morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-08
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

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

I'm sitting at Bald Mountain Shelter trying to decide whether or not to continue hiking in the rain. I just changed into the last of my dry clothes, am dry and warm, but have some decisions to make. It was 10 hard and wet miles to get here and another 5 to a campsite. If I stop here I will have to hike 17 miles to reach Erwin tomorrow late p.m. If I do the extra 5 to the campsite I will need only 12 the next day. I am almost out of food (and didn't have that much to start with), most of which is soaking wet. If I spend the night at Bald Mt Shelter my gear may get dry, but I will be hiking 17 miles tomorrow on an empty stomach with no guarantee it won't continue to rain. I guess the answer is clear (see, journaling does help) and I will continue on. By the way, which one of you had the bright idea of me going on this hike?Hours later...With my dry clothes I left the shelter heading for the campsite 5 miles north. Within half a mile the skies opened up and I was quickly drenched. Fortunately being on flat terrain setting up the tent seemed a snap, at least until the wind turned up a notch or 2 or 3 or 4. By the time I got the tent up and quasi-functional the interior was awash with rainwater and it made absolutely no sense to unroll a perfectly dry sleeping bag into that quagmire. Even with the pack cover my backpack was beginning to soak through . I decided to leave the tent where it was and make a mad dash back to the shelter with my pack in order to not soak the last 2 dry articles of clothing I owned. This I did and It's a shame I can't hike that fast under every day circumstances, but I can't.Upon regaining the shelter I began hanging wet gear and clothing in every conceivable area, blew up my mattress, spread my bag, put on my long johns, jacket and climbed into my bag. Soon I was, once again dry and warm. It seemed but a short time and I heard a familiar voice saying "Hi Nimblefoot"; it was Trace, a fellow hiker from my trip into Franklin. Not just becuse he had an abundance of food was he a most welcome guest (for he's a most pleasant and remarkable young fellow), but it sure didn't hurt. Soon we were feasting on his peanuts and m&ms and telling stories of what had happened on the trail since we parted company (Note: I realize I used the word "feasted" when describing the devouring of peanuts and M&M's, but that's exactly what it felt like). I would have easily gotten by without the food and company, but the availability of both made the evening so much more pleasant.It was a comfortable and uplifting end to the type of day that can drain your enthusiasm for life on the trail.
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Miss Janet's
Miles today: 17.0

The day started cold and foggy with, once again, decisions regarding clothing to be made. My hiking clothes were still wet, rain gear useless and I was concerned about hiking in the dry because the weather could once again turn and I'd really be in a bind. I compromised leaving on my long john bottoms but put on everything else wet. The beautiful thing about "breathable" clothing is that it quickly dries from body heat although it's a hell of a shock to the system when first donned. It worked. The first mile went quickly and I emptied my pack so I could stuff the soggy tent in the very bottom. With this task complete, I was soon slipping and sliding down a very muddy path, happy to be on the move toward Erwin, but silently gritting my teeth knowing there were 17 miles of unknown trail ahead of me.In two or three hours the sun came out but it seemed that I was always on the cool and shady side of the mountain, thus my incredible (facetious here) hiking speed was not slackened. I reached No Business Knob Shelter at 10 minutes past three (my new watch keeps good time) and spent a few minutes with my shoes off rubbing my sore feet and apologizing for what I had put them through for the past 330 plus miles, conveniently neglecting to share about the more than 1800 miles ahead of them. Putting on my boots I left the shady shelter area and headed north with 6.5 miles left to Erwin. There were a couple of good straight climbs in the afternoon followed by an unending series of switchbacks that allowed a frustrating view of the small mountain community that was my goal for the day. The switchbacks seemed to go on forever and Erwin appeared no closer. However, the world seems to surrender it's secrets to the stubborn (Those who endure have the right to know) and soon I was stepping off the trail onto a blacktop road and I was on my way to Miss Janets Pleasure Palace for Weary Hikers. After walking about a mile I came to a gas station and called the hostel for a ride. While waiting I stepped into the adjacent A & W Root beer stand and got the biggest Cheeseburger, fries and Root Beer the law would allow. In half an hour I was at Miss Janets, in an hour I had showered and in two hours I was eating a huge rib eye steak, home fries and eggs. Life is good and I'm still in the game.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Miss Janet's

