morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-27
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

First up at Elmer's and got my shower, getting ready for the day. Still need to go to the PO and get my food. I went to the outfitter and purchased a new bite valve for my Platypus. A mouse chewed a hole in the old one and I didn't want to risk a leak. Also purchased a good pair of Fitzroy Gortex mittens. The ones I carried got wet and did not do the job. It got too cold out there! I also bought a lightweight Mountain Hardwear wind shell hoping it will be the layer I need for walking in the windy, cold conditions. We are debating going back and doing the Smokies while it's easy to arrange a shuttle.
Date: 2006-03-28
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early and had breakfast at the Diner, then did my chores and said goodbye. I'm feeling bad and after a long hike, I made it to the Spring Mountain Shelter. Today's hike was a lot of ups out of town and a beautiful look back at town from Lovers Leap. Hot Springs looks so small from the rock overlook. There's still some snow in some areas and by the shelter. It looks like it's going to be a nice night. At the shelter I find Swift Creek, Small Wonder, Yoohoo, Show Me, Tree Frog and Smoky. Little Brother and No Worries set up their tarp nearby.
Date: 2006-03-29
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was the biggest challenge I have had to face. I was sick all day having to stop a few times to be sick and by day's end I had dry heaves. (sorry about that). I have no energy and that's not good when you have to keep hiking all day long. Plus the hike was challenging on its own with a steep ascent and an area that looked easy on the profile map but turned out to be a very rocky exposed ridge with ice and snow. No Worries went on ahead and Little Brother did an unbelievable thing, he stayed with me and hiked at my pace to make sure I made it. We made it to Jerry Cabin Shelter about 7PM and I went directly to bed with no dinner. I was spent and feeling poorly.
Date: 2006-03-30
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up and decided to have dinner for breakfast. Today looks like another challenging day. Actually everyday is challenging but it's to another level when you don't feel good. You walk all day long up and down numerous mountains. Today I left before No Worries and Little Brother and headed up the trail. After a nice warm up, up hill I arrived at a beautiful grassy bald with excellent views. I then had a steep assent into a ravine. I stopped at the Flint Mountain shelter for a break and signed the register. There's a nice spring up the trail and I got some water and went on. The hike was going pretty good. Later I arrived at a nice stream which crossed the A.T. I was feeling poorly and knew I had a very strenuous hike ahead over some big ups. I stopped took off my shoes and soaked my feet in the cold stream. I called Lynne on my cell phone and was overwhelmed with emotion when I heard her voice. I don't know how I'm going to do this for so long and be away from her and my family. I composed myself and found something inside and forged on. I faced a big up ending finally then I had some nice walking. Just when I thought it was getting to be too much I arrived at the shelter sign. How sweet it is to reach the shelter at the end of the day. I ate dinner tonight and went to sleep. At the shelter tonight, Yoohoo, Swift Creek, Small Wonders, Show Me and Tree Frog. No Worries and Little Brother set up their tarp again. Just before dusk the song birds were very active.
Date: 2006-03-31
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke feeling a little better today. Please make it last. There's plenty of song birds and a few wood peckers this morning. I had a nice walk from the shelter at Hogback ridge. I stopped at the road crossing Sams Gap and met No Worries and Little brother who were waiting for me. They were going to hide under the high way overpass and scare me but decided not to. We were deciding what to do when we saw a sign for a place called The Smoky Bowl so we decided to walk down the road and found a group of hippies (I guess that's what they were). Anyway we got a ride to a convenience store and got a sub and a coke then a ride back to the trail. I started feeling real bad and the hike up to Big bald was very difficult. finally made it to the top of a grassy bald with excellent views. It started raining so we put on our pack covers and rain gear. I walked onward to the Bald Mountain Shelter where we are spending the night. It's raining but we are dry. Just No Worries, Little Brother and I here tonight. It's a nice shelter with room for at least 10. I'm thinking when I get to Erwin I might think about seeing a doctor.
Date: 2006-04-01
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

