morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-09
From: NOC

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Big day today. Foot feeling a lot better each day. BIG climb outta the NOC. LONG Steady climb up and out. Breakfast then a late start @ 1015.But I busted it out. Steady.Sunny and warm. started at 1740 feet at NOC. Cranked up to Grassy Gap3050 ft. then Swim Bald at4710 ft. Dropped downto Sassafrass Gap Shelter at4330 feet.Then came the real climbs!Cheoah Bald at 5062 ft. Big climb. Going strong.Dropped back down to Stecoah Gap Road crossing at 3165 ft.Then came the steepest climb I've done, from Stecoah Gap up to Brown Fork Gap Shelter at 3800 feet over 4.5 miles, but most of the entire climb was straight up and very steep in the first 1/2-1 miles. Mega steep and hittin it at 420pm! I cranked up steady no breaks no rest and hit the shelter by 510pm. Yeah baby!THAT was I climb I'll remember for a long time.Met two or three guys in the shelter when I signed the register (?Clem, ?Adam & Garrett)and blew right on outta there to the next shelter. i was pumped. i was on fire!Cranked another 6.1miles to Cable Gap Shelter where I squeaked in by total darkness (730pm) without my headlamp, like a challenge. (this becomes a routine for me as the AT hike continues) I knew I was < 1 mile away so kept plugging. Finally got in.Met Carefree (Dan) and his buddy Bobcat (Dean). 17 years old each. Finished high school 1 semester early to hike the AT. Will jump off the trail in a few weeks for graduation then right back on. Pretty cool. They seemed very fun & cool to chat with. Pretty mature considering their age. And easy goin. Go figure.Ate, enjoyed their campfire and hit the rack.they had the same plan as I for tomorrow. Gettin of the trail in Fontanna Dam. But unlike me, they still had to make the post office before noon or miss their mail drop. remember I forwarded mine to the Hike Inn.So we'll hike out together and wing it.Great day hiking really hard and mega miles for me. 21.1 Yea baby!FedEx
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Hike Inn, Fontanna Dam
Miles today: 5.5

Next morning we were up and out by 0730 to make the road and hitch a ride to the post office by 1000 when they opened, in case we were running late, can't miss it on Saturday morning or screwed til MONDAY morning. And these two have no $$$. That's also in their mail drop. Food, snacks and $$$ restock.We easily made the road, but got no rides, probably cuz their were 3 of us stooges trying to get a ride. Cool windy road though.Made it to the PO by 1015. They got HUGE amounts of candy & snacks in their post office drop box. We munched for a while right outside. Too much to carry.Finally they loaded up their packs with mega weight from food and we hiked back the 2.5 miles to the trailhead, now heading past it to a small store for some resupply for me & then they might part. I was gonna stay at the Hike Inn, just up the road while they at the Fontanna Dam "Hilton" Shelter which sleeps ??24 I think, hence the name. It's a popular shelter as it's free and pretty near the road and the highest dam in the eastern US, 480 feet, a tourist attraction in summer months. (the trail goes over the dam, a walkway, but if the National Terrorism-Alert Level is high (red) they make us reroute and walk way around the dam. Imagine that.Anyway, got some stuff at the store and lucked out. The Hike Inn owner pulled in with his truck with a southbounder (SOBO) named ?Soldier (more like Rambo). This guy has a huge rambo knife and signs the shelter registers with only his name. Nothing else. No stories. No comments. Odd. Especially since there are very few other hikers out there with them. For most this is their only communication and they write lots.Anyway, we talked Carefree & Bobcat (named such cuz he kept talking about kickin this wild cat he saw's butt) into staying at the Hike Inn, splittin a room.Got showered, hitched a ride ~10+ miles into town and arranged to get picked up by the Hike Inn folks later.Grabbed big snack at Wendy's, shopped more, hit the grocery store and finally an AYCE BBQ place where we chowed! Soooo full.Caught our ride back to the Hike Inn.It took a million pics with my still new cell camera phone, experimenting with the timer feature, trying to set up the shot, press go, run and do a hand/headstand against my room door before it fired. Craziness. But that's what happens when you hike all day every day.Finally quit and called it a nite.Gotta try to find a church tomorrow, Sunday. Couldn't find one in town for Saturday vigil service. Mostly Baptist, Sunday only.FedEx.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Hike Inn, Fontanna Dam

