morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Today was probably the easiest walking of the trip so far, no major climbs at all. The first section was rather rocky, and it was pretty much a white out again, but the walking was ok, passed the Chunky Girl Trail. Walked the morning with The Breeze, he is from California, 46, and has walked the PCT. We had a great chat, he is a great fella, just another one of the great people you meet out here on the trail, there is an abundance of such people.Knee was starting to improve, from what I can tell it is more a muscle issue. I have had trouble with a tight hamstring and achilles. This has had to stretch and loosen up on the hike, and as a result I think it has thrown out my thigh muscle, and it is the lower part of this that has been playing up. This has lead to a tight knee, and there are so many people out here who have knee troubles, almost every second person, and so many have taken days off as a result. Most of my original crew are well in front of me now, and I miss them all, but have made so many new freinds, to there has been one positive from time off the trail.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

HelloIt was a huge climb upto Albert Mtn where there is a big fire tower on top and great views, another fine sunny day. The climb up was rather hard, the steps were not designed for short legs like me, and the rocks were up to my chest, how can i step up them, basically I can't, so it was feet and hands scramble. At the top I caught up with Ularu, who I of course named, and Slayer, she got her name because she kicked over my tent and it completely collapsed. We walked and talked for the rest of the day together, it was mostly all down hill, and we did it at a really fast pace. Just some more great people on the trail, they are a couple from Maine, I have learnt so much about this country from all these locals. I was walking along chatting and ended up turning my ankle pretty severley, it has slowed me down a bit, but atleast the knee is on the improve each day, and I have stopped takeing Ibuprofen, but there still is some swelling each day on the knee, it is rather noticeable.We have also been hiking with a guy named Bulldog, he has been in the marines for the last 22 years, and is a computer expert, so many interesting and diverse people.My trail name has evolved, I showed them my spoon with Daisy Duck on it, so that becomes my new trail name, the guys I was formerly hiking with suggested it as a good trail name aswell. I dropped my spoon in the dirt, and then my trail name became dirty daisy. Then they wanted to call me Double D, and then I thougth why not just call me Man Cans. So I think I might go with the trail name of Man Cans. I will try it out for a bit and see how it goes, it is the stupidest one I have come up with so far.The good thing about hiking with Bone Lady is that she is a pyro, and loves burning things, so each ngiht we have a raging fire to keep us warm.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

You will notice that I have stuffed the dates up, cant be bothered fixing it, but have should have had two entires of the same date for when I left Helen, so all the entries after Helen just move them back a day, it is only a small thing, maybe i will fix it later.Short walk today, and at the road crossing into Franklin there was a baptist group and we got some more trail magic, and then caught the shuttle into town to the Budget Inn. I am sharing with bulldog, we and the couple from Maine went and had lunch together at a BBQ type place. BBQ chicken, ate from the Buffet, it was great food, love this southern food, plenty of it and very tasty, they do have great food down here in the south.Went to an outfitters, but they did not have the pack I was after, was going to get a set of hiking poles as I have really enjoyed using my one walking stick, but decided to just continue with what I have got, they also did not have a puff jacket, oh well get one down the trail. Not far from the Smokies now. I should mention the animals, there is this creature that looks like a chicken, and it makes a noise like a drum, very low noise, and you can feel it beating on your chest, really spooky. When I first heard it I thougth it was a bear walking behind me, I was terrified, then I thought i had heart problems, then I thougth it was something banging in my bag. It was weird, but it is jsut a small chicken like thing. Each day I hear the woodpeckers, and can see the holes they make in all the trees, it is just like they are in the cartoons, it is so funny.I picked up all my food from a Walmart, and now i am ready to be back on the trail by tomorrow first thing. It will be three days to the NOC, then onto Fontana Dam, and after that it takes about 6 days to pass hrough the Smokeys, not sure if any of the places have internet access. it might be a week or two before you hear again from me. Tomorrow is a forecast of severe thunderstorms, and then snow over the weekend, and severe cold monday tuesday, so next 5 days is forecast as all rain, just what I needed to hear.Haivng a great time, great life experience.Thank you so much to all those who wrote to me. To Gilo, I do still use that email address.I am going to have a big Fosters tonight, it comes in a huge can, Ill take a picture. Here at the Budget Inn is Bill Clinton, thoguth he was way in front of me, great to see a familiar face, someone I shared a shelter with on my first night on the AT.
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Franklin

