morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-25
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Today I entered the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The walk across Fontana Dam was amazing; that thing is big. The heat continues today and made hiking kind of tough. What a horrible non-structured paragraph I've created. I'm sorry.   I just read what I had written and it was pretty bad so I'll try again. This morning we walked across Fontana Dam (which was awesome) and into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I'm excited to see hikers other than the ones I've seen for the past few weeks, but I"m not excited about all the rules that come with a Federal park. The main thing is that you have to stay at the shelters and if they fill up, the thru hikers have to give up their spots to the weekenders. I guess I'll see how it goes tonight. We are at a shelter where there are a lot of reported bear sightings. I better not get kicked out.   First complaint from the trail. These flies suck!! There are flies in the Smokies that try to eat the skin off your body. I don't care about the side effects, I just might swim in a pool of DDT tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-26
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was my best hiking day yet and before the day even started we got some excitement. Last night a bear visited our shelter and even though I couldn't see him very well, I could hear him/her and was happy to get my first bear encounter. I hope I have many more of these and that they are all as safe as that one was.   This morning I hiked 9.2 miles from our shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter. The hiking was beautiful and followed a ridge that took me through mountain top balds and over a few 5,000 ft. peaks. The weather was great and the views were phenomenal. I got to the shelter at noon just as I hoped I would. After the last few hot and sunny days all of us figured that stopping during midday to get out of the sun would be a good idea and man, were we right.   I ended up eating my lunch and then putting out my sleeping pad in the shelter and laying down for a midday nap. I honestly think that nap was the best sleep I've gotten out here. After awhile I got back on the trail to finish up my hike with roughly 7.5 more miles. The sleep I had just gotten combined with being in the shade really had me energized.   Tomorrow is a big day for 2 reasons. First I will be crossing over the 200 mile mark and secondly I will be stopping for awhile to do something special at a major landmark on the trail. There will be more on the second thing tomorrow. I have really high spirits right now and am feeling a lot better about the Smokies than I was yesterday.
Date: 2009-04-27
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

I hope I'm wrong, but when this is said and done it is going to be hard for another section to top what the Smokies have given me so far. This morning a few of my friends I have made out here ( The Dude, Spicoli, Phoenix, Smiling Bandit, Phatmando, Rabbit, and Running Clear) and I woke up at 4:15 a.m. and proceeded to walk the 2.5 miles up to Clingman's Dome to watch the sunrise. I could go on to describe what it was like to get to the highest mountain on the AT (6.643 ft) in the dark and then sit there through a full sunrise over the Smoky Mts. but I don't have the literary precision to do it justice. I will say that watching that sunrise was one of the most inspiring and uplifting things I have seen.    On a lighter note, after we watched the sunrise I hiked to Newfound Gap and hitched a ride into Gatlinburg for lunch. I probably ate more at that buffet than I have ever eaten before. I enjoyed the following: 2 fried chicken breasts, 2 fried pork chops, 1 meatloaf wrapped in stewed cabbage, 1 (large) plate of salad, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, fried zucchini, dressing, 4 rolls, coleslaw, potato salad, one ear of corn and a bowl of peach cobbler. I think I got my $9 worth.   Tonight the rest of the crew caught back up with me after two days I have spent hiking alone. It is good to see everyone again and I'm pretty sure we'll all finish the Smokies together. I think all of them have been enjoying this section too, but I know they were jealous of my lunch. Who wouldn't be?
Date: 2009-04-28
From: Ice Water Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

There wasn't too much trail action today. We knew we only wanted to walk the 12.6 today to set up an exit of the Smokies for tomorrow so we basically loafed all day. I got the latest start I've had in awhile and didn't leave camp until about 10:30 which is usually around my lunchtime. I guess since there isn't much hiking news today, I can take some journal space to talk about my everyday routine. Usually I wake up @7 am spend around 30-45 minutes breaking down camp. Once I get on the trail I'll hike for awhile until I get hungry and I'll stop to eat lunch. After my lunch I walk for awhile until I get to the shelter or campsite that I want to stay at. Here comes the complicated part: At various times while I'm walking I feel like I want to stop and take a break to enjoy a view or some nice stream and just can't stop at them all so I have to choose. Those choice make up about 90% of my stress everyday, so on a normal 1 to 100 stress scale hiking the trail is around a 3. I really love this.
Date: 2009-04-29
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 20.4

