morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-15
From: amicalola falls

To: springer mtn. 
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

okay, so i didn't take advantage of having a shower available. morning came way too early. i fell asleep fine, i just couldn't stay asleep. (i'm watching a chipmunk try to get some bready hiker food into its hole)oh, i'm sitting ontop of springer. it's cold, and it's suppose to rain tonight (and for the next couple of days) yahooo! the approach trail took me 5 hrs. it was tough. the weather was perfect. i was disapointed to only see one piece of ditched gear --- a tripod folding stool. i thought the trail would be littered with gear! maybe people more carefully select their gear nowadays. i suspect the shelter is full and there are a lot of tenters, so i better go do camp chores before i feel any sprinkles.brrr! 34* brrr! i slept in the shelter because the forecast was for rain. and, it RAINED. AND IT WAS WINDY. AND I HEARD CREATURES UNDER THE SHELTER FLOOR. i'm procrastinating on breakfast. hot or cold breakfast? it's just hard to get motivated and gung-ho about walking in the cold wet fog. we're just going a litle over 7 miles today to the hawk mtn shelter. and those miles will be much easier compared to the ones from yesterday. depending on the weather today, my camera and pocketmail may not come out of my pack.
Date: 2005-03-17
From: hawk mtn. shelter

To: gooch mtn. shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light snow

brrr! the shelter was too full last night, so we tented. and it RAINED. and we were awakened in the wee hours with m-16 gunfire. packing up wet gear sucks. while packing up this morning it began to sleet. then it was just a mix.then SNOW. snow is better than rain. the miles were fine today. i'd get cold on the downhills and put my gloves and shell on, otherwise i was hiking in powerstretch. (which, i've been wearing for days)(do i need to mention the stink?) everything has mud on it.we were in our bags and sleeping by 8pm last night. i'm pretty sure we'll all be sleeping by time it's dark tonight. i've been sleeping with lots of things in my bag, to keep them warm for wearing later.cold is a deterent for writing.by the way, there are lots of great people here --- let's see if i can remember the names ... snowbunny, hairball, brownie,john, troll, anchor, oblivious, draggin, and, i can't remember the rest. tooke, gypsy, domino, and ? moved on. okay, enough for now.
Date: 2005-03-18
From: gooch mtn. shelter

To: wood's hole shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

today, finally, SUNSHINE!what a difference it makes. it was even more wonderful for the long day of hiking. we pulled a little over 12 miles today to come to wood's hole shelter. it was a gentle walk,but long. my feet are tired today. the body is fine. no allergy problems. no blisters. just major stink. i switched to a fresh pair of socks today. but, they're all muddy. i don't wear gators, so i collect all kinds crap in my boots. maybe someone i know will let me borrow his little stretchy gators what else can i share? it's been so cold that i haven't felt much like journaling. i just can't when my fingers are freezing. most nights i've been in my bag and asleep by 8pm. and, i forget everything that happens during the day.here's a story from day 1. on our way to springer to drop off a hiker near the summit, our driver spotted a woman he had dropped off a couple days before. he rolled down the window and she said, "take me to the atlanta airport." eeks! she was quitting. she was sick, bad cough, and had crappy weather. so, this is all before ktr, tomato-head and i get dropped off at amicola park. did i mention my pack weighed in at 27 lbs? it still feels heavy to me, but i weighed in at 35 lbs last season.let's see, what else? we passed the ridgerunner today. he told us we "made the first cut." a van full of people bailed today at woody gap. and it's certain that more people will bail at neel's gap. i have a food drop to pick up there tomorrow and toilet paper is on my shopping list. and, some chores ... maybe a SHOWER!the hands are getting cold, so i think it's time to get into my bag.
Date: 2005-03-19
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

