morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-08
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Mar 8, 7:45 pmDinner is done, temp is 42 and we are exhausted from todays hike. We enjoyed a nice campfire after a short hike yesterday, and spent some extra time at breakfast visiting. Late afternoon a group of four hiked in and set up tents near the shelter. It was late so they made dinner and stayed to themselves, but this am they came up to visit. Three of the four had met on their 2013 thru hike, and now live near each other in Ashville, NC. They were out for the week hiking a section, so we had a nice visit about thru hiking. After finishing, we started hiking at 10:30. With the time change we knew later starts and finishes would match our sunlight so we were not too late. Todays hike took us near Siler bald, then down and back up to Wayah Bald, the highest point on the trail in NC at 4500 ft. I shot a video to send home, took a couple panoramas and w enjoyed our first vista views since starting two weeks ago. Off Wayah our hike took us down several hundred feet, then up, then back down, then back up to the shelter. Our climbs today totaled nearly 3000 ft of uphills when combined so we arrived at Cold Spring Shelter right at 6 pm. We have finished dinner, settled in and will sleep until 6 am. We plan to get up in the dark to be hiking at first light in order to get to the NOC early enough to pick up a couple days resupply to get to Fontana Dam, Fontana Village. We are at mile 125.6 and I have been hiking 14 days straight. Muscles are sore, but vitamin I(buprofen) helps each night. I feel I am right on schedule as my daily average is creeping up as we continue toward the smokies. We enter the Smoky Mts after Fontana, so I am right where I expected to be. I feel though that Ironman Bill has been a Godsend keeping us in a training pace through the Smokies, after which we will unleash 15 and 20 mile days when possible.I feel the temps dropping so it is time to crawl in the sleeping bag for a warm nights sleep, listening to the brook babble and the owls hoot us to sleep.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-09
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.4

So, here I am at the NOC, siting on a bunk after a shower and a big meal wondering, what did I do to deserve this? But thats the way life can be at times, we occasionally receive things, and experiences we do not deserve. We arose early this am to get a jump on a long hike, and into the NOC as early as possible. On trail by 7:30, it was barely light with the change to daylight savings time. Princess Tiny Elf and Big Bear passed our shelter around 10 pm, noting that she recognized us as she calls us the boy scouts, because Pete and Bill are fire starters, and I fixed her ice cleats on the way to springer on day one. We keep leap frogging her and Big Bear because they have had many delays along their hike. This happens often, but we have now moved forward into another group of hikers. We had listened to it rain gently on the shelter much of the night, and it was still raining as we packed and started our hike. We had a climb up to a short bald, then rolling hike until the long downhill to he NOC. As we hiked the rain cleared, but the sky remained mostly overcast. Hiking temps were in the 40's so we hiked in shirt sleeves. We talked of our need to carb load for the long, 7 mile, hike uphill out of the NOC thinking of spaghetti and meatballs with lots of cheese. We reached the NOC at 2:30. We settled into our bunk room and discovered our roommate was Little Debbie. He overnighted with us two nights ago and is nursing a sore achilles. He plans to zero here another day to heal.We showered, checked into the outfitter to fill out a couple meals for the next three days, and I was able to purchase and print my permit for the Smoky Mountain National Park. As a thru hiker I can only stay in a shelter if no one has reserved the spot. With spring breakers, some of whom we saw day hiking yesterday, we expect a lot of hikers in the park. We enjoyed a dinner at the resturant called Sherpa Rice, which was a large plate of rice with vegetables. It was exactly what we needed. Now in the room we are turning in early to get a good start tomorrow. We plan to hike the 27 miles over three days to Fontana village. There we will resupply for six days to get through the park. Tomorrow will be the shortest miles since it is all climb up, then a long day to knock out long miles, perhaps 15, then a short day into Fontana where Pete and I are both hoping to have some friends/family visit for t he evening. Rain is forecast at least for tomorrow, but that means cooler hiking which will be nice for the climb.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-11
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

