morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Mollies Ridge shelter

To: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

15 April, Derrick Knob Shelter   The night¢s sleep in the shelter was pretty uneventful with the exception of something large gnawing on part of the shelter shortly after I went to bed. It was too large and loud to be a mouse. If I was not so comfortable and tired I would have gotten up to investigate.   Shacking saw a bear shortly after leaving the shelter this morning.   Saw a bunch of trout lily¢s blossoming today, we are now with spring. I went across Rocky Top Mountain today with five other thru hikers.   We passed a lot of bear scat on the trail before the shelter today.   Tomorrow we go to Clingmans Dom.   Pepper is trying to give Rob the trail name of Babalu.   Pepper and Red Stick are sitting around the camp fire talking soccer and it was boring me so I decided to turn in for the night.   I forgot to mention in my journal yesterday that Pepper and Chili are father and son team. Chilly is 11 years old and his father is home schooling him on the trail. They also trying to do 30 second videos every day and uploading it to Youtube for his school to follow back home.   I find it amazing that you cannot take dogs through the Smokey Mountains but horses are allowed on parts of the AT. I was amazed at the damages the horses have done to the trail. A dog with a thru hiker would not do any damage.   Today marked the milestone for everyone at the shelter. We now have less than 2,000 mile left.   I am in the shelter again tonight. We are required to stay in shelters when hiking in the Smokey's. There are a bunch of hikers that are tenting out in front of the shelter and one person in a hammock (Bismarck). The sun has set and the mice are already running around the shelter. I can see this is going to be a fun night for me. I will probably wish by the end of the night that I had set my hammock up too with all these mice running around.   Here tonight are Shaken, Chilly, Pepper, Bismarck, Rob, Snowman, Escargo, Hopper, Twinkles, Red Stick.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Mount Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

16 April 2010, Mt Collins ShelterToday was a great day. I was able to make it to Clingmans Dome without getting to out of breath as I have in the past.We actually only did 14.0 miles today but only 13.5 miles today were trail miles because the shelter was 0.5 off the trail.Someone made a comment while on Clingmans Dome today saying "since we are on the highest point of the AT that everything now will be all downhill". We all got a good laugh. The views from the top of the tower were awesome today. It was a little scary walking up the ramp but well worth it. Donna you would probably have been scared walking up the ramp to the tower. The tower was wheel chair accessible.There were a lot of blow downs north of Clingmans Dome. There were also spots of snow along the back sides of the ridge lines today but not enough to worry about or to be too much of a hindrance.Snowman and Escargo did not make it here tonight. Babalu said they stopped at the first shelter for the night. If that was the case then they only made six miles today. I hope they are OK.I ran into a thru hiker named Longshank and he told me that MEB was about seven miles behind me right now. He told me that her trail name is now Jibits or something like that. She was the woman from Maine that I was at one time going to ride down to start the trail with but things did not work out and we both found our own way down.Bismarck is a hammocker and has been hammocking every night since he started his hike. He pulled his hammock out at Clingmans Dome and took a three hour nap. His nap that he took on Clingman¢s Dome today caused him to arrive late here tonight.I have decided to head into Gatlinburg tomorrow for the night. I called at Clingmans Dome and made reservations at a motel there. Once hiking the 0.5 miles from the shelter back to the trail it is 4.5 trail miles to get to Newfound Gap. This is the road crossing that will I take me to Gatlinburg.The water source for the shelter was further down the trail tonight from the shelter. The guidebooks say it was 0.1 west of the shelter but I think it was a lot further than that and everyone else here seems to agree. There are some weekend hikers at the shelter tonight with a bottle of liquor they passed it around and shared it with us. Llano, Chili, Hopper and I got a fire going. It was not easy because everything was wet all around us but we managed to get one going.Here tonight, Hans, Llano, Shaken, Longshank, Babalu, Bismarck, Red Stick, Pepper, Chili, Hopper, and some weekenders.
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Mount Collins shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: overcast clouds

