morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-01-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Let me bore you to tears with the details of my amazing dinner I just ate Buttery mashed potatoes mixed with mac n' cheese, olive oil for added flavor and calories, and crushed chili peppers for a nice kick. Top it off with some greasy, fatty corn chips (Mom would be proud of me for eating potatoes AND corn. She always was a big advocate of excessive starch . And for dessert: Dark chocolate, compliments of the Petersons. Buddy, this is eating! And this is LIVING! You ever get caught in the grind so bad that you have to slap yourself to know you're still alive? Well no need for that out here. The cold wind, wet rain, tired muscles, sore feet, long hills, slippery rocks and raw, fundamental living let you know you're alive And there's something beautiful about that push to the top, when your muscles are complaining, your breathing is in a heavy rhythm and you look up to see another 1/2 mile of hill. If you refuse to stop the reward is wonderful. The sense of achievement, the adrenaline and the rush of life to your muscles when you're standing on top of that mountain you just conquered make it all worth it. I usually let out a yell and grin. And I know I'm alive :DI had one of those experiences today: Jacob's Ladder. It climbs 620 feet in only .6 miles. Strap 45 lbs on your back and enjoy that workout! I only hiked 9.1 miles today but they gave me a challenge. The slippery leaves finally bested me and I took a spill. I got a very late start - 1pm. I spent the whole morning sewing up the many holes in my down coat. It fixed up rather nicely. You know, I used to think sewing was girly, and while it may be, I no longer care :D That is an invaluable skill.Will Call caught up to me tonight. We're sharing Brown Fork Gap Shelter and both headed to Fontana Dam tomorrow. I'm spending a couple days with friends and he's heading full speed into the Smokies. I'll be right behind him! The kid in front is about 5 days ahead of us so he should be right in the thick of the Smokies right now. He doesn't have a trail name; just goes by Joe. I keep seeing his entries in the shelter registries. He claims he has a 25 lb pack. I hope he doesn't freeze to death... Well that makes 3 of us early NOBO thru hikers, and this one is signing out. Time to read Phillipians, get some sleep and get up at 5:30 to get back at it! Cheers.
Date: 2013-01-19
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Robinsville, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Shoot, if I pull any more zeros I might start going backward! I'm very grateful for the company and support from friends though. Had a great day at Fontana Dam and a fun evening with my friends Josh, Ronnie, and Ryan. Three great guys. They all pitched in and paid for my hotel stay and dinner. They even threw in some Clif bars for the road Very generous, godly men, and I'm grateful for their support. However, none of the three of them is sleeping very well right now with the light of my laptop and the noise of my keys :-/ I should go to bed. This morning looks like laundry (mainly for the dryer), a quick trip to the NOC again for stove fuel, a permit for the GSMNP (found out that the Visitor's Center is closed til May 1 so we thru hikers have to get our permit at the Fontana 28 crossing) and a trek across the dam into the Smokies by 11am.I just now found the time to read all of my guest book entries. Wow. Thank you all so much. And 17,000 views? For real? Now I'm fully aware that many of you are following so that you can watch me fall flat on my face and tell me "I told you so." Well, it that's you, you might as well quit reading because you're going to be sorely disappointed :P To everyone else, thank you very sincerely. Your support means the world to me. I'll just go ahead now and open up the invite to anyone who wants to do the last few miles and summit Katahdin with me. Good night! Until my next internet access,
Date: 2013-01-20
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

