morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail Day 29 - Max Patch!!!Out on the trail at 8:50. Last one except for Pirate, who tents & does not stay in shelters. I am slow because I always eat hot cereal for breakfast, followed by coffee. Plus I take my time getting packed and tending to my feet. The trail in the morning was a series of ups and downs. Rain threatened and the air was cooler. It started raining as I walked down to Max Patch Road. I covered my pack and put on a rainsuit and headed up to Max Patch. As I entered the bald, the sun broke through the clouds and the rain stopped. My excitement mounted as I summited Max Patch. This place I have visited before and it was just as beautiful as I remembered it. I lingered there for an hour, taking in the grassy bald and the long sweep of misty mountains in all directions. I took lots of photos as I crossed over. This time would be different from the past as I would not be returning to a car at the trailhead but would disappear into the line of trees on the other side with my home on my back. The freedom to roam the woods finally found! The trail led through a tunnel of rhododendrons into a ravine with a tumbling creek. More ravines with creeks followed. Wildflowers and ground cover were abundant: white and purple trilliums, Dutchman's Breeches, violets, fiddlehead ferns, and many others. I walked slowly, stopping often for a photo or just to drink it all in. This part of the trail was the most lovely area so far encountered. This morning I reflected how the initial sense of adventure that I felt through Georgia and the Smokies was vanishing. Partly because the group of hikers I started with and met each night at shelters had gone ahead and now I am unknown to those I meet. I miss looking forward to seeing them again each day, but I am determined to go my own pace and enjoy the trail. It seems to me that everyone is in a hurry to get to the next shelter or town. Lonesome Dove once remarked about the hike "...the people - isn't that what it's all about?" Well, I enjoy the people I meet, but for me the hike is all about the trail. The initial excitement may be gone, but a deeper communion with the mountains is taking its place. I find myself hiking slower and stopping more often to experience the peacefulness of these forests.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail Day 30 - Down to Hot Springs.In the shelter last night were Patti and the Mailman, Lumber, and Walked-a-Lot. The shelter overlooks a ravine on three sides, from which owls were hooting day and night. Another pretty day that started cool and turned hot as lower elevations were reached. My fleece jacket was on & off most of the morning on the high ridges. Walked-a-Lot identified some clusters of plants looking like chives growing in a gap as ramps, that garlicy edible plant that is feated and dug for spicing up foods as a tradition in the mountains. Unfortunately, it has a reputation for bestowing such a foul odor upon the diner that it keeps all others at a distance. Children were kept out of school for 3 days after eating ramps, so they sometimes ate ramps as a legitimate way to play hooky.Today I had to stop to treat a large blister caused by an insect bite on my ankle. This is my 2nd such bite, not a problem previously, but this one rubbed against my boot so I had to drain and bandage it. I also developed some pain on the top of my foot from so much downhill walking in tightly laced boots. The boots had to be tight to minimize the friction that makes blisters. You can't avoid pain somewhere in the body when carrying a pack up and down hills all day. You can only hope to move the pain around from one area to another by making adjustments.Today ended with a hot dry hike into Hot Springs, relieved by a generous and delicious Southern fried chicken dinner at the Smoky Mt. Diner, a couple of cold brews enjoyed in good company on the patio of the Paddler's Pub, and an hour-long soak in the healing mineral waters of the Hot Springs Resort. Aaah, the joys of a great trail town!!!
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Hot Springs

To: Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn, Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Trail Day 31 - Zero day in Hot SpringsMoved my pack from the cottage Hiker Hostel to a large Victorian house on a hill, the Sunnybank Inn. The Pirate sez, When in Hot Springs, stay at Elmer's. Yesterday Elmer's was full, so I could not. The Sunnybank Inn is on the Historic Register and has a long history of providing lodging and entertainment for visitors. It was built in 1840 and owned for a long time by the Gentry family. Appalachian folk tunes were gathered here by a famous folklorist. Now Elmer hosts hikers and serves delicious vegetarian meals. I did my usual chores, bought a smaller hipbelt at the outfitter, picked up mail drops, sorted and mailed forward what I did not need. My body weight is down to 165 lbs., skin and bones. The town library had computers with fast internet connection, so I read trailjournals to catch up with what is happening with my fellow hikers. There were about 15 hikers present for dinner at Elmer's. Hot Springs rolled up the sidewalk at 9:00 pm and the town was deserted. Someone banged on the piano downstairs. I slept like a baby.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn, Hot Springs

