morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Plumorchard Gap

To: Standing Indian Mountain
Miles today: 13.6

Pete got really annoyed with one of the boyscouts as we will call them. He kept trying to talk to Pete when they started hiking this morning, and he was sort of a know it all kind of kid. He kept asking Pete if he ever considered using hiking poles, and Pete was trying to hike and sort of ignored him, so the kid started tapping the back of Pete's legs with his hiking poles and was like, "You know they really help" and Pete was like "Yeah, so does not talking." I am pretty sure the conversation ended there. Hilarious.Well North Carolina really brings you in with a bang, or should I say a climb. Do they know what switchbacks are??? Today at lunch we stopped at Muskrat Creek shelter with Beth and Michelle. They are the first people we have met that are around our age. They both are recent grads and are procrastinating finding jobs. We were all beat when we got to the top of Standing Indian Mountain and sleep was on my mind. Pete, Devin and I set up camp, ate, and were pretty much done for the evening.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Standing Indian Mountain

To: Big Spring Gap
Miles today: 12.9

It started as a really overcast morning so it was beautiful hiking weather. We made it about 10 miles before lunch at around 3pm and rested up for our trek up Big Butt Mountain and Albert Mountain. Everything was pretty easy going until Albert. Albert Mountain goes straight up and it is allmost like rock climbing. Once you get to th etop the views are beautiful. Since it cleared up when we had lunch it was awesome. There was a rumor of trail magic at the top, but it turns out it was a big fat lie. After Albert we were at the shelter in about 15 minutes and it was time to relax. There were a lot of people at the shelter tonight and it was really fun. Lots of laughs. There was a brother and sister from Atlanta, Brendan and Ashley, who kindly shared the leftovers of their delicious Mac and Cheese with tuna. We devoured it. At night everything pretty much dies down when the sun goes down, so we all went to bed under a big, beautiful full moon.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Big Spring Gap

To: South of Swinging Lick Gap
Miles today: 10.3

We hike the 6 or so miles to Wallace Gap hoping to catch a quick hitch to Standing Indian camp ground to get some food for the next few days, but when we got there the store was closed!!! AHHHH- National Park Service! Luckily there was a guy who was leaving and on his way to Franklin and he gave us a ride all the way there. I sat in a car seat on the way there, that was a different experience. He kindly dropped us off at the Outfitters, I replaced my burnt socks, Pete got a new hip belt, and Devin finally found a wide brimmed hat to wear. We then walked to the Ingles and in the store Pete got us a ride back to Wallace Gap. We had a very long, frustrating day, so we found a spot to camp tonight on the way up Siler by the stream. Another beautiful full Moon.Oh yeah, right after Winding Stair Gap there was some trail magic. Someone had left some Capri Suns in the waterfall about 300 feet from the Gap!!!
Date: 2006-04-14
From: South of Swinging Lick Gap

To: Cold Spring Gap
Miles today: 16.6

Another beautiful day. We started out at about 9:30 am and made it to Siler Bald around 11am. From there on ly 12.6 to go. Wayah Bald was beautiful. The views went on forever. For once I led the way up the mountain and having Devin on my heels made me move a lot faster. I feel like I ran up that mountain today, but it helped me later. I didn't have to stop on the uphills, I kept a pretty steady pace. After that we had a pretty easy 3 or so miles mostly down hill, but then the last 1.2 miles to the shelter were uphill and that was rough. We camped with Alice, Torin, Rama and Mark on top of this nice grassy patch overlooking Frankin, NC.Tomorrow we go to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and shower!!!
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Cold Spring Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

