morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-31
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: moderate rain

Last night, Jake and the original Raz were also at the shelter. They are now the Bruce's..Bruce Spruce and Bruce Moose, respectively. Last time we saw them was in Hiawassee. They said they are trying to refine the words, taking it slow for awhile. Around 2:30 last night I awoke to a couple of raindrops falling on the tent. I looked out and, to my surprise, saw two headlamps heading down the trail. Talk about night hiking! The rain picked up a bit and let off but by 5:00 it was coming down steadily. I didn't mind because it was also a warm night. The warmest we have had so far. I got out of the tent at daybreak and headed for the shelter to eat and pack my pack correctly. Break was getting up and we were congratulating ourselfs on waking and eating before Scholar for a change, when she walks up and says she would see us at NOC. We couldn't believe she was ready to go! The Bruce's left before us,followed by Sox. The rain let up just as Break and I headed out, around 7:30, and we started on the five mile descent into NOC. Some of this part of the trail is a little tricky, especially when it is wet. We took our time and got to NOC around 11:00. The first person we saw was Weatherman. The ankle still was shaky so he was going to take it easy. He said he would meet us in Fontana in a couple of days. The next shocker was that Scholar had gone to Fontana with Mother Goose. She wasn't feeling well and wanted to rest up in a room as opposed to a bunk. We found out later that she would be back on the trail tomorrow or so she hoped which means we will meet up with her then. Break and I were going to do laundry, get cleaned up, eat and then hit the trail for a couple of more miles. Amazing how things like that eat up time. The Bruce's and Domino kept kidding us about being the definition of procrastination. We weren't really, it just took a long time to get ready! We really hadn't paid attention to the clock and while we were eating we found out that it was 4:00. Oops! We still had a couple of things to do but we were going to still go a couple of miles. After we ate Break was trying to get some mail taken care of and I sat to read a few pages in my book. After awhile,and another ribbing from Bruce Moose, Break looks at me and says,"Well, what do you think"? I laughed and said,"Probably the same thing you are thinking but I hate myself for thinking it"! We then proceeded to rationalize why staying here was a good option. It didn't take much convincing and we decided to stay. Domino and The Bruce's got a kick out of that one! So, here I sit,in the common area, catching up on my journal and getting some emails out. Tomorrow we head for Fontana. I think back to April 1 of last year. I left from here that morning and ran into that eight inch snowstorm! Eighteen of us crammed into Sassafrass Gap Shelter weathering the storm. This time it is just supposed to be thundershowers with the weekend looking good. Looks like we will hit the Smokies early next week.
Date: 2005-04-01
From: NOC

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: moderate rain

It was a late night last night. Did not get to bed till around eleven. I wiped out another hundred pages in this monstrous book I brought along. I have three others waiting in the wings; Mila 18 by Leon Uris, To Kill a Mockingbird(which Scholar brought), and The Golden Compass(wich Break brought). We got out of NOC a little after nine. But, not before one of the NOC employees showed Breakthe radar screen with the upcoming weather. He said to her,"I don't think you want to go out in this". We decided to go to the first shelter and reevaluate the situation from there. It was raining but it wasn't a downpour which was good. The temps weren't bad since I was hiking out in shorts so the wet and cold factor did not come into play. The trail out of NOC is a 3000 foot ascent over six miles. Not steep, but a continuous up. As we climbed it got foggier and soon the visibility was not that great. About a mile from the top of Swim Bald I caught up with Break. That is only because she stopped to rest otherwise the word catching up to her does not apply on uphills. The place she had chosen was an overlook of the Nantahala Gorge and, by then, the fog had blown out of the valley. The view was fantastic and we watched as a hawk hovered on the winds, in search of prey. We sat there a bit and then pushed on to the shelter. Ah, Sassasfras Gap Shelter! A place I remember well only this time with much better weather. We sat down and pulled out the guidebook. Next shelter was nine miles away which we didn't want to push because it was probably going to be full and we did not want to lay up and set up tents either, because of the potential weather so we decided to hang out at Sassasfras. We figured we would set ourselves up to get into Fontana on Sunday morning which we give us a nero day because we have maildrops to pick up on Monday. Hopefully, by that time, Weatherman and Scholar will be back in action although Scholar should be out on the rail today, hiking south, if all is well. A few others are here as well. Sox, KT, and Treetrunk among them. Sox still has not zeroed and she is looking to do one in Fontana. The good news is the weather is supposed to start clearing on Sunday which means the Smokies may be clear, at least for the first few days! Today was another good day to drop pack weight. I can't figure out where all the food is coming from. It never seems to go down and I have another drop in Fontana. I helped rectify the situation by eating two suppers tonight!
