morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-05
From: Stream MP 108.6, 1 mi N of Winding Stair Gap

To: Cold Spring Tentsites
Miles today: 14.9

Day 13, 14.9 miles, 8 am - 4:30 pm   It was great that last night was warm enough to wash up in the stream, and stay up reading until 8:30. We ended up not being alone, as Motor & Co. showed up around 7:30.    Another sunny morning for us! Elevation was uphill for the most part and it really killed me. I was dragging for most of the day.    Most of today I spent in my head as we headed up Siler and Wayah Balds, which at this point is a misnomer because the balds are all grown over with scraggly trees.    NOC is coming up tomorrow. I would be happy that we've completed another section, but mostly I'm concerned about storms overnight and snow after that. Hopefully NOC will not run out of room. I want to zero because I'm tired. I wish I was stronger. I didn't realize I would need so many rest days. Oh well I guess I'll just have to get over it.    We're camped in the vicinity of some happy section hikers from SC, St Patty and dog Jackie, and a few others. The spring here is wonderful. I had a great day for sprngs today, we passed a bunch and I simply refilled my blue bottle over and over again. I have to remember that in regular life I would kill to be able to drink from springs and eat peanut butter M&M's all day long. But the truth is, there is a lot of work to get there, today was a perfect work day, 8-4:30.    The grouse are flushing everywhere, they sure are not happy we're here!* * *I was tired the whole trip. That never went away. I never felt like I had any energy.
Date: 2009-04-06
From: Cold Spring Tentsites

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

Day 14, 11.5 miles, 7:30 am - 1:15 pm   What a long day, I am so tired I can hardly think straight. It rained heavily overnight, but thankfully it let up when we needed to break camp. The wind was so freezing, though, that our hands were numb and useless in minutes.    I was exhausted all day, what the hell is wrong with me? We walked over grown-over Wesser and Rocky balds in strange navy-blue, hazy skies, with bright patches of valley breaking into light in the distance. Groppley snow fell from the sky. I struggled uphill to Wesser bald, not feeling right, my hair not braided and getting everywhere, stomach gurgling, and both sticky-hot and cold simultaneously. I never felt right today.    The odd-looking, stormy sky was cool to walk in, luckily there were only small patches of fog to obscure visibility. The long descent into NOC included short, steep ups, which despite myself made me very frustruated. Going from 4600' to 1700' the concept of ascending trail didn't cross my mind.    Steep trail brought us back into lower elevations where I'm happiest. I was surprised to see flowers blooming along the trail and trees starting to leaf out. It was nice to finally see some green.    By afternoon we were walking into the resorty NOC. We're paying $38 for bunks and a shower and that's about it. Matt and I cannot bunk in the same room but that's just the way it is.    After some logistics, we were both showered and laundered. My shower was 1/2 hour long, hot, and wonderful. I was in a bad mood but my shower greatly improved things. We went out to dinner, and now it's getting dark. I'm watching it snow and eating fritos.    Besides more snow forecasted for tomorrow, my exhaustion makes me want to zero. Some are trucking on but we'll see about me. I'll miss Matt tonight but I'm practically falling asleep now, I'm sure I'll be in bed by 7:30 anyway.
Date: 2009-04-07
From: N. O. C. 

To: N. O. C. 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 15, Zero Day N. O. C.    It's snowing, it's cold, and here we are at mile 135 and our 3rd zero day. Fine with me. My legs feel tired but definetely less leaden than yesterday. Tomorrow I'll be ready for the long climb out of here.    I layed down last night at 7 pm, with my sleeping bag quilted over me. I could hear everyone moving about but I was so tired I didn't care. I barely heard Nancy come in at 8:30. I came to long enough to ask her if she minded my tent being strung up to dry. She didn't. I flipped back down, not to awaken again until morning.   It was snowing hard and starting to accumulate this morning. Matt was up and around by 7:30. We made some coffee in the common room and then went down the hill to breakfast. I was pleasantly sleepy as I made my way through a plate of hot potatoes, eggs, and veggies. We were seated near windows, and I watched the river and the snow fall and people in the water taking some sort of certification course. It was nice to simply sit, and eat, and watch, and be warm.    We are here for another day. Some hikers have moved on, but more have moved in. It's a little busier today in the common room than yesterday. Matt & I have been sitting here for a few hours already. I've finished another section of "Them" after we ate lunch. I'm surprisingly relaxed in here, and grateful for another day off.    Tomorrow we want to leave early to start our 2 day walk to GSMNP. I'm really excited for that landmark.
Date: 2009-04-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

