morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-08
From: Beech Gap Campsite

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Temp - 39/73A beautiful day to be hiking with clear blue skies and cool temps. The terrain was easy going until we got to Mt. Albert. When I woke this morning an owl was still hooting and off in the woods somewhere a grouse was thumping it's wings calling for a mate. The silence otherwise is something to experience. You hear your heart beating and every step on the forest floor makes you think a bear is just behind you. To experience this type of silence you must be miles away from civilization and this day we were so far away there was no cell service and only limited radio reception.As I mentioned earlier the trail was easy going until we hit Mt. Albert where you face 1/4 mile of straight up. When I climbed this mountain in 2000 and 2001 there was a stone chute you had to throw your poles ahead and climb hand over hand but now they've routed the trail around it. However, the trail is still the steepest and most grueling stretch with sections that if you slip and fall it's not going to end well. The view from the summit was worth every ounce of sweat with row after row of mountain ridges flowing off to the horizon.We then hiked 1/2 mile to Big Spring shelter but the only good hanging site was directly behind the shelter but the snoring and more importantly the mice caused me to ask Sod to bite the bullet and hike 5 miles, 3 of which are downhill, to the next shelter. He protested but thankfully agreed then made me pay the price by almost jogging the downhill 3 miles causing both hips to burn. The next shelter was no more than a tin shack but 200 yards downhill by a road there was a beautiful oak forest where we found a great site to hang and my hips were happy to get prone.So tonight we are sleeping within site of a road which isn't the best idea but once the sun sets we will be in stealth mode. So once again it's time to say goodnight at 8:30pm
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Rock Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

Temp - 38/68We had a short hike today because we pushed further than planned yesterday but short doesn't mean less breathtaking. After about 1 1/2 miles of climbing I could see the ridge line about 50ft above us and I made a right turn and climbed to the ridge. The view was amazing with the valley flowing down toward the town of Franklin N.C. hidden behind the mountains. This is something we should all remember everyday as we pass through life that if only we take a moment to make a small turn in our journey our life will be richer for it.We reached Winding Stair Gap where there is a scheduled shuttle for hikers into Franklin N.C. about 15 miles east. We checked into one of the hiker friendly motels owned by Ron Haven who has been a "trail angel" legend for years and drives the shuttles while spinning good old country stories.While walking to dinner we passed a Cherokee Indian ceremonial mound right next to the Little Tennessee River. I've read stories about these mounds all over the country some of which are burial mounds so I was very pleased to actually stand at the base of one. It was sad standing where a Cherokee nation once prospered before they were forced by a United States   President from this beautiful land to a reservation in Oklahoma even though the U.S. Supreme Court found in favor of the Cherokees to stay on their land.Temp - 38/68So tonight I'm once again in a motel room preferring to be floating in my hammock but resupply, and a hot shower are part of hiking the trail. Due to the need to meet up with the guy hiking the Smokies with us we need to slow down so we've opted to take another zero day in Franklin. Tom is hiking the trail in Georgia as I write this but will get off the trail at some point and jump forward to join us for the Smokies. We hope to start the Smokies this weekend, but we've already heard there may be a shelter closure due to aggressive bear activity. If this happens we may be forced to hike some additional miles before we're allowed to camp. In the Smokies all hikers are required to stay only at shelters along the A.T. and taking one out of the mix will cause changes in our planned mileage.Well I'll say goodnight tonight not from the wilderness but from a stuffy motel room and not while I listen to the soft sounds of wildlife settle down for another day, but from the sounds of Tom Bergeron saying "good job" to another set of dancers on Dancing With The Stars.
Date: 2012-06-08
From: Ice Water Springs

