morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-24
From: Fontana Inn

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 1.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wowie, do I have stuff to catch up on. Now that I'm warm and dry in here I'm finally getting to writing. I suppose I'll catch up day by day.3/20 NOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter.7 miles up hill in freezing rain. It was kind of a scary day--we pretty much ran up the mountain to stay warm, and even so my hands were colder than they've ever been--I couldn't feel them at all. Casey gave me his coat that he wasn't wearing and dry socks to put over my hands. We made it to the shelter fine, where we met Headrest, Squirrel, and Jaws. Also there--Alexander, Pockets, 365. Jon and Lily swooped in and out.Some time during the day Casey felt something in his leg pop, probably from pushing uphill too hard with frozen muscles. But we slept warmly and woke up to all the ice melted. nice.3/21 Sassafras to Brown Gap ShelterCasey's leg started hurting more and more as we walked downhill (where it had popped before--the IT Band) and made it very painful for him to walk. We also beat our maildrop here. So 2 zeros in a row, to wait for the maildrop and so Casey can stretch and ice his leg--no use in screwing it up more this early in our hike! Chainsaw and Sundancer are here, Jon and Lily left today, and we met Hobbit, who's been hiking with Chainsaw and Sundancer. Still no news of Krush, Ryan, or Parkay, some good people we met a while ago and have been wondering about. Casey and I are both really antsy and sick of Fontana Village, and the cloudy weather plus the bum leg has us struggling to not be grumpy. But tonight we'll be making our way to the Fontana Shelter and hiking through the much anticipated Smokies. I hope it'll be clear enough to see some of it--maybe some flowers on the way up? On the way to Fontana Dam we saw tons and tons of red Trillium (trillium sessile) (toadshade). I suspect our spirits will lift again when we're out of this stagnant building and into our next big challenge...more to come when we make it through!
Date: 2006-03-25
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollie's Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Actually, it's April 1st. But my hands were way too cold to write throughout the Smokies, and so here I am, about to chronicle the Icy Death World adventure retrspectively...Our first day in the Smokies was kind to us. We couldn't wait to get out of Fontana Dam but were quite apprehensive about the snow in the Park (we took to calling the Smokies Icy Death World from what it looked like down below. But it was a pleasant surprise to find a clear sky on glittering snow--no real iciness, definitely no death. But the day was getting pretty long and I was getting frustrated with a very long last 3.5--I was just about to display my anger when the shelter appeared. I saw some smokinesscoming from a chimney, but didn't want to get my hopes up so I assumed it was snow blowing from the roof. But lo and behold, a full shelter (room enough for us though) with a sock-warming fire.
Date: 2006-03-26
From: Mollie's Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Gross. Woke up to shoes and socks frozen solid--really solid, there was no way I could put more than my toes in the things. So I stuck them by the fire until they thawed, which meant putting my feet in glacial ice water puddles. But despite the initial pedal grumpiness, my toes eventually warmed up the water that was destined to remain in the shoes for a few days. I saw one tiny cat print on the trail--Bobcat? Lynx perhaps? I dunno.The big climbs for the day were up Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountains. We sang bits and pieces of a song about Rocky Top, TN, and enjoyed our first Smokies panoramic. Oh, I forgot to write about the first good view yesterday--it snuck up on us, a big window full of moody clouds and crumpled mountains. It looked like a good Ansel Adams photography. Back to Rocky Top--I won the Randy-naming contest. He is now 'Nor Easter'--comes from various places in the Northeast, is travelling northeast, and we were in a snowstorm at the time. And that's my first time naming somebody. We settled at Derrick Knob Shelter tired, cold, and wet, but the day was alright.
Date: 2006-03-27
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

