morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

31 March 2010, Winding Stair Gap   I did another big mile day today, 12.2. At this time I currently consider anything over 11 miles a big mile day.   Went over Albert Mountain today and climbed the fire tower only to find the top closed off and locked. While I was up there a hound dog came to the fire tower with a radio collar on. I tried to get it to come close to me but it wouldn¢t. Chef came by before I left. I ended up hiking the rest of the day with him. He got his name because he is a chef.   As we were waiting for a ride to Franklin at Winding Stair Gap I ran into Joey, Lobsterman, and Trooper who just got dropped off and were heading north. I am going to fall three days behind the pack now that I will be in Franklin waiting for the Hiker Fools Bash. This is depressing. Looks like I will be falling into a new pack now. The Hiker Fools Bash goes on in Franklin every year around April fist. Ron Haven is the originator of the bash but since he started it the town has gotten a little involved with it now. The event brings in vendors and guest speakers. At night there is live music and a party atmosphere outside at the Sapphire Inn.   Ever since I started my hike I have had a hard time trying to break the habit of feeling my pocket for my wallet and keys. I think I am finally started to break that habit.    For the last four days I have been hearing grouse out in the woods in the distance. It is the male grouse beating his wings trying to impress the female. It sounds like a helicopter taking off at times.
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

01 April 2010, Franklin   I ran into thru hiking couple from Maine yesterday, it is such a small world. This couple lives on the same street in Brunswick that I grew up on. They live next door from the house on Magean Street I grew up in, they were not living there when I was there. Their names are Jim and Elaine.   Ron Haven invited me to make his morning bus run with him to Winding Stair Gap. When we were just two miles from Winding Stair Gap the bus broke down. Ron called two of his van drivers to pick up the occupants and continue on. Ron decided that with everything going on with the weekend events that he needed to head over to Hiawassee and pick up the other short bus (small bus) he has. I went with him to Hiawassee. I stay in Hiawassee and caught the other shuttle bus back with Bob (Desert Reprobate). We went by Neels Gap along the way to see if there were any hikers to be picked up on our way to Franklin.    I made a trip to the outfitters to pick up a pair of sock liners hoping it will help out with my blisters. I also picked up a dry bag to store my food in. I needed to find a bag to hang my food in that was waterproof. I realized that the one I had was not very water proof when hanging if from a bear line in bad weather. I had not had any issues with it yet but it had the potential if it rained.   When we returned to the Budget in we all sat around and Dave from the front desk came out with a guitar and started playing for us. Geo took turns play the guitar with him. I was really amazed how well Geo could play the guitar. I wanted to stay out and listen longer but it was getting late.
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

02 April 2010, Franklin   We made a trip to Wal-Mart to get some resupplies. Then when evening came we went to the Sapphire Inn for the free hiker feed and live music. I met a lot of people I already knew and met a lot of people I did not know. There were many people that I did not know but they knew me from WhiteBlaze or from the Trail Journals web site. It was nice meeting everyone.   I did not stay late, I had also had had enough drinks and knew when to stop.
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

03 April 2010, Franklin   I hang around Franklin today to attend the festivities at the park. Today was spent hanging around at the park visiting the vendors, meeting and greeting people. I listened to guest speakers, one of which was Gene Espy. Gene Espy was the second person to complete the trail from end to end. I also bought an autograph copy of his book. I went to the Leki representative to get my hiking polls repaired; they would not tighten back up properly when I shortened them.   Make a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies that I had forgotten yesterday.   I attended the second night of the event at the Sapphire Inn and listened to the live music and ate all great the fantastic food they were serving. I did not feel very social able tonight. I cannot explain why, just did not feel like being around big crowds. I did not stay that late.
Date: 2010-04-04
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

0.0 Franklin   Got up early enough top catch the ride to the Baptist church for the free breakfast they put on. It was great, all the pancakes and bacon you can eat, it hit the spot.   The rest of the day I just socialized with people. We went out for dinner to an all you can eat chinese buffet.
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

05 April 2010, Franklin   I went to the Baptist church for breakfast. I should have gotten back on the trail today but I didn't.   Went to the post office and sent some things ahead to myself so that I would not have to carry them in my pack. I also started ripping pages out of my hiking guide book and now I will only carry the pages that I need to get to my next trail town. The next trail town for me will be Hot Springs, NC.   We all went out to Cody's tonight for dinner, there were about 12 of us. I could not eat the whole meal tonight. I think it had something to do with me being in town to long and not having the appetite.   I am leaving town tomorrow, I promise.
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Franklin

