morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-15
From: Derick Nob Shelter

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

April 15Double Spring Gap Shelter7.2 miles mile #193 on ATToday was amazing, it was everything yesterday was not. The sun was out it waswarm. I had decided that I was not going to push it today. I did not crawl out of bed until 10 and did not get moving. The bit of hiking I did was throughslush and mud, but I would take that over frezing anyday.After I pulled into camp a whole crew of thru-hikers who had been behind mepulled in. A couple of guys I had not seen for over a week so it was a greattime to catch up on what was happening to the pack behind me.
Date: 2004-04-16
To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: few clouds

4/16Gatlinburg, TN 10.8 miles mile 203.8 on ATAnother short day. Went over Clingsmans Dome, at 6,643 feet it is the highestpoint on the trail. There is an obervation tower on the top of the mountain thatgives spectacular views of the whole region. Unfortunately, there is an accessroad so the place was crawling with tuorists. After a few pictures I headed onquickly. I needed to stop in town for supplies and after the string of freezingnights, a hot shower and a warm bed were once again calling out to me. Ibasically ran the rest of the way and caught a ride pretty quickly down themountain. The guy who picked me up was an Israli who had moved here and stateda buisness. He spent the whole ride trying to convience me to stop hiking andsettle in town and he was going to find me a wife in no time, I flet as if I wasin Africa, where hey are always trying to find me a wife.Gatlinburg is not a particularly appealing place, it is a giant tourist trap,and seems to exist only to separate people from heir money. I got all my choresdone except I again missed the closing of the library and so access to theinternet. But it is nice to be in a warm bed
Date: 2004-04-17
To: Tri-corner Nob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

4/17Tri-corner Nob Shelter15.6 miles mile 219.4 on ATA perfect day for hiking there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperatureran in 60's. I have now hiked over 10% of the trail. My anckle starts to bother me on the long days, but it used to hurt after 11 or 12 miles now it starts hurting fter 13 or 14 miles so I guess that is progress. at the end of the day I caught up with a crew that I have been playing "leap frog" with for a few weeks, Tank, Deisel, Pablo & Laura, and Uncle Jerry. There a good group we keep eachother entertained.Finally a reasonably warm night and I am able to get back to guitar playing. Ioften find that I actually play a bit better after one of these occaisional andbrief breaks. So I am reasonably happy at the way I sound tonight, not greatbut occaisionaly not horrible.
Date: 2004-04-18
To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

April 18Davenport Gap Shelter14.8 miles; mile #234.2 on ATAnother wonderful day perfect day. I ended up walking with Tank most of the day and the coversation made the time fly by. It was a big day of downhill which is not what my anckle likes but still got here with plenty of time. It's been three weeks of doing this and things are going pretty well. Tomorrow we get out of Smokey Mountain National Park, and while we have to hike out of this valey the moutains on the other side are not so substaintial as those we have passed through, and hopefully it also means we are leaving behind the snow storms.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 19Groundhog Creek Shelter10.5 miles mile #244.7Well got a quick run out to civilization today. A mile and a half down a dirtroad I came to Mountain Moma's Cafe. I had mailed a package of food to theplace but more importantly they had a grill and I could have breakfast. So Istufed myself full and headed on.It is great to reach the gaps in the mountains. You get to the lower elevationsand you get to see spring. Everything is nice and green, the other advantage is that you get those long downhills. The downside of course is that you have to climb back out of the gaps. Today, we climbed 2,400 feet so while it was not a killer distance it was a killer climb. A good crew here at the shelter,with a lively conversation.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 20Walnut Mountain Shelter13.1 miles, mile 257.8 on ATNice day today, covered good miles, cool day. There was a beautiful vallyfilled with wild flowers, a nice distraction from staring at the ground gettingone foot in front of the other. It still looks like fall or winter on most ofthe mountains. Although one mountain we went over, one pg these balds had ahuge open field of grass. It alomst looked like a golf course. Got a reallynice campfire going this evening and a wide ranging pokitical and philosophicaldiscussion ensued. I need to get more serious about the guitar.
Date: 2004-04-21
To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hot Springs, NC13.1 miles mile #270.9 on the AT It was a brisk morning but we were headed to civilization so we were fired up. We cranked out the miles getting it all done including a monster hill in sixhours. Diesel and I drove Tank crazy talking about food and beer the wholetrip. This is a nice little town to stop into. There is one short main streetwith everything a hiker could want,lodging, laundry, fod and drink. There isone pub in town, apparently this is the only place you can get a drink in thewhole county. The best thing is that the pub has outside seating and it was aperfect day to sit out eat and drink and see what other hikers rolled into town. We ended up with a table of eight people for dinner and had a great timerehashing the trail so far and what the future would hold.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

