morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Cowrock Mountain
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Cowrock Mountain Nice hike this morning up Blood Mountain> pleasant name, n'est pas? Quoted from Thru-hikers handbook "Blood Mountain is famous in Native American lore as the site of a battle 400 years ago b/w Creek and Cherokee warriors so fierce the hills ran red with blood." Blood Mountain can also be covered with this reddish lichen at times which appears like blood on the mountain. The shelter at the top is a really cool stone building built in the 30's It's perched on the highest point on the AT in Georgia. It's famous for its rodent inhabitants, but some hikers who stayed there last night did not notice any mice or rats. One guy however had a skunk run over his head!!!Luckily everyone was cool and the critter didn't spray!Passed through the Walasi Yi Center in Neels gap> it's the only building the AT actually runs through. Many hikers threw out or mailed home their unneeded gear and/or bought lighter stuff. I got my first maildrop, which was kinda cool. Washed up a bit in the sink, changed into a new shirt, and headed off. It was about 5 miles to Cowrock Mountain, I was getting tired so I pitched the tent on this awesome overlook. Hope there's not high winds tonight or else I'm screwed. It should be an amazing sunsetPeople met today: Hedwig, Gray Ghost, Crow. Another gorgeous day-had the option to bunk up at Walasi Yi, but decided to take advantage of the weather-will take a day off when its cold or rainy. It was in the 60s most of the day, very sunny>probably got a little sunburn, conserving sunblock.LATERWatched the sunset from Cowrock Mountain, Pete didn't make it up here, so I guess I'm camping alone. Kinda spooked. How beautiful. I'm looking out over rows and rows of mountains. I can hear only the wind blowing, the leaves rustling, and my occasional symphonic inhaliations. This is incredible. I can't beleive I'm here. Amazing.Funniest thing happened today at Walasi Yi. I struck up a conversation w/ this woman, she had just dropped her daughter off at Springer and was now dropping a package at Walasi Yi for her. We talked for a while and I asked her where she was from-Cincinnati. I told her I grew up around there. We went on and i finally asked her if her daughter was the classmate of my cousin's who I found out a couple of weeks ago was starting the Trail just a few days after me. WOW! It was! I was gonna look for "Stacy" a little down the road, figuring we'd meet up at some point- and here I bump inot her mom and we happen to talk to each other. Funny how thinks work out! I beleive that the trail has put me on some sort of "right" path-like I was just fumbling though likfe and ever since I made the decision to come out here, things have just fallen into place. It's so odd, so spiritual, so absolutely amazing and joyful. Life is good. (Now here's hoping for no bears tonight!)
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Cowrock Mountain

