morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-10
From: Tesnatee Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

My parents slacked me one more mile before I had to take on the full pack. Thank God they did because it was a tough climb up and a grouesome climb back down. I didn't think I would cry leaving my parents. I thought I could wait till I was at least out of their sight but I couldn't. And I cried for a ways after they were gone. But I kept walking and made it to a shelter. I sat there for probably an hour with Ukon. As I was leaving Concord got there. I figured they would all catch me because I was moving so slow with the full pack but they didn't. The hiking was really easy for a while except for the sun which later that night I found I got sun poison on the backs of my legs. It hurt to bend at the knees. I took a break and Ukon caught back up with me. So I hiked with him for a few miles until he took a break and I went up to the shelter. There were a whole bunch of people there but I had only met one of them and very briefly. I cooked my Ramens and caught the bench on fire because I spilled the fuel on it. I don't think anyone noticed though. I had to set my tent up near the trail which proved to be a huge challenge. Ukon helped me because I was struggling. After we got it up though we realized the head of the tent was facing downhill but I was so fed up with it I didn't care. I hopped in my tent and started crying. Katie, your bandana not only kept the sweat off my face and the sun off my scalp but it also dried my tears. I wear it everyday! But anyways I called my parents which only made me cry harder but they helped me through it. I think I cried for about 2 hours before I finally got out and talked to Ukon some. He had made a fire which is very peaceful in the woods and calmed me down. Sleep came easy after that but I woke up often.
Date: 2009-03-11
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

When I woke up this morning Ukon's stove wasn't working so I let him borrow mine. I didn't start hiking till probably 9:30 but Concord and Sunny caught me on my way down to Unicoi Gap. We stopped at the bottom for a while and Bojangles caught up too. We all started up Rocky Mountain together but they quickly left me behind. I hiked alone pretty much the whole day. I was hoping Pogo would catch me but I haven't seen him since Neels Gap. I was about to give up for the day when I saw some tents where Concord, Sunny, Bojangles, Stunned Mullet, and Granddaddy Longjohns were camped for the night. I stayed with them and almost set the forest on fire because I spilled my alcohol on the leaves. It didn't go anywhere though and the fuel went out before my water boiled but I was too hungry to care. So my noodles were really crunchy but oh well. They started a fire and Concord played guitar. Ukon made it to the campsite and sat with us for a while too. Finally we went to bed though. My tent was set up on a hill and I slid all night long.I wanna thank my mom though. She has been my biggest fan, my hardest cheerleader, my MVP, my best behind the scenes worker, and my greatest support crew. Without her none of this trip would have been possible. All I'm doing is the walking. My dad and brother have been great too. I really appreciate everything they have done for me. And I really miss hiking with my brother. He was the greatest hiking partner I will probably ever have.
Date: 2009-03-12
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Other than Ukon I was the last to leave the campsite this morning. It worked out great though because 3 guys that were out for Spring Break from VT caught me and offered me a ride into Hiawassee! It was trail magic at its greatest because my phone was dying so I didn't know if I would have been able to call a shuttle and I didn't want to hitch alone. They took me to the Blueberry Patch Hostel and I picked up my package. Then they took me to the Holiday Inn Express. I almost didn't get to stay though because you're supposed to be 21 to get a room but since I was alone and hiking they made an exception. I called my mom as soon as I got in my room then took a shower and did laundry. Dawn and Mallory called from my house. It was so great to talk to some friends. I pretty much just chilled in my room most of the day and texted. I think I'm going to go walk down to a Steakhouse and find a grocery store to get some sunscreen because after covering my legs and arms I still got sun poison on my knuckles! Other than that though today went pretty well. My knees hurt and my lower back does too. Actually pretty much my whole body hurts but I'll stop complaining.Thank you all for signing my guestbook and following my updates. Your entries encourage me to keep on pushing and I usually read them more than once. I look forward to that trail magic in the Smokies. I don't know how I would be able to keep going without all this support I have received. So thank you very much. You've inspired me to keep going and I hope if I am able to finish that I can inspire you to attempt to accomplish your goals!
Date: 2009-03-13
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I had cereal for breakfast. Fruit Loops!!! It was actually a treat compared to the poptarts every morning. But I shared a shuttle with another hiker named Warren. So I stayed behind him most of the morning until we got to a shelter and stopped for lunch. Several other people arrived after us but I left to cross the GA/NC border! It was foggy all day but the thought of getting out of Georgia pushed me through. I hiked with Broadcast for a little ways but when we stopped at Muskrat Creek Shelter he and several others decided to stay there. Concord, Sunny and Bojangles were there and said they were headed to the next shelter. I asked if I could join them and they said it was no problem. So around 4pm I left for another 5 mile walk in the fog and mist. Standing Indian Shelter was pretty crowded and I almost burnt down the shelter...again. But someone helped me because I put way too much fuel in. I got lucky when one of the hikers that was sleeping in the shelter decided they were going to tent because it was wet and I really didn't want to set mine up. I don't know the names of the people I slept between but we were pretty crowded. Someone in the corner snored really loud. It was really cold so I slept with all the clothes I owned on.
Date: 2009-03-14
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Nobody wanted to move this morning. It was so cold. When I went to put my boots on I found 2 acorns in the right shoe. I guess a mouse was trying to store some food. I was the first one ready to leave and got an applause for braving out the cold dreary weather. I didn't stop until the next shelter 7 miles away. Concord passed me and Bojangles caught up within the last mile and I ate some lunch with them. I started getting cold and ready to head out when Sunny showed up. I think he's having some foot trouble. I hiked another 7 miles and the only real climb was Albert Mountain. Oh man. It was pretty much straight up a rock face for 0.3 miles. It was a fun way to get your mind off climbing but it was also kindof scary for me because I was alone and the rocks were wet and slippery. The top was completely socked in and I thought about climbing the tower but didn't. It was starting to rain and I was getting cold. I thought I passed the shelter several times and then really did almost miss it because the sign for it had been knocked off and was just sitting on the ground. There were only 4 other people at the shelter when I arrived. 3 weekenders and Concord. I started to fix some soup to warm me up but couldn't get my stove to work. When it did though I caught the table on fire and again almost burnt down the shelter (I swear they're going to give me a new name if I don't learn how to use my stove soon). I spilled my water in my lap and one of the weekenders let me use his pot since it was bigger. I was still hungry though so another one of the weekenders was about to boil water and asked if I needed some. I graciously said yes and made me some Liptons. I didn't wait long enough for them to cook though so they were really crunchy but it was warm and it was food. As soon as I was done eating I crawled into my sleeping bag because I was freezing. I changed into some dry clothes and read some of my book. Eventually everyone else did the same. Bojangles pulled out his Iphone and watched Entourage with Sunny. After they were finished me and Concord watched an episode. It was just the laugh I needed on a miserable night. Finally we laid down and listened as the rain got heavier and pounded on the tin roof. Sleep was hard but eventually it came. There were no real snorers although they would have easily been drown out by the rain.
Date: 2009-03-15
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: mist