To: Hike Inn, Fontanna Dam
Miles today: 0.0

Chillin at the Hike Inn. Got my bounce boxes, used a few things, packed up the rest and the owners agreed to mail it ahead for me on Monday. Thanks!A good life lesson from the trail guide book:"Happiness is found along the way, not at the end of the trail."Noland Hisey (AT '89)Words to live by.FedEx
Date: 2007-03-12
From: Hike Inn, Fontanna Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: broken clouds

We ate some snacks we bought for breakfast and finally hit the road. I was gettin dropped at a Baptist Church on the way to the trailhead, Carefree & Bobcat at the trailhead. Bobcat was unfortunately gettin off the trail to go home. He'd chill at the Fontanna Dam Hilton Shelter for a day as it might rain, then try to hitch to a bus station to save $85 for a shuttle there. Carefree would continue on leavin his high school buddy behind.Not too many Catholic churches in the south, so I again took what I could get and thought it might open my mind a bit to how others live and worhip. What a new and different experience the Freewill Baptist church was for me. A VERY tiny church with only 13 in attendance. Another warm friendly welcome. Very unstructured (it seemed to me), but everyone participated. Lively. For real. Not like most catholic services I've attended where most folks murmur the words like drones while their minds drift off somewhere else. Very interesting. And moving. Very energetic and emotional and interactive crowd response.Got a ride arranged by the Hike Inn staff when she dropped me off (again very hiker friendly folks!). Headed right out @1300 to the "Hilton" hoping to say good bye to Bobcat. Found him. Beautiful views of the Fontanna Dam lake/reservoir and the Great Smokies landscape. HUGE shelter.Said goodbye to Bobcat and wished him well.Headed out. Another big day. Great pics at the very impressive massive Fontanna Dam (480 feet in height, ?2300 feet long).AND the entrance to THE GREAT SMOKIES!!!I can't wait. different rules here though. Cannot camp. Must use shelter, which are huge to accommodate numerous thru hikers, weekenders, and section hikers. And it's spring break!Section hikers and weekenders and overnighter must preregister and RESERVE a spot in shelters. Thru hikers must fillout a back country permit but no reservations. If the shelter fills up we MUST get out and tent near the shelter. Nobody else is allowed to camp and we cannot camp elsewhere to minimize the footprint/imprint of thousands of hikers each year. And they don't beleive in privies. Most shelters have none. Bummer.Anyway climbed up a couple ridges past the Mollies Shelter to Russell Field Shelter by just before dark @ 1915 hours. Met up with Carefree again, Garrett & Adam (later to be named Bobsled) whom I met just befor Wesser Bald a couple days ago.Sent Birthday roses to a friend back home via cell phone (gotta love technology!) And a couple text messages too.Ate dinna and called it a nite with a full house in the shelter ~ 15 or 16!A great first day in the Great Smokies!FedEx
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Iron Mountain Gap, TN

To: Miss Janet's House (Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked 16.5 miles into town yesterday. Pish. Like a half day hikin now! We were in town by 2pm! Stayin at the famous Miss Janet's Place (hostel). Huge burritto dinna, then cold milk & we baked chocolate chip cookies! Mmmmmmm!Breakfast was awesome - homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Home Fries, and a scrambled egg & veggie mix on tortillas! Mmmmmmm. Mailed a CD copy of my pics to Ron this morning. I'll start posting some of them here each day.Instead of heading out this morning and hikin north, we decided to "slack-pack" today. Miss Janet drove us North from the hostel & dropped us at Iron Mountain Gap. We hiked back 19.1 miles SOUTH to the hostel. (We already hiked north up to the hostel coming into town.) The best part is we left our hefty packs at the hostel & hiked with just day packs & fanny packs with snacks & water. Felt like we were flyin with no pack weight! Great weather. Great day. Great company - the infamous crowd I caught up to last week. They all started Feb 24th or 25th. Guthook,Tau (Jennifer),Kentucky Blue,Turbo, and Cough Drop. Cough Drop took a header & bent his pole bigtime, got a good scrape on his arm. It was hillarious. Trail humor.Alleycat,Hawk,Osprey and Santa's Helper slacked a shorter route today too.Saw Sticker again at Miss Janet's. Thought he'd be a stayin at Elmer's forever!Tomorrow we'll get dropped off at the gap and continue north.But the best part about slack-packin is we get to stay another nite at the hostel! Breakfast! Plus tonite we ordered 6 huge pizzas and all day we've been lookin forward to Mango Margaritas!!!! Can't wait. That's why I'm typing this now.Had a blast. Pizzas are here. Gotta go.I'll try to catch up on the latest trail days whenever I'm in town with internet access.Read other names above for their trail journals.Happy TrailsFedEx
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Iron Mountain Gap, TN

