morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-12
From: Snowbird Mountain (.6N)

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Imagine a Chinese dragons back starting from the tail and following the serpentine profile up then up again towards the head. So the trail goes on its northerly route until down I go losing all of that hard earned elevation gain. The diversity of wild flowers and the display of blooms and foliage in various stages of emerging has been spectacular. Falling down and away along ridges are layers of ground clovers ¢ May Apple umbrellas standing about 18 inches with a mix underneath of Dutchman¢s Breeches, Trout Lilly, various types of Trillium, Low Flowering Sedum, Ferns and some Spring Beauty plus Blue Delphinium type drifts. Along the hillsides pitched at 45 degrees are massive drifts of white, pink, maroon and painted and faint Yellow Trillium. Some hillside cols weep ¢ Moss covered rocks; Maiden Hair Fern; Iris Cristata; Jack-in-the-Pulpit, all artfully arraigned and a delight to walk alongside for hours. There are so many more species plus the 50-100 foot trees. Some of the more unusual trees for me to see are Flowering Magnolia and Silver Bells. Today I saw my first Flame (bright orange) azaleas. This area has some high Mooreland type Balds ¢ Max¢s Patch being breath taking with 360 degree views. Seemingly endless mountains. I enjoyed ¢TrailMagic¢ just at the right time today ¢ lunch time before climbing to the top of Max¢s patch. Skippy and Lish has a tail gate going grilling hot dogs, burgers, and Portobello Mushrooms with drinks and other food. They were giving back the kindness they received on their 2010 hike and were preparing to hike the pacific Crest Trail at the end of the month. I have met two others who plan to hike the PCT this month. Ok, It¢s been a cold week with cold wind during the day, so here is the scoop on the last two nights. Wed night, tent temp was 28 ¢ iced condensation and some water bottle freezing under the vestibule. Post- script on tonight, a warmer 38 in the tent. Bottom line - I am warm (enough) with my clothing and sleep system and only wish that I didn¢t have to get up a couple times a night. Good news was that it hasn¢t rained. And the winds at night are down. Looking forward to the forecasted warming trend.Ascent 3730 Descent 3530, Hike duration 8Hr 42Min
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs N.C.
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Morning Tent Temp ¢ 38 Down to 1326 feet, Sunny, A near zero day to wash, eat, resupply and start out tomorrow for a 67 mile strectch to Erwin Tn. Expect to get there Thursday. Still holding my weight from the start..Ascent -- Descent -- , Hike duration 7Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Hot Springs N.C.

To: N of Rich Mtn
Miles today: 8.0

Had breakfast, resupplied, ate lunch, and then walked out of Hot Springs and up the trail from the river. The trail goes right through town. I didn¢t take the time to take a Hot Springs soak. Starting out at 2:30 was in the heat of the day which reached 81. The pack was extra heavy ¢ around 24lbs with 5 days of food. Tented at a woods site. We were on the look out to find water so as not to have to carry it uphill too far. We had success. As it happens others camped around us and were having a birthday party around the campfire, with some creative food including baking a birthday cake, baked in hollowed out oranges ¢ cupcake oranges ¢ neat!!Ascent 2950 Descent 830 , Hike duration 4Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-04-15
From: N of Rich Mtn

To: Jones Meadow
Miles today: 13.4

Another hot day. Up to 83 degrees F today. A Day with lots of ascent. Now at another ¢non-shelter¢ site with folks from last night. Tower who I met before and Brishot who started out today from Rt 70. He had hiked 6 weeks in the snow in 2010 when his knee gave out suddenly. He¢s back to complete the trail with two new knees. The woman, Pace and Hangas who had the birthday started the same day I did and stayed in the same shelter the first night ¢ Stover Creek, now one month on the trail!Ascent 4090 Descent 3240 , Hike duration 8Hr 45Min
Date: 2012-04-16
From: Jones Meadow

To: Cascade Brook
Miles today: 14.5

I passed the 300 mile mark today as well as three piles of bear scat on the trail. Hot again today with a high of 85. Stopped near a cascading brook to camp. My ¢dogs were barking¢! Hot feet! Soaked them a while. I admired wild flowers of various types ¢ most unknown to me but all of them white.Ascent 2310 Descent 3410 , Hike duration 8Hr 20Min
Date: 2012-04-17
From: Cascade Brook