In the morning the rain has stopped and it's foggy. We plan on making it to Erwin today about 17 miles from Bald Mountain shelter. Looking at the profile map we noted there were about 5 mountains today. Not too bad, but each mountain has its little secrets. Just when you think you have summitted another up is revealed. I took off early knowing I would be caught and passed by No Worries and Little Brother. Today turned out to be real nice and I hiked in shorts and a short sleeve shirt. Actually that's what I usually hike in after I warm up. Sometimes I need a long sleeve shirt or the light wind shirt but it has to be cold for that many layers. Just before I reach the No Business Knob Shelter I start to develop shin splints. At the shelter I meet Little Brother and take some Ibuprofen. After another full day of hiking I get to Erwin about 5:30 PM. Uncle Johnnies Hostel is close to the trail head and I went in to purchase a soda. We had decided to stay at the Holiday Inn and then zero at Miss Janet tomorrow. I was walking down the road when a pick-up stopped and offered a ride. I got in the back with my pack still on and wished I had pulled the tail gate up. It felt strange to ride in the back at highway speed after walking all day. Day light savings starts tomorrow so I adjust my watch and after too much television we went to sleep.
Date: 2006-04-02
From: Erwin TN

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Morning comes too quick today. The clothes are washed and I am actually updating my journal on the hotel computer. Soon we will check out and head over to Miss Janet's Hostel. Hope there's room. This morning Little Brother said he is sick. Lynne, please check my spelling and calculate the miles. Thank you I will call in a few minutes. I miss you and the kids. Please let everyone know I miss and love them. We still have this little issue about going back and doing the missing section. Part of the problem is getting a shuttle back to Cades Cove and being picked up at Davenport Gap and brought back to where we are. Plus for a few days the park was closed for bad weather and many people were stuck in Gatlinburg. We didn't want to go back and face dangerous weather conditions. There was talk that some hikers had to be air lifted out of the Smokeys during the bad weater. We hope the snow and ice will melt enough for our return make up hike. Don't think this section doesn't weigh heavy on our minds and we will make it up. This morning little brother was ill. We packed and were in the parking lot when a SUV stopped and offered a ride. We hadn't even started to Hitch Hike. We were dropped off at Miss Janets. We were made to feel at home immediately. Miss Janet took us in and cared for Little Brother like a family member. She advised him on what to eat and rink and allowed him to rest all day. we all zeroed did our chores. No Worries and I went to The Elms Restaurant and each attempted to eat a huge burger the size of a head or a pie. It was deliciousbut both of us failed to consume it completely. We should have gone there fresh off the trail when our hunger was extreme.
Date: 2006-04-03
From: Erwin TN

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We are at Miss Janets Hostel in Erwin TN ( A real treat). Miss Janet is such an exceptional person I don't know how to do her justice. She gives everything to those that stay with herand her hostile is a home. She is constantly busy from morning when she prepares an unbelievable breakfast to when she is shuttling hikers to and from several locations. She is always doing for those lucky enough to be a guest . I personally experienced such unbelievable generousity that I am overwhelmed with gratitude and awe. I will explain later as I am editing my journals again at her home. Miss Janet had to run some water samples to a tester and pick up some arriving hikers so I asked if I could come along. Little Brother is still not himself but there are signs he is getting better. It was cool to see the new hikers emerge from the woods and head for the van. Cookie, Snake, Pebbles, Swansons, Kurly, Chunky, and Bliss. We headed to the Elm's Restaurant for some humongous hamburgers. No Worries and I had tried to finish two yesterday so I was interested how the hungry hikers would do. Swansons and Snake both finished their burgers which are about the size of a head or a pie. They are incredible. Swansons ate his in about 13 minutes which is also incredible. After lunch we went to the Sonic and topped off with some milk shakes and ice cream. Later today we plan on a trip to Johnson City to the outfitter and to the Chinese Buffet. We probably will make a little beer run too. Looks like a full house at Miss Janets tonight. Should be fun. It's so cool to know the hikers behind and ahead of you. The trail community has a strong bond and familiarity which brings people together from diverse backgrounds. We are family! Stopped at the Post Office this afternoon and was happy to recieve a greeting card from Jill with some gum in it. Thanks again my trail angel.Last night there were tornado warnings and there were several stormy periods. The hikers that we picked up said they witnessed some great ligtning last night and there were many trees blown down across the trail.
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 19.1

