morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-22
From: Yellow Creek Gap

To: Fontana Dam Visitor Center
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Wet Day! It was supposed to rain last night but it didn¢t. It was forecasted severe thunderstorms this afternoon. It did! I started out from the Hike Inn at Yellow Creek Gap in perfect sunshine. Got to the Cable Gap Shelter to find it deserted as usual. The log book totally filled up and some smoke wisping from the fire pit. As I was leaving, I met Moss, one of the three mice. We hiked together for most of the day. I enjoyed his knowledge of the local flowers and vines. He taught me about a vine that is only pollinated by a single moth, and some of the vegetation that I have been photographing ends up it¢s a partial parasite. Grows off the roots of trees, yet photosynthysizes. Anyway, it started to rain. I had to put my camera away for a while. Caught up to Chilly and a few other hikers. We started to run as the rain came down harder and harder. When I reached Hwy 28, I met up with Graceful and Buzzsaw. Moss, Chad and Chilly and Nate were all waiting at the restrooms. Which by the way were leaking very badly! Chilly and I caught the Fontana Village Shuttle and I left my dog behind while I went back to do the last mile or so! I saw no reason whatsoever for the hike up and over a viewless knob and then along the road to the Visitor¢s Center. It was closed! So I drove into Fontana Village. That was a good choice. Got to buy some postcard stamps, postcards, a wildflower book and a snickers icecream. Then I checked out the Outdoor Center. Signed the logbook, bought a sticker and sat on the porch in a rocking chair and brushed out my soggy doggy! They closed at 5 so I went down to the laundry and did a load. Even put my pack in the dryer for a few minutes to dry it out! Ate dinner at the Peppercorn Restaurant. Wonderful yellowtail snapper! Took photos of the hikers. Taz and Baloo are back from hospital with meds. I¢m watching the lightning over the dam right now and trying to decide if its smart to start out tomorrow in the Smokies with snow forcasted! I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-04-23
From: Fontana Dam Visitor Center

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

I am doing it in the Smokies. Yes, that¢s right, I made it to the Great Smokey Mountains. So far, they¢re not much different than the other mountains, just higher. Took photos of RAJ as he crossed Fontana Dam and he took one of me. He hikes so fast, I could barely see him as he started up the trail. I had to go back and get my map, then I started climbing again. The trail was great though and it is graded much better than the previous climbs have been. There was a hint of snow, though it was more like mini hail and the wind was blowing. I met a section hiker, Alcorn?, who told me I had to get my photo at the Shuckstack tower. So I hiked up there. No view whatsoever. Slipped a couple times on the ice coming down. Passed Icebreak and Graceful going the opposite way. Graceful is going to have to climb this hill again! Icebreak was doing a flip-flop. So, I finally get to the Shelter. I swear, Smokies miles are longer than regular miles. Buzzsaw and RAJ are there, as well as the ridgerunner, greybeard. I cooked my pasta primavera and shared some of the hot water with Buzzsaw. Climbed up on the top rack of shelter and climbed in my sleeping bag. Ahh. Warm. The rest of the ¢Rocky Top¢ group drifted in one by one. Nate, Chad, Moss, Jenny, and Erin, Sherlock and Bjorn, Mild Bill, and Paul. I watched as they got water, cooked dinner, started a fire, and then someone saw 2 deer. I begged RAJ to get a photo since I was all warm in my bag. He said you can¢t get photos of things you didn¢t see yourself, but he obliged me and got a distant shot. Anyways, I fnally had to get out of my bag and make a toilet trip, and would you know it? I¢m crouched down in the rhododendron and not 10 feet away here come the two deer! They don¢t even know I¢m there! They¢re beautiful! And I¢m caught with my pants down and no camera! Ughh! And so it goes. Just as it was getting dark, snow started sticking on the ground. It¢s going to be a cold one! Chad passed out earplugs and they were very useful! Slept right through all the snoring, mice, and whateverelse!Smokies inventory: about 28lbs plus what was in my pockets.Backpack: Vaude Triton 50 (with broken top zipper)Sleeping bag: Slumberjack Pacific Crest zero degree polyester fillBivy sack: LL Bean gortex top with netting.Sleeping pad: Long Z-restJacket: Northface down with hood, fleece gloves, and fleece balaclavaRaingear: Black/Red parka with front pocket, blue nylon pants, Red OR rainhat, Long black nylon poncho, grocery sacks.Clothing: Black Northface pants, Columbia Rafter¢s longsleeve shirt, 3 pr smart wool socks with nylon knee hi¢s. Long johns.Cooking: .9 liter pot with lid and cozy, bowl with cozy, tinman stove, lighter, pot handle, windscreen, mapdanna. Cabella¢s bladder and Nalgene bottle.Food: 4 freeze dried meals, assorted candy bars, jellybeans, hot cocoa, oatmeal.Misc: Toilet paper, wet wipes, permit, page from data book, map, phone, ham radio, petzl headlamp, first aid kit, camera, cards, and batteries. Pocketknife, lipscreen, keys.
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