To: Wine Spring campsite
Miles today: 8.2

06 April 2010, Wine Springs Campsite   We have been packed and waiting for the shuttle now for almost two hours. I am anxious to get back on the trail. I may feel different about this after a few hours on the trail.   It is now 6:30 pm and I am at Wine Spring campsite, 8.2 miles today. We did not start hiking this morning until 12:30 pm. This is a nice small campsite with only room for about two tents. I am in my hammock escaping from the small nats that are everywhere. They are not biting but are a real pain flying around and getting in your face. I can hear the water down below in the stream running; it should help me sleep tonight.   Another hiker came in just before dusk and set up his hammock just above us next to the trail, his trail name is Dry Clean.   The hike in was pretty easy today, I felt the muscles ache in my calves at the start of the hike but that went away shortly.   I did have one scary incident today. I was walking at a pretty good pace and watching the ground for my footing, my head made a good connection with a tree that was hanging over the trail. I saw stars and fell flat on my butt. It took me a minute to get my eyes to focus again. That was a lesson well learned, always keep looking ahead.   Tomorrow our goal is Cold Spring Shelter.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Cold Spring shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: moderate rain

08 April 2010, NOC   I have been told that Dave has taken on the trail name of Willie Walker.   The hiker who was with us at Wine Spring for the night, whose name was Dry Clean, wore mostly wool clothing with suspenders, my guess is that was how he got his name. I ran into him again today and he said he was trying to look like Benton MacKaye and that was the reason for the way he dressed.    Towards the end of the evening yesterday a hiker we ran into in Franklin came to the shelter to get water. He said his name was Jaybird and he stated that he was night hiking. We knew then that this was the guy that Dry Clean had the issue with. His carried a humongous back pack by most hiker standards. He seemed to have no problems with the pack though.   We left Cold Spring shelter at 7:45 and made it about two miles before the thunderstorms hit. The thunder was loud and seemed very close by but only lasted for about one hour with the winds, rain, and hail. It was raining sideways at times. The rain never let up once it started.   A lot of the flowering plants wear coming up out in the rain today. There were bloodroot, trillium, and may apples. The rain seemed to have brought them out.       I made it to NOC at 2:30 and checked in and went immediately to the restaurant and ordered a big burger and fries. I am already planning coming back here for pizza in an hour and a half.   I ran into Dry Clean while at dinner. I ask him about his pack and he said that Osprey was overnighting him another pack and it is suppose to be here tomorrow. He also said that he had to push the issue in order to get them to ship it overnight.   I am planning on taking another zero day tomorrow. My heal blister is doing well but want to give it a days¢ rest. I am hoping there will be some whitewater rafting going on here tomorrow so I can watch it. NOC is well known for its whitewater rafting. They are located right on the Nantahala River and this portion is designed for Olympic whitewater activities.   I just got back from taking my shower. I noticed another blister on my left little toe that is about the size of 1\2 penny. I am not sure if I should pop it or let it go. I will let it go.   Here in the bunk house tonight are Granite Gorilla, Set in Stone, Llano, Dry Clean, Hopper, Ben, Catfish, Jaybird, Rat, and two other women. There are also other hikers in some other bunkhouses that I have not met yet. I am still amazed at all the hikers here that came in to get out of the rain. I wished I had made it in before the rain started. I really don¢t matter now because I am warm and dry. It is amazing how you can be so miserable out on the trail and then after you get into a place where you can get warm and then your whole outlook changes dramatically. It is also amazing how conversing with other hikers helps boost your morale.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

09 April 2010, NOC   I went back to the restaurant last night and ordered a pizza with pepperoni and bacon. While I was waiting for the pizza I drank two large glasses of lemonade. When the pizza arrived I was only able to eat one piece, I had drank too much lemonade. It looks like I will be eating left over pizza for lunch.   After breakfast I went to the outfitters and picked up another pair of sock liners. There was a container of laundry soap there in the hiker box so I took it and put it in the hiker box at the laundry mat. I also went to the Wesser General Store and got some resupplies. They did not have much of anything at all for resupplies. It is just enough to get me to Fontana Dam. I have a food drop there waiting for me at the post office. I have to stop these zero days now. I am hoping for just a nero day in Hot Springs. Then the next town for a nero or zero will be Damascus.   I ran into Fog this morning, he told me his ankle has ballooned out but he is still heading out today. He is stubborn. I hope his ankle is ok.   I ran into a couple that I ran into at the Budget Inn in Franklin this afternoon. They are John and Just Lisa, later to be known as Two of a Kind. They are also thru hiking and told me they met on WhiteBlaze. They said they are getting married. I did not get a chance to talk to them to much because I was heading down to resupply and they were just arriving. I hope I see them again later.    I had a small can of beans and weenies for lunch. I am undecided about dinner right now. I need to start getting a better handle on spending my money, I don't want to run out before I finish.   Went to dinner at the restaurant again tonight and had a burger with fries, I put honey mustard sauce on my fries, yum, yum.    I called home tonight and talk to the family. This was the first real time I have called home. It was nice talking to the home front. But of course I also had to get some bad news. The car seems to be on its last leg. I just knew for some reason the car was going to go. I spent a bunch of money getting it up to par before I left.   We met another hiker this evening and had dinner with him, his name of Tour Guide.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: NOC

