morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Fontana Dam NC

To: Village Inn, Swollen Ankle
Miles today: 5.5

Woke, slept well, decided to stay another day here. Ankle is huge! Get more ice and watch CNN. Very disappointed, skip breakfast and lunch, go to supper, eat at buffet.See Skittles, a huge fellow from Fairbanks Alaska. He sets down at my table, very nice man, very soft spoken. Originally from Minnesota. Lived in Alaska in a cabin working as a sports writer and helping out with the care of sled dogs. Says he will probably go back to Minn after the trail.Good dinner with a piece of cake. G-Man and Dan the Trail Man are here. Go back to ice and CNN.
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Village Inn, Swollen Ankle

To: Village Inn, Swollen Ankle
Miles today: 0.0

Woke, another day with injury. Need to wash clothes but don't want to go to the laundromat. Will probably just wash them in the sink. Plan on leaving tomorrow. Need to re-supply and send stuff home. I'm tired of writing this journal because there's nothing positive to write about. Am thinking about throwing it in the trash.Go eat at 5:00 am. G-Man and Dangerous Dan come in. Thought they left this morning. Dan is leaving tomorrow. G-Man still having hip trouble. He is going to stay at the Fontana shelter til Sunday.We always have fun when we eat together. In the restaurant, a radio is playing James Brown. the G-Man jumps from table and sings a few lyrics. The waitresses are amused by this. Most of them live on premise and are working their way through college. I would like to get out and explore this place, but in no shape to do so. Go back to room and ice ankle, wash clothes in sink.Heard that someone caught some big walleyes at the lake. Learned that G-Man spent a night at the Haven Motel. He tells me that Ron Haven was a pro-wrestler in the 70's.
Date: 2004-05-22
From: Village Inn, Swollen Ankle

To: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Wake decide to leave early today. Eat breakfast with Flatlander, then off to the general store and P.O. Ankle hurts. G-Man is setting outside the store drinking a root beer and reading the newspaper. Caught a ride back to the marina. Thru-hikers arrive, two from Mass and one from Wilmington NC. They tell me to be on the lookout for "(...)" another hiker they suspect of stealing some of their gear.We all set and watch people unload their boats. Finally I head for the trail, rough going, only one mile to Fontana Hilton Shelter. Thats where I'm going to stay.On TVA property now. Shelter is very nice place. Double lofts, bathrooms close by, picnic tables, fire pits. Notice G-Mans gear inside shelter. Unpack G-Man comes in from the Dam. Shelter is basically a small lake house (on the water).Two more guys come in, Ken and Ted. Ken is from Miss, Ted is from Grensboro NC. Ken is a "good ol boy" using second hand gear that people get rid of. says he has $15.00 to hike the trail. Ted tells me that a trail is being built from Clingsmans Dome to the outer banks. Shows me a map of it. After much small talk It's bed time. Ted pitches his Tarp outside, rest of us sleep in shelter. No mice here, but plenty of gnats. They're worse than the mice.
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)

To: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wake, ankle is beginning to look normal. Will stay here today. G-Man heads to Fontana to make a phone call. I look after his gear while he's gone. Not much to do except look at the boats. Occasionally visiters come in to see the shelter (parking lot down the road). G-Man comes back after awhile with two cokes, weenies and hot dog buns. Gonna have a weenie roast tonight.I gather firewood, build a fire, G-Man breaks out the food. Good ol charcoal black weenies. They have never tasted so good.After dinner, two young women come in, med students going to Hot Springs NC. About dark 3 section hikers arrive. Very noisy people, dragging their feet and talking loudly. G-man hates this behavior. Several hours later he begins his notorious snore. I can only laugh because these people don't know what they are in for.A hellish night to say the least. The two girls can't take it. They climb down from the top bunks and head outside to sleep on picnic tables. One of the men goes outside as well mumbling something as he goes. The ultimate revenge !! Even I have never seen such intense snoring as this !In the morning the men are long gone. Girls come in to get their gear and "G-Man says, "Jeeze, those guys made a hell of a lot of noise last night, didn't they". Girls look like they could kill him. They go back outside and G-Man lets loose with one of the most violent, vicious farts I've ever heard, he just laughs. His hip is feeling better and he decides to hit the trail. After he's gone the girls ask me if I got any sleep ? I can only laugh.May just hang around here for 1/2 day or another day. Very long hard climb into the Smokies.G-Man is from PA, in the bar business for about 20 years. Three bars, 35 people work for him. Says he spends a lot of time in Maine.
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)

