morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-07
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's hike: 16/149.9NOC to Brown Fork Gap ShelterToday's Wx-Partly cloudy and warm (50) during the morning, but light rain began at 1:30 with winds and a storm forecasted.Monday forecast is winter storm at Fontana area on Monday at midnight-could be holed up tomorrow night-we'll see.Money spent at NOC: $28.72-hostel 15.98, Rivers Edge Cafe 12.74In the office at 7:15 with a plan to go 22 miles to Cable Gap Shelter, but the forecasted weather arrived earlier and the climb out of Stecoah Gap was too much for me today-over 900 feet for no reason. So I bailed out of the office at 3:15-still happy with a solid 16 mile day. An hour after I arrived another thru-Gel-showed up, followed by the lead party of a nine member spring break gaggle from Bowling Green University and then two other "breakers" from NC State arrived for a nice cozy 13 for this 6 person shelter! I was looking forward to rejoining Early Bird and Juicekey at Cable Gap, but I guess I'll see them in the Smokies, which I'll begin on Wednesday.Tomorrow a 13-miler into Fontana and a stay at the Hike Inn. There haven't been log books at Sassafrass Gap or Brown Fork Gap shelters-they are fully used and full of loose pages with no room for entries for 2005!NOTE TO HIKERS: The sun rises about 6:30 AM and sets past the horizon about 6:45 PM-so you can easily hike from 7 AM to 6:30 PM. Last night at NOC it was still light at 6:45 PM and it is way down in a valley (1740 feet).Also, while the NOC is a nice, friendly place, they really focus on the water sports and take hikers as a side customer. Not a criticism, but just a fact to keep in mind-no Internet (OK one for 20 cents a minute!) and while the outfitter store has a hiker logbook, they make no special effort to record fun data like using pictures and signing in, in numeric order. There's no "I'm the 55th NOBO or the 20th SOBO."This was certainly not the case in Franklin at the Three Eagles Outfitters. They took our pics and posted them and had a neat orderly logbook right at the desk AND they considered thrus as a primary customer.Today's hike is dedicated to Juicekey and Early Bird, both great hikers and a pleasure to fellowship with, during each of the last 7 days or so. They both pushed onward yesterday, while I stayed at NOC as planned-HYOH-hike your own hike!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-08
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Visitor Center
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today's hike: 13/162.9Brown Fork Gap Shelter to Fontana Dam Visitor Center (then to the Hike Inn)Overnight temp was 34 with light rain, fog, and very windy-light snowfall in the early AM.Today's Wx-Windy (25-35, gusting to 50), possible whiteout conditions and rainGood night sleeping as bedtime temp was 44 degrees, making my warmest night so far-surprising that there is this much snow! Could be a tough hike today. Overnight low was 33.At the office at 8:15 and arrived at FDVC at 3:45 and surprise there was Puff Turtle in his car. He turned around and followed me down to the visitor center and then took me to the Hike Inn. The hike was pleasant and HW-28 is actually the Fontana Lake boat ramp which has toilets and a coke machine. The last mile to the Fontana Hilton was a 400 foot up and was chock full of down pine trees-the worst blow downs I've seen so far and for such a short distance.This hike is dedicated to my paternal grandparents: Ferris Markley and Davis Padgett-may they rest in peace.The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-09
From: Fontana Dam Visitor Center

