morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-15
From: Woody Gap, GA

To: Neel Gap, GA
Miles today: 10.6

Leigh dropped us off at Woody Gap and we headed up the hills. The sky kept throwing ice shavings at us. Not really snow, but not sleet either. It was kind of like crushed ice. At first it melted right away, but by the time we got past the cut off to Woods Hole Shelter, it was beginning to pile up. By Slaughter Gap, it was all over the trail. So it was all the way up Blood Mountain. I was a bit worried about what it might be like on the other side where I'd have to slide down icy rocks... but as soon as I passed the winter wonderland at Blood Mountain Shelter, I stepped out to sun and clear rocks. Nice all the way down! Then I checked in at the hostel and got a surprise. I was worried that it would be full, with Miss Janet in charge, but they were having a small water problem. So I got a bunk for half price! Who needs a shower anyway? I visited with Baltimore Jack for a bit in the store, then wandered over to the hostel to greet Miss Janet. Great to see trail friends!The local Baptist church provided dinner for a bunch of hungry hikers. (oh, and the water came back on) Lots of friends here, old and new. Wonderful day!Word of the Day: Tucker. Everyday at the store here, hikers get their packs "tuckered".   That is checked out and weight lowered. Tons of items are shipped home from here every year. Hikers have done 30 miles and realized they don't really need all that stuff. Of course, the salesmen will suggest lighter options that are in stock. Some people get new packs, new sleeping bags, new tents, etc. Character of the Day: Miss Janet (who else). I met her at her hostel in Erwin TN which has unfortunately since closed. She has a heart for hikers and does everything possible to help them. She has a wonderful plan for a hiker network for her town (Erwin, TN) but is having a bit of difficulty getting everything in place. Until then, she can be found at various places up and down the trail, doing what she loves best. This year Mountain Crossings was lucky enough to get her to run the hostel. She makes a great breakfast everyday!
Date: 2010-03-16
From: Neel Gap, GA

To: Low Gap, GA 
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

After a great breakfast prepared by Baltimore Jack and Miss Janet, I hiked through the little tunnel at Mountain Crossings. The day began to warm and the sun began to shine! I passed several great views, but knew that the best was yet to come. Finally I got to Cowrock with it's spectacular 180 degree view. I sat on the rock and had lunch with my boots off. It was absolutely glorious today. Perfect hiking weather! Then it was down to Testnatee Gap and back up to Hogpen Gap. I didn't remember this section fondly, but it didn't seem so bad this time. I felt pretty good as I hiked in to Low Gap. Word of the Day: Donation. When you read "donations accepted" it doesn't mean free. Miss Janet provides breakfast, not the hostel. So put something in the jar when you eat there! Same for other places that work on donations, like the Blueberry Patch and most of the church hostels. They can't ask for a specific amount because of taxes, but things cost money. Character of the Day: Corny. He is hiking the trail with his younger brother.   I met him at the shelter where he was flirting with a passing female hiker. His line was bad... so I jokingly said "boy, you're corny". He seemed to like it and the name stuck. He has a great sense of humor and really loves his brother, who just graduated high school.
Date: 2010-03-17
From: Low Gap 

To: Helen, GA
Miles today: 9.4

My beautiful hammock spot at the Low Gap Shelter area was great. I was up at 8 and on the trail at 8:30. The ridgerunner, Razor, had agreed to pick me up at Unicoi Gap around 3pm. So I took it easy. I had expected a nice day like yesterday, but it stayed cloudy and a bit misty, instead. No matter, it was a great walk. I stopped at Blue Mountain Shelter for lunch, then headed down to Unicoi. I sat with Jill for a while till our ride appeared, Then it was off to Helen for St. Paddy's. The Helendorf River Inn has great hiker rates before April, so we got a room, settled in, took showers and washed clothes. Then it's off to dinner and maybe a beer. Word of the Day:ridgerunner. A ridgerunner has the fun job of walking/running up and down the trail. They make sure everyone is safe, no one is hurt, and that people are being reasonable. (not tearing up things or damaging anything. Some people actually get paid to do that!Character of the Day: Razor. Razor is one of my many trail friends. I saw him in Nashville at a Hiker Get-together in late February, then was surprised to see him at Neel Gap yesterday. He just took on the job as Ridgerunner for GA. That means he gets to go from Bly Gap to Springer (70someodd milesl) every week, then turn it around and do it again the next week.
Date: 2010-03-18
From: Helen, GA

