morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-29
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Last night was the warmest I have been in weeks. The SBF bunkhouse had a wood burning stove that rested in the middle of the bunks. I built a fire around 8:00 PM, and it turned the bunkhouse into a sweat lodge until early morning. After a week of freezing temperatures in the Smokies, it was a welcome change of pace.I left SBF at 8:30 AM with Canadia and was quickly joined by Birdman and Shy Bear. Our goal for today was just 15 miles away, with a few small climbs and mostly level grades. The time passed quickly as we chatted throughout the day, the main topic of conversation being differences between life in the North (where everyone else is from) and the South (my home turf). Everyone is a fan of my Atlantan drawl, though several people have had trouble placing my dialect since the beginning my hike. More than once people have asked if I¢m Australian. That one still baffles me.The site/sight of the day was Max Patch, a huge bald overlooking the mountains. Even with a gentle rain and low clouds blocking some of the views, it was still a fantastic scene, with rolling fields stretching for miles. From the sound of things, we summited at just the right time; at around 3:30 PM, the threat of rain became a reality. Heavy rain and high winds swept in just as we reached the shelter. Those who walked over the patch after us reported zero views and a miserable, freezing hike.The shelter is now filled beyond capacity with people avoiding the downpour. Not only have we squeezed an extra three people into the shelter itself, but an additional four are sleeping in the crawlspace beneath the shelter. Fellow hiker, Scorch, was able to get the weather forecast on his radio, and our belief that Sunday would be sunny and warm has been dashed. We¢re expecting another chilly night and potential snowfall. I¢m still waiting for the mountains to figure out that Springtime has begun.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: ElmerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At 11:00 PM last night, I woke up when cold droplets began to land on my face. I initially assumed they were just rain drops being blown into the shelter by the wind. When I stepped out of the shelter for a bathroom break, however; I found that it wasn¢t rain on the ground, but instead 4 to 6 inches of snow. The Smokies apparently missed us and sent a farewell gift. I wish I could send it back.When everyone woke at daybreak, we all had a good laugh at the absurdity of our situation. How could things get any worse? Then two trees in front of the shelter snapped under the weight of the fresh snow, booming to the ground less than 50 yards in front of us. We decided it was time to leave.While hiking in the Smokies after a deep snow was physically demanding, I never felt like I was in danger of being lost. Today the visibility was nearly in a white out condition, with heavy fog, high winds and snowfall coating the trees. A few hikers left before me and plunged through the snow before everyone else; their paths through the snow showed where they had made several wrong turns because the white blazes were so hard to see. This made it much easier on me though, as I was able to see where they had retraced and corrected their steps.I hiked much of the day with my usual crew - Canadia and Birdman ¢ though also spent time hiking with Dune, Outlet, and Aroo (a pair intensely dedicated to competitive foot races), and Red (an ex-army man from Texas). The tallest climb today was Bluff Mountain (4,686 ft.), which was icy and foggy. As we began to descend toward the trail town of Hot Springs, NC, the temperatures finally began to rise. By 3:00 PM, almost no snow was on the ground and the temperatures reached well into the 60¢s. It¢s amazing what a few thousand feet in elevation can do. Canadia decided to pull off for a break at Deer Park Mountain Shelter at around 3:00 PM, while Birdman, Red, and I pressed on in hopes of securing a spot at Elmer¢s Sunnybank Inn. This hostel is legendary on the trail, located in a 140 year old Colonial-style house and aimed specifically at hikers¢ needs. The meals are all vegetarian providing vitamins and minerals we have all been missing while living off of hiker food. And the shower, with no attempt at hyperbole, was one of the best I have ever had. Best of all, the Inn is located in the heart of Hot Springs, making it easy to reach all of the hotspots in town.The Smokies did claim two victims: my boots, which I have had for 4+ years. Tomorrow morning after breakfast, I will visit the local outfitter in order to find suitable replacements. Farewell, good friends: your service will be forever cherished, though the stench emanating from your insides will not be missed.
Date: 2014-03-31
From: ElmerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Sunnybank Inn

