morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter (tent)

To: Campsite South of Fontana Dam
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

"Happiness is found along the way, not at the end of the Trail" - N. Hisey (AT 89). This is certainly true for me! Everyday I meet more hikers going Southbound (SOBO) or passing me NOBO as they do more miles than me."It's about the smiles, not the miles", is a common saying. I have been hiking with Scott (Dick Tracy) who is about my age and also having knee problems. He got his trail name due to his ultra big watch with altimeter, temperature, etc. He is from Gainesville, Ga. (Flowery Branch) where he retired after 30 years working for GM.  Today was great hiking above Fontana Lake where the Trail will descend three miles down tomorrow. You have a view of the Lake for many hours making you think it is close to the end of your work for the day but it never is. Every mountain has at least three false tops before you get to the real top and head down to begin the next one. I did a short day to save money camping out one more night but will spend the $$$ for a shower, bed, and much needed laundry tomorrow.   I'll also get to Fontana to pick up my food package.   My foot has even bigger blister(s) (is that possible?) but I can still walk and hope the day of rest will let it heal into a callus so I can get back to 15 mile days. It will be interesting to see what changes there are here since I was first on the AT here in 1966 as a teenager. Yes Fontana Village, NC was the first place I ever found out there was such a thing as the Appalachian Trail. I wonder where my buddy Bruce Petro is today? In 1966 we literally ran up and down these mountains. Ah the days before knee problems.
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Campsite South of Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Village Motel
Miles today: 3.9

After a 0730 start, I was in the shuttle by 0930 headed to a hot bath, gear cleaning and an AYCE Salad and Soup bar. Fontana Village NC is a big resort. After checking into the last available room, I went back to the shuttle stop and walked the mile plus to the Visitor Center and across the Fontana Dam,so that part is done when I decide to leave. The "Fontana Hilton" Shelter is filled with hikers saving the dollars of the resort. I found out the Resort has changed owners and they are planning many 'improvements' and that rooms are tripling in price. That will take most of the hiker crowd right out of Fontana Village as it will be too expensive for most. I'll spend the night at the Fontana Village Inn ($40 this year and $120 next year) which is extremely nice. "Shasta" and "H Bomb" are sharing the room as there were no more rooms when they arrived. The best part of this stop is the heated pool where I spent an hour soaking and swimming laps to exercise the muscles not being beat to death on the Trail. I figure it will help my feet as well. I could just go on up the Trail and skip the Fontana Hilton Shelter which is free, but... has no laundry. (there are showers there but...if my knee and feet are better, I need to make miles to get to Damascus by May 5th to fly home for my daughter's college graduation.)   I am more excited than she is! A group is getting together tonight after dinner to hang out with Mouse and his folks who brought Trail Magic to him. Adult beverages may be in order.
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Fontana Village Motel

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was a party as Mouse and the group cooked hot dogs in the parking lot and drank beer late into the night, but I turned in earlier than most and did not drink much so I am OK. I took lots of pictures as always. What a wonderful day, as the temps hit 87F which made it a hot morning but the long ascents kept you alert. A bear killed a child and mauled her mother and another child about 50 miles away in Cherokee,NC two days ago . So, everyone is being very careful to hang the food bags each night.   You hang your food on a rope at least 15 feet off the ground and on a limb at least five feet out that the bear cannot climb out on. At the Smokey Mountain sites you are required to use cables provided for your bear bag. Smoky Mountain Park rules insist you stay in the shelter if possible and not tent unless the shelter is full! I tent most of the time because I snore soooo badly! The shelters are still full every night as the hiker bulge passes thru. It will thin out in the Smokies only to be replaced by Scout Troops and weekenders. I have always felt the shelters should be for thru hikers and when I section hiked nearly always stayed in my tent away from the shelters. Thru hikers need the shelters and it helps them along not trying to dry a tent, faster to get in and out, etc. Just my opinion and I could be wrong. Now that I am the thru hiker I still use my tent mostly. It is reasonably comfortable, it is private to work on the journal, bug free, cleaner than the shelters, and no mice! And there is that snoring thing that I try to be nice about for others sake. I think it is getting better as I get into better shape and lose weight however. You snore badly when you wake yourself up! I have given out twenty sets of earplugs so I am pretty AT famous as a snorer now, but get credit for trying to be considerate about it.
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter (Smoky Mountains)