I'm at Miss Janet's and taking the shuttle to Iron Mountain Gap hiking south to the point we came into town at the Nolichucky River. The hike is 19.1 miles. It's amazing how smottly everything runs around her.There are so many getting ready for their days and yet everyone does it without anyproblems. miss Janet offered everyone a choice for breakfast last night. It was decided that biscuits and gravy, eggs would be great. Miss Janet prepared that plus sausage, orange juice and coffee. It was delicious and there was some left over so she suggested we pack up some biscuits and eggs for our hike today. The hike is with Kurly, Swansons, Little Brother, No Worries, Pebbles and myself. When we arrived it was colder than expected and all clothes needed to be on. The top of the mountains were covered with snow. We started fast to try to warm up. The first part of the hike was uphill so warm up occurred pretty fast. We hiked through some nice areas including a summit covered with fir trees and snow. I took a break at a very nice grassy bald called Beauty Spot and had to get low to escape the cold wind. Miss Janet dropped us off about 10:30 AM and told us she would pick us up at 8PM so I had to move along at my best pace to make it to the meeting point. The hike went along a beautiful creek towards the end and I finally arrived at the shuttle at about 8:08Pm. We immediately went to a recommended Burrito Restaurant in town. Then back to Miss Janets for a special drink recipe to be kept a secret. Bedtime was late as everyone seemed busy getting ready for tomorrow. We'll get on the trail tomorrow and head north towards Kincorra Hostel our next stop. Along the way No Worries will have a birthday so we will plan a special celebration.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Iron Mountain

To: Roan High Knob shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Again a great breakfast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, real maple syrup compliments of mrs. Gorp and we ate in the backyad seated at the long table. Tomorrow is No Worries' birthday so Miss Janet had party hats and a candle and led us in happy birthday song. we were probably off key but it was special. After we all hurried to get ready as Miss Janet said our group would be shuttled first. We were leaving northbound from Iron Mountain (Tn107). No Worries, Little Brother, Swansons, Kurly, Pebbles, and I headed north after saying our thanks and goodbyes. We all got a hug from Miss Janet. We all quickly found ourpace and I was alone then joined by Little Brother who wanted to hike at my slower pace. We all met up at the Clyde Smith Shelter and had a break and lunch. Our goal was Roan High Knob Shelter and after checking the profile map we all knew it was a tough hike ahead. Roan High Knob Shelter is the highest shelter on the trail at 6285 feet. We met jaywalker at the Clyde Smith shelter who elected to stay the night after advising us the Roan Shelter would be cold in the single digits. After the break Little Brother and i set off last and after many uphill steps thought we had almost bagged the summit. Of couse we were wrong as it was only the first of three uphills. We had much more uphill ahead and agrressively continued. About an hour and a half later we summitted Roan Mountain and soon after reached the Roan High Knob Shelter. The shelter is two stoies and has a door and windows. Since little Brother and I were last arriving we stayed on the secound floor. during the night I awoke feeling such sick. I was overwhelmed with a need to be sick and quickly climbed down the steps and just made it outside. This was the first of four trips out during the night. One time I was in the woods away from the shelter and tried to go back to the shelter but realized I was lost. I circled around for about 20 minutes freezing. I was shaking and delirious. Finally I found the shelter and decided to move my bag down stairs.
Date: 2006-04-06
From: Roan High Knob shelter

