morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-10-17
From: Knoxville, TN

To: Jonesborough, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Today was another soft day. I had a great night's sleep. Got up early, had breakfast and said my farewells to the Prestons. Then Tenn Tom drove me to some friends from my last Air Force assignment, the Bear Claws: Varknav and Bookworm. I had a great spaggetti supper and am enjoying my access to a computer and high speed internet. The weather has really been great lately. Tomorrow, its back on the trail and ... communication will probably become highly problematic again. I'll try to update as best as possible. At worst, I should be in Hot Springs in a week or so.Life is Great!
Date: 2010-10-18
From: Jonesborough, TN

To: 2 mi S Big Bald Mtn
Miles today: 8.0

Mon. 8.0 miles. Big BaldI enjoyed my zeros and the stay with the Bear Claws, but it was time to get back on the trail. Varknav was up and out to work before 0500. Bookworm and I were much more leisurely this am. We went to Uncle Johnny's to pick up my mail drop and the out to Spivey Gap to access the trail nit was a very pretty drive and it took a little time to find the trail head. Some jerk had painted over the white blazes. Eventually found the trailhead and while I was getting my gear ready, 5 trucks of hound dogs were getting ready to do some hunting. I have a orange pack and blaze orange streamers on my hat and hiking pole. I was not not making very good time this am.  First day back on trail, very heavy pack and a 2500ft climb to start. I got to a shelter around 1600 and assessed situation.  The shelter is well maintained and has a privy, bear cables and good water source.  Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow and next shelter is about 10 mi S  I decided to fix supper at this time and then hike a bit further S. I had considered a grassy bald for evening stop and photo op. Then thought is might get a bit too windy and hiked a bit more S. I found a nice wooded ridge and set up my tent. Had a lift snack, brushed/glossed teeth and made my journal entry.  I'll do a little more map reading and then go to bedLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-19
From: 2 mi S Big Bald Mtn

To: Flint Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Previous couple of nits I was serenaded by the coyote's singing   Once, a couple got kinda close. Last nite it was the hounds. I don't know what they were running, but theta were active to about midnight. Then it started a light drizzle a little later and lasted most of the am. I wasn't feeling very well and the wx made it worse. I came to shelter just after noon and decided to call it day the sun was beginning to make an appearance and I laid everything out to dry. I was cold and tried to warm up in the sleeping bag. But that didn't work out all that well either. I finally built a fire and loaded up on my new favorite snack - Oreo Brownies. I then worked on some gear and sired out my food bagI fixed dinner and was getting ready for an early sleep when 3 SOBO arrived: Mud. Turtlehawk and Silverbeak. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better hiking dayLife is Great!Sent from my iPhone
Date: 2010-10-20
To: Sugar Loaf Gap
Miles today: 12.4