today was a relatively short hike. up and over blood mtn. i like blood, (mtn). it has lots of stone steps and rhododendron. there were views to be had in all directions. i didn't get lost this time going over! yippy! it 's not hard to get lost up there, esp. when it's foggy, or anything but clear. but, if you're ever in this part of georgia, i recommend it as a day hike.i got here fairly early today. the plan was to resupply and get a few miles in, but, plans change. so, ktr and i are in the hostel here tonight at the walasi-yi. it's past my bedtime, meaning it's after 8pm. i'm pooped and sunburned from yesterday.yesterday was absolutely beautiful, cold, windy -- so i was geting fried by the sun and having ice blowing on me from the trees. crazy. the benefit of being here --- i'm clean! showered, laundered, resupplied by a maildrop i sent here the day i left. i'll clean up again in hiawassee in about 4 to 5 days.let's test my memories on names. inthe hostel tonight --- ktr, troll,anchor, oblivious, ranger (great story there), grunting bear, draggin', hairball & snowbunny at a b&b, and, there's more here. as usual, i'm horrible with names.i slept last night at woods hole shelter. i tented. the shelter was full, then, every flat spot filled up too with a big school group and more hikers.oh! i almost forgot. i got a free bandana from the georgia chapter of the a.t. for showing my book of matches from the ridgerunner. and, i got a free can of soda from the guys running the store. i finally had the grape fanta soda i was craving last year when i spotted a big styrofoam cooler on the trail --- the cooler turned out to be filled with garbage.how sad! i think it's out of my system now.i need to go to bed, but i need to do some organizing on my pocketmail before all these messages get out of control. nighty night.
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

we got lucky with the weather today. the predicted rain is holding off. i wore my rain hat to keep the sun off my face. but, my hands didn't escape the sun. i now have hiker tan --- the straps from my hiking poles.i spent the day walking by myself. i felt like i passed lots of ghosts today. i hiked this section last april after the snowfall. it was strange to pass through again on such a nice day. but, i recognized places i stopped on the trail last year. like, where i had stopped for lunch, or taken in a view. the only people i saw on the trail hiking today were hiking southbound. there were a lot of day hikers out enjoying the weather. i found a couple of guys enjoying a view, and they graciously took my picture. i had used my self-timer to take my picture, but i think i got a good shot of the grass in front of my camera. oh well. it's almost bedtime (7:46pm). it seems nuts to go to bed so early, but, when it's cold and dark, what else is there? oh, some walasi-yi trail magic. someone had left a pile of bananas on the picnic table infront of the center. i forgot to grab one last night, but, they were still there this morning (and the critters hadn't chowed on them!). yummy banana breakfast. time for bed.
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

trail angel -- bill maher --- THANK YOU! bill and his dog showed up at the shelter with a bag of little apples and a printed copy of the weather report. what a nice treat we are resting up around a fire in front of blue mountain shelter. we are very proud of our low mileage days. no sense in going out hard and getting hurt.today was a pretty hike through mossy rocks. lots of rocks. but, a gentle day. feet are still fine. they're tired.my attention span is _____ .... is not here.we did have some sprinkles and sleet this morning, and not expecting any more wet stuff until tomorrow evening.time for dinner!.... time for bed. ate dinner, brushed and flossed, put up food bag. i'm in my bag now, warming it up. we had a nice campfire, told bear stories. isn't that great? scare the beegeebers out of yourself before going to sleep.who's in the shelter tonight --- grunting bear, ranger, ktr, draggin', me, snowbunny, and hairball. tenting or tarping --- ying & yang, doc, and raz. and, everyone had an apple nighty night.
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Blue Mtn. Shelter

To: Tray Shelter
Miles today: 7.7

i am sitting in my bag watching the rain come down. it IS a severely ICKY DAY. lucky us got walking early today, so the downpour didn't begin until after we got into the shelter (tray mtn shelter). there are 8 of us in here. raz, snowbunny, hairball, me, ktr, ranger, grunting bear, and draggin'. i forgot about mad dog last night.so, the walk. some big ups and downs today. and when we thought we had come up the last up, it went up further. shit. are we there yet? there would had been a magnificient view from up top, but we were in the clouds. it was crazy windy too. i think i would had been freaked out walking by myself, but i was in the company of a few other hikers. that made it almost fun.the plan for tomorrow is to hike on to the next shelter, then hitch into hiawassee thursday morning for some chores.well, i thought i was finished writing for the day until i went to get water. it stopped raining for awhile, so i decided it was a good time to do some chores. hairball suggested i wear my rain gear, so i did. good thing because i took a nice butt slide in the mud. left ass cheek caked in mud. and no witnesses! good thing i already have a trailname
Date: 2005-03-23
From: Tray Mtn. Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

