morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Tellico Gap

To: Nantahala River
Miles today: 7.9

Don't let those almost 8 miles fool you into thinking that today's hike was a walk in the park. We hiked down to the Nantahala River almost 4000 feet in 6 and a half miles. It was brutal! Sometimes the Trail was so steep that I wanted to take my pack off and just ride the sucker down the mountain.We started our hike about 8:00 AM and the cool air lasted for about 3 minutes. We climbed the fire tower at Wesser Bald and were rewarded with amazing 360 degree panorama views of the mountains we had climbed and have yet to climb. These mountains unfold in beautiful gradations of color. I thought about graded hand dyed fabric all morning.All afternoon I thought about water. We had our filtration bottles with us, but there were no springs or water sources for 6 scorching hot miles. When we finely did come to the stream, LaLa and I drank 2 whole bottles and soaked our bandanas to splash water on our faces. Water is everything.As we got down the side of the mountain, the roar of the rapids in the river became louder. I was very happy to cross the bridge over the river. The Nantahala Outdoor Center or NOC, is a mecca for lots of outdoor sports but especially kayaking. You can watch the experts play in the rapids, turning cartwheels in the big hydraulics. Lots of hikers take a zero day to take a kayak lesson or go white water rafting.I am sleeping tonight in a cabin that feels like a tree house. The sounds of peeper frogs are just about to deafen the last songs of the birds. A breeze is sifting through the open windows and two really tired hikers have taken their ibuprofen and are ready for a good night¢s sleep. Tomorrow is another extreme hiking day.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Nantahala River
Miles today: 13.6

We had a wonderful breeze today that helped cool us off. We walked backward, so that we didn't have to do the killer climb up from the Nantahala River Gorge. We met all our hiking tribe, the Canadians, the Don'ts and Jim, Vadania and dog, Kebu as we hiked back toward Nantahala. They all can't figure out how we manage to arrange our shuttles. It takes a lot of work, but it allows LaLa and me to quickly make up some of our mileage.We climbed up to Cheoah Bald and then down for the rest of today's hike. The last few days¢ warm weather has caused the trees to start to green up and I saw the first trout lilies, Dutchman's breeches and fire pinks. LaLa spotted a rosy reddish brown lizard.The motivation for hustling along was the restaurant at NOC closing at 5 pm. We pulled in at 4 and eagerly walked over the river with visions of cheeseburgers before our eyes. The restaurant was closed. No! They can't do this!Our only alternative was to hitch about 4 miles up the road to the very elegant Nantahala Village Inn. We dined on roasted vegetables on tomato penne pasta in cream sauce. Not your normal hiker fare! The nice folks at the restaurant not only let two smelly, weirdly dressed hikers into the dining room, they gave us a ride back to our cabin. I had better not get used to this.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Big, big climb out of Stecoah Gap started my day. My knee was aching and feet sore, so LaLa quickly hiked ahead of me. I slipped into a reverie of thinking about my family and friends at home, and wasn't really aware if the Trail went up or down. I started to appreciate the high fluting bird calls and woodpeckers drilling trees. New wild flowers are appearing. I have seen wild geraniums, jack-in-the-pulpit, foam flower and others. My mind is creating quilts as I hike along. I wish I could put the leaves from blood root down and solar dye fabric, then fiddle heads from the uncurling ferns in layers of green. Then I would stitch brilliant white trilliums on top. In the deep glades the trilliums are blooming in profusion--at least 5 different varieties. I can't stop taking photos. LaLa, save me from the trilliums, I'll never get to Fontana Dam!The hardwood trees are dressed in fine spun green lace, and sun filters through, alternating with a light rain as if the day wants to try out several options. I meet a couple day hiking and they have read my journal and she is a quilter! They have section hiked the whole Trail and sign a patch for me. Later that evening we meet again in the hotel, and they graciously give me tea bags for LaLa. Hikers and quilters, good people! LaLa and I reach the high point for the day and gaze down on Fontana Lake. We can see and hear military helicopters patrolling the dam. A sober reminder. We call for the van to take us to Fontana Village for a last night in a real bed. Tomorrow we hike into Smokey Mountain National Park.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring Tent Sites
Miles today: 7.0

