morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-29
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I think my new trail name should be "Super Snack Break," for my boys and I smoked the Smokies, with the singular goal of celebrating with beer and pizza, motivating me to hike more miles than usual during the past four days. Only about 6 minutes after delivery, the four of us looked around and wondered where two large pizzas and a case of beer had gone. I don't know if taste buds function as well when the food is being inhaled, but it sure hit the spot and satisfied our cravings nonetheless. Too bad we still had to cook dinner afterwards. And I still was hungry. Next time, it will be one large pizza each. Besides the lure of pizza and beer, there are other reasons to move quickly through the Smokies. Because unexpected weather strikes often, bringing cold temperatures, rain and late-season snow, when the weather is good, an understatement when describing my journey thus far, you got to go. While we did get some intermittent sprinkles yesterday and today, the weather overall was fabulous, urging us to continue hiking, as do the restrictions on sleeping areas. The shelters in the Smokies are quite nice, but also quite crowded. The freedom and independence we crave as thru-hikers, including camping where we please if the mood strikes, are somewhat curtailed in the Smokies, beautiful as the mountains are. My body feels surprisingly good - more like rock solid - after the past few days, my guilty conscience fully alleviated and now primed and ready for my next heavy-duty R and R, although my feet are screaming from the constant pounding impact, crying for mercy during the day's final descent. I proved to myself, although I have no clue for what purpose, that I can handles consecutive, long-mile days, that I can keep up with the boys nearly 10 years younger and a few inches taller, whose backpacks are less percentage of their body weight than mine. I feel physically strong enough to hang with this intense crowd, plus their camaraderie is so welcome and laughter-inducing. But the miles themselves become less enjoyable when all you are thinking about is the miles. As I said before, it's not a race to the finish. Nor do I want to lose my entire reason for being out here, and it is not to check off the miles at the end of the day. So although I can handles the miles, I want to go a bit slower, sweat a little less, enjoy my surrounds a little more, in other words, find the ideal pace for me, which may not be the same as for anyone else. This is my hike, and so I will stick with plain old "Snack Break" for the time being.
Date: 2007-03-30
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Three weeks into my journey and I'm already starting to feel mixed emotions each time I emerge from the woods and once again encounter civilization. I read this would happen, stories of readjustment back to the real world, difficulties of sleeping in beds and living in houses like normal human beings, challenges of finding where I fit into society after living in the woods. But I didn't realize it would happen so quickly. Like the other night at the Fontana Lodge, where the bed was the most comfortable in which I had ever lain, and I simply could not sleep, ready to pull out my air mattress and set up my tent in the corner of the room. Now, my best nights' shut-eyes are in my tent in the woods, with the sound of rushing water or howling coyotes lulling me to sleep. The sound of cars and traffic each time I reach a town is overwhelming to my ears, intruding on the silence to which I have become accustomed. Imagine walking in the isolated Smokies, then continuing on the trail as it goes under a major interstate, trucks whizzing by overhead, the concrete supports shaking with their weight. During my last ride in a car over a week ago, I couldn't believe how fast I was moving, sure I would vomit at any moment. On the other hand, civilization has its benefits, and I find myself drawn to each approaching town, my pace quickening and my stride lengthening at the thought of a hot shower, clean clothing, use of the telephone and Internet, food in a restaurant, a soft bed even though I likely won't be able to sleep well on it. More importantly, towns offer the chance to regroup and relax, mentally preparing me for the miles ahead; as such, they are an integral part of the trail experience. But sooner than not, I am ready to return to the woods, which has now become my home, where I find myself more and more comfortable with each passing day.
Date: 2007-03-31
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC - Duckett House Inn
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

As God as my witness, cross my heart and hope to die, I swear I did not hurry today. My goal was to take my time, stop and smell the flowers beginning to sprout along the trail, listen to the birds chirp, sit by flowing mountain streams, take more pictures along the way. I, in fact, did accomplish all of the above, and still was able to rock out some pretty commendable mileage. Granted, the terrain was rolling, easy walking, plus my legs seem now to be built for hiking. The draw of town - Hot Springs, NC, which the AT passes right through - was too much to resist.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Hot Springs, NC - Duckett House Inn

To: Hot Springs, NC - Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The Sunny bank Inn is affectionately referred to as Elmer's by the hordes of thru-hikers who wait on a list for the opportunity to sleep there, if only for a night, and after my stay, I can see why. The house - Victorian era, furnished with antiques - boasts a long social and cultural history, is a recognized national landmark, but most importantly, offers a welcoming retreat to dirty, tired hikers. Run as a fancy bed and breakfast the rest of the year to pay the bills, the owners convert it to a glamourous hiker hostel during spring fever in March, April, and May, charging little more than the cost to keep the place open. My favorite part, the Victorian music room, offerd me the chance to play the piano for a few hours, which I have been missing since hitting the trail. Just as fulfilling was a four-course, four-star vegetarian dinner, with the best green salad I've ever tasted, another craving since hitting the trail. I stuffed myself so full - as a thru-hiker, gorging oneself is part of the motivation of getting to towns - that I could barely eat breakfast or lunch the following day, even as I continued to dream about the delicious salad while hiking. Elmer's is certainly part of the magic of the trail.
