morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The forecast for the week improved which affected my choice to zero in Franklin. Not a recovery like in Hiawassee. I¢m sure my knee will thank me for it, though ¢ stills hurts. The famed Nantahala Outdoor Center is two fair hiking days away, Fontana Village just two more. Depending on several variables that puts me in the Smokies in four or five days.It¢s hard to say how far I will hike tomorrow as I lie in bed but I¢d like to aim for around 14 to make NOC in two days and Fontana in four from now.Zeroes leave me feeling restless, which I suppose is a good thing with over 2,000 miles to hike. I also realize they are beneficial and sometimes necessary, but they are expensive. Trail life is cheap, town life is not. It¢s still only the second week so I¢m not going to overthink it. Tomorrow, I¢ll just walk.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Franklin, NC

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

I woke early to mail a box of books I bought at a used bookstore and caught the full 9 AM shuttle to the trailhead. B + L planned to stop at the second shelter, but when I made it there by 2 o¢clock, I knew I had to keep going. I¢m saddened to leave them, especially after some of the laughs we had so far. They are two amazing people; the kind to keep in touch with long after the trail is done. I hope they get their legs soon and that we meet up at some point down the road.So today was a bit lonely. Trail magic at Wayah Bald was a welcome addition to my midday sock drying. ¢Kicho¢ had a table stocked with food and drinks and it was nice to chat with him. Met some cool hikers at Wayah and hung out with them around a fire tonight. I love meeting people whose paths I would not likely cross otherwise. Despite appearances, there are some great human beings out there. And I¢m glad to be out there with so many of them.Into NOC tomorrow. Killer downhill. Knee, hold out!
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Got in early, 2:30 or so, ate a Greek salad right off then booked a bed in the bunkhouse. Shoes were shot so I bought a new pair of La Sportivas. Tomorrow, 3,000 foot uphill over six miles will be a good test. Nice dinner with Springbuck and Kittie. Also met some other younger hikers who are simply out for the adventure.The Smokies loom 2-3 days ahead. I¢m hoping the weather holds out, but I feel it won¢t. Perhaps there is a bonus to the ¢stay in the shelter¢ rule in the park. Eight-day permit means I need a bit of hustle, but I hope to enjoy the scenery as well. 10:00 PM. Need to find a postbox for all these postcards
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh my legs! Today was just a steady trek up, up some more, then a sadistic up to finish me off. Started at 1,749 feet, today¢s highest point was 5,062 feet. But the grade on some portions was ridiculously steep. Whoever blazed the trail from NOC to here is either crazy, or an asshole. Planning on getting to Fontana Dam early so I can hitch into town, if possible. Post office hours are 11:45 AM - 3:45 PM, so I¢ll base my decisions around that. Free shower at the dam¢s visitor¢s center, woo-hoo! Been helping other hikers lighten their packs by accepting extra food. Thanks to Spring & Kittie, Chaos and Rubin. The calories will not be wasted. Started a fire tonight and cooked a stroganoff I received. Really like using natural fuel. It also allows me to fiddle with cook times, simmers, etc. Now to learn the ultimate skill ¢ starting one (a fire) in the rain. Hanging near the shelter. I heard mice in there earlier and that¢s not cool with me.8:52 PM bedtime. Around 11 ¢ 12 miles tomorrow. Left knee was good all day until I sat on a log at camp. Painful grind and now I¢m worried about tomorrow. Ibuprofen, do your magic!
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

