morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel & BB

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel & BB
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up to rain...it had rained all night so SOS decided to take a zero day. We had a very full house last night with 4 in the loft, 2 on the pull out sofa, 1 on a cot and SOS and I in the alcove plus Butter, the trail dog who is hiking with his master. There was little floor space left. Most of us went up to the main house where Mary and Terry, the owners, fix a fabulous breakfast for hikers. They get up at 4:30 to be ready at 7:30. We had eggs benedict, homemade cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit in several forms, egg casserole, many kinds of breakfast meats, sausage roll, french toast with pecan/honey syrup, juice, coffee, tea, etc!! After rolling out the door, we headed for Johnson City, TN because wonderful husband had looked up a yarn shop there. It was called Yarntique and was filled with wonderful yarns (I only bought 2 small skeins from the bargain bin) and the lady who worked there told us we needed to visit the Rocky Mount State Historic Site. We did and we were glad! It is a well done living history, museum, gift shop and short video spot with very informative people playing the part of people who lived there in the early 1800's. Mrs. Hyder got out of character to tell us she had also attended JC Campbell Folk School and loved it as we do. We left there after about 3 hours and started looking for our next spot on north. We decided on the Black Bear Resort way, way, way up the mountain outside Hampton, TN because it is only .4 mile from the AT and I could skip one day of driving up and down mountains!! Back down the mountain, we decided to cook our dinner at the Roan Mt. State Park. We fixed beef/noodles, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. Flat Stanley joined us for dinner after a long day of sightseeing! Back at the hostel, we found several hiker friends so spent some time visiting and catching up on the trail stories. It was early to bed so SOS and Runner can get started at 6:30 in the morning.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: Wilbur Dam

To: Black Bear Hostel
Miles today: 13.0

Today SOS and Runner got a shuttle to Wilbur Dam with the plan of hiking back to Black Bear Hostel so Trail Mama wouldn't have to drive and get them..thanks, guys! So Flats and I ate breakfast and walked around outside. Bob, the owner, was working on a bench so we volunteered to help him. Bob routed the edges of the boards and then TM polyurethaned them. It looked great when it was dry...check the photos section to see a picture of the finished bench. Then we went up the hill to help Stephanie, daughter of Bob and co-owner of Black Bear. She was painting the conference center so we painted down low and she painted on the ladder...I have been banned from ladders(see, kids, I listen even when you aren't here!) Then it was time to drive to the AT trail crossing..about .4 mile from the hostel. Flats and I had our picture taken by some ladies there and headed out on the trail to Laurel Falls. It was a beautiful mile hike to the tough part of this trail...a rocky drop down to the Falls. SOS said it was the same as a 20 story building. SOS met me at the bottom and he and Runner and I just sat and enjoyed the .beauty for some time. Then it was time to begin the trek back up the rocky trail...360+ steps which aren't steps but just rocks going this way and that but always UP! We made it to the top and back to the car and back to Black Bear Hostel. Flats and I fixed a good dinner for SOS...beef burgundy, rice, salad with cucumbers/tomatoes, and cranberry cake...all from the trunk of the car except the salad. It was yummy! We watched another movie and on to a good night's rest. Thanks to those who are writing in the guest book. We love to get messages!!
Date: 2012-04-22
From: Wilbur Dam

