morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Muskrat Creek shelter

To: Deep Gap (Franklin)
Miles today: 4.0

The itching and rash were no better when I got up this morning, and I slept very little last night, despite two Benadryl at bedtime, so I decided to go the four miles to the next road and get into Franklin to see a docter. The morning started off very cold, but within a few minutes of walking, I had stripped down to just one layer. The hiking today was very enjoyable, except for the constant itching. For the first couple of miles the trail was smooth with minor undulations, then it became very rocky with steep ups and downs, but still fun, with some nice easily doable rock scrambles, with springs crossing the trail in many places.Crossed the junction with the Chunky Gal Trail. Legend has it that it is named after a roly-poly Indian maiden who was following her lover. Other legends have it that it is a corruption of an Indian word. I like the roly-poly Indian maiden version better...Met up with a couple of guys who were out turkey hunting. They were having no luck with the hunting, so were digging ramps instead. Ramps are a sort of wild onion, very pungent when raw, but supposedly delicious when cooked. They showed me how to dig them without uprooting them. That way they will come back next year.I continued on down to Deep Gap, where I ran into Fanny, an older male hiker, who was going in to Franklin as well. Soon we were joined by Pink Panther, a young female hiker, who was going into Franklin to get her knee looked at. It has been giving her a lot of pain. The turkey hunters, who were parked at the Gap, gave us a ride into Franklin, where we got a room at Haven's Budget motel, a motel that caters to hikers, much like the Hiawassee Inn. Pink Panther and I are sharing a room, and there are a lot of hikers here that I know.Dave, the motel manager, arranged a shuttle to a clinic for Pink Panther and me. I received a steroid shot in the behind, and am hoping it takes effect soon.A bunch of us went to an all you can eat steakhouse right next door for dinner, then after dinner sat around in the parking lot behind the motel drinking beer and talking. All we needed was a campfire, but we didn't think Ronnie (the owner) would appreciate us building one in the parking lot.Taking a zero day tomorrow, letting my hives get better.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Deep Gap (Franklin)

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in Franklin.Taking it easy here in Franklin today, doing town chores like laundry while waiting to be non-itchy. It really is much better this evening, my hands and feet still itch like mad, but the rest of me is improved.Went to the outfitters where I resupplied with alcohol (cooking fuel -- non-drinkable, alas). But the beer has been in ready supply here. I feel like a total amateur compared with these young folks out here. Some of them make up for all the non-beer days on the Trail in a single day in town.Not to mention food! The motel is right next door to an all-you-can-eat steak buffet. I do justice to it, but I bet the owners groan when they see a bunch of hikers coming through the door.Tomorrow I hit the Trail again. Update when I get back to Franklin on Monday.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Deep Gap (Franklin)

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, my hives are gone, though with all the scabs from scratching, I look like I'm recovering from measles or chicken pox!Since I got off the Trail at Deep Gap, that it where I needed to get back on again. The hiker shuttle took me to Standing Indian Campground (a forest service campground), and I set off on the Kimsey Creek Trail to Deep Gap. This is a 3.7 mile trail leading up the mountainside, mostly right alongside a rushing mountain stream. The folks at the motel told me I would enjoy this hike, and I most certainly did. It was very scenic, mostly uphill, but not steep, and there were a lot of flowers blooming, more so than at higher elevations. The stream dashed musically down the slope, with small waterfalls and cataracts all along the way.I'm still not seeing any wildlife, though a wild turkey flew across the road in front of the shuttle van as we were driving up the mountain. Do animals seen when you are in a vehicle count? How about roadkill, LOL!Just as I approached Deep Gap and the AT, I took fall #2. I was ducking under a blowdown (a tree down across the trail). I made it but didn't allow enough room for my pack, and it pushed me down and over on my side. As with fall #1, no injuries resulted, and this time there was no one around to witness my klutziness. When I reached Deep Gap, I took a short break and ate some lunch, then hiked the 0.9 miles on up to the shelter.I was the earliest to arrive, but others trickled in as the afternoon progressed. This evening, there are maybe 15 or 16 people here, though only 3 of us are staying in the shelter; all the others are tenting.All in all, a lovely day hiking, and it's good to be back out here.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was a good hiking day, not too far, yet not ridiculously short mileage. It started with a fairly long up, but not too steep to Standing Indian summit, then was mostly downhill for the rest of the day, except for a not-bad up toward the end of the day. Things are starting to green up, except at the highest elevations, and I bet in a month or two, when the rhodies are blooming, it will be spectacular.I seem to be holding up fairly well. Every time I'm in town, I see people, even young people quitting the trail with injuries, mostly to knees. Maybe mine are holding up because I'm so slow.There are quite a few people around again tonight, mostly new from last night (most folks from last night went on to the next shelter up the line). Again, most people are tenting. The bugs are annoying in the afternoon, but as it gets cooler and the sun sets, they all disappear. I'm sure that will change as summer arrives, and then I'll be grateful for my tent with the bug netting!Most of us like to stay near a shelter, because most of them have privies (ah, the height of luxury), and a lot of them have bear cables, to make hanging food secure from bears and other foraging animals. Plus the socialization is nice at the end of the day, because we are mostly hiking alone, even those who are hiking with someone, because of differences in hiking paces.I think something bit me when I sat on a log or rock, because I had a little pimple like thing this morning and it is more swollen this afternoon and kinda sore.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

