morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-27
From: NOC

To: Sassafras gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

Left NOC at 6.30 - great hiking weather with temps in the 60's, but cooler in the AM when I started out. Much Eastern Hemlock on the lower slopes and Red Pine on the upper. I moved very slowly to see if everything worked OK, and I must say that I was very pleased. The pack felt fine and the legs, knees, and feet all went A-OK. The trail was as anticipated, with 3000' of vertical elevation over the first 5 miles, but I just kept plodding along. I was able to get into a nice flow, and was able to keep moving - slowly - all the time. No flowers to be seen on the higher slopes, in fact everything is still brown and bare. I was passed by a bunch of people. I am still a Slow Walker! "Happy" and "Dutch" passed me, as did a young hiker with a very large staff [Stick] called "Walk Softly" - get it? Great views of the Nantahala Gorge from Jumpup Lookout. It is sometimes hard to believe that you have walked, and climbed , all that way in such a short time, when you have a chance to look back on the way that you have come. Saw a lot of Crows and Juncos, also a squirrel wih strange black markings on his back and belly, who walked along the trail with me for a bit. Arrived here at 2.30PM. "Smokey Mountain Steve" was sound asleep in the shelter when I arrived. It was such a deep sleep that for a minute I thought that he was dead!. After all a motionless hiker in a sleeping bag at 2.30PM!, he dident even seem to be breathing at first! But when I looked closly I could see that in fact he was. He finaly did wake up about 4.00PM. We have been joined by "Red" who has already tru-hiked in 2002, and his girlfriend "Jeep" and another young hiker. A great day. Everything went well. Slow and steady wins the race. Had Breakfast Burritto Scramble ?? for diner. Forgot to bring the hot chocolate. Nice new shelter. Not very full yet. Thought for the Day---   I am very detail orientated. The good part of this is that details are important and they do need to be taken care of. The bad part is that I tend to be almost obsessive about details and this prevents me from fully enjoying the hike and from getting the full picture. Today I worried about where to keep my money and my ID. Much too much time spent worrying about such a simple matter.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Sassafras gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

My brother died. When I called home from Stecoah Gap my wife gave me the news. My brother Frank died suddenly last Friday night, as I was heading out for the trail. Details are few but his body has already been cremated. He had lived for the past 30+ years in Zimbabwe, and died at the local hospital there. He was only 69. Nothing for me to do - even if I was not here on the trail. God rest his soul. I started out early from Sassafras and it turned into a tough day. At Cheoah Bald I met with Red and Jeep. She has realy bad blisters on her feet but seems determined to go on. I did not see them for the rest of the day. The weather was great again, in the 70's, sunny with small clouds and light winds. I was with Just Do It and Smokey Mountain Steve most of the day, and they are here with me at Brown Fork tonight. Just Do It did 1212 miles on the trail last year and then fell and broke his wrist. He started from Springer again this year, and has dedicated his hike to his 36yo severly disabled son. His son was involved in a very bad motor cycle crash. Steve is hiking a section before he meets with his son. He spends a lot of time hiking in the Smokies. Steve just called me out to see the sun set. Bright pink over the dark purple mountains with layers of yellow and orange over it, blending into the dark blue of the late afternoon sky. Thought for today----- I worry too much about what people think of me and my actions. Does this mean that I am vain? May Frank Rest In Peace
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: scattered clouds

