morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Good Ole Rocky TopA steady wind blew through the night and the temperature dropped into the 30's. I made breakfast, packed up, and was on the trail by 9:10 AM.There was excitement at the shelter as Rocky Top Mountain was about six miles ahead. One could hear the song being sung by various hikers throughout the day. From Fontana Dam to Spence Field, which is just before the climb up Rocky Top, the trail is graded for horses and the going is relatively easy with the exception of some muddy trenches that develop on the wetter parts of the trail. For the climb up Rocky Top, things turned ugly, with steep climbs, rocky outcropping, and some precarious stretches. After 11.7 miles of trail today, I felt like I had walked 20. I finally made it to the shelter by 6 PM. Thankfully, the shelter was full, so I was allowed to tent.In spite of the exhausting day and rugged trail, there was much reward. The sun shown brightly and the sky was blue. I had a relaxing lunch while basking in the sun at Spence Field. The views from Rocky Top were spectacular. I also reached a new high on the trail when I summitted Thunder MountaIn at 5527 feet.Tonight, the stars are out on a clear sky, visible in such number that the constellations are difficult to recognize. I am weary but content.All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.-Albert Camus
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Happy April Fools Day!I spent another day straddling the NC/TN line. Thanks to the short mileage, I was able to appreciate the beauty of the day more fully. The first two days of hiking in the GSMNP were in leafless brown deciduous forests with groves of rhododendron and mountain laurel crowning the summits. Today, I passed into coniferous forests, complete with the smell of balsam at the highest elevations. The trail was spectacular, crossing high grassy balds and traversing knife-edge ridges that provided great views. I stopped often to take pictures. The great biologic diversity of the Smokies was evident when viewed from these lofy peaks: fingers of evergreen groves interlaced with the autumnal hardwood stands, northern slopes white with snow, a beautiful and awe-inspiring mosaic of color and texture.Deer are plentiful and graze near the shelters. As I was collecting water at the spring this evening, a doe ambled within 20 feet.The temperatures have warmed considerably after three days of sunshine. It must have been in the 70's today and I hiked in my long sleeve T-shirt. My hands got a bit sunburned. It seemed unusual to hike through two feet of snow at times with the weather so warm.Tomorrow I should cross over Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the A.T. It should be all down hill from there!Catch you down the trail...Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. -Albert Camus
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

Beauty and the BeastI set my alarm for 6 AM so I could get an early start on the conquest of Clingman 's Dome. I left the idyllic Double Springs Shelter by 8:10AM under clear skies. The trail and views were spectacular. I stopped often to take pictures, compelled by the beauty of the jagged peaks bathed in morning light. It took longer than expected to reach the spiral tower at the summit due to steep climbs, numerous blowdowns crossing the trail, and stretches of packed snow of up to three feet in depth. The reward was well worth it as the clear skies provided views of peaks as distant as Mt. Mitchell (tallest mountain in the east). Only thru-hikers were on the tower as the road to the summit is being repaved. It made the mountain feel even more isolated and wild.The scramble down the north, snow-covered face, pushed and tested my limits as a hiker. Rather than walk the trail, I slipped, slided, tumbled and post-holed (leg plunges knee-deep or worse into the compacted snow leaving a hole fit for a fence post) three to five feet above the trail. The few blazes were waist-high rather than the usual position of above eye-level. Head room was at a premium with branches raking face and pack. It seemed that the pace was reduced to less than a mile per hour. My socks started to get wet. They had stayed dry through the first five days of the odyssey when it rained constantly, but the deep snow and slush were too much for the gaiters and boots.To make a long, painful story short, I arrived at Newfound Gap at 4:30 PM after a harrowing day in hiker purgatory. The Gap was mobbed with tourists who had arrived in cars and could not begin to comprehend what I had just gone through. As I stood by the TN/NC state line sign, someone asked if they could shoulder my pack and use my hiking poles for a picture. Several people asked me how far I had walked. "Just over 200 miles" was my reply.You cannot acquire experience by making experiments. You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.-Albert Camus
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero in G-burgThis is my third zero day, but my first planned zero day. I stayed at the Grand Prix Motel, a great place that caters to hikers. I did the usual town chores, ate lots of food, took a couple of showers, and did my laundry.While in town, I got a call from Ray whom I met on a section hike last September. Ray, who lives about 40 miles away, met me for supper. Ray is an avid hiker and also a trail maintainer in the park. It sure was a special treat to see him! Thanks Ray, I enjoyed the meal and the fellowship! I hope to see you on the trail again soon.Tomorrow it's "back in the saddle again" as I head on down the trail. You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.-Albert Camus
