morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Great night last night at Standing Bear Farm last night. Feeling better this morning. Probably will still need to do a short day to help my feet. Left the Farm at 8:45 a.m. along with Mountain Man, Plodder, Rockstar, and others. Warm and sunny to start the day. Long climb out of Pidgeon River Gorge, but we already got part of it covered by starting from SBF. Clouds and drizzle started around noon. Reached Groundhog Creek Shelter at 1:15. Stopped for lunch and decided to stay once the drizzle set in. "T&K Express" came in, as well as Snowplow, Plodder, Rock Star, and Wolf. "Certain" and "Persistant" arrived by 5:00 p.m.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a restless night in the shelter. Temps warmed overnight but it was still cloudy this morning. Hot breakfast and packed by 08:00. Most folks left by 8:00 a.m. So did I. Headed for anticipated and much talked about views from Max Patch Mountain. Passed over Snowbird Mountain and next to an FAA VOR tower. [Probably was one of the FAA sites we serviced for fuel UST issues in the late 80s early 90s from Wilmington Corps of Engineers office.] Got to Max Patch at 11:30 a.m. to find clouds and broken overcast. Took a few photos and moved on. It was cool and windy on top. Clouds broke by 12:15 when I got to next shelter. Just my luck this week.Stopped at Roaring Fork Shelter at 12:15 for lunch. A crowd of day-hikers in their 60's stopped in for lunch. Lot of "chatter" in this bunch. Not one was carrying anything moer than 5 lbs. Guess that is why they were moving so quickly when they came in.Wild flowers are becoming more prominent with blooms, especially in the lower elevations of the coves and valleys. I wish I knew what they were, other than the carpets of regular violets which are everywhere.Passed Rockstar just before Lemon Gap doing her lunch. She is headed beyond Walnut Mountain Shelter for the night.Stopped at 3:15 p.m. at Walnut Mountain Shelter for the night. Water supply is a trickle at the local spring. Red squirrels and chipmunks are everywhere including the one that ran from under the sleeping platform as I was sitting there reading. Wolf and "Ben" from Maine came in at 5:00.
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs Campground
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Beautiful morning. Good thing as we chased mice in shelter all night. need a good cat or rat snake to take along on this trip. Wolf and "Ben from Maine" left at 7:00 a.m. I left Walnut Mountain at 7:30 a.m. Had an easy climb over Bluff Mountain -HA! HA!. No one else on trail this morning. Picked up a buddy at Garenflo Gap, a stray Walker hound. Reached Deer Park Shelter at 12:10. Got water, ate short snack, and moved on at 12:30. Sun is getting hot today. The dog followed me for a total of 6 miles to Hot Springs, but he stopped at edge of town and would not leave the woods. Good thing as I do not needa dog on this trip. Arrived at at Hot Springs, NC 2:00 p.m. Lots of hikers in town already, as well as paddlers and bikers - it is the weekend afterall. Motels and hostels are full. Got a campsite in Hot Springs campround between the French Broad River and the N&W Railroad tracks -thrilling. Must be 20 folks here I have traveled with before - Little Sister, Rubberduck, Dan. J.D., Uncle Tom and Strider, Mountain Man, Hikernutt, Texas Boys, General Lee, Grin, Two Dogs. Mountain Man had run in a day ahead of me to meet his primary hiking partern - Hikernutt. Got some good eats, washed my clothes and myself. Bought a new light-weight tarp and ground cloth to replace my tent. Set up the tarp in the campground in an A-Frame manner. Shipped tent and some other stuff home. Had a couple of beers with the crowd at Paddlers Pub and then hit the sack. Leaving early Sunday morning to get ahead of the rush.
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Hot Springs Campground

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Traded my tent for a light weight tarp yesterday. Used the tarp last night in the campground. Spent the night fighting the wind that arrived around midnight. At 4:30 a.m. got up and re-set tarp to be open at one end only. Beautiful day coming again. Left Hot Springs at 8:00 a.m. crossing the French Broad River and climbing out up the quartzite cliffs on the north side. Great views from top of the mountain leaving town. Good photos of French Broad and Hot Springs. Met up with "JD" at noon on the trail. We hiked together off and on until 5:00 p.m. past a pond and concrete dam along the way. Took a couple of photos. Trail markings were lacking at the Mill Ridge Wildlife site. Took 15 minutes to figure out where trail was located. Met "Two Dogs" and his daughter going southbound for the day from Allen Gap. Will see Two Dogs tomorrow morning going north. Past a bunch of day hikers from the Carolina Mountain Club (Asheville). they seemed to want to own the trail. Turns out this club maintains this part of the trail. JD and I reached Allen gap at 5:00 and found a note for Trail Magic until 6:00. Headed down the highway and went to trail magic at home of "Fal" and "Hercules" (1999). Belgian waffles, pork stew, and apple crisp with vanilla icecream. Thanks to them for hospitality and friendship. Left at 6:00 pm. to find a place to sleep. Flopped at first good level spot past the highway - too much supper for a long walk.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Allen Gap

