morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-09-07
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

Scott's Journal:We awoke and headed to Black Bear Resort for a fuel canister. Bob, the owner, drove us to Elizabethton, and we shopped at Super WalMart. We ate lunch back at BlackBear Resort, and hiked up to White Rocks Mountain. The Laurel Falls are twin falls and truly beautiful. We only hiked 8 miles today and are camping at Moreland Gap Shelter. The weather has been nice and dry. Our trail legs are almost fully developed now. I think we will hike all the way to Springer Mountain. Jesus Christ walks with me on the trail. That gives me confidence. God is in my heart and I have a relationship with Him. All is well out here spiritually and physically.Interim note from Cassie based on phone call from Molasses & Mac&Cheese:Hiking day #72 - Left Laurel Fork Shelter this morning for the 8-mile hike to Moreland Gap Shelter. Passed Laurel Fork Falls. Hiked off the trail at Dennis Cove Road to a general store called Black Bear Resort for fuel, but they were out. Owners Bob and Mary Lee were very nice. (Bob expressed concern that the guys had slept at Laurel Fork Shelter because of the black bear activity in the area.) (Where were they supposed to sleep?) Bob drove them to Elisabethon TN to the WalMart there to buy fuel. Scott also purchased Gorilla Impact Glue to help repair the toe-cover of his boots.Then they got back to the trail and hiked up White Rocks Mountain (4,206 ft), where they had cell service. By then they had hiked 4 of the day's 8 miles. Then made it to Moreland Gap, another no-privy shelter. Only one other hiker showed up, and his name was Scott! He used to live in this area, although he lives in Florida now, so he was section-hiking some places he had been before. He shared some potatoes with them. Weather has been gorgeous, they say. Bob had told them earlier today to expect temps in the 40s at night now.
Date: 2013-09-08
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Roan Mountain, TN 
Miles today: 18.4

Scott's Journal:Today I woke unaware of what lie ahead -- our longest hiking day yet. We started our hike at 8am, the majority of which was downhill to Mountaineer Shelter for 9 miles. We ate lunch there and continued, planning to stop at a campsite near Elk River. We made good time, at a speed above 2 mph. When we found Elk River, there were no large enough campsites, so we kept hiking hoping to find one, but never did. We wound up ascending 1000ft on an open viewing ridge near Isaac's Cemetery. We met two section hikers finishing the whole trail northbound to I-81 Crossing. They were filled with joy. We kept hiking all the way, 19 miles to Mountain Harbor B&B. We arrived one day before our reservation. The B&B owners, Terry and Mary, were very accepting and hospitable and let us stay.Another interim note from Cassie:Sunday Sept 8 - Hiking Day #73 on the AT. Molasses and Mac&Cheese had planned to stop at Mountaineer Falls Shelter tonight, which would have been close to a 10 mile hike for the day, but it was early when they arrived there, so they decided to keep going to Roan Mountain, TN to the hostel. They hiked 18.4 miles instead, arriving at the hostel about 6:30pm. Mountain Harbor B&B and Hiker Hostel. They had a reservation there for TOMORROW night, but owners said it was not a problem. They stayed in the hostel which is the 2nd story of the barn, and nicely set up for hikers with a land line for incoming calls, refrigerator, microwave, sofa, etc. Internet wifi available on the front porch of the B&B. No AT&T cell service of course! But Tom was able to email me the phone # in the barn and I could call them there. The hostel can hold 6 hikers, but they were the only ones there. They made pizzas that were available in the freezer and relaxed, enjoying the view of the nearby creek and the horses.
Date: 2013-09-09
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

More info from the hikers:They decided to take a "zero day" (no hiking day) at the Mountain Harbor Hiker Hostel in Roan Mountain TN and enjoy their surroundings a little more, catch up on their hand-written journals, and just relax. This morning Mary made a delicious breakfast for them at the B&B. Terry gave them a ride into town to the PO to mail home some excess food and other items. They had picked up a re-supply box from the Inn owners when they arrived yesterday, and after going through everything, they realized they were hiking faster and covering more ground and didn't need all the food they had received. They had an early dinner in town of Roan Mountain and had instructions to call Terry for ride back to hostel when they were ready to leave. Tom had 4 bars of service on his cell phone in town, so called home from the restaurant. Will be leaving in the morning tomorrow after breakfast.
Date: 2013-09-10
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: broken clouds

