morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Icewater Spring Shelter 5,920

To: Tricorner Knob Shelter 5,920
Miles today: 12.6

Last night it rained and rained! We were all quite toasty in the shelter and dry. With so many people in the shelter we generated a lot of body heat and I actually got hot. It was 52 degrees and cloudy and foggy when we woke up at 6:30. I wanted to get a jump on everyone since I thought most of those people were going to the same shelter as me. I was on the trail by 8:10 which is becoming common for me. I hiked alone for the first part of the day, then I hiked with Gator for a while until we reached the shelter. He is an American citizen, but has lived in Saudi Arabia as a paramedic for ten years. He pays no rent or utilities and saves his money to travel. He is on the AT for 4 months because his VISA will run out. Very interesting person. I will have to ask him his real name.We hiked in fog today but no rain. This was the easiest terrain in the Smokeys so far, but much of the trail was like a stream today. Fortunately, the trail was rock instead of mud in most places, but I got pretty messy today. My new shoes are working out great, but they look about 10 years old now.I am at the shelter with Undetermined and Sumac, Wizard, ReBob, Soren, Grizzly, Gator, Dan and Karen, Mr. Magoo and I don't know the other people. Kevin, a section hiker, is sleeping next to me. He assured me he doesn't snore. Mr. Magoo does though and he is under me. This may be another Benadryl night even though nothing itches.There is a privy here and a convienent water source we don't have to walk down to. There are no bear cables, so we hang the food in the shelter with us since there is a chain link fence to keep bears out. Ironic that we as humans think we are in charge everywhere we go. The bears rule here and we have to follow their rules, so we are caged in at night because we can't behave. I haven't seen any bears by the way, but sometimes I wonder how many have seen me.For those of you who are wondering, I haven't heard any banjos yet. I'm fine with that."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Tricorner Knob Shelter 5,920

To: Davenport Gap 1,980
Miles today: 15.7

Woke up to 45 degree temps. That made it really hard to get out of my sleeping bag. I only woke up 10 minutes earlier than I usually do and I got on the trail at 8:00, 10 minutes earlier than I usually do. Everyone at the shelter had the same goal - get to Davenport Gap before Mountain Moma's hostel stopped serving cheeseburgers. Everyone except me that is. My friend Butch was picking me up at Davenport Gap and taking me to the thriving metropolis of Newport, TN.I was concerned I might be late to meet him at 4:00 so I practically ran the first 7.5 miles except for going uphill. I made it to Cosby Knob Shelter by 11:00 which was one hour earlier than I had planned. I knew I would be early to meet him.The last 5.2 miles was downhill. I hiked quite a bit with ReBob who is doing this for the second time. He made it 1,500 miles the first time but he has a new set of knees now and puts me to shame on the uphill! He is fast! We got to Davenport Gap at 3:00 and Noodlehat (Eli) was there. I told him my ride would be here at 4:00 if he wanted a lift to Mountain Moma's and then Butch appeared over the hill. Wahoo! We took Rebob and Noodlehat to the hostel, I bought a soda at the store of course, then we brought Undetermined and Sumac to Newport with us. They are staying at a friend's cabin for a zero day.After we dropped them at Wal-mart (I told you it was a metropolis) we got a room at Holiday Inn, I showered while Butch did my laundry, and then we ate at La Carreta. I had two beef burritos smothered in melted cheese with a side of beans and two beers! It was good! Then we drove outside the "city" so we could get Sprint coverage and I used Butch's laptop to check trailjournals. Then we went to Wal-Mart ourselves and I got food for the next two days to Hot Springs, NC. There ain't nothin' more fun than Wal-mart on a Saturday night in a small town in the South. I was really glad to read trailjournals. I had not seen it since I began hiking. I didn't have time to read a lot, but I read some of the journals of people I have met on the trail and I added my trail name to my own journal. Debbie, you are doing such an awesome job with the journal. Thank you!I enjoyed reading my guestbook tremendously. Thanks to everyone who has signed it and I hope you will keep reading. Andy, thanks for taking time to sign it! I was overwhelmed at the number of people who took the time to sign it. To all of my students and Mrs. Mahnken, I'm glad you are reading and keep in touch! Someone in my guestbook asked if I was using the Leki hiking poles I tried in Tucson. No, I'm not. I prefered my walking stick. My ULA pack and my Marmot sleeping bag are great. I have the luxury series Therma-Rest and it is worth its weight in gold!I'm getting ready to go to Cracker Barrel for a late breakfast, then I have 10 miles to cover today. I would rather watch CMT all day, but there is work to be done and ground to be covered!"Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Davenport Gap 1,980