This was an atrocious day from hell that marked the beginning of a deep and brooking hatred for Great Stupid Mountains National Park. It took 12 hours to walk 13.5 miles. My feet were freezing and soggy all day due to walking alternatingly through snow drifts (8-10 inches, some drifts on the side of the trail were 2 1/2 feet deep) and ankle-deep slush bombs--these would look like solid snow until you stepped on them, making them explode and simultaneously filling your shoes from the sides and splashing up and over into the ankles with gritty ice water. The climb up the much-anticipated Clingman's Dome was anticlimactic--it was cold and windy at the top of the tower, the day was almost over and we were exhausted, and plus somehow having a huge towerat a designated beauty spot is less exciting/satisfying than the feeling of discovering a good view on your own. Much cursing was involved in this day.
Date: 2006-03-28
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a bad day. We made it to Newfound Gap where a couple of Trail nagels were waiting with Krispie Kremes, Honey Buns, Sandwiches, and orange juice. They drove us and Energizer Bunny into town and to the Post Office, came back to wait for us at the grocery store while we resupplied, and drove us all the way back to the Happy Hiker. Wow. Incredibly nice people. Unfortunately we beat our box again, so we had to send it to Erwin. At the Happy Hiker we saw Jon and went back to his room to visit with Lilly and Hobbit--had a slice of pizza each (mmmm...), cleaned up our rotten, stinky pot, and headed back to the road. Oh and we met Bemis and South Paw, 2 Southbounders who had started in August and July, respectively. It only took about 30 minutes to hitch a ride with a woman named Maryanne. Total town time: 4 hours.Not a bad 3 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter--we met Calumet there. We met an English guy named Claude who took a lot of pictures and is a consultant--he goes to universities and hears out scientists' ideas and tells them if they're feasible.Also met a thru-hiker named Pyro who hurt his knee and had to get off the trail. I hope that gets better, he was really upset--this has been a dream of his since he was 6. At least he's 21 now, so plenty of time to try again!
Date: 2006-03-29
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