To: Deep Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

After a nice continental breakfast at the Helendorf, Razor dropped us at Unicoi Gap at 9:00 am. I passed several hikers still in their tents on the way up. In spite of all the horror stories I had heard about ice around Tray Mountain, hiking was good. There was a little ice on the cold side of the mountain, but maintainers had dropped wood chips and leaves so it was less slippery than most of the mud I have been hiking through. I stopped for lunch near the top of Tray, relaxing in the sunshine. Coming down there were a few blowdowns, but nothing terrible. I planned on stopping to camp at Attis Gap, but the area is so full of downed wood, I was afraid that any wind might blow another limb into my hammock, so I kept going. A little way past Attis Gap, I see a day hiker coming from the other direction. It was S.H.O.E. (slowest hiker on earth - NOT) She had to twist my arm to get me to take some strawberries... She offered me a huge bag full, and I politely took two. She said, no, to take them all, so I did! We sat there and talked while I ate. Then I took off up Kelly's Knob (one mile straight up). I never would have made it without those strawberries! I normally don't stop at shelters that I can't see from the trail, but there wasn't any place to camp, so I headed to the Deep Gap Shelter. It is really nice, with a loft. I was the first one in, and decided I was too tired to hang my hammock, so I settled into the loft. Pretty soon the place was full of hikers. Word of the Day: Trail Maintenance. Winter comes with snow and ice and trees fall down. Someone has to keep the trail somewhat clear. Spring rains wash away trails. Someone has to rebuild. Summer means bushy growth takes over the trail. Someone has to cut it back. Trail Maintenance comes in many varieties. Thank goodness for those who do it!Character of the day: The Unknown Trail Maintainer. You know who you are! You came out in the ice and snow and cut through the icy Rhododendrons. You sawed through blowdowns. You cleared away the fallen branches. You spread leaves and wood over the ice. Thank you from all of us who benefit from your hard work!
Date: 2010-03-19
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 3.5

I knew I had to get up early if I wanted to catch Gary Poteet's 9:30 shuttle. Every morning he drops off hikers who stayed the night before (after giving them a huge breakfast) and picks up anyone at the Gap needing a ride. I was on the trail by 7:30 and barely got to the gap at 9:25, hoping I wasn't too late. I wasn't. He drove me back to the hostel, where I settled in, while he went back with a second load of hikers. He came back with more friends. We decided we needed food, and Gary needed to get to town, so he dropped us off at Daniel's AYCE Steakhouse. Now I am full, and have walked over to the library to catch up on my journal. When I'm done, I resupply and head back to the hostel. I'll probably catch a nap. Tonight I'll eat again (maybe BarBQue), then head to Gary & Lenny's church for the revival. What a great day for a NERO.Word of the Day: NERO. Nearly zero miles. Smarter than a Zero, in my opinion, one camps near town, hikes in, then rests. A Zero means paying two nights stay, while a Nero is only one. Character of the Day: Gary and Lenny Poteet. These two own the Blueberry Patch and have made their hostel a ministry. They wash your clothes and provide a bed and breakfast on a donation system (see my notes on donations). Gary hiked back in the early 90s with his son, who had just graduated high school. They are two loving, caring souls, with a heart for the LORD.
Date: 2010-03-20
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Bly Gap, NC
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

