morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Little Ridgepole Mountain
Miles today: 14.5

"Clifftop views to the South give it the nickname 'Grandstand of the Southern Appalachians'"-- from the Thru-Hikers Companion, about Standing Indian Mountain The first full day in North Carolina features our first 5,000 foot mountain on the trail: Standing Indian Mountain (5,498 ft.) The walk this morning is moderate with some rugged terrain over roots and rock slides, but enjoyable. Fairly early on it is obvious that it's going to be a warm day.The approach to Standing Indian Mountain is on a very well graded series of switchbacks, that served as a stagecoach road in the past. The views from the summit is spectacular, nearly 360 degrees and dozens of ridges extending out to the horizon are visible today.But the black flies are insufferable at the summit. There are, literally, clouds of the little buggers descending on me en masse. They don't seem to be bothering many other hikers, maybe it's my still fat rich blood they seem to like so much.The day turns out to be quite warm and sunny, with highs in the mid-80's. Many hikers congregate at Beech Gap around noon resupplying on water for the afternoon, among them are: Pops, Bandana Man, Landshark, and a couple of guys from Boston whose names I still haven't got.I make an early dinner at Carter Gap shelter, wait out a passing shower and move on at 6:15 pm. As much as I enjoy meeting and socializing with other hikers, this early in the season shelters are often overcrowded affairs. Sometimes up to a dozen people might be trying to cook at the same time, gear is strewn pell mell , and we hikers are a smelly lot... the melange of different odors is often "quite special." By the time I leave the shelter 16 hikers are congregated there.I hike about 2 miles further on and find a spot just past the summit of Little Ridgepole Mountain with a great south eastern facing view that should provide an "excellent-good" sunrise tomorrow. But tonight the view affords the twinkling lights of half a dozen little towns in North Carolina and Georgia.I'm all alone at the top of a mountain, the world seemingly spreading out before me, it's another one of those great existential moments the trail provides.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Little Ridgepole Mountain

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: 686.7

"Easiest hike yet¢¦ and my feet still hurt! Oh well, they'll have to adjust¢¦"-- Ice, from Rock Spring shelter register.I had an "excellent-good" sunrise this morning over what I thought looked like Albert Mountain (5,250 ft.) but I can't quite be sure, the map orientation seems right. In any case it was well worth the early evening ascent for this morning's view.I saw Rollie, Miles, Wild Hare and his partner breaking camp this morning at Betty Creek Gap. This section of North Carolina is one of the wettest places in the Eastern U.S., according to the Thru-Hikers Companion, it receives over 95 inches of rain a year. It is verdant and beautiful.The climb up Albert Mountain is as memorable as ever, especially the 0.3 of a mile that seem like a vertical scramble. The views are the best yet on the trail, an unobstructed 360 degree view from the top of the fire tower. All the upcoming major summits are visible: Siler's Bald, Wayah Bald, Cheoah Bald, and off in the haze the imposing Great Smoky Mountains. I even treat myself to a hot lunch at Big Spring shelter.The remainder of the day's walking is moderate with little elevation change except the ascent out of Wallace Gap. At Winding Stair Gap I run into Jake who is considering going in to Franklin, and then Jesse and Pete from Boston show up and they're going in too. I hadn't planned on going in but as I've never been in to Franklin on my previous hikes, it's not a tough call, I decide to go in on a whim.Ron Haven who runs the three hotels in town picks us up at the trail and gives us a tour of Franklin. We're staying at the Sapphire Inn, Cotton is also here. Ron's Budget Inn is already full of hikers, so this town is "hiker central" tonight.
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Franklin, NC