Scott's Journal:We took a nice, relaxing zero day at Mountain Harbor B&B yesterday. I have clean laundry and I am resupplied. We left around 9am and ascended Hump Mountain. Had a great lunch at the top with good views and called Mom. All in all, we hiked over 10 miles and are tenting at Stan Murray Shelter. We met Shoes and Gary, a photographer, who showed us his awesome portfolio on his iPhone. He was a Methodist.Temporary update from Cassie:Sept 10 - Tuesday - Day 75 on the AT - This morning they met a hiker at the B&B whose name was Hatchet Man, an MD from Johnson City TN who had driven out for a shuttle ride to the trail. (Could he be a surgeon?) He was planning a 3-day hike. The guys had oatmeal at the hostel and then headed back to the AT at 9am. Had to walk along a road for 0.3mile with cars going by, and then AT veered off and they were back in the quiet woods. Felt good to get back on the trail after a zero day. Hiked for 4 hours and then stopped for lunch on a bald mountaintop (Hump Mountain) 5500' up and called home. Later they would hike up another bald called Little Hump Mountain - over 5,400 ft. Molasses and Mac&Cheese had planned to stop at Overmountain Shelter tonight, a large red converted barn that sleeps 20 and has great views, but somehow they missed the trail to it while hiking, and decided they did not want to backtrack. So instead of a 9.2 mile hike, they did 11.1 and stopped at the next shelter, Stan Murray shelter. By comparison, the Stan Murray shelter was older, teensy, open on one side, sleeps 6 and (unlike the red barn) it had no privy. They were the only ones there and because of the condition of the shelter, they decided to sleep in their tent tonight!
Date: 2013-09-11
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: haze

Scott's Journal:We left Stan Murray Shelter at 6:45am. There was no water source there so I left a little dehydrated. Thank the Lord God I was able to hike over 6 miles to a water fountain. There was a thick fog in the morning that eventually lifted on our way to Roan High Knob Shelter, the highest shelter on the AT. We hiked thru an evergreen fir tree forest that smelled great. We climbed Round Bald, Jane Bald, and Little Rock Knob. We met Mofo and Allegheny, two section-hikers. Allegheny thru-hiked in 2004 and sang in church choirs and played guitar at campfires along the way. We ended our day's hike at Connie's Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel, a very comfortable place to rest after hiking 15 miles.Info from a phone call from the mountain men:Started their hike at 7am. Passed Roan High Knob Shelter at 6,275ft, Ash Gap, Hughes Gap, and then Little Rock Knob. Called Cassie from a bald when AT&T service was available. The Bald Mountains are a range running along the Tennessee - North Carolina border - part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Southern Appalachians. It was their 3rd 'bald' so far this morning. Need to find some water to refill. Planning to hike to a hostel tonight. 'Greasy Creek Hostel' - it's been recommended by other hikers they've passed on the trail. Called later from the hostel and said owner Connie was very nice. They had a room inside the main house and they enjoyed visiting with her. She even made them dinner! Connie had some funny stories about her neighbor, who apparently does not like hikers. he has put out 'closed' signs on the road to her property to discourage hikers from stopping! Planning to get back on the trail in the morning.
Date: 2013-09-12
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: USFS 230
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: thunderstorm

