morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-08
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Hoppy Easter, everybody!  No IPA's for me this year.  Instead, a note of caution: properly-seated earplugs and wrist-watch alarms don't necessarily work all that well together.  I got a late start, skipping breakfast for a double-serving of peanut M&M's and a brisk pace down the trail.  It took forty minutes to pack up and sign the register despite pumping water the previous evening and not cooking.  It was amateur hour for sure.  A few miles down the trail, I took a morning trowel on the hillside overlooking the ridgeline and must have gotten passed up by John.  This guy has some serious game.  He's from Venice Beach, has accused me of driving a Prius, knows his gear, did the approach trail, is quick, and is hiking the trail in between high school and college.  He will likely finish it too.  Excitedly, he devised a system for making backcountry nachos that involved milking a deer.  I like this guy.  We played trail tag all day.  I met red-bearded Paul five miles in, where I stopped for breakfast and got passed again by John.  Miles and miles of hot, similar-looking dense forest and blooming wild flowers passed by and I came across something unnatural in Cooper Gap: four gallons of delicious trail magic water!  I filled up one liter, wrote 'thank you' on the jug in blue pen, and looked around one more time hoping to see the angel who had left this surprise for us hikers.  Moving on, I got to a set of switch-backs where I met Littlefoot and her T-Rex, Benjamin, sitting with Wordbringer from Boston (whom Paul called Library because he brought 13 books in addition to a guitar and camping gear weighing in at 75lbs) and Goz from England sporting some big cans on his ears.  Nice to see so much love for music on the trail.  Shakin' approached us from the North indicating I had another twenty minutes to the top of Justus Mountain.  I rocketed up the rest of my mountain and rolled through the rest of the day eventually catching up with John at Justus Creek where I soaked my feet and noticed I had quite the sunburn.  Yippee.  While at the creek I met Survey Says and Torque, who were waiting on Wordbringer.  I struggled off after drying in the sun and headed north for Gooch shelter.  Upon arrival, I met Ben from Norfolk, VA who was playing a small travel guitar and waiting on his buddy Paul.  Seemed like a real nice guy and I hope we can jam together later in the trip although my ukulele has a lot more volume.  I wanted a few more miles out of today and headed off toward this gorgeous little campsite at Gooch Gap where I crossed USFS 42.  All alone, I set up the hammock, filtered water, cooked dinner, hung my food bag, and clawed out a few songs in the hammock while watching the stars come out.  I should've brought a Tranjo.  An evening of solitude was mine to indulge in and I reflected on how things came to be.  Easily asleep by midnight, the cool breeze whispered my lullaby.
Date: 2012-04-10
From: Neel's Gap

To: Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 12.3

I woke up around 8 and packed up in twenty minutes.  But the shop opened at 8:30 and I had forgotten to buy more sunscreen.  Lora pointed me to the hiker box and I found sunscreen and Q-tips so I was pretty excited.  Clean, non-sunburned ears will be in my future!  8:30 rolled around and I entered the store.  I bought some blueberry Pop Tarts, a pair of sweet Fits brand socks, and even some Superfeet insoles.  Hopefully these last two purchases will put some constraints on the effects of the daily pounding my feet are receiving.Back outside the shop, I shivered in the cool morning air eating the Pop Tarts (note - while hiking, Pop Tarts are best enjoyed fresh, before being turned into a fine powder) and doing a little warm-up dance while I chatted with Lora and Reed, both taking a zero day.  Lora offered me a bit of her banana and it was delicious, although I only tasted it for a moment as scarfed it down quite ravenously.  Bananas are fun due to their longitudinal segmentation.  Check it out sometime!I signed the register and finally hiked through the doorway with intentions of travel.  I met Tom and Richard immediately and we took photos for each other.  I hiked all day and played trail tag with a lot of the people I had met at the hostel eventually walking with Chief for a good portion of the trail.  I stopped to put on my Packa in pack cover mode and feel a bit responsible for what happened next: It rained.  It spit at us for a few hours and then rained for a spell, and then spent the rest of the afternoon threatening to open back up on us again as Mother Nature was happiest with it being wiiiiiiindy. The trail took on the smell of damp forest soil and added to the feeling of general storminess.  The clouds were stacked just above the trees in multiple layers and were moving fast opening windows, sometimes even to blue skies, but ultimately slamming 'em shut.  Chief and I high-tailed it along this exposed ridgeline putting in some solid mileage.  We were looking for Poplar Stamp Gap but never found the tell-tale signature.  I was having trouble telling my body to continue to move the dull blocks of pain that were my feet.  They are pretty healthy in terms of surface damage but internally were ready for a break.  We settled for a well-used campsite along the trail and decided to eat our heavier, water-based foods for dinner rather than walk to get water to cook into our lighter, dehydrated foods.  As I only had a liter left and Chief only had a liter of bright-red, flavored water, this was an excellent plan.  I set up my hammock on the tighter side and it didn't allow the material to open up right and I was mighty claustrophobic the entire night with the hammock pressing tightly against me in places.  It also made for a cold night due to the compression on my sleeping bag.  So I slept crummy and woke up a lot only to calm my frustration and fall back asleep.  Exhausted, fitful sleep is not what you want out here.
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Cheese Factory site
Miles today: 11.3