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We are now in the Smoky Mountains National Park. The landscape continues to be covered with a multitute of spring flowers that never end. More come out everyday making if difficult not to stop and just lay down in the sun and enjoy the day.   But the miles are still waiting. We had a taste of dangerous weather today as it was 85F when we started, then it started hailing pea sized balls and a light rain for 65 minutes dropping the temperatures 30 degrees in five minutes. At the end of the day I was going up one long last uphill and just collapsed beside the trail in the dirt. I shrugged off the pack and lay there gasping for breath for ten minutes. I finally drank 16 oz. of water and reminded myself that no one was going to come by and carry me or my pack to the top. I was so glad to summit the peak and see the shelter right on the trail I cheered! Later on, I found out that everyone was as happy as I was to reach the shelter after those last long uphills. We sat there laughing as hikers came up and they too cheered seeing the shelter site. Late into the night I met KIWI, who is about 35 yrs. old and about 350 lbs. He is a huge man from New Zealand. I had heard about him from other hikers. He had thru hiked the AT before so now is just back to enjoy it. He "yellow blazes" (following the yellow blazes on the highway hitching rides)from town bar to town bar. He has a unique hiking style, not caring where he gets to or when. Sometimes he takes two and three days off in towns, or a 4 hour "nap" in the middle of the day. He is extremely funny and can mimic voices. He sounds like he was born in the south more than I do. A terrific fellow "Kiwi" is. I hate sleeping in the shelters but it is required and if the ranger catches you in your tent you can be fined.   So, I had my first "mouse experience" as they were running around the shelter all night. One ran across me and I threw it away only to have it land on a certain not to be named hiker gal. Sorry, but I laughed along with everyone else when you screamed so loud. Oh, well.Happy Tax Day and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my loving sister Kitty.
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Derrick Knob Shelter Smoky Mountains

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Today was a nero day, not quite a zero, but definitely a rest day. Everyone has a bum foot, bruise, sore knee(s), or something that needs rest. The requirement to "camp only in the shelters" makes it hard to go where you want. Clingman's Dome is only 3 miles to the North, but there is no shelter until 6.8 miles past it (Mount Collins) so you have to stop short OR go a long way after the climb up 1500 ft to the highest point on the AT. Our plan is to go up to the top first thing in the morning, then enjoy the easy afternoon hike down to the next shelter. It is so nice and peaceful here laying on my Thermorest in the sun with no shirt on just shorts. If I was sure there were no women coming along the trail, I would gladly strip down to just boxers so that the sunshine could warm and refresh my body. It is hard to stay clean washing with cold water when you can. That is why the Trail town showers are so appreciated when you only average one a week or so. I get a great picture of "Dick Tracy" washing his clothes. Today's AT character profile: "Wild Bill" , a 44 yr old hailing from Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He now lives in Tulsa and works as a manufacturers rep traveling all over central Oklahoma. He is a friendly guy with a quiet sense of humor. You must listen closely or you miss the jokes. He has a great idea to market environmentally sustainable furniture.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter (past Clingmans Dome)
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