After a good breakfast at the Fontana Village Inn, LaLa and I packed our backpacks and headed to the post office to bounce our boxes on to Hot Springs. We left the Marina with loaded food bags, vowing to eat the heaviest foods first. LaLa's husband had sent some very fine chocolate nut clusters that didn't make it to the Trail head. Heavy.It was spectacular to walk the Appalachian Trail over Fontana Dam. I have achieved my first goal and walked the white blazes over 160 miles.We decided to make our destination a camp site for the first night, because the climb up into the Smokies is a tough one. In Smoky Mountain National Park you must stop at designated sites, always shelters except for this first tent area. You are not even allowed to tent unless the shelters are full. Bears are a very big concern here. I talked to a Ridge Runner this morning and she said no one has spotted a bear yet, but this early, very warm weather is sure to bring them out of their dens. I'm not worried. LaLa hikes faster than I do, so I figure they'll be full by the time I catch up.Tonight while eating our dinner, a tiny slate gray bird ate his dinner of little insects about one foot from us. I haven't seen 15 minutes of television in the past 21 days. This is so much better. Now several different birds are singing their night songs as it starts to get dark in my tent.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Birch Spring Tent Sites

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I packed up a wet tent after last night's rain. Just a little wet makes the tent heavier. The rain certainly agreed with the wild flowers. We hiked through carpets of Spring Beauty so thick they looked like snow.We have read in the shelter logs that some of the Bandana Bunch is just a few days ahead of us. Dreamcatcher stayed in Fontana to heal her toe, and then started hiking into the Smokies. It would be great to catch up with her or the others, but that would require some really big mile days.Tonight LaLa and I are staying in the Spence Field Shelter. It has a chain link fence across the front to keep the hikers safe from bears. The Forest Service is removing all of these fences, but this is one of the older shelters. The sign says, "Don't Feed the Humans."
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

There were 8 hikers in the shelter last night. We were snug in our sleeping bags, listening to coyotes yip and howl to each other. In the morning a hiker noticed that his stove was missing. After looking through all the gear and backpacks, he got down and looked under the shelter platform. There it was, way back. A hiking pole retrieved it and we were all surprised to see it had been thoroughly chewed! Something larger than a mouse had dragged the Whisperlight stove in its stuff sack under the sleeping platform. Oh, now I know what all that rustling noise was! I assumed it was outside the shelter and just ignored it.Today we hiked over our highest mountain yet. Rocky Top and Thunder Mountain at 5500 feet. I thought it would be easier, since we are already at elevation. It is never easy on the AT. LaLa and I were beat before we stopped at the shelter for lunch.Fortunately the Trail moderated after that, but not so much that we escaped being whipped when we pulled into the shelter. There are 10 hikers in the shelter tonight. LaLa and I are the last to arrive and are relegated to sleeping on the lower platform. Not a problem for me, since I don't think I could haul this tired, aching body up to the higher one.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I am not one to get all squealy about mice and related rodents, but it is very disturbing to try to sleep while listening to them rummaging around in my backpack; trying to identify by sound, exactly what valuable piece of equipment they are chewing. Several times during the night a fellow hiker directed his headlamp at my pack, trying to discourage the varmints. Lucky for me, morning light revealed no damage.Today's hike took us over a section called The Narrows, a thin width of Trail that crossed a saddle between two peaks. I could look left and right and see mountains rippling into the horizon. I felt like I was walking on the spine of the world.Saturday brings lots of activity to Smoky Mountain National Park. We met Ridge Runners, Trail Maintainers, a hiking club with lots of members, day hikers with Trail Magic, chocolate Easter eggs, yum! There were crowds of tourists going up the spiral ramp to the tower on Clingmans Dome. I thought I would pass on the tower, since I had seen all the spectacular views all the way up this highest point on all the AT. But at the last minute, I dropped my pack and scrambled up the slope to the paved Trail from the parking lot. LaLa didn't need to climb the tower, but I'm glad I did it. Just to say I did.It was a long way to Newfound Gap on a very hot day. LaLa and I had been hiking with Loon, and he had arranged for a friend to meet him. He graciously included us in his ride into Gatlinburg. Shirley had ice cold cokes for us, and nothing has ever tasted better in my life. She then drove us into Gatlinburg and used her cell phone to try to locate a clinic to treat LaLa¢s bad case of poison ivy. Nothing open on a Saturday, so LaLa had to go to the ER in the next town. Shirley and her husband drove her there, waited while she saw the doctor, and then drove her back to our hotel. They didn't get back to their own home until 2:30 AM.Their kindness overwhelms me.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Newfound Gap