My knee has been bad all day. Something is wrong and my knee is not letting me forget it. The pain is most pronounced on downhill stints. Just down from the kneecap, but not in a place I can touch with pressure, the pain is often intense, occasionally almost excruciating for a short moment. I have found that stretching the quadriceps regularly helps to relieve the pain and often leads to pain-free hiking, for a while. But the relief does not last. During the stretch, the inside knee feels really tight and I¢m sure that¢s an indicator of where the problem lies. Tendonitis? Because the Great Smoky National Park requires us to use shelters, it will be a good check on my mileage and give me a chance to slow down. Entering the park tomorrow and have eight days to make it through. Hoping the weather doesn¢t mess up the views; it would be a shame to hike through with no visual bonus. Staying at a shelter near the dam¢s water source. Had pizza delivered but am craving something carbonated now. I hope the visitor¢s center has a vending machine. If it wasn¢t for the knee, I would feel on top of the world. No other issues at all.My trail persona is making more sense to people as my facial hair grows out. When I tell people, ¢I¢m Half-Life¢, it clicks. ¢Oh yeah, the dude form the video game.¢ For those of you wondering what this is all about, search for ¢Gordon Freeman¢ and humor me by agreeing that there might be some resemblance. Perhaps some cosplay is in store somewhere down the road.
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

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

I woke today with a sore knee and pain on the way to the toilet, lying a few hundred yards up a paved, slightly inclined road. The short walk convinced me that today was not a good day to hike into the Smokies, a portion of trail with a time limit. I spoke with one of the physical therapists at my mom¢s workp0lace, and give what I told her about the pain and symptoms, she suggested it might be tendonitis in the tendon below the kneecap. The best remedy is rest, which means another zero-day for me. I¢ll be spending it at the Hike Inn.The choice to stay there became clear for several reasons: full facilities, a shuttle service to resupply, and a chance to buy a patella tendon brace, as well as a chance to purchase some large-dose ibuprofen. I can¢t say how I¢ll feel tomorrow, but no miles, ice & stretching, and a potential supporting device can¢t be bad for me. While there are still five and a half months until it becomes impossible to climb Katahdin, each day seems so valuable to me. My only hope is that the pain and inflammation subside, that I can get back to hiking soon, and my only problem so far ¢ my knee ¢ disappears. Like I said yesterday, if the knee pain were to vanish, I have no doubts that I could finish this hike. Here¢s to hoping that I don¢t lose too much time to what some younger hikers (20 ¢ somethings) call ¢getting old. ¢ Ha!
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

If I was running experiments, I would be doing a bad job. Today I hiked 16,7 miles with almost no problems ¢ a bit of pain early on, some catches on rocks and roots, but otherwise, no problems.I took a zero day yesterday and stayed at the Hike Inn. Jeff and Nancy were kind and helpful and their help, Andrea, was patient enough to let me grab two hotdogs and a beer for lunch before heading into a dry county.After napping for several hours, I took advantage of the evening shuttle run and stocked up on food and ibuprofen, also picking up a patellar tendon band in an attempt to relieve some of the pain I¢ve been feeling in my knee.Well, something worked. As I said, the start was rough but somewhere into my hike the pain decreased, my pace fell into a nice speed, and just at noon, I had done 10.7 miles. I met a ridge runner named Carl (maybe a K?) who gave me some advice on which shelter to aim for and on a downhill method called ¢tunnelling¢, which seems to have helped eliminate some of the jarring that downhills tend to bring. So now I¢m ahead of schedule and hoping that my pain relief experiment results hold true for a second day in a row.* *   *Beat the rain and made it to the shelter by 3:330 PM (7:30 AM start). Ate, napped, ate again. Good group here tonight: Coach, Navigator, Railsplitter, Salamander, Poptart, a ridgerunner named Trey and four section hikers, props to them for braving this rain. I might be in Gatlinburg by Monday, but will know better after tomorrow¢s hike. It¢s cold and raining but I¢m having a great time.
Date: 2013-05-05
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: SilerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: moderate rain

I¢ve hiked in weather as bad as today before, but I had a hostel at the end of it to look forward to. I¢d have a shelter, but I didn¢t know if it would be full, or not, wet or dry, warm or cold. Luckily, it was the best of all three. It is incredible what heat and dryness can do for morale (not to mention the encouraging words of a veteran thru-hiker ¢ that¢d be Ringmaster).So despite being drenched, I dried out, cooked over a fire, subsequently stuffed myself, and am sleeping (or soon will be) with room to spare. It looks like I¢ll be able to make Gatlinburg by tomorrow-early afternoon, if I can hike like I did today ¢ head down, bearing the wind and rain. Word has it that Tuesday might even be nice, or at least nicer than all-day wind and rain and streams in the trail. I hear the hitch to town is hard, the one back to the trail even harder. I¢d like to get an early start on Tuesday. Maybe I¢ll get lucky with some hitching trail magic. Whatever happens, it¢ll be better than today¢s horrible wetness. Knee feels good, mostly. It¢s all mental now.
Date: 2013-05-06
From: SilerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Bald Shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 12.5