Done with the Smokies. We all woke up early this morning and actually pushed out our most aggressive mileage yet. Not only did we walk our first full 20 mile day today , but we did 15 of those miles by 1:00 p.m. It feels good to know that my body can handle the miles now.   It was great being in the GSMNP and so far that was the most beautiful section but I was flooded with happiness once we left the park today. I'm not sure what to compare it to other than saying it felt like getting home after being on a good vacation. The GSMNP was like a hotel that we (thru-hikers) were sharing with other people and since we were in that hotel we had to do things according to their rules and with the other guests. Now that we are back on just the plain ole AT we can camp wherever we like and also bathe in whatever streams we like (such as I did this afternoon). I don't mean to sound like I'm against seeing other people, just not bus loads of tourists from Jersey who ask stupid questions.   In the spirit of freedom that we now have, we all set up our tents at the first really cool campsite we came to tonight. I hope I sleep good tonight because if I don't, it will be because of the rain that just started. Looks like tomorrow will be a fun one.    On a positive note we have had awesome weather since Franklin and also we need the rain to recharge the aquifer and keep the springs running. Uh oh, we don't need that thunder clap that just scared the crap out of me.
Date: 2009-04-30
From: Painter Branch

To: Walnut Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

All day today I thought about cheeseburgers and hotdogs, ice cream and doughnuts, French fries and potato chips. That's right , tomorrow we are walking into a town!! In the morning when we get up, we'll have a 13 mile hike and then the trail will take us directly through the middle of Hot Springs, N.C.   Hot Springs is a very well known AT town that is super friendly to hikers and even has a hiker festival that was last weekend. For lodging in Hot Springs there are hostels as well as hotels that offer hiker rates which I'm sure we will take advantage of. I can't stop thinking about being in town and eating, showering, laundering, and eating some more, but I'll try.   Today hiking was frustrating at first because the initial 10 miles was nothing but PUDS (pointless up and downs) and had all of us secretly hating whoever routed that section. Around 11 miles into our day, we came to Max Patch Bald which was amazing. Max Patch is a 400 something odd acre bald at about 4,000 feet and is just awesome to relax on. (editor's note: Max Patch -site of an old homestead and logging camp. Originally forested but early inhabitants cleared the mountain top to graze sheep and cattle. Also used as a landing strip for small planes. Purchased in 1982 by USFS for the AT and now uses mowing and controlled burning to maintain its bald appearance. At 4,629 ft, it offers a panoramic view of the Smokies to the south)   We all chilled up there for about an hour and ate lunch. The whole time we were on Max Patch, I felt like I should be running on top of the bald with a Swiss period costume on and the background music would be: "The hills are alive with the sound of music" It was pretty even with that weird visual.   Our group has officially expanded for now. "The Dude" from NH has been with us for about 2 weeks and all of us get along, so when I say "we", it is now: The Dude, Randall (Jellyfish), James (Otter), Jack, The Dude, and me (Slapshot)
Date: 2009-05-01
From: Walnut Creek Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up this morning to a pretty bad looking sky so I packed up camp really quick and hit the trail towards Hot Spring, NC. I got into HS at 11:30 AM and met with The Dude who made an insanely early start (4:30AM) so he could get town food sooner. We sat in a restaurant and teased ourselves by waiting to order until the rest of the crew showed up. Before too long everyone got there and I feasted on a hamburger with chili, coleslaw, onions, and mustard. It was GOOD. We didn't know it before we got here but there is a music festival going on in HS this weekend. They have a killer lineup including Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Acoustic Syndicate, and Larry Keel and Natural Bridge. There are a bunch of other acts but these are my favorite that are here. We talked to the campground that is hosting the festival and worked out a deal that will hopefully work for the weekend so it looks like we will be festivaling this weekend. I'm not sure if that is a real verb but whatever. Oh yeah, the name of the festival is the French Broad River Festival.
Date: 2009-05-02
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I woke up this morning moving a little slow after a long night last night. The festival is awesome and I/we have made a ton of new friends already. Randall and I got talking to one of the food vendors last night and he promised to hook us up tomorrow morning before we leave. This guy, Tom, is super cool. He has a regular candy/confections shop in NC but during the festival season he travels around and cooks and sells food to all the people. The name of his stand is the Sugar Shack and I would imagine he has some online site. They have one menu item called the Veggie Thing and it is out of this world. Later on in the night we met a guy who is an acupuncturist in Asheville and told us we had an open ended offer for a free session at his practice. All of us thought that sounded great so we are all going to be taking him up on that in Oct.Enough about last night. Today we did all our town stuff: wash clothes, buy food, wash ourselves, eat more food. We are planning on cooking hotdogs for dinner and I'm really looking forward to that.HS has turned out to be an awesome little town. It's in the middle of nowhere and looks like it probably hasn't changed much in the past 30 years. I think this is the first town I have been to in a while that doesn't have a fast food restaurant. Refreshing.
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