We woke up to a wonderful sunrise and not too far to walk before Charlie's Bunion. If you're hiking along here, don't pass it up! The side trail isn't even .1, and it's so worthwhile! I sat on the big rock and ate a granola bar enjoying the view for a half hour. Upon leaving the Bunion (so-named after an actual bunion on an actual guy named Charlie) we followed some Sobo bear prints on the trail for about a mile, huge ones! It was perfect print condition--slush that got imprinted and then frozen. We could clearly see front and back paws.Unfortunately after that the day took a nose-dive. Another 12-hour mucky slushy icy miserable slog. I couldn't even bring myself to look up at any views, I was too busy cursing and crying for hours straight. And I won't hear anyone calling me a pansy until they've walked for 12 hours through the same, totally unable to walk like a normal person--every step slipped out from under me in random directions leaving me on my butt several times, wet and cold, and with badly aching knees from my feet sliding all around. At least it was comforting to see that I wasn't the only one having a hard time--one guy we saw was cursing the whole way and Calumet was counting all his footsteps (got up to 3 thousand something) to try to keep his mind off the conditions. But eventually we made it to the shelter, where there was a small fire, a pristine privy, and a watersource that was mercifully close by. The weather was also turning a little warmer.
Date: 2006-03-30
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Aaaahh. Last day in the stupid Smokies! As we lost elevation the sun began to shine, the slush became less fierce until it faded completely away, spring beauties (Claytonia virginica) abounded, and much easy walking was to be had. We got to Davenport Gap Shelter, about 15 miles, and as it was only 3:30 (what a difference no slush makes!), decided to break our record and push a few more miles to Standing Bear Farm, a very interesting place that reminded me a little of the anarchist co-op. A give-and-take library, honor system payment, very laissez-faire atmosphere. Who was there...Calumet, Squirrel, and some new folks to us--Ozzy, a 66 year old who meets up with his wife in towns, Boulder, who is staying for a few weeks to recover from shin splints, Smokin J, Sprocket, and Curtis, the owner.Ate some DiGiorno pizza, and I sat around like a zombie. I was so sleepy. And anyway there wasn't much room for me in the conversation, it was a bit of a testosterone-fest--everyone there was talking about cars and splitting wood and building stuff. So I went to bed.
Date: 2006-03-31
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Holy Trail Magic! We had just been talking about morels, and how we had never either of us seen one, when what appears right beside my foot...a big fat juicy morel! After staring in awe for a while, we harvested it...later on at the shelter, we used gravy from our dinner to fy it up and each had 1/4 of a morel. It was great! So different than a shop rite portabella. Not much else that was noteworthy for the day, but heck...that was plenty!
Date: 2006-04-01
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I would like to thank the Carolina Mountain Club for cutting and maintaining this loveliest and pleasantmost section of the trail. Today (I'm finally caught up!) was one of the best days on the trail so far. The day started out foggy and cool and then warmed and sunned up. I have been in an excellent mood since not walking through slush is my new favorite thing to do! (At least the Smokies was a good experience in that I have something to compare bad days to...and I do feel more confident an outdoorsperson since). Many good flowers--bloodroot, spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, trilliums, hepatica, even a trout lily! The climb up Max Patch Bald rivals Albert Mountain for my favorite mountain. The wind was strong enough that I had to crouch low and really use my poles to keep from blowing off the trail! As we got to the top the wind got stronger--we leaned into the wind and it held us up, and with closed eyes it was easy to imagine that I was skydiving. I believe that may have been the strongest wind I've ever stood in. It also sometimes felt like a rollercoaster--when you're in a corkscrew and your face kind of gets smushed to one side--the wind was that strong. From the top I could see rolling meadows and solitary houses in the mountains. We enjoyed an hour long lunch break and kept walking on near-flat terrain that took us through long tunnels of rhododendron and over cool brooks--it made me feel either like I was sneaking around gardens behind Darcy's estate or like Alice chasing the White Rabbit to the Queen of Hearts...but fortunately we didn't find her!I was smiling all day thinking how this can't possibly be any more different than those couple days in the Smokies We relaxed by a spring to get water for an hour, were passed by Mr. Rogers, and pressed forth over hill and dale to the next shelter.
Date: 2006-04-02
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs/Sunnybank Inn (Elmer's)
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Another pleasant day, but nothing spectacular. It's funny, in GA they don't seem to believe in switchbacks at all, but in NC they seem to have switchbacks in mind but sometimes forget to actually switch it back...rather than going straight up and over, Georgia-style, the trail will have us traversing the entire side of a mountain for a mile before switching back. Anyway--we made it down to Hot Springs! A big marker in my mind. The Appalachian Trail logo is right on the sidewalks. We followed Jaws into Cody House Hostel but moved on to Sunnybank Inn, owned by Elmer Hall. This plaze is AMAZING!! @@**! It's got more character and charm than I know what to do with. If you hike through Hot Springs, definiately stay here. It's an old house that's full of mountain history, gorgeous old furniture and decorations, and beautifully framed art (lots of Van Gogh) on every wall, old hat collections, statues, a common room with big couches, a music room with piano, banjo, guitars, old woodwinds, pennywhistles, and paintings of people playing all these instruments. Porches wrap all around the house, there's a big garden in the back with some lawn full of violets, benches, and chairs and fountains, flowers and vegetables, little stone paths lined with shrubs, flowering trees, the first tree leaves I've seen yet actually on a big Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), a cat roaming the grounds stalking birds. And the food, my goodness. Home cooked gourmet 4-course vegetarian food! For dinner--some kind of delicious tomato soup; a huge salad with carrots, tomatoes, feta, olives, and some violets, with a thick tahini based dressing; spinachy lasagna and goulash; and for dessert ginger-pecan cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.And...it is now 4/3. Still at Elmer's--zeroing in Hot Springs. To continue with the food...this morning we had many choices--granola with soy or real milk; cantalouope; pancakes with strawberries, apples, apple butter, jam, real syrup, or butter to top; peppermint tea or coffee, and apple juice. Last night we could hear rain and thunder--perfect timing for staying here! Jon and Lilly rolled in, as did Red Dog, Craig and Cathy, and a few people rolling out. We finally met Mountain Goat; Ozzy and his wife left, and it's Calumet's final stop for his first AT section (Congratulations!)Maybe we'll make it in to the hot springs today, maybe not, we might get some pie at the diner across the street, and Elmer's looking for something for us to do in terms of work-for-stay. Could possibly be weeding the garden for a few hours. It would be extremely worthwhile.
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Hot Springs/Sunnybank Inn (Elmer's)

