELTER
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I BOUGHT A SIX EGGS AND ONE POUND OF BACON AND A COUPLE OF POTATOS TO MAKE HASHBROWNS AT THE RESUPPLY SHACK HERE AT THE HOSTEL. I MADE ALL OF IT AND ATE ALL OF IT. I WAS ABOUT TO HIKE OUT TO THE TRAIL AND CATCH UP WITH TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE BUT CATTYWAMPUS AND CHANDLER SHOWED UP AND I HADNT SEEN THEM IN ABOUT 140 MILES. I FIGURED I WOULD HANG OUT WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND CATCH UP SINCE I ENJOYED THEIR COMPANY EARLIER IN MY HIKE. SO I DIDNT GET OFF TO A GOOD START. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND AQUAFRESH SHOWED UP AND I LED THEM UP TO THE RESUPPLY SHACK. AFTER A WHILE I STARTED TO HIKE ON AFTER SETTLING UP MY TAB. I REMEMBER CURTIS THE HOSTLE OWNER TELLING ME ON MY WAY OUT THAT ALL LONG HAIRED GUYS MAKE IT TO KATAHDIN AND I THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICES AND HIKED BACK TO THE TRAIL. I GOT TO THE GROUND HOG CREEK SHELTER AND DECIDED TO HIKE ON OVER THERE. THERE WAS A COUPLE WHO WERE MAKING SOME FOOD AND HANGING OUT BY THE SHELTER WHICH HAD A SAGGING FLOOR. THEY EVENTUALLY WENT OVER TO WHERE THEY HAD THEIR TENT SET UP DOWN BY A GOOD WATER SOURCE FAR AWAY FROM THE SHELTER. I DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY. I DIDNT HAVE THE ENERGY AND I FIGURED I WAS GONNA BE ALONE PRETTY MUCH HERE AT THE SHELTER. SHORTLY AFTER ROUTE 66 SHOWED UP. I STARTED A FIRE AND RELAXED HERE AT THE SHELTER WITH ROUTE 66. HE REMINDED ME THAT I DIDNT SHARE ANY BACON AND COULDNT BELIEVE I ATE THE WHOLE POUND. GUESS I WAS HUNGRY.
Date: 2009-05-16
From: HOT SPRINGS

To: SPRING MOUNTAIN SHELTER
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

CHEKCED OUT OF ELMERS AND WENT DOWN TO THE RESTERAUNT AND ATE BREAKFAST WITH TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE THE CHINESE TOURIST AND AQUAFRESH. HIKED OUT OF HOT SPRINGS OVER THE FRENCH BROAD AND UP TOWARD THE SHELTER. I HAD TO TAKE A NAP ON A BENCH IN FRONT OF A OLD DAMN AND WAS OUT COLD. I THEN HAD TO HIKE UP THE TRAIL TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS AND I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE FINDING THE TRAIL AT ONE POINT AT A ROAD CROSSING JUST PAST THERE. I SAW ABOUT 20 TENTS SET UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAIL WITH NO ONE IN THEM. I FIGURED IT WAS SOME BOY SCOUT ACTIVITY OR SOMETHING. I STARTED TO HIKE TO THE SPRING MOUNTAIN SHELTER AND WHILE GETTING WATER A FATHER AND SON PASSED BY. I REALLIZED I NEEDED TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE FICE PERSON SPRING MOUNTIAN SHELTER BEFORE THE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HIT. I THEN HIKED AS FAST AS I COULD AND PASSED THOSE TWO AND RACED TO THE SHELTER HOPING FOR A SPOT. I WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE AND IT WAS A SMALL OLD SHELTER. THE PRIVY WAS ALMOST FULL TO THE TOP AND WAS ONE OF THE WORST I HAD SEEN SO FAR. THE TWO GENTLEMAN SHOWED UP AND GRABBED A SPOT IN THE SHELTER AND A LITTLE LATER TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE SHOWED UP AND SECURED THE REMAINING TWO SPOTS. SNAKER SHOWED UP AND SAID HE WOULD TENT. I GOT A FIRE GOING ONLY TO HAVE THE RAIN PUT IT OUT. IT RAINED LIKE CATS AND DOGS. TWO OTHER GUYS SHOWED UP TO SEEK SHELTER OUT OF THE RAIN BUT ITS SUCH A SMALL SHELTER IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. MORE TO COME.
Date: 2009-05-17
From: SPRING MOUNTAIN SHELTER