A great day. Temps in the 70's, sunny, small white puffy clouds. Saw some Juncos. The trees ars mostly Hemlock and White Pine. This was a slow and easy day, a total of 6.1 miles with many stops and taking it easy. The trail was up and down. Some people call these PUADS - pointless up and downs. I dont agree. We realy have no idea of all of the difficulties that the trail designers and maintainers have to deal with. I dont think we would be as quick, as we are, to call them "pointless" if we had to do it ourselves. More to the point, the trail is what the trail is. Thinking of its meanderings as "pointless" detracts from the hike. You are not going to change it by vilifing it, you will just give yourself a very negative mindset about your journey. Just hike it! Smokey Mountain Steve is here and a SOBO hiker whose X5 grandfather was a native Cherokee Indian and he told us the entire history of his fanily from 1760 onwards. I enjoyed it because so many Americans dont seem to have a great interest in their family histories, but his story did have the smooth feel of a tail told many times, and tolerated few interuptions. What interesting people you meet on the trail. There are a bunch of young hikers here, Tarzan, Mouth, P Bottle, Applepie, etc. Great fun and lots of talk and companionship. Almost all have decieded to push on to Fontana Dam where many are planning on staying 1-2 nights. I may see some of them there. I feel good. I am finaly getting a good technique for the descents - which are much more difficult for me than the ascents. I have found that I can get a better purchase by gripping the hiking poles higher during the descents. This in effect makes the poles longer and give better distribution of my weight. I have developed a small subungal hematoma - a bruise under the nail - on my L big toe. Not painfull. No blisters - touch wood. A light breeze has just sprung up and is adding some welcome coolness to the early evening, stirring the branches of the Hemlocks just in front of the shelter. Thought for the day ---- I am impatient. Why? Besause I want to move on to the next thing, to go over the next mountain, to turn the next corner, to see what lies ahead. But this prevents me from enjoying what is here and now. I nees to curb and overcome my impatience.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Village Inn
Miles today: 5.5

It rained last night. Heavy enough to wake me up, and it continued on and off for most of the night. I got up at dawn, and after a mashed potato breakfast - I just could not handle the oatmeal - I started out in the rain. It was a misty rainy Irish kind of day at first, but as the morning wore on the sun burned off the mist and the rain stopped and the sun shone once more. I was able to take the rain gear off and it turned out to be a very nice day to hike. The weather has been realy great so far. Slainte passed me on his way to the Hike Inn. I got to the Fontana Marina and called for a shuttle from the Inn. There is a phone right there at the Marina. Just as the shuttle arrived Tom from Israel showed up and we both took the shuttle to the Fontana Inn. I checked into Room 116, and after a shower went and retrieved my first mail drop. No problem, they did not even ask for ID. I had included a razor in the drop so that now I am showered and shaved and laundry is done, Dinner was buffet style with roast beef and lots of good stuff. I ate dinner with Tom and Just Do It and Marizapan. Great fun was had by all. There were a bunch of other hikers here as well. I saw P Bottle, Selma, and Rick from England. Also with us was Scholer who is meeting family here and is taking a few days off the trail. . All of the talk was of the Smokies and of the dire forcasts of heavy snow in the upper elevations, with very cold weather for the next week with several different fronts moving in. It will do whatever it will do. Nature does not care. I have given some of my extra food to Tom and I plan to stay here untill tomorrow PM. The plan then is to shuttle back to the Marina and hike a few miles to the Fontana Hilton Shelter and spend the night. That will mean that I have a full day for my entry into the Smokies on April 1st! We shall see what we shall see. Thought for the day----- Without change there is no time. We cannot talk of events occuring "Before" creation because there was no "Before" creation. Or before the Big Bang if you prefer.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Fontana Village Inn