After an amazing breakfast at the Blueberry Patch (eggs, biscuits, sawmill gravy, pancakes, and Lenny's blueberry topping) Gary dropped us off at Dick's Creek Gap. It was a beautiful day for hiking. I carried out a small cheesecake that we didn't eat in town, along with some fresh strawberries. It made a nice lunch to share. I still had a few miles left in me when I got to Bly Gap, but I know about the "Welcome to North Carolina" climb. I decided to save it for morning when I am fresh. So I set up my camp. First I put up my hammock and tarp. Then I threw my bear rope to hang my food. I got it on the first try! I then decided I would gather some wood for a fire later. When other campers started to arrive, I made a fire (Girl Scout style). It lit the first time! I'm feeling like super Red Hat. So I got some water and cooked my dinner right there on the fire. After visiting for a bit with everyone, I climbed into my hammock and fell asleep.Word of the Day: State. The AT goes through 14 states. Today I finished the first one, Georgia with 76.4 miles. It has been a great first week.Character of the Day: Thin Mint. Thin Mint is a young lady from Tennessee. Well, her family is from Tennessee... She got her degree in Television Broadcasting at the University of Tennessee. Then she took off for New York City where she worked in casting for a while. She started a hike in 2006 and is going for it again. Her name? Girl Scout cookies, of course! oh, and she is the only person I know that spent the night at the Blood Mountain shelter alone!
Date: 2010-03-21
From: Bly Gap

To: Beech Gap, NC
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Welcome to North Carolina, indeed! So, I got up early to beat the upcoming rain. (It is always best to pack up dry). Then came the "welcome to NC" climb, during which the rains came. No problem, just a nice rain, I thought. That was till about noon when the buckets began to fall. I'd hoped to make 15 miles to Carter Gap Shelter, but so did everyone else. So when I happened upon the rhododendron cover at Beech Gap, I decided it looked like a spot to hang for the night. It certainly wouldn't be any dryer at the shelter. I managed to get my hammock up and crawled into my sleeping bag without cooking dinner. It was just too wet and miserable. That was about 4pm... long night.Word of the day: Packa. Hiking dry is tough. I did well with my Packa. It is a combination raincoat/pack cover that comes down to almost my knees. I didn't wear rainpants, as they make me sweat if it is warm. (the day started warm...) The smartwool wicks moisture, so I was dry. My decision to wear my New Balance 977 winter walkers was a good choice because my feet stayed dry in spite of the rain. My kilt is the only thing that really got soaked, just a bit below where the packa ends. Character of the day: Sarah. Sarah doesn't have a trail name yet... She is a young lady from Austin, Tx. That is about 90 miles from my home. Actually she attended high school in the same area where I grew up (just many years later). She doesn't say much, but smiles a lot, even when the weather is not so great. She just keeps on hiking.
Date: 2010-03-22
From: Beech Gap, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

I spent 15 hours in my hammock. (That's what you do when it's cold) During the night the rains finally stopped, but the winds didn't. Most of me was dry, if I snuggled into the middle of my hammock. I guess I need a larger tarp for wind... I awoke to ice everywhere. My wet clothes were still wet, but I put them on anyway. My wet mittens were hung under the tarp to dry, but now they were one huge ice pack. It was still dark at 7am, but I had to get up! I packed up, put my mittens inside between my packa and my fleece, hoping they would warm up. My shoe strings were frozen together, but I managed to pry them apart and lace up my shoes. Then I headed out about 7:30 am through the snow,in the first morning light.Ice and snow are fun hiking...not. My hands were cold and I was an unhappy camper slipping and sliding along. But then I thought "I have friends in Franklin"... So I made a phone call. Then I walked and walked through the snow until I could get off the mountain. And I did! Kim Lippy (Mosey) came and rescued me. She took me to her wonderful cabin where I showered and did laundry. Then we went to dinner and to the library where they were having an AT presentation. Although they offered for me to stay at the cabin, I decided to go to the Sapphire Inn, since they will both be busy tomorrow. It's nice to be warm again. Word of the day: Trail Town. Franklin, NC received official Appalachian Trail Town status today. I'm not sure what all that required, but I know it took a lot of work on the part of the folks here for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to give them that designation. I do know that the people here welcome hikers.Character of the day: Ron Haven. Ron Haven now owns four motels along the AT. In Franklin, he owns the Budget Inn, the Sapphire Inn, and the Franklin Inn. In Hiawassee, he owns the Hiawassee Inn. He spends a great deal of time shuttling hikers in his big blue bus. He picks them up at the trail, delivers them to one of his motels, and even drives them to other places when he has time. I understand that he used to be a big wrestler in the WWF. He has lots of stories if you have time to listen.
Date: 2010-03-23
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My first zero day. I decided to spend the day in town, getting photos uploaded, catching up on my journals, and organizing my maps for the next section. Tomorrow I'll head over to Fontana Dam where I'll hike south back to Franklin in time for the April Fool's Day Hiker Bash. sure are a lot of hikers here in town... but it's a really nice day down here
Date: 2010-03-24
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Today was an almost perfect day. I drove up to Fontana and parked my car. Then I walked back from the Visitor¢s Center to the Fontana Hilton (the hiker shelter). Three hikers were there making a fire. After a short visit, I hiked down to the marina area, and crossed Hwy 28. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was great, the hiking was fine. Going south, I met a lot of folks who had been ahead of me, that I had never seen. It was nearly 7pm when I got to Brown Fork Gap Shelter, but there was room for me. I didn¢t even bother to hang my hammock, but crawled in the shelter.Word of the Day: Misery. Now, today was not one bit miserable, but it was a day of contemplation. I kept thinking about an email that I received, saying ¢you say you are having fun, but it sounds miserable to me¢. The more I thought, I realized that although my conditions and situations in the cold rain and snow have not been pleasant, I was not miserable. Misery is an attitude. When my situation is unpleasant, I can choose to be miserable or not. I try to find a way to change an unpleasant situation to make it better. For example, I may crawl into my sleeping bag early to get warm. Or, I may try to find the nearest way to town. Some people are miserable even in good situations. I may be crazy, but I never want anyone to say I am miserable. Character of the Day: Cotton. As I walked up to the shelter everyone welcomed me and introduced themselves. I was especially interested to hear Cotton¢s story. He is a young man, 22 years of age, from Kentucky. He attended culinary school, but when unable to find a job, he decided to take a hike. He gathered the gear he needed where he could, taking all cotton clothing. He ended up with nearly 60 lbs of stuff, including a folding camp chair. When he reached Neel¢s Gap at 30 miles, he had a shakedown and got down to 40 lbs or so, but he refused to give up the chair. Everyone else sat in it, while he sat in the shelter. He has a wonderful attitude and is warm and caring. I think he¢ll make it.
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter, NC
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

