morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-18
From: WINE SPRING CAMP

To: COLD SPRING SHELTER
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

From: Wine SpringTo: Cold Spring ShelterToday miles:7.6Total miles:122.4What a cold night! I think it was around 5 to 10 this morning outside. I did not sleep very well, but I made it and was actually warm except I put my water bottle in my sleeping bag with me. I do not recommend that process and I plan to do almost anything from now on rather than that. Since I went 12 miles yesterday today would be my short day. It was beautiful hike up to Wayah Bald. After I got to the top I could see for miles and could actually see Mt. Albert and Standing Indian. Both of those mountains I had climbed a few days before! It gives you a satisfying feeling to look at places you have walked from. I sat there for a while soaking up the sun.One mile before the shelter at Burningtown Gap there was this huge orange, domed tent set up with trail magic. Apple, from Texas, was serving hotdogs, sodas, hot chocolate, and cookies. It was so wonderful to get out of the cold and sit down and talk to other hikers for a while. Thanks Apple!!!Combat,who thinks he is the last Southbounder, was there. I stayed for a long time until Duckwalk and Beach Bum came in. They had been worried about me the night before as I was suppose to show up at Siler Bald shelter but didn't. (And I did not miss my cheeseburger as Duckwalk had brought cold beer instead! BRRRR!) I thought if I sat there long enough they would hike in to the dome. After eating and conversing for a while, we three left for the shelter. The shelter was actually on the trail. I like when you don't have to walk too far off the trail to the shelter. I think this is one of the older ones shelters on the trail. Carolina Dave was there when we hiked in and Loner showed up so the shelter was full. Later M-A and Marshall and Song and Harmony came in but they had to go on to find camping spaces. We were looking for firewood and I found a whole stack around the side of the shelter. So thank-you to whomever left it all stacked up for us. Duckwalk made a great fire and we sat around until dark and then went to bed. Not near as cold as the night before thank goodness.
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

What difference a day makes. Today was beautiful, warm and sunny. I kept having to take off layers as the day progressed. Of course hiking is hiking and the days are always hard no matter how you feel in the morning so by the end of the day you are tired and ready to sit and take off your boots. The ridge walking today was fun (it was a little like riding a roller coaster, small ups and downs and I tried to gain some strength by pushing myself some) until we started to go down and down into the NOC. I was hiking all alone as usual and again like before Albert Mtn, I hear music and as I get closer I see Song and Harmony sitting on the side of the trail singing. It was wonderful trail magic for me today. And I walked the rest of the way feeling a little less tired and sore. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is a great place for a Thru-hiker. I arrived and checked in to the one motel room they have and took a loooong shower. My hiking support and dear friend Mary Anne was meeting me there to bring food and look into getting a new pack as mine is still not working and maybe also some new boots. $$$$$$. She was not there yet, so I went to the restaurant and met Duckwalk and Beach Bum and had the best cheeseburger of my lifeMary Anne arrived and joined us. I went back to the room and soaked my sore feet and lay in a real bed and watched tv and just really vegged out for the first time since I started. I was looking forward to my first zero day. That is a day with no hiking but you still need to do all your town chores such as laundry, resting, and re-supplying.
Date: 2007-03-20
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was the first zero day I have had and I really enjoyed every moment of it. I started with breakfast with Mary Anne, Beach Bum, and Duckwalk and then said good-bye to the boys as they were going on today. I don't think I could have kept up with them anyway but it was sure nice having their company for the first days of the trail. I thought maybe Hobo or Calamity Jane would arrive today but it did not happen. It is amazing that people I have only know for a few days have become so close to me and have gotten into my heart already! I did laundry, wrote in my journal, and soaked my feet for most of the day. I did very little walking. It actually takes almost all day just to get ready for the trail again the next day. I tried on many pack and with the help of Silver, another Thru-hiker, just a little younger than me, picked out the Osprey, Ariel 65. They did not have the one that I wanted so Mary Anne is going to order it from REI and bring it to me when I get to Gatlinburg, TN. I ate as much as I could today and relaxed but I am ready to go back on the Trail tomorrow.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: NOC

