morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-19
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a day of uphill climbs, but the payoff for each one was magnificent.But I¢ll start with my morning in Franklin, NC. I told a few people that Franklin matches your stereotype of an Appalachian coal mining town. That isn¢t incorrect, but I can¢t stress enough that the element that truthfully fulfills that stereotype is how helpful and friendly everyone is. I had breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen on 153 (excellent pancakes), and as I was drinking my coffee, one of the diner¢s regulars came and sat beside me at the bar. Over breakfast he asked about my hike and how it was going, then mentioned that he was going on his first date in eleven years that evening. He wanted my opinion ¢ ¢a young person¢s opinion¢ ¢of a fun place to make a lady feel young. It was touching how he felt he could confide in my opinion, and I understood the appeal of living in a small town where everyone¢s opinion is appreciated.At 9:00 AM I took a shuttle back to the AT, where I was reunited with Canadia. We spent the day traveling uphill out of Winding Stair Gap, slowly gaining 1,400 ft. of elevation over 9 miles. The day started with a light drizzle, but before noon the skies had cleared and warm weather had moved in.We finally reached our highest peak for the day ¢ Wayah Bald (5,342 ft.) ¢ at around 1:00 PM, and we were presented with some of my favorite views so far. The bald overlooks sections of Franklin and the valley below, and the skies were so clear that we could see Brasstown Bald back in Georgia and, more ominously, the looming Clingman¢s Dome waiting in the Smoky Mountains up north.After a brief break in the stone tower atop Wayah Bald, we headed down to Wayah Bald Shelter, our stopping place for the night. Shortly after setting up, several of our thru-hiking friends also came to the shelter, including Low Gear, Critter, and Craftsman, the last of which carries a tomahawk and wears a plaid kilt. We spent much of the evening around a campfire swapping trail stories and reveling in the freedom the AT has provided.
Date: 2014-03-20
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Thru-hikers quickly learn that, although going downhill takes less physical effort, it is more strenuous on your body overall. Not only are you balancing 25-40 lbs. on your back while standing on a decline, but you also have gravity attempting to push you face first down a mountain. This means you have to push backwards while walking forwards. And all of that makes one¢s feet and knees very, very sore.Today we descended several miles to the Nantahala River, just a mile shy of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). This nearly seven mile slope was steep at the best of times, and at its worst it was extremely steep with 50 ¢ foot drops on either side. It was stressful, dangerous, physically taxing¢¦and exhilarating.While the walk was long (15.5 miles) and difficult, we crossed over multiple balds with 360 degree views. Wesser Bald also featured a viewing platform giving us a great look at the Smokies looming ahead.I spent all day hiking with Canadia once again, but was joined by Austin (aka. ¢Birdman¢) just after 12:00 PM. Birdman recently graduated from Michigan College with a degree in ecology, so he spent much of his time pointing out and naming the birds along the trail (hence his name). It was a change of pace, and I look forward to hiking more with him soon.Tonight I am staying at A. Rufus Morgan Shelter, and I plan on making an additional 14 miles tomorrow ¢ which means, my day tomorrow will be the opposite of today. There will be several miles of steep climbs, but as I will be zeroing with my wife on Saturday, I figured it would be okay if I slipped in one last big day.
Date: 2014-03-21
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Stecoah Gap / Appalachian Inn
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

After a much warmer night and a restful sleep, today started as a perfect day for hiking. Unlike most stories, however; there was no twist where the bottom finally fell out. Instead, I was treated to a great Spring day. Oh, and one of the longest uphill climbs so far.Today I passed over the Nanatahala River, leaving behind Canadia, Birdman, and several others who needed to resupply at the NOC. I had plenty of food for the day, so I continued toward my destination of Stecoah Gap. There I would meet my wife for my second zero day (my last for a while at least) and a stay at the beautiful Appalachian Inn Bed and Breakfast.The only thing standing between us was 14 miles and over 3,000 ft. of elevation to gain.The Nanatahala River has cut a deep ravine through the Appalachians over its existence; meaning today was part two of yesterday¢s climb. The trail alternated between switchbacks and straight-up scrambles, sometimes going through boulder fields covered with a film of slippery moss and slime. Though it does make the trail more challenging when the trail alternates its terrain so dramatically, it also adds some much needed variety to keep things interesting.The views were once again stellar, offering glimpses at the Nantahala and Little Tennessee rivers as I gained altitude. No sight was more impressive, however; than the one atop today¢s big climb: Cheoah Bald (5,062 ft.). This mountain had a clearing on top that allowed for panoramic views of the mountains and valleys, including the tiny towns and farms resting in between the mountains.The final descent to Stecoah Gap was a giant tease, circling around and around the mountains while offering a near constant view of my stopping point for the day. The switchbacks were so gradual; it must have taken most of an hour to reach the gap after initially spotting it. Yet my patience was rewarded when I finally arrived, as a trail angel was waiting with cokes, chocolate, McDonald¢s fries and other goodies. I stopped and gobbled some snacks until Alison arrived, smelling of pure magic when compared to my trail funk.I¢m now sitting in the glorious Appalachian Inn, a log cabin atop a mountain overlooking the Stecoah Valley. Smells from this morning¢s breakfast still linger in the kitchen, and I am already looking forward to tomorrow¢s menu. The room Alison booked is wonderful, featuring a jacuzzi tub and views of the Smoky Mountains. It¢s hard to believe I¢m already this far, even though the amount I have moved on the map seems to tell a different story altogether.
Date: 2014-03-22
From: Stecoah Gap / Appalachian Inn