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter 2,850
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

Today proved to be my first real emotional challenge. Butch came to visit me yesterday and I knew I had to get back on the AT today and do almost 10 miles. It was hard. We ate breakfast/lunch at Cracker Barrel, Butch bought me some Jelly Bellies, then I got one last Sunkist and he drove me back to the trail. I intended to go to the first shelter and I did. No one was here except for five weekend hikers.I really did not want to be alone, but I didn't feel like talking to new people either. Seeing Butch made me homesick for Nashville and for people I know. He is the first non-stranger I have seen since March 25th, except for Sleepy Floyd who I had only met once before we began hiking the AT.I began hiking around noon thinking I would get rained on as the weatherman said. It soon became apparent to me it was not going to rain. Today was sunny and beautiful and very warm! I didn't check my thermometer, but I'm sure it was above 80 degrees. Hiking with no threat of hypothermia cheered me up a bit and I had some amazing views from Snowbird Mountain at 4,265 feet. Instead of feeling alone up there I felt powerful and in awe of what I was seeing. I set up my tent when I got to camp, then immediately found a better tent spot on the way to the water. I am tented about 30 feet from three guys, and they all look like major snorers. It is 7:30. They are going to sleep so we shall soon see. I am not sleeping in the shelter because it is not a cheerful place. The tenting at this shelter is probably the best I have seen so far - beautiful. I think I will sleep better in my tent and tonight will be warm at this low elevation. I am ahead of my group of seven includng Flatlander, Sleepy Floyd, Smokey, Captain and Escalator, and Viking. I miss them and their humor. We clicked really well from the beginning and I hope to get back on track with them in Hot Springs, but I am ready to speed up. Wizard, ReBob, Grizzly, and The Hiking Viking (Soren from Denmark) are all ahead of me now. I believe they are camping on Max Patch which is a bald 6.5 miles from here with amazing views I'm told. I just didn't have the energy to get there, nor do I want to night hike uphill to get there. So I am here somewhat alone. It is hard for me which is surprising since I often enjoy being alone in real life. I do not out here, but I think that may change as I get more comfortable with the wilderness. I am still "cityfied" I guess.Got a mean sunburn yesterday on my face which resulted in a cold sore. I wear a hat every day but also bought sunscreen in Newport. I really did not want to carry that four ounces. It is getting dark and I want to do some planning past Hot Springs. Gotta get in my tent without letting the mosquitos in. I really miss Oscar tonight. My neighbors here have their two dogs with them and I am envious.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter 2,850

To: Deer Park Mtn Shelter 2,330
Miles today: 23.0

I slept great last night in my tent, but woke up this morning to rain! I got packed up and on the trail by 8:00 and it rained on me for two hours. I thought it was going to rain all day and be just miserable. The rain pretty much stopped when I reached Max Patch at 4,629 feet. Max Patch is a huge grassy bald that has an amazing view in every direction. This spot was one of the best so far on the trail. I felt very small up there on the summit of Max Patch. It was too cold to eat on Max Patch so I continued to the first shelter and had lunch while the skies continued to clear. I felt good and thought I would go to the next shelter which is only 1.8 miles away. I got there by 3:00 and it was obvious this shelter is being phased out. No way was I staying there, and it was too early to stop anyway. I started thinking maybe I could make it to Deer Park which was 10 miles away by dark, so I started walking.I saw four people on my way to the shelter. I got there around 8:00 and found Wizard, ReBob, Dan and Karen, Thor, Booble, and a bunch of other people I didn't know. I set up my tent, cooked dinner, socialized a bit, then went to bed. I was so tired I couldn't even finish my dinner. I just hung it with my food bag. I was really glad to see all those people at the shelter because I was not looking forward to another night alone. Gives me too much time to think I guess and I had 12 hours of hiking to think! I had no intention of hiking 20+ miles before reaching Virginia, but that seemed like my best option today and I am glad I did it. "Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Deer Park Mtn Shelter 2,330

