morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-02
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 4.6

Today as each person woke up they stretched, rolled over, and say, ¢Oh no.¢ We were all happy that the rain had stopped in the middle of the night. I could hear the moment it stopped drumming on the tin roof. But the joke was it had not stopped raining, it had just turned to freezing rain then snow. It was only an inch or two when we woke up. All of the food bags were frozen into place on the bear lines. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was snowing nonstop. Yes, we were going to Gatlinburg no matter what now. It was only about four miles and we had a potential ride. A slightly ill prepared youth group was parked at Clingmans Dome. We convinced the boys that they really did need to put the socks on as mittens even though they were dirty and off we went. A fellow thru hiker called after us that he was worried we were making the wrong choice and that it wouldn¢t kill us to take a zero in a shelter. Zero in a freezing cold shelter not moving with some slightly odd people or hike a few miles and hang out in a totally cheesy town. Gatlinburg wins. Part way there the youth group boys started to get really cold and FD had to donate his dry socks. This was also the first time I really hiked in my rain pants. Nice to know I was carrying them around for something. After a mile or two my bite valve froze. The whole tube froze. Luckily there was snow everywhere. Everyone once in a while I¢d just scoop up a handful and chew away.We all made it safely to the bathrooms at the Clingmans. The bathrooms had become the safe haven we all talked about. It was out of the wind and snow. And there were flush toilets, always a huge plus. Sadly the youth group said that they only had room for two in their car. The last car in a white parking lot. FD was going for sure. One kid was wearing all of his socks and he had a friend in a nearby city he could call. Mouth quickly grabbed the other spot as he had twisted his ankle at the shelter that morning. FD and Mouth promised to come back for us no matter what. CP and I quickly realized that no car was going to make it through the now five or six inches of snow back up to get us.   CP shook the ice out of his sleeve, I poptarted up and off we went.   We were told it was only four miles down the road to Newfound Gap and it was all downhill. We were lied to. It was seven miles with some uphills. At this point FD and Mouth were at the hotel, warm, showered, and watching Revenge of the Nerds.What seemed like hours later the ranger came with snow plows and got us. We did not HAVE to be saved, but it felt great to get in that warm truck. Being ¢saved¢ felt fantastic. CP and I were not the only ones to be taken off of the mountain. Being warm and safe at the Grand Prix Motel just a short time later was even better. It wasn¢t even snowing in Gatlinburg. Everything was starting to become green. A crazy contrast. Somehow we hit the only snow so far the day we go over the highest point on the AT.
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Gatlinburg- home of $10 Davy Crockett mini golf, 25 cent Trolley rides, ELOPING, and the Brewery. Ahhh, the Brewery with micro brewed beer. We had too much fun and met great new friends. Enough said, and at the same time only the tip of the iceberg.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Gatlinburg

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We could not get out of Gatlinburg till 4 pm. The road was closed till noon and then we had trouble getting a free ride to Clingmans. We hit Newfound Gap in time for dinner with Lion King and Fat Chap at the parking lot. Fat Chap has a hostel in NH and is down here doing trail magic till Trail Days. Then he heads home to greet the southbounders then later us NOBOs. We noticed a father and son heading north up the AT as the sunset. I ate too many sandwiches and back into the slush we headed. At least with night hiking you can see the stars and be surprised by snowmen.   We quickly passed the father and son and pushed onto the shelter. Because we arrived just passed 9 pm the four of us quickly and quietly found space and crawled into our sleeping bags. The father and son showed up after 11 pm and shone their headlamps in everyone faces. They muttered about having to make reservations and then the shelter being full. What do you expect, everyone has been asleep for over 2 hours. Some how they found room and loudly got ready for bed.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Out of the Smokies. Today I was not going to stop until that park was behind me. The views that we saw in the second part of the park were unbelievable. But in general I think the Smokies hated me and the feeling was mutal. Standing Bear Farm is great. Never again will I see a hostel with this much character. The re-supply ¢store¢, bunkhouse, shower, kitchen, laundry, and privy (the only draw back) are all small hand-built log cabin type buildings that form a compound. Everything is on the honor system and they have frozen pizza you can buy. Definitely enough food to re-supply to Hot Springs.My first toenails have departed from my feet. At least they were only the smaller ones and I did NOT cry.
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

Today we went over Max Patch. This might have been one of the coolest places yet. Think of a mountain covered with soft grass and views in every direction your eyes may fall. It was too windy to sleep on top or we all would have stayed in a heartbeat. They are building a new shelter only a mile from Max Patch. We were hoping that it was done and we could stop there for the night. To our extreme disappointment only the privy was completed and the rest was a pile of logs. Sadly we trudged on the extra four miles to the next shelter.
Date: 2005-04-08
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

