morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-28
From: Mooney Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 11.4

There was a tremendous down pour last night with lots of lightening. We managed to stay dry. This was the day we were going to hike Albert Mountain. Last year, I had a really hard time making it to the top of Albert Mountain. At one point, I told Janet I could not go further. She reminded me that she had seen me do more difficult things caving. I made it to the top.This year Albert Mountain was just a steep rock climb. Not scary at all. I almost ran up to the top. I dropped my pack and went back to Tracy. I offered to carry her pack but she said she was doing OK. She hiked to the top with her pack.We left our packs at the bottom and climbed the tower. The top was locked. Last year it was open. The wind blew and the tower swayed. It was unnerving.Tracy wanted to call a hostel earlier today. She called a motel in Franklin. They said they only offer shuttle service when it is thru hiker season. They suggested Beverly and gave Tracy her phone number. Tracy called Beverly and arranged for her to shuttle us to the motel from Winding Stair Gap. Beverly met us at Winding Stair Gap. I was so hungry I could not think or make decisions. She drove us to a Chinese restaurant to eat. We ended up staying the night at Beverly's house and singing Gospel songs. We did our laundry. It was great!
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We were back on the trail about 9:30. It was uphill for the next 4.6 miles to Siler Bald. Tracy rested at the bottom as I dropped my pack and climbed 0.2 miles to the top of Siler Bald. See the pictures.We talked with a woman hiking by herself at the base of Siler Bald. Most of the day we hiked uphill. As the day continued, the wind came up and the temperature dropped. By the time we met my husband Mike at Wayah Bald, we were tired, hungry and cold. Mike tried to ask me questions but I was too hungry to make decisions. We ate the Subway sandwiches Mike brought. We started eating them in the field but it was too cold. We moved to the car with the windows rolled up. Mike asked if we wanted to go home. It was tempting. I had already hiked this part of the trail. It was only one mile to Wayah Bald Shelter. I told Tracy I would do whatever she decided. We walked up to the stone tower and took pictures. The wind was cold.Tracy decided to continue. We hiked to Wayah Bald Shelter and slept there.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Swim Bald
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

It was a tough day. Downhill to Nantahala Outdoor Center. It was crowded as usual. I felt like a real hiker. Then across the railroad tracks and uphill to Swim Bald. We were way too tired to hike the additional 0.9 mile to the shelter.
Date: 2014-08-01
From: Swim Bald

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

We hiked up to Cheoah Bald, then downhill all the way to Stecoah Gap, the start of "Jacob's Ladder". I had never heard of Jacob's Ladder. Every switchback, I thought we were at the top, only to find we were no where close. I was OK the first three switchbacks, but when it kept going, I started running out of steam. Then it started to rain just as we came close to the top. We ran in the rain to the shelter.
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam NC
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we were meeting our husbands at Fontana Dam Visitors Center. We were running late. We jogged downhill. I slipped and my foot went out from under me. I rested a few minutes. I was OK and we kept hiking.It seemed to take forever from paved road NC 28, past the boat ramp, past the "Fontana Hilton", past the picnic area to the Fontana Visitors Center. It was a welcome sight to see our husbands waiting for us on the railing near the parking area of the Visitors Center. It was nice to use the flush toilets at the Visitors Center.
Date: 2014-10-14
To: Great Smokies National Park-Fontana Dam NC
Miles today: 0.0

Tracy, Linda and I are going to hike the Smokies the third week in October. Tracy called me today to say she called and made reservations at the shelters for us. The reservationist had to override a few of the reservations to get all three of us into the shelter. There are people who come to the Park every year the third week of October to enjoy the leaf color. This is the most popular time for shelter reservations.Tracy said her pack will be much lighter since she will not be carrying a tent. I thought to myself, my pack will actually be heavier. I will be bringing , my 20 degree sleeping bag which is bigger and heavier than my 40 degree bag. I will be bringing a fleece liner for my sleeping bag. I purchased 2 yards of fleece at Walmart and made it into a liner. I will be bringing my silk pants and shirt. I will be bringing my fleece gloves, baklava and neck warmer. I will be bringing two pairs of old pantyhose with the toes cut off. My toes get annoyed at pantyhose pushing my toes toward my heels. I will be wearing my gaiters. I will be wearing several layers of clothes including my fleece top, black fleece half zipper top and two black spandex long sleeved shirts. All of this added up, comes to more weight than my tarp with aluminum stakes.
Date: 2014-10-19
From: Davenport Gap TN