Short entry tonight. I feel rotten, think maybe I'm coming down with something. I had no energy all day, had to go over something called Big Butt mountain. All I know is that is sure kicked mine! Then came Albert Mountain, which luckily had a bypass, because I had absolutely nothing left for the straight-up rock scramble that is Fat Albert Mountain. Luckily, as I was sitting on a log, trying to figure out where the bypass was, Ronnie Havens of the motel in Franklin saw me. He was out with his wife and twin sons for a short hike. They gave me a ride (the bypass trail was on a forest service road at this point), and got me to within a half-mile of the shelter.I collapsed in the shelter, finally revived enough to blow up my sleeping pad and crawl in my sleeping bag. I was having chills, and it wasn't cold out. I also took some Vit. I (Ibuproben). In a couple of hours I was feeling better, and joined the socialization around the picnic table, but I'm getting to bed early tonight. Hope I feel better tomorrow.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: clear sky

Happy Easter!Felt better this morning, was a little slow in breaking camp, because everyone I was with was going on to Winding Stair Gap and Franklin today, and I am doing a short day to the next shelter. I made fairly good time, and TRUMPETS, PLEASE! hit 100 miles on today's hike.There were two people at the shelter when I got there, and I felt like I knew them because of trailjournals. Bubbletoes and Rawhide, a nice young couple. They let me know that there was major trail magic at Rock Gap, just 0.1 miles down the trail. So as soon as I had staked out my spot in the shelter, I headed down to where 4 former thru-hikers were serving omelets, hashbrown casserole (every bit as good as Cracker Barrel's), various kinds of breads and biscuits, fresh fruit, juices, sodas, etc. They were even making sandwiches that hikers could take along for lunch the next day. I stuffed myself, then headed back up to the shelter, because I was starting to feel feverish again. Took some Vit. I, got into my sleeping bag for awhile, then socialized. A lot of young people here tonight. I envy their energy and enthusiasm.Again, only three of us sleeping in the shelter tonight. So far I've run into very few bad snorers and no shelter mice.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap (Franklin)
Miles today: 0.1

Woke up feeling awful. I think this thing on my hip (spider bite or whatever) is infected. So I sent word with some hikers that had arranged a shuttle that I would be waiting at Rock Gap. So I got down here to Franklin to the motel. By the time the shuttle could take me to the Urgent Care center, I was miserable. My temp was 101.5, I hurt all over, I was vomiting, and in general just sicker than a dog.The doc says I have an abcess, that he can't tell if it is an insect or spider bite or not, and that it looks like staph. So he put me on antibiotics, told me to take Ibuproben and also take hot sitz baths 2-3 times a day.So I'm here at the Haven's Budget Inn in Franklin, zeroing until I feel better.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Rock Gap (Franklin)