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today's hike: 16.4/179.3 Fontana Dam to Spence Field ShelterToday's WX-Fair, cool, and sunny-temps were 35-40 degrees.Money spent:$68.13-44 room, 20 mail, dinner tip 2 and 2.13 Ingles bagsToday's hike: Began the Smokies today. Across the dam and immediate right up a dead end road to the trail head. In the office at 7:45 and done at 5:45. Lot of snow about 3" up to 12"-I led the gaggle out of Fontana: Juicekey, Early Bird, Gel, Bill, Great Wahzoo, Headlamp, met up with Jill (minus Jack his dog-no dogs in GSMSP) and of course your journaler himself! After Russell Field this is all familiar as I hiked this area in 1998 with scouts from my troop (503) from Clarksville TN. Quite different with snow everywhere.Can't believe the USPS couldn't get my snowshoe package from Dahlonega GAto the Hike Inn in the 13 days that it took me to walk, so will have to go without them and they are necessary past Newfoundland Gap. I sure could have used them today!!This hike is dedicated to my good buddy-Floss-who I neglected to add to my 26 Feb list-congratulations Colonel!!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-10
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Today's hike:11.8/191.1 Spence Field to Siler Bald ShelterWe had 33 at sack time and woke to 26 degrees.Today's Wx-Sunny and cool-a fabulous day!Tonight we have: Juicekey, Early Bird, KB (Kollege Boy), SB (Sleeping Beauty), Snowdog, Kado, Wellesly, and myself. At 7:15, we also had Frye and Bender.In the office at 9:15 and done at 5:30. Today's 6-mile hike to Derrick's Knob took 4+45 hours!! It was the hardest snow slog with tough terrain I've ever experienced.This hike is dedicated to David I aka 2Hump. Back in 1998, he was left at Spence Field while everyone else did a day hike to Russell Field to get extra miles so our scouts could earn their 50-miler patch. We had Patrick S aka Bucksnort, The Beauty Queen, Choo Choo, and Big Daddy D-there to ensure that the story was recorded correctly!! 2Hump cleaned socks, pumped about three gallons of water, swept the shelter, and had four piles of different size firewood ready to go, when I arrived and told him we all were staying at Russell Field!! So we packed up and went down to Russell Field, but he did a great job at shelter clean up!! Last night, I thought a lot about that while at Spence Field.The ability to move and freedom are as one
Date: 2005-03-11
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light snow

Today's hike: 12.5/203.6 Silers Bald to Newfound Gap.Toady's Wx-Overcast with snow In the office at 7:45 and at the Gap 3:15. I was the last person of nine out of the shelter, so everyone else could break the snow-it was nice but still a second tough snow slog day. Saw 5 hikers going southbound today even in the snow-pretty awesome for day/weekend hikers. It was somewhat eerie being solo, tail end Charlie.I followed 5 day hikers from Indian Gap into Newfound Gap (1.7 miles), some kindly folks from Birmingham AL and they gave me a ride into Gatlinburg as the road was just closing: Chris, Carolyn, Katie, Kit, and Nina.At the Grand Prix Hotel and have got my through hiker photo done over at the Happy Hiker outfitters. May have to stay through tomorrow as the road is now closed with snowfall expected until tomorrow afternoon.This hike is dedicated to Troop 10 from Hampton VA and CMS Yarnall for all the time he spent with the boys, being a super Cub Scout and then Boy Scout leader.The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-12
From: Newfound Gap

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

Almost a zero day due to road closure last night, but at 10 AM the all clear came in. With sunny skies and partially cloudy with temps of 60+, we need to get back up there.Today's hike: 3/206.6 Newfound Gap to Icewater Spring ShelterStarted today's hike at 2:40 and at the shelter at 4:00, with a 900 foot climb to 5920 feet. Have a large fire in the shelter and have Juicekey and Early Bird here also.EB and I caught a ride from two Army guys from my old base, Ft Campbell (Rob and Rob), who crammed us both into the backseat with our bags on our laps. They then day hiked with us to the shelter-guys thanks a lot for the ride and the fellowship as we hiked today!Money spent: $127-45 hotel, 17.63 Happy Hiker, 25.53 eats, 19 drinks, 21.80 supplies.Today's hike is dedicated to America's finest ground, air, and maritime fighters-the United States Special Forces-may our knife always be sharper than our foes!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-13
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Today's hike: 12.6/219.2 Icewater Spring to Tricorner ShelterSacktime temp was 40 with 40 for wakeup-kind of an unusual isotherm-the temp varied between 39 and 40 degrees all night-for practical purposes it was the same all night. Today's Wx-Partly cloudy and above freezing-snow melted all day. Tonight we have light rain at 8:30.Today's hike was another day on slushy snow-trudging along-was difficult even on flat sections because you could never get going above the methodical stepping pace. We climbed Mt Sequoyah (6000) followed by Mt Chapman (6250)-both climbs not difficult except for the snow and water running down the trail from melt off.In the office at 8:00 and at the shelter at 3:20-hike was a lot more effort than the 12.6 we logged for mileage. Juicekey pushed forward to Crosby Knob and within a half hour after I arrived at the shelter, Early Bird came in. Tricorner is nice but the spring does flow right in front of the shelter-good bear hangers and privy. There is also a large tarp that was down which we wrapped up and tied with the ropes provided-made it more airy and less dark. We made a fire and dried our boots, inserts, and socks. Met my first Ridge Runner, Mark "Shatter" Tinkham, who I'll see in June as he will go back to the Whites by then.Today's hike is dedicated to Commander in Chief of the US Military-the President of the United States of America-George W. Bush.The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-14
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Waterville School Road
Miles today: 18.1

