morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Hot Springs, NC

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

DAY 30This morning¢s breakfast at Elmer's was as wonderful as last night¢s dinner. It was quite substantial for a renewal of my hike after a very pleasant and fun Zero Day. Now it is back to the Trail.It has been another great day for hiking. Quite a few other hikers are leaving Hot Springs today, including the Foursome, Double Healer, and Red.Soon after leaving Hot Springs, the Trail climbs steeply out of the valley of the French Broad River. On the way up, I somehow lost the Trail and found myself climbing hand over hand to find the Trail again. Fortunately, Captain Patagonia of the Foursome was on the Trail and I was able to get back on the correct Trail after climbing toward him. After the steep climb the Trail levels out (a relative term) as it approaches Tanyard Gap. I hiked and talked with Bubbletoes for awhile. However, after a mile or two she left me behind. I guess I am either too slow or too boring for her.After crossing US Route 25 at Tanyard Gap I started walking with Mouth, who is a 23 year old Computer Genius (at least that¢s what he told me). We are somewhat different to say the least: me, a somewhat conservative and boring old guy, and he, a flamboyant youngster. (Later, he wrote in his Trail Journal that I was a ¢cool¢ guy.) We walked and talked together for about five miles. Rather, he mostly talked and I listened. Mouth, as the name may imply, is a non-stop talker. However, I enjoyed the walk with him immensely. We walked through an area of a recent controlled burn enroute to the Spring Mountain Shelter.   When we reached the shelter, the Foursome went on ahead to the next road crossing at Allen Gap. I planned to stay in the shelter. However, I changed my mind when Jersey Jones showed up and it appeared he was going to stay in the shelter. I am not going to stay in the same shelter as Jersey Jones, given his horrible snoring. So I setup my tent instead about a hundred feet below the shelter. This is only the second time in thirty days on the Trail that I have tented. It is a very pleasant night. Before I called it a day, Double Healer and Red showed up at the shelter for the night. There are a number of familiar faces here tonight.
Date: 2005-04-11
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

DAY 31Shortly after I left the shelter this morning, Red came flying past me as he always seems to do. About four miles after I left the shelter, I came to a paved road, TN Route 70 at Allens Gap. Just before the road, there was a notice inviting AT hikers to go to a home to the right for Trail Magic. As I am not one to miss out on free food, I turned right at the road and soon came to a long, steep uphill driveway to a beautiful home at the top of the rise.This is the home of ¢Hercules¢ and ¢Fal¢, two former thru hikers. After their thru hike, they moved from their Missouri home to be next to the Trail. They invite hikers to their home to stop by for some food and conversation. The food was wonderful, but the conversation was even greater. I am filled with awe and appreciation for the efforts of people like Hercules and Fal to make the Trail a greater experience. I am learning that everyday the Trail is much more than walking and scenery. It is a great social experience which has made me appreciate the goodness and kindness in humanity. Perfect strangers invited me into their home today, fed me, and filled me with inspiration to carry me through the rest of a hard almost 16 mile day. In the afternoon I came to a sign advising hikers of a bad weather bypass trail. I didn¢t know what was ahead. The weather was still dry so I continued ahead on the Trail. Soon I came to the most amazing trail work that extended for perhaps a mile. Rock work carries the Trail over an exposed ridge with great views to both sides of the Trail. The rock steps lead up and down along the ridge. Eventually I started to wonder where this would end as it was getting late in the day. Eventually after a spectacular walk I came to Jerry Cabin Shelter, tonight¢s stop.Some joker has attached a phone to the wall of the shelter, but of course it is not connected to anything. It is a comical twist. I am sharing the shelter area tonight with four other ¢old guys¢. Here in the shelter with me are Larry and Matt, a father and son pair of section hikers, Jersey Jones and ¢Buzz¢. Fortunately for me Jersey Jones tented near the shelter, next to Buzz¢s tent. I appreciate the company of these four guys. I hope we can stay together for a few days.
Date: 2005-04-12
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hog Back Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

