morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked on my own again today, passing up folks and being passed up. The days are starting to blend in together. I need to journal every night to keep my days and stories straight. I'm trying to bring these last few days together, hoping not to be redundant. I wondered if folks wondered what the trail itself was like. The AT is sometimes called the Green Tunnel. It is clearly a marked foot path, marked being white blazes of 2" x 6" painted on trees mostly, sometimes on rocks and posts. So far in 100 miles the trail has been narrow (shoulder width) to about a yard, somtimes much wider. It can be a mess of mud and muddy leave, stream crossings over rocks, uphills over rocks and roots with sometimes steps of logs are built in by the trail maintainers over the years. The path can also be a very pleasant and soft dirt trail. It runs on top of mountains, along the sides of the mountains on ridges that are like carved into the sides. The are hairping turns called switchbacks vs. climbing straight up although straigt up has happened on ocassion. The scenery is often the same from mt to mt, no foliage to speak of yet, with expanses of down the hill views of naked trees, downed trees and limbs. Often "blow downs" (fallen trees) cross the path and they have been cut to allow hikers to pass through. Every mile of the trail is "maintained" by various clubs from end to end. I have one friend in Atlanta who has his "mile" to trim back grasses and debris on the trail. No power tools are used. Yak, yak, more later.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

This is the third day out from Hiawassee NC and I'm pleased to be "on my plan" for time and dates and miles. The big thing about today is thoughts of tomorrow! 12.1 miles today with only one huge rock climb up Mount Albert (this was almost straigt up on rocks, the toughest climb yet. The view has been the best yet with clear skies and miles of mountains and a huge valley. Anyway, tomorrow is a planned nero day (part hiking and part day off, a zero day is no hiking) in Franklin NC, a hiker friendly town. Will hike 3.8 miles in the morning and a shuttle will pick us up about 9:30. A gentleman named Ron Haven runs two hiker friendly motels (special rates) and shuttles folks all over town for shopping needs. Tonight at the shelter was a social event with a fire and visiting and story telling. I met a new friend, retired from a postmaster position somewhere in New Hampshire. His trail name is Always Fine. Ask him how he's doing, he says "always fine".
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Gap Shelter, Franklin NC
Miles today: 3.8

Made a fast hike to Winding Stair Gap so as not to be late for the shuttle into Franklin. Here comes this medium size school bus which I'd heard was his shuttle. Friendly guy steps out and says "welcome friends". Got checked in to the Budget Motel (really budget, a few things didn't work right but right enough) and started a relaxing day. Had lunch with Always Fine and at 4:00 Ron shuttled us around town to the outfitter store, grocery stores, and wherever anyone wanted to stop in. Didn't eat dinner until 8:00 as the local roadhouse type restaurant was packed. We had to wait 15 minutes to get a table. I had a large salad with chicken (haven't had greens for many days)and a cup of baked potatoe soup. Had dinner with Slow Poke and Always Fine again. Packed up and prepared for tomorrow, still had trouble sleeping. Stormed last night, forcast is not good for next couple days with some pretty low lows the next two night (and days). If dry, can stay warm easily with some long underware. Rainy weather is a bit different. The end of this week is forcasted for nice weather. Ron was a great host. Next significant destination is Fontana Dam, the southern base of the Smokey Mountains. The Smokeys is a whole 'nother story. More later. All is well, I am fine with no aches or pains.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Winding Gap Shelter, Franklin NC