To: Fontant Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 1.1

I am writing this with my gloves on. It is cold - 40's - but with a strong wind blowing. I am sitting on a bench outside of the Fontana Hilton Shelter overlooking Fontana Lake with the Smokies arising brown from the other side. Although the peaks are somewhat obscured with mist ans clouds it is clear that there is SNOW on the upper elevations. Had a great breakfast buffet with Just Do It , Marizapan and Scholar, mailed my package, and spent a leasurely morning packing my gear. I checked out at 11AM in a heavt rain and dense mist, by far the worst weather so far. Took a full shuttle back to the Marina with Marzipan, Selma and Wandering who has already tru-hiked. A short hike in the rain here to the Hilton - which was somewhat disappointing to me after all of the hype about it. It is a very nice clean new shelter but it has big openings on both sides, which may be great for a cooling breeze on a hot summer's day, but today it just creates a howling gale blowing right tru the shelter. I found the sleeping stuff of two hikers here, Beast and another. I have since been joined by Tom who told us of his days in the Israeli army. Alabama was also here but has been spirited away by a car-driving friend, I suspect back to the comforts of the Fontana Village Inn Buffet. AYCE also went. A very interesting older lady named Spirit has also joined us, currently cooking on her esbit stove. She is also tru hiking and has just come in from Brown Fork Shelter. All of the talk is of the Smokies and of the snow. Thought for the day---- Animals do not have Rights, but Humans do have Responsibilities.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Fontant Hilton Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light snow

Quiet night at the Hilton and I started off early anticipating a long day on the trail. It began to rain as I crossed over Fontana Dam and as I entered the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and began the ascent, the rain changed first to hail and then to sleet. The trail is a gradual ascent for almost six miles and as I climbed the hail and sleet changed to snow. It continued to snow all day long and I hiked in 2-4" of snow. It was cold but beautiful, the Hemlocks were covered in snow and looked like tall Christmass trees. As I climbed higher there were ice formations on the branches of the trees. Because I was climbing all the way I was able in hike in my nylon shirt and my raingear. I was producing so much heat that I did not need to wear my fleece. It was cold however, and I could not stay too long at my rest stops during the day without getting very cold, very fast. Despite the snow I enjoyed the day. The shelter is very crowded. Smoky Mountain Steve is here, as is Just Do It, Alabama, and Spirit have just arrived. There are a bunch of other people here who are already in their sleeping bags and I dont even know their names. I am going to sleep in my rain gear in my bag tonight besause it is cold, and it is going to get much, much colder. Thought for today---- Each person, as they move through time and space, makes a permanent alteration to the future, for good or not.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: snow

It was COLD last night. I slept in my fleece and my rain gear, but it was still COLD. My bag is rated down to 20F, but this was the coldest night by far that I have had on this trip. This AM, knowing that I had less than 6 miles planned for the day I lay in the bag late and started very late. I said goodbye to Smokey Mountain Steve once again and to Spirit who had started out early. The snow was 3-6" deep, and it continued to snow on and off during the day. To day however I had the wind to battle with as well as the snow. The wind whips the snow around, and it also whips the ice off of the trees and batters you with the hard ice pellets. The trail was up and down, but it was the wind that turned it into a struggle. The wind and the ice just whipped through my supposed windproof gloves, and my hands and fingers started to get cold. Not good! So I wore my spare pair of hiking socks over my gloves and that worked just fine. If you push your thumb into the heel of the sock it works just like a , somewhat unsightly, mitten. But what the heck. it workes, and it realy dosent matter how you look as long as you stay warm. The trail itself was easy to follow since so many people had left the shelter before me. After a break at Russell Field Shelter I continued on and arrived here at Mollies Ridge in the early afternoon. Marizpan and Rick as well as Selma and Alabama [!} were all here but they all left to push on. I have eaten both lunch - Lipton soup and Tuna- and dinner - Beef and potatoes - yummy. Ther are six of us here now. The cage on the front of the shelter is now covered with tarps and we have agood fire going. I got a good cell signal and spoke with home. All is OK there. Will see how far I go in the AM. I am hoping to do 10 miles, but the profile is very up and down, and there is Rockytop to cross. We will deal with it as it happens. Good fire going, socks drying, gloves steaming. Thought for today---- Prioritise your problems, and then work on solving the ones that you have controle over, accept the rest.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