3/11, 11.6, Cable Gap ShelterToughest day yet, emotionally. When Kathy and I agreed this would be a possibility I knew I had a major emotional hurdle to get over. In all my years of hiking, camping and backpacking, I hated hiking in the rain. I remember pulling a group of hikers off trail early, because I was not ready for rain. To prepare, Kathy and I selected several days to go hiking, in the rain. We actually enjoyed it several times. Then, when I did my prep hike last summer, I started in the rain, and didn't see the sun for two days. Today was my final test and I think I passed. We hiked all day yesterday in the rain, set camp in the rain, fixed and ate dinner in the rain and carefully crawled into our tents while it was still raining. I managed to keep my dry clothes dry and my sleeping bag dry, thanks to my tyvek bivy. One reason I think I passed is because I probably had my best night of sleep on the trail yet. It was the first night I set my tent, and it was like being back home. This morning the rain took a break while we were packing up so off we were hiking by 7:45. Our goal was Cable Gap Shelter which would leave us a short swift hike into Fontana where we will resupply for the Smokies.Shortly after we started hiking, it started raining. The forecast was near 100% chance midday. I would say 100% started about 9, and kept on until 1. We had a couple small let ups but it was a steady rain all day. By 11 even my rain jacket was soaked through. I was warm, and my head and feet were dry, but comfortable is not a word I would use. In the midst of it all my thoughts consistently settled on I am right where I want to be. So I passed the rain test. We hiked up and down some generally rolling terrain with one steep climb mid morning. All in all we had a great day of hiking and arrived at Cable Gap Shelter at 2 pm.We settled into the shelter by hanging our wet clothes, putting on dry clothes, filtering water and getting down to dinner. Bill decided to try and start a fire to help our clothing dry. As with many good scouts, Bill and Pete were successful, and we are enjoying a nice campfire.Tomorrow we will hike 5.5 to Fontana where we will dry our gear, laundry, shower and get our resupply boxes for the Smokies. For now, we are visiting with another hiker who stopped by just to fix his dinner, but is hiking on. I hope to upload more tomorrow, and maybe even post a video to my Facebook.SilverbackPS ...impy needs to check my photo pages and see if that looks like a beach to her :-)
Date: 2015-03-12
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Lodge
Miles today: 5.5

5.5, Fontana LodgeIts late but we have finally settled in at Fontana Lodge and I have resupplied for the trek through Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Six days of supplies making my pack tomorrow as heavy as it ever gets. We awoke early this am to get going and into Fontana with resupply and laundry goals, as well as a short visit with my niece Amy and her boyfriend Roger. We arrived at the lodge and were able to get into our room right away at which point oir packs appeared to explode within the room. Wet gear hanging to dry, laundry gathered in a. Orner, and resupply needs being assessed. The National Park system operates Fontana Village as a seasonal resort, and we are her pre season. The hiker discount was noce for the room, but the general store and most restaurants are not yet open. Amy and Roger were a big help today solving that issue. They arrived near noon and we decided that they would drive me 15 miles to town to purchase resupplies, knee brace, alcohol fuel, misc fruit and cereals to fill out meals and such, while Bill and Pete took care of the Laundry. While in town we had a nice visit and lunch, then back to the village with our cargo. We returned to the laundry and Bill and Pete were mid wait, so we visited some more, ate some berries and caught up with Little Debbie as well. Little Debbie had roomed with us at NOC but was taking a zero day to rest an injured achilles. He hiked over to here today and is staying at the large shelter near the dam, about another mile up the trail. We stayed here at the lodge because with three of us it is only a few dollars more per person for a hotel room. When the laundry finished Amy and Roger said their goodbyes and we were off to repack. Tomorrow our hike takes us up nearly 3500 ft of total climbs over 13 miles. This will be our most ambitious day yet but we are healthy and ready to hike a longer day. We are very excited and looking forward to the challenge. Final note, Mom, quit worrying about the bears. I would bet my entire trip that you will see more bears this year than I do. Love youSilverback
Date: 2015-03-13
From: Fontana Lodge