We made it to Hot Springs ahead of the rain AND before the Post Office closed. 270 miles! Hot Springs is shockingly small. The way everyone talks about it, it seemed like it would be much bigger. There is the springs place of course, the outfitter, the Paddlers Pub, Smoky Mountain diner, the Alpine Motel, and the local mini mart / laundry mat. Several times we tried to go to some small place that advertised groceries but it was always closed. Really only place to re-supply is the outfitters but they have lots of good stuff. This is a huge rafting place so for once we are not the only ones wearing waldies!
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

More money spent on gear. You would think by now I would have everything I need and have the right stuff. Not so. I bought a new food bag. The glorious handmade purple gortex bag will go home. The problem with the purple bag is that it is a stuff sack, so when I hang it on the bear lines and it rains, rain leaks in the hole at the top. Now I have a roll top bag with a clip to add just that extra ounce or so. (As a side note right after I bought the bag that was great for bearlines there stopped being bearlines. Now at a shelter the food hangs inside on mice lines)We stayed at Elmer¢s both nights. The house is beautiful and the beds are real beds. CP is in the greenhouse room. It is actually a kind of sun porch glassed-in addition to the back of the house. Not a lot of privacy. FD is in the basement room which is very tiny but he only has to pay $10. I¢m sharing a room with Mouth and paying $15. Breakfast was waffles with real berries on top. Dinner was carrot soup, salad, couscous with curried veggies and yogurt sauce. Dessert was keylime pie. By the time the dessert came around I was incredibly full but was not going to let any bite of it go uneaten. The only bad part was that my bill seemed to run up fast and by the time I left I owed $50.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Hot Springs

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

This was not my original destination. Mouth, Pilot, and I were waylaid by fabulous trail magic till it was too dark to go on. My first big toenail was taken out tonight. Once again no tears but I am slightly traumatized.   Who knew toenails were square at the bottom?
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Bald Mtn Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

We all safely made it to Erwin. Not at Miss Janet's yet, she was full. To me it will be worth it to take a zero tomorrow to stay there. Plus we have a certain person's birthday to celebrate. I'm just still wondering when the uphills are going to get easier. 19 miles the most so far in one day. All 4 of the injured toenails have flown the coop. I will never be able to wear my beautiful open-toed high heels again. But at least now nothing is hurting. Now I just have to figure out where these random scrapes and bruises come from. I'm also working on the worst version of a farmer's/knee brace/watch/braclet/leki tan ever!The first thing I saw coming down to Erwin was Uncle Johnny¢s. We bought sodas at the machines and hid out from the rain under the porch but did not stay. We all seem to have the impression that this was a not a good place to sleep but no one could really say why. Mouth took off down the road while Red and I waited for CP and FD. We walked a mile with no luck getting a ride. By then we hit the A&W / Gas Station and had to stop for food. We finally got a hold of Miss Janet while gorging on hush puppies and rootbeer floats. Mouth had gotten there but very sadly there was no room for us. This was very disappointing for me. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express because it was right next door and the people were very nice. (We paid way too much but were out of the rain and had internet.)
Date: 2005-04-14
From: Erwin

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We moved over to Miss Janet¢s today and claimed bunk space. FD cooked some BIG steaks and I iced a cake for CP¢s birthday!!! Angel food with cream cheese frosting, sliced strawberries, and the extra special dinosaur candles. Mouth and I gave CP the speaker (for an MP3 player) that FD have tried to ditch several days ago. We secretly picked it up and carried it. FD was quite surprise to see it reappear and CP had no idea he had left it in the first place.We also met a new thru-hiker. Quinn started ahead of us but took time off in Hot Springs. I wasn¢t totally sure who she was at first since sometimes she signs trail registers with just her real name. It is always great to have another girl my age to hang out with. She is a little bit shorter but walks crazy fast.
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Deep Gap Campsite

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

It took me from 6:45 when I crossed the road to 8:10 to get to the top of Roan Mountain. I had to push hard because I was racing the sun. I am very proud of myself for making such fantastic time. Especially since Roan Mtn had started to loom large in my mind and scared me a little bit. I knew that I had to get up it today in order to meet my grandfather at the right time tomorrow. The sunset from the top of Roan was perfect. I wanted to linger but dark was falling. Maybe I will get to come back again since you can drive to the top of Roan Mtn. Sometimes it is so frustrating to work so hard to get to the top of something and then realize that everyone else can just drive up and get the same view.I spent the night amid the fraser firs and left over snow. The shelter was an old ranger cabin so it actually has four walls and a door. CP and FD tented like always. Sadly the area around the shelter is littered with trash and TP. Pack it out weekenders!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 15.2

I had to make it to the road by 4 pm because my Grandfather was meeting me there. He just happened to be passing through on that day. It worked out perfectly since we just needed a ride to dinner and resupply. Sadly every restaurant was closed since it was Sunday. Everywhere except for some random small place called Buck¢s. Then we tented at Mountain Harbour B&B. I got stuck under some pine trees on some questionable ground since I was too slow on the draw to score some grassy spot with everyone else. But in the morning they all had condensation and I was perfectly dry.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: ?

