morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-15
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Galinburg, TN
Miles today: 4.5

Day 28I woke up and it was raining. Oh, yay. Wet tent. Aaand...it's Diva time again! Soo...I decided Gatlinburg sounded pretty good. There was a shuttle from Newfound Gap at 12:45 and by the time I decided I was going to go into town it was about 9:30 and I still wasn't packed up. I didn't get on the trail until after 10 and had 4.5 miles to go. I went fast. Got to a trail head sign at 12:04 that said I had 1.7 miles to go. I RAN! Pretty much 3/4 of the way I was running, in the mountains, with m pack on. I made it to Newfound Gap at 12:43!! The thought of dry sheets is apparently a great motivator for me. Tony and X3 were at the lot with the shuttle when I got there and the shuttle people had FOOD! ORANGES! and SODA! and COOKIES!They gave us a ride into town and I asked for what the cheapest, clean motel would be. They said that would be the Grand Priz. tony decided to stay there too and we split a room. Yay sheets and shower for $17!!X3 went to a hotel with a pool and are going to take 2 zero days in town. Galingburg is kinda like a little Vegas or Niagara.We went to dinner and both had meatball subs and baked mac&cheese. Then we went back to the motel and decided to go to Walgreen's where Tony was going to resupply. Yeah, so, Walgreen's was a couple blocks past where we had just come from... town walking bugs me... waste of walking!!
Date: 2011-05-16
From: Galinburg, TN