DAY 32I have been on the Trail one month as of today. I have covered 14 percent of the Trail. I am a little behind if I expect to complete the Trail in six months. However, I believe I can pick up the pace when I hit the Mid Atlantic states.The weather changed today. After a string of dry days, it has been rainy, damp, and chilly today. This morning before we left the shelter Buzz commented to me how horrendous he found Jersey Jones¢s snoring last night. Soon no one will want to be near Jersey Jones at night. It¢s a shame because he is a good guy. In fact all four of today¢s companions are good guys. Today the ups and downs continued. The hiking has become methodical work with no views. However, there was a break in the day¢s routine. As I descended to NC Route 212 at Devil¢s Fork Gap, I saw a van parked by the road. As I crossed the road, a rather overweight man jumped out and offered to make pancakes for me. He was ¢Fat Chap¢, aptly named, and he is working his way north doing Trail Magic. Like a dummy, I told him I had breakfast. However, he then offered to make me hot dogs, which I accepted. Fat Chap broke out a gas stove and set it up on the tail gate of his vehicle. He proceeded to make up some hot dogs in the middle of the rain. What a wonderful moment for Trail Magic, on a lousy, wet day. Jersey Jones also came by in time to enjoy the food. Once again the companionship and human kindness are as important as the food. And the food was quite welcome on my skimpy hiker diet.Tonight in the shelter are the five old guys: Matt, Larry, Buzz, Jersey Jones, and me. I have made up my mind tonight that I am going to get a real breakfast tomorrow. It is little over two miles to the next road crossing, US Route 23 at Sam¢s Gap. The guidebook indicates restaurants at 0.7 and at two miles to the east. Something to look forward to.
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Hog Back Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

DAY 33This morning I was first out of the shelter. I left without any breakfast and quickly covered the 2.4 miles to the next road crossing, US Route 23 at Sam¢s Gap. When I reached the road, I realized hitchhiking was not going to be easy. There is virtually no traffic on Route 23. Interstate 26 also passes over Sam¢s Gap and parallels Route 23. The Interstate has sucked all the traffic from the local highway. I guess this is a classic example of the unintended sociological effect of the Interstate highway system. The Interstates suck away local traffic that used to patronize local business. This led to the closing of these local business and shriveling up of local economies. This results in losses of local populations and abandonment of once thriving communities. All this is so we can travel across the country at 70 miles per hour and not see anything. Actually you do get to see things: billboards, McDonalds¢, Holiday Inns and every other American chain, and truck stops. Local places, with their differences and local charms, have disappeared in favor of homogenized Americana. So much for my sociological commentary! The problem at hand for me this morning was that I was hungry and I was going to have to do some walking. Maybe this wasn¢t such a good idea.As I walked downhill from Sam¢s Gap, I saw no traffic and little life along the road. Eventually a man did stop, unsolicited, and picked me up. The driver informed me that the diner at 0.7 miles was closed. So my ride dropped me off at the Little Creek Cafe, over two miles downhill from Sam¢s Gap. I thoroughly enjoyed my big breakfast at the Cafe. The folks at the Cafe were very kind to me.After breakfast I was faced with the task of getting back to the Trail, more than two uphill miles away. There was no traffic on the road as I trudged uphill. Eventually someone did pick me up when I was just a short distance from the Trail. I managed to add about three miles of walking this morning to the ten mile day to Bald Mountain Shelter. I'm not sure the breakfast was worth the exta walking. In the afternoon I passed over two balds, Big Bald and Big Stamp. There were no views. By this time the rain had become a light snow. Then I descended 400 feet to Bald Mountain Shelter for the night.It is miserably cold tonight in the shelter and heavier snow has started falling. I am sharing the shelter tonight with Larry, Matt, and Buzz. Jersey Jones decided to keep going and camp at Spivey Gap, almost six miles ahead, but 1900 feet lower in elevation. To brighten up an otherwise cold, wet evening, Larry, the dad, has passed around a bottle of Jack Daniel¢s. That really has hit the spot!Tomorrow is a town day!
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

