morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-03-18
From: Roaring Fork shelter area

To: Hot Springs, N.C.
Miles today: 18.0

Thunderstorms roared over Roaring Fork mid-night. The storm center came no closer than a mile away, juddged by the five-second counting estimate. All shelterers and tenters arose unscathed and apparently dry in the calm, foggy morning. Three of us tenters were in Big Agnes Fly Creeks; one late arriver was in a Z-Packs.Mystical vapors dissipated mis-morning. Strato-cumulus layers clumped into puffballs with happy patches of blue widening. Climbing Big Walnut early in the day was pleasant and soon the outer shell was packed. Only thr base layer shirt, long sleeves, was worn the rest of the day. Along with wildflowers another development in springtime is the emergence of insects. Not troublesome yet, but a logical consequence of warming weather, occasional gnats explored my sunglasses/goggles, but found no entry to circle my eyeballs. Smoother trail and gentler grade persisted much of the day. With fast trail and dry weather, Hot Springs was within reach. Sometimes people ask where might be a good section to sample the AT. I would recommend Max Patch to Hot Springs as one fine introduction. Had my phone camera been working, many good pictures would have posted. Perhaps other journaler here captured the scenes.Tonight I am in Hostel at Laughing Heart in Hot Springs. The Hillbilly Market will suffice for resupply, supplementing the leftovers pilfered from Laughing Heart's hiker box. Only four thru-hikers and two section hikers are here tonight. It is quiet, it is dark outside, it is past my bed-time.
Date: 2018-03-19
From: Hot Springs, N.C.

To: Spring Mountain shelter area
Miles today: 11.0

Six left-behind blueberry pancakes were scavanged from the hiker fridge and coffee flowed freely at the hostel. Second course was a few toaster waffles, cranberry juice and two boiled eggs, and more coffee. A short walk took me to the Hillybilly Market for resupply.Leaving any trail town fully laden usually means climbing out of a valley. I wondered facetiously who slipped an anvil into my pack.Rocks returned to the trail in a hurry as the climb from Hot Springs goes right up the Lovers' Leap overlook. Nearly hand-and-foot scrambling and hitch-up rock-stepping gained elevation quickly allowing glance-back views of the town and the French Broad River. The class II and III current made interesting study of pillows, hydraulics, eddies and drops for another type of adventure.More effort was needed to pass through the imaginary "magic portal" to return to the wilderness. Many day hikers had scaled Lovers' Leap on a loop trail which returned them to town. Beyond the trails' junction solitude was restored.The trek appeared mundane until wildflowers jumped out: chickweed, tiny bluets, bloodroot, hepatica, violets, and cinquefoil added color to the otherwise di- chromatic forest of gray tree bark and brown-leaf ground. Passing a small pond my boot-steps threatened several small frogs which leapt into shallow water as I neared. Tadpoles could be seen scurrying along the bottom at pond's edge.This stretch rolls over several humpty-bumps with climbs taking 8 or 12 or 20 minutes, then down through a gap and repeat. Inertia is my friend on steady climbs, even though some are quite steep. Maintaining momentum with sometimes only half-steps feels more efficient than stutter-stopping to catch a breath. Gear down and grind it out. "Ain't nothing gonna break my stride . . "Views from Rich Mountain were hazy-blue. Wispy cirrus "mares' tails" clouds curl at their ends to say, "The weather is turning." Stratus layers eventually thickened to an overhead gray soup. Living outdoors for extended periods sharpens our awareness of natural processes. Predicting the coming rain and cool-down simply involves observation. As Yogi Berra quipped, "You can observe a lot by watching."I am snug in the tent on a knoll above Spring Mountain shelter. Shifting breezes whirl through the tree-tops as I drift off . . .
Date: 2018-03-20
From: Spring Mountain shelter area