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Saturday 4/12,destination Wayah Shelter from Winding Stair Gap, 11 miles.Got off the shuttle from Franklin and on the trail at 9:20. Rained hard last night and the trail was soaked with puddles and debris. Cold and windy most of the day yet sunny. It was a good hiking day but Im getting to feel like 11 miles is a short day as it would have been longer with an earlier start. One huge climb today over 1600' most within 5 miles to a mountain top called Wayah Bald. From the fire tower looking south we could see Georgia. Looking north we could see the Smokeys. We could also see a bald and other mountains we had been on the past couple days. It was clear up there, unbelieveable views of the valley below. Wayah bald is at 5,340' elevation. Today, the hiking group consisted of Tattoo, Rolling Thunder (he snores), Slightly Unrefined, Bogie and Bacall, Slow Goin', Y2K, Mary Poppins and Professor, and yours truly, Repack.I was the first to arrive at tonights shelter, 4:00. I thought it was too early to quit but my feet hurt and the next shelter was 4.8 away and would have been crowded with the faster hikers. Wise decision to stay. Within a few minutes, others began rolling in. I fixed a hot chocolate. Wow, did it hit the spot. Others began dinner prep soon after. I prefer to eat a little later as I'll get hungry in the middle of the night if I eat early. My dinner tonight was chicken & herb couscous. It was hot and delicious.I learned Rolling Thunder was born and raised in Columbus, went to Walnut Ridge, he's 47. Small world.The sun has gone down now and the night is setting in. The wind has been blowing all day, and it is cold. It's just about dark. There are a few folks tented and 6 of us side by side on the shelter floor packed in tight. The shelter is three sided. Thank goodness the wind is blowing in from the back. Time for me to turn in too I have long underware on, socks (2 pair) and a long sleeve top and fleece top over that. Im sure I will be warm. I dread getting up in the middle of the night to pee which I will surely have to do. We're a long way from the comforts of last night's motel room. More later.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Wayah Shelter

To: Nanatahala Outdoor Center (NOC) (Bryson City NC)
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday 4/13. Destination Nanatahala Outdoor Center (NOC) (Bryson City NC) from Wayah Bald Shelter.Really cold this morning. Some say under 30*. My little thermometer read 32*. Didn't sleep well again, a little cold, had to get up twice to go, I think it was the cold.Got on the trail (7:40) in a hurry to warm up, careful to be sure to pack everything not leaving something important behind. It was a 16+ mile hike to the NOC. I wanted the comfort of at least a bunk house. So I did it, a bit of a zombie the last couple miles, took over 10 hours with frequent breaks. The last 5 miles was mostly downhill, tough on the knees. I know there will be cold nights again and I know now better how to handle them after the experience last night. Also, I didn't sleep well again but I think it was the caffiene in the hot chocolate earlier. No more caffiene ever, in the early evening.So got a bunk and at the same time reserved a single room for the next cold day and night, a smart move I later learned. Light snow and one more cold night in the forecast. Hooked up with Always Fine (John) in the same bunk room. Another hiker, Bulldog, was in the bunk room so not crowded. Slept well for a change. Looking forward to a zero day tomorrow and a hot bacon & egg breakfast, hot coffee. More later.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Nanatahala Outdoor Center (NOC) (Bryson City NC)

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Monday 4/14, zero day at NOC.Finally got a decent nights rest. Just a bunk, slept in my sleeping bag on a mattress. Had a great bacon & egg breakfast with hiker friend Always Fine (John).I've spent the day hangin' out and reorganizing my pack and organizing my food mail drop from Christine for the next 2.5 days into Fontana Dam, the southern AT terminus of the Great Smokey Mountains. The Smokeys are about 72 miles and the highest elevations on the entire trail, Clingmans Dome is 6,643', we hike over it. There is only one place to resupply, in Gatlinburg, 16 miles off the trail. So most hikers are planning on 5-6 days food to pack without going into Gatlinburg, and will resupply just outside the Smokeys at a hostel called Standing Bear Farm where I stayed last Fall.Said goodbye to two hikers today. Husband and wife team Fire Fighter and Beth and their dog, called it quits. I was talkig with him earlier this morning at the restroom/shower and he was telling me of their difficulties and being cold at night on the trail. Beth has a knee issue, and they do not have the right equipment. They were not in mummy bags and their tent was single walled which means condensation problems and dripping inside. I told him if they were not happy or having continous issues on the trail that this might not be their year. I, by chance, happened to be near the road as they were loading into a van to get to Ashville to rent a car and drive home. Beth was sad, she wanted hugged and we obliged and wished them a better year on the trail.There must be 40-50 hikers at this place tonight, all heading out in the morning for Sassafrass Shelter. It is only 7 miles, but, just about all of it is uphill, gradual with a couple steeps. I'm guessing many will have breakfast before getting started. Hope so. I plan on being on the trail by 8:00 and a little ahead of the crowd. It will be another cold start but will warm up once I start hiking. I am well. More later.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: NOC