To: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Walk with my pack to the Dam to buy a lighter (gave mine to the G-Man) ankle hurt the whole way and the store is closed when I get there. Walk back to shelter. Couple of guys come in, leave their gear and hitch to Fontana Village for dinner.At the shelter, a father and son from Charlotte NC come in. They are doing about 130 miles. Son always says "Sir" to his father. Nice people. Someone brings in a lot of left over food for us to share. I get bread, energy bars,soup, candy, beans and rice."Byrd The Trail Runner" has several big mail drops. He goes through them, gives away stuff he can't use. He gives me a box of matches. I need them badly because the visiters center isn't even open to buy a lighter.Byrds friend has a backpack guitar and begins to play, he is pretty good. A guy from Texas comes in. About my age, journalist who is also a private pilot. He wants to write articles about "policies of aviation". His pack is huge. Starts giving stuff away. I get candy bars and noodles. Tries to give away a tent and knife but nobody wants it. Everybody wants to keep their pack light for the Smokies. He piles it into the corner, day hikers will probably take it.Two guys from Charleston leave behind a very nice cook set. They don't want the extra weight. Time for bed.
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Fontana Hilton (Hostel)

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 5.9

Wake. Every one leaves except for me and Tex. I dread going cause it's going to hurt. But soon after Tex leaves I follow. Painful walk to the Dam. water is so clear and it's neat to be able to walk across the Dam. I stop to look down at some fish and two TVA (Tennesee Valley Authority)guys stop too. One tells me about how good the fishing is. Deepest part is 400 feet.Cross the Dam and head into the Smokies. tough climb to the tower. Ankle hurts but not as bad as before. Bears are supposed to be everywhere. I am going to camp at the Birch Springs about 5.3 miles. A short day but I'm going to take it easy.Get to campsite, no one else here. Good water and bear cables. I've got too much food but am running low on alcohol. May have to borrow some. probably do another short day tomorrow. Eat and go to sleep.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wake. Winds were very heavy last night. Heard what sounded like a bear about to run over my tent. Looked out and a deer was eating about 12 feet away. Was not afraid of me. These are beautiful woods. Pack up and leave. First 2 miles are difficult because of my ankle but not as bad as before. Get to Mollies Ridge Shelter.Guy from Ohio is here. He's going to Fontana. Marvin or Martin is his name. He works for the Govt as a fraud investigator. Nice guy. says he put a famous baseball player in jail.Thunderstorms approach and the temp drops. Clouds move in and in 10 seconds I can't see outside the shelter. A mouse crawls up to my feet and appears to beg for food. He is not afraid. Gets dark, wind is howling. Eat dinner, beans and rice. Go to sleep.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: broken clouds