WOW, the climb up to Clingman's Dome was all uphill including the tower itself(which I have been to before), but well worth it. A lot of hikers ended up just hanging out, hoping the weather would clear enough to get some better pictures. It is very cloudy when it is not actually raining. I spent nearly an hour just looking at the views through the shifting mists of the Smoky Mountains. The short day was easy on my knees and the still ailing blister healing on my right foot. Years ago I stealth camped during a snow storm inside the smelly shed at the bottom of the tower. It is locked up now. Mount Collins Shelter is located in a spooky area. There are downed trees everywhere and all are covered by thick moss from the rains. The mist swirling in and out of the dense brush makes it quite strange at times. Dick Tracy's roaring fire soon warms us as the light rains continue every day so far. The nights get very cold, about 35-40F usually. Not quite cold enough for snow but sleet and mist always. Dick Tracy had meet some hikers earlier on the Trail and we ran into them again at the shelter. "Rip" (Billy), "Tree hugger" (Holly), and "PillBox" (Jennifer) all from Massachusetts were a pretty neat group. There are a lot of neat people I am meeting out here. This group is fun. Young of course, the Trail is much easier for them. It turned out that they had met Scott's wife, Judy who had picked them up and given them a ride to Hiawassee after dropping Scott back at the Trailhead.   Trail Magic!
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather continues to amaze me. The day began with a dark, gloomy, overcast sky threatening more of the sporadic rain that had pounded the shelter on and off all night long. Ten minutes on the white blazed path and heavy hail the size of a pea pounded down followed by cold bone-chilling rain and sudden 40 mph winds.   Lightening crashed everywhere and it continued for three long hours. I waited for "Dick Tracy" at Indian Spring Gap for 30 long minutes in the rain and hail. An SUV pulled up with tourists from Ohio and offered me shelter which I took. I then explained that I had to wait to see about my friend as DT (Scott Hayes) and I had been hiking more or less together for several days now. Finally he appeared out of the mist and rain. I got out of the warm vehicle and we hurried on down the Trail to Newfound Gap as I have no rain pants and was soaked and shivering from the waist down. Trail Magic at the Gap!   Some ex-hikers from Ohio were giving out grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit and sodas.   Yummy! It gave us instant energy and due to the kindness of these people, we warmed up in a few minutes in the restroom, then headed out with Jess, "Bright Eyes", a 32 yr old lady from Connecticut who is in exceptional shape from running the mountains near her home, doing 20 mile days everyday. She also noted that she has been a Vegetarian for 20 years. She got her name from her bright blue eyes. She is extraordinary beautiful inside and out and I am glad to have met her. We enjoyed her company at the shelter last night. As we left the gap we met some older ladies who came up and introduced themselves as "The Six Pack" with several prior thru hiker attempts. They 'failed' each attempt but there is no failing on the AT, you just don't get to your objective when you think sometimes. They gave us their lunches of pita sandwiches, salami, cheese, sprouts and spinach - sooo good. They also had fresh fruit and veggies which I traded to Bright Eyes for her sandwich. I love veggies too, but she cannot eat the non-veggie items. I got a great picture of "Bright Eyes" trying to throw her orange peel into the brush! It is easy to see why she is not in Major League Baseball. After two lunches, we were all so full we did not feel like walking but there is no sherpa service so on we went. The sun came out and began melting the many piles of blown together hail that lined up alongside the trail. It was nice hiking and a complete contrast to the cold rainy start! At Icewater Spring we stopped as DT's hydro bag had leaked several liters of water into his pack and wet his down sleeping bag. Exactly why I do not like those water bags, they always leak. Another low mile day, but we did not want to risk being on the Trail after dark and then climbing into cold wet bedding. I am very glad I choose to stay with a slightly heavier synthetic bag as you do not have the worry of it staying wet that you do with a down bag.
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally a bigger mileage day! My feet felt OK and the morning went well up to Charlies Bunion. Due to my fear of heights, I only walked out onto the first of two very high, small rock pinnicle outcrops that hang over an awe inspiring 1,000 ft.(?)dropoff. I took a few pictures and got back to a more solid rock surface which had been blasted out of the mountain face in 1932. Even though I am hiking with "Dick Tracy", we all hike alone. I start earlier and he is so fast with his long legs, he passes me by noon, then I catch up to him at the nights stopping point, usually the water source or shelter. All day, the trail kept to the ridge crests which at times were only two feet across and thousands of feet down on both sides. Photos do not do the views justice nor does the howling wind come thru the lens of the camera. Sometimes I fear it literally will blow me right off the mountain.  Later, the sides of the mountains were covered with millions of old fallen trees that are covered with a thousand shades of green moss, ferns and fungi.   Truly beautiful and it made me smile to think of this as a gargantuan Pick-up-Sticks game for giants.   The afternoon skies were dark and misty. Clouds raced across the sky and through the woods like ghosts. It makes the woods look so errie and mysterious. It was fun hiking, and since I was not in a lot of pain, that made it even more special. It did not rain until right after we made the shelter. Weatherwise I cannot complain as I have only had three bad rain days in 23 so far. It seems to rain everyday but usually the worst is after we have gained the days destination and have camp set up. I am the lucky hiker!
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Tri Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap (Mountain Momma's Hostel)
Miles today: 15.7

