morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-11
From: Deep Gap

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 2.7
Weather: broken clouds

Had trouble sleeping. It was cold even in the shelter. Got up about 8 am and started hiking about 9. Going to Hiawassee, GA for supplies. The 5 of us are spliting cost for a room. We bought ear plugs. Tried to upload picture's but it kept kicking me off. We had Chinese buffet for lunch, went to Ingles for food and did laundry. For dinner was Mexican. Went to bed about 9 pm.
Date: 2012-03-12
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Plumorchard
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 7 am. Slept great with ear plug's in. Walked in town to see if we can get boot's for Ambercat and Scooter ended up getting toe shoe's and I ended up getting Montrail shoe's. Afterwards we went to the bank ATM to see if Ambercat and Hungry Bear could get some money, but no luck. Left town about 11:15 am. It is very wet and foggy. Going to Plumorchard Shelter about 4.5 mile hike. Can't see past a 1/4 of a mile, maybe. I was warm hiking, but when got to the shelter there were people, but not full. Jay decided to pitch a tent anyway. My shirts are a little damp. I can't seem to get warm now. Hungry Bear made us hot dogs. Yummy! It is only 3:45 pm. too early. Sat with Ambercat under her sleeping bag to keep warm. Finally went to the tent about 7:30 pm. Jay and I played hangman, connect the dots and tic tac toe.
Date: 2012-03-13
From: Plumorchard

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Rain the whole night. Heard an owl and heard howling early in the morning. Sleepy Owl woke us up. Not sure what time it is. We are shooting for Muskrat Shelter which is 7.3 miles if not then Standing Indian Shelter 12.5 miles. We crossed into North Carolina at 12:30 pm and ate lunch on the border. Our camra battery died, so Ambercat and Hungry Bear took a picture of us. It ended up so sunny, got up to 80 degree's. We got to Muskrat shelter about 3:00 pm. Scooter made Ambercat and I a shower house out of two tarps. I used my water bladder hanging from a tree for a shower. Sleepy Owl say's our camp looks like a hobo camp with all of our clothes and gear hanging up to dry. We have a great fire going. We are shooting for Carter Gap Shelter 12.5 mile hike tomorrow. My left toe's hurt. Going to bed around 8:30 pm. Scooter smells like a cave man.
Date: 2012-03-14
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Beech Gap Camp site
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

Got a late start at about 9:30 am. It was a bright sunny day of 85 degree's. We didn't make it to Carter's Gap Shelter. Sleepy Owl, I am sure, made it to Carter's Gap, for he took off ahead of us. We have a new group name "Mighty 5". Hopefully, we meet up with Sleepy Owl tomorrow. We have a great fire going and getting ready to eat marshmellows. We are glad for not having food sent to us by mail, for it would be hard to get to the mail holds on time.
Date: 2012-03-15
From: Beech Gap Camp site

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 7 am was hiking by 8:45 am. Made it to Carter Gap Shelter hoping that Sleepy Owl would be there, but he left us a message that he has blisters and gonna try and hike to catch a shuttle into franklin. We ate lunch on the top of a moutain and could see other mountains far off. Great lunch. Got three miles to our shelter and got poured on by rain. We made it to Big Spring Shelter, very messy one, about 3 pm. We are going to hike to Rock Gap to get shuttled to Franklin tomorrow. While we were in Hiawassii, Scooter bought a Ach. stove. Suppose to be trail magic tomorrow at Rock Gap.
Date: 2012-03-16
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Rock Gap-Franklin
Miles today: 4.0

Went to bed still day light last night. Ambercat and I sat laughing and talking, not sure at what time we fell to sleep. It stormed some of the night. I find that I rotate at night for what ever side I sleep on starts hurting during the night. Was up at 7 am and was hiking by 8 am. Got to Rock Gap at about 10:30 am and Sleepy Owl was at that shelter waiting for us. The shuttle to Franklin made it before the trail magic happened. Got budget Inn and I guess we are taking a zero tomorrow. We walked to the gastation due to Scooter wanted cig's and we got trail Angel. His name is Kenn trial name "Double Healer". Took us to a atm for Sleepy Owl, then to Shoney's for a buffet. We then walked back about 2 miles. Did laundry. Did about five miles just on the trail. Oh my poor feet! Scooter and Sleepy Owl went to a bar, so no sleep for me.
Date: 2012-03-17
From: Rock Gap-Franklin