We left Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel late at 9:30 after a great breakfast cooked by Connie. I slept very well and was ready for a few small climbs and a mammoth 1200 foot climb up Unaka Mountain. My legs were tired to begin with, but they improved. We were rained on early and afternoon, but at the tent site the weather was nice with a cool breeze. I loved the piped springs. Our tent was a matter of feet from a US forest service road, but there was really no traffic. We hiked 12 miles today. I enjoyed a dense spruce forest at the tip top of Unaka Mountain. I found great solitude and peace there. I am out.Temporary message from Tom's and Scott's phone call home:The guys left Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel after breakfast. Another hiker had arrived last night and stayed but he was hiking north and left about 8am. Tom and Scott got on the road again about 9am. Connie discovered the other hiker had left a small pack of personal items behind accidentally when he left the hostel, and she drove off to where he would cross a road 5 miles out so she could wait there for him and give him his belongings. Now that's a really kind thing to do! They hiked through Iron Mountain Gap, Low Gap, and then Unaka Mountain (5,180') before coming to US Forest Service Rd 230, where they stopped for the night at a small campsite. Just as they finished making dinner and setting up tent, it started to pour and they dove in the tent. Had cell service here, even in the tent, since they were at 4,660' so called Cassie from the tent in the storm.
Date: 2013-09-13
From: USFS 230

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 12.7

Scott's Journal:Last night was a vicious thunderstorm with winds over 30 mph. I slept right through it. Must have been tired.We put up the tent rain fly still wet. Our morning hike was through the fog so we missed the view at Beauty Spot. The whole day's hike was downhill. Around noon we met St.Andrew and Bishop and a dog that was given to them a couple days earlier by a female hiker. We also met Jersey, a 2007 thru-hiker. We arrived in Erwin at 3:30pm, and Sarge of Uncle Johnny's drove us to the Mountain Inn. My Dad and I did our chores and shuttled to town to eat great BBQ at Hawg & Dawgs. Erwin High School was having their homecoming football game. There was live bluegrass played on Main Street with an old car show.Note from Cassie until Tom & Scott have computer access ... (You may be wondering if they will EVER have computer access again! But yes, their own notes and stories will be swapped in very soon!)Molasses and Mac&Cheese woke in their tents after a stormy night. It was hard to get going because everything outside was soaking wet, so had to lay out gear and re-pack while inside the tent. Had a 12.7 mile hike today to reach town of Erwin, TN, where they planned to stay at Mountain Inn Hotel (formerly a Holiday Inn Express). Hiked thru several gaps - Deep Gap, Beauty Spot Gap, and Indian Grave Gap and into the Nolichucky River Valley before reaching small town of Erwin TN. About halfway to Erwin they passed a shelter (Curley Maple Gap Shelter) where they met two young men who were brothers and on a section-hike. They had a dog with them and a funny story about the dog. Apparently he is a stray that attaches himself to hikers and is looking for food. The brothers met a woman hiking with him who asked them if they would take the dog. The brothers offered the dog to Molasses and Mac&Cheese but they declined. Another guy named Jersey showed up who was from ... New Jersey! Jersey had already completed a thru-hike, and was out doing a section hike today. After short visit, when Tom and Scott started to leave, the dog followed them and the brothers had to whistle several times to get him to turn back. When they arrived in Erwin, the first place they stopped was Uncle Johnny's Hostel and Outfitter. He is located right where the trail comes to town and greets the hikers. An employee from Uncle Johnny's gave them a ride the 1.1 miles to their hotel. The Mountain Inn was very nice, clean and staff was friendly. Picked up their food package which had been shipped and was being held at the desk. Showered, did laundry and walked around the town a bit. They discovered the local high school was having their Homecoming Parade today, which a great many people had lined the streets to see. Heard a local banjo mountain music band perform street-side and enjoyed talking to people. They had a great dinner at the Hawg and Dawg, where they each ate a full rack of ribs and enjoyed chatting with the owner who came by their table to say hello. It was a small place, where owner and staff greeted customers by name and opened the door for them as they left.
Date: 2013-09-14
From: Erwin, TN

