morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-31
From: Blood Mountain Shelter

To: Baggs Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.6

Gear, Gear, GearI started down from Blood Mountain at 7:30 a.m. It was a steep and rocky descent. The right pole gave a stellar performance helping me over some rocks, so I named it Rocky. Then of course, the left pole had to be named Bullwinkle. It was 2 miles to Neel's Gap. I waited to eat in case there was real breakfast food there, and because I wanted to see how I would hike in a fasted state. I did fine.I got into Neel's Gap at 9:40. I met Hawkyes there, having a pack makeover. (Hawkeyes and I met right when I first started onto the trail Monday morning. We hiked together Monday, she went farther than me on Tuesday, and waited for me Wednesday morning. We hiked together Wednesday until I picked up the pace to make it to Woody Gap to the hostel. Then she passed me again when I took the zero day on Thursday.) My pack weighed 31 pounds when I got to Neel's Gap. They only had coffee and donuts, so I had coffee and ate some of my food. I picked up my mail drop. I spent a couple of hours buying gear ($140 for less than a pound of stuff! Backpacking and golf - the only two activities where less is more!), sending gear back home, and repacking the pack. I sent back the water filter. It weighs 12 oz, was always wet and I couldn't get the silt filter unclogged. I got some iodine water purifier instead. They were out of Aqua Mira, and I would rather ingest iodine than chlorine. I overestimated how much food I would need so I sent some of that back also. My best purchase was a tiny little headlamp with 3 brightness settings. You were right, Ralph, I totally need the headlamp.I phoned home and got Rowan - left a long list of instructions for Steve. Thank, Ro. Some trail angels were barbecueing so I had a hot dog and a hamburger (no bun) before Hawkeyes and I hit the trail just before 1 pm. My pack weight was 35 pounds with almost 4 litres of water, so I dumped 2 of them before we left. I figured it out, and in this weather I am drinking about one liter of water every 3 miles.Went about 7 miles today. We are at approximately mile 35. It was cloudy all day. Camped at Baggs Creek Gap.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Baggs Creek Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

I Love a Rainy Night7 a.m.It got windy and started to rain in the night. There was one leak in the tent from the door. I don't know if it is because I forgot to zip one side of the inside door in the night, or because I seam sealed under the vent by mistake (the instructions said you didn't have to seal it, not that you would completely ruin your brand new tent if you did so).6:30 p.m. About 6 miles today.When I took down the tent this morning I saw that one of the tent stakes had pulled out, so perhaps that was the source of the leak.Got a late start this morning - ~9:40. The first couple of miles were very slow. The climb up from Tensnatee Gap was very steep. It was 55 degrees and raining. I was too hot and finally took off the gortex jacket even though I knew I would get wet. I knew it was the right thing to do, but its always hard making that first move from dry to wet. I went faster after that.Hawkeyes got out of camp ahead of me and I met up with her at Hogpen Gap. She had been there for about 15 minutes trying to hitch a ride into town for pizza and a motel. I said I'd go with her and we stood there for a couple of cars to go by, then I decided it didn't feel right and thought about moving on. She hailed a guy in the parking lot who said he'd give her a ride. I was vascillating, but thought if it was that hard for me to decide it meant I really didn't want to get off the trail. So we said our goodbyes, figuring she wouldn't catch up to me again.It rained for about the next two hours. Nothing like a little cold rain to keep you moving. I ate nuts and fruit all day as I walked. I put it in my pocket so I wouldn't have to stop and take off the pack. I walked fast - did 4.4 miles in 3 hours. Got to Low Gap shelter and pitched my tent. When I went down to the shelter to get water I said hello to the people inside, but only one guy said hello back and nobody talked to me.I put on my gortex jacket over my damp shirt and I never got cold. My sleeping bag was completely dry. I may be slow and have a garbage bag over my pack instead of a fancy (and heavier) pack cover, but I was in my tent, warm and dry. I was proud of myself for making it there.I ate supper in the tent. When I went outside to hang up the food bag I noticed how much colder it was outside the tent. Back in the tent, pumping up my air mattress I had a little meltdown moment. A little bit of loneliness - I was thinking I could have been in a motel with Hawkeyes instead of out by myself. Ten minutes later Hawkeyes walked into camp! She had her pizza and sat next to a couple who offered to bring her back to the trail.
Date: 2007-04-03
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: broken clouds

