morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Thanks to a clever plan of our host in Franklin, Paw Paw and I were delivered to the top of Wayah Bald so we could slack-pack downhill, SOBO instead of backpacking the miles uphill NOBO.Wayah Bald was absolutely, categorically, freezing, with an icy wind slicing through every stitch of clothing! Paw Paw and I hustled down the mountain. The ground was hard under our feet. Long, threadlike crystals bloomed along the edge of the trail. Puddles were frozen solid.Paw Paw and Silve on Wayah BaldOne of the nicest things about slack-packing SOBO, is that you get to meet a lot of familiar faces headed northbound, sprinkled in with some new ones. We bumped into Bonnie Carolyn halfway down the mountain. She was the gal who showed up at the shelter a few days back with a tower of a pack. Soon after, along came another woman with a pack perhaps twice the size of Bonnie¢s with all kinds of bright colored things ¢ bandanna, shoes, socks ¢ hanging off of it. I felt quite satisfied that Bonnie would soon find herself a kindred trail companion.Bonnie Carolyn (Thanks, Moonwatcher for this photo!)Bonnie's tall backpack!!! The day wound up with a visit from Paw Paw¢s grandson Scott and Scott¢s wife, Katherine. They couldn¢t have been more instantly likeable. What a treat!
Date: 2007-03-18
From: Wayah Bald

To: Zero at Budget Inn, Franklin
Miles today: 0.0

Paw Paw and I were supposed to start backpacking again, heading northbound, but Paw Paw woke up this morning with a sore knee. So, after breakfast ¢ we were the only hikers at breakfast owing to a St Paddy¢s party last night down in Hiawassee ¢ I took Paw Paw to the emergency room to get his knee looked at.The doctor couldn¢t find anything, but I had determined there would be no hiking today. I began to make plans to hike tomorrow without Paw Paw. Paw Paw began to make plans to leave the trail to get orthopedic attention.Hiking ¢ and zero days ¢ are both exhausting propositions, so Paw Paw slept almost all afternoon. I organized food, messed about on the internet, and took a little nap myself.Next think I knew, Paw Paw pronounced himself healed, his backpack packed, his boots laid out for tomorrow. Sounds like we¢re both headed back to the trail!The mantra on the trail is "no rain, no pain, no Maine".
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Zero at Budget Inn, Franklin

To: Wesser Bald
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I¢m sitting in bed ¢ it¢s 8:52 pm ¢ trying not to get too excited about the shelter mice scampering everywhere. It¢s hard not to, since, if they organize an attack in the night, I¢ll have to mount a defense all by myself. That¢s because I¢m currently between clusters of hikers and am on my own in the shelter.What happened to Paw Paw? I left him at the trailhead this morning, insisting that he drive home to rest his knee. Since I managed to be more stubborn than he on this particular subject, he complied. But I really miss his company and am hoping he¢ll join me down the trail later on. Stay posted.I was feeling pretty glum as I hiked along, but suddenly came across a massive orange dome in the woods with a sign in front encouraging hikers to enter. Magic! It turns out, this was an Everest Base Camp tent owned by a man called Apple. Every year he takes two weeks to do trail magic. He's from Austin, Texas. In side, he fixed me hot chocolate and hot dogs while I collapsed into one of his easy chairs and told my story. After about an hour, I was ready to get back to hiking. Thank you, Apple!This was taken by 357 Magnum (permission given! thank you!). Taken the day before I was there and there's my friend Bonnie and Flint!"Take pride in how far you've come. Have faith in how far you can go..."
Date: 2007-03-20
From: Wesser Bald