Wake, It's chilly. Marvin heads up to Fontana Dam where he will shuttle in to the Village. I pack up and head to Russell Field Shelter. Fairly easy walk, ankle feeling better.I see places along the trail where ground is torn up. Trail is very muddy, the storm obviously hit here in the night. Very pretty ecosystem.Get to Russell Field Shelter, rest a bit. Go to water but it is not a very good water supply so I move on to a new shelter. This part of the trail is used by horses. Deep mud and shit everywhere. Meet several horses, they step aside, some got spooked. Came to a beautiful grazing area.Got to Spence Field Shelter. Has good water and a fence. Day hikers come in taking photographs. They take mine. Also give me tuna, crackers, candy and an orange! (Something fresh!) They leave and a guy in camo with a 12 gauge shotgun with a flash light taped to it shows up. I'm a little spooked at first but learn he is a pig hunter with the Park service.He lives alone in a tent Mon thru Friday and hunts during the night. The wild pigs are non-nature and destructive to the area. He kills them and leaves them for the bears and coyotes to eat. He is 25 years old and lives in TN. He has a degree in wildlife / fisheries. Real country boy. Fishes and hunts during time off. He also worked as a professional hunter in a California Park. Catalina I think. The Smokies have 4 hunters for 500,000 acres. He says the pigs breed real fast, a really nice guy.Couple of day hikers come in, foreigners, they are alarmed by the shotgun and leave. We talk awhile. he's very informative about the park. Says he goes to the shelters to find someone to talk to. Soon leaves.Other thru hikers, all nice people , come in. Hours later the hunter comes back. Tells me the foreigner hikers reported him and ME to the police and the law was starting to look for us!! His supervisor told him about it over the radio. Suppose that will be cleared up. gets dark, go to bed.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Wake. last night was very windy and rainy. Pouring rain this morning. No one wants to leave but eventually the others depart. I stay in late. Was going to go to Derricks Knob Shelter but may just go on to the next one, 11.5 miles. That will be pushing it big time. ( I really don't like staying in the Shelters because of all the people, but sometimes you just have to). Head out into the beautiful gray clouds, about 5,200 feet up, clouds and mist everywhere.Meet a man from Seattle who is section hiking. A real charactor, so nice. Does a lot of fishing in Alaska. Ankle seems better. I feel pretty good today. It's been a while.Meet father and daughter from Ohio, he's a retired Policeman. She has hurt her knee the same way I did. That's trouble. Thankfully they are only going to Davenport TN. Nice people.The trail to Derricks Knob Shelter is brutal and takes forever. Get there in the evening. Two other guys there. Nice shelter, good water.Fix dinner, two deer grazing maybe 20 feet away, not seeming to care. running low on fuel. Forgot to buy tooth paste in Fontana. Would have been without for 70 miles but in a plastic bag in the shelter I found a tube !! Now that's a bonus. finally get to brush my teeth.Two more day hikers come in half dead. One guy is obsessed with talking about gear. This is a good crowd of people. Go to bed.
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 7.5

Wake. During the night I remembered I had sunflower seeds in my pack. Got up and put them under my nalgene bottle. Withen minutes a mouse starts to chew it up, so I emptied the nalgene bottle and put the seeds in it. Slept good.Early in the morning we heard a bunch of coyotes, very close by. Got up I was second hiker out. Climb not too bad, half and half.Saw where pigs had been rooting the ground. Not a bad walk to Double Spring Gap Shelter. (5,057 ft ). Passed by Silers Bald Shelter. These two section hikers from Raleigh offered me food. I was very thankful for this cause I'd just about run out of granola bars and the such. I'm also about out of alcohol and ibuprofen.Ready to call it a day at Double Spring Gap Shelter. About a 7 1/2 mile day got there at noon. Want a good rest before climbing Clingmans Dome (6,665 ft).Have been sheltering with the father and daughter from Ohio. They seem to get along very well. See a change in the tree's too. Am see'ing more and more firs. Lots of day hikers too. Had an early supper, lots of people come in. Two brothers, call themselves the "Blues Brothers". Shelter is crowded.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Double Spring Gap shelter NC

To: Pecks Corner Shelter NC
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Leave early, first one out. Get to top of Dome. Bad Storm, lightning everywhere, bad situation. Desend, meet up with father and daughter team, very fast hikers. Meet a lady who's competing in a Appalachian Trail Photo contest. She takes my picture, also gives me ibuprofen.Get to newfound gap. Father and daughter team already here. They motion me over, this is the end of the trip for them. They give me food and wish me luck. Nice people.Feeling pretty good today. Get to Pecks Corner Shelter 23.8 miles exhausted. Fewer people here.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Pecks Corner Shelter NC