To: Jerry Cabin shelter area
Miles today: 16.0

Barred owls greeted the dawn, which was expected to be foggy after strong rain showers soaked the mountain most of the night. Skies, however, were clear blue, for a while.Hiking along the crest high above the valleys below with no leaves yet on twigs allows sporadic views through the understory. Looking down, fog was found. The lower-lying clouds form a white ocean presenting the illusion that we hikers have attained a much loftier elevation. As previously noticed, lesser mountaintops poke through the mystical vapors like islands in a sea of white.Before first lunch the atmosphere seemed to turn over. Stratus clouds appeared, temperatures cooled and rainspots dotted my sleeves. Approaching Firescald Knob which is a treacherous, lengthy, open rock scramble, small pellets of hail bounced off the pith helmet. Within minutes more hiking a blue-blazed bypass trail presented safe passage out of the exposure to the hazardous weather. The white-blazed thru-trailsand blue-blazed by-pass trails are usually about the same distance over-around a summit. Playing it safe, the blue blazes soon found white blazes again.Showers persisted so the tent was erected hastily, gear tossed inside, water fetched and rice & beans and mashed taters cooked and consumed before hikers' midnight. Rain peppers the tent fly steadily now. Gusty winds are indecisive as temperatures seem to fall rapidly. Inside the tent, snug in my Nemo Disco 15 sleeping bag, out of the weather, I am warm and comfortable.
Date: 2018-03-21
From: Jerry Cabin shelter area

To: Devil's Fork Gap/Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 10.0

Precipitation persisted through the night as temperatures in Chestnut Gap near Big Butt Mountain fell into the teens. Shelter dwellers reported blowing snow covering their sleeping bags. Inside the tent my gear and I were dry but a little cramped. As freezing rain became snow tiny avalanches would slide down the rain-proof fly, collecting in piles around the tent perimeter and effectively reducing floor space inside. Enough room remained to heat water in the vestibule for coffee and rice with plenty of raisins and sunflower seeds while packing as much as possible - all but the tent - before hustling out to quickly stash wet tent, fly and poles as snow continued to fall. Breathing on pole sections thawed them enough to separate the sections. Several inches of fresh snow had accumulated in this third winter storm on the AT'18 journey.The trail passed through stands of drooping rhododendron and laurel through which majestic hemlocks thrust above the low canopy. Some older hemlocks tower far above the understory, standing like proud sentinels over the forest slopes. Occasionally a fallen hemlock, victim of the insidious wolly adelgid, lay decomposing, returning its earth-drawn matter to the forest floor.Several twigs, branches and a few recent deadfall trees ignored the trail corridor and fell where they may, most noticeably across the treadway. A bit of trail service in-stride removed the smaller obstacles; short detours bypassed the unmaneuverable cross-trail trees. Snow continued to fall, sometimes sideways, indicating the storm was not yet finished with its mayhem.Just as sensitivity was returning to my frost-nipped fingertips from the Smokies Blizzard of '18, I am again trudging through winter. Beautiful as the mountains are in deep snow, this has become discouraging. As a precaution to feeling defeated, I will take a break, catching a shuttle into Erwin, Tn. for a "zero", allowing winter's worst to subside.The Appalachian Trail Conservancy considers a thru-hike to be a "mammoth undertaking". The overarching trail agency officially recognizes thru-hikers as those who have hiked the entire trail in 12 months or less. A "2000-miler" has made an honest effort to hike all the trail. Individual adjustments are then allowed for various circumstances. Though I am at heart a "white blaze purist", I will return to the trail beyond Devil's Fork Gap rather than wait a few more days until winter releases its grip on the 5000'+ summits in the next section. This was a serious dilemma, though I have, in three previous hikes, "been there, done that". So on I will go, to hike my own hike.Tonight I am thawing and drying in an Erwin, Tn. motel. I shall return to the trail Friday. Keep on trekkin', safely.
Date: 2018-03-23
From: Nolichucky River Road