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Franklin via the big yellow school bus. The school buses really are big and yellow in this country, felt like I was in the movies. The owner of the budget inn ferries all the hikers around via a big yellow school bus, Ron is his name and he is a bit of a legend on the trail.It was a huge climb out of Franklin, and kept pace with Bulldog, Slayer and Ularu.We passed up over Siler Bald. it was another big long climb and eventually we got up onto Wayah bald where there is a big stone tower and walked up the top and had an incredible view. To one direction was all the mountains we had just climbed, and in the other direction was the huge presence of the Smokies. Plenty more mountains to climb. All we seem to do is either be climbing up or down, so little flat easy sections. There are balds now that we are crossing, for the most parts the views from the mountain tops have been limited, but the balds are big green grassy areas with no trees, so they provide spectacular views.We descended down and ended up at Wayah Shelter, it is a brand new shelter, and we meet a young girl there by the name of equinox. I found her name to be too long, so I renamed her The Ox. She is the loveliest girl, butter would not melt in her mouth, the girl next door type of thing. She had been walking with her boyfriend, but he was injured, it was her first day back on the trail, and she was rather worried be a single girl on the trail, but after meeting all of us her mind was soon put to rest. In the late evening we were treated to a spectacular lightning show and lots of rain, but kept dry in the shelter.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Wayah Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

For something different we started with a big climb in the morning, everything was a bit wet from the overnight rains. Went up passed Cold Springs Shelter after walking through Licklog Gap. , there were more climbs and eventually we came to a big fire tower up on Wesser bald. The fire tower was old, and some of the steps were broken, climbing up I was reminded that I do not like heights a great deal. I toughened myself up and just walked up.We descended down and got to Wesser bald Shelter, sat down had a bit to eat, and bulldog convinced us all to walk on to the next shelter as it would be easy and just all down hill.Well of course it was not all down hill, no such thing on the AT. It was mostly down hill, ut a number of steep up climbs. The descent at times was very steep, one section is called the Jumpoff, and the name is appropriate, god it hurt my knees. Finally we got to the campsite , but the shelter was full of locals, or should I say Yocals. Some fat girls, and dopey blokes, who were out to get pissed and smoke dope, not really the same reasons we are out in nature for. They had taken up the whole shelter, so we all just decided to camp, finding flat ground was impossible so it was a night on a big slope. hate sleeping on slpes, you wake up and find yourself all bunched up at the end of the tent in the fetal position. My knees were both hurting from the steep descent.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

it was a short morning walk all down hill of 0.8 miles to Noc (Nantahala River, it has an outfitters and a small shop and a place to have breakfast. I purchased some food for a ressuply, picked up some hiking poles that costs me an arm and a leg, still dont have the backpack I am after, and then it was off for breakfast. We ran into the girls from Celveland, two sister, one is called Oatmeal, who I renamed Wild oats, after the boat, and the other was once known as Bone Lady, but had her named changed to fucking stick, so I shortened it to Fuck Stick. Great names. The breakfast was so delicious, and a long tall glass of orange juice, the simple things in life taste so good out here on the trail. The Noc has a big river flowing down it, and has some of the best white water rapids in the world.At about midday made my way up the climb, and what a climb it was, it was so long and steep, it went on for most of the whole way before one gets up on the ridge and then down to the shelter. There were some new faces at the shelter. The temperature dropped and it began to snow, holy shit, it was a bloody cold night in the shelter, and many of the people were over 45, so the snoring was somethig to rival my mothers, at one stage I thought my ear plugs had dropped out, but they had not, the snoring was just that loud. Bulldog and The Ox had both taken a zero at the NOC.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light snow

Woke to heavy snow all over the ground, it was so cold, I could not get put of the sleeping bag. Everyone else got up and headed out, but this little Australian does not do so well with the cold. So I layed in bed till about 10am. I got up and started hiking and the snow was so strange to hike in, and it was still continueing to snow and gather accumulation on the ground for much of the day. In the afternoon there was another big steep climb, the amount of climbing and descending on this trail it incredible and relentless. I got to the shelter and it was time to use the privy. This privy only had a roof and no walls or door. So I sat there and did a crap with snow blowing in sideways from all directions. It was a huge turd and could not be rushed, so I sat there and took my time and literally freezed my arse off. it was so cold and it was to be another freezing night, this trip is not a whole lot of fun when the weather changes to this cold. I am managing to march on, and my knees have been getting better and better.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