We started today off early, 8:35am to be exact, and we raced to the NOC. There was a great lookout tower on Wesser Bald and the day was beautiful so you could see Clingman's dome and some other mountains we had already climbed. We stopped for lunch at the Wesser shelter and two weekend hikers gave Pete and I a shot of Jack Daniel's, I don't think it helped us down the next five miles. It was weird to drink out in the woods! The downhill from the shelter was no fun at all. There were lots of straight ups and really steep downs. At one point I had to go down backwards.Pete's quad started bothering him so that made matters worse, but knowing were going to take a zero day the next day kept us moving along. We got to the NOC at around 2:45, got a hotel room and went to eat supper with Taco and Sarah. Mark and Rama joined us later and then we went to take glorious showers. Luckily i got the bathroom first because "Torpedo" as Beth and Michelle call Devin, yielded the toilet unflushable for the remainder of our stay at The Nantahala Inn. Mark, Rama and I went to the Ingles in Bryson City and brought back beer and snacks for the night. We picked up Alice and Torin and brought them back with us, watched movies, talked, drank & ate icecream. All 7 of us ended up sleeping in our room. It was quite cozy, the more the merrier.
Date: 2006-04-16
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Our first Zero day. We all woke up relatively early considering we were not hiking and made our way back to the NOC from the hotel. Beth and Michelle came hiking down the mountain while we were waiting to get a room and we had breakfast with them, Sky and Kojak. Peter, Devin and I did laundry and we finally got into our new room. We decided we were going to go whitewater rafting. Beth and Michelle joined us and we rented duckies and suited up. They make you watch a video when you do a rental trip and it realy psyched me out about how big and dangerous the rapids were going to be. They weren't bad at all in actuality. The best part was "Nantahala Falls" a supposed waterfall. I wish there were more of those down the river, it was the most fun. WE ate dinner and went back to the common area to drink a beer and watch the new Simpson's episode. You can imagine our dismay when tehre was no antenna on the TV so we were forced to conversate with eachother. Tomorrow the big uphill out of the NOC.
Date: 2006-04-17
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

So the uphill wasn't as bad as everone said. Either that or the fact that I thought we were miles behind where we really were. I thought I was like 2 miles behind on the map when I got to the shelter. I was pleasantly surprised. We got there at around 3pm and we had a lot of time to do nothing. The shelter was really dusty fso I got really dirty.I sort of felt guilty because we didn't hike very far at all. We will make up for it tomorrow. Beth lost her flip flop on the way up the mountain and Cappy picked it up. There was a not from her in the register about it so we knew it was hers.   Sleeping in the shelter for a change. Thank heavens Cappy had an exter pair of earplugs so I don't have to worry about snorers.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

An overcast day today, excellent hiking weather. We had this massive uphill after Stecoah Gap. It didn't have a name so we will name it " Where's my Switchback" Mountain. It Sucked. Almost everyone from the shelter last night is here at the shelter tonight so there is a nice group of us. Trouble, Joseph, DunDee, Janice and the 3 of us. Another yummpy dinner of Ramen. I can't wait for my mail drop and a proper grocery store. I got even dirtier at lunch today at the Blue Fork Shelter. I look like I haven't bathed in weeks. A mouse ran over my foot just a second ago while I am writing this, so I am freaking out. It is still rustling around in the woods and I hate it!!!!! We have a nice fire going and are about to go to bed. Fontana for lunch, showers, stargazing, and possibly swimming. Oh yeah, we ran into the girls at Blue Fork today and gave Beth her flip flop. Torpedo said he could hear them 1.5 miles up the trail, Haha!
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Cable Gap