To: Carvers gap
Miles today: 0.0

In the morning I was weak and had a fever. I asked Little Brother to get me some water and said I had to stay untill I felt better. The group made a decision that I should walk down to Carvers Gap and they would try to contact Miss Janets. Sparrow Hawk did an unbelievable thing, he said he'd carry my pack down. It'd hard to explain the largness of this gesture. It's like being saved by a life guard from drowning. I was totally done and Sparrow Hawk, Snake, Pebbles, Little brother, no Worries, Swansons, Kurly saved me. I don't even know who carried what but they packed my pack and divided up the heavier items between them. I layed by the side of the road on my side when I reached the road. Pebbles was able to get through to Miss janet who said she would be there in about an hour. soon after she arrived with Tofurky who was going to hike north with the group. Miss Janet drove me back to Erwin and I stayed at the Super 8 since I was super sick. Miss Janet put me on the BRAT diet after stopping at the grocery store. later I recieved a phone call from Boulder who said he was feeling better (shin splints) andleaving Standing Bear Farms and heading north. He hoped to be in Hot Springs for his Birthday on April 10th.
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Carvers gap

To: Miss Janets (again)
Miles today: 0.0

At the super 8 Miss Janet picked me up around noon to bring me "home". I waited in the reception area and she drove up with Train and Ajax. What a great surprise! We went to The Elms for lunch then back to Miss Janets so Train and Ajax could do their laundry and check their e-mails. I am zeroing again so I will hopefully recover completely. Ajax and Train are back a few days south and need a ride back to Devils Fork which is at mile marker 305.8. The Nolichucky River at Erwin is at 338.8. The location I got off is at mile 371.8. So Train and Ajax are a few days behind. They think Monk and Milk Dud are just behind them. Road Runner and Jazzy Pants took a few zero's at Ashville. Hopefully the group will get back together soon. Train told me the group has been nick named "The Party Group" I think that's perfect. I just said good bye to Train and Ajax but this time I was happy. My last parting with No Worries and all was very emotional. Feeling better but not completely.
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Miss Janets (again)

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Still in Erwin at Miss Janet's. Took Bear and Tortoise to do the 19.1 mile slackpack south to the Nolichucky River. It was not a pretty day. We planned on picking them up around 7PM. They will call when they get to the last shelter to let us know when they get there. I hung around talking to Red Neck and resting. Later in the day Train and Ajax arrived after a 27 mile day. In the evening we got a call from Tortoise saying she was at the last shelter but she waited there for an hour and a half and Bear hadn't caught up. She said that Bear said he was sick. Miss Janet told her to leave a message for Bear to call when he gets to the shelter and for her to hurry down since she would just make it before dark. Contingency plans were developed to find Bear. Miss Janet's sister took Texas and Curly Rambo to the top of Beauty Spot to see if we could find some hikers up there to see when they last saw Bear. It's a long section he was hiking and we needed to find out where he was last seen. I went with Miss Janet to a road crossing to see if he might be there. The temperature was 34 degrees and it was raining with fog so thick you could only see about 5 or 10 feet. We also checked the end of the trail. Tortoise made it down and said she hadn't seen Bear since the start of their hike. The concern level was high and we were all prepared to hike in to find him. Finally about 9:30 we called down and found out he had hiked out and was sick with the bug. What a relief that he was safe. We returned home and found that he went directly to bed and was exhausted. Later after we were discussing the situation it came out that Bear hadn't felt good during the night and decided to do the hike anyway. We all discussed the situation and the do's and don'ts of hiking while sick. Lessons were learned for the many hikers at Miss Janet's this night. We are all thankfull that Bear is safe and resting.
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Carvers gap

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Another great breakfast at Miss Janet's, then got a ride to Carver's Gap to continue my journey north. After a big hug from Miss Janet, I was off. The walk from Carver's Gap north is immediately amazing with incredible views in every direction. You go over a bald and can see in all directions. The weather is perfect and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I only planned on hiking to OverMountain Shelter about 5 miles away so I took my time and made the most of the views. I arrived at the shelter about 3:30 pm and could not believe the view from the sleeping platform. The shelter is a converted old barn and looks down into a beautiful small valley with mountains on all sides. You can see grassy balds on the sides with open fields and fir trees in the valley. The moon was almost full and lit the valley all night. We had a campfire and it was a very nice night. A short distance away a group of section hikers who were tenting had their own campfire. I walked over and talked to them for quite a while - had a good time and good conversations. Two of the group were getting ready to go back to Iraq with the military.
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Elk River
Miles today: 15.0