What an introduction to the Smokies! The weather has been phenomenal! Bright and sunny both days with temps in the 40s and 50s during the day. 20s at night. Perfect! I hiked in a decent amount of snow today - up to 8 inches. Plenty of ice already too. I chose to leave my crampons home. I think I can get by without the extra pound and 1/2. I did slip and fall once today, though :-)I've had a surprising amount of company yesterday and today. Last night I pitched my full shelter setup (tarp and bivy) for the first time. I've been setting up my bivy in the shelters, but I wasn't able to reach the shelter before dusk last night, so I camped at Birch Spring Gap. I was joined by Thinker, a section hiker that started a thru hike a couple of years ago. He said he made it 720 miles and decided one day he was over it and went home. We had dinner together and swapped stories about our international travel. Nice guy. I saw 15 people today, mostly day hikers but a few section hikers. Most were very friendly. I stopped for a bit and talked to Susan, aka Kuntree. She was full of excitement and questions about my trip because she is planning on doing a thru in a few years. Super nice lady. I anticipate she'll be following my journal :-) Not long after, I talked for a few minutes to 3 guys on a day hike. I didn't get their names but I enjoyed conversation. I'm telling you what, every single person I have met on the trail has been incredibly encouraging and supportive.And speaking of encouraging people, I'm sharing this shelter tonight with Bob who is on a 2 day hike. He has devoted his whole working life to the outdoors and lives for the woods. :-) He was sharing with me about a time in his life when he also went on a soul search on the AT. We both agreed that winter hiking is incredibly healing and therapeutic. Seems like a really great guy.I didn't get on the trail yesterday until 2:30pm. The boys were kind enough to drive me to the NOC so I could refill my stove fuel. While I was there I bought a pair of waterproof NRS cold weather kayaking gloves. Can't wait to use them in the next hard rain. So I hiked till 5pm which saw me 5.6 miles into the Smokies. Today I put in 17.1 for a total of 22.7, or about 1/3 of the way thru the Smokies. I've got 13.5 planned for tomorrow with around 15 planned for the following days. Weather and health pending. I should be out of the Smokies by Friday. But I don't want to rush too much. The views are amazing! The view from Rocky Top today is great! Looking forward to the highest point of the AT tomorrow - Clingmans Dome. Thanks for reading!
Date: 2013-01-21
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

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

I'm halfway through the Smokies! I think today was one of my favorite hikes so far. I got up later than I wanted to - about 7:45am. But that's ok, because it allowed me to hike a little bit with my new friend, Bob. At high noon, I heard a huge bird take flight right by my head. I turned and saw a big, beautiful owl land in a tree about 20 yards from me. It was huge! Must have been 16 inches tall. I got a little closer for a better look, he turned and looked at me, and we stared at each other for a few seconds. I feel like an owl whisperer now...One of the neat things about snow is that it allows you to see who and what has gone before you. I saw what appeared to be the tracks of a turkey, and for several miles I saw a pawed print. Fairly large, must have been a large coyote. It probably followed the AT for a good 10 miles. Oh, and most importantly, the tracks of Will Call :-) I know the tread of his Salomon boots since my boots are very similar. His boot prints look about a day old.Speaking of snow, there was a good bit of it today - an average of 6 inches with spots up to a foot and drifts up to 18 inches. And ICE. Lots of it. I had 1 fall and plenty of close calls. But I had a BLAST! You can't ask for better hiking than what I had today. The sun was bright all day, and the temps were probably low 40s at noon. It dropped below freezing around 4 pm, at least that's when I noticed my water starting to freeze. I'm currently very warm and cozy in my bivy, but it feels like single digits outside. Gonna be hard to get out of my bag in the morning, and let's hope I don't have to pee in the middle of the night :-)The climb up and back down Clingmans Dome was gorgeous. Very rocky and scenic with evergreens everywhere. As I walked closer to the shelter, I became further and further immersed in a dense pine forest. Everything around me is green and white! Winter, the way it should be. Call me crazy, but I don't like winter unless I have snow and ice to play in. This weather is hands down better than the freezing rain last week, and I dare say it's better than hot summer hiking too. I'm having a blast :-)14.9 miles planned for tomorrow. I'll hit Newfound Gap in the morning and press on to Pecks Corner shelter for the night. I'm very close to my 10% mark (218.4)! As exciting as that is, I'll need to make sure I keep my eyes on the real purpose of this trip. I've neglected my Bible for 2 days now, so it's time to fix that. I believe I'm ready for Colossians...
Date: 2013-01-23
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