Today's hike: 18.1/237.3 Tri-Corner Knob shelter to Waterville School Road (Standing Bear Farm)It is so wonderful to be in Tennessee-one of the 50 best places in the world!Today's Wx-Clear and sunny above 5000, below was "in the clouds" the Smokies namesake.In the office at 7:40 and at Standing Bear Farm at 4:30; out of the GSMNP at 3 PM. Hike was a snow slog to Cosby Knob Shelter and after that we began seeing the ground again! The trail maintainers have done a great job on the approaches to Mt Cammerer, but there are big blow downs towards Davenport Gap. After the gap, you climb just slightly and then cross a hill, a power line, go between power poles and then come to a stream that you cross 4 times before it meets the Pigeon River. On the bridge I saw two gents next to a memorial which I thought was for an accident, but they were county officials taking pictures and discussing the scene of a double homicide from last November.You cross the bridge, turn RIGHT up the on ramp and go UNDER I-40. There is a gravel road and STAIRS on the left-take the stairs, climb 400 feet and go about a half mile, and then you will be back on the gravel road (Waterville School Road).SBF is 200 yards up the road. Looks like I'll be here alone tonight as Juicekey pushed on and Early Bird is at Mountain Mommas.Today's hike is dedicated to the US Air Force-the best air force in the world.My thanks to Curtis and Standing Bear Farm who keep the spirit of southern hospitality alive!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Waterville School Road

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

Today's hike: 20.3/257.6 Waterville School Road to Walnut Mountain ShelterMoney spent: $32.00-15 lodging, 17.00 suppliesToday's Wx-Partly cloudy but a lot of sun, 45ish temps with a 33 overnight low.In the office at 7:30 and at the shelter at 5:45. Had several long, slow ups to around 4000. The leg to Snowbird Mountain is interesting: when it reaches a border of rocks that ends the trail at the access road to the Navaid at the top, an FAA ATC radar transponder called a VOR-DME, which basically allows civil (and military) aircraft to tune a certain frequency and then they receive a bearing and a distance in nautical miles from their position to the the facility. The trail actually TURNS slightly right BEFORE the rocks and follows an amazing number of fence posts with white blazes on them! Without much exaggeration, there must be a post every 40 feet for maybe 1/3 of a mile.I went up to the radar site and happened upon a FAA technician who was performing periodic maintanence-an interesting guy who lives in Knoxville. I had lunch at Deep Gap (Groundhog Creek Shelter) and then climbed from 2900 to 4300 just so I could descend to 3500 at Brown Gap. Then it's back up to 4100 and about 6 more ups that end at 4300, before descending slightly to 4250 at Max Patch Road. The 400 feet up to Max Patch are easy and just before leaving the road, I met a couple ( Lori and John-thanks for signing my guestbook) who perform trail maintainence about 3/4 of a mile after the summit to Lemon Gap.Max Patch was stunning-clear, sunny, no wind, and about 45 degrees!! I took several pictures and was totally alone on top-WOW! On descent, there are many very excellent tenting sites including a perfect one next to a split rail fence, just prior to the rhododendron tunnel.HIKER ALERT-HOT TIP: The 2005 Data book lists Roaring Fork Shelter at mile 88.6-IT HASN'T BEEN BUILT YET and it also leaves off the Mountain Mommas Shelter (Per Wingfoot's guide, this is actually listed as the "Old Roaring Fork Shelter" ORFS) which should be at mile 92.6 or 0.4 before Lemon Gap. The maintainers told me this info and I saw the construction site and took a picture of New Roaring Fork (Note-Privy is complete now). Mtn Mommas is still available but will be deconstructed when New Roaring Fork is finished (estimated in July). Mtn Mommas (ORFS) is a shelter where I think there have been too many problems with locals and the easy access (5 minutes to walk from road).The walk to Lemon Gap has you at 3550 feet for at least 2 miles-I thought my altimeter watch had stopped working! Then you dip down a 100 feet just after Mtn Mommas Shelter (ORFS) and cross a creek, then a short uphill to the gap which is 3550!!Next, you climb 700 feet up Walnut Mountain and dip just past the summit to the shelter.Today's hike is dedicated to the Bard of Avon, Good William, who wrote a play-Julius Ceasar-some years ago. "Beware the Ides of March!"The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs NC 
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

