morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Painter Branch

To: MP 255.5
Miles today: 15.3

Day 23, 15.3 miles, 8:15 am-6 pm   I am soul tested and running ragged. I had trouble sleeping last night. I heard alot of owls, and trees falling down in the woods because of saturated soil. Woke to dark grey skies that never lightened. A damp and cold morning was had for the rest of the climb up Snowbird Mountain. I couldn't stomach putting on my wet sneakers that just won't dry, so I hiked the 1st 5 miles in my Tevas.    Walked through rain, fog and whiteout over the open summit of Snowbird. We made good time to Groundhog Creek Shelter, which gave us time for a coffee break that warmed me up and made me feel a bit better. We chatted with Infinity, who we leapfrogged with for the rest of the day. She is very nice. She told us that she had gotten no sleep at SBH because of loud drunk people who were up all night. I am so glad we didn't pay to stay there.    The terrain was mild for Snowbird, but there were steep ups to Max Patch. I was at least grateful for silent woods, and by this time there was no rain, but permanent 6 o'clock prevails and ultimately makes me troubled and depressed.    I need to see the sun more than once a week.    After whiteout on Max Patch, me and Matt became chilled, and we couldn't shake it. We filled up on water and made dinner at Roaring Fork Shelter, where everyone from SBH was starting to show up. Weird being inundated with people after hiking mostly alone, in dark & quiet wood, for the better part of the day. Anyway, we left there at 5:15 w/"tuna casserole" (tuna packet with Lipton alfredo) in our bellies. We hiked quickly down the trail until we found a clearing, which is located in no paticular place. We left mostly to warm up, even with hot dinner in me I was freezing.    It was a quiet but very mentally challenging day. I am relieved to be in the tent, with the day over and done. Hopefully I will be able to warm up.    I am wearing out. I need a nice day. Cold, damp, wet, grey--that can only keep me in good spirits for so long. Matt said that he was cold all day which concerns me, as he is usually a furnace who is too hot all the time. I think he has lost too much weight and doesn't have enough to keep warm. I think that we will have to zero in Hot Springs to replenish a bit. I doubt we'll get into Elmers with all the people around, but we'll get what we can. * * *Good story about Infinity--the dark days and bad weather were bringing her down, just like it did to us. Max Patch was supposed to have great views, which we missed out on, but she decided that she was getting a view! That's it! She stopped early in the day, before Max Patch, and camped by herself in the woods. She got her views the next day. At the shelter, several people were talking--"there's someone just CAMPED by themselved in the WOODS!!" Come on, people! Anyway, I figured it was her--and it was.
Date: 2009-04-16
From: MP 255.5

