morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-11
From: SPRINGER MOUNTAIN!!!

To: Hawk Mtn/Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The ride down to Georgia went pretty much as planned on Thursday. We stayed at a place called Goose Creek that night. I was too excited to sleep much and was worrying about forgetting something important back home, where I'm not going to be for at least six months. But all is going well so far, except I had a battery failure in my pocket mailer the first night out. So this report will cover first and second days. The weather has been gorgeous, with clear sunny skies and amazing star lit nights. My feet are holding up well with no blisters or problems at all. Hope that continues! Have not been very hungry yet but know that will change soon. The scenery is beautiful here in the mountains. No leaves on the trees yet so visibility is 50 miles or more from on top of the mountains. Of course you have to get to the top to see it all and that is not all that easy. When I started from Springer on Friday the 11th at 11am, we all took pictures of each other, then as is the tradition, we picked up a little rock to take all the way to Maine and place on top of Mount Katahdin at the official end of the trail. Since very few ever make the entire distance, the rock pile in Maine is still pretty small.I have been hiking with my coach, Vera, who is the manager of Extreme Outfitters in Carmel, most of both days. Have seen a few other hikers but not nearly as many as I expected. Think I missed the real big push of hikers yet to come. We have done about 8 miles each of these first two days and I plan to do that for a few weeks till I get a little more used to carrying my 40 pound pack up and down these mountains. Although I miss everyone back home in Indiana, I am having a great time. So until next time, from someplace in the north Georgia mountains this is the Vitaman signing off. Ya'll remember to take your vitamins and minerals.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-13
From: Hawk Mtn/Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Jarrard Gap
Miles today: 9.0

Been too excited and tired to give any details the last couple days. Will try to fill in the gaps a little. First day we hiked what I thought was a pretty hard 7.6 miles to the Hawk mountain shelter. It was a mostly clear but cool day and a very cold windy clear night. Oh the stars...... Day 2 we hiked about 7.6 miles to the new Gooch Gap shelter which was just built 1.5 miles from the actual gap in the mountains. But because it was a beautiful warm clear Saturday, the whole place was filled up with weekenders, so we continued on another 1.5 miles to the actual gap where we found campsites to use for a total of 9 miles. They were 9 tough miles too. Just had time enough to set up tents, get water from a stream and eat a little something before it got dark. Again, it was a beautiful clear stary night and not cold at all. Our 3rd day was a real tough one. Several very steep uphills and downhills. I was huffing and puffing all day long. Another clear but unseasonably warm day to make it just that much harder. Got to 65 degrees by my little thermometer. Luckily there was a little breeze up on the mountains most of the day. Think I got a little sunburned the last two days but that should turn into a nice tan soon. The views from the mountain tops have been really breathtaking, with the clear skies and the trees still with no leaves. Can see for many many miles, valley after valley and mountain after mountain until it all sort of blends together with the horizon. Makes me feel very small and humble in comparison. After about 9 miles we got to our campsite for tonight at Jarrard Gap. Boy, was I ready to stop! The skies were starting to cloud up and it looked like rain so we quickly put our tents up, got water at a nearby spring and started to cook dinner. It did sprinkle for a few minutes while my Mac n Cheese was cooking but it cleared back up while I ate. Now as I write this, I can hear lots of thunder in the distance. Looks like the perfect weather will come to an end tonight. We are leaving early tomorrow at first light to do the last 7.5 miles into Neels Gap where we will spend tomorrow night, wash our clothes and ourselves, eat at a nearby barbeque place and resupply with 5 more days of food. Will try to call home also to see how things are going in the real world. The thunder is getting closer, so I better get ready for an old fashion gully washer. Till next time then.....keep taking your vitamins !!most all dayRIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Neels Gap