Today's hike: 13.1/270.7 Walnut Mountain to Hot SpringsToday's Wx-Low cloud, cool, and light mists at times.In the office at 8:15 and in town at 1:45. Good hike today, very easy. Mostly downhill with a few easy bump ups. Coming up the grade onto Bluff Mountain and for about a mile, I followed clear cat prints in the snow as the beast had walked "the trail" the evening before-most likely Bobcat judging by the size-still pretty neat! Met a section hiker named Joseph who stayed at Deer Park Mountain Shelter with Juicekey last night-he's been following my trailjournals this year. Stopped at Deer Park Mountain Shelter for a quick stop for raingear. Then coming into Hot Springs, I came out of the clouds and caught a view of the town from 1000 above.Picked up my pushbox at Bluff Mountain Outfitters and then went to find lodging. This hike is dedicated the US Marine Corps-the few, the proud-my father was a Marine who landed at Inchon Korea-Semper Fi!!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-17
From: Hot Springs NC 

To: Hot Springs NC 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Eireann go Brach!(air-inn go braw)Ireland Forever!Ok, today is my first ZERO day, which to the non AT pundits means "a day with no miles hiked" here in Hot Springs. I'm going to celebrate St Patrick's Day here with a spa treatment and a brew over at Paddler's Pub, all before I pig out at Elmers on some of his savory meals.Money spent: TBD (but the actual figure may not be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!!)This "non-hike" day is dedicated to Elmers, of course!And to Sam, John, and Matt who are assisting Elmer this spring.The folks over at Bluff Mountain Outfitters are superb!Thanks to Wayne, Daniel, and Caroline-you all were great!!Hello to Kim, EG, AM, BMW, Mark, Foggy, Mario, Hungry and everyone else.May the road rise to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face.May the rains fall soft upon your fields.And until we meet again,May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Date: 2005-03-18
From: Hot Springs NC 