Yesterday when I was crossing a bald near the end of the day, i came across a raptor and song bird banding area. I had previously seen photos and Sandpiper here and she was quite positive about her experience in helping out. I had walked about 1/2 way thru the traps and nets and stopped briery to take a couple of photos. A man came out of a nearby ground blind and wasn't all that friendly. So I just moved on down the trailYesterday I was also concerned about my pace. But, it seems that I'm back to my normal +/- 1.5 mph. Just enough to get menout of sync with the nearby shelters. Right now my near term plan is to spend a sunset/sunrise at a firepower in a couple of days and Ben reach Hot Springs when the PO is open. I have another mail drop, as well as absentee ballotPublic Service Announcement: get out and vote for the candidate of your choice   Otherwise you have no right to complain about how bad politics may beToday was a great day for hiking. The weather has been great. Saw 2 Nobo section hikers from GA yesterday. Noone today, although the Griswolds and Otis had signed shelter register and are a day ahead of meThe photo ops haven't been all that great. Theae is great fall foliage scenery, but the views are mostly obstructed and the light has been very flat. The trails are well marked but covered with dead leaves. Not much contrast in the shadows. I stopped at a place to take photos and heard several items hit the ground. Turned out I was next to an apple tree. The apples were very sweet but awful mealy I found the flattest spot I could to pitch my tent last nite. But it wasn't very level. Tonite I was getting a little concerned because the trail at my time to start looking for a place to settle down wasn't very accomodating. I found a relative flat rock ledge near a very wet spot but passed on that. Later I found an acceptable spot and it appears to be okay. All for nowLife is Great!Sent from my iPhone
Date: 2010-10-21
To: Trail 
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Turtle and Silver were up and out early. They were the quietest pair leaving I've ever been around. Mud and I were up and out a short time laterIt was a picture perfect day for hiking. Wx couldn't have been any more accomodating  I've seen several cemeteries along the trail. One headstone was for an infant that had a Teddy bear statue shedding a tear.  Others have been small family burial plots on a knoll. And another marked the ashes of a former AT hiker.  I finally came across some trail where I could take photos. I really took a lot of images. Unfortunately I think I'm past the peak fall foliage for this section.  I also came across two bear hunters. They had walkie talkies and radio direction finders on their dogs. They were hustling uphill and didn't have time for me to take their photo  1/2 hour later they were coming down the hill trying to catch up with their dogs before dark   They had decent caliber rifles and said they were after a big 200 lb bear. I never heard their dogs  Later in the day I met Slaprock and Bouregard. Pair of SOBO section hikers   We're camped out by the trail  Could be a couple of short days coming up300 mile milestone passed - 294.4 miles to SpringerLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-22
To: Hemlock Hollow Hostel
Miles today: 7.0

Fri.  Hemlock Hollow Farm. 7.0It was a cool and breezy nite last night. Slaprock and Baueregard had gathered enough wood to keep a fire going all nite. I had written my journal on the phone and completed my map reading inside my tent. I thought id join the boys around the campfire. I went to their area, the fire was out and they were hard asleep.  A big gust of wind came up as I was returning to my tent.  I had the rain fly staked out but not the tent.  The wind blew over my tent and down the holler a bit.  I finally got all my gear recovered and the tent back in good order.  I didn't sleep well and planned a late departure based on a short hike  S and B were up and out early. I was about an hour behind.  I had planned to spend the last nite at a fire tower but was advised it was closed. After a shoot hike I was at the fire tower trail and here was a crude sign confirming it was closed. A little later I arrived at the Little Laurel Shelter. I was told their had been trail magic available at this site, but alas not today. I rested up a bit and got a little water.  I casually hiked to the Log Cabin Road and took some photos along the way. I arrived at the hostel a couple of hours earlier than planned. It is great. I got a golf cart ride to the bunkhouse, which currently have to myself. It has electricity, microwave, fridge and a one channel portable TV. There is a cafe here also  I checked out the house salad, 1/3 lb mushroom, Swiss cheese hamburger with handmadeonion rings. Pretty good, cant wait for supper. I took a shower and walked a little looking for photo ops -no good
Date: 2010-10-23
From: Hemlock HollowmHostel

To: Max patch
Miles today: 0.0

Sat. Max Patch.  TentVery interesting day todayAfter completing my map reading last night, I was expecting a very hard near term week. Lots of miles,'more lots of elevation climb, rain and cold forecast and not too manyOptionsI slept well and had a good breakfast. Fred had an early shuttle run before taking memo Hot Springs. We got there about 1030 and he showed me the town before letting me out at the post office. I was there at 1040 to find ir totally locked up - it closed at 1030. The lights in the bldg were just turned off and I stated knocking on the door. I explained I was a beat up thru hiker trying to pick up a maildrop. A very nice lady got my package for meI then went to Elmers to find they were full and there wasn't even room for mento tent. There I saw Turtle, Silver and Mud. I then went to another place but  no one was homeI sorted out my maildrop there and then went to the outfitters. On the way I met some real good ol boys. I had a practice adult beverage and it was barely noon. I got to the outfitters and found my replacement pack was there. I bought a few misc items and mailed out 3 boxesI then returned to the barn, repacked the new pack and then went back to the place where I met the good ol  boys.  I bought a case a beer, a sack of ice and off we went. I was in the bed of a mini truck and we were blazing up the mtn the truc wasn't sounding all that great and was severely overheated when we reached Max Pass. Turned out the waterpump fan belt brokenand truck was severely overheated   The pass was filled with cars and I hiked to the top. Saw some very ugly horses which turned out to be alpacas. I got to the ridge and set up camp. There were 2 paragliders who launched from the peak. I set up camp and had a small fire started  Later Eddy, arnie and Bryan returned with one beer. Arnie was pretty much wasted and Eddie wasn't too far behind with some of NC finest home grown. I fixed dinner and enjoyed a fire. Tomorrow is a new dayLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-24
From: Max patch