This morning was pretty much the same as yesterdays. Eventually we all got moving though. We had showers on our mind because Franklin was only 9 miles away. I didn't have any service at the shelter so I hadn't been able to get in touch with Jerry who lives near there. As I hiked though I got service and called him. He said he would be glad to take me in for the night so that was a huge relief. At the Gap I found a bag with a note that had my name on it. My parents left it there for me when they were driving back home. It was great to get that message and made me smile. Jerry's sister was waiting for me at the road. She took me and Speilburg into town where I got a new pair of rainpants since I didn't have any and he got a new pair of boots. We took showers did laundry and went grocery shopping. Then they took us to Ryans Steak House for dinner. After dinner we went back to their friend Liz's house where me and Speilburg got chair massages and got to get in their hot tub! Noone back on the trail is going to believe the magic we got! It felt so good I thought I was in heaven. We stayed up really late for being hikers. It's almost midnight now. Not sure how I'll be able to wake up in the morning! Especially not after the great hospitality I have received today!
Date: 2009-03-16
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 14.6

Me and Speilburg stayed up talking until about 2am. So when we got our wake up call at 6:30 it was hard to get moving. But eventually we did and Jerry took us back up to the trailhead. We stopped at Hardees and I got a ham biscuit!!! Speilburg hiked with me all day and it was really foggy. We met Summit on top of Wayah Bald and he hiked with us. It started raining and we hiked faster. All of a sudden a huge orange dome thing appeared out of nowhere. It was trail magic at its best! Apple camps out every March and gives hot dogs and a warm tent for hikers to use. He let us throw out our sleeping bags in there with a wooden furnace so we stayed dry and warm all night. My foot was really hurting and I thought I might have a stress fracture. I iced it and wrapped it in an ace bandage for the night. I'll get it checked out at NOC tomorrow. I got a nose bleed and started feeling really homesick. I called my mom on Graham's (a southbound hiker) cell phone. I told her I wanted to come home. I cried most of the rest of the night. When I got back into the Dominator, as we called it, I read some of my book and fell asleep.
Date: 2009-03-17
From: Burningtown Gap