April 22Hot Springs, North Carolina 0 milesWell I was not going to take a zero day but I had left my first aid kit threemiles back at a shelter. I made a deal with myself that I would stay anotherday if I went back. Without a pack it was a bit nicer so I spent my morningdoing the six miles but I got my kit. I spent the rest of the day wonderingaround and getting ready to head out. Elmer runs the bed & breakfast but healso offers dinner also everything is vegetarian. I had all the meat I wantedthe night before so vegetarian was a perfect. A nice rlaxing end to a day off.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 23Allen Gap 14.4 miles mile# 285.6 on ATBack out of the woods. There is a certain longing I feel as I head out of town. I guess I have not gone completely wild yet. We ate another breakfast atElmer's so we got a late start. we first walked along the shore of the FrenchBroad River which was beautiful, broad but with great rapids. Then we had along slog up out of the valley. Because o the late start we did not make it asfar as I would have liked. We set up camp very close to a road crossing. Ihinkhe sound of cars kept waking me up but not all the way because I had all of thevery vived dreams all night.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Allen Gap

To: Flint Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

April 24Flint Mtn Shelter17.6 miles mile #303.2 on ATToday was a wonderful day. We got anearly start and I covered the most miles so far on this trip. In addition going over 300 miles makes this the longest hike I have ever done. There weresome wonderful views looking done one side into the flat farm land of Eastern Tennesee and on the other deep into the Mountains of North Crolinia. There was a long open rockey ridge that along with the views reminded me of the sort of terrain that we have in New England. The other really great thing is that my feet have not been hurting. I picked up new insoles for my shoes in Hot Springs and they realy seem to have made difference. It had looked like rain earlier but now the cloud have cleared out.The stars are just starting to come out everyone is lready in bed and a few arejust begining their snoring, but listening the the water flow through the brookis wonderfully peaseful. Good nite to all.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Flint Mtn Shelter

To: Low Gap Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 25Low Gap Campsite14.9 miles mile#318.1 on ATIt was a good day with one major exception. We had one major climb to make andthere was a beautiful little waterfall part way up the climb that gave a perfect excuse to stop take pictures and catch ones breath. The varriety of wildflowers up here at this time continues to amaze me. I even saw one that appeared to be a small yellow orchid.The real goal was to try to catch a late lunch at a diner which was a few milesoff the trail. We got to the road crossing but there was very litle traffic. We tried hitch-hiking but with three people and few cars the prospects were pretty poor. After awhile we decided we would walk the three miles as we were all so obsesed with having a hamburger. But within a short ditance a car stopped and told us the the diner closed at 2:00 so we were already to late. We got back on the trail and walked on forlorn and with none of usuall animated concersation of food. It will be two more days before we hit civilization again.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Low Gap Campsite

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: moderate rain

Erwin, TN20.8miles, mile#138.9 on ATWow a big milage day. I knew it was not going to be the best of days when Iwoke up, at 2:00 AM, to rain pounding on my tent. It just sounded like it wasnot going to stop for a while so I rooled over. At six it was comming down justas heavy. I made peace with the idea of being soaked threw on my rain gear andmade breakfast. The rain was blowing off ythe trees in huge drops and landingin my oatmeal. The rest of the crew I was with were sleeping in. I am sure theywere all hoping that any minute it had to stop. I went ahead, there was 1400ftto climb to the nearest shelter and a respite from the rain. With a hotbreakfast in me the climb was not to bad the rain keeping one from over heating. On top of Big Bald it was only wind, rain, fog and cold. Only as I camealongside one tail marker could I see the next one. Apparently, on a nice daythe views are spectacular, but not today. I made the first shelter, four miles,and changed to drier clothes but the rain just! got heavier. I waited for Tank and Diesel. They had not eatten breakfast andstarted cooking when they arrived. I was to cold sitting still and headed on tothe next shelter, 10 miles down the mountain. I got into a zone and just cruzeddown the mountain thru the rain. I made it to the shelter and I was feling OK. I was cold wet and tired but with six more miles I could be in civilization. I
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

April 27Erwin, TN0 milesYes I went nowhere today and accomplished very litle. All in all a prettysuccesful day. I suppose I did get food for the next few days and I ate andwatched some TV in my hotel room. I saw the website and it was great to someof the pictures up. Everyone can thank my sister Kerry for posting everthing upthere. I should say that the first picture shows me with two of my youngestfriends Marten and Wiliam who saw me off in Atlanta at the begining of this. Idon't know how their respective parents would feel about it but in another 20years maybe these guys wil join me on another Thru-hike.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