5 day recap (written out at NOC)   Hiawassee seems far away at this point. We hitched in the rain and were quickly picked up by 2 different locals. The first one confidently told us that "another redneck'll pick you up."   Raining but warmish, I surprised myself by hiking fast up and out of the gap. We breaked at Plumorchard Gap Shelter, where it looked like a bunch of people were already settling in for the night at noon. Onto Bly Gap, we bumped into Gorgonzola and Leebo, who were set up for the night. We chatted for awhile, and comtemplated camping out with them.   It was only 3:30, so we decided to press on.    Big mistake--the climb out was shockingly long and steep, probably made so because of the gusts of cold wind that started churning up and it started raining really, really hard. I was wearing my jacket but my legs were bare so quickly I was drenched and freezing.    Cloudy, rainy days make me feel weird because it always feels like it's 6 pm, so all day I feel like we should be looking for camp instead of continuing to head north. Permanent 6 o'clock. Well, at least it worked out well at Muskrat Shelter that night. The trail provides if you work.    The next day was another dark and cold one. More of the same old stuff. We stopped early, talked with other hikers, and slept again in the shelter.    It finally cleared out for 2 whole days. 2 days! Warm sun and blue skies were the best we had so far. We walked happily nearly 17 miles, past Franklin, and the next day we did 15.    Those nice afternoons made my mind wander, always, into the past. I am so attached to nostalgia and memory. Sometimes I miss the past so much I wish I could go back instead of being mindful of where I am. Oddly enough, I already miss the approach trail, climbing slowly up Frosty and Black Mountains, gathering spring water, camping early. 2 weeks past already seems like a lifetime.    NC has so far proved to be much more difficult than GA. GA was a dream, this state has me crapping out early in the day. The climbs are steep and long, and I just get so damn tired. I make my way up by resting every 30 seconds, usually on a switchback, where Matt waits for me periodically. It's a gorgeous state with good trail nonetheless, don't ge me wrong, but it's just kicking my ass right now.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: N. O. C. 

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 16, 16 miles, 8:15 am - 6 pm   It's too cold and windy to write much. I am really starting to loathe the wind. Today was the toughest "16" I've done on this trip.    We left the heated confines of NOC with much happiness, as a beautiful, fresh, and clear day awaited us. We started the 3300' climb in awe of the dark blue skies and snow. The 1st 7 miles took us 4 hours, as I expected. We walked through laurel tunnels and steep trail covered in snow. We were having fun at first but the snow loosened the trail into a slick mudslide or at best sticky untrustworthy slush, so eventually I was reduced to concentrating only on every footstep. Matt fell, I fell, and we did not make good time on already steep terrain turned into a 6" deep baby poop slide. We took only 3 10 minute breaks and otherwise hiked all day long, or at worst we were trying to control our ass-backward skid down the trail.    It got progressively windier and colder all day, and I ended up running out of water at Stecoah Gap with 2.5 miles to go, with the steepest part of the day in front of us. Steeper trail could NOT have possibly been constructed.    Finally in the evening we got to the shelter, put up the tent in the wind, Matt made dinner while I got water, and finally the long day is over.    Really, today was not a bad day. It was beautiful outside and we got some of the best views we've had the whole trip. Sliding down and up the trail and walking through thigh deep drifts just proved exhausting. Me and Matt had good long conversations today, which helped a lot, but I am now thinking of the 9 days that we have to get thorough before we get to Hot Springs. Things will be better then. I expect the Smokies to be wet , cold, and foggy, a section to be endured through. * * *Good ol' Stecoah Gap! I think that really is the steepest part of the trail! Whenever we had steep trail in front of us, I would say "Oh my gosh, this is like Stecoah Gap!" The hike out of NOC really is gorgeous. Tough but gorgeous. That night at Brown Fork there were like 25 people there. We got bottlenecked because of the storm. We stayed in the bottleneck for a few days after that. I can't believe how prophetic my prediction for the Smokies was. But that's all coming up.
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter (Fontana Hilton)
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 17, 12. 7 miles, 8:15 am - 3 pm   Cold last night but we woke to clear skies and no wind, so it was the start of a happy day. Matt bribed me out of the tent with hot coffee already made, and after that we were quickly ready to go. Most lovely day we've had on the trail yet. Alot of the snow is gone, and the tread seems to have recovered. Lots of the trail was cut onto the mountainsides. Warms temps, nice sky and woods, and at lower elevations flowers are starting to bloom and mountain faces are turning green. Pure white spring beauties lined the trail. They were so pretty I stopped often to look around, and take them in.    I'm glad I enjoyed today because there is more crappy weather forecasted for tonight and the next few days, so we're camping in the shelter tonight. Tons of people here, at least 40 or so.    It was good to stop today at 3 pm and enjoy 1000 calories of trail magic, cold soda and chips. We got to sit out in the sun and wash up in the bathrooms, too. A fire has been started and things are getting really loud! That's okay, despite the crowds it has been great to actually be able to enjoy being outside instead of just enduring it. Hopefully we'll have more days like this.    Everyone has cleared out now to go to dinner, suddenly we're alone. A church group-from South Bend!-is giving a hot dog/hamburger dinner. Being veggies we are having noodles. Sometimes I think church groups should help the needy instead of hikers, but I know that this denomination is more interested in saving people than helping them--which, to be fair, is one in the same for some religions.
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 19, 11.8 miles, 9 am - 4 pm   A rerun-rain, fog, wind, cold temps, no visibility, slip & slide trashed trail, exhaustion after 12 miles, freezing cold and wet, and packed again into another shelter full of section hikers. They are awesome. 2 are diligently trying to start a fire w/wet wood, 2 are getting home tomorrow so they are in a great mood, and 2 just started so they too are in a good mood. I heart section hikers.    But still it was a miserable day. It was supposed to clear up today but it never did. I can't wait to be done with the Smokies. I'm not trying to be negative but I crapped out alot today and I am so completely tired of the sound of strong wind, rain, and the rustle of my mud coated raingear.    Our first feature todat was Spence Field, and Thunderhead Mountain, but in this weather there's not much to see.    I'd never thought I'd say this but thank God for the shelters! Our stuff is slowly getting wet through attrition, and the nights are down into the 30's. I would probably turn into a wet popsicle if we had to tent through this garbage. Or I would just decide to hitch into Gatlinburg.    We may finally have a day of reprieve tomorrow according to weatherband but I'm not getting my hopes up. In the meantime hopefully I can hike through the Smokies w/my sanity intact. * * *The shelters, oddly enough, were the highlight of my Smokies trip. Recently they have been renovated, and they are all nice w/skylights and heightened rooftops and overhangs for cooking shelter. They have taken off the chain link fence. The section hikers we camped with were wonderful. They were a ton of fun. That night I sat there with my head between my knees, freezing cold, while Matt brought me hot chocolate and then dinner. Frog and Randy, nice southern men, were tending the fire and always asking me to sit closer to warm up. Great guys. It was great that we were all just hikers, not thrus and sections and weekenders or whatever.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Siler Bald Shelter