To: Icewater Sprint Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

Day 29Aaand...it's raining...hence the 3 miles day. Went to breakfast at Shoney's (more town walking, but it was all you can eat). I wanted to stp at the first shelter to ensure a spot. In the Smokies there are all these silly rules well, the park is pristine, so I guess the rules aren't THAT silly. (and again sorry if I am repeating myself) First rule is you can ONLY stay AT SHELTERS. Then there is a rule that there are only 4 ensured spots in the shelters for thru hikers. If too many section hikers come along, the OUT ya go! Cuz ONLY thru hikers are allowed to tent, and again ONLY allowed to tent at the shelter sites and only if it is full. I can't wait till I'm done with the Smokies, which will be about when it stops raining....blah.So, at the moment, technically the shelter is full with 12 people, but there is totally room to fit more people and since I was the 2nd thru hiker here I don't have to worry. It is a tough trade off though, sit in the cold in a shelter or keep moving to stay warm but get soaked in the process. No way to get away from it tomorrow. Just gonna have to go in th rain. Plan is a 13 mile day then 7.7 the next, then outta the Smokies and staying at Standing Bear Hostile at Davenport Gap. Then it is only 35 miles to Hot Springs! Resupply and Jacuzzi in the Hot Springs It's cold...it's only 8 pm and pretty much everyone is in their sleeping bags and we can see air breath. This shelter has a privy that even has a roof(!), but yeah only has partial walls, so not even the privy is dry. I'm so glad I have my camp socks and hat Outside the Smokies (cuz EVERY shelter in the Smokies has bear cables) the most entertaining thing is watching people bear bag. Here, it's watching guys try to start a fire. I waited till the guys gave up (them pretty much poo-pooing my suggestions) and then I started the fire. Then I went out with the shovel and attacked some dead trees to gather wood. yeah, I rock. We had a fire going for quite a while, but alas it's nout now. Oh! A mouse! I didn't see it (yet) but on the lower level there is a mouse and seems no one is freaked , so that's good.Ok hands are cold..tuckin' it in (aand someone farted and it STINKS!)
Date: 2011-05-17
From: Icewater Sprint Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Day 30Woke up to an actual view! Tried to get up and at 'em but didn't get out of the shelter until 10. I got about 4 feet out of camp and it started to rain...sigh.Oh, I forgot. My knee has been really bugging me for about a week, as has my foot (left). It feels like I am...I think the proper term is pronating...like flat footing a bit. So in Gatlinburg I went to Walgreens and got some Dr. Scholl's arch support things. Right away I felt my left knee was better. Yesterday on the hike in it felt great, but my right foot had a little rub on the heel.I forgot about it when I got to camp and never checked it out. Then this morning I didn't think about it, until my boots got wet (which was after about an hour or so). It got pretty bad but with the rain I wasn't going to stop to check it. I decided I would stop at the shelter at the 7 mile mark, but by the time I got there (and found that it was .4 miles off the trail) I decided it probably wasn't going to get any worse. I was in a buttload of pain. I decided it was worse than gallstones, kidney stones and child birth since I kept doing that silly "step" thing. I decided to press on and get here. Yeah total hamburger heel. The whole back of my heel had blistered and ripped. I just covered it with a sterile pad for now and will moleskin it in the morning. Of course just this morning I said the words, "I haven't had to use my first aid in a week." Murphy.Oh, on top of that, there had been horses on the trail so it was all wrecked and I ended up slipping at one point in the mud. But I was able to pull a "Christmas Eve" (Mom knows what that means) and twisted myself onto a log to sit instead. Unfortunately...I bent one of my poles. I will call L.L. Bean when I get to the hostel. (Oh! In the SNOW at this point) and there were a bunch of people including a 17 year old girl who was WHINING... :| I got a clothes line up, changed all my clothes and ate 2 pb/honey wraps while I made dinner so I only ate half my dinner. Put the leftovers into my empty pb jar and will have it for breakfast.So, tomorrow will be either a 7.7 mile day, 14.8 or 18. And if I go 14.8 I will go 18 cause the hostel is at 18
Date: 2011-05-18
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Crosy Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 31Yeah, my heels decided today was a 7.7 mile day. Rain again... I decided I just have to come back and do the Smokies sometime. I got one tease of a possible view and one time where I thought there might be sun...but no. Got tot he shelter and the family with the 17 year old Laura was here. Then the cowboys came 3 cowboys came along and they had a hatchet!! Yay real firewood! Last night we were attacking dead wood with a sharp rock and the night before that it was a shovel. One other section hiker came in, so lots of room tonight.I will be able to go to Standing Bear fairly early tomorrow so I can enjoy it, maybe do laundry. My pants are disgusting from the mud and I have my wet socks and t-shirt in my sleeping bag with me to try to dry them out.I just looked up and it is so cloudy, the cloud is coming into the shelter and the food prep area is actually fogged out a bit.Ok, it's cold...getting tucked into my sleeping bag now.BTW, I want a cowboy!
Date: 2011-05-19
From: Crosy Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 32Coming out of the Smokies was gorgeous! From Mt. Cammerer (230.8) on it was actually all down hill! Very pretty and, it wasn't raining!! In fact this morning I woke up to someone all excited saying "Get the camera! It's the SUN!"I had about 2 spots for views since I was coming down, but that was fine with me, no rain and no gnats!Down is my preferred direction as when I go up is when it hurts my heels. OMHGG do they hurt.As I was on the last stretch coming down past the Davenport Gap Shelter, I was hearing I-40. Talk about a loud road! I was just thinking how intrusive it was when I hit a switchback and all I heard was running water. From that point on I was next to the most beautiful cascade of waterfalls all the way down. When I got to the Pigeon River Bridge (now on the UP swing) there was an older gentleman, Elijah. I asked him if was from around here and if he knew of the Standing Bear Hostel. Was not from here, but had just this morning swung by the hostel so he knew right where it was. He is doing sections and was checking out the area to see if he wants to do this section next. He offered to give me a ride to the Hostel and with my heels in the condition they are in, I decided to take that trail magic!Standing Bear Farm is a kind of "do it yourself" hostel with a couple live in guys to help out. I saw Curtis (the owner) a few times, but otherwise it was Hawk and Jeff. Captain Guts was here when we first showed up. He was here staying and helping out for a few weeks. He is leaving tomorrow. I split a pizza and made shells (from the hiker box) with Sampson ( a SOBO hiker). There is a TINY 8 week old puppy here and couple cats.I took a shower in an outdoor shower with a rain head. BEST SHOWER I EVER TOOK!The laundry situation here i 2 wash bins with an actual laundry scrub thing and a ringer (and a real dryer). I did my laundry and dried my boots by the dryer vent!
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 3330 miles + 4 wet socks = 0 daysI spent all day doing nothing. I slept until almost 10! Then pretty much did nothing. I worked on a puzzle for a few hours, then the guys were going to see a Bluegrass band a the owner's restaurant. Burned heel and I decided to go. I was an experience I wouldn't have at home. I got a burger and fries and ICE CREAM!!Squirrelnut, Mufasa, and HotSauce all stopped in around lunch time. I had met HotSauce at Clingman's Dome so that was kind of cool.Sampson said the footing out of here was really easy so I might go for 12 just so I can hit the 250 mark. But we will see how my heels are!
Date: 2011-05-21
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day 34I didn't start onto the trail until 1pm.I actually had an AMAZING view today, which was a nice reward after 5 miles of up. There was an FAA Tower at the top of Snowbird Mountain. I climbed up to it and took pictures, then turned around and ... OMG...the views. I spent an hour up there enjoying the sun and the views.A group of guys had passed me and then a girl. They are all here at the shelter, nice group. Kyle, 420, Ohio and Patrick. Then there is a 62 yo guy, Allen, who is hammocking. He just started at Davenport Gap and was a little butt kicked from the up.I think my boots shrunk. My toes are hitting the front even on the ups. I think my heel will be ok. Tomorrow will be a 13 mile day so I can get to the shelter right before Hot Springs the day after. That way I can get into Hot Springs bright and early!The gnats are back. I hate gnats.
Date: 2011-05-22
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter 

