morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Greensboro

To: Greensboro
Miles today: 0.0

I have finalized plans for returning to the Trail. My friend Tom Bibby is going to drive me up to Cades Cove in the Smokies on Thursday, May 17. We will spend the night in a campground there and then the next morning hike up to Russell Field Shelter where I will backtrack to where I stopped (about 1 mile) and then we will hike on to Spence Field Shelter. Tom is going to hike out and go up to Cosby Knob section where he has a 4 mile gap in his AT section hiking. I will continue hiking north on the AT.This hike won't have been possible without a lot of support from so many people. The Fourriers got me down to Springer. My wife has served as base operator mailing me stuff and keeping track of all the lose ends. My son will be the one updating the Journal once I get back on the Trail. I got home after injuring my leg through the generosity of my friend Wayne Caldwell who picked me up in Fontana and then my cousin Jim Powers who picked me up in Asheville and relayed me to Hickory where my wife picked me up. My cousin Beth has become an AT groupie and keeps me up with the Trail journals of everyone.I'm excited about returning to the Trail.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Cades Code, TN

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: few clouds

I'm back on the Trail! Tom Bibby and I came to Cades Cove, TN yesterday afternoon. It was almost 7:00 by the time we got here after stopping for dinner and going into Townsend to get some food for brekfast this morning. We drove the loop drive at Cades Cove before going to the campground. The drive, and Cades Cove, were spectacular! Thee Cove is beautiful and the animals were out in force. I think I made up for not seeing much wildlife with yesterday evening. Deer were all over the meadows plus some wild turkeys. We drove within about 20 feet of a momma bear and two cubs (photos coming). We also saw another momma bear with 3 cubs. Tom saw another bear this morning at the entrance to the campground.This morning we hiked up the Anthony Creek Trail and Russell Field Trail to the Russell Field Shelter which sits on the AT. That was a hike of 5 miles and an elevation gain of 2,360 ft. Despite the elevation gain it wasn't too bad a hike and we got to the shelter at about 11:00.While Tom gathered fire wood I hiked south on the AT to where I had stopped last month. It wasn't as far south as I expected - I had almost made it to Russell Field before turning around and going back to Mollies Ridge.After lunch we hiked another 2.9 miles to Spense Field Shelter where we are going to spend the night. The trails are in good shape and the country is beautiful. Tomorrow Tom will hike back down to Cades Cove while I continue north on the AT.It has been in the 50's all day due to a cold front coming thru. With the wind it is chilly! My calf that caused me to come off the trail tightened up today. I was careful to not push too hard and do plenty of stretching. I brought my yoga strap and used it to stretch out.The trail is definitely less busy than when I was out before. We saw only one thru-hiker today and a couple of guys section hiking. There are suppose to be a couple of guys coming in and staying at the shelter tonight.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Its been an early day - starting and stopping. We got up early this morning and were hiking at 7:30. Last night was cold - so cold that the meadows were covered in frost. My sleeping bag did great and I was very comfortable. Some of the folks staying at the shelter didn't do so well and they were up in the middle of the night trying to wrap tarps around themselves in an effort to stay warm. It was cool starting out this morning but quickly warmed up and was a great day.Tom amd I hiked together just 0.1 miles before his trail to return to Cades Cove branched off the AT.I had planned on hiking to Siler Bald Shelter - a distance of 11.8 miles. I thought that was doable since I hiked about 9 miles yesterday. The folks at the shelter last night had hiked in from the north (the direction I am heading) and talked about how difficult the trail was - they called it "brutal." They were inexperienced hikers so I didn't know how much stock to put into their assessment. Having hiked it now I wouldn't call it brutal but it was difficult. I was only able to average 1 mph and didn't get to Derrick Knob Shelter until 12:30. My legs were really tired and I had a hard time making it over the last mountain before the shelter. I thought about making this a short day and then wavered back and forth for and hour or so. I finally decided to stay here.I'll have to assess my food and may need to go into Gatlinburg. My leg felt good today and one reason I decided not to push on was making sure I don't re-injure it.I have been reading the shelter registers at all the shelters. It has been fun reading the entries of the folks I hiked with but also sad since it reminds me of how much I miss them.Ten folks staying at the shelter tonight. Four guys hiking from Springer to Newfound Gap in 15 days (they are doing a short day tomorrow since we are only 18 miles from Newfound Gap and their rides won't be there until day after tomorrow), three guys hiking the Smokies and three thru-hikers.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Despite having all day to hike 7.2 miles I was on the trail at 7:30. Everyone else was leaving early so it was really impossible to sleep any longer.A couple came in last night at about 8:30. They had started at Springer on May 9 - they are averaging over 18.5 miles a day! Just before they got to the shelter they encountered a bear.There is a lot more bear activity than when I got off the trail. Birch Spring Campsite is closed due to bear activity. Supposedly a thru-hiker was in his tent dreaming that his dog was licking him in the face. He awoke to find a bear with his head in the tent. Two nights ago at Mollies Ridge Shelter a bear came into the shelter after everyone was in bed and sniffed before folks yelled and ran him away. You see lots of bear scat on the trail (bears use the trail because its easier than bushwhacking). Despite all that most hikers have not seen a bear and would like to spot one.While I had an easy hike today I'm glad I didn't try to make it to Silers Bald Shelter. I realized I'm not in the same shape as I was when I got off the trail and 10-12 mile days would be pushing it right now. I've decided to push on to Newfound Gap tomorrow (12+ miles, but mostly downhill) and thumb into Gatlinburg. That will allow me to buy some more food - I would have to do 12-14 mile days with the food I have. I'm really enjoying the Smokies so will take my time getting thru them.Speaking of enjoying, the hike from Silers Bald Shelter to Double Spring had some of the best views of the entire trip. The weather was warm but clear. After dinner a number of thru-hikers came in after doing big miles (18+). A girl came in after them and talked about how pretty the hike was from Siler Bald. One of the thru-hikers thought she was being sarcastic - he had been so tired he had just viewed it as a chore. A lesson in there for me about not pushing too hard.I hope its that clear when I get to the top of Clingmans Dome tomorrow morning- I'm three miles from the top at this shelter so should be up there about 10:00. Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the AT and has an observation tower.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