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Scooter and Sleepy Owl got home at 1 am, I didn't fall to sleep until around 2 am. Then was up at 6:30 am. We had a great breakfast, went to outfitters "Outdoor 76". Great help and great people. Ambercat finally was able to get boots, Scooter ended up getting toe shoe's and I got Montral shoe's. I would suggest to anyone to go in there. Went to Dollar General and Ingles for resupply on food. Came back to hotel packed our food. Then went to Subway for dinner. When we got back to the hotel we made some phone calls. I kept going to where the computer's were to try and get the picture's loaded, which is time consuming, due to only 30 min allowed on the computer, but didn't get to update trailjournal. We are a little home sick. We are to head to Silers Bald in the morning about an 8 mile hike. Will be catching the 9 am shuttle.
Date: 2012-03-18
From: Franklin, NC

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Scooter and I got up at 6 am and walked to a gas station then to McDonald's. Got dropped off at Rock Gap at about 10 am. Lot's of streams to cross. Seen 2 snakes within 20 min apart. Got to Siler Bald, but we are staying in tents due to mice in the shelter. Ate about 4 pm played some frizbee. Bought it yesterday from outdoor 76 and a hackysack also. Scooter and I followed blue blaze and it took us to another bald, very beautiful. Got a fire started and Tree Boo, Animal, Maniac and Fruit Loop joined us, we took a picture next to the fire. Getting up early like around 6:30 am to watch the sun rise, then try and do a 11.8 mile day to Cold Spring Shelter. The stars are shinning. Good night.
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Woke up at 7 am. Got to watch the orange bright sun rise over the mountains in the distance which made up for the lack of sleep. I believe there was a fox here sometime in the night. Everythibng is wet from dew. I hope Ambercat makes it, her knee's are hurting. Yes, trail magic happened about 10 am at Wayah Gap. Thank you trail magic we love you! Got to a tower that was built 1930's or so. Arrived at Spring Shelter, it wasn't the best one, so we found a great view on top of a mountain. Can see miles of mountains and a town below. We hiked 11.8 and are hurting doing another 10.7 miles tomorrow to A. Rufus Morgan Shelter or near there.
Date: 2012-03-20
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Got up and got going. Scooter and I are sun burnt. Sleepy Owl left the trail, due to death in the family. Sorry for your loss Sleepy Owl you will be missed. We are so tired. Our feet are tired. We are going to Nantahala in the morning for breakfast, can't wait! We are doing 7.7 straight up to Sassafras Gap Shelter.
Date: 2012-03-21
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: few clouds

My eye's opened, but my body didn't want to move until the word "restaurant" was spoken. Not sure what time we packed everything up and got going to River's End Restaurant. I had Orange juice, coffee, beacon and sweet potato pancakes. If anyone ever stops at the restaurant for breakfast, do get the sweetpotato pancakes. The best thing of the day was seeing Waldo. He is getting off the trail and bought a bike and riding it home approx 500 miles. Hate to see him go, but nothing like going from one adventure to another. Waldo, I hope our paths cross again, keep in touch! From the restaurant was a straight up climb of 6.7. My leg's had a rough time to move the last climb of a mile or so. We got to camp about 3:20 pm. Sassafras Gap ahelter. We are going 9.1 miles tomorrow to Brown Fork Gap Shelter. Got a fire going then went to bed about 8:30 pm.
Date: 2012-03-22
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Cody Gap 
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Not sure what time we got up, but nither one of us wanted out of our sleeping bags. Arrived around 6 pm. We all are so exhausted, no one really paid to what time it actually is. On the way here we saw wild turkey's. Scooter took off to try and get a picture, but no luck. I have a hikers tan (tan but where the straps of my treking poles are). Too exhausted. Going to Fontana tomorrow about an 8 mile hike. Our hiker's guide is last years, so the milage is off a bit.
Date: 2012-03-23
From: Cody Gap 

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 8.0

It rained during the night and heard Owl's and howling. Left camp around 8 am. Scooter has poison ivy and blisters on his rifht foot. Got to Fontana dam about 2 pm ?. Met August (trail name) while waiting for a shuttle to arrive, he did the hike thru in 08. So all five of us got into a small suv and Scooter sat in the back with all of the packs, I wish we had gotten a picture of it. Staying at Fontana Lodge. Got resupplies and did laundry. Very expensive place, but nice. Got to update trailjournals, but couldn't upload pictures for some reason. In the AWOL it said that the General store has an outfitter's, but I wouldn't even say it was close to being one. Fontana would be a good place for a vacation. Besides a hotel there are cabins that one could choose from. We are leaving to head to Hilton shelter a 1.1 mile hike tomorrow.
Date: 2012-03-24
From: Fontana Village