Woke to the coldest morning yet. Made it out by 7:35, but it was a rough start. I wasn¢t raining, but the fog and wind were still present. At about one hour into the hike, the sun started to makes its way out ¢ the fog burned off and the forest path I was on cleared up as I walked. It was beautiful!I snapped some photos, but they won¢t do justice to the actual scene. I was hopeful for Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the trail. Sadly, it was clouded in and visibility was low. Two section hikers, Pirate and Python, and I busted our asses to get to Newfound Gap early in hopes of getting a hitch. As luck would have it, Steve the owner (?) of the Grand Prix motel had already made a drop-off and offered us a free ride into town. Wonderboy joined us as well and we are sharing a room tonight. Gatlinburg is a tourist mecca and finding deals is not easy. After resupplying just outside of town, W and I ate Five Guys (pizza) for dinner then walked over to the free moonshine and wine tasting. With laundry in the works, I¢m writing this shirtless and in dirty rainpants which I will wash in the shower later ¢ it is the epitome of class. Tomorrow, we¢ll start off with a breakfast buffet before being sent off to where we left the trail. I plan to be out of the Smokies in three days and in Hot Springs in five. That¢s 31.3 and 67.1 miles respectively. On second thought, make that two days THEN three more.All of tomorrow is above 5,000 feet; makes me feel better about my pace when I remember that.
Date: 2013-05-07
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.4

The breakfast buffet was gut-busting, so much so that I skipped lunch and really didn¢t eat anything until camp.Started much later than expected, 12:20 onto the trail. Made it to a shelter 10.4 away and decided to push the extra 5.2 so late in the day. Lots of section hikers out and about today so I¢m using my hammock tonight (the shelter is full). I¢m reminded why I chose a hammock for this trip ¢ so comfortable!Best views so far as the weather was partly cloudy, allowing for some nice views from trailridgelines. It was cool as well ¢ not cold or hot; a perfect hiking day really.Tomorrow¢s shelter options are 5.2, 12.9 and 20.0. I¢ll do the middle distance.Another group around the campfire, mostly new faces, two from a few nights ago. It¢s so unlike anything I¢ve done before (well, maybe not the Mongol Rally). Regardless, it is opening my eyes to new cultures, life-styles, and personalities.10 % of the trail done, less than 2,000 miles to go (1968). It¢s going to be a great few months. Got my trail legs, I think. At least the trail calves (they are huge!).
Date: 2013-05-08
To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

I made really good time this morning ¢ nine miles in 3:30. I got to the shelter I¢m in now by 2 PM. I could have pushed for the next one, but its 7.1 miles downhill, but I was hesitant to attempt a 20-mile, especially with a big descent.But this puts me in a quandary because I¢ll likely arrive in hot Springs on Saturday. I have my bounce bucket waiting at the post office, but they¢re only open from 9 ¢ 10:30 AM. So I can either miss the hours and forward the bucket, or try three early hikes, around 16-18 for two days, then a short 8-mile morning early Saturday. Planning is fun!I¢ feeling good both mentally and physically. My biggest issue today is dealing with wet feet, something I try to prevent as long as possible when I start my day.The hammock worked wonders last night in the rain. Several tenters got wet, but I was high and dry in a good way.I¢m still leaving town with too much food, but not by much. I¢ll probably have a half-day's ration left over by Saturday. I¢m also eating more, partly by choice, partly by necessity. Images of a pizza and beer confirm my craving form salty food and carbonated beverages. Food takes on a whole new meaning when it¢s not available on a whim. So too do warmth and cleanliness. My mileage average is over 10 per day and I can only hope to keep it that way. It has to climb if I want to reach Katahdin. I¢d like to keep zero-days to almost none and rely on near-zero-days to make progress. My last ¢nero¢ was 12.9 miles ¢ not bad.Up early tomorrow, 5 AM, 6 AM start. 10 hours hiking? Maybe 8-9 for 16-18 miles. No rush, just steady progress.
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

