morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-17
From: Hightower Gap

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

I was up,had breakfast and was on the trail by 7:30. This was a hard day both because the effort started to add up and because two mountains, Sassafras and Justus, had to be crossed. The AT seems to meander around looking for ups and downs and challenging rock scrambles. Flat sections happen just often enough to keep you going. Many more people on the trail today. I walked with several thru hikers on various stretches. I met Kathy again late this afternoon; she had walked up from Gooch Gap. When we got to Gooch Gap there was a St Patrick's Day party going on. There were many past and current thru hikers with buckets of beer, piles of hot dogs and a promise of a corn beef and cabbage feast several hours later. We visited a while, I had one beer and we headed for the van for supper and some quiet time. We were in bed by 7:30 and asleep soon after waking only occasionally to the sound of a party that went on until well after midnight.
Date: 2016-03-19
From: Jarrard Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 5.0

It was very cold and overcast when I started out this morning. By 9:00 I was on my way up Blood Mountain, the highest point I the AT in Georgia at 4,461 feet. Very tough climb with lots of switch backs and slippery rocky patches. Halfway up I happened upon another thru hiker that walked about the same pace as I did and we walked together, single file and switching the lead to the top. Hiking with him made it go a bit easier. His trail name is Reading Man and he is from Penn. When we got to the top we were in a cloud so no views to be seen. Blood Mountain Shelter was, however, quite a site. It is a stone shelter built by the CCC in 1934 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hiked down the mountain to Neel Gap where I met Kathy. Neel Gap has a famous hostel and outfitter which was teeming with tourists buying tee shirts and hikers eating pizza. We shopped for a bit and hexed for Vogel State Park a fees miles away where we got s campsite.
Date: 2016-03-21
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

Kathy dropped me off at Neel Gap early this morning with the temperature below freezing and an inch of snow on the ground. Started with a killer accent up Levelland Mountain ( named by a real comedian), down to Swam Gap, up pCowrock Mountain then down to Tesnatee Gap where I met Kathy for lunch. Hot soup. After lunch hiked up Wildcat Mountain ( I didn't know there were so many mountains in Georgia) then up and down a few unnamed peaks and down to Low Gap shelter where I pitched my tent,ate supper and went to bed. Asleep by 7:30. 8:00 is campr's midnight on the trail.
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Shelter
Miles today: 9.7

Packed up and on the trail by 8:30 0(it is dark until 7:30). Long up and download, mostly up, hike to Blue Mountainl, elevation 3906 feet. Had lunch of a flour tortillas with peanut butter and about ten slices of pepperoni (yum). Ate at a pretty stream crossing. Every day some new part of my body hurts a little more than any other part; today it is my right knee. Nothing a couple of vitamin l (inuprofen) can't fix. Met Kathy at 3:30 at Unicoi Gap and we spent the night at s local National Forest campground.
Date: 2016-03-23
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Addis Gap campsite
Miles today: 11.3

Again started the day with a very steep climb of more than 1,000 feet to the summit of Rocky Mountain, elevation 4417 feet. Wonderful clear blue skies and views everywhere I look. I am fortunate to be here this early in the year as there are no leafs on any of the trees ("all hardwoods, no pines) so there are unobstructed views everywhere. Later in the year I would be hiking in a green tunnel. From Rocky Mountain I head steeply down to pIndian Grave Gap (probably died of exhaustion) then up even higher Tray Mountain, elevation 4199 feet. Camped with about a dozen other hikers including 5 young girls from hope college in Michigan out hiking eight days while on spring break. In bed by 7:30.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Addis Gap campground

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: light snow

Short day today to beat rain predicted to stat at 1:00. Only two steep climbs today, Kelly Knob and Powell Mountain. I came across a curious sign (see picture; I hope it is visible) in an unnamed gap that read "Swag of the Blue Ridge". It is not in my guidebook so I have know idea what it is all about. Met Kathy at 1:30. She was parked at Dick's Creek Gap giving out grapes, water and cups of Ambrosia (yum) to hikers coming off the trail. We spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express in a nearby town. A real mattress!
Date: 2016-03-25
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0