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, I did survive a night of little mousies prancing around the shelter. I lost 2 items, however, to the little beasties. One was my straw. Without it, it¢s difficult to get a hot drink out of a metal cup. They also chewed up my pack-towel, I guess for nesting. My pack-towel is one of the most useful items I have in my pack and my sister gave it to me 20 years ago. Double whammy!I did some business on the trail in mid morning ¢ it¢s very strange to be conversing with insurance companies from the top of a mountain ¢ and wound my way into the NOC in the early afternoon. By the time I did my laundry and chit-chatted with other hikers, it was obvious I was going to have to spend the night. Which I did.Narrow trail with a steep slope! (Photo by Lipstick) For dinner, I wondered into the community room where some college kids doing trail maintenance during spring break were eating dinner. They fed me leftovers. Thank you! They had heard about Paw Paw and were wishing they had a chance to meet him. Too bad he couldn¢t be there.Thought¢¦.. A day without sunshine is like night.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

The hike out of the NOC was just plain arduous: straight up for almost 7 miles. It wasn¢t raining, but pretty close. About two thirds of the way up to the shelter, I must have been at about 5,000 ft, when an enormous thunderclap issued from the cloud right next to me. Not above me, not below, but as if I could just reach out and there it was!This shelter is a two-tiered design and it is full of thru hikers ¢ 12, I would guess. There are also several tents in the area. I haven¢t been in such a busy shelter since I started hiking.Ahhhhhhh!
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The shelter tonight is much more mellow than last night, largely because the more robust of last night¢s crew decided 9 miles wasn¢t enough, so they¢ve gone further up the trail. There was also a contingent of older men who looked as though they would collapse when they got here ¢ they¢d already hiked 15 miles ¢ but no, peer pressure got the best of them and they¢ve gone another 6 miles to the next shelter.Today¢s hike and yesterday¢s were possibly the most grueling terrain we¢ve seen so far. I¢m here with Magellan, Rob, MA and Marshall, Signage, Pebble and a section hiker. Most of us recuperated quickly, leaving plenty of time to sit around the campfire and tell stories.The best part of this shelter is the privy, although I¢m glad it¢s not raining. This privy is open to the elements on 3 sides (but with an obviously leaky roof) and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. This was definitely the place to be at sunset!"Take pride in how far you've come. Have faith in how far you can go..."
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton (aka Shelter)
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

I got an early start this morning, hoping to catch the Fontana Post Office before it closed. This was also to be my longest hike so far. By the time I got to Cable Gap, I realized that it would be too risky to hike hard and make the post office. Instead, I stopped, had myself a cup of tea, ate and went on.My legs were quite goofy by the time I reached the Dam Marina, so I quite happily accepted a ride for the last mile. I¢ll slack pack that mile tomorrow.The Fontana Hilton is quite a shelter. Built on decks overlooking the lake, it has four shelves for hikers ¢ perhaps 32 or 40 people at once. Plus, the weather is heavenly: a light breeze, clean air, mild temperature and the beginning of spring.The dam was all lit up at night, and hikers are the only people around: a lovely sight.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Fontana Dam (US 28)

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 1.1
Weather: few clouds

Today was mostly a zero, though I did manage to make up the one mile I missed yesterday. There were perhaps 40 hikers at the Fontana Hilton last night, and now we¢re down to about 6.I have spent my day doing laundry, getting my maildrop at Fontana Village (2 miles from the shelter), drinking tea, sorting through food supplies, mailing stuff up to Gatlinburg, and eating s¢mores provided by Fire Marshall and MA.The scenery is gorgeous, and it¢s sunny with a light breeze: perfect weather for sitting outdoors. Oh, and I did manage to squeeze in a Sudoku from the Daily Telegraph ¢ nice and difficult.View from Fontana Hilton
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Birch Spring Tentsite
Miles today: 5.9