Well in yesterday's entry I talked about bears. I got up to go to the bathroom last night and as I was progressing I hear this noise. I shine my headlamp in the direction of the noise and see two bears. Talk about shy kidneys - try peeing with two bears watching you! They didn't bother me but I had trouble getting back to sleep.Some of the folks in the shelter wanted to get up early and hike to Clingmans Dome for sunrise. An alarm clock went off at 5:00 but no one wanted to get out of a warm sleeping bag. Still we all got up early and were on the trail by 7:00. I made it to the top of Clingmans by 9:00. The hike up was nice with great views. Up on the observatory the view was outstanding with little haze to obscure visibility.The hike on to Newfound Gap was interesting with areas which had suffered bad damage from wind with many "blowdowns." The trail maintainers had done a tremendous amount of work in getting the trail usable again.I hitchhiked into Gatlinburg to get some more food so I can hike slower. Gatlinburg is a shock to the senses at anytime - sort of a permanent carnival - but particularly so after a few days in the backwoods of the Smokies. There are sights to be seen in Gatlinburg and the people watching is without peer.I'm typing this entry while doing laundry at The Wash Tub. I'm sitting here in a nylon rain skirt and my rain jacket while all my clothes wash. I'm not sure the patrons here are used to thru-hiker ways but I don't know for sure since my Spanish isn't up to stuff.After my clothes are done I'm off to buy groceries and get some dinner. Didn't know hiking could be so exciting, did you?
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Newfound Gap

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: few clouds

Spent the morning getting groceries and bumming around. Ate great hamburger from the Beannery Cafe and the caught a shuttle up to the Gap. It was a hot day in Gatlinburg but with the increase in elevation wasn't too bad hiking. Since I had such a short hike I really took my time and enjoyed the day. The shelter here has a great view, a privy, and a good spring. Lots of people on the trail with most day hiking to Charlie's Bunion. Shelter sits right on the trail so we have a lot of curious visitors.I've spent my time reading the trail register so haven't started the book I bought in G'burg.Looks like we're going to be full tonight.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: broken clouds

Slept warm last night and the shelter got up about 6:30. I was on the trail at 7:30. My destination was Pecks Corner Shelter with a "plan B" of going on to Tri-Corner Shelter. Folks at the shelter last night said the weather forecast was clear thru tomorrow with rain on Friday. I thought if I could get in a long day it would provide me with some flexibility in dealing with rain.Charlie's Bunion was only 0.8 miles from the shelter so I quickly got there and played around on his unusual rock formation. While it was clear, you could tell that there was more humidity in the air. The hike was along ridge lines which were narrow at times - sometimes the trail was only three feet wide with drop-offs to either side. In many places we had great views.The trail thru this section of the Park is called the "Sawtooths" due to the up and down nature of the trail. While there are no big climbs the up and down nature of the hike wears on you. By the time I got to Pecks Corner I was ready to call it a day. The trail down to the shelter is steep - I don't look forward to the hike back up in the morning! Just before I got to the shelter it started to rain. I got under shelter before the rain started falling hard. We had a good little shower and now the sun is back out.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Last night the shelter was overflowing with 2 people tenting. Real mix of thru-hikers, section hikers and two guys doing an overnighter. I was on the trail a little after 7:00. The next shelter was only 5.2 miles and I wondered if I could push on to Cosby Knob but that would be 13 miles plus the half mile from the shelter to the trail. I was at Tri-Corner by 11:00 so I took a lunch break and then headed on out for Cosby. I felt good all day and ended strong. We'll see what I feel tomorrow - see if this was a burst of energy or I am actually building my strength back.In reading thru the shelter register, I saw where Mr. Bibby, NCCreeper and Buttrash left me a message. Thanks guys!There are only five of us staying at the shelter so plenty of room to spread out. I've been hiking the past two days with Swoop, Dandelion, High Life and Scott.Tomorrow I should make it to Standing Bear Farm Hostel.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