To: SASSAFRAS GAP Selter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: broken clouds

I   did not get off until almost 11:30 but I slept in, had a big breakfast, and walked around the Outdoor Center. I had heard the trail was going to be hard and it did go up for 7 miles, but it was not awful and the weather again was very warm.I have found that even if the map says it is all up that it is not really so and the trail gives you a break every now and then and the same with the downs. I passed Silver and other hikers passed me. I was going to take a break after three hours but then heard this huge clap of thunder so I just kept on going and got to the shelter around 3:30 PM. I just ate my lunch for dinner. This is a two floor shelter and I am on the top tonight. I don't really like the top as if I have to get up in the night I have to climb down and avoid peoples heads. Here tonight are MA, Marshal, Rob, Silver, Magellen (she is 70 and this is her second time doing the AT), Stretch, George, and some young guys who are hiking BIG miles. We sat around the fire for a long time and talked about different happenings on and off the trail. The section hikers generally cook very elaborate meals, especially compared to my simple ones. After a day off I felt better, but my blisters and still hurting my toes. I thought by now they would be better. I finally climbed up into the top of the shelter and hopefully will get a good nights sleep.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: SASSAFRAS Gap

To: BROWN FORK GAP SHELTER
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was harder than I thought it was going to be. I felt like I was back in Georgia with the straight ups and downs. When I got to the picnic table at Stecoah Gap dropped my pack for a long break. I really like pinic tables and when you are surprised by one like today, it is even more special. Marshal came by and we looked at the elevation map and it looked like it went straight up! So I finally made myself get up and begin the climb. And yes it felt like it went straight up the side of the mountain. What happened to switch backs? You could reach out and touch the trail in front of you. But by taking my time and resting, I made it to the top. That is one of the biggest lessons as if you just keep putting one foot in front of you, you do eventually get to the end! And on the plus side it was just a beautiful weather day. Cool in the morning and afternoon, and this evening it is not nearly as cold as it has been. I finally saw some wildlife today. I have seen nothing except two lizards, LGB Birds (Little Gray Birds) that hang around the shelter, some Robins that hop along the trail with you, and one tiny blue butterfly, but today I saw the biggest rabbit I have ever seen. It really scared me for a minute but it was nice to see some natural animals out here besides the two legged kind. I was hiking down some rocks today stepped on a twig and right right down. Luckily I landed on my paxk but will need to be careful out there. We are sitting around the fire tonight: MA, Marshall, Rob, Strider, Silver, and Magellen. Pebble just arrived. She hiked in one day what has taken me two. She came all the way from the NOC! If you remember I started with her and it was good to catch up with how she had been doing. We all told stories of our adventures so far and it was a very pleasant evening. Later Renaissance Man also came in with his dog GoJoe.Tomorrow I walk to Fontana Dam where my friend Helene will picking me up!!! I have not seen her in 12 years
Date: 2007-03-23
From: BROWN FORK GAP SHELTER

To: FONTANA DAM
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today Miles 12.7Total Miles 161.5I was up and out by 8:30. I am getting better at packing up. Magellan walked a lot of the trail with me today. She is 70 years old and passes me every time on the down hills!The trail was fairly easy today for the first part of the day but got harder both going up and down later on.The trail was also pretty crowded today. It seems as if every time we go into a town there seems to be more people out there. I was passed, of course, by all of these young people. Some of them started on March 12 and are doing 20-mile days already. I am far away from doing that kind of mileage, if ever.I had my first fall today but it was a relatively easy one. I put one foot on a rock and it just kept going and I went down, but luckily my pack was under me and nothing was damaged. I became even more cautious after that.My friend Helene met me on the trail today. I have not seen her in 12 years so it was great to get to spend some time with her. She became an instant trail angel as she drove people to town and to the hostel, picked up packages and drove hikers back to the Dam.She took me to her house where we had pizza, washed my cloths, got clean and her friend Kim, took care of my feet.Tomorrow Helene is going to do a little hiking with me as I enter the Smoky Mountains. It is a big deal for the Thru Hikers and it seems we are all a little scared to start this next leg because there seems to be a lot of rules and you must stay at the shelters. We all will be glad to get through them without any mishaps.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: FONTANA DAM

