morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-03-31
From: Carter Gap Shelter 

To: Long Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 8.7

The day didn¢t start out so fun, but it turned out to be awesome! It was so cold last night, we all froze. We got up an hour later than usual, hoping it would get warmer, but it didn¢t, so we packed up as quickly as possible and fixed something warm to drink. I started out wearing my long underwear and two pairs of socks. Tony took off about 15 minutes before I did and I took of about 10 minutes before Nemo and Joe to thaw out my poor toes.About 30 minutes into the hike I was thawing out and removed my hoodie. That¢s when Nemo and Joe caught up with me and we hiked together for the rest of the day. We caught up with Tony at approximately 2.5 miles. He had stopped because he wanted to make sure we didn¢t miss a short turnoff to a spectacular view. Then we hiked to, I think Betty¢s Creek campsite where I removed my long underwear. As long as we were hiking, we were warm. Then we came to a road crossing and saw the most wonderful site: trail angels providing trail magic: Easter eggs, fresh fruits and veggies and candy. The boiled egg was awesome. Thank you, Caroline and Chris. We also met Nurp, Wet Sticks and Goosebumps here and leap frogged them the rest of the day. We reached Albert Mountain shortly afterwards and this mountain is no joke. There is a part you literally have to climb over boulders and can¢t use the hiking poles. We were treated to wonderful view at the top and we climbed the fire tower and got our trail family picture taken. Tony took off again about 20 minutes before me. I pretty much hiked with Joe for about two miles and talked about the state of the world and then Nemo caught up with us and we caught up with Tony about 15 before we reached the shelter. We hiked the last 3 miles in an hour.We got our places set up in the shelter, then we ate and visited with the others staying at the shelter. Emily and her brother, Charles doing a section hike, Bruiser, Nurp, Wet Sticks, Goosebumps, Rocket Man (18 year old who was homeschooled and started the hike last Friday), and of course Nemo, Joe, Merlo, and Winehouse and several others.
Date: 2018-04-01
From: Long Branch Shelter 

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 3.5

Yay, town day! We were extremely blessed today. A shuttle driver was waiting at the Gap and gave Tony and I and Nemo and Joe a ride to the Microtel. The hotels have been awesome so far letting us check in way before the usual 3:00 check in time. First order of business was unpacking our packs and letting sleeping bags air out, then showers. Then we went and had Tony¢s favorite place for lunch, McDonald¢s. Then I walked the .9 miles to do laundry. Nemo and Joe showed up at the laundry mat. We had walked about half back, when Jim the shuttle driver saw us and gave us a ride back to the hotel. We, or I should say I had supper at Fatz cafe. Tony did get a salad. I had hamburger steak which was more than I could finish. Tony had sonic which was right next to the cafe. Then we just spent the rest of the evening relaxing and watching tv. We ate taking a zero Monday in order to mail our resuppy box to Fontana Dam. Fontana Dam has a nice lodge and restaurant, but no stores nearby.After five days in Shelters, it is so nice to be able to shower and sleep in a regular bed, plus eat normal food.
Date: 2018-04-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up this morning and enjoyed the hotel¢s continental breakfast. The waffle was very good. Tony did not get up, so I brought him back Froot Loops and milk. Then I called for a shuttle to take us to the post office around 1030. We had so much stuff, I had to use two of the flat rate boxes, but I won¢t have to resupply until half way through the Smokies. Nemo had to go to the post office also, so he went with us, then we went to Walmart to get some better camp shoes. Tony got crocks and I got some lightweight shoes to slip on. The Walmart had a subway, so we grabbed lunch and brought it back to the room. I saved half of my sandwich to eat at some point tomorrow, during the hike. Tony grabbed a couple of lunchables to have tomorrow and the next day. I also got our permits for hiking through the Smokies printed out. We have been chilling the rest of the day. I did grab an ACE bandage from Walgreens to wrap my left foot. I think I might have a stress fracture. It feels better with the bandage.Now we are watching the new Karate Kid.
Date: 2018-04-03
From: Rock Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

The shuttle picked us up at 10:00 and we were hiking by 10:30. We hiked with Nemo and Joe. About half way into the hike we came across trail magic at Winding Stair Gap. A church group was providing it. They had goody bags with candy for us to grab and take with us. Plus they had post cards to send home, along with donuts, bananas, sodas and other goodies. I ate the other half of my subway sandwich from yesterday and had a donut for desert. I also had a Pepsi. After about half an hour of relaxing and eating lunch, we resumed hiking and passed some beautiful falls. Then we were hiking mostly uphill and it was our hottest day yet. We were sweating and I stopped and put sunscreen on Tony and I.Finally we made it to the shelter, which is .5 miles off the trail. We came to a stream right before the Shelter. I took advantage to go ahead and filter water and then soak my feet in the nice cold water.It looked like the shelter was full, so we set up our tent and ate. It started cooling off really quick, so we climbed in our tent at 6:30. It is supposed to rain tonight. I pray it doesn¢t, or it does it early enough so I don¢t have to pack up a wet tent. I¢m going to do some reading and then hopefully enter dream land.
Date: 2018-04-04
From: Siler Bald Shelter 