April 28Cherry Gap Shelter16.3 miles mile #355.2 on the ATIt was cold last night down to freezing, one of the reasons I stayed put. Buttoday was perfect, not a cloud in the sky. It was crisp in the morning butwarmed through the day. It was so green at the lower elevations but as you climbthe green diappears and you pass through the level where all the trees arebudding and then finally you end up above 4,000 ft and it still looks likewinter all grey and brown with no leaves. In early afternoon I reached a placecalled The Beauty Spot and a beautiful spot it was a big open field on top of amountain with a wonderful panoramic view of the mountains and the vally below. I took a good hour making a proper lunch and just lying in the grass. The onlydiconcerting part of the day was a sign plastered on a tree warning about bearsand reporting that a hiker had been eatten, included was a grusome picture of ahalf eatten person. Tonight a number of people said they thought it was a hoaxas nothing had been said about it in town. Th! ey thought the picture was probavly from Alaska where people get eaten byGrizzely Bears not in frequently. The smaller Black Bears which are native tothis part of the country very rarely attack people and almost never kill humans. But still it did make me pretty umpy for the next several miles after passingthe poster.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 29Roan High Knob Shelter15.2 miles mile #370.4 on ATAnother day of PUD's followed by a huge climb. For the unitiated a PUD is aPointless Up and Down. The AT often seems to be and endless succession of PUD's. But after a day of PUD's there was this wonderful 2100 ft climb. But we made itto the top and now we are freezing our butts off at the higest shelter on thetrail 6184 ft. Someone even heard we may have snow tonight. I mean it isalmost May in the Souther US it is not supposd to snow. But we have a god groupand a campfire going so life look prety good.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Roan Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

April 30Roan Mountain, TN15.4 miles mile #385.6 on AT.Well it was a nice warm night in the sshelter, but outside the weather haddefinitly changed for the worse. There was rain fog and wind. It seems moreoften than not when I am on these big mountains that have spectacular views allI see is the 20 ft in front of me, and so it was today. There were severalbalds to cross, as they call the pasture toped mountains here. The wind washoweling again I had to lean into it to move forward. I was in a bit of a rushagain as I was trying to make it to the post office in this town to pick up aresupply package befor the end of the day. I am definitly feeling in bettershape as I made the 15 miles in seven hours. Of course, it helped that I had nofood or water in my pack. I am sure tomorrow will be diferent when I am movingwith five days of food on my back. this is a tiny little mountain town but ithas everything I need, a very cute litle historic bed & breakfast and a laundry. The only other guests were two sisters and the in! vited me to join them for dinner they drove a ways to a resort town that hadsome nice restaurants and I had myself a big steak. One of the sisters wasinterested in hiking the AT and I worked hard at being a bad influence bytelling her she should just quit her job and do it next year. the question asit was posed to me by my thru-hiking mentor, Teetree, is, "Why wait?" Boy it isso nice to sleep in a real bed. I think that is one of the pluses of hiking forthis long one gains a great appreciation for the simple things in life.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Roan Mountain

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 1Moreland Gap Shelter17.5 miles mile #403.1Well broke the 400 mile barrier, and said Good bye to North Carolina! I got late start but I did not want to pass up a civilized breakfast at th B&B. When I got dropped off I took a wrong turn and did not realize for at least half a mile. It was sort of a mixed day, some good some bad, but it was a long slog. We entered new terrain. At least for a little while we are out of the really big mountains. I think there is only one more mountain over 5,000 ft in southern Virginia and than nothing that big until New England. Today we winded up and down hills and vallies. There was one very pretty waterfall. Unfortunately, there were a oouple of miles of the trail that were poluted. Illeagel dumping of trash and a number of streams that were labeled contminated. The trail had recently been relocated and the guide book was vague and because of being off the ridges there were no landmarks to follow, so it was very disorienting. Everybody I pased or who passed me on the trail was asking the same question; "Do you know were we are?". I did not get ! in to the shelter until aafter seven. There was a big crowd at the shelter wtha bunch of people I had never met. Some had passed me that day and a couple that I had caught up to. Since I was rushing around trying to get set up before dark I lent out my guitar as there were a couple of gutar players in camp. After the crew that was in the shelter chased mice we settled down and as I got into my tent a group of cayote started howeling for awhile and than what sounded like several owels started calling out each in tern.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.8