To: Sassafrass Shleter 
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday 4/15. destination Sassafrass Shelter from NOC.I am injury free. Occasionally I feel a pain in my shoulder or knee or foot, wherever. I pay attention to it and am aware but it is usually just a passing discomfort. In this dry and cold weather, the skin around my right thumb nail is cracked and dry at both corners and in the middle. My index fingers and left thumb also but minor. I smarts a bit as I'm thumbing out this journal entry today. I've been keeping the areas moist all day with an antibiotic ointment.Today is the start of the third week of hiking. Coming out of the NOC, its a 7 mile hike uphill to the first shelter at Sassafras Gap. Always Fine and I had made plans to hike to Fontana on the same schedule but I blew by Sassafrass at 12:15 thinking he kept going since he was in front of me and since we got there so early. Bogie and Bacal said he in the shelter waiting for me. Now I'm ahead of him and don't know where he is. I can get To Fontana Dam, the base of the Smokys, tomorrow. I hope he catches up with me.Although unintended, I hiked 16.1 miles today. It was the hardest hiking day so far as the last 2.5 miles were almost vertical. Every one at this Brown Gap shelter has commented that this was indeed the hardest climb to date. Man! It was a bear! My feet ache! The climb was out of Sweetheart Gap, how misnamed. There was snow on the trail today early on at higher elevations and in shady spots. Some great views too. I could see the smokeys. There was much snow in them,thar hills. They stand out as the elevations are the highest in this southern end of the AT. I need to back off these 16 mile days as that's still a bit too much this early in the hike.I noticed many buds today in these naked mountains.I have walked 150.9 miles to date in 15 days since the start.More later.
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Wednesday 4/16. From Brown Fork Shelter to Cable Gap Shelter.I decided not to push on to Fontana Dam today, especially since there was no room at the Hike Inn that's holding a mail drop for me. And, Always Fine also has package there and we had made plans to share a room tomorrow night, arriving 'bout 1:00, so a little time off in the p.m. So, knowing AF was behind me, I left him a note on a stump and he found it and we met at this Cable Gap Shelter. It was only a 6.1 hike for me so I took my time leaving last nights shelter and for the first time, fixed a coffee upon getting up. It was great as I packed up. So arriving at Cable Shelter about 2:00, I fixed a hot chocolate and ramen lunch. Said hi to a few hikers passing through as Fontana Dam is a short 6.5 miles up the trail from here. Tonight at the shelter was fun and social with: Always Fine, Slightly Unrefined, Johnny Thunder, Rolling Thunder, Y2K, and Keychain. There is another guy in a hammock who kept to himself. We have a small fire going. It will be chilly tonight.All is well, quiet, and peaceful. Tomorrow, a shower and clean clothes.More later.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday 4/17, from Cable Gap Shelter to Fontana Dam, NC.Built in the 30's by the TVA, Fontana Dam sits at the southern tip of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the US. FD is also the southern point of the Appalachian Trail as the trail rolls along 71 miles across the ridges of the Smokeys, ending at Davenport Gap, a mile or two short of I-40 at the NC / TN border. There is no resupplypoint in the Smokeys unless one takes an arranged shuttle (16 miles) intothe ever popular tourist vacation spot, Gatlinburg, TN. So the talk amongmany hikers is how many days of food is needed without resupply. Most aregoing with 5 to 6 days to avoid Gatlinburg.Gatlinburg is also a popular meeting spot for families and a relatively easy get-off the AT location. Some of the hikers I've been hanging around with are getting off and plan to return. I would find it tough to get back onat this point with a 4-5 day-off hiking.Tonight, afte a short 6.9 mile day, I'm sharing a room with hiking friend,Always Fine. We will probably say good-bye tomorrow as he is a faster hiker and I will be getting off at the Gatlinburg exit (I will explain my plannext journal entry). I hope to meet up with another new friend, Franklin,before reaching the middle of the Smokey, the get-off point into Gatlinburg
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: My Leap Plan
Miles today: 0.0

