morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-17
From: on way to Max Patch

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter, NC
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: moderate rain

Today's hike was probably the easiest since I have been on the trail (including my first month). It was a bit of a climb up to the bald of Max Patch. I couldn't see the spectacular view I had heard about because of the coming storm but I enjoyed what I could see through the clouds. There were fields of solid goldenrod on one side of the bald. It was clouding up pretty good but the trail seemed to go around the shoulders of the mountains rather than right over the tops. I felt like I could have hiked more today but didn't want to be tenting in the rain so stopped at Walnut Mtn.Shelter. And just in time, too. I arrived at 2pm and it started to rain just a bit later. I scrambled around to find enough kindling for my stove and ate my hot meal of the day mid-afternoon. I thought I would be the only hiker here but as it turned out there were a bunch of us. The oddest group was a group of three from Florida - mother, father and daughter- that were chain smokers! They coughed and puffed their way through the night. A group of 5 guys from a Park and Recreation Dept. showed up later on. They were testing out a 3-day hike to offer their rec program participants. They didn't seem to be prepared for hiking or wet weather, though. They were hiking in jeans and were lugging a grill with them over a couple of 4,000 ft. mountains.   Then there was 28 yr. old "Catfish", a thru-hiker from Alabama. He was quite a character. He had hiked from Springer Mtn up through Virginia, then turned around to hike home. He had worked at a hiker hostel for a month and told me he gained 34 lbs eating cheese burgers and pizzas. He was thin as a rail so he must have been really emaciated before. The shelter only had room for six so the park and rec guys tented outside. Boy, we did get rained on. It was a deluge and the winds were whipping all night. The hickory tree overhanging the roof of the shelter lost every one of its nuts. They kept banging on the shelter roof till there were no more to drop. The temperature dropped too but I was warm in my under armor, three layers of clothing over that, dry wool socks and my 10 degree sleeping bag liner.
Date: 2012-09-18
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: heavy intensity rain

What a night! It was still pouring this morning but I decided to hike on out. I'm not sure I could have stayed in the shelter with the chain smokers another night.   Also I wanted to get to a place where I could call Barbara and let her know all is well with me. Walking on the trail today was an adventure. It was like walking on ball bearings as the trail was simply covered with acorns, hickory nuts and wild pecans. It was raining so hard and so much that water was rushing up the trail. For about 3 hours it felt like I was walking in a stream. I walked uphill some but mostly downhill today, too, so it was a hard day. I met a young sobo named "Smiles". He had started in Maine last June and was flying by me. We only chatted for a minute as he had miles to make. I got soaked through to the skin today. My Frogtogs kept the rain off, but I was hiking so hard that I was sweating inside them. I kept up a pretty good pace to keep my hands warm. The Raynauds acted up and so my hands were turning white off and on all day. The trail was overgrown in places with undergrowth and brush 4-5 ft. high. I think the wildlife is going to be well fed this fall with the abundance of acorns. I got into Hot Springs about 4:30pm. I tried to stay in a hiker hostel but there was no one around. Maybe they are closed for the season. So I am at the Alpine Court just down the road. I am wet and tired but happy to be inside for the night. I need to dry all my gear and clothes before I head out again. Also I need to resupply as it will be a good 60 more miles before I will have a chance to stock up again. I was out of cell coverage for a couple of days but now I am able to send my photos and call home. Yay!
Date: 2012-09-19
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I took a zero day today to dry all my gear out, wash and dry all my wet clothes and let my hiking shoes dry in the sun. Literally everything I owned was sopping wet! It was a beautiful sunny day here in Hot Springs. I am the only hiker in town, the only one here at the Alpine Court. I ate breakfast and supper at a little diner. There's a DOLLAR STORE so I bought a couple of batteries for my headlamp and the fan on my cookstove. Then I resupplied my food cache with the usual - Knorr's noodle dinners, Snickers Bars, hot chocolate and oatmeal! I bought enough for 7 seven days. My next resupply opportunity will be in Erwin, Tennessee which is about 60 miles from here. Not sure when I will be able to be in touch again as cell coverage is still spotty till I get closer to Erwin. I definitely caught up on my rest and am itching to hit the trail again. So tomorrow morning as soon as the sun is up I will be off. Everything is packed and ready to go! The trail is calling me back!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2012-09-20
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today has been a beautiful day! I had a pancake and a large glass of milk at the diner in Hot Springs this morning. While I was there I met another section hiker who had just completed the same section I had covered. He stayed at the Walnut Mtn Shelter last night (where I was two nights ago during the storm) and he said he had met 3 chain smokers there. I almost fell off my seat! They are the same 3 that I had spent the night with. They were afraid to leave because they didn't think they could make it to the next shelter in a day's hike. I'm concerned about them ever being able to get out of the woods. I know it's not my problem, but still. The weather has been sunny and comfortable. By 11:30 I had made it to Mill Ridge, a nice uphill climb. I stopped and took a photo at Lover's Leap. Cherokee legend holds that a maiden, Mist on the Mountain, threw herself off after her lover Magwa was killed in battle.  My only problem today was finding water. I had 2 1/2 liters with me but am always happy to find a water source. All the listed springs and streams were dried up until about 3:30 when I came upon a low flowing stream. I met a few folks today. First there was "Shepherd" a thru-hiker who carried a shepherd's staff. He had hiked north to south for the first time in 2001. I also met a mushroom hunter out with his two dogs. There were a couple of day hikers who had come onto the trail from an access road where they had left their car. Today has been an uphill climbing day. I've been over 11 miles but it feels like more due to the constant uphill trudge. I am glad to be at this shelter where there is a privy but more importantly WATER. I just saw a sign in Spanish AGUA with an arrow pointing down to a gully so off I go to fill up my bottles. I'll cook my Knorr noodles and then hit the sack.
Date: 2012-09-21
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jones Meadow Campsite, NC
Miles today: 10.7