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

I am doing it in the SNOW! Wow, this is cool. Cold actually, my waterhose is froze, it¢s 28 or below, but I¢m singing a happy song. Marylou, this one¢s for you, Woo hoo, Woo hoo hoo, yes, people do stupid things. I put grocery bags over my socks and put on my cold stiff shoes. Packed up my things and was out of there before anyone else stirred. Or almost anyways, it was early! But so BEAUTIFUL. I took so many photos of the snow, it¢s icy forms on the branches, the icicles in the streams, everything! I saw one hiker southbound. His comment was ¢April Snowers!¢ At the next shelter, there was a couple looked like they would be there for a while. They were out of cigarettes and not quite out of bed yet! Two others had left ahead of me. I followed their footprints all day, but never met up. On top of Rocky Top, It was just starting to clear so I could watch the sun play across the hills. I wrote my name in the snow on top the rock and took my own photos. It was a quite solitude. I tried to see where I had walked, but without luck. All the hills look the same to me. So, off down the trail to follow the footsteps ahead of me. RAJ passed me about a mile from Derrick Knob, but eventually, all of the same crew was at Derrick Knob that we had the night before. I grabbed a lower bunk tonight, thought it would be different. It was. Someone above spilled their water or fuel, not sure which on Paul, beside me. Then Buzzsaw kept moving around and dust fell through the boards on me. So, I guess, top bunks have advantages!
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Indian Gap
Miles today: 16.3

I¢m doing it in the MUD! Yes, it was very crisp this morning, but by afternoon, it was mostly mud and slush! Started out early again, but it wasn¢t but a couple miles and I was passed by RAJ and Nate. Chad caught up to me at the tower on Clingman¢s Dome. I had wore holes in my grocery bags, and my feet were soaked. The sides are already ripping out of my shoes. I made it past the 200 mile mark today, but that means 10 pairs of shoes at this rate! Ouch! So it was mostly an uphill day, with another false summit just before Clingman¢s. Those are so disappointing. Then I hiked on down to Indian Gap. Apparently, there had been a trail angel there, and they left me a bunch of grapes. They were awesome. This was the longest day yet and I was tired. My feet were soaked. And I was starving. I waited a few minutes for Chad at Newfoundland Gap and then gave him a ride into Gatlinburg. Got a motel, showered, and ate KFC, and then tried to catch up my bills and journal! The internet connection over my cell phone is so slow, I kept falling asleep, so I crashed.
Date: 2005-04-26
From: Indian Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 1.7
Weather: light rain