To: Tricorner Knob
Miles today: 12.6

Woke up to a gorgeous sunrise view and 48 F/9 C. Todd, who slept next to me, said he saw a mouse sitting on my feet and heard them running up and down my cuben quilt. Wasn't woken up by them, though.Today's hike was along a ridge (sometimes a knife's edge ridge) with Tennessee to the left and North Carolina to the right. Warmer (68 F) and sunny. Vesna said this is the most remote area of the eastern US (in terms of distance from roads). Had gorgeous views throughout the day. Pink rhododendrons, and sunlight dappling onto ferns and moss. An absolutely gorgeous day. Staying at the shelter with Todd, his son Jacob, and Chris from last night. Also a young couple on their first camping trip (canned peaches??!) and an adorable young hippie guy He brought powdered goat's milk, artisanal cheeses from Asheville, a mate cup (that leaf from South America) and admired my toe socks.
Date: 2012-06-09
From: Tricorner Knob

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to overcast skies and 56 F. The night before, Todd and Jacob negotiated a trade where they would give me a green Lifesaver lollipop for a packet of hot sauce. When we swapped at breakfast I gave them a ziplock with the hot sauce and also a packet of soy sauce. Jacob was excited for the soy sauce because he had been complaining that his dad brought rice but no soy sauce. Also he said "and a bag, too!" - the little things that matter while camping.Today's hike had a lot of rhododendron tunnels and also a few mountain laurel tunnels. At the end of day I saw a different rhododendron (only pink up to now). I think this one might be the Catawba rhododendron - pink bud but the flower is white. Also saw the first azaleas of this hike - orange ones.It was so dark and foggy this morning I thought I would need a headlamp. Very Hansel-and -Gretel type atmosphere. Stayed overcast throughout the day.Chris passed me early on and I saw Jacob and Todd for the last time as they were turning off from the AT to go on the Camel Gap trail. After that I didn't see anyone until 1:00 pm. Saw a few more groups of hikers and then 3 guys on horseback. Went by the Cosby Knob shelter which had a sign "closed for aggressive bear activity" and some one had crossed out the "aggressive" and put "curious". Really, I think both are too subjective. It's just a hungry bear who has found an easy efficient way to get fed. The shelter was down a steep trail, and although I had been planning to stop there for lunch, I was a little to creeped out. Fortunately, there was a spring a short while after.Went by the trail to the Mount Cammerer fire tower. If the weather had been nice, I might have been tempted to go up it but it was still cloudy and more importantly, it would have added 1.2 miles to today's hike. So I skipped it.I was going to take a break there at the trail turn off but as soon as I sat down, I was swarmed by gnats. I started the last 4 miles to the shelter which had a 2600 foot elevation drop. That was a long schlep down that I thought would never end. I was so tired and sore and miserable I wanted to sit down in the the middle of the trail and cry but the trail was strewn with horse and bear poop. I trudged on. Got to the Davenport Gap shelter that is one of the few (or only?) shelters with the chain link fence across the front. Chris is the only other person here. Much warmer at this elevation! Also, after getting off my feet and eating dinner, my attitude improved.I'm surprised how few people I ran into and that there's no one else here. On a Saturday in June? Heading out of GSMNP tomorrow.
Date: 2012-06-10
From: Davenport Gap

To: Groundhog Creek shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

Heard great horned owls hooting to each other early in the morning. Had trouble getting going. Chris looked up and said "It's going to rain today, isn't it?" and just then it started raining. Steady rain the first 4 miles. The AT crosses under I-40 and I figured that might be the only dry spot I might have all day. So I ate my lunch in the underpass with the sound of 18-wheelers rumbling overhead. Just after that was Standing Bear Farm hostel but I resisted the temptation to grab a shower so that I wouldn't just end up staying there.About a mile later, I was rounding a switchback and heard a bear bark. I assume she was doing that for her cub(s)' benefit rather than mine. She was up on a hill, luckily in the opposite direction where I wanted to go. We had a short standoff where she glowered and I tried to look big, not make eye contact, and talk in a calm confident voice. Eventually she went over the ridge. Whew!The rain stopped and the rest of the day was cool and breezy - comfortable hiking weather. The trail went up over a bald mountain called Snowbird Mountain so I actually got some views again.Got to a sign that said Deep Gap and I knew the shelter should have been 0.2 miles from there so I followed this tiny path in the woods until it ended in a dirt road. In retrospect, it should have been obvious that it was too small and unmarked to be the road to the shelter but Chris said he did the same thing.A whole crowd was at the shelter which only is meant for 6 people. They did squeeze me in which was nice but it would have been a rough night. One guy asked me why I had no trail name and suggested "Sleeps with Six Men". So I thought, how about I set up my tent?In the tent now - no more rain yet!
Date: 2012-06-11
From: Groundhog Creek shelter

