morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-03
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Russel Field
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

What a day! Found it very tough the first 5 hours, huge elevation climb! Also, 1st day with heavier pack due to need to carry 5 plus days of food! Started hiking with Obie and Beatle Juice. They left me in dust because of my early struggles. I let my blood sugar get to low and had to stop for awhile and eat and regroup! Felt better and really cranked out the miles in afternoon. Almost caught Obie and the young-ins, missed them by 5 minutes. They went on to next shelter, 3 miles up the trail. I was done!Sheltered tonight with Always Late, Diet Coke, Buckeye, and Morgan Creek. Nice to hang with an older crowd for a night, all older than 50! The conversation was easy and familiar!Tomorrow will be tough due to mileage and rain all day! As I was hiking today I saw a note on a stump held down by a rock that said, water source here, but take pack with you because bears have been active in area! Great!!! Makes you think!Noticed several areas of ground all tore up from wild hogs. Ends up the park actually hires people full time to eliminate the hogs. I guess a big problem.
Date: 2013-04-04
From: Russel Field

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: snow

What a tough, wet day. The trail turned into a river! A river runs through it. Rained all day! Took two really good falls today. Ouch! I was wet through and through all day. Everybody seemed to stop at Derricks Shelter for the day ! Full shelter, Obie, Trucker, Beatle Juice, Beacon, Bones, Star Child, Diet Coke, Always Late, Morgan Creek, and some more! Had fire in shelter fire place, really helped. Would have been good views today if not for total fog and rain! Oh we'll , still feel really blessed even with the pain and struggles! Everybody excited to see weather improve over next few days. Also, as much as The Smokies are cool, they are very difficult. We are excited to finish the Smokies, but look forward to Ingmans Dome. Pray for clear skies!
Date: 2013-04-05
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Started hiking first 2 hours in Hail! Really! Ouch! Crazy looking hail, oblong, not round. Crazy day! Very difficult, finally made it to Clingmans Dome, beautiful, I prayed and told everyone we were going to have blue skies and warmer weather finally. Also, going to have great views of the Dome! Everyone was doubting me, I told them, ye of little faith! The Lord reigned supreme! Warmed up, blue skies! Oh yeah, they owe me thanks! Ha! Well, after the Dome, tough downhill hike, snow and frozen ice! Fell 6 times hard! Never concentrated more! Very brutal! Called my Awesome Wife from Clingsman Dome, and told her I would call in two hours. Yep, you guessed it, lost cell service, and took me over 4 hours to get down from mountain. Once down I saw road running parallel to trail. So I cut across to road to see if I could call and tell her I was alive. No cell, so I was sitting along side road thinking Lord, it would be nice for a ride to Gatlinburg! Not planned but 5 minutes later a couple from Ft. Myers Florida stopped and asked if I needed a ride! Awesome! They were a minister couple who had a Church of God Church, and were on vacation! Talk about prayers answered! They service a Church called Iglesias de Dios, Juan 3:16, MB! We had a great conversation and they said they never pick up people but felt led to stop! Now is that cool or what? I serve a Soverign Lord!! Prayers answered! Very nice couple, and we talked about all the prayers answered! Thank you Anna and Robert! May God be with you and your ministry! My knees are really swollen! I have a family friend picking me up tomorrow for a zero, and much needed rest! Thank you Pam!!!Get back on trail Sunday where I got off! No missing those dang white blazes!50/50 Out!!
Date: 2013-04-06
From: Gatlinburg

To: knoxville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Spent a fantastic day with family friends Pam and Mike Willis. Mike picked me up in Gatlinburg where I took a Nero. We drove to there house and I had a chance to soak in a jacuzzi tub, ice my swollen knees x 2! They took me to lunch at there marina, had a terrific lunch and then went far a boat ride in there very nice boat. Very relaxing day!! They grilled steaks for dinner which really hit the spot!! I can't thank them enough for all there hospitality and time they took to look after me! A day I will always remember! I'm a little concerned about knees, and will need to really keep an eye on them. If I need to slow down I will. The Clingmans Dome hike on ice and snow really caused a lot of pain and swelling. I pray they will get better once I'm out of the Smokies. Plan on finishing Smokies in next 2 days or so. Start back on trail in morning. Thanks Mike and Pam! You were great Trail Angels!50/50
Date: 2013-04-07
From: knoxville

