morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-23
From: Wayah Bald

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

The rain began beating down on my tent at 2:00 a.m. By 6:20 I was wide awake and could hear Postman starting to stir. I wanted to get an early start but didn't feel like dealing with the rain so I pulled the sleeping bag over my head and slept another 15 min. I could have slept longer but I knew my bladder wouldn't last much longer. I packed everything up and took down my tent from the inside to keep it as try as possible while leaving the rain fly up. I took all my stuff to the shelter and then went back to take down the rain fly. For breakfast I ate my very soggy, smashed, and 2 day old Subway sandwich. Hey, on the trail calories are calories and you don't want to waste them. The weather was slowing everyone down so I was still first out of camp. Poor Karma got a lot of water in her tent. The day was foggy and drizzly and the trail was muddy and mucky. Despite the conditions I was feeling good and moving along at a decent pace. I only saw 6 people all day and didn't hike with anyone. After about 5 miles I stopped at Cold Spring Shelter for lunch. Davy Crockett, Bioterrorist, and Thru Walker (previously Trail Walker - my mistake) were there eating lunch. Soon Bumpkin (Colorado) arrived, but I didn't see Postman or Karma for the rest of the day. When I arrived at my goal for the day I was feeling really good and didn't want to stop so I kept walking. It's amazing what a difference a good night's sleep makes. The terrain became very steep downhill and rocky and I began to question my wisdom. Nonetheless, I still felt good so I pushed on. I achieved 2 milestones today. I walked nearly 17 miles and I had my first fall. Falls are bound to happen when you're going over rough and wet/muddy terrain. Fortunately I was not hurt and Peanut was there to document it for me I passed peanut at about mile 13 and she was moving very slowly and seemed to be struggling. I was worried because it would be dark before long. At about mile 15 I ran into North Star who was out for a stroll on a zero day. I told him about Peanut and he said he would go help. I would tell you about the scenery but the fog and clouds were socked in all day. I saw what looked like Spanish Moss at 4,500 ft (see my photo section) and I'm still not sure what it was. Spanish Moss in the mountains of NC???Finally I arrived at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and literally walked right off the trail and into a restaurant. As I walked in a chorus of "Hobo!" greeted me. About 12 of my hiking buddies were at a long table so I joined them for a big mushroom cheese burger and onion rings. I was happy when Peanut and North Star came in. Tonight I will stay in the hostel and take a zero day tomorrow.
Date: 2013-03-24
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

I had the upper bunk in the hostel and it had no railing so I was worried about falling out all night. I mainly spent the day eating with friends, doing laundry, watching the white water kayaking, and chillin. If you want to see what some of these characters look like I put a close up pic of Quaker (Pennsylvania - retired chemistry professor) and Big Yankee (Rhode Island) in my photo section. Postman came straggling in today and it was fun to have lunch with him. He has had a respiratory ailment and wasn't feeling well. He said he was worried when I never showed up at the shelter last night. I still haven't seen Karma so I don't know what happened to her. I'll be back on the trail tomorrow. The weather forecast is for snow and cold.
Date: 2013-03-25
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: light snow