From Fontana Dam to Spence Field Shelter.First day into the Smokeys. Hiked 13.5 + a 2.5 mile detour around the dam (we later learned that some hikes went ahead and crossed the dam in spite of the closed to traffic signs.. oh well). I actually hiked 2.4 more than planned as tomorrows forecast calls for a good chance for rain, so I'm that much closer to the next shelter.There are 4 weekend hikers in the shelter tonight and they have a radio and are listening to a Braves game. I'm enjoying it and trying not to think about the hot dogs and beer at the stadium.My Leap Plan, explanation: Last Fall,, the first week in October, I hiked 82 miles on the AT as a trial hike, from the middle of the Smokeys at Newfound Gap to Allen Gap, 14.4 trail miles north of Hot Spring, NC. I will be skipping or leaping over these 82 miles at this time. I've arranged a shuttle to pick me up at Newfound Gap and drop me off at Hot Springs, NC on Monday. The following day, I will take another shuttle to that 82nd mile and begin hiking north from there. My plan is to finish the hike in Maine, and then return to the Smokeys to rehike the skipped 82. I must hike the entire AT in one calendar year to qualify for "thru-hiker" status. Doing it this way gets me ahead by 7-8 days and hopefully to the Maine terminus by 9/15-20 before cold weather sets in and usually early. The trail to the Maine terminus is closed 10/15. Also, should I need to end my hike early, I would not have hiked this same section twcie without it meaning something.So I'm saying goodbye to many hikers I met from the first week on the trail. Some are fast movers and will probably catch up to me.More later.......
Date: 2008-04-19
To: Short Day
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday 4/19. From Spence Field shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter. We had a wind and rain storm last night. The wind roared through the trees, sounded like a train, all night it seemed. Then, at some time in the wee hours it poured. I was in my sleeping bag, in the shelter, warm and dry and I felt comfortable hoping the rain would stop by daylight. If I sleep, its up at daylight. Not done with this entry, will return.
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Saturday 4/19. Title: Short Day. From Spence Field Shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter. We had a wind and rain storm last night. The wind roared through the trees like a train, all night it seemed. Then at some unknown hour it began pouring. I was in my bag, warm and dry, and I felt comfortable.The rain stopped an hour after daylight so we didn't get up at dawn's light as usual. Didn't get on the trail until 9:00 and losing that 1 hour messed up distance and timing planned. I had hoped to go 14.5 miles today but at 3:00, I still had 5.4 to go and my doggies were hurtin'. Reluctantly, I did not hike on which means I must hike 13.5 tomorrow to meet commitments. I will be out early and pace myself. There are a couple very steep climbs however as we cross over Clingmans Dome, the highest elevation on the entire AT. A stop there is a must if not cloudy. So today from 3:00 on I organized my shelter area and began lightening my pack by leisurely eating it. Well not it, but I had a couple coffees, 2 packet of maple instant oats (boy were they good), some meat sticks, and freeze dried chili macaroni, pretty good too, and cookies for dessert. I figure a pound less to carry tomorrow. Many hikers will give away unneeded food instead of carrying the extra weight.The shelter is full tonight with 5-6 tents. We figured 22 hikers here, all thru-hikers except for 3-4. I enjoy socializing with the young and old. Tonight there were a few Uno players having fun. We often talk about families and home towns. We talk a lot about the foods we miss, seems especially the guys talk about beer Someone mentioned a bowl of Cheerios, that sounds great just about now. Beer sounds better.I have a long day tomorrow. G'night. More later.
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Somewhere in Smokeys