To: Hwy 421 - Low Gap
Miles today: 22.6

SOS, Runner and I got up early..as in 5:30 and headed off to try and find the end spot today so I would know where to go. It was very foggy and dark and the road was the usual winding and twisting. The first animal in the middle of the road was a BABY CALF!! The poor thing was so scared that she just kept running right in front of the car so we couldn't get around her. Finally she ran off the road so we could go on. It took awhile to find the AT crossing on HWY 421. Then we drove to Wilbur Dam to their start spot for today.When I started down the mountain, I decided that Edith Chloe(our GPS)must have a case of winding mountain road fever!! She wanted me to DRIVE on the Appalachian Trail instead of on a road. I ignored her and on I went...it was 50 miles back to Damascus, part on bad roads and part on I-81. I got back to town and read a little until time for church. Flats and I walked down the street to the Damascus UM church. There were less than 50 people in attendance. The children...all 5 of them take up a collection of change in little buckets to help other children who are hungry. They took great pride in getting to take part in the service. The smallest little girl had her security blanket firmly in one hand and her little bucket in the other.She looked to be about 3.After church, Flats and I went to the laundromat to do the smelly hiker clothes. Later when we started out to find the guys at Hwy 421, SOS called and said he had met 3 young guys on the trail who were cold and hungry..as was everyone on the trail. So I stopped at the Shady Valley Country Store and bought sandwiches for the hikers. When the owner realized what I was doing, he added a large bag of chips to the bag. I got to the AT crossing early and waited on the kids to come down the mountain. When they did they were surprised and grateful to have some food waiting. Two of them decided to ride back to town with us and one wanted to hike in the snow! (It is supposed to snow here tonight..and tomorrow) SOS and I decided to let the two young guys have our room at the hostel. They were thrilled to have a warm place and a bed for the night. SOS and I moved out of the room and drove to Abingdon and checked into the Days Inn. After dinner at Cracker Barrel, we went back to the room for the night. SOS is very tired after his worse day yet of hiking in the cold and mist. Runner was hiking in his short pants (it wasn't raining at the bottom of the mountain) so he was exhausted also. SOS will miss hiking with him the next few days.
Date: 2012-04-23
From: Damascus

To: Blue Ridge, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

Are we hiking backwards? No, we aren't is the short answer. We stayed in Abingdon last night after giving our hostel room to Squidward and Fresh. We drove back to Damascus to drive 3 hikers (Runner, Squidward and Fresh) up the mountain to their start point at HWY 421 crossing. It was 33 degrees, snowy and the wind was blowing. I hated to leave them there...but off they went. I told them if they changed their minds in 10 minutes to call and we would come back and get them...they didn't call! Rog and I headed down the mountain in the other direction on our way for a 4 1/2 hour drive to Blue Ridge, GA. My sister, Barb, and her husband had won an auction item at their grandkids school and it was 5 days at a cabin in Blue Ridge. They invited us to share the cabin so that is why we were driving south instead of hiking north! It is a beautiful cabin so we will live in luxury for a few days. We felt right at home driving here because it is up a mountain on a winding, twisting, narrow road. So here we are after a good pasta meal sitting in front of a fireplace reading...aahhh! We are hoping that Fresh, Squidward and Runner are someplace warm tonight! We are thinking of all our hiker friends out there tonight on the AT. Blessings to all of you..keep warm!...and we will see you down the trial! ( I laughed when I saw that I spelled Trail wrong at the very end because I realized that it is a trail and a trial!)
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Blue Ridge, Georgia

To: Blue Ridge, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

SOS here.It is hard to believe that we are back in Georgia. We are staying in a mountain home that Trail Mama's sister, Barb and her husband, Lynn invited us to stay. The mountain home is near Blue Ridge, Georgia. The home is only six years old and has a magnificent view. In a charitable auction last year at their grandchildrens school, they had the winning bid to stay at the mountain home from April 23rd to 27, 2012.After eating breakfast we spent the day travelling around northern Georgia. The stops included revisiting and seeing for the first time places that have connections to the AT. Trail Mama took us to a resturant just outside of Helen, GA in Sautee, GA where she had been while my son-in-law and I hiked in the Helen, GA area. It was hard to believe that we drove past Hogpen Gap where the AT crosses Georgia 348. This is the the first road gap Jon and I hiked together alone without Noisy Rod and Buck. It is even harder to believe that that was 413 miles ago. WOW!We drove further south to Dahlonega where gold was found before the gold rush in 1849 in California. The city is one you should not miss and has a town square that oozes Americana. I am glad we drove to see it. It also is the city where a local politician coined the phrase, "Thars gold in them their hills" - I alway thought that phrase referred to the California Gold Rush. It also meant, that as we drove the route back from Dahlonega, Georgia to Blue Ridge, Georgia, we would go right past Amicalola Falls State Park. Amicalola Falls State Park is where the approach trail to the Appalachian Trail starts. The approach trail is 8.8 miles - I chose not to hike it. I have heard mixed emotions from those who chose to hike it - some said it was worth it and others said what was I thinking. The falls are spectacular and steep. Many said the 604 steps they climbed to reach the top of the falls on the approach trail is excrutiating. I know I am glad I did not hike them. But, I am glad I saw them. Especially glad I saw them at the top of the falls.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Blue Ridge, Georgia