To: Somewhere north of Neels gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Vitaman update! I watched Vitaman climb the hill behind Neel's Gap and head on up the trail about 11AM today, Tuesday. He was in great spirits and stepping lively with a twinkle in his eye. It was snowing down below but was only cloudy, cold and windy up on the mountain when he left. He was reviling in the snow...crazy man! He left with a fellow hiker named, Tim who is attempting his 3rd AT thru hike. I left Vitaman in good hands. By the time we left Neels gap at 12ish the sun was out again. Expect another report from him in 4-5 days. Reporting from back home again in Indiana for Vitaman,the kink
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Somewhere north of Neels gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today we said good by to our 4 Indiana A.T Club members who had come down to hike the first 4 days with us as we checked out our gear each day and got used to the thru hiker lifestyle. They were very helpful and we would have had a much tougher time without them. I did have a couple of gear failures these last 4 days. The insoles of my shoes wore out after using them since last November and my battery operated ultra violet water purifier quit working. So at the Neels Gap store I got new insoles and a new M.S.R. water filter. Also got a couple of light weight stuff sacks to replace my old heavy one I was using for clothes. My pack is a little lighter and my clothes fit in better. After swapping out gear, my new hiking buddy ' Tim ' from Ohio that I met on trail Saturday, and I set off about 10 am. ' Hareball ' who came down from Indy with the group and is also doing a thru hike, was not ready to leave the store at Neels Gap yet so she told me to go ahead and go on with Tim and we would see each other up the trail later. Well I only wanted to do about 6 or 7 miles since we got started late, but we ended up doing 10 !! Sure glad I got new insoles in my hiking shoes !!So I have now done 40 miles of the A.T., having good weather every day so far. A little rain Sunday night and a little snow while eating breakfast this morning, but during the day it has mostly been great.So today we went from Neels gap, 10 miles to Low Gap, and tomorrow we will go to Blue Mountain. My hands are getting too cold to type anymore, so it is into my sleeping bag for the night. Till next time......take your vitamin/minerals.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Low Gap

To: Blue Mountain
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up Wednesday morning the 16th, to 35 degrees and 30 to 40 mph winds and light rain up on the mountain where we camped just before the low gap shelter. I will admit I did not enjoy breaking camp this day. Just wanted to stay nice and cozy in my sleeping bag. But I forced myself to get up thinking " why am I doing this again "? once under way I warmed up and my hiking partner, Tim from Columbus Ohio, and I started out....slowly. Took a while to get warmed up under those conditions. We hiked till about 2:30pm in dense fog, light rain and wind at which time we got to Blue Mountain and set up camp for the night. The wind calmed down about 1pm but we were still in the clouds and still about 35 degrees. Never could see more than about 50 feet in any direction all day. Hope tomorrows weather is a little more forgiving.Seems we have gone a total distance of 48.3 miles from the start of the trail. Plan to go into the town of Hiawassee on Saturday and stay overnight at the Holiday Inn to resupply, reorganize, dry out and clean up. RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-17
From: Blue Mountain

To: Young Lick Knob
Miles today: 10.0

Stayed at Blue Mountain last night, elevation 3,900 ft. It got cold and windy, snowed, and sleeted. Was tough getting up and going this morning but once on our way down the trail we ( Tim from Columbus Ohio ), had a wonderous sight. Up on the top of Tray Mountain, at about 4,500ft., the wind had blown so hard while it was sleeting that all of the trees, branches and leaves had 2 to 4 inches of sleet stuck on them, horizontal to the ground. What an amazing sight. We decided that as pretty as it was we did not want to chance camping in those conditions so we hiked an extra 2 miles till we found a place to camp down at about 3,600 ft tonight. A place called Young Lick Knob, which is 58 1/2 miles from Springer Mountain. It is 8 1/2 miles to Dicks Creek Gap tomorrow where we will hitch a ride into Hiawassee Ga. and stay at a motel to clean up and resupply. Will upload and download e-mails from there. RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter area
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Leaving Hiawassee, Dicks Creek Gap, this fine Sunday morning, the 20th of March and going to Bly Gap, which is about the North Carolina state line.So long Georgia, it has been an experience. See you again some year.Saw Hareball at a Mexican restauraunt last night. She was with 2 other lady hikers and doing fine and waiting for a package to be delivered to the Holiday Inn. Think she was swapping out sleeping bags. Said she was just too small to heat up her large bag and was waiting for a shorter one to use.Tim, from Columbus Ohio, is still being my hiking partner and trying to show me how to do things the fast efficient way. I appreciate his guidance. His 3 previous A.T. hikes have shown him what works and what doesn't.Next post will be from North Carolina. Hoping to get to Fontana Dam in 10 days.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter area