Oh, that soft bed felt so good, I didn¢t want to get up. Finished up my journals and banking and then stopped by the Happy Hiker outfitters to order some new shoes. Lucky for me, they carried Montrails and they were more than happy to order me a new pair of Hurricane Ridge Runners and will have them shipped to Hot springs for me! I signed the guestbook, bought a couple more pairs of smartwool socks and they took a Polaroid of me and Bisbee to hang on their walls. Gatlinburg is like a mini Hollywood. There¢s a Ripply¢s believe it or not, an aquarium, Movie star cars, and so much more. A trolley runs around from end to end for 25 cents. The laundry and postoffice are on the far side of town as is the grocery store. I stopped for lunch and had the first trail margarita not fixed by myself! Oh, was that wonderful! I had to have another. The burrito was pretty awesome too. I¢d highly recommend them if I could remember the name. They¢re just off traffic light #8. It start¢s with a C. Well, off to the grocery store for goodies! Spoiled Bisbee and bought him a chew toy and some pigs ears! Drove back up to the gap and practically ran the 1.7 miles for the day. Passed Steppenwolf. He was sitting down in the middle of the trail. I thought he had fallen, but he was just extending his knees. The Purist Terrapin watched me as I took off on the wrong trail twice! I got it figured out though and got back to the truck just before the rain started. And it poured. And poured. And poured some more. The three blind mice had hitched back to the gap and were hanging out in the girls restroom trying to decide what to do. I offered to take them back to Gatlinburg and dropped them off at the motel where I had stayed the night before. Grabbed more KFC and drove back up to the gap. I stopped alongside the road to take a photo of Mt. LeConte during a brief sun break and talked to a guy who had just hiked up there the day before. There is a lodge that serves dinner and breakfast. And apparently it is not cheap! I packed for the next half of the Smokies and went to bed. It was raining hard! I am still doing it!
Date: 2005-04-28
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

A beautiful sunrise brought me out of the sleeping bag and I wasted no time getting going. Hal was up fixing breakfast. He has also hiked the PCT so we reminisced a bit. I hiked alone again today. Took photos at Charlie¢s Bunion and some awesome veiwpoints. It was a great day to be in the Smokies. Maybe it wasn¢t such a bad thing to spend yesterday on the mountain. Today was a rare day! Sunny and warm, I shed my rain gear and sat in the grass for a while. Then I mosied on down towards the Tri Corner Knob Shelter. Then suddenly, it cooled down and started to snow. Big fluffy pretty snow. It was beautiful. Then it turned to sleet and then rain. It was three more hours till I reached the shelter and I was sure glad to see it. A beautiful shelter it was too! A new privy and roll down tarp! No fire though! Argon was there, He was the guy I had met on my first day in the Smokies. Hal showed up minutes later. Then the mice, Mild Bill and Chilly. A couple guys, Charlie was one, who had started on the 16 came in late. He had a pack from REI, part of the go lite trio. Anyway, I ate my spaghetti and gave Mild Bill a bite to tide him over. He has no stove and is only eating cold foods. I crawled in my bag.
Date: 2005-04-29
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

It rained all night. It was raining when I woke up. I packed up quick and headed out. The first thing I knew, I came to a sign said I had come 8.7 miles from the shelter. I thought it had gone by awful fast, but encouraged by my new found speed I continued on down the trail. It continued to rain and the trail was packed snow with rain on top. I carefully avoided all the deep holes and tried desperately to keep my feet dry. I had gone to such lengths to get ready this morning! I put on my nylons, my smartwools, my grocery bags, and tied my shoes special to lock in my heels for the downhills. But it wasn¢t 45 minutes and my feet were soaked. I am doing it in a riverbed! I didn¢t know the Smokies had a riverwalk! It is certainly not the riverwalk of San Antonio! Where¢s the shops, the eateries, the boats! I have mentioned that it would be fun to kayak all the rivers from Georgia to Maine, but I am getting wetter walking the trail! Did I mention the trail was wet today! I managed to get to Mountain Mama¢s by 3:30 and got a hot shower, did my laundry and got some chicken strips. I¢m busy catching up journals and photos right now! And it¢s still raining. But I¢m out of the Smokies and it¢s on to Maine!
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Davenport Gap