To: Blue Ridge, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

SOS here.We were back in Franklin, NC. Trail Mama was picking up stools from her teacher Ann.Trail Mama: My teacher, Ann, lives outside of town but drove into town to deliver the stools to me. One is for me to put my newly almost finished hooked rug on and the other is for Nancy who also took this class. Thanks, Ann, for the delivery! Another place we stopped today was Wayah Bald which is a spot that SOS had already been to and wanted us to see. We DROVE up to within 200 feet of the tower and walked up to look at the 360 degree view. It was a WOW! We stopped at Amicalola Falls to see the approach trail to the AT and the falls there. It looks like a tough way to get to Springer! On we went to Brasstown, N.C. to the John C. Campbell Folk School where I had just spent a week a little while ago. My sister and husband had been there once also so wanted to visit again. When I learned that there was a spinning class, I went to visit. It was an advanced class...I could tell right away because these students were MUCH better at spinning than I am at this point. They were using angora sweaters which they deconstructed, pieces of yarn and even paper to add to the yarn they were spinning. The teacher then demonstrated how to spin camel hair. I could have stayed there a long time watching but needed to go. We also visited the new blacksmith shop. It has a balcony which is reached by a beautiful winding staircase made of wood and thick rope for the railing. Up on the balcony, you can watch the people work and see the beautiful railing with each spindle made by a different blacksmith and all unique and beautiful. Back in Blue Ridge, SOS and I went to the grocery and bought chicken, potatoes and broccoli to fix for dinner at the cabin. Fresh strawberry shortcake was our dessert. We relaxed after dinner and then were off for another good night's sleep.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Blue Ridge, GA

To: Blue Ridge, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

SOS here.Today Trail Mama and I spent the day relaxing in Blue Ridge, GA. The only driving we did was to historical downtown Blue Ridge. We ate at the Harvest on Main restaurant. As it says on its internet site: Diners experience a mountain retreat in a lodge setting, complete with a stone fireplace, open kitchen and southern hospitality. The ambiance was memorable. the food was OK, but did not live up to its price. We walked down the street to an interesting shop called Fezziwig's. We bought some seed balls made and packaged by special needs people.We made one more stop before we headed back to the mountain cabin. L.L. Beanery Cafe & Coffee shop. The cranberry raisin scone was delicious and the frappe was good too.The rest of the afternoon and evening, I spent some time relaxing in the hot tub and planning my hiking schedule for the next 3 weeks. Trail Mama sorted and repacked the dehydrated food and read - Trail Mama loves to read.I am blessed to be one of four children of Jim and Carol Summers, 1 of 47 grandchildren of my Grandpa and Grandma Summers and 1 of 32 grandchildren of Grandpa and Grandma Jolly. I had 15 Uncles and 15 Aunts growing up. Many of my Aunts and Uncles are no longer living, but they are still a part of who I am. I am proud of my heritage.I am hiking the trail to not only honor my father but my mother, my siblings, my aunts and uncles and my cousins. All of them are with me in spirit.I can not look at a picture of relatives without recalling memories.The Bowman family.whose picture is attached to this journal entry, is made up of my father's sister Vivian, her husband and their children. I have fond memories of my Aunt Vid. My mother has shared with me many times that Aunt Vid during WW2 would give her some of her own ration stamps to help clothe and feed my older brother and her. When I mentioned my Aunt Vid to my Aunt Dolly on my mother's side, she told me how much she always liked her. When I think of the Bowman's - I also think of Larry, my cousin, who is three years older than me. My cousin Larry was the only cousin who served in Viet Nam The only cousin to serve - though many more cousins were draftable and could have served. Some had exemptions like myself and my younger brother and did not have to serve. I am very proud of my cousin Larry for serving. Larry has this in common with my father - he has worn the uniform and served our country during war in the place of action. Thanks LarryThank God, I am healthy and I can hike for HIM. Thank God for the bountiful life and family you have surrounded me with. May those who read this blog be thankful for their own heritage.Trail Mama: Today we had to say goodby to our hiking companion, Flats(trail name) a.k.a. Flat Stanley, who needed to return to Fort Wayne, Indiana by way of the post office in Blue Ridge, GA. We put him in a padded envelope with a few other items and mailed him off. THANKS TESSA KATE for sending him to us to share our adventures. We LOVED having him!!
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Blue Ridge, Georgia

