morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Silers Balld Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We broke camp in a cool fog and all three of us were hiking together on our last day. As we neared the Double Spring Gap Shelter the weather turned violent and thunder and lightning was soon followed by hail the size of quarters. At one point we were exposed on a ridgeline and I remembered that Jeff had warned us about being out in the open during a lighting storm. Ahead was a clearing where we would be exposed if we crossed but beyond the clearing was the safety of the firs and spruce forest. After a fast hike across that clearing we safely sloshed and slogged our way to the Double Spring Gap Shelter where we found it full of hikers waiting out the storm. We made a decision to wait out the storm there and I put on my insulated vest to keep from getting chilled. I let it up to Big Man and Bulldog decide if we were to move on to Clingman¢s Dome and Gatlinburg or wait out the storm in the shelter. Someone had a weather forecast on their smart phone and told us that we were actually between two storms. It was ten that Bulldog and I decided to move on and Big Man said he would wait in the shelter. As we approached Clingman¢s Dome the winds died down and we say a clearing off to the west. We met some southbound section hikers who got caught up on Clingman¢s dome during the storm and they said that after the storm it had cleared. Bulldog and I hurried with hopes to reach the dome before the next storm moved in but missed the clearing by about 45 minutes. By the time we got to the base of the observation tower on the dome the visibility was down to forty feet and the winds gusting. I made the circular trek up to the top of the tower and walked around the tower and looked at the different photos of what it might have looked like on a clear day. My eyeglasses were wet and no chance for any photos but we had hiked Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the AT.You can safely say that from Clingman¢s Dome it was all downhill to Newfound Gap where Bulldog¢s car was parked. It was late afternoon when we met a group of day hikers who were out admiring the wildflowers along the trail. The shouts of ¢move aside thru-hikers coming through¢ were called ahead of us as we hurried down the trail. When we got to Newfound Gap we were happy to see that Bulldog¢s car was not damaged by the hail and yes that it started right up too. I had got a text earlier that Big Man had got a ride from Clingman¢s dome and was now in a hotel room in Gatlinburg. Soon that¢s where we were headed and to a dinner of pizza and beer.
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Newfound Gap

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The weather turned clear and warm as we enjoyed the day in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. I wondered if this was one of the 44 days out of the year that Clingman¢s Dome had good visibility but then I had already passed those white blazes. During dinner that day Big Man decided to ride with Bob to Atlanta and catch a flight back to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

After a breakfast at Shoney¢s and snatch up some post cards it was time to drop off the bounce box at the PO and head back to Newfound Gap. It was a great experience hiking with Bulldog and Big Man. As mentioned earlier Bob surprised everyone on the trail by keeping to my schedule and hiking in less than favorable conditions. He definitely earned the trail name Bulldog. At Newfound Gap we enjoyed a clear crisp morning as we took a few photos and said our goodbyes.   Bob and Matt headed south and I followed the first white blaze North toward Peck¢s Corner Shelter.   I would be hiking solo for the first time in more than three weeks. When I got to Peck¢s Corner Shelter I was reminded that, according to the parks rules, the shelter must be full before anyone can pitch their tent. Park rangers had visited the Icewater Spring Shelter and may be around to check this shelter too. I decided to cook my dinner and decide later where I would camp. I ended up hiking up Hugh¢s Trail, off of the AT for a half mile or so and camped in a grassy clearing.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

