morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-17
To: Tray Mountain Shelter - tent
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Note: Just received the journal notes from the 17th through the 26th today! (May 8th, mailed April 26th), courtesy of the folks in Robbinsville, NC!!)Dave (Greenbow) cooked steak for me last night. He had a tomato salad and I provided some french bread. We rustled up some butter and garlic from Sam and Ron and made garlic bread. Great meal, great guy. I met him a week ago Sunday and Woody Gap when I rode up there with Leigh and Old Man. Dave had been hiking with the Bentley Boys. It was nice to have a chance to talk with him on-on-one. At 13:20, pulled into Troy Mountain Shelter. Quite a climb up from Unicoi (sp?). Watered and lunched and the old cheese factory site. Hung around for one hour there waiting for Bill or Greenbow, but they never showed. Pressed onto Troy Mountain Shelter. Knee feels good. I'd like to keep going, but already worked my schedule out with ??. He will bring my food to Dick's Creek Gap on Wed. morning. This forces me to walk slow. Met Aaron here, taking his lunch break. Earlier on the trail, I met a man and his grandson out for a day hike to the top of Trey Mountain. I got the usual thru hiker questions - hiking through? How far is it, how much does your pack weigh, etc. I've got that a few times now at road crossings and parking lots. I've heard from quite a few hikers that meeting a thru hikers when they were a kid was their motivation for attempting it later on. I smiled and told the boy, "Come do a thru hike someday." Maybe he will, never know. Tenting at the Trey Mountain Shelter. I've been told there's a bog rock shelf that's got an awesome view of the sunrise. I'm camped right next to it.
Date: 2006-04-18
To: Hiawassee Inn
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day started with rain at night. No sunshine. Brightened up as I moved north. Composed a prayer to Vitamin I at Deer Gap Shelter. Found a shoe that "Wooly Bear" carved for thirty miles. I've seen plenty of half pair shoes on the expressway, but the AT?Met Preacher Man, bumped into Beamis and Southpaw again. Hooked up a room cabin at Hiawassee Inn with Dogwood. We hitched to town with the intrepid travelling (from Boston) chef. Dined at The Rose. Muy Bien. Locked out of the laundry by one minute. Going to walk slow between the rain drops tomorrow and the next six days. Further transmissions coming.
Date: 2006-04-19
To: Hit the GA/NC border
Miles today: 11.6

Tenting at Muskrat Creek Shelter. Crossed my first state line (North Carolina) (Rich, Bob, Cy, River Hobbitt, Dogwood, Phil, and John)Today started with the threat of rain. The weather delivered. Shuttled up to Dick's Creek Gap. Had my raincoat ready and the pack cover on. Started hiking at 9:15, at 10:00 the temp dropped, and I heard the first thunder. Walked a bit more and the first sputters hit us. Pack off, rain suit on. Boom, them the sky opened up, rain came down and thunder and lightning everywhere. Got pelted by tiny hail for a while. Found my way to Plumorchard Gap Shelter which quickly filled up with wet and hungry hikers. Hiked with Dogwood today and met Cy along the way. I left the shelter shortly after River Hobbitt, and before everyone else. I climbed the next hill and thenbegan my descent into Blue Ridge Gap. The rain was just letting up and a couple deer crached out of the woods and up the hill about 20 yards from me. This is the second time I saw deer on my hike. I've learned a deer sighting is very rare. One guy says he's been hiking around here for three years and hasn't seen any.Dogwood caught up to me shortly after the sun came beaming through the clouds. We crossed over the GA/NC border and took pictures of each other standing by the border signs. As soon as we crossed into the NC, the climbs began. Straight up and then even further up. Got to Muskrat Creek around 16:30. Hung around and had a campfire. Good coversation all around. Met Cy the other day and renewed our acquaintance just over the NC border. He's another retired man doing a thru hike. John Peterson came in later. He did his first thru hike 10 years ago when he was 60, he's 70 now and doing another. The Bently Boys showed up at 20:25. Jim doesn't have a tent so he had to wedge in the shelter - again. Pretty foolish not carrying a tent or tarp out here. Day is winding down. Sore, sore calveds, sore thighs, sore knees, good full spirit! I'm looking forward to these next three days - will be a physical and mental test.