It was really hard to leave HS today. This town has been really good to us and I personally know I'll be back there again some day. Last night was a great time but we all got to bed a lot earlier than we did Friday night. This morning I woke up early and really had the urge to sing so I walked through town and went in the first church I came to. I don't know if I've ever been to a Presbtyrian church before but I'm fairly certain that this morning was a first. This particular church has service at 9:30 because the pastor has two churches that he is over and he had to go to the next one after he finished here. I really enjoyed going to church today and once again I met some folks who wanted to help me out. A couple that was sitting in front of me offered to take me to lunch after the service. I don't know why but I turned them down and went back to the campground to eat with the guys. I am almost to the point now where I feel like I don't deserve all the kindness that people are showing me out here. After all I'm just a guy that is hiking everyday, it's not like I am in need or have done anything extraordinary that deserves the treatment. I don't know what it is that makes everyone want to help me out but I sure get it a lot and it really makes me happy to know people can still be kind to a stranger. Speaking of being kind; Tom from the Sugar Shack held up his promise and and gave all of us a bunch of GREAT treats today before we left. I think the best thing he gave us were these candied nuts (almonds, pecans, and walnuts) that they had simmered in PURE maple syrup. He also gave us a bunch of this cake stuff that is super good. After he gave us all that stuff he gave me his email address and told me to send him a line in the fall because he might be getting their sugar from Vermont around the same time and could help us out while he was up there. What a nice guy. The walking today was easy and uneventful.
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Spring mt. Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I woke up in my tent to the sound of rain. It rained for most of the day yesterday and I was hoping most of my clothes that I had hung up would be dry but that rain on the tent let me know it wouldn't be the case. Putting on wet clothes isn't too bad, but wet and COLD clothes are the kind of thing that make you not want to get out of your bag. I finally got myself out of my sleeping bag around 9AM (the latest I've slept yet) and broke down my camp. I hiked an average amount today and my legs are feeling great. One of the sections of trail, between black stack cliffs and big fire scald bald, was super cool and technical. Basically the trail followed a very rocky ridge for about a half mile. I was happy to get to the shelter and change into some dry warm clothes. Diner tonight was great and I am really enjoying the food mom sent.Tomorrow should be a fairly easy day seeing as how I'm only planning on hiking 13 some odd miles. One of the friends of the family, Ryan, is planning on meeting me near a shelter either tomorrow night of the next morning and giving us some trail magic, NICE. I am looking forward to seeing someone who has already thru hiked as I'm sure he'll want to reminisce and share stories. I have a book I want to recommend for others when I get a chance. "A Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins has been great so far. I have really related to the way he felt before his trip and some of the reasons he had for starting.
Date: 2009-05-05
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Well another day of hiking in the rain. I don't think I have been dry, really dry, since before I got to Hot Springs. It is fun being out here but being wet for this long has really started to suck. We are planning on being in Erwin, TN on Thursday so at least then we'll be able to dry up completely.Ryan is actually going to set up on a ridge a few mile past where we are right now so I'll see him in the morning. I'm looking forward to seeing him tomorrow and hanging out.Short journal entry but I'm tired and finally in my damp sleeping bag and really just want to veg out. Oh yeah, we crossed over 300 miles today. WOO HOO.
Date: 2009-05-06
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Sams Gap (I-26)
Miles today: 2.4

Today has been a great surprise. I got up to what else... but more rain and cold wet clothes. Regardless I started hiking and after a few miles reached a hilltop and there was Ryan set up with his trail magic. It was great to see him and I got a good bit of free food which was good. The weather was horrible and the temperature was dropping.Well after a little while on the top of the mountain Ryan offered to drive me and the guys into Asheville for the night to dry off. After 4 hiking days in the rain that was some of the best trail magic we could have ever asked for. Now we are in Asheville enjoying being dry and warm. For the record Ryan and Felice are great hosts and all of us are very grateful for their hospitality. Tomorrow Ryan is going to drive us back to the trail so we can get moving again.I talked to my mom tonight and we agreed on her and my dad coming to Erwin, TN on Friday night night to see us. I am really looking forward to seeing them.
Date: 2009-05-07
From: Sams Gap (I-26)

To: No Business Knob shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning Ryan brought us to the trail and we started walking around 10:30am and didn't stop until Big Bald for lunch. Big Bald is great but I started feeling really bad and had a feeling I was coming down with something. As the day has gone on I have been feeling worse and worse and now that I'm at the campsite for the night I feel absolutely horrible. I am skipping dinner and going straight to bed, I have no energy to eat.
Date: 2009-05-08
From: No Business Knob shelter