To: Fontana Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The day started off reltively nice an dwe got up to the top of teh Mountain. THen the storm came in. It was pretty awesome to see th ecoulds roll in until it started to hail on us. We suited up into our rain gear and made our way 3 miles to the Fantana Marina. It was slippery going down and Devin had a hard time without poles. Hell, I almost fell a hundred times with poles! As soon as we got to the Marina the rain pretty much stopped and we took the shuttle to Fontana Village. We ate lunch there, went to the post office to collect our maildrops, which were full of goodies (Thank you Mom & Dad!!!). I didn't even have to buy groceries there. We went to the shelter, or The Fontana Hilton as they call it, took showers at the visitors center and somehow i lost on eof my liner socks when they were drying in the grass. There is something with me and socks. The shelter was pretty full that night so there was a lot going one. We packed in a 12 pack of Budweisers and shared with everyone during dinner. Tomorrow off to the Smokies!!!
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Fonatana Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was a beautiful night to sleep. There was a cool breeze coming off the lake. We got up and started our uphill journey into the Smokies. We were planning on going beyond Mollies Ridge but the minute, and I mean the minute we got to the shelter the clouds rolled in and it started to rain and it got cold so we decided to stay there. It was a fun group. Cup, Thru-Hiker Fred, AT, Butterfly Mama, Numbers, Nappy, the 3 of us, and I think that is all.There was a fire blazing that Nappy started so it was warm and cozy in the shelter. I am going to sleep like a baby.
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Mollies Ridge

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

It rained like Hell all night and all day for that matter so we ahve decided to take a zero at the shleter and rest up Devin's knee. This means that I will be running low on food though. To help with my boredome Cup kept giving me the Hardest Sudoku's. I think I was doing those damned puzzles for like 8 hours straight today. Beth and Michelle caught up to us in the shelter. They braved the rain from Fontana. Shelter's full again tonight. A lot of people zeroed here today and some more people came. Hopefully I will sleep again as well as I did last night.
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Mollies Ridge

To: Silers Bald
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: light rain

Slept like a baby last night. I guess at one point in the night my head was on Beth's sleeping pad. I suppose I move around a lot in my sleep!!! It was still raining when we woke up so the motivation factor for leaving wasn't too hight. We got ready to go and found out that the rain was going to let up at around noon. We headed out in the rain and it was pretty much only sprinkling after about 35 minutes. We made it to the Spence Field shelter for lunch and I was soaked and cold. The hike there was relatively easy but after lunch it got more difficult. The profile said it was a steady uphill, but it was up and down all afternoon. We didn't get any views from Thunderhead Mountain or Rocky Top because the clouds were so thick. It was like walking through fog forever, you could only see 15 feet in front of you. The sun finally came out and we got to Derrick Knob around 4 and stayed until 5 to do the last 5.5 of our longest day yet. I wanted to die, all those ups and downs. Evertime I thought it was the last one before the shelter, there was another one. I was finally at my last straw and about to lose it when I saw the shelter. It was awesome. It was late, around 8pm when I got there and I was hungry and tired. I ate my moms home cooked lentils she sent with mashed potatoes and crashed.
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Silers Bald

To: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Does going uphill ever get easy? We hiked up Clingman's today, which wasn't too bad, but it wasn't easy. THe one cool thing about totday is that I feel like I have come full circle. Last year when I went on the backpacking trip with Jason and Matt in the SMokies here is when I sort of decided that I wanted to thru-hike the AT.Anyway, it was really chilly on the top of Clingman's so Pete and I ran up, snapped a photo and rand down. We got to the Gap, or I got to the gap and met the boys at around 4pm and we waited around for a hitch. This nice couple from Knoxville, TN gave us a ride. They were celbrating the wife's 50th birthday that day.They dropped us off at the Happy Hiker, Devin got poles and I got socks and fuel and we made our way to a hotel for showers, laundry and food.When I went down to do laundry, In only my raingear (how comfortable), I ran into Mac, DunDee, Blackfoot and Searching Eagle. That gave me something to do while I waited in the 75 degree weather in "breathable" plastic. We naturally went to th eMexican restaurant for dinner and then to TGIFriday's for dessert. Back to the room and in bed by 12:30Big night out!!
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)