Date: 2006-04-20
To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Rolled out of Muskrat at 8:00, lunched at Standing Indian at 11:30. Made it to the "New" Carter Gap Shelter at 16:20. Trail was good today, lots of rolling up and down the ridges. However, NC has way more elevation than GA. As soon as we crossed yesterday, we climbed a staircase up over 4500'. The The low parts here are higher than the mountain tops in GA. We got over a mile high today - Standing Indian Mountain - 5498' - walking through a bear sanctuary all day. Here at the shelter with Dogwood, Cy, and Phil. Another campfire, more stories. Nice bunch of guys. No rain today, might tonight.Funny stuff in no particular order----"Are you a thru hiker or what?" - 12 year old kid at Troy Mountain Shelter"I can't remember what I had for lunch three days ago, but I can spot the place I took a shit on my thru hike six years ago." ---Chef"What do you do for a living?"---Dogwood (Not more than three seconds after Chef told us his occupation."You don't look over 30, you're remarkably well preserved."---Cy to me."Check it out, these guys hung their bear bag FIVE feet off the ground."---overheard at Muskrat Creek Shelter."Oh no dude, we have to walk all the WHITE blazes."--- River Hobbit and Pacer, responding to someone checking the map for a more scenic route to the next shelter."Snap, crackle, pop, F*&^ you!!! ---DogwoodBaggins pack shakedown at Neels Gap - found a baggie with a pound of change.To Pacer - "How do you know all this?" - Big, Bedbug, and Phil - while talking about current nobos (sp? word?)Puke splatter on the trail climbing to Kelly Knob, "Oops, not mine!""Are those your new shoes? They're sooooo cute!!" ---Bedbug to Ed upon the unveiling of his aqua marine blue camp shoes."Oh, you got new shoes" ---Victoria the shuttle driver immediately seeing Ed's new shoes."I'm the world travelling Redneck" - Smurf"My soul is gone" ---heard around a campfireWhile looking at Pacer's pics--Phil - "Who's that?"Pacer - "Me, dude!"Phil - "It doesn't even look like you!"Pacer - "That pic is only one week old!"
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Carter Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: heavy intensity rain

What a day (and night). We sheltered at Carter Gap and the storms came raging in from 9:00 to midnight. Glad I wasn't tenting. Woke up and it was misty. Walked a bit before the sprinkles came in - whipped on the pack cover and walked a few more miles before the sky opened up. Had to put on my rain suit. We hiked along nice rolling trails along the ridges. Worked my way up Albert Mountain (5220'), a steep rocky climb through the rain. There's a firetower on top. Just as we summitted the mountain, the clouds broke. Climbed the tower - what a view?Took a lunch break and Big Spring Shelter with Dogwood and Phil. Trudged on to the Rock Gap Shelter and arrived at 3:30. Met Crutch, whose crutch was haning on the wall at the Walasi-Yi Hostel. Apparently, he walked 30 miles with a busted ankle and the crutch. Winton told him it couldn't be done, so hence, the crutch on the wall. Crutch was offering rides to Franklin. I said I would stick to my original plan and walk to Windy Gap tomorrow and shuttle to town. Crutch was extremely good supplying us with cold beer in town. NO sooner had he said that, Smurf and Turtle showed up with a 12-pack of Miller Light and some cokes. Eureka! We sat around and BS'd for a while (imagine that, on the Appalachian Trail). We then walked down to Turtle's truck and loaded up on candy bars, fruit, and other sundries.These guys are former thru hikers, just out sharing trail magic! Then the newlyweds, Cabin Man and Wood Chicken showed up. Wood Chicken is from Orland Park - small world, eh? We'll see Turtle and Smurf in Damascus. I've met so many people that will be there, it's going to be a hell of a party! Knee is holding up pretty good over the last few days. A zero on Franklin will be good for it. Day started with rain and ended up with a beautiful sunset. Dry clothes are good!