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We are taking a zero day in Gatlinburg to recover from poison ivy, to rest aching feet and legs, to shower and eat real food. The 25 cent trolly gets us around town easily and even out to the Crafts and Artisans studios. I didn't find a dulcimer to send home, but I bought some beautiful handmade pottery. All the artwork made me miss my own studio and flooded my mind with inspiration. I know I will return from the Trail with renewed enthusiasm and fresh ideas for my own art.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Gatlinburg

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another 0 day is very frustrating, but LaLa and I are waiting out some wicked storms passing through. Hikers are straggling in today soaked and shivering, looking for a room with a hot shower. Unfortunately, this hiker hotel has no vacancy.Rat Pack is here, a young woman, going to the walk-in clinic to check out pain in her foot. She is walking exactly the same way I am. I thought it was just my advanced age, but she finds out she has a stress fracture and will be off the Trail for a week. Not good news and her diagnosis scares me. Better news is LaLa's poison ivy is very much improved.The sun came out in the late evening and we are anxious to get back to the Trail in the morning.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: few clouds

So cold and windy today, the front went through and we have a Canadian high to hike in. I have all my cold weather gear on, fleece hat, gloves, all layers. As I hike these ridges the wind rips across, bringing snow squalls.I would like to go out on the short trail to Charlie's Bunion, an outcropping of rock with great views, but the wind is too fierce for LaLa and me.It is amazing how different this side of the Smoky Mountain Park is. We are truly hiking along high ridge lines and saddles between mountains. Even the foliage is different. There are many more pine trees, and several hikers remark that it looks like the West or up North. We are too high up for many wild flowers, but I have seen a stick-like bush in bloom that looks like lace cap hydrangea. We arrive at Pecks Corner Shelter at about 4 o'clock and it is almost filled. I cook a very quick dinner of soup and hot chocolate. It is too cold to linger outside of our sleeping bags. More hikers come in and have to tent as the shelter is full. Some of the hikers build a large fire in the stone fireplace in the shelter. Nice ambiance, but it doesn't do anything to warm up this cold night in the Smoky Mountains.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Started out chilly this morning. I was anxious to get packed and get hiking. The sky is sharp, bristol blue, the color that contrasts so well with the deep green of the pine trees. The sun warms the air and we are in for a real treat today. At every vista and view, it looks like we can see 100 miles.There are 10 hikers in the shelter tonight. Glad its not so cold.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

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

It was very difficult to get moving this morning, even with my ration of ibuprofen washed down with camp coffee. The hike today was an almost 4000 foot descent out of Smokey Mountains National Park, and the pain on the side of my right foot competed with the pain in my ankle on the left foot. Whoever said you can't feel more than one source of pain at a time never hiked the Appalachian Trail!Coming down from the high ridges you walk into increasingly lush greenery and foliage. Water sources increase and I walked through several springs. Bird song filled the tops of the trees and frogs peeped in the wet drainages. I saw some fresh bear scat, but no bear.The Trail followed a paved road under an underpass for a major highway and I watched Baltimore Orioles fly into their nests of hanging mud, plastered onto the concrete braced roadway. The Trail then reentered the woods by means of an incredibly steep and long stone staircase, festooned with vigorous and lush poison ivy.The AT has often been called "the long green tunnel." Well, the last mile and a half to Standing Bear Hostel has more poison ivy growing in a green, treacherous tunnel than is necessary for the entire North American Continent's quotient for poison ivy. That vine of misery lapped at my boots and lower legs, whacked my hiking sticks, and threatened my face and neck as I ducked under its trailing tendrils and goose stepped, one foot in front of the other trying to avoid contact. My imagination can't picture a tube of Zanfel large enough to deal with this verdant crop gone wild. Ahead of me, LaLa is surely going nuts. We'll see what the next few days bring...Tonight I am having my first Hostel experience at Standing Bear. LaLa and I are sleeping in the bunkhouse with a number of other hikers. I took a hot, open-air shower and joined the others for a run to the truck stop convenience store for a burger and ice cream.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Pennsylvania
Miles today: 0.0

