morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-09
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Early breakfast, shuttle was not leaving until 9:30. Flying Turtle and I hitchhiked, got a ride in about 15 minutes. Stick and his harem got a ride quicker. Lots of tough ups, slippery, and cold in some places. Other hikers caught up with us quickly. The dynamic duo passed us as if we were standing still. Snow on the ground, about 25 at the shelter and expecting freezing temperatures tonight. We slept in tents beside the shelter. Today dedicated to Ken and Denise Cox.
Date: 2005-03-10
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Deep Gap (Franklin)
Miles today: 4.0

Good Morning to all This is the wife, at home, warm and toasty. I have enjoyed reading the updates as much, hopefully, as you have. But I need to add a personal comment. On Mar.6 Humpty Dumpty noted he had hiked with a young man who referred to himself as an "army brat". It is, to me, an offensive description of a child who did their best while being shuffled around the world, accepted school changes, sometimes twice a year, who in a lot of instances had to endure being without a Father and to this day would like to do it all over again. I add this comment because Humpty Dumpty and I and our daughter are "retired military" (a term that should mean the entire family). And to the young man, you must be A-ok because Humpty enjoyed his hike that particular day.Woke up with tent covered in snow, temperature low, and a couple of people sick. I had a couple of blisters on my hand due to stove mishap. We decided to go to Franklin. We got off at Deep Gap, walked four miles to Standing Indian Campground. Thank God Flying Turtle had his cell phone, which worked. He called Haven Hotel and they sent a shuttle out to get us. 4 of us sharing a room; Stick, Sci Fi, Flying Turtle and myself, with Spoonie Love, Rocky, and Cat Toy in the room next door. We went to an all you can eat resturant, pigged out and deciding what we are going to do tomorrow.
Date: 2005-03-11
From: Rock Gap (Franklin)

To: Wayah Gap (Franklin)
Miles today: 9.6

We woke up, and decided to slackpack. Slackpacking is hiking without your backpack. The hotel provided us with a free shuttle to points on the trail nearby. After watching the news, and learning of a winter storm watch in the mountains, we decided to stay here at the hotel and hike during the daytime and be back here at night. Found trail magic, just north of Wallace Gap and at Winding Stair Gap. (Sodas and Candy) There was snow in many places at the top of most mountains and the temperature was in the 30s. Today is dedicated to the Coffee Crowd at the Blue Iris.
Date: 2005-03-12
From: Wayah Gap (Franklin)

To: Wayah Bald (Franklin)
Miles today: 4.2

Today we shuttled to the top of Wayah Bald. There was about 5 inches of snow on the top. We hiked this section of trail southbound, which was all downhill. Those of us who were sick are feeling better. Tomorrow we will go back to Deep Gap to make up the miles that we have bypassed.
Date: 2005-03-13
From: Deep Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

Ron from Hikers Haven gave us a ride back to Standing Indian Campground.We walked the 4 miles back to Deep Gap to pick up the trail where we had left off before going into Franklin.Flying Turtle, Sticks, Spoonie and I takeing this route.( This 4 miles does not count!)We met several people who were taking the Standing Indian trail out. Cats Toy and Rocky and Sci- Fi hiked south rather than North. They did a 20+ mile day(slack-packing).We met them about noon. They cover amazing ground.They are certainly the "Dynamic Duo" and Sci Fi was not far behind. As I passed the little detour to Standing Indian I left a note in the snow to let Stick and Spoonie know they I had kept going rather than go to the hilltop for the view.Little did I know they had set out there thermorest on the hill and were enjoying the sunshine waiting for me . Eventualy someone headed south went to the hilltop and mentioned they had encountered me further along the trail. I wonder how long they would have waited there for me.It was thoughful of them to wait. I am often slower on the trail then they are. This was a warm and comfortable day for Hikeing. Todays hike is dedicated to the Edward F. Murphy. Author of the book Dak To.For researching a story that deserved to be told.
Date: 2005-03-14
From: Carter Gap