Date: 2007-04-02
From: Hot Springs, NC - Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Lovely as Elmer's is, I was ready to return to the trail today, my stomach still full, my legs a bit stiff after a day of inactivity, the still gorgeous weather and mountains beckoning. I've been debating my mileage, the pros and cons of 20-milers, for days now and I've finally come to a conclusion: I love to hike. I know you are probably thinking, "Geez, I sure hope so," or "Nice deduction, Sherlock," but I can assure you that it is indeed a statement much more profound than it first reads. You see, while I treasure the mountains and being outdoors, while I enjoy the camping and all it entails, while I thank my lucky stars for this experience as a whole, what I really truly love is the hiking, the physical component, pushing my body to its limits in my favorite environment. Snack breaks are necessary, sitting by mountain streams is soothing, listening to the birds music to my ears, seeing new life invigorating, but the actual hiking is what I most enjoy. And so the miles follow, not simply as a challenge unto themselves, but as the natural outcome of doing what I most enjoy, spending my day in the way that best suits me. I hope this means I'm coming to terms with my miles dilemna; it's not necessarily the miles that inspire, but the hiking. "I love hiking" sums it all up, three little words cutting to the depth of my soul, defining who I am and what I do, responding to my doubts, quite simple really.Talk about inspiring, I am once again humbled by the generosity of complete strangers who also love to hike and therefore find kindred spirits in the thru-hikers. We heard about the magic through the trail grapevine, along which news of free food travels like wild fire on a hot summer day, but we had to hurry to make the sunset deadline. The Nelsons decided, after their own personal thru-hike journey, to look for a house close to the trail, driving north from Georgia until they found the perfect log cabin in North Carolina, the AT almost in their back yard, from where they serve up spectacular trail tidings. Our meal included root beer floats to start, pecan Belgian waffle appetizers, beef stew or pork barbecue entree, a choice of three desserts, an assortment of Christian books to take with us on our trail and spiritual journeys. My belly yet again filled to capacity and then some, my heart touched beyond measure, my spirit uplifted, I could not hold back my tears of joy and thanksgiving. Already dark, five miles remained before retiring for the evening. We started with our head lamps, but the full moon high in the sky allowed us to walk the last miles without, a perfect way to end the evening. Although I wasn't in my tent until after midnight, not the camper's of 9 pm, but true 12 am, the time spent with the Nelsons more than compensated for the delay, another example of the magic out here.
Date: 2007-04-03
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Late to bed last night had an effect today, for I felt sluggish and more tired than usual. It's an easy fix though, especially with a three-hour lunch that included snoozing on a nice grassy spot in the sun, reading a book and writing in my journal during daylight hours, eating a bit more than usual to try to satisfy my ever-expanding appetite as well as reduce the weight of my pack, then again engaging in my favorite activity of hiking. What a life.I sheltered with a completely different set of hikers this evening, but it ended up being a big reunion of our group which started the trail together on March 10. Patrick, Ben, and Amanda - all who haven't done anything stupid or silly or memorable enough yet to earn trail names, but we're looking for every opportunity - actually shared the car ride with me to the trailhead that fateful morning. Amiable fellows Shaggy, Broadway, and Strider - now collectively referred to as the Iron Chefs for their cooking finesse, or lack thereof - also camped with us that first night, but we haven't been together since. It's so nice to be with this group briefly again; I am proud of our March 10th gang still going strong, still in the game, still looking ahead towards Maine, with no signs of stopping before the final goal. May we find solidarity and strength in each other.