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

Tracy and Linda spent the night at my house the night before. For breakfast we had my chocolate chip and pecan waffles. My husband drove us to Davenport Gap. Our directions took us on a steep rutted dirt road by some houses, from a paved road to another paved road. My husband prides himself on being trained by the Forest Service on driving dirt roads. The Kia Sedona did fine.   My husband dropped us off at Davenport Gap. We met three women from REI who showed us how to adjust our packs. Basically, start at the bottom, adjust the hip belt, then the side straps, then the lifters. They said my pack was actually a man's pack. Once the lifters were adjusted, my pack felt much better. They adjusted Tracy's and Linda's packs too. Linda really appreciated it.    There were many beautiful views. Linda would have preferred we stop at each beautiful view but Tracy and I were on a mission. We met a trail runner. He let us know some of the rules of the park. He was very polite and courteous. He let us know we were coming up to a rock wall built by the CCC. He also told us about the Mt. Cammerer lookout tower, 0.6 miles off the trail. Tracy stayed with Linda and I went ahead to see the tower. We met back up at the intersection of the AT and the trail to the tower. See pictures. Talking with the trail runner, I expected no graffiti on the tower. I was wrong. --Rules of the Great Smokies Mountains National Park1. Must have a permit to hike in the Backcountry - call 865-436-1297 or apply online. If call, can get override but need a way to print permit.Nantahala Outdoor Center has a computer with printer for thru hikers to apply. 2. No dogs on trail in Park. Can board them at south end and have them transported to north end.3. Horses are allowed on sections of the trail.4. Camping only at the shelters. Thru hikers may only set up tents if the shelter is full. 5. No food to be eaten in the sleeping area. Food may be eaten 10 feet away at the bar/shelf, that is in the wind.6. Food is encouraged to be hung on the bear cables but the trail runners put their food in a locked metal box.
Date: 2014-10-20
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Tricorner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a slow start. We hiked about a mile and rested. After about another mile, I realized I had left my hiking pole somewhere. Linda had not had her morning coffee and was developing a headache. I did not see my hiking pole where we had rested, so I went all the way back to the shelter. My hiking pole was not at the shelter. I went back to where we had rested. There it was! I half expected to come back to Tracy and Linda with Linda drinking freshly made coffee. They had just waited for me to return. No coffee. Tracy and I do not drink coffee.   We came across horses being used to improve the trail. We came across the ATC Volunteer Trail Crew. The horses had brought in the heavy equipment needed. More beautiful views.   The Trail Runner joined us at Tricorner Knob. Linda needed a battery. The Trail Runner gave her one from his box near the shelter.
Date: 2014-10-22
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

We woke up to a cold morning. Tracy told me there was ice in people's water bottles. I drank the water that had stayed lukewarm at my feet. I get cold easily. Amazingly enough, I stayed comfortable in my 20 degree sleeping bag, with two yards of fleece lining and boiled water at my feet. I had actually taken off my socks in the middle of the night. I also had on five or more layers of clothes.Tracy said she could not bear to be cold one more night. She was going to go home with my husband when we met him at Newfound Gap. Linda has gout. Linda's feet were bothering her. So she was going home with my husband, too.Tracy hiked ahead and warmed up some. I stayed with Linda. I sang almost every song I know the words. Only three miles to Newfound Gap.My husband was there waiting for us at Newfound Gap. I thought that he would want me to go home with him since my hiking partners were leaving. We took a walk the two of us. He said I could continue on. I decided to continue on. My husband had brought me my warmer gloves that felt wonderful. I resupplied my backpack. It was sad as I left my hiking partners and crossed the road to continue hiking the trail toward Clingman's Dome.I did not have time to commiserate too long as I climbed the 1610 feet elevation change to Clingman's Dome in the wind and cold. There was ice falling on me out of the trees. I climbed the tower. The higher I went, the more the wind blew. I stayed long enough to take pictures.When I arrived at Double Spring Gap, I put on three more layers of clothes. There was a couple and a family with a teenage girl and her friend. One of the men had a saw. Together the men were sawing a large branch for wood for the fireplace. The family comes every year to see the leaves change. This year was warmer than last year. There was a tarp in the shelter to help keep the heat of the fireplace in the shelter. The fireplace heated the shelter better than the last shelter.
Date: 2014-10-23
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

I left the shelter just as the teenage girls were starting to stir.I got to Derrick Knob Shelter about 1.I had lunch on the shelf on the side of the shelter.It was in the sun and out of the wind.After lunch, I collected wood for the fireplace.I was hoping the man with the saw would be coming to the shelter.   I was in luck. The family with the teenage girls and the man with the saw arrived a few hours later. He sawed the larger pieces and made a very nice fire.
Date: 2014-10-24
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

