morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-24
From: Tellico Gap

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 8.1

The Aquone Lodge can get you spoiled real quick. We had fantastic banana waffles to start the day. There were two women who also stayed for the three days that I was there. We all loaded up for our last day of slack packing. We started at Tellico Gap and headed for the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). There was a steady uphill hike for an hour or so and then it was down hill the rest of the way. If I hadn't told you before, the down hill hiking is much harder on your legs than the climbs. Your feet and knees take a pounding go down. On the climbs it's your thighs and lungs that get the workout. I got to the NOC about 2:00 and got checked into the hostel.   The hostel at the NOC is not the normal large bunk room, but it's like individual cabin rooms with four bunks per room. The bathrooms and showers are close by in a separate building. I only had one other hiker in my room. Another Texan from Austin.I' m writing this at breakfast. There's a 70% chance of rain today and it's already raining. It seems to be intermittent and hopefully will stay that way.I was hoping to get Fontana Dam in two days, but there were no hiker rate rooms available.   The standard rate was $160 for Saturday and only $59 for Sunday. I'm going to buy an extra dinner at the Outfitter and I'll be on my way.
Date: 2014-04-25
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

It's hard to believe I've been on the trail for three weeks. The heavy rain never showed up, but it rained on and off all morning. It started raining a little bit in the afternoon, but as soon as I got my rain gear on it stopped. Then it felt like I was in a sauna and had to take it back off. The climb out of the NOC was a killer. I'm so glad that I didn't have to climb this mountain the first week, it really would have been tough. I feel stronger now and it gets a little better every day. That is as long as it stays cool. It will bee a different story when the heat shows up.Someone left a paper message on the trail that said "Rattle Snake Ahead". I started moving real slow for the next five minutes. It may have been just a joke, even though there are rattle snakes on the trail. It gets everyones attention. I'm at Sassafras Gap shelter tonight.   I'm staying in the shelter since there is still a chance of rain. It holds 14 hikers, but I don't think it will fill up. Only a couple of people tenting right now. It's 6:00 and there's still a couple of hours left to hike so we may get more people showing up.
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

I got away from Sassafras Gap shelter about 8:15 and got over my first mountain of the day while it was still cool outside. After that it was just normal ups and downs until I ran into my first snake. It was right in the middle of the trail and I was about three feet away before I saw it. It scared the bejezzes out of me. Though I'm sure I scared it too. It didn't act agressive and slithered off to the side of the trail, but didn't go away. It was only about two feet long. I could see its tail and there were no rattles on it. I had to nudge it with my trekking pole to get to go away so I could walk by. There were a lot of PUDs today, but nothing compared to the climb after Sweetwater Gap. When you're leaning so far forward that you're on your tiptoes it's a steep climb. It didn't help that it was getting to be the hottest part of the day. That was followed by more PUDs. I finally took a break at about 2:30 at Brown Fork Gap. I stopped at a spring, found some shade, rehydrated and waited out the heat. I was just about to Cody Gap when I came across two wild Turkey's beside the trail. They both flew off as soon as they saw me. They were pretty impressive.I got to Cody Gap about 5:30 and after a 12 mile day, I was worn out.
Date: 2014-04-27
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Since it was supposed to be another warm day I decided to get an early start and was on the trail by 7:00. There was one climb today, but the biggest challenge was the big downhill going into Fontana Dam. I couldn't check into the Fontana Village until 4 o'clock, so I had lunch at the Wildwood grill. I rewarded myself for all my downhill suffering with a burger and a beer. It's great being a hiker.
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Fontana Dam shelter

To: Fontana Dam shelter - Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was a planned zero day. So there were no ups or downs which was a nice change for my legs. There is laundromat by the general store so I got to do a load of wash. It's getting to be a special treat to put on clean clothes. I carry three pairs of socks, but only one of everything else. So everything gets well worn before there's a chance to do a wash. I'm sure everyone has seen the bad weather going across the midwest that's generating tornados. Well it's heading right for us. Tomorrow is looking like another good day to stay off the trail.
Date: 2014-04-30
From: Fontana Dam shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

Started out from Fontana Dam and I had to walk across the dam to get started. As soon as you're across the dam you make a right turn and you enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was a long climb going up to Mollies Ridge shelter. It drizzled most of the day, but it started raining real heavy about an hour before I got to the shelter. I was happy there was still room for me. The Smokies have a rule that you must stay in the shelter if there is room. Once the shelter is full then hikers are allowed to tent. Shelter life is interesting. There's a mix of all ages, but everyone is following the same routine every day. EAT, SLEEP, HIKE.
Date: 2014-05-01
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