To: Ice Water Spring 
Miles today: 3.0

Talk about a Continental Breakfast. All they had at our lovely hotel was juice, coffee and prepackaged cinnamon rolls and danish. Definately not Mozart's quality either. I rand down and finished up Devin's laundry, since he only has 1 change of clothes and OD'ed on coffee. I was jittery all morning. I think I might give up caffeine for good.When we all got ready we checked out and grabbed a bite to eat, went to the library to use the Internet and took the trolley to the most expensive grocery store in the world. Did you know that in Tennessee the sales tax is like 10%?? I spent a whopping $55 on groceries just for myself. I bought too much though, I even had to return some things because they wouldn't fit in my bag. Took the trolley back to town and tried to et a hitch with no luch so we went to the Happy Hiker and asked if they had any telephone numbers for shuttles. No answer on any of those so Megan, one of the employees, gave us a ride up to the Gap. SHe even gave us homemade peanut butter cookies. We got a late start so we didn't leave Gatlinburg until 7pm and didn't start to hike until almost quarter to 8. It was our first night hiking experience. Head lamps and all.Two ladies who are section hiking kind of picke up this stray dog, he just started following them at Fontana Dam, so they call him Fontana. A ranger was going to pick the dog up at Newfound Gap because you can't have dogs in the Smokies, but they couldn't catch him and he disappeared. Well when we left to hike up to Ice Water today Fontana showed up and followed us all the way to the shelter where the two ladies were. He follows your every step, down to the exact route you take throught the rocks.We got to the shelter way after dark and of course it was full and everyone was asleep. Setting up a tent in the dark is a pain in the butt, but I am full and in bed and it is only 9:45, not too bad. The only bad thing is the SNORING coming from the shelter. Dear Lord!!!
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Ice Water Spring 

To: TriCorner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It started to rain a little last night, but it really picked up this morning. We braved the rain and headed out at 9:30am. Once again great vistas were blocked by lingering clouds. The rain stopped around 11:30 but I was soaked. I don't know if my rain gear helps or makes things worse. It pretty much just traps in my sweat and soaks me from the inside.The sun came out and I was at the shleter by 4 so I was able to somewhat dry things off. Shelter's not too full and it is all young thru-hikers. THe raid did start up again so we are all in our bags with our headlamps writing, reading and doing sudoku.I can't waite to get out of the MISERABLE Smokies!!! Only 2 days left at the very most. We might be able to get ou tomorrow!
Date: 2006-04-26
From: TriCorner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: moderate rain

I hate the Smokies. More rain last night, this morning, this afternoon and tonight. Talk about suck. On the way to the shelter for lunch there was some plane wreckage. I t was really weird to see the twisted metal and wing fragments. Devin said it was a military plane. I wonder how long it has been there?We are staying at the last shelter in the smokies so we are getting a farewell rainstorm.I just found ou that my Parents and my sister are coming for her birthday to visit, feed and slackpack us!!! Woo Whoo. For those of you not familiar with slackpacking, it is when you hike without your pack and someone takes you from gap to gap. I am very excited to see them and not carry my pack for miles.
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Davenport Gap

To: New Roaring Fork
Miles today: 18.1

No rain this morning, very awesome. We had our biggest mileage yet today, but it was a beautiful day so I am not going to complain. I think today was my favorite day of hiking thus far. We were on Max Patch, which is a real bald. They even mow the grass on top of it. I felt like I was in the Sound of Music when they are frolicking and singing in the mountains. We had lunch today at Standing Bear Farm and Hostel. Pizza, Soda and of course Snickers. WE took our time there so we didn't get to the shelter until almost 8. We did catch back up to Beth, Michelle, Moonbeam, the "Regulators" & Garrett which is fun.The shelter was full tonight. Cat told me today she is leaving the trail to go home, she is just not having fun. That's too bad. She will be the first person I know to leave the trail that we started with. Tomorrow we may or may not go into town, depends on how we feel.
Date: 2006-04-28
From: New Roaring Fork