To: Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 1.1

Sleep? What is that! It thundered most of the night. Scooters alarm went off at 7 am, so we decided to have breakfast everyone else is sleeping. The general store nor the corner gas station doesn't carry phone cards, we are not able to call home (sad ). Got shuttled and hiked to Hilton Shelter about 1.1 miles. August, Hungry Bear and Scooter got logs for a big bonfire. Then Scooter called the shuttle and went back to town for hot dogs and buns. There was only 3 packs of dog's left. Then Tom called Tater who happened to be on his way to the shelter by taxi, and brought potato's, onion's, mustard, coke, more dog's and bun's. So we were able to give trail magic for about 20 people and there was still some left. The shelter is full, some passed by and walked on. It started out sunny, but ended up raining. We are hiking to Mollies Ridge Shelter a 11.3 mile hike tomorrow.
Date: 2012-03-25
From: Hilton Shelter

To: Mollie Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

We got up and pushed ourselves up to Mollie Ridge Shelter. The shelter is full again, but have a great fire blazing in the fire place in the shelter. I have 2 blisters on my right foot. We are going to Derricks Knob Shelter tomorrow of a 12 mile hike.
Date: 2012-03-26
From: Mollie Ridge Shelter

To: Derricks Knob
Miles today: 12.0

It was a very cold morning. Scooter started a fire in the fire place. Neither one of us wanted to get up. We got to the balds and Rocky Top, the sun made it all perfect. There are these little flowers that remind me of snow covering the ground. Scooter took a picture, but I hope it turns out. It was a rough day and do not feel like eating. We plan on going to Mtn. Collin's tomorrow a 15 mile hike, not sure that I am up for it, so we will see.
Date: 2012-03-27
From: Derricks Knob

To: Clingsman Dome
Miles today: 11.0

We woke up to cold feet. Amber cat, Hungry bear and August, got an hour start ahead of us. About an hour into the hike we seen a doe with her fawn. Scooter tried to take a picture, but they blinded in with the tree's and really couldn't tell that there were deer there. The hike from Silers Bald Shelter to Clingman's Dome is my favorite trail so far. Many tree's are down with thick green moss covering them and the ground, kinda reminds me of what one would see in Ireland, or it would be like. When we got to Double Springs Shelter, we decided to try and catch a ride from Clingman's Dome to Gatlinburg. I have to say that Double Spring Shelter is in the best spot, stuck in the middle of the forest and the water source so close by. The hike up to Clingman's Dome was amazing. We decided to take our packs off and sit for a bit. We asked a few people if they were going to Gatlinburg and most said no or they couldn't give us a ride until a lady and her daughter were walking by and we asked her. At first she said no, but then we started talking and we found out that she and her family are from Salam, Indiana. How amazing is that! She only lives about 45 minutes from us. Her name is Stephanie and her daughter is (I hope this is right) Aynas. Well, now they are trail Angel's, we got a ride from them. The whole time that we have been out in the wood's, not one time have we seen a bear. On the drive to Gatlinburg, there was a Momma and her cubs on the side of the road. They stopped and we got pictures of them. The Angel's dropped us off at the outfitters and we got pictures of them. Thank You Stephanie and family, you are Angels.
Date: 2012-03-29
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Got up early and was at the trolley sta. by 8 am, was told wrong time for it doesn't open till 10 am. Took 3 trolley's to get to walmart to resupply and 3 back, which was a total of 4 hours. We will be leaving tomorrow and can't wait to get back on the trail. We are very bored, our leg's need the trail. We went and got funnel cake about 8:30 pm. Hungry bear and Amber cat never had it before, but they ended up not liking it anyway. It didn't taste right.
Date: 2012-03-30
From: Gatlinburg