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

Yesterday was certainly exciting. My near-term plans continue to end up in file 13. I had planned a nice restful day at Hot Springs, watching a little football and nursing some adult beverage s in the mineral baths. But that quickly turned south when there was no room in the inn for poor SOBO thru hiker and then these good ol boys talked me into going up to spend the nite at Max Patch to catch the sunset, full moon and sunrise. I had hoped to do this and hteir offer was overwhelming. Not only making the trifecta, I'd be able to more comfortably make the hike thru the next section to next resupply. Riding in the back og a pickup, driving thru the roads and backroads of the TN/NC mountains are legelnd among the AT hikers. A thrill that has to be endured to fully appreciate. Now for the good ol boys. First there was Eddie. He kinda looked like a ZZ Top wantabe; but he had only one tooth on top and it wasn't all that good to begin with. He also had some homegrown NC tobacco that looked awful funny. Then there is the brother Andy, who wasn't feeling any pain. He fell in the fire and I liked to melted one of my crocs getting him out of the fire. And finally there was Brian, the most sane person of the bunch, an unemployed power operator They said they had never seen so many cars and people at Max Patch. Saw some very ugly horses ¢ turned out to be alpacas. Saw a couple of hang gliders. One was a young guy who walked to ridge in the backpack, popped open his chute and then flew off. The other was an older guy who was a little more methodical in his takeoff. The good ol boys stayed until it got dark and then went home. There were a good number of overnight campers on the patch. The morning was great photo op . Counted 8 cars in the parking lot.I got my gear together and got a good start. Hiked about 10 miles to an old TACAN site. Saw some visitors from FL who were interested in my hiking. I may not have my trail legs just yet; but do believe I have my trail mind. I had thought about camping out at the mtn top; but it was barely 5 miles to a hostel, so off I went. I dropped from about 5k ft down to 1.5-2k ft and was impressed to see the next mtn ahead of me at probably 6k ft. Oh well Checked into hostel. No cell service, but do have satellite internet. Next few days are projected to rain, so I may really slow it down some. Otherwise,Life is Great!
Date: 2010-10-25
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was another interesting day...I woke up early to find it raining hard as advertised. So I rolled over and went back to sleep. Finally got up around 0930 ¢ best nite's sleep in some time. Discovered there was a tornado alert in effect until 1300; so I convinced myself this really was going to be a zero day. The wx did seem to clear up a bit later in the day. Midday, Mud arrived, resupplied, ate and then continued SOBO. Soon, Silver and Turtle arrived and they will RON here. Silver convinced me to make a beer run into town. While there, I was able to have comm. Missed Libra Lady; but was able to talk briefly with Tic2. The beer stop also had a smokehouse. So, I ordered a baby back rib dinner, large side salad, took the last (2) piece of German chocolate cake, and a pint of moose tracks ice cream to go. This hiking is great. Communicated with Tenn Tom about doing some hiking together later this week, if he gets over his mourning for the Phillies. Tomorrow wx forecast is not all that great, but gets better later in the week. Tomorrow the SmokiesLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-26
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 4k ft climb - bring it on!! I slept reasonably well last. Vinny came in around midnight and he and Alex were having some discussion. Silver and Turtle were up their usual early selves. I was glad because I wanted an early start to avoid as much bad wx as I could. I paid my bill,'nuked a couple of breakfast sandwiches and even had room for a piece of Turtle's leftover pizza. I was hiking out very early. Tiger, a very nice brindle pit bull, and his buddy followed me a little way. I finally threw some rocks towards them and they went back home. I stopped for water at the first shelter and was joined by Turtle and Silver, as well as the dogs. The shelter was very nice with a fireplace and chainlink barrier fence. We then hiked on and Silver and Turtle were soon out of sight. I Stopped at a vista for a photo op and was joined by the dogs again. This time they were with a day hiker who was going to take them back to the ranger station. I got to the next shelter mid-afternoon and called it a day. You're only allowed to camp at the designated shelters and I wasn't up for another 8 miles. Besides, after getting all settled in it started raining hard as advertisedStill no cell service. I did a little map reading. Visited a little with nearby volunteer trail maintenance crew - tanked them for all their errors for us hikers Planning another relative short mileage but good climb tomorrow. Then its relative flat awhile. Making plans to meet Tenn Tom laterThis week before Clingman's Dome Life is Great!
Date: 2010-10-27
To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