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This was a most pleasant "zero" day (one in which no miles are hiked toward the ultimate destination), a day for drying gear, washing clothes, resupplying for the next stint into the unknown, eating food and hanging out. A day for spiritual replenishment (odd isn't it that a thru hiker goes to town to replenish his belly and his soul while those living the urban life take to the woods). I proudly and lazily did all of these.In many ways the Appalachian Trail experience reminds me of Hippy life in the 60's. Lots of long haired, bearded, smelly (not sure about the Hippy's, but we sure are) young and old people wandering around America. At that time it was in colorful vans or hitching a ride; we're either hiking the trail or hitching a ride into town. Miss Janet's is a large home in which she raises 3 teenage girls on the top half, the lower being dedicated to serving the hiking community. At a given time you may find young folks lounging on the large front porch with someone strumming a guitar or banjo and others singing along quietly or otherwise engaged in quiet conversation. Drying tents and mud encrusted boots hang from and sit on every available surface. Inside the dwelling may be a disparate collection of unemployed engineers, young married couples, trail marriage couples, recent high school and college graduates, a retiree or two and somebody's mother from Kansas just hanging out and speculating on what the hiking weather will be for the next day and wondering collectively why no one has actually ever taken a shot at George Bush (just kidding here, keep the Secret Service off the Appalachian Trail, please).Miss Janet is a wonderful lady who can make a great stove out of a beer can in less than 5 minutes. She rightfully brags that her stove is better than any on the market, and she's likely right. I remember commenting to one of her teenage daughters that not many people have a mom who can make a stove out of a beer can. I also recall her daughter doing that eye rolling thing, which is the sole province of teenage daughters everywhere. Even if Janet could do successful brain surgery with a butterknife her daughter would still roll her eyes mournfully to heaven, and would be fully entitled to do so. Breakfast was in the backyard and pancakes with fresh strawberries and syrup, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice, apple juice and fresh coffee were served by everyone to everyone on a large table. In a miracle similar to the loaves and fishes, somehow everyone had room at the table. The food was delicious, conversation spirited and this collection of individuals who under other circumstances who likely not be together, functioned as a warm and caring family. All in all though it is the warm and loving spirit of Miss Janet that brings it all together.
Date: 2005-04-11
From: Miss Janet's

To: Unnamed Woods Rd.
Miles today: 1.5

Everyone was slow and lazy getting ready to go on the trail because of the comfort and hospitality at Miss Janet's. I mailed 6 pounds of gear and food 45 miles ahead to Elk Park, NC just so I wouldn't have to carry it. Believe it or not, an extra 6 pounds is a lot of weight to carry up and down 45 miles of mountains. We ate breakfast, went out for lunch, and finally got on the trail by about 4:00PM.After a mile of sheer laughter we found a nice spot by a small stream, set up camp and fixed our individual dinners. The Fun Factory, Giggles and Box of Fun, produced Graham crackers, Hershey's chocolate, and marshmallows, and soon we were roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. With dry wood in abundance, the campfire was great and we sat around telling stories until well after dark.Our goal is now Damascus, VA. We are now hiking that border section where western NC borders eastern Tennessee, and although there are several TN/NC towns along the way, the established goal is Virginia which is 120 miles distant.Spring is really here and in the last two days the forest has exploded in color with dogwoods in bloom and oak and beech beginning to leaf out, not to mention the omnipresent green of the constant and boring rhododendron. Pollen is beginning to seize control of my body with swelling of my respiratory passages and sticking together of my eyelids. My adopted saying to myself through these inconveniences is that "It is what it is". You either hike of go home. So far I love the trail and I'm staying.
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