The Beautiful Smokies - photo by Moonwatcher, thanks Richard!My first night in the Smokies! I had anticipated going further today, thinking that the first shelter ¢ at Mollies Ridge ¢ is some 6 miles up the trail. Because thru hikers are required to spend nights in or next to a shelter, that was my objective. Until, that is, the Ridge Runner explained there was one exception, namely the campground I¢m in. Since all I wanted by the time I got here was an afternoon siesta, I pitched my tarp and fell asleep.I¢m having trouble staying cool. Like everyone else, I had planned for the possibility of snow in the Smokies. Instead, it¢s hot and dry, maybe 75o during the day, and with no leaves in the trees yet, it¢s easy to bake.My pack weight leaving NOC (mile 133.9) was 31 lbs with 4 days of food and a liter of water. It doesn¢t sound like much, but I still keep fantasizing about how to slim down.
Date: 2007-03-26
From: Birch Spring Tentsite

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I think this must have been my longest hiking day so far, but I made good time and I¢m not too exhausted. I am very pleased with myself.This shelter is a marvel: set in an ancient orchard in a grassy meadow. It is, I believe, less than a year old. Built to resemble a homestead, it¢s made of local stone, has an inside fireplace and well-laid out cooking area, plus the all-important mouldering privy.I discovered this evening that I had made a wondrous mistake and packed a turkey dinner intended for later up the trail! This meant it was colossal: rice, stuffing, vegetables, turkey, and gravy. Once I added the appropriate boiling water to it I had almost a full quart bag. I ate ALL of it! Yesterday was history, tomorrow's a mystery and today is a gift.
Date: 2007-03-27
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Today was an arduous trek. I¢m not sure what made it so difficult; perhaps it was the sheer number of knobs and ridges and balds and domes or perhaps it was the stamina required to do back-to-back long days.This was also the day I made friends with a turkey, a real turkey, not tame, not farmed, not stuffed. I guess he lives near Silers Bald shelter. Anyway, he decided to make himself at home right next to me, pecking at the ground and even looking at my dinner.Johnny Carson quote: "When turkeys mate they think of swans."Thank you Lisa (Rutabaga) for this photo!Thank you trail maintainers! An example of how fallen trees have been cut to allow easy passage! A great example of toe catching ROOTS, looks like stitches on top of a quilt. Photo by Lipstick
Date: 2007-03-28
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: MtCollins Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

The fog has rolled in and seeped into every nook and cranny of this shelter. All my gear feels damp, my clothes are soggy, even this piece of paper is limp. But someone has had the bright idea of building a fire in the fireplace inside the shelter, and it is just now cutting into the damp.Hermes, Silver & U-Turn (MtCollins Shelter)- photo by Moonwatcher, thanks Richard!Everyone is complaining about the slog up to Clingman¢s Dome ¢ the highest point on the trail ¢ but I didn¢t find the trail that difficult. I had, however, neglected to fill my water bottle before I left this morning, thinking that there would be running water, restrooms, etc. at the top. I was wrong. When I got there, two Park Service employees greeted me and told me the closest water was in their truck half a mile away. I said I thought I had enough to get to the shelter. They disappeared. A short time later, a Park Service truck pulled up, they jumped out, and completely re-supplied me with Gatorade and water. Thank you!My 3 trail angel workers "at work". Photo taken by Moonwatcher, Thanks Richard!
Date: 2007-03-29
From: MtCollins Shelter

To: Grand Prix Motel (Newfound Gap)
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

I had a mere 4 12 miles to hike today, since I decided I really need a break. I emerged from the trail at Newfound Gap just as the fog descended.In the gloom, I spotted the same Park Service fellas who gave me Gatorade at Clingman¢s yesterday. I yelled to them and waved. They greeted me like a long-lost sister. And then they offered me another Gatorade!My 3 trail angel workers. Another photo taken by Moonwatcher, Thank you!Clingman's Dome, photo by Richard, another thank you!I had met a family from Wisconsin in the last half mile of the trail, and they were kind enough to give me a ride into Gatlinburg.Now, Gatlinburg is much maligned by hikers, but its campiness, busy streets, tourist craziness, is just the change of pace I need. I rode around town on the trolley, did my wash, ordered pizza, ate ice cream.The Grand Prix Hotel
Date: 2007-03-30
To: ZERO Day in Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