To: Campsite near Rich Mountain
Miles today: 8.3

The bed at Elmer¢s was glorious. While my Therm-A-Rest pad is among the best, nothing will beat a genuine mattress. Just another fact you quickly learn on the AT.Elmer¢s was absolutely delightful, with tons of character and great care and service provided by the owner, Mr. Elmer himself. What sealed the deal, however; was the all you can eat vegetarian breakfast prepared this morning. Homemade waffles with strawberry sauce, pure maple syrup, fresh cantaloupe, granola with soy milk, and the coffee I could drink. My tastebuds were in heaven. We all sat at the table and chatted with Elmer as we ate, and he shared stories about the history of the hostel.It turns out that I stayed in the same room as Earl Schaffer (the first AT thru-hiker) when he stayed in Hot Springs for his 50th anniversary AT thru-hike (he was thru-hiking again at the age of 80! I can only hope I¢m that spry when I get older.I spent much of the day resupplying in town, the main necessity being a new pair of boots. The Smokies weren¢t kind to my old Merrell boots, and a hole large enough to put my fingers through had opened at the toe. I replaced them with a similar pair of Keen boots, which seem to have the same relative support in the sole. I also grabbed enough food until my next stop at Erwin, TN, which will be roughly another four days away.I ate so much when I was in town. I may have actually made up my calorie deficit. Last night I ate nachos, a Philly cheese steak, tow orders of French fries, chili, two Porter beers, and a large chunk of butter pecan ice cream. Today I had the breakfast at Elmer¢s, plus a steak (chicken fried) green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, and two potatoes at the Smoky Mountain Diner for lunch. I¢m starting to believe that my hiker hunger may have set in.When we finally started hiking, it was nearly 2:30 PM, so we had no expectation of high mileage. Instead, we basked in the glory of great weather and a very easy grade. The sun was out, the temperatures were in the mid-60¢s, and the switchbacks were a plenty.With those two, plus Canadia, Birdman, Red, and me, our hiker train had six cars today. We stopped briefly to help a ridgerunner (the person who cares for a section of the trail) clean up a huge pile of limbs that had fallen on the trail. We also stopped at the Rich Mountain fire tower to take in the views from up high. Even with those stops, we journeyed over eight miles in roughly 3.5 hours. Our hiking legs seem to be shaping up quite nicely, it seems. Having a snazzy new pair of boots doesn't hurt too much, either.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Campsite near Rich Mountain

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

Happy 300 miles! Today was another landmark day, placing me over 1/8th of the way up the trail. I¢m continuing to have a blast and am enjoying (almost) every moment on the trail, but it is also nice to see that I am making real progress toward my goal.Today was a long day, with many long steep climbs and warm temperatures. We are all celebrating the return of the sun, but also realize the downside of warmer days. When the weather gets warmer, we plan on starting early in the day to avoid the heat, taking a siesta mid-day, and then finishing our miles once the evening starts to cool. Of course, we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but our spirits and resolve are focused on maximizing our success.The big climb for the day was Camp Creek Bald (4,750 ft.), a long slog 6 miles uphill to a tower that was locked. In other words, a total bummer. There were, however, several radio buildings that were, shall we say, "creatively decorated" with all sorts of graffiti. The real high point for the day began shortly afterward at Bearwallow Gap, where we followed a long, rocky ridge above the trees for several miles. The views were wonderful, and the trail itself was an interesting challenge, becoming rock and boulder scramble at many points throughout.I again spent much of the day hiking with Birdman, Canadia, Ranger and Mumbles, though Red ended up sleeping late and didn¢t show up at the shelter for a while after we arrived. Apparently we have been labeled as ¢The Train¢, as I kept asking people if they wanted to join our train of hikers. I would also like to think it¢s because we speed along and look unstoppable, but I know better than to believe that. Maybe once we reach Virginia, though¢¦..
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