To: Spring Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Trail Day 32 - Quiet day in the mountains.Skipped breakfast at Elmer's to get out early and avoid the heat. Stopped at a camp store to buy film. Noticed my pack stay had poked through the nylon of the pack and had to repair it. Crossed the French Broad River at 8:30 a.m. and passed the NOC cabins where River Guides were loading rafts on a bus to start their day. Climbed steeply to Lover's Leap, an overlook above Hot Springs and the river. Passed Walked-a-Lot on her cell phone at the peak. Wild Horse and Lumber sped by. Met Spoon who was doing a southbound thruhike. He started in Maine in August, took some time off during the winter and was now completing his hike. I took the .2 mile blueblaze trail to Rich Mt. Firetower. It is a modern tower with lots of antennae and satellite dishes. The second landing is locked to keep people out. The view was spoiled by so much electronic equipment around. I met Good Time and his wife, Blueberry Bert, as I returned to the AT. She exclaimed, We are not going up to that firetower! He asked me about the view and I told him it was not that great. As I walked on ahead I turned around and yelled, Oh, there is a cooler of cold beer up there! She responded, Awww, don't tell him that! That gave me a few chuckles as I went down the hill. I was slow today. It took 7 hours to walk 11 miles. I blame the food-heavy pack, the hot day, and the smaller hipbelt chafing my hips. Several hikers stopped for a break at Spring Mt. shelter and went on. I was done for the day at 3:30. I am tenting on a knoll above the shelter. Homeboy is the only person sleeping in the shelter. This will be my first night in my tent since the wayside park by the highway near Robbinsville. It is very quiet now on the AT with few people camping or sheltering at night. Maybe it will pick up over the weekend with more section hikers.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Spring Mt. Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Trail Day 33 - Rocky Ridge Day.Met Sauerkraut last night as he came in late and set up his tarp. He is from Frankfurt, Germany and has hiked extensively in Europe. He described the hut system in Switzerland. Nobody carries a tent or sleeping bag because the huts have bunks and blankets. Meals and beer are sold as well. A caretaker at each hut advises hikers on trail conditions. As many as 20 bunks are in a hut. He and his girlfriend slept in a tarp because the huts were full of drunken snoring men. He is hiking long miles because he has to be in Germany to be the Best Man at a wedding in August.I cruised for 3 miles from the shelter as it was all downhill. The next 5 miles were up but well graded and had plenty of flat areas. It was hot when I arrived at Little Laurel shelter, so I took a 2 hour break to eat and rest. Dead Lung was there. He had been hiking since 4 am from Hot Springs and was going on for a 26 mile day. He was feeling pressure to make miles because he had taken 4 days off in Hot Springs while his sister visited him. Ski Bum also arrived. He works as a ski guide in the winter in Breckenridge, Colorado and as a raft guide in the summer. The trail from Litle Laurel shelter was steep and it was still hot at 3pm when I set out. The elevation increased from 3600 to 4400. After White Rock Cliffs the trail forked into a high exposed ridge trail and a lower bad-weather trail. There were dark clouds and thunder over the next row of mountains and it looked like rain was headed this way. I chose to take the ridge trail as I thought I could finish it before the rain came. This is a brand new route for the AT, just opened this year. I imagine it is like hiking in the White Mountains, clambering over rocks and boulders on a spiny ridge of peak after peak. It was great fun and the impending rain clouds made it more exciting. I passed Turtle Don after about a mile, close to the end. He was going very slowly and tentatively over the rocks, and he said he was ready to be off them. In 10 more minutes, I was descending again on an earthen path. I would love to do that section again.I got into Jerry Cabin shelter at 6:30 and found a class of 15 teenage girls there with a couple of boys and their teacher. They were pretty noisy so I tented in an area about 50 yards away, as did the other thruhikers. Homeboy and a gentleman from Greenville, Gene Gaby, were nearby. Gene is not a thruhiker; in fact, he lives down in the valley and was hiking overnight with his dog, Sheba. He said he has hiked these trails many times. He is an attorney and he was so kind as to give me his card so that I could call him if I developed any problems (physical, not legal) on the trail. I am sure I will not need any help but appreciate his offer.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Jerry Cabin shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail Day 34 - Paranoia at Sugarloaf GapThe trail led out of the shelter to two pastoral balds adorned with white and pink dogwoods. There were memorial markers along the trail for several people who died, one a 1968 AT hiker. A reminder to me to enjoy this day that I am blessed with in these mountains. I crossed a boulder field, descended for the next 3 miles to Flint Gap, and then made a short climb to the next shelter. I arrived by noon and rested only 1/2 hr. as it was a cool day. The next shelter would be a very long 8.8 miles away. Fortunately, the weather stayed cool & breezy, as there were many roller coaster hills to climb. My back was sore and I was tired by 5 pm when I finally reached the shelter. Plenty of time to rest, gather water from the spring, cook dinner and work on my journal. I luxuriated with a cup of hot chocolate before retiring on the shelter floor. The only others here are Homeboy and Turtle Don.I met only two people on the trail all day. The first was Ponderer, who was hiking south from the Shenandoah mountains. He said he had met 300 northbound thruhikers and had been through 6 inches of snow. I asked what he pondered and he said the first question on his list is who am I. The second person I met started my paranoia alarm ringing. I had crossed a highway with mobile homes and barking dogs around, and I was sitting by a stream a little way up the trail when a thin young man in blue jeans and a white t-shirt came down the mountain. He had no pack and did not answer when I spoke to him, just gave me a smirk. He was obviously a local and I wondered what he had been doing further up the mountain. He looked like Anthony Perkins in Psycho, except the name that would fit him would be Clem or Clyde. I watched him amble down the trail with a mountain man gait, arms hanging with fingers curled and palms facing back. He didn't look like he was going for a shotgun or rifle. Nevertheless I powered up the next few miles glancing over my shoulder with the sound of Dueling Banjos in my head.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

