morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Gooch Gap, GA

To: Blood Mtn Shelter, GA
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm looking at the remains of a beautiful sunset where red, orange, yellow and cyan color a sheer cloud. The sky is like a sheet of ice as if we are underwater looking up.I just ate my first Annies dinner with carrots, tuna, and garlic. It was ample despite the long day. I wasn't planning on staying at Blood Mountain but I missed the turn off for Woods Hole Shelter. So here I am. I got to take a "bath" and cook dinner at the peak marker where I could see the distance I traveled.Blood Mountain was named after a hellacious battle between the Creek and Charokee. The hills were literally drenched in blood.I'm here with a couple named Sean and Jen & a guy named Ashley. Cat and her dog are camping nearby as well as a young kid we crowded out of this huge shelter.That is it. So far I have not experienced the crowds or the mice that other thru-hikers have seen. But I hear everything changes when it rains.After yesterday, today was less eventful. I got out of camp at 8:30 and got here around 5:00. A full day of work.There are not that many people on the trail this week. I've been leap frogging with most of them.Within a mile and a half I came across One Leg hiking with his daughter, Cricket. He apologized for the kids the night before. I assured him it was fine, "Par for the course, It made things interesting." We parted ways and I trudged ahead.I spotted John, an older gentleman who loves to talk and give advice, at Woody Gap, which is our first paved road crossing. He was in his realm chatting up some tourist. He told them I was from MA and one of them told me he was from Lowell. Neat.Darren and Andy showed up shortly after that along with Jan and Sean who went directly to the spring to stock up. Already there were the Vermont twins, Holly and Heidi--very soft spoken girls, and Steve from MA. He had been there awhile so he took off after saying hello. I met all these people at Hawk Mountain two nights ago and haven't met anyone else except for the guys here at Blood Mountain Shelter.Tomorow I am either going to call Josh at Hiker Hostel and spend the night there (he mentioned a Marguerita party) or stay at Neel's Gap. I'll probably lose Andy and Darren which would be sad.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Dick's Creek

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My first official zero day. For one thing it rained all night and part of morning. It sounded luxurious. I also had to nurse some nasty blisters on my toes.Got to mail some things ahead, hang out with Cat, Turtle, Geezer, and Saltlick (Steve). I bumped into the Garland 5 again (www.trailjournals.com/thegarland5) at the post office. Met a few new thru-hikers and basically hung out all day. It was nice.I'm ready to hit the Trail again tomorrow. If my feet don't feel better, I'll wear my Tevas. Been done before...
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Well... Reports at the hotel said snow but we all scoffed at the idea. After all, the weather has been fantastic--sometimes too hot--and we were surely going into the mountains with the same fortune.Instead, we were punished. It started with a thick fog, then a light rain. At Plumorchard Shelter we were pummeled with hail. I headed out anyway. It turned to heavy rain, then hail again, then it stopped as I crossed into NC. The sun tried to make an appearance but I kept my layers on. The temp went down to 32 degrees, up to 47 and then back down.We were all spread out by this time. I walked with a guy from CT named Radar for two seconds and then he disapeared. When I got to Bly Gap, the AT came to a T and there were no blazes in sight. I naturally went 2/10ths of a mile the wrong way before realizing that there were no white blazes and the path I had chosen was rough and "less taken." I turned around and headed past the famous split tree and straight up Sharp Top. That was very tough--a preview of NH trails without the rocks.At the top of Sharp Top, I could see Courthouse Bald looking like Cruella De Ville of 101 Dalmatons; one side white from snow and the other side black from wet rain, with the AT going up the part in the hair. Muskrat Shelter was less than three miles. Although it was early, I was going to spend the night there. The weather and cold was still too foul.Going over Courthouse was tedious. The winds blew the snow horizontally at times. The path, although clear before me, was slippery with mud and snow. But I had moments of mirth when I noticed it resembled Oreo Cookie Ice Cream. A strange craving possessed me.Warm pockets produced a thick fog again. I was in a mild white-out. My memory of the dry days were eliminated. I had read my emails and recalled that a 49 year old woman died in the Whites last week. This is not a comforting thought.At last, around 3:30, I reached Muskrat Shelter. Saltlick, Cat (and Wags), Eric, and Radar were all there. Also, we had caught up with Andy (Texas) again. He had spent a night in Helen's Bavarian Village.I figured the best thing is get food into me. I started some water while I changed every stitch of clothing to something dry. I also made some hot water sacks for my sleeping bag.So here we are, all packed in this shelter like sardines. I have my wet clothes, camera, and flashlight in my bag with me. Kinda like when I was a kid and slept with a zillion stuffed animals in my bed.People keep showing up so we have to shuffle around a bit. It is finally geting dark. And that is all I'm gonna write today.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter, NC