We had 10 people sleeping in a 6-person shelter and I note here that the person sleeping next to me neither kissed me goodbye or said they loved me as they left this morning. It reminded me of hitchhiking to Danbury, WI, from Webster on cold winter nights after basketball games. Sometimes we ended up riding in the back of a pickup truck and to survive we got much closer together than any would admit to the next day. Something like the motel scene in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" with Steve Martin and John Candy. That's the way it is on cold nights on the AT; we're all glad for the body warmth, but outside our select little group (and this journal) no one's writing home about it.Shortly after leaving the shelter we happened upon the less fortunate who had to pitch their tents in the rain. Not much was said on their part, but the feelings were palpable. I got the sense they would have been warmer if everyone else was also in the rain. I will admit to having slept much better with the warmth and the guilt than the rain and no guilt.Soon we were on our way and immediately confronted by a large mountain with very little switchbacks -- pretty much straight up. Re-energized with 12 hours sleep, I took the lead and set the pace over the top, whereupon I wimped out and let all pass me save for one deeply rooted oak...and it was gaining.The rain started early and I was dressed on top with a polyester bottom layer, Capilene midweight in the middle and a damp rain jacket on the top. I wore a pair of damp nylon shorts on the bottom. Soon I was, once again, soaked.A little further down the trail the others were huddled making plans to take a break and hike .6 miles off of Greasy Creek Gap to a hostel and have some ice cream. The normal hiking hierarchy now re-established, they sped on toward ice cream and I followed at my comfortable pace with little waffle cones also dancing in my head. The rain continued.Arriving at Greasy Creek Gap I noted the guidebook saying the hostel was .6 miles down an abandoned road. What I saw looked more like an abandoned ditch, but I walked down a distance only to find it deteriorating into a gully. Not wishing to hike down such a route in the rain with no guarantee of ice cream at the end was more than I could handle, so reluctantly I turned back...at the very same time all else were knee deep in hamburgers, fries, nachos, coffee and...ice cream. The BASTARDS!I reached the shelter in another 2 hours, ate steadily for another half hour, and set up my bed space. Already in occupancy were Skillet and Biscuit who were also present at Miss Janet's hostel in Erwin. In another couple of hours the "Ice Cream Social Club" arrived and the 6-man shelter now has a full load of 9 lovely laughing, chatty, smelly hikers.Oh yes, I just completed day 2 of my upper body strength and conditioning program. Day one consisted of 1 pushup, followed by a rest day. Today, Day two, I did 2 pushups. It was hard, but tomorrow I rest.
Date: 2005-04-14
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Roan Mt. is another climb that has long been rated strenuous by hikers and thru-hikers alike. Some say it is the roughest climb in the Southern Appalachians, and at 6285' is one of the higher mountains on the AT. The key, of course is the grade of steepness. We had stayed at Clyde Smith Shelter which at 4400' was itself fairly high. Leaving the shelter we immediately climbed to 4920', then down to 4280' and 4080'. Keep in mind that descents are often as difficult as ascents, and sometimes more so. Dropping again to 4040' at Hughes Gap and then up to 5480' at Bear Mountain. Think about your rubbery legs, and racing heart and breath coming in gulps and gasps. The cool thing is, after hiking more than 350 miles on the Appalachian Trail, at this point your physical fitness has developed to where your vital signs return to normal in a very short time. The mountain just climbed is but a memory and you're still fresh and loose for the next.There were very few switchbacks on the climb up Roan Mt. and so it was pretty much straight up. For short guys like me you are humped over with your loaded pack and your back is pretty much parallel to the ground. Short guys do not see many beautiful vistas on steep uphills (unless they stop for a moment and stand erect) but you do become an expert on rocks, trail debris, and the identification of fallen leaves. Sometimes it's all so ludicrous I break out laughing. Why am I doing this? I don't always know, but I enjoy it. Anyway, the assault on Roan Mt continued as my temporary group struggled on, eventually reaching the top and being greeted with an incredible view of yesterday's accomplishment and tomorrow's challenge. A beautiful view is not always guaranteed after such a climb, oftentimes you are socked in by a thick fog or the summit is thickly congested with rhododendrons and you are engulfed in inpenetrable trees and branches, open only to a very narrow trail -- the one you're walking on. Now you must figure out how to get down.I stayed that night at the Stan Murray shelter while the others continued to the more famous Overmountain Shelter, a big red barn some 1.75 miles further north. I chose this opportunity for peace and quiet that would me mine if all other hikers passed thru to the "barn" and I theorized that my shelter might just not have any mice since they tend to gather where there are large groups of people being careless with food. My predition was right and I have the shelter to myself, spreading my gear about generously and having lots of quiet time to myself. I remember writing in the trail register, shortly before dozing off, "All the cows have gone to the barn and I am King in my castle". A good day's hike.
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Dennis Cove

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 0.0

A zero day at Kincora. I needed to take the day off for laundry, re-supply, the continued engorgement of large amounts of high calorie, high carb and high fat foods. For lunch I had a whole chicken, some dinner rolls and candy bars. For dinner I have been offered both pizza, more chicken and a shrimp salad. I have accepted nothing, preferring to save room for several large root beer floats I intend to make shortly after completing this journal entry. In fact, to hell with this journal, I'm going for the ice cream right now.
Date: 2005-04-18
From: Dennis Cove