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another beautiful day dawning. Sunny and warm. Tarp worked much better last night. It takes some thinking to figure out how many ways this thing can be set up for camping. Left camp at 8:20 a.m. Had a "real" trail experience at 9:00 a.m. when I met 2 elerly brothers (locals) who claimed to be researching why germs and other bacteria were "not" responsible for making humans sick and causing death in humans. They exercise every morning to stimulate theri brains for the "research" effort of the day. Interesting theory but I woinder where their "research lab" is in the middle of nowhere out here. Decidied I better move on pretty quickly before this got too "deep". Took some photos from old firetower at Camp Creek Bald and another looking at White Rock Cliffs. Camp Creek Bald is not really bald but is covered with numerous commo towers. Stopped along trail to take photos of White Rocks cliff from down below. Reached White Rocks overlook at 2:00 p.m. and started doing "geology". All sandstone! or quartzite. Left White ROcks for Firescald Knob. Narrow ridge crosses this section - 4 to 5 feet wide in places. Many jagged rocks turned up on 60 degree dip form the ridge. Looks like Dragon's Teeth. Talked with Fred Moser and Card Smith from top of Big Firescald Knob (long ridge of sandstone). More photos taken from here. One of best veiws along the trail so far. "Wolf" and "Ben from Maine" arrived at 2:45 p.m. More pictures. lots of rock scrambling in this section. Arrived at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 3:30 p.m. Time to rest. Rocks are hard climbing.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hog Back Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Long day coming with some climbs. Left heel now has a blister. Should have spent more time yesterday taking care of this. Light showers started the morning. Hike started well enough but the blister got worse. Stopped at Boone Cove road crossing to dress it again. Now right foot and shin are starting to hurt. Things are quickly going to pot. Hope the right side is ligaments and not shin splints. This is turning into one of those days when you just want to go home to Momma! Big climb (steep grade) up the cove to Sugarloaf Gap. Had to rest a lot with the hurting feet. reached top and headed for Hogback Ridge Shelter. Made it to Hogback Ridge Shelter at 4:15 p.m. finally. Need to rest more during the day. Taking 1 hour for lunch tomorrow would be a good idea. Shelter is heavily crowded tonight. About 20 folks here. Mostly those I ahve been in and around for the last week. Also met a Blue Tick hound who was rooming here for the night. Looks like he is lost - no collar -but well fed. Lessons Learned today: Treat the hotspots ASAP. Fix the problem the first time instead of being gingerly about it. Used a hot towel compress for 10 minutes on the ankle and shin to relieve the pain. Took some Motrin also. Wrapped ankle and shin with ACE bandage and kept in on all night. Hope this helps.
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Hog Back Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept well. Feet and leg muscles seemed well this morning. Decided to leave the Ace wrap on right ankle all day. Feels like this is probably Achilles tendon. Worked well all day. Left at 08:30 for hike and climb of Big Bald Mountain. Got several good photos of Big Bald from the SW at Low Gap. Got a picture of a chipmunk that wasn't too afraid to hang around for a little while. Reached summit of Big Bald at 1:30 - 8.5 miles in 5 hours with rest and stop for lunch. Feet are much better. Guess the hiking times reflect easier hiking today. Took some photos from top of Big Bald. First chance to see Roan High Knob NE of Erwin. Got photos of Big Bald from the NE after passing over the mountain. Still walking/passing same folks as for last 3 days. J.D. and Two Dogs are in Erwin, TN tonight.   Left Big Bald Shelter at 2:30 pm. to try and find a place that has cell phone reception. Veru limited out in these hinterlands. Stopped at Spivey's Gap (U.S. 19W) at 6:00 p.m. for the night. Still no reception.
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Cool night with clouds moving in this morning. Awoke to a pair of gobblers doing their thing up on a ridge we passd over just before Spivey's Gap. Kept it up for half an hour. Good hiking weather. Easy ups - two - and many long easy downs - finally! Made Erwin, Tn at 12:45. "Beast" and I were in a high speed descent to beat the storms to Erwin. Made it just as showers broke out. 5 hours to get to Erwin from Spivey's Gap. A few of smaller rhododendron are blooming on nose of ridge above Erwin. Finally, something different. Stopped at Uncle Johnnies hostel by the Nolichucky River. Uncle Tom and Strider are there. Uncle Tom helps get me a bunk in a place that is full. Amazing! Got my bath and Uncle Johnnies takes care of washing my clothes. Hopped his shuttle to downtown at 3:00 to pick up my mail drop at the Post Office. Spent 2 hours at library trying to set up my photo files so they could be dropped to CDs. Didn't work - wasted 2 hours. Had dinner at Erwin Burrito. Back to Uncle Johnnies for the night. Sorted the drop box. As usual, I put in too much food again. Got a small box of raisins from Bill Fogarty, ASM with Troop 665. Thanks, Bill. Will save for a special day. Today I gained back a half day from those lost in the Smokies. Leaving after lunch tomorrow for Unaka Mountain.Observations after 31 days:1. This is hard work.2. When you think you reached the crest of a ridge, surprise, there are 5 more higher than that one ahead of you.3. The Southern Appalachians are boring in March and April. (Brown, Brown, Brown)4. Good friends are at hand everyday even though you have never met before.5. Trail Magic happens at odd places.6. Georgia AT has worst routing of trail, straight up and straight down.7. Smokies are not what they are cracked up to be at least this time of year, and this was worst set of trail sections so far.8. Roan High Knob and associated balds are best place on the southern end of the trail.Almost True Observations:1. There appear to be twice as many ups as downs.2. The downs are half as long as the ups.3. You can never walk alone, someone is behind every turn.4. Views from Max Patch Mountain are mostly hearsay on its beauty and vistas.5. Gatlinburg was Fun - NOT!!6. I'm having Fun!! Anything is better than work.7. 13 days to Damascus, VA
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Erwin, TN