Today was a good day for hiking. I think I am finally getting my hikers legs. Nice rolling hills with only one mountain, Buzzard's Knob, to climb. I was rewarded near the end of the day with a sign announcing the Georgia/North Carolina line. I'm told the 25% of hikers starting the AT quit before this point so I'm feeling pretty good about my effort. I spent the night on a tent site on the side of a hill and learned quite a lesson. I set up my tent so the slope was from shoulder to shoulder instead of fro head to foot; bad decision. I spent the entire night fighting to keep from sliding off my air mattress.
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Bly Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 6.6

Today stated with a steep climb up Couthouse Bald, elevation 4666 feet. Quite a way to get my heart started in the morning. Pleasant walk down the mountain with several ups and downs and many nice overlooks. About a half hour away from Deep Gap I met Kathy coming south on the trail. We walked the way together. When we reached Deep Gap we came upon the Omelet Angels, a group of former thru hikers and their supporters, having a gigantic trail magic event. They had tables piled with food and drink and all kinds of snacks. They also had a roaring fire and lots of real chairs to sit on (I think I miss sitting in a real chair about as much as any physical comfort I miss on the trail) We ate some wonderful NC pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw. After eating we spent the night right there in the gap.
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Deep Gap

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

We awoke to more trail magic. The same group, The Omelet Angels, had a breakfast feast waiting for us and probably 40 other hikers. There were made to order omelets, hash brown casserole and fruit. They even packed up to order sandwiches on home made bread for each hiker to take with them for that night's supper. What a great way to celebrate Easter Sunday. I finally got out on the trail at 11:00 and immediately had to struggle up Standing Indian Mountain, the first 5,000 footer on the AT at 5498 feet. It was, thankfully, a long 2 mile steady incline with a few switchbacks that I managed to complete by 1:00. There were great views from the top. I arrived at Carter Gap Shelter at about 5:00, pitched my tent, ate my sandwich and was in the sack by 7:30
Date: 2016-03-28
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

Last night was a new experience for me. The campsite was at a high elevation and in a cloud. Soon after going to bed I thought it started to rain but the rain was odd, sporadic with brief downpours and periods of nothing. In the morning another hiker explained to me that water from the clouds condensed on the tree branches and "rained" to the ground when the wind blew. The hike today was up and down and very easy until the approach to Albert Mountain which became steadily steeper. The final two tenths of a mile was a 400 foot very steep scramble up slippery racks and steep log and rock steps. At some points it was downright dangerous. At the top was a fire tower and a spectacular view. During a long break at the top a fellow hiker told me that half way up the scramble we has passed the 100 mile mark on the trail. It was a short down hill walk to the shelter where I pitched my tent, had supper, talked for a while with other hikers and went to bed by 8:00.
Date: 2016-03-29
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a nice easy hike with a couple of steep places but mostly rolling terrain. Again Kathy met me about a mile from my day's destination and we walked together down a long pretty trail. Soon after meeting Kathy I realized I need to "drop a deuce" as it is called on the trail. I waited until we came to a fairly level area where I could get 100 or so feet off the trail without having to climb up or down a steep embankment and found a suitably big tree to get behind and out of view of the trail. I dug my little hole and tended to business (hitting the hole dead center (I'm getting pretty good at this) then scooped the dirt over the hole. I looked around for a rock to put over the spot (not required but I do it when I can) and spotted one leaning against my tree. I picked it up and was surprised to see a glass jar with a geo catching label hidden under it. What are the chances, with miles of trail and hundreds of thousands of trees, that I and someone else would pick the same one. We walked to the gap and spent the night in Franklin NC at a Hampton Inn.
Date: 2016-03-31
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Today started out cold and cloudy. By 10:00 it was sprinkling and by noon it was pouring. There was a long steady 4 1/2 mile climb to the top of Siler's Bald at 5207 feet then a steep, knee jarring decent to Wayah Gap at 4143 feet. The trail then climbed to the top of Wayah Bald at 5342 feet. No vows from either because of the weather. At the summit of Wayah Bald I took refuge in an old stone tower to rest and change socks. I made the mistake of putting my hat on the sill of a window in the tower and had to chase it down a 50 foot bank; just what I needed to be doing. The duo pour slowed a bit and I made the mile downhill dash to the Eayah Bald Shelter. When I got there it was jammed with hikers; a few even planning on sleeping on the wet concrete floor. Another hiker and I pushed on and found small clearing about a mile past the shelter where we set up our tents. When I crawled into my tent I was soaked and within a few minutes discovered pools of water on the floor of my tent. The was carried in by me and my gear and during the setup process. I had to use some of my extra dry clothes to mop it up before I could roll out my sleeping bag. I just finished with all this and the rain let up and there was even a glimpse of blue sky. I hung some of my wetter stuff to dry ( with minimal success), ate supper and went to bed. About 8:00 it started storming again with lightning ( I couldn't hear any thunder over the sound of rain on the tent). Slept the sleep of the exhausted.
Date: 2016-04-01
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