To: Cherry Gap shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Having leapfrogged to the Nolichucky River crossing, the journey resumed under mostly sunny skies. Snow-covered ground resumed as well, at about 3000' elevation. Trail magic appeared in Indian Grave Gap where a Catholic brother provided coffee, fruit and brownies for hikers. Blessings of our hikes were also offered.A national forest ranger was closing the road beyond Brother Tom's magic station. The ranger explained that three vehicles were already stuck in drifts up the road.Drifts also spread over the old wagon road which the AT followed up to Beauty Spot. Views were great from the popular grassy bald. Looking back to Erwin I could almost see where I stood outside the Hawg-And-Dawg downtown after lunch yesterday. I had looked up then to see the snow domes over Beauty Spot and Unaka Mountain.Second lunch today was at the south base of Unaka, just before the first switchback. The summit of Unaka becomes an echhanted realm under the dark canopy of thick red spruce. Motled sun streaks sparsely penetrate the unique stand. Winds are quieted; a good contemplative place. The small shelter tonight is full and more wintry mix is expected. Not anxious to pack another icy tent, I am inside and warm enough.
Date: 2018-03-24
From: Cherry Gap shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Snow covered the table outside the shelter pre-dawn and continued to fall, or sometimes blow sideways until early afternoon. By then I had reached Clyde Smith shelter, weary of the trudge. Looking in AWOL's guide book, no feasible further destination seemed attainable today, with more snow forecast and 6000' Roan High Knob looming ahead.  I am in another shelter, another winter storm, another cold night. In every journey moments arise which require "in-flight corrections" and reassessments. Extensive winter hiking was not anticipated for this journey. I will see what challenges Roan presents tomorrow, then plan day-by-day.
Date: 2018-03-24
From: Cherry Gap shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Snow covered the table outside the shelter pre-dawn and continued to fall, or sometimes blow sideways until early afternoon. By then I had reached Clyde Smith shelter, weary of the trudge. Looking in AWOL's guide book, no feasible further destination seemed attainable today, with more snow forecast and 6000' Roan Mountain looming ahead.  I am in another shelter, another winter storm, another cold night. In every journey moments arise which require "in-flight corrections" and reassessments. Extensive winter hiking was not anticipated for this journey. I will see what challenges Roan presents tomorrow, then plan day-by-day.
Date: 2018-03-25
From: Clyde Smith shelter

To: Stan Murray shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: snow

The interminable climb up to Ash Gap rewards hikers with good views back toward Unaka and Beauty Spot. Plenty of "hitch-up" rock scrambles provide challenging, steep stretches which rival Albert Mtn.'s. verticality; Ash Gap and then Roan High Knob then surpass Albert with more cumulative elevation gain and a higher summit: 6286' on Roan. The usual fast trail, an old woods road over the rounded crest of Roan was inundated with meltwater, flowing slush and ice chunks. The stream took the trail, again, this time with winter reluctantly releasing its recent accumulations.Boots were soaked and spirits dampened, then a bit of sun brightened the trail up Grassy Ridge Bald. Roan's best views are "of" Roan rather than "from" Roan, and the popular trail going north affords such vistas.Once over the ridge and back into woods the sloppy slushy icy treadway reappeared. Finding Stan Murray shelter unoccupied, enough was enough for hiking in the awful mucky slippery slushy trail today. Wind howling, temperatures dropping, I am hunkered down for a relentless winter night.
Date: 2018-03-26
From: Stan Murray shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 11.0

All in all, I'd rather be fishing.Large chunks of tree ice barraged the pith helmet as warming winds shook inch-thick sleeves from overhead branches. Footing was now challenged by piles of frozen shards from above. Exiting the woods above treeline allowed escape from the slippery crunch under foot. Terrific winds over open grassy balds of Little Hump and Hump did not deter long pauses to turn round and round, gazing far across clear miles of Blue Ridge on an inspiringly sun-blessed day.This journey proceeds. "Ga.-Me. on"!
Date: 2018-03-30
From: Double Springs shelter

To: Damascus, Va
Miles today: 18.0

Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia are behind me now. The most extreme winter backpacking I ever endured is behind me now. Pooping in the snow is behind me now. Laurel Falls and Amicacola Falls are behind me. Hump, Roan, Max Patch, the Smokies, Cheoah, Albert, Blood and Springer mountains are behind me. Yet, the best of the AT is never behind NoBo's. Keep on trekkin'!
Date: 2018-03-31
From: Damascus, Va

To: Damascus, Va
Miles today: 0.0

For every hiker, each hike is incomparable. Anyone who sets foot on this "continuous footpath for those who seek fellowship with the wilderness" becomes a personal record-setter and a champion of the most steps that individual has taken on the AT. Benton MacKaye's vision never considered the AT to be a competitive venue. Occasionally a purported, unofficial record is boasted, although personal records are separately reset on a daily basis, increased as individual hikers take more steps, trek more miles, spend more time in the wilderness than previously hiked by each intrepid trekker. We are all winners for having experienced this amazing "project in regional planning", and we are all record-setters in our own right.
Date: 2018-04-02
From:  Whitetop Mtn streamside 1mi. N. of FS 89 