To: MOLLIE'S RIDGE SHELTER
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

From Fontana Dam Rt 28To Mollies Ridge ShelterToday miles 12.4Total miles 173.9I had a great nights sleep at Helene's house and she got up early and made a wonderful breakfast. We left the house around 8:00 AM but needed a few things at the store so it was around 10:30 when we got back to Fontana Dam and then I had to walk the miles to the trail head. Helene drove MA and Marshall to Fontana Village. I did my first slack pack of about 2 miles. It was just road walking so I didn't feel too guilty. We hit the trail around noon and it went, of course up, from 1700 ft in elevation to 4,570 at Mollies Ridge Shelter. It wad fun to have Helen to talk to and we chatted all the way up to the Shuckstack Fire Tower. We caught up on 12 years of both of our lives.As soon as we started walking into the park, we saw two red-headed pilated woodpeckers. The were looking at us and then would fly a few feet away and repeated that until we got too close. It was very cool. We had lunch and climbed the Fire Tower. The views were fantastic of both where I have walked and where I will be walkingIt was after 3:00 by the time I left for Mollies Ridge and Helene to her car. I had about 6 miles to go and it was still a lot of up. I was looking up for white blazes as I had not seen any in awhile and tripped over a root. I went down pretty quickly and landed on my face. It really hurt a lot and I thought about what I had said yesterday about not having any mishaps. (I found out later I had broken my nose). I took a self portrait of myself to see how bad it was and then went on and arrived at the shelter at 7:00 PM so by the time I got water, set up, hung my pack it was dark. It was too late to cook so I had a bagel, cheese, and a Dove chocolate (thanks Helene). Fishing Fred is here. He did trail magic before Mt. Albert. He gave me an AT 2007 sticker and a little wooden charm with a white blaze on it. He will be selling his stuff at Trail Days so I will have to visit his booth.The ridge runner, Graybeard is here. He watches over the place and you have to stay in the shelters. I was so glad when Pebble walked out. She helped me set up and get water. I am lying here on the top part of the shelter next to Pebble who is reading Sea Biscuit and we are listening to the coyote¢s howl, so maybe I am glad I am not in my tent!
Date: 2007-03-25
From: MOLLIE'S RIDGE SHELTER

To: DERRICK KNOB
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

From Mollie'S RidgeTo Derrick KnobToday miles 11.7Total miles 185.6I woke up with my eyes almost swollen shut but got up and hiked on anyway. When I would meet people along the trail, I would pull down my cap and lower my head. I got some pretty good questions and stares from fellow hikers who caught a glimpse of my face. And it is a good thing I already have a trail name as Fishing Fred is writing about my fight with the bear in the shelter journals The morning walk was lovely. Most of it was ridge walking and I did the first six miles in a little more than 3 hours. Met Ranger Kent on the trail and had to show my Backpacker Pass. I am glad I had it as they say you can be fined up tp $250.00 for not having your permit, for having a dog, or for section hikers not staying in the correct shelter. Seems like a lot of rules for a sport like backpacking to me! I had lunch near Spence Field. The next 6 miles were a different story. Went up to the top of Rocky Top and Thunderhead then crossed lots of balds and the day turned very hot and buggy. These tiny bugs like sweat bees are everywhere and they bite if you stop walking. It took me 4.5 hours to hike those long miles and arrived at the shelter around 5:00. At least I had time for dinner.I think this trail teaches you to deal with losses in a good way. Yesterday, Helen and I were taking about her mother and my brother and mother. I was really having a hard time talikng about them, so I know I need to deal with their deaths on a deeper level and maybe this hike will help. On the Trail you meet people, and you get close to them so quickly and then you or they take a zero or shorter milage day and they are out of your life for awhile or forever and then you met others etc. You are constantly dealing with mini- losses. Well there is my philsophy musings for today!Here tonight are Pebble, Lifesupport, Song and Harmoney, Loner, Fishing Fred, three section hikers on Spring break, a father and two boys, and the ridgerunner. Life Support was very kind to me tonight and went down to the water source to get my water and also gave me a cap for my water bladder that I seemed to have misplaced. Pebble and Life Support took off around 9:00 PM to night hike to the next shelter. They asked me to come along. I said no way! Look at my face, I have enough trouble hiking during the daylight hours.
Date: 2007-03-26
From: DERRICK KNOB