Trail Day 35 - A Religious ExperienceChewing mice and snoring men kept me awake in the shelter, so I got out of my bag and pitched my tent at 11 pm. At 1:00 am it began to rain and did not stop all night. In the morning I packed a wet muddy tent. It rained harder as I made my way down to the road at Sam's Gap. My nylon pants were soaked so I stopped under the overpass to change into rain pants and put my camera away. Turtle Don joined me to change his clothes. Just then a couple of hikers dropped someone off at the trailhead and asked if we needed a ride. I replied it would be great to get a ride to the cafe about 3 miles away. Turtle Don and I hopped into the back of the truck with our packs and we sped away. We enjoyed a delicious dinner plate of turkey and trimmings, coffee and pie in the warm and toasty Little Creek Cafe while it poured rain outside, all the more a treat because it was totally unexpected. After our lunch, as we stooped under an awning adjusting our packs, a van from Bluff Mt. Outfitters stopped and took us back to the trail. He was picking up some section hikers who had called for a shuttle on their cell phone at the same underpass we just left. Perfect timing because this country road had very little traffic.The rain eased off as I walked up the mountain. I passed Batch, who is the oldest thruhiker this year at 82 years old. He is no slacker either. He gets out early and hikes a lot of miles. He has previously thruhiked the AT and the Pacific Crest Trail. That night at the shelter I named us the Geezer Patrol: Homeboy (71 yrs.), Turtle Don (turning 70 tomorrow, Batch (82), and me a very junior 59. You can imagine the chorus of snores in the shelter. I could not put up my tent as it is not permitted on Bald Mt. which is a fragile zone.Gene Gaby had told me that Bald Mt. would be a real treat, but I had no idea how special it would be. There is a 6.5 mile climb to Big Bald, from 3800 to 5500 ft. Most of it is gradual along the side of a ridge through dense forest and abundant flowers. Near the top a craggy, rocky climb through fir trees amid swirling clouds. I felt I was entering a holy place, but I could not see very far ahead. Suddenly I breached the treeline and beheld the huge round profile of the grassy top. As I crested, the clouds dropped down, I turned and just gasped "Oh my God!" All around was the most beautiful panorama of mountains nestled in clouds that I had ever seen. I stood awestruck and thanked God for the privilege of being there. In every direction there were clouds and mountains dancing in the light. Juncos and robins flew about the pastures. I snapped many photos and left the bald reluctantly. As I departed, the clouds closed in again. I was the only hiker in the shelter that night who had this experience: the others said it was too cloudy and they could not see anything. I feel that God opened a door for me.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Bald Mt. Shelter