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Arrived Mollies Ridge Shelter 4:30. Exhausting day almost all uphill to get to elevation in the Smokies. We set out this morning as early as we could, but the shuttle's first run was 8:30 so it was 8:50 before we hit the trail. We stopped after a mile of hiking to check out the Fontana Hilton a large famous shelter on the trail, and headed for the Dam. We hiked Around the closed for the season visitor center and onto the under construction dam road, closed for repairs, but open to thru hikers. As we crossed the dam we stopped to watch a Bald Eagle soar over the lake, our first visible wildlife on the trail except for songbirds and bugs. We have exchanged hots with owls a couple nights as well.Our hike today was a steady climb up over nine miles from the dam, and the forecast for 80% chance of rain most of the day was fairly accurate. It rained 80% of our hike. The nice part now is first, we have pretty well conditioned hiker legs. And second, we can now plan 15+ days through the smokies and beyond. We are sort of dragging our feet before fully settling in tonight because the rules in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP) are such that the shelters can be reserved by anyone, but thru hikers travel the park by special permit. This is due to the variables in a thru hikers travel, some days 10 miles, some days 20. The special thru hiker permit allows staying at a shelter in an unreserved space. If the shelter is full and someone shows up with a reservation, the last thru hiker in, is the first thru hiker out, and into their tent. If it wasn't raining, 39 degrees and windy, we would just set up our tents just in case. For now, we will fix dinner, build a fire and wait a little longer. There are five through hikers here now, and at least twelve spaces available so we are probably fine. Tomorrow we will try our longest day yet, when we have choices of shelters at 12, 17, and 19 miles, we feel pretty sure we can make the 19. Temps today hung around 40, probably dropping to low 30's tonight. Tomorrow the rain chances are real, but lower than today. Then Sunday, the forecast is clear, 70 degrees and perfect for our visit to Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the AT! We are feeling good!
Date: 2015-03-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

3/14, 5 pm arrival, Derrick Knob Shelter, mile 189This was a challenging day to say the least. Last nights rain lasted all night, and into the morning. Consequently we laid in bed until 7 am not as much to stay warm, as to wait for the rain to let up. It didn't work. We reluctantly ate, packed and put our damp clothes back on for another day of hiking in the rain. Our terrain was not as challenging, except for the water running on it and the mud left behind. We did have some difficult climbs and descents, made slightly treacherous by conditions, so progress was slower than expected. Our original plan was to hike to a shelter at 12 miles and evaluate how much more we felt we could hike. By 1 pm it was clear that the shelter at 12 miles would be our final destination. We hiked today over the "Rocky Top" made famous by the Tennessee Vols, and then the higher peak near it reaching just over 5000 ft. The trail through the Smokies follows and criss crosses the North Carolina and Tennessee border. As the day wore on we were waning earlier than usual. Our sense is that our calorie burn has consumed extra body weight to today, and we are now at the point where we need to consume more calories. Interestingly, I find myself in the Smokies with too much food anyway. We entered with a plan to clear the smokies in six days, and it looks like we will be out in five. Then I have a four day resupply waiting, when we will probably only be two days to Hot Springs. I definitely need to watch my food planning closer because carrying extra weight is not desireable.We arrived here at Derrick Knob Shelter at 5 pm. We found the shelter full, and three thru hiker spaces still available. Thank You Lord! Setting a tent in this rain was not a pleasant prospect. There were eight spaces reserved by a group of fathers and sons leaving four for thru hikers. One of our shelter mates from last night was already here so we got the last three spots. There is also an ATC Ridge Runner here. Ridge runners move through an area maintaining the trail, monitoring shelters and teaching leave no trace principles to hikers. We also saw a trail maintainer today just putting his saw away after cutting a fallen tree in half that was across the trail. We appreciate all they do to make our adventures possible.For tonight we will settle in and plan to leave early tomorrow. We are 10 miles from Clingmans dome, the high point of the trail, and the weather is forecast to be fantastic! High 60's and sunny! The nearest shelter beyond Clingmans will make it a 13 mile day. If the weather is as expected it should be a banner day!Silverback
Date: 2015-03-16
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