the thunder and lightning were so strong last night the shelter was trembling. we ended up packing nine people in the shelter. doc had hitched into helen for resupply, and showed up at the shelter in the dark amd pouring rain with hotdogs and buns. (we roasted them this afternoon over the fire at the deep gap shelter). we were sealed pretty good from the storm with a few tarps strung across the front of the shelter. the storm passed in the night, and we awoke to the prettiest day on the trail yet. we walked our 7.something miles to the deep gap shelter today, enjoying views along the way. the last hump over kelly's knob was a workout. (okay, ktr is about to blast a mouse nest with a firecracker. he's NUTS). (DAMN THAT WAS LOUD!) luckily none of the sparks melted holes in anyone's bag.the mice are nortorious in this shelter.the plan tomorrow, early morning hike to the highway and hitch into hiawassee, do chores, and hike out a sub sandwich and beer to the next shelter. hasta luego. oh, in or around the shelter tonight are me, ktr, captain chaos, domino, doc, mad dog, ranger, and grunting bear. nighty night all!
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Hiawassee

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

oh by the light of the moon ..... we are lucky campers tonight. we are sleeping cowboy style tonight, under the moon and trees. if you refer to wingnut's book, i think we're at mile marker 67.9 .... camping. there's a very good reason for this. it's called trail magic. we dipped into hiawssee today to resupply. our chores took some time. though, we're still dirty and stinky (actually, i'm the stinky one because i don't wear deodorant --- ktr packs it in case he runs into claire danes). i promise i'll shower in franklin! really!so, we stopped at the dq and subway on the way out of town. ktr "needed" chili cheese dogs and i "needed" a sub, and i had a coupon. we got super lucky catching a hitch out of town by SLICKROCK doing a shuttle and out to do some trail magic. she dropped us at the same gap, and there was more magic --- SLUG and TEFLON, a.t. class of 2003, set up at the pullover with a grill and anything a hiker needs .... hotdogs and condiments, beer and sodas, tp, duct tape, h2o, chips, chairs, etc. so, we had to enjoy their generosity and partake. ktr PARTOOK. 3 dogs, plus his footlong chili cheese dog, and 3 beers .... thus, the low mileage post resupply. okay, i had 1/2 my footlong sub and 2 beers.we hiked a mile in, found a super nice campsite, watched the sun set over the mountains, as the moon rose opposite. see, this is why we walk.town was fine ... we ran into snowbunny and hairball, and doc, and domino. we intended on making it to plumorchard tonight, but the miles were not in our legs.so, north we go tomorrow.oh i almost forgot. we got up WAY early this morning to get to the highway. when we got to the gap, there was a rv parked in the turnaround. we were given some granolaesque bars, "bible bars". very yummy, very scripture. with thumbs out, we caught a ride with a local man that wished he had liquor to offer, or to smoke a joint, and had very "colorful" opinions about the local color. what a ride! night and day. from bible beater to wife beater.
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

camping out tonight, under the stars near the muskrat creek shelter. we crossed the nc/ga state line around 2:30 this afternoon. ktr and i celebrated with a 16 oz can of old milwaukee ice. it was slightly cool and refreshing, and made tasty burps to talk about afterwards. the stretch from there to here thought ... still has me pissed. it was up, and up, and then more up! me feet are dog-ass tired. we were so tired when we got here that we just sort of sat in a stupor (after changing out of sweaty clothes). we pigged on dinner (eating the pack wt.) and built a nice litle fire. our treat tonight was a stunning sunset, city lights down below, a clear starry sky and a full moon rising.it's way past my bedtime (it's almost 9pm) and we're getting up with the sun and plan to start walking by 7am.we have some long miles tomorrow, and hoping to beat some incoming rain.time to turn the head lamp off. nighty night.
Date: 2005-03-26
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: clear sky