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

Today's hike: 19.6/290.3 Hot Springs to Little Laurel ShelterMoney spent: $111.20-52 lodging, 10.00 spa, 37.70 outfitters (with 7.10 UPS for push box),10 pub, 1.50 wash Today's Wx-Misty and cool morning, then warm and sunny afternoon (temps 50+).Left everyone sleeping at Elmers (except the cat who snuck out the door!) to begin the office at 6:50 and at the shelter at 4:45. Had a great day following my zero day and a good massage at the hot springs spa-not sore at all, but felt a little tired in the afternoon.Experienced 4 new items on the trail today:1) Saw my first spider webs to knock down as I hiked2) Saw my first group of trail maintainers-a group of 8 guys out from the Carolina Mountain Club3) They were working next to a MILL POND which had a couple of benches were hikers could sit and experience the tranquility of the pond-cool!and 4) There were lots of large piles of canine poop with either black or grayish hair-them's BIG coyotes or perhaps the canis lupus!!This hike is dedicated to the Carolina Mountain Club-to Brushy Sage, Skip, and the other six members of their team. They're out there VOLUNTEERING to improve the AT (and other trails) three days a week!! Super job fellows!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-19
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike: 21.5/311.8 Little Laurel to Hogback Ridge ShelterToday's Wx-Overcast and cool with an overnight low of 35-windy too.In the office at 7:30 and at the shelter at 5:40-not bad 21.5 miles in 10 hours and 10 minutes. Stopped at both intermediate shelters today-Jerry Cabin and Flint Mountain-signed the registers and ate a little at each.It was rhodos and rocks and snow near Blackstack Cliffs and just after, there was a new blue blaze sign for bad weather which provided an alternate route should there be bad weather rather than go white blaze over the exposed ridge. The ridge was a rock step mile or so and you're literally standing on rocks above all cover, no place to be in very high winds or any type of storm! The blue blaze alternate comes out in a good flat place to rejoin the white blaze trail with another brand new sign.When you see the left turn for Andrew Johnson Mountain, then Jerry Cabin is 4 minutes away-good shelter lots of firewood.About 25 minutes out of Jerry Cabin, there is a neat surprise-let's just say the area is easy to walk with unobstructed views!Crossing Devil Fork Gap is the first stile you see on the AT. Then, on the hike up to Frozen Knob (up 1500 feet in 2.8 miles) you cross a stream that gets into waterfalls as you get higher-the water cools hot feet and is great tasting (before the toes go in!).I passed Indy (section hiker on his second year-doing Hot Springs to Pearisburg) on the climb and then I met Early Bird who had a nice fire going at Hogback. So, tonight we have Indy, Early Bird, and Big Daddy D at the shelter.At 311.8 miles now; I'm 1/7th complete on the AT!This hike is dedicated the US Navy-may our sea lines of communication always be open.The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Today's hike:20.6/332.4 Hogback Ridge to No Business Knob ShelterToday's Wx-Clear, crisp upper 40s in AM, 50s and sunny, with overnight temp of 36. In the office at 7:45 and at the shelter at 6:00. Pretty high elevations through Big Bald (5516) and then snow on descent for about two miles. I stopped at Bald Mountain Shelter and met two local dudes on a weekend hike: Pat "Hollywood" and George "Mudfoot" who were just super to talk and hike with down to Spivey Gap. I arrived first and Early Bird came in ten minutes later-we both felt energy zapped on the 1000 foot downhill! So we stopped and ate at the road. Then when Hollywood and Mudfoot arrived there, they gave us all their extra food, a beer, and (since EB had craved a coke for two days) I gallantly just came right out and asked if they had any coke! Shack-they did-a two liter bottle they shared fully with us-WOW!The climb past Spivey was all walk-not even a camp site available-so we just trudged up in less than two hours.Tonight we have: Jerry-a section hiker; a family-Dogwood, Running Wolf, and Park; and Early Bird and myself. Today's hike is dedicated to our trail magic benefactors-Hollywood and Mudfoot-thanks a million guys!The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-21
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike:6.3/338.7 No Business Shelter to Erwin TNToday's Wx-Beautiful dayIn the office at 7:00 and in town at 9:15-an easy hike into town, but had to walk a mile or so to the Holiday Inn Express.Today's hike is dedicated to the US Army-America's courageous land warriors who are standing tall in the world's two new democracies.The ability to move and freedom are as one!
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Erwin TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike:16.4/355.1 Erwin to Cherry Gap ShelterMoney spent:$104.45-lodging 57.36, dinner 16.50, Food Lion 28.49, supplies 2.10 Today's Wx:45 to 50 degrees, partially cloudy in the AM; then foggy, cooler with rain in the PMIn the office at 8:00 and at the shelter at 4:00. A good hike today with a stunning forest of red spruce on top of Unaka Mountain with a snowy floor and foggy mist-very surreal!Out of Low Gap some horseback riders must have come up the trail while it was wet as there is significant trail damage going to Cherry Gap Shelter [3/30-Confirmed by two thrus who I met coming into Damascus-there were 10 riders!!].The leg up from Nolichucky River just up from Nolichucky Gorge Raft USA criss-crossed a stream on several bridges with a lot of moss and ferns-very neat. I had to get out my Gerber saw and cut a rhodo blowdown which covered the trail as well as picking up several cigarrette butts and trash.Got to the shelter just as the light rain became a steady down pour, so I watched 5 others come into the shelter.Tonight we have: Juicekey, Early Bird, Indy, and a spring break father/son team. This hike is dedicated to the great team at Erwin's Holiday Inn Express: Michael B-thanks for the two rides; Brian-thanks for the chat and vehicle; Cedric-thanks for all the help during check in. The room, breakfast, ice cream, and internet were all great!The ability to move and freedom are as one!