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Blue Mountain Shelter WHEW! What a day. I wanted to give a little extra oomph, then have 2 pretty easy days; so I decided to push for 13 miles today. They looked kinda easy according to the topo map- not too big of up and downs. The last 1 1/2 miles about killed me though! I was tired and then I hit all these rocks to go over->perfect time to break an ankle or something. So I plopped down and had an almost liquid candy bar and then steamed over the rocks and uphill to the shelter. I collapsed on the floor and was greeted by Red and Ranger Rick. Nice guys but Red's Kielbasa makes me nervous.It was a beautiful morning to wake up to on Cowrock Mountain though- no bears had eaten me that night and I did not blow away. When I changed into my hiking clothes, I stood naked on the mountain for a little while- Why? Because I could-how often can you say you stood naked on a mountain-it was early enough that I knew no hikers would be by, so why not??? I had a dream about the pharmacy last night-same kinda thing, I'm in slow motion and all these patients are yelling at me and I can't get a single thing done. But then I woke up on a mountain top and realized I won't have to deal with that for a long time (if ever again!!) My heart goes out to ya Han and Tony!Once I get over the exhaustion that I caused myself today, I realize that I'm loving it out here. I also realize that we've had totally gorgeous days and that the rain and the cold WILL come, but its just amazing so far. And it only cost me 1400mg Advil today! Til tomorrow...
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Soynut has taken the night off after an exhausting climb over Blue, Rocky, and Tray Mountains, so her THIGHS will be entering this journal for today.Please stop the Soynut-she's killing us-the squat machine at the Y was bad enough, but now this! We were screaming at ther up Tray Mountain, but she just ignored us. Thank god she stopped at this shelter for the afternoon off. She is an evil, evil girl- we want to be flabby, we want ice cream. Why is she doing this?Ok,ok- now I'm back. I guess I was just a little pooped from a long day. If everything goes right when I get to the Blueberry Patch, I'll be 2 days ahead of my proposed schedule. Today was not fun- it wasn't bad, but I guess I was just a little "off" this morning> I don't sleep well in the shleters because I'm paranoid of mice crawling over me, then I got out on the wrong foot today. Wasn't myself until after lunch, then I stormed up Tray Mountain- which was killer, but actually the highlight of the day-all those endorphins, getting a buzz by the time you're at the top.Met some cool people (read:normal) at the shelter "Pending" (meaning trail name pending, although I think that'll be his name for good), Cruiser and Kara, Jason and Sarah, then Tanner and Xanadu hauled ass into the shelter. It was nice to meet up with some new folks.I'm really ready for a shower-I'm on day 6 now. I'd also like to catch up with what's going on in Iraq and do a crossword. It should be 1 1/2 days away-oh yeah.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Shower! Bed!Pizza! Beer! Laundry! Clean Pots! That's what town means! Ahh. Shower!I'm sitting in Hiawassee town square about 6:30 am-just couldn't lay in that comfortable bed any longer for some strange reason-gotta get up, gotta get my stuff done, gotta get back on that Trail. It's like a drug->need more pain, need more sweat, need more dirt.When we got off the trail at Dick's Creek Gap, we waited maybe 1/2 hour for a hitch to town. Pending hiked with me to the road because he was worried about a lone female on the road->nice guy? or was he just trying to get an easier ride? It's a little hitching secret that 1 boy will get a ride easier if he's with 1 girl-either way it was nice to chat with someone on the knee-wrenching hike down to the gap. So after a while, a van pulled up, 2 50ish-looking folks hopped out and brought a cooler out of the back-offered us a cold Coke or beer. You know me, I reached right for the AmberBock. Then the rest of our gang showed up (about 8 of us)-so we were all drinking cold nonwater beverages on the side of the road due to the kindness of these "trail angels." Ahh, glorious. Turns out this couple lives 1 1/2 away, but were coming up this way and made a day of offering drinks to weary hikers. Their two sons had thru-hiked years ago, so they return the favors their sons recieved. They gave us a ride to the Blueberry Patch-a hostel run by former thru-hikers. It was kinda late though and we all needed to get to town, so we ended up calling the Hiawassee Inn who picked us up in 2 shuttles, then we all crammed in 2 rooms for a great night in fresh sheets, no shelter mice, and running water. We did some laundry and ate more than our fill of AWESOME pizza. Mmm.This morning I took care of a couple of blisters that cropped up yesterday, got some glorious coffee at the gas station and came to the town square to write. Headed to P.O. and grocery in a little bit. Should cross into Carolina today! Wahoo!!! Called Kevin and my mom while in town-good to make contact. Called Kevin again this morning just cuz I could-feeling sappy.
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Hiawassee

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We're in the Tar Heel state! And oh my god, did Carolina welcome us with a beast of a mountain! This shelter is at 4600ft and I swear we got up here by a straight vertical. Ugh! I was kinda having a bad day on the trail- I think all my junk food from town wreaked havoc on my hike today. Pizza last night, a coupla beers (from 2 different trail angels), and donuts this morning. Made me feel like crap and this hike today was NOT for sissies! My blisters did well throughout the hike, but I think I'll hafta take care of them throughout the week. Got into shelter about 5 and by the time I pumped water, cooked dinner, hung my food, etc. it was dark. I'm pooped.It's getting colder-some of it is due to the higher elevation- there's rumors of snow also. Brr!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Started to rain after first hour or so, thought the day was gonna be lousy, then I descended into Deep Gap where a couple of former thru-hikers had set up for the weekend for a little "trail magic." They were cooking up eggs and sausage for breakfast, later was hot dogs and such, then chili for dinner- both Sat and Sun. How awesome! Three guys that had hike last year- Red Truck, Green Truck(father and son duo), and Little Bob. Just some sunshine in the dreary day. The rest of the day was foggy and damp, but not much more rain-turned out to be pretty nice.My feet are killing me! It's like some kinda fasciitis(sp?) or something. I can hike a good 5-6 hours, then there's just pain. Been taking longer, more frequent breaks- need to take a "zero" day soon. Might get some kind of inserts or something when I'm in town next.Been hiking along with a good group in last coupla days- fire last night and tonight. Ben and Tyler- a hysterical duo from Columbus, OH and "Pending"- we passed around some GA moonshine from a trail angel by campfire tonight. Things still good on whole.
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: broken clouds