To: Walnut Mountain shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: moderate rain

I could see the flashes from lightning bugs through the wall of my tent as I was going to sleep. The wind was crazy loud but it didn't rain.The weather for hiking was overcast and cool. Hiked over Max Patch which is an exposed (bald) mountain covered with a meadow that was knee deep in wildflowers. I recognized daisies, buttercups, clover and Queen Anne's lace but there were more. The sun actually came out when I was up there. I met a group of 12 guys from Indiana who said they were heading to this shelter for the night. I read them the description of Walnut Mountain shelter - "built in 1938. Sleeps 6. An old shelter, with a water source down a blue-blazed l; difficult to locate, may be seasonal. The neighborhood bears show no fear of hikers, so be sure to use the bear cables provided." Several people from the Groundhog Creek shelter also said they were heading here. Uh oh.I went to the Roaring Fork shelter for lunch. I am trying out new recipes this year and they've been OK so far, but this lunch was incredibly yummy. It was a vegetarian "chicken" Waldorf salad wrap - "chicken" TVP chunks, dried apples, dried celery, walnuts, raisins, powdered lemon juice, and mayo. After lunch, I wore my iPod to listen to an audiobook "The Blood of Flowers" which was perfect because the trail was on a nice dirt path and I could kind of zone out.About a mile before the shelter, I felt a few drops of rain, so I figured I should put my iPod away. The drops increased so I figured I should put my pack cover on. The same for the rain hat, and then also the poncho. It came down fairly hard.I got to the shelter, waited for a gap in the rain, and set my tent up. Got water in a downpour (easy to find, just down a muddy hill and through thorny raspberry bushes).I cooked and ate dinner in the shelter and waited for gaps in the rain to get stuff to my tent and hang my pack on the bear cables. I went to my tent for the night - what a mess. I couldn't find my tent poles from when I used the tent last, so I've been using my trekking poles. Which would be fine, because that is what the tent is designed for, except I have short person poles and the tent is a little droopy so water is coming in the tent. The rain splattered forest floor duff on the tent and now muck is everywhere - on me, my clothes, and everything in the tent. Impossible to wipe off. I keep sopping up the water with my chamois cloth. Then a tent stake pulled up and the tent collapsed on me. Ridiculous. I made a little dam with my folded up ground cloth and it actually seems to be working. Still somewhat better off than being in the shelter which is full of people, leaking, and buggy. No bugs here and I'm not cold, just miserable. What is getting me through this is that I have a 7 pm hot tub reservation at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa tomorrow night (13+ miles away). Looks like it may be a long night.
Date: 2012-06-14
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Max Patch, NC
Miles today: 0.0

When Iwoke up, I could see my ankle bone and decided I wasn't ready to stop hiking.Went to the Smoky Mountain diner again for breakfast. Saw the Indiana church groups guys heading out and one (the ortho guy who had looked at my ankle) was standing there with no pack. He said he had tweaked his knee stepping off the curb wrong. He said "I have tears in my eyes watching these guys leave. My knee hurts, but watching these guys hike without me is painful."We arranged our rafting trip and got checked out. The Hot Springs Rafting Co set us up with 2 inflatable kayaks and dropped us off on the French Broad river. The trip was fun and had pretty scenery but the "rapids" weren't much to speak of. Ed and I saw a big animal in the water by the bank and thought it was a wild hog. Then we realized it was a bear! (Aren't they good swimmers?) Then we realized it was a black cow. Duh.We got back in town but didn't have time for lunch before our 2:00 shuttle. There was some kind horrible back-up on I-40 so Dan took a tiny winding road back to the national park. He said "30 mph? Riiiiight!" and had that mini-van whipping around all the switch backs. It was much more adrenaline producing than the white water kayaking. Then the paved road crossed from TN to NC and turned to gravel! I was glad I hadn't had lunch and was prepared to take off my rain hat and hurl into it if I had to. We were all carsick by the time he dropped us off.We went to the town of Newport, TN and ate and got supplies for our camping night - hot dogs, firewood, charcoal, ice and beer.We drove to a parking lot near the Max Patch summit that I had walked over a few days before. We had to schlep all that stuff up - ugh. The sunset over the Smoky Mountains was amazing!There was lightning in the south and I told the guys I had been told that 2 people had been struck by lightning on Max Patch last year and one died. They laughed it off. The lightning continued north but stayed far from us. We had a great fire but the wind seemed to pick up after sunset and it was freezing! Stars were pretty good but there was a bit of cloud cover and more ambient light than I would have thought.
Date: 2012-06-15
From: Max Patch, NC