Going NowhereAfter the guy at the Econolodge flaked out on me, I got ride up to Unicoi Gap with Wally. Got a late start, about 11:40 a.m. It was hot - about 80 degrees. It was very slow going with the heat and I think with all the food I ate last night and this morning. There was a lot of up and down, but the climb up from the gap wasn't as bad as the climb down yesterday. Beautiful view from the top of Rocky Mountain - spring greens down below in the sunlight coming out of the shadows as a cloud passed over.About 3 pm I stopped at the Cheese Factory Site. I sat in the sun with my boots off and knitted for about 20 minutes. I considered stopping there for the night but the flies were pestering my feet and it was too early to set up the tent, so I moved on. I finally hit a bit of a stride after that. Got to the top of Tray Mountain and heard the Canada warblers, as advertised. Walked through a lot of rhody forest today.When I got to Tray Mtn shelter, I dropped my gear, got water and set up the tent. I ate at the shelter, looked through the log and signed in. Met a friendly kid from Raleigh, NC. Hung up my food bag and headed back to my tent just as it started raining.
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Easy Skankin'Took it slow and easy on purpose today. I knew I had plenty of time to get where I was going and my pack was heavier because I picked up a mail drop at the hostel. Yesterday I pushed it a little to get to the hostel by late afternoon. I am doing 6-7 miles a day easily. The last few more than that are a little harder. The limiting factor is the bottoms of my feet, which start to get tired and sore. I haven't worn moleskin for 3 days now and am having no problem with blisters. If I need to get somewhere by late afternoon I also have to make some time on the uphills and flats to get there. I choose not to go any faster on the downhills - I go slowly and carefully so as not to hurt my knees.Got on the trail at about 8:30 a.m. Temperature 35 degrees, sunny and somewhat windy. It only got up to 55 degrees today and the wind picked up in the afternoon. It was a pretty hilly hike all day. One might even say it was mountainous. I was really enjoying being up so high. I thought about Steve and how he would love this, too. Another paradox - I would be so happy to have him here, but I am also completely happy to be doing it by myself.Originally, I had planned to do 12 miles today and stop at Muskrat Creek Shelter, but the guy who runs the hostel (nice Welsh guy, don't remember his name), suggested that we camp 3 miles sooner at Bly Gap because it is lower and would be warmer and less windy. I decided to take his advice - 9 miles today. That means I will need to do 7 miles tomorrow to meet Dawn at noon at Deep Gap, forest service road 71. Worst case scenario - I could be 2 hours late.Got to Bly Gap at about 4:30 p.m. I was setting up my tent when Roast Beef rolled in. We had met once before at Woody Gap when I was heading back to the hostel for my zero day. He had just spent a couple of days in town. He has a really cool, lightweight tent that's made in Seattle. He asked me why if I was doing 1500 miles I just didn't do the whole trail. I explained that I want to go back home for a couple of weeks in July when my sister is visiting. But, he got me thinking. After Mary's visit, I could flip flop and go south from Katahdin. I asked Steve if he would like to go up there with me and he is up for it.I was getting cold, so I decided to make a hot meal - pizza sauce, chicken, and dehydrated veggie soup. That was good and warmed me up. Just after I finished Hawkeyes showed up at camp. She stayed at the Blueberry Patch last night. I hung up my food bag. I managed to get the rope up over an appropriate branch and it just hung there about a foot over the branch and out of my reach. Pulled it down and threw it again - same thing. I started laughing so hard I could hardly do anything. I gave the rope a little slack and it slowly inched its way down. As I was heading to my tent I mentioned to Hawkeyes what I had eaten and she asked for the leftovers. She was happy to have a warm meal and I was happy not to have to carry the food or heat it up again in the morning.
Date: 2007-04-06
From: Bly Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Asheville!It was cold last night, but not as cold as I thought it would be. It was 30 degrees outside and 45 degrees in the tent with the bottom door flap open. I got up a littlle before 6, broke camp in the dark and was on the trail by 7 a.m. My gloves got a little wet when I was rolling up the tent and my hands were very cold. It was a pretty steep uphill to start, so I warmed up pretty quickly.I hiked all morning with only one short break. I didn't eat anything untlil 10 a.m. It was too cold to eat before I left camp, I knew I was heading into town for real food and I wanted to take the chance to hike in a fasted state. I ate a little bit of nuts and fruit through out the morning. I didn't see anyone else on the trail all morning, except I could see people at the shelter when I passed.At about 11:50 a.m. I had been making good time for awhile and thought I might get to the gap by noon. I was at Wateroak Gap, elevation 4490 feet, mile 80.1 from Springer Mtn. The next thing listed was my pickup spot at Deep Gap, elev. 4341, mile 82.2 so I thought it would be a pretty easy, fairly level 2 miles like the last couple had been. Wrong! I hadn't counted on Stealth Mountain. I went up for 50 minutes straight and then of course I had to go down again. I still got to the gap around 12:20. I named it Stealth Mountain so that it could be official and go in the guide books for the next generation of hikers.When I go to the gap a couple of hikers were waiting for a ride. They said Stealth Mountain was for bonus points. As we were all waiting, Whiskey Joe came out of the woods. He said, "Hey, you're the lady we passed yesterday. How did you get ahead of us?" He was planning to be at Nantahala by Tuesday. Then Dawn showed up and drove me to her house in Asheville. She cooked me supper, we had lots of good conversation, and did some knitting together.
Date: 2007-04-07
From: Asheville, NC