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Scott's Journal:We had a slow morning re-packing. We hung out in the hotel lobby talking with the front desk lady Valerie and ordering Italian takeout. The delivery man gave us a lift to Uncle Johnny's where we ate and started on 5.8 mile, 1000+ foot elevation hike to No Business Shelter. At the shelter we met Dave, a section hiker from Wynchester, VA. He had a nice fire going that was pleasant to sit around. We pitched our tent nearby. Dave pointed out some hemlocks to me that looked as big as redwoods. We had great conversation by the campfire. I enjoyed it.Info from a phone call home: 9/14/13 Molasses and Mac&Cheese had breakfast at the Erwin, Tennessee Mountain Inn Motel (former Holiday Inn Express)and checked out. They ordered a lunch delivery, and the driver who delivered their lunch to them at the motel gave them a ride back to Uncle Johnny¢s Outfitter at the trailhead, where they ate their lunch and also talked to ¢Sarge¢ at the outfitter about Tom¢s Leki pole problem. One of the tips is jammed into the pole and not as effective this way. Sarge tried to fix the jammed pole tip, but the basket would not come off, so he replaced the whole section with a different Leki pole bottom (no charge) and that seems to be working. Hiking to the No Business Knob Shelter for the night - only a little over 6 miles today. They like to do a shorter distance on the days they leave a town, so they can get errands done in the morning.When they reached No Business Knob Shelter, they met another southbound hiker named Dave. He is on a 2 week section hike to the Fontana Dam.
Date: 2013-09-15
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Scott's Journal:For once I awoke before my Dad and I saw the stars bright. We began hiking after sunrise. Three hikers (Austin, Mitchell and Walker) were filling their bottles down the trail. Dave had the idea of eating lunch on High rocks, so we met him and Austin, Mitchell and Walker and ate our lunch there. The views were fabulous. After lunch we ascended Little Bald Mountain. We stopped before Bald Mountain Shelter and filled our reservoirs. The Bald Mountain Shelter had cables like I had not used before. They are a great invention. Dave taught me to find dry wood in small, medium, and large sizes to build a campfire. Wood with bark falling off is best. After dinner we sat around the fire to chat. Nice, with cooler temperatures. I anticipate Hot Springs already.Info from a phone call made home: 9/15/13 Sunday ¢ Called from High Rocks ¢ about 7 miles from No Business Shelter and a fantastic viewing spot. Have been on the AT for 80 days now! Some of the best views since Virginia. Today they have passed quite a few section-hikers, but no thru-hikers. Met 3 guys who were hiking together and had just started out ¢ their first time on the AT. Tom & Scott are heading to Bald Mountain Shelter tonight.
Date: 2013-09-16
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

Scott's Journal:It was a cold morning and we started at 8:30am. We reached Big Bald Mountain early and non-profit volunteers were banding Swainson Thrushes to track their migration to Central and South America. There was fog on Big Bald, limiting the views. We saw Austin, Mitchell and Walker at the top, waiting for the sun to clear the fog. Poor Mitchell had such bad blisters he had to leave the trail. We met 4 hikers: Lost&Found, ShadyLady, BoulderMan, and RatPatrol. We hiked about 9 miles to Hogback Ridge Shelter. The piped spring flows very strong. I feel confident of finishing the approaching days. God is my strength. I tell all the hikers that Jesus Christ loves you and died on the cross for your sins. \Update from a phone call:9/16/13 Monday ¢ They are headed to Hogback Ridge Shelter today ¢ a little over 10 miles. They are hiking off and on with Dave, another SOBO (southbound) hiker they met at No Business Shelter. They had lunch with him today. He started the AT when he was 16 years old and finished it (the first time) when he was 18 by doing section hikes. Now he is doing it again as an adult. Does it in sections. Tom said Dave doesn¢t have a trail name, but he is going to give him one: ¢Old School¢ because Dave does it the way he learned in his teens. He uses an exterior frame backpack (old style) and does not use poles or carry a cell phone. Says poles are gimmicks by the pole manufacturers.Big Bald at 5,516 feet was the highest point today. They saw another bear cub ¢ or at least a juvenile ¢ he poked his head onto the trail about 50 feet ahead of them, but then he saw them and he disappeared. They also passed a bird banding site that was set up on top of a bald. The bird-banders had a huge net set up to catch birds who were migrating south (Canada to Central America?) When Tom & Scott approached the banding tent, the woman inside was in the process of banding a Swainson Thrush, so they were able to observe the process. (No, Molasses and Mac&Cheese did not know what a Swainson Thrush was before they woman told them!) They said they picked apples off an apple tree yesterday! (Was that trail magic or trail theft?)
Date: 2013-09-17
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Scott's Journal:We awoke and I prayed and worshiped before sunrise. We began hiking at 7:30am. We hiked over 8 miles of easy terrain to Flint Shelter. Dave easily passed us even starting after we did in the morning. After lunch we did 1,000 foot climb. It was straight uphill and very challenging for my Dad and me. On top we saw a beautiful grave for Shelton and 2 American soldiers. We met WhiteSans, Downhill, and PokeyStogie. At days end we had hiked 14 miles and ended at Jerry Cabin Shelter. There was just enough room for our feet on the end of the shelter platform. Dave shared banana pudding with us for dessert. My Dad and I ate out of his bowl because I had mailed mine home to save pack weight. My Dad and Dave are both very sharing.Update from the Hikers' call home:9/17-13 4pm The hikers called from another bald called 'Big Butt'¢ that seems to be the best place to get cell service ¢ no trees around and very high up. Today is Day #82 of the hike. They stopped for lunch at a shelter (Flint Mountain Shelter) and met a guy there named Pokey-Stogie who was a NOBO (northbound) hiker and UGA grad.They met 2 other NOBO hikers this afternoon (WhiteSands and Downhill). Last night (9-16)they stayed at Hogback Shelter with Dave, who is also a SOBO hiker, but they say Dave covers more ground than they do ¢¦ he is about 6¢2¢. Tonight they are stopping at Jerry Cabin Shelter. Weather is cooler but really nice and no rain. Today¢s hike about 15 miles, yesterday was a little over 10 miles. Scott says he has a minor problem with his Osprey backpack ¢ not the pack itself, but the bag inside that holds his the water bladder ¢ the bottom has torn so he had to rig up something to hold the water bag. He's hoping Osprey will replace the small interior bag for him.
Date: 2013-09-18
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