To: Bald Mtn Shelter 325.1
Miles today: 15.0

7:30PM, Temp 50F, Thunder and raining now for about 3 hours. Foggy and windy over Big Bald at 5516 feet so pushed on to the shelter. Fortunately there was room in the shelter so could cook and now sleep under cover. Much easier than setting up and breaking down in these conditions. The hike earlier in the day was sunny and in the upper 60¢s. This shelter holds 10-5 up and 5 down. Bigger than most here but not managed well, like the ones in the Smokys. People cook on the sleeping platforms for example and many hike with their dogs which come in the shelter. Not tonight though and not the top platform where I am. It   requires some strength and dexterity to get up and down which I will need to do during the night. A great prospect particularly interesting peering out thru the rain, fog and puddles..Ascent 5020 Descent 3230 , Hike duration 9Hr 55Min
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Bald Mtn Shelter 325.1

To: River Road Erwin Tn.
Miles today: 16.4

Fog rising revealing Yellow Magnolias below! View from side of 45 degree hill at 4400 feet. A rainy foggy start to the hike. The rain stopped around noon. Hypothermia weather since you end up wet under the rain gear. I use a waterproof top and bottom. Saw my first White Azaleas in bloom today!Ascent 2470 Descent 5690 , Hike duration 8Hr 13Min
Date: 2012-04-19
From: River Road Erwin Tn.

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was lucky to have the Trail Angel ¢Miss Janet¢ available to shuttle me to the grocery store and for meals. She invited us to attend a local Trail club meeting called ¢The Old Timers Hiking Club¢ which we did. About 60 people were there. One gentleman who ran the meeting is a spry energetic 93 yr old. Wonderful! Miss Janet spoke to the group about trail use and involving more of the community. She is an Appalachia Trail Conservancy Ambassador and quite an icon on the trail with many stories to tell. Her shuttle car is called ¢The Bounce Box¢ after Post office bounce boxes that hikers use to forward provisions to future pick up spots. It was fun to meet the people and the pot luck was terrific!!Ascent 0 Descent 0, Hike duration 0Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-04-20
From: Erwin

To: 356.8 Camp Past Unaka Mtn
Miles today: 15.3

Pleasant and partly cloudy day hiking out of Erwin. A notable ascent over the Spruce covered Unaka Mtn. We hiked with the Moving Village who were coming out of Erwin as well. We are back on a similar schedule.Ascent 4610 Descent 1810, Hike duration 9Hr 13Min
Date: 2012-04-21
From: 356.8 Camp Past Unaka Mtn

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

I had planned for a 15 mile day. First I discovered that I lost my pack cover. I was not looking forward to testing the waterproofness of my pack. Second, the rain and fog set in in the afternoon so by 3pm when I arrived at the shelter, I threw in the towel so to speak. The Moving Village was here too so it was relaxing to get dry and settle in with folks who you know a bit. Now 7pm and getting ready to go to sleep in the warm bag. Plan to progress about 16 miles tomorrow with climb up Roan Mtn at 6217. Hopefully the weather is more favorable. The temp has held at 50 with no wind. Met a gentleman (The HurtyGurtyMan - Donovan song), who is planning to motorcycle around the arctic circle 12K miles solo. He¢s done this sort of thing before. If you have seen ¢The Long Way Round¢, you know what he does.Ascent 2580 Descent 2520, Hike duration 6Hr 40Min
Date: 2012-04-22
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

5 weeks into the hike. Well the day continued as it closed the day before ¢ Now wind driven fog and rain. No visibility from the High Balds (Moorelands) today. The Roan High Knob shelter is the highest on the AT at 6194. I stopped briefly for lunch at this classic log shelter with loft. That part of the mountain is spruce covered. A family was coming up from a spur with a sign about Trail magic at Carvers Gap (5512). That was a GREAT treat. Hot Tomato soup and Hot Dogs. The pursuant hike over Round and Jane Balds was cold having dropped to 35 with wind. It is now 7pm. My-self and 6 others have their tents set up in the loft of an old open AT Barn Shelter with more folks down below. Why the tent? Warmth! It is 35 inside my tent. The wind is raging and it was sleeting. More of the same is forecast for tomorrow. I know folks here, the Moving Village, Jell Three Zero (Name of helicopter flown in Vietnam), Hop-A-Long (from Manchester England). A happy warm group in spite of dangerous conditions while staying in the shelter. My pack has proven to be waterproof (some seepage at the bottom) so my things are dry ¢ critical to keep the down bag, vest, and change of clothes dry! PS - only 14.5 miles today to be in a shelter and not tent.Ascent 5240 Descent 3980, Hike duration 9Hr 12Min
Date: 2012-04-23
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: US 19 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Mountain Harbor B and B
Miles today: 9.2