To: Beauty Spot Bald
Miles today: 11.5

Spent the morning in Erwin. Got my pictures dumped to CD at Walgreens. Still could not name the picture files and download to my CD at the library. Mailed Walgreen CD to Hunter for my web page and also to home. Need to send picture descriptions in mail from Elkpark. Got more first aid supplies and other odds and ends at Walgreens. Taking care of my feet much better now. Left Uncle Johnnies hostel at 1:30 p.m. and crossed the Nolichucky to head north. Good weather and good hiking/climbing. Headed for Beauty Spot Bald for the night. Crossed over Beauty Spot Bald at 6:30 p.m. - NO Campsites here. Finally found campsite about 1 mile north in an open filed wheer 3 othe folks were beding down. Cold wind and rain coming tonight. Had to get up at midnight to reset the tarp due to wind and drizzle. I will get this tarp thing figured out sooner or later.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Beauty Spot Bald

To: Clyde Smith
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

At 05:00 two turkey hunters walked by my tent as I was cross-ways a woods trail. heading to a hunting area I suppose. At least they didn't trip over my guy lines. Awoke to fog and much cooler temps. Turkey hunters left their trucks on road leading to Beauty Spot Bald, about 100 yds from campsite. No turkeys moving today, too cool and foggy - would suspect gobblers are holed up and quiet today. Left at 07:30 without cooking breakfast. eating trail bars and trail mix as I go this morning. Feels like rain coming later today. Climbed Unaka Mountain and crested in a Balsam Fir forest at 8:30 a.m. Really cool sight - dark, foggy, thick firs - "spooky". Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West here or a Lord of The Rings movie set. Got some good spooky photos. Ate brunch at 10:30 - 12:00 AT Cherry Gap Shelter. Took my leson learend from past week and used more rest time today. Decided to go for Clyde Smith Shelter instead of camping since it started raining at 12:15 p.m. Rain until 3:00 p.m. - steady. Rain gear finally paid for itself. Reached Clyde Smith at 5:40 p.m. Atleast 20 folks here tonight. Tents are going up everywhere but I got here early enough to get in the shelter. Got a good sunset photo from across the front of the shelter. Sky is clearing for tomorrow.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Clyde Smith