To: Hot Springs, NC 1,325
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: light rain

Wanted to sleep in this morning in my tent at the shelter, but I couldn't. I heard too many zippers unzipping and looked outside to see rain clouds again. I packed up before it began to rain and was on the trail by 8:10 as usual. I hiked the 3.2 into Hot Springs and went straight to the Duckett House Inn where I was staying. As I approached this place my mouth fell open. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, as you can tell by the picture. There are huge trees all around and a wrap around porch with rocking chairs. The owners let us do laundry and use the kitchen. My room has a king size bed with a quilt on it. The entire place is furnished with antiques and is very quaint. I love it and would love to come back here sometime. They have two dogs - Jack and Shadow. I am staying here with EZ-Duz-It, Gator, Carnathy Bob and Verity. I have made a difficult decision today. After hiking a while with these guys and being without my original group, I have decided to go on and leave Sleepy Floyd, Flatlander, and the others behind. I have waited 7 years to hike this trail and have put a lot of things on hold so I could do this and have no bills or major expenses. I am ready to move on with my life after the trail and want to finish sooner than I planned, hopefully by mid-Sept. I will miss my group of 7 and their humor, but I am sure we will meet again. I will leave a couple of notes in Hot Springs so they will be aware of my decision. News travels fast on the trail. I bought a new hiking t-shirt today. All of my clothes are synthetic because they dry quickly, but they hang onto odors even after they are washed. I could not stand the smell of that shirt any longer. I'm going downstairs to make phone calls. I am looking forward to a good night's sleep.
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Hot Springs, NC 1,325

To: Spring Mtn Shelter 3,300
Miles today: 11.0

WOW! What a great night's sleep in that king size bed in the quiet and beautiful Duckett House Inn! I've stayed in four star hotels that didn't have sheets that nice. I woke up all toasty and warm around 7:30 and got packed up and ready to hit the trail before breakfast. Then I go downstairs to thick pieces of French toast, potatoes with olive oil herbs I believe, maple syrup, honey, butter, OJ, coffee, milk and cereal, oranges and bananas. Holy Cow! Breakfast was so nice and Brian, one of the owners joined us. We left after breakfast but it sure was hard! One of their cats slept on my bed while I was getting ready and made me miss Oscar that much more.Duckett House Inn is an awesome place and I would highly recommend it as a weekend getaway. Hot Springs is a great little town with a spa, one pub, a diner, an outfitter that rents bikes, and a BP station. Great little town and I think I stayed in the nicest place in town. They deserve a little free advertising!I hiked all day with EZ Does It (Mike) and Gator. We took some really nice breaks, had a nice lunch by a pond created by a concrete dam, and we had perfect hiking weather all day. This is one of my best hiking days so far. No great views really, except leaving Hot Springs we got a great view of the entire town and the French Broad River. I'd never heard of it, but there is a lot of water in that river and it moves fast! We hiked along the river for about half a mile and that was really nice.I am at the shelter tenting with EZ Does It, Gator, Dan and Karen, Booble, StillBob and his wife, Sniper, Sprout, Brian, and Hopeful. Some of these people are in the shelter. It seems like it is going to get cold tonight, but we have clear skies and a little dry cold is tolerable. We have a 15 mile day tomorrow but the weather should be nice.My pack is heavy again. It always is after leaving towns with a maildrop. I have 6 days worth of food and only need 5. I didn't buy any snacks because I don't want to carry them, but I did carry a 20 oz Sunkist for lunch today. I usually carry 20 oz of Tang, so the soda was justified I felt. Great hike today and good company. I miss my original seven though and all the laughing we used to do, but I have to move on. "Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Spring Mtn Shelter 3,300