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

Today started beautifully and ended blandly, another example of how dynamic life can be out here. Last night was a perfect camping temperature, with a slight chill and gentle breeze. The only problem was when someone decided to get their food down from the bear cables at 5:00 AM ¢ the rusty screech of the cables woke up just about everyone at the camp. Thankfully, sleep came back quickly.I left shortly after daybreak and started ascending the best named mountain on the trail, Big Butt. Sadly, there was no sign to take my photograph with, but the terrain made up for it. For the first nine or so miles, the AT followed an old forest road through green pastures, small bogs, and forests already green with spring. The signs of the season change have finally started to reach the mountain, with grouse drumming loudly for mates and ponds filled with patches of frog eggs.The weather today was mostly excellent, though we did get a forecast of the summer heat today. By noon, my shirt was drenched with sweat, and the late-day climbs certainly didn¢t help me cool down. After crossing Devil Fork Gap, we began the long, slow switchback free climb up Lick Rock. For the first half of the climb, we were cooled by the mist of a cascading creek. After that, however; we were completely exposed to the sun under leafless trees. I was sunburnt for the first time on the entire trip, weirdly on the backs of my calves. I guess the shrubs and rhododendrons had previously kept the sun off of my legs. I hiked off and on with the usual crew, though we all mainly huffed and puffed on our own today. When the rolling green meadows turned back to brown, lifeless forest, I think everyone was slightly bummed. After consuming over 1200 calories (at least) for dinner, though, we all agreed it was a pretty good day after all.
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up to the sound of thunder and strobes of lightning. Sheets of rain pounded on my tent, drumming along to the howls of the wind.In other words, I slept in this morning.The thunderstorm began early this morning, and while a few brave souls decided to venture on while the storm was still going, I waited in the shelter (along with Birdman and a few others) until the worst of the storm had passed on. Then I packed up a soaking wet tent and headed out.Fortunately, the weather cleared up nicely by 10:00 AM or so allowing us to see beautiful views from atop today¢s biggest climb: Big Bald (5516 ft.). This grassy mountain top showcased many of the upcoming mountains we will be climbing, as well as the small homes and towns resting in the valleys. The bare mountaintop also let the winds blow without obstruction, cooling our bodies after the long climb to the top.We reached the shelter late in the day, but quickly decided that tenting was the way to go. The shelter is small and miserable, made of concrete blocks and smelling of wet hikers. Plus, now that warmth has returned to the mountains, the mice have moved back into the shelters. Last night, Canadia apparently had one run over her face.I¢ll take my slightly soggy tent, thank you very much.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: No Business Knob Shelter (tent)

To: Erwin, TN (Super 8 Motel)
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: light rain

Today marked the end of the fourth week on the trail, and though our mileage today on the AT was short, we more than made up for it traversing the spread out town of Erwin.We started early today (for us), heading out at 7:15 AM. The forecast called for severe thunderstorms by noon, so we put our legs into overdrive and made the six mile into Erwin in just over 90 minutes. With the right motivation, we can go anywhere quickly.Once in Erwin, we proceeded to tick off our in town duties: resupplying, doing laundry, contacting home, and securing a place to stay. All of these were easy to do, as Erwin is very hiker friendly and offers good, cheap services. The only problem is the town itself, stretched out over many miles without a good sidewalk infrastructure. Luckily, we were offered rides to some of our longest commutes, which did save us some time and give our trail-weary legs a little time off.Once the necessities were taken care of, we proceeded to feast. Our hiker hunger has definitely begun to take effect, and we kept our waiters busy with constant orders for more food. Thankfully, the food and service at Azteca (the local Mexican restaurant) were excellent and I left feeling more full than I have in ages.I was able to speak at length with my wife and parents when back at the hotel, which helped ease my mind a bit and caught me up on news back home. Now I am attempting to squeeze the depressingly heavy amount of food into my food bag. That¢s the only problem with hiker hunger: you get to eat as much as you want, but you have to carry every ounce of it.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: Erwin, TN (Super 8 Motel)