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: light rain

We had a heck of a storm last night. It started raining around midnight, thunder and lightning. You could tell the storm was approaching. We're at Rock Gap Shelter. At one point, the wind must've been gusting and 30-40 mph. Rain was driving in the open face of the shelter, soaking us and our sleeping bags. At the heights of the storm, the roof began to leak. Dry, Dry, Dry on my Thermorest. My down bag quickly absorbed what it could. I moved up into the very corner as far as I could and curled into a ball. It was awesome watching the lightning flashes fill the sky and have the thunder clamp and boom right overhead. I signed the shelter register with a brief description of the storm and closed with good news - no mice. I spoke too soon. When I took my food bag down from the bear cables, everything was soaking wet. Seems one of those critters chewed a quarter size hole through the bottom of the bag and got into my stuff. Must've happened earlier in the day while my bag was lying around the shelter. Lesson learned!Last night at camp was a lot of fun. We had a young crowd haning around, so we got wild and crazy. One of the funniest things was Phil out looking for firewood. You just had to be there. During the night, I decided to make a congrats card for Cabin Man and Wood Chicken. Yesterday we were talking, and they questioned how they should talk to divorcees about their recent marriage. I said it didn't matter, as there are happy marriages, unhappy marriages, pleasant divorces, and bitter divorces. In their card I tried to input some of what I've learned along the way:   Live your own lives, live your lives together, support each others' dreams, always be honest and communicate openly.We awoke and broke camp at 7:00. It was still misty a bit. We walked out to Windy Star Gap. A shuttle runs out there everyday at 9:00 and 11:00 or so, I was told. We got to the road at 8:45 and began to wait and wait. Around 10:00 we decided (Dogwood, Ed, Phil, and I) to hitch. No sooner had we moved our packs to the side of the road and began thumbing, Ron Haven showed up with his truck. We climbed in back and he drove us right back to where we started - Rock Gap! Haha! He had a hiker in the cab to be dropped there. Truned around and headed to town. Spent the day showering, doing laundry, going to the post office, (My Bounce box never arrived!), drying gear, eating lunch, going to the outfitters, and the grocery store. Whew! I worked up an appetite doing all that! So down the AYCE buffet. Five plates later, I was ready for bed. We had the bright idea of sharing a room between the four of us, which was five until bed time. Four big guys, two double bed. Oh well, we will all sleep better tomorrow night - ha!P.S. We all posed for a pic of 2006 thru hikers at the outfitters - Cy, Phils, Ed, Dogwood, Big, Bedbug, and me. We joked that our motto should be:When things get tough - when you meet an obstacle - resistance is futile - just give up! NOT!!
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 5:30, didn't sleep much anyway. Walked down to the store to get myself a coffee. Waited for the rest of the world to wake up. Ed came out shortly after me, then Dogwood. Another coffee run. Ed, Phil, and I shuttled back out to Windy Star Gap and headed north. Hiked from 9:00 to 15:30. Made good time, even with all the elevation gain. We pitched tents, got water, and started a fire. We're camping and the intersection of the Bartram Trail at 5290'. We did head out to the Siler Bald Shelter but got there way early. Captain Nemo was there, resting his knees, of all things. We visited a bit, then decided to head out. Today's been a great day. The weather has been beautiful. There's been some real nice visits and the companionship's been awesome.