I discovered something new last night. It was a cold night so I thought that I would spread out my tent and put my sleeping bag inside the spread out tent in the shelter, so that the tent would serve as a cover for the sleeping bag, and give some added warmth. I forgot that the warm air from the bag will condense when it strikes the cold fabric of the tent. So I awoke in the middle of the night to find that my down sleeping bag was DAMP. We had kept the fire going however so I was able to dry the bag off without any harm. Vapor lock indeed! Got up and headed off early. The trees were still sheated with ice and snow and the wind was still whipping it off as a solid spray. To day however I enjoyed it! I was the first one out of the shelter so I was breaking trail. As I hiked back the blue blazed trail I noticed that there were bear tracks on the side trail. They followed the side trail for about 100 yards and then veered off to the North and disappeared. They were very fresh, with little blown snow on them so the bear must have been about last night, perhaps as I was drying out my sleeping bag! The snow was 3-4" deep on the trail but was up to 12" deep in drifts. Wayfinding was not as difficult as I had feared. There was generaly a slight depression over the trail which gereraly made it easy to follow. In the drifts you could generaly see the path through the vegitation. The snow made using the white trail blazes difficult, since all of the trees were blasted with snow that obliterated the blazes, or worst imitated them. As the day progressed the early morning mists cleared and the sun reappeared. The snow began to melt, and the going became even more difficult because of the heavy wet snow. In addition the melting snow began to plop off of the trees and to fall with uncanny aim down the back of my neck! It took me six hours to cover the six miles to the shelter, so I decieded to call it a day when I got here. The shelter was empty when I got here but it is filled to over capacity now at 5PM. People are going to sleep on the floor, and a lot of people are tenting. It is realy packed in here. Part of the problem is that we are expecting eight boy scouts to arrive and since they have reservations they have priority. I realy enjoyed today, I even enjoyed the weather. There were soms great views from thw top of Rockytop. From there you could see that the snow was begining to disappear from the South slopes of the Smokies. It was nice to see the blue sky and the small white puffy clouds, even though the sun did turn the snow to slush and mud.
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Derrick nob Shelter

To: Double Springs Gap
Miles today: 7.2

Well, the boy scouts never did show up except for two who arrived late. The rest decieded to return back off the trail, because of a weather forcast of 35MPH winds and 17F temps predicted for tonight as the overnight low. To day was very windy. It was however sunny with blue skies and small puffy clouds. I started out first at 7.15AM. The trail was frozen solid and with the wind it was very cold. The going was difficult because of the wind and cold. I arrived at Silers Bald shelter for lunch break, and then continued on here. The last two miles to this shelter are realy spectactular. The trail follows the crest of a ridge with great views of the mountains on both sides, There is no more Hemlock up here now , but I still see Spruce and Fir. I arrived here at 2PM - or 3PM DST - Much of the same crowd from last night are here. I am on the upper bunk. It is very ,very, windy. The wind is screaming around the shelter and fine sprays of snow and ice crystals are blowing in through the kinks and chinks between the roof and the walls of the shelter. We had kept space on the lower bunks for two ladies who have just arrived, They have been having a hard time with the weather and are openly talking of going off the trail at Clingmans Dome, which is the next road crossing. It is interesting that we say "going off the trail" not "quiting" Maybe because we all know that it could be any of ourselves that will be faced with this decision in the future. There is also a father who is hiking with his two sons. He looks realy tired and I think has pretty much decieded to go off trail at Clingmans Dome. I am so happy that I am taking it easy and slow, and limiting the mileage so far. This was an excellent hiking day. I had lunch -freeze dried scrambled eggs and bacon - and will cook dinner later. I am a little concerned about tonight. Being in the upper bunks , we are going to get the brunt of the wind and the snow. I know that people say that the upper bunks are better , because the warm air in the shelter will rise. I think however there has to be some warm air for that theory to work. We have a fire going but I am reminded of the inverse square rule of physics, which says that the ammount of heat given off by a fire falls off in proportion to the square of the distance that you are away from the fire. The fire works to dry off the gear that is heaped all around it, but frankly ,if you sit in front of it, your back will still be freezing. Everyone gets into their bags and trys to snuggle down and make it tru the night. Thought for today----   It is hard to have good thoughts when there is a lot of noise and people. cf Hermits
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Double Springs Gap