17 April 2010, Gatlinburg   I came into Gatlinburg today for a few reasons, none of which I really needed to. The rain that was forecast was one reason, resupplies, laundry, real food, and a real bed. I could have done without all of these but our group all came in. Bismarck, Babalu and I went out for pizza after we showered and got out laundry done.   I stood on a scale today and I have lost eight pounds since I started this hike. I was a little shocked.   Went to the outfitter here today and bought a few items. I purchased a lighter colored shirt that was also wicking to help with drying quicker and one that will help with body odor. I also bought some bug dope and another pair of sock liners. I then went to Walgreens and bought some more toothpaste and snack bars to hold me over.   I heard from Ratman today, he called me on the phone. He and Tumbler are 13 miles south of Hot Springs. He also said that Sid is still with them. They are on a schedule so chances are I will never run into them again.   I went out to eat tonight with six other thru hikers at a steak house. I had the all you can eat salad bar. I still have 1/2 a pizza left over from lunch earlier. I will eat that for breakfast or pack it out for lunch.Notes:
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

18 April, Gatlinburg   I had some issues with sleeping last night. I could not sleep at all, I was only able to get 1/2 hour of sleep. To top that off I had stomach cramps this morning. I decided to take a zero day. I walked to all the outfitters and I was trying to find some bug dope with deet in it but no one had anything in small bottles with 99% deet. Smokey Mountain Outfitter suggested trying a fly fishing place next door. We went there and they had nothing. There was a Papa John¢s pizza downstairs so we ordered a pizza and sat outside eating it. While we were eating the guy from the fly fishing show came over and handed me a small bottle of bug dope with 99% deet. He told me it was a sample bottle a distributor gave him and he would not take any money for it. That was some good trail magic.   While we were walking down Main Street there was a place that offered aqua massages. I decided to get one and took the 14 minute massage, I loved it.   I got some ice cream at Ben and Gerry's, yum, cookie dough.    We took the tram ride to the top of the mountain, which was a ski area. It was nothing like I expected but it was something to do.   Went to TGIF for dinner and walked back to the motel. On the way back to the motel there was a group playing bluegrass music in the street so I stopped and listen for a while.Notes:   I received a phone call from Ratman today. They are just north of Standing Bear hostel. He told me about an incident at the hostel the night he was there. The hostel went for their normal beer run and later that night when they were all sitting around the fire and drinking and playing music, for some reason Curtis (the owner) was drunk and he pick up the guitar and smashed it against the side of the building. He advised us not to stay there. I do not know the whole story but I am planning on stopping in there.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Pecks Corner shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

19 April, Pecks Corner Shelter   I thought this was one of the easiest days so far. I am either starting to get my trail legs or it was easy.   Three of us stopped at Ice Water shelter for a 1/2 hour break and later at Charlies Bunion for about 1/2 hour for pictures and lunch, Llano, Hopper and I. A couple that came in for a day hike (Becky and Sam) had lunch and took our pictures. Beck and Sam were from Bangor PA and do not live to far from the AT.   I made it to this shelter at about 3:30.      Here tonight are: Llano, Limestone, Homebrew, Hopper, a couple out for the week and two weekenders.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Pecks Corner shelter

To: Tri Corner shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

20 April 2010, Tri Corner Shelter   I left this morning at 9 am. That is the latest I have gotten out of camp so far. The forecast called for rain and thunder storms. It was drizzling when we left so everyone put their pack covers on.   I arrived at this shelter just as the rain started coming down. Limestone was already here when we arrived. Llano and Homebrew arrived shortly after us. We all ate lunch and Limestone and Homebrew moved on. The rain continued and the temps were dropping so the three of us decided to stay for the night. Eight more hikers came in and decided to stay for the night. It is now 2 pm and we are all in our sleeping bags trying to stay warm.   The ridge runner came in and is staying the night. He gave the speech on sleeping in the shelter and hanging your food. He also said that there is a bear that frequents this shelter and has come into the shelter on occasions. On one occasion he stole someone's pack and they never found the pack. The ridge runner was very cocky and was on some type of ego trip. We found out later that he had only been a ridge runner for a short time.   We played cards to pass the time in the shelter tonight.   It is still raining as we finish up dinner. I think we made the right decision to stay out of the rain today. With the cold and the rain it would have made for a very miserable day hiking.   Here tonight so far are Llano, Drew, Hokie, Life Guard, Hopper.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Tri Corner shelter