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Had an interesting evening at Carter Gap. There were 2 shelters there. An old one not in good shape and a newer one on other side of trail. Spoonie used her hammock for 1st time. She was happy with the comfort of it . It rained in the evening.We of course had to torment her a bit about dangers of setting up hammock too far from the shelter and the dantger of courious bears. She admitted to being a bit restless at first but slept well. We met a lady hiker, Data, a sweet lady who showed concern for everyone. She made some suggestions to Stick about coping with his cold. The 1st voice I heard in morning was Data informing us be careful when answering the call of nature as during the night people had moved into the sleeping platform under the shelter. Anticipated privacy was not. This was another comfortable day for hikeing. We arrived at Rock gap in the early afternoon. Flying Turtle called "Ron"(Mr Haney)from hiker haven.Flying Turtle has a cell phone server that is astonishing.He used his phone all over the trail. Never in a way to impose on the solitude of the mountains. Always to get assistance , or to call his folks. While waiting for the shuttle we met "Little Bear", she was waititng to pick up Data.Little Bear is a nice lady we had encountered at Neels Gap. She has some great trail stories and although is unable to hike at this time she is always there to lend a hand to other hikers. She truely represents that which is good in all hikers. We returned to Franklin for the night. We had expected the Dynamic Duo and Sci-Fi to be gone. They had encountered a problem getting back to the trail earlier enough to make the day worth while. They stayed another night.We all went to the Pizza Peddler for supper.( Lesson learned, try not to laugh with mouth full in a resteraunt full of people. It can be embarrassing!!)
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Wayah Bald (Franklin)

To: Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Ron from Hiker Haven shuttled us for the last time. He dropped us off at the top of Wayah Bald.( local legend has it that the Native Americans of this area climbed to the top of the Waah Bald to Gain Knowlege. The only thing we learned was it was friggin cold in early morning.) ROn from Hikers Haven was exceptionaly helpfful to us. He shuttled us all over Franklin while we were there. He is about as Hiker friendly as I could ever imagine anyone being.We saw him stop and offer shuttles to hikers in town who were staying at other hotels. He was a help to all hikers in town. Shortly before burning town Gap we saw a sign on trail telling of "Trail Magic" ahead on the trail. It was much more than any of us anticipated.In a clearing at Burning town Gap was a large red and white tent. It had a microwave, coolers, grill nd chairs. There were sodas, candy bars,things to cook in the microwave. A former hiker sets this up each year for a few days. All that trail magic energized us.Our milage for the day was 16.4 miles. WE got into the Rufus Morgan Shelter, some of us used tents and Hammocks. It was raining as we set up. I had a lot of condensation in my tent tonight. Stick is not feeing well, still having problems with a chest cold.
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: snow

We got up early to snow and rain. Hiked the .7 miles into Nantahala Outdoor Center(NOC).As we exited the woods we saw Gravity and Danger Pea in the parking lot.They had been a couple of days ahead of us. We all had a great breakfast in the resteraunt and did some shopping in the outfitter.I got a shirt to send home to Pat. (I had to roam around the area abit and walked in back door of the NOC shipping department and got them to ship the shirt for me.) A couple of our people picked up packages they had sent for the NOC to hold for them) Don't worry Spoonie I will not mention you changeing clothes in middle of sidewalk outside of NOC.The one picture we all missed was the shocked look of the guy pulling into the parking lot as you changed. Sticks attempted to leave NOC with the rest of us. However after walking a short distance he realized he was not up to hikeing today. He returned to NOC for a night to try to recuperate. It was along tough climb after the NOC.Rained most of the day. We spent the night at Sassafras Gap Shelter.
Date: 2005-03-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light snow