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

Day 24, 13.1 miles, 9 am - 5 pm   It took me a long time to finally warm up last night, so I was reluctant to leave my sleeping bag this morning. Matt went out first and told me that he could see the sun coming up, and it was true. Amazing. Sunlight. After that getting ready wasn't so bad, and we gulped down breakfast and left.    The day just got progressively better and better, so beautiful. We hiked 3 miles over Walnut Mountain and took our coffee break at the shelter. After an hour, there was a descent that took awhile but was gorgeous, deep blue skies and the mountainsides are completely covered in spring beauties. I love this time of year, when the forest floor is green and blooming before the leaves have come out. I think I like it better than fall colors.    We walked steady and took a lot of breaks, and generally had a great day. I feel alot better than I did yesterday. I really needed this. Sometimes I just looked around, and listened.    Dry trail, sun, a good bar of chocolate (94% Dark Dagoba) and finally some benign weather made today great. Deer Park Shelter is situated in a lovely area, with tall pines, good tenting, and great company: Infinity, Sunseeker, and Ironman who has started a fire. Black Kat and Lost Acadian just walked in, too.    Hot Springs tomorrow! We have anxiety about where we are going to stay but it should work out. Of all things I am fantasizing about--laundry! Admittedly 10 days sans shower and laundry is awhile, especially with all the rain and mud we've walked thorough. Also, my 'hiker appetite' has arrived. I am both impressed and worried about my new concave stomach. I am starting to daydream about food, and our meals only satiate me for an hour before I'm hungry again. Me and Matt ate a 16 oz jar of peanut better in only 2 days. I figured that by 11 am in the morning we are already walking in a caloric deficit. That won't happen tomorrow! PS--My favorite part of the day was between here and Garenflo Gap. I walked in front, for once, up a graded climb, and I just felt peaceful and in tune. Sometimes I looked out at the surrounding ridgelines, or the pine trees, or the trail in front of me. Or, sometimes my mind just wandered. Either way, a nice afternoon walk where I felt really connected.* * *From Matt's journal--I keep thinking about how the woods that the AT runs through are very much a garden. Some places really show it. The thing about the trail that has most interested me is the journey through history up and down the Appalachian Mountains. Human hands have laid on most areas the trail goes through, and I think where nature and people interact, a garden is born. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes intentional, but it is a garden.
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 25, 3.2 miles, 7:30 - 9 am   We woke to another beautiful day. Broke camp, ate the last of our provisions, and started the rest of the descent into Hot Springs. By 9 we were walking through town and getting a table at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Breakfast first, lodging second. It was nice to eat hot food and actually get filled up.    Of course--Elmer's was full. I was disappointed, and so were Infinity and Sunseeker. We were very much looking forward to staying there. Oh well. We paid for 2 nights at the hotel next door instead. In the end I was happy enough to have somewhere to stay. We did laundry--I washed everything we have twice, including our raingear, and then we settled into an afternoon of eating--I've already eating like 5,000 calories--and drinking Yuengling.    Lots of hikers around, lots of good people, etc. Others remain nameless. I think we'll zero tomorrow despite rain coming the day after that. I hate to not hike on a day that isn't rainy.
Date: 2009-04-18
From: Hot Springs, NC

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

Day 26, Zero Day Hot Springs   I slept for 12 rock solid hours last night, 7:30-7:30. It was awesome. I awoke feeling still a bit conflicted about zeroing today, but that soon was forgotten as the day got better and better!    We had bananas and avocados, then we went for a second breakfast with great coffee, which made me happy. Then we went to their cute little library, and after we started walking around town. It is so pretty. The French Broad River runs close, along with several tributaries, rail lines, older/well maintained houses, mountain views, and lots of colorful blooming trees and flowers. I took a long hot soak at the resort, which was wonderful and only cost $12. It's nice how unsore I actually am. It was such a perfectly warm spring day for 'playing tourist' as Matt says around town.    We did end up spending $45 at the outfitters-ouch. Oh well. You think your stuff will last forever but it doesn't. I weighed myself again at the outfitters and already I've gained 2#. Plowing through a bag of chips and salsa, 3 klondike bars, 3 snickers ice creams, and 2 beers will add to the chub, I'm sure.    Weather channel says 4 more days of rain, which I'm not excited about, but I'm not going to quit over it or anything. We'll probably slog through viewless, dense fog, drenched, accumulating blisters and not having fun until the sun comes out again. Then we'll have 7 days until we get to Virginia. Wow! Once we get there I'll be able to feel like we're getting somewhere. We've walked 280 miles in 24 days and now I feel like we can pick up the pace a bit.    Anyway, Hot Springs really was the break I was hoping for. Today has really made me feel like I'm on vacation, which mentally is great. It's easy to turn thruhiking into a job, which, in at then end of the day, it is. It was nice to walk around without a pack, take in the sights, and enjoy the day with no agenda or different place to be. Prety soon we are heading out for dinner. As long as we don't order any beer our bill should be fine. There is a hiker feed going on a the campground in town, but being veggies we'll skip.    My stuff is scattered all over the room. I think I need to get organized here!    I found out from Sunseeker that Infinity left the trail today. That's too bad, I really liked her.
Date: 2009-04-19
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Log Cabin Drive/Hemlock Hollow Farm
Miles today: 16.3