sleeping tonight in the old carter gap shelter. there is a newer nicer one just up the trail.today was/is surreal. ktr and i were chatting on the trail, "what's your favorite movie?" ... etc. we're walking downhill. and, there's SOLACE (ktr's twin). within 20 minutes, there's SASSAFRAS & WALKABOUT. i don't know what else to say. it's bizarre. so, that explains why when ktr and i encountered some southbounders this morning they said, "are you cupcake? we've heard about you." it's a trail reunion. it's been a great day.(i'm alone for a moment, there's a group effort of hanging several super heavy bearbags).
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

it's early, and i'm in my bag, in the big spring shelter (just below the albert mtn. summit). it was a short hike today, over some of my favorite terrain --- the section just north of mooney gap --- big butt mtn. and albert.we walked in the mist, but now it's pouring. we'll be mostly dry tonight, though the humidity and moisture penetrates everything.tomorrow, we're heading out early to get to rock gap and have solace drive us into franklin.i'm dying for a shower and clean clothes!
Date: 2005-03-28
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

i'm exhausted. i'm in a BED! Ron, the owner of the Haven in Franklin, treated ktr, solace, and i to dinner and we rode in style in a limo!zero'ing it tomorrow. first zero. passed the 100 mile marker (approach trail miles included), finished with georgia.slept in big spring shelter last night to a fierce rain storm. hiked today in rain, then sleet and snow.
Date: 2005-03-30
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

the hardest day on the trail is the day after a zero. we're sleeping tonight, under the stars, near the siler bald shelter. the plan is to wake up at 4am and get up to the bald for sunrise. we'll see ....solace crossed the road where he got off the trail last year. we celebrated tonight with dehydrated ice cream, peach schnapps, and the beast. (ktr, again, packed some beers up the trail.) so, of course, we had to eat & drink the excessive weight. that's how it works out here --- consume the heaviest items first.we had a great time in franklin. the haven is a must stay, the most hiker friendly. ron rocks!we laughed so much ....i've been crocheting. i needed to keep my hands busy during my zero. and now, i sure would hate to give it up. i'm using a "I" hook with crappy redheart yarn. that's all i could find in franklin. i already crocheted a devil hat. i gave it to sassafras. those redheart skeins weigh a whopping 1/2 pound. so, i'm happy to pass the weight on to someone else.almost 8pm, bedtime. nighty night.
Date: 2005-03-31
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: moderate rain

rigitortous (sp?) says tomorrow is hike naked day. and, that we'll see a meteor shower (scorch fell for that one).so, it was not suppose to rain last night. walkabout reported a 20% chance. but, in the we hours of 2ish, i heard the wind kick up. then a sprinkle. then , lightning. i woke up solace and ktr (they sleep like a.t. burritos, totaly cinched in their bags). we quietly hauled everything up to the shelter, and within 1/2 hr, the storms let loose. mother nature pissed on us all. obviously, there was not a sunrise hike to the bald.today was a long hike, which included red blazing. the trail was rerouted due to landslide areas. the red blazed trail sucked --- slippery and slanted.so, today --- i pee'd 4 times on the trail , so i'm sure i reek of urine. the backs of my legs were caked in mud. solace was calling me "mudcake". i'm beyond pooped today. snowbunny had her own slide/fall in the mud. it made her into a rabid bunny.this evening, we had some good laughs around the fire. i wish i could remember everyone's names, but the only one that stands out is mr. poopy pants (he's a kin to sour puss). he was the selfish one that said the shelter was full .... let's just say he "filled" it with his attitude.sleeping in the tarp tent tonight near the cold spring shelter. the bear cables will probably collapse by morning.nighty night.
Date: 2005-04-01
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: N.O.C.
Miles today: 11.5

solace is going to walk farther. today, though, we walked to the n.o.c. the walk was a killer --- downhills from hell. everyone is walking funny. we can run up the stairs, but look odd going downstairs.my belly is full, i'm pooped. sleeping here tonight, having a big breakfast, then going up. i think all of tomorrow is up. ups don't hurt though.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: N.O.C.