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana, NC
Miles today: 11.6

Sometimes you have to put up with a little adversity to be able to see or do something great. This morning made the storm from yesterday well worth it. We awoke from Chilly Willys Hotbox Hotel to a bright, sunshiny morning. The sky was a bright blue and the sun reflecting off the the snow was a sight to behold. We packed up and were on the trail by nine. Nine because we had forgotten about the daylight savings time change. It was such a beautiful day and the hike over the two miles that I had covered twice previously even seemed new. Turbo Joe, Chuck, Jake, and Trip soon passed us by and at Cable Gap Shelter Break and I stopped for little lunch. It was nice and warm and I was really relaxed when I told Break that if I didn't get moving soon I would melt into the rock. She laughed and said that we would set a world record...for taking four days to get to Fontana from NOC if we stayed at Cable Gap. We packed up and headed on. As we started the descent into Fontana the weather and landscape changed dramatically. It hadn't even looked like it had snowed here and we could see trilliums starting to bloom. As usual, we were taking our time and not paying attention to the time. We got to the Fontana Dam parking lot where there is a direct line to the Fontana Inn where they will send a shuttle for you. I di not realize we were way past shuttle time (5:00) but they came for us anyway. We arrived at the Inn and were greeting by Scholar, Weatherman, Red Hat, and Bruce Spruce. They all wondered what took us so long! I was amazed the news of my escapade yesterday had already made the rounds but then I remembered how fast news traveled on the trail. Looks like our little group is going to split up for a bit. Scholar is heading out tomorrow. Break, Weatherman, and I will go the next shelter tomorrow (a whole 1.1 miles) and head into the Smokies on Tuesday. Weatherman is going to take it real slow through there so we will lose him for a bit.If all goes well we will meet up with Scholar again at the end of the Smokies. Maildrop tomorrow and a little repacking and relaxing then on to the Fontana Hilton, the name for the next shelter because it is a nice one.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Fontana, NC

To: Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 1.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice easy day today. Woke up around 6:30, went to breakfast with Scholar, low Gear, and Jake Break. After breakfast Scholar and I headed to the post office. We were hoping that our replacement pole parts from Leki had arrived and I had a maildrop there.The pole parts weren't there yet but the lady said they were expecting new mail around 11:00. Scholar was heading out so I told her I would check later and pick them up if they came. She headed out and I told her we would see her soon. I went back to the room and sorted through the maildrop, repacked the pack, showered again and headed back to the post office. They had just received their mail and sure enough our package was there. I am now hiking with two poles again plus I have to carry Scholar's part with me till I see her. Hmm, more pack weight! Break, Weatherman, and I relaxed, read, and did some journaling until the shuttle came at 3:30. We got back to the trailhead and proceeded to make the rough 1.1 mile journey to the shelter. Not! At the shelter we met August, Linux, Trillium, and Torch. The shelter lives up to its name, The Fontana Hilton. Very nice place, with a real bathroom, running water, and showers. We just sat around talking and relaxing. The weather for the first part of the Smokies is supposed to be a mixed bag. Nice for a couple of days and then more rain. I just hope rain in the Smokies doesn't mean more snow. Either way we have a plan. If the weather stays good we are going to push through without stopping. If it turns bad we will pull off at Gatlinburg. I hope for the former!