Day 27, 16.3 miles, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm   I slept well again, but I awoke to plumbing sounds eminating from the wall that made me think I was at a construction site. I don't regret staying here, but I don't think I would choose to again.    Backing up--Matt & I continued to have a good night. We ate dinner at the Iron Horse Tavern, which is a really nice place, and we had a great dinner-they had fantastic spinach artichoke dip. That restaurant is also an inn, it would be fun to stay there since it's in a renovated historical building.    When we got back to the room, Matt watched ESPN for awhile and I fell asleep early, until my rude awakening (which also happened yesterday morning. I think they get air in their pipes.)   We finished packing, listened to the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, and we off. I must admit I was a little reluctant to leave. Clouds rolled back in and I knew it was going to start raining. And, I will never dislike hot water, warm food, and comedy central.    There was a graded climb away from the river, which good views out into town, and 1/2 way up the climb it started to rain. Initially it wasn't so bad, it was a light rain, we were not yet enveloped in fog, and there were wild irises and bloodroot lining the trail.    Then we were onto higher elevation, and we went back into dense fog and clouds, with heavier rainfall. The day started warmish, so I wore only my rain jacket, but I sweated through my layers, making me soaking wet and cold by the time we got to Big Spring Shelter at 1:15 p to cook lunch. I was in a bad mood. I am so so tired of being cold and wet it's not funny. And knowing the weather isn't going to clear out soon didn't improve my outlook.    So, I had my hopes of ended up at this hostel for the night. Matt said it sounded like fun, and that he's never walked from one indoor space to another, so we did it. I am so happy that we are here. It's a cute little farm with laying hens and friendly dogs, strawberry patches, and streams cutting through the property. We have a cozy, warm cabin-room to ourselves. The room has an afghan and quilt, it's downright homey! It's $20 per bunk for $48 for a cabin, so it was a no brainer for me to spend the extra $8. I've showered, eaten a sugar-bomb for dessert, and now I am warm and relaxed with my feet up. I wanted a dry place to journal and read, and then have coffee with my breakfast, which is exactly what I'm going to do!
Date: 2009-04-20
From: Log Cabin Drive/Hemlock Hollow Farm

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Day 28, 16 miles, 9:15 am - 5:45 pm   Oh man, I don't regret last night one bit. I slept warm and well, and it absolutely poured all night long. I am through with trying to tent through everything that rolls through. The roosters woke me up early but no matter. We ate a long, slow breakfast with coffee before being the last shuttled back to the trail.    The rain slowed to a drizzle, and by the time we were headed up the first climb, it started to hold off. Most importantly, it stopped raining when we were walking up an exposed, rocky ridgeclimb. We could actually see some views! It was fun.    Until the afternoon. Then the rain and fog came again. Stupid rain. We booked the last five miles on a woods road and through old pastures. There were old, dead pines linng the trail. Spooky. Finally we reached the shelter, which was at a lower elevation, so the rain let up a bit.    Now we are tented behind the shelter on a tilty site. It is going to be rainy and cold tonight, but I am glad to be back in my sleeping bag again. * * *Lucky day. That was a great ridgewalk. On the right the terrain is a flat valley, and you can see towns and roads in the distance. On the left, there is forest land, which is mountainous and unbroken. For once we could see it.
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Whistling Gap
Miles today: 22.3