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Mike and Pam dropped me off after we took the scenic route back to trail from Knoxville. Went through Cade's Cove which has been years since I had been through there. Very nice visit and tremendous support from Mike and Pam!! Thank up so much, it really helped!Started hiking about 10 am. Sunny, beautiful day. Strange, but I felt very sad after watching Mike and Pam drive away. Kind of sad most of morning, missing my awesome wife and family. They all know I don't do good-byes very well. I finally got my head on straight and enjoyed rest of day.Sheltered with KarmA, Slow but Sure, Because of Her, and Postman and 15.Charlie's Bunion was fun, great views! All in all, fairly easy day, after last 3-4 days!! Love the Smokies but ready to be done with them and mandatory shelters. I want to use my tent again, much warmer, and more comfortable.50/50
Date: 2013-04-08
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: broken clouds

Wow, what a day! Left shelter at 7:30 and hike next 4 hours or so in snow and ice. Very slippery, and thought, am I ever going to get out of this snow! Then trail finally left the snow tundra and turned real nice. Had planned on long day to Cosby Shelter, but after a food break, it was only 2:30 and decided to press on to Davenport Shelter. After getting there I decided another mile or so and I could get to Newport, TN. Called for shuttle and went to Motel 6, for shower, food, laundry, and bed ! Not sure if I'm going to get on trail in a.m., or take a rest day. Knees really swollen after longest miles to date, approximately 21+ miles, through difficult Smokies! I'm pretty impressed! But, very beat up! Random thoughts and Comments from trail that I have not reported: The woods smell great! Very woodsy, with evergreens and pine needle smell! Love it!Hikers are very generous, and helpful!Love the views of Smokies, but very difficult with elevation changes and the crazy weather we have had. Hiked through snow and ice for 5 of 6 days! Very treacherous !Don't like the shelter rules in Smokies! Much prefer my tent!Several married couples and older folks hiking the trail! Many in 50"s and 60's, very impressive!Mice walking on sleeping bag, a little disconcerting but get use to.Glad to be through Smokies so I can camp wherever I end up for day! Have lost at least 10 lbs already! Can't eat enough to replace calories lost!Comment, have many great thoughts during day, but when I get to end of day, and try to remember thoughts of day, forget most for journal! Really good insights, but so tired at end of day can't recall everything. I know, if important, would remember! Not true! Just too tired! Really good stuff, really!I do know that The Lord is on this hike with me. Many prayers answered! One of my regular prayer request besides safety, I'd guide my thinking. Let me make good decisions as far as when to stop, etc.. Funny story, yesterday I was fighting mentally how far to go, I could stop at next shelter or go on. I wanted to go on after about 14 miles, but I was struggling with continuing, a common problem out here. Just as I was internally arguing with myself, I, after hiking in ice and snow all day, with total concentration, without a fall all day, Bam, lost concentration, and slipped without falling! I started laughing, and said, ok Lord, I'm done for day. Immediately turned into shelter, and had a great nights sleep in a non-crowded shelter! Awesome!I always here my awesome wife's advice to slow down. Take care of your knees etc..Well here I lay on my bed at the Motel 6, with ice on my knees! A common occurrence on Nero or zero days!59/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-09
From: Davenport Gap