To: Grassy Gap
Miles today: 15.8

The skies cleared out this morning and I felt a lot better. I left without thanking Apple though. I feel awful about that. I was just kinda ready to get to NOC to make sure I could keep hiking and totally didn't think about it. Summit followed me all the way to make sure I was alright. We had a lot of beautiful views which was a great change since it has been raining for the past like 4 days. My foot started killin me and by the time I got to NOC I talked to an outfitter and she said I just needed more arch support. So I bought Superfeet inserts and got my maildrop. Then Summit, Chuck, Spielberg, Concord, Sunny, Bojangles and I went to dinner. Most of us just got fries and then me, Chuck and Summit hiked 3 more miles up to a campsite. I did it in my Chacos because I didn't feel like putting my boots back on. Concord, Sunny and Bojangles made it up there eventually. We had a campfire and Chuck had brought the newspaper with him so me and Concord did a sudoku. I was so much better at it than him! He and Bojangles convinced me to camp Cowboy style with them. It was pretty awesome because I would wake up in the middle of the night and just look up to a sky full of stars. My foot's feelin better and today was pretty great!
Date: 2009-03-18
From: Grassy Gap

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

We climbed uphill all day long. Or so it felt. Concord hiked with me most of the morning and sang to me which made it easier because I wasn't thinking about climbing just the songs. I got to a shelter and was going to eat some lunch when I realized I forgot to buy bread. So I hiked on up to Cheoah Bald and Concord, Sunny and Bojangles were eating there. They gave me some bread and I had a pb&j with some cheese wizz. It was really good actually. Okay maybe not in real life but when you've climbed uphill for 5 miles pretty much anything will taste good. Concord hiked with me some more and Sunny joined us for a while. At Stecoah Gap, Erik, searched through his car and found us an apple and some granola bars. He also took our trash!   Once we rested for a bit me and Concord hiked on. I saw a mountain to our left and joked about going up it. Well like 10 minutes later we started climbing it. Straight up it. Concord left me in the dust but waited for me at the top. We got to the shelter and Sunny was waiting there. We didn't stop though because we wanted to get to our campsite. It was another like 2.5 miles away and Sunny and Concord both went on without me. I could not keep up. I switched to my Chacos again so my feet could breathe as I hiked. I felt like I was going to just pass out right there on the trail because I couldn't find the gap. Finally I made it but was too tired to cook dinner or set up my tent. Plus I was out of water. Concord gave me some of his but I had to promise to go refill his when I went to get my own. I made Ramens and added some cheese whizz to them. I didn't start a huge fire but I couldn't get my stove to light. I was so hungry though that once I ate my Ramens I made some tomato soup as well. Then I had to hike down to get some water which was forever away. When I got back up there was a fire going and I got a massage from Concord as I wrote in my journal. I gave him one in return and him, Bojangles and Sunny made brackets for the basketball tournament. It got chilly and we all went to bed. Oh and it was Bojangles birthday! So Happy Birthday Bojangles!!!!!!
Date: 2009-03-19
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a campfire again this morning, thanks to Concord, as we packed our site up. I was the first to head out and made it to the shelter with no one catching me. I waited there and was actually the last to leave. I passed Chuck though but at the top of the mountain about 2 miles from the shelter all of a sudden all my energy drained. As if nausea, blisters, sunburn, sunpoison, entire body soreness, a foot injury, and a nose bleed weren't enough, I started 2 weeks early. (sorry to all the guys reading this) but it was miserable. Chuck caught back up with me and gave me a snickers bar. He stayed with me the rest of the way to Fontana Dam. It felt like we would never get to the road. Finally when we got there Aaron and his dad were there, along with Concord, Sunny, Bojangles, and The Can Do Man. I told them I felt like I had died on that last 5 miles. We didn't have enough room in Chucks car so he took Concord and crew to the village and they hitched into town. Then he came back and got me, Aaron and the Can Do Man and we all got rooms at the San (F)Ran Motel. We walked to the laundry mat and then me and Aaron walked over to Ingles I was starving so it was a bad time to be grocery shopping. We had to run back to the laundry mat because it was raining. As we were about to leave Chuck and everyone else pulled up and we hopped into the car to get some pizza. I'm at the Tri State Community College right now and about to get kicked off so my entries are kindof short and rushed. Headed back to the motel for some birthday cake celebration!
Date: 2009-03-20
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russel Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