To: Grassy Bald
Miles today: 8.5

Crowded at shelter last night, but we had a good time. Hangman, Uncle Tom, Strider, Maine Train, Grin, and Texas Boys were there, as well as Luna, Megan, Dozer General Lee and others. Left at 7:30 a.m. for the "BIG" climb up Roan Mountain and Roan High KNob, highest point in TN. Beautiful scenery and the air was fresh with Balsam Fir. Reached top at 11:45 a.m. Stopped for short snack with "Grin" and then went to Roan High Knob and it's shelter. Highest shelter on the AT at 6285 feet. Took photos of shelter and the "knob" high point for my "peak bagging" files. Left at 12:30 for Round and Jane Balds and Grassy Ridge. Beautiful day, but windy again. On the way to Grassy Bald I ran into an "alterative" high school group of teenagers and leaders from Connecticut. About 19 folks total. Their first day out on a 4 day hike. They could stand some help in learning how to pack and what to carry. First thought these were Scouts until I looked at the lack of discipline and poor packing jobs some of them had on their backs. Hope they make it through this. One leader says they have already done 5 days in VA. Much grousing about hard climbs. Decided to camp on Grassy Bald for sunset today and sunrise tomorrow. Over Mountain Shelter was going to be crowded anyway with this bunch, plus all the thru-hikers that are ahead of me. Spent the afternoon re-touring the balds. I had been here in June 2002 when the rhododendron and flaming azaelas were in bloom. Have to come back again for that show - best in the southern Appalachians. Took many good photos today from Roan approach, the High Knob, the Balds, and from Grassy Ridge. You can see all the way to Grandfather and Beech Mountains from here, including the "big" hotel/condo next to Grandfather Mtn. What a glass monstrousity. Beautiful sunset over Roan High Knob. However, the evening was pretty windy and I played the "tarp" game again for the 3rd or 4th time. Winds seem to come from all directions at this elevation, even though I tried to set up behind a small ledge on the east side, away from the prvailing northerly winds.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Grassy Bald

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 11.75

Beautiful evening and night on Grassy Ridge. Wind blew all night - re-set tarp a couple of times to kill the swirling wind entering the front of my tarp tent. Temp was 41 degrees at 5:45 p.m. Great sunrise photos from here this morning. Beech and Grandfather Mountains were framed by the sunrise. Ate cold breakfast, left Grassy Ridge at 07:20, and hit the AT at 7:40 a.m. Passed Over Moutain Shelter (The Big Red Barn) at 9:30 a.m. Now climbing the ridges I could see from Grassy Ridge yesterday. Good views of Over Mountain Shelter from the climb toward Little Hump Mountain. Long climb up Little Hump Mountain but beautiful scenery. On to Big Hump Mountain. Crested at 11:30 a.m. Can see 40 miles in most directions from here. Grandfather Mtn, Bbeech Mtn, and Mt Rogers in VA are really clear from here. took photos all teh way back to Roan High Knob and NE to Grandfather and beech Mtns. Great views today. The only problem is from here you can see all the CONDOS and Golf Courses taking over the mountains. What a waste of good mountain ridges and tops. Cell service is crummy. Must still be in the analog era around here. Got a quick call to Nancy's school to let them know where I was today and where I will be tonight - Elk park, NC. Climb down from Hump Mtn was easy for first mile aros the pastures and ridges. Next mile was rough through many rock slides and rock gardens. Trail really needs a lot of work here - maunly for safety reasons. Passed Meagn and Dozer and Serial at Applehouse Shelter, about 1/2 mile from U.S. 19E. At the highway, the Maine Train, Texas Boys and other were having a feast on Subways and Mickey D's food. Someone had shuttled a couple of them to Elizabethton for food. I am finally ahead of schedule today, so I am stopping at Moutain Harbor Hostel for tonight on U.S. 19E - bewten Roan Mtn, Tn and Elk Park, NC. Nice hostel, over the barn with horse stables underneath, and yes there are horses here. Everytime they bump one of the main posts, the whole thing shakes. Stream running next to barn. Terry (owner)took me to Elk Park, NC for my hiker box at the post office. Great bunch of ladies there but they don't sell phone cards here - Bless their hearts. Got clean and had plenty of time to relax and catch up on photo log and journal entries. Terry mentioned that a bunch of teenages would be camping in the pasture. Well guess who -yep, the "alternatives" arrived at 5:30. Since there was only one shower at the hostel (in the room where I was staying)- they took from 6:00 to 10:00 to get done. Finally had to run them out at 10:30, as they wanted to congregate in my room and have their little clique sessions. At current rate of travel, I should be in Damascus by 8 May or earlier. Looks like I may have to re-schedule my flight home. All this provided, we don't get anymore bad weather.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: few clouds