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 11.2

Kincora Hostel is a great place to stay. Bob fit about 15 of us in his truck and drove us not only to Food City but also to CVS, Pizza, and McDonalds. Lots of people that went with Bob to do trail maintenance.   New friends caught up with us today; Swan and her brother David (still no name), Rawhide and Haiku. Very funny and happy people. Hopefully they will hike around us for awhile.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Dennis Cove

To: Iron Mtn Gap
Miles today: 13.1

Watuga Lake. This is the biggest body of water we have seen yet. The requisite teenagers skipping school were sunning themselves at the beach. I wonder what they thought of all of us hikers wandering up to the beach, dropping their packs wherever and running into the water. I did not go, very much a wuss when it comes to cold water. Quinn did not go in either, so I was not the only one. Most people came right back out. After a little while we wandered off in search of a rope swing we had heard rumors of. David found it while we were still at the beach and went off the bank sans clothes. It was about half a mile around the lake so no one saw anything, but it was quite funny anyways.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Iron Mtn Gap

To: ?
Miles today: 24.7

The moon is almost full and I have desperately wanted to go night hiking by the light of it. Once again CP, FD, and Red managed to get into town at some random road crossing and find a cheeseburger. The two Big Shady burgers from the Cranberry Caf© in Shady Valley and the following several mile hike were not sitting well with FD so he decided to stay at the shelter. Quinn and CP were far ahead so Mouth and I decided to eat dinner at the shelter and push on. I was finally going to get the night hike I had been wanting.   This was the easiest part of the trail we had seen so far and I wanted to have a 20 mi day under my belt. Mostly just to say that I had done it. As Mouth and I took off the clouds rolled in. This was not a good sign but we pushed on. My theory was that since it was lighter ahead of us we could out hike the storm. I also wanted to secretly push past Quinn and CP in the middle of the night and camp past them. As the slowest person in the group who always arrives last this holds an appeal for me that no one else can understand. As the sun sets and the light dimmed, the rain started. We tried all of the usual tricks to get it to stop, putting on the pack cover, stopping and putting on the rain coat, but nothing worked. We were going to get wet. I realized that we were going to fall short of our goal. Both of us had to hold our headlamps in our hands so we could see where we were putting our feet. Did I mention my headlamp is awful for hiking at night? We decided to go for the first flat spot we saw. All we thought was every step we took was one less we would have to take tomorrow to get to Damascus. Two miles later a fire ring flashed into sight. Just as I set up my tent it warmed up and the rain stopped. Talk about timing. We tossed our wet stuff in Mouth¢s tent (and our food!) and climbed into mine. I did not want to have to sleep with my wet gear and Mouth didn¢t really have room in his tent for his. At least I don¢t have to worry about it raining on my tent.
Date: 2005-04-22
From: ?

To: Damascus
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Even though I woke just after 7 I didn¢t leave camp till 9. When Mouth and I woke up we realized that we had brilliantly left our camp shoes in his tent across the wet leaves. It was a contest then to see who had to pee the worst. I lost and stepped out in my socks. To my surprise there was a tent just across the trail. Pixie and Pine Dragon had rolled in AFTER us and set up camp. Mouth took off for Damascus and I tried my best to pack up quickly. (my best is very poor) Rawhide showed up as I was taking off and we hiked into Damascus together. Very good conversation the whole way down. It is always nice to meet new people and find out about their lives.Just as we hit Damascus (I had just ducked into the bathroom in the park to take advantage of the lovely toilets) when the rain started. This day my timing was much better. Rawhide and I put on the pack covers and took off for¢¦the outfitter of course. We found Mouth eating pizza and walked the whole town in five minutes to the other outfitters. I bought my first pair of trail runners!!!! I also got lower cut socks. All of the cool kids are making the switch.Then the best part of the day happened at 4 pm. My mom arrived. She had sodas, brownies, rice crispy treats, and veggies with dip. We pretty much tailgated in front of Mt. Rogers Outfitters. My mom took CP, FD, Quinn, Red and me back to my grandparent¢s cabin in NC. Walking into that kitchen was like walking into a wonderland. The fridge was stocked to overflowing and there were boxes of homemade cookies. You wander into the living room and there were plates of fruit and bowls of candy. I never want to leave.PS. I bought a Petzel Tikka Plus headlamp so now I can actually see at night!! The Princeton Tec Scout is heading home.
Date: 2005-04-23
From: Damascus