To: Asheville, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Great new backpack!Well I didn't sleep well inside, as usual. I only get 5 or 6 hours a night indoors and I get a full 8 outside. Maybe I will have to hike for the rest of my life.Dawn took me shopping for a new backpack and a few other items (after we stopped for espresso). The back pack is a Vapor Trail by Granite Gear. It weighs 3-4 pounds less than my old backpack and it is so comfortable! I sold my old backpack to Dawn so I don't even have to ship it. Dean, from Diamond Brand outfitters was very helpful. We loaded the new pack with my gear and he made sure the pack fit me and taught me how to adjust it. Then he suggested a better groundcloth material (its nylon, I think). He gave me a 10% discount "because you're doing what you're doing," and offered Dawn a job.I also bought outer gloves, gaiters, zip off pants, a shirt, soap, etc, seam sealer for the tent, and a couple of sil sacks. We went back to Dawn's for lunch and later we went to her friends' house for lots more good conversation and dinner. Her friends have a great house up in the hills. They have "house concerts" with live music. Perry videos them and they showed me a couple in their home movie theater.
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Asheville, NC

To: Asheville, NC
Miles today: 0.0

New Gear ListI am at Dawn's packing up to go. I just figured out my next two mail drops. I am estimating my food needs by the mile, rather than trying to figure out how many days it will take me to get somewhere. Much easier.Today I still need to cut my new ground cloth, pack, bathe, launder clothes, make my sandals, call Hawkeyes to arrange a ride back to the trail tomorrow, and buy a little food. I am also starting a bounce box for extra food, hand lotion, etc. And I need to talk to Steve again.Dawn wants us to go to her church, walk around Asheville and have lunch. Then she has plans this afternoon. I would like to do all that, but I only slept 5 hours and am pretty tired.This trail break worked out really well. It was cold up in the mountains Saturday night. There was an inch or two of snow on the ground here yesterday morning. Also, the climbing on Friday had a lot more high "steps" and boulders. It gave my quads more of a workout than they've been getting so the rest was well-timed. I am planning 5 days into Nantahala, and then I am going to go 100 miles without getting off the trail.Here are the items that will go in my new pack tomorrow (excluding food and water).New Pack: 2 #TentSleeping bag (includes built in air mattress and stuff sack)Compression sack (for sleeping bag, in addition to stuff sack)Ground cloth2 small and 2 medium sil sacksOne bandana4 old cotton hankiestoothbrush, tooth powder and flosscombone oz bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap, hand lotion and deodorant (I am reacting to strange soaps and detergents with a skin rash, so I got some "Kiss My Face")Gold Bond powderOne packet KleenexToilet Paperone oz bug repellant2 oz Ram1/2 oz Bullfrog sunscreennon latex tapebandaids4 x 4'sAntiseptic toweletteschapstickacu needlesmatcheslighterheadlampCell phoneDisposable cameraKnittingTrail Guide (cut down and I sent some of it back before I started).PencilSmall Notebook (about 3 x 5, covers removed)Gram Weenie camp sandalsTrowelear plugsSanitary supplies2 sewing needlessafety pinsduct tape (around fuel bottle)Stove and 4 oz fuelTitanium pot and lidspoonZiplock screw top containerCamel back style platypus, 1.8 litersone liter platypus2 liter platypus20 oz throwaway water bottleone