To: Cold Springs Shelter 
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We began the hike this morning with a very steep .3 climb back to the trail from the shelter. Tony was in a very bad mood almost all day, which made a long hike even longer. We did have a very nice lunch break at Wayah Bald. We enjoyed the views and dried out the tent.The sun came out and we had perfect weather for the hike.
Date: 2018-04-05
To: Wesser Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

According to the forecast for the area we are in, it was supposed to get down to 28 degrees last night. None of our water froze, so don¢t think it got that cold, but it got cold enough that my toes were cold. I was smart this time and put my gloves in my sleeping bag with me so they were warm when I put them on this morning. We got things packed up and Nemo generously shared some hot tea with Joe and I. I got some really good pictures of ice crystals. It warmed up nicely and I was soon able to take off my gloves and hoodie. We went up in the fire tower on Wesser Bald and could see all way to Fontana Lake.We were going to hike to the next shelter, but the blister on my pinky toe really hurt and we will only have 5.7 miles to hike to the NOC tomorrow for showers, laundry and a nice lunch and dinner.
Date: 2018-04-06
From: Wesser Bald Shelter 

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7

We were up shortly after 7 and hiking just after 8. The first 15 or 20 minutes of the hike this morning I was feeling kinda of nauseous and got worried that I had drank bad water, but then Tony would be sick to and I assumed he wasn¢t since he started hiking 15 minutes before me and I didn¢t catch up with him to about half way through the hike. The nausea cleared up and I was a much happier hiker. I listened to one of my audio books as I hiked.About a hour or so into the hike, I came to the steepest and most dangerous part of the decent into the NOC. It was actually fun going down this area.I meet Popa Jay, who shared a shelter with us last night after about 2 and a half miles of hiking and finished hiking the last 3 or so miles with him and Tony. It started raining about a mile from our destination, which was a little frustrating because I didn¢t think it was supposed to rain today.We were able to get a cabin that sleeps 7 people and split the cost four ways. We are sharing the cabin with Nemo, Joe, and Popa Jay. It is nice to be sleeping in a regular bed and to have gotten a shower and laundry done. Plus we had an awesome lunch and supper and will have a good breakfast before hiking out tomorrow in the rain. We are watching one of the Star Wars movies.P.S. I forgot to mention we hiked through a lot of the area that was burned a couple of years go and that we also met True Grit and Lost and found, the couple we met back at Amicalola Falls lodge who started the day after us. They are zeroing here tomorrow along with Nemo and Joe, who will catch up to us at Fontana Dam.
Date: 2018-04-07
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

Day started out great. I got a good nights sleep and woke up at 630. Nemo fixed us all coffee and then I packed up our stuff. Then Tony, Popa Jay and I went to the restaurant and had breakfast when they opened at 8. I had French toast, scrabbled eggs, bacon, OJ and coffee. We needed every calorie to make the climb. It was a long hard climb, but also a very beautiful one with the fog and rain forest looking area we went through. I think we made pretty good time today. We started hiking at 0935 and reached the shelter at 1435 (235). There were several people here when we arrived, but Popa Jay was not one of them. He must have decided to push on. Nemo and Joe took s zero day, but we hope to see them at Fontana Dam, where we plan to take s zero, so I can pick up our resupply boxes and sort ou what we need. Bear slayer and Danish, whom we met yesterday at the NOC are here. I have not gotten the others names. Tony, aka Cat Lover, did really well today. He had his two cokes to power him up the mountain.
Date: 2018-04-08
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter 