started raining last nite around midnight, hard at times stopped around 0700 and I was hiking around 0900. There were a couple of the mx crew staying at the shelter then forecast for last nite included tornado warnings for the area I hiked with Yogi, a volunteer trail crew member working for food. We hiked about 3 miles to their worksite   Took some photos and continued SOBO.   Short day today with last big climb of 1700 ft. Now on the ridgeline of about 6000 ft hiking with generally 500 ft up and downs. Got to the shelter about 1330 and it started raining hard about 1345   I dragged in one sorry rotten soaked piece of wood   Took about 2 hours to get something resembling a fire going. The chimney in the shelter has a terrible draw, smoke is going everywhere   The fire isn't putting out much heat. The only warmth I'm getting is from trying to fan the flames. I had hoped to wash and dry out some clothes, as well as dry some boots and socks. Oh well....Its supposed to clear up tonite and the start getting a bit colder - upper 20s at nite.   I'm going to try to turn in early tonite, and then get an early start tomorrow.Life is Great!
Date: 2010-10-28
To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

It finally stopped raining after dark. Clouded over still and it probably kept the nite a lot warmer than expected. Today was a very good hike. A good number of miles, a moderate amount of climbs and some really good photo ops. I finally found some AT&T cell coverage, for a while anyway. Did some minor comm updates before I lost coverage. I did break out my emergency Verizon phone to confirm week end plans with Tenn Tom. I had provided many options when we finally settled on the plan: the new option A. Only thing is he doesn't know I need to change it alrready. I¢ve noticed I've really been able to pick up my pace lately. Half probably due to me getting my trail legs again. The other half probably due to getting my new backpack in Hot Springs. The old backpack had poor hip support and I was putting a lot more stress on my shoulders. Previously I had a cyst on my shoulder for several years that hadn't been causing any problems - Not any more!! It is really festering now and even had a little trail medicine provided by Patrick and Darrell(?)   I hope to have it checked out in Gatlinburg. I arrived at the shelter late in the day   Passed Charles Bunion which looked like it would be a great photo op if I had another hour or two of daylight. The shelter has 2 weekend hikers Doug and Brenda, joined later by a GSMNP hiker Ben. We saw 2 newbie bikers who were going to tent out on the Bunion - good luck.Ben almost got a fire started. It's dark and I'm getting ready for an early start tomorrowLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-29
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ben¢s fire didn¢t stay lit very long. We saw a satellite high and slow just before turning in for the nite. Temperature got down to 27.8 deg during the nite. Slept reasonably well considering cold and shoulder. Ben was up a little later than advertised and I got up sometime after 0700. Did a quick breakfast on the started a little later than I had planned to meet Tenn Ton at the Newfound Gap. Saw my first pair of weekend NOBO hikers and talked to them briefly. Concerned that I would be late meeting TT, I put on the full press hike. Flew by another NOBO hiker and was later shortly called out ¢ it was TT!! He had brought coffee, Krispy Kremes, bagels and bananas. After a short refuel, we continued SOBO and best part of the deal, TT carried my backpack. We must have passed a dozen or more NOBOers. Got to the Gap and the parking lot was full. Lot of people taking in the fall foliage in the Great Smokies. We go to the car and I told TT about the new plan ¢ I needed to see a doctor. On the way to town, we stopped at the Happy Hiker to pickup my maildrop. The place was deserted, locked up tighter than a drum and had been closed since May. We found a doc in the box office and after some checking on my Tricare affiliate health care plan, finally saw the PAThe following commentary may be a little too much for the squeamish. So if you are of that persuasion, now would be the time to exit to the next entry. The PA came in and performed the perfunctory Q&A exam. He then looked at my cyst and pressed it to examine it - only to be drenched from the explosion. He then went out to get cleaned up and returned. He returned and listed my options; I said I wanted to get back on the trail ASAP. So, we ended up doing some minor in patient surgery. He cut open the skin and this time it sprayed the entire room. Two corner walls were covered. I suggested a haz mat team would probably be needed to clean up the area. I thought I had passed the stage of naming body parts; but this one certainly qualifies. I¢ve chosen ¢Ol Faithful¢ for this aweee. PA put a drain in, bandaged it up, gave me a shot in the butt, a prescription for antibiotics and will see him again Sat and Sun. The initial shoulder pain was immediately relieved, only to be replaced by a different pain. And the shot in the rear didn¢t feel all that great either. While I was getting attended to, TT went to PO and was able to piuckup my maildrop. We then went to local Gatlinburg pharmacy; but they wouldn¢t accept my Tricare affiliate card. I wasn¢t too interested in paying over $400 for 10 pills; so we went to CVS store in next town over and got my Rx filled for the co-pay.TT took me to his house. I¢m not feeling all that great; but a warm soak in a tub and a couple of adult beverages have sure mellowed my attitude I¢m updating my journal and TT is out picking up pizza. Don¢t know how life can be any much betterLife is Great!
Date: 2010-10-30
From: Newfound Gap

