morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Hot Springs, NC/ Elmers 

To: Hot Springs, NC/ Elmers/Zero day!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

March 27th Thursday,Zero day! Went to the outfitters with my backpack just to check out my options. Wayne, who I assumed was the owner, helped me through 2 different packs. I originally was looking at the ULA catalyst, not the right pack for me. Wayne explained that the designer was a very tall, thin man. So I said, "I guess that leaves us short, fat people out." We then went to the Osprey Ariel 55. It's only a few ounces lighter than my Osprey Aether 60, but apparently my old one wasn't the right size. As I was walking to the Outfitters this morning, I felt like I was carrying about 60 pounds on my back. The same stuff in the new pack felt so much lighter. If you have any question about gear, Wayne is the person to go to.Then I pop over to the deli/ice cream shop a couple of doors down for my second visit for a spinach salad! Another bonus in Hot Springs. After spending about 3 hours at the Outfitters, I missed the opportunity to go to the library . That's when I decided to do another zero day to give my feet and knees some more time off. Melissa I thought, was sending my boots to the Outfitters here, but there was a communication error, and she sent them to Erwin, TN my next step.
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Hot Springs, NC/ Elmers/Zero day!

To: Yep, still Hot Springs Zero Day 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

March 28, FridayAfter giving it much thought, I've decided to go ahead and buy some new boots here. My feet are balking at the thought of walking another 6-7 days in shoes that apparently don't have the support that I need. I go have breakfast at the diner across the street, and get to the Outfitter right at 9am. I'm a little pessimistic about finding something that fits, because they only have mens boots, and usually no one carries 7 or 7.5's. But, as chance would have it, they had both sizes and to sweeten the deal further, they're Gore-Tex boots. Definite score. Thank-you Bluff Mountain Outfitters. YOU ROCK.Sadly though, I'm going to have to carry my old shoes to Erwin just to make sure I don't get crazy blisters. That extra pound plus will be worth it for the 6-7 days my feet feel better at the end of the day.For my third and final day, unless the weather is shitty tomorrow, I went to the deli/ice cream place and got yet another spinach salad and a sandwich. Then I went to the library to use a computer. At 5:30 I went to the cafe across from the Outfitter. Another bonus. I had pan seared salmon with grilled asparagus! Plan to go back there again with Melissa.Hot Springs, NC was just what I needed!
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Yep, still Hot Springs Zero Day 

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Sat March 29Got a pretty late start today since it was raining. Went to the diner across from Elmer's for breakfast. It had almost stopped raining by the time I finished, so I dropped off my letters at the post office and hit the trail. Crossed over the French Broad River just out of town. The trail followed along the river for awhile and then went up, of course. Got to the shelter in time to get the last spot. It started to rain just before dark and the wind was blowing right into the shelter. I noticed a tarp on the ground at the corner of the shelter and asked, "who's tarp?" One of the men said that it was there when he arrived. I'm wondering at this point why no one has thought about hanging the tarp before now. Then the man asked, "do you think we should hang the tarp?" I didn't want to say something rude so I just said, "that would probably be a good idea." So...we hung the tarp and stayed dryer and warmer than we would have without it.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Hemlock Hollow Hostel
Miles today: 5.3