The hiking today was mostly downhill and fairly easy. I was on the trail at 7:30 and made it to Davenport Gap Shelter by 11:30 where I had lunch. After lunch I hiked to I-40 and followed a stream for a while. It felt great to hike along a mountain stream after hiking ridges so long. The down side was with the lower elevation, the temps were much higher. It was really hot hiking about 1/2 a mile of road to get under I-40. There was a short climb and a mile hike to Standing Bear Hostel where I'm spending the night.The hostel is a homestead farm that a couple have bought and opened a hiker hostel. They have a nice bunk house, shower (and an outdoor one too which is great with these temps). We're going into town (such as it is) for dinner tonight.Tomorrow I'll head out for Hot Springs which should take three days to get to.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 13.6

I hiked too far today. It wasn't so much the miles as the climbs. Coming out of Standing Bear I climbed 2,400 feet to the top of Snowbird Mt. After coming down off that I climbed 1,000 ft to the top of Harmon Den Mt. Then I climbed 1,100 ft to the top of Max Patch. I'm bushed!I didn't sleep very well last night due to one heavy snorer in the bunk house and some heavy drinking going on outside around the fire pit. I'm really glad to be in my tent for the first night since I got back on the trail. Just after summiting Harmon Den this afternoon I heard a noise to my right. It was a bear and she was coming down off a tree. Almost immediately I heard a noise to my right and when I turned in that direction I see a cub's head stick up out of the bushes. Here I am between a mama bear and her cub - a place you don't want to be. I moved quickly to get out from between them and they ran off. It was too quick to get my camera out.I'm camping in one of the prettiest spots imaginable - on top of Max Path Bald. I had a great sunset and hopefully will get a good sunrise. My tent is oriented so that I can lay in bed and watch the sunrise.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 17.6

Last night camping out on Max Patch was one of my top nights camping out. It was beautiful up there an the weather was great. I slept great and the sunrise was perfect.Today was another long day but without all the climbs of yesterday some what easier but it was hotter so about evened out. Dandilion and Scott did not meet me on Max Patch last night but hiked on to the next shelter which was about 1.5 miles further on. The were getting ready to leave their shelter when I got there this morning. We hiked together until about 11:00 when they pushed on since they were going to get to Hot Springs today. I should see them both tomorrow when I get in.The mountain laurel is in full bloom at the altitudes I have been hiking for most of the day. The delicate blossoms are a joy to the eye.There is a herd of people at the shelter tonight. Only one other thru hiker and the rest folks out hiking for the weekend. All have taken two days to hike what I hiked today. They are impressed with how far I've hiked today - they don't fully appreciate that for a typical thru-hiker I'm a low mileage guy.It's only three miles to Hot Springs from here so I have a "nero" day tomorrow (a nearly zero miles day) and a zero day the next day. After the last two day of hard hiking I need the rest.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early this morning and hiked the three miles into Hot Springs. I had breakfast at the Smokey Mountain Dinner which was mobbed with people. They didn't have enough wait staff for the crowd so breakfast was leisurely. I looked around town and decided to try staying at the Sunnybank Inn which is legendary with thru-hikers. They had hosted a wedding yesterday and were trying to recover from that. The Inn is a 160 year old house which has a historical plaque in front of it. The house is really neat - well restored, filled with antiques and books. The Inn is noted for its vegetarian fare. I am sharing a room with Three Days, a thru-hiker from Iowa. He is older than me and actually hikes slower.This place can be seductive to hikers. I met one who was heading out today after twelve zero days!
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