Day 29, 22.3 miles, 7:30 am - 7:15 pm   Long day, and I'm too tired to write much. This morning we left in grey skies that gave us frustruating rain as we climbed up a green glade paralleling a mountain stream. It was pretty but I had a temper tantrum.    Eventually, the skies did clear and we walked, mostly ascending to Big Bald Mountain. Finally, a real view that was all worth the hard work. The trail was beautiful, and covered in trout lily, spring beauties, and trillium. Green and white mountainsides everywhere. Low Gap had a nice spring and campsite. I wish we could have camped there. Sometimes I hate thruhiking. No matter what anyone says, there are always miles to do. I love to take pics, look around, and absorb a feel of a place and get to know it, but I am constantly passing along at 2 mph.    At 5 we had a fast dinner at the shelter and we loaded up on water. It started to snow. It was surreal. We walked down into the gap, where the snow tapered off and we set up camp next to Josey. * * *Our longest day! And mostly uphill! We walked steadily all day, and took a short break every 2 hours regardless of where we were. We really lucked out on the balds that day. We got some panoramic views, and I could see storm clouds on other ridges but none on ours. I remember it was cold, but it was great to not be in the fog, so we didn't care.
Date: 2009-04-22
From: Whistling Gap

To: River Road/Erwin, TN
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 30, 13.9 miles, 7:30 am - 2:30 pm   Matt woke me up and told me the tent was covered in snow and it was true. I looked out at there was about an inch of snow coating everything. The air was freezing but fresh and smelling of snow. We broke camp quickly, it was too windy and cold to stay there long. I didn't even change my clothes, I just threw my raingear over my sleeping clothes and layers and started hiking.    It was a beautiful morning, the sun and sky were wintery pastel, and the hemlocks, laurels, and mountainsides were coated in a sticky white layer. It was gorgeous but cold. We had to hike out to a semi-protected outcropping to eat our breakfast. My face was numb and my hands were stinging.    The day eventually warmed up and cleared out. The trail was lovely today. We passed beautiful mountain streams and really big trees and open forest. We pushed through 14 miles, and admittedly by the descent into the valley I was daydreaming a bit, but it was still nice.    Luckily today there wasn't much climbing today because I was just useless. I didn't feel tired, exactily, but at any hint of ascent my brain would turn off all nerves connected to my legs. I basically had to crawl up and drag my ass behind me. Well maybe I'm exaggerating a little. We pushed through this section in 4 days instead of 5 like we planned, and I think it had caught up to me.    Anyway, we walked into the Nolichucky Hostel at 2:30. I was paralyzed as to what to do because Erwin is really spread out, and supposedly not easy to hitch around. The hostel is already busy and I didn't want to listen to chatter and drunk here people especially since - is here and he kept everyone up at the last 2 hostels. So, we quickly sorted through our maildrop and then set off down the road toward town, which Patrick from the hostel drove up and gave us a ride. He dropped us at this no frills but fair rate hotel in town, and it is next to a laundry, grocery store, and short-order grill. The shower in this room is hot and had great water pressure, so I got to take a heavenly shower and I'm happy. And I'm filled with junk food.    We're only 4 days from Hot Springs but already it feels good to take a break and put my feet up. Luckily Erwin isn't so great that I'm tempted to zero here. PS--Poor Matt, at 10:30 pm last night, I had a nightmare, complete with screaming and thrashing. He grabbed me to wake me up and prevent me from knocking the tent down, and it made me scream even more until I woke up. I felt bad. Luckily Josey said he didn't hear anything, or else he'd never camp with us again!
Date: 2009-04-23
From: River Road/Erwin, TN