WINTER!The wind roared all night and the mercury dropped to 25 in the tent. All wet things like my poly gloves, gators, shoe strings, jacket, were frozen. I failed to turn the 2 QT water bottles and bladder to keep the tops and lids from freezing. Consequently not only did I not have water, but I couldn¢t empty the excess and had to pack it out, plus it was work to get it the night before. I should have put the wet pack (which also froze) under my tent to insulate my legs. I always do this with the day pack inside the tent since my Z-rest only goes down to my hips. Laying my Dry Duck bottoms down wasn¢t enough. Next time. Plus I would take out my space blanket and burrito myself in it. Well, getting up and out at 7:45 was just the start of the fun. I had my hands in a pair of socks with the overmitts on them but couldn¢t keep them warm enough to use the poles. The day¢s route called for climbs up two Balds both around 5500 ft. The wind was tremendous, gusting to 45 miles/hr at least. It was difficult not to be blown over. Driving icy snow covered my face/glasses and anything it could stick to. Poor visibility and a real haul for three hours or so until I was back into tree cover and lower elevations. I would have liked to have taken pictures of the picturesque barn, winter conditions, and figures trudging against the elements but my hands weren¢t working well enough. Fortunately the Mountain Harbor B and B /Hostel is near the trail and very nice. I am now warmed up, fed, and resupplied for the 5 day hike to Damascus V.A. The topography will be less challenging and gradual warming is forecast. I have literally been walking the TN/NC Border since shortly after entering the Great Smoky Mountains for 215 miles. Today the trail entered TN and where it will remain for 74 miles before entering Virginia. Two states down ¢ Georgia and NC.Ascent 1980 Descent 3770, Hike duration 5Hr 10Min
Date: 2012-04-24
From: US 19 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Mountain Harbor B and B

To: 409.1 Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

A wonderful stay and breakfast at the B and B. Back on the trail at 9AM. A fickle day, starting at 36 and blue skies with wind, then snow squalls and some rain, then sun with dark clouds making the wet rhododendron leaves shine like mirrors. Now the time is 9:30 AM and about 42 degrees with wind.Ascent 4220 Descent 3150, Hike duration 9Hr 45Min
Date: 2012-04-25
From: 409.1 Campsite

To: 421.6 Pond Flats Campsite
Miles today: 12.5

Settled in at Pond Flats ¢ no pond but an essentially flat woodland area on Pond Mtn. 8:30PM and it is just starting to rain. It rained hard last night, 12:30 to 6:30AM. By afternoon the day cleared with 62 in the sun. The pattern is forecasted to be the same for the next 3 days. Pack up wet and hiked wet. It started cold then warming and clearing. A switch from winter however the hike along Laurel Fork River as it twisted through gorges then reappeared again as spectacular falls was great! The Rhododendrons are in bloom along the river. I could hear it roaring from a distance. The campsite is asleep now ¢ Overdrive and Mr. Fabulous from the Moving village plus Roller and Sunkist are in the camp.Ascent 3180 Descent 3390, Hike duration 8Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-04-26
From: 421.6 Pond Flats Campsite

To: 432.8 Campsite
Miles today: 16.2

Packed up dry. Thunderstorms came thru starting at 8:30AM. A wet foggy day. The walk around the end of Lake Watauga and views from the ridge reminded me of the locks in Scotland. The lake goes for miles. We walked over the Massive dam. Another Tennessee Valley Authority Power project in the 30¢s. Passed some Flaming Azalea, Pink Lady Slippers and then a very Showy Yellow Lady Slipper in an area amoung May Apples and open old hard woods. Found a camp spot with water near by about 6pm. It was already dark due to the fog. I was able to get the tent set up and dinner cooked without being poured on. Without the pack cover it is harder to ¢organize¢ to keep things dry. I use the pack for my leg insulation in the tent for example since my sleep pad just goes to the hips. I use the pack cover to store my wet jacket and bottoms. I will pick up a mail drop in a couple of days with a newly made replacement cover from home ¢ Thank goodness for my support.Ascent 3750 Descent 3670, Hike duration 9Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-04-27
From: 432.8 Campsite

To: 453.8 Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 16.0

After a windy thunderstorm rolled thru last night around 10:30, things settled down ¢ the fog cleared mid morning leaving a nice day today with welcoming sun in the low 60¢s. Made good mileage. Carried water to a camp spot alongside the trail. Had lunch with Trail Magic left by the Nelson Baptist Church..Ascent 2930 Descent 3260, Hike duration 8Hr 45Min
Date: 2012-04-28
From: 453.8 Double Spring Gap

To: 467.1 Damascus
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: broken clouds