I was glad to be going southbound today, as the most difficult northbound climbs are down for me. I got down to Stecoah Gap and remembered 2005. Several folks had some words about the climb out of there, with no switchbacks. But not a problem, going down....   I sat at the picnic table by the road, then headed up the mountain. Of course, I did get to climb up Cheoah Bald. It started to rain again, and I was mighty glad to find the nice shelter at Sassafrass Gap could sleep 14. I took a place up top. Not that I don¢t love my hammock, it¢s just easier not to hang in the rain. Word of the Day: Bald. In NC and TN, balds are mountains that have no trees. They are not above tree line, but have grass, just no trees. The theory is that Native Americans (Cherokee) probably cleared them for farming. It is really neat to climb up the mountain, covered in woods as you climb, through rhododendron and mountain laurel, then reach the green bald. Character of the Day: Cowgirl and Kelly. Jill (Cowgirl) and I started together at Springer. We met at the Hiker Hostel, where her mother left her and her dog, Kelly, with a bit of motherly worry. We hadn¢t seen each other since Dick¢s Gap, since she didn¢t go into Hiawassee. She works at a ranch, so ¢Cowgirl¢ was a natural trail name. I was pleased to find them at Sassafrass Gap Shelter drying off when I arrived. Hiking with a dog can be a problem, but Kelly is well behaved on the trail, and Jill makes the best of it. They hike pretty fast, so I don¢t know if I¢ll catch them again. But it is always nice to see hikers from day one again.
Date: 2010-03-26
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter, NC