I think the Smokies are easily the most beautiful mountains I've ever hiked in. And what a fantastic time to be here! Fresh, fluffy snow, about 8 inches of it, and beautiful (but dangerous) sheets of ice as far as the eye can see. And the trees! They are ALL green! Firs, spruces, and all other types of evergreens hem me in on all sides. It's like hiking in Christmas! So beautiful. And the views! It seems every couple of hours I walk up on a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, and each view is more breathtaking than the previous one. And the GSMNP is very clean. The trail is very well maintained. And the shelters are extremely nice; they almost look like houses.But it is cold! Each day from about 10 am to about 5 pm I thoroughly enjoy myself. But during the evenings, nights, and early mornings I must admit I have very little fun. I believe Monday night temps fell in the single digits and last night's were very similar. I asked a man yesterday at Newfound Gap at 12:30 pm what the temp was and he said 14 F. At noon! I believe it too. My hands feel weird. They are constantly either numb, throbbing, lifeless, or tingly. That is really my hardest problem with this weather. When you can't move your hands it's amazing all the other stuff you can't do (very well). Like eating, toileting :-0, getting dressed, writing, putting gloves on, taking the lid off your nalgene, and the list goes on... But the hiking makes it all worth it. I am truly enjoying myself. I am 10% through my trip. Camped tonight at 222.4 miles. Out of the Smokies in 16 miles. I may or may not go all the way to Standing Bear Farm tomorrow night. We'll see how my pace is.
Date: 2013-01-25
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 0.0

Hiked 18.4 miles yesterday from Tri Corner Knob to Standing Bear. Pretty cool. Really chill place. And who to run the place but the legendary Rocketman himself! Made it through the Smokies in about 5 days, and now it's time to relax. Oh, btw, some of you have asked about my mice dilemna recently. You know those signs you see in the workplace that say "this facility has operated for _ days with no incidents"? Well I need one of those. Mine would say 14 days My contraption i rigged up is working wonders, and I hang my food bag with it every night. I'll post a picture of it if i get a chance, but basically I bought an oil drainage pan from Walmart ($2), cut the sides off (looks like a big frisbee now), drilled a hole in the middle of it and ran paracord through the hole. I tied two tight knots on either side of the pan to secure it, tied loops on both ends and attached a caribiner. Now all I do each night is throw my paracord in a tree, tie a bowline knot to my rig, hook my food bag to the biner and hoist it up in the tree. Excessive? Maybe, but it only weighs 2 or 3 oz and works like a charm, so I can justify carrying it. I also now sleep with my down coat and all my wool garments in my bivy at night. I got a good piece of advice from Rocketman. He said if you throw a small wad of toilet paper in the far corner of the shelter each night the mice will stay busy tearing it apart for their nests and won't bother your clothes. I think I'll try that too!
Date: 2013-01-27
From: Newport, TN

To: Newport, TN
Miles today: 2.1
Weather: clear sky

I spent 2 wonderful days in Newport, TN this weekend and will be back on the trail this evening. Headed to Erwin, TN with a quick stop in Hot Springs, NC on the way. These are the last zeros for a while if I have anything to say about it. It's time to really start putting in the miles. I will be camping with my tarp and bivy more often as the weather permits and hiking at least 15 miles daily from now on. 18 miles in a day has not yet stressed my body, so 20+ shouldn't be a problem. I would like to finish my trip sometime in June. Very much looking forward to beautiful scenery and wilderness solitude! Until next time,
Date: 2013-01-29
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Campsite near Bluff Mountain
Miles today: 7.0