To: Cheoah Bald
Miles today: 8.1

brrr-ass cold. drifts to my thighs. we left the n.o.c. around noon. it started to snow. it continued to snow. NOTE TO LINUX'S MOM --- HE'S FINE. ALL SNUG IN THE SASSAFRAS SHELTER WITH 19 OF HIS FAVORITE HIKERS. HE WON'T FREEZE AND DIE BECAUSE I'M BLOCKING THE WIND FOR HIM.the worst part was within the last mile to mile 1/2, coming over the bald and down the severly windy side with deep drifts. i was (barely) following the tracks of those before me. this is a night where the motto "there's always room for one more" applies. not sure what the plan is tomorrow. who will break trail? who will zero? okay, one (hopefully) last pee out the side of the shelter. brrr!
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Cheoah Bald

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

we awoke to a clear sunny day. i'm thankful for the hikers who left before me and broke trail. as the day passed, much of the trail turned to slush and mud. a good part of today was a controlled fall --- sliding on either the snow or mud. i got lucky (today) and didn't end up on my ass. i saw a spot late in the day where someone had slid a foot off the trail about 2'. snowbunny confessed to those skidmarks later.tonight, mr. crumbles and i are tenting behind the brown fork (?) shelter. tomorrow will be a longer walk to fontana, but the terrain will be more forgiving. oh, we met a former thruhiker at a road crossing/picnic area this afternoon. she pointed out clingman's dome and gap to gatlinburg. she said, too, that the roads into smokey mtn's park had been closed yesterday due to the snow. it snowed at least 8" where we were yesterday, but drifted thigh deep. call me a wuss, but i'd be happy w/o snow in the smokies.by the way, all the trail north of the n.o.c. is new to me. i got off the trail there last year. it's good to be back out here.i'm super tired today. walking in snow, slush,and mud uses more enery. it's like hiking on sand as far as effort goes, and don't forget sliding backwards when going uphill.the sun has set, so i think it's bedtime.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

exhausted. long day,long miles. couldn't hitch into fontana, so had to do 2 miles of asphalt. sucked. grrrr! zero tomorrow, smokies on wednesday. hey, linux, rigitortois has your poles.i think my eyelids are sunburned.i forgot to mention the other day, the day it SNOWED, i saw 3 or 4 wild boars on the trail. at first i thought the were baby bears, so i waited for the mom. then, i continue and checked out the tracks --- hoof shaped. when i got to the sassafras shelter, one of the hikers said he saw 3 or 4 little bears. he saw bears, i saw boars.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

in the 1st shelter of the smokies. ktr and i squeezed into the last slot in the shelter.KTR WILL EMAIL FROM STANDING BEAR AFTER THE SMOKIESsomeone told me the toughest 30 miles of the southern half are between the n.o.c. and fontana. i swear the toughest miles are the ones after a resupply and a zero. my legs were lead today, until the last miles, at which my feet were toast. tomorrow will be better. the way i feel after coming out of town makes me think town is bad.so, on we walked. most of the trail was brown, gone are the pale buds of lower elevation. there were a couple of knobs with a green ground covering and little whitish flowers. it made me think of oz.so far, no rain. but, it's coming. i just don't want a crazy snow storm. i'm too pooped, so time to turn the headlamp off. it's almost 8:30pm, past hiker bedtime.i hope to make it through the night w/o needing to pee. (hikers talk a lot about their bodily functions --- you would too)
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

where are we? derreck knob shelter? what sucks about the smokies --- the rules suck. "the fucking man wants to hold us back" ~ hairball, GA>ME '05even though i got into the shelter ar a reasonable hour, and i'm now in my bag, i could potentially get booted if a bunch of section hikers with reservations show up. ridiculous. today --- the threat of storms while hiking. some rain. we crossed some grassy knolls, the wind was blowing me and snowbunny over. everyone is pooped. rumor has it the weather is clearing. tomorrow, a short day -- 7ish miles. whew!the smokies, not sure what to think. i would feel better if ____ . well, the rules bother me, because the shelters are not first come first serve. the smokies are popular, so there are southbounders you don't expect to fill a shelter. i want the weather to clear. it would be nice to camp cowboy style again, and see some stars at night, and some views from the millions of ridges we've crossed.oh, let me mention this shelter --- it's one of the ones with chainlink fencing across the front (to keep the hikers from eating the bears). i haven't seen a bear (yet). seen lots of poop though.