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: clear sky

Got wicked late start gettin outta Miss Janet's. She went to pick up a section hiker, Hanna and waited 2 hours, but she never showed. Anyway, we sat a chillin on the front porch. It was mega relaxin even though we were anci to go.While we were a chillin the gang from the Smokies rolled in, jammed in somebody's car who gave them a lift from the all you can eat Pizza joint. Hatchet Jack, Garrett, Bobsled, Clem (carrying his 8.5 lb French horn as always), and a newcomer, Snakebite who started march 1st when I did. He's the first person to catch me since I left, and technically we're already 19 miles north of here before we start hiking today (whenever we finally get dropped off). [TunaMac started march 4th & has a 12 lb pack. He's the only other hiker who started with me or afta who caught up, and he's stayin behind in Erwin to chill with his girlfriend] Not I'm a bad ass, but there are literally thousands who started behind us and NOBODY has caught me or the group I'm currently with. There is a small chance a handful of hardcore big mileage hikers may catch up if I take enough zero days in towns.Anyway it was great to see the old gang from the Smokies. We took a great group picture on the porch which I'll try to upload.Finally Miss Janet got back & shuttled us to the trailhead by 4 pm!! Ugggh. Talk about a late start gettin outta town! Tough to salvage & get any miles in today.Turbo (Justin) & I tried to crank, but it's all up hill & the extra weight I added in food killed me. I paced with him, but I'd guess I'm carryin 30+ lbs now and it really does matter. I still kill him on the hills, but can barely pace with him on the flats & down hill. And the extra 5+ lbs is killin me.We cranked to the first shelter but decided to call it a day at 6 pm. 6.1 miles uphill with heavy full packs in under 2 hours!! 6 Boy Scouts & leaders were already there, so when the rest of our group showed up we all had to tent since the shelter only sleeps 8. It was kinda fun, since we don't camp much and neva as a group.Plus we all brought our own personal liter of leftova Margarita Mix from last nite at Miss Janet's. Made for an interesting nite, especially listenin to Jennifer slurrin words & ramblin on. ha ha.Slept well, no rain.Oh yeah, turns out I accidentally shipped my tent stakes with my bounce box!Since I do not have a freestanding tent, Turbo & a scoutmaster loaned me just enough stakes. I sure hope they're in my bounce box at Kincora!Happy Tails!FedEx
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 21.1

Justin "Turbo" & I got an early start @ 0745 even breaking down tents, to make up for yesterday. After eatin a few pounds & dumpin some water my pack felt like normal again. Whewh. Cuz Turbo can haul ass!This was a big day of climbs ahead and 21.1 miles! (21.8 shelter to shelter) The rest of the group decided to do it in 2 days so not to arrive in town ahead of packages, people they were meeting etc.Turbo wanted to get as far ahead as possible to meet his girlfriend ASAP.We climbed 1282 feet up ova Roan Mountain High Knob Shelter (6275 ft), the highest point on the trail until Mt Washington, NH! So it's all down hill from here!Except of course for the rest of the afternoon when we would climb 5 huge balds, the highest Hump Mtn @5587 ft, in the oppressive heat!! It was quite the challenge but Turbo held true to his name and wouldn't let up. I crushed him on the climbs, but he'd quickly regain it and pass me. I'd do my best to stay with him, but as his lead grew I almost wished for another climb.We had lunch at the biggest shelter we've seen, Overmountain Shelter, a huge red barn in a field overlooking the moutains surrounding us. As it was the weekend it quickly filled with weekend wanna-bees out dayhiking and section hiking. By 230pm there were more than 20 people setup for over nite when we continued on. (Later the other thru hikers with us would have to camp it was so crowded when they got there)We cranked up Little Hump & Hump Mtn, the 2 biggest Balds (Mtn Peaks with no trees, just open fields kept groomed by forest service for environmental reasons). What a tough climb with full packs. Uggh!The worst part is it's so steep you think you're almost at the top and when you get to the ridgetop, you're crushed to see another huge part of the bald still yet to climb!FINALLY we go up and over and cranked to the shelter, Apple Orchard by 6pm. We were beat but quite relaxed and psyched at having completed a great challenge.Happy TrailsFedEx
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Mountaineer Shelter (New last year!)
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