Sunday March 30Lady and the Tramp were tenting near the shelter last night, and everything they had got soaked during the night. It was just above freezing and since we were supposed to get more rain, they decided to go to Hemlock Hollow Hostel to see if they could dry their things out. I was only too glad to follow suit. After a short hike I get to the hostel and find Haddie, one of the owners, offering me free coffee. I decided that this was much better than getting rained on. Then she said that she would have home made beef stew later that day. I owe Lady and the Tramp bigtime for this suggestion. I sat and had coffee in the shop and talked to Haddie until Lady and the Tramp showed up. The bunkhouse was so much less primitive than Standing Bear. There was a small fridge, sink, microwave, and double burner hot plate. What more could you ask for? After Lady and Tramp got settled in at their cabin they came by the bunkhouse to discuss options. There was supposed to be more rain tomorrow and we were traveling with other hikers that were a great deal faster than we were, but alwasy ended up at the same shelter, so there was a high probability that we would be setting up our tents in the rain. That option did not seem very attractive. The other scenario was that we could zero. Since we zeroed in Hot Springs 2 days, that didn't seem all that great either. So, even though I wanted to be a purist about the trail, I suggested that we could slackpack in the rain from some point south, back to the Hostel. So even if it poured all day at least we could come back to a hot shower and a warm bed. When reality slaps you in the face, sometimes you have to adapt and be flexible. Tramp set us up for slackpacking from Devil Fork Gap south, back to the Hostel the next day. That's 18.7 miles of trail, plus .7 back to the hostel. 19.4 seemed like a lot even though our packs wouldn't be loaded down. Since I was still carrying my old shoes this sounded great. My pack lately was feeling offensive. No, it was feeling downright obscene, bordering on who the hell do you think you are...Xena or Wonder Woman?
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Hemlock Hollow Hostel

To: Devil Fork Gap
Miles today: 18.7

Monday March 31stFred dropped us off at the Gap after he shuttled Lil Mack, Popeye, Jukebox, and Tupperware and Thorny back to the trailhead. It was almost 11:00, so we were expecting a little night hiking. We hiked 7.7 miles and get to Flint Mountain Shelter. After leaving the shelter, I followed the wrong trail. It was the best trail yet...smooth and all downhill. I was almost jogging down it. I don't even look up enough to notice that it has been a long time since I've seen a white blaze. After probably a mile or so, I get to an intersection and I can't see any blazes anywhere. I'm just kind of stumbling around wondering at what point I screwed up, when I hear this voice saying, "Are you looking for the trail?" I'm freaking out a little at this point, especially since I didn't see anyone, and didn't think anyone was out there with me. Pretty freaky, yes? Finally I see movement and this man in cammo and a BLACK MESH MASK (yes, a mask), and a cammo rifle (yes, a rifle), moves away from the tree he was leaning against. Still a little freaky. I stammer that yes, I'm looking for the trail. Then he goes, "You're lost." I'm thinking I might be in trouble if he doesn't take the mask off soon. He takes the mask off (Thank God) and askes if I've seen any turkeys. I tell him that I haven't, and oh by the way, how the hell do I get back to the trail?! He said "you need to go back to the shelter and take a left." Then he says if he hadn't have left his 4-wheeler at home he would have driven me back up to the shelter. I thank him and get the hell out of there, cursing myself every uphill step I took for the next mile back to the shelter.After I recovered from my lost episode, I ran into Lil Mack and the rest of the guys from Hemlock Hollow. They said there was a rocky section coming up, but there was a bad weather trail by-pass. When I got to that point, the clouds weren't that threatening, so I decided to take the ridgeline with the rocks. Even though I decided to slackpack, I'm really not a wimp...no really. It was rocky at some points and a little precarious, but I moved through it pretty quickly (for me) since the clouds were getting closer and darker. Finally get back to the hostel about 8:30 starving and exhaused. Luckily Haddie had pulled pork barbeque and coleslaw and chips! Normally I don't eat coleslaw, but even that tasted good to me after the day that I had.
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Devil Fork Gap

To: Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

April Fools Day!Zero Day! My feet are boycotting the trail today. Took pictures around the hostel and talked to Haddie and Fred. These are two good people and I highly recommend this place. These are the kind of people I wanted to meet while on the trail. Decent honest and simple people that you just don't run into much anymore. I don't mean simple in a negative way, I mean the kind of simple that doesn't need all the crap that others think will make them happy.If you do stop there, check out the quilt that Fred's grandmother made from the 1800's. It is a work of art. Good luck to both of you Haddie and Fred.
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Low Gap ?