To: LITTLE LAUREL SHELTER
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: light rain

I DIDNT LEAVE THE SHELTER TILL LATE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL RAINING AND I JUST SAT IN THE SHELTER IN MY SLEEPING BAG. SNAKER CAME BACK TO THE SHELTER FOR BREAKFAST AND SAID HE GOT SOAKED. HE WOULD THEN HIKE OFF. SO DID THE FATHER AND SON. NATE MOVED INTO THE SHELTER. TIMEBOMB AND THIMBLE DECIDED TO HIKE OFF AND LEFT LATE IN THE DAY. I DONT THINK THIMBLE WAS REALLY IN THE MOOD TO HIKE ON AS OF YET. I DIDNT BLAME HER I DIDNT WANT TO HIKE IN RAIN EITHER. IT WAS KIND OF A MISTY RAIN AND I SAT THERE JUST WATCHING IT AND HOPING IT WOULD QUIT. THEY FINALLY DID LEAVE. I TOLD THEM I WOULD CATCH UP. I GOT ON MY RAIN GEAR AND STARTED TO HIKE ON. THE RAIN WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP AND I MET PLUNDER HOW FAR WHO CAME UP FROM BEHIND LATER IN MY HIKE. I CHATTED AND KEPT UP WITH HIM FOR A WHILE BUT HE HAD MENTIONED HE WAS DOING BIG MILES SO I FIGURED I WOULDNT SEE HIM AFTER THAT. HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS LEGS. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE THREAT OF RAIN AND WHEN I PASSED A HOSTEL SIGN SAYING THE HAPPY HOLLOW HOSTEL WAS A MILE DOWN FROM THE TRAIL. I HAD FORGOT TOILET PAPER AND BATTERIES BACK IN HOT SPRINGS AND THAT HELPED ME DECIDE TO HEAD OFF THE TRAIL TO THE HAPPY HOLLOW HOSTEL. THERE IS A SMALL STORE HERE AT THE HOSTEL WITH AN ASSORTED TEAS. I MANAGED TO GET SOME SUPPLIES AND FOOD BEFORE I RETIRED TO MY BUNK. MET FOREST DUMP AND BEAR WHO WERE MY ROOMATES. THEY WERE MISERABLE AS THEY HAD HIKED FOR A SHORT TIME IN THE AREA AND BEAR WAS SAYING HE WAS NOT CUT OUT FOR IT AND SAID HE STRUGGLED TO HIKE THIS AREA. I MET WING IT WHO WAS WASHING HIS BACKPACK AFTER A DOG HAD USED IT AS A FIRE HYDRANT IN DAMASCUS DURING TRAIL DAYS HE SAID. I HAD MET THEM EARLIER IN MY TRIP. THEY HAD A PRIVATE CABIN. IT WAS A COLD NIGHT BELOW THE 50'S WITH SOME FROST EXPECTED IN THE MORNING. GONNA HEAD OFF TO THE TRAIL EARLY IN THE MORNING AND MAYBE GET SOME HUGE MILES IN IF POSSIBLE. TRIED TO UPDATE MY PHOTES HERE AND IM STILL HAVING TOUBLE. WELL, GOT THINGS TO DO AND MAY BE BACK LATER. ITS GETTING COSTLY. I HOPE I CAN AFFORD THIS. LETS HOPE. WHERES MY SPONSOR. GREAT DECISION TO STOP AT THIS HOSTEL. MORE TO FOLLOW.