Date: 2006-04-24
To: Bartram Trail Head - tent
Miles today: 13.5

I'd like to start today by thanking my friend Adrienne, who's transcribing my randome thoughts and erratic handwriting into something you can read here at Trail Journals. (I'm doing my best!! :-) I must also thank my sister Cari, again for the awesome drop box help. And thanks to my Grandma, it was good to talk last night. All's well here on the AT. And a thank you to everyone who is reading and signing the guest book. One more thank you to Brian and ULA Equipment, who's giving me a full refund on the pack I purchased before my trip. Great customer service! The astute observer will realize that I'm about to write out of chronological order. Oh well.. Dogwood showed up last night around six. We called him over to our tentsite. He had taken the late shuttle as he needed to stay in town to get a battery for his altimeter watch. He scored a free battery at the town's flea market. Cari, he also met The Wookie!! There's been a lot of trail magic, planned and unplanned. Dogwood himself was trail magic. The day before we met, I told Greenbow it would be cool to hike with a botanist. Guess what? Dogwood is a horiculturist/landscape designer from New Jersey It's great having him around explaining plants. Seems this crew is going to stick together through the Smokies.Last night, camping and tenting by the Bartram Trail was way cool. Mile high on a mountain watching the sun go down by a warm fire. Last night was a blast. Also, the first time I've slept real well this month. Ed's having the same problems and we all laughed about it. Other people have commented on adjusting to the night noises. Your mind plays tricks on you with bears going bump in the night. Big hike today - 13.5 - big climbs, big views! Climbed the stone observation tower at Wayah Bald. Could see the firetower at Albert Mountain where I walked three days ago. Ten miles as the crow flies, an 18 mile hike. (thirty-five miles to the Smokies) There was a firetower on Wesser Bald, climbed that too. Dinner's done, 7:15, food's hung, bags unrolled in the shter. Phil finally played the guitar that he's been lugging on his back. It's a backpacker guitar, small and narrow, 4 pounds. We sang along to Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" as the sun was setting. Rinsed off the creek cabin, felt food but it was cold!! I've decided to listen to the locals, so I'm just sticking my cup in the springs, au natural. Best water around. Trail today was a lot of ridge running, some rocky sections. Steep uphills and a bad downhill - ouch, knee!! NOC tomorrow for lunch and some quick resupply.---when I was a child, I caugh a fleeting glimpse,out of the corner of my eyeI turned to look at it, but it was goneI cannot put my finger on itNow the child has grownThe dream is gone, I have become comfortably numb.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Whew! What a day. Those weren't your garden variety, let's do laps across the mall miles. No kidding! There was a descent of 5300' over 5 1/2 miles and an ascent of 4000' over 5 miles. We descended upon the NOC. It's a rafting center that's hiker friendly. We all ordered up showers (hot water and bar soap, gooood!!), and then ate lunch by the river. Bought a few food items at the outfitters, ouch $$$ - my hunger is starting to hick in. I should be eating around 4000 cal a day, which still runs at a deficit to what I need. On my way up to the shower, I ran into my pal Diesel. She's taken a day and a half off, due to feeling nauseous. She plans on hiking out today up to Sassafrass Gap Shelter, our destination too. Phil, Ed, and I left Dogwood back at the NOC, he had some more stuff to do. He'll show up tonight. Upon arriving, I met Muddy Shoes. He's been leaving cool drawings in the shelter registers. Found one of Beamis and Southpaw, by now infamous H.H.T.'s - tha's Hasselhoff, as in David, Hiking Tips. Beamis and Southpaw are a riot. I've taken pics of most of these for posterity. Alex and Diesel were here too. Diesel forced down a tortilla that then came back up. I brewed her a cup of Blueberry tea which seemed to settle well. Ed, Phil, and I hung around the fire, another fun night.PS - There are sooooo many stars in the sky at night!
Date: 2006-04-26
To: NOC
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: moderate rain

Funny how things work out. But before that, I need to make yesterday sound a little more positive. The climb down was beautiful. We've been running along ridges and peaks, roughly 4000' to 5200' elevations. Our descent into NOC took us through a lush, humid valley. It was full of flowers and ferns. Saw blaze azaleas, daisies, violets, trillium, orchids, solomon seal, and on..... The smells and sights were glorious. And the shower at NOC, well, getting all the crevices clean is beyond words. Although the meaning of the shower faded fast as we walked up through the north side of the valley. Ok, on with toaday. Funny how things work out. Last night, I made reservations for me, Dogwood, Phil, and Ed at the Hiker Inn for Thursday night. Well, today Dogwood went ahead of us, saying he'll meet us on Thursday afternoon. Oops, change of plans. My knee is killing me from these last few big days, so I'm hiking with Diesel and Muddy Shoes. Changed the reservation to two for Ed and Phil, and then Diesel and I for two on Friday. Town stops are necessary! First off, laundry and showers. Secondly, visits to the grocery store and outfitter. Thirdaly, internet access and mail boxes.The three of us are going to take two more days to Fontana. Diesel and I may zero at the Fontana Shelter, she's still a bit nauseous and the rest will do my knee good. I want to enjoy the Smokies. I haven't had a decent day off for a couple of weeks. Besides, this isn't a a race. It's just me against me. Today we had a huge climb out of Steroah Gap. I met Ed and Phil as I was heading down to the Brown Fork Shelter, my resting place for today. They asked me one last time if I wanted to keep up with them. I had to pass. We said our "arvevoise" French? I told Phil he was a "fine young man." He said I was one of the nicest people he's met out here - imagin that?? Haha!As Ed and I were parting, he said, "Take care Steve, er Pacer." I replied, "Hey Ed, my friends know to call me Steve." Somehow I think our paths will cross again before Katahdin. IT's the nature of the trail. Shortly thereafter, Diesel came into the shelter preaching, "I beat the bitch," referring of course, to the ball busting climb we made out of Steroah. It just kept going up and up. Oh, almost forgot, today's thunderstorm ran from 9:00 to 13:00. AFterward, the gaps smelled fresh and clean, the flower fields were oh so fragrant, and the birds came alive again, singing and chirping.It's tough to to mark down everything that happens during each day. Days here are pretty simple and made up of simple pleasure that make you smile. Like the lady who stopped at Steroah Gap (roadside) and offered her cell to us!!