The buzz at NOC this morning was the storm moving in and many hikers decided to stay at the NOC for at least one more day. I had checked with the outfitter late yesterday and they said the forecast was 1 to 3 inches of snow and lows in the lower 20's. I decided I could deal with those conditions so I ate left over pizza for breakfast and packed up two more pieces for lunch on the trail. As I was heading to the trail I ran into Quaker and we ended up hiking all day together. I knew the mileage would not be long, but I was anticipating a tough day as I would climb all day from 1,749 ft to 4,710 ft. Quaker and I talked all day except when the wind blew so hard that we couldn't hear each other. The snow fell in big flakes throughout the day and we stopped often to enjoy the beauty (and catch our breath). My water tube froze and Quaker helped me thaw it out and taught me to blow back into the tube so that the water wouldn't freeze in the line. We told each other our life stories, talked extensively about religion, and discussed his experiences growing up as a Quaker and then going to Vietnam. He stepped on a landmine that luckily blew up when he was about one and a half paces past it. He remembers "floating" in a cloud of dust and looking back at the hole in the ground. He had a severed artery in his arm and shrapnel in his spinal cord. He said the last thing he remembered is all his men looking down at him wide eyed and the medic rolling him over and saying "oh my God". He woke up 7 days later in Japan. He has had a lot of surgeries but surprisingly no significant impairment. Later he went back to school and got a PhD in Chemistry. He is now retired. I found him to be a very kind and gentle soul and a fantastic hiking partner. During the afternoon it seemed like it had snowed about 3 to 5 inches and drifts were 8 to 10 inches. However, when the wind would gust it created near whiteout conditions. I arrived at the shelter about 5:30 and I have never been so happy to see a shelter. I had already decided I would not be tenting tonight. As more and more people straggled in it became apparent we were going to be packed in like sardines. I arrived in time to eat my pizza and then cook dinner while I warmed up in my sleeping bag. I had not eaten my pizza for lunch because I didn't want to stop for fear of becoming too cold. We took short standing nutrition breaks throughout the day. As soon as I arrived at the shelter I removed my wet clothes and put on dry clothes to avoid hypothermia. By the time I finished my dinner my wet clothes were frozen solid. There ended up being 16 humans and 2 dogs in a shelter for 14. Several people had tarps so we hung those to keep the wind out. North Star had a thermometer and said it was 18 degrees in the shelter at 7:00 p.m. In addition to my great sleeping bag I slept in all the dry clothes I had . . . including 2 pair of socks and gloves. I also slept with 2 water bottles in the bottom of my bag to keep them from freezing. My favorite gear today are the new Goretex gloves I bought in Franklin.
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

I was third from last leaving the shelter today - only Quaker and Trouble were still there when I left. The sun was shining and was a welcome sight! The snow was beautiful but no less difficult to walk through. There were several climbs today but I don't know their names. In the beginning the trail was slick from snow and ice. Later it was slick with snow and mud. I almost fell several times. I stopped for lunch at the Cable Gap Shelter and spent some time talking to Moses. I finished off the hike with Markie (Vermont). It was a welcome sight to see my old friend Brian Williams at Fontana Dam. Before my arrival he asked some hikers if they knew James Shrum and they said no, but when he asked if they knew Hobo they all knew who he was talking about. Brian arrived with a goodie bag of bananas, m&m's, goldfish, and OJ. I had eaten most of it by the time we arrived at his house!
Date: 2013-03-29
From: Brian & Anne's House

To: Brian & Anne's House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I have had so much fun here that I hate to leave. Tomorrow I head into the Smokies and there will be radio silence for about 8 days as there is very little cell signal in the Smokies. Quaker and Trouble headed into the Smokies today so I'm hoping I can catch them.
Date: 2013-03-31
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

It rained most of the night which I like because the sound of the rain on the roof drowns out some of the snoring noises. The trail is still difficult to navigate due to the slush and mud. I only hiked 12 miles but it took 10 hours. I was above 4,000 ft all day and in the clouds. I'm sure the views were beautiful but the theme for the day was "I've seen clouds from both sides now". I hiked all day by myself. Mid-morning I ran into Tail-lite and Winter. They were south bound and said they were getting off the trail because of the conditions and an overly aggressive hiking schedule. I'm sad to see them go. One funny thing that happened today was as I was hiking along I suddenly noticed someone squatting along the trail ahead of me. I stopped and acted like I was catching my breath until she pulled up her pants. As I walked by I recognized her as a section hiker from the shelter last night. She immediately said "you almost caught me peeing". So much for trying to be discreet! Later I ran into Carl, a Ridge Runner, who said he has been doing this for 11 years and this year is the worst for snow. About 3:00 it began to rain and I still had 4 miles to go, including the climb over Thunderhead Mtn (5,527 ft). The trail was like a creek and with the holes in my shoes my feet were soaked. I was glad to reach the shelter and was delighted when I realized that I had caught up with Quaker and Trouble who had entered the Smokies a day ahead of me. There wasn't much room left in the shelter but managed to find a space in the upper level.
Date: 2013-04-01
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