3/16, 9.5' Icewater Spring Shelter. After the long, somewhat difficult hike into late yesterday, we arose with the sun this morning and didn't start hiking until 9:00. We planned to hike 15 to a shelter, but it became clear early Pete needed a bit more rest. Hiking was great today. Temps started in the 40's but quickly warmed to the upper 60's. Our hike today took us through Newfound Gap where the main road across the Smokies connects the park to Gatlinburg, TN. Consequently when we reached the gap we were confronted with more cars and people than we have seen in three weeks. Everyone was nice and the three thru hikers soon became a novelty. Lots of nice folks encouraging us and very interested in our quest. Many of them have come to day hike the myriad of trails that intersect the AT throughout the park. Lots of great families as well as groups of college students on spring break. The long delay at Newfound and Petes waning energy revised our plans and we decided to stop today at Icewater Spring Shelter at 2:30. Pressing on would have meant 8 more miles and several climbs to the next shelter, and camping away from the shelters is prohibited in the park.For now I will take advantage of the warm sunshine to finish drying out my sleeping bag. My gear overall has been very satisfying except that I keep carrying too much food, and overloading the pack a bit. Over time I will learn more as I go. Thank you to everyone leaving encouraging comments on my guestbook! SilverbackPS camped tonight with "Beau and the dude shes hiking with" and "The Diabolical Duo" and many other camper/hikers.
Date: 2015-03-17
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: broken clouds

5/17, 20.3, Cosby Knob ShelterThere is nothing more challenging than a 400 ft uphill climb to the shelter at the end of a 20 mile day. Oops! There I already said it, we hiked 20.3 miles today to get to Cosby Knob Shelter for our last night in the Smoky Mountains. We planned to hike the long miles today in order to leave ourselves a short day tomorrow. Its kind of funny to think that 10 miles is now considered a short day. We awoke and packed in time to hit the trail before sunrise at 7:10 am and hit the trail hiking with headlamps. Right away we encountered more ice on the trail making our way a little slower. Hiking eventually became just hiking. The trail was mostly in good condition, very little mud. We covered the first seven miles by 11:30 and broke for lunch. Typically lunch is a handful of trail mix and a protein bar. A few miles into the afternoon we encountered a couple hiking southbound handing out trail magic. Trail magic is most often some kind of food not typically found in a backpack. Last night one of the Spring Break travelers handed out Snickers bars he had packed just to hand out to all thru hikers. Today, it was Coke and fresh cut vegetables. Its amazing how good carrots and cauliflower can taste. We visited a moment, and hiked on. Within another mile we encountered a park ranger checking permits. It was a lot like the game warden checking your fishing license. He looked ours over and we talked for several minutes about the trail, and hiked on. Today was all about, "and hike on."Weather today was perfect in the low 60's, with mostly overcast skies and a good breeze. We enjoyed watching the clouds and fog roll in and out of the mountains all day. Our hike followed the ridge line and we enjoyed many wonderful views of the mountains and valleys below. Our hike today also took us over Mt. Guyot, another peak above 6000 ft.It was a long and hard hike but we ventured into the shelter area around 6:30 pm. We were sore but very satisfied with todays achievement. We quickly made acquaintance with section hikers and thru hikers alike. Many thru hikers here were also at the shelter last night as we leap frogged each other all day.Tomorrow we hike 10 miles to Standing Bear Hostel where we will shower, do laundry, sleep in a bunk and hopefully upload some journals. Until then, the shelter has fallen silent at 8:30 so I will read a little then fall to sleep myself. Goodnight.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-18
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