To: Carter Gap Shelter area
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Muskrat Creek at 7:30 this fine 21st day of March and hiked 12.5 miles to Carter Gap. Certainly no picknic, but it did seem a little easier today. Temp was around 45 to 50, depending on our altitude at the time, and cloudy all day. Still beautiful, but in a different way than when it is sunny. Have camped with the same crowd of hikers the last few nights. Mac and Sunshine who are a husband and wife team fron North Carolina, then there is Sparticus and Rainbow who are another young husband and wife team. SwampFox, who just retired the day before he started the trail and me and Tim from Dayton, not Columbus like I previously said. There are others who hike really fast that we only see one night, then they are gone. Like high school or college kids on spring break who have legs that never get tired. Tonight for a special treat, there is a dozen boy scouts camped nearby. Glad I have ear plugs !Supposed to start storming about midnight and thru tomorrow, so that should be interesting. Better get my wet weather gear out and be ready to hike in the rain tomorrow. SLosh....slosh !!RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Carter Gap Shelter area

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Amazing day today, the 22nd of March, and a 16 mile day. Started out with getting out of camp by 7:15am. ( I'm getting better at getting going in the morning ) We had heard that it was going to rain today and maybe even thunderstorm, so we, Tim from Dayton and I, wanted to get down the trail and over Albert Mountain, at about 5,250 ft., before it started raining so hard we wouldn't be able to make it. Well, the first 6 miles went pretty well. Skies were overcast but no rain yet. We got to the base of the mountain when we ran across our trail angel for the day. A man named Barry and his wife Mary had set up their camper at the base of Albert Mountain 2 weeks ago and set up a campsite for thru hikers to stop and rest and eat at. These amazing people had hundreds of pounds of food to dish out, soda pop, chairs to sit and eat at and a big canopy covering everything. They had a campfire going where Barry was cooking enough barrito fixins to feed a small army. So at just the right! time for us, just before we were to climb the mountain, we got to sit down and rest a little, eat all the barritos, drink all the soda we wanted and all for free. Barry and his wife did this for the thru hikers all for free and he was going to stay there thru the month of April taking care of the hikers. Talk about a trail angel !By the time I had stuffed myself and was ready to takle the mountain, 8 more hungry hikers had shown up and Barry was in his glory getting them fixed up with food and drink. I donated a few dollars in a paper cup when Barry wasn't looking and Tim and I headed for the mountain. The last quarter mile up was meant more for a mountain goat than a human. I was just about crawling up the slippery rocks on my hands and knees, which is not all that easy with a 40 pound pack trying to throw you back down with every step. It wasn't pretty, and I didn't set any speed records, but I finally made it to the top. Because of the weather, the top was in the middle of a cloud and we couldn't see more than about 20 feet. Not much of a reward for so much effort, so we headed down the other side just as a light rain started. Well as the day drew on it rained a little harder, then even harder untill it was a steady downpour. We decided putting up tents in a downpour was not a good idea since the! town of Franklin was only a couple more hours down the trail then a hitch-hike into town. So we kept going, a total of 16 wet miles today. By the time we got to the motel in town we were drenched to the bone, exhausted and starved. So we spent the rest of the evening drying out and eating at an all you can eat buffet. Yes......they definately lost money on us. We are watching the weather carefully, as hypothermia is a real issue when the temps are around 35 to 40 degrees up on the mountains and you and all your stuff is wet. The rescue squads have already been called out this month to get hikers who got in over their heads. I don't plan on being their next emergency. Back on trail when the weather permits.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Franklin, NC