To: DOUBLE SPRING GAP
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

From Derrick Knob ShelterTo Double Spring Gap ShelterToday's Miles 7.2Total Miles 192.8Started out around 9:00 AM as I only had 7 miles today. It was one of the nicest days I have had so far. It was not so hot and the bugs were not too bad. There were lots of beautiful views and not very many hard ups or downs.I had lunch at Siler Bald Shelter (deja veu as there was one in NC). And then only had two miles to go to Double Spring. I had a big lunch but was still hungry when I got to the shelter. As I got closer to the shelter the tress began to change to pines. They gave off a beautiful fragrance and I felt like I was in Maine. It is the earliest I have ever arrived at a shelter. Loner was there and was heating water to clean up and I thought what a good idea! I did the same and felt wonderful after. The difference between tenting and sheltering is I stay cleaner in the tent. But in the Smokies you are suppose to shelter unless it is full.The place is full tonight with all the shelter space taken and many tents set up. I was afraid it was going to storm so I stayed next to Loner in the shelter. Tonight here are Loner, Fishing Fred, T Wiglit (Helen drove him to town in Fontana), Biscuit, two groups of three section hikers one from college, and one front high school, and the father and two kids. I have been very impressed by the young people who have been section hiking. They have all been so polite and concerned for the environment. I hope it bodes well for the future of this planet.I just figured out I am the only female here tonight with 13 males! It is a beautiful evening but there are some big clouds above.
Date: 2007-03-27
From: DOUBLE SPRING GAP

To: NEWFOUND GAP
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

From Double Spring Gap ShelterTo Newfound Gap US 441Today miles 10.8Total miles 203.6It was like walking through Hobbit Land today. Pine and fir and dead spruce trees covered the terrain. Green moss grew over everything. It was cool and the fog and clouds were rolling through the woods making you feel like you were the only one in the world walking this path.I climbed up to Clingman's Dome at an of elevation at 6,643 ft it is the highest point on the AT. There is a tower that looks like it should be in an outer space movie and in the dense fog in looked even stranger. The three high school kids from last night were there and so I walked up the ramp but you could only see about 10 ft. Fishing Fred and Twiglet arrived and the three of us had lunch. Then another thru hiker McGuyver arrived and he joined us. Loner came along but did not stop. On the way down, I finally got cell reception and called Mary Anne who was suppose to bring my new pack on Wednesday. She said she was actually arriving in Gatlinburg today so I quickly changed plans from hiking 6.8 to 10.8! I needed to hurry and catch Loner as I had told him I would make a phone call for him but would get the info tonight. I finally did catch him and continued on. It was a hard climb down and some parts of the trail were covered in ice! It was hard to believe as we have been sweating for the last four days.McGuyver and I kept passing each other all day. He would take a break and I would not and that is why I could catch him. I was trying to get to New Found Gap by 4:00. It was closer to 5:00 when I arrived.Mary Anne had set up her car to give out some trail magic. When McGuyver arrived, she sat him down and filled him up and sent him off with many goodies and a lighter step for the next few miles. I went in to Gatlinburg for a good meal, a hot shower and a good night sleep!
Date: 2007-03-28
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: GATLINBURG TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Gatlinburg,TNToday's miles: 0Total Miles 203.6Today was a zero day that I did not think I would have but I am glad I did. It is only my second one and I think my body needed the rest. I have a few more scheduled zeros soon so we will see how I am doing. And, I needed to change my pack, as it is just too small for all the winter gear. I got an Osprey, Ariel 65. It is bigger and heavier but at least all my "stuff" fits inside and it is not top heavy and pulling back on my shoulders. I will see how it does after the 10 miles tomorrow. Gatlinburg is an interesting place. I have never been here before. It is a tourist¢s town and reminds me of Myrtle Beach with haunted houses and a Ripley's Believe It or Not. But it had a great outfitter, Smokey Mt Outfitters. The guys in there were wonderful. Even though I did not get my pack from them, they took a long time fitting the pack to me. . I need a small hip belt as I am all ready at the end of this one and they got all the information for me to order one. I would recommend their store for any of your needs here.I am well fed, re-supplied and ready to hit the trail tomorrow
Date: 2007-03-29
From: NEWFOUND GAP