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up and ready to go. Had coffee and a dounut. Then decided to walk around town to kill time until 11 am to catch the shuttle. Got to Icewater Shelter and was warned about a family coming that snores, so we packed up and left to Pecks Corner a hike of 11 miles. Walked in the rain was tired and wet. Shelter full.
Date: 2012-03-31
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Everything is wet. Left about 8:40 am. The sun came out. We ate lunch at Tripecs Shelter and then went to Cosby Shelter. It felt good seeing places that we had beem back in August. Got to Cosby and it was full.
Date: 2012-04-01
From: Cosby Shelter

To: Painter Branch campsite
Miles today: 12.0

Left Cosby got to Davenport Gap and ate lunch. Got trail magic "Mtn. Dew". Hiked about 1.5 miles and got another trail magic from a couple that just got married. They pulled over as we were hiking and asked us if we would like something to drink. Scooter had a Miller lite and I had a coke. We sat and talked for a bit, then the gentleman asked if we wanted more, we said no, then he was like, "we have food left over from the reception". and he pulled a gallon bag of strawberries and grapes out. My mouth was watering, but I didn't want to carry that extra weight, so I declined. After they drove off, Scooter informed me that he would have carried it for me, boy did I want to kick myself in the buttocks after that. We went to Standing Bear Farm hostle had a fudge bar and a coke then moved on to our campsite.
Date: 2012-04-02
From: Painter Branch campsite

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

Got up was roaring to go, but Scooter is hurting. Painter Branch campsite is pretty cool place to camp. Was suppose to go a little past Max Patch Summit, but with Scooter hurting to much we decided to hike to Groundhog Creek Shelter. I took a sponge bath, which felt great and Scooter walked father down a trail and bathed. I love the scenery of where the shelter is located. Hoping to catch up with the group tomorrow.
Date: 2012-04-03
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

Was out hiking by 7:20 am. Scooter feeling pretty good plan on 18 mile day. Was all up hill during morning. Got trail magic from "Apple". Scooter had a cinnamon bun and a Sprite, I had Ranch Dorito's and strawberry soda, 3 miles before Max Patch. Got to Max Patch, it was sunny. So we decided to take a lunch. Took my shoe's and socks off. Got to Roaring Fork Shelter and read the shelter journal and seen that Amber cat wrote that they were doing 14 miles to Deer Park Mountain Shelter. We decided to have our biggest miles so far of 23 miles to catch up with the gang. Would have nice pictures, but the battery decided to die at Groundhog Shelter. Clouds started moving and we tried to beat it. It was thundering and lighting for about 4 hours, no rain. Stopped at Walnut shelter to take a bread around 2:30 pm. Still have 11.3 miles to go. Got to 18 mile spot and refilled our water bladders with 5 miles left at about 5 pm. Started to rain. 3 miles into the hike Scooter stepped on a baby snake about 7 inches long in the middle of the trail. The snake was coming towards me, I screamed and Scooter thought I twisted my ankle, because of my scream. Finally, walked into camp about 7:45 pm totally wet from head to toe, but we caught up with our group.
Date: 2012-04-04
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up at 6:15 am, sore, no dinner last night and no breakfast this morning, 3 miles to Hot Springs. Hiked straight to diner and had a big breakfast. Found a campground next to river, resupplied on food, took showers and washed clothes. There are 6 of us staying at the campsite, Hungry Bear, Amber Cat, Santa, Knome, and us. We had a big fire and ate and drank. Beer, wine, hot dogs, salad, banana's, oranges, and apples. Great time. About 10 pm Scooter and I decided to take a walk to town. Everything dead and closed. The town is so small, maybe a block or two long and that is it. Got back and it started pouring down rain.
Date: 2012-04-05
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Got up had a big breakfast and we decided to stay another night. Hungry Bear and Ambercat are hiking on. Santa went to pay for the camping spot and he come up with something better. We got a four bedroom house. In every bedroom was a sink. 3 bedrooms had a queen size beds and the other had two twin size beds and a spongebob squarepants table with two matching chairs. There's a formal dining room and a table in the kitchen. The bathroom was huge enough to be another bedroom. We even got 2 hot spring hot tub's thrown in the deal for 75 bucks a piece. I went to the library to update the trailjournal. At 4 pm we headed over to the hot springs, sat in it for an hour. On every thursday's the town has a pot-luck dinner and hikers are welcome. So we went to "Hillbilly Market" and bought Baked beans for the pot-luck and breakfast food. So at 6 pm we had a $5 meal for 4 people. We all went back to the house and played parchazy (I do not think that I spelled it correctly) all the way up to until it was time to leave. So by 8:35 pm we were back into the hot tub and since we were the last appointment they forgot us and we got 1 hr and 30 min to sit in nice hot water. We have enjoyed this stay very much. We would like to stay, but we must move forward.
Date: 2012-04-06
From: Hot Springs