garbage bag3 lightweight kitchen size trash bagsseam sealerClothes - all my clothes are: one pair zip-off pants, 2 undies, 2 bras, 2 wicking shirts - one long, one short sleeve, one lightweight fleece, one set polypro long undies, 2 pairs socks, one pair sock liners, fleece headband, glove liners, water and wind resistance outer gloves, gaiters, sun/rain hat, gortex jacket, gortex rain pantsOn my person (besides clothes): photon light, thermometer/compass, whistle, kinfe, watch, small nylon wallet with cards and cash, and bicycle gloves.I also carry toilet paper, a small piece of the trail guide and often food in my pockets. I am going to start hanging the camera from the chest strap of the pack (maybe with BHS carribeaner Steve just sent me :>)And I use hiking poles
Date: 2007-04-09
From: Deep Gap

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Steve and Hawkeyes were looking out for me last night. They both made sure she knew where to pick me up this morning. Hawkeyes and I went out to breakfast and stopped at Wal Mart on the way up to Deep Gap. I yakked the whole way and for the first couple of hours on the hike to Standing Indian Mountain where we met Yogi and Boo Boo. There we finally said our last goodbyes. I set off by myself but Worn Heels soon joined me. We chatted for a few minutes until he went on ahead.It felt strange hiking by myself after Worn Heels took off. Met some southbound slack packers doing the stretch from Winding Stair Gap to Deep Gap. Saw Vee, Fire Hazards, Kokapella, Chuck Norris, Tigger and a couple of other people whose names I didn't get or can't remember. Met Radar and Wrong Way at Winding Stair Gap as they were driving up. Temps were 35-45, very little wind and cloudy until late afternoon. It was uphill to Standing Indian Mountain, then flattish, then up again almost to Carter Gap. Made good time, about 1.5 mph. Started at 11:10, finished about 5:30.At the shelter I met back up with Worn Heels, Talking Man and I Am Not, whom I met starting at Deep Gap. Pitched the tent, ate and got ready for bed. The new pack is great, but still a little heavy. I was going to bounce a couple of pounds of stuff but ended up carrying it all. Probably 33# with 2 liters of water. The pack started to hurt my shoulders about mile 5. I hiked it up, pulled it forward and it was good again. I can already tell it is much easier to carry. I can pee with it on! Still haven't figured out the bet way to pack it. It is 40-45 degrees in the tent, too cold to knit. :o(
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

I started late today on purpose. Woke up at 6:00, 35 degrees in the tent. Got up at 7:00, reorganized stuff, repacked pack. Ate breakfast in the tent. Hit the trail at 9:45, it had warmed up to 40. After an hour I took a side trail to a lookout where it was warm and sunny so I sat and knitted for an hour. Had a nice talk with Worn Heels who was there journaling when I arrived. Met Bird Woman and Aster when they passed by.It was a pretty mellow day, nice and sunny, got up to 50-60. Terrain was gentle until it crossed a spring, then a bit steeper along the side of a mountain with great views to the right. I took a picture of ice on the path that had fallen off of the rocks on the left. The climb up Albert Mountain is steep with some rock scrambles, then a short downhill and flat to the shelter, where the other hikers, Blue Dogs and Sylvan among them, kindly made room. After eating supper and pumping up my be I am now standing by the fire. I hope to do 13 miles tomorrow.
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 6.0