To: Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to the sound of Ed yelling "Hot coffee! And a pineapple danish!" Had hopes he for some reason HAD them for us, but he was just listing what he was in the mood for. Woke up too late to see the sunrise - dang!The guys drove me back to Hot Springs and we breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner (again!) before they drove back to Florida.I checked in at the hostel across the street - Elmer's Sunnybank Inn. The building was a Victorian-era vacation home and is full of doilies, Tiffany lamps etc. I have a room to myself with a big bed with a brass bed frame - $25! There is also a nice old dog and a couple of friendly cats.Did laundry and had a big nap. There are only a couple hikers here so dinner was cancelled (when there are more people there is a homemade organic vegetarian meal).Went to the Spring Creek Tavern for dinner, came back to the hostel, and crashed.Hope to head out tomorrow
Date: 2012-06-16
From: Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs

To: Hemlock Hollow Farm Shoppe and Cabins
Miles today: 16.3

Including my off-AT trek to this place - a little over 17 miles!An absolutely idyllic June day.Went to the Smoky Mountain Diner for my last breakfast in Hot Springs and got started hiking at 7:30. A beautiful but uneventful hike. After lunch, I listened to my audiobook until shortly before the shelter. All morning I was expecting hikers from town to overtake me but no one did. Got to Spring Mountain shelter at 3:00 pm. The shelter was old and small and the thought of spending this gorgeous afternoon bored and lonely at this dismal setting while being swarmed by gnats just did not appeal. I got water and pressed on. I realized if I got to this hostel I could recharge my iPod and didn't really have to ration the battery life so I listened to it all afternoon. Finished one audiobook and started another, and listened to music for the last hour. I had to take a few turns on gravel roads to find this place and was worried I was on a wild goose chase. I accidentally went up a private driveway and this guy asked if I was looking for the trail and when I said I was looking for Hemlock Hollow he told me where to go. So grateful he did not say "Hemlock Hollow?? That's miles away - you're on the wrong road!"Made it here about 7 pm. This place is a combination restaurant/resort/general store and quilt shop. The woman in the shop asked if I could sit down and wait while she finished with some customers. Sit down? No problem.She drove me on an ATV to this bunkhouse with a shower in a separate building nearby. Showered, then made dinner using the microwave (easier than the camp stove). By myself in the bunkhouse right on the pleasantly noisy Painted Creek.Saw a couple heading south a few miles after Hot Springs and no one else the whole hike. Which means there are a whole lot of people missing some fantastic hiking!Was glad that I am feeling good and had no real foot or ankle complaints. Of course, after the hiking was over for the day, my legs swelled up and got alarmingly rashy. Took all the pillows from the other bunks so my legs will be propped up to tonight and will hopefully calm down by morning. Even so, a wonderful day!
Date: 2012-06-18
From: Jerry Cabin shelter