I put on my rain pants and a couple layers of wet shirts and started hiking carrying at least an extra ten pounds water in all my wet clothes and gear in my pack. The weather was much improved, however, with dreary skies in the morning and bright overcast and even sunny at times in the afternoon. The hiking today was very,very difficult with three steep accents all to over 5000 feet (carrying all that wet gear didn't help); Copper Ridge Bald, Rocky Ridge Bald and Wesser Bald. The views at the summits were grand and swapping stories about surviving the storm with other hikers a great way to pass the time. Arrived at camp exhausted but early enough to line dry some of the water from my gear, ate supper and was asleep by 8:00.
Date: 2016-04-02
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.9

I left camp this morning with only one thing in mind; get to a laundry to dry my clothes. The trail was almost all down hill today with some parts "turn around and climb down backward" steep ; very hard on my knees and feet. Arrived at the NOC at just past 1:00 and went to the general store to get change for the dryers and buy a couple of Cherry Cokes ( I have been craving Cherry Coke). After drying my clothes rented a small cabin with bunks for up to four which I shared with a hiking buddy, trail named Cotton. I napped while he did laundry and we had dinner together before turning in for the night. Slept well.
Date: 2016-04-03
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.3

This morning started with a long 7.9 mile climb to the top of 5062 foot Cheoah Bald; a climb of 3292 feet (but everything in my pack was dry!!). On the way up I passed the Wade Sutton Memorial; a plaque honoring a firefighter who died there fighting a forest fire. The weather was perfect for hiking; sunny and in the 60's most of the day. The views were almost everywhere especially at overlooks and mountain peaks. At one rest stop I watched a hawk soaring on the mountain thermals for ten minutes. This was a great treat as hawks are my favorite birds. Cheoah Bald was very different from any previous bald in that it was topped by a couple acres of grass and not rock. I payed on the grass for twenty minutes just soaking in the sunshine ( and recovering from the climb). The hike down may have been harder than the hike up. There were many very steep places and long stairways of steps way to high to step down; every one rough on the knees. I pitched my tent in an open, almost flat area with a dozen or so other hikers, had a big supper and was asleep before 8:00.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 3.0

Today was a neatly ( near zero) as I had to get picked up at Stecoah Gap and shuttled to Cabin In The Woods hostel to get a mailroom and spend the night. Hiking today was very easy, mostly downhill and I was finished by noon. It is funny how hiking 4 hours seems like nothing when 3 weeks ago a 2 hour stroll in my neighborhood was about all I could handle. At the hostel I shared a two bunk cabin (very small cabin) with a 66 year old thru hiker. I spent the afternoon relaxing, showering, sorting supplies and journaling.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Cabin in the Woods hostel