3/18, 10.4, Standing Bear HostelThis morning was just a little surreal. We slept comfortably, long and relaxed knowing we had a "short" hike today of only 10.3 miles. Just a couple weeks ago 10.3 kept us awake at night but it has become the new short day. We arose casually around 7:00, enjoyed a postcard sunrise this morning, (photos to come) ate breakfast and packed to begin our hike at 8:10. Todays hike had a few uphill sections but was largely downhill. Downhill, while easier on respiration, is a real challenge to knees and feet. The constant pounding of the weight can really take it's toll. Add the trail roots and rocks and it makes for a leg pounder! We leap frogged several hikers from the night before, all headed for the Standing Bear hostel just outside the Smokies. Part way down as we passed Beau and Dude we could tell Beau was experiencing some discomfort. Dude said her back was getting sore with the pack. Not wanting to pry I just said "pack it high" as I walked by since most young hikers mistakenly place their heaviest items at the bottom of their pack, instead of centering the load over their hips by packing the weight higher. We stopped further down for a break and I had been thinking about all the young hikers I have taught to hike and pack a pack, and suggested we wait a few moments to see if Beau was OK. Shortly they arrived and we discussed the weight distribution and sure enough, they had assumed as many do the weight should be on the bottom. Beau repacked her pack partially, moving the weight higher and when we saw her later she looked much happier. As we exited the Smokies an hour later we experienced our second trail magic. Dragonfly was set up outside the back of her SUV with fresh fruit, cut veggies, soda, Twinkies, candy and all kinds of stuff hikers crave but don't carry. It was amazing! Thank You Dragonfly! We finished our trail magic and the last couple miles to the hostel by 2:30. It was a great day hiking and many others have now joined us for the evening.Tomorrow we plan to do near 16 miles, leaving us 19 to get to Hot Springs on Friday. Bill and Pete are zeroing there Sat to visit fam and friends, but I am going to push ahead for the next three weeks to get some distance on them. I am doing that because in three weeks I will slow my pace to enjoy some time hiking with my friend Dave who will join me then. Our hope is that Bill and Pete will catch me, and not get too far ahead while I am hiking with Dave, since we have become such good hiking friends. My resupply mailed here gives me six days provisions and is all packed and ready to go. We plan to be hiking by 7 am under headlamp so, it time to get to bed. Silveback
Date: 2015-03-19
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: moderate rain

3/19, 15.4, Roaring Fork ShelterI was born, raised and lived in Wisconsin for over thirty years. In Wisconsin you either embrace the cold, or move...I embraced it. The colder the better for playing in the snow, sledding and building forts. When I got older, cross country skiing, dogsledding, and winter camping were all things I enjoyed. I love winter. I live in Southern Ohio now and cold has taken anew turn. There we have 35 to 40 degree rainy, windy days with the bitter, damp cold so piercing it penetrates whatever you wear right through your skin to the bones so deep it ends in your teeth chattering so intensely they play patty cake with one another. Thats the weather we hiked in today. We set out at 7 am intent on hiking nineteen miles. It had started raining around 6:30 while we were packing so we donned the rain gear right away. Climbing during todays hike took us up and down a total of nearly 5000 feet of climbs...and it kept raining. Then the wind started and the rain turned sideways. Temps between 37 and 45 degrees made the winds bitter and the rain kept coming. By 11:00 we made our first shelter on time, but it kept raining. As we climbed the trail started getting more slick and uneven slowing us down. Additionally the amount of rain was getting through our gear and beginning to reach bone chilling. By 1pm we had decided 19 miles was not going to happen. Soon after we rounded a corner into a gap to another trail angel. Apple from Cincinnati, Ohio was set up with an awning, cook stove, coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, candy, cider...we stopped in for a rest. After warming and visiting we hiked on, and it was raining.Our hike took us over one of the grander high views on the trail, Max Patch Bald...and it was raining. We hiked on, chilled now to teeth chatter and hiking just to stay warm. We arrived at Roaring Fork Shelter where we found another hiker hunkered down in his sleeping bag trying to get warm. We quickly changed into dry clothes, cooked and ate warm meals and are now down in our bags warming as well. The Dynamic Duo, a father and 11 year old son, and Beau and Dude have also hiked in. The shelter will be full and relatively warm and everyone is hiking the 19 miles to Hot Springs for a soak. We hope they are open when we get there.Our pace is pretty good and I am sure I will hike 15 to 20 miles each day going forward. Temps seem to be dropping so we are preparing for below freezing temps sleeping with our filters and gearing up for the cold. I guess I will carry my winter gear one more week.Silverback