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Fontana Hilton Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a late arrival last night. Ranger pulled in shortly after dark. She said she was in hiking mode and just kept going all day. I had last seen her in Franklin and she was going into Fontana for a zero day. I know I will see her again because she can cruise!The sunrise this morning was one of the best I have seen since I have been out here. Trillium was awake and she saw me looking out. She asked if it was a good one and I nodded. As if on cue people were scrambling for their cameras. Talk about a shelter instantly awake! Weatherman, Linux, Break, and I entered The Great Smoky Mtn. National Park around 9:30 after taking the photo op at the sign. We set up plans with Weatherman on where to meet in the next week or so. He will be missed for the time he is gone. Weatherman always had a good story and it will be good to meet up with him again. Today's journey was mostly uphill. We went from 1715 feet to 4020 feet. At the end of this was The Shuckstack Mtn. firetower. Along the way we met Feeling Free and she joined Break, Linux, and I for lunch on top of Shuckstack. After we ate we climbed the firetower. What a view! I didn't make the climb last year and it sure is worth it. It sure is nice walking the Smokies in good weather. They are only calling for some rain tomorrow night and part of Thursday and then clearing for the weekend. I really want this forecast to be a correct one! We arrived at Mollies Ridge Shelter around five. The whole crew that we saw on the trail today was there. Socks, KT, Tater, August, Feeling Free, Pacman, and Sowega. The evening soon turned to food, always the highlight of the day!. I got some more reading done and then August broke out the chess board. I opened my mouth about being able to play, which I can but August took 2 out of 3. I told him we would play again up the trail. It was fun to play because I had not played in awhile. Tomorrow is another 11 mile day to Derrick Knob. Going to go over Rocky Top.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Sometime during the night the wind kicked up and the clouds moved in. It wasn't raining yet but the potential was there. Linux, Break, and I headed out around 8:30. Linux had mentioned that he was liking our method of hiking...a convert to the new and improved AT hiking method! The clouds and wind kept it pretty cool while hiking. It was one of the first days I have kept my windbreaker on most of the day. We pulled into Russell Field Shelter for a break and to get out of the chill. Several others were there and it looks like Derrick Knob will be the destination for everyone. We climbed the fabled Rocky Top and had lunch. The wind was blowing pretty hard and it was difficult maintaining your balance at times. We tucked down in an alcove and quickly ate some lunch and took some pictures. Then it was time to move on. We hiked the ups and downs and finaly reached the shelter around four. Tater, Pacman, KT, Socks, and Sowega were already there. The shelters in the Smokies hold at least 12 people so there was plenty of room. The usual camp chores were taken care of, usually in this order; get and purify water, take the boots off and put on camp shoes, get the sleeping bag laid out, pick what your cooking for dinner and then eat. Picking what you want for dinner takes about two seconds. It is a choice between Ramen or Lipton Sides. I do have a few MRE's in the mix but they go first because of the weight. After dinner it is usually journal udating, book reading or talking until dark. Just before dark everyone gets into their bags and at the stroke of Hiker Midnight(darkness) everything gets quiet. Except for tonight. Someone told a joke and that started it. For quite awhile jokes were flying back and forth and there was a lot of laughter. Great way to end the day! Tomorrow it is supposed to rain for most of the day. Decision time, long or short day. the morning will dictate our decision.