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday 4/20 Title: Mostly disappointing day. Today was a mix of events, mostly disappointments. First, cloudy and cold most of the time. We hiked to Clingmans Dome at 6,643' and we were in the clouds, no view from the observation tower, bummer! The trail was a mess of thick black mud, mixed with dead leaves (squish, squish). Up and down as usual with very tricky footing. Next, I got off on a side trail by mistake. Hiked .5 miles before I caught it. Dumb! I need to slow down and look up every now and then, that was my error.On the bright side, I crossed the 200 mile mark today! Getting closer to Maine every day.A couple girl hikers cooked popcorn tonight. I had a handful. Wow, was it ever good! I had freeze dried stew tonight for dinner.Tomorrow I meet my shuttle at noon at a parking lot that crosses the trail, to do my 82 mile leap to Hot Springs,NC. This will be a zero day with half day off the trail, bath, burger, and a bed, resupply too. Then Tuesday, back on the trail. I will ask the shuttle driver to stop at Wendy's drive through for lunch.Cold again tonight, probably below 30*. We're at 4,500'. I've got it all planned out on getting dressed and packed and out in a hurry. The way to keep warm is to keep moving. More later.
Date: 2008-04-20
From: Derrick Knob Shelter 

To: Newfound Gap to Hot Springs NC.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday 4/21. Leap Day. From Derrick Knob to Newfound Gap to Hot Springs, NC.I met my shuttle at NF Gap a little early. He was nice enough to drop my hiking friend from Detroit, Peregrine, at a hiker friendly motel in Gatlinburg. She needed to get to a clinic and have a nail infection looked at.Tonight I'm sharing a room with "Dave from Maine". We're at an inn like place built in the 40's I think, called the Sunnybank Inn. They cook vegetarian and I had dinner here of black bean soup, a great salad, veggie stir fry, tea and sweet potatoes pie for dessert. Pretty darn good! Relaxing tonight and reorganizing for an 11 miler tomorrow with yet again, some steep mountains to go up and down. The southern half of the Smokey's were not impressive. Of course the higher elevation brings the clouds and fog. You can see the mist and clouds move right in front of your face. One phenomenon we experienced yesterday was witnessing ice crystals forming on trees near Clingman's Dome, called "rime" or "rine", not sure which word is correct. Anyway, these little pieces of ice were falling on me as I walked under pine trees. I've never seen this before, frozen fog! End of this entry, I didn't finish it on this day and I've forgotten what I wanted to say. Oh well...More later....
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Allen Gap

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday 4/22. Title: Mixed Day. From Allen Gap to Jerry's Cabin Shelter 11.7 miles.I shuttled out of Hot Springs as planned and started my hike at Allen Gap at 9:00. After 10 minutes, I changed into a short sleeve shirt for the rest of the day. The morning was perfect for walkin' through the woods. There was one long uphill, a couple miles, but no other issues. I was mostly in pine forest and it offered shade for the mostly sunny day. But the afternoon was extremely different as far as the trail goes. I approached a sign that read,"ridge line trail" and "alternate bad weather trail". I followed the ridge line trail as it was marked with white blazes. I thought I had seen tough stretches of the trail before, and have commented so in previous journals but this ridge line was the worst. The trail was literally a rock climb! At times, it was vertical with hands on the rocks to move forward and a couple times, it was climb down backwards like down a ladder. A mis-step could meet with a serious injury. The trail went on top of a couple mountains. I thought it would never end. There were, however, some wonderful views looking down into valleys and out of the mountains to the horizon. Finally, the rocks ended and back on to more normal path to the shelter. About 8 of us in the shelter tonight, nice folks I haven't met before, as expected, there was: Bear Pack, Flame Thrower, Pacer, Corinna, Bear Bait, and Raver. We have a nice fire going and laughs abound as the conversation leans to the next town on the trail, 3.5 days for my plan, some are talking 2.5 days in.I've unfortunately developed a painful 4th toe on my right foot where the nail has dug into the skin. So, put some ointment on it and filed the corner, tried to pull the skin away with some tape. It is not looking good, I fear an infection. Will put a gauze pad on it in the morning and clean socks. Hope it works out as tomorrow is a 14 miler.Bear bags are hung, time to turn in.More later.