Camping at a gorgeous campsite near the summit of Bluff Mountain in moderate winds and spitting rain. Oh, IN MY NEW TENT! I traded out my bivy/tarp sleeping system for a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1. The thing only weighs 2 lbs and is WAY bigger than my bivy. It's a full 1 1/2 lbs lighter than my previous shelter setup and is much more spacious. I'm actually SITTING up right now The bitter temps of the Smokies took a toll on my hands, which get cold easily. My fingertips are constantly numb now, even when my hands are warm. After some research I've learned that I have frostnip, the early stage of frostbite. It should fade with time, but I must admit the lack of feeling and constant tingling is a slightly unnerving sensation...But I certainly have no risk of frostbite right now. It's been hot and sunny the past two days! Like 60 degrees. I've been hiking shirtless and in shorts with a water-soaked bandana on my head and STILL sweating. So glad I'm not doing this in the spring.My pace is ok. Not counting my zeros (of which there are many) I'm averaging 12 miles a day. Pretty average. That pace equals a 6 month trip. I camped on a nice little island between two streams on Sunday the 27th and stayed at Roaring Fork Shelter on Monday night. Camped again last night. I must say, I'm starting to really prefer tenting over shelter hopping. The lack of mice alone makes it worth it, but tenting is also cleaner, more fun and more versatile. It'll be my shelter of choice from now on. 11 miles to Hot Springs, so I'll be passing through early this afternoon. It's 5:30am now so I should have no problem hitting the trail by 7:30 - daybreak. I'll do a small resupply - just 5 days of food - and then camp a few miles past the town. Easy terrain ahead today so I should have no problem hiking 15. Well, time to read the Bible, eat and practice taking down this tent in the rain Peace.
Date: 2013-01-31
From: Pump Gap

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

Whew! What a night I had. I found myself hiking up the steep and rocky ascent out of Hot Springs at 11:30pm. It was very windy even at that elevation (1400 ft) and was raining slightly. The French Broad River was insane! All the rain has swelled the river to its capacity, and the water consumed about 30 feet of the bank on both sides. The current was fierce and strong, and the water was muddy brown. The AT runs parallel to the river for a few hundred yards immediately out of town under normal circumstances, however last night the trail ran almost IN the river! The brutal current repeatedly pounded the side of the trail just a foot or two from me, and in one spot the trail was lost altogether under water. As I walked by the light of my headlamp in the strong wind next to that angry river I couldn't help but keep glancing at the muddy current, which was especially ominous under the moon light, and imagining myself in the middle of it. I realized that if I ended up in that river I would almost surely die. And I felt small.I only planned a short .5 mile hike to the campsite and water supply my guidebook claimed existed. It doesn't. And then it started really raining and the wind picked up. I realized I was in for some fun. There were several more campsites and water sources listed in my book within a mile so I decided to head for them. The climb up was extremely fun! Mostly rocks, steep and jagged. So there I was, all alone and climbing a pretty legit mountain in strong winds and pounding rain at midnight. Certainly the most extreme hiking I've done to date. I know what most of you are thinking: hypothermia! And you would be right. The conditions were a perfect hypothermia setup. But I was very aware of that so my pace was quick and my actions deliberate. I should add here that my new NRS kayaking gloves perform admirably well They keep my hands reasonably warm and very dry even in freezing rain and strong winds. Great purchase.Long story short, I couldn't find ANY water for miles and all of the campsites were on the ridgeline, smack in the middle of all the wind. I ended up hiking 3.3 miles, for a daily total of 14.3, into Pump Gap where I finally found some water and a nice spot out of the wind to pitch my new tent (which I love). Fell asleep at 2am. Woke up this morning around 9 to an ice/snow covered tent. I'm so glad I pitched my shelter when and where I did because it looks like the weather got pretty nasty while I was sleeping. But I was warm and cozy The weather this morning looks great though! The precipitation has stopped and the sun is out. It is below freezing, but hey, it's winter :D I'm 64 miles from Erwin, TN. I'm resupplied and ready to put down some miles. I should be there in 5 days. Btw, I shipped my bivy home along with some other gear. I think my base weight is around 27-28 lbs now. Feels light as a feather! Well, that's enough writing. My wrist is starting to cramp.
Date: 2013-02-05
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Not too much to say about today. Hiked in the morning in nasty weather and difficult snow. The temps hung right around 32 degrees so there was a painful mix of rain and sleet coming down. The snow had melted slightly and then refroze so it was hard and crusty. The break-your-ankle kind of snow. Oh well, part of the fun The sun came out around noon and the weather dramatically changed to a GORGEOUS February day. Plus, I started hiking downhill on my descent to Erwin. For the first time in 4 days I was finally able to walk at a normal pace.I completed 10.6 miles and arrived at No Business Knob Shelter at 3:30pm. I still had enough daylight to get to Erwin, but I'd rather stay here for free than pay for a hostel. Go ahead, call me cheap Only 5.8 miles to Erwin so I should be there sometime tomorrow morning. I'm waiting on two packages that may not come until Thur. or Fri., so it looks like another couple of down days just chillin at Uncle Johnny's hostel. May treat myself to dinner and a movie. Like a one person date. Is that sad?
Date: 2013-02-09
From: Erwin, TN