To: No Business Knob
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thursday April 3rdWent over Big Bald today. The wind was like ice covering you from head to toe. Thought it was just going to be me and Lady and the Tramp, but Handyman, Sleepwalker, and Long Step showed up around 8. Handyman, as usual, was very funny.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: light rain

April 5th, SaturdayThorny asked if anyone was interested in slackpacking 19 miles South, back to Uncle Johnny's. Since it rained all night last night and there were thunderstorms predicted for today, Lady and Tramp and I decided to sign up. It was cloudy all day, didn't get to see any views from the Beauty Spot. Got back to Uncle Johnny's about 6:30. Another hot shower and warm bed while it stormed all night.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Ash Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Monday April 7Went by where the Cloudland Hotel at one time stood. Nothing left but some of the foundation. Part of it was in TN and part in NC. Wonder how long they kept their taxes straight? Got to the Overmountain shelter, which is in an old barn. It was nice to be able to be out of the wind up in a loft. This was one of the shelters I really wanted to stay in.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 8.7

Tuesday April 8Spending another night above a barn! This time the barn is still in use. The hostel has 4 twin beds in the loft, and double beds below, with all the amenities you could need. Nice place. Mangy Mo and his dog Gracie and I were in the loft and Lady and Tramp were down below. The Iron Couple stayed in the Bed and Breakfast in the main house. Breakfast was the best I think I've ever had. Mary is a fantastic cook.
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Slide Hollow Stream
Miles today: 11.5

I was planning on staying on at the Mountaineer Shelter, but was derailed by the prescribed burn. We had to get off the trail a little past the river and bushwack up to where one of the forestry guys was waiting. When we got there we had to wait for awhile, because the guy on the other end of the radio said it was too "hot" right now. We, (Jess, Scooter and I) waited. Then we were told to move our backpacks because the fire was coming. I think, what the f___?!!? So then more forestry guys are coming down this drainage ditch shooting fuel and fire to the leaves and underbrush. Forestry guy number one starts taking us up this 60-70 degree sloping ditch with the other guys shooting fire all along our right side. I'm thinking that if this isn't "too hot" I don't know what else would be. We're inching our way along...with me it might be "quarter" inching my way. At some point they stop (Thank Goodness) and as I'm trying to catch my breath through the heat and the smoke, I hear some rustling in the charred leaves. I look until I finally see a blackened salamander scurrying to get away from the burning forest floor. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help it. I'm thinking, what if I pour a little water on it, but then you wonder if that would do more harm than good. Maybe the poor fella made out okay. He wasn't writhing in agony or anything. Maybe he was one of the lucky ones. I wonder what other forms of life were destroyed that day?
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Slide Hollow Stream

To: Kincora Hikers Hostel
Miles today: 11.8

Thursday April 10thSaw Bob Peoples along the trail in action sawing a log that was lying across the trail. Even before he introduced himself, I knew who he was. There was quite a few hikers at Kincors that night. The Iron Couple, Furniture, Ishmael, Snoopy, View Finder, Lady and Tramp, Glow worm and Mangy Moe and Gracie.
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Kincora Hikers Hostel