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The actual destination today was supposed to be Brown Fork Shelter, but that was not to be. I thought I slept well despite it being between 18 to 22 degrees last night. In fact I was nice and cozy until about 4 am when my feet got cold, but it was not bad. I slept with my gloves so they would be nice and warm when I put them in this morning. I woke up at around 7:15 and sat in my sleeping bag for about 10 minutes, dreading getting out in the cold, but it wasn¢t too bad as long as I was packing. I got all my stuff packed up and fixed me some hot chocolate and ate 3 powdered donuts while Tony slept in. Then we got Tony¢s stuff all packed up and started hiking so my feet would thaw out. We got up to the trail and I saw the most beautiful sight, ice crystals frozen on all the vegetation. I almost did t take pictures because my fingers and whole body were so cold, but I knew I would regret it if I didn¢t. So I pulled out my phone and quickly took the pictures and got hiking. By time we reach Choah Bald my feet had thawed. We took off our packs and enjoyed the gorgeous view for about 15 minutes and then resumed hiking to stay warm. This is when the day started going down hill, no pun intended. I stomach was hurting so bad I could not cinch the waist strap as tight as it should have been. I figured the discomfort would go away but it only got worse and along with that I became so exhausted that I was walking like a slug and felt like if I sat down at all I would have been asleep in minutes.About 5 miles from the road crossing, another hiker passed us and said there was trail magic at this crossing. This was not even able to motivate me to hike faster. It felt more like 10 miles than 5. The downs really killed me because they were step and each step hurt the blister on my little toe and jarred my stomach, making it feel like I was being punched in the gut.But we finally made it to the road and we had a hot dog and a banana, along with some cookies. I was hoping the food would make me feel better, but it didn¢t. So the daughter of our wonderful trail angels, Shelby, drive us to the Quality Inn in Robbinsville, NC. Thank you Shelby! We got out room and I showered, hoping that would make me feel better, but it didn¢t. Sam called me and I let him know what was going on. Then I walked over to McDonald¢s with Tony and had another bite to eat. Then we went to Ingles to get a few items. I¢m feeling a little better, but still feeling really tired. I was planning on a couple of zeros at the Fontana Dam Lodge, but I think I¢m going to have to use one of those tomorrow.If it¢s not Tony, it is me slowing the progress of our hike. It is a little frustrating, but with this terrain it is dangerous to go beyond when your body is telling you it needs a break, even if you¢ve had a break not too long ago.I just saw several other hikers checking in, which is surprising because I did not think this was a common stop on the AT.
Date: 2018-04-09
Miles today: 0.0

I am feeling better; ready to tackle Jacobs Ladder tomorrow. I spent most of the day resting. I did have a really good spaghetti lunch at a Lynn¢s Place. I really like these small towns. Robbinsville is a town where you can walk just about anywhere in less than 20 minutes. Hiawassee was the same way. Franklin was a lot bigger but if you stayed in the right hotel or hostel, you could walk to most places you needed and if not there was a transit system and shuttle drivers that were responsible in their price. We will be at Fontana Dam in a couple of days, the gateway to the Smokies for north bounders.
Date: 2018-04-10
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

We started our hike today around 10 and the temperature and the weather were perfect. Even Jacobs Ladder couldn't dampen our spirits. The rest of the hike was over really easy to moderate terrain. There weren't really any great views or anything else new as far as terrain and vistas were concerned, so I focused more on hiking than picture taking. Tony and I had 6 inch subs from subway for our lunch. They really hit the spot, along with the grapes and carrots I brought as well. About half way through our hike today, we met up with Wet Sticks, Bruiser, and Nurp and leap frogged with them next several miles, until they stopped at a road crossing about 1 mile from the shelter. We did not see them again after that. Tony and I arrived at the shelter around 4 and after my mice experience sleeping in the shelter in 2014, we opted to set up the tent. There were only a handful of people there when we arrived, but several more arrived. There were two couples from two different countries hiking the AT, one couple was from England and the other from Switzerland. I did not get their names. It is amazing how many people from different countries come to America to hike the AT. A guy named Noodles, whom we last saw back at Muskrat shelter was there, along with Triple Zero. I think they were the only ones brave enough to sleep in the shelter, which can only sleep 5 or 6 comfortably. I did not meet the many other people that showed up, as we were in our tent for the evening by 6:30, since it was getting cold. I was asleep before 8, I think. I was going to read but I was too exhausted. Tomorrow we head into Fontana Dam.
Date: 2018-04-11
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 6.6

We were up by 7:15 and had eaten breakfast and packed everything up and were ready to hike by 8:30. It was another awesome day for hiking: weather and terrain were just about perfect. In fact, I got a little sun burn. The last mile was the best, with having views of the lake the whole way to Fontana Dam Shelter. A shuttle picked us up around 1:30 and we were checked into the lodge by 2 and had very filling lunch at the Wildwood Grill. Then, we headed to the post office to pick up our resupply. I don't know what I was thinking. I sent two resupply boxes, one for each of us, but when I went through it, I hardly added anything to our food bags, so we still have enough food in our boxes for probably two more resupplies. We are definitely not eating as much as I thought we would be by now. Hiker hunger has not hit, yet. I spent about an hour sorting through everything and then tomorrow, I will mail the boxes ahead to another hard to resupply point. I have to look in my book to figure out where that is going to be. Tony and I went to supper around 6, but were not able to eat nearly as much as we did for lunch. We did have a really good salad. Then we came back to the lodge and played a game of checkers. We will head back out on the trail Friday, to give me a chance to go through everything and mail stuff home that we don't need and to bounce our resupply boxes ahead. I have been watching the weather, and it is calling for thunderstorms Sunday and snow Monday. This is crazy. I'm packing enough food, in case for safety reasons we need to stay an extra day at a shelter. Oh, I almost forgot, about 2 miles from Fontana Dam, I saw this amazing forest scene. It was like walking into spring. Up until this point everything a been bare, brown, and lifeless. I will post some pictures of the area when I get a chance.
Date: 2018-04-12
Miles today: 0.0