May 211.8 miles mile #414.9 on ATThe sun was shining in the morning and I got a lisurely start on the day. There was only six miles to go to a hostel where I needed to pick up some stove fuel and possibly some hot lunch. It seemed that withun in a few minutes of starting out the clouds thickened up and it started a slow steady rain. But I was feeling good and made the road and the hostel in god time. There was a big crowd at the hostel but I was going to get my fuel and just keep going when someone said that there was a ride to the place that served food. So I popped into the van. Just as I arrived the cook went on break so I had to wait a good bit but swalowed a couple of hamburgers. It had stopped raining and Tank was trying to convience me to stay the night as he was resuppling here. I had taken a night off in Roan Mountain so I wanted to keep moving. I figured I would do just six more miles and get the big climb out of the way today. So off I went back to the trail. Within five minutes of geting ! on the trail the sky just opened up and buckets of rain came down. I was soaked but figured I would just keep at it. It was a beautiful stretch of trail. The trail and a river entered a narrow gorge and just as the trail it the river you were at the base of these falls, which with the added water of the storm were pretty spectacular. At one point the gorge was so narrow that the trail was carved out of the rock walls. I slogged up the hill and had to set up camp in the rain, which is always a less than pleasent proposition. But I was able to keep my dry clothes dry and so after cooking and eatting in another downpoor I was able to still slide cozily into bed and fell asleep within minutes.
Date: 2004-05-03
To: Iron Mountain Ridge
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

May 3Campsite on Iron Mountain Ridge15.9 miles mile # 430.8It snowed on me again, OK soe it was only a few flakes. I know, I amcomplaining about the weather again. But given that it does have such an impact on the life of a Thru-hiker I think I not out of bounds here. Snow, May, Tennessee, I'm sure it does not add up in many of your minds either. Other than that little weather issue it was not a bad day hiked down to a large resovoir and over the dam and than spent all afternoon walking along this ridge. The ridge had some nice views of the lake and the valley below, that is once the son came out which was arround when the temperature started dropping. I had hoped to make it further but I just ran out of steam. But a nice couple Mr Fixit and Blue Sky ad already started a campfire and that was all it took for drop my pack and call it a day. Hopfully suna d warmth tomorrow, with any luck I am two days from Demascus, the self proclaimed "The Friendliest Town on the Trail" but more importantly a zero day.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Iron Mountain Ridge

To: Abbington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

May 4Abbington Gap Shelter19 miles mile # 449.8 on ATIt was a great day. That is once I got over the fact that it was 34 degrees. But the sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky. In pite of the fact that itwas a long day the terrain was mostly smooth and so there was ample time to take in the scenery. Maybe it ws the weather or maybe it was me but there were birds and butterflies everywhere. I made it into camp with plenty of time to set up. Tomorrow a quick 10 miles and I am into town and than I will take a day off andrest these weary muscles.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Abbington Gap Shelter

To: Demascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

May 5Damascus, VAI was worried when there was rain in the middle of the night. But most of thefolks at the shelter took off at 4:00 AM to get breakfast in town. My mind wasset on pizza so I was happy to make it in by lunch. If you have been payingattention you will have noticed that most concerns revolve around either theweather or food. One is really reduced to the basics staying warm and fed. Well there was a great sense of satisfaction when I crossed the border. Batchcame up right behind me so we took pictures of each other at the VA border. Batch is definitly my hero. He is 82 looks like he is 60 and every time I letup a little bit he passes me. He had done 23 miles to make it to the shelterlast night.Well Demascus is a very small but very hiker friendly town. I got my pizza andgot little else done but I did get a bit of guitar playing so all in all asuccessful day.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Demascus, VA

To: Demascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0

May 6Damascus, VA10 miles mile #459.6 on ATA zero day. It is amazing how little I get done and yet never seem to haveenough time to just laze around with my feet up.I suppos a zero day gives one a chance to get philosophical. I find that when Ihave a chance to give friends and family a call I start to feel that I amgrowing tired of the nomadic lifestyle of the last several years. I would loveto be just hanging around with dear friends cooking good food and enjoyiing anice bottle of wine. Not that I am going to quit the trail. It has been ablast and I have met great people. But, still I don't think I have been in oneplace for more than 3 months at a time for the last four years and I think thatis juat getting a bit old.While I am on a philosophical bent let me lapse into the poetic. I startedthinking about this poem at the begining but I could not remember the wholething so my sister sent it to me. I thought about it when I was trying tofigure out why I am all these other people are doing this. Now I know that is asilly question to ask. But I still love Mary Oliver's poems. Even if I havenever been able to get through Walden. Going to WaldenIt isn't very far as highways lie.I might be back by nightfall, having seenThe rough pines, and the stones, and the clear water.Friends argue that I might be wiser for it.They do not fear that far-off Yankee whisper:How dull we grow from hurrying here and there!Many have gone, and think me half a foolTo miss a day away in the cool country.Maybe. But in a book I read and cherish,Going to Walden is not so easy a thingAs a green visit. It is the slow and difficultTrick of living, and finding it where you are.M Oliver