To: Cabin in the Woods hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

No hiking today, zero day. I looked at the weather (AT weather.com is a great help) and saw very cold (nightly lows in the low teens) and snow predicted for Thursday through Saturday in the Smokies. If I continue hiking I will hit this and I am simply not prepared for those temps. I decided to zero today, hike from Stecoah Gap to Fontana Dam tomorrow then get shuttled back here until Sunday morning when I can continue hiking as temps in the Smokies moderate. No sense taking chances; this is supposed to be fun not life threatening experience.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana 28 AT crossing
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

The first mile today was quite pleasant with easy ups and downs. At mile one I came to what my guide book simply called "start of Jacob's Ladder". Since the guide does not show an end to Jacob's Ladder I am not sure how much of the next 10 miles of very difficult hiking it entailed. The first 0.6 miles would have rated a name; it seemed nearly straight up with an elevation gain of over 600 feet. It was very cold (down mitten cold) and the numerous rest stops (25 steps then rest) gave me plenty of time to dream about my cozy sunroom in Maine. After the initial climb came more ups and downs each a little harder than the one before until the ten mile mark when the trail turned almost straight down with a drop of 1700 feet in just four miles. Much of the decent was either leaf covered (slippery leaves) or slippery rocks. The leaf covered sections were so treacherous that I had to take the rubber tips off of my hiking sticks to get any traction at all. The views most of the day, however, were spectacular especially the last couple of miles when I could catch glimpses of first Fontana Lake then Fontana Dam. As I came down the last mountain it also turned spring on the trail with many more wild flowers everywhere and a general green-up which was a pleasant change indeed. I got picked up at the inn and shuttled back to Cabin in the Woods to wait out the winter weather.
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Cabin in the Woods hostel

To: Cabin in the Woods hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today is another zero day while I wait for the frigid temperatures in the Smokies to moderate. Tomorrow's overnight low at Mollie's Ridge Shelter at 4586 feet is predicted to be 20 degrees which is just barely OK given my gear and thin blood. But I really need to get off of my buff and get moving or I will never make it to Maine. Have enjoyed my stay at Cabin in the Woods hostel. I stayed with another guy in the little cabin on the right in the picture.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: few clouds

Today I entered the Great Smoky Mountain National Park; the most visited park in the national park system. Thru hikers must register, pay a $20 fee and are allowed 8 days to complete the 70 miles of the AT in the park. camping is allowed only at shelters and thru hikers alone are allowed to tent at shelter sites; all others using shelters must have reservations. If a shelter is full when a non thru hiker arrives a thru hiker in the shelter must get out and tent. Because of this (and mice, spiders and snoring) many thru hikers, including me, tent instead of sheltering. Today's hike started by crossing Fontana Dam, the highest dam east of the Mississippi. After the dam I climbed Shuckstack Mountain then Doe Knob; a vending 2820 feet in 6.8 miles. The weather was cold but clear and the views wonderful; especially at the mountain peaks and overlooks. I tented a Mollies Ridge shelter and slept well despite lows in the low twenties.
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