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

On the trail I met Texas Pete on the trail who was hiking the AT with his mother Wishbone. As I was hiking with Texas Pete we met up with a group of people riding horses on the AT. There are sections of the AT where horses are allowed on the trail and it was interesting to see such a large animal on such a narrow trail. When I got close to Cosby Knob Shelter I smelled the shelter before I reached it. The horses and bears had deposited on the entrance trail to the shelter and the flies were everywhere. I almost passed the shelter by but the next shelter was seven miles and I needed to get water. Once I got down to the shelter I found a pile of horse droppings within feet of the shelter and that the horses had fouled the spring beside the shelter. I was glad I didn¢t have to pump from that water but instead collected my drinking water from a pipe.I was still considering leaving the shelter when Reaper greeted me and told me of some level campsites away from the shelter close to some rhododendrons. I found the tent site and could not smell the horse droppings and decided to camp for the night. I didn¢t have any fears of Rangers showing up and forcing us tent and hammock users to use at that Shelter.The tent site was in direct sunlight and my wet tent quickly dried. Three section hikers camped next to me and right before dark one of them read scriptures as the day was Sunday. They invited Reaper and Kleenex over to join them. At the end of the scripture reading they sang a few religious songs and it sounded very nice, it was a peaceful way to end the week.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: Cosby Knob Shelter 

To: Snowbird Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 15.6

I got up early and quickly made my way of camp glad to be leaving the park. I would miss the beauty of the Smokies but not the park¢s rules on use of the shelters. I was trying for a fifteen mile day today and was anxious to see if my body would adjust to repetitive fifteen mile days.Part of today¢s hike was to cross under Interstate 40. I could hear the roar of the semi-trucks long before I reached the Interstate. I had to hike perhaps 200 yards along the road and it was noon and without the tree cover it felt like it was 20 degrees warmer. The hike up to Snowbird Mountain felt even more strenuous with the heat. I stopped at Painter Branch to fill up on water and even filled my 64 ounce sawyer water bag in case I wanted to camp on Snowbird Mountain. None of my maps or guide books showed any water sources on top of the mountain. There is a navagation aid on top of Snowbird and I found a campsite just below the mountain top on a ridge line safe within the trees. It felt good again to camp where I wanted. I would be able to view the sunset out of one tent vestible and the sunrise out of the other. Well that was a nice thought. The next morning I view the sunrise while hiking the trail.
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Snowbird Mountain Campsite

To: Bluff Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 17.5

I had so enjoyed camping on Snowbird Mountain that I set a goal for this day to hike to Bluff Mountain and find a campsite there. It was lofty goal and one that I will think twice about before attempting again. Perhaps I'll attempt this mileage later when the the elevation changes are not so great. I was rewared with an excellent campsite on the top of Bluff Mountain. A thru-hike named Shelter Stew was there first and he had his dog with him. I quickly set up camp and devoured my last dinner for this hike. I only had a cerial to hang from the bears that night but Shelter Stew assured me the bears would steer clear of our campsite tonight. Hunters use dogs to hunt bears in these parts and one scent of a dog and the bears head the other way. I slept soundly under a starry night and woke refreshed and eager to explore the hiker friendly town of Hot Springs.
Date: 2012-05-02
From: Bluff Mountain Campsite

To: Hot Springs, TN
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke before dawn and had my gear pack and was on the trail by sunrise. I knew Big Man would have been proud of me because when I first started hiking the AT I could never seem to get out of camp before 8:00 AM. The hike down to Hot Springs seemed like a stroll compared to the day before. I had made reservations to stay at the...well lets save some adventure for the next journal entry. Thanks for reading about my hike...one step at a time...one day at a time.
Date: 2012-05-03
From: Hot Springs, TN

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

I stayed at Sunnybank Inn in the beautiful town of Hot Springs. Sunnybank Inn is a bed and breakfast run by Elmer Hall. It¢s a beautiful Victorian house in the center of town convenient to everything. The town of Hot Springs is very hiker friendly. Lots of folks greeted me and asked how I was enjoying my stay.The rates for a private room at Sunnyband Inn were excellent and my stay there was quite relaxing. Of course I had to experience the Hot Springs Spa¢¦just what my sore muscles needed. In the evening I dined with Elmer and several hikers and we enjoyed a delicious organic vegetarian meal. As I was checking out Elmer asked if I had enjoyed my stay. I told him I had and he asked if I felt rested. Nice of him to ask I thought.Hot Springs is one town I would like to come back and visit again some day.
Date: 2012-05-04
From: Hot Springs