One pair liner socks, one pair hiking socks, one pair wool socks, 1 pair underwear, 2 Capilene long john pants, 1 bra, 1 short sleeve shirt, 1 polyester jacket, 1 Capilene long-sleeve shirt, 1 fleece jacket, 1 pair liner gloves, 1 hat. These are the clothes I'm wearing right now, tucked inside my 20-degree sleeping bag in a shelter at 6pm. I just removed my rain pants and jacket, and outer Gortex gloves before getting into bag. It's cold and there's a good 2 inches of snow on the ground(some places got 6+ inches). We went to sleep last night in a little bit chilly weather, but woke up to snow on our sleeping bags and in our boots. Three of us braved the hike, two stayed at the shelter(they didn't have good winter gear). Ben, Tyler, and I trudged through the snow, up the vertical rock scramble of Albert Mtn, and all made it in one piece to the next shelter. It was actually beautiful hiking and the movement kept us toasty. It's just the stopping that gets cold. I built a snowman at this shelter (a very bad snowman) and 2 more more showed up to generate some heat in the shelter.Feet are fine- short hike and the cold probably kept down the swelling. It was actually a pretty great day, but should be freezing night. It's about 25 degrees right now and more snow comes and goes. We heard a rumor that it might be 70 tomorrow though! Let's hope!
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: RAinbow Springs Campground
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

Ahhhh warmth! This wasn't on the "plan", but boy was I in need of a warm night's sleep! Rainbow Springs Campground is about 1 mile off the Trail outside of Franklin, NC and today has been a delightful day. After waking up to 18 degrees and discovering that the shelter mice had eaten a huge hole in one of my stuff sacks(not to mention that they crawled all over our sleeping bags in the night as well), I was soothed by a woodstove, a mattress, and a hot shower. Ahhh!Once you get moving in this cold, it's not bad- it's actually pretty invigorating. It took maybe 45min of hiking this morning for my little frozen fingers to stop hurting, and then maybe another 45 to shed off the top layer of gloves. I got to the campground about noon, just sat by the stove for maybe an hour, took a long hot shower (in a freezing cold bathhouse), did a little laundry in the sink, then pretty much sat the rest of the afternoon. Scored a crossword- yea! Listened to NPR, read yesterday's paper. Oh the simple joys. One guy picked a bunch of "ramps"- this wild mountain onion that grows around here. Folks are crazy about them; apparently towns here have Ramp Festivals- complete with ramp-eating contests and a ramp queen. Kinda tastes like a garlic-onion combo. "nightstalker" dared us all to eat them raw. Clears the sinuses!Although it was bitter cold the last 2 nights, I'm kinda glad about the experience. Feel like it sorta hardened me a bit. Feel like I could take a lot, kind of empowering to head out into the snow, while 2 guys huddled in the shelter.It's kinda neat to introduce myself to other hikers and they say, "Oh, you're Soynut. I've heard about you." Hikeers will catch up with me after reading shelter register entries, or they saw my entries here before hitting the Trail, or they've heard I'm a solo woman, or a fellow veg, ot that I make good chile, or whatever. It's wierd how everyone starts to know every other hiker through personal contact or stories or something. Even though we're stretched over many miles, we're a small community.
Date: 2003-04-01
From: RAinbow Springs Campground

