morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-05
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Mt Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Gearfreak and I decided to get an early start and we were up before sunrise.We hit the trail at 7:30 with the goal of Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the AT and also a visitor center where I thought I could make a phone call.We started out strong and about 3 miles into our hike a group of 6-8 boyscouts passed us going in the opposite direction. This was great news because that many feet made the snow packed down really solid. The hiking was easier but we still had the climbs to contend with. Yes I know I always stress the climbs but they take twice as long as the descents. Gearfreak convinced me to go very slow up but not to stop and so it went. This works really well as I wasn't getting winded or tired out as much as when I tried to maintain a faster pace up.Clingmans dome was only 10 miles away and we just kept at it, first up Silers Bald at 5460 feet , then up Mt Buckley at 6582 feet and finally up Clingmans Dome at 6643 feet. The highest point on the AT. At about 5800 feet the trees changed from hardwoods to Pines.. Majestic large pines with a nice pine needle trail under the snow and now visible in places with warmer weather.The contrast from the hardwoods to the pines was visually much more beautiful. Green shades instead of stark browns and bare trees.At Clingmans Dome :N35 33.433 W83 29.634, I found out the road up to the visitor center was closed for the winter. We were here but we were alone. Four miles later we made it to Mt Collins Shelter. Sitting there under the double decked bunks was PRIMITIVE who I had last seen in Hiawassee.He had been in the Smokies when the storm hit and had a couple of rough days making 3 -4 miles a day breaking trail. He was also almost out of food so he had made his way to Gatlinberg to resupply and was just getting back on the trail.He had seen Scotsman who decided to take 2 weeks off the trail, and Crash and Scoobie who walked with him part of the way in the snow. So now it looks like NOMAD is ahead of us with a few others I have not met.It was great catching up with Primitive and his trail stories.\All three of us were spread out in the shelter , in our sleeping bags by 6 pm.At 7 pm a young guy and gal hiking for spring break made it to our shelter so we all moved about a bit making room for them and talked for about 30 minutes then we gave it up for the night.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-07
From: Newfound Gap (Gatlinberg)

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

We hitched a ride from Gatlinberg back up to the trailhead (15 miles) at Newfound Gap.We were picked up by a New England transplant who was from Rhode Island close to where Gearfreak is from so we talked Red Sox as he drove us up the mountain. He went out of his way by about 12 miles and we are thankful for that. The day turned out to be the best so far. Still icy and snow on the ground but melting fast, warm sun and great views.The hike was across the tops of several mountains in the 5,000 to 6,000 foot range with stretches of ridges that were only several feet wide for us to hike onwith long drops on either side. The views were fantastic. When we arrived at the shelter about 3 o'clock there was one other person there, Eric, a German student attending a NC university for his MA in business. Soon a wife and husband showed up, it was "Five leaf clover" and her husband. Five leaf completed a thru hike in 2003 ( I think) and now brings newbie backpackers on trips into the mountains. Next came two girls we had passed on the trail, Tiffany and Katy. They are Marines stationed in San Antonio. Tiffany just came back from Iraq and they were hiking to get in shape for the "Battan Death March" a hike in White Sands New Mexico that is 20 + miles long and requires them to carry a 40 lb pack. They are doing this as part of a team and this hike was a warm up for them.This made 7 people in the shelter when 5 college students from Georgia joined the group, followed by 2 guys and then Chopstix a single guy who had done the AT before and then 2 more late comers.. A total of 17 of us in the double deck shelter ( think of a gigantic bunk bed).It was tight but we enjoyed a lot of good conversations while a nice fire was ablaze in the fireplace. Tiffany and Eric went into the woods and dragged out a dead tree which was cut up using Tiffanys machete. These girls came prepared.With a little American ingenuity and German engineering they had a blaze going in no time.The best day yet.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-08
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

My first 20 mile day. It was so nice out today and most of the trail was drying out so we just kept hiking.Today was a green day.We spent a lot of time in and out of very green tunnels of pine and moss and ferns. Everything greening up quickly after the snow and the contrast of the high pine forests with the balsam smells and green surroundings from the brown leaves and bare trees of lower elevations was as Gearfreak would say "AWESOME". All day was spent on top of the world as we crossed 6 peaks over 6,000 feet high and then a long walk down to 2600 feet.We arrived at the Cosby Knob shelter at 3:30 and decided to eat supper there and then go the 7.1 miles to the next shelter since we had extra daylight with the time change. Well that 7 miles was very streneous and we got to the shelter just as it started to get dark but it was also invigorating.This hiking thing really makes me feel like a teenager. Not because I feel young but because my pack is always pushing my pants down around my knees.That style not only looks stupid but it is very uncomfortable. Today was perfect weather again, even warm, I hiked in shorts and tee shirt. Today was also the first day I saw a bug, ( butterfly, fly and some bug on my arm I killed).Bear you say, well I don't know but I was looking about 100 feet down the trail and I saw a black blurr on the side of the trail that disappeared as soon as I saw it. It was about 4 foot high and it was black but was it a bear? I don't know, maybe bigfoot or something else but i think it was a bear.We stayed the night at the last shelter on the AT in the Smokies and shared it with a Southbound hiker, Buddy, who was section hiking over the trail we just spent 6 days on. Again we had a nice fire in the shelter and then crashed exhausted from the 20 mile day.22 days boots on the ground ...235.1 miles over 10% OF THE AT completed.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-09
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: clear sky