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

The decision was made very quickly! It was raining and it was cold when we got up. There was also a lot of fog. We quickly decided to lay up for a couple of reasons. First, we had the cold and wet thing going on and second we wanted to see the view from Clingmans Dome. We sure weren't going to see anything today. Several others were going to push to Clingmans and hitch into Gatlinburg. Break and I had decided that we would not go into Gatlinburg, back in Fontana unless the weather got really bad and that meant snow. We got out of the shelter around 8:30 and hiked as quickly as we could through the fog and rain. Around eleven we got to Silers Bald Shelter where we ran into a couple of southbound section hikers. They informed us that there was a nice pile of wood at Double Spring Shelter. The shelters in the Smokies have fireplaces directly in them. That news sealed the deal. Off we went fo the last 1.7 miles. When we got there the fire was already blazing thanks to Freedom and Thatch. They had arrived the night before and decided to zero in the shelter for the same reasons we were staying there. Break immediately took up residence next to the fire. She became Keeper of the Flame and didn't budge for most of the day. Pacman and I foraged for wood and we managed to collect a goodly amount. The wood was stacked around the fire to dry and was fed into the fire as needed. It was a perfect day to take a short day although I got absolutely nothing accomplished. I was going to get a lot of reading done and all I managed was five whole pages. I did start contemplating something. I am debating shaving the beard when I get to Hot Springs. I let it grow last year and it did get a little itchy duing the hot days. Don't know what I want to do about it yet. Tomorrow we plan on our longest day yet, 13.8. Previous long day was 13.6. We are really flying now!
Date: 2005-04-08
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Early last evening Pacman and Linux started talking about getting up early and hiking to Clingmans Dome to see the sunrise. They figured that leaving at 5:30 would get them there before sunup. Break and I thought that would be a good idea also. On the condition that it wasn't still cloudy and rainy. At five Pacman got up, went outside, came back in and said it was cloudy. He and Linux decided to go anyway while Break and I wussed out. They were going to wait till we got there later on. At 5:30 they were gone. At dawn the rest of the shelter dwellers started getting up. It was a little cloudy but the sun was peeking out from behind them and there waa no rain. We left around 8:00 and arrived at Clingmans Dome around 9:30. On the way we were greeted with some spectacular views. Break mentioned that it felt like she was in an airplane looking down on the clouds. Linux and Pacman were there. They said they had managed to get some semblance of a sunrise. We made the climb to the top of the dome and it was worth it. At least I was able to see something this time around! We also ran into Yappy, Jukebox, BMoney, BlueEye, Spice Rack, Freedom, and Thatch. After enjoying the break there we pushed on. We got to Indian Gap where we ran into the mobile trail angel, Taba. He thru-hiked in '03 and now drives a panel truck around giving hikers rides and dispensing trail magic. We did get some lunch items for the next couple of days. Those were the only things that Break and I were light on. Serenity was there also so we chatted a bit and found out she was going to Icewater also. We left there and got to Newfound Gap. Newfound is a strange place. A large parking area with a scenic viewpoint. There are a lot of tourists that stop there. Needless to say we got a lot of stares as five dirty and bedraggled hikers strolled through the parking lot. We felt like attractions in the zoo. People wanted pictures and they asked a lot of questons. Then came the shocker. I was walking toward the bathroom when I saw a familiar face. It was Skeemer! I couldn't believe it. Skeemer had thru hiked in '03 and I met him on the trail early in my journey from last year. We have kept in touch since then. He thought I was already through the area. We talked awhile and then he took us to his truck were we indulged in hiker magic. More goodies for lunch and dinner. I was still was shocked at the timing. A minute more or less and we would have missed each other. We took off and made the final push to Icewater Spring. It was a good day. The rain held off and some great things greeted us throughout the day!