All night it rained hard and the lightening and thunder crashing kept everyone from getting a good nights sleep. "Dick Tracy" and the "Bare Bear" decided we needed to hike a 'big miles day' today in order to get to Davenport Gap to meet his wife and daughter on Saturday. I pursuaded him that if we were going to hike in the rain all day, why stop at a Shelter when 3 more miles would take us into Mt. Sterling where we could go to Mountain Mommas Kuntry Store.(SIC) - famous for huge cheeseburgers and reasonable prices ($15 for a bunkhouse rack including laundry and a shower). We endured the rain and a few more icy cold hailstones and some lightening that was just a little too close for comfort on top of the ridge line. By the time I made it to Crosby Knob Shelter where we had agreed to meet for lunch, I was already very cold, as close to Hypothermic as I have ever been. God Bless Scott as he had a quart of hot cocoa/coffee mix ready for me. I do not normally drink coffee but I was so cold I drank all of it immediately. I changed to dry clothes and put on my scuba body suit which really is just light weight spandex, looks silly (sorta Spidermanish) but keeps me from freezing. At l:35 p.m. the rain finally broke and although the sun never did show, it still made the walking on the Appalachian 'River' Trail (2 to 6 incles of water, plus 6 inches of mud ) a little better. We got to Mountain Mommas just in time for the burgers and fries. Hikers truly appreciate real food after a week of oatmeal and Ramen noodles. Montain Mommas burgers lived up the their reputation. The long hot shower alone was worth the extra miles today. I take twice as long as normal as I wash completely then start at the top and wash again to get the accumulated dirt off. Laundry was right there too and I highly reccommend Mountain Mommas as a good cheap place to stop. Scott and I laughed a lot about sharing the "Honeymoon Suite" which actually has five bunks in it! That little pink shack will be a memory for sure. It is a beautiful site along a river filled with large boulders and raging waters due to all of the daily rains; and certainly worth the extra hike to get there from the AT.
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Davenport Gap (Mountain Mommas Hostel)

To: Davenport Gap Campground
Miles today: 0.0

My second ZERO DAY, of course it is raining again off and on all day. I knew the cold but generally good weather would not last. Today Dick Tracy and I are taking a zero day to meet Judy and Erin Hayes, Scott's family driving up five hours from Flowery Branch, GA to meet us at a campground a couple of miles away. They will drop us back at the Trailhead on Sunday afternoon. We still have to walk from 'Mountain Mommas' to the Park, a couple of miles. Those extra miles do not count toward the 2100 total though! Nothing to an AT Hiker now! Wow is Erin a doll. It made me wish I was young again. Judy and Erin could not have been nicer to us. We ate and ate............soometimes it is truly great to be a hiker.
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Davenport Gap Campground