I bailed early to get off the trail ASAP to find a church in town, then jump back on the trail. Turbo was off and runnin to do a 25 miler to get all the way to Kinkora Hostel & on to meet his gf.Got off at US 19 and walked to Roan Mtn town, found church with service at 11.So what else was I to do? I found the Mtn Harbour B&B nearby and grabbed another awesome breakfast: Texas French Toast w/ Walnuts Honey & Real Maple Syrup, Scrambled eggs w/ ham & cheese, Fresh Mango, OJ & Juice for $6!!!Mmmmmm! It was outstanding.After church got back on the trail at 1230 & starting climbing inthe hottest heat yet. 85 degrees at the Bristol race, though last year they had snow for the same race!!Anyway, the heat & the climb made for tough goin. Passed 2 beautiful waterfalls and several cool streams. Will try to upload pics when I can.Finally quit at 430pm at the Mountaineer Shelter, brand new last year, built by Bob People's "Hardcore" trail maintenance group. He owns Kincora hostel our next stop and is a big name trail enthusiast in the area.Soon the group rolled in: Kentucky Blue, Guthook, Jennifer (Tau), Osprey & Mousetrap (named so because mice have a way of gettin stuck in his pack in shelters and dying there!!)What I didn't see is the trail magic in the stream that K. Blue & Jennifer partook. Someone left 8 cans of Bud Light icing in the stream! They enjoyed one each and regretted not taking more.We were bummed to here this. Until Coughdrop arrived. He grabbed 4 of the cans and carried them to a stream not far back and left them icing. We gladly ran back to get them which made for a nice chillin afta dinna treat after a long day in the sun.Late that nite Zero rolled in, a thru hiker we thought well ahead of us based on shelter registers he signs. He started mid January but takes lots of "Zero" days in town hangin out, hence his trail name.He blew in at 730pm and departed by 8pm saying he was goin all the way to Kincora tonite, another 15.5miles!! We wished him well and chilled sipping our well earned beverage.But we took Jennifer's suggestion to get up wicked early and hit to trail to "Beat the heat!"That's all for now.FedEx
Date: 2007-03-26
From: Mountaineer Shelter (New last year!)

To: Kincora Hiking Hostel
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

BEAT THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT!That was today's theme!Jennifer (Tau) got out at 0245!!I followed next at 0330, then Osprey & Mousetrap ~0345.We cranked in the dark til about 7am, already 8 or so miles done!!!I caught Jennifer and we rolled into Kincora by 0915, 15.6 miles!!!!Had a great start, now just chillin at the hostel, gettin showered and all.Met Bob People's big trail supporter/enthusiast & like all hostel owners a former thru hiker on the trail. great guy. Took us to town & we chowed at all you can eat Pizza Plus. Got our $5.99 worth!! and then some.When we got back the rest of the gang eventually arrived. Of course Sticker was already there. Go figure. (He's a former thru hiker retired vet who hikes a little then "yellow blazes" ahead by road to the next hostel via whatever ride he can catch or shuttle available. He's been at every hostel BEFORE us since Hot Springs, yet we've never seen him hikin anywhere on the trail, nor does he appear to sign shelter registers.)Osprey cooked up an awesome baked carmel apple pie for dessert afta dinna.Zero, then Comer & Jean rolled in sometime that nite. Comer & Jean are one of two couples in their 60's hiking the trail (The ToeSocks, being the other). They do high mileage every day by getting an early start and hiking til near dark. Some say ~ 20/day! The Toesocks hike more like 10/day, but still impressive. Both married ~ 35 years. Makes ya feel kinda lame if they can do it!That's all for todayFedEx
Date: 2007-03-30
From: Elk Garden, VA