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

Today makes three zeros this week, and tomorrow will be four. I'm faced with a bit of a dilemma. Two, actually. The first is my finances. After 35 days on the trail I now have a clear idea of the true cost of a winter thru hike, and I realize that I have enough cash to get me MOST of the way to Katahdin, but probably not all the way. I will likely have to work my way through some of it. My second dilemma is much more worrisome. My fingers. My frost nip worsened considerably last week, and after some further research I believe I have minor frostbite. The numbness has completely overtaken the upper third of all my fingers and is mixed with moderate joint pain. I have hard, yellowish skin on some fingers and two nails have some black developing under them. I don't have any blisters or dark black skin like the horrific pictures I've seen, but my fingers certainly hurt and are cause for concern. I may be taking some time off the trail to heal. I may also see a doctor here in Erwin. What a wrench in my plans. I'm so motivated and excited about this trip. I really want to just keep pushing, but the sensible advice from others is hard to ignore. Please pray for both my healing process and my decision making. Thanks.
Date: 2013-02-09
From: Erwin, TN

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

Just a quick update. I went to Urgent Care in Erwin today and saw a physician about my hands. I have superficial frostbite. It could worsen and become a serious issue if I continue exposing my hands to cold temps. Otherwise I'm looking at a couple weeks for some improvement and up to 3 months for total recovery. Dang. I'll post an update when I've decided what I'm going to do. I will likely take 2 weeks off the trail to allow the temps to warm slightly. I have the gloves and the ability to be ok down to about 25, but I can't expose my hands to any more teens and single digit temps. I'm going to return my current mittens for a refund and be on the hunt for some more substantial mittens. This is only a delay, not a deal breaker. Please be praying for a quick recovery so I can get back on the trail quickly. Thanks for all the support!
Date: 2013-02-12
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cleveland, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Hey friends. I'm staying in Cleveland, GA for a couple of weeks - possibly a little longer. I'm using this time to rest and do some gear exchanging. I'll be able to bring in a little money from gear returns, for which I'm thankful. I've been battling a ferocious fever for the past 3 days. I'm guessing it is my body's reaction to the frostbite? Thankfully the fever started to break today I am also noticing some slight improvement in my fingers! As I've said from the very beginning, I will finish this journey. I have committed to myself and to God to do whatever it takes. And now with so much support and investment from so many generous people my motivation is even greater. I can't wait to get back out there and keep moving forward! Thanks for the support!
Date: 2013-02-13
From: Cleveland, GA

To: Cleveland, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Noticed some very significant improvement in my hands the last couple of days. I've regained almost full function of my fingers and much of the feeling as well! It looks like the length of my intermission will be governed by the temperatures and what I think my hands can handle with my new, more robust glove system. At this point I'm not planning on being off the trail for any longer than two more weeks. We'll see.....thanks for all the prayers!Also, a very sincere thank you to those of you who blessed me with some money. I take your investment seriously and will use it to help me reach Katahdin.
Date: 2013-02-14
From: Cleveland, GA

To: Clemson, SC
Miles today: 0.0

Anxious, anxious, anxious! I can't wait to get back on the trail. My hands are almost healed and I've improved my glove system. The current plan is to resume my journey from Erwin sometime this weekend. Thanks for all the prayers. I was also blessed with the opportunity to earn some money this week. I think both my money problem and my frostbite problem are fixed. Sweet! See you on the AT!