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero day in Franklin. Feeling better, my abcess is starting to drain, my fever is gone, and as soon as this abcess heals up, I'm outa here!I decided (upon updating and adding photo to this journal), to use this page to post photos of various sorts of fungi that were seen along the Trail. All photos were taken by other people, and they are acknowledged as the photographers. So just go to photos posted on this day and have a look!See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in Franklin.Today I went up to the emergency room because the abcess does not seem to be improving as fast as I think it should. They did an I&D (incision and drainage, for the non-medical types following this journal), prescribed some pain pills for me, left me on the same antibiotics, gave me a follow-up appointment with a surgeon for Tuesday, and sent me on my way (I was kinda surprised they didn't admit me for some IV antibiotics).So I'm back at the motel, getting ready to catch the shuttle to get to Walmart to get the prescription filled. Obviously, I'll be here for several days yet.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, the pain pills did not work out. They prescribed Lora-Tab, and it made me so sick that I've hardly left the room today. People here have been taking care of me though, making me Jello and soup. I think the Ibuproben will be enough though, but no more of those Lora-tabs!Missed meeting some people today, but I'm meeting so many hikers, all of them great folks, plus Ronnie and Marcella here at the Budget Inn, and Dave who mans the front desk most of the time, Crutch who does the shuttles and keeps my spirits up by teasing me,and Chrissie (Pink Panther) who made me oatmeal, jello, and soup.I'm feeling better this evening and I'm sure as soon as the narcotic is all out of my system, I'll feel fine, though with a sore ahem. (I'm like Forrest Gump; we are both injured in the buttock...)For your viewing pleasure today, I'm posting photos of sunrises. Like the butterflies and fungi, these were all taken by other hikers.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero day in Franklin. Feeling much better today, got up and went to breakfast this morning. We go to this neat diner where all the locals go, good food and cheap prices, with friendly service. My appetite is not quite up to par, but it will get there. I probably weigh more than I did at the start of my hike!Went to a local thrift store run by Habitat for Humanity today and stocked up on books. If I'm going to be stuck in town, I want something to read! I'm posting photos of snakes today, so beware. Some of these were taken by me and some by other hikers.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero day in Franklin.At least I have a roommate tonight! Her real name is Donna, and her trailname is Faithwalker. She is a lady in the same age range as me, and we are getting along fine. Had supper at the AYCE steakhouse with her tonight, and though I'm still not doing justice to AYCE places, I left comfortably stuffed. Got a piece of pie that I thought was going to be Key Lime, but it turned out to be some sort of Double Bubble flavored custard. Yuck. I ate it anyway...Following up yesterday's snake photos, today features some other creepy-crawlies.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in Franklin.Had a lazy day. Went to breakfast, lounged around, took the shuttle to the outfitters and the supermarket in the afternoon, went to dinner. Met an interesting older hiker named John who is a Mizzou School of Journalism alumni, and though he predates me, we had a lot of the same professors. Took my final dose of antibiotics.Tomorrow afternoon I have a follow-up appointment with a surgeon, and I guess I will know more then. I'm still having quite a bit of drainage from the abcess, and I suspect he isn't going to want me out in the woods until that heals up a little more. Franklin is a nice town, but...After two days of horror pictures, I think you deserve something a little nicer, gentle reader, so today you get sunsets. See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero day in Franklin.I saw the docter today. He is happy with the way things are looking, but wants me to wait a few days before going out again in the grubbiness, for a little more healing and time for the swelling to go down a little more. So I guess I am here until this weekend.I am going to do a couple of day hikes though. It is called slack-packing, and is hiking either with no pack at all or a very reduced-weight pack. Tomorrow I plan on slackpacking from Rock Gap, where I got off the Trail, to Winding Stair Gap, the usual get off place for Franklin. It is only 4 miles, so will be a nice warm-up. Then the next day, or the one after that, I will get shuttled to Wayah Bald, and hike south to Winding Stair Gap. It is right at 10 miles, but mostly downhill. It will be my longest hiking day yet, but of course I will be carrying only snacks, water, and my camera; none of this 35 pounds on my back stuff. Then probably Sunday, I will be back on the Trail, heading north from Wayah Bald. From there it will be a couple of days into NOC, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, then 3-4 days into Fontana Dam, the southern gateway to Smoky Mountain National Park. I want to get through the Smokies in time to go to Trailfest in Damascus. It is part party, part reunion, part educational and entertainment activities. I will get to see all the folks that are faster than I am (i.e. Everybody!). Apparently there are shuttles easily available from just about anyplace on the Trail to Trailfest.It will be so good to get out there hiking again!See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero day in Franklin.Ho-hum, rainy day here in Franklin. Not doing much. Will slack pack tomorrow from Rock Gap to Winding Stair Gap. Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow...Today, you get to see photos of orange salamanders. These little critters were all over the place, especially when the weather was damp. Kinda cute...Delicious when sauted with a little butter and garlic (just joking - I never got quite that hungry!)See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Rock Gap (Franklin)