To: I-40
Miles today: 1.9

It¢s still raining! Had breakfast in bed courtesy of Mountain Moma¢s. You can order eggs any way you like, but they will come out scrambled! They were delicious with bacon, hashbrown patties and toast! Slept in some more. It¢s still raining! Searched thru the entire truck for the missing set of Tennessee maps and came up with nothing. Mountain Moma¢s didn¢t have them for sale either. During a brief reprieve from the rain I ran the short distance from Davenport Gap to I-40 and up to the trailhead on the other side. I think this is one of the most beautiful stretches so far. It follows a stream with many little waterfalls and the flowers are everywhere! Found a tick on Bisbee along I-40. So far they have only been on his fur. Not in his skin! Then it started raining again! Drove up to Standing Bear Farm and gave Daniel and Rasta hair guy a ride on the tailgate. Then went back for Chop Chop. It was still raining. The hostel was packed. Chilly, UPS, and a girl from the shuttle at Dick¢s creek gap that was traveling with Chopsticks. She got sick and is waiting for him to get out of the Smokies. Icebreak was there. There must have been at least 25 people hanging around. I took off for Newport to search for maps. I knew there was a Wal-mart, but didn¢t know where it was. After a couple initial attempts to find it. I asked an old timer standing out on his porch. He had snot running down his nose as he talked and I could barely make him out through his accent. But he seemed to know where Wal-mart was so, I thanked him and off I went. After a long round about trip, I did find it and bought a bunch of food, but no maps. I hate to take off without one after getting lost in the Smokies, but, I guess that¢s what¢s gonna happen! I got my cheat sheet from the data book! Still missing my Fontana Map and Wildflower book. I may have left them at the Laundromat in Fontana. That¢s the last time I can remember looking at them. Anyways, I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-01
From: I-40

To: NC 1182
Miles today: 13.3

It¢s not raining, It¢s sunny! Hallelujah! I got a late start with breakfast from Mountain Moma¢s again. Scrambled eggs, hashbrown patties, bacon and toast! You got to love the Kuntry Store¢s cooking! Repacked my backpack for dayhiking: Ridgerest foam pad, 40 degree sleeping bag (just in case), down jacket, water bladder, poncho, rope, rainjacket and pants. (It may rain again!) balaclava, fleece gloves, first aid kit, pot and stove, lunch! Only 16 pounds on the fish scale! I like this! Hopped on the trail where I left off. Another PUD to Waterville school road, then off on the trail to Hot Springs. I¢m not in the Smokies anymore! The trail seemed to go strait up forever and ever. Talked to Lexi and Austin on the phone. Kristie wrecked the car and Austin¢s version was something like: ¢She stopped, then she goed, then she stopped, and then it hit us!¢ Luckily no one was hurt! I didn¢t see another soul until Rasta hair guy passed me after the Groundhog Creek Shelter. I was talking to mom on the phone when Lance called, so I didn¢t get to talk to Rasta much! First time I¢ve had coverage on the trail in a long time! Right after Brown Gap, Daniel passed me! Then it was out to the road and down to Round Mountain Campground! Had a good dinner of mashed potatoes and hotdogs and a campfire. Downloaded photos, burned CD¢s and went to bed.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: NC 1182

To: Lemon Gap
Miles today: 6.2

Nippy but not raining! Slept in as long as I could! Bisbee wanted to get going! Went back to SR 1182 and headed for Max Patch. What a highlight! From its big grassy knoll, you can see 360 degrees of mountains. All of which I think I have walked up and over or will here soon! Bisbee caught a mouse or shrew or something and tossed it around a while. Chilly caught up to me and we had a snack at the summit. On down the trail! I enjoyed today about as much as any so far. I knew it would be a short day, it was cool, yet not raining and the flowers were beautiful. The trail followed a stream for quite a ways and I love that! A couple runners passed me going all the way from Davenport to Hot springs today and all the way back tomorrow! Wow! Sherlock caught up and is looking for Bjorn. She didn¢t find him at Groundhog Creek Shelter and I haven¢t seen him. It is so good to have Bisbee back on the trail. Now if Chuck would just show up, it would be perfect! Well, it¢s hot cocoa time! I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Lemon Gap