To: Abingdon, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Today it is back to hiker reality! (Yes, NR, SOS will be back on the trail tomorrow and for many days in a row after that!) We packed up and checked out of our delightful mountain cabin and headed the 4 1/2 hours back to Abington, VA. We made several stops along the way. One stop was in Asheville, NC because we had never been there before. Everything we ever heard about it was true...all good stuff! We found a little narrow street with a great yarn shop:-)...and a coffee shop for SOS. Then we found the former Woolworth 5 and 10 cent store which is now a local artist gallery with wonderfully creative things. It also had the original soda fountain/lunch counter so we shared a cherry coke for old time sake. (SOS was a soda jerk in his former younger days in Rome City, IN) Another great building there was the Grove Arcade   building. It was taken over by the government during the war and all the shops and offices had to move. In later years, it was restored to its former glory and is a wonderful space now with restaurants, shops, an even better yarn shop and a fresh food shop selling REAL strawberries grown locally! The nice young man there even washed them for me so we could eat them right away after getting to the car...and we did! On our way back to the car, we discovered a fantastic bookstore/cafe...see a picture in the photo section. On to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Folk Art Center. It is also filled with local artists work. We found out that Dame Olive Campbell who co-founded John C. Campbell Folk School was also one of the founders of the Folk Art Center. Dinner was at KFC on the way to our new room at Super 8 in Abington. To bed early so SOS can be ready to get back to business of hiking for HIM. Please consider making a pledge so that even more kids will be reached in the future at our Indiana UM church camps. You can pledge as little as 1 penny or as much as you feel lead to do!
Date: 2012-04-29
From: US 58 at Feather Camp Branch

To: VA 600 at Elk Gardens
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

SOS here.Not again! After stopping for lunch at the Saunders Shelter, I went 1.1 miles the wrong way on the trail. This added 2.2 miles of hiking to my day or 20.3 miles hiking day. I was already going slowly; it made me 1 hour and 45 minutes late for my pickup time for Trail Mama. This caused TM much stress, especially since she had been waiting for me since 4:30 PM and it was 7:15 before I arrived. The cell phones let us down ¢ Trail Mama never had a signal.  Trail Mama here:After dropping SOS at his start site, I headed off into new territory to look for our new spot. We had decided on Grayson Highland State Park. It was a beautiful day for driving. When I got to the park, I was told that the main campground was closed but we could camp at the horse camp.So that is where I went and discovered NO horses and NO other campers! I was the only person on the two mile drive and the only person in the campground. So I picked out a spot and settled in (the car)for a day of solitude (it is a good thing that I don't mind solitude!) I read and knitted...my usual two activities. One thing that I have discovered about a day with no interruptions is that I am knitting more complicated patterns. Right now I am knitting a pair of fingerless mittens, a hat with a twisted pattern on the top (sort of like the roads I drive on!), and a small twisted (um...there is that twist again!)triangle scarf. I just work on which ever one I feel like at the time. On the way to pick up Rog, I stopped at a country store. What a service these small stores provide...I hope that people appreciate them who live in the area. There are no large towns for miles and miles so these little stores try to carry everything anyone might need in the way of groceries, plumbing supplies, gardening supplies,and really just about anything...there are usually only one or two of each item. I got to the pickup spot early as always and sat and waited and waited and waited. 3 hikers came by and I gave them water and candy bars...none of them had seen SOS. I hiked to meet up with him but turned around after a mile or so and hiked back to the car. I waited and then I started worrying as it was getting later and later and he is usually good at predicting when he will be done. Cell phone reception is pretty nonexistent in these mountains so I couldn't call. I hiked to meet him again and again turned around thinking if he got on the wrong path (one of the hikers I talked to suggested that there was a side trail)then we would both be "lost". At 7:15, he finally arrived safe and sound and I cried when I saw him...relief is just a smile away! God is good ...all the time.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: VA 600 at Elk Gardens