Date: 2010-04-04
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Charlies Bunion and BeyondI shared a taxi to Newfound Gap and was back on the A.T. by 9:15 AM.A number of hikers were starting, including Sherlock, a house builder from England. I enjoyed conversing with him as we climbed out of the gap. We arrived at Icewater Spring Shelter in no time where he filled his bottles. A mile later, we were at Charlies Bunion which is a tenth of a mile off the trail. This is a rocky buttress with dramatic drop offs on the sides. We stopped for pictures and then headed on. The skies were clear, the temperatures comfortable, and the ridgeline trail dreamlike, frequently providing sweeping vistas of the rugged mountains. We paused to apppreciate the beauty. We arrived at our final destination by 4 pm. Initially the only occupants of the shelter, over the next few hours, we were joined by a crowd of thru-hikers. We were treated to Easter candy and Girl Scout cookies by two of the new arrivals. Another great day on the A.T.! Don`t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don`t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.-Albert Camus
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Done with the Snow!We were blessed with another beautiful day of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains. The trail and views remained spectacular as ever. There were some challenging climbs and long slogs through slush, ice, and snow, but as I rounded the spur of Mt. Guyet, the elevation steadily dropped and the season transformed to summer with temperatures in the 70's. I had finally left the snow behind.Tomorrow I leave the Smokies. The weather has made this a memorable experience.Catch you down the trail...A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.-Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

A Walk Into SpringI had a restless night because the fire died in the shelter fireplace and smoke and ash permeated the air. One of the spring break college students staying in the shelter set their phone alarm to go off at 5:45 AM. I awoke in the dark and prepared breakfast.I hiked out with On The Loose who started her adventure the day after me. She set a great pace that pulled us up the long climb to Mt. Cammerer before decending out of GSMNP. We had a great conversation along the way and the time passed quickly. We entered spring as the trail continued to descend, a profusion of wildflowers carpeting the forest floor. A beautiful tumbling creek paralelled the trail and entertained hikers with a series of waterfalls before joining the Pigeon River.The temperatures climbed to the mid-80's on the last mile to Standing Bear Hostel. The hostel seems more a hippy commune from the 1960's. The bunkhouse and store are self-serve, operating on the honor system. I took a shower,washed my clothes on a wash board, and hung them out to dry.Tomorrow it's off to Max Patch, one of the most famous balds on the trail. I hope the good weather holds.An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.-Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Journey to Max PatchMax Patch is one of the trail's landmarks-a huge bald with a 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and a great spot to view the stars. It is a popular place for the thru-hiker to pitch a tent, however, with the prevailing winds that rake the high bald, it can be difficult to get much sleep.So, it was with great anticipation that I set out from Standing Bear at 7:30 in the morning. It was a long pull out of Davenport Gap, but after while I reached the bald at the summit of Snowbird. On the way down, I happened upon a familiar face laboring up the mountain. Sure enough, it was Pirate, the host of the hostel at Mountain Crossings last year. I remembered the great spread that he put out for the hungry hikers and the raffles done to the theme of Ghostbusters. Pirate is a trail legend and a friend to the novice attempting a thru-hike. We chatted briefly, and I left him to resume his climb.Later in the afternoon, I came to the sign at the base of Max Patch. Perched on the top of the sign were four cans of Pepsi: yeah, trail magic! Now many things go through a hiker's mind while trudging up mountains on a hot day, but cans of soda are certainly a recurrent theme for many of us. A can of warm soda never tasted better!As I climbed the dome-shaped bald, I could see a couple covorting about in the distance. The woman was wearing a wedding gown. They appeared to be having a good time.As I reached the summit, I met another couple. It was Persistent who completed a northbound thru-hike in 2007 and her husband Eric. Hailing from Michigan, they were on a section hike together. Persistent was using a large professional digital SLR camera to take pictures on the bald. It turns out that she is a wedding photographer. She introduced herself to the happy newlyweds and went to work on a spur of the moment photo shoot. This type of thing could only occur on the A.T.A short while later, On the Loose arrived. She knew Persistent through Trail Journals and had corresponded via e-mails--another remarkable coincidence. We had a great time sitting in the grass, chatting, and soaking up the sun.At last, we reluctantly headed down the trail to cover the last two miles to the shelter. Another great day on the trail.As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. -Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