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

Friday April 11Got a very early start today since some bad weather was supposed to be coming in. Somewhere after Pond Flats going down on switchbacks I hear this loud noise. At first I thought it was a large bird. I stop and start looking up into the trees, don't see anything, but then the sound seems like it's coming from the ground. I aim my sights lower and I find the source...a baby bear cub!I do mean BABY. It was probably around 20 lbs or less and shouldn't have been wandering around by itself. After the initial "oh I want to pet the baby bear!" I think...where the hell is the mother. Then I wish maybe the baby bear could be a bit quieter until I got out of there. I'm a little freaked out and I start banging my poles and walking very fast away from the baby. After about 4 switchbacks I calm down and stop making all the racket. If I would have seen that mother bear while I was close to her cub, I would have...like Bill Bryson put it "shit myself to death" or something like that.I'm so happy that I got to see a bear cub, but a little sad that I was too chicken to get a picture of it. I'm soooooo relieved that I didn't encounter a pissed off mother bear.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Sunday April 13Woke up to 31 degree temperatures this morning. While going through another prescribed burn section it started sleeting, then it started snowing.It snowed the whole rest of the day and awas still snowing when we woke up the next morning. When we got to the shelter we hung my tarptent and Lady and Tramp hung their tarp, so we were able to keep the snow out, and stay a little warmer during the night.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA!
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Monday April 14About 2 inches of snow on the ground, and still snowing when we woke up. It stopped after about an hour after we started hiking. Passed by the marker for the TN-VA border! Three states down. I didn't even care when it started hailing on me. After I reached Damascus it turned into rain and I still didn't care because I was going to have a warm dry bed to sleep in. Visited all three outfitters and bought something at all three!
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Damascus, VA!

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday April 15Zero Day! Had breakfast at In the Country. Good plentiful food at cheap price! Decided to make another equipment change and buy another tent. I haven't been happy with my tarptent because of the condensation. I also tend to brush against the walls, so me and my sleeping bag get wet. I purchased the MSR Hubba. I know that there will still be condensation, but at least I wont be touching the walls, and I can sit up in this one. It's also freestanding and small enough that I can actually put it up without the fly IN the shelter when it's raining and the bugs are a problem. Downside: It weights 1 lb+ more, but at least I don't dread using it like my Tarptent.
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Wednesday 4-16Met Lady and the Tramp at the Hiker Inn. I had opted ot stay another night at the Old Mill Inn with the luxury of a bathtub. We stopped by MoJo's on the way out of town and ran into View Finder, Meltdown, Glow worm and Friend.The coffee was good and it was a lot cheaper that Starbucks, although I haven't seen a Starbucks since I've been on the trail. The day was great, but for some reason the last 1.2 miles seemed so much longer. Finally made it to the shelter and was glad to see an actual privy. A privy with part of the Dr. Seuss story of the Lorax no less! That just happens to be my favorite Dr. Seuss story. The trail is very privy deprived in most of NC and TN. There was a difference of opinion about hanging foodbags in the shelter. It didn't help that one of the outfitters told someone that he didn't bear bag his food if he didn't see any signs of bear activity. I'm sure some of these guys wouldn't recognize signs of bear activity if it bit them on their ass.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Thursday April 17Experienced my first trail magic at US RTE 58 in Virginia. There was a cooler of soft drinks by the trail. Normally I don't drink soft drinks, but it was free, and who was I to turn down my first trail magic? It might jinx the rest of my journey.Stopped for lunch at the top of Whitetop Mountain. Went by Thomas Knob Shelter and after a while hit a fairly rocky section. Got to see two of Grayson Highland's wild ponies, and walked up to one and petted it. She just kept right on eating. My knees and my feet were unhappy with the 17+ mile day, and kept reminding me about it through the night.
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale, VA
Miles today: 16.0

Friday April 18Woke up to find that the boys that were tenting around the shelter had hung their foodbags in the shelter above our heads. I guess there are inconsiderate and selfish people even on the trail. One of the more mature guys in their group stated the previous night that hanging foodbags was just paranoia. I wonder if he leaves his house unlocked at night, or if he has children, does he not buckle them up in the car. I wish I could have thought to ask him if he thought these things were precautions or paranoia (sp?). It's sad that some hikers care so little for the safety of others, and the bears. Once a bear is conditioned to know that humans equal easy food, it usually can only be bad for both. This is one instance where I'm glad that I'm slower than some people.The terrain was mostly easy, the weather was warm, and there were lots of watering holes that had me dipping my hat in and throwing water on my head. Even though I had to walk the whole way into Troutdale, it didn't take away the happiness of knowing that I've made it to the 500 mile mark!Almost a quarter of the way!
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: moderate rain