To: Davenport Gap Shelter TN
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Wake. Leg is sore. May have over done it. Push on. Very bad storm through the night and trail is completely flooded with water and deep mud. Climb Mt Guyot spring 6,200 ft. Incredible views, high winds, very steep cliffs.Get to Tri Corner Knob Shelter. One guy there, recognize him from earlier. He's sick, thinks it's bronchetis. He hikes to Davenport Gap Shelter with me. Very tough trail, rocks everywhere. Doing well but starving to death, not enough food to snack on during the day. Would give anything for a box of pop tarts.This day goes on forever, everything is flooded. Get to Davenport Gap Shelter just before dark. Ankle is fine, but now my knee hurts again. Worried that I over did it. All our gear is soaked, feet are rotten ! We did 20 miles !!Eat and go to bed.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Davenport Gap Shelter TN

To: Tent Site past Waterville Road
Miles today: 9.1

wake. Slept late, sick guy coughed all night long. Sounded like he was dying. Everyone else leaves. Our clothes are completely rotten. We've been in rain for days. The Smokies are very wet because of the altitude.Mouse chewed a hole in the sick guys pack, he is furious. We plan on going on to Groundhog Shelter about 10.7 miles. Easy day since we slept late. We set out, very soon leave the National Park property. Follow a beautiful trout stream. Sick guy slips and falls, he's ok.We come to a road crossing and I-40 is nearby. We don't know where to pick up the trail ? Take a rest by the Pidgon River. Rafting companies are everywhere. Sick guy goes on trying to find the way. I flag down a truck, he tell's me where to go, I mean where the trail picks up. I rest at the Pidgon River Bridge. Lots of white water. many rafts coming down river, they wave up at me. One guide tells me not to jump.I head on - go under I-40 and pick up the trail, soon get to Waterville School Road. On a big rock there are painted directions to standing Bear Hostel about 150 yds up the dirt road. I decide to check it out.Sick guy is there and so is G-Man !! He's been there two nights. This is a very rustic place.One house, small shacks in the yard. Chickens, dogs, streams. G-Man tells me the owners have gone to SC to pick up a tractor.The place works on an honor system. Sign tells you to put money in the slotted box and make yourself at home. They have food, drinks, pizza. I get lots of junk food.One shack is a privy with cedar shavings, another is an outside shower, another is a bunk house, another is a kitchen with stove, microwave, even a laundry !! Very nice layout. Books to read, big porches, laundry is free if you stay overnight. Very tempting to stay.G-Man leaves for the next Shelter. Sick guy calls home. I eat, shower, do laundry. This place is wonderful !!Washing machine water turns black when I put my clothes in. Feet are rotten. Sick guy heads for next shelter. I hang around awhile.There is a tepee in the yard and even a laptop computer set-up in a shack, internet ready. I put $10.00 in the box, very well spent!Just about to leave when the owners drive up pulling an antique tractor, Curtis and Maria Guzman. Curtiss is the spitting image of Ted Nugent ! Great people. I hang around and talk to with them. He's trying to start an organic farm, such a nice guy.Getting late, I head out. Very steep climb. Want to take it easy on my knee. Set-up camp near a stream. It's very hard to find a decent tree to hang food on, am worried about that.Have figured out that I need to carry more day time food (stuff that doesn't have to be cooked) but this will make my pack heavier. Thinking about sending tent and sleeping bag home. Thats about 5 lbs 8 oz of weight off my knee my knee and ankles. Sacrifices will have to be made. Eat and settle in for the night.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Tent Site past Waterville Road

To: Tent Site Max Patch
Miles today: 11.3

Hike to Max Patch, very beautiful bald mountain 4,629 ft. Nothing but grass, very windy, but warm. I took a nap on top. G-Man came along and woke me up. He stopped at next Shelter, but I pushed on. Tented by a creek, very hungry. Ate almost all of my snack food. Cannot carry enough to eat during the day.I experiment sleeping without my sleeping bag. Not good ! Too cold for that, but soon that will change. Avery good nights sleep.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Tent Site Max Patch