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was an unexpectedly long day, particularly since I thought we would spend much of our morning hiking back through Erwin. Yet while we got a later than normal ¢ approximately 11:00 AM before hitting the trail ¢ we were able to fit in a full day of hiking. The day started with me gorging myself at the Super 8 continental breakfast, joined shortly afterward by the rest of my current hiking crew: Red, Canadia, Mumbles, Birdman, Hawk and Ranger. We all ate enough waffles, donuts, cereal, and sausage biscuits to make most people blush.Afterwards, I feared the long trek across town back to the AT, but fortunately Birdman and Hawk spied a sign for shuttles around Erwin. Within an hour, we were back at the trail ready to continue onward.The majority of the day flew by. In just under two hours, we had already sped 5+ miles uphill to the first shelter. We have started taking more breaks throughout the day, however; if only to chip away at our gigantic food supplies. At the first shelter, Hawk whipped out his stove and fried 1.5 lbs. of bacon for a snack. We all helped him lighten his load.The rest of the day went quickly as well, mostly due to a variety of views. We followed a long, rushing creek for the first several miles and then walked over several balds and admired the views. We even took time for a short nap on top of Beauty Spot, a field atop a rolling ridge line. Finally, we walked through a dense spruce forest on the largest climb today, Unaka Mt. (5,180 ft.), which brought me back to the beauty of the Smokies.It has been great getting to know myself a bit more out in the mountains, and with every mile I become more confident in my abilities to conquer pretty much anything. My hiking friends are also a lot of fun, a caring, dedicated group of diverse individuals. I can¢t wait to see what further (mis)adventures we get into as we get further up the AT.Two big milestones are coming up soon. Tuesday will mark one full month on the trail, a crazy idea I can barely wrap my head around. Then, later this week, I will have made it all the way to the Virginia state line. Though I dreamed that I would make it this far, it still amazes me when I think about how far I¢ve come. I can¢t even imagine how it will feel a month from now.
Date: 2014-04-08
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 15.9

At around 4:00 AM, the cold found us once again. What had been a comfortable evening just hours before quickly became an icy chill, forcing me to burrow into my sleeping bag. At least the wind and rain were gone.In truth, low temperatures are preferred when you¢re hiking, as your body becomes a furnace as soon as you start uphill. Such was the case today as I was soon covered with sweat after departing the shelter (quick note: Mountaineer Shelter is definitely one of my favorites, located next to a waterfall and having three levels of sleeping platforms). When looking at the topographic map for today¢s stretch of trail, it seemed deceptively flat with only a few changes in elevation. In reality, I was given a prime example of what PUDS (pointless ups and downs) really are. The trail constantly undulated, making my calves¢ sore going uphill and my knees sore going downhill. All-in-all today was relatively easy, as Birdman and I traveled 16 miles in under 6 hours, but some parts of the day were more a test of patience than hiking ability.We stopped for the day at one of the AT¢s iconic locations, Kincora Hostel. Run by legendary trail maintainer, Bob Peoples. Kincora has supported AT thru-hikers for decades. For a $5.00 donation, Bob shuttled us to town, provided us with real beds, and shared many stories from his years of helping keep the spirit of the AT alive.For dinner, most people bought a frozen pizza to heat up in the oven. Sensing a traffic jam, I instead chose to cook my own dinner on the stove. I enjoyed a dinner of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and green beans while many others watched the minutes pass by on the clock. I think I¢ve finally learned a few new ways to help keep my sanity intact (and my stomach full) if I plan on lasting 3-4 months on the trail.The hostel has gone quiet now, as most hikers are asleep by 9:30 PM. I must shuffle that way myself, as tomorrow promises to be another long-yet awesome ¢ day on the Appalachian Trail.P.S. Today was the beginning of month two on the AT for me. Celebrations will be had in Damascus.
Date: 2014-04-09
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: light rain