Saturday April 19thHad a late breakfast at Jerry's, then he drove us back to Dickey Gap. Trimpi Shelter was the best shelter yet. It had a fireplace inside and even with all the rain we stayed warm. After dark the Flying House of Steve and his daughter showed up. They were both wet and I think they appreciated the fire...especially the daughter.
Date: 2008-04-20
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Sunday April 20Beat the rain to the shelter! The air was damp and chilly so even though it was only 2pm, we all were in our sleeping bags. It drizzled on and off most of the afternoon. This shelter is near the visitor center for Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area which has a phone outside. There are several restaurants that will deliver to the center, so we ordered pizza, and the delivery guy picked us up a half gallon of milk on the way. Alcohol isn't allowed at the shelter, but for some reason I've been craving milk on the trail, so the restriction didn't bother me at all. Meltdown showed up afterwards and gladly accepted the leftover pizza.
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn Rural Retreat, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday April 21Walked by a sign that said "1890's farmhouse free to hikers this morning". It was locked up, but I walked around for awhile and took some pictures. The noise of the electrical tower did detract from the historical feel of the place. As I got closer to the tower it sounded like the insulators were going to blow. It was quite dissatisfying. Got to I-81 early afternoon and the closer I got to the Relax Inn the less I liked it. At one time there was a restaurant in front of the motel. The restaurant had caught fire (who knows when) and its carcass was still marring the already aesthetically (SP?) unattractiveness of the motel even more. I went into the office to get my maildrop and reluctantly check in. After I filled out the paperwork, the little Indian man said that will be $40 plus tax. I said okay, thinking that there had to be a more definite total forthcoming. I wait - nothing. So I said "$40 plus tax?" the little man says "yes". Then I ask, "how much is the tax?" The little man says $42 dollars. Without laughing, I say, "so the total is $42?" little man says, "yes". I pull out my credit card and the man says he has to write down my credit card number on a sheet of paper until his son gets back to run it through the machine. He then shows me a notebook with someones credit card information on it. I immediately wonder exactly who he was going to show my info to. So I say, "why don't I just give you cash?"
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Relax Inn Rural Retreat, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: light rain

Tues April 22Had a nice hiking weather day. Towards the later part of the day the trail goes through private property, so you have to go over several stiles. After going past a farm with a silo, you then go over a stile and enter into a pasture. I notice a truck parked by the road where the next stile is. I'm hoping trail magic, but unfortunately, no, that was not the case. Apparently the herd of cows were foolishly thinking the same thing, because they started meandering over towards the stile too. We're probably equadistant from the stile, me coming from one direction, them from another. They look at me, I look at them. They wonder my intentions, I try to determine theirs. The lead cow (let's call her Helga) decides that since I'm not going to feed them, then I must be trespassing, so Helga starts to get a little rambunctious (sp?). I tell Helga that she better settle down or I might have to bop her on the nose with my hiking pole. She starts to have second thoughts about her unfriendly inappropriate advances until I turn my back to get to the stile. I hear Helga's hooves clopping rapidly in my direction. I turn back around and see her with her head down and mischief on her evil cow face. I holler, "Whoa Helga!" and bang my poles on the ground. Her cow face looks a little stunned. Then she looks a little resentful at the trespassing issue, but luckily I am halfway up the stile. She looks as if she is saying, "wait until we meet again". I look at her and say "Bite me". I can now because I am safely over the fence. Bye Helga!
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday April 23Made it to Chestnut Knob Shelter about 1pm and had lunch. The profile to Jenkins Shelter made the remaining 10 miles look doable even almost easy. There should be a warning on those things that says "appearances may be deceiving" or maybe "The rocks will make you want to kill yourself" or in my case "Foolish foolish too old and too fat hiker what the hell are you thinking?"Made it to the shelter at about 7pm and popped some Alleve and Excedrin down. Found Meltdown and Tom and Buck (two section hikers who were out for 40 days). They were already getting in their tents as we were fixing dinner. What a long day. Glad it's over.