To: Hurricane Gap
Miles today: 9.3

When I left out of Hot Springs it was raining but it felt good to be hiking again. I had my pack adjusted by the folks at Bluff Mountain Outfitters so that it would ride better on my back. After a few hours I passed a young hiker headed back into Hot Springs. He told me he had enough of the hiking adventure and was headed to New York City for more adventures. Folks quit the thru-hike for all sorts of reasons. My thoughts on the subject are that if you are going to quit do it early in the hike so as not to disrupt too much of your previous life.The rain had slacked off later that day and I was able to make camp without getting my gear wet. It was soothing listening to the light rain on the tent and soon I fell fast asleep.
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Hurricane Gap

To: Big Butt Mountain
Miles today: 19.0

There was a strong rain most of the morning and my hiking speed slowed to adjust for the trail. I saw a sign posted at a road crossing, trail magic ahead and the dates were for that very weekend. I¢m sure the trail magic has been called off due to rain I thought. I hiked on through the morning, listening the sound of rain in the forest and the sound of water in my boots. Just before lunch I saw another sign announcing trail magic and it directed me to follow a blue blaze up towards a clearing in the forest. Like a cat following a string I sloshed my way up the hill and noticed a solitary figure standing at the top. ¢You hungry?¢ he asked. Before I could respond I smelled the hamburgers. ¢Oh yea¢ I smiled. ¢Come on then let¢s get you something to eat¢ he chuckled. The Greeneville hiking club puts on a hamburger and hot dog cookout once a year and this was the weekend for the cookout. The timing couldn¢t have been any better. The rain had stopped, I took off my pack and had a nice time visiting with the hiking club and enjoying a hot lunch. The hot lunch must have fueled the engine because I put in a long day hiking. I would rather hike in the rain than sit in a motel room and watch the rain. Camping that night was on Big Butt Mountain. Now I realize I¢m going to take some ribbing about my choices campsites. I didn¢t name these mountains and yes I¢m having fun with it too.
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Big Butt Mountain

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I met bandana on the trail and we enjoyed lunch together. I also met a young hiker on the trail who was hiking barefoot. He said his feet were still a little tender after two days of hiking. I had heard of the barefoot sisters hiking the entire AT but its still shock to see a barefoot hiker. My feet were sore from stepping on rocks and roots with boots on....i just couldn't imagine going barefoot. I finally got reception with my AT&T cell phone and called ahead to my sister-in-law Dian in Greeneville to see if they were going to be home on Tuesday. She said that she and Eddie would be home and she would be happy to have me stay with them. As you may have noticed my mileage picked up this day. When I was finishing up my phone call I noticed a very fit hiker approach sporting a crew cut haircut. He told me his trail name was Robo. I asked if it was short for Robocop and he said it was and that he was retired law enforcement and was hiking with Tink¢¦short for Tinkerbell.Stayed at low gap campsite that night and found the most level campsite out of about five campsites. I was soon joined by Moss who cooked his dinner at the campsite but moved on¢¦by headlamp to get in a few more miles before he pitched camp. Robo and Tink slowed down as they hiked by but like Moss they were looking for level campsites. I hung my food and watched the darkness surround me and was soon I was listening to the barred owls call from the creek below. The breeze started around midnight and dried my tent so I didn¢t have a heavy wet tent to pack in the morning.
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Low Gap