To: Newport, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Yep, Zero day to rehab knees! Hate to waste a day. Beautiful weather, but have to do what I have to do, to preserve these old knees! Ha! Hit trail in a.m. Plan on only 12+ miles to try and work this knee problem out.Just rest, eating, showers, and ice on knees all day! News is still dreary, stabbing at college in TX! Lord this country needs a real revival! Talked to Great Legs today who zero'd in Hot Springs! He said a lot of people sick, either a 24-36 hour flu, or questionable water sources. Shelter may be the culprit as far as spreading the sickness! See, another reason to be happy to be out of Smokies, and mandatory shelters! As you can see, shelters are not my thing. Weather supposed to be nice and warm tomorrow, and then rain Thursday. At least no snow!Talked to Awesome Wife several times today, cleared out bad photos from IPhone, and surprisingly, found the Lifeguard case for phone. Have been worried about phone getting wet etc.. Wanted to prevent problems and lifeline to pics, home etc.. As far as technology edicate on trail, some folks frown on technology, but I embrace it with one major caveat. I try and never talk on phone within ear-shot of anybody. When texting, keep volume down, etc.. Most people are very considerate. That's about it for today, keep the prayers coming! Prayers for Great Legs who is going through an issue I'm not privileged to share at this time. Thanks!50/50
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Newport, NC

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 12.5

Thanks to Trail Angel Apple for all his help the last two days. He slack packed me today which really helped my knees heal some. Slack packing is when you only carry a day pack with food and water. Much easier than carrying a full pack. I was still able to hike 12.5 miles in about 4.5 hours. The elevation started at 1975 feet and went to 4263 feet on Snowbird Mountain. Head to Hot Springs with full pack tomorrow. Calling for thunderstorms throughout the day. Don't like lightning at all. Hope to be off Max Patch Bald (4629) feet before lightning starts!!!What crazy weather, hiking in snow, hail, ice and freezing weather, and now today in low 80's! Not complaining, more like Florida weather! Have to drink much more water.I've run out of descriptive adjectives to describe the beauty. Beautiful, awesome, cool, nice, spectacular, gorgeous, just don't do. Any ideas for words are welcome. I think glorious is as close as I can come to describing what I'm experiencing.Met several thru's today. Skillet and her companion Ground Hog who was sick with a viral sickness a lot of people have come down with. I checked him out and gave some medical advice. Also, Karma, Two Sox, Bomber, DN Cooper. You got to love these trail names. Nobody knows real names out here. Also, asking what people do for a living is mostly taboo! Nobody cares, no airs, or who's to deal with! Kind of refreshing! Only thing important is, how far you going today, where is the water, shelter, camping area, food, and what's the weather report??Well that's about it for today. See you on the trail!50/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Brown Gap

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Best day yet on trail! Started up for first 3 miles and then leveled off for several hours. It's about time that has happened! Of course finished with big up and then several miles down! Max Patch Bald was awesome! One of the famous AT sights. I felt I could see for a hundred miles plus! Indescribable! Crossed several streams and waterfalls! Soaked my feet Twice! Ice cold water really took the heat out of my feet and reduced the foot pain! Knees holding up, still real swollen. Knee braces are reAlly saving me and Vitamin I! Motrin! Did not plan on going so many miles but just happened. Seems to happen a lot out here. I guess I got caught up in less strenuous trail conditions. Told Awesome Wife I would take it easy. Don't tell! Ha! Also excited about getting into Hot Springs, NC. Supposed to be one of the friendliest hiker towns on trail. Always looking for good food, shower, and laundry. Normal town chores! Will hike in tomorrow, only a few miles to go, and then resupply for 4-5 day jaunt into Irwin, TN! Should hit 300 miles in next few days! Hopefully will be last 300 mile month. Shooting for 350- 450 range once I get trail legs and knees cooperate! Saw my first flowers today, and trees getting ready to bloom in the lower elevations. Things are starting to get that spring green appearance. The smell of pine needles from evergreens is really aromatic. Love that smell! Critters? So far I have heard many coyotes at night. Really cool hearing the howl and bark. Also owls, turkeys, and have seen some hawks. Have seen bear sign numerous times, but no bears! Good! One snake sighting, that I got a pic of. Will upload photo when I get wifi. Tenting tonight in stealth site with 2 couples. Very nice people! Starting to rain, but I'm snug in my tent! Love being able to camp and tent anywhere, now that we're out of Smokies. Please don't get impression I didn't like Smokies. They are rugged and beautiful. It's just that we had such treacherous weather that it made it really hard. It was more a survival mode than I care for. Did enough of that in Air Force!50/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Hot Springs