To: Campsite North of Wayah Bald
Miles today: 11.0

"Look, it's magic!"-- hiker coming upon Pyro, Smiley & Superfeet's trail magic spread at Wayah Gap. While we did get a brief tour of Franklin last night on the way in, I never really got to see much of Franklin; so this morning I walked around a bit and found the Nicksaw site. This area has been inhabited continuously for over 3,000 years, and the Cherokee Nicksaw mound in Franklin marks the site of the communal building which was the seat of government. It's an interesting site, despite being on the main street in front of light industrial buildings. I take the 11 am shuttle bus out of town in which our most hospitable host, Ron Haven (he owns 4 trail side hotels in Franklin and Hiawassee), picks up 13 hikers and delivers us to the trail all at once. It makes for a fairly crowded start up Siler Bald. The 360 degree views are the best yet on the trail. On the north side of Siler Bald we hit some serious trail magic courtesy of Pyro, Smiley, and Superfeet, all members of the thru-hike class of 1997. Their spread is truly impressive, one of the best I've seen in 6,500 miles on the trail. It helps with the climb up to Wayah Bald, where I meet some curious people who pepper me with questions about thru-hiking. I also take advantage of the stone structure to cook myself an early dinner. Then I move on at 7pm, and within half a mile I flush out 5 feral hogs off the side of the trail. Three small hogs scurry downhill to the west, while two large, very imposing hogs move west and stop a short distance from the trail. In the split second it takes me to figure out an escape route if they charge they bound across the trail after the 3 small hogs and by the time it occurs to me to reach for the camera they must be 50 yards downhill. These are ornery animals, animals many people fear more than black bear because they are aggressive and can gore one with their tusks -- adrenaline stoking stuff! Only half a mile further north is the campsite I was aiming for, and Yahtzee, Boston Dan, Zack, and Zenon are tenting there and have an "excellent-good" camp fire going. We stay up well into the night stoking the fire. It's going to be one if the coldest nights on the trail.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Campsite North of Wayah Bald

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

"Every time I look in the mirror, there's a little less flesh looking back"-- Rainer & Dewlap, from Cold Spring shelter register. It was 28 degrees when I woke up at 6:55 this morning, the coldest day yet on the trail. Zack and Zenon made another campfire this morning so I lingered about warming myself up before setting off at 9:15 am. There is a fair amount of ridge walking today mixed in to the ascents and descents so we move fairly well. It's another day of trail magic as Turtle and her friends have a spread laid out, at Burningtown Gap, that includes sodas, fruit, and girl scout cookies. Unfortunately this is also where Boston Dan learns that Zack has had an accident back at the campsite, and had to climb the half mile back up to Wayah Bald to have emergency surgery in Franklin, NC. I suppose this is one of those moments when one is happy to have a cell phone on the trail. It is also here, amid the trail magic, that Brooklyn announces that he is leaving the trail after 3 weeks of pain in his hip, decreasing energy levels, and respiratory problems -- some bad karma amid all the magic. At Rocky Bald I take the side trail to the summit and spot a forest fire about 5 miles away and hope the trail doesn't lead us in that direction. And all day I feel the pangs of nascent hiker hunger -- this happens after our metabolism has hit overdrive, after losing a fair bit of weight quickly and we start to crave "town food" and think of it non stop. I estimate I've lost nearly a pound a day and have probably already shed 10 to 13 pounds. The views from the Wesser observation platform are the best yet: the Great Smoky Mountains from a close distance, including Thunderhead, Rocky Top, and Clingman's Dome as well as the sprawling Fontana Lake created by the Fontana Dam. After a half hour on the observation platform talking to a couple of locals, who inform me that the fire I've been seeing most of the day is a controlled burn, I head to the shelter for early dinner. Rye, her dog Toast, Todd, and Butch are staying at Wesser shelter but I move on after eating, keen to cut the memorable descent down into Wesser/NOC in half. But I'm feeling so well in the coolness of the early evening that I hike into the night. I arrive at Rufus Morgan shelter at 9:20 pm with intentions of staying there and leaving myself a short .8 mile walk tomorrow, but everyone in the shelter is asleep and the tents set nearby are dark and I decide against setting up and waking the other hikers so I move on into the NOC. I get in at 10pm and all the facilities are closed. I make myself hot tea and oatmeal, and find myself a nice flat picnic table top out of view and sleep under the stars. I set my alarm for 6 am, so no one sees me stealth sleeping by the river. Another "excellent-good" day on the trail.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather:  Mosey and at least two dozen others. This place is packed!  So here's a chance to??easy does it