To: camping next to pond
Miles today: 5.3

First one up and at the kitchen table updating our journal. By 8 am everyone was up. Santa made a big breakfast of left over beans with fried summer sausage in it, sauted onions, mushrooms and baked apples with banana in the middle were the core would be. At 11 am Scooter and I headed to the outfitter's for he is worried about my feet. The gentleman suggested insoles for my shoe's, so I bought them. Took off hiking about noon. Neither one of us really wanted to hike big miles. We ended up camping next to a man made pond. Next thing we know Santa and gnome show up. Got a great fire with great conversation, the moon is bright and the frog's are singing.
Date: 2012-04-07
From: camping next to pond

To: Hemlock hollow inn
Miles today: 11.4

Got a late start about 9:30 am. We were heading to Little Laurel Shelter, when we got to Allen Gap road, there was a posting of Hemlock Hollow Farm at mile marker 286.6, it said to go to mile marker 288.1 and make a left. We got to mile marker 288.1 and wasn't sure what to do, but we asked someone and they pointed us in the right direction. Ate dinner and decided to camp there. We placed our tent right next to the brook.
Date: 2012-04-08
From: Hemlock hollow inn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got up and went to breakfast. After we ate Scooter went and packed the tent while I put my shoe's on. The owners and their son were talking about how the son needed help. I had said something about working to stay and they said they do that. So when Scooter came in I said, "How do you feel if we stayed one more night, but work to stay?" He was all over it. The deal is 4 hours of work is to stay, 5 hours is to stay and one meal, so we did 5 hours. Scooter helped to move the fire wood from out side to inside the wood shed. Mean while I washed dining room tables, refilled the sugar packets, dusted, swept, and mopped.. They gave us our own cabin with microwave, fridge and a double bed. Great place. I would suggest to anyone to stay here. They hope that we come back. Thank you Kinsey family. Tomorrow we plan on going to Jerry Cabin Shelter a 10.1 mile hike unless we feel we can do more. Mark their son fixed us Avacodoes and crabmean, crackers and cheese....yummy!
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Hemlock hollow inn

To: Devils gap
Miles today: 17.8

We left the cabin the way it was when we got it. Hattie made Scooter beacon, eggs, toast and homefries. I had home fries and pancakes with fried apples. Hattie even made us special Irish coffee, it was very yummy! They made us feel very special. Fred shuttled us back to the trail head. We hiked to the shelter 3.3 miles to little laurl shelter. Seen that Santa and gnome were a head of us so we hiked to 6.8 miles to Jerry's shelter and seen that Santa and gnome had breakfast there, so we hiked to flint mountain shelter got there about 6 pm 5.9 miles. we asked Hot feet if he seen Santa and gnome and he said about 4:40 pm, so we hiked another 2.8 miles to Devils gap. The sun was going down so we pitched our tent and went to sleep with no dinner.
Date: 2012-04-10
From: Devils gap

To: Low Gap campsite
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

At 4 am a hound baking outside of our tent woke us up. It scared me so much that I sat straight up half a sleep. It was a very cold night and windy. Got up at 7:15 am and was hiking about 8:15 am. We climbed 3 miles all up hill, but there were cascades, just so beautiful. After 6 miles we decided to stop at Hogback Ridge Shelter to refill on water and low and behold, Santa and gnome were there. We all decided to hike to Low gap campsite. The whole day was windy and a little cold. When we hiked to Sams gap 3.3 miles into the hike there was trail magic. We got there at 2:15 pm and they close up at 2:30 pm. They made us fried potato's and scrambled egg's. They warned us that it was to get down into the 20's. We finally got to camp and was still full, so didn't fix dinner. Had a fire and at sundown went to bed.
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Low Gap campsite

To: Spivey Gap campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got up freezing. We sent our gloves home so I used the heavey wool socks that I sleep in for gloves. We are shooting for No Business Knob Shelter a 15 mile hike, but when we got to Spivey Gap campsite the wind wasn't as bad and it was so beautiful a perfect camping site, so we decided to stay and Santa and Gnome went on to the shelter. Warm next to the fire and ate then went to bed early.