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

Day 35(Takes the dry erase eraser and changes the "miles without fall" mark from 255 to 0)Sigh. I'm "okay" though, nothing broken, just very bruised and tender. It was raining and there was an intertwinement (yes that is a word now) of roots, no place to step but on them, and they were a down slope. My feet just slid and I crashed down on my much less padded butt. If "my time" had not been with me, I would have cried. It was one of those cranium jarring crashes, and now it really hurts to sit.The weather started out really nice today, a little hot, and oh yeah the gnats were out in full force. I realized my left heel was fussing a lot so I stopped after about 3 miles to check it out. I decided to just cut off all the hanging skin, let it sit and dry for a bit and then double layering with super moleskin. I still hurts uphill, but my right feels "better"!I decided that my heels in conjunction with my oh so bruised swollen and tender butt will mean at least one 0 (zero) in Hot Springs. The hostel I am planning on staying at has "work stay" so perhaps I can do that and not have to pay.I hiked with "my time" most of the day. He is a gentleman in his late 60's who showed up at the shelter about 9:30 last night. We are just about the same speed.We had lunch on Max Patch. OMG the views! I felt like I was in "The Sound of Music." There were families picnicking up there and flying kites. SOOOO pretty!Just after we got down and into the woods again a thunderstorm came along. I guess a girl was struck by lightning on Max Patch a few years ago, so i was glad to be down.It rained on us "lightly" for a couple hours, then let up. Then about an hour before we got to the shelter it started again. Right before the shelter is a bald (top of a mountain with no trees) and as we were coming out of the woods it go soo dark and thunder RUMBLED and the wind got crazy! I wondered if perhaps they had indeed miscalculated the end of the world (it was supposed to be last night).I came to the clearing and even with all my laments, I pretty much RAN across it.Right after we go to the shelter the skies opened up!Ohio was sitting in the shelter (which is the oldest, and probably the smallest on the AT). She had set up her tent as had 420 and Patrick. MyTime is going to hammock, so , I set up my tent in the shelter. It takes up the entire shelter , but no bugs or mice! The floor is uneven though and its not fun on the tender butt!Tomorrow is either 9.9 to the shelter right before town, then into town early the next day or 12.3 right into town. I'm thinking my poor old body would like town as soon as it can get it!
Date: 2011-05-23
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: light rain