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter 4,150
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep that well in my tent last night. Probably because I drank two cups of hot chocolate before I went to bed. The weather was cool, but not cold and we had no wind or rain last night. It was about 47 when I woke up to hazy skies and they never really cleared today. I hiked most of today by myself, except the last 2 miles or so I caught up to Gator and EZ Does It. EZ has a pack weight of 20 pounds. He is in his 50's I guess, retired policeman from New Jersey, and he smokes. I can't keep up with him usually on the uphill. He has attempted to thru hike the last two years. Not sure why he didn't make it. Gator also smokes. I can't hardly keep up with him either on some days.The first four miles were easy today. I covered it in one hour forty min. Then I found a trash can at a road crossing. Yipee! I stopped for lunch at Little Laurel Shelter around 12:00 after doing 9+ miles already. After lunch, we climbed 1,000 feet in 1.3 miles. Took me 45 min. and I was wiped out! Lunch was weighing heavy on me today! We got to the shelter around 3:30 though and rain is predicted so I wimped out and am sleeping in the shelter. Another sleepless night, but I won't have to pack a wet tent tomorrow. I am in the shelter with Dottie, Sprout, Dan and Karen, and Wounded Knee. Wounded Knee is a really nice older man. He gave me the last of his Easter M&M's tonight. EZ, Gator, Gunner,Jason and Sarah, StillBob and Tripper, and some other people are tenting. Full house tonight. Met Dave and his brother tonight at the shelter. Dave lives in Montana and they are section hiking. He is on the school board so we had a lot to talk about. He is probably more respectful of thru hikers than most of us are to each other. They said they read trailjournals and I assured them they would have plenty to read on mine. Hope you enjoy it guys! Thanks for your support.I thought a lot about my family today and how my life may be different when I return to Tucson. I also thought about my dog Oscar. I miss him fiercely and hope his surgery goes okay in another two weeks or so. Mainly I just thought about stuff my family and I have done together or funny stuff that has happened to us. Two guys I don't know came into camp tonight just to cook before they went to the next shelter. One of them went to drain his noodles by a tree and spilled them all. I have been there and I sympathize, but it was pretty funny. I hope that doesn't make him short one meal.EZ came up with another trail name for me. DewKist. Those of you who know me well will understand completely. Those are the two things I miss most out here. I guess I talk about it a lot. Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter 4,150

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter 4,150
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

It never did rain last night, but it was only 42 degrees when I woke up and it looked like rain. I really wanted to sleep in, but there was work to be done. I packed up, ate pop tarts and a Kudos, and was on my way by 7:45. I never did catch EZ and Gator today.It rained a little in the morning and was cold almost all day. At lunch I thought the weather was clearing and took off my rain gear and my pack cover, but two hours later I put it all back on again. When I got to the shelter around 4:00 the skies were dark, but I set up my tent anyway. I can't sleep very well in the shelters.The weather seemed to improve at camp but we heard a storm is supposed to move in overnight. We'll see.Today went pretty smoothly until lunch. I was really dragging after lunch and had to go uphill for over two miles. It took me forever, but then my lunch started to work for me, not against me and I made pretty good time to the shelter, even though there was a mile climb at the end. I am here with the same crew as yesterday, plus Dirty Harry and Sniper and a group of high school kids. They seem a bit afraid of us and they use the privy a lot. Tomorrow will be at least a 10.1 mile day. I'm hoping the weather is good so we can go further and have a shorter distance into Erwin, TN on Sunday where we are staying at a hostel and can shower and do laundry. I never thought I would be so excited about those two things.Had a nice talk tonight around the campfire with Sniper. He's been to Mempis in May and has also visited Nashville. That boy gets around. The campfire tonight was great. We all sat around talking and one by one disappeared to go to bed.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter 4,150

To: No Business Knob Shelter 3,180
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: light rain