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

It was not such a bad night after all. There were eight of us in the upper bunk - ment for six - and we packed our tents and tarps into the chinks between the roof and walls and then jammed them into place with our packs. This reduced the draft from the wind from a hurricane to a gale force. Despite my concerns I slept fine, no problems with the cold although I did awake a few times to listen to the howling of the wind around the shelter. Started early this AM. It was very cold at first but after an hour or so I was able to take off my fleece and I stayed warm all day. Once again it was a clear and sunny day. There is still a lot of snow and the trail is still frozen solid. It is rough going in the ruts of the footprints of past hikers that are now frozen into cement like ridges. The ruts make it rather like walking on sharp rocks. No two footprints are alike so it is difficult to walk in the footsteps of the previous hiker all the time. The poles have difficulty getting a grip on the frozen snow, or they would sometimes break through the frozen crust and get stuck in the icy mantle. That involves a lot of pulling and tugging to get them free with much expenditure of energy and time. Generaly tough and slow going again today, but good weather conditions, and great views. A lot of the Spruce trees, even the mature ones, are dieing, which is very sad to see. I arrived at Clingmans dome - the highest point on the AT - and went up to the top of the observation tower. I did not stay very long however, it was so cold and windy up there. The two ladies decieded to get off the trail here - there is a parking lot, and the road was still open, so they figured on getting a hitch from the tourists - and the father of the two sons also went off. Everyone else is pushing on to Icewater Springs Shelter or even on into Gattlinburg. Got a good cell signal and checked in with all at home. All is well there. Very plesent walk down to this shelter, which is 0.5 miles of the trail - and the water source is another 200 yards extra - all downhill.. I am the only one here at the moment - 4PM - and there has been no entries in the register here for the past four days. Thought for the day--- Our reason for existance is to bring moral order to nature.
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Mount Collins Shelter

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Well the shelter did fill up last night. First came Pele - not the football player, but the Hawaian goodess. Then came Epiffititus - call Piffin for short. A great fire maker from Florida, but not too happy with the weather. Then came a bunch of young college kids. Much difficulty in finding wood - the shelter is in a Spruce grove but it has been pretty much picked clean. A fire was however finaly started. I turned in at 8PM and slept well - not cold or windy at all. Awoke early this AM, in time to see the sun rise. The first rays of the sun in the shelter landed on Pele - after all she is named after a godess and that deserves some recognition from above. I started out at 8.00AM and was back on the main trail by 8.15AM. Another great day, bright and sunny. The trail was still rutted and frozen in the shade but was begining to thaw out in the sunny stretches. It was a great hike to Newfound Gap - I ended up hiking in my shirt! Much dead spruce to be seen. At Newfound Gap a great surprise!. Two ladies from one of the local churches - Mary Jane Cobble - had set up a great spread of food and drinks. Such trail magic! There was bagels, sliced turkey, apples, bananas, even birthday cake for all of us with a birthday in April. I got two slices because my daughter's birthday is in April also. Nice People. Had no great difficulty in getting aride into Gatlingurg from a hiking couple who were in the area for a wedding and I was here in Gatlinburg by 2PM. I have checked into the Grand Prix motel - recommended by Bear Behind, who carries a toy bear on this back pack. He is staying here at the motel himself, and was much pleased that I knew the words to the song "The King of Ballyhooly"There is also another very interesting person here. His name is Pirate, and he claims to be a real Mountain Man, and to live in the mountains year round. He says that he spends the winter in Florida. Spoke with my wife. My family are trying to organise a memorial service for my brother Frank. The plan at the moment is to hold it in Ireland at the end of May. I,and my family, will go once the details are finialised. Had huge meal inthe Texas Roadhouse *****. Plan on staying here two nights nad taking zero day tomorrow. Thought for today----- Violence is justified only as a last resort for personal protection.