Date: 2007-04-04
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Brrr...it's going to be another cold one tonight. It's amazing how fast the weather can change, from sunning on a grassy spot yesterday lunch to bundling up in everything I own and bedding down for the night at 7:30 pm to keep out the chill today, with snow in the forecast over the next few days. Looks like I won't be needing the 40-degree sleeping bag I just asked my brother to send me, as I hope my 20-degree bag will continue to earn its keep. Synthetic bags are notorious for not keeping warm to their reported ratings, but my North Face comes pretty darn close. Last night I was glad I slept in a shelter in the last available spot, for protection from the pouring rain, thunder and lightning, and even a downed tree during the night. I must have been tired, for although I knew it was raining, I slept right through the commotion, sans earplugs. The rain stopped for about an hour this morning, just long enough to get packed up and moving north, a perfectly-timed window of opportunity enabling us to keep items inside our packs relatively dry. I didn't mind walking in the rain this morning, as I kept warm by moving while enjoying how alive and green the forest appeared, the pitter-patter sounds of rain drops all around. No sooner did the rain stop, the winds picked up and the temperature dropped, probably about 20 degrees since yesterday. Now the only sound was the wind blowing through the trees, creaking like old arthritic bones. At least my clothing wet from the morning rains dried quickly. The most difficult part of the day was trying to maintain my balance without being blown off the trail crossing a high bald towards the end of my miles. North Carolina is well known for its balds, high-elevation areas without trees, either due to unexplained forces of nature or purposeful clearing for agricultural uses. In case you're wondering how I'm back in North Carolina after crossing into Tennessee, the trail follows the border between the two states, moving in between up to many times a day, sometimes with the right foot in one state and the left in the other. Anyways, the balds offer spectacular, unobstructed views of the surrounding hills, although are not easy to traverse with high winds, no protection offered from old, creaking trees. Today was a challenging day, proof that the weather can change quickly and without warning, with more surprises in store coming up.
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

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

The weather has been unseasonably warm, until today when the reverse is true and I awoke to a coating of snow. The worst, and hardest, thing to do on such a cold morning is get out of a semi-toasty sleeping bag, but in the back of my mind, I knew the only way to really get warm was start walking. And so I quickly shoved everything in my pack, not bothering to even brush my teeth or eat breakfast, forced my feet into frozen boots, and started to move, my survival instinct telling me only to get warm, while I muttered through clenched teeth, "I hate this." After about an hour of walking through snow-covered forest, I could then consider my next order of survival - eating and drinking. Too bad my water bottle was yet again frozen solid. Fortunately, the afternoon turned out to be gorgeous weather once again. While it was still cold, the sun came out filtering its light through the trees, reflecting off shiny green leaves, illuminating portions of the trail before me. Even after a tough, cold morning, by now I was smiling, proclaiming aloud, "I love this," remembering again why I am out here. Situations like the former are fleeting moments, challenging to see what I am made of, good stories to tell afterwards. But the latter will provide lasting memories, proving what the trail is made of, good stories to tell for a lifetime. After every challenge comes supreme gratification, after every rain some sun, after every difficulty something even better in store. That's the beauty of the trail.
Date: 2007-04-06
From: Erwin, TN - Super 8 Motel

To: Erwin, TN - Super 8 Motel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Looks like the cold weather is here to stay for a few days, with snow forecasted even at lower elevation in Erwin, TN, my current location, which means it's going to be brutal in the hills, especially with Roan Mountain at over 6000 feet, arguably the coldest spot year-round on the southern AT. For northbounders, this will be the last time the AT climbs to such altitude until Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, and you have all heard stories of the weather there. And so I am faced with the dilemma of what to do. Head into the mountains despite the cold forecast? Stay in Erwin a few days to wait out the weather? Slack pack like so many of my fellow thru-hikers? Slack packing means, essentially, hiking without a full pack for a day, getting a ride to and from the trail head, spending the night in a hotel or hostel instead of a tent or shelter. It's easy, relatively so, to do 20-plus miles with only a day pack, thus avoiding the coldest nights with the worst weather on the trail, and being cold is what I most fear, what so far has made me most miserable. I know I can handle a cold night here and there, but too many in a row would be exhausting, so why force myself to endure the additional discomfort? I told myself beforehand that, with my early start date, I could come off the trail if and when the weather gets bad. Part of me feels guilty for even considering the slack pack option, that I'm compromising my principles for an easier way out, that I'm not a true thru-hiker if I don't carry all my belongings with me every step of the way. If I'm willing to adjust my morals now, what will I consider further down the trail? Am I a sell-out? Not as strong mentally and physically as I purport to be? I struggle with the answers to these questions, yet I apply these standards to no one but myself, my own harshest critic. Even with a day of slack packing, I still plan to hike every white blaze, every mile of the designated Appalachian Trail. I will still carry my pack, albeit minus all but the bare necessities required for the day - food and water, cold weather gear, emergency equipment. And so I have decided, after much soul-searching debate, that after a zero day in Erwin, with cold weather thrown into the mix, that slack packing is a wiser choice at this juncture, the lesser of two evils, the safer possibility, the better option for my physical and mental safety and well-being. Accepting my limitations, I hope I can sleep tonight, in my hotel room instead of my tent.