To: Erwin, Tn - Anderson, SC
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm at home. (Anderson, SC)Last night was miserable seeing as how I ran a high fever all night and soaked my entire bag with sweat. I couldn't stay asleep because I was either too hot, or had yanked my bag down and was freezing. During the night I felt bad enough that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to walk the 6 miles to Erwin today and more than likely wouldn't have if it wasn't for the fact that my parents were driving up to see me. I got to Erwin (in the rain again) and immediately checked into a hotel room so I could get a shower and get in the bed. My parents got there around 4 and by 5:30 I had decided that the best thing to do was to get them to take me back home and see the doctor. I knew I was sick enough that I needed a doctor and the only option in Erwin was the emergency room, which I don't like. Also If I stayed in Erwin I would be running up a hotel bill for the next few days. I got back here with my parents and our doctor saw me tonight. I have a viral infection and am on antibiotics. Hopefully I'll be able to get a ride up to the trail on Tuesday or Wednesday and most importantly be healed up by then. This sickness is awful and there is no way I could be hiking right now.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Anderson, SC

To: Anderson, SC
Miles today: 0.0

I'm still at home and am getting a little stir crazy. I am ready to get walking again. Tomorrow is looking like it is going to be the day to get back at it. I looked at the weather report and tomorrow is supposed to be the only day for the next week that the north eastern Tennessee mountains don't get rain, YEAAHHHH. My dad is going to drive me back up in the morning and then hike a few miles with me, which I'm looking forward to. This break has actually been a good chance for me to get some things taken care of that I needed to do as well as see all my family and grandparents. I'm lucky to have such a great family.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Erwin, Tn - Anderson, SC

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: few clouds

I left this morning around 7:00 am with my Dad and we headed to Erwin, Tenn so I could get back to hiking. I was anxious to get back on the trail and was also really excited that my dad was going to hike the first few miles with me.   We got to the trail head at about 10:00 a.m. and set out. For the next 4 miles my dad shared the trail with me and I had a great time. I haven't gotten to spend a long period of time with just the two of us in a long time and it was great. We hiked together all the way to the first shelter and had lunch together. Once lunch was done we went our separate ways on the trail. (note from editor- Scott had to hike 4 miles back to his truck and he said that was enough for him for one day- He was ready for Waffle House)   It's time for me to hike by myself for a few days and try to catch up with the crew. I think they are about 30-40 miles ahead so I have some work to do. I didn't think I would feel like I do walking alone and I can't wait to catch up with the guys.      For some reason about 30 minutes ago I started feeling really sad. I guess I'm kind of homesick or something but it's weird because I haven't been this way the whole time and now after I visit my family, I am. I guess I didn't realize how much I miss them until I got to see everyone. Well, I guess I'll work through it soon.      My legs felt great and I thought about going further today but I didn't want to push my body too hard.
Date: 2009-05-13
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Applehouse Shelter
Miles today: 29.9

Today was a long one. I came oh so very close to having my first 30 mile day. I know I shouldn't be pushing myself but I am anxious to catch my group. I feel like whenever I have something I need to do I want to get it over with and that's how I feel about making up these miles.   I would say this was the best section yet but I can't give that distinction to the entire section. From Carver's Gap (372')to U.S. 19E was AWESOME. It had some of the best views as well as some great balds. I want to walk that section again soon after I get done. As far as the first part of today: Roan Mountain sucks. That was the hardest and longest climb of my like and if I was going to do the AT again I'd skip it. It never stopped!       Hopefully tomorrow I'll get to Kincora. Kincora is a hostel near Dennis Cove and has really cheap bunks. Also it's looking like I will be caught up with the crew by Friday.          editor's note-- Between Roan Mountain and Hump Mountain the Trail crosses several balds. Roald Bald was the site of a USFS experiment in which goats where used to keep briars and brambles from encroaching on the bald. Although, the southern Appalachians do not rise above the treeline, there are many balds which are a mystery to scientists. Some point to harsh climate, others claim Indians cleared the mountains for religious ceremonies. Some even point to spacemen.
Date: 2009-05-14
From: Applehouse Shelter

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 24.8

I may have messed my leg up trying to catch my group and I'm not too happy with myself.   I walked huge mileage yesterday and today hiked a pretty good distance again. About halfway through today, my right lower leg just above the ankle started hurting really bad. I probably should have stopped so it wouldn't get worse but I didn't.   Now I am at Bob People's hostel in Kincora,Tenn. and can barely walk. This place is great and I wish I wasn't hurting so bad so I could enjoy it. The next few days are Traildays in Damascus, Va. so I'll be able to stay off it for awhile.
Date: 2009-05-15
From: Dennis Cove

To: Trail Days Damascus, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I caught a ride this morning from Kincora up to Trail Days in Damascus, Va. I was going to try and and walk up to meet the rest of the crew but my leg hurt too bad this morning. I will just find them when they get here.   Trail Days is the largest AT festival/gathering of the year. Hopefully I will see some people I haven't talked to in awhile.