I reset my alarm for 8:00 at some point in the night and shut that pesky rooster off as soon as it started crowing.  I was shivering despite being surrounded by gear and clothing I have used in the snow, at single-digits, for you folks on the imperial "system" of measurements.  It was not that cold last night but I had to get moving to warm up.  Chief and I both started making the getting-ready noises and this day was on.  It was gorgeous with the golden sun breaking through the trees above the crest.  All of the leaves shimmered as they waved in the streaming light and we were on two missions: get warm and get water.  We filtered a mile down the trail in the warm sunshine but I was hiking in short shorts, long socks, a tank top, a sun shirt, and a wind jacket.  You had to be out of the wind, in the sunshine, and moving briskly to almost be warmish.  I broke out the gloves on the downhills and took them off going up and today was chock full of 1000-foot rollers.  It was chilly and the wind whipped up all sorts of leaves as it rushed through the saddles.  There was one point where I asked Georgia facetiously if that was all she had.. You knew you were alive today and I love that feeling.  Chief's knees have been giving him some trouble so we kept different paces but eventually ended up at the same place just two miles shy of my desired stopping point.  This was a great campsite and I plopped down in the grass to wait for others to arrive.  I made it my goal today to eat as much of my heavy food as I could.  Highlights included two tuna packets for lunch at Blue Mountain Shelter (P-Mo will understand the celebratory irony of this place from the JMT) and two giant helpings of oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  Oatmeal.  When I finish off the quart-sized bag (yes, sigh) of oatmeal I packed, I won't touch it again for the remainder the trail.  I solemnly take that oath.  Right here.  Right now.  Oatmeal, you and I are not friends anymore.  Anywho, I am trying something new tonight.  First off, I made sure to pitch my hammock properly.  Second, I am putting my sleeping pads inside my sleeping bag.  Seems comfy enough and it will keep them right where they should be.  Although my feet felt great today, and by great, I mean that the pain was completely bearable all day, it's another cold one and I want some solid recovery sleep to fuel another day.  Dozing off before 10pm.. But before I do, I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to sign my guestbook.  It's really fun to read those emails when I get service.  It means a lot to me that the story of this adventure isn't just a monologue.  Thank you and Goodnight from my place of beauty to yours
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was quiet and cool in the morning eventually turning up the heat in the afternoon.  I left camp at 9am and had slept pretty well.  I set the hammock up low and used the rainfly as a wind break staking it directly to the ground and forgoing the guylines.  I was warm enough.  Not toasty but ok as long as I didn't go nuts and do something silly, like move a little.  I hiked until noon and never saw Chief although I made liberal use of the privy at Standing Indian Shelter and chose to eat a light lunch on the summit of Standing Indian Mountain, 5498'.  I ate with Sun Beam, Guano, Friar, Bigfoot, and Videlia.  Videlia told tales from his thru-hike in 2000 and mentioned the Fat Fest in NY, a 3-day food truck festival that I absolutely must attend.  I left the summit and continued on north past the already-bustling shelter at Carter Gap.  I had been in my head all day and wanted to finish up my thoughts properly.  I found a very nice spot a few hours down the trail that should get early morning light.  I cooked dinner, played some ukulele in the open air, hung my food, and am now going to bed.  Of course, a quiet night was not on my agenda.  I got a visitor around 4am.  A big, curious, sniffing visitor.  I awoke to the sound of my trekking poles getting knocked over.  Then we were both still for several minutes while I coaxed my heart out of tachycardia.  I then heard a sniff and I made a move for the door of my hammock.  It was on and we was gonna wrastle.  Fortunately the sound of the zipper mixed nicely with the sound of my new friend galloping away.  Probably a deer for it was nimble but maybe a porcupine or a boar since the sniff was so low.  I will never know.  Sniffle.  Since I was up, I figured I would make a small adjustment to my hammock pitch.  I hopped out of my hammock in a t-shirt and long johns to make the adjustments and caught a glimpse of the moon.  I was awestruck.  It was a milky orange sliver out to the east dangling large just above the dark blue horizon.  So beautiful.  I was thankful my sleep had been interrupted for I would've missed this striking image otherwise.  Thank you large furry creature for sharing the night sky with me.  G'night.
Date: 2012-04-21
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter 
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