To: Appalachian Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day! Today was a day for relaxation and rejuvenation, and I can¢t think of many places better to do so than the Appalachian Inn. Our bed was extremely comfortable, the food was delicious, and the views from the inn are fantastic.I also used this day for resupplying and replacing some gear. My bog and insoles were extremely thin, so I replaced them with SuperFeet insoles. I also picked up some waterproof gaiters to help prevent rain, snow, and trail debris from getting in my boots. Lastly, I picked up a mail drop sent by my parents to the NOC outfitter. Thanks, mom and dad!The rest of the day was spent doing two things: eating and spending time with my wife. There seems to be great food everywhere, which I have gladly taken advantage of.This will be the last weekend I will see Alison for over a month, a situation we haven¢t been in since she left for college at Oxford University three years ago. Thankfully, we do have experience with a long distance relationship, so we won¢t be in for too big of a shock. Still, it was great to spend time with her, and we stayed up late tonight watching ¢Frozen¢. Not a bad way to wrap up my last zero day for the foreseeable future.
Date: 2014-03-23
From: Stecoah Gap / Appalachian Inn

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: snow

The rain finally came in late last night. The forecasters had predicted its coming, but it seemed to hold off until, of course, it was time to get back on the trail. Thankfully, that gave me a good reason to enjoy the morning and have a leisurely breakfast. By the time I was finally packed and ready, the rain had died down to a drizzle.I was dropped off by Alison around 11:00 AM, and after a quick farewell, I began trudging up the muddy trail toward Fontana Dam. The most strenuous climb came quickly after leaving the gap in a section known as ¢Jacob¢s Ladder,¢ which has over 800 ft. of elevation gain over a short half-mile length of trail. Though the weather was chilly, I warmed up quickly due to the strenuous climb.Due to the weather, today was another ¢walk in the clouds¢ day, with visibility often in the range of 25-30 ft. I made the decision then to put in my headphones and hoof it to the Fontana Dam Shelter, covering 14 plus miles in about six hours.   Even with a lot of steep, muddy climbs the worst was definitely the final mile. First off, I had already reached Fontana Dam¢s parking lot and a paved road, yet the AT decided to meander around and over a few hills before going to the shelter. This section was made all the more torturous because the Leap Frog Caf© (LFC), a traveling donation-based restauarant for thru-hikers, was waiting at the shelter, and my stomach was growling more with every step.When I arrived just after 5:00 PM, the LFC was packing up, as the owner¢s dog was in bad shape. Fortunately, however, he had just finished a batch of home fries and hotdogs, which I gladly indulged in. I was reunited with Canadia, who zeroed here yesterday. There is a large crowd here, and everyone is buzzing about entering the Smoky Mountains tomorrow. It¢s a mixture of excitement and worry, as the weather is expected to take a turn for the worse on Tuesday.Fresh Grounds, the owner of the LFC, just dropped by to tell us that his dog died shortly after he had left us. He told us not to be sad, as she was a rescue dog and had a wonderful life with him. He buried her beside the AT coming into Fontana Dam. Rest in peace, little one.
Date: 2014-03-24
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up before dawn and watched a beautiful sunrise over Fontana Lake. The shelter was mostly full, meaning we all slept warmly, though a symphony of snorers made me glad for my noise-cancelling ear buds. I packed quickly and was ready for a full day of hiking. All I had to do was grab my food supply mail drop from the Fontana Post Office, which the website said opened at 8:30 AM.In reality, the post office didn¢t open until 11:45 AM. Thus, my schedule for the day quickly fell apart.It wasn¢t all bad, though. The downtime allowed me to upload several of my journal entries to my blog and TrailJournals.com, and I was able to catch up with several fellow thru-hikers who were also at the mercy of the postal service. Finally, when the doors opened, I retrieved my package and realized how much I have learned since I started hiking. I had packed so much food into my mail drop that I had to send a significant amount back home. My pack is still way too heavy, but I will eat like a king between here and Hot Springs.We have all been worried about the winter weather coming in tomorrow, but the temperatures today were borderline hot. I had sweat dripping off of my face for most of the day.I crossed over Fontana Dam just after noon today, the biggest dam east of the Mississippi River. Afterwards it was a slow, steady climb into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail through the Smokies rarely drops below 4000 ft., meaning cooler temperatures but hopefully less PUDS to make my knees sore.At the shelter I met with several faces I had seen in previous days, including Blissful (a female ridge runner for the Shenandoah National Park), First A and her husband (a South Korean couple), and the ever-present Low Gear. There are also a few new faces tonight, including Camel Rider (he is a Caucasian man born in Saudi Arabia with a penchant for camel-based sports), AMP (a self-proclaimed Angry Middle-Sized Person), and Thunder Mountain (a large man who shakes the shelters with his snores- thank God for my ear plugs!).We¢re all worried about the weather over the next few days, as temperatures in the mid-teens and wintery precipitation is expected. I am prepared with ample gear, but it is still nerve-wracking to be in the wilderness during winter weather. If nothing else, my AT thru-hike has helped me to appreciate many of the things I formerly took for granted. Like houses¢¦.those are neat.
Date: 2014-03-25
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light snow