To: PECK'S CORNER SHELTER
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

From: Newfound GapTo: Peck's Corner ShelterToday's miles: 10.4Total Miles: 214.0Mary Anne sent me off at NewFound Gap around 8:30 AM and I headed out after a really nice zero day in Gatlinburg, TN. I had my new pack on and it started to rain so I put my rain jacket and my pack cover to protect the pack. It is only the second time I have had my rain jacket on since March 7 so I can't complain. I could only keep my coat on for a while, as it was just too hot, so I just walked in the drizzle/rain. It was cool and cloudy all day as I walked along the ridges alone today. It was the most ridge walking I've done but you could only see about 10ft on both sides so it was sort of a wate. I stopped at Ice Water Shelter for a break. I now know why they call it Ice Water Springs, as when I left there it was a sheet of ice for a good 100 ft or so. It was little scary trying to get across and around it. I had to walk on the very edge of the trail where there was no ice. I heard the grouse all day thumping away and then as I walked to the shelter I actually saw my first one.Tonight I am at Peck's Corner Shelter. It is .4 miles off the trail, which I never like but I could not make it to the next shelter before dark. But it turned out to be the nicest shelter I've been to in the Smoky's. It has a covered area for cooking and eating, which the others did not have. It has a fireplace, which tonight we have a roaring fire going in it. Flower Lady, Ceader, and U-Turn are here and also a father, son and uncle who are section hiking. Some of their things are wet and everything is cold and damp. Well it is almost dark so I will say goodnight!
Date: 2007-03-30
From: PECK'S CORNER SHELTER

To: COSBY KNOB SHELTER
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

From Peck's Corner ShelterTo Cosby Knob ShelterToday miles 12.9Total miles 226.9Today started out promising with the sun out, but we went up into the clouds very quickly and stayed there for most of the day. We had some pretty good climbs today over Mt. Sequoyah at 6,069 and Mt. Chapman at 6,417 but they were gradual climbs and I actually prefer the long slow uphill climbs.We also had a lot of ridge walking again today but again did not see many views. I had lunch at Tri-Corner Shelter but then still had 7.7 miles to go.I passed a plane that had crashed, a F-4 Phantom, in 1984. It was a little weird to actually see parts of a plane in the side of a mountain and wondered about the people in the plane. I meet Shatter (Ridge Runner for this area) again and talked to him for a while. He was digging out the "run off areas" of the trail to try and keep the trail dryer so thanks Shatter. It is still a long day for me if the mileage is over 12 miles, but I need to up the mileage at some point. I have about 10 miles tomorrow and then my friend Helene is going to pick me up again and take me home to her house for a zero day Here tonight are MA ad Marshal, Bonnie, Loner, Skip who I have not seen for awhile, and Flower Lady and Ceder. Marshal has built a wonderful fire in the inside fireplace. It is the first night at a shelter that so far we have only Thru Hikers. Maybe all the spring breakers are back in school. We all have known each other before so it is like an extended family. Skip is chasing mice away in the upper floor of the shelter.