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 8.9

Pixie and Pine Dragon, new additions to my trail life, and I, sprung for and prepared breakfast for everyone at the hostel this morning. We fixed bacon, French toast, coffee and orange juice. Not much of a breakfast for those living in the comfort of a warm home, but quite gourmet for those who may start a 20 mile hiking day with a handfull of peanuts, M&Ms and raisins chased with a few swallows of water.Today was another slackpacking day, only an 8.9 mile section from a point in Hampton, TN next to Lake Watauga, back south to the Kincora Hostel. This will be the last of my slackpacking in this area. I'm taking another zero day tomorrow because I want to spend a day doing volunteer trail maintenance so I can get a nifty patch for my backpack. And also, because I was to get the gut level experience of what's involved in building and maintaining hiking trails. It seems reasonable to take at least one day during this adventure and give something back to the trail.
Date: 2005-04-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Mentioned yesterday was my intent to volunteer for a one-day stint of trail service. Breakfast was a quick meal of microwaved sausage biscuits and coffee after which we met at Bob's truck, loading "Pulaskis" (a combination axe/hoe hand tool) shovels, heavy duty fire rakes, a maul, chainsaw and several small handsaws. We were going to build a new section of trail, which is a lot more exciting than most of the work done by thru-hiker volunteers. We were going to make a brand new section of the Appalachian Trail!I don't know why the new section was being built. It was only a little more than 100 yds long. I was, and still am, curious as to why. Did the old section wash out? Was it dangerous, or did someone discover an endangered species of plant or animal life and want to protect it? I really don't know.We started with five thru-hiker volunteers, myself, Pixie, Pine Dragon, Nick, Eaglefoot, and DAK, and we joined 3 members of the Eastman Hiking Club, Cindy (a student earning college credits) and our host, Bob Peoples.The work was very hard with chopping through a rhododendron jungle, removing stumps, creating erosion barriers, making a stone walk across a small brook and cutting the new trail to the proper level and slope. Since we all had walked more than 420 miles (With the exception of "DAK" who is a 2004 South Bend hiker who returned this year to finish his hike and has logged over 1700 AT miles) we were in excellent shape and soon the ringing of axes and the drone of chainsaws was mixed with shouts and laughter as we formed into a working crew on the bright and sunny spring day. Soon there were more workers as 4 NOBO thru-hikers arrived on the scene and offered to help. They were soon followed by 3 member of The Slacker Confederacy who placed their reputations at serious jeopardy by actually approaching work with zeal. All in all we had 17 workers during all or part of the day. In the end we were each given a "trail maintenance" patch to be sewn on our backpacks. An interesting bit of information was passed on about how our volunteer work actually helps fund the Appalachian Trail. Eastman Kodak is the sponsor of this local section of trail maintenance. They will charge the Cherokee National Forest $9.00 per hour for each of us. This bill is then passed on to the Dept. of the Interior for next fiscal year's budget cycle. When Congress passes the budget and Mr. Bush (that grand old environmentalist) signs it, the money is then authorized to the Dept. of Interior to the Cherokee National Forest and ultimately to the Appalachian Trail Conference. Each of the thru-hiker volunteers made $81 for the Appalachian Trail and our total contribution was $822, in addition to the improvement of the trail. It feels pretty good. I took quite a few pictures of our work in progress because it's important. Hopefully I can send the pictures forward and get them uploaded to the journal soon. In the meantime, find something you care about and support it with your time and love, even if it's your neighborhood tavern.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Hampton, TN

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: clear sky

We cooked another community breakfast this AM. Pixie, Pine Dragon and I bought the food, got up at 5:00AM and cooked breakfast for a ton of hungry hikers. We had coffee, O.J., bacon, pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, home made bread (TRUE!) and cinnamon rolls -- all on a rather strange stove that no one understood how to operate. Nick and Eaglefoot were a big help!By 9:15 Pixie, Pine Dragon, Nick and I were on the trail, but oh so reluctantly. Each hostel is unique and has its own charm, but Kincora is special for me. Probably because Bob Peoples, the owner, is another short, ruddy complected Irishman who made a career of the service. All he asked was a $4.00 donation for each night in his bunk house.He drove us to town free of charge so we could buy groceries and is truly here to serve the hiker community. No doubt I'm not alone when I say that I made a close friend in Hampton, TN. Kincora is quite a place and I miss it already.Oh yeah, North Carolina is now in my rearview mirror. I will be done with Tennessee in 33 miles, hoping to be in Virginia very early Saturday AM and starting gobbling up chunks of real estate. Sure am feeling lazy, though.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

My favorite definition of insanity is "to do the same thing expecting different results", so when some young folks passed my group at a fast pace today, and I took off after them, one could legitimately question my sanity. And so I did, keeping up with them, up and down hills for about two miles; talking trash to them all the way. Feeling I proved my point, not to mention exhausted, I slowed to a more genteel and dignified pace and in a few minutes others begain to catch up. I felt good and was replaying my charge from the rear when I, once again, sprained my ankle. Same damn thing. Not paying attention and slipping on a rock.This time I fell into the rhododendron and cut my arm up a little. The swelling not as bad as before and I just tightened my laces and kept going, albeit with a slower pace and a few choice words. It could have been worse and I'm find.Only 14.8 miles and Tennessee is history. Damascus, VA is only 18 miles. I intend to shop for some gear while there and see if I can get my pack weight low enough through the relatively flat terrain of Virginia and get in shape for my marathon.