No information written down this date but here's a quote and a few photos to enjoy from Moonwatcher! Thanks Richard!Sandra Bullock: "Everyone told me to pass on Speed because it was a 'bus movie.'"Beautiful pictures from the past week: DAWN AT COSBY KNOB VIEW FROM THE SMOKIES !!
Date: 2007-03-31
From: Grand Prix Motel (Newfound Gap)

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

You might think that leaving Gatlinburg would be an easy thing, given that it¢s the town hikers love to hate. But no.I hitched a ride up to Newfound Gap and found myself besieged by sightseers who looked at me as though I was some exotic woodland creature. They asked a lot of questions as well! Where I slept, my pack, my Camelback, my schedule, everything. I must have spent an hour in the parking lot answering questions.Taxpayers are our biggest trail angels - they foot the bill for the Trail, after all ¢ and these taxpayers were polite, curious, and thankful. Who could possibly begrudge them?I was hiking by perhaps 1:30 and originally thought I¢d sleep at Icewater Spring Shelter, but it¢s Saturday night and I saw enough beer at the shelter to alarm me, so I kept hiking.From the map I could guess that I would be in for a ridge walk, but this was 7 miles of drama : sheer drops on both sides of the trail, dark thunderclouds hovering just above, and long vistas to row upon row of mountains in every direction. Plus, the smell of spruce pervaded the trail.Wonderful!I didn't stay here, but here's a beautiful photo of dawn at Icewater Shelter taken by Moonwatcher, thanks Richard!Richard took this a short time later! Awesome!!"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December."
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: TriCorner Shelter
Miles today: 5.2

This is quite the craziest shelter experience I have ever had. I got here in good time and intended to move on to the next shelter, but got caught in some very squally weather. Translation: I was soaked!There were 3 other people here then. We hung all our wet gear, our packs, and started to get warm. Two by two, more people kept arriving, all of them wet through. There are 18 of us in here in all, and it¢s not yet dark.Since we were obviously going to overwhelm the shelter with wet gear, I suggested we use our bear lines to hang clothes between the beams and the ceiling. So, there are 18 of us and hundreds of pieces of gear ¢ packs, socks, ponchos, rain covers, shirts, long underwear, jackets, pants, hats ¢ filling the open space of the shelter.Almost the last 2 people to arrive were a couple of hobos with a banjo and a fiddle. They seem to be on the way to some musical opportunity and hiking the trail to get there, at least part way. Anyway, they have been playing bluegrass and cooking potatoes and carrots in the fire, all in the middle of the forest and gear. They also managed to burn a sock, which has added to the general aura (and aroma). My current dilemma, given tonight¢s experience, is where to hike to next, since this entire crowd is likely to end up at the shelter about 15 miles up the trail, and I won¢t be able to out-hike them. Moonwatcher & Not Yet
Date: 2007-04-02
From: TriCorner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

That was a day! 9:00 to 5:00 hiking with scarcely a break, but the clouds had lifted and taken the rain with them. This cleared out the smog and left vistas to both sides of the trail to rows of ¢mountains¢ in the distance.The day also brought me downhill into spring. Down here there are new leaves on some trees, others show red buds, and the moss varieties are bright and green.I am not sorry to leave the Smokies. The Park doesn¢t seem to have as much splendor to offer as other Parks ¢ but there have been some things I really appreciated:a) how well maintained the trails are b) the lack of trash morsels (especially toilet paper) sprinkled around the wildernessc) the new shelter designsd) the moldering priviesThe hikers at the shelter tonight are Rodeo Clown, 1/4 Moon, Ohn, Bucket, Anton and Dude. On to Hot Springs! Spence Field, photo taken by Moonwatcher, Thanks Richard!Morning Clouds in the Smokies, thanks Richard!"Lord be with me on my hike. If you will pick up my feet, I will put them down."
Date: 2007-04-03
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After a lunch time stop at Standing Bear Farm ¢ a delightful old homestead set back in the woods with outbuildings turned into a hostel ¢ my hiking day had really just begun.As always, when you meet a main road (I-40 in this case), there is an exhausting climb out of a valley. This one was hot and tedious. At the top, there¢s a meadow with a strange structure that looks like an upside down funnel. It belongs to the FAA. You could tell, too, that it must have something to do with plane tracking, because of the number of planes flying overhead ALOT!By then, I was sore and just wanted to get to the shelter. The forest here ¢ as in much of the Smokies ¢ seemed very impoverished, until I reached the shelter, which sits in a glade of greenery, green trees, grasses ¢ a beautiful place!
Date: 2007-04-04
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