it was a climb up again, just for something different, even when we are not climbing it is still undulating, and increasingly the trail has gotten more and more rocky. I hate it when they put in steps, as they are always far too big for my legs. Took a rest at Cable Gap shelter, and did another huge turd at the privy. In Franklin I had purchased fibre bars not realising what they were, and they had given me so much gas, I know have a reputation on the trail. Back at Wayah shelter Bulldog had slept next to me, and he said he could hear my farts all night above the thunderstorm, and he felt the floor rumble all night. He said it was incredible, he is a marine of 22 years and has been around such behaviour in the past more than most, but even he had never came across someone with an arse as powerful as mine. It was another big long climb after Cable Gap upto an unamed rocky summit, Gees did I have some gas going up this climb, will my clothes ever be the same again, I will never eat another fibre bar as long as I live, atleast everyone else thinks it is funny.We desceneded into Fontana Dam and here there is antoher small town, privately owned. Beautiful place, and I ate record amounts of food, my stomach was craving anything and everything, and i was willing to oblige it. Camped out at the Fontanna Dam shelter, waled the last mile with 12 cans of budweisser for my fellow hikers, i was popular once i got out to the shelter.
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

This shelter is huge, and is located right on the side of a big lake. The shelter sleeps about 30 people, and more hikers cramed into it as the day wore on. Went into town and ate some more, had a great night with all of the other thru hikers that night. Love the company of all these people, caught up with bear bait, poney boy, wild oats, Packs a lot, buckeye, and so many more. Great gnith had by all, it makes this journey so much more fun, and it is so easy to make everyone laugh.Not far away is the Dam wall, it is a huge construction, very impressive, got plenty of pics, and just over the other side of the dam is the towering mountains of the Smokeys, Do I really have to climb up to the top of them.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Zero Day

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got up very early, first to leave the shelter, that is a bit of a record for me, usually I lay there and just do lots of farts as everyone else around me gets ready and leaves.Usually the trail just crosses straight over the Dam wall, but it is undergoing maintenance. Some years ago the wall started to lift, this is not that uncommon with dam walls, so they drilled some holes through the wall down intot he bed rock and buried some cables to hold the wall down. During the winter just gone 3 of the cables gave way and did it with such force theat they went flying up in the air. As a result the dam wall has been shut. Went down to the wall just to see if i could sneak across, but the police where there blocking it off, so it was a 3 mile extra walk around to do. Just what i needed more miles, and of course a big descent and climb down to the river, down stream, over a bridge and big up to the other side.After that we were in the Great Smoky Mountians National Park, the most visited park in the world I beleive, or atleast in the US. It was a huge climb to get up onto the top of the Smokies, the biggest of the trail thus far, but it was fairly gradual, atleast the weather was warm. At the top fo the climb was a fire tower, and it was really scary to climb, I shit myself the whole way up, it was very rickety, but amasing views, getting down was just as hard.Up at the Shelter there was a ridgerunner, and he was giving out lots of advice and making sure we were all doing the right thing, he is a thru hiker and is planning to walk the PCT later this year.Many of my fellow hikers headed on down to the next shelter, but my feet were sore so I stayed where i was.
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: few clouds

Another tough day.The first 6 miles were relatively easy, but after we got to Spence Field shelter, it was all a series of steep ups and downs. I am trailing a new walking theory, to slow down a bit and stop taking so many breaks, try and be a bit more steady and consitant. I got up real early and was gone by 7am, and caught many of the guys who had gone on by the next shelter. There was many great views along the way, and i can see why this trail is so popular. We camped at Derrick Knob Shelter, it was a steep climb at the very end that really took it out of me and everyone else. Packs a lot and Buckeye cooked bulldog up a cake. I dont know how they did it but they did, he was 48, we had a great party. There are no privies up here in the Smokies so I had to go dig a hole, and i also had a bird bath, been having issues with chaffing, and the wash did help.
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

It rained all night and was still doing so in the morning. I was slow to get going. You have to stay in the shelters due to the risk of bears. Makes it nice and cosy as everyone has to shove in together. It was a very gradual climb, and rather cold, all the way up to Clingman's Dome. This is the highest point on the AT, and at the top is a bitumen path and all of the day walkers. it has a big tower, and a gradual ramp up to the top. Seeing all the day hikers makes you realise just how fat the average American is, it was rather freightening.We then had a big descent, and the path was very muddy and wet, the trees had a dramatic change as we entered a much thicker forest of pines, very differernt to anything i was use to. There was a a climb before we got to the shelter jsut to finish off a long day, plenty of familiar faces at the shelter, and we had passed the 200 mile mark, about 10 percent of the trail. It was a damp night, but once again was huddled into the shelter, another fun ngith with plenty of laughs. The conversations are great, always lots of entertainment.
Date: 2008-04-20
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Gatlingburg
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up farily early and it was mostly a down hill short walk into town. Got to Newfound Gap and caught a hitch into town. Some hikers who had been passing the toher direction loaded us into thier truck and it was off down the mountain. It was a gorgeous drive, with the trees changing color so much and everything becoming so green, one of the most beautiful pieces of forest I have ever seen. This is such a beautiful country, it is the only palce that i know of that even begins to rival the beauty of Australia.Gatlinburg is a weird place and so funny, it is very famous and a massive torurist town. Got a room with Slayer and Ularu, they are my favourite people out on the trail, fantastic company, and in part they have adopted me, and they seem to enjoy my company.In this town they have a Dollywood, I kid you not a theme park dedicated to Dolly Parton. What this town does have is lots of great food, and I had a huge pile of pancakes, it was so nice.In these hotel rooms we stuff as many people into each room as we can, I slept on the floor and it was so comfortable to have carpet under me rather than the hard ground.I am getting so much fitter and each day the belt on my backpack gets pulled in some more. The weightloss has been pretty dramatic but is starting to slow down a bit as i am starting to get a bit of condition and fitness.
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Gatlingburg