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

10 April 2010, Locust Cove Gap   Left NOC at 10 this morning and arrived here at 6 pm. This was what I consider my hardest day on the trail to date. Going out of NOC was a uphill climb for a constant 6 miles and this is not an exaggeration.   We ran into a hiker today named Country. We had heard some stories about him from other hikers and we were a little leery of him so we moved on.   We ran into Snowman and Escargo on Cheoah Bald and they decided to stop and spend the night on the bald. I wanted to but was concerned that the wind may pick up and the temps would drop and it would get really cold. We moved on to where we are now. I was hoping to run into John and Just Lisa but Buzz who was here setting up his tent said they left 1\2 hour ago to move up another mile, bummer.   After leaving town today I had a severe gas problem. I noticed this the last time I left a trail town. It must have something to do with eating foods that are anything other than dehydrated foods and trail foods that are causing the gas issue.   I am shooting for Cable Gap shelter tomorrow which is 11.6 miles. That would get me into Fontana Dam on Monday with only 5.5 miles to hike in the morning. I should be able to get there before 11 in the morning. That would give us all time to get our mail drop boxes, do laundry, get some real food from a restaurant and head back to the Fontana Hilton (shelter).
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: clear sky

11 April 2020, Stecoah Gap   I decided on doing a short day to stick with a group.    I am going to get shuttled back to Stecoah Gap in the morning (Monday) and slack pack into Fontana Dam. This will make a 14.0 mile day for me. Then we will head out on Tuesday morning to tackle the Smokey's. The next stop would be Gatlinburg or Stand Bear Hostel. I am shooting for skipping Gatlinburg and resupplying in Stand Bear Hostel. This all depends on how well I can resupply here before I leave. I have a food drop box here at the post office waiting for me to pick up. I think I have five days worth of food in the box. If that is the case then I will be able to make it to Standing Bear Hostel.   Tonight we all went to the Mountain View Bistro for lunch. I had a burger and fries. I asked for some extra mayo packages and put them in my pocket so I could use them with my tuna packages for lunches for my hike.   I just called the shuttle provider in the area and arranged a ride from the Fontana Hilton to Stecoah Gap for 7 am tomorrow morning. I have an Osprey Aether 70 pack that is designed to come apart and the top pouch can be used as a hip pack. Tonight I took the top pouch off and have it set up that way so I can use it as a day pack for tomorrow. I tried it on and it feels fine, the true test will be to see how it feels for 14 miles of hiking with it tomorrow. I am hoping to be back here at the Fontana Hilton tomorrow by 3 pm. If I can do that then it will give me time to run up for a burger and get back before the last shuttle run at 5 pm.    A few of us went down the steep trail behind the shelter, down to Fontana Lake. Day Tripper jumped in and then I told Rat if he went in I would. Rat went in so I had to, boy was is cold. Dry Clean also jumped in as well as Nemo. It was cold but refreshing.Here tonight are Elli, Catfish, Rat, Tumbler, Sid, Hopper and Ben, Dry Clean, Logos, Earthling, Scavenger, Bobcat, Day Tripper, Nemo, Llano, and more that I don't know yet.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

