morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

April 12, 2010Today I look forward to summiting Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 ft. it is the highest point on the AT. I hiked from Derrick Knob to Double Springt shelter, ate lunch and cameled up on water before climbing Clingmans Dome. The climb was very beautiful. There was still snow on the ground. When you stand on Clingmans Dome, you appreciate the 196.4 miles that you have walked to get there. On the way up I could feel my back getting wet. It was not perspiration. I did not close my camelback properly and got my sleeping bag and pillow wet. I will be camping at Mt. Collins shelter where id still snow on the ground. Some how I had a damp but good night¢s sleep and never got cold. I slept in silkies and underarmor so that saved me. I finally met up with my British friends who I had not seen since Cable Gap. They had decided to hike 15 miles the next day to Peck¢s corner shelter and I said I would join them.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: mist

April 13, 2010Mt. Collins shelter is a long walk from the trail. It might even be 5 or 6 miles from the trail. In the Smokies you have to camp at the shelter areas. So, the last thing you want to do is hike the wrong direction upon leaving the shelter. This is what one of the Englishmen did when leaving. Mt. Collins. Tony showed up at Peck¢s Corner in the middle of the evening after adding ten more grueling miles to an already tough 15. I was really tired when I arrived at Peck¢s Corner. I pitched my tent ate and went to bed. I snored so loudly that other hikers who were camped at considerable distance away could hear me.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

April 14, 2010 I departed Peck¢s Corner around 9am. There were a couple of nice climbs and a lot of down hill. Some of the snow was almost knee deep. I only fell twice on my entire section hike of 340 miles. It happened both times on this day. I slipped on the ice cutting my right knee. Then within two miles I slipped on ice again cutting the same knee. Arrived at Cosby Knob shelter. This was my last night in the Smokies. The Brits and I toasted with some bourbon finishing up the Smokies. They had planned on staying at Standing Bear Farm. At first I declined, but reconsidered and joined them.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Green Corner Road
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

April 15, 2010I hiked out of the Smokies and stayed the night at Standing Bear Farm. I pitched my tent there and washed my clothes on a washboard. I had a shower. I drank beer and ate pizza. I met up with many hikers that I had seen on the trail. The bunkhouse was full so Tony and Bill went on but Jimmie The flying Scotsman stayed on and we hiked out the next day.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Green Corner Road

To: Roaring Forks Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

April 16, 2010I settled up with Curtis the owner of Standing Bear Farm. He said ¢get your game face on because you have a long climb out of here.¢ It was a long climb out of Green Corner road with allot blow downs to contend with. I hiked the 15 miles to Roaring Forks Shelter and met up with my British friends. I thought this to one of he nicest shelter areas so far along the trail. The tenting spots were laid out well and the bear cables were brand new. I set up my tent near Bill. He started a small campfire and in his usual courteous manner Said ¢James, if the smoke from my fire enters your tent or bothers you, just tell me and I will put it out.¢ I assured him that it would not. We all prepared and ate our meals and got into our tents because it started to sprinkle.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

April 18, 2010This was my first zero day since I started my section hike at Springer Mt. on the 29th of March. I had an excellent breakfast at the Duckett House, but still twenty one days on the trail had no ravenous appetite. I was really looking forward to enjoying the hot spring spa. I mentioned this to another hiker at the Duckett House ¢The Wizard¢ who was from Massachusetts who replied ¢what the hell is a spah?¢ He informed me that the correct pronunciation is spuh. I laughed and said in Pennsylvania we go to the spah. When I am in Massachusetts I will definitely go to the spuh. No matter how we say it. It was one hour of heaven. They pump the water out April 18, 2010This was my first zero day since I started my section hike at Springer Mt. on the 29th of March. I had an excellent breakfast at the Duckett House, but still twenty one days on the trail had no ravenous appetite. I was really looking forward to enjoying the hot spring spa. I mentioned this to another hiker at the Duckett House ¢The Wizard¢ who was from Massachusetts who replied ¢what the hell is a spah?¢ He informed me that the correct pronunciation is spuh. I laughed and said in Pennsylvania we go to the spah. When I am in Massachusetts I will definitely go to the spuh. No matter how we say it. It was one hour of heaven. They pump the water out of the spring into a Jacuzzi and drain after each use. It totally rejuvenated my tired and aching body. I left the spa feeling fantastic and decided to stop at the Rock Bottom for lunch. I ran into the Flying Scotsman and enjoyed lunch and several Scottish ales.Two places I would recommend as a destination of themselves would be NOC and Hot Springs NC. I considered taking an extra day at Hot Springs but feeling so revived decided to get back on the trail the very next day.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Spring Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