To: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a lovely 4 mile hike today. The weather was cool and partly cloudy, but no rain. The trail was mostly good. Spring has definitely come to the higher elevations while I have been lazing around Franklin. While before the trees and bushes were just starting to bud out, now everything is that bright green color you only see in the early spring. There are violets, both purple and yellow, bluets, trillium, and a lot of flowers I can't identify. With the rain we've been having, the streams are running full and musical. The hike today crossed several streams on stepping stones -- I'm getting quite agile on those; didn't land in the creek even once!We saw two deer today from the shuttle van. Still haven't seen any from the Trail!Tomorrow Ronnie is taking me to Wayah Bald, and I will hike south to Winding Stair Gap (though I may journal it the other direction just to keep from getting confused). Then I will rest on Saturday, do laundry and grocery shopping, and hike out from Wayah Bald on Sunday with a full pack, on my way to N.O.C.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin

To: Wayah Bald
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Gee, it's great to be hiking again!Today I did a slack pack in the opposite direction indicated here. Ronnie and Marcella took me to Wayah Bald, and I hiked south to Winding Stair Gap. This is my longest day so far, though I wasn't carrying 35 pounds on my back. I did make it a little more difficult by forgetting my trekking poles back at the motel, but I found a couple of sticks and did fine, though the sticks weighed 3-4 times as much as my trekking poles. Gave my upper body a workout too!The nice thing about hiking this stretch of trail in a southbound direction is that it is mostly downhill that way, with only one section of about a mile and a half that is uphill, plus short ups here and there. The flowers are out in force. Today besides the flowers I have mentioned before, I saw Dutchmann's breechs and red trillium. I also saw columbine, but it wasn't blooming yet. I recognized the plant because Mom had some in her flower beds.The weather was absolutely perfect for hiking, cool and sunny. Only on that long uphill did I feel overly warm.Still no wildlife...Taking a zero day tomorrow to get laundry done and packed up again.See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero day in Franklin. Today I did laundry, made a trip to the post office, tried to reorganize my pack, and talked to people. Six of us just had dinner at the AYCE place, so I'm stuffed. I'll think about that tomorrow night while I'm eating noodles! Tomorrow I'll get shuttled to Wayah Bald and head north from there. It's 2 nights for me to N.O.C., but all three days are low mileage days; I think the longest is about 6 miles. My next update will be from there. BTW, any delays in updates are my fault, my sister is posting things as soon as she gets them. Thanks, Sis! Sent off a package of paper stuff to Peggy today and a package of mostly clothes to Candi. Still not sending my winter stuff, but just extra. My winter clothes will go home after I'm through the Smokies. See you on the Trail!granny frannyA note from Franny Granny¢s transcriber (her sister). Franny Granny will reach her 60th birthday on May 11. Let¢s all help her celebrate!
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Wayah Bald

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

This morning Ronnie shuttled me back to Wayah Bald so that I could continue my northbound journey. The day was sunny and cool; good for hiking.Balds are areas on the top of a mountain that are free of trees. It is not the same thing as being above treeline. We won't hit that until Vermont or New Hampshire. No one seems sure why the balds formed. Some say it was from grazing cattle, others think it was a more natural process, but quite a few mountains have a clear grassy area at the top.Today was a little strange. I've become accustomed to seeing quite a few hikers during the day; ones going in the opposite direction as well as the ones who are faster than I am and who pass me on the Trail. Today I saw no one until this evening when three other hikers came into the shelter.So there are four of us here in the shelter tonight, 3 young men, Straw, Stoker, and Locomotive Joe, and me. Locomotive Joe carries a trail guitar (smaller than a regular guitar) and also a harmonica, so he serenaded us for awhile. We also had a nice campfire until rain chased us inside. On a rainy night it sure is nice to be in a shelter!This is one of the older shelters still in use on the Trail, built in 1933 by the CCC. It is built out of large logs, and supposedly sleeps 6. It would be real cozy with 6 sleeping here...See you on the Trail!granny franny
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Wesser Bald shelter
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, though it was warmer. I slept a little cold last night.I lost a lot of the conditioning I had acquired on my hike on the extended downtime in Franklin. Today was not a long or particularly hard day, but I didn't think I would ever get up that 800 foot climb up to Wesser Bald! Every time I would think "this has to be the top", the trail would go around a curve and continue climbing. The shelter is not quite a mile down the other side of the mountain, though I did have to go back up the trail about .2 miles to get water after I dumped my pack at the shelter and got my water filter and the 4 liter bag I get camp water in. I try to get enough water for the next day, especially when water is quite a ways from the shelter, like it is here.Most of the shelters so far have bear cables, to hang your food so that it doesn't attract animals, and a privy. This one has the bear cables, but no privy, which is a little surprising because it is a newer and larger shelter than the last one.So far, I am the only one here, but someone may drag in yet. The three guys I sheltered with last night were going all the way to N.O.C. today, but it's too far for me.See you on the Trail!granny franny