I woke up in the shelter and made a break for it.  I had mileage to make because I wanted to lose some of these clowns here.  It wasn't everybody but I felt I could out-hike the noisiest of them.  I ate a couple of strawberry pop-tarts and a blood orange for breakfast and took off for the dam.  It was supposed to rain today and I also wanted to guarantee myself a spot inside a shelter.  I hiked all day, mostly by myself, under a layer of high clouds casting a feeling of grey across all of the non-living things.  The rain came and went all day and I made good time ignoring the wooden blocks of pain that were my feet.  All of the peaks were cloaked in a thick fog and bright green moss popped visually by comparison against rocks and tree bark and the wild flowers stood out like bright stars.  Lots of climbing today.  Every time you got to the top of one mountain there would be a gap and another taller mountain behind it.  But that was ok because it was like walking in a magical enchanted forest and the rain made everything look over-saturated.  I got to the first shelter and decided to go another couple of miles to the next one.  An hour later and the arrival was a relief.  This particular shelter did not have a privy although it did have a 10 foot by 16 foot sunroof.  Butcher and Rhyno were here already and Easy Rider showed up a few minutes later.  We got to dinner as the weather started to get really bad and a few other folks rolled in.  Lots (hours) of joking around, a fire, and some chai capped off the night as the storm continues to rage outside.
Date: 2012-04-22
From: Russell Field Shelter 

To: Double Springs Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

I was the last person out of my sleeping bag today but the first one out of the shelter.  Rhyno got my food bag from the cables outside so I was able to eat breakfast while basking in warm comfort.  Outside, the wind was cold.  It wasn't really raining but huge drops of water were being blown off of the leaves in the trees.  I walked for miles along a ridgeline that must have had huge views in good weather.  The clouds were thick and low and I walked through the mist with a building curiosity.  The wind whipped through the trees along the ridgeline making a huge display of force.  Rhyno, Butcher, Easy Rider, Houdini, and Bill eventually caught me an we trucked on together.  We eventually ducked into Silers Bald Shelter for lunch.  Some section hikers came in and started getting into everybody's personal space.  It seemed like they were trying to push us out.  I changed socks, ate the rest of my lunch food and took off.  I stopped to take some photos and Rhyno came up the trail.  We talked as we walked and eventually came to Silers Bald.  The weather didn't give us a break so we took some photos in the fog and continued on.  More talking.  More walking.  I learned a lot about Rhyno and was really impressed by his character.  He's a quality guy and I hope he finds what he's looking for out here.  The miles flew by and we eventually came across Double Springs Gap Shelter just as the hail started.  The hail was small and mixed with snow.  I cooked up some dinner and finished off the last of my dried porcinis.  I filtered water (Double Springs is on the NC/TN border and there is a spring on both sides of the ridge. NC water is supposed to be better but I did not experiment) and had a minor water bag explosion since I didn't bleed off the pressure. I was more wet than I wanted to be but you can't undo what's been done and there was no sense in dwelling on it. There was a fire going thankfully but you could still see your breath.  I did everything I needed to do such that as soon as I could take my shoes off, I did, and wouldn't have to out them back on.  Dry socks are a pretty big luxury after days in the rain.  I have been looking for a pair of Crocs to use as camp shoes but haven't been able to procure a pair.  Anywhere.  So I hopped in my sleeping bag and planned out the next few days through the Smokies. It was a full house and as folks were turning in for the night, Rhyno noticed that Houdini was sleeping on one of the benches.  I called down to him from the top platform and told him we had space if he wanted to join us.  Everybody had to squish a little more (and I didn't ask anybody) but I figured it was better than having someone suffer all night.  He was thankful and jumped at the chance to sleep more comfortably.
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg Grand Prix
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The weather looked terrible and I just couldn't go back out in it.  Our motel was pretty crummy in terms of catering hikers so we packed up, hit the pancake house, and walked to the outfitter.  I got all of the things on my list and talked to a bunch of the other hikers and even saw Loaner (traveling super light).  I got some recommendations for better motels, resupplied on food, and checked into the Grand Prix for half the price of the Microtel.  I was able to do laundry (a major win), use the public computer to upload some photos, and mail some extra stuff home.  A perfect zero.  I got pizza (the mega veggie - oh yeah, vegetables!) for dinner in the rainy evening at the Mellow Mushroom and got a terrific night of sleep.  This is how to do a zero, my friends.  I can't wait to get hiking again.  Thunderstorms predicted all week!  Looking forward to breaking out of the Smokies - two more days.  I am pretty sure I have received enough punishment for one trip here.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early around 6:30am after an incredible night's rest.  The new underquilt is pretty fantastic.  I dozed back off thinking today would be my first 20-mike day and I would just blast out of the Smokies.  I awoke suddenly to hard rain on my hammock rainfly.  My pack, raingear, and food are all up the hill.  Sigh.  The weather is so volatile here.  I figure I will just ride it out.  Next comes the thunder and eventually the lightning too.  A repeat of last night as they get closer together.  The wind picks up and the rain gets even harder.  I am hoping that this is just the end of this little system on it's way out because there is no way I am going out in this for another ridge walk at 6300'.  I hear a tree break under the wind stress down the hill.  My goal for the day might change from a big 20-miler to just up the hill to the shelter.  I caught a break in the storm, threw my shoes on sans socks and ran up the hill  to the shelter.  I grabbed seven food bags and brought them in.  I then ran back down the hill to pack up my bag.  The system I devised over the winter worked pretty well and everything remained dry except for my rainfly.  I walked back up the hill to the shelter to eat a little breakfast and saw Brooke from the first day at the Hiker Hostel.  She was hiking with her cousin Alex at the time and is now thru-hiking solo.  I repacked my bag, put some socks on, put my soggy shoes back on and saw Houdini getting out of his tent.  We decided 20 miles would be the plan.  I hiked for a few hours through the fog and remarked on how the trail was a river but it wasn't raining and you could hear the wind tearing through the trees but couldn't feel it. I had one view out the ridgeline to the west and saw a peregrine falcon sitting on the top of a tree facing the stream of clouds tearing vertically up the side of the cliff.  We had a quick conversation and I moved on.  It seemed like forever until I got to the shelter.  The rain picked up and turned to hail that was deafening on the tin roof.  We got pounded in waves as if Mother Nature needed to reload after her onslaught.  The hail was now just as scary as the lightning.  I have to climb one more mountain up along this ridge and can't think of any reason to move on.  The rain and hail has mostly stopped but the thunder remains frightening.  It was only a 5.2-mile day today but I will just push on tomorrow and finally break out of the Smokies.  It seems a little wimpy (smart) as I am already in my sleeping bag at 3pm but I don't plan to get out except to cook a little dinner and brew some tea.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Painter Branch Camp