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Hot Springs at 0800. My hike almost ended before I started. Took a wrong turn and ended up on a shear rock face. Tried to repel down, had to throw my walking sticks down the mountain, and then take off my pack, and slide it down the mountain! Unfortunately, my pack started rolling end over end, and ended up 10 feet from the French Broad river! The river was high, with rapids. If my pack went in, I would of never been able to retrieve it! Wow! Close call. Never mind the treacherous repelling job I did holding onto trees to get down! After that I thanked The Lord and found my way back to trail!! The rest if day was in I eventful except I saw 3 huge Rat snakes! Pics to come when I get wifi! Hiked with 2 Socks, and DB Cooper all day and also stealth camping with them. Good hiking partners, and hope to hike awhile with them. Good fun!In tent now as the rain begins! No cell service, so no update for Awesome Wife! 50/50 out!
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Stealth Site
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another best day yet. Started with huge climb, then more climbs! Hiked across Big Fire Scald Nob, beautiful rock scramble. Hard, but the terrain and views were breath-taking! Could see for what seemed like hundreds of miles. Hiked with 2 Socks most of day. Very pleasant company, and a fellow man of faith! Yes!!! Made for a really special day. We stopped at the top of the cliff, sat on huge rocks, took our shoes and socks off to dry and air out! Tx'd Nanci, and said I would call later! Of course later had no cell service! Two days in row without hearing her voice! Bummer! I miss her a lot!Second of five nights to Erwin! Will be ready for a break when I get their. The knee started out a little better and then half way through day, started to get sharp pains! This was a new symptom, and am a little concerned. Hope tomorrow better. Motrin, and elevation tonight! Wish I had a cold stream to soak in. Did have a shallow stream to wash up though! A real treat. Smell much better for at least tonight! Ha!Hope to continue to hike at least to Erwin with 2 Socks and DB Cooper. 2 Socks is trying his best to share the Word with DB! A real challenge, but we have decided to tag team him! Help us Lord! DB is a 31 year old man from CT, who seems like never had any real fatherly guidance. He has a good heart, and I would love to see him open his heart to all God has for him. Please pray for 2 Socks and me for guidance! Well, another big, hard day tomorrow. Pray for no rain tonight and tomorrow! Makes the tent weigh a lot when wet! Don't need extra weight right now! 50/50 Out
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Stealth Site
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hard, tough climbs, but, (New Best Day)! Great views, plenty of streams, and the flowers are starting to come out! Great smells all day! Hiked with 2 Dogs all day again. Really enjoy hiking with another man of faith! We have the same hiking style, and enjoy stopping and taking breaks at beautiful locations. We took our shoes and sox off at a couple of great streams and just soaked. What a relief!! Even got to kneel down and soak knees!Talked to my Awesome Wife, who treated me to 2 nights at hotel in Erwin. TN! What a blessing after 5 full days of hiking! The break will be greatly appreciated! We saw fresh bear sign and tracks today. Really cool! We're all staying away from shelters as many hikers have come down with the Novi virus! (Sp) the mice disease! Tons of hikers have gotten sick! In tent and ready for bed. Whipped!50/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Hogback Ridge Stealth Site

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: moderate rain

Rain, Rain, Rain! Thunderstorms all night! Lightening, unbelievable thunder. Loudest thunder I've ever heard. The mountains just resonated the sound! Pretty awesome, but everyone knows I fear lightening. Many prayers! Checked weather @ 5am, went back to sleep until 7am. Unfortunately, woke with severe back pain! I have a bad disc, and about twice a year my backs goes out! Actually, my back was my greatest concern before starting hike, but up until now has been fine. Anyways, very hard, wet, day, with a lot of back pain! Motrin, Motrin, and more Motrin, with little relief! Toughest 10 mile hike yet. We were all soaked and cold. Prayed for sunshine and warmth! We got it! Our camp looks like a gypsy camp, clothes hanging everywhere! Going to move out slow tomorrow and let everything dry up. Then another 10 mile day before I get to Erwin for a town break on Friday. Yeah!Not huge miles but very tough miles with big elevation changes. Pray for my back to improve! Camping with 2 Socks, DB Cooper, and Master Chief, a retired Navy man! What a character. For some reason we have formed a group, we all hike about the same. We did have great trail magic at the interstate 26 junction. A previous thru- hiker provides a full breakfast for 10 days every year! Awesome, eggs, hash browns, drinks, and muffins! What a treat! I've definitely gotten my (hiker appetite)! Hungry all the time! Not sure how much weight I've lost, but my pants keep falling down! Ha! Oh, yesterday, about half way through our hike, went down to stream to get water, and a Trail Angel had left several mountain Sews in the stream! Wow, it was so good, and really energized me for a few miles!50/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.4