A sleepless night! About 11pm I became aware first vaguely, then with nervous concern of baying, yelping, howling, moving ever closer through the hills until what I¢m sure was a pack of wild dogs was very close. I quietly hoped that they would move on and prepared to have to get out of the tent, head lamp on, and knife in hand. Then amidst the din I could hear them running, circling, then apparently training on something on the other side of the trail. Suddenly a dog is running around the camp and tent. Twice this happened. I could hear its tongue hanging out. Well this went on till almost daybreak with some of the animals going off yipping and barking leaving one who never stopped barking. So there is good reason to hang the food bags, not spill food, or have anything in the tent ¢ including your dog. I can only imagine the trouble if someone had their dog with them. I¢m certain I could hear several other packs in the distance. Morning came, headed out with a brief light rain and made it into Damascus in time for lunch. Now in Virginia ! THREE states down ¢ 11 to go. The first of 5 sections is complete!(not all equal in mileage)Ascent 1520 Descent 3100, Hike duration 5Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-04-29
From: 467.1 Damascus

To: 467.1 Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A lovely summer day. Busy with getting ready to head out tomorrow. Had dinner with the Moving Village: Big Foot, Overdrive, Father Downhill, Soho and Halfway from Germany, The Kid, Mr Fabulous, Fastback, and Jory Three Zero. I am happy to report that my feet are in great shape after 467 miles!Ascent 0 Descent 0, Hike duration 0Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-04-30
From: 467.1 Damascus

To: 467.3 Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: broken clouds

A complete 180 degree difference from last week¢s winter storm. Today was sunny and 85, currently 9pm and 65 in the tent. Left Damascus after picking up my first packages sent from home. Thank You! My new pack cover fits even better. Hiked out of town at 1:00. Ended up at a nice shelter area among pines. Overdrive saw two bear cubs and the Mother while getting water. The source is about a tenth of a mile from the campsite. They were long gone when I went for water. Finally I could get a picture of a Yellow Magnolia.!Ascent 2010 Descent 1510, Hike duration 5Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-01
From: 467.3 Saunders Shelter

To: 492.5 Deep Gap
Miles today: 16.2

A summer day, 85. Met a man (Stan) from N.C. doing a training hike up White Top Mtn. A hazy day but I could see into NC, TN, and Kentucky from my VA vantage point. Stan was training to do a 10 day AT section in PA. He kindly offered to meet at the road crossing about 3 miles further for me with trail magic. He hiked down the way he came up and drove to that point with cokes and Hershey bars for 10 so that others arriving had some too. Very nice. The trail then went up over Balds then through woodland carpets of Fringed Phacelia (new to me). As I climbed in elevation Trout Lilies, Wood anemones and May Apples covered the beech forest floor. I ended up camping among them. I saw deer while getting water some distance away at a spring. The signs highlight that there is horseback riding in the area, but not on the AT.Ascent 4170 Descent 2570, Hike duration 10Hr 25Min
Date: 2012-05-02
From: 492.5 Deep Gap

To: 510.9 Hurricane Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 18.3

I got up at 6AM again trying to allow for a longer higher mileage day today I was excited about entering the Rogers Mtn area and hiking through a small section of Grayson Highlands State Park. Much of the land that I have been hiking through is wilderness and in various National Forests. This area is in the Jefferson National Forest. Mt Rogers is the highest Mtn in Va. The trail nears the 5700+ summit. This morning it was blowing- dark clouds and fog. It became windier as I climbed then I saw the highlands ¢ more Balds with a small herd of the Grayson Wild Ponies huddled among rock outcroppings. The afternoon became partly cloudy. I ran into several herds near the trail begging for treats I suppose. There is a large trail network, many for horseback riding. The AT is for foot travel only. I¢m now near a shelter alongside (above it a bit) a stream with Rhododendron and a bright moon.Ascent 2870 Descent 3940, Hike duration 10Hr 39Min
Date: 2012-05-03
From: 510.9 Hurricane Mtn Shelter

To: 530.6 Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Partnership Shelter is unique. First you can order Pizza and have it delivered a tenth of a mile or so from the gate (closed) of the Mt Rogers Visitor Center. Folks here pooled an order of about 20 large Pizzas. The the people here are veterans so to speak of over 500 miles on the trail. There are about 16 in the two story log shelter with a shower and running water in back, plus about 12 tents. A group sits around the campfire. Another in the small meadow playing period American songs, some Appalachian, on instruments that they carry like a fiddle and mandolin. I¢m the happy audience from my ten.. Down below is a pond and I hear spring peepers ¢ my first since the elevations and cold temps haven¢t been conducive to date. Up above is the moon shining into my tent. The now summer conditions mean thunderstorms in the afternoon. That has passed on now at 8:30pm with coolness setting in.Ascent ? Descent ?, Hike duration 10Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-04
From: 530.6 Partnership Shelter