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 7.7

I got out of camp quickly and said goodbye to my fellow camp mates.  I like hitting the trail early and had another big day planned - I wanted to be within striking distance of Hotsprings (which prides itself on being the largest town in the US without cell coverage) so I could get a shower and laundry done and figured another 20-miler was on tap.  The birds sing all morning and the air is cool.  As the light shimmers through the trees, I can feel my body warming up and ramp up the speed as I get the greenlight.  The only drawback to being the first on the trail is the crazy amount of spiderwebs you have to walk through.  It easily averages one web per twenty meters.  But it is really interesting to witness the changes to a land as the sun makes it's arc across the sky and I feel like missing the morning makes it incomplete.  I stopped to take photos of flowers opening up and got passed by two brothers.  I eventually passed them later as they were filtering water and was thankful for the web break. I crossed paths with lots of folks out for day hikes, trail runs, southbound sections and realized it was the weekend.  I passed two shelters and didn't stop to sign the registers.  I was making great time and on-track for another 20.  I met Bill Apple out with a pick axe doing post-storm trail maintenance and thanked him for his efforts.  He told me about some trail magic down the hill a few minutes away that I would be even more thankful for.  I smelled something cooking a half mile away.  Ten minutes later, I see three large shade tents, a trailer, a couple of trucks, a van, tables of fresh fruit, girl scout cookies, cheeseburgers on a grill, condiments, smiles.  I am handed a plate, two cheeseburgers, a root beer and told sit down.  There is a group of four women hikers here, presumably couples, The Herbalist, whom I have not seen since he played my ukulele, and oddly Houdini, who was supposed to be in Hot Springs picking up his mail drop.  I had stumbled across the Brown Gap Trail Fest, run one weekend a year three weeks prior to Trail Days in Damascus.  Ox and Rat were at the grill.  These guys have been doing this for 21 years!  And they know what the hell they are doing.  They even set up a privy.  After the third soda, second banana, and plate of grapes, I knew my hopes of a long day were over.  They told me they were serving steak, chicken, beans, slaw, salad, and more for supper.  I was a goner and went down the hill to find a nice spot for the hammock. I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't stay for more than 24 hours.  What a day.  I took a nap, ate a ton of delicious food, and bonded with over thirty grateful hikers and three very happy dogs who showed up over the course of the day.  We all made a huge bonfire, played music, and laughed about trail life.  It's funny how you are so often reminded that it is the experience and not the miles that matter. Be present - it transfers to your regular life as well.