Another good hike today - 10.7 miles. The weather is holding out for me! I am camping at Jones Meadow tonight where there is water and a place to set up my tent. Check back at another time for more details. RIght now I need to conserve my phone battery for another three days. It is starting to lose power. But I am fine and all is well. I enjoy reading your comments in my GUEST BOOK! Keep'em coming!UPDATE TO SEPTEMBER 21 ENTRY:I met one hiker today, trail name "Bud". He was a sobo heading to Springer Mtn so we passed each other, each going in a different direction. Other than that I met no one else on the trail today. The terrain started out mostly downhill and then I started climbing. It is beautiful out here and solitary. I came across two gravestones today. Kind of eerie. According to my AT guide Rex Pulford died here in 1983 at age 63 of a heart attack while attempting a thru hike. The other stone was for Jackelyn Mae Kelly-Morris who died in 1990 at age 50. That one remains a mystery. Still lots of acorns and overgrowth. There are many patches of goldenrod to navigate through and oh, yes, acorns, acorns everywhere!
Date: 2012-09-22
From: Jones Meadow Campsite, NC

To: stream just south of Sugarloaf Gap
Miles today: 15.2

What a great hiking day today! I feel elated as I have hit my stride. My legs feel strong, my hip is fine and my shoulders are good. At the moment nothing is sore. My pack is heavier now as I am finding the water sources are scarce. So when I do find water I fill up as much as I can. That means carrying two liters, which adds the weight. But even so, my pack feels like part of me again. It's easy to lose your balance walking on these acorns. Today my left foot slipped and went out from under me but my hiking pole saved me. It has been almost two days since I have seen another hiker. The days are sunny and so nice. Saw three deer close by. When I am walking uphill it feels hot and I am constantly wiping my brow with the red bandana I keep attached to my pack. On the downhills and flat areas it gets cool quick so I am hiking fast to keep warm. At times there are tunnels of growth covering the trail and lots of rhododendrons. Today is the first day of fall. There is not a lot of color up here yet. Most of the trees are oaks. Nights are getting cooler now. My food supply is holding out well so I should be in good shape to get to Erwin,TN by Tuesday.
Date: 2012-09-23
From: stream just south of Sugarloaf Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Another awesome day on the trail! Sunny and windy all day. The woods are so pretty. I kept up a good pace and and enjoyed the ups and downs. All of my hike today was between 3596 ft. and 5600 ft. Saw a flock of about 20 Canadian geese flying south and here I am hiking north! I had a long climb at the end of the day, one which brought me to a stream and campsite at Big Stamp, a treeless saddle on a ridge, where I also found water. I had just opened up my pack to take out my tent when a day hiker passed by. TRAIL MAGIC! He took one look at me and said " YOU ARE GOING TO FREEZE OUT HERE TONIGHT!! Erwin is not that far. Do you want a ride to town? My pick-up truck is only a half mile away on a Forest Service road." I knew the night temps were predicted to be in the low 40s at sea level but at 5,000+ ft they are sure to be a lot colder, especially with the wind. I didn't have to think too long before I told him "YES" and took him up on his offer for a ride into town. Yay! So tonight I'm at Uncle Johnny's hiker's hostel which is right on the trail, very close to a bridge where there is excellent Verizon reception. I will have a warm bunk and something to eat besides Knorr's "Sides" noodle dishes. This hostel is run by "Grim" a former thru-hiker. The wind has whipped up even more this last hour so I know I made the right decision. I am in long pants, long-sleeved shirt and my Nano puff just as the sun is about to set. I'm off to find something hot to eat...