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

Day 20, 15.5 miles, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm   Cold, cold night, with a clear frosty morning. The ground was frozen and the air felt icy but I could see the sun coming up. 2 girls passed out Easter eggs filled with Starbursts. That was very sweet. After that we hit the trail, eager to take advantage of a nice day.    Finally we could see the close ridges of the Smokies. They are gorgeous. We walked on grown-over Siler's Bald, and I stopped often to take pictures and absorb the silence. It was a perfect sunny day for climbing to Clingman's Dome, where the forest changed to conifers. The piney forest was dark and lovely and smelled so good, very earthy.    We took nice breaks in piney, mossy glades at Sugarland Mountain Trail and Clingman's. I felt like we were in secret glades. There is a ton of ice still on the trail at this altitude so we were often slowed down, but it was so pretty today that I didn't get TOO frustruated with it.    I thought that the best trail was between Indian and Newfound parking lots. The trees were huge, and the close mountain ranges made me feel like we are hiking out West or something. We then stumbled onto great Easter trail magic and Newfound gap, given to us by d'Shadow. She had cold Yuengling, chips, and chocolate. Awesome. Matt and I hung out there for an hour. The angels really truly do lift your spirits with all they do.    We went 3 more miles out of the gap with a mild beer buzz that made the climb go by pretty smoothly. We passed about a billion dayhikers. This shelter has really good view and a good piped spring, too. Another packed night, this time we've caught up to other thru's. It's so loud in here it's crazy, but it's supposed to start raining again tonight, so I'm glad to be inside and not camping.      Tomorrow we will either do 12.5 or 20 miles in the rain. Either way, there are only 2 more days in the park. * * *There it is, our one nice day in the Smokies. It was a good spot for one.
Date: 2009-04-13
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 21, 20.3 miles, 8 am - 5:30 pm   Our longest day, hiked on the day from Hell. Today was bloody f- hell. The rain started overnight, and got stronger towards morning. At first when I woke up I was figuring on 3 days to Standing Bear and our resupply. I started getting ready first and by the time I was changed in my hiking clothes I was back on gunning for 2 days. Matt and I chewed down our cliff bars, we don't have any cereal left, and hit the trail.    Wind was redefined today. It was ferocious. It must have been blowing up to 60-70 mph. No kidding. It howled, it screamed, it knocked us over. The wind and the rain just didn't stop all day. We saw trees rocking back and forth in wet soil, about to become blowdowns. Unreal. I've never hiked through this kind of weather.    A saving grace-the grade today was mostle a gentle downward, with only a few ups in the beginning of the day. We took only short breaks to eat, pee, and drink propel.      We made good time to Tricorner Knob Shelter. There were 3 thrus inside, loudly cussing and complaining about the trail. That settled our decision to push the 20. I didn't want to be around these guys. They were so negative and obnoxious they made me look like Mary Poppins or something. We ate a snack, and I rested as long as I could before I became unbearably cold and needing to hike again.    Our food situation has deteriroated rapidly, 1/2 our snacks are processed sugar, mostly given to us by a trail angel. Can you get diabetes from eating so much of this stuff? For dinner I had ramen (sugar) and a pack of swiss rolls (sugar.) I am looking forward to getting our maildrop at Standing Bear tomorrow. There are 30+ people also gunning for the hostel, so I doubt we'll be able to stay there.    We are packed again in this shelter, there are at least 25 people crammed into here, pad to pad. I'm surrounded.    Now that I'm fed and changed into dry clothes and out of the crazy wind and rain, the hike today is already starting to seem like a dream, and I feel less stressed out by it. We are closing in on Low Gap, which I am very excited to see again. Our last hike in the Smokies was so great, I am happy to see some trail from that trip again. Funny how these 2 times have become the best & worst 5 day trips. I want to come back here but not in the spring, no way.    We've covered 200 miles and 10% of the trail now, with 1,950 miles to go. It's all still so much. I feel like we've been walking for a long time now, 21 days, but it's hard to say if we've gone very far or not. We've had a lot of bad weather thrown at us, that's for sure. And today we did our first 20. I'm a little sore but it was definetely worth it. * * *Matt told me later that weatherband predicted winds in excess of 70 mph for elevations above 2000 feet. He didn't tell me that in advance, and I'm glad he didn't. That day was the craziest day I've ever had to walk through.
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 12.2