Day 36I was quite sure I had a fever today. I was hot. I decided to go all the way into town mostly because I realized I was out of foot first aid!Elmer's Sunnybank Inn is a huge old Victorian house. There is a full music room with a piano, guitars, a banjo, recorders, harmonicas, etc.My room has a queen size bed with nice soft sheets! and a quilt. The house is full of antiques. By the time I got here, I was in a lot of pain. My blisters were killing me even though the last couple of miles were downhill, the downhill grade was so steep that my knees and feet were killing me. David has said to call him before I opened my mail drop because my Mother's Day present was in it. I called him and opened the box to find a pink Sony e-reader. Now much like how the ability to see sarcasm font is directly related tot he type of day I have had, the ability to appreciate such a nice gift seems to also coincide exactly with my day. I was HOT (come to find out it had hit 100) and everything from the waist down hurt A LOT. I felt so bad because I just had no enthusiasm for the gift. I just thought, "more weight, more battery, something else to have to worry if it gets wet."I had dinner at the diner across the street. Just a grilled ham and cheese and tater tots, but I couldn't finish it it. I really feel icky.I went to Dollar General and got first aid for my feet, took a shower and am going to bed!
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)

To: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 37There are wrap around balconies here, and apparently someone last night didn't realize those window things might lead to rooms where people were trying to sleep. Elmers has a rule of no cell phones in the house and quiet hours (including no cell use at all) after 11. Yeah...this was well after 11. Thank god for my iPod!I decided to hit the Hot Spring. The consensus was that the mineral water would do my feet good, and, if it didn't may as well do it right away to find out so I could heal! I also decided to indulge in a massage. The hot springs was only $13 for an hour in an open air jacuzzi that is fed by the hot springs. It was very nice. The massage was AMAZING! I told him I had a very tender spot from falling and he was actually able to work it so it felt better. It had been so tender that I couldn't sleep on my back even in the cushy bed last night!I went to the library to use the computer (no computer at Elmers either) and 420 came in and told me X3 was in town. I went and found them and we made plans to have dinner tomorrow night.I got bologna and burger buns to have for lunch and just went and sat on the porch and talked to MyTime and Wiz. Wiz is from Maine and he decided he is going to go home. He is older and the heat was getting to him. He had thru-hiked in 2004 so , not really a big deal.I had dinner at the diner with MyTime. I felt better and had a big burger with sweet potato fries and peanut butter pie for dessert. They had really good sweet tea and I think I had 4 huge glasses of it!I found a great book on roots and perused that in the common room till after 9. It is now about 2am. Sweet tea might not have been the best idea!I finished the book though
Date: 2011-05-25
From: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)

To: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 38Well, you know how everything happens for a reason? Well I figured out why I landed here. Yeah I woke up with a kidney stone episode. Not the worst one ever but pretty darn uncomfortable. I pretty much felt like I was going to puke all day. Which was too bad cause Elmers serves the most amazing food!Breakfast yesterday was this amazing granola, waffles, and fresh fruit. With the best apple juice I've ever had and strawberries in sauce. Today was a great omelette with feta cheese and all kinds of veggies with a great multigrain toast, choice of many preserves and apple butter and the amazing granola and fresh fruit.I ate breakfast and then just went and sat on the porch to get through the stone. Keep in mind I can't actually SIT because of my now VERY black and blue falling spot.I decided to go "into town." The town of Hot Springs consists of one street about 1/4 mile long. Elmers is on one end and the Hot Springs is on the other end. The PO closed at 11:30-2 so I just kind of wandered and ran into the other hikers on my way to the library. We ended up going to the pub for a beer witht hem. We just sat around for a few hours. Come to find out one of the guys, "Steam," is from Wareham and learned to play pool at Al's! He had run into Patric, 420, and Ohio and Patrick is from Lowell and mentioned to him that I was in town and am also from MA.I started feeling better about 2. So I went to the PO and library and ran into X3. I had signed up for dinner at Elmers, but X3 had said they wanted to take me to dinner. I went back to Elmers and mentioned taking my name off the list but they were already working on dinner and they prepare it according to who signed up.Soo, instead of 2nd breakfast like I would do on the trail, I did 2nd dinner! I hadn't eaten lunch so it wasn't too bad. Only ate half of what I ordered with X3 (I did get full) then dinner at Elmers 2 hours later. OMG was it good! All homemade, cream of broccoli soup, an amazing salad with this awesome dressing, stir fry veggies w/ tempe on rice and a lemon lime pie for dessert with spearmint tea! I thought I was going to explode!!Then a couple of young guys who had not been at dinner were in the music room and they brought up ice cream. Well by now it was about 9:50. We decided to go in search of ice cream. As we were headed to the "far side" of town Guino hailed us from the pub where it was open mic night. We had been improv-ing at the hostel. One of the guys went up and sang an improv of "Imported Beer" cuz a lady said she would be him a beer if he sang. Turns out he was only 19, LOL!
Date: 2011-05-26
From: Elmers Sunnybank Inn (Hot Springs)