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, Casey and I have decided to do some solo camping/hiking for a few days. He's just doing 5 today and will catch up to me before hitching in to Erwin, I'm not so sure I like it...today was odd though, since I expected to be walking alone but caught up with Underground early in the day and hiked with him untilthe shelter. Red Dog and 365 are also here, and some weekenders. I'm not gonna mess with Casey's Hut just yet--tomorrow looks relatively flat and so I'll go at least 15.4 to 2 shelters from here, and there's another at 21.3--there must be some camping somewhere in between.
Date: 2006-04-08
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin, Tennessee (Miss Janet's)
Miles today: 6.3

If you are a hiker who winds up in Erwin, stay at Miss Janet's. She is awesome. Her hostel is super comfortable and breakfast was--w banana pancakes topped with ice cream, whipped cream, cinnamon, bananas foster topping, and syrup if you wanted it; scrambled eggs; bacon; orange juice and coffee. Casey and I did work-for-stay--cleaned dishes, folded some towels, helped make breakfast. Redneck gave us a ride back to the trail with Texas. He gave us some AT advice, and we wished him luck on his PCT thruhike which he'll start later this month. We met at Miss Janet's Crumbs and Saspirilla (sp?), Bear, Tortoise, Shanae, and Ajax, who's a 2nd year in Oberlin.
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Erwin, Tennessee (Miss Janet's)

To: Curly Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: clear sky

4 miles out of Erwin, we stopped here with Texas and met Gary--Gary takes 8/9 months to thru. He's done the AT and the PCT and always carries a 100-110 pound pack stuffed with a full laptop, a huge stove, an entire economy sized seasoning shaker, and big cans of spaghetti. He walks only 5-6 miles per day. He has a trust fund so he never works. I'd guess he's in his late 50s. EVERY morning he lets out a shout and says, 'Every shelter a palace, every meal a feast, every day an adventure. Who could ask for more?'
Date: 2006-04-11
From: campsite

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was a very pretty day. We went over Roan Mountain--a long hard climb, but really enjoyable--shady and smelled like Christmas because of all the pine trees. We stopped for a 'sumptuous luncheon' as it was advertised on the sign for the old Cloudland Hotel--we ate in what was left of the foundation. Coming down from the mountain was a really well-built new section of the trail. Then up and over a lovely bald to the Shelter. Awesomest shelter yet!--An old red barn overlooking a valley down below, with an enormous loft. Got a good night's sleep and a nice late start.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: campsite
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Lots of lovely balds today. I love the bald mountains. It's nice to see where we came, and all the valley around the mountain. We ate lunch in a grassy field at Doll Flats until we realized we were sitting in a patch of baby brown recluses--Casey's not sure that's what they were--'it's more of a dulcimer shape than a violin' he says. Hmmm...I will say they were brown recluses. Either way, neither of us got bitten so it doesn't matter too much. We're camped in a rhododendron thicket nearby 'Mountaineer Falls,' which is a really nice water source. Tomorrow we'll check out Kincora and maybe get some cheeseburgers, which I've been craving lately with fries. And a pickle. Maybe some pie...mmm...
Date: 2006-04-13
From: campsite

To: Dennis Cove/Kincora
Miles today: 15.6

Well, no cheeseburgers here...Bob took Bushwhacker, Tex, Casey and I to the grocery store and we hit both Arby's and Little Caeser's. Bob was really nice, but the place itself was pretty dirty. I guess that's the deal at $4/night! I'm stuffed happily, and we still have pizza and Crazy Bread for tomorrow to fuel us to Watauga Lake.It was fun earlier to hear Beagle (Ga-ME '04) and Bob swap trail stories about frostbite, dead bodies, and giant sandwiches earlier--Bob's favorite is peanut butter, nutella, fluff, and jam rolled in a tortilla. Aahhh...gotta try that sometime.
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Dennis Cove/Kincora