"Easy does it¢¦"-- Journey, from NOC hostel register. I had planned to take a "nero," after walking only 0.8 miles from Rufus Morgan shelter, but as I got in last night a nero has become a zero -- a day for resupplying, recouping, regrouping, and refamiliarizing myself with trail friends I moved ahead of. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), a whitewater rafting complex, is the perfect place to do this: the trail cuts across the complex and over the Nantahala River, there is a hostel, restaurants, outfitter, and laundry here. In short everything a hiker needs to keep moving along the trail. There's a great group here tonight: Rollie, Brooklyn, Jeff, Husband and Wife, Bandana Man, Mud Bug, Yahtzee, Serenetina, Journey, Jess and Justin, Lil' Jannie, Mosey and at least two dozen others. This place is packed! So here's a chance to¢¦ easy does it, and I am.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"Great service. Gonna zero here today. Back on trail tomorrow. Good hiking to all fellow hikers." -- Lil' Jannie, from NOC shelter register. I'm taking another day off here at NOC as a day long rain front moves through and my body seems to be asking for another early break. It becomes another opportunity to meet friends I left behind. Two fellow Boston hikers, Pete and Dumper Bear (formerly Jesse) came in and we had lunch at River's End. Also staying another day are Jess and Justin, Bandana Man (it's his birthday today), Mud Bug, Yahtzee, Lil' Jannie, Serenetina, et al. Another large group of hikers come in today as it rains all through the day and into the night: City Squirrel, Lady Slipper, McGyver, Boone, Lefty, Carl, Clothesline and well over a dozen more. It's an "excellent-good" day to stay put, and I stay put. Back out and headed inexorably north tomorrow.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

"When you see these Southern Appalachians, your blood will turn to wine, and you'll never be weary again." -- Skywalker, from Brown Fork shelter register. The climb out of NOC and the Nantahala gorge is a memorable one, up nearly 8 miles to the top of Cheoah Bald. It takes me all morning to get there, but the payoff is a tremendous view of the eastern ridges flanking the Smoky Mountains. The day has massive elevation gains and losses, including the descent down into and up out of Stecoah Gap. I left NOC early today to avoid the throng of three dozen hikers that will eventually come out. And I'm fairly successful as I only see Dumpster Bear and Pete, Mudbug, Bandana Man, Marcus, Hotfoot, Firefox, and Coon Cat. Lots of walking today, with only 2 hours worth of breaks. Up, down, up, down, up¢¦ I'm tired, in an "excellent-good" way of course.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: NC 28, Fontana Dam Village
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

"What a great place. I want to relax here."-- Marcus, on the Fontana Dam VillageToday's walk is chock full of rolling ascents and descents, nothing major other than the descent into the Fontana Dam area, but enough to test my sapped leg's stamina. It's a cool, partly sunny day, perfect for hiking but my weary legs have other ideas and slow me down all day.Early on I get a view of the valleys to the east of the trail shrouded in low level clouds. It seems as if the handful of summits visible above the clouds are islands floating among the mountain ridges on the horizon. The other treat today is the profusion of trillium and spring beauties that are flowering along the trail.But my energy flags as my legs are lifeless and rubbery. I feel enervated, and the 11 mile day seems interminable during the descent into the Fontana Dam Marina and NC 28. At Fontana Village I run into Coon Cat, Hot Foot, Firefox, Marcus and Mosey doing their town chores, i.e. laundry, food resuply, etc., before they head back to the Fontana Hilton shelter. I choose to stay at Fontana Village, and plan to do what I've done here on my four previous visits: I'll do a 1.8 mile "nero" tomorrow to the edge of the Smoky's and then head into the park the day after that.This seems to be the last good bit of weather for a while as a front is forecasted to move through and bring 4 days of rain, including 3 days of thunderstorms, as we head into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: NC 28, Fontana Dam Village