It rained most of the evening at Mollies Ridge but finally stopped towards midnight. Someone came in the shelter and reported seeing two wild boar just before getting to the shelter. I was too tired to even think about going out in the rain to see them. I wanted to get up early since I knew I had a long 12 mile day ahead of me. It started with the long downhill followed by an even longer up hill. That was followed by even more ups and downs for the rest of the 12 miles. It's hard to tell how far you've gone because there are only a few markers on the trail. Depending on the terrain my pace varies from 1.5 mph to 2 mph. So if I keep track of when I left camp I can gauge where I'm at and how close I am to the next marker. The markers are small wooden signs identifying the name of a Gap or a turnoff to a water source.   So to help me get through the day I'm always trying to figure out where I'm at. Just like I do when I'm flying the plane.When I got to Derrick Knob shelter I met two retired Army Lt. Colonels. They were in their 70's and had known each other since they were lieutenants. They were only going to be hiking the AT for about five weeks. Lots of interesting people on the trail.
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

I got up this morning with the intentions of hiking all the way to Mt. Collins shelter. That would be a 13.5 mile day. The problem was that my legs didn't want anything to do with that. After about four miles I could tell that the prior two days hadn't left me with much in the tank.   I ended up stopping at Double Spring Gap shelter for a 7.2 mile day. I had heard that the Smokies were going to be tough and it was turning out to be that way. I ended up having a nice relaxing afternoon at the shelter.   I was the second hiker there so I picked a spot by the wall on the bottom row of the shelter. That way I wouldn't have someone snoring on both sides of me. If you are going to survive shelter life you had better bring ear plugs with you. We were all sitting around fixing dinner and talking when a deer walked out of the woods and walked right by the shelter.   Everyone got their cameras and took plenty of pictures. The deer didn't seem to be bothered by us. You have to think they see plenty of hikers staying in the shelters.The temps started dropping and someone got a fire going in the fire ring. It is staying light passed 8 o'clock, but I was tired and got into my sleeping bag before then.
Date: 2014-05-03
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8

Day 29 - Newfound Gap ShelterI woke up to a cold morning at Double Spring Gap shelter.   They say don't send your cold weather clothes home until after you have hiked through the Smokies. There was frost everywhere when I woke up and it felt like it was getting colder. I had my down jacket on and kept it on when I started hiking. I only had it on for the first mile and then I was generating enough heat to take it off. You just don't want to stand still very long.I was going to cross a couple of big numbers today. First I was going to go over the highest point on the Appalachian Trail at Clingmans Dome which has an elevation of 6655 in my AT book. Second, I was going to go over 200 miles just after passing the dome. What I wasn't planning on today, though I had been hoping for it, was to see my first bear.   Fortunately it was a smaller juvenile bear and not a mama with a cub or two. It was just on the side of the trail near Clingmans Dome. Others had walked by and it and it didn't seem startled and stayed where it was just eating some grass or something. I hitched a ride in from Newfound Gap to Gatlinburg, TN. I'm going to take a zero tomorrow.
Date: 2014-05-04
From: Newfound Gap Shelter

To: Gatlinburg - Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day in Gatlinburg, TN. Boy is this a tourist town. It's fine with me though, I'm only here to sleep and eat. Pizza and beer for lunch followed by a nap. The weather is looking good for the week ahead. I think I may have a few cool days while I'm still in the Smokies. After that, the elevations will start to go down and it will warm up.
Date: 2014-05-05
From: Gatlinburg - Zero Day

To: Peck's Corner
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The day started off with a small hiccup in Gatlinburg. The NOC offered a free shuttle back to Newfound Gap at 10:00 a.m. I had stopped by there the day before and someone told me to wait out front to catch the shuttle.   Come to find out the shuttle picks up on the side of the NOC. So two of us got left behind and had to call a cab. Plenty of ups and downs today for a total of 10.9 miles.   The shelter was a half mile off the trail which is unusual. That doesn't count in the AT trail distance. Just on the miles on my legs. I stayed at Pecks Corner shelter and enjoyed a cool night, but not cold. Nice sleeping weather. It was amazing, there was no one snoring in the shelter last night. The simple pleasures of life on the trail.
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Peck's Corner

To: Cosby Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

The day started off with a half mile up hill hike up hill just to get to the trail from Pecks shelter. Pecks may end up at the very bottom on shelter rankings. Once I got on the trail it was a tough 12.9 mile day. I know people do a lot more miles, but 13 miles seems to be the top of my range that I can regularly do. The worst part of the day was there were several miles of trail that the path was covered with rocks. That really puts a hurt on the bottom of your feet. On my trail data sheet there is some plane wreckage listed at mile 226.1. I stopped and looked around and was able to see some pieces of a plane. It was supposed to be a F4 Phantom from a 1984 crash.Ended up at Cosby Knob shelter which is just of the trail which is a nice treat after a long hike. Another factor in my shelter rating system is how far away the water is from the shelter. The water at Cosby was right next to the shelter.
Date: 2014-05-07
From: Cosby Knob shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