To: Super 8 Motel, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: broken clouds

Trail Day 36 - Longest Miles DayI was determined to go all the way to Erwin so I hit the trail at 8:15. It would be mostly downhill, easier effort but harder on the toes. In 6 miles, at Spivey Gap, I passed Turtle Don, who started 2 hours before me. To make up for his slowness he hikes long hours. I admire his patience and persistence. The trail was covered with pine straw, reminding me of Philmont trails. I reflected on the highlights of my hike so far and was amazed by the multitude of places I've seen and people I've met. So much to remember! I am glad I'm keeping this journal. The day was very windy and cool but also sunny. I reached No Busines Knob shelter by 2 pm and was reenergized knowing I could make the 6.3 miles to town by 5:00. A full day of downhill caused blisters on my big toes. I minimized damage by rocking from my heels rather than stepping down on the toes.Erwin was visible from on high long before reaching the road. It is a narrow 7-mile strip with a lot of road walk preceding it. Luckily, a local woman stopped and took me to Ms. Janet's Hostel. The hostel was full so I walked a few blocks to the Super 8 Motel, expensive but just what I needed to get cleaned up and rest.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Super 8 Motel, Erwin, TN

To: Miss Janet's House, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Trail Day 37 - Miss JanetI moved my pack over to Miss Janet's House and waited for an opening. Her hostel is popular but she can accomodate only about 15 people. I wanted to stay there because I have heard so much about her. She was one of the first to sign my guest book on trailjournals. Everyone loves Miss Janet.Now I can confirm that her good reputation is well deserved. She not only opens her home and heart to hikers, she goes out of her way to help them: shuttling, feeding, listening, advising. She is truly a trail angel of the first degree. I really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere there. The Pirate warned it would be a big party, but that was not the case. Just a happy family of hikers. I was in my bunk early and slept well. We all had breakfast together at a long table in the backyard the next morning and answered her question, What would you do if you had a million dollars to give to charity? My response: Give it to an organization that introduces inner city kids to outdoor skills by hiking, canoeing, camping and teaching Leave No Trace ethics.I talked with Roamin' while repacking my meals. He works at a restaurant with a rafting company and trains as a river guide. He told me about his completed thruhike. He said it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do with his life. He was not happy in college and decided that was not for him. While hiking he developed skills that gave him confidence and made him self reliant. He learned that he can do without a lot of things and be happy. He looks now for a life of adventure.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Miss Janet's House, Erwin, TN