April 19, 2010I departed Duckett House at 9am. I stopped in Hot Springs to buy some instant coffee and insect repellant. I talked some of the locals at the store. I must express my appreciation for the friendliness of the people in Hot Springs NC.I made the climb out of Hot Springs and ran into Muddy who was slack packing that day sobo. His son had thru-hiked a few years earlier and was shuttling him as to make some time. I met Muddy¢s son later that day. Congratulations Muddy for your completed thru-hike.I stopped midday at a water source. Through out my hike so far I would drink the water without purifying it if came directly out of a spring. If it was a stream I would purify it. This flowed source out of the ground into a small pool where I saw some algae growing. There were two other hikers were taking a break. When I mentioned purifying it the one said had just drunk some and it tasted alright to him. I remember thinking all of these microbes that can wreak havoc with your digestive system probably taste just great going down.The shelter was not too far past the water source. I decided to hike on because I still a good bit of daylight and the tent sites were limited. I met Tequila John camped with him.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Spring Mtn. Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

April 20,2010I got on the trail around 8:35 am. It looked like it was going to rain and it did! This section of the trail has some serious cliff rocks. These are the kind that you have let go of your hiking poles and grab onto things. The descents were so steep that you have to go down backwards. My goal was to camp on Big Butt Mountain ¢but¢ the rain and the terrain slowed me down and I tented in the shelter area. It rained so hard that I could not leave my tent to cook. My Mica 12 has a vestibule so I am able stay in my tent and use my esbit stove just outside of the tent without getting wet. The shelter was full anyway. When the rain let up a little I would go over to the shelter and talk to the other hikers. I really enjoy the company of real backpackers. I say this because we were all cold wet and tired but no one complained. We laughed about it and looked forward to doing it the next day.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

April 21, 2010I packed up between the raindrops and started hiking about 9:30 am. I hiked Big Butt Mountain and then it happened again. For the second time I missed a turn and got off of the trail. This time there was an arrow painted on a rock indicating that the trail went straight. I saw plenty of foot prints and the trail looked liked like it was brush hogged, but no blazes. I ran into McGiver who had thru-hiked a few years ago and was supporting Sid on her hike this year. He was coming the opposite direction. He was already backtracking and suggested that I put my pack down and wait and he would be back when he located a blaze. I knew I was off of the trail then so I did not want to wasted time and started to back track.I met up with McGiver at the turn. It took awhile but I found a blaze. I took off down the trail and McGiver went and got the others.I made it to Hog Back shelter and set my tent and ate. There were allot of hikers at this shelter area. Most of them I had seen on the trail at one time or another.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 15.3