Date: 2012-09-24
From: Erwin, TN

To: round trip from Erwin to Temple Hill Gap
Miles today: 4.0

Oh, to be warm and sleep in a soft bed! I thoroughly enjoyed the creature comforts of modern civilization last night - the results of YELLOW BLAZING, a new AT term I learned for catching a ride that goes on a main road. It's called yellow blazing due to the yellow line on a divided highway. After a wonderful hot shower to wash off the trail grime form the last few days, I took Uncle Johnny's shuttle into Erwin (about 2 miles away) and got a turkey and ham subway sandwich for supper. Caught up on some e-mails and called Barbara. I met a section hiker from Embry-Riddle University in Daytona! He had taken the semester off to do some hiking. Small world! Then it was early to bed for me. This morning I had some coffee and a granola bar to start off the day. I borrowed one of the hostel bikes and biked a couple of miles to town to resupply - more Knorr "Sides", oatmeal granola bars, instant oatmeal and more ziploc bags for repackaging my food. I take all the packaging off the Knorr Sides and stuff the contents into these bags. I squeeze all the air out, roll it up to a small size and the result weighs less. As my daughter-in-law Nicole taught me, "It's not the pounds, it's the ounces." When I got back to Uncle Johnny's I met a sobo hiker who had just gotten in from Damascus, Virginia. He told me about a couple of hostels on the trail that have food supplies in case I can't make it to a town. Good info! I decided to "slack pack" today and backtrack some of what I missed hiking yesterday. I left my big pack at the hostel and just took day hike essentials with me as I planned on returning to Uncle Johnny's. I followed the trail over the Nolichucky River south up to Temple Hill Gap. There were some nice overlooks of Erwin. (see photos). I hiked alone again and returned to Uncle Johnny's late afternoon. The shuttle will take me into town around 6 pm for supper and pick me up again at 8pm. Tomorrow I head north, rested, warm and full!
Date: 2012-09-25
From: round trip from Erwin to Temple Hill Gap

To: Camping at base of Unaka Mountain
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I left Erwin this morning around 8 am. It is staying dark later in the morning these days so it is hard to set off really early. It has been a mostly sunny and nice day for a hike. I have been hiking steadily uphill since I left Erwin at 1712 ft. The forest is thick with spruce and hemlock. I met two sobos this morning. The first was an Irish guy, trail name of "Hooligan". He is the first hiker I have seen wearing a skirt (dark green). I had heard about the man skirts but now I can say I've seen one! The second hiker, "Cloudkicker" was celebrating his 100th day on the trail since leaving Mt. Katahdin, Maine. The highest I have been today is Beauty Spot Gap at 4333 ft. I met a sheriff as I crossed a forest service dirt road later this afternoon. He told me to watch out for the bears. There are lots around, about as many as in the Smokies between here and Damascus, Virginia. I will make sure I sling my bear bag extra high in a tree tonight. I stopped about 4:30pm at the base of Unaka Mountain at 4135 ft. It has been hazy this afternoon and it is cool now, but not cold. I will be fine in all my gear. When the shuttle took us into Erwin last night it stopped at a Wal-Mart so I ran in and bought another long-sleeved shirt. My tent is up and I have had my supper. Gotta love those Knorr Sides. They fill you up! Tomorrow I tackle Unaka Mountain at 5180 ft.
Date: 2012-09-26
From: Camping at base of Unaka Mountain