I stood at the fire last night until almost 9 pm. It turns out I can knit standing up, holding the bag with the yarn under my arm, with gloves on. Slept pretty well in the shelter. I had a little too much air in the air mattress so I let a little out as I have done before, but I caught a piece of the liner in the plug when I closed it so the rest of the air slowly leaked out. I was warm so I didn't bother to fix it.It started to rain in the night and the temperature warmed up. I slept until almost 8 am, along with everyone else, so I got a late start about 9:30. Temps were 40-50. I made good time. Got to Wallace Gap about 1 pm. I was going to continue to Winding Stair Gap and then try to get a ride to Franklin because I did not have time to get to the next shelter. At Wallace Gap I ran into a group of four guys. They contacted Ron Haven just as I was heading off and Murdock called me back. It hadn't rained all morning, but was supposed to start up again, so I decided to head to town.Ron Haven came and picked us up in a big old Ford van and took us to the Saphire Motel. Also along were Church Mouse, Two Wheels and one other guy. I got cleaned up and went across the street for a big pile of pulled pork. Then I knitted, rested and talked to Steve on the phone. He is going to come to visit me in two weeks--YAY!
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Wallace Gap

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 9.0

I am tired and would like a rest day but the weather is supposed to be good the next two days so I am heading out. I hope to be at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City sometime Saturday. Right now I think I will stay there Saturday and Sunday night and wait out some bad weather. Then I plan to go the next 100 miles without going to town. 6 pm, waiting for my supper to cook. Got on the trail about 9:45. Ron Havens showed me where to secrete my pack at Winding Stair Gap, then drove me to Wallace Gap where I slack packed ack to Winding Stair.7 pm. 14 pumps! I got the air mattress blown up with 14 sackfuls of air, as advertised! On the trail to Winding Stair Gap I met Aster and Bird Woman again, heading south. We had a nice little visit. They gave me some beef jerky and I moved on because I was a little cold. It was 45-50 with heavy, gusty winds. My fleece and headband with Steve's waterproof hat worked perfectly. Did 3.7 miles in 1 hr 45 min.After Winding Stair Gap it warmed up (60-70) and the wind died down. I met a couple hiking with pack goats: Thomas and Elven with Cosmo and Buddha. Continued up the trail (operative word being up) and ran into Weatherman and Birdie. I haven't seen Weatherman since Cloud 9 and I had run into Birdie twice before--at Woody Gap and the day I turned back at Neels Gap. They had a nice warm spot in the sun and we caught up on where we had all been when. Birdie gave me a tip about adjusting my pack (looser shoulder straps, top forward) that healped a lot.I moved on and a few minutes later something started to mother me in my right boot. I didn't want to stop but knew I had to. I took the boot off and there was one, tiny grain of sand in my sock. Weatherman and Birdie came by and we chatted again, even though it was not as nice a spot as they had been in when I first ran into them. When I got up to Siler Bald Shelter turnoff Birdie was there. I sat down to eat an apple and decide if I would stay at the shelter or move on. Weatherman soon joined us. Birdie decided ot go to the shelter and drink his vodka. It was his first day back after a few days off to rest his knees. I decided to continue at least two more miles ti Wayah Gap. It sounded like Weatherman would do that, too. The goat people caught up just as I was taking off.It was a pretty easy hike to Wayah. The wind picked up again. When I got there I was ready to stop but it was right by the road. The next two miles were up so I decided to stay. I was glad to see Weatherman show up a few minutes later. I pitched the tent, made supper and yakked with Weatherman. Just as I was turning in the goat people showed up to camp here, too. Now I will knit and go to sleep. Plan to head to Cold Spring Shelter tomorrow. Friday, Saturday and Sunday it is supposed to rain.