Great night at Mountain Harbour hostel afte I got rid of the "youth". Clean Again!! and rested. Left at 08:30 intending to do 12 miles today. Beautiful day for hiking. Flushed a turkey in Bishop Hollow (old field site)at 09:00. Found the Elk River near its headwaters at mile 6.1 from U 19E. Great river for trout. Will have to come back here to fish. Absolutely no one around but the butterflies in the meadow. Wonder where the trout guys are? Good photos of stream and a wild Mallard drake floating along with the current. A hot day by noon. Used 3 quarts of water already. Stopped at the "new" Mountaineer Shelter. What a dream - beautiful workmanship and virtually untouched even though it is about 9 months old. Got a couple of nice photos. this is best shelter in Southern Appalachians so far. Took one hour and 20 minutes for lunch a nap.   Met Uncle Tom and Strider at upper end of Laurel Fork stream at 4:00. They had decided to pitch in for the night. Nice cool campsite. Now that I was this far, decided to go for broke and make it to Moreland Gap, only another 4 miles. Clouds moved in and temps cooled off. However, the last 2 hours were a long, hard effort through rhododendron thickets and circular paths on the ridges. Got my fist cell phone reception in several days on a knob of White Rock Mountains around 6:45 just before Moreland Gap. Reached Moreland Gap Shelter at 7:00. Silver Cloud was at the shelter for the night. Snowplow and wife, with their Lab arrived at 7:30. Did a big supper. Warm breexe and almost full moon had me snoring by 9:00. Took photos of Hump, Little Hump, Grassy Ridge, and Roan High Knob from a point North US 19 E.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Hampton, TN/Braemar Castle
Miles today: 15.0

Left Moreland Gap Shelter at 08:30 headed for Watauga lake and Hampton, TN. Had talked with home at 8:45 last night for first time in several days. Got everything straight on that front, I hope! Finally got really good phone reception on western front of White Rock Mountains. Talked with old friends in the office for a few minutes and sent along a couple of photos for their benefit. Old boss was cheerful - wish all of them could be out here. Not much interesting happening until I reached the Laurel Fork Gorge past Dennis Cove Road. WOW! what a stream and valley. Very high sandstone clifs reaching up over a 1500 feet in places. Crossed stream several times on one-way foot bridges made of logs with decking. Nice use of rock outcrops for abutments at one location. Walking on an old railroad bed in places with big cuts through the sandstone ridges. Reached Laurel Falls about 12:00. Best falls on AT in GA, NC, TN. Headed out to Laurel Faork Shelter for lunch. Ate at 1:00 and left for final climb of the day at 1:30. Missed the turn-off for the climb up Pond Mtn. Had to backtrack about 100 yards. Thank goodness for blue blazes on the side trail. Pond Mtn climb was a severe test of will and energy. Temps got into high 80s and I was in the sun on west face for about an hour and a half. Water was getting low. Had to stop several times for up to 10 minutes each to rest and cool down. Longest, toughest climbing effort I have made since back in GA. Several false tops to this climb - affects your mind!!! Total climb out was about 1900 over 2 miles but last 200 feet of elevation was about 50 degree slope. Almost did not make this climb out but finally reached the top at 3:50. Found the spring on top and re-filled one quart bottle. Only 3 more miles downhill to Watauga lake. Would like to meet the fool who laid in this section of trail!!!! Climb down to lake was one hour 15 minutes for 3 miles - wanting to get to town. No luck thumbing in so Mr. Sutton Brown of Brown's Hardware and Supermarket/ Braemar Castle hostel made a run out the 3 miles to pick me up. A true fiend of hikers. Staying at Braemar Castle tonight and planning to do a "Zero day" tomorrow to give my feet and ankle a rest. Mr Brown asked if I could run the hardware store while he went paddling - so I have a part-time job tomorrow - all in fun I suspect. Rain predicted for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. At least 2 wet days of hiking ahead. Hot bath and good restaraunt meal for Wed night. Feeling clean and full again!