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 12.7

2:00 PM REPORT: It was cold this morning when I woke up so I stayed inside my tent just a little longer. I had on 3 layers of clothing last night including my Nano puff, my under armor leggings and my Peruvian hat. There was a wonderful spring at this campsite - a 2" pipe just gushing water out - cool and sweet! I wasn't sure about the water situation ahead of me so I "camelled up" on this great water. I broke camp and headed for the summit of Unaka Montain at 8:30. It took me about an hour to reach the top at 5180 ft. I met a sobo twenty-something section hiker named "Ty" from Ft. Lauderdale. We stopped and chatted for about fifteen minutes. His mother had thru-hiked last year and got Ty interested in section hiking this part of the trail because she remembered it being so beautiful. So far I am the only "nobo" ("nobo" = northbound) on this part of the trail. I had a Snickers bar around noon and some trail mix to keep me going. Still have 1 1/2 liters of water so I am in good shape. I've hiked about 9 miles so far today and if I make it to Greasy Creek Gap campsite tonight it will add another 3 miles. Not sure if I will have internet coverage there so this may be the last you hear from me today. My next challenge will be getting to the top of Roan Mountain at 6217 ft. And I thought Mt. Washington was a climb!EVENING UPDATE: Well I made it to Greasy Creek Gap, then blue-blazed another .06 miles downhill to Greasy Creek Hostel, on a jeep road. This hostel is in a hollow at the very end of a gravel road and run by a woman who makes this her livelihood. The Guest Book shows that a lot of hikers stop here. Another nobo section hiker, Tim, also spent the night here. I got to take a shower, fill up my water containers and will recharge my cellphone and iPad.
Date: 2012-09-27
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Ash Gap campsite
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: broken clouds

11:00 AM UPDATE: The Greasy Creek Hostel was an unexpected find- $10 for the night and $3 for breakfast. I got a good night's sleep and breakfast this morning tasted so good - scrambled eggs, grits and toast. Got started later than usual this morning - 9:30 AM, but I guess waiting for a good breakfast made it worth it! Yesterday late afternoon I pulled a muscle in my left thigh so today I am hiking more slowly, taking it easier. Lots of uphill today so I won't be making as many miles. At 11:00 o'clock I stopped for a break at Clyde Smith Shelter at 4514 ft. It is cool and quiet on the trail. I hope to make it to Toll House Gap at 6217 f t. Let's see how I do.EVENING UPDATE: Well, I made it another 8.1 miles today. Am camping at Ash Gap campsite at 5350 ft. I cooked up some Mac and cheese tonight with bacon bits. I was told that the local name for this Gap is "Bear Town". I was on the lookout but did not see one bear. However, I did hear so many hoot owls all night long. Maybe it is hoot owl mating season?CHECK BACK on my recent postings as I have written more...
Date: 2012-09-28
From: Ash Gap campsite