To: Chestoa Bridge, Nolichucky, River
Miles today: 20.9

I broke camp early as I wanted to get in a big mileage day today. It was a little over 20 miles to Ervin and I had yet to hike a 20 miler and felt fit to try one. Plus the lure of a home cooked meal at Dian and Eddies may have helped with my decision. The tale of a deer.As I hiked up Big Bald I saw movement in the small trees along the trail and saw a deer watching me intently. I froze in my tracks and watched as the young doe stamped her hooves into the soft ground in an attempt to get me to move. The wind was in my favor and I stood motionless as she repeatedly tried to get me to make the first move. After several minutes she raised her tail as if to take flight but then turned around and looked at me. The distance separating us was only 30 yards. I began to talk to her, soft and soothing, telling her how pretty she was and to my complete amazement she began to walk toward me and then slowly circle me. I suspected she wanted to get my scent (it was rank) and then she would take flight. As soon as she circled me she again amazed me by beginning to feed on the fresh green twigs on the small trees. She seemed at ease in my presence. She must have been someone¢s pet I guessed and looked at my map but the nearest road was miles away. I watched her for a while and took several photos and bid her goodbye as I resumed my hike. To my astonishment she then began to follow me up the trail! Almost like a dog she kept within 15 yards of me. If I stopped she stopped. We slowly made out way up big bald, the solo hiker and his newfound friend. The top of Big Bald was covered in mist and I remember just as I entered the mist I stopped to see if she would follow. Well it seems something else had caught my dears attention because she raised her tail and bounded West and I¢¦well I followed the white blazes North to Erwin, TN and on to my first 20 mile day.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Chestoa Bridge, Nolichucky, River

To: Greeneville, TN
Miles today: 0.0

My stay at the beautiful mountain home of Dian and Eddies was wonderful. They were amazed at how much I could eat. I went on a few walks with Eddie and his dog buddy and Dian took me to Walmart to get restocked for the next weeks hike. They were just wonderful to me and I knew it was going to be tough getting back on the trail Wednesday after relaxing in their home with them.
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Chestoa Bridge, Nolichucky, River

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

When I woke Wednesday morning it was raining hard outside. I put a 33 gallon garbage bag in my pack first and then carefully loaded my backpack. The pack felt heavy after a day off from hiking. I slipped the rain cover over the backpack while keeping an eye on the weather forcast. The storm appeard to ve moving pretty fast and I had hopes it would be past by nightfall. Dian and Eddie asked me to stay another day, to wait for the storm to break and I made light of hiking in the rain but you readers know that inside I was thinking of staying. "Once I'm on the trail it will slack up" I told them but really couldn't convince myself. I joked with them about "no rain, no maine". The rain actually did slack off when they took me back to the side of the brige where they picked me up. "At least let us take you across the bridge" asked Dian. "I"ve got to hike past the white blazes" I told her, "got to follow the white blazes". She smiled and took a few photos as I waved goodbye and and turned and headed up the trail and into the forest. The trail was pretty wet with all the rain and the hiking was slow. I had originally planned to stop at Beauty Gap and even joked with Eddie about how beautiful the campsite would be with all the rain. When I got to Beauty Gap there were warnings posted to hikers against camping there. I was tired, cold and wet and was really looking forward to stopping for the day but plodded on to Deep Gap a little furter along. Turns out I was lucky I didn't stop. Later that same week Beauty Gap was the scene of an attempted robbery on six hikers. I didn't see anything in the news about it but as the story goes a man walked into the campsite with loaded gun and demanded the hikers give him money. One of the hikers distracted him and they were able to disarm the robber and tie him up until the police arrived. After that I made it a rule never to camp close to a road. I mentioned this prior to starting this hike, its not the bears I fear, I respect them and the fact that they just want something to eat. Nor do I fear the snakes, I respect them too and the fact that they are simply protecting themselves. For you fellow hikers reading this, we all must be cautious out here, we are a slow moving target, remember there is safety in numbers. Not everyone will offer us trail magic.
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Deep Gap

To: Little Rock Nnob
Miles today: 15.0

I woke up and there was a cold wind blowing up throgh the gap and I didn't feel like leaving my sleeping bag. I heard and barred owl call and maybe fifteen minutes later I heard a turkey gobble and then a few minutes later I heard a gunshot. I figured it wss time to get up. After I broke camp I met two hunters who asked if I had heard the turkey. I smiled and said "yep, just before the gunshot, he probably is in the next county by now". They chuckled at that one and wished me a good hike. I decided to camp at Little Rock Knob. It was a beautiful spot to view the sunset but that night I was visited by mice who proceded to chew holes in several plastic bags I had in the vestible. Where are those owls when you need em?
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Little Rock Nnob