My second day in the Smokies was, by far, my most difficult so far on the trail. The daft started out, as usual, with a steep, steady climb to a peak called the Devils Tater Patch then a very steep decent to Big Abrams Gap. In the late morning I began a long, gradual accent to Spence Field Shelter where I ate lunch. Just after lunch I got a glimpse of what the afternoon would entail. I could see, far ahead and way up high, a couple of grassy balls and a rocky summit. At the time I thought they were probably a couple of days away but was quite wrong; I would reach them later in the day. The grassy areas were on the way to Rocky Top Mountain (THE Rocky Top Tennessee) at 5540 feet. Soon after I reached Thunderhead Mountain at 5527 feet. Thunderhead was an extensive grassy area, at least two acres, where I was told they grazed cattle during the 1800's. After Thunderhead came a roller coaster of wicked ups and downs to Derricks Knob Shelter. When I stumbled into the shelter area ( at nearly 8:00) the ridge runner their congratulated me on making it through the toughest 6 miles of the AT in the smokies. Set up my tent, ate and was soon fast asleep.
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night was very cold; probably in the mid teens I wore just about everything I had. Hiking today was easier with lots of short ups and downs and only one big climbs, that to Siler's Bald at 5607 feet. The short day today was because of shelter spacing and the rules against tenting between shelters in the Smokies. I simply didn't think I could make it another 6.1 miles to the next shelter. I slept pretty well despite another frigid night.
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Clingman's Dome
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a short but steep climb to Clingman's Dome; the highest point on the entire AT st 6667 feet. Sadly to summit was in a cloud when I got there so no views and no photos. At the top I was too far ( again ) from the next shelter so hitched a ride to Gatlinburg and a room at the Hampton Inn. After a shower, a big meal ( it is strange I do not yet have a ravishing hiker's appetite but can eat anything put in front of me) and downloading a few photos to this journal I got a greet nights sleep in a real bed.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Clingman's Dome

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

I caught a ride on a free shuttle to Clingman's Dome that dropped me off .5 miles ( uphill ) from the trail at 10:30 ; dooming me to a short day. I started hiking a very steep downgrade to Collins Gap then an equally steep climb to the summit of Mount Collins at 6187 feet. In the afternoon there were many ups and downs until l reached Newfound Gap at around 4:00; too late to hike another 3 miles to the next shelter. Just as I emerged from the trail onto the road at Newfound Gap a car came along, I stuck out my thumb, the car stopped and I was on my way back too the Hampton Inn in Gatlinburg. After another shower, a steak dinner ( it is my birthday after all ) and some phone calls, I got another great night's sleep in a real bed.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I hitched a ride to Newfound Gap and was on the trail by 8:30. Almost immediately the trail climbed nearly 1000 feet ( that's about 100 stories ) to the summit of Mount Kephart. The weather was glorious with temps in the mid 60's and plenty of sunshine this was my first clear day in three days. Much of the hike was on flat or downward slopping ground ( also a first in days) to Pecks Corner Shelter where I set up my tent in a wonderfully snug spot and was asleep before 8:00.
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was cool but sunny all day, perfect hiking weather, with many ups and downs. The first climb was to Eagle Rocks at 5834 feet then down again to Copper Gap at 5514 feet before climbing Mount Sequoyah and Mount Chapman at 5445 feet and 6216 feet. The day ended with a long, grinding 6.3 mile decent to Cosby Knob Shelter. The shelter and all the good tent sites where taken when I pulled in so I had to set up my tent on a very uneven spot and fought to keep my air mattress from sliding into the side of my tent. I finally resorted to putting gear ( backpack, shoes, extra clothes, even my water bottle on the downhill side of my air mattress to keep it somewhat level. Of course, every time I shifted position, I had to redo the whole thing. Overall I had a pretty miserable night's sleep.
Date: 2016-04-16
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Green Corner Road
Miles today: 10.7

Looking at the guidebook I expected today to be easy with mostly gradual downhill hiking. But guidebooks can be deceiving and it turned out that the climb to Mount Cammerer, while only 900 feet, was steep and treacherous with lots of loose rocks and roots waiting to grab my foot and make me stumble. After Mount Commerer was an equally treacherous downhill of over 3500 feet over 7 miles to traverse before getting to flatter terrain. Just before the low point I exited the Smokies ( hurrah ! ) and at the low point crossed under Interstate 40. Then, after a nasty climb up and over an unexpected 400 foot hill, I finally arrived at Standing Bear Farm hostel where I got a shower and a bunk for the night.