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Another beautiful day in paradise! I love this weather! Sunny yet cool. I came across Icebreak and Rocky at the Walnut Mountain Shelter. They said they had an owl and possibly a bobcat visit last night! I ate lunch with them on the mountain. The runners returned on their way back to Davenport and said the hot springs were wonderful. I can¢t wait. I limped into town about 5:00 and took a bunch of photos. I found a little store and bought an orange soda and some sweatarts. Found Moss outside the little motel sewing his pants. Set up dinner at 7:00 and then walked to the campground. There was a lively game of Frisbee going and Baloo had a cardboard box full of ice and beer! He called me to join them and I dropped my pack and jumped in. I¢m telling you, 14.4 miles, 3 beers and then a game of Frisbee is a great combo for fun! Great Fun in fact. Tired, went to the Pub, drunk, ate a burger, took a shower, and crashed. I¢m still doing it. This is the life!
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Didn¢t plan to take a zero day, but it was such a nice day and it was so much fun last night, I paid for another campsite and headed for the post office. My new shoes were there as promised. Thank you Happy Hiker and Montrail! I mailed off a few postcards and 4 CDs of photos! Then had breakfast at the Smokey Mountain Diner. It took a long time, but it was pretty tasty. Saw UPS and Wookie and as I was leaving, some of the gang showed up. I got my laundry done and then took a nap. Four hours later, I wandered over to the Hot springs for a massage and a soak in the hot water! Wow, that was wonderful! Taz had been busy gathering firewood and she went to the store for marshmallows and other stuff for S¢mores. We tried another game of Frisbee but there wasn¢t much energy there today. So we gathered around and roasted marshmallows and drank beer instead.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 16.3

Well, it looked like rain today, so I took my time getting out of bed. Taz came to say her dad was leaving the trail for some family business and so she was going to shuttle ahead to Erwin in time to walk in for trail days. I sure hope everything¢s OK! I guess she only wants one section to come back for instead of two! I headed off into the mist, but I think I sweated more in my poncho than it rained! It was a lovely hike up Lover¢s Leap overlooking the French Broad River, then on up the trail. Yes, Up! Ice break passed me and another kid, I forget the name at the moment. But he walked across the pond dam at Mill Ridge and I got a photo! It looked like he was walking on water! Bjorn passed me just after the fire tower and then I caught up to him when he ran into Nean. Nean was picking up trash and had a cooler of sodas for us. Wonderful! Thank you, Nean. The rest of the bunch I guess were all headed for Nean¢s cabin! Chilly, Sherlock, Stump, and (can¢t think his name right now either) I¢m bad at names I guess! And I really try too! Anyways, Chilly, Bjorn and Drew caught up to me at Allen Gap and we high tailed it in to Nean¢s cabin just before dark. This is a honestly the best kept secret of the trail. There¢s a 3 story guesthouse and a basement and an outdoor shower with hot water! It is so beautiful too! The pathways are lit with little white lights and there¢s swinging chairs on the porch. If ever I had a dream cabin, it would be just like this! It¢s not a hostel, it was just Nean and his girlfriends, cabin and they had invited the bunch of us to slackpack from Hotsprings. It was well worth the long hike! We bought some beer and I tried my first moonshine cherry. Wow! It¢s got some bite to it, but it wasn¢t so bad. Then I headed off to bed. I was exhausted, but I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Log Cabin Drive

To: Devil Fork Gap
Miles today: 18.7

Another beautiful day! I slept in a little too long for the miles I had to do today, but I made it out before dark. Barely. I said goodbye to Nean and thanked him for all his hospitality. I gave him a couple jars of Skippy and 2 bottles of honey. I¢ll never eat that much and I knew he could find a good home for them! I left the other sleepyheads and headed of at a fast pace. Hoping to reach Devil Fork Gap in good time. Hah, the trail is not a walk in the park. Not only was there a lot of uphill, I think I should have had climbing shoes for the exposed ridge! Bisbee had a long day too! I caught up to Ying and Yang and also met Firedog. Masa passed me and then I passed him at Flint Mountain Shelter with two other southbound sectioners! Other than that, it was a pretty lonely day. The mood of the woods was very reverent today. With all the gravestones and what not. Bisbee treed a turkey! At the end of the day, Sugar had left two Styrofoam coolers full of sodas and 3 jugs of water! I was so thirsty for an orange soda too! Awesome!