DAY 37My shin still hurt this morning, and the walk back up to the Trail didn¢t help any. Today¢s walk was nine miles and mostly up hill. At least the great hiking weather has continued. I saw no other hikers the whole day. About two miles past Greasy Creek Gap I stopped in at the Clyde Smith Shelter for a break. From a reading of the shelter register, I saw that the four young hikers I met yesterday had stayed there last night. Later as I was climbing Beartown Mountain, I saw a large backside of a woman staring at me. She and a companion were bent over picking ramps. Later, I met three tourist type people in the parking area near the summit of Roan Mountain. I didn¢t talk to anyone today. That was the extent of my human contact today.I continued up to the Roan High Knob Shelter, which is actually an old fire warden¢s cabin. Unlike other shelters on the Trail, it has four walls, a loft, and a door. It is the highest shelter on the Trail at elevation 6285. It is reputed to be a cold place to stay. The shelter register told me that Sandman, Cubby and Boston had stayed here last night. They wrote in the register that it had been below freezing last night. I prepared for a cold night. There is lots of room in the shelter, so I set up my tent in the bottom level of the cabin to conserve some body heat. After a quick dinner, I am in my tent and sleeping bag. I hope tonight¢s rest helps my hurting right shin.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 39Mrs. Hill made us a great breakfast this morning. It was delivered warm by Mr. Hill. After breakfast I packed up everything I own, as I don¢t know if I will be returning to Mountain Harbour Hostel after my visit to the clinic. I was afraid I might be referred to the hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee if my worst fears came true. I have no idea what the capabilities of the Roan Mountain, TN, clinic are.Mr. Hill drove me to the Roan Mountain clinic after breakfast. There were a large number of people waiting to be seen at the clinic. Some appeared to be indigent. I had my Medicare card and my private insurance card and was seen fairly promptly by a doctor. The doctor has diagnosed the problem as tendonitis of the shin. There is no break. The doctor prescribed a medication and rest for ten to 14 days. I know there is no way I am going to rest anywhere near that long. I have a Trail to hike. There is a small drug store in the little town of Roan Mountain. I hobbled there to get my prescription filled. While I was waiting for the prescription to be filled, I experienced another of those unexpected acts of human kindness that has happened often on the Trail. An older woman overheard my conversation about my problem. She offered me a room in her home while I recuperate. And I am a perfect stranger to her. However, at this point I expected to go back to Mountain Harbour Hostel for at least tonight, but I was touched by her generosity. I thanked her and took her phone number in case I change my mind. After leaving the drug store with my prescription, I hobbled over to a convenience store to hitch a ride back up the hill to the hostel. There I bumped into ¢Lion King¢ and Beartracks, both of whom I met earlier in my hike. Lion King, who is large and has a mane like a lion, was also hobbling pretty badly. He is a past thru hiker and seems to spend his life hiking on some trail or another. I got a ride back to the Hostel very quickly. Roan Mountain, Tennessee, seems to be a pretty hiker friendly place to spend a few days. Hitching rides is very easy.I am back at the Hostel getting myself organized for an unknown period of recuperation.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 40Perhaps I should be content to spend a few days at Mountain Harbour Hostel. After all it is only costing me $25 per day for a nice bed and two big meals per day, with books, laundry, and showers available. In addition there is a nice Hiker Box with snacks, and Mr. Hill provides complimentary sodas and hot drinks. However, this ain¢t getting me to Maine. Today, Freedom left the hostel. He bequeathed me his king size bed on the lower level. This king size bed is in an alcove off of the main hostel floor. It is the best bunk in the house and I don¢t have to climb a ladder to my old bed in the loft. If I have to recuperate from an injury, this hostel is the best possible place. However, I am restless and I envy hikers who will come and go in the next few days. The weather continues to be great for hiking and I am missing it. To ease the boredom I have called various family members, friends and former co-workers. Maybe I should call me enemies also. I have packed and repacked and I will send extra gear home to further lighten my pack. I have been doing a lot of reading. And eating: Mrs. Hill is a wonderful cook. At least I have great company in the Hostel. While Freedom has left, Homer and Half Way, who I met on Beauty Spot four days ago, came in today. A former professional distance runner by the name of ¢Popeye¢ also is here. Popeye game me some suggestion for rehabilitation of the shin. Also today two pretty twenty-something girls came up to the hostel: ¢B-Money¢ and ¢Jukebox¢ (who I will refer to jointly as ¢The Blondes¢). However, for some reason as they waited to check in, Mr. Hill ignored them. They eventually got tired of waiting and left to go somewhere else. I have no idea why Mr. Hill deliberately was discouraging them from staying here. There is certainly plenty of room for them in the hostel.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 41This is my third Zero Day in a row at Mountain Harbour Hostel. Or should I say my third day of exile from the Trail. I am getting antsy, even though I keep busy during the day. I don¢t know if my shin has improved at all. I apply ice to the shin and I do the exercises Popeye suggested. Popeye left today. He is quite a guy. His wife loves to work at an apparently lucrative job. This leaves him free to hike, sail, and travel. Nice work if you can get it!Bob Peoples, owner of Kincora Hostel, came in today with Captain Kokak,an older hiker. Captain Kodak will be staying here tonight in the loft. Tomorrow he will slackpack back to Kincora.Bob Peoples is a funny guy. He enjoyed needling me about my idleness. He hinted I was a malingerer. Think he meant it in fun. If I ever leave this hostel, I expect to see him again when I stop at Kincora.
Date: 2005-04-22
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 42The weather turned cloudy this afternoon, my fourth day at Mountain Harbour Hostel. This was the first break in eight straight clear, sunny days. Skylark and Nu-B came into the hostel this afternoon. It was good to see them, as I was otherwise alone this morning. They took the king size bed in the loft. The three of us went out for a burger late at the Country House Restaurant, on the way to Elk Park, North Carolina. I had been in to the town of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, several times during my exile at Mountain Harbour, but this was the first time I went eastward toward Elk Park. At least it was something different. Other hikers have started coming into the hostel as bad weather seems to be coming in. There are so many of us in the hostel tonight that it is no longer practical for Mr. Hill to deliver meals to the hostel. As a result we started to have our meals family style in the Bed & Breakfast dining room. We had a great dinner tonight.
Date: 2005-04-23
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 43Today, the rain turned into snow. The hostel is getting quite crowded. Besides Skylark and Nu-B, we have been joined by ¢Mr.Clean¢, ¢Sowega¢, ¢Wandering Bull¢, ¢Jake¢, ¢Cola¢, Double Healer, Andrew (no trail name), Andrew¢s uncle (no trail name), ¢August¢, and others I don¢t know. Chef Boyardee and Lojack came into the hostel and found it so crowded that they took a room in the B&B. Chef Boyardee doesn¢t sweat the additional cost of the B&B as he lives on a trust fund. The hostel has become quite a mob scene, with cots all over. Some hikers will have to sleep on the floor tonight. I have spent quite some time talking with Andrew, a young man of about 30. He has recently completed about 10,000 miles of biking around North America. I am quite interested in the mechanics of his biking treks, as I¢d like to do some bike touring after the Trail. Jake is an ex-paratrooper (82nd Airborne) who has worked as a bounty hunter. I am growing quite tired of his excessive use of four letter words he seems to be trying to impress us with. As an ex-Marine, I have heard enough such language to last a lifetime. Mr. Clean is older than I am and has a shin problem similar to mine. I told him about the clinic in Roan Mountain, and he plans to go there tomorrow. August has been quite annoying to me. He is a very large African American man, with a military background. He has pleaded poverty and asked Mr. Hill for Work for Stay, which Mr. Hill has agreed to. August has cleaned out the Hiker Box in the hostel. August has somehow got the idea that his Work for Stay makes him in charge of arrangements at the hostel. He looked at my comfortable bed in the semi-private alcove and indicated I should share it with someone. ¢No Way!¢ was my perhaps selfish response. If someone else asks, I think I would agree to share. At one point today he mistakenly referred to me as Dessert Fox, a take off of my trail name, Swamp Fox. I replied angrily ¢Desert Fox was a goddam Nazi. Don¢t they teach you anything about military history in the Army?¢ We are not destined to be good friends. Breakfast and dinner have both been up in the B&B dining room. We have had some great meals and great times over the dinner table. It is nice to be in a dry hostel considering the nasty weather outside. I think my shin is improving. At least it¢s easier to walk up the hill to the B&B for meals.
Date: 2005-04-24
From: US Route 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: Walnut Mountain Road
Miles today: 10.2