To: VA 603 at Fox Creek
Miles today: 17.0

SOS here.Started out the day hiking with Trail Mama. Together we hiked .2 of mile to the bench where there was a photographic view to the West. Nothing like starting the hiking day with Trail Mama.The hiking was tough. The views were incredible! I hiked through some of the most awesome mountainous landscapes I have ever seen and added to this I got to feed and pet the tiny horses in Grayson Highlands State Park. I hiked within .5 mile of our campsite in the state park. The problem was I could not locate the side trail to our campsite.Again I was late. But this time Doc who was ahead of me,and told Trail Mama how tough the trail was. We waited another 45 minutes for the hikers behind us to arrive. We were waiting for Mikie whose Grandmother was in intensive care and need a ride back to Troutdale, VA. When Mikie arrived he said, "I am sorry you waited but my Uncle is going to pick me up here."Trail Mama had surprises for me but they were time sensitive and because we waited for Mikie she did not get to do them. We would not have gotten to do them anyway because it rained and hailed (marble size). Trail Mama had prepared me a delicious hamburger vegetable soup. She had dehydrated the soup last winter. Before we ate, we took a drenched and lost thru hiker, whose trail name is Watermelon back to Massey Gap where he could hike back to the AT. Oh I nearly forgot, the apple pie Trail Mama gave me for lunch was delicious!
Date: 2012-05-01
From: VA 603 at Fox Creek

To: VA 670 at South Fork Holston River
Miles today: 15.2

SOS Here.Again Trail Mama and I started the day hiking together. We hiked to Massey Gap in hopes of seeing the tiny horses - no luck. But the views were incredible because it let Trail Mama see what I saw yesterday as I hiked thru Grayson Highlands State Park.We went to the General Store just outside Troutdale for breakfast and the owner made me a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast - do I look happy in the picture?I had a late start getting on the trail today but finally got smart and took the pressure off and estimated 2.2 miles an hour instead of 2.5. I was early by 1/2 hour and as usual Trail Mama was waiting for me. Just before I got off the trail THERE WAS TRAIL MAGIC - ROOT BEER SODAS AND CHOCOLATE. I took an extra soda to give to Trail Mama - she is as much a part of this thru hike as I am. Any of the other thru hikers would tell you the same.Trail Mama here: Well, I loved the hike this morning at 7am. It was a beautiful day..cool but sunny. After a night in the tiny tent with the wind blowing like crazy, it was nice to hike up to see the tiny horses...except they were no where to be found! I was disappointed to not see them but the hike was worth it anyway. And it reminded me of a hiker we met last year at Woods Hole named Coyote. He entertained us all with his guitar and his singing of a song he wrote called "Tiny Horses". It was hilarious and we all had a good laugh. SOS and I wonder about him every now and then so if Coyote happens to be reading this or someone who knows him is...please tell him to get in contact with us. We would love to hear from him! I still have the video of him singing his song and I smile if not laugh everytime I hear it.Speaking of songs...a song from my past keeps running through my head as I drive up in the mountains. I could only remember two lines so looked it up on the computer and found the rest of it. It is called Loud From The Mountain Top and was written by George Shuler. Does anyone else know this song? I must have learned it at the church (Six Mile United Church of Christ) that I went to as a child. After packing up and leaving Grayson Highland, we drove SOS to his start spot and on I went to find a new home in Marion. It is a much bigger town than the tiny towns lately but I found us a room at America's Best value. It is a nice place with a large room, a couch, a refrigerator and a microwave with a good computer connection! I picked up SOS..he showered..we ate Mexican food..watched a little TV and called it a day.