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

What a day. Where do I begin.Number one: What a fun day on the trail there were so many of us headed North today. Everytime you stopped you ran into someone you knew. It is becoming a little community. One south bounder told me I was the 24th person he passed and I know of at least 6 people who were behind me at the time. Number two: WE have officially decided that everytime I fall an "S" is added to my name. Right now it is Tripssss of Trips(4). We have the original incident at Neels Gap, then yesterday afternoonI fell on my butt in the creek, 1st thing this morning I slipped on some wet roots, and also today I went down on the mountain. I was off in lala land and hit a rock, tripped and skidded down the mountain head first because I was going down hill. OUCH. I cut my knee open and I have a skid mark on my right forearm. It doesn't hurt to walk or anything, so that is good. The most sore part of me is my neck. Maybe Whiplash from hitting the ground so hard. So there we are Trips(4). And this happened at about mile 17 or so, Talk about losing momentum.We got lodging at the Duckett House B&B took showers and went to town. Hot Springs was FULL of thru-hikers. It was great.We had dinner at the Bridge Street Cafe. Deliciosa. I would definately go back there again if ever in Hot Springs. After dinner we hit up the Paddler's Pub. Great time. WE hung out mostly with the "Regulators" (DunDee, Blackfoot & Searching Eagle) and closed the bar down! Live Music, Pool Games, almost all the things I miss most from back home! (just kidding mom & dad). I think this might be our lastest night yet, 1am. Our server from the restaurant showed up there and he actually also works at the B&B we were staying at and gave us a ride home.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Hot Springs

To: N. of Yellow Trail
Miles today: 4.0

The post office closed at 10:30am today so we had to get moving early. I got my new pack in the mail to replace mine because the seams were stretching, and it fits so much better. I love it. I bought some T-shirts as gifts and replaed my fleece with a Marmot DriClime jacket. Lighter, more packable, plus windproof. It is nice and it was on sale. For some reason today it was hard to leave Hot Springs. I kept getting anxious feeling like I didn't have enough time, but for what I don't know. It went away after we started hiking though. We only hiked 4 miles and we camped on this meadow/bald patch. When I took my tent out I noticed a lot of mildew on the fly which did not make me happy. I don't know why it happened. Pete's isn't like that and we used them last at the same time. I will have to talk to MSR at Trail Days.We had a fire and there are some bats in the trees beign very annoying, but I am beat so I am sure I will sleep like a baby.
Date: 2006-04-30
From: N. of Yellow Trail

To: Little Laurel
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Guess What? It was raining this morning. Rain=Don't want to get out of tent which makes for a late start. My legs felt like lead and this was my hardest day of hiking. My ankle hurts from my fall, I must have twisted it, and my body is still achey too. It got real cold when we got to the shelter, but we are in good company with Mousehat and Ramblin' Man. They said this is th ecoldest part of North Carolina so we are in for some warmer weather to come. I love my new jacket, it is great in the cold. I am thankful to get rid of my bulky fleece. I hope the mice aren't too loud in the shelter tonight.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Little Laurel

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy May Day to you all. We did not make it to the Gap for the trail magic today, it would have been nice, but it is still like 11 miles away. I am feeling better then I did yesterday. I am not as tight from my fall into Hot Springs. It was a beatiful day. WE had a great ridge walk for about a mile. I felt like I was on top of the world. What was weird though, it was flat to the North of us and very mountainous to the South. Pretty cool. The trail was very poorly marked after Butt Mountain. Pete went the wrong way a few times. Oops. DunDee just ran up. Damn, I thought we were ahead cause they all took a zero day in Hot Springs. Oh well, another day, more miles. We crossed the 300 mile mark and tomorrow is exactly 1 month we have been on the trail. Holy cow, I can say I had my doubts, but not anymore (I am feeling good at the moment!). Thank you to my mom for making those delicious Goo Balls, and to Dad for sending the truffles. And Thank you Pete's Mom, Carol, who sent SUdoku's and crossword puzzles from the Chicago Tribune. Hours and hours of after dinner enjoyment!!!