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

Didn't receive any notes from 4/18-4/26Fontana Dam Baby!!! What a beautiful day for hiking. Muddy Shoes, Diesel, and I slept in and lounged around for a while. Left camp at 10:30, my latest start yet. Last night was hilarious. I awoke around midnight to find Muddy Shoes wielding his hiking pack and lighting up the shelter with his headlamp. He was battling the mice. They were crawling all over the shelter roof and around our clothes and food bags. I helped for a bit by shining my headlamp to help illuminate. After some time, we realized it was a hopeless battles. Turn the light on, mice get quiet. Turn the light off, mice go ape shit. We were at the Brown Forth? Gap Shelter, hereby renamed the Broken Floor Gap Shelter. There was a fairly moat type feel to the place. Anyways, back to hiking. We planned a short day, 6.1 to the next shelter. We were all feeling good when we got there, so we decided to press on to a campsite a few more miles up. Well, at one of the vista points, we caught sight of the Fontana Lake. That spurred us on to make it to the dam. Well, those last three miles were killer. Feet and knees were burning. But finally we made it. We rejoiced and filled out our GSMNP permits. Muddy Shoes decided to stay at the Fontana Inn, and since Diesel and I had reservations for the next night at the Hike Inn, she and I were to press on to the renowned Fontana "Hilton", probably the nicest, largest, and cleanest shelter on the trail. Added bonus? 24 hour hot water showers at the Dam's visitor center. When we arrived at the Hilton, after cursing the completely pointless 1.1 mile of trail between the marins and shelter, I found River Hobbit waiting by the spill way all along. I approached him and asked what was up. Seems he was having foot problems and was waiting for his dad to arrive from Ashville. We chatted a bit and then Diesel and I went to drop our packs and go shower. AFter our showers, River Hobbit was still waiting, worried by now about his dad. Long story short, dad finally arrived after getting mixed up on his directions. River Hobbit is a great kid. I hope he gets his feet under him soon and I see him again. The shower was hot, plentiful, and refreshing. Slept good at the Hilton. A great day..tomorrow, Zero at the Hiker Inn - www.hikerinn.com and rest and resupply. Going straight thru the Smokies, 6 days, the longest single haul yet.
Date: 2006-04-28
To: Hike Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Rest in Fontana. Called Nancy at the Hike Inn around nine and she said Jeff would be by here soon. Met Jeff and came back to this cute little hikers only motel. They have five 2-bunk cabins and do shuttles all over the area. They are great people. Nancy ran us to the general store for coffee and donuts. They did our wash ahd shuttled us to Robbinsville (the town they used for the Jodie Foster movie, Nell). Hit the library to check emails and online journals. Diesel and I each bought a used paperback. Fifty cents each, sure beats retail. We did our grocery shopping and some postal drops. I took Diesel to Wendys, her first trip. I told her the burger would kick McD's butt, and she agreed. She ordered the Great Biggie Fried. I asked the clerk for some mayo. He put one packet on the tray. I told him we needed more, One more packet. I finally explained. The lady is from Holland and they put mayo on their fries like we use ketchup. He made a weird face and brought our total mayo count to four. Oh well, that should do it, haha! We then went back to our room and organized our food and packs for the next six days. I can't wait to walk the Smokies, Yeah! It's well past hiker bed time, 21:15. Time for lights out.