After a 20 mile day we only had to go 3.3 miles to a hostel outside of the Smoky Mtn National Park. Gearfreak needs to go home to straighten out some financial problems so we decided to stop here and spend the day making arrangements. Curtis the owner is going to shuttle him to the bus station in Waynesboro tomorrow so we are just relaxing in the sun and enjoying the day.This hostel has a bunkhouse and several small buildings that are right out of a western movie set. Old and rustic but very functional with a store, kitchen, computer access , showers etc.. all on the self serve honor system.Probably the most relaxed day I have spent since I started and this is a must stop place for all hikers...O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-10
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

After seeing Gear freak off I was on the trail before Sunrise and with daylight savings I managed to put in another 20 mile day.I was planning on staying at Roaring Fork Shelter but I was there at 3 pm and with 5 hours of sun left I couldn't stop. There isn't anything to do at the shelters so walking is a better alternative than just hanging out.Here is a question for the SACO school students.At the Standing Bear farm they had a laundry room and I washed my clothes but they didn't have electricity in the laundry area so how did I wash and dry my clothes?? You may have to ask your grandparents; just ask about washboards and hand wringers.The highlight of today was going over MAX PATCH , a mile wide clearing at the top of Max Patch Summit. This was apparently a pasture at one time and is now kept clear by the park service so the whole top is devoid of anything but grass. It is at 4600 feet elevation so the views are great and many day hikers were up there sunning themselves and enjoying the day. I also saw two sets of college students who planned on camping at the summit. It was a joy to walk on grassy paths , no rocks or roots to stumble on and no tree branches to duck under.As I came down off the Patch I went through a green tunnel of rhododendroms. Spring is in the air as the sun was "HOT" and I had the seasons first bugs fly around my head for about 10 minutes as I hiked. I guess that is a sign of things to come. The wild onions/chives are also starting to show up and I enjoyed the strong garlic/onion flavor of their small bulbs as I walked.When I arrived at the shelter GRUMPY was there and seemed glad to have company despite his trail name. The shelter built in the 30's had room for 6 but they must have been very short as my sleeping bag didn't fit from head to toe on the planks. The planks were also missing a few boards so sleeping was a bumpy ordeal.After we were all set in our sleeping bags two SOBO (South Bound) hikers arrived. They had left Maine in October and November and are probably the last 2 thru hikers from last year. With 1900 miles completed they were excited about getting into the Smokies . They had seen very few people on the trail and said most of the shelters were empty. Now they were heading into the "BUBBLE" of hikers that is March and April. Word on the trail is that last weekend over 100 hikers passed Neels Gap (30 mile mark) and the numbers should increase each week until the end of April.They will have to share shelters the rest of the way or use their tents. You could tell that as they got closer to the end of their hike that the daily routine was ingrained in them as they moved about and made supper. I on the other hand am still working on organization , keeping the same things in the same places in my pack or pockets. It is a challenge but unless you want to empty your pack 10 times a day it is a must.As I lay awake until about 11 pm I am amazed at how fast other people can fall asleep. Once conversation ends it only takes about 15 minutes for the snoring to begin.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-11
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs North Carolina
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful sunrise visible from the Privy this morning ... Got an early start and headed toward town, about 2 hours to the peak and then downhill for the rest of the day. Of course nothing is really all up or all down, more like a saw blade with you walking up and down each tooth of the blade. Crossed a couple bigger streams and I saw a lot of birds. One flock of about 20 Robins and then a Great Horned Owl which I scared. He flew a few feet away and then watched me as I got closer and eventually took flight. A great sight as this bird is big and it looks like a barrel as it floats through the air with little effort.Not very aerodynamic these owls but very quiet. I have also scared up a few pheasants along the way and even a duck who must have been lost from his flock. I hear Cardinals singing but have not sighted one yet, and of course every day I hear woodpeckers.I have decided to take off from the trail for a few days and go visit my grandsons in North Carolina because they both have birthdays this week. The forecast is for rain the next few days so it is an opportune time for me to take some ZERO days.Actually , I am in a void with 4 or 5 hikers just a couple of days ahead of me and then a more hikers a couple of days behind me. By taking a break I will get back on the trail with more hikers and won't feel like I have to catch up with those ahead of me.I arrived at Hot Springs (N35 53.371 W82 49.937) around 2:30 pm and went immediately to the outfitters where a shuttle was arranged to get me to NEWPORT,TN so I could rent a car..Hot Springs is quaint, which means small and is nestled right in between several mountains. The AT trail goes right through town.I'll be back on the trail next Tuesday.I am ahead of my schedule to be to Damascus, VA by 5 April so no reason to rush if the weather is bad.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Finishing up my break for Kevin and Jonathons birthdays ..Back on the trail starting Tuesday morning ..I will spend monday getting back to Hot Springs, going to Post office and getting my boxes sorted out and then send my bounce box forward. Looks like good weather all week.CHECK out my photos ..I finally have them on my pages and also in my file folder.Thanksfor stoppin byO.M. River
Date: 2009-03-17
From: hot springs nc 