To: DAMASCUS
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After a much needed zero hangin at the gear store, laundry, bonus meals etc., we decided to head to town for a movie. Coughdrop had aquired his car from his family not too far away and volunteered. I went to the library to try (not so successfully) to catch up on my way behind journal.Unfortunately when I returned my ride had already bailed!!I was bummin! And after I already turned down free dinna at a former thru-hiker's home (The Only Wanderer).But I wasn't givin up. I quickly bailed to the edge of town and hitched a ride to town, blindly hopin to not only find the theater but hookup with the gang and the van-otherwise I'd be screwed-15 miles away with no ride back. And tryin to hitch back to a much smaller town in the dark not likely to work.I lucked out. Missed dinna with the group, but they rolled in to the theater for the early show just as I was tryin to figure out what i should do since I didn't see them there!Whew!Watched the flick, went home and slept well (Nite 2 in Damascus)Next day: 3/30Slackpacked 24 miles from Elk Garden back to Damascus with most of the group, minus Mousetrap who had rolled in after a long day and needed to rest. Up over Whitetop Moutain & a few other climbs. But a good day. Especially since the benefit is a big hike day, easier and stay one more day in town, again!Startin to like this routine for gettin outta town with a hi mileage day and one more nite in town, without another zero!Got back to the hostel & found a crowd: Comer & Jean (couple in their 60's doing high mileage days every day, slow & easy, start early, hike til dark, and usually camp to get max mileage); Pilgrim rolled in; and low and behold: Tito (?sp) FINALLY somebody who started MARCH 1st actually caught up with me Sorta. (Technically, although I'm sleepin here at the hostel in Damascus, tomorrow I start hikin 24 miles north of here, PLUS whatever miles I do that day [20.2]and he's still here in town. Kinda kewl that I can be 44+miles ahead on the trail and reach back 2 or 3 full days to hang with folks far behind us!Tito actually stayed at the same Hiker Hostel & rode to Springer Mtn with me in the same Suburban March 1st! He eventually met up and hiked with the crowd I hiked with thru the Smokies (Carefree, Garrett & Adam (Bobsled), and everybody I passed).A local & former hiker "Lone Wolf" dropped off some Moonshine for us at the hostel-bonus; eventually a small crowd went to hang at the Old Mill Inn for bar food, "be-ahs" and chillin to a country-ass blue grass bang (Banjo, Mandolin, guitar, & bass).Pretty cool wrap for Damascus.Time to move on tomorrow.FedEx
Date: 2007-04-06
From: Pearisburg! VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Osprey stopped by my hotel on the way outta Pearisburg. Apparently he only got half the message to call me, but no phone #. Anyway we decided to hike a few more days together at least until Easter Sunday when I'll jump off the trail for church & a meal.I packed up and we grabbed lunch at the same Mexican joint I ate dinna at. Another awesome meal.Since he was ready to go and I still needed to resupply I ran across the street while we waited for our food to be served & did the classic AT resupply across the street at the 24 hour convenience store-in and out in 5 minutes with 2-3 days snacks & dinna meals. They were all outta cooking fuel (gas line methanol antifreeze) so we hit a garage on the way outta town & grabbed some there.Late start as always gettin outta town @1330, hit the trail headin north and cranked out just 19 miles. 30-40's initially, but quickly dropped and it SNOWED again all afternoon. And it actually blanketed the ground. We had to cut short the planned 22-ish mile day and stopped at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter by 2045. Pretty dark and just not worth hikin another 4 miles plus it was gettin pretty chilly once the sun set.Turned out to be a great choice as this was a great shelter with an inside fireplace.Osprey cranked up a quick hot fire and we warmed ourselves & dried our shoes & socks while we ate our delish dinna-just Ramen for me due to my quick shopping and limited options. A little tea & Little Debbie dessert snack hit the spot.Slept toasty in my 15 degree bag while it snowed all nite and the temp dropped into the teens. 2" Fresh snow on the ground by mornin! Really pretty.I'm glad we finally got real snow blanketing the woods. I love the winter scenery.Slept in a bit cuz we were so whooped yesterday. Hit the trail @0830the plan: crank out the 4 additional miles we dropped yesterday, for about 21 total. Should take less than 8 hours at the rate we rock.That would put us 3 shelters ahead (Laurel Creek Shelter) plus 2.5miles to VA State Rd 42 where we'd hitch 11.5 miles into New Castle for a hotel then Easter Sunday Church the next day and hopefully a great meal.Should be easy. Worst case we'll just make the shelter Sat. nite and get up early a.m. for 2.5 to VA 42 and hitch in Sun. mornin.That's what we thought til we hit the trail the next day and found lots more snow-the photo above was taken EARLY the morning of April 7FedEx