Another cool day. Lots of snow on ground in some areas. Encountered some people headed south. Day Hikers. Erratic PUDS(Pointless Ups and Downs) all day. As we all settled into the shelter this evening we heard a familiar voice comeing down the trail just before dark. It was "Sticks". He had woke this morning at NOC feeling better. He hiked 16+ miles to catch up with us. Was great to see him. We heard some children on the trail and Spoonie hollered"Got any Candy". A bunch of kids came running up to the shelter. One young boy in his teens wanted to know who had the candy. We told Spoonie she has got to stop baiting the young kids with promises of Candy.The lady chaperone with the kids came stumbling in telling us how happy she was to see other people nd signs of civilization. This was her first time camping and she was not thrilled with the experience with 10 teenagers. My lack of cooking ability on the trail was a subject od humor among fellow hikers. I often walk by my stove and say "tortolini con pana". I told fellow hikers when i walk by the stove at home and mention these words my wife makes my favorite meal appear. For some reson that does not work while hikeing.We were resting in our sleeping bags in the shelter and a young lady set up her stove and began to get her food ready to prepare.We all laughed as she pulled Tortolini from her food bag.It was good that it was dark in the shelter as she could not see me drooling. Alos this night the "Vanity Gang" was at the shelter. They are a group of Guys from Colby College who agreed to carry something heavy and useless on their Hike., One carries a statue, another carries a large book, which he can not read, sit on or burn, another carries a large machete like knife, which he can not use. Not all of the Items are easy to describe in the journal. They are nice young guys with a sence of humor.
Date: 2005-03-18
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 11.6

Got up early and had a long hike into Fontana Dam. It seemed as if it took forever to get to the Dam once we had seen it from the hillside. WE kept going on other side of mountains and looseing site of it. We came into the parking lot about 3( This was important as we needed to be at the post office before it closed at 4). There was soda machine there.Good thing we had some change( most hikers I met do not carry much change on the trail, they leave it as tips rather than carry the extra weight) We rented a cabin togather, Sticks, Gravity, Danger, Spoonie, Sci-Fi, Flying Turtle and I.We did laundry(only a couple of machines worked in the laundrymat)We went to supper in their resteraunt. NOt impressive, to say the least. We met other hikers here we had enountered at various times on the trail. One of the young guys we met here was havigna problem with poison oak. Although the plant is not in bloom he had got into some poison oak oils on a plant on the trail, got it in his eyes and throuat. He wa waiting transportation to return home. Finished on this excursion on the trail. We have decided to rest tomorrow. The ladies at the Outfitter at the Fontana Village were very very helpful. They were the only good point of the Village.I Would not reccommend it to any hikers.The list of things wrong with the cabin and the service is long.Wasp in the Cabin, bugs in the cabin, TV not working , Broken dishes in the cabinet, foldout bed would not foldout, cabin dirty, maitenance man sprayed bug spray on hikers expensive rain gear. ( I must say that the owners had promised to replace the raingear of hikers involved hope they were true to their word)
Date: 2005-03-19
From: NC28

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 1.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello everyone, This is being written by wife. I just finished talking with Humpty and he gives everyone a big hello. Thanks for all the emails and comments. Tonight the group is in Fontana Village. This will be the last stop before entering the Smoky Mt. The hostel in Fontana offers a bunk bed for $15 a person. But tonight the hostel was full, 20 people, Humpty and others are in a rental cabin which sleeps 8. Humpty took the rollaway bed which was broken and had to be replaced, thinking at this point a bedroom would have been a better choice, until the two occupants discovered a huge wasp nest and waited for management to come and remove it safely. The cabins are located in a seasonal recreational area that uses some of the original buildings that were constructed for the TVA workers back in 1946 for housing during the construction of the Fontana Dam. Fontana Dam is 480 ft. the highest in the eastern U.S. They have picked up their permits to enter the Great Smoky Mt.National Park and plan on starting out at first light. Tonight is italian buffet at a local restaurant. Taking inventory Humpty noted a missing candy bar in his outside pouch, a further search yielded extra weight he had been carrying in the form of a mouse. Who as it seems likes candy bars. Tonight was going to be the night to update his Journal. However, the internet access cost 25cents per minute so no one is taking advantage of the computer. Sorry everyone. The miles covered so far is 163. It will be into the weekend,(26) depending how the hiking goes, before Humpty has another chance at updating the journal himself.
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Fontana Dam