To: Carter Gap Shelter, NC
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

A balmy 27 degrees this morning. Snow on the ground. The world is frozen. Cold, cold, cold.I immediately rose and shuffled around to get warm, heat water, pack. I amazingly slept well that night.Andy stayed in bed and was still in his sleeping bag when I left. Later, when Saltlick caught up to me, he said Andy was still in bed and had plans to take the eleven mile alternate route to Standing Indian Campground along with some others. I didn't like this option because it ment you had to walk the eleven miles back to pick up the Trail. Then again, I didn't like my option of bearing the cold wet weather either.Saltlick left me at Standing Indian Shelter. It snowed on and off all day as we headed over Standing Indian summit. Geezer said there was normally a good view from this peak but I can't imagine how even when the weather is clear.On my way down, I met up with a large group of Boy Scouts trying to get their 50 mile badge. They looked miserable and kept asking "How much farther," each time they passed me. Their leaders were hardcore. Did they realize these kids were in for more than they bargained?The temps remained between 27 and 36. I kept thinking how nights only make the mountains colder. Walking is fine, you stay warm. But those mornings are awful.I passed a blue blaze named Chunky Gal Trail. What's the story behind that?On the other side of the mountain, there was no snow and it was warmer. I picked up my step and believed I would go further than 12 miles today. When I got to Carter Shelter, Cat, Saltlick and some new faces were there. I decided to stay. They were building a fire and the company keeps your spirits up.After feeding myself a nice hearty meal and pitching my tent, I sat by the roaring fire letting it sear off my eyebrows pretty much. Redressed my toe wounds and got to know Vagrant, Walksalot, and Palmtree. Vagrant had a nasty black eye from breaking a tree branch. I'd been reading his input in registries and have been curious to meet him. Walksalot, a thin, middle aged woman, planned to hit the next shelter. She had the energy to write poetry.It was a good night by the fire and I felt I could bear the evening. If it doesn't warm up/clear up, we all plan to go to Franklin.Now a brief word from our sponsors: I need to give some thanks to people who have given me things for this trip that helped in the last two days.Thanks goes to:-John, Jess, Bill & Thi Linh for the MP3 I listened to on Wednesday night.-Marsha for her flashlight. Still going strong.-Stacia & Reji for the New Zealand underwear. Cuts off the wind.-Sharon & Darren for the Traildrop which has provided the most accurate reading on the temps and I obsessively look at it.-Maria for fixing my backpack. It's still holding.-Mom & Maria for the gift certificate to REI. I'm wearing everything I bought that day.-Isaac for the bookmark. I started reading as a distraction.-Melanie for Pigs, a great hit at the shelters.-Everyone else--kind words and candies. Good for the metabolism and spirits.
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Bartram Trail Campsite