Bears! Three of them from what I saw ¢ a mother and two cubs. I was descending from Snowbird Mountain, about an hour past the bald, when I startled them. My position was good ¢ higher elevation, looking down at them, thought they were no more that 100 ¢ 150 yards away.The cubs climbed trees instantly. I had heard they were fast but this confirmed the advice to never climb a tree to escape a bear. Their movement helped me spot them, so I started yelling, banging my trekking poles, and slowly backed up behind the closest tree near the trail. Once I was out of sight, the cubs climbed down and started calling for their mother. I didn¢t get a rush or feel any fear, but I was thankful to be uphill and that they seemed to be timid. As a precaution, I kept repeating, ¢No Bears!¢ quite loudly for about 10 minutes as I slowly made my way forward. I also held a conversation much like a schizophrenic might, just making noise to alert the bears to my continued presence.Twenty miles was my goal today, but with the bear event and uncertainty about daylight, I chose to shelter up again. There are five other section hikers here but they are sleeping about 100 yards away. I¢m hoping for no late-night visitors and made extra sure to put all my odorous items in bags on the bear cables.Tomorrow will push for 20 so that I only have to do 7 on Saturday morning to make post office hours. It will also be nice to have a whole day to cool off after two back-to-back high mileage days. I think a little more prudent package planning is in order as I make my way north. Great weather today and the midday recharge after 10 miles at Standing Bear Farm helped me make it the next 7 miles in the afternoon. A shorter lunch would also help me up the mileage. So would no bears.
Date: 2013-05-10
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter (?)
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

23 miles, a literal milestone. I was on the trail by 7:25 and was making great time in the morning. I want to say my first hour took me almost three miles and my first two took me about six miles. I ran into a friendly troupe right after Max Patch bald. They were starting off around 10, but I had already done eight miles. I don¢t know how I managed to put on an additional 15, though the whole package ordeal made a compelling case.My body held up well, but my left Achilles started to feel funny in the last 6 ¢ 8 miles. Close to ten hours of hiking will do that.I¢m beat, but tomorrow is a short 3.2 to Hot Springs, burgers, beer, and showers. 40.6 miles in two days - I don¢t plan on doing that again anytime soon. But the fact that I was able to do it made me feel good about my chances to reach Katahdin. That said, the rest day tomorrow will be most welcomed and slowly leisured through.Hanging near a shelter tonight, a pretty fun view. I think we¢ll have fun in town, too. I just hope I don¢t wake up with any physical surprises (swelling, bruising, etc.) that might make walking to town an ordeal.Will try to upload some photos and videos if I have the time.
Date: 2013-05-11
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter (?)

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2

A short walk to town, I made it in plenty of time to pick up and re-end my bounce bucket, which was really nothing more than a valmy (?) tape, and water purification resupply. I¢m starting to think about dropping the box because the postage is adding up. I¢m also still in that stage where I¢m not sending it far enough ahead, as if I still don¢t trust being too far from certainty.Getting into town so early meant I didn¢t have to rush. I made the post office, but before that received the most amazing trail magic from Pirate and Python, two older gentlemen with whom I crossed paths for several days in the Smokies and only saw by chance today. They were easy to talk to and fun to hike with, and since they were out for a section, I probably won¢t see them again. But even a few encounters over a few days were quite memorable. They were the epitome of the kind of people I wish I could meet more often. Said trail magic was put to the good use of our little town group, so if you guys are reading this, thanks from everyone.After stuffing my face at the local diner, I took care of the usual chores ¢ shower, laundry, food shopping. It¢s all well and relaxing, but the worst part is leaving town, usually uphill with a loaded pack.Though I keep wondering how far ahead my same-day starters are, I¢m enjoying then current company. I¢m the only one over thirty at the moment, but it doesn¢t make any difference, except sometimes on the downhills ¢ I just can¢t bound down the mountains. Uphills, if paced correctly, aren¢t too bad, and the rare flat spot is savored.Unsure as to what time I¢ll take off tomorrow, but I plan to be in Irwin, TN by Thursday, and then must consider trying to find a ride to Trail Days in Damascus, VA, apparently the largest AT event in the whole area.
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Mother¢s DayAfter resting up in Hot Springs, today was a pretty easy hike. Mileage wasn¢t high either. I ended up taking my time and leaving the Laughing Heart Hostel around 10:30. We proceeded to the diner and took advantage of town food once more before heading out. I took off first around 12:30, because I was getting cold, and I made it to the shelter first and hung in a good spot.It¢s supposed to be cold tonight, but that just means better stargazing. Jupiter and Saturn are visible and the waxing, crescent moon completes a picturesque sky.Expecting nice, but chilly weather all week. I¢ll take it over rain. Keeping warm is easy (just walk!), but keeping dry in rain is nigh impossible.Moving onto the second shelter tomorrow. Apparently there is a rocky and strenuous section on the way. Could be fun, but also frustrating.
Date: 2013-05-13
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