To: Fox Creek tent site
Miles today: 18.0

Ponies, spruce and fir stands, brief rock scrambles and open highlands accentuate this very popular hiking area. Treadways are commensurately worn, often exposing side-sloping roots and leaving rugged, rocky footpaths.Pockets of boreal forests like those on Mt. Rogers were seen in the Smokies, and will be traversed again, but much farther north.Mist and sideways drizzle saturated my idyllic bush camp as the tent was packed wet. Dense fog limited visibility until I had nearly traversed Grayson Highlands. Only a few ponies were seen near the trail. "Fatman Squeeze", a narrow passage between large boulders, was enjoyed by simply twisting my trunk to hike with a diagonal posture. Still, water bottles on both sides of my pack scraped the granite walls.Treadways were mercifully stream-free, though steady pacing was only possible by dancing through the rocks and short-stepping (thereby safe-stepping) ubiquitous root ruts.Tonight, in my tent, gurgling sounds of Fox Creek lull me to sleep.
Date: 2018-04-03
From: Fox Creek tent site

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: haze

Banana pancakes magically appeared at dawn as a hiker feed was provided in the Fox Creek tent camp. Recipient hikers gratefully fueled up for a series of ridge-rolling humpty-bumps on a long stretch to Partnership shelter.The rhythms of undulating terrain interspersed with rocky treadway necessitated conscious mental reminders that all climbs are finite, and all rocky stretches eventually become smoother. All we can do is keep walking, "rolling the stone", and dance through the rocks. Short steps are safe steps. Make miles when you can; grind it out when you must.Partnership shelter sets near a large pond where, tonight, spring peepers are "cheeping" and "chirping" in a delightful din.
Date: 2018-04-04
From: Partnership shelter

To: Atkins, Va near-0
Miles today: 11.5

Having hiked approximaty 550 miles of the Appalachian Trail, or roughly one-fourth of the trail, let's see some numbers.At about 2 feet per step, 2640 steps per mile  550 miles = 1,452,000 steps.Total cumulative elevation gain for one-fourth of the Appalachian Trail: 116,116 feet, or about like climbing stairs up 12,000 stories in a really tall building.38 days on the trail (minus two zero days) so 550 miles · 36 hiking days = 15.28 miles/day. With approx. 1650 miles to Katahdin, at current pace of 15.28/mi/day = 108 hiking days to Baxter Peak (Katahdin), or estimated summit date July 20.Trail life budget spent in March for food (trail food and town meals), lodging, transportation, gear repair/replace, hygiene was $874.00, which was under my estimated monthly budget of $940.00.Estimates: 4500 calories consumed and burned daily; 9 hours hiked on average daily; 10 hours off my feet each night.Hikers' midnight now: go to bed when it is dark, get up with the birds, even in this motel near the AT.
Date: 2018-04-05
From: Atkins, Va near-0

To: Streamside near Chestnut Knob
Miles today: 19.5

Yesterday a pleasant reunion was briefly enjoyed as "Rambunny", a.k.a Carol Barnes, agreed to provide shuttle service into the DG for resupply. Rambunny is a three-time AT thru-hiker and a lifelong member of Indianapolis Hiking Club. I had the privilege of staying at her rubicon hostel on my 2009 NoBo attempt. Rambunny still supports hikers with shuttles, referrals and other help.The trail today cruised through forest and pasture, crossing many stiles though no bovine neighbors were seen in the fields. Sometimes these pastoral "transfer trails" are necessary to connect trail sections from one wilderness mountain range to another. Such connections of existing trail allowed Myron Avery to survey and map out an "Appalachian Trail" implementing Benton MacKaye's vision of the "continuous footpath" which utilizes many established trail corridors. We hike through national and state parks and forests, local (large) nature preserves, and other protected areas. We certainly appreciate farmers and ranchers who consent to sharing their hay-fields and pastures where transfer-trail is necessary.Many near-major climbs brought me to the base of Chestnut Knob today. Weather was near-perfect with clear skies, light breezes and temps around 50. Cresting Walker Mountain I thought momentarily of the incessant traffic pouring through the nearby tunnel where I-77 passes under Walker. Been there, done that, too.My streamside camp tonight is quiet and calm, far from the sound and smell of petroleum. I will sleep well.
Date: 2018-04-06
From: Streamside near Chestnut Knob