I mailed stuff back home this morning and then Chuck took us back up to Fontana Dam. It was sad to see him drive off he felt like a father figure while I was away from my dad. But we started hiking. Or climbing I should say. We went uphill for what seemed like forever at the top there was a fire tower though. I made it to the second level!! Out of six...haha it was really scary but I still got some good views. On the way to the next shelter I started getting like a blister on the bottom of my heel. I guess my new inserts were pinching my feet in between the shoe. So I started walking on my foot funny and my ankle started hurting. I can't win without losing it seems. Concord sang for about 2 and a half miles which took the thought of the pain away a bit. When we got to the shelter there were a whole bunch of people there and it had a cage so it kinda felt like we were sleeping in a jail cell. I hung my food bag for the first time!!! It had little cables already up so I don't know if it really counts but I was proud of myself anyways. Bojangles, Concord, DOC and I played spades. And it's DOC's birthday! It was really cold but bundled up in my sleeping bag I felt pretty warm.
Date: 2009-03-21
From: Russel Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

I did not want to get out of my sleeping bag this morning. It was way too cold. One of the weekend warriors that was staying there gave me some toilet paper because I was about to run out! I greatly appreciated that! Finally I did and walking warmed me up. We stopped like every 3 miles though and I ate at every single break. We sat on Rocky Top for a while and everyone started calling parents and friends which made me a little homesick so I left they all caught up really fast though. We stopped for a long break at a shelter and just laid out in the sun talking to some weekend warriors. They were pretty entertaining and wanted me to write a book about my hike and include them in it. I don't think I'm going to write one but here's there little bit of fame anyways. I don't know their names though. We got to the shelter pretty early and only 3 others were staying there. It was really cold again and Concord and I tag teamed the stove which I am slowly getting the hang of. Then we played Spit. It kinda looked like rain so I was hesitant to hang my food bag because it was my sleeping bag stuffer and I really don't want that to get wet but I hung it anyways. It's really cold again tonight.
Date: 2009-03-22
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

A deer came right up near the shelter this morning and I saw it from my sleeping bag! It was cold again so I started moving fast climbing to Clingmans Dome really warmed me up though. It is the highest point on the AT!!!!! So that was a pretty cool accomplishment for the day. We had a beautiful 360 degree view but it got chilly so we didn't stay up there too long. I headed off for the next shelter and ran out of water. Also you can add chaffing to my long miserable list of complaints. At the shelter the water was at least half a mile but I couldn't wait 5 more miles so I went anyways. It was a fairly easy walk though. We ate some lunch and then for the first time in forever I hiked with all 3 of the guys at the same time. DOC stopped for water I think otherwise all 5 of us would have been walking together. At Newfound Gap there were about a billion people. I sat there for like an hour hoping someone would spare a soda or something but hardly anyone even gave us hikers a smile. It was rather depressing. Finally I decided to just go on to the shelter. I passed about 50 more day hikers. A couple of them actually talked to me but most were just like Hey and kept walking. Trail life and real life are so different. But I passed a couple who I talked to for a few minutes and they gave me a powerade and an orange! It made my night. Except DOC took about half the powerade and I shared the orange with him and Concord. But a weekend warrior that was staying at the shelter gave me a ready to eat package of chicken to help me get through the rest of the Smokies! We played some more cards and they put the tarp down so the shelter stayed a lot warmer tonight. I actually started sweating during the night and gave DOC my hoodie because he was freezing.
Date: 2009-03-23
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

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

So today marks exactly 7 years since my family started our first thru-hike! I planned on doing a 20 mile day because I really needed to get to the hostel for some female problems. But after about 3 miles everything just started going wrong. I don't even know why really. I guess my hormones are just way out of whack right now. After lunch I realized 20 miles was not going to happen. So for the last 5 miles of the day I just kinda dragged really slowly. I hiked in my Chacos for about 3 miles because my socks were wet and miserable. We got to the shelter really early but there were already a lot of people there. I ate and then ate some more and decided I had to hang my food bag or I would have just kept on eating. There's another girl thats solo hiking, Evergreen. She was really cool but she hikes so fast! I think someone said she ran marathons and she is planning on finishing in 4 months so I don't think I'll see her much after tonight. I was out of energy and didn't really feel like talking to anyone so I just read my book. Concord played his guitar in the background and that chilled me out a little. He then convinced me to play Uker. So me, him, Sunny and Bojangles played for a while then Bojangles left and Evergreen played on my team. It was a battle of the sexs. I don't remember who won though. But it was a lot of fun and took some of my anger away. We put the tarp down and had a fire in the shelter so it stayed really warm. I tried sleeping without socks but my feet got too cold and I had to put them on during the middle of the night.