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

Back on the trail today after some R&R with family... I came back to Hot Springs yesterday and stayed at Elmers Sunnybank Inn.This is really a retreat house with classes in yoga, edible plants , hiking etc. but they also take care of thru hikers. The staff is all thru hikers or hikers who stopped here and stayed. Elmer was one of the early voices of the organic movement when the word organic wasn't yet defined and the meals seved here are all vegetarian.The house is big victorian full of antiques and classic woodworking thoughout.One room is the music room where people can play the piano or their own instruments, the front room is a reading room and there are books everywhere on may social issues of the times now and past.I enjoyed reading about how food was transformed by manufacturing companies into nutritional parts instead of just food. It was the zealous pursuit of healthy claims and food reengineeing that has given us the current epedmic of obesity in this country. OLEO was suppossed to be better for us than butter...who knew ( maybe the manufacturers).I enjoyed the company of other hikers : Pound Hound and Garage Man, Rocky and Swampfox, Spirit fingers, Rails, and others . This place is a throw back into the 60's with the same atmosphere of a commune at that time , and the younger generation think it is way "cool" ....The time and space continuum collidewhere old and young listen to each otherand Real food is served from hands with prideat the Sunnybank farm called ElmersO.M. River (burma shave)Started my hike up out of town and had a great view of the farms and small town and river and trains passing through. This quaint town is nestled between several mountains and the only way out is up. It was a pleasant day for hiking and the sun even felt warm for a bit.I only hiked to the first shelter so I could get back into the routine gradually. I was the only one at the shelter and I spent St Patricks day with the mice who seemed to know it was a time to party. The patter patter patter up and dowwn the metal roof was non stopped for a couple of hours.. I have decided the roof must be two layered and they get between the layers and run from end to end. Or maybe they have a soccer league going on...I woke up to be fogged in with a visibility of about 3 feet. One mouse walked right up to my leg until I asked him what he thought he was doing. O. M. River
Date: 2009-03-18
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

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

Today was another beautiful day and there were a lot of people on the trail.This morning as I started the hike I came to a road at about 9:30 am. I was off to a good start and making good time but on the pole next to the road was a sign."TRAIL MAGIC .May 17 and 18 from 7 am to 6 pm come to the house on the right with the cement drive and we will feed you belgium waffles, stew, brownies, cookies etc..."So instead of continuing on making good time I detoured to this house where the nicest couple met me outside and explained they had hiked a thru hike in 1999. They brought me into their beautiful log house and let me use the bathroom, then started making breakfast and stew and offering me something to drink . After the meal they started a discussion about beliefs and the options of believing or not that we have when confronted with Christianity. Basicallly they were Baptists and as such it is their responsibility to evangelize. No problem with that from me, it was a great meal and great conversation and they even gave me a book to read as I spent time in the shelters. I did read the book and although I didn't agree with all it said it was a diversion and it gave me some impetus to think about the heavy questions of life as I walked through the beauty and solitude of the trail.I have noticed that the trees are all about the same size, very few old trees because the whole area was logged out in the 1800's. I suspect the requirement for railroad ties and telegraph poles caused many of these mountains to be clear cut. The few really big trees I see now must have been too small to cut down during those days. The other thing about the trees is they are incredibly tall and straight without branches for the first 50-60 feet.At the end of the day I made it to the shelter and met Pound Hound and Garage Man and another older hiker "Sticker" and 6 college kids and a beautiful golden retriever.I slept in my tent tonight as I just got it back at the post office. I had mailed it forward so I didn't have to carry it thru the Smokies since camping is not allowed in the national park.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-19
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