To: Groundhog Creek (TN)
Miles today: 9.6

It is always difficult to hit the Trail after a slug day in "town" even when it is Mt. Sterling, N.C. with a population of 23! After one night at Mountain Mommas Hostel, we hiked the 3 miles to Big Creek campground to meet Judy and Erin (Scott's family). Of course it was raining. We set up camp and I went over to meet the neighbors, Mike & Gwenda. Mike is a Marine (retired but always a Marine right). A few beers later and we were "best friends". They gave us fire starter, six big pieces of dry wood and enough beer to make us forget it was rainy and cold. Of course, by 3 p.m. Saturday the sun came out and by the time the Hayes family arrived, all was well.   We had great food - hamburgers, sodas, RUM, coleslaw and Erin's raw brocoli salad ,which was excellent....then she surprised us with homemade carrot cake too! Not bad to have a vegetarian chef in the group! Around real midnight we all got to bed, but at 3 a.m. I awoke to star-watch for a while. I sure miss my daughter at home. (sigh)On Sunday it took forever to eat the huge breakjast Judy fixed for us - fresh hot EGGS!, toast, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, hot cocoa... it just never seemed to end.Finally we hit the Trail at 1:30 p.m. and had a long uphill day which is typical coming out of any Gap. That evening, we reached the shelter that holds 12 and found about 30 tent campers too. It is amazing that we made 9.6 miles given the late start but the urge to go is always there. Katahdin awaits us. And we made it into Tennessee! One thing the rain provides is constant waterfalls in the mountains, very beautiful but tough to photograph in the rain. Certainly we have no 'water' supply problems.Today I dedicated my hike to   Patrick Steven Smith, my son, who was born and died on April 23, 1978. He never had a chance to walk, or hike in the woods, but he will never be forgotten.
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Groundhog Creek

To: Walnut Mountain
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

Last night we met "Harley Hog Pit", a self described "tough chick" from Maryland, 26 yrs. old; who wanted a guys trail name for safety and just to be cool. Her Trail traveling companion is a married mom "Spagetti Oh" from New Jersey whose husband is totally supportive of her trip. Today we had many ups and downs, with the main attraction being the summit of Max Patch at noon. This awesome Bald is over 4200 ft up and covers many acres. It has been used to land small planes in the past but not with these winds today! The wind was blowing about 50 mph so all the hikers were huddling behind rocks trying to stay warm. After a long uphill of several miles the goal was reached and we tented on a nice top near the shelter, ate more food than we wanted trying to keep our calories up. The average hiker burns about 6,000-8,000 calories per day minimum, but can only carry about 3000/4000 per day due to the food's weight. So, you are constantly losing calories. For some of us, that is a good thing but for others,vegetarians like 'Harley' who have no fat to lose,this can be a bad thing. Sleep well America, as I enjoy the stars and the remains of the campfire embers glowing red and orange to match the afterglow of the sunset beyond the horizon.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Walnut Mountain

To: Hot Springs, N.C.
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

The incentive of a trail town, Hot Springs, N.C. made today's hike easier, but still with the usual ups and downs. One guy who carries an altimeter with a compiling function said AT hikers climb the equivalance of Mt. Everest once every week. Rain dampened the spirit for a couple of hours but the day ended bright and sunny before rain set in again at sunset and continued for the evening. Dick Tracy and I ended up at the Duckett House B&B as everywhere else was full. I figured out it is not the number of hikers so much as a lot of the thru hikers are stopping to take extra days rest in this nice trail town. Dick Tracy took the last room which was more expensive. I choose the hiker hostel for $12 (including shower) over the barn. You still get the run of the beautiful old house. It is nice enough that I will drive in one day just to stay for the night at the B & B. After my long hot shower I then relaxed with a cold drink in the old fashioned tub with feet! It is amazing what hot water and soap does for your inner peace. I even made a self portrait photo to remember the event. I am sure it will be one of my favorite photos of the journey. Another thru hiker had handed me a beer as I walked up on the porch arriving earlier. Now that is Trail Magic. I didn't even catch his name as he and Dick Tracy were talking,(and drinking beers very fast). I later learned he was "Sleepwalker" The B&B was really neat and a well preserved 1890's house. Later 'SleepWalker', 'Dick Tracy' and the 'Bare Bear'; went out to dinner. Another hiker (yet another 'Lone Wolf') joined us. The Diner in town had wonderful southern cooking with fried okra, pulled pork BBQ, french fries and of course a big chef salad thrown in. About a gallon of iced tea later I was full as a tick. $20 is not a lot for a well fed hiker. I weighed in at the outfitters and found I have lost 25 pounds in the first 28 days of hiking. I am trying not to lose too much weight too fast, but that is nearly impossible out here on the Trail.