I left early, before the teenage girls were stirring. I met Inchworm on the trail and we exchanged emails.She said a bear came into Russell Field Shelter as she slept with her food under her head. A fellow hiker told her the bear came into the shelter, looked around and then left.      I would have taken more pictures but my camera lens would not telescope out. I would try to fix it when I got home.  I had lunch on Rocky Top with two students from Mississippi State. We discussed college football. I graduated from Florida State.    I spent the night at Mollies Ridge Shelter alone. It was odd. I thought all the shelters were full, and yet here I was alone. Of course, my two friends had bailed. Is that what happened to the rest? I was lonely, not afraid. But I reminded myself that I had chosen this. I could have bailed with my friends. I could be home with my husband. Yet I was here, alone.
Date: 2014-10-25
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Fontana Dam NC
Miles today: 10.7

I woke up at Mollies Ridge Shelter alone. It was not as cold as it was the previous nights.   There were absolutely breath-taking views from Shuckstack Tower, though it swayed and I was concerned with falling through the floor boards. I stepped where there were beams to support my weight. I was so sorry my camera did not work.   I met my husband at Fontana Dam and tried to take a picture. My camera worked! Too bad I did not know that before.
Date: 2014-10-31
From: Fontana Dam NC

To: Shuckstack Tower
Miles today: 7.0

I thought my camera did not work when I was here six days earlier. The views from Shuckstack tower were so beautiful with the fall leaves, I came back with my friend Vicki to take pictures. 3.5 miles uphill, up the tower, and then 3.5 miles downhill. It was an all day trip, including by the travel time from our homes. It was well worth it.    I saw there is a warning by the Park to not leave your pack at the bottom of the tower. Bears will take the pack.
Date: 2015-04-11
To: Prep for 2015
Miles today: 0.0

It has been a tough week preparing for three treks this summer.1. Wed April 15 start hiking AT from Daleville VAFri April 24 end hike on AT at Waynesboro VASat May 2 son's wedding2. Mon May 11 drive to Lexington VATues May 12 start hiking AT from Waynesboro VA into Shenandoah National ParkWed May 20 end hike on AT at US 522 Front Royal VA and drive home3. Sat June 6 start hiking on AT at Davenport Gap TNWed June 24 end hike at Damascus VA    The first challenge was I received two emails from headhunters with the perfect job for me. I chose not to respond.   I went on a wild flower hike near my house that was beautiful. So why am I going to drive 6 hours to a location that the wildflower are not quite starting?    I said goodbye to my exercise class that I taught over the winter. I was just getting a core group to show up. They begged me to stay.   I met Marcia who will be hiking for a month starting Tuesday April 14. She will be starting at Springer and will be hiking where I hiked last year. I will be hiking alone on April 15. I prefer a hiking partner.   My husband said he would come with me in Shenandoah. So I rewrote the itinerary for Shenandoah. He made reservations at the campgrounds yesterday.   I called Tracy yesterday to arrange where we will meet her husband for the Davenport Gap hike. It was a challenge for my brain to switch from reservations at the Shenandoah campgrounds to directions to Big Creek Ranger station near Davenport Gap.   Meanwhile, I am remembering items I want to bring with me on the Daleville hike and putting them next to my pack.   Yesterday evening I flew to Orlando to visit my son and attend the bridal shower for his fiancee. I will be back home on Monday about 8 pm and hope to drive the following day to Daleville at 8 am.    In some ways, this is the hardest part of the hike, extracting myself from my life not on the trail. I like my life off of the trail, whereas last year I was recovering from a job I no longer liked. I have been retired for a year and have decorated my life with things I like to do. So why am I hiking the trail by myself and leave my loving husband and the conveniences of civilization? It is not rational. The trail calls me.   I am drawn to the birds chirping as the sun comes up. I am drawn to hiking for hours by myself, to get to know myself and God better. I am drawn to the conversations I will have with the people on the trail. Conversations about the important things in life, not the latest fashion. Conversations about life and death and relationships and perspective and how other people have lived their life and why they are on the trail. It is also about overcoming fears. For me, fears of what other people think of me. By myself, I learn to make choices for me, not how it will affect other people.   I can not explain it.   The trail calls me.   Sometimes I think about meeting someone years from now that is hiking the trail. A part of me would die if the words out of my mouth was "I hiked 500 miles of the trail but then I stopped." A part of me would die each time I would say that. So the trail calls and I will go.
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Dalesville VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