To: campsite near Wayah Bald
Miles today: 13.6

My longest day so far and only the last 0.3 mile seemed murderous (downhill in lost of mud). Great weather today, windy, but 60. So much mud from the melting snow! Slosh, slosh. Heard lots of shotgun fire today- hunting bears maybe? It was scary- seemed pretty far off really, but I just kept imaging running-scared wildlife, followed by running gun-toting mountain boys. Did not like the image. The the animal lover in me saw the poor bear going down. Aww! When I got to camp, some folks said they thought there was an army artillery range nearby and that could have been what it was. Who knows?There was an observation tower on Wayah Bald that had the most amazing views- today was pretty clear luckily, as well. I could see Pilot Mtn(which is just north of Winston-Salem), Clingman's Dome(in Smokies), and some place in SC. It was incredible!There's lots of folks here at the campsite- it's a pretty neat social gathering- very testosterone-charged, however. Another solo woamn- yeah! Pippi. And met some new folks
Date: 2003-04-02
From: campsite near Wayah Bald

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

On a lunch break... I think the hiker appetite has caught up with me- I think I need to start eating more. For example, here what I've eaten today: 2 packs oatmeal with some powdered milk, handful dried bananas, Luna bar, tortilla with tuna and mayo, Oreo bar. Ok, I know it's not even 11:30 yet, but that's about 1100 cal. Dinner and hot choc will be 650 and I'll probably throw in another snack at 250. That puts me at only 2000 cal today- and this is pretty typical. I'm hiking maybe 6hrs every day, so I'm burning lots. It definately won't kill me to lose a pound or 15, but I gotts keep up the energy. And yes Mom, I'm getting plenty of protein. Maybe too much- all this soy! Thank god I'm hiking alone! I probably get a good 60gm protein each day. That's tons! It's just awesome to think I've gotta force myself to eat more! I love it out here!LATER...Hanging out at shelter for 2-3 hrs before others showed up. Kinda nice for solitude. Someone left a paper with a CROSSWORD!! and other puzzles, so that occupied some time. Trail angel left some PBRs and Cokes in the spring- there happened to be 8 of us milling around the spring at the time, so we had a mini-party (hikers can get trashed off one beer- I snuck a second one to the shelter- woohoo!)This turned out to be an odd night of ratios at the shelter- 5 women, 2 men. The trail gets to be a little testosterone-chrged at times, so it seems rare to have all these women here- dynamics are different. Dimplerock and Wrong Way Brown- 2 women hiking together, Pippi, Verity and her father Bob (from Scotland), and Greg. Good group.
Date: 2003-04-03
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

There's this one episode of Northern Exposure where Joel and Maggie go on this quest to find the magic city or some treasure or something like that(might be based on the Odyssey). Anyhow, halfway through their arduous journey, they happen upon this spa where the luxury tries to suck them away from their mission. I have found such a spa that wants to lure me from getting back on the TRail. The Nantahala Outdoor Center- it's right on the AT and it's this oasis that comes at such a crucial time. I had a cough building yesterday that has now become a full bronchial spasm every time I start up- my head hurts, it's hard to breath on the uphills- I feel like your basic dog crap- and then the NOC beckons with its hot meal( veggies!! I love spinach! oh yes!) and calming riverside and free towels that I sweet talked the maid out of. It's high 70s and sunny and paradise! I'm planning to take a whole zero day here tomorrow, and I arrived here about 10:30 this morning. Did laundry, got a shower(VO5 shampoo never looked so good- I shampooed with Dr Bronner's last time- not so great!), got lunch, downed a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's, and COUGHED. It's lovely.Just hung out with hikers- old and new friends, all day- pretty cool. Bought trekking poles today, so maybe that will help with the feet? a little and everything else mostly. Looking forward to the day off, but still a little envious of all the folks hiking on.
Date: 2003-04-04
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

NOC 0 miles todayStill feeling like crap-it kinda comes and goes(as cold symptoms do). But the day was definately easy Ate brekfast here, hitched into Bryson City With Ben and Tyler (now known as Riff RAff when together-a name that materialized outta something I said actually), went to library for internet usage, went to grocery, ate lunch. Thrilling I know. Then just schomooxed the day away around here. It rained a bit later in the day and they're calling for some rain over the weekend-Who knows?Iim tired; I'm not a good sick person-probably because I'm not sick often. But of course, I guess all the stress that I've introduced my body to has dropped my immune system. Quel domage! (sp?)
Date: 2003-04-05
From: NOC