Scott's Journal:We awoke and it was chilly in the air. I hiked in my Polartec. We hiked Big Fireskald Knob. It had 360 degree views and was a technical climb with lots of rocks. We then hiked to Little Laurel Shelter and met Chris and Bradford from Montana. After a steep downhill we did in record speed, we stopped at "Mom's Store". It was run by friendly locals who read Psalm 121 to us off the wall and told us trail stories. Late afternoon we began our final ascent of 3 significant climbs. I had to climb over a fallen tree and I fell and cut my knee. On the last climb we passed a bee hole and were attacked by yellow jackets. I was stung twice on the thigh and twice on the knee. We stopped at Spring Mountain Shelter and filled it, adding to the 3 other hikers and 2 men in hammocks.Notes from a phone call home:9/18/13 Wednesday, Day 83 of the hike ¢ Tom and Scott called at 8:30am to tell me a couple more things to bring to NC on Friday ¢ Later in the day Scott fell and scraped up his leg. It had started to rain and he was trying to get around a narrow section of the trail and stepped on a branch, which broke, causing him to lose his footing. Then ¢¦ from out of the ground came a swarm of yellow-jackets that chased them for a bit! Tom was in the front (narrow path, remember) and Scott kept telling him to go faster, because Scott was getting stung ¢¦ but Tom says he couldn¢t go any faster! It might seem funny now, but I¢m sure they weren¢t laughing at the time. Scott got 4 stings and Tom got two. This was right before they reached the shelter (Spring Mountain Shelter) ¢ a 15.4 mile hike today.Tonight they shared the shelter with a husband and wife hiking couple (JavaMan and TeaSip) who are northbound and another hiker, Dave. The shelter was a very small old one, but at least it had a privy, which some Tennessee shelters have been lacking. The last 3 have had one. The shelter was crowded, because it rained, so they slept inside the shelter and there were 3 other people in there as well. Total of 7 hikers at the shelter, but 2 guys slept in hammocks with tarps rigged over them to keep them dry. Tom says they said it was extremely comfortable.Funny thing about those bees ¢ every southbound hiker who came into the shelter was chased by the bees. So they all commiserated over their stings. Two of the hikers in the shelter (TeaSip and JavaMan) were northbound, so they were concerned about leaving in the morning and having to walk past (or through) the killer bees!