As I was getting dressed in the morning Harry (my right thigh muscle) (not to be confused with Henry my left thigh muscle) suddenly decided to state his objections and balled himself into a knot. The problem was I had my pants half on and I was in the upper level so I couldn't even walk it off. Eventually I was able to massage Harry into submission but I'm sure my shelter mates wondered what was going on in my sleeping bag!It rained hard again last night and I was hoping it had washed away the slush. It was some better but still not great. Quaker, Trouble, Son Driven, and I decided to hike together today. Our hope was to make it over Clingman's Dome but that would be 13.8 miles over two mountains greater than 6,000 ft. We agreed to make the decision at the Double Spring Gap Shelter in a little over 7 miles. At first the trail did seem a little better but later in the day as we climbed it became more and more slushy and icy. Quaker took the lead, followed by me, then Trouble, and Son Driven brought up the rear. Our climbs today included Cold Spring Knob (5,187 ft) and Silers Bald (5,454 ft). It was fun to be hiking with people again and we had lots of laughs. The day had cleared up some and we had some pretty views. The group wanted to stop for lunch but I didn't want to stop until the next shelter because I wanted to take my shoes off and let my feet dry some. I hiked on by myself and soon came to the shelter. I had hoped stretch out in the sun but it was now overcast. Camel arrived and asked if I had lost a pink shoe. As it turned out it had follow off of Son Driven's pack. He is hiking in running shoes and he switches shoes in the middle of the day. The rest of the group arrives and we began our assault on Silers Bald. Even though it was early, we decided the climb up Clingman's Dome may be too difficult and it was too cloudy for good views. We agreed we would stay here and get an early start. This was a wiser decision than we realized at the time. It was nice to be settling in early and not just taking the few remaining spaces available in shelter. Son Driven built a nice fire and we all tried to dry out our soaks and shoes. It was great to have a warm fire but the smell of soaks drying was overwhelming if you were too close to the fire. This shelter was also nice because its the first one in the Smokies that I've come across that has a privy . . .That evening as we were cleaning up from dinner a deer came strolling through camp. She didn't seem very afraid of us but also kept her distance. Camel and I laid in our sleeping bags and talked about international travel. Camel is 30 years old and has traveled extensively around South America where he informally taught English. He has also traveled and/or lived in Central America, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe. He is a nice guy and I enjoyed our conversation.
Date: 2013-04-03
From: Newfound Gap

To: Gatlinburg, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent the day in Gatlinburg with our trail angle running us around town. Some people had drop boxes at the post office. We resupplied at Food Lion and went to an outfitter. I was going to get a new pair of shoes since mine have holes but after talking to a thru hiker from 2004 I decided to stick with the shoes I have. He said if they are comfortable and not causing blisters I'd be better of dealing with the wet feet. Also, Anita found another pair of the exact same shoe that she will bring me in Hot Springs next week. Gatlinburg is a little overwhelming when you've been on the trail and is very much a tourist town. The rest of our group took a walk around town but I wanted to spend some time journaling so I stayed at the hotel. Angel and I walked over to the outfitter to get a few more things and ran into Sour Patch, Yeti, and Backtracker. Angel had heard lots of stories about Sour Patch so I was glad she got to meet him. For dinner we went to the Mellow Mushroom and had enough pizza left over to take on the trail tomorrow. We also ran into Sour Patch, Yeti, Backtracker, and Turtle Tracks. I hadn't seen Turtle Tracks since the NOC. Some reflections on previous posts: The change in the forrest I was trying to describe is more like rain forrest. Mossy logs, dark in places, rich soil, etc. Lesson learned hiking on ice . . . don't put your hands in the straps on your poles so if you fall it doesn't twist your arm.Ailment update: all blisters seem to be healed. I had had some pain in my left lateral ankle that seems to be well on the way to resolving. I have numbness in my right thumb from holding the poles so tight while hiking on ice. My biggest problem is pain that goes from my right anterior hip to my lateral knee. I'm not sure if its muscle or nerve but I'm pretty sure it's aggravated by the hip belt on my backpack. I've had it for about a week.
Date: 2013-04-04
From: Gatlinburg, NC