April 11 - Happy Birthday to my Bethany. I woke and watched the sun rise over the mountains, then readied to go for a hike. After a short warm up I was hot. It was another perfect day. I was hiking in shorts and a short sleeved shirt and sweating. After a quick 2 miles I was on Little Hump Mountain. The area is incredible with grassy balds for a long distance and perfect views. Then Hump Mountain with even better views, the weather was perfectly clear so you could see forever. This area is the best so far for view. You are walking on a trail that is completely exposed and you go up and over grassy balds, and can look in all directions to see mountains everywhere you look. After many hours of this you finally enter the forest again and march on, mostly down, to US 19E. There I met up with the group from the shelter last night and we hitch hiked to a restaurant for lunch, and hitched back to the trailhead. The area around US19E has a lot of litter. It seems like the locals have no respect for the AT or hikers, but it might be just a few idiots. The person that picked us up took half the group to the restaurant and then came back for the rest of us. And the people in the restaurant seemed ok with us. Anyway, we continued north after lunch through a few ups, then reached the trail to Jones Falls. I could hear the group playing in the falls, so I too, went there. They are nice and if it had been a little warmer I would have gone under the falls. One of the group actually did get a Falls shower. We hiked to the Elk River and made camp by the shore. It wasn't exactly the "Down by the River" night but it was pleasant. A nice 15 mile day. I would come back and rehike the past 2 days, as a section it was spectacular. Had to pull water from the stream at this camp, should have stopped at the water source by the Falls. There's a shelter planner for this area and that is supposed to be built this summer. A good addition! I hope it has a privy and a water source. The weather is so nice and the trees are budding, wild flowers blooming. I also noticed many butterflies today. It's just too good to be true.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Elk River

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 17.5

Starting out from the stream campground around 8:30. It was a nice night sleeping in my tent by the river. I should have left the vestibule doors open fully because my single wall tarp tent had some condensation on the inside. I stuffed it anyway, knowing I would air it out when I got to Kincora. The hike today is 17.5 miles and it started off as a nice rolling landscape, warming me up quickly. Last night I camped with LowKey, 4today, Sasparilla, Crumbs, Uberdude, and Bandit. They were also at the OverMountain shelter the day before. Most of the day I hiked with LowKey and 4today. The day was long and turned out to be challenging with a long, hard downhill at the end. Sometimes the map profile seems pretty easy but the reality is completely different! There were some good, hard ups before the long down through some rocky trail sections. When I got to the road at Dennis Cove the Kincora Hostel was up the road and a welcome sight. I claimed my bunk and got a shower, then Bob Peeples drove me into town for food and supplies. We went to Arby's and I must have downed 8 glasses of Pepsi with my meal. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Watauga Dam
Miles today: 13.1

At Kincora Hostel I decide to do a slackpack from Watauga Dam south to the hostel. We are dropped off at the Iron Mountain Gap at Watauga Dam Road and begin the day hike with a good uo then down to the lake, and then up and over Pond Flats. Then we hiked down a steep section to the stream and then to Laurel Fork Falls where I ran into Curly Rambo and DaBear swimming in the water under the falls. They invited me in, but when I felt the water it seemed like it was 50 degrees. No way this South Florida boy is going in there! I finished the day up with a steep climb up a rock stair case then down a nice, flat walk along the stream back to the hostel. A hot shower and laundry was enjoyed. Then another trip to Arby's for more food. Tomorrow I'll get shuttled back to the dam and go North. I'd like to get close to the Double Springs Shelter, we'll see how I feel tomorrow. Casey Jones, Doodles and Tex are staying at the hostel today. Tex walked 24 miles today.