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

We are crazy people. We slept on a bald this morning at 5300' (5250 really). Wind was mighty fierce all night and we woke up to mid twenties temps again. I didn't want to get out of bed again--so cold.Our plans were to get to the shelter one mile from the NOC but that would be an 18 mile day.There were lots of ups and downs and beautiful views today. I could see the Smokies at every vista. At Wayah Bald, we could see Mt. Albert and Standing Indian Mountain ten miles away--where we had been two days ago.I met a very speedy couple, Flying Brian and Silver Girl. Cool couple from CA who knew Glen Van Peski, the man who made my G4 pack. They gave me a suggestion for conserving the longevity of my pack since I have already remedied a tear with duct tape.At a stream, as I filtered some water, I met up with Sean and Jen again. We all ate lunch at Cold Spring Shelter.The decent to Tellico Gap was tough. Saltlick and I took a break. We decided we should end the day at Wesser Bald Shelter approximately two miles further. Vagrant had forged ahead set on doing the complete eighteen miles.At the top of Wesser, I tried to climb the steep stairs of the firetower but the wind and height scared me. Still saw the Smokies--getting closer.Wesser Bald Shelter had everyone from the hotel, includng Pirate. I met Pokey, Zippy, Andy from NH again, Jon, Indy, Sean, Jen, etc. There was a crowd.Vagrant had gone on to the Rufus Morgan Shelter. That's determination.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala River, NC
Miles today: 5.7

Another cold morning, but they offer clear sunrises and beautiful views. Although I was one of the early risers, I was one of the last out of camp.Pirate was trying to get people to blue blaze to the NOC but there were no takers.The Trail to NOC was not all downhill as I had feared. I am very glad that I negotiated this after a night of rest since the views of the Smokies were incredible. Greenery was sprouting at the lower altitudes as well.Unfortunately the storm had caused some major tree wreckage that had yet to be cleared. I had to crawl on my knees to get under a fallen tree that crossed the trail.When I arrived at the NOC, Cat, Saltlick, Vagrant were all waiting for me to have lunch at the Rivers End. Before the door we saw Cruise Control hanging out. He was getting off Trail because he felt his pack was too heavy and needed some time to rest.Pirate also joined us for lunch along with Palmtree and a young guy named Digit. Digit is a Thru-hiker who continues as a Wilderness Ranger. He started on the 28th but had to jump ahead because there was an emergency slightly north of the NOC. He doesn't intend to backtrack. He's hanging out waiting for a few friends to catch up.Saltlick intended to leave the NOC after a few phone calls and tackle the second Sassafras climb of the trip. But when Cat and I mentioned a free campsite, he decided to stay. Vagrant also decided to join us.It took us awhile, but we found a spot on US Forest grounds between the white capped river and the railroad. Where we set up our tents is okay with a fire pit, but the gulley between is littered with garbage and broken trees. I felt like we were a bunch of hobos waiting for the next train to Bryson. The river is nice and will help us sleep.The guys are generally a source of entertainment especially when attempting to set up bear bag ropes. Saltlick tossed his tangled rope over a high limb only to have the other end fly up into the branches out of his reach. Cat and I later pulled it down for him.The temps sored into the 80's. It improved everyone's moods.After a shower at the bunkhouse, we returned to the Rivers End for dinner where I met Snowman, Pipesmoke, and Hawk. Outside the restaurant, whom should I bump into but Andy from Texas. He followed us to our campsite as well. Now we are all here infront of the fire. As we suspected, Andy had gone off trail during the brunt of the storm and stayed at Rainbow Springs Campground for a night then walked back to the trail to continue.I'm not sure what my plans are tomorrow. Regardless of how good I feel now, I should give my bones a rest. But the weather is supposed to be good and then followed by rain. Oh the decisions...the laziness.
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Nantahala River, NC

To: Nantahala River
Miles today: 0.0

Antoher sub-thirty morning even in the valley. Everyone hit the path to the Rivers End for our 8 AM breakfast. Vagrant left us to head north. Saltlick said he would leave after breakfast but, no surprise, he stayed the whole day with Cat, Digit and me.Pirate was still around waiting for friends to meet him. We discussed tents and weights. "Mine weighs a pound and a half," he boasted."Really?" said Saltlick."Well, it's just the fly."He had his camping gear down to the absolute necessities such as gourmet coffee.Saltlick had an idea for an alternate Trail name that we could not completely remember. Something like Super Cool Awesome Radical Essentric Dude or SCARED for short. He was stalling before leaving. I pulled out Pig out! and he decided to stay the day.Cat, although skeptical about the game, managed to blow the rest of us away.The temps rose to the eighties. Woo hoo! I hung out getting burned, watching the river fill up after they opened the dam, checked emails--thanks guys!--and had a nice conversation with a kayaker on the bench next to me. It was as if I were on vacation. Wait, I am on vacation.One more visit to the Rivers End, the Outfitters, and sitting around the campfire. We all plan to head north tomorrow--even Digit who has given up on his friends.One last note, Saltlick and I were at the river's edge near the campsite. The current is very strong. On the opposite side we saw hounds skipping along the bank until there was just a rocky ledge. They were following their owners on our side. One jumped into the water and was immediately swept into the current. My heart lurched, but he successfully reached the bank and crawled out. Cat and Digit went to talk to the owners. There is no leash law in these parts and they said that the dogs jump into the water like that every evening.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Nantahala River