This was going to be another special day. It was my last day in the Smokies. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking across Fontana Dam and making that right turn into the park. And of course once you¢re through the Smokies, the only way out is with a long down hill section.The last shelter in the park is Davenport Gap. I stopped by and took a lunch break. This is the only shelter I saw that still had the chain link fence across the entire front. You hear stories about hikers being inside the shelter on one side of the fence with a bear on the other side wanting to get in. I walked out of the park at mile 238.1, but still had 1.7 miles to go to get to Standing Bear Farm hostel. I had heard about this place and was looking forward to spending the night. When I got there, I wasn't disappointed. It¢s hard to describe, so check it out online. And if you have the chance, spend an evening there.They offered a slack pack option from Max Patch south bound and seven of us decided to take advantage of it the next day. They would drop us off up north at Max Patch and we would walk south bound back to Standing Bear Farm and spend the night again. Then the following day they would take you back to Max Patch with your full pack and you would head north bound.
Date: 2014-05-08
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up to the sound of roosters crowing at Standing Bear Farm. The seven of us loaded into their van and we took off for Max Patch. We just about got to the turn off and Curtis (the owner) noticed smoke in the air. The road up to Max Patch was blocked off due to a fire in the area.We turned around and headed back to the hostel with any thoughts of slack packing for the day gone up in smoke. I had really been looking forward to staying there one more night.The only option left was to pack up your pack and start hiking north. That¢s what most of the others did. I decided that my hike on the AT was over. The daily temps were rising and the thought of more PUD¢s in the afternoon heat was not inviting to me. I was offered a lift to Asheville where my truck was being stored and by 11:00 I was in my truck headed home.I had spent five weeks on the trail and really had a great time. I will post a bunch of photos over the next few days.
Date: 2013-10-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

In 2007 my daughter gave me the trail name Kokopelli because we love the little nomadic figure and people call me 'Pelli' because of my last name. Later while hiking I found out the Kokopelli is a male figure (and other such connotations)In 2007 A gentleman hiker came up to me and said "WHAT? YOU are Kokopelli? I thought I was trying to catch up to a big, burley guy!!" he really made me laugh and start doubting the trail name. Hey, I am over it! What tha hay! Everyone from '07 knows me as Kokopelli.....so Kokopelli IT IS!!! Oh, yes, as for the title of this entry. You will never, I repeat, never make as close a friend as you will make on the A.T. These are genuine people all with the same love of the mountains and nature. We all welcome the hard challenges. On the A.T. we are 'all in it together'. One society, traveling on the Appalachian Trail, enduring hardships and making great memories. In '07 I made so many 'forever friends' and you'll probably hear me speak of them a lot in the journal. There are some friends who I hike with every single year, even if it is a 4 day trip. One such friend who was a lover of humanity and the A.T. was Buffalo Bobby who passed away on the trail in 2011. He almost finished his third thru-hike. I am truly blessed to have been his friend.
Date: 2013-10-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

My start date will be sometime in mid March and I was thinking of starting around the 17th to 19th so there would not be quite the zoo as the weekend starters. Maybe it truly won't matter but that is my logic. Now that it is Oct. and I see the leaves changing and the weather is cooler it has me pumped up to get my gear cleaned up or reconsider items that did not work so well in 2007. A huge reason I did not finish in '07 was how uncomfortable I was. I truly did not know how much 'hurting' was normal. I mean I was in agony with my boots (Thanks to Certain for steering me to Keens), and my backpack fit horribly(So thanks to Tony Tiger for the gift of a new BERGANS pack that fit my short torso). I have learned so much in 6 years! My 2007 hike was termed The 'A.T. Sampler' by some friends and it so fitting. I hiked all over the place, getting off and getting back on where my friends were. This year will be different.
Date: 2013-10-17
To: Stay Calm ~ It Will Work Out
Miles today: 0.0