A chilly morning that turned into a cool, sunny day with puffs of clouds floating overhead. The wind was gusty and I¢d go from warm to chilly in no time, requiring me to constantly don and remove my fleece pullover. Even now, while sitting in the sun, I¢m cold, wearing gloves and my winter hat. I¢ve also determined that I sleep cold in the outdoors, and that my 15-degree bag was a very wise investment!Today¢s hike took me up to a spot called Big Firescald Knob. The trail was rocky and at points required more climbing than hiking. The views were nice, but the cold winds required me to be hasty with my descent. Once off the knob, I only had about one and a half miles to go, but my energy levels felt a little low (hence my concurrent binge at the shelter picnic table).I¢m feeling good about pace and mileage these days, and my legs, knees and feet are almost at 100 %. The left knee, with stability from the band and reduced inflammation from ibuprofen, has almost left me alone in its complaints. There are no blisters to speak of and my left Achilles only bothered me at a few moments throughout the hike today. Every day brings a new moir© ache, and also take one away - my body is constantly changing.There is a frost advisory tonight so the mostly empty shelter is looking good. But the hammock padding has been doing its job, so there are no complaints on my end.* * * Going to sleep in the shelter to ward off the cold. The rest of the large group from yesterday must have stopped early because they¢re not here tonight. Hope they catch up because I¢m not slowing down.
Date: 2013-05-14
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Meadows north of SamÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A longer day than expected. I was planning another 15 miles, but I reached that at around 2:30. With sunsets around 8:00 in some parts (based on elevation), I wouldn¢t waste the time. Besides, the shelter I was near, at that time, was one of several believed to have contributed to the Noro Virus outbreak this year. I did grab two liters of water though, even though it was a 10-minute hike.My pace slowed considerably after mile 15. I think I was partially dehydrated, all my fault.Today was much warmer than yesterday, but in my haste to hike a good distance, I didn¢t stop for water as often as I should have. My Aquamira is also running low, though I¢ll resupply in Irwin, TN.So those conditions most likely had a large effect on my afternoon performance. And luckily there is an unlisted spring before the spot where I chose to camp tonight.I officially met the couple from New Zealand today, Kiwi (him) and Bear (her), very nice and easy to talk to. They make good mileage, but also seem to enjoy town stops, too.Tonight at camp there are four of us. I made a fire and we cooked and relaxed and watched a nice sunset from our hilly meadow. Tomorrow begins with a rolling downhill meadow. Hopefully, the ATV that we caught driving up around this area will stay away. I hate late-night (drunk) visitors.Twenty-two miles to town,. My starting group (B, D and U) got there yesterday, so I¢m not far behind. The group behind me will probably stay there due to the upcoming Trail Days event in Damascus. Lots of hikers are going to hitch up, but I¢m not sure I will. I don¢t need to party hard and three days of 15+ miles is a nice prospect, especially with my three zero days already taken.I¢ll get to town, then decide.