To: 542.2 Atkins VA
Miles today: 11.6

A quick hike to the Hwy 81 intersection. Getting creative resupplying at gas station convenience stores.. The Relax Inn was full of hikers. Two women, Spirit and Talks-a-Lot are a bit older. It is Spirits third attempt to thru-hike the AT. I met another determined hiker who had hiked southbound (SoBo) last year as far as Mid-VA when he was bitten by a copperhead. Serious stuff. I also met a father- daughter team. Sunshine is 12. They completed the 2600 mile Pacific Crest trail last year when she was just 11 years old. Then there is Steam Roller who fractured his ankle 3 days into the hike, took 15 days off and is now 575 miles along. It takes enough determination without injury¢¦Ascent 2010 Descent 2820, Hike duration 4Hr 45Min
Date: 2012-05-05
From: 542.2 Atkins VA

To: 559.5 Lich Creek
Miles today: 17.3

Pastureland ¢ woods ¢ Streams and ¢creeks¢. I guess creeks are large streams. Regardless many surge along and have permanent footbridges. Plenty of ups and downs today ending up with a race to get everything done before the rain started. Got the bear bags up just when it started ¢ about 8PM.¢¦Ascent 4220 Descent 4370, Hike duration 9Hr 40Min
Date: 2012-05-06
From: 559.5 Lich Creek

To: 575.2 Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

Packed up in misty dampness. The day became partly cloudy so that there was pretty good visibility going over the 2 mile stretch of highlands at 4000 feet. The Chestnut Knob Shelter at 4410 is the first all stone enclosed shelter with a door that I have seen. The roof is cabled down ¢ it gets windy up there! Called it a day at the Jenkins Shelter. The bulk of the hike was over rocky tree covered ridgeline. Hard on the feet and another day of climbing more than 4K. Picture here of May Apple. I have watched woodland drifts of them since Georgia just emerging like twisted pointed umbrellas. Now they are just past bloom. I hear that Morel Mushrooms grow with them but haven¢t seen them.Ascent 4030 Descent 3790, Hike duration 9Hr 53Min
Date: 2012-05-07
From: 575.2 Jenkins Shelter

To: 593.2 Woods
Miles today: 18.0

An easy day on the feet with temps in the 60¢s and partly cloudy. Great! A few words about shelters. Privies ¢ My Ranking system: A - Moldering - Building with roof and either a door or open ¢go around the corner¢ privacy with space to take off your things in the rain. B ¢ old fashioned cramped but has a roof and is maintained. C- Moldering - no sides, no roof or privacy but it is a designated spot and people take turns going to the toilet. D- ¢You Hope¢ Designated ¢Toilet area¢ somewhere near the shelter. Usually a trowel is hung or a shovel placed near the sign pointing the way. If it is gone someone may be out there digging the hole. Believe it or not about one half of the shelters in the smoky Mountains were of the ¢D¢ variety. And in case you thought it couldn¢t get worse there is ¢F¢. No designated toilet area, just a shovel leaning against the shelter. Now just try to tent at these shelters. Unfortunately, many in TN are of the F variety and the shelter structures are graffiti cinder block. It is a good thing that I like to camp off the grid so to speak and.. Well do the rest too. Always carry TP and disinfectant!Ascent 3980 Descent 3340, Hike duration 10Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-08
From: 593.2 Woods

To: 611.0 Dismal Creek
Miles today: 17.8

The wind blew until 3AM and a light rain started by 7:30AM. I was up and packed for 7am so was dry. Stopped for lunch and a few food supplies at Trent¢s Grocery which has various stuffed animals and an assortment of sport supplies along with sandwiches and pizza¢s. Passed Hungus and Pace a couple miles into the morning packing up their hammocks. They stayed in a small camp spot that marked the 600 mile point. Another 100 miles completed. It is now 8:45pm, camped next to a stream. I can hear Spring Peepers and a Bard owl. Heard a Whip-poor-Will again last night. It was far enough away not to keep me awake. It is still showering off and on. About an hour ago just as I was getting settled in the tent I heard the bear bags drop. They weren¢t damaged. It was a case of a knot slipping. Good to get that taken care of before it is dark and in the rain. Not a bear!Ascent 2940 Descent 3480, Hike duration 11Hr 00Min