April 22, 2010This is my last full day on the trail and I need to make another 15 miles. This was a long day. My body was sore and I was very fatigued. There were allot more ups and downs than I had expected. Big Bald was beautiful. I camped at Spivey Gap. I finished all of my food supply except for two power bars. Tomorrow I will be in Erwin TN and my section hike will be complete.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 23,2010This my last day on the trail. It rained all morning so I packed up everything wet and climbed out of Spivey Gap. I signed the register at No Business shelter and made to Erwin around 2pm. I met other hikers that I knew at Uncle Jonnies Hostel. I rested smoked my last two good cigars and started to walk toward the Holiday Inn Express where my wife had made reservations for me. I nice young fellow named Ryan McCallister picked me up in his 1974 restored VW van and dropped me off at the front door of the hotel. I enjoyed a shower then a bath. The next morning while eating the complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn a man approached me who had done some hiking on the AT. He mentioned that a friend once told him you can tell a log distance hiker by their appearance. He said the women look like goddesses and the men look like concentration camp prisoners. I had lost over 20 lbs. that I really did not need to. I took a taxi ride to the airport and got a one way rental car to Pittsburgh. When I stepped out of the car my wife was really taken aback by my appearance. The beard and weight loss kind of shocked her. I am planning at this moment to pick up in Erwin TN April 1st 2011 exactly where I left off and try to hike to Daleville VA.
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Erwin TN

To: Curley Maple Gap
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Last year I hiked from Springer Mt.GA to Erwin TN 319.9 miles. This year I will attempt to Hike from Erwin TN to Daleville VA 380 miles. I planned ahead just like last year. I calculated the miles that I had to average day (12.6)and sent four mail drops for resupply. I had to complete my section hike in 30 days.I had from April 1 till May 1.April 1. The journey begins. My understanding wife dropped me off at the Pittsburgh airport. I drop off my pack at the baggage check-in. It weighed 35 lbs.I zip through security just like last year. Before leaving Pittsburgh the plane had to be de-iced. This made me 1/2 hour late at Charlotte airport. When I arrived at Charlotte I had to walk all the way to the other end of the airport to catch my connecting flight to Tri-City and take a prearranged shuttle to Erwin. I made the flight but my pack did not. Already I had a late start getting on the trail, but now add two more hours waiting for my pack. The kind people at US Airways offered to deliver it to me. All I had to do was give them the address where I would be. I explained that the Appalachian Trail really does not have any delivery address. They laughed and said my pack should in on the next which it was. Uncle Mike (trail name) waited patiently and shuttled me to the trail. That is why I only made 4.2 miles that day. But I was back on the AT and happy to be hiking. It was an easy start with such low miles and I made it to Curley Maple shelter and pitched my tent, met a bunch of other hikers and endured a very windy and rainy night
Date: 2011-04-02
From: Curley Maple Gap

To: Cherry Gap 
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

April 2nd, it is and time to hike and shake off the foolishness of April 1st. I get up and see I have pitched my tent under a widow maker. That is a dead tree. With the high winds last night, I was fine. Ironically, most of the dead falls you find across the trail look like healthy trees. By 8:15 am I am on the trail. It is cool, but sunny. By midday is cold and snowing. The wind blew hard, while stepping around a fallen tree I got a leg cramp. Trying to overcompensate I hyper-extended my knee, then trying not to fall activated the bursitis in my left shoulder. I knew pain would be part of my first week back on the trail. I hiked 12.8 miles to Cherry Gap Shelter sore and cold, but on my way. I pitched my tent and it took 45 minutes to get warm enough in my sleeping bag to get out and make my evening meal. I met allot of other hikers that night that I would run into again off and on throughout the hike. I ate, drank lots of water, took two aspirin and slept oh so well.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Cherry Gap 

To: Hughes Gap
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

I enjoyed the company of the other hikers while camped at the shelter. i met Cosmic John who was on his third thru-hike. I had my coffee and the 12.3 miles to Hughes Gap. The next camp site was over four miles away and climb up 6,275 ft. Roan Mountain was just beyond that. I called Greasy Creek Hostel and showered ate some pizza and stayed in their bunkhouse alone for the night. Connie who runs the hostel is a very nice person and working hard to make a good hostel for the hikers there.
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Hughes Gap