To: Standing Bear hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

21 April, Standing Bear Hostel   We had no bear incidents last night at the shelter. We did pass a pile of fresh bear scat this afternoon.   I passed Castaway today not to long past the shelter. He was stealth camping and was just getting ready to take down his tent.   We bypassed the side trail to MT Cammerer fire tower today. Because it was so overcast I decided to skip going to it, there would have been no views anyways.   Being in the high elevations again we ran into snow on the trail in a few areas along with frost on the trees.   Found some more new flowers I have not been able to identify yet, I did take pictures so I could identify them later. I was able to identify dutchman¢s britches, crested dwarf iris, fire pink though.   The day started out with overcast skies but cleared late in the afternoon. We have a few good views today but and I took some pictures but the pictures do not do it justice.   When we got to the State Line Branch (stream) today we walked along it for a mile or so. There were small waterfalls all along the stream. It was a nice peaceful walk. The last stretch to the exit to Standing Bear hostel seemed to take forever. We ran into one hiker named Drew that was setting up camp on the side of the stream. Drew yelled hi and asked up if he heard Hokie¢s snoring last night. We heard some snoring but it was at the other end of the shelter and did not think it was anything out of the ordinary. He went into ranting and raving about Hokie¢s snoring and did this for about five minutes. He said the reason he was camping here and not going into Standing Bear Hostel was because he could not put up with another night of Hokie¢s snoring.   Standing Bear farm is best described as a rustic place. It has a bunk house and a out buildings that include a shower house, common house, and a wash room. The wash room is a tub with a scrub board like the old days and a ringer. I had to do my laundry the old fashion way with a scrub board and ringer. I even have pictures to prove it.   The hostel had pizzas you could buy and cook in an oven. I bought one but made the mistake of not taking the cardboard off the bottom. It was still editable but a little doughy.   I will be heading out in the morning but probably not too early, it will be sometime before noon.   Tonight in the bunk with me are: Drew, Homebrew, Trog, the father and son team from Canada, Rymnosorouis, Limestone, Hopper and Ben,
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Standing Bear hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

22 April 2020, Groundhog Creek Shelter   We did not leave Stand Bear until 12:15 this afternoon. Castaway walked in as we were leaving. We reached Painter Branch camping area and creek, where we stopped for a snack and water.   There were a lot of blow downs north of Green Corner Road; there is a great need for trail maintenance here.   Flowers identified today are, Carolina Silver Bell, Large-flowered Trillium   I almost stepped on a Vole on the trail today. A vole is a smaller mole. I took a picture of it. It did not run away too far, I think it was injured.   I went over Snowbird Mountain today. At the top there was beacon there at the top for air traffic control.   Before I left Standing Bear I ran into Cloud Walker. He was at the hiker feed I put on in Monson last year. He helped my wife flip pancakes on Sunday morning. After he introduced himself I remembered him. What a surprise. I believe he is thru hiking this year but I am not sure, I forgot to ask him.   I also sat with Hokie and Limestone and we had a long in depth conversation about the AT and many other things. I really enjoyed their conversation.   Here at the shelter tonight are: Easy, Tunes, Tootsie Roll, Hopper, and Muffin Man.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 5.6