The day before, I drove up in a downpour to Lexington VA, to stay with my very hospitable aunt. Today I met Ooma from Three Springs Hostel at Route 60, 10 miles outside of Buena Vista. Ooma said they had a hiker with beginning hypothermia the night before, because of the temperature and downpour. I left my car at Route 60. Ooma drove me to US 220 in Daleville VA. The drive was beautiful with many red buds in bloom.   Last year I stopped at Daleville because I had vomiting and diarrhea. I got off the trail at 5 pm, checked into a motel with my husband, and had dinner. By 8 pm I was sick. I suspect it was norovirus. I was very weak the next day. My husband convinced me it was best to go home and recuperate. So now I was back.   Ooma dropped me off where I left off and I crossed US 220. There were clouds in the sky. It looked like I would encounter some rain on my hike. There were many spring flowers including red buds, blueberries, and gay wings.    I met only one person when I was hiking. The water was up in Wilson Creek due to the rain the day before. I took off my s hoes and socks to cross the creek.    There were five tents and five people in Wilson Creek Shelter when I arrived. I was the last to arrive. I fixed the heaviest of my dehydrated Mountain House meals, ate it and went to sleep.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Less than an hour of laying down to sleep, a rodent decided it was time to setup their nest. I turned on my red light trying to see it. No luck. The next morning I did not see anything on the roof. Ear plugs are a wonderful thing! More beautiful flowers and views and light rain. I did not realize how many times the trail crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway here. The trash cans at the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks are much appreciated. I like to eat tuna fish but am concerned about attracting bears. So I ate my tuna fish next to the trash can and discarded it as soon as I finished eating.   The bracken on the rocks that is usually black and crinkly was green and flexible due to the previous rain. I love the moss covered rocks along the trail.
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The morning dew on a spider web was beautiful. I enjoyed the fog in the valleys.    At Buchanan Trail there was a blow down that prevented me from hiking at least 50 feet of the trail. I called it in to Ooma my shuttle driver. She had said she did trail maintenance, so I figured she would know the right person to contact.   More pretty flowers. There was a whole valley of Dutchman's Britches. At lunch time I came to the Bryant Ridge Shelter. A fellow hiker described it as the best architecturally designed shelter. I agree. Two floors. Room for 20. Glass windows. Right next to a stream, so good for water and sounds for sleeping. Plenty of counter space. Of course I was there by myself for the most part. After using the privy, I met a SoBo thru hiker. I explained I was section hiking and it would take me 3-4 years to complete. He said 700 more miles and he was done. Done! I did not disagree with him, but I wondered. He was younger than me. Surely this is not his last adventure.    At the Thunder Hill shelter I met Smile. She was hiking by herself from Harpers Ferry to Springer. Then she was going to hike from Katahdin to Harpers Ferry. Flip flop. I was greeted at the shelter by a young man waiting for his parents to join him. After dark, he and his parents with their backpacks, marched in.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

More beautiful views and beautiful flowers. I found a nice place to go uphill and use the facilities in private. Just as I got started I heard a group of male voices heading my way. I had not seen anyone for hours and now???I tried to hurry. I heard one mention there was a pack up there. Here came the group. Great! At least I was now dressed but had not had time to dig my cat hole. I greeted them from my spot in the shade as they stood around my pack. It was a group of boy scouts with three leaders. One leader explained these were the boys found a full pack was too heavy for them. They askked me how heavy mine was. I said 30 lbs with water. We parted. I passed the rest of the group at a campsite. I continued hiking.   Nature calls at the most inconvenient times. I needed to use the facilities again. I decided to wait for the next shelter, 5? miles down the trail. There wpere more people than I had seen in days on the trail. A thru hiker passed me. I made an effort to keep up with him as best I could, motivated by Nature's calling. Since I was going downhill, I almost kept up with him. As I came downhill to Matts Creek Shelter, there were at least 6 tents and the stream in front of the shelter had boy scouts enjoying the cool water. I made a bee line for the privy. I sheepishly walked past the shelter with a crowd of boy scouts around the picnic table. Further down the trail, I ate alone as I soaked my feet in the cool stream.   I had originally planned to stop at Matts Creek Shelter but had no desire to compete for space with the boy scouts. It was an absolutely lovely walk along the James River. The flowers were abundant. After I farted, outloud I thanked God for how good it felt. I looked up to see a family fishing along the river. Oh well. It did. The James River footbridge was very scenic. A fresh and clean man with a backpack was hurrying to cross the bridge. I stopped him to let him know there were a bunch of boy scouts at Matts Creek Shelter. I looked at his shirt that said "Boy Scouts of America". Oops. Another foot in mouth. He said they were good boys. I said yes. I have two sons. All the boy scouts seemed to be doing good things.k   There were a few thru hikers at Johns Hollow Shelter. They too had planned to stop at Matts Creek Shelter but decided not to stay when they saw all the boy scouts. The man I followed into Matts Creek Shelter was meeting his parents for dinner. I met Rambler, Ridge Rambler and a woman thru hiker that I was told her name more than once but for whatever reason I never could remember. One thru hiker arrived at 10:30 pm. He had waited an hour to hitch hike into Glasgow but never got picked up. Ridge Rambler had hitch hiked earlier into Glasgow and got a taste of trail magic.