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Latest start EVER! We slept in and hung around Kincora with Tex until 1:00, eating: Raisin Bran (with REAL milk). Strawberries. A banana. 3 buttered biscuits. A whole bunch of pizza and crazy bread. 2 glasses of juice. Aaahh, delicious.Walking by Laurel Fork Falls was tough--so pretty, it was so hot out and the water looked so inviting. But since we started so late, we were confined to dipping our hats in the water and squishing them onto our heads. I found a visor in the Kincora hiker box with a picture of a golf course on it. It's serving me well.Up to Pond Flats, I went to the pond to see if I could find any frogs or salamanders or tad poles, and I disturbed an injured/dying vulture. It tried to fly but couldn't, so instead it just stayed real still and looked at me...weird to see a dying vulture--for some reason I never really considered their deaths--just them eating other dead things. Do vultures feast on other dead vultures?Anyway, we then went down around Watauga Lake--nice lake surrounded by beeches and redbuds, and all kinds of flowers coming out down here that haven't sprung up yet at higher elevations. Haven't seen any other hikers at all. It's nice and quiet here, and it's starting to cool down. Plus, full moon tonight.
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning we ran out of Aqua Mira and had 3 liters between the 2 of us...and I've gotten used to drinking 3-4 by myself. We were thinking of trying to find some bleach when we were going down Watauga Dam Road, but there weren't any buildings or payphones that weren't a mile off the trail so we decided to just boit it or drink it untreated if we found a really good water source.Walking up out of Watauga Dam we were passed by a guy named Goat Man, with whom we crossed paths with again a few times later on. He's done more than half the trail in sections and is from around here.   Knows these mountains really well--all the old logging roads, marked and unmarked trails, the history of certain places. When he's not hiking he makes teeth for dentures, and quite likes that. He's called Goat Man because usually he hikes with his pet billy goat named Buddy, who is apparently a great trail companion, except that you have to watch that he doesn't eat up all your gear. Anyway, Goat Man is a really nice and interesting guy, and he is a good storyteller. And he let us use his filter for 4 more liters since we ran out early on. It's crazy how many worthwhile people we meet on the trail, it's fun stuff.
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: broken clouds

My biggest day yet was not as hard as I thought it would be. The Nick Grindstaff monument was interesting ("Lived alone, suffered alone, died alone"), and it was neat to see the sun come up--we got up at 5:15 and walked until 8, which included an hour for lunch and a couple 30 minute breaks. True, the bottoms of my feet are rubbed raw and bruised (strange place for a bruise), but we each had a bacon cheeseburger and are now crashing at The Place with Uber-Dude. It's pretty dirty here. And I'm beat...Goodnight...
Date: 2006-04-18
To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Oops...another zero. So...we accidentally spent 2 zeros in Damascus. Yesterday we did laundry and hung around in the Dairy King eating corndogs and strawberry milkshakes until the rain passed. Then we did a whole lot of nothing. It was nice. Hung out in Jon and Lilly's sweet apartment style room for a while, and headed to the Hiker's Inn, which was great--it didn't smell like hiker and the shower was clean so that I didn't feel dirtier afterwards, as so often happens in hostel showers. This morning we were just going to do some chores and leave, but we got stuck talking to Tex, Craig and Cathy on the porch of another hostel. I ditched my Spencos because they were responsible for the bruised arches and got some Superfeet at Mt. Roger's Outfitters, and the guy gave me a pair of Smartwools for free (which is awesome) (they were a try-on pair--he insisted my socks were too big but I didn't want to buy any, so he gave me them anyway).We finally picked ourselves up to go and made it to the gear store (Sundog) where Casey got a Virga. He's wanted to then send home his Ghost, but the Post Office is closed...oops, I guess we'll have to do it tomorrow. So now...we're back on the porch. We'll probably pitch the tent on a lawn and eat some hiker box Ramen and head out tomorrow.
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

Wow, Virginia's a pancake! This morning I had a large greasy breakfast that was large and greasy enough to make me feel pretty sick. But nothing bad happened, and as usual, I was glad to leave town and get back on the trail--those white blazes make me feel at home. The climb out of Damascus was barely noticeable, and while the climb up Straight Mountain was longish, it was mostly long gradual switchbacks. There was also a long flat section. So far this state is panning out as we had hoped.Right now we're camped next to a pond full of singing frogs, always a good lullabye.