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

It¢s just after 8:00 p.m. and everyone else ¢ Mr. Ed, Bucket and Stubble ¢ is already asleep. That¢s because the temperature just dropped and this shelter is located at the confluence of every wind gust in North Carolina. Plus, it¢s just our luck that it was built out of logs in the late 30¢s and all the logs have shrunk. People were a lot shorter then, too, so the sleeping shelf, while fine for someone my height (5¢3¢), forces the tall hikers to scrunch up.Oh my gosh! Those are the fastest mice I¢ve ever seen. Unbelievable!The highlight of today was Max Patch, a kind of solitary moor with 60 mph winds. Since we¢d had torrential rain last night, the air was very clear and let me see for miles."life is not measured by the numberof breaths we take, but by the numberof moments that take our breath away"
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

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

It was so cold this morning that when fog rolled in, it coated all the trees with frost. It was too cold to make breakfast, too cold to do anything but throw the gear in the pack and head down the mountain.I had planned to be in Hot Springs today, but I dawdled in the afternoon, made myself some tea, and got talking to Skip, his dad and friend of Skip¢s Dad.It was 6:00 before I hiked into town, a quaint, attractive place from another era. Every spare bed in town was already occupied by a thru-hiker. What to do? I¢m settled into, yes a campground, where the ¢thru-hiker special¢ gives me a spot near the train tracks, volleyball courts, and hen house. But hey! They have hot water, lovely hot water, and I have my very own picnic table, and I may even be able to splurge tomorrow and visit the hot springs."AT" sidewalk marking in Hot Springs.Picture taken this time last year!
Date: 2007-04-06
From: Hot Springs

To: ZERO at Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

My stay in Hot Springs just got even funnier. I¢m in a blizzard in a town that has no beds available. The snow is blasting through town, whipping the trees and flapping my tarp. But I¢m sitting underneath, making tea and watching the snowflakes whiz by. This is some kind of zero!My major project for the day (apart from getting new longjohns, since mine were falling down) was to get my hair cut. I was directed down a side street to a homemade sign that said ¢Beauty Parlor¢. When I knocked, an ¢ancient¢ woman answered. Could she cut my hair? Yes! Three dollars, plus one more if I wanted my hair shampooed. I did, since it was sticking up in every which direction.It turned out that my ¢stylist¢ was a big fan of Winston Churchill and Lady Diana, so we got to talking. Then it was time for lunch at the Smokey Mountain Diner (well worth several visits) and on with the rest of my chores.Pooch on ice on way out of Icewater Spring, photo by Moonwatcher. Winston Churchill: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

I didn¢t get out of Hot Springs until 11:15 or so, because I bumped into Bonnie Carolyn at the Smokey Mountain Diner. I hadn¢t seen her since Fontana. I also managed to re-connect with Magellan. I¢m hoping to hike with them both again further up the trail, maybe after Erwin.Despite my late start, I made good time. My favorite piece was an area of meadows, old orchards, and a dam with pond which must have been part of some long-forgotten homestead.---And, yes, it¢s still winter out here.Looking back during steep climb out of Hot Springs, photo by 357 Magnum.Pond North of Hot SpringsThank you 357 Magnum for this great photo! HAPPY EASTER!!