Since it is a rainy day in Atlanta, I am off and it's too wet to run or bike (I have a minor calf injury) it's a good time to make a journal entry. This was my most important "Ah-ha" moment on the trail. For all the worry of preparing drop boxes,worrying about arriving in towns at certain hours, asking myself "do I have enough water to make it to the next source, and is there enough food in my pack until I make it to a re-supply".....I found the following is true. Just stay calm and it will all work out. I mean unless you have some sort of medical condition which requires you to have food, water or shelter at specific moments, you WILL be okay!After a few hundred miles I abandoned the idea of having my boxes mailed. I am not picky so I found I was able to resupply everything in the little towns or hiker boxes. I loved the freedom of not being tied to a post office schedule. I even ran very short of food and even ran OUT one time but I knew I could hike for a few days without food (and, heck, I was only a few hours from town).If you run out of water, don't panic. Just keep hiking and keep your eyes and guide book handy and you'll have water before ya know it. The trail is all about seeing for yourself that you are able to easily survive some tough conditions. It made me feel stronger when I overcame these little 'scares'.The basis of this message is for those who have never been on the trail and have worries such as those I mentioned. Just stay calm and hike on and your trail mates are there for you too.It's going to be a wonderful adventure!
Date: 2013-11-04
To: A Surprise Text!!
Miles today: 0.0

The fall days have been so awesome. I have not been able to go to the mountains for any training because I have so much prep work to get my townhouse ready to be rented (while I am gone). I have cleaned out rooms and closets and done minor repairs. Now I am painting fresh new colors on the walls.   Just when I feel like I am wasting these glorious days I get a fun text from a hiking buddy, Winkle!! She must be standing in front of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry because there is a pic of the building, no one around and fall leaves covering the sidewalk, but the text reads... "U will b in this pic next year!!!" I had a good laugh then answered..."YES I WILL!!" So as we prepare for our journey isn't it fun to know others are getting excited for us? I know a lot of people think I am crazy for my AT dream but most are very supportive and I hope all the 2014 trekkers get a lot of positive 'go-ahead' from friends and family. It sure helps!
Date: 2013-11-12
To: REI seminar 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

??? On Sunday the 10th (on the suggestion of Zig Zag & WINKLE) I signed up to attend an A.T. lecture/seminar mainly for women wanting to hike the trail. I knew in advance the presentation was mostly for women who had dreams of the trek but didn't have much experience. Even though I had hiked 1,100 miles I can NEVER learn enough. So I headed out to the REI in Buford, Ga.??? Sure enough, Jurmm (she says she is a germaphobe), gave a great seminar and I gained knowledge of a lot of little tips that will help me on my hike. Map reading, proper use of a 'bounce box' and ways to read the trail guide or other maps with more ease (maps and books can be overwhelming unless you approach them in the simplest form) Jurmm has hiked over 4,000 miles so she has a LOT of time-saving advice! When asked if she has completed a thru-hike she said "No, I am a section hiker." She does about 500 miles at a stretch and she will be completing the A.T. this year!! I sure hope to see her further north in celebration of completing the A.T. She looked awfully familiar then she told me she was the hiker featured on the cover of the 2010 Thru-Hiker's handbook!!??? Thanks, Jurmm ~ especially liked the section about 'safety'!!
Date: 2013-12-14
To: Rain Worthy?
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

There has been a 'test' I have wanted to perform on my tent & fly and that is seeing if it needs more 'seam-seal'.In 2007 I hiked about 600 miles using a little Eureka tent. It reminded me of an elongated igloo and I literally had to back into it on my tummy (like a worm crawling backwards) I'm sure I was a sight for the nearby tenters each night! but once I was inside I was cozy and there was enough room as I am pretty short. I had it seam-sealed so thoroughly that it NEVER leaked and I tented in some pretty darn heavy storms!!Since I have had my MSR single-man tent I have only experienced light rains and mostly dove for the shelters if a torrential was about to happen. So it is imperative for this tent to be sound. I lightly sealed it once a few years ago.Today it is raining pretty steadily in the Atlanta area. PERFECT for my test.I am so excited to have purchased a new closed cell Thermarest Z-Lite as my inflatable pad & I have not gotten along very well in the past. I had some reward points from REI so after applying the points I only paid $10. YEA!!!So, I sat up the tent inside my house then squished it through the sliding door onto my deck. (Note I was not able to pull the fabric tight because I couldn't stake it) I placed the new Thermarest pad in the tent then stretched out for a nap. After a few hours there was still no leaking so I am feeling good about the tent's performance in the rain (plus there will be soft pine needles under the footprint to keep that a little drier)After a bit I grabbed my kitty, Tater to visit with me in the tent. He wanted no part of playing house in a tent on a rainy day & after this pic was taken he burst through the unzipped opening bolting for the house. ha ha.So my test showed me what I needed to know. Probably another application of sealing will be good insurance for the rains to come on the A.T. (and from what I have experienced those rains are gonna come!!!)