To: Yellow Mountain Gap
Miles today: 11.2

Connie from Greasy Creek Hostel dropped me off at Hughes Gap where she had picked me up the day before. It is time to make the climb up Roan Mountain. This is the last time a north bounder will climb above 6000 ft. until the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It is very windy. I also keep in mind that Roan is known to be the coldest spot on the southern AT year round. Just a few minutes into my ascent, hear a loud cracking sound. I see a large tree break apart and fall to the ground.It is a good distance from the actual trail and creates no real concern. I make it to the top and view the foundation of the former Cloudland Hotel. The TN/NC border ran right through the center of it. I did not se the sign for Roan Knob shelter and later found other hikers had trouble finding it too. Any way onto Carvers Gap and climb more balds. Frankly, I am tired of balds. They are not sure why trees don't on them. I figured it out. I is always cold and THE WIND NEVER STOPS BLOWING! I hike to Yellow Mtn. Gap and head for Overmountain shelter. This is an old barn converted into a shelter. I was informed by other hikers that a storm was moving in with high winds. I decided for the first time in over 380 miles on the AT to stay in a shelter. The barn had an enclosed loft on the second floor. The bottom was open and I stayed there.
Date: 2011-04-05
From: Yellow Mountain Gap

To: US 19E
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

April 4, 2011When I awoke, I noticed the entire area of the bottom of the shelter had about 12 to 34 inch of snow covering it. Since I slept there I had it on me but had placed a small tarp over my sleeping bag. I heard the hiker in the loft. Since they were awake, I decided to go up there to pack up. We could see Hump and Little Hump were engulfed in snow, sleet and clouds. It looked like a small respite from the storm had occurred so I headed out around 10am. The other hikers decided to wait. Little Hump tops out at around 5,459 ft. and Hump at around 5,587 ft. The only way to escape this weather was to get to a lower elevation.As soon as I began to climb these mountains, the wind, snow and sleet pounded me. The rocks were icy and very slippery. Because of the high winds my hood was pasted to the left side of my face allowing me to only see out my right eye. I could not see the posts with the blazes. I just kept my head down and followed the path. My gait was that of a drunken sailor, trying to keep my balance between the wind and the ice on the trail. At one point the wind knocked me down. I was told later that it takes a 70 mile an hour wind to do that. I trudged on and made to Apple House shelter near route 19E. I decide a private room at Harbour Creek Hostel was a good idea. It was at Apple house that I met another hiker ¢Restless¢ who was also from PA. We ended up hiking together ¢sort of¢ all the way into southern Virginia. Restless is a fast hiker. He slept in the shelters and was usually on the trail by sun up. I on the other hand preferred my tent and was usually on the trail between 8 and 8:30 am. I still did the big mile days and we usually ended up at the same location. Habour Creek and a shower meal and a clean comfortable private room. I liked it. I had just finished 52 challenging miles during tough weather conditions. This was my first five days of my section hike and I felt the fatigue and normal aches and pains. I felt good every morning so I knew when the time was right that the big mile days would come. My goal is 380 miles from Erwin TN to Daleville VA. I have had enough hiking experience to know when to push for big miles and when not to. Still I knew the mileage monster was waiting and had to be fed.
Date: 2011-04-06
From: US 19E

To: Moreland Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

April 6, 2011I had a good nights sleep. I enjoyed a gourmet breakfast at Harbour Creek. It was the best breakfast I have ever had on the trail. Who do I see at breakfast? Cosmic John who I thought I had left in the dust three days ago. I never saw him pass me on the trail. More on that later.Today I am clean, rested and ready to confront the mileage monster. I return to rt. 19E where I left off the day before and meet with Cosmic John. We talked a little and began our hike. I have set Moreland Gap as my goal. If I make the 19.4 miles it will be my first big mile day of this hike.I stopped at Mountaineer shelter and ran into Jack and Isaac, two college students that I met at Overmountain. They said they left after me and all they could do was keep their heads down and follow my tracks over the Hump mountains. Then like magic Cosmic John shows up. He told me he had yellow blazed from Carter Gap to Harbour Creek. That was how he was passing me by. He said he was staying at Mountaineer, but I push on to Moreland Gap. At Moreland Gap I ran into Restless again and two local hikers. The local hikers offered to shuttle me to Watauga Lake Resorts where I had reservations and a mail drop waiting for me. Then another hiker arrived who I called Vermont Dave. I first met him three days ago. On the trail you just start running into people consistently and get more comfortable with one another. Pretty soon there is a large group of people that you just kind of know.
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Moreland Gap shelter