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: moderate rain

10.5 mi today Locust Cove Gap CampsiteI hate snot! I hate the stuffy heads! I hate having a cold! But doesn't everyone? The only real "problem" I've run into is going uphill>it's so hard to breath with a lungful of mucus. Damn, I can't imagine having asthma-that's what it must feel like all the time. How crummy. Still, I'm pretty proud-today was a hard day. ALL UPHILL! I would have sold my tent for some albuterol! But had a great change fo weather. There were thunderstorms overnight;it was pouring and lightening at 7/8 this morning. Thought it was gonna be a wet mudfest today. So I procrastinated until 9 and it stopped raining;the sun came out. It was gorgeous-a little humid at first, but clear and sunny. Great overlook on the Nantalala Gorge, then the approaching Smokies. An awesome view from Cheoah Bald. Three of us are camped in this little cove-mike Baby steps, and myself. Two more day til the Smokies! Cough, sniff, sniff, wheeze.
Date: 2003-04-06
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

This is what I wrote in the Brown Fork Gap Shleter when I stopped for lunch today...I do not like green snot and coughI wish I had a Kleenex soft.I do no like it on a hillI donot like it-it cames my will.I wish I had one single pillTo cure this sniffy,punny ill.Oh, I do not like green snot and coughNot even with my backpack off.LATERCable Gap Shelter 11.6 mi todayMaybe I have the hantavirus from the shelter mice-I could't get warm tonight, yet my face was flushed and on fire. We crammed in the shelter tonight-12 of us here and the shelter is only supposed to sleep 6 AND it's raining. Seven of us sardined into the shelter and the other folks had to tent. It actually hailed today while hiking-only for a few minutes, but it was crazy-hail! You never know what you're gonna get out here.
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 5.5

Woke in the night on fire. The hantavirus will soon liquify all my internal organs. I'll start bleeding out my pores soon. Spending the night at Fontana Hostel-considering taking another zero day tomorrow before getting trapped in the Smokies. Having lunch with Two Speeds right now. Think I'm gonna stay here one more night to recoop from the ick.LATER (ADDED)It's amazing how much hair comes out in the shower when you only shower once or twice a week. the first shower after Springer Mountain, I thought I's be bald when I stepped out. I guess we lose this much hair daily with showering and all the combing and what not. But when you make up for it all in one pop-wow! you could really plug up a drain with that!I ate my first moonpie today. I figured i've lived in the south long enough,it was about time I performed this rite. I always thought that Moonpies were when you just didn't care anymore-the first ingredient is corn starch and the chocolate layer vs. the marshmellow layer vs. the cake layer all pretty indiscernable. It wasn't bad, but I'd actually like to waste those 330 calories on something better. When we met the southbound Israeli guy last week or so, we asked him what his favorite trail food was; he said "honeybuns". he explained that unlike candy bars, honeybuns neither freeze nor melt in unpredictable backcountry temperatures. they're not easily crushed;you can find them at any gas station or truck stop; and they have all the fat and calories a thru-hiker needs. the philosophy of honeybuns.
Date: 2003-04-08
From: Fontana Village

To: fontana village
Miles today: 0.0

Fontana Village 0 milesBoring, rainy day stuck inside blowing my nose and coughing-but I think I needed one more day for this stupid cold. Being the pharmacist that i am, I finally took some drugs today, now that I have a distinguishable symptom-I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but i'm happy to be medicated.I talked with the Fontana Village folks today about maybe getting married here-it's a cool setting and there's an inn, many cottages, cool stuff to do, even a church...which led me to the Fontana Community Chapel, where the 81-yr. old minister and his grandson just happened to be doing some remodeling today. Had a nice chat with these guys about hking, the church, divorce, and fire and brimstone. Nice guys. It's still 3-4 hrs from home, so that could be a problem-neat idea though.A whole lotta nothin today. found some pancake mix in the hiker box, so two speeds, baby steps, and i enjoyed pancakes, eggs and oj this morning. it was a nice departure (I was staying, they were moving on) but I'm hoping to catch up to them sometime in the Smokies-good folks.