And Then the Rains CameThundershowers and rain were in the forecast. I packed up and headed down the trail by 9:30AM. I headed down the wrong trail at the first stream crossing, not an uncommon mistake made by hikers in the morning when the legs are revved up but the mind and eyes are not fully engaged. I figured out the problem within a quarter mile and back-tracked.An hour later, it began to sprinkle. It seemed too warm for rain pants, so I decided to hike in t-shirt and shorts. I zipped off my pant legs, but removal required taking off my gaiters and shoes. Why didn't I think of this earlier? At that point, it began raining in earnest. I quickly put the rain cover on my pack and headed down the trail. I planned to set a pace that would keep me warm. The rain was colder than expected with a cold wind starting to blow, so I charged up Walnut Mountain. I remained fairly comfortable (although soaked) until I reached the small bald at the summit where I was buffeted by strong winds. Thankfully, there was a shelter just past the crest where I could shed my wet shirt and put on a new shirt and a jacket. I ate some chocolate given by a trail angel family a few miles earlier and headed out into the storm.I descended into Kale Gap where twisted and downed pine trees and branches crisscrossed the trail giving the appearance that a tornado had just passed through--getting past the blowdowns was not easy and involved crossing over a barbed-wire fence twice.After getting past this obstacle, I began the long pull over Bluff Mountain. This climb seemed to go on forever and had many false summits before I finally reached the top. There were a number of large boulders that had the appearance of monuments or perhaps mausoleums. At any rate, the top of Bluff Mountain felt sacred and serene due to these silent stone giants.As I began the long descent, I could see that the brown moldering forest floor was being replaced by lush green undergrowth. The rain made the leaves glisten and all was emerald. The variety of wildflowers continued to line the trail. The yellow trillium was in bud. I can't wait to see them in full bloom. There were violets, tiny white flowers, and yellow flowers. I am glad that it isn't necessary to know their names to appreciate their beauty.Feeling the gravitational pull of a warm bed and real food, I ignored my fatigue, running over ridges and slopes until I finally reached Hot Springs. I burst through the door of the Pub were I planned to rent a room and left a one gallon puddle on the floor as the water streamed from my waterlogged self. Home at last! Generally speaking, a howling wilderness does not howl: it is the imagination of the traveler that does the howling. -Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Chillin' in Hot SpringTaking a zero to dry my boots and eat real food. Nice town.On the Loose's father took us out for a great dinner at the Iron Horse.We said goodbye to Persistent and Eric who head back to Michigan tomorrow.Catch you down the trail...Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. -Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Feel the MoonshineThe trail climbs steeply from the French Broad River to an overlook called Lover's Leap. I knew this was a short mileage day, so I paused often during the climb to appreciate the views of the boiling French Broad River and the town of Hot Springs below. There was a nice pine grove at the summit where I paused to call Ground Control as it was Saturday morning. I would be seeing her in a couple of weeks for our 25th wedding anniversary in Abingdon, VA.The next hundred or so miles of the trail passed though hills that probably produce the most moonshine in the solar system. Many of the folks that live in these hills still resent the presence of the "government trail". It is not infrequent to find survey markers identifying property boundaries on the treadway. Rusting barbed wire fences lining the edge of the trail are common. On this stretch, it is best not to wander off the A.T.The big pull of the day was Rich Mountain which sports a fire tower a couple of tenths of a mile from the trail. The views from the top were spectacular. I met several hikers from the region as well. One gentleman pointed out the surrounding mountains including Big Bald which I would also be going over within the next few days; it seemed very distant. He also mentioned that there were some local folks occupying the shelter to which I was headed. They were imbibing moonshine, an apparently, were feeling no pain.In spite of the relatively short miles to the shelter, the last mile or so was uphill and seemed to drag on forever. As advertised, there were three good old boys from Greenville, Tennessee at the shelter. They seemed nice enough and displayed interest in modern backpacking gear as the thru-hikers erected there tents on the hill just above the shelter. Joe offered me a plastic gatorade bottle filled with a clear liquid that he identified as the finest moonshine. It was made on an all-copper mobile still that was installed on a trailer, so it could be moved from barn to barn,thus avoiding apprehension by authorities. I declined the bottle, but accepted a sip. None of the men appeared blind or feeble-minded, so I suspected the spirits were free of methanol and lead. The moonshine tasted smooth and was instantly warming. Joe said that it was 180 proof. I can understand why folks go through so much to maintain their heritage in these hills and continue to distill this libation. Getting to know and understand the local people, cultures, and traditions is an integral part of this trail experience. Tasting moonshine is just an added bonus.Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.-Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Another Day at WorkAwakening to clear skies everyday was starting to have a surreal effect. Temperatures were also rising during the day, making it necessary to hike in summer attire.This was a long mileage day for this stage in the hike which also involved a long climb of over 2600 feet out of Allen Gap. I had to stop halfway through the climb at Little Laurel Shelter to refill my water bag. The work was not over after finally gaining the ridge since the trail zig-zagged amongst a fractured ridgeline of upthrust boulders and stone blocks. This would have been a fun scramble had I not been so hot and tired. The sun was starting to go down and I had great views of the Tennessee valleys to the west. This was the first time that I can remember on this hike that I could see an end to the seemingly endless blue peaks of the Appalachian Mountain Range. I had finally reached the western-most border.I arrived at the shelter as the sun was setting. I had supper under the stars after attending to the tent and water filtration. Also tenting at the shelter was a gruff man of few words who went by the name Jim and Grateful from Texas who was hiking with his yellow Labrador retriever, Jasper. I went to sleep on a bed of pine needles. If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. -Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

300 Miles!I was surprised to see On the Loose walk in as I was breaking camp this morning. She had walked nearly 20 miles to catch up after taking a zero day in Hot Springs with her dad. She cowboy camped (under the stars without a tent) in the dark a few miles short of the shelter and had little water. She headed down the trail a bit ahead of me.The first climb of the day was Big Butt Mountain which marked the 300 mile mark on the A.T. At the top of this mountain was a bald, and just past the bald, a huge flat-faced boulder cleaved at the midline with a vertical crack-perhaps this is how the mountain got its name.The profusion of wild flowers lining the trail continued. I pulled up a bloodroot flower and painted stripes on my forearm with the orange liquid that drips from the stem. Apparently the Native Americans used this as a paint pigment.I stopped at Flint Mountain Shelter for a break where I found Grateful, the big red-haired Texan and his dog Jasper. We wondered what happened to On the Loose who had left between as but had not been seen by either of us. Grateful thought she got lost. A bit after Grateful left, Loose showed up. It turns out she did take a wrong turn and hiked an extra mile or so. This is never fun on a long hot day.That night our party camped at Hogback Ridge Shelter. On the Loose was the only occupant of the shelter. Grateful and I set up our tents as usual. The water source was about a quarter of a mile away, a recurrent topic of discussion for the evening. Yet another day on the trail...In wilderness is the preservation of the world.-Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivy Gap Campsite 
Miles today: 15.8

Atop Big Bald MountainToday we got to hike over Big Bald Mountain. The bald at the top was just visible from the Rich Mountain fire tower several days before.As we broke camp, I noticed that Jasper was not too excited about eating his breakfast. He appeared well otherwise. When I arrived at Sam's Gap where I26 passed through, I noticed Grateful and Jasper waiting at the rest stop. It turned out that Jasper was vomiting and they needed to call for a shuttle to Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin to let Jasper recover. There were also trash containers at the rest stop where we dumped the last three days of refuse-anything to lighten the load that we carry.Loose and I then hiked together to Street Gap where we had lunch. Then she dropped me on the long pull up Big Bald. The top of Big Bald was spectacular as expected with amazing vistas. After taking some pictures, I headed down to the shelter on the far shoulder where I refilled my water bladder and read the shelter register which had a note from On the Loose. She planned to camp about 5 miles down the trail. I was hoping to camp in just two miles!I hiked quickly to Whistling Gap where I had planned to camp. However, this was occupied by a sketchy homeless man with his small dog. I chatted for a while and then headed down the trail in pursuit of On the Loose who, I suspected was similarly concerned about this individual. Crime on the trail tends to be rare, but there have been a few murders, usually committed by homeless and/or disturbed men.I hiked into dusk. I scanned the trail on either side looking for potential campsites. On occasion, I would let out a shrill whistle to see if Loose would answer. I thought she may sit tight thinking the whistle was from the homeless man. I heard the traffic of Spivy Gap, but no Loose. Just before getting to the road, I heard her call out: "iTrod!". Thankfully, she had found Absent (from California) camping at the gap. Absent had a nice little campfire going. Although close to the road, this was a great campsite in a pine grove with a pine needle carpet and a good water source close by. We had some fun talking about our experience with the homeless man and his little dog that I named "Toto". Tomorrow, we head into town: Erwin, TN!It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know. -Henry David ThoreauEducation is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. -Albert Einstein