12 April 2010, Fontana Hilton   I was wrong on my journal entry yesterday thinking that my slack pack today was 14 miles, it was 15.1. I started at 7:30 this morning and finished at 1:30 this afternoon. Six hours to cover 15 miles, I impressed myself.   I ran into Snowman and Escargo just north of Brown Gap Shelter. They said they would be into Fontana tomorrow.   Most of the day was easy going. I took lots of pictures of flowers. Closer to the end of the day I was able to see Fontana Dam and the Lake as I was walking the ridgeline, it was amazing. It would have been nice to have company today but I knew there would be days with lots of walking alone.   My Osprey top pouch worked really well as a day pack for slack packing, I loved it. I will definitely use it in that manner again. The only downside was removing my hip belt from my pack and attaching it to the top pouch because it takes a little time. Thanks Osprey for designing the pack for this.    Just as I arrived at the Fontana Hilton at the end of the day, one of the hikers by the name Jay Bird was yogiing a ride up to the Fontana resort to get to the store and post office. While on the drive Jay bird was telling the two ladies in the care that he had hiked the AT eight times. I thought nothing of it and just figured he was trying to impress the ladies. Months later when I was at Harpers Ferry passing through and registering for my thru hike I saw his picture in the register book from 2003 and did a little more research and found he was in there a few years in a row. I saw the truth to his story now.   I came up to the Fontana resort tonight to get some more food because I only had four days in my food box at the post office. I figured it might take me six days so I bought two more days of food. I also got a pizza at the store nearby. I am trying to find someone to split a room with me here at the resort but I am having no luck. I stayed in the shelter last night. It was my first night in a shelter. It was not bad but then again the shelter is very well maintained and clean because it is near the dam. The snoring was not too bad but then again the sleeping pill I took probably helped me sleep through it.   I am sitting at the Inn right now waiting for the restaurant to open. It opens in one hour. There are hikers here now using the Inn's computer checking their email. Here at the Inn tonight is John, Just Lisa, Buz, Hopper, and two others. I also ran into KTS (kicks the stones) who is Solace's twin brother. That means that Solace is also here at the Inn. They told me in Franklin that they would be hiking together north until their vacation is over with.   I am having some issues after doing the 15.1 mile day today. I think I may have shin splints in my right leg. I am hoping it is just a sore muscle. If I get up in the morning and it is not any better I will take a zero day. It will have to be bad though. I have my back country permit all filled out and ready to go for the Smokey Mountains, all I have to do is turn it in on the way out tomorrow.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Fontana Inn, 0.0   I had trouble sleeping last night so I searched the web for shin splints. I read wear if there were not so bad that stretching the calf muscle might. I did some calf muscle stretches. That seemed to help with the hour. When I woke this morning the pain was completely gone in my shin. However my left knee pain was pretty sever. I had also overslept to almost 9 am. It was suppose to be an 11mile day. Seeing that it would take me an hour to pack and get to the trail head, I decided to give me knee a break and take another zero day.   I used the computer in the lobby to upload some of my pictures to my trail journal site. I am only able to upload five photos at a time before my 15 time limit on the computer runs out. I will try to up load more later.   While I was in the lobby Fig walked in to check into a room. Fig is a member of the MATC and this is his third thru hike. We sat there and chatted for a while. I also received a letter from Phil Pepin on the mail yesterday. He said he would be starting from Springer today. From everything I have heard about Phil, he will catch me in a few weeks.   I took a walk to the general store and bought a post card and sent it home to Rosa, the girl this is living at our house right now. She is a great kid. The post office was right next store so I did not have to walk to far to mail it.   I received a message from Phoenix Rising stating to check the post office in Hot Springs, that got my interest wondering what she sent me.   My body feels a lot better today. I will be heading out tomorrow for sure. The weather is suppose to be good for the rest of the week. I want to get through the Smokey's before the weather changes it mind or a snow storm blows in, the Smokey's are know for its unexpected snow storms.   Went down to the Pit Stop and got an ice cream and stopped by the Gunter House. This is an old log cabin from the 1800 era. It was open but nothing was inside. I think it is probably set up during the tourist season.   We lost power at the Inn tonight. That means there was no internet and I do not have a phone signal here. I will not be able to submit my journal until I have cell phone service now.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Fontana Inn

To: Mollies Ridge shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

14 April 2010, Mollies Ridge ShelterToday was a relatively easy day. I had a couple of views. The only issues I had today was some left knee pain and the damn nats. I would compare the nats to the black flies we have in Maine. They are very annoying and were not biting a few days ago, that all seemed to change today and they started biting. If they landed on you and you did now swat them off then they would bite.I dropped off my back country permit at the Fontana Dam visitor¢s center this morning. The box was so full that I had to force my permit into the box, and then I could not get it all the way into the box. They are not even emptying the box. It makes you wonder why we are wasting our time filling out the permits. I stopped at Shuckstack Mountain fire tower for lunch. I was amaze at how high this tower is. We ate lunch in the top. I was scared going up because the place was really run down and the steps were made of wood and all dried up. Donna (my wife) you would have been freaking out and scared by just looking at it. Going down was worse than going up because some of the hand rails were missing. I went to grab for one of the missing rails once and it scared the daylights out of me.I had a very large owl fly directly over me with a large wing span. It was white and fluffy. It was a snowy owl.I am set up to sleep in the shelter tonight but I am in my hammock right now just to get away from the damn nats.Here tonight are Snowman, Escargo, Shaken, Bismarck, Hopper, Chili, Pepper, Rob.