To: TT Home
Miles today: 0.0

. I didn¢t sleep all that well Fri nite, Ol Faithful and rear end were pretty sore. I took one happy pill; but it was the low end of the dosage scale. TT and I were up and left mid morning to bail out Bailey, the German Shepherd from the doggie palace and then on to Gatlinburg to see the doc-in-the-box. While driving in Gatlinburg. I saw Lone Star walking on the street ¢ very hard to miss him in a full size, blaze orange pack cover. We picked up Lone Star and dropped me off at a completely filled doc¢s office at 1045. TT took Lone Star to the grocery store and laundry. The office closed at 1200 and I finally saw the doc at 1400. Ol¢ Faithful was much improved; but still draining a bit. We then picked up Lone Star at the laundry and planned to him back to Newfound Gap. He wanted out to buy some tobacco and mountain money. The traffic was heavy and Lone Star got out and walked across the street to the tobacco store. The traffic finally started moving and we parked in a trolley stop, just behind a honey wagon. Lone Star came out shortly from tobacco store and walked down the street a bit and was soon out of sight. After waiting about 15 minutes, I walked out to see if I could find him and soon gave up on that thought because it was jammed with cars and people. We waited nearly an hour until a local came out and told us we needed to move. We drove a bit and pulled into a parking lot. The dog was getting a little antsy after being in the cage most of the day and Miss TT needed us back at the house. Plus, Ol Faithful was really wanting some happ pills and these were back at the ranch. We ended up securing his pack to the ¢No Parking¢ Trolley bus stop sign, with a note, and left word with the tobacconist as well as the visitor center. Also, notified police of the pack and its situation. We drove back to home and Lone Star had returned to the laundry, retrieved TT¢s number from the trash and gave us a call. He had walked to another tobacco store and had been waiting for us there. Anyways, we told him the police had his pack and it was at the station.I took my happy pill and started to relax a bit. The TT clan then went across the street for a church Halloween party. We ate and I then watched another sorry UT football game. I also had the entertainment of watching TT¢s children barter and trade over their Halloween collections ¢ quite fascinating . Another happy pill and I had my best nite¢s sleep in weeks.Life is Great!