To: U.S. 321 Watauga Lake
Miles today: 14.7

Restless, Vermont Dave and two local hikers Brandon and Jeremy all departed the shelter before me. I passed up Vermont Dave and the two local hikers. They offered to shuttle me to Lake Shore Resort where I had reservations and a mail drop. It was unlikely that they would catch up because they were carrying heavy packs and I could tell were not yet used to doing the kind of miles most long distance hikers are used to. I really appreciated their offer. I have experienced nothing but kindness from local hikers.Today I feel I hiked the most beautiful part of the Appalachian Trail. I was awestruck by the rocky cliff sides, waterfall, and fast moving water. After passing Laural Fork Falls I walked beside the most gorgeous mountain stream ever and ascended the 1,880 ft. climb to Pond Flats. I was hot thirsty and almost completely out of water by the time I reached the top. When I made to the top I found one of my favorite things. A SPRING. I love water right out of a spring. I quenched my thirst and proceeded to U.S. 321 where I called the resort. Cathy fromLake Shore Resorts picked me up in no time flat. Lake Shore is a family run business with clean well maintained rooms, great food and top notch customer service.
Date: 2011-04-08
From: U.S. 321 Watauga Lake

To: Iron Mountain shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Michelle from Lakeshore Resorts dropped me off at the trail about 9am. The dam and lake area was very scenic. I made the climb up to the ridge line and started to hike. When you get on these ridge lines far away from roads and shelters, the blazes can be far few in between. Since the AT is the only footpath in the area i was able to stay on the trail. I ran into two local hikers. One was carrying the others pack due to a knee injury. Again I could see they were loaded down with too much gear and knee high boots. I heard later that the injured hiker was carried off of the mountain. Today's hike started at 1990 ft. and ended at 4,125 ft. I have been back on the trail for 8 days now and my body has adjusted. If I can continue the high mileage days I can make Daleville in one month
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Iron Mountain shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: snow

I am on the trail my usual 8:30 am. My goal is the 16 mile trek to Abingdon shelter and the next day Damascus VA. The weather was nice for hiking in the morning. By late afternoon it got pretty hot. Then clouds rolled in. It would sprinkle here and there. So little though that I did not even slow down to put my pack cover on. As I approached McQueens Knob the sky let loose. Rain, hail,high winds and lightning all around me. It is an odd feeling to have hail bouncing off of your bare head.I made to the shelter where Tater and Restless already were and set up my tent before the next wave came in and it did. More high winds and rain. My tent held it's ground and stayed dry. This will be my last night in Tennessee.
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 10.2

Restless and Tater left about one hour before me. My usual 8 to 8:30 start. The usual AT ups and downs. Good weather. I was just hiking along and suddenly I see the TN/VA state line. This was a special moment knowing that I had walked all the way from Georgia to Virginia. I sat on a nice flat spot overlooking the valley and enjoyed the view before continuing to Damascus. I hiked into Damascus and got a private room at the Hiker Inn. There are private rooms and a hostel. The place is very clean well run. I was very comfortable there. I got a shower and went up to Sun Dog for my mail drop. I started inquiring about a slack pack.Sun Dog was expensive and Mt. Rogers was not the least bit interested. I ran into Restless who got the same response from Mt Rogers, but arranged a shuttle with one of the bike shops for the next day. I liked the idea of slack packing the 16+ miles down into Damascus instead of climbing up the mountainside with a full pack.