To: Hogback Ridge shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Did not sleep well in the shelter. It wasn't really the snoring or talking in the sleep - it was more that I couldn't get comfy and I was on a really creaky board. Was just too tired to set up the tent.Warm weather with blue skies today. The hike started out over Big Butt (*giggle*) that was covered with a waist-high meadow. Then there was a neck-breaker section that filled me with despair - there was no way I could make it to this shelter if I had a lot of this. Thank goodness it was very short and right after that the trail followed an old logging road for a few miles.Went to Flint Mountain shelter for lunch. There was a family with 5 kids who were section hiking the AT for their 5th summer.The hike went along ridges and through ravines, one with a nice waterfall. There are tons of crickets who jump when I pass so the sound of them jumping sounds like gently falling rain.Got here a little after 6. There is a half mile round trip to the spring - nothing like a hike after hiking. Here with Snail and Crowbar again (both doing bigger days than me tomorrow) and a Boy Scout troop. Have been hearing thunder since shortly before I got here, but no sign of rain yet. Very buggy - glad to be in my tent.
Date: 2012-06-19
From: Hogback Ridge shelter

To: Bald Mountain shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

A vomiting and diarrhea illness spread through the Boy Scouts in the night. I could hear puking and moaning, and Crowbar was trying to help them with an anti- nausea pill. There was one adult scout guy who snored through all the fuss. I was glad a) that I slept in my tent rather than the shelter, b) that the water source WAS so far away, and c) that they were hiking in the opposite direction.While I was eating breakfast, one scout announced that they were down to 3 healthy scouts. The 3 survivors took their picture. One said "it's kind of like 'Hunger Games'".I realized I am getting a little jaded. When I got up this morning, I was thinking of tasks to do, etc., and it dawned on me that I was ignoring the cacophony of birds. Later I was hiking I was realizing I was ignoring the rhododendrons, the ferns, and the ground-dwelling birds. However, I did notice the 360 degree views atop Big Bald.Came to the shelter soon after at 3:00 pm. Shelter has bits of paper ripped up by mice and a ton of bugs. Finished the last few minutes of my audiobook, set up my tent and did chores, very slowly. I thought of pushing on but the next shelter was more than 10 miles away and wasn't sure if I could do the bear bagging myself if I camped in the woods somewhere.Diamond Doug from Asheville was doing trail maintenance - mowing and weed whacking. He stopped by for a break and water and we chatted a bit.Going to try to go to sleep early.
Date: 2012-06-21
From: Nolichuckey Hostel, Erwin, TN

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Actually slept about 4 hours!When I woke up my plan was to get out of town. Took all my stuff to the porch and started organizing it. Mr. Surly sneered at me "Aren't you the early one "Noticed the shuttle schedule as I packed. First beer run was at 10 am. Aaaaggghh!Was waiting for the store to open at 8 am so I could buy stove fuel and maybe get the money for my second night's stay back but wasn't counting on it. Ate breakfast and got phone charged enough to last a few days.Surly dude drove off shortly before 8 and I decided even though some things weren't done (didn't get more fuel or charge iPod), I would take off and figure it out on the trail. Had to leave the gnocchi behind.Day was hot and I was very sleepy. Took it slow and took a few long breaks, which I rarely do. Met a group of scouts who were finishing up a 50 mile multi day hike and were staying at Uncle Johnny's for 2 nights. With all the partying, don't think it's a good place for kids.Went atop the Beauty Spot which is another bald. Heard thunder and saw rain clouds and kept going. Met up with a family a short while later and talked to the dad about it - he said this has been happening all week. It's true that it has looked threatening many afternoons but I always lucked out. More thunder, darker skies. Was looking for any decent camping spot but of course, there were none. Rain had been sprinkling a bit as I made it to Deep Gap and set up my tent. After I dived in, the rain started in earnest at 5:30. Still have problem with rain coming in the door flap - think it must be the short poles. Lasted less than an hour and the sun came out.Had enough fuel to make dinner. Going to a hostel tomorrow and will get fuel. Hope it will improve my view of hostels.Got water at nearby excellent spring. Tried to hang food bag unsuccessfully. No good trees, and the few I tried didn't work out (throw like a girl). Worst food bag hang ever and I have the photo to prove it. Should be good enough to keep out rodents.Settled in for the night.