No dinner last night at the Sunnybank Inn - Elmer was going to Asheville for dinner with a friend. As a result we went across the street to the Smoky Mountain Diner which is owned by a former thru-hiker. The food is good and we had a great time reading a three-ring binder of letters and poems from 4th graders at Hot Springs Elementary to thru-hikers. The class had adopted a section of the trail to maintain. The letter and poems were great and there was a second binder there where we could write letters back to the students. Dandilion, Three Day and I all wrote letters to the kids.I left out a little after 7:00 this morning to try and get as much hiking done as possible before the heat set in. The day was almost all climbing but no single climb seemed that bad. By the time I got to the shelter I was bushed!When I got to the shelter two southbound couples were here. They said the water situation is getting bad. Springs marked on the guide have no water. They said that Jerrys Cabin Shelter's water source was dry and that supposedly there was a water source a 20 minute walk downhill and it was low two days ago. This is good info to have since I was contemplating pushing on to Jerrys Cabin Shelter tomorrow. I now will go just 8.6 miles to Little Laurel Shelter but that means a 12.7 mile hike with no water sources. I have water storage capacity but the weight becomes problematic. Oh well, as Miss Scarlett said, "I'll worry about that tomorrow."Six o'clock rolled around and I began to wonder if I was going to be alone tonight. Three Day came rolling in about 6:30.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Spring Mt. Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Dandilion didn't make it in last night. Don't know if she came part way and camped or what. I am seeing from the shelter registers that Scott is a day ahead of me. Hopefully I'll get up with him in Erwin - he owes me a couple of beers!Since today was a short mileage day I decided to take a 0.5 mile detour to Hemlock Hollow Farm which has cabins but also a small store. I had lunch there and sat out on their porch overlooking a stream. It was very restful and the owner gave me a ride back to the trail so I only hiked an extra half mile.All south bounders (SOBO) reported no water between Little Laurel and Flint Mtn Shelter - a 13 mile stretch. I tried doing the 8.6 miles today on 2 liters of water to see what I might need tomorrow. I did fine so I think the maximum I'll need is 4 liters.It has been hot the last few days but not terriably humid. The humidity came in today and it made a marked difference in difficulty of hiking. This caused me to slow down to avoid over heating. It also tended to make the hiking drudgery where under similar terrain before I was motoring along. I met two guys who were section hiking and were heading to VA when they finished today. I briefly considered asking them if they would give me a ride to Erwin. I don't think I would have had that thought absent the humidity.I saw my first snake of the trip today. A 5 foot long black snake was laying in the trail. I got my camera out to take a picture and he laid here until I had my picture then moved off the trail. I think most people would be surprised about how little wildlife most hikers see (outside of birds and insects). When I was talking at Sunnybank about the bears I had seen, the other hikers were envious since none of them had seen a bear.Three Day got to the shelter about 6:00. He said he had struggled all day and didn't feel like he had much energy. I'm worried about his making the long walk tomorrow. Dandilion showed up at about 7:00. She got out of Hot Springs very late yesterday so only went a short way before camping. She hiked almost 19 miles today!
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 12.8

Last night about 8:00 we heard thunder and it began raining. Turns out it wasn't a stray thunderstorm but a front moving through. It rained hard until sometime in the morning. This morning it was cooler and clear.The hike today was interesting but harder than the miles would indicate. A portion of the trail ran along a rocky ridgeline with constant scrambling up and down rocks. The views were great and the scrambling fun but is was slow going and tiring.I met a SOBO hiker today named Tyvek. All of his gear was made of Tyvek and he was hiking barefooted. I've been trying to wrap my head around hiking barefooted all day and can't quite get there! He would have hiked 1,880 miles barefooted by the time I encountered him.Three Day decided not to hike on today. It's probably a good thing - today was tough for me and I'm hiking much stronger than he has been. It's just Dandilion and me at the shelter. She's going to put in a 20 mile day tomorrow in an effort to get to Erwin by Sunday so we will be separating tomorrow. I'm shooting for Erwin on Tuesday morning and if I get energetic I may make it by Monday.The shelter here has a stream as a water source. This has allowed us to rise out clothes and wash ourselves. This is such a luxury! I know when my own smell is bothering me it is bad. Most of the shelters have small springs as a water source and with the drought the flow is often merger.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Flint Mt. Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today has been a fairly easy day hiking. There was one big climb of of about 1,700 and the first thousand was covered in a mile. That steep climb kicked my butt. After that the grade lessened and the climb easier. All the hiking today was in the woods with no views. It was very humid this morning which didn't help with the comfort of the hike.As I was packing up this morning I realized I had screwed up in figuring how much food I needed and I don't have enough to eat the way I should. I have enough dinners but not enough of the breakfast, lunch, snack variety. I went on half rations for today since it was a short day. I'll just have to make do the rest of the way into Erwin. This presents no danger to me but will affect my energy levels making the hiking harder. Looks like I may lose a couple of extra pounds which won't hurt.Well it's after 7:00 and I'm alone at the shelter. Dandilion and I were talking last night how we seem to be in a weird gap - we know of people in front of us and behind us yet we aren't seeing them. This might be my second night totally alone since I began my hike.I've been studying the map and if I do 13 mile days for the next two days I will be in Erwin on Monday and my food issue will not be an issue. There is a campsite 13 miles from here with a spring. That's what I will be shooting for tomorrow.I gave Dandilion Jim and Bonnie Hall's phone number and asked her to call them and have them to pick me up at Noon on Tuesday. Getting in on Monday won't mess that up. Got a plan so hopefully I can sleep well tonight.