To: Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: light rain

"Staying at the village. Lots of walking to get things done. Slacked from marina to dam. Leaving tomorrow... Come on Trail Days!"--All Right & Half Left, from Fontana Hilton shelter registerJust like All right & Half Left above, today I did what I did back in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, I slack packed the 1.8 from the marina to the end of the dam to the boundary line of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.It was a fairly quick hike, despite my calves being balky and cranky at first. Apparently I produced loads of lactic acid in my calves yesterday and today my legs feel totally burnt out on the little hills between the marina and the dam; but all the while there are views of the massive Fontana Lake created by the dam.The 3 dozen or so hikers from the NOC seem to be streaming in to the area today. While the dam's visitor center isn't open yet for the season, the dam itself is impressive enough: the largest east of the Mississippi River. It also happens to be the warmest day since the first week of the hike, with a high forecated around 80 degrees; and luckily the forecated morning thunderstorms never materialize. After my hike today, I resupplied for the walk into the Smoky's, and judging by both the crowd of hikers outside the general store and the slim pickings inside, I almost waited too long; but I ended getting most of what I wanted.Among the hiker crowd I've seen today are: Low Key, Cahoda, Old Blue Eyes, Wild Hare, Lady Slipper, Bandana Man, Serenetina, Mud Bug, Clothesline, Boone, Master Chief, Meg, Ben, Sprite, Jess and Justin, Droid, McGyver, Yukon Cornelious, Sassafras, et al., well over 30 hikers.
Date: 2010-04-24
From: Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam

To: Little Tennesse River, Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible in the Southern Appalachians today."--from the Weather Channel website, 04/24/2010An unexpected day off for me today due to a severe weather system moving through the area and affecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While I did expect the rain and possible t-storms, the severity of the winds, golf ball-sized hail, and tornadoes convinced me to take the day off. It was especially frustrating early in the morning because all we were getting were sprinkles and light rain, and I was second guessing my decision to stay as too overly cautious. But by 1 pm the thunderstorms began to move in in earnest, and the tornado advisory went up for the immediate area. It bothers me to sit out the day after a 1.8 mile "nero" yesterday, but as the weather continues to deteriorate I feel I made the right decision. I hope the hikers up in the Smoky's today and tonight stay safe and dry.While we won't stay dry tomorrow, as the rain will continue through Monday, at least we won't have to contend with tornadoes or mountain top lightning. Many of the hikers at the village and at the Fontana Hilton shelter are staying put,although a large group left early, en masse, according to Jess and Justin; a group of a dozen hikers woke up at 4am at the Fontana Hilton and headed up into the mountains trying to avoid the worst of the weather, leaving only 6 hikers to fitful sleep in the shleter. I've seen most the the hikers in the village today, or taking the shuttle down to the shelter to take the day off there.It was a treat to meet Kathy, Carl's mother, who has been reading along. I'd also like to thank everyone else who is reading and has signed my guestbook; I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond as I planned to from here at the village, but this is a cellphone dead zone -- there is no service within a three mile radius of here. I'm lucky that the lodge has a public computer from which I have been able to update my journal the last 3 days. It's off tomorrow into the Smoky's, the severe weather should be on the eastern seaboard by then. That's "excellent-good!" (Note: I've been told that there is no cell service through the Smoky's so my journal will probably not be updated for another week.)
Date: 2010-04-25
From: Little Tennesse River, Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