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I walked with a thirteen year old kid named Mouth. He is hiking the trail with his father's friend, Sunshine Man. When asked why he isn't in school, he says he is home schooled. There is a lot of that in these parts, I guess. One Leg's whole family was home schooled too.It doesn't take you long to learn why he is called Mouth, although he was pretty tame around me. "I sent my journals home and my Dad said I need to use more adjectives in my sentences. I say, 'You mean the cus words I say as I go up the mountains?'"I picked him up around Grassy Top right before a grueling climb to Sassafras Gap Shelter. All the way up, with teenage cynicism, he jeered me about the distance, the fact that I left my Saltines in the box so they wouldn't get crushed and the heat, which had returned with a vengence.Although at times I could have used the silence, Mouth wasn't a bad hiking companion and I felt less alone on the Trail that day.The morning was incredibly balmy compared to the subfreezing temps we had experienced since last Wednesday. Cat was up at 5:30. I got up around 6:30. Then the boys. They rushed their stuff together and were out by 8 a. So once again I was alone and the last one out of camp.All day we climbed. The only extreme downhill was the decent into Stecoah Gap, which is a major auto road to Robbinsville--another dry community.It is a little nerve-wracking to be tenting near a parking lot, but I am not alone. Cat, Wags, Digit, Hightrailer, Sunshine Man, Mouth, Saltlick, and some guy named Archaeopterix. So much for easy trailnames.The spot we chose has picnic tables and there is a nearby water source, which is pretty pitiful.After making dinner and picking on each other's weaknesses, we tried out each other's tents for size in case we wanted to exchange our current tent for something lighter. Mine is still the lightest I guess, albiet not too roomy.Pretty uneventful day. Tomorrow we hope to reach Fontana Dam Shelter which offers showers--very unusual. It has been toted as The Hilton of shelters. Cannot wait.
Date: 2004-04-09
From: Fontana Dam Shelter 

To: The Hike Inn, Fontana, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, so I took another zero day. I'm a wimp. But when your reservations at the super thru-hiker friendly motel, The Hike Inn, is for Friday night and when you have a maildrop you have to sort through, you can't help it.Nancy and Jeff, owners of the Hike Inn are commendable hosts. Nancy, like Ron in Hiawasee, spends most of her day shuttling people from Fontana Village, which resembles a country club escape to the Catskills, in my opinion.I spent the morning wandering with Palmtree, a true gentleman, Cat, and Saltlick around the Village. We picked up maildrops and met up with Lightfoot who got my mitten from Keith. Trail magic prevails.Then Palmtree, Cat and I were swept away in Nancy's shuttle to our rooms. The rest of the day was spent combing through my stuff, scatter-brained, trying to send things home or on their way to a future pick-up point.I also hadn't talked to my Mom in over a week. Horrors. And I had the worst time paying a Visa bill. The real world keeps haunting me. Go away.Catdog, my roommate, thought it was very amusing to see me race around and get very little done. She had planned to stay another evening because her husband would not be able to pick up Wags until then (dogs cannot be in Smokies). However, he came early since it was Easter weekend and now she can continue to hike with us on Sunday.For dinner, Nancy drove us to Robbinsville where we took NC143 past our makeshift campsite two nights ago Stecoah Gap. Then she showed us the grade we climbed. "You did the hardest 30 miles (NOC to Fontana) in North Carolina," Nancy said. "In two days, no less."Before bed, Catdog warned me that she was going to hit me if I snored. She had slept in the Hilton the night before next to Vagrant, whose snoring never let up, and lost so much sleep.Next, the Smokies. I hope it doesn't rain and destroy the views. I walked 164 miles to see this place.
Date: 2004-04-11
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