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

They day started out nice, cold but nice and I had a late start. At least that is what STICKER thought (67 year old 5 time thru hiker) because as he was leaving camp he wanted to know if I wanted my food bag delivered to my tent,,,, that he would be glad to get it for me since I was still in bed....I told him no and got out of the sleeping bag and retrieved my own food bag which was hung at the bear cables. Once I was traveling I went pretty fast and I passed POund Hound & Garage Man around 2 pm....I stopped top get the weather report from my phone and it said it was raining but it was pretty nice where I was. The forecast was for rain all day and into the evening. Sure enough about 30 minutes later the rain rolled in and the wind picked up. I was only a couple of miles from the shelter and about an hour later I was happy to see it on my right down the trail. The shelter was full of young people from the University of Minnesota on a spring break hike. They had two groups and I had passed the other group yesterday. They had two vans parked at each end of this section of the trail and when they passed each other they passed the keys to the other group. I told this group that the other group asked me to tell them that their van was out of gas...my little joke with the young people.Because so many were already in the shelter I set my tent up in the rain and slept ion the ground again...Now I have a cold to add to my troubles. The students did manage to build a fire that lasted all night and the rain stopped about 8 pm but I was in the tent by 5 pm for the duration. I just felt crappy.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-20
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap US 19w
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

N36 1.911 W82 25.209It is cold and after spending a very cold night I have decided my cold will not get better unless I get to town.I got off at Spivey Gap and then waited 45 minutes for a car to go by me on the mountain road . Fortunately a nice couple stopped and brought me to town because they thought I would be frozen soon.Unfortunately the Bristol nascar race is this weekend so no hostel, bunkhouses, hotels or any other type of room are available for a 50 mile radius. I stayed at Uncle Johnnys hostel/campsite and slept outside again.In the morning we went to town for breakfast and I am on the mend but taking a zero day on saturday.O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-21
From: Spivey Gap US 19w

To: Uncle Johnnys
Miles today: 0.0

Spent the day at Uncle Johnnys hostel and campgrounds ...SHOWERS wow and free rides to town for real food and resupply ...Great place to kick back and relax...This morning was cold but the day turned out to be nice and warm and after a couple of cold capsules I crashed in my tent. It was like a sauna and felt great. I was able to get into the bunkhouse tonight so a warm bed ( bunkhouse has a wood stove ) will be great.The NASCAR folks who were here yesterday all left this morning for the Saturday race. They stayed up and partied until midnight so what they think is getting up eearly is really late for us hikers. Maybe that is why NASCAR races don't start in the morning. Met two guys from Massachusetts who drove down for the races.They were happy to find warm weather and be able to go to a race this time of year. Uncle Johnnys is right on the NOlochuCKY river which is Cherokee for "Has a mind of its own" and across the river are the train tracks. A train goes by about every two hours, some as long as 140 cars and full of coal. When I say every two hours I mean ..all night long ..midnight , 2 am, 4 am etc... Sso sleeping in the tent was enhanced by the train whistles and the sounds of the river flowing by. Those two sounds almost drowned out the NASCAR folks who yelled out at 11 pm ...HIKERS GET UP ... The starts were really sharp and bright in the night sky ....SACO SCHOOL ..why is ORION so low in the sky and whee does that constellation go for the winter?O.M. River
Date: 2009-03-22
From: Spivey Gap US 19w

To: Erwin, TN Uncle Johnnys
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Uncle Johnny shuttled me back to the spot I had left off at on Friday ( 20 miles by car, 11 by trail) and I hiked back to the Hostel. Since I didn't need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, food, clothes my pack was about 10 lbs and I was able to go up hill almost as fast as downhill. I did the 11 miles in 4 and 1/2 hours..Beautiful trails and good views coming in to town.Pledge break >If you are not aware I am hiking as a fundraiser for Ulster Project Arlington...if you are not fasmiliar with Ulster Project go to www.upatx.com ......If you are aware of Ulster Project but have not pledged yet then please consider pledging 1 cent per mile ($21.78 if I complete the whole trail) I would like to raise $2178 for Ulster Project, or $1 per mile and so far I am up to 33 cents per mile. This year Arlington is accepting 22 teens from Northern Ireland instead of the usual 16. The St Louis Project had to bail out at the last minute and these teens had already made plans to come to America so Arlington is helping. Six more Belfast teens and six more Arlington teens means we have to pay for 12 extra people at every event for the month the teens are here. We can use your help today .Please send me an e-mail with your pledge ( john.carlson2@ tx.rr.com) or send a check to Ulster Project Arlington .thanksEND of Pledge BreakAfter I completed my 11 miles I found 4 new guys at the hostel. Walkabout, Wally, Splinter and Ew??? and the biggest golden retriever I have ever seen. Wally has a masters degree is about 23 years old and is just taking time off. Splinter is walking now and plans to go to Graduate school at Berkely in the fall...We all went out and had Mexican food that was recommended to us...Not up to Texas standards !!! I should have eaten at SUBWAY or stuck to grits.Back on the trail tommorrow, looks like good weather..Question for the SACO studnets ( don't know if I asked already) Why is the constellation ORION disappearing below the horizon? Soon I won't be able to see it anymore..O.M. River