After weeks of relatively great weather, Mother Nature finally got her revenge. The temperatures plummeted below freezing and the skies dumped 3 plus inches of snow overnight (and still rising). That may not sound like much, but when you¢re hiking on rocks and gaining 1,000 ft. of elevation, it makes a world of difference. I remember telling Alison before I left that I would like to have at least one day of hiking in the snow. That quota has now been filled, and I think I¢ll take spring temperatures from now on.In most conditions, today¢s climbs would have been relatively easy ¢ though there were several ups and downs (including a big climb up Thunderhead Mt. at 5,527 ft.), the grade on most of them was shallow and the terrain no worse than usual. However, when you hide all of these obstacles under a blanket of snow, everything becomes a slippery, ankle-turning mess. Once I slipped and fell on my back, then continued to slide an additional 15 ft. or so down the trail. I assumed that the trail was trying to apologize by not forcing me to hike those 15 feet.But while the day was hard, it definitely had its charms. Though there were no long-distance views, the forest around me took on a completely different mystical appearance. Snowflakes danced between trees and coated the landscape in white icing. When the wind picked up, it looked like a blizzard was rampaging through the mountains. I was constantly in awe at the majesty and strength of the nature around me.Tonight I will be in a different kind of awe, as the temperatures are predicted to drop into the single digits at our elevation. The shelter is packed full and a fire is burning in the shelter¢s fireplace (a necessary addition to the frigid Smoky Mt. shelters). Even so, we are bundled up in everything we own, desperate to hold on to the little bit of heat we have left. Our breath comes out of our sleeping bags, looking like little geysers erupting from multicolored hills. I will be warm this evening, but only just. Thank God for my 15 degree sleeping bag.
Date: 2014-03-26
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was a rollercoaster that I felt would eventually fly off of the tracks. I¢m positive the prediction of single-digit temperatures came true last night, as anything liquid became a solid block of ice by morning. I thought ahead and put a bottle of water in my sleeping bag to keep it warm, but within minutes of having it outside it had begun to form ice crystals. So began my day.The snow eventually stopped last night, but not before adding another three inches to the total. The skies had also cleared, giving me beautiful panoramas of the surrounding snow-covered mountainsides. Unfortunately, I then had to ascend said mountainsides, which wouldn¢t have been bad if not for the constantly gusting wind. This wind had howled through the night, building snowdrifts on the ridges that sometimes reached my waist. Throughout the morning I was cursing the AT under my breath, wondering why hiking through high winds and waist-deep snow had seemed like a good idea earlier.Then, around 11:00 AM, the wind stopped, and I started having fun again.When I stopped worrying about the cold wind, I noticed that I was walking through one of the most dynamic landscapes I had ever seen. The terrain went from temperate forest to open fields, from rocky ridges to, finally, an alpine jungle, all coated in beautiful snow. Even the snow drifts became a fun challenge instead of a slog. Once my attitude changed, I finally began enjoying the pleasures that the trail had provided.To top it all off, I passed two great landmarks today: first, I passed the 200 mile mark! Second, I climbed the highest peak on the entire AT, Clingman¢s Dome (6,655 ft.). There is a futuristic viewing tower at the top, giving a 360 degree view of the Smokies and the mountains beyond. I didn¢t stay long, as the wind was beating me down, but seeing the snow-covered mountains was an awesome sight.I sped down the mountain toward my destination for the evening, assuming I would have to fight for space. Instead, all I found was an empty shelter with a bird flying around inside. It was an unsettling period of time, as I have become accustomed to being surrounded by my fellow thru-hikers. Fortunately, after about an hour of waiting, several hikers finally arrived, this alleviated my nervousness. Tonight is supposed to be cold once again, so we are hunkering down and adding layers of clothing to ward off the chills.
Date: 2014-03-27
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