My plans were to go to Siler Bald Shelter but the weather got so foul again that I stopped with the rest of my pack (group) at this shelter. So I will be pulling some hefty miles in the next couple of days...I hope.The morning was surprisingly warm considering how chilly it was last night. The sky was spitting but we managed to get clear vistas at Thunderhead and Rocky Top which offered tremendous views of the lake and where we had been in the last week.(See Photo Gallery for Thunderhead view)Although there were many ups and downs, the trail opened up to grassy fields--a pleasant change from the endless woods. Someone said the last six miles were the hardest in the Smokies.It is the first time a lot of us are dealing with pouring rain since the start of our thru-hike. We've been lucky, I guess.We saw a note at one of the shelters from Digit saying he lost his fleece jacket. Palmtree found it on the trail and carried it to Derrick Knob Shelter. But Bluegrass told us that Digit was planning to hold up for a few days in a shelter six miles back. So his jacket is now ahead of him.We have the company of Joanne, my roommate in Franklin, in our shelter. We call her Sampler and yes, she is 72 years old.No news on what the weather will do tomorrow but Clingmans Dome is next--the highest peak on the Trail.I believe that my appetite has finally spiked. I felt hungry all day despite the many snacks I ate and I'm still hungry after just eating a hearty meal. Hope I make it to Davenport Gap without resupplying in Gatlinburg.
Date: 2004-04-15
From: Gatlingburg, TN 

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Okay, there is a limit to who I will tolerate in my tent and my sleeping bag. But I will get to that later.We are staying at one of the worst campsites in the Smokies. A series of streams run through this slanted field. The privy is an old porto-potty on stilts. There are no bear hangs. The shelter is crooked, caged and falling apart. I guess after Newfound Gap, the funds stopped for maintaining the Smokies.But I am more amused then disgruntled because at 5,900 feet I am happy that we are not getting rain or snow. Today we had fabulous views of the valleys on either side of the AT. There was plenty of snow to accent the colors of the rocks. The ridge walk was still icy for the first half of the day and the cliff walls were dripping with ice cubes. You had to wear some rain gear and cover your pack because the trees dripped ice and snow. At times it was slushy and muddy with very few places to remove packs and relax.Because we had a crowded shelter, Saltlick, Catdog and I set up our tents. We turned in early enough and I fell asleep on my back on top of my wet clothes again expecting them to dry by morning. Everything was peaceful until around 10pm (so I heard later) when I felt something scurry across my face. I immediately thrashed at it gasping, "Get, get! What the fuh!" (I usually don't complete that sentence). I had woken from a dream but was talking out loud. Realizing this I began to laugh hysterically. It was so silly to be woken like that by a silly dream and have Catdog and Saltlick hear me thrash. After a series of stifled giggles, I laid in silence staring at the tent wall. A silouette of something raced by. Was that outside or my imagination? Then I heard crackling at the door of my tent. I quickly grabbed my flashlight to investigate. Funny how irridescent light accents everything. Behold, the tiny, crouched body and glowing eyes of a mouse--inside my tent!Okay, so I screamed. Or maybe yelled at it. "Lonesome Dove, are you okay?" I heard Saltlick ask. Yeah, I said. But there is a mouse in my tent and I don't know where he went. I flashed my light around frantically and tried to listen for any noise. My beam crossed his hiding place. He was scrunched into a ball gripping the pinacle corner of my A-frame tent looking back at me petrified. I was in hysterics. I'm not sure of this reaction I have to critters. On the one hand they are rather cute, but the tent is not their refuge.I beseeched Saltlick's assistance. Heavy sigh, he got out of his tent in his bare feet. He tapped the roof of my tent til the mouse crawled down and I could shoo it out.I don't know if I ever got to sleep that night. ----------------TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Many, many good pictures from this day - it was hard to weed them down to the few I put in the Gallery, and even harder to choose which one to pick for this entry. Check them out. (Includes an image of the culprit) -----------------