To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: broken clouds

Trail Day 38 - Bear HoaxAfter breakfast, we loaded our packs into Miss Janet's van and were taken back to the AT. There were several stops along the way: the garbage dump, post office, hikers on the road, gas station. I stopped at Uncle Johnny's hostel to look for a replacement tip for my Leki pole with no luck. I need the tip because I use the pole as a tent pole. I will have to fasten a pointed stick to it to fit through the tent grommet.I was on the trail at noon but stopped after a mile at a raft company on the river to use the phone and coke machine. On the trail again, someone had posted a shocking photo of a hiker with a leg chewed to the bone and a warning that this was taken after a bear attack on nearby Iron Mt. and, though the bear was killed, there were more out there. The concensus in the shelter is that this is a fraud and a prank meant to scare hikers. The bear was a very large brown bear, looking like a Kodiak from the bloody snout. The photos were probably lifted from the Internet and the attack was most likely in Alaska. I hiked only 4 miles today due to the late start and the distance of 12 miles to the next shelter. I prefer to do less miles right out of town because my pack is heavier. I am tenting tonight because the shelter is full. Nicole, Slow Barbara, SlowPoke, Joanne, Joe, Pete, and TrailDog are in the shelter. Nicole is from Quebec. She speaks little English. She is section hiking a week at a time as a way to learn English. A novel approach to learning a language! She is a brave young woman.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

Trail Day 39 - The Beauty Spot & Unaka Mt.Started raining at 9 am. Fortunately I was all packed to go and my tent did not get wet. Put on my rainsuit and left at 9:10. Rained lightly on & off most of the day. Climbed to the Beauty Spot where I could see Erwin below. Also saw a pair of brilliantly blue bluebirds. A junco flew out of a hole by the trail near my feet. I wonder if juncos keep warm by nesting in holes in the ground. The wind was cold and it was cloudy all day. On top of Unaka Mt. there was an evergreen forest that was so thick with large fir trees that it was dark. The elevation was 5180 ft. at the summit. My camera battery died so I could not take photos up there. There are 7 in the shelter including me. Slowpoke pulled a leg muscle on the trail today and got a ride down from the Beauty Spot to get treatment in town. Joe went with him. I talked with Pete, who is Joe's son, about working with Outward Bound programs. He has led trips in the Southwest, owned a hostel in Bisbee, AZ and will go to the Phillipines with the Peace Corps after he finishes his thruhike.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Trail Day 40 - Roan Mt.Could not sleep for the snoring in the shelter, so I got up at 5:30 am and was on the trail at 7:00. Cloudy day with rain threatening. Crossed highway at Iron Mt. Gap and met Keith, who was camping with his brother and friends. Was passed by Spot, who is doing an AT thruhike for the 5th time. He is afraid he will run out of money before finishing this time. Rain started up. Got to Greasy Creek Gap and met Zach, who looks just like Brad Pitt. He had stayed the night at the Greasy Creek Hostel just 0.6 miles off the trail. He told me they make great hamburgers. I did not need another reason to head on down there. The Greasy Creek Hostel (1.5 mi. side trail) is run by PackRat and CeeCee. CeeCee talked about her lost dog while making me a cheeseburger and ice cream sundae. Pete and Nicole soon walked in.After this delicious lunch, I was ready to press on. I stopped by the next shelter and found the two main snorers there planning to spend the night. That motivated me to go on to Roan High Knob shelter, 6.4 miles away. It was 2 pm and I knew it would be slow going as there is a steep 2000 ft. climb to Roan Mt. I expected to get there by 6 pm. The climb was very steep and the trail was a tangle of tree roots. I stopped briefly to talk with a scout troop from Winston Salem near the top. I was sore and exhausted by the time I arrived at the shelter. I had not taken my pack off for the last 4 hours because I was afraid of wasting time, and I just wanted to get to the shelter. My back, hips and shoulders were all painful. The top of Roan Mt. is evergreen forest. Roan High Knob is the highest shelter on the AT at 6285 ft. It is an old cabin originally built to house the fire tower warden. Sue, Zach, and Wild Man were there. There was a rainstorm with a lot of wind that night, so I was glad to be warm and dry inside.Today another junco flew up by my feet and I looked down to see a nest in a hole in the ground with 4 small white eggs. So I can confirm that juncos are indeed ground nesters. I saw another deer today on the side trail to Greasy Creek Hostel. There were no views as Roan Mt. was enveloped in clouds.