What an amazing journey I have had. I have hiked over 200 miles on the Appalachian Trail. I have met a variety of interesting people and made many new friends. I've re-introduced my sons to backpacking, with positive results! I have enjoyed being immersed in nature, away from the stresses of the "work world" with my husband. I have shared a camaraderie with a great hiking partner, LaLa, that I will always treasure, and hope to repeat. I have been rained on, snowed on, wind blown, sun burned, bug bitten, and inhaled and ingested clouds of gnats. The exhilaration I have felt on the tops of mountains exceeded the exhaustion I felt climbing them. I will not forget the views and vistas that stretched as far as I could see, and the sense of awe and privilege I experienced in simply being there.But now it is time to go home. I have a shuttle arranged from the hostel to the airport in Asheville. Sitting on the plane, waiting to see my family, I feel inspired, renewed and full of expectation and excitement for whatever adventure comes next. I feel so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to hike the Appalachian Trail, if only a short segment, for now.
Date: 2004-03-08
To: The American Dream
Miles today: 0.0

I am still amazed at the different reactions I get when I inform someone that I am planning to hike the Appalachian Trail. Everything from, "That's so cool" to "Why?" What surprises me the most is how many people believe the "American Dream" is, go to a good school, get a high paying job, get married, engulf yourself in a big mortgage, have the 2.2 kids along with a dog and cat (not necessarily in that order and give or take a few items). Shouldn't that "dream" be what ever you want it to be, not what society deems is the norm?I'll admit that I've lived the "Work for the weekend" life or what I tend to call the corporate life. However, I've always had the "dream" of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail since I was a child. I can remember when the seed was planted. I can still remember my dad telling me about a long distance hiking trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. If memory serves me correctly, it was during a hiking trip that we went on covering some miles of the Laurel Highland Hiking Trail in southwestern Pennsylvania. It was at that point that I remember thinking, I'd love to hike that. Of course what kid doesn't dream and have big aspirations?? Thus my, "American Dream" was born.It was 12 years ago that my dream of the Appalachian Trail was resurrected. I was on a ski trip to Tuckerman's ravine in New Hampshire. Which if you aren't familiar with Tuck's, it's a ravine off of Mount Washington. As we were loading up for the hike in at Pinkham Notch it was mentioned that the "AT" went through the parking lot. Soon after that myself and a few friends had planned a southbound Presidential traverse. Or in AT terms, a southbound hike from Pinkham Notch to Mizpah Hut, then down Crawford Path to Crawford Notch. Oh man, what an awesome trip. A few years later I found myself in Monson Maine, walking north through the Hundred Mile Wilderness (before the addition of a hostel in the middle).Over the recent years, I¢ve done day hikes, weekend hikes and some longer section hikes to fulfill my obsession with the AT. All the while, I was dreaming of being able to hike the entire trail.So it would seem that the seed was planted.
Date: 2004-03-09
To: The Tree bears fruit
Miles today: 0.0