I had my first confrontation with a four-legged creature last night: I had to chase mice off of my backpack. I woke up at 3:30 AM to the sound of gnawing on the hip belt on my pack ¢ some crumbs from a granola bar must have fallen inside. After chasing them away three times, I finally gave up and hung my backpack on the bear cables outside the shelter. Supposedly most of the other hikers¢ gear was unscathed, though one reported that a mouse had left a ¢present¢ on her sleeping bag.I also woke up to frozen boots for the first time, which is not a pleasant experience by any means. Just getting your foot into a frozen boot is hard enough; then, you have to walk around in a rock-hard boot until it thaws. Lastly, your foot will be wet pretty much all day.Last bit of bad news: all of the snow that thawed yesterday refroze overnight, forming an ice sidewalk down the trail. Though I never actually fell, the contortions I threw my body into to avoid falling would make some yoga instructors jealous. I basically ice-skated down several of the slopes today.But even with all of those elements working against me, today turned into a beautiful day. The weather was cool yet comfortable, with clear skies and great views of Mt. Leconte to the west. The best view of the day was from Charlie¢s Bunion, a boulder jutting out over the valley between the Smokies. With some snow still on the ground, it made the mountain crags look more like the Rockies than the Appalachians.Today was also my longest day yet, pulling my first 20-mile day. I decided to go the extra distance in order to make it to Standing Bear Hostel tomorrow. Though the day was long, my legs were tired but feeling great. Tomorrow will be another long day (particularly if it rains), but with rising temperatures and the trail going mostly downhill, I should be able to make that distance (17 miles) in a decent amount of time.Tonight I am in a shelter with many of my hiking friends, including Birdman, Dune, Looper, and several others. There¢s a fire roaring in the shelter fireplace, and everyone is in high spirits. Despite all of the difficulties the Smokies have thrown at us, it only seems to have pulled us together as a team. Though we may not all hike together, we all want each other to reach their goal. It¢s a camaraderie I don¢t see very often in the ¢real¢ world, and it has warmed my icy heart to see others provide help without expecting anything in return.P.S. ¢ Trail magic! A man saw me in the NewFound Gap parking lot and asked ¢Are you a thru-hiker?¢ I said yes, and he handed me a box of gourmet chocolates! Life is good on the AT.
Date: 2014-03-28
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 17.6

Today was a day that flew by, filled with fun, smooth hiking and interactions with trail friends. I slept more soundly than I have since entering the Smokies, due in part to the long hiking day, and also because of the temperatures returning to tolerable levels. I packed quickly after waking in order to reach my goal ¢ Standing Bear Farm, 18 miles away ¢ as soon as possible. I have learned my limit when it comes to not showering, and a week of living in my own stink is more than enough.I spent the majority of the day hiking with Looper, a 51 year old attorney from St. Louis. We chatted about nearly everything, from hiking gear to why Jimmy Carter is such an awesome guy. By lunch we had already hiked over 15 miles, as the terrain was finally becoming a bit more forgiving. Though there was still some ice and snow on the ground at higher elevations, all of it had disappeared by the time we reached 3,000 ft. in elevation. The temperatures also rose the further down the mountains we got.At mile 238.1, we finally left behind the Smoky Mountains. My time there was beautiful yet brutal, offering challenges that I have never faced before. Knowing that I could conquer waist-deep snow, single-digit temperatures, and trails of ice all while keeping a decent hiking pace was a major ego boost.Just after exiting the Smokies, Looper and I discovered trail magic of soft drinks and beer cooling in a trail-side creek. We then passed underneath I-40, which reminded us both of how busy the world is outside of the woods. To quote Red from 'The Shawshank Redemption': "The world went and got itself in a damn hurry.¢We finally arrived at Standing Bear Farm at around 2:30 PM. This hostel is wonderful, featuring a bunkhouse, kitchen, laundry room, shower, privy, and fire pits to relax by after a long day of hiking. It¢s also intentionally rustic, with a wood burning stove for heat and a hand-wash laundry center (though there was fortunately an electric dryer). Every hiker is greeted at the driveway by a howling hound dog, and cats and chickens patrol the grounds for dropped scraps and affection from the hikers. Our host, Rocket, helps to complete the Bohemian atmosphere, featuring a thick Southern drawl and a very easy going pace. I almost feel like I am being forced to relax.Not that I¢m complaining. My fellow hikers and I have had a hell of a week, so relaxing next to the creek and fire has definitely helped wash away the stress from the Smokies.