DAY 44This morning it was still snowing lightly. Some of the hikers were talking about leaving today. There was a suggestion made about slack packing back to the hostel. Mr. Hill agreed to deliver five of us to the Trail at Walnut Mountain Road, 10.2 miles north of here. I was dropped off at Walnut Mountain Road along with Jake and Cola, Skylark and Nu-B.Immediately Jake and Cola took off running down the Trail through the snow. I walked for awhile with Skylark and nu-B, but then they too left me behind. I could not walk very fast as my shin was still aching, although improved. The snow on the Trail was about three or four inches deep. The Trail was slippery in some places, but I didn¢t fall at anytime. It has been a grim, overcast day. I walked by myself for the entire day. Never saw anyone until I got back to the Hostel. I got back in early afternoon. I still have a feeling of tenderness in my right shin. It is another crowded night in the Hostel. I have been here too long. I thought about calling the lady who offered me a place to stay five days ago when I was in the Pharmacy in Roan Mountain. I need a change of scenery. Chef Boyardee received a gigantic mail drop today. He sent himself so much food that he and Lojack can¢t possibly carry it all. He very generously offered his excess to other hikers present. Naturally first in line for the freebees was August.Tonight I joked with the Hills that I have been at their Hostel so long that I¢m thinking of changing my voting residence to Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Perhaps this will be my last night at Mountain Harbour Hostel. We¢ll see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2005-04-27
From: Watuaga Lake Sheltler