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Today is another day off, jsut to rest the legs, catch up on some emails and this journal, wahs some clothes and do some shopping. Washed the clothes this am, whilst we sent Ularu to get me some food, efficiency. Caught up with some other hikers last night, many of the others have moved on today, but we will catch them up the trail as they decide to have a zero somewhere. Halfway thru the smokies, lots of climbs still to go, had a pizza for lunch, it was delicious. Thanks so much for all of you who have written, love hearing what you are all upto at home. Great to hear from Joe, Obama sure is popular over here. I cant beleive Miche has bought a motorbike, that is crazy. I am glad that Bev's sisters have taken her to the football, she prefers that to anything else, good to see that they are indulging her passions. Happy birhtday to mum, have a great time. i have taken lots of pictures and soon I will put some more up.I am off to buy something like bike shorts to help with the chaffing, and then drink a bear ro two, lay in my hotel room and talk some shit with the others. You can eat all the junk food you like on this trail, as much ice cream as you can fit in, and you will still continue to lose weight, hiking is the best, and this trail has been a marvelous expereince. Americans sure love us Australians, we are their absolute favourite people.i get requests every day to say things like "A dingo ate my baby" I really am loving the US, it sure is a fascinating place, it never ceases to amase me, and in so many ways it reminds me of home. On many occassions I have to remind myself that i am in the US, on so many occassions it feels like you are in Australia.
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Newfound Gap

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Caught a ride up from Gatlingburg to Newfound Gap, rode in the back of a pickup truck, a lady ranger gave us a ride up to the gap, it was rather thrilling to have your hair blowing in the breeze. It was a great day of walking, past a number of shelters, did some extra miles and the views from the ridges were stunning. Finally pulled into Tri-Knob Shelter, and was room for me in the shelter, many people at the campsite.
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

A trully huge day, finally walked out of the smokies. It started up with some ups and downs, and then a huge decent began out of the smokies. You might think this sounds easy, but hours fo downhill take it out of your legs. it is bad for the knees, and it was a rather warm day. To reach the hostel was a huge relief. I saw Twineman there, he was one of my originaly crew that I started with many weeks earlier, it was great to see him.
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

Shorter day in distance, but when you climb down for a day, you know the next day you have to climb up and that was certainly the case today. I climbed up and up, and it was a tough day, was very short on energy, but finally made the shelter and caught up with the Cleveland sisters, Wild Oats and Fuck Stick. There had been a number of bear attacks in the area including a bear stealing peoples food bags, and ripping open tents to try and get theri food. We did not seen any bears this night, but every noise made most in the shelter jump. I just put my ear plugs in and had a great sleep.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

Some more climbs and then a big down into Hot Springs, it is the first trail that we walk through that is right on the trail. Passed some baptists that were on the trail about 4 miles on from where I was camped, they watched a bear climb up a tree, and reach out and take three of their bear bags that they had hung in the tree. Meet some other gusy down the trail that had a similar experience and had also lost a bear bag, rather funny, I still have my food.Got to Hot Springs, and camped out at the camping ground, nice an cheap, tomorrow will be a zero, feet are super sore from all the miles of late.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Hot Springs

To: hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero day here in Hot Springs, rest up my feet, changed out some gear, new backpack , and sent about 10 pounds of gear home to Mum. Did some food shopping, ate some pizza, had a beer, and washed my clothes. I also managed to wash myself, Yea. Get a good nights sleep tonight and then head on.Caught up with Mooch and Buffet, some others that I started with, Mooch has a sore knee, so they have had a few zeros hence I was able to catch up with them, strange how things work up and who you cathc up with.Off to walk some more miles tomorrow, and once again it is another big day oc climbing, this trail sure is tough. Hope all is well, and thanks to mum for all the football updates.