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 31, 12.1 miles, 12 noon - 6:30 pm   I had a good morning. I layed in bed and ate breakfast and read. I slowly started getting ready at 9:15. I chatted with Tinman and Gaspard, who came in this morning. They gave me a beer, and then Matt and I checked out a little before 11.    The sky was blue. It is so nice to, for once, leave town in good weather. 1st things 1st, though--pizza/salad buffet. Anemic vegetables and bland pizza, but the waitress was nice. We had lunch with Jay who we found in town. Funny that the veggies sit in the corner together!    We hit the road and immediately got a hitch with a nice but really drunk guy. He drove really slow and drifted into the opposite lane. His truck was so old that the shift was on the column, I don't think I've ever even seen that before. He was a little hard to understand, his speech was slurry, but he told us a long story about a "big woman" he played pool and drank with in Gary, Indiana.    We survived the ride in one piece and the trail greeted us with sun, warmth, and a graded climb. Huge trees, hemlocks lit by sun, fair dry trail, and a lovely stream that we passed many times on the way up the ridge. I wanted to take a dip already but I put some moleskin on a blister and I didn't want my new application to get wet.    We walked slowly up the ridge in the heat. Yesterday morning it was barely 20 degrees and now it's over 80. Crazy. My pack is hugely resupplied and weighs damn near 30#. I was happy for warmth but a 60 degree temperature change in one day is alot. I haven't hiked in 80 degree weather once yet on this trip and I did feel a little lightheaded. Combine that with a full belly from lunch and I was queasy but it passed by evening. It's nice to walk and not be worried or scared about the weather. Good day to walk.    Most people from town today stopped at the Beauty Spot, which is a big open bald with good views, but we pushed on to Deep Gap, which has a good boxed spring. We're cowboy camped kind of close to a USFS road, but there is another pair tented here, so I don't feel weird about it. The blackflies are out but it is getting dark, so they should disappear soon. It's quiet and the wind is still. It's strange but nice to be out in the open.
Date: 2009-04-24
From: Deep Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 32, 14.1 miles, 7:45 am - 3:45 pm   I am pretty tired today, the heat wiped me out. I am happy that it's not raining, but I am not used to the warmer temps yet. The sun was out all day long, and the leaves are not out on the trees.    We had a beautiful starlit night at our comfy and soft tentsite. I could hear the train running through Erwin and it was comforting. I never thought I would like that sound, but I guess it reminds me of Indiana.    There was lovely spruce forest on Unaka Mountain, it was dark and different. Flowers are out everywhere, wood anemone, trout lily, spring beauty, and colorful violets. Everything smells good.    The 6 miles after our break at Iron Mountain Road seemingly took forever. I had a headache and I needed many breaks.    We are set up under a big tree behind the shelter. We have a view of the mountain range, and the mountainside is covered in yellow trout lilies. We were going to sleep out, but a black anvil settled on the mountain, and we could see lightening and hear thunder. Just in case.    We talked with Josey, who is moving on, and Motor, Bunyan, Freeze, and Ironman showed up in the meantime. What a good group.
Date: 2009-04-25
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 33, 13 miles, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm   Warm night and beautiful morning. We took our time leaving camp because we didn't have a long day in mind. We had breakfast and coffee while sitting on the tyvek, looking out at the ridge. We were one of the last to leave the shelter.    It was a happy warm day with flowers everywhere. The forest was dark green and not too hot today. The climb up Roan Mountain was long and reminiscent of Clingman's. The dark and fragrant spruce forest was nice on a warm sunny day, and the tread was great--no snow, ice, and mud like in the Smokies. Tough climb for me, but the forest was so beautiful that the only "bad" thing was my own exhaustion.    We took a million breaks and a million pictures, and the walk through Roan Mountain State Park up the balds was pretty cool. The open views made me feel like we've gotten some good luck--even though we stuck in a 1/2 hour thunder and hail storm!! I think this year we need to get rained on EVERY DAY.    Anyway, we made our slow way to a converted barn/shelter, after passing a historic trail, the Revolutionary War trail. This shelter had a fantastic view of the gap and valley--supposedly they (whoever 'they' are) are going to develop this valley in the coming years, so Matt and I wanted to sleep in the shelter so we could look out as long as we wanted. It is really loud here, for once there are more women than men! One of them almost set Matt's sleeping bag on fire. Good Lord. I think we will get past most of them tomorrow. They are all talking about some buffet that they want to go to--we are skipping.    So now--set up in my sleeping bag, facing toward the valley view, sky fading into dark, wind is mellow and sweet coming through the gap. I guess today we are pretty lucky.