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

DAY 47It was pretty cloudy when I left the shelter this morning. Today¢s route initially skirted the west shore line of Watuaga Lake. There are nice views to the east towards the Lake. After about six miles of hiking, I reached Vandeventer Shelter where I stopped for lunch. It had started to rain rather seriously by this point.I read the shelter register and found that my friend Rocky had spent last night here. She was alone in the shelter and had been harassed by some sort of bird in the shelter, while sleeping. Strange! Then, after lunch, it was time for me to go back out into the rain and hike to the next shelter, Iron Mountain, which is about seven miles further.In the afternoon, I mostly hiked with Mr. Clean. He is an older and well experienced hiker. Interestingly, at least to me, is that he uses an external frame pack. I have noticed that only older hikers on the Trail use external frame packs. These had been popular over 30 years ago. Younger hikers all use internal frame packs. I would have preferred to start the Trail with an external frame pack myself. However, I couldn¢t find one when I was equipping myself for this hike.The Trail was wet and sloppy this afternoon. At one point I took a beautiful banana peel fall. I think it rated at least a nine on a scale of ten. Mr. Clean was right behind me and had a good laugh. But I¢m not the worse for wear. It did stop raining by the time we reached Iron Mountain Shelter. We were the first to reach the shelter. Soon Sowega and The Blondes came into the shelter. Then August, Skylark, and Nu-B came in.   While we were setting up in the shelter, an older southbound couple, ¢Bonnie¢ and ¢Clyde¢ came in. They are from Alabama and are quite loud and annoying. When I went to get water, I offered to take other water bottles or water bags to the water source. Sowega gave me his water bag to fill. Later I found that Sowega had sold his bag of water to the Bonnie and Clyde couple for $20! Where is my cut?However, Sowega and The Blondes found this older couple so annoying that they left to walk to the next shelter, eight miles further. It is amazing what these young legs can do.Quite a few other hikers have arrived and are tented at the shelter site. There is an interesting German hiker, Rhino, and his big, but well behaved, German Shepherd dog. Rhino is a powerful and strong hiker, and carries a tent big enough for four people.All in all, this has been a pleasant and dry evening, despite the non-stop chatter of Bonnie and Clyde. The sun has come out. Looks like a cold front has come in so we should have a good day tomorrow.