I woke up to 47 degrees and rain at 6:30 this morning. I considered sleeping in and thought, "Who am I kidding?" I can never sleep in out here. So I packed up in the rain, wet tent and all, and hit the trail by 7:45. I had no intention of hiking 20 miles. I made it to the first shelter by 12:30 and that was 10 miles. So I decided to head out and camp with EZ and Gator at Spivey Gap 5 miles away. When I got there it was 4:30 and I felt good and I thought the sky was clearing so I decided to go to the next shelter. I got rained on again, but I would rather walk in it than camp in it. I made it to the shelter around 6:30.Now let me tell you about the kind of people I am hiking with. On the way to the shelter, I saw Last Minute from Alabama. I had met him only once before. The water source was .2 miles south of the shelter, which was uphill. I told Last Minute I would have to get water later, I was too tired to do it right then. When he came to camp later, he had gotten enough water for the both of us. And that's not all. The shelter was full when I got there and I was prepared to set up my soaking wet leaf covered tent. Sniper said he would give me his space in the shelter since he had a dry tent. He hiked the same 20 miles I did. How nice is that? These are the people I am meeting out here. I am in good company.I slept in the shelter with Rebob, Wizard, Slip and Trip, Trucker and Bingo, and Last Minute and Sniper tented along with a high school group that was really cool and joined us at the campfire. Thankfully, there was no more rain that night.Today's hike had a few good ups, but was mostly flat or downhill. Had mac and cheese for dinner and went to bed looking forward to Uncle Johnny's Hostel tomorrow. I get a shower, laundry, maildrop, and I sleep in a bed! Wahoo!"Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-27
From: No Business Knob Shelter 3,180

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolinchucky Hostel 1,700
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

At 6:30 this morning it was 49 degrees, but we had clear skies. I hiked the 6 miles to the hostel with ReBob and Wizard and got here around 10:00. They hitched a ride into Erwin, and I walked across the street to Uncle Johnny's. I dried my tent, showered, and ate pizza with EZ and Gator. Uncle Johnny took us to town and did our laundry for us. I got a few groceries and an Ace bandage for my ankle. If it helps, I will get one for the other ankle. It was kind of expensive.When we came back to the hostel, I went to the Nolichucky River and put my feet in the water. The water was cool and felt really good. I got my own room at the hostel. It was $17.50 and has a double bed and is made of solid pine walls with bookshelves, and has a TV! It is a really nice room and this whole place is great. Nice showers, great store, and two Pepsi machines with Mountain Dew!We are going to town tomorrow for breakfast, then to the post office, then back on the trail. I finally feel like I am making some progress and putting some miles behind me."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolinchucky Hostel 1,700

To: Deep Gap 4,100
Miles today: 12.1

There seems to always be some reason I can't sleep, even when I'm in a nice warm room in a nice warm bed. Last night at the hostel, I had a private room. No snoring. A train rolled by every 40 minutes and had to sound a warning! I could not believe it! I have listened to this train for the last three days, even up in the mountians. Last night I may as well of been lying on the tracks trying to sleep. Unbelievable.Besides that, Uncle Johnny's was great. He shuttled me and this guy Kevin to breakfast this morning at a drugstore counter diner. I had a BLT, hash browns, a biscuit, and a chocolate shake. It was truly outstanding. Only in the South are there still places like this.After breakfast, we went to the post office to mail my drift box, then back to the hostel where I saw Undetermined and Sumac. I waited for breakfast to digest, then I hiked the first mile with them to the campground where they were staying, then I hiked on my own the rest of the day. I met Greenman and Mongoose on the trail today. Interesting pair. Had lunch with Gunner. He is 19 years old and from Massachusetts. He worked for a year at machine shop out of high school to save for this hike. Nice young man who can really eat a lot to be so skinny. Very motivated.For the first time I am not camping at a shelter on the AT. I am in a gap near a forest service road because the next shelter is too far. I am camping with EZ Does It, Gator, Rebob, Wizard, Sniper, and Gunner. EZ said no matter what, they were going to camp here because this is where I expected them to be. They left way earlier than me this morning. He didn't want me to camp here alone. Again, this is the company I keep out here. We try to take care of each other.Had a good day of slow hiking because my pack was very heavy after leaving town, as it always is. It was sunny today and at least 75 degrees. I hope tomorrow holds the same but I believe rain is expected all week until Sat. when I will be at another hostel. Should be in the 70's all week, though. I'm fine with that.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"