23 April, Max Patch   I woke up this morning to Muffin Man throwing all his gear he left laying around outside the shelter. He was throwing his gear under the shelter overhang because it started raining in the middle of the night and he left all his gear lying all over the place last night. When I got up in the night for a potty break I just about tripped all over his stuff. He just threw it everywhere under the shelter over hang with no consideration for anyone sleeping in the shelter. Then just before the sun came up he started packing all his stuff up under the shelter overhang, making lots of noise. It was no longer raining at all and he could have done it outside the shelter or in his tent. Needless to say everyone in the shelter was not too happy with him.   I realized that I had made a big mistake when I went to make my breakfast this morning. I had forgotten to include any breakfast meals in the drop box I had sent to Standing Bear.   We made it to Max Patch today. We knew the weather for tomorrow was supposed to be thunderstorms with sleet, we decided to try hitching into Hot Springs. There was a hiker event going on in Hot Springs called Trailfest which help me make the decision. Just as we got down off Max Patch a hiker name Life Guard came down off the bald. He was slack packing from the north to his truck. He is doing this with another hiker named Symbol. We asked if we could catch a ride into Hot Springs with him but he stated he was going in the other direction. Yet when he left he went in the direction of Hot Springs. We even heard him ask another car on the road directions to Hot Springs. This upset us, all he had to tell us was no he did not have room, and he did not have to lie to us.   We got to town and got a spot at the campground. Then showered and the first priority was food. I found a place that served fish and chips. A short trip to the Dollar General store to get some food resupplies we were done. Then off again to the all you can eat spaghetti dinner.   I went to the natural hot springs here and then stopped over to the hammock hanging area of the campground and sat around the fire with SGT Rock shooting the breeze for a while.   I ran into Jibits(MEB) today.
Date: 2010-04-24
From: Max Patch

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

24 April, Hot Springs   I went to Smokey Mountain Dinner this morning for breakfast and Bismarck was there. Bismarck gave me a tour after breakfast of Elmer s (Sunny Bank Farm). Then it was back to the campground to collect laundry and to the laundry mat. While the laundry was going on I dressed in my rain clothes and went to the post office to mail stuff home and went to the outfitters to arrange for my shuttle back to Max Patch in the morning.    I ate breakfast with John and Lisa. They are getting off the trail today. John's farther died unexpectedly today. They are hoping to get back on the trail in a week but will have to see how things go. This is one of my big worries while I am out here, a death in the family.    I entered a contest that the ATC put on today and made it to the third round before I was knocked out. It was a game that required you to stand on one foot and crouch down and pick up a grocery bag in your teeth. After each round that would cut the grocery bag so that it was lower to the ground. I got a gift certificate for a restaurant in town.   While at the activities I registered to help with the duck race. This is where they have a whole bunch rubber ducks that you can purchase throughout the day. At four in the afternoon all the ducks that are purchased get thrown into the stream in town (upstream) and the first three to reach the finish line win and you get a prize.   I went to lunch with Pepper, Chili, Tour Guide, Smiley, Hopper, Ben, Entertainer and her parents. Smiley and Entertainer are getting off the trail here in Hot Springs; this is as far as they intended to go.   After lunch I went to the vender area again and watched the ice cream eating contest. The idea was to see who could eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream the fastest. Funky Monkey won.   I made a trip to the library next. I needed to upload photos to my journal. They issued me a laptop. Just as the photos were about to finish the upload the battery went dead and the computer shut off. I would have gotten another computer and tried again but the library was closing in five minutes.   At four I went to help with the duck race contest. When I got there they no longer needed my help.    Went out again for dinner and then later to the hot tubes again. Monkey babies here.Here are just a portion of the thru hikers I met today: Funky Monkey, Low Rod, Gonzo, Babablu, Pepper, Chili, Buz, John, Just Lisa, Hans, Tour Guide, Smiley, Homebrew, Trog, Catfish, Natures Own, Life Guard, Bismarck, Drew, Ziggy, Entertainer, Dartman(2001), Superman, Sticks.
Date: 2010-04-25
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: scattered clouds