To: Tent Site Past Max Patch
Miles today: 13.8

Slept late, G-Man yelled out my name as he passed by, it was 10:00 am !! Packed up, started walking. The next shelter, Walnut Mountain Shelter was only 1/2 mile from where I'd camped !!Typical walk, uphill, downhill all day. Took a good tumble when I tripped over my poles, not hurt, tho.G-Man wants to stop at Deer Park Mountain Shelter so he can get up in the morning and walk 3 miles to Hot Springs NC. I decide to go on into town. Did 13 miles today.Barely made it into town before thunderstorms hit. Went straight to restaurant, hamburger steak, pie, iced tea.Across the street is the Sunny Bank Inn built in the 1800's, was part of a large farm. Elmer (who is known for his vegetarion meals) shows me around. Music room with instruments. Library upstairs, TV room, full of antiques, very victorean home.Ran into several people here that I've seen on the trail, Blue Owl (who is the sick Guy). Greg from NJ and Goat who is hiking from Springer to Harpers Ferry.I'm lucky to get a room because Elmer says there is a large group of people coming in this week-end. I get the impression that Elmer is vey spiritual but not in the religious sense>Very tired, got a lot to do tomorrow before heading out.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Woke early, lots to do. A goods nights sleep in a very old nice home. Can hear the kitchen helpers working to prepare breakfast, it's supposed to be incredible. All vegetarian but I want pancakes and sausage so I go across the street to the diner, order three giant pancakes, 2 sausages and juice.Next to the P.O. to mail home fleece wear, then to Bluff Mtn. Outfitters where there is an ATM. Get money to pay off Elmer and head back. He is quite busy, a large group of Zen people coming in, they'll fill up his home.Get my stuff and head back to outfitters. Hot Springs is a very popular little town. Everything within walking distance. Lots of nice stuff in the outfitters shop, lots of food too. I buy super feet insoles (later regret it) and plenty of food.Outside the shop I see G-Man come walking down the street. He looks rough, his shoes are blown out on the sides,data book was blown off a cliff during high winds, we fiddle around.My intent was to leave for the trail, but we go across the street to the Paddlers Club, a restaurant-bar and set under the umbrellas. G-Man orders a lot of beer. We set here for a long time just people watching. The hotels are all full so I will have to pitch a tent at the campground. He says there's going to be live music at the pub tonight.Across the street. Huck Finn White Water Adventurers is very busy, hikers and boaters everywhere. I go into the ice cream shop order a sundae, then hit the trail.Very, very tough climb across the French Broad River. Then to next shelter. Get there at dark, completely soaked by rain. Other people there don't won't to move their stuff to make room for me, so I move it for them ! This is why I'm not fond of shelters.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wake early and leave before others. Want to do 20 miles today. Typical walk. Trail goes through a beautiful field.Met up with two guys who have thru-hiked before. They said they prefer tents to shelters also. Feet are killing me. There's no paddling in boats anymore.Trail takes me on a ridge line very high up and very rocky. If a storm come's up now, I'm in trouble. Pass by two tombstones, brothers who fought for the Union then tried to sneak back home were ambushed and killed.Finally get to Flint Mountain Shelter 21.2 miles ! I'm exhausted. Eat like a pig. No one else is here except for the mice.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite Past Bald Mountain
Miles today: 20.0

Woke late. Mice are very bad here. I eat bagels and peanut butter. (have to get more bagels). Trim insoles for boots, get moving. Feet are giving me some trouble, not blisters, they just hurt.Typical day, uphill, downhill. Find a bucket hanging from a branch on the trail (trail magic) in it is food, and orange juice ! A note inside says "take what you want". I load up. It also has a register in it. I sign and move on.The trail goes through a cow pasture. Bull blocks my path. Go through the woods to avoid him. He looks angry. Got to Sam's Gap at the highway. Go to parking lot to get rid of trash and a man on a Harley comes up and gives me cookies ! His name is Billy, we talk for awhile. Nice guy. I move on. Feet really ache.Pass on by Hogback Ridge Shelter. Big Bald, beautiful bald spot up high. Get to Bald Mtn. Shelter. People there, get water and do another mile. 20 miles today.I've got to lighten my pack, but I don't know how. I see people with much smaller packs. How do they do it ? Camp high on tip top of mountain, it's going to be chilly.