We got up and did mostly the stuff people do on their zero day. We had breakfast, walked down to the General Store and checked out the equipment to play putt putt gold. We played a couple of games and tied both times. I got our bounce boxes mailed off and then we had lunch and just relaxed until supper. After supper we played some checkers. Tony kicked my butt. We are heading into the Smokies tomorrow. Please pray the bad weather that is supposed to roll in sometime Saturday and last through Sunday misses us or dissipates. Also, cold weather is supposed to roll in Monday, which I also hope does not happen. I hope to pick up our mileage after the Smokies. I¢m not the best or most creative writer, especially after a day of hiking, so I just want to say thank you to everyone who is following us and rooting us on. This journal is mostly for myself to have a record of of our adventure. I sent my book home that I was going to keep my journal in because this is so much easier to keep love ones up to date and for my own record. Since I treat this as I would my own handwritten journal, I do not go back and proof read, so please forgive any and all errors due to my mistyping and some due to autocorrect.
Date: 2018-04-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 11.3

I had a good breakfast and then we caught the shuttle around 930 to the Fontana Dam Shelter. We took our time crossing the dam and visited the Visitors Center. The spent 3 miles climbing up. About a mile from the Shelter we saw a momma bear and two cubs. I got tons of pictures of the momma but the cubs were way up the hill behind her.We made it to Shuckstack and went up in the towel, where I got more pictures. Then we continued on our way to the shelter. The campsite was closed down due to people leaving trash and causing a bear problem. We got to the shelter around 6 and set up our stuff. We were getting ready for supper and saw two deer. Again I got a ton of pictures and some video. It was an awesome day. Tony and I played a card game before bed.
Date: 2018-04-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter 

To: Derrick Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 11.7

We woke up to another beautiful day. The terrain was kind to us for the most part the first half of the day. Then we got challenged with some climbs and descents. We were rewarded with great views when we reached the peak of Rocky Top. We could see Fontana Lake in the far distance. I did not have a signal on my phone or I would have played Rocky Top Tennessee, as this was the mountain that inspired the song.We did not see any wild life except for a few birds today. About 3 miles from the shelter we stopped and had lunch. It was a very windy day, but still relatively warm.We reached the shelter around 6 and it looked to be full so we put up the tent. We set up our tent next to a man who had served 10 years in the Marines and was carrying an American Flag and posted outside his tent. The couple from England that was at the last two shelters with was here as well. The Swiss couple was here too. It was a good day and the first time I treated myself to one of the dehydrated dinners; spaghetti and it was more than I could eat, but it was good. Tony even took a couple of bites, which anyone who knows him knows he doesn¢t eat anything with marinara sauce. And the next time we are at a place that sales them he actually wants one.The last weather report I saw showed that we only have a small chance of rain the next day.
Date: 2018-04-15
From: Derrick Knob Shelter 

To: SilerÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I¢m not sure what time the rain started, but it was going strong at 7:30; the time I usually break camp. What do you do when it rainiuhard; snuggle back down in you sleeping bag and go back to sleep. We slept for another hour and the rain was still really coming down, so Tony and I played a game of war. It was still raining but didn¢t sound as hard, so I began packing up everything up in the tent and then proceeded to try my best to take the tent down under the tent fly to prey it from getting wet as well. Needless to say I ended up packing up a very wet tent because we still had a light rain falling. I had seriously contemplated staying another night but I couldn¢t handle spending 24 more hours in the tent and it would turn out to be a very good decision to push on to the next shelter, which you will read more about in the next journal.We arrived at the shelter around 2 and were the only ones there until about 4 except for one south blunder who was only stopping to get water and 4 other people pushing on to the next Shelter.Ultimately only 3 other guys showed up, Johnathan, Flagstaff, and the other guy I did not get his name. Thankfully Flagstaff started a fire to dry out wet socks and gloves and warm us up, as it was getting very cold.