25 April, Hot Springs   I left Max Patch at about 8:15 and arrived in Hot Springs around 5:30. This is now my biggest mileage to date. It was more like 20.5 with the hike to get up to Max Patch.   I had Dan from Bluff Mountain Outfitters shuttle me back round to Max Patch this morning. He is a great guy. He filled me in on some of the history of the area. Max Patch was originally named Max's Patch after the name of the horse that used to graze that area. The mountain named Rich Mountain was named because of the silver mine there. They can no longer find the mine because they think it was covered over when they built the highway. Dan was a Warrant Officer in the Air Force.   On ride up we ran into a flock of turkeys in the middle of the road. There was only one tom, he was strutting his stuff and the biggest wild tom I have ever seen.   I passed Castaway today on the trail. I did not know this at the time but this would be the last time I would ever see him.   I passed one guy who was standing in the trail and I stopped to talk to him, he told me he was waiting for his female hiking partner. I realized she was taking a potty break so I politely moved on. As I rounded the trail I saw a woman to the left of the trail just getting done doing what I assumed was her business. I don't think the woman realized the trail had taken a sharp left turn right where she had entered the woods. I politely ignored her and kept moving on.   I passed several areas on the trail today where there were trillians in the hundreds. They were amazingly beautiful.   I walked up on Llano and we hiked into Walnut Mountain shelter together. I was telling Llano about the other woman that was doing her business when that lady walked in. The lady looked right at me and I looked at her. She looked really familiar, than it hit me. It was Tatyana from New York. We met her for lunch during our train layover at Penn Station. I was totally amazed. We sat there flabbergasted and chatting for about 1/2 hour. She told me her trail name was now Dancing Wind. I had her partner take a picture of us with my phone and I sent it to Mad Mike via Uncas who was hiking with Mad Mike. Mike cannot receive photos with his phone so I told Uncas to show Mike the photo. Mike also was with me on the train ride. I told her that my plans were to probably go to Deer Park Mountain Shelter for the night. She said that was here goal also. I pick up my pack and told her I would most likely see here there. When I got to Deer Park Mountain Shelter today it was still early so I decided to head to town. Spoonz and Country Gold were already set up in the shelter for the night. I talked to them briefly and signed shelter register and left her a note for Dancing Wind. I also sent her a text message to her phone.   I took a picture of a snail in the trail today and right after I took the picture I stepped on it by mistake and crushed it. I felt bad.   I had a snake shoot right across the trail in front of me today, it was a green one. I think it was a garter snake.
Date: 2010-04-26
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

26 April 2020, Spring Mountain Shelter   I went to breakfast this morning and ate with Symbol and Tootsie Roll and Tunes were at the table next to us.   I went to the library after breakfast and uploaded some more photos to my journal.   While I was packing up to leave the campground a guy drove up to me and asked me if I knew a hike call DeJa Thru. I told him I had never heard the name. He proceeded to tell me he had thru hiked before and asked where I was from. I told him I was from Litchfield Maine. He said he was from Brunswick, I told him I was born and raised in Brunswick. We started chatting and come to find out I graduated high school with his sister (Kim Johnson). We exchanged emails and I had to move on, I wanted to get moving before the rain came in.   I got about five miles out of town before the rain really came down. I hiked for about two more miles in the rain and decided to set up my tarp and hammock to get out of the rain and get dry and warm. I lay in my hammock and dried out for about an hour and a half. The rain stopped about an hour after I was in my hammock. I had three more hours of day light left, I decided to pack up and head to the shelter. I got to the shelter around 7:30. The shelter was full so I set up right away.   I ran into some older guy heading south today shortly before a gravel road crossing. He made me a little nervous. I said hi and he asked me a question and I answered and moved on without stopping to answer him.    People at the shelter; Tunes, Tootsie Roll, Muffin Man, Prometheus, Evergreen, Biscuit, Cody, Montana and her dog Meko, Legends of the Fall.