To: Licking Gap
Miles today: 11.5

Beautiful sunny day as we left Franklin N.C. with trail angel Kathy Sherrard, who volunterily gives hikers rides to and from the trail. We made her take a donation for gas and gave her a big hug, then headed back up the trail. Tough day of long steep climbs, making me ask myself several times what the heck I'm doing this for....and just then I would get a veiw of distant mountains and valleys below that take your breath away with their beauty. So onward and upward we went. Our campsite tonight is about 1/2 mile short of Licking Gap which is 11 1/2 miles from Winding Stair Gap where we started this morning. Elevation is right at 5000 ft., so we expect it to be cold in the morning but also should be fairly sunny to start with. Heard more bad weather is on the way for the weekend, so we might duck into the Nantahala Outdoor Center when we get there saturday night if it looks like storms are a pretty sure thing.Then we think we can make it to Fontana Dam in 2 1/2 days from N.O.C.I have a food drop package waiting there for me and also a care package of chocolate chip cookies and brownies that one of my Indiana A.T. Club hiking friends, Nancy, sent me.I'll probably stay over night there so I can eat cookies and brownies till I pop.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Licking Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Hot sunny day today this 25th of March. Think I got a little sunburned again and am pretty far along with my ' farmer tan '. Tough 17 mile day filled with steep PUD's......which stand for pointless ups and downs. Can't have a trail that goes around a mountain, got to go straight up one side and then straight down the other side. Tim from Ohio is still with me and we picked up LumberMac today also since his wife who was hiking with him had to go back home to continue her employment, so Tim and I adopted him since he looked like a lost little puppy. We all get along and walk about the same speed, so it works out well.After such a long hot day we treated ourselves to a stay at the Nantahala Outdoor Center hiker hostel where we got a shower and a restaurant meal. We leave tomorrow, after breakfast of course, and expect to roll into Fontana on Monday night. Will take a zero day Tuesday to get everything cleaned up and my resupply package organized. Then it is off across the Smokies. At least thats the plan as of tonight. Many things can happen to alter the best of plans though so be ready for anything !RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-26
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another fine sunny day for March 26th, and again, I thought it was too warm for the climb we had to do today. But it could have been much worse so I shouldn't complain. Word got back to us that a hiker almost died from hypothermia back at Albert Mountain. Seems that Barry, our trail angel who had made borritos for us, had found this guy out side his trailer late at night thoroughly soaked and shaking so bad he couldn't talk. Seems he was near death and Barry and his wife saved his butt. That was the night we went into Franklin to get out of the wet and cold, and it seems we made a good decision. Anyway, today after a great breakfast, we made the 3000ft climb out of N.O.C. in 5.5 miles up to Sassafras Gap. I got a pretty good picture of N.O.C. from about 2500 above. Took us almost 5 hours to make the climb, to give you an idea of how steep it was. Most of these trails make you wish you were 50% packmule and 50% mountain goat. Everybody knows I'm about 100% crazy to even attempt this. But then all these other folks must be nuts also, so I'm in good company. Tim, Mac and I have joined up again with Spartacus and Rainbow, who we have been a day behind since we stopped in Franklin. Also a newly retired guy called SwampFox keeps showing up so we figure he will hike with us till Fontana anyway, which is two days away. Being Saturday night there are also some weekenders camping here at Sassafras Gap which makes it a little crowded.The buds are starting to form on the Rhodadendrens so it shouldn't be too long before there is alot of color in the forest. These mountains are extemely rugged and yet so beautifully gentle with the little purple and blue flowers starting to bloom along the edge of the trail. Expecteach day to see more and more color along the sides of the trail as we pass more into spring warmth. The sights and sounds of the deep forest are realy unique and special. Wish you all can someday experience it in your own way.RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Stecoah Gap/The Hike Inn
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Easter Sunday started with wind and rain storm about 3am. Glad we didn't camp up on the ridge line, but down below the ridge about 50ft by the Sassafras Gap shelter. The rain only lasted a couple hours but the skies stayed cloudy the rest of the day. About 2 miles into todays hike I twisted my ankle going across a slippery rock slide area on the way down from Cheoah Bald. Heard some snapping and popping, but still had 5 miles to go to get to a road crossing, so I continued on. Limped into Stecoah Gap where state road 143 cuts across the trail about 11:30am so we stopped for lunch and to try to assess the situation. Since my ankle was getting worse with each step, decided to hitch down to " The Hike Inn " to try to rest the ankle and meet up with Tim and Mac tomorow night when they come here. Hopefully a couple days off the ankle will give it time to recover enough for me to continue. When I got to The Hike Inn, got cleaned up and checked the ankle, it was swoolen and bruised. I hope if I stay off of it for a couple days it will improve enough for me to continue. Otherwise my thru hike hopes may be over for this year. Just have to wait and see. RIC   aka...Vitaman
Date: 2005-03-29
From: The Hike Inn