To: NC Cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Once again a zero day with very little resting. When we woke up my mom made an amazing breakfast and we headed off to Super Walmart. The boys bought fishing gear for VA and I found a new shade of nail polish. It is still so hard not to buy too much food. A lot of my dehydrated veggies seem to live in my bounce box but I am eating my homemade meals for the most part. I re-upped on peanut butter and nutella. As much as I love them, it has been great not having to carry them the last few weeks. Both are heavy as all get out. We went to Boone to check out the outfitter (of course) and watch a movie. My first movie on the trail! (not that I went to the movies a lot at home, its just cooler out here) Unfortunately, we picked Sin City. Visually it was a cool movie. It really did feel like a comic book come to life. But you had to concentrate the whole time and it was VERY gruesome. People were constantly being shot and having their heads cut off. Not my cup of tea. I should have known better when I saw that Quentin Tarantino was a guest director.
Date: 2005-04-24
From: NC Cabin

To: NC Cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Two days off in a row, this is almost like a weekend! This morning my mother cooked another amazing breakfast and we stared out the window at the snow. The wind was roaring all night and the computer said it was 27 but felt like 12. We weren¢t going anywhere. CP put up a fuss like he was going to hike but most of us admitted that we were not going to willingly leave the warm house to trudge through several inches of snow.We did drive to Damascus to pick up FD¢s new shoes. We checked out who had hit town and what we had missed. It is an odd feeling to not be right there with everyone else. I¢m around these people all of the time but still I miss them when we are apart. Even new friends who I have only known for a short time. Tomorrow it is back to the 9 to 5 (ha! I wish it were only 9 to 5, lately we have had a tendency to put in over time) The goal for VA is to take more time to smell the roses and have FUN!!!!
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I have been entrusted with the task of transcribing the writings of Bubble Toes while she awaits the return of her PocketMail that seems to have gotten stuck in repair limbo. Did they ship it all the way back to Australia?? Anyway, there is temptation to make commentary similar to that by the transcriber of Break¢s journal. My intro would probably read something like: Bubble Toes is abandoned in the woods. But there is no way I am even remotely as clever. So without further ado, the pages as written by Bubble Toes.                                                                   -- Mamma ToesI accidentally ended up at the shelter. This was not where I had planned to be. Everyone I know except Red (who now wants to be called Rocket because there is another Red) is behind me somewhere.I left town around noon and assumed the others were going to leave shortly. It was very hard to say goodbye to my mom and leave a place that feels like home (the NC cabin) to come back to the trail. The plan was to camp somewhere between the two shelters (at 10 and 15 miles out). We had heard rumors of a house that the ATC had bought and you could stay in, somewhere around 12 miles out. That would have been an awesome option.I strolled to the first shelter. The trail was gentle and I am breaking in new shoes. The only person who passed me was Rocket. I saw Angie and Box o¢ Fun at the shelter and formally met them for the first time. Sat down, had some snacks and still no one came up the trail. Off I went to look for this house. I have never been in the lead so I wasn¢t sure where to pick a campsite. Usually it is the concensus of more than one person. By the time I crossed the last road of the day I realized there was no house. Still no friends had passed me---the slowest one, who was strolling today. The next campsite I told myself. The next one already had someone. So here I sleep at the second shelter (well, tenting nearby). It has been fun hanging out with new people tonight but still I wonder where my friends are. Watching shooting stars after hanging the bear bag was the best part of the day.
Date: 2005-04-26
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Brrr! 6:30 p.m. and everyone is in bed. The sun was out when I woke up this morning at 7:30. Since everyone was behind me I rolled over and went back to sleep. At 8:30 the sun was gone and so was Red/Rocket. Box o' Fun and Angie are a bad influence and I did not leave until 10 a.m. Still no friends shooting past. It was super windy all day and after lunch it got really cold. As I almost got blown sideways off a bald I knew I was stopping at the first shelter. It has a privy, water, and the wind is not blowing in. Everything I need. Angie and BoF rock-paper-scissored to go on 5 miles to the next shelter. BoF won and off they went. Three hikers (weekenders maybe) came in, asked if there was any room. We pointed upstairs and up they climbed. They stomped around for just a few minutes and we haven't heard from them since. I think they all immediately passed out. The clouds have dropped and I know everything will be damp tomorrow morning. But it didn't start to rain till after I'd gotten in the shelter, so my shoes will be nice and dry for that perfect day we'll have tomorrow.So I just heard that CP and FD stopped to fish coming out of Damascus and never even made it to the first shelter. The Catholics could see the cloud we are sleeping in and stayed back at Lost Mountain. Somehow I am a day ahead of the people I have hiked with for the past 500 miles or so. It is a different feeling being without them. Mostly I'm just hoping Ski Bum did not pass on his curse of bad weather for Grayson Highlands.