Day 22, 12.2 miles, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm   What a long day, ending with me huddled in the tent at 6:30, riding out rain.    We hit the trail after downing granola bars and water. GSMNP of course had to give us more rain, but at least it's lighter and warmer, so less of a kick in the pants than normal. Only 1/2 hour into our hike and we were back in our raingear, heading down, down, and out of the park. We took our time, talking, and we took a wonderful 1 & 1/2 hour coffee/lunch break at Davenport Gap Shelter. Triscuits, nuts, snickers, and 2 'cafe au laits' for me was delicious and relaxing, to be able to sit out the light rain, just me and Matt, in a gorgeous area with green, flowery mountainsides and a good spring to fill up on. I felt yesterdays stress melt off of me. After all that it was great to walk slow, take pics, and be in lower elevations.    I left the Smokies in a bittersweet mood, glad to be done, but still attached to the park and planning our next visit here.    The section afterward gave us immediately better tread and blooming flowers everywhere, with the trail paralelling State Line Branch and coming out to a waterfall. Although still in a light rain, I was thrilled to see bouquets of wildflowers lining the trail, including bright fire-pinks, with the good smell of the woods. Despite another dark day of rain it was lovely.    Near 2 pm we came to Standing Bear Hostel, where we picked up our maildrop and refilled on fuel. It's a cute place, and I was thinking of staying, but tons of people are gunning for this place today, I was already accosted by a loud, screaming, already drunk thruhiker, and the rest of the drinkers are planning out their alcohol consumption accordingly. So we decided to push on. Maybe another time.    We hiked back up to 3100' leaving the rest of the climb for tomorrow. I was anxious about the rain, but luckily for the most part stopped long enough for us to set up the tent, filter water, cook dinner, and brush our teeth.    My feet have been wet and muddy for a full 7 days now and I am starting to get blisters and raw, red spots of irritation all over my skin. Please, please, let it dry out for a few days! The dark and wet is getting me down.    I weighed myself at SBH, and I have lost 10#, putting me at 115#. I'm kind of happy about it but it seems a rapid weight loss for 3 weeks. Matt has already lost 20# and does look much thinner. I'm planning on some major caloric damage in Hot Springs.    Today was a long, mixed up day, but I happy enough to be back in the tent, the only ones here in the rainy quiet with Matt. * * *This is from Matt's journal--"We came down to 1000-2000 feet and the tiny leaves were unfurling, green leaves spreading across the wood floor and everywhere tiny flowers are blooming. The dogwoods are in their last gasps but are still very pretty and there are even some lingering redbuds. I love to see them litter the trail with blooms or stretch out gracefully like a Japanese sumi painting. The soft rain, bright green moss, rocks, flowers, streams, and trees all blended into a mind settling tapestry."