Date: 2007-04-07
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

My misgivings about slack packing are nearly forgotten after what could be my most glorious day on the trail. And by glorious, I do not mean hard-core high miles or roughing-it, cold-weather camping or the lack of either. What I refer to instead is the sheer stunning magnificence of the trail, covered in about six inches of freshly fallen snow, a sight to behold, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I am so glad I went out today, for despite the cold, I was as happy as could be, fortunate to be able to seek shelter during the storm's darkest and coldest hours, but also to be able to be outside and enjoy the finest parts of a late-season, unexpected snowfall. I could not imagine being in a better place right now than Erwin, TN with opportunities for the best of both worlds. The option of slack packing has allowed me to continue hiking without the risks of a dangerously cold night outdoors. But slack packing did not necessarily make the day easy. Sure, I wasn't carrying much weight, but hiking through six inches of snow, with drifts much deeper, is slow going. Without our entire packs, we fully expected to accomplish about double the miles today, but the snow made it impossible, additional effort required where the snow was deep, lots of sliding almost like skiing with the assistance of my trekking poles, still difficult to remain upright on the downhills. But I'm not complaining, for it was such a gorgeous day to be on the trail, the AT taking on a completely distinct quality with the snow. Yet again, I found myself in fine company, still with the Iron Chefs of renowned cooking fame, or not. Those three sure can make me laugh with their show tunes, roadside antics, movie quotes, mountain shenanigans, and all-around good humor and karma. For some unknown reason, Broadway went out today in only shorts and gaiters, I guess thinking his knees immune to the cold temperatures. With a whole lot of duck tape, a plastic garbage bag, and a bit of ingenuity, he was soon wearing a pair of fashionable, or not, plastic pants. Who needs REI? And Shaggy made me laugh when, while nearly freezing waiting for our shuttle, he remarked, in all seriousness, "I'm so glad we're not outside," giant trees looming overhead and betraying his words. Oh, you mean tonight? Yeah, in that case, I'll second the thought. I hope Knox Billy Bob doesn't mind me borrowing his words written in a shelter register, perfect to describe the day: "I count my blessings that at this point in my life, the world has stopped, I am among friends, and nature has given me all it has to offer." That's the trail for you.
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Besides the locals being super kind to hikers, a big part of the reason Erwin is a nice place to be stuck is Miss Janet, a trail legend, one-woman phenom who is, to the thru-hiker community, what Gandhi was to Indian nationhood. Her home is a converted hiker hostel, packs lining the front walk; discarded boots creating a flower bed; hikers, their stuff and their odor emanating from every nook and cranny. Her big brown van is covered with AT stickers and decals, shuttles hikers all over town, stalls a few times each run, slack packs for sections up and down the trail. Her kitchen thrives on an organized chaos, but turns out delicious fattening and filling breakfasts and an Easter dinner that easily fed about 70 thru-hikers, who came to Erwin from miles, even states, away to partake in the food and festivities. She knows who wants to go where and when, then makes it happen, giving well-heeded advice on trail conditions, trail injuries, trail gear, and trail happenings. The woman is simply unbelievable: every thru-hiker should meet her; all who do fall instantly in love and owe her a world of gratitude, myself included. Those who don't still hear stories of her up and down the trail. Like I said, a trail legend is she. Besides Miss Janet, I have already been touched by so many big-hearted people during this journey, and each time I am humbled by the kindness of complete strangers supporting me in my dream, for reasons I may never totally comprehend, but for which I give thanks nonetheless. Examples abound, such as the postmaster in Erwin who managed to forward two priority mail packages for only $4 and a smile, an old man standing in line there who wanted to hear all about my journey then tried to give me money, a former thru-hiker who wouldn't take no for an answer and insisted on helping a group of us buy dinner. I couldn't stop the tears this morning at the Easter church service - all the ladies donning new dresses, the men in pressed suits, and we in the same stained pants and dirty shirts we have now been hiking in for a month - when the pastor said a special prayer for our safety on the trail, then during the offertory, the woman at my side passed us each $1 for the offering plate.I find it difficult to put into words how these benevolent gestures have touched and inspired me; the magnanimity of the human spirit is a theme that repeats again and again out here. Yes, the AT is a magnificent trail experience, but just as magnificent are the people you meet along the way.