To: RUSSEL FIELD SHELTER
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Was a beautiful Spring day. Yesterday we hiked 1.4 miles. Just enough to say we had not taken a zero day.( It was a "nero, near zero day) This morning at the Dam we met numerous people starting to hike the Smokies. I picked up an extra Smoky Mountain Park permit. Decided since I had Opie's memory with me might as well get a permit for them also. So I have a Smokies permit to send to Brian when I am through hikeing in Bob Wooldridge's name.Hope he enjoys the hike. The day started pretty good with a long uphill.I did something to my ankle on the way up mountain. I figured I could walk it off. As the day progressed ankle and leg began to swell. About 1 1/2 miles before Mollies Ridge shelter I popped a pain pill. We had planned on stopping at Mollies Ridge Shelter.At the shelter I learned the group I had been hikeing with continued on as this shelter was full. By the time I hiked to Ruddel Field Shelter my leg had become a real problem.No longer a discomfort but a real pain." Better hikeing through chemistry" is not the ideal plan for a good hike. Had decided I should slow down and go without the medication.Had a restless nights sleep. The shelter was full. Lots of people hikeing on spring break.
Date: 2005-03-21
From: RUSSEL FIELD SHELTER

To: Derrick knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up this morning and still had some pain in the leg. Have decided to slow down a bit. Hikeing with meds is neither safe nor smart.Took my time and was in a lot of discomfort.Spoonie and Stick have continued on at a faster pace. I was very happy to see them do that. I would not want other people to change their hike for me. Not fair to them. Flying Turtle , Gravity and Danger Pea and I had a relaxing day Hikeing.They stayed at Derrick Knob shelter with me. Hope their hike plans not changed out of concern for me.The shelter was full tonight.There was a track team from an Indiana High School Hikeing on spring break.Mr Magoo also caught up with us , as well as Not Guilty and Raven. I had a big supper and went to sleep early. Todays Hike dedicated To Gus and Wilda. Congrats on the new grandkids, Mikaylah Grace and Sophia Morgan.Welcome to the family.
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Derrick knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Cool and rainy. Bad storms predicted for the afternoon and night. ( I never saw a radio while on the trail but several people used them with headphones to stay abreast of the weather.) We decided to go as far as Double Spring Gap Shelter today because of the weather. It also ment I had another easy day on my leg. Which is swollen each even when we stop. We were at the shelter about 1 and had a long afternoon there. Had quite a crowd. Some young guys built a fire in the fire placeto take off the chill.A lot people went past headed south.The High Scholl kids spent the night at the shelter.Another group came by, one carrying a fly rod.I had never thought of anyone hikeing here to fish. We had 18 people sleep in a shelter designed for 12.It promotes togatherness.Is better than anyone sleeping in tent dureing the terrible Thunder storm we had. Someone was reading the Hikers Companion, It mentioned in 1980's a couple of hikers were killed when this shelter was struck by lightning.There was a suggestion the book be burned if it had any more reassureing information like that. Had a restless uncomfortable night. Swelling did not go down on my leg. Todays hike is dedicated to all those brave men and women of our military serving throughout the world.
Date: 2005-03-23
From:  Double Springs Shelter