To: Doll Flats
Miles today: 15.1

12 NOON UPDATE: I have been at high elevations the last couple of days. My thigh muscle is better so I am hiking along at a better pace today. I've been hiking uphill all day, right into the clouds. At 6146 ft. I came across the remnants of a house chimney (see photos). Makes me wonder about who would have built a house up at this elevation. I also passed by Roan High Knob Shelter, the highest shelter on the AT at 6194 ft. (see photos). This shelter had a really good water supply so I filled up! It used to be a ranger station which is why it has 4 walls instead of the usual 3. Met another sobo today, "Lightning Bolt". I asked him how he got his name and he told me he was struck by lightning back on the trail in Connecticut. He was looking up into the sky and his hiking pole was hit! Lightning Bolt just took my picture on top of Round Bald. I have now hiked over 400 miles! It is open and grassy up here so it is windy. Not much sun today. It is overcast and cloudy. I'm getting chilly here so it is time to move on. More later... 7:30PM UPDATE: Long day today. I ended up hiking over 15 miles. It poured all afternoon and so the spectacular views I was looking forward to were covered in clouds. Hiking down from the Roan Highlands was a bit treacherous. There were lots of large rocks to navigate around and soupy mud. I fell twice and went down to my knees - but no injuries. Lots of ups and downs today as I went up and over Little Hump Mountain (5459 ft.) and Hump Mountain (5587 ft.). Houston Ridge has a commemorative plaque to Stanley Murray. (see photos) The rain finally let up about 6:30 pm and I found a flat place to set up my tent at Doll Flats. I am so tired - too tired to make any supper. I just hung up my bear bag. Now I am in my tent drying out. Over and out!ADDENDUM:from Paul Benfield, Jonesborough, TnMessage:The Chimney at Toll House Gap is the stables for the old Cloudland Hotel that was located just south of where you topped Roan Mtn.THANK YOU PAUL!
Date: 2012-09-29
From: Doll Flats

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel, Elk Park, NC
Miles today: 3.2

It rained off and on all night and I woke up to more rain so stayed in my tent until after 9:00 AM. A little later the rain broke for about 20 minutes so I hastily stowed all my gear and broke camp around 9:30 this morning. I did not try to make my oatmeal this morning as I didn't know when the rains would start again. It was very slow going when the rain picked up soon after. Rocky, rocky, rocky with lots of big boulders and more mud. I slipped and slid a few times as the skies opened up and poured down on me. I ate a couple of granola bars to keep up my strength.   Trying to start a wood fire in this deluge was just not possible. Finally made it to Route 19E around noon and walked another .2 mile to Mountain Harbor Hostel. It has been windy with leaves blowing off the trees. But now I am warm and dry! My clothes are washed and dried and at 5 pm there is a shuttle to take me into Elk Park to get something to eat! I met another sobo hiker here named "Diode" who is hiking from Harper's Ferry, Va. to Springer Mtn. Tomorrow it looks to be good weather so I will head back to the trail after eating breakfast here.
Date: 2012-09-30
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel, Elk Park, NC

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I forgot to mention in yesterday's notes that this hostel is over a barn and there were goats underneath us and horses grazing in the surrounding fields. Have not been able to send pictures successfully the last couple of days so will try again when I get better connections. Left the hostel around 9:30 AM and only hiked 9.6 miles today. Nice weather but the grassy balds were still slick from all the rain. Earlier today I passed by Jones Falls - so pretty. Hope my photos come through. I met 4 young sobos today - "Butterbar", "Rocketman", "Pegleg" and "Lorax". I opted to stay at a shelter tonight - Mountaineer Shelter, as rain is predicted later and really don't want to get myself and all my gear wet again. Could have hiked more miles but it would have meant getting into the rain again. I had a Knorr side(with chicken flavor-mmmm ) for supper tonight . Am sharing the shelter with a family of 5 from Wisconsin ( and their dog). They are sobos and only out for a week hike. Rain or shine I'll be leaving here in the morning.
Date: 2012-10-01
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Had a full shelter last night and also a couple of girls in their twenties who tented near the shelter- "Rock Monkey" and "Teenbean". Yay! Finally some nobos like me! I left early this morning and have hiked all day in the rain. Everything is slippery - especially the roots, mud and grass - so I have slowed my pace. I've slipped a few times and wobbled, but no falls.   It's in the low 60s today so it feels so cool and damp. The girls left later than I did but passed me around noon after about nine miles. They are used to doing 20+ miles a day. I could have hiked more miles today but again didn't want to be tenting in the rain. I made it to Moreland Gap Shelter and will quit here for the night. Can't pass up a chance to keep myself dry and snug through the night as more rain is predicted. I used some of my firestarting material and got my wood cook stove going. Tonight it was Alfredo Noodles for me! Tomorrow starts a warming trend and SUN!