At first, I thought the section I hiked today was very dynamic in terms of landscape and terrain. While that¢s probably true, I also realized that the terrain changes much more quickly when you hike over 24 miles in a day. The things you learn, right?Today was a long day due to our desire to reach Damascus, VA by tomorrow, leaving behind Tennessee and entering the next phase of our journey. Birdman and I left Kincora just after 8:00 AM, and almost immediately I entered one of my favorite sections of the trail so far. About a mile from the road, the trail enters the Laurel River Valley and skirts the edge of the river for miles. At one point you must edge along a rock ledge just beside the raging water, so close that the river mist collected in droplets on my beard. Just after our descent to the river, we also saw the gorgeous Laurel Fork Falls. This roaring waterfall must have been at least 40-50 ft. high and wider than that, pouring so much water into the river that we had to yell in order to hear each other.As we continued through the river valley, we crossed over the river several times on wooden foot bridges. By the time we began ascend back into the mountains, we must have crossed over 5-6 times, giving us excellent views, of the river and surrounding landscape. As we climbed back onto the ridge, we crossed paths with our friend Ranger, who is leaving the trail for over a week for a family cruise in the Caribbean. This will also give him a chance to rest his heel, as he has had a lot of trouble with his Achilles¢ tendon. Hopefully, I will run into him further down the trail one day.The day was drizzly up until noon, when we stopped for lunch next to the next change in terrain, Watauga Lake. We walked around the edge of the lake on the AT, and then stopped at a shelter for lunch. The sun came out briefly, then it hailed for five minutes, then the sun came out to stay. Needless to say, the weather on the AT continues to be weird.After recharging at Watauga Lake, Birdman and I put our heads down and tackled the next fourteen miles in about 5 hours, gaining over 2,000 feet in elevation in the process. Most of the trail followed the ridgeline, giving us a great view of the pristine blue lake as we hiked along. By the time we finally reached the shelter, I was completely exhausted. I ended up eating two dinners, in order to perk myself back up.I decided to tent tonight due to the cold, but I can hear a section hiker snoring from the shelter 75 feet away. I bet Birdman is regretting his decision to sleep there now, as we have an early morning ahead of us.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, VA (Crazy LarryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel)
Miles today: 27.4

Today was part two of our crazy mileage day, which has been part of a crazy mileage week. Birdman and I awoke at 6:00 AM, eager to hit big miles and reach Damascus by dinner time. Fortunately, the terrain and weather were both agreeable today. The trail primarily followed the mountain ridgeline today, with only a few PUDS and climbs to slow us down. The morning air was cold, but we quickly warmed up when we hit full hiking speed.We stopped for a snack break 16 miles in at Abingdon Shelter, and there we met fellow hiker Freezer, an older man sectioning around the Damascus area. He chatted with us about many different subjects including hiking equipment, politics (one of the more taboo topics due to the likelihood of starting a fight), old friends, and finding and doing the things you love. In truth, it was more of a lecture than a conversation, but he was kind and eager to show off some of his homemade equipment.We crossed the Virginia border at approximately 3:00 PM, and we celebrated entering our fourth state on the AT. Much like the Smokies, Virginia has a daunting reputation not because of ruggedness, but instead for the amount of time thru-hikers spend within its borders. At approximately 550 miles, almost 1/4 of the AT lies within Virginia. Without the luxury of state borders to keep us going landmark-wise, it¢s important that hikers find other ways to mark their progress and stay motivated. Otherwise, they might fall victim to the dreaded ¢Virginia Blues¢.We finally arrived in Damascus just after 5:00 PM, and secured lodging at Crazy Larry¢s Hostel. The atmosphere is definitely laid-back, and with laundry and breakfast included with our stay, I definitely felt we were getting our money¢s worth. We then proceeded to the Blue Blaze restaurant where I gorged on hummus, Philly cheesesteak, and a fresh salad. It¢s nice to feel full on occasion.I¢m now headed to bed early, as I will be shuttling 22 miles outside of town at 7:00 AM tomorrow. My parents will be visiting on Saturday, and rather than zeroing two days and being behind my fellow hikers, I decided to slack pack a day and keep my mileage up. That will allow me to truly rest up on Saturday and enjoy my time with my parents without having my head in the mountains.