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

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

Remember how I said I had the Mileage Monster boxed up. This morning it tried poking his head out. I was the first one up, at the crack of dawn, as usual. Daylight was broaching the horizon and as I was looking out the Monster said; "Time to rock and roll buddy! Toss on those boots and hit the trail. You can do it"! I thought about breakfast and remembered my old ways of walking and sucking down my oatmeal dry, chasing it with a swig of water. Then it hit me! A few days ago, at breakfast, I had boiled enough water for Break and I, mainly because I have my stove going first. I poured what she wanted, which didn't look like enough and asked if she wanted more. She said I needed some for my mine. I told her that I liked mine a little dry, at which she laughed and said I can't imagine why. This was phase two of the oatmeal saga.Phase one consisted of a conversation sometime earlier where, during the course of discussion she had said, in no uncertain terms,"I forbid you to eat dry oatmeal"! I remember laughing and thinking, The wrath of Break will come down on you like a ton of bricks! Back to the present. Once my thought of dry oatmeal surfaced I recalled the previous conversation and I thought, "Back you go Monster! You almost snuck up on me until you mentioned the oatmeal and I will not be subject to the smackdown!". I clamped the cage tight once again but not before it snickered and whispered,"You will be back! You cannot escape the pull"! I did not want to dwell on that so I put it out of my mind. We got out of the shelter at the usual time. Pacman and Linux in the front and Break and I a little further back. Another decent day weather wise. Right off the bat we hit the Charlie's Bunion loop trail, which we took. We got to the lookout and were treated to some spectacular views! Something else I had missed last year due to weather. The rest of the day was filled with ups and downs but they were not bad. We did have to deal with a lot of blowdowns that required some good dexterity to get around. Even with all this we got to the shelter by mid-afternoon. Serenity, Cycle Hiker, BMoney, Jukebox, Spice Rack, Popeye, and Bear Bait also came in. Then, from around the corner horses appeared! Six horses and four riders. They were a trail crew taking care of some of the blowdowns. I felt like I had been transported to a western film. The horses started grazing and one of them started to take an interest in Break's drying clothes. She did the scramble to salvage them. It was a lot of fun to talk to them and they were throwing out a couple of good one liners! Thanks to all you trail maintaineers. It means a lot to those of us hiking! Tomorrow takes us to the edge of the Smokies. We are over the 200 mile mark and we have passed the 10 percent completed mark. Yeah for us!
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Awoke to another pleasant day. I am pleased as punch that the weather has been good for the Smokies trek! I made my coffee and then gave Pacman a couple of extra meals I had. The hunger has hit Pacman like a sledgehammer. He cannot seem to get enough to eat even though he is packing plenty. I seem to pack more than enough(I think gremlins are filling my food bag at night!) and the hunger has not really hit me to hard yet. Giving away a couple of meals reduces my pack weight and helps Pacman out. Win, win situation! Today was going to be a good day. First, we knew the trail was going to be good because it had to be graded for horses which means no more than a six to eight percent grade. Second, the trail was going to be mainly downhill. Third, we were going to descend from elevations close to 6000 feet down to 2600 feet which means warmer weather and springtime in the valley. We started out in the usual pattern and made good time. We made such good time that the first eight miles disappeared quickly. We stopped at Cosby Knob Shelter for a long lunch. One thing for sure, long on time but not long on food. Lunch foods for all of us was a rapidly dwindling commodity. If Skeemer had not been around we would have been chewing on grass by now. While we were eating Break started laughing. I was sitting next to Linux and he and I looked up. She said, "You should see yourselves"! We both had pulled out a LUNA bar, the bar made for women and after our first bites we were looking at the bar from all angles while trying to decide what was so special about it. We were doing the same thing without even realizing the other was doing it. It was pretty comical when we figured it out! Around 2:00 we hit the final five mile downgrade to Davenport Gap. At the same time we ran into a couple of day hikers who asked if we going to the Mt. Cammerer lookout. We hadn't really planned on it but they told us about it and we decided to make the 1.2 miles roundtrip journey. It was well worth it and we thanked them for the info. After the little side trip we headed down the hill. The temperature change was amazing the lower we went. We knew that sleeping tonight was going to be good! We arrived at the shelter around four and Bear Bait joined us a little while later. Since the shelters in the Smokies had always been a bit crowded with no fewer than a dozen people each night we had put story telling on hold. With just a few here tonight we resumed the stories. It was a good evening.Tomorrow we do a whole 3.3 to Standing Bear Farm where a shower is waiting. Off to bed.