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: snow

We decided our rule was that you had to have your pack ready to go and in Angel's car by 7:00 if you want to go to breakfast with us. We wanted to get an early start on the trail. Everyone made the deadline and we ate a huge breakfast at a pancake place. Quaker had the biggest stack of pancakes I've ever seen anyone eat. Then we all loaded up and Angel drove us back to the trail. She truly has been an angel. When we reached Newfound Gap it was pouring down rain and 39 degrees. It was a terrible day to get back on the trail. We had a 3 mile climb and figured we would stop at the first shelter for lunch. The trail was still icy but not as bad as when we climbed Clingman. I must have accidentally had my rain jacket tucked inside my rain pants because before I knew it my entire butt and back of my legs were wet. I was cold and struggling to stay warm. Even though we had only come 3 miles we decided to stay at this shelter because we were all cold. I think it was a good idea because within an hour all the trees and bushes were covered with ice. So what does one do when you have all afternoon and evening in a shelter? Of course you can do the favorite thing hikers do - eat! Others napped, journaled, or read. For other shelter entertainment see the video section. I'll have to add it later - couldn't upload it from where I'm a. It's a guy who pulled his down coat over his knees and was waddling around like a penguin . . . maybe you had to be there:-) One of the amusing things about this shelter is that it has a handicap accessible privy (see pic section) but there is no way a handicapped person could get up here. We spent most of the afternoon in our sleeping bags trying to stay warm.
Date: 2013-04-07
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

I slept later than usual since I got in so late last night. I had already decided I was going to take my time, have a hot breakfast, do some laundry (by hand with old fashion wash boards and rollers), and resupply. I ended up taking so long that I didn't leave until after lunch. Even though I stayed to get things done, I was glad to go. So far, this has been my least favorite place that I've stayed. It has a lot of potential and I don't know how to describe it other than to say the employees are edgy and a little creepy. Just my opinion - I'm sure other people love it. I did have a very nice experience visiting a couple from France who are here touring the eastern United States. Next they are going to Asheville, then Atlanta, and eventually to New Orleans. The climb out of Standing Bear Farm is a big one from 1,775 ft to the top of Snowbird Mtn at 4,263 ft. I knew I would climb for the first 4.4 miles, but it was a pretty day and I was very relaxed. I think the Smokies had given me a lot of confidence and I wasn't the least bit concerned about the late start or the climb. I only saw 2 people all day and they were SOBO section hikers. I enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the solitude. When I reached the top of Snowbird Mtn I was pleasantly surprised that it was a true "bald" with a large grassy top (see pic section). When I reached the shelter I was the only one there and I thought I might be alone tonight. I began doing my camp chores and soon Poppop (Charlotte) arrived. He is a previous thru hiker in his late 60's and he's not sure if he is going to thru hike all the way this year or not. A little later Yooper and Big Red, a couple from Missouri, arrived. The shelter was in a nice spot by a creek but I was very disappointed in the amount of trash. I picked up as much as I could and put it in a bag that I found. Yooper said she was going to carry it out tomorrow. Yooper and Big Red were frustrated because their gas for their stove was empty. I had purchased a new can at the hostel so I have them my partially used one. They offered to trade it for a candy bar (trail money) or buy me a beer in Hot Springs. I agreed to the beer. I cannot tell you how good it feels to be warm and have everything dry. It was so warm that in the middle of the night I woke up hot and unzipped my sleeping bag and used it like a quilt. Something I've been meaning to post for a long time is frequently hearing this thumping sound that starts off slowly and increases in speed. Sometimes I thought it was my pounding heart and other times it sounded like a distant helicopter. I learned that it is a sound that a Grouse makes. The snor'chestra had the night off so I drifted to sleep with the distant sound of a hooting owl and the gurgling creek . . .
Date: 2013-04-09
From: Walnut Mountain