To: The Hike Inn
Miles today: 0.0

A beautiful pink and orange sunrise this morning meaning a beautiful day ahead. My ankle feels much better after a day and a half of rest. The swelling is about gone and the bruising hardly noticable. I got a fancy Ace Ankle Support Bandage during last nights run into town for dinner and supplies. The owners of The Hike Inn take all of the hikers to town every night for a meal and supplies since none of us have any transportation. Then first thing in the morning they do a post office run for those who have mailed themselves care packages ahead of time, like I did. My hiking partner of the last couple weeks, Tim from Ohio, showed up yesterday afternoon. He is going to spend today drying his tent and equipment and we will both organize 7 days of food for the hike across the Smokies starting tomorrrow morning. So today will be a relaxing organizing day. Next report on the other side of the Smokies !!RIC   aka...Vitaman****Transcriber's addition. The guys are all sitting around eating Nancy's great brownies and other care packages that they have received..Vitaman and his hiking buds (Tim, Lumbermac) send many thanks for these bright spots in their dull, daily grind of backpacking food. As you have noticed, its always a big deal to EAT!!
Date: 2005-03-30
From: The Hike Inn

To: Mollies Ridge
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

March 30th started with sunshine and warm temps. Tim from Ohio and I left The Hike Inn at 7am with Sparticus and Rainbow to get an early start on the long climb up from Fontana Dam. 10.6 miles from Fontana to Mollies Ridge shelter and over 8 miles of the trail was uphill !! Fontana is at 1800ft and Mollies Ridge is about 4500 ft. so it was quite a climb today. My thermometer on my pack said it was 75 degrees at 3pm on the south side of the ridge. Just right for sitting on the front porch with a cool drink or tooling around in a convertable, but way too hot for climbing mountains! Just three days ago it was snowing up here. They say the mountains have their own weather and to expect anything, anytime of the year. Well, 75 degrees is much better than snow so I better quit complaining.There were little tiny flowers blooming all along the trail at the lower elevation and some of the trees were starting to show their spring leaves. Won't be too long and the real spring will be here.Just as Tim and I got across Fontana Dam and were about to head into the woods, our host from The Hike Inn raced up saying Tim needed to call home right away, because of some family emergency. So I said good bye, and they rushed away. I felt bad that there was nothing I could do for him and I didn't even know if he would ever get back on trail. So I collected myself and continued on up the trail. My ankle felt pretty good most of the time and I hiked pretty slow to keep the impacts down to a minimum. Anyway, about 8 hours after starting out I finally reached Mollies Ridge shelter and plan to stay inside the shelter tonight.....with all of the critters that also live here. Mostly just mice.Looks like it will be a clear night ski so the stars should be spectacular. Hope I wake up during the night to be able to see them. I seem to have fallen into the habit of falling asleep when it gets dark and waking up just before sunrise when the birds first start chirping. Pretty exciting eh ! Got word a little while ago from a hiker that Tim plans to hook back up with me on the north side of the smokies. Don't know what had happened at home with him but seems he plans to continue his hike in a few days.Will be nice to hike with him again since he has already done thru hikes in 2002 and 2003 and I rely somewhat on his experience to keep me out of trouble.Well, it is now 5:30pm which means time for dinner and then into my sleeping bag by dark. Good night Gracie whereever you are. If you recognize that saying you are older than dirt....like me ! RIC   aka...Vitaman