"What I took for granted now seems a luxury. What once seemed luxurious now seems absurd. "-- Yoga Matt, from Russell Field shelter register I'm very eager to get out this morning and start hiking again. The weather cleared out nicely and the tornado warning was rescinded at 3 am, and some cooler weather is moving in. The morning turns out beautiful, partly sunny and cool. The climb out of Fontana Dam to the top of Shuckstack is still challenging, yet seems easier than on the previous hikes. The views from the top of the Shuckstack fire tower are still spectacular the dam, Fontana Lake, Fontana Village and the ridges to the south are visible, as well as the trail north in the Smoky's. At Birch Spring campsite I meet Graybeard, one of the ridge runners in the Smoky's and he informs me that approximately 630 hikers have come through this year, the lowest number he's seen since 2003. It's hard to believe given this wave of 40-50 I find myself in -- I thought it was the most crowded I'd seen since 2000, but obviously it's just that I happen to be in the midst of the crowd. I see many familiar faces out on the trail today: Jess and Justin, Carl, Lefty, Husband and Wife, Old Blue Eyes, Master Chief, Tortoise, Nimblefoot; and many new ones, Wall Flower, Dirty 30, Wiggles, Teflon, Casey, et al. I have dinner at Mollie's Ridge Shelter and decide to push on at 6:30 to Russell Field shelter. The walking is fast and only 8 hikers are at the shelter, but by 9pm the shelter is at capacity (14) as more hikers stream in. It's difficult to believe that thru-hiker numbers are down tonight.
Date: 2010-04-26
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light rain

"It's awful out there today."-- section hiker, at Derrick Knob shelter Started raining just as I left the shelter at 7:30 this morning and it's supposed to rain through tomorrow night. The temperatures never rose out of the 40's today -- it was perfect hypothermia weather. It was fairly miserable, no other way around it. By 2pm when I reached Derrick Knob shelter I was desperate for hot food. I made hot soup and tea, but could not get warm, by the time I started to shiver (one of the early signs of hypothermia) I decided against walking the 6 extra miles I intended to go today. Mudbug had a fire going and we stoked it for most of the afternoon. As soon as I dried out I jumped into my sleeping bag at 4pm. Other hikers soon started to stream in and repeated the process, walking in the rain all day in 40 degree weather is as miserable as it gets on the trail. I'd prefer it 10 degrees colder and walk in the snow. This shelter usually sleeps 12, but has 16 in it tonight and hikers are continuing to stream in.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: moderate rain

"Happy 200 miles!"--EGHM, from Mt.Collins shelter registerLike clockwork it started to rain again the moment I left Derrick Knob shelter. Putting on wet clothes in 40 degree temps is as bracing as anything in life gets, luckily once I get moving I get warm.About an hour and a half into the hike the rain turned to snow, and it snowed steadily the rest of the day. At Double Springs shelter I stop for hot food and find 5 hikers in their sleeping bags at 1pm, the conditions are that nasty -- it's in the low 30's with gusting winds and snow. What's worse -- although I love the snow, prefer it to the rain -- the trail is saturated with water and sometimes the mud is ankle high. Drenched, cold feet in the snow is not a fun way to spend an entire day walking.I insist on taking a picture at the highest point on the trail, Clingman's Dome (6,643 feet) and it turns out to be one of the most reckless things I've done on the trail. The observation tower is covered in rime ice and the gusts seem to be around 40 miles an hour. By the time I get my camera out of my pack my hands are numb, in less than a minute. I snap a couple of shots and I quickly descend from the summit, this is frostbite and hypothermia weather.I make my way as quickly as I can to Mt. Collins shelter to get warm and dry, being out in this stuff for 10 hours is risky. The spruce boughs are weighted down by the snow and I get showered in snow every time I hit one. It's really beautiful stuff but I've got to get dry.Luckily there is room at the shelter. It's nearly full with a high school group, a few section hikers, and a couple of thru-hikers. It's expected to dip into the 20's tonight and I'm very happy to be out of the elements.Oh yeah, we hit 200 miles on the trail today, that's "excellent-good!"