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

No bears visited last night so my rock pile remained unused. Excitement was in the air as everyone anticipated getting into Hot Springs. Before we completed the 13.1 mile trek we would climb Bluff Mtn (4,686 ft) and then drop low finishing with a climb over Deer Park Mtn (2,583 ft) before Hot Springs at 1,326 ft. I woke up thirsty 3 times last night and realized that I was probably a little dehydrated. My fluid intake seemed to verify my hypothesis as I drank nearly 5 liters of fluid today. Since I started this journey (March 4th) I have lost 30 lbs. If you include my pre-trail training, I have lost 60 lbs since November. I will need to find ways to increase my calories and slow down my weight loss in order to not burn out. The lure of town was driving me today and I completed the 13+ miles by 1:30. It was an awesome sight seeing Hot Springs below me as I zig zagged my way down the mountain. Hot Springs is a very hiker friendly town and the AT goes right down main street. I spent the rest of the afternoon eating, resupplying, doing laundry, journaling, and socializing with other hikers - to many to name. I am staying in a historic house (Elmer's Sunnybank Inn) (see pic section) that has been turned into a hikers hostel. It's a very comfortable place to be but tomorrow it's back on the trail.
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain
Miles today: 11.0

It was hot in my upstairs room at the inn and my room didn't have a window so I had a restless night. The Sunnybank Inn is known for their gourmet vegetarian meals but I forgot to sign up for breakfast so I walked across the street to the diner and had 2 eggs, a double order of hash browns, sausage, biscuits, gravy, and orange juice. Before I left town I also had a banana, a quart of powerade, and a coke. I lingered in town for awhile Nd socialized with hikers at the laundromat and the outfitters. It is a pretty day and I really like this town. The walk out of town was no less peaceful as I walked across the bridge over the French Broad River, turned down beside the river and strolled out of town on a flat path on the banks of the river. Several hikers were stealth camping in this area. The tranquil trail didn't last long as I soon began the steep climb out of Hot Springs. The view of the town below was amazing and there were lots of rock outcroppings that afforded excellent views. During the course of the day I would climb from Hot Springs at 1,326 ft to Spring Mountain at 3,556 ft. As the day wore on I began to regret having lingered so long in town. The temperature rose to the mid 80's and really wishes I had gotten some of the climbs done in the cooler morning hours. There are now lots of wildflowers and I'll try to post some pics of them. On one of the climbs I came upon a random concrete dam that made a small pond. There I met Doc and his parents. Doc is leaving the trail today due to a back injury and his parents came to pick him up. I know a lot of people have left the trail because the shelters are much less crowded. Tex caught up with me soon after the pond so we had lunch together and I gave him a slice of my pizza. I have not seen Tex since Georgia and we spent much of the time comparing notes about other hikers we had met since then. The day seemed to drag on as the heat and humidity didn't let up and neither did the climbs of the bugs. I drank 3 liters of water while hiking and a 4th when I got to the campsite. There is a shelter here but no one is staying in it. The 4 of us tenting are Sequoia, Phys Ed, Two Sticks, and me. It's a great campsite on top if mountain. The water source here is a little difficult. It is about 75 yards down a fairly steep hill and it wasn't flowing all that well. When I went to get water I found Sequoia's glasses sitting beside the water so I brought them back up to him. We all sat on a log and had our dinners together. The owls are hooting and the tree frogs are chirping. There is a gentle breeze and I think I will sleep well tonight. My favorite gear today is my Maine visor. It keeps the sun, rain, snow, and falling ice out of my eyes. It helps protect my nose from the harmful sun. It functions as a sweatband, but most importantly it is the Hobo trademark on the trail. Tomorrow I have a short hike to meet my sweetie pie and we will drive back to Hot Springs and zero for two days. I can't wait!! There is a soothing red glow in the sky to the west as the sunsets . . .