I think it was about 3 years ago that I had planned a sabbatical from work to attempt a thru hike. That plan was thwarted with a promotion and alas I continued along within the corporate drudgery. As many people know, your job is never completely secure. The world of corporate mergers has finally knocked on my door. I'm currently in the process of being laid off from my present employer. So with a severance package, health insurance being covered during my severance period (and COBRA after that), the thoughts of a thru hike immediately danced in my head.So here it is, March 9th 2004. I hate what I do (I've been demoted due to some new corporate aligning), I hate getting up to drive into work and I know there is no future for me where I am currently. So yours truly is taking some time off work, then with some luck I'll be laid off and MY dream will come true. Soon I hope to stand atop Springer Mountain, GA looking at that first blaze and take that first step northbound. And with more luck, I'll be standing atop the northern terminus, Mount Katahdin or what the Indians called Pamola.So keep your arms and hands inside the ride until it comes to a complete stop. (The question now is, where will the ride stop?)
Date: 2004-03-11
To: The Hourglass
Miles today: 0.0

One of the simplest timing devices known is the hourglass. The ¢real¢ world is so complicated and so fast paced these days. Some simplicity is a welcomed change in my life at this moment.Fortunately and unfortunately the sands of the hourglass continue to flow for me. While I am so eager to head off to Springer, there is so much to do. While I¢m sure I¢ll get all of my ¢To do¢ list completed before leaving, it just seems like I¢ll never get my head above the water.The mail drop situation has been the most perplexing task I¢ve been dealing with. I know some hikers do without mail drops for the entire adventure. If it were not for my contacts and medication, I would limit the drops.   Since I do plan to go with contacts versus glasses and the wonderful script of naproxen I got from my doctor (bad knees), it appears I¢ll be doing a number of mail drops. Since I will be doing frequent mail drops, I plan to supplement my menu with some harder to find food items. A year or two ago I found a fantastic company called Enertia Trail Foods. Their website is http://www.trailfoods.com They have a great select of dehydrated meals, not freeze dried. The price is much cheaper than freeze dried. All of the meals are one pot and just add water and many you can make in the pouch. That makes for easy clean up. I have used these on several section hikes and I find them to be great. For now, most of the gear purchasing is complete, with only a few small items left to purchase. I¢ve got one order for Campmor this week, one for some food items and a trip to EMS for some boots. Seam sealing and waterproofing is another task to be completed before departure. Alas the list continues to grow the more I think about it.Well, the clock is going, tick, tick, tick¢¦ I should probably be working on getting the mail drops taken care of.
Date: 2004-03-16
To: The plan sprouts wings
Miles today: 0.0

First, I must say that Leigh Saint (Almanac ¢00) from HikerHostel.com has been wonderful in helping me plan how I¢m getting to Springer. I¢ve also read so many great things about her and Josh (Profile) in other hiker¢s journals. I can¢t wait to meet these wonderful people. Given what I know first hand and have read, I highly recommend their hostel.After exchanging a couple emails with Leigh, I¢ve got myself some space reserved and found myself making airline arrangements for my trip to Atlanta. So I¢m leaving Southwest PA the morning of Saturday, April 3rd. Later that afternoon, I¢ll be boarding the Atlanta subway (or MARTA) north to North Springs station. From there I¢ll be shuttled to the now famous Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega. So my plan has now sprouted wings which should transport me to GA.I still have loads of preparation work to get done, but things are slowly coming together. That is kind of scary since I depart in just 18 days. I did manage to get my food orders placed. I ordered a number of meals from Enertia Trail Foods. I also placed another order with Walton Feed as well. They are providing (for a fee of course) me with some bulk supplies and TVP to supplement my Lipton dinners. I do plan to buy some food, I¢d guess about 50 percent, along the trail.The last of my gear should arrive from Campmor tomorrow sometime. That should take care of all the gear I absolutely need prior to departure. I¢ll be able to pick up, along the way, anything that I forget. That includes a set of Waldies. There are no good outfitters near me and I hate to place a small online order for a set. So I¢ve decided to wait a few days or weeks to get my camp shoes. It will also lighten my pack a bit and give me some trail time to acclimate.I know there are many challenges to overcome, both before I leave and after I hit the trail. However, at the moment I¢m satisfied that my plans are starting to gel and soon I¢ll be airborne on a pilgrimage to Springer Mountain, GA as 1000¢s have done before me.Hopefully, I¢ll meet you out on the trail¢¦