To: Hot Springs Campground
Miles today: 0.25
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 39I didn't do breakfast this morning so I could sleep in a bit. My blisters are ok. Left seems good to go and the right is much better. Elmers has a 2 night max for hikers unless they are hurt or sick and I've done 3 so unless I want to pay full price I'm out.I got all packed up and went to the PO and was able to mail 2lbs home. YAY! Got a few things at Dollar General and ate my leftover sandwich while I got my boots on. I had checked the weather and it said epic t-storms were headed in with hail and all so I had to decide whether to get another room in town, check out the camp site, or head to the woods. I figured I may as well head to the woods where I would set up for free. It's 11 miles to the first shelter and the first couple miles are tough so I knew I wouldn't make it to the shelter. Then David called and said I had sent him my 2009 tax return for his FAFSA by mistake. I had sent that when I was at Standing Bear and he JUST NOW saw it??Well, by the time I got all that straightened out the clouds were rolling in. I stopped at the outfitters for fuel and weighed my pack. 48lbs??!! WTF? I was at 34 at Neels Gap!I am now sitting in my tent at the campsite in a massive thunderstorm. I ate the rest of the bologna and buns (there goes a pound) and am snacking on chocolate twizzlers (yummmm!) that Jess sent me I should eat my regular chocolate first though since twizzlers won't melt It is only 6:30 and I have been holed up in my tent since 5. At least it has cooled off!I will get up and at 'em early. Mail home the camera, ereader, and...I dunno what else to do to lose weight...and head on up the trail
Date: 2011-05-27
From: Hot Springs Campground

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Day 40Yeah the up and at 'em didn't happen. Turns out the train was about 50 yards from my tent and went all night long. I woke up the first time honestly thinking there was a tornado before I heard the train whistle. I got up about 9 and it was still raining. Something REALLY didn't agree with my stomach and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to get dressed and to the bathroom. I dug a cat hole in the vestibule of my tent, good to now it can be done I then spent a lot of morning in the bathroom, but there was no way I wasn't going out to the trail today! I took and immodium and got on with it. I was actually able to get everything dry. There was a volleyball court near where I tented and the sun was on it so I brought my tent over there. Then I ended up bringing everything else just cause there were fewer gnats! I brought my boots and foot first aid into the shower area so I could shut the door and not deal with the gnats!I stopped at the camp store on my way out to get an electrolyte type drink and downed it at the store. Had some gorp and apricots for breakfast and headed out.The first section of the trail out of Hot Springs was a fairly epic up. Gaining 1000 feet in less than a mile. The rest of the day wasn't too bad, except for the rain. Which, also wasn't too bad. I happened to have stopped for lunch at a pond where there was a bench and was talking to Mom on the phone when the first rains came. I had my pack off so I was able to put on my rain jacket.It is always 6 of one, half dozen of the other about whether to put on rain gear. If you keep the rain out, you just end up sweating so badly you are wet anyway!My feet were good today! I had picked up liner socks so I'm sure that helped. Even on all the ups I felt pretty good. Downs are getting to my toes a bit though. I'll be glad to get my bigger boots in Erwin. Mom went and exchanged my 2nd pair for a half size bigger. The shelter is so small it only sleeps 5 and that's an honest 5. The shelter was full when I got here. X3 is here and they are tenting, then we have 3 guys that are going to, I think Pennsylvania to see family. Burntheel and ... Jim? are also in the shelter and SwampStomp is sleeping on the picnic table.Tomorrow's shelters are either 8.6 or 15.4. At about the 12 mile mark there is a bypass and the book says the AT in this section is rocky and strenuous. Gotta see how I feel at that point I guess. There is a camp at about the 10 mile mark just after a 4.5 mile up...hmmm...that looks promising