To: Hump Mountain 
Miles today: 17.4

I got an early start that mornng with a light dry tent and later on that morning I met a lady hiker going south who told me i was in for a good hike up Roan Mountain. Only then did I look at the elevation profile and notice that it was over six thousand feet...now why did I have to look at that? No one was joking with me it was a tough hike up Roan Mountain but oh what a view! Roan Mountain is the last time the AT climbs above 6000 feet until Mount Washington in New Hampshire. In a clearing is the remains of the foundation of the Cloudland Hotel. What a place that must have been back in the day! That night I planned to camp at Bradley Gap but ended up camping on a grassy flat spot on Hump Mountain. It was calm and warm as I watched the sun set but soon after the wind picked up and it turned cold. All night I listened to my tarp tent flap in the gusting winds. The sunrise was nothing short of spectactular but soon after sunrise I hurried to break camp and get out of that wind.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Hump Mountain 

To: Stream
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

The weather was beautiful, clear skies, warm temps. The trail wove through seveal farms and I was treated to many scenic spots. I camped by a stream so as not to be too close to Walnut Mountain Road. It seemed quiet enough when I picked it but I woke up to a dog barking about 2:30 AM and it didn't stop until around 4:30. Its tough to get that perfect campsite.You may wonder what goes into picking a campsite. Well try not to get close to a road. If you are pitching a tent try to find a level site, a hammock look for a pair of sturdy trees. Water nearby is always nice but I have carried plenty of water up to a campsite perhaps 32 oz for dinner and another 16 oz for drinking that night. A good sturdy tree with a lower (but not too low) limb for hanging your food. Lets see...a view of the sunset would be nice and if your an early riser one with the sunrise to start your day. Of course you could always use the shelters and that makes the job of picking a campsite so much simpler.
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Stream

To: Side trail to U.S. 321
Miles today: 15.5

I finally got back to sleep when the dog quit barking and woke to the sound of wind on the tent. It was around 6:30 AM and the sky was clouded over and looked like rain so I decided to break camp while my gear was still dry. Once on the trail I met Pokihantus who had hiked with Warren Doyle. A man who supports groups of hikers on thru-hikes of the AT. I had read about "Doyle's Circle" in an AT Journal and was pleasantly surprised to meet someone who had been on such a hike. She commented about how Warren would finish other peoples food at fast food places, drink unfiltered water and lots of other quirks but one thing she commented on. Warren Doyle was on heck of a hiker. Warren puts his prospective group through a series of 20 mile training hikes and one of the training hikes she went through was around Harrisburg, PA. Pokihantus comments were that it was one tough hike. The rain started again soon after lunch and I looked at my maps for a possible camp site for later in the day. I had made reservations with Sutton and Beverly Brown at the Braemar Castle in Hampton, TN. for Monday and Tuesday night. My AT Hikers Companion had a note that read "The best access to Hampton from the A.T. is the 0.8 mile blue blazed trail in Laurel Gorge, two miles downstream from Laurel Falls. When I came to the blue blazed trail the rain was still falling. I had just hiked over 15 miles and I was beat. I'm so close to a dry night in town I thought. So I gave the Browns a call and yes they had accommidations for me at the Castle for that night. Well lets just say I took the Blue Blazed trail and spent the night warm and dry at the Castle.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Side trail to U.S. 321

To: Hampton, VA
Miles today: 0.0

The Brown's were very accommodating and the rates for the rooms quite reasonable. The rain continued all through the night and I slept soundly from my soft bed. The next morning I put on my rain jacket and gathered up my laundry in the 33 gallon garbage sack and went to the Ice House to do laundry. The laundry mat in Hampton had shut down and hikers can get access to a washer and dry at the Ice House for $5.00. While they are tending to their laundry they can enjoy a hot meal, cold drinks (including beer) and meet with some of the local folks of Hampton. I spent my zero day resupplying at Brown¢s grocery, the Dollar General, eating at the Ice House and Subway. Everyone at the hostel was excited about the upcoming weekend¢¦Trail Days In Damascus!