To: Natalana Outdoor Center, NC
Miles today: 6.9

Six miles or so, downhill to Natalana Outdoor Center. The infamous climb out of NOC, is now downhill! I could almost taste the burgers as I hiked in for lunch. I walked to the General Store to check in where the book says, but found that I had to walk back to the office. I got my key, my towel, and headed for the bunkhouse. It didn¢t take long to drop my pack, then head for The River¢s End Restaurant. What a burger! Then I just sat around watching the paddlers till dinnertime. Ahhhh.Words of the Day: ascent/descent. Okay, so it¢s pretty obvious that an ascent is a climb up and descent is a climb down. What is neat is that a difficult ascent can become a pleasant descent and a difficult descent can become a pleasant ascent. It simply depends upon direction. Some folks say that a SOBO (southbound hike) is easier because after the difficult stuff in Maine and New Hampshire, it¢s all downhill. Well it may not be all downhill, but lots of areas are better southbound. Fontana to Franklin is for sure!Character of the Day: Diamond Diggs. Back in January, I attended the SORUCK. The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) holds a northern ruck in Pennsylvania and a southern ruck in North Carolina. This was my first time at either, and it was a blast. Lots of hikers itching to hike come together for a long weekend to talk about hiking, eat, and maybe even hike a little if the January weather will permit. One important part of the ruck is helping prospective thruhikers get their gear in a manageable amount. Which brings me to Diamond Diggs (her name is about finding diamonds in the rough). She was the only new prospective hiker this year at the SORUCK. So it was really great to see her at NOC. She was having a great hike, taking a few days off to visit her Mom, then jumping back on. I can¢t wait to see her again, up the trail.
Date: 2010-03-27
From: Natalana Outdoor Center, NC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

NOC is always a cool place to be, but this weekend is especially great! First of all, there is a national paddling competition going on. Now, I don¢t know beans about paddling, but it is fun to watch. I did figure out that the lowest scores are the best ones...   But on top of the paddling, I just saw a big white van that I thought said TAMU (that¢s Texas A&M University) . Then I saw another one and I¢m sure that¢s what it said! So, being the shy person I am, I hiked up and checked it out. Sure enough, there are 21 Texas Aggies here for rafting/paddling school. I got a pic of some of them doing their ¢whoop¢. You never know what you¢ll find right here on the AT!Word of the Day: Paddling. Here¢s what I know, and it¢s not much. You put on nice warm gear to keep you from freezing in the cold water. Then you climb into an itsy bitsy kayak. You better have a good helmet. You head down the river, paddling as fast as you can, trying to avoid hitting the rocks. If you are really crazy, you go for the slolum course. Or, if you have some kind of death wish, you do flips in the kayak and even try to go upside down for a bit. Fun to watch!Character of the Day: Bulldog. This year there is a blind hiker attempting the AT. His trailname is Bulldog. He sees almost nothing, and uses only a cane. The AT has been done by a blind hiker (Bill Irwin) before, but he walked with a dog. Bulldog doesn¢t. I found Bulldog lost back behind the RR tracks that cross NOC. He was trying to find the restaurant. I helped him find his direction and he found the restaurant. But I couldn¢t help thinking that if he happened to get lost or a bit disoriented on the AT, like he was here, it would be disastrous. Of course, on the AT, Gary (a camera guy), is around. But Gary wasn¢t with Bulldog when we first met. I later had the pleasure of meeting them both again just before they drove up past the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Probably a good move.
Date: 2010-03-28
From: NOC

To: NOC, still!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I planned to hike out this morning. Weatherman said 90% chance of rain. Thunderstorms. Possible Tornadoes. Not good. So I decided to stay another day. After all, the paddling competition is still going on and my Aggies are still here. The next week is supposed to be beautiful and I have lots of time to hike to Maine. Oh, and by the way, for the first time, it seems like there are more older hikers here than younguns.Word of the Day: weatherman. You never know who to trust. All morning it was nice with sun peeking through the clouds. Shouldn¢t I be hiking? Oh well... But then the rains came in the afternoon. I did hear some thunder, and a little wind, but not as much as I¢ve seen already. Character of the Day: Longhaul. If you happened to read my 2005 journal, you know that I started the same day as Longhaul did back then. We were at the same shelter areas pretty much all the way to Fontana, when he had to get off with knee problems. He is one of my favorites from 2005! By the way, he¢s even older than me! This year he started a day after me, and he just walked into NOC. He has the most amazing luck. You can imagine how difficult it is to hitchhike with 6 people. Somehow Longhaul got 6 people a ride to Bryson City in the back of a pickup with a cover. (I wasn¢t invited or there would have been 7,lol) They ate their fill at the Chinese all you can eat, then needed a ride back. So Longhaul finds another guy with a pickup and asks about a ride. The guy comes back, not with his pickup, but with a limo from the funeral home he happens to own. The hikers ride back to NOC in style! Things like that just seem to happen to Longhaul all the time!