To: New Found Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: few clouds

This was a very difficult day.Got up early and started hikeing at daybreak.Wanted to get to Newfound Gap and hitch a ride to Gatlinburg.Gravity, Danger and Flying Turtle all wanted me to wake them up when i got up(Iam always up early).It was a tough trail, a lot of uphill.ON approach to Clingman's Dome we encountered , ice cold water rushing down the trail. As we got higher it turned to ice. On top Of Clingmans there was a couple of feet of snow. It was foggy. We could not see the Tower until we were under it. Someone joked it looked like the"mother ship comeing to get us".Comeing down Clingman's we had , ice then the cold water on the trail, was like walking in an icy stream. I think we all fell a few times.It was a treacherous hike.Just as we thought we were finished with the hills we came upon Mt Collins(6188').Flying Turtle and I hiked a bit with Mr Magoo and Not Guilty. They were trying to decide to go into Gatlinburg or bypass it.As we came out of the woods atNewfound Gap into a parking lot full of cars. Most of them takeing pictures of the sign marking the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.We noticed a group of hikers huddeled arounda jeep with a trailer.It was true trail magic. "Wildcat", had a trailer full of treats. Everything from pepperoni, cheese, sodas, beer, chips to candy.It took Flying Turtle and I about 15 minutes to catch a ride in a pick up. They said they would take us as far as the visitors center. We must have looked pityful in the back of the truck, soaked dirty, tired. They opened window and ask where we wanted to go in town. We told them the "grand prix" Hotel. That is were our other friends mentioned they would be staying.We met Danger and Gravity at the Hotel. WE decided to take Flying Turtle out to dinner for his birthday. We ate at The Park Grill. Wonderful food, GREAT salad bar. Hope Fling Turtle enjoyed it.We also found Sticks, Spoonie and Sci Fi in a nearby hotel. They had celebrated Spoonies birthday the night before.Sounded as if they had a good time.I am takeing a zero day tomorrow. I need to decide about continueing my hike or heading home.Not an easy decision!
Date: 2005-03-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Have decided to get off the trail for now. Will still plan on heading south from Katahdin in June. It is better to have my leg checked out than run the risk of messing it up more than I already have. Not an easy decision. I told Flying Turtle and Gravity and Danger this morning over breakfast. Did not want Turtle to take a zero day to wait for me. I spoke with Litlebear last night and she understood my decision. I had the privilege of shareing a great experience with some wonderful people,Gravity, Dangerpea, Sticks, Sci-Fi, Spoonie Love,Billand Cyn, Ken, Not Guilty , The Dynamic Duo,Raven,and many others . Flying Turtle was a great hikeing companion, he shared his knowlege, his food, his love of the trail and of life. His parents should be very proud of that young man. I look forward to seeing him later on his journey. I am not off trail. I am back in my preparation stages of 2nd part of my hike.I am however back in Maine prepareing for my south bound journey. . Pat, my wife, and I watch the weather channel each day and think of my friends still on the trail. While on the trail I wore a patch on my jacket that said " We remember Sgt Opie". I hope each of my hikeing companions remembers the patch if not me. Opie was a wonderful man who deserves to never be forgotten.
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Eastport, Maine

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

My wife, Pat, is driveing me to Gorham , NH today. I will meet Mike, an old army buddy, and we will start hikeing north. Spoke to the Rangers at Baxter State Park yesterday. Still snow on the mountain and it is closed. Nice to know my brother Marc and sister-in-law Tabatha and thier kids will be takeing care of my cat while I am away. Always good to have brothers you can depend on for anything. Am hopeing for good weather . We are just getting over 17 straight days of rain. Am hopeing Mike has designed a method to harness some of the blackflies for our climb in the mountains. I am as excited about hikeing again as little kid on Christmass Eve.
Date: 2004-11-30
To: Cheeseland
Miles today: 0.0

Wow. I'm actually hiking this trail! I've been annoying friends and family for years now, bet they were beginning to doubt me! My original plan was to thru-hike in 2003, right after I graduated college. I had the opportunity to work as a wilderness ranger in the Sierras.... how can you pass that up?? Then I was hooked and had to return for a second season of wilderness work. I recognize that I am crazy to take a season off to hike, when my job involved a lot of hiking, but such are the decisions I make (I am crazy). I hope to keep up with journal entries throughout my journey. I have learned a lot from reading other thru-hikers journals, and I would like to pass on my experience to perspective hikers or maybe just wanna-bees! If you know me personally, this may be the best way to keep track of me! Of course I've never owned a cell phone, and I usually am not near a house phone...so you are used to that by now. I was recently informed from my friend Kristina, that she lives "vicariously" through my adventures, as she claims she is "deskbound." Well here's you chance to "virtually" sneak in a hike with me at work!!
Date: 2004-12-01
To: Cheeseland
Miles today: 0.0

I will start my hike some time in February. It will likely be early February, as I am fired up, anxious, and ready to go! I realize I'll be starting in winter conditions, but that's part of the experience. I am spending the weeks before my hike in Wisconsin, so weather in Georgia will still be warmer! I have the next few months to get ready for the long walk. I can't help but to want the winter to pass quickly! I hate when I get in the mind frame of waiting for time to pass, but that is how it is...I'm ready for this!"Stalk the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock...a universe. This is how you spend the afternoon, and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow afternoon. SPEND THE AFTERNOON. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU."Annie Dillard