To: Laurel Creek/Va.615
Miles today: 20.0

This section, over Chestnut Knob and Garden Mountain contains most features which are repeated patterns along the trail. Beginning with a major climb: 4.5 mile ascent, gaining 2000' elevation up Chestnut, the trail climbs through hardwood forest until finding open grassy slopes. The steady incline rounds off near the summit at 4393'. Re-entering woods the trail drops through a gap (Walker Gap) then becomes very rocky and rugged with any and every size and possible polyhedral configuration of stone in the treadway. The Pennsylvania two-step" was the dance of choice to negotiate the challenging terrain. My embellished nickname for this ridge is "rock-Garden" Mountain. The trail rolls along this rocky ridge for over five miles. Cliff-side outcroppings make enticing viewpoints. Lunch was enjoyed at such a vista. Two liters of water was carried onto rock-Garden since no reliable streams or springs would be crossed for 10 miles.Finally descending rock-Garden the rugged surface reluctantly receded allowing intermittent fast trail to prevail. Dipping into a gap, then regaining elevation the trail co-opted an old woods road on which a regular pace allowed trekkers' trance to wonder how this road was once used. Grateful nonetheless for the smooth sailing on a good day in the mountains, cadence was kept by the Allman Bros.' "Blue Sky".Eventually the trail cruised down switchbacks to Laurel Creek at Va. Road 615, a gravel mountain track. Since winter weather is forecast for the next two days with freezing night temps, I had called from the ridge to arrange a shuttle ride and two nights stay at a hostel in Bland, Va. Another hiker and I split a grocery bill to share our own home-cooked meal of grilled chicken breasts, salad, sweet tater, steamed broccoli, summer squash and ice cream. I am sated, sleepy and warm.
Date: 2018-04-07
From: Laurel Creek/Va.615

To: Va. Road 611
Miles today: 16.0

With wintry weather returning this afternoon a prudent option was to slackpack today and stay warm in the hostel again tonight.A substantial hiker-shared breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, bananas, more toast snd coffee fueled the slackpackers for lightweight treks today. The shuttle took us back to yesterday's pick-up point so we could continue NoBo with 1/3 the weight of a full pack.Much fast trail was enjoyed today. Though temperatures dropped gradually, snow held off until the shuttle driver met me at the arranged trail crossing. Some transfer trail on secondary roads was necessary to take the trail safely across I-77. Otherwise, not one other person was seen on the trail today. Many leaf-piles were rustled by my shuffling boots, an indication that very few hikers have trampled or scattered last fall's leaves. It seems the "bubble" is still behind me and larger numbers of section- or day-hikers have not yet appeared.The trail followed ridgelines, rolling up and over numerous humpty-bumps. For a time another woods road allowed trekker's trance in which I imagined the sound of wagon wheels clunking over the sparsely cobbled path with mule-shoes clinking against random rocks. The mule driver may have ordered, "Gee, Jack! Haw, Jill!", to spur the quadrupeds up rise. I, too, feel like a quadruped with two fir-pole front legs to balance my gait. I try to keep one pole planted until the following-then-leading pole comes forward to be planted ahead. This way at least one pole is always touching ground.Down a slope, maybe 500 yards, a small white church sat along a gravel road. I wanted to hear the harmonic choir voices wafting on gentle bteezes up the mountainside, perhaps singing, "'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free . . ."I arrived at the pre-arranged shuttle pick-up crossing ten minutes before the car climbed up the back-country road. I smiled as snow fell gently through the open forest canopy, knowing I would be warm indoors on this cold wintry night.Hikers again shared a meal at the hostel. Spaghetti with meat sauce was prepared and served to provide good carbs and calories for more hiking in a grand, linear wilderness tomorrow.
Date: 2018-04-08
From: Va. Road 611

To: Wapiti shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

I ate eight eggs (medium) scrambled with onion and cheese, plus 4 toast, 2 bananas, yogurt, coffee and OJ for breakfast. Felt just about right. I like a hiker hostel kitchen. Snow accumulated to a couple of inches overnight. Since mostly amenable trail was enjoyed today the pace was steady. From the north end (beyond the rocks) of rock-Garden Mountain to Pearisburg long stretches of this trail resemble the southern Indiana Knobstone Trail. It certainly felt familiar cruising through open hardwood forests and walking on smoother treadway. The Virginia reminders came occasionally as the AT passes through rhododendron and Laurel tunnels. Finding Wapiti shelter unoccupied, and more rain/snow forecast for tonight, the tent and I will stay dry under roof tonight. I have been alone in three of the past four shelters in which I've stayed. The solitude is sumblime.