Awoke to warmer dryer weather! Yeah! Planned on 10 mile hike, but rain in forecast for Friday. So we decided to beat feet to Erwin, TN. 17 miles later we made it! My Awesome Wife had made me reservations for 2 nights at the Holiday Inn! Trail Angel! Miraculously, my back did much better today. Started very stiff but finally loosened up. I can't wait to tell my Chiropractor that I've been wasting good money on alignments with him! Just carry a heavy pack, sench the belt tight and hike 17 miles! Much improved! Ha!Really, still very sore, but after 2 hot baths a little better! Hope 2 nights of rest, I'll be ready to go.Beautiful sights today! Soaked feet in stream to cool feet and help new blisters from new Super Feet insoles! The verdict on these is still out. Seems I fix one problem and create another! Oh well, the trials and tribulations of a rookie thru-hiker! One successful thru-hiker told us, "you start as an apprentice, and once you complete 600 miles, you become a Journeyman" ! I believe it. So there is some hope for me! Tomorrows rest day I will try and explain some of the different characters out here. Now there is a soapbox! Well, fed, bathed, and now sleep! Prayers for all the Boston trauma , and the Texas explosion! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Erwin

To: Stealth camp
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

ErwinLeft Erwin at 7:30. Today's hike was full of reflection, and thoughts of Mom. Talked to Mom Friday and she said she has been having quite a bit of pain. Of course, her 1st response to my asking how are you doing? Was, good! How are you?That's Mom! Please continue to pray for her.   The hike today was fairly easy, with no huge elevation changes. Before we knew it we were on Beauty Spot Bald! Spectacular views of surrounding mtns and the city of Erwin. We sat up there for over 2 hours enjoying the views and warmth of the sun! Before we knew it, we were joined by a dozen or so thru-hikers. We just sat around and talked about our experiences. One lady named Fatty from Canada, and no she wasn't fat! Ran into Beatle Juice who I haven't seen for a few weeks. Plenty of streams to cross today. Just a good day of hiking. Talked briefly with my Awesome Wife but the connection was poor. I miss her terribly! She just bought a horse from someone who wasn't feeding it, so now we have a rescue horse to add to her other horse she has raised from a baby! She never saw an animal she couldn't help! Ha! I camped with 2 Socks and DB Cooper, who we've started calling Clark Kent since he got a real short haircut, and wears thick black glasses, like Superman! We will see if this new name sticks. Nice camp area, and had a great fire tonight. Ate, talked, and now off to bed! Hiker midnight, 7 pm!50/50 Out
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Greasy Creek Hostile

To: Stealth Camp below Beauty Spot
Miles today: 12.1

What a day! Left camp where it got really cold, in 30's with frost. Planned on only 12.1 miles, but with getting lost, ended up with about 15 miles! Yep, went way beyond hostel cut off, and had to back track! In defense of my navigation skills, the temporary sign for hostel was gone!Big up to Unaka Mountain! Ouch! Then hiked through a beautiful spruce forest that reminded me of the Enchanted Forest, and Robin Hood! Beautiful scenery all day made the hard miles worth it! I don't know why, but the 12 miles today seemed like 25! Yesterday, we did the same miles and before we knew it, we were done. Ok, the elevation was much more difficult today.Tomorrow we plan a low mileage day due to one if the highest mountains, Roan, on the AT! Just about 6200 feet! Going to be tough, but looking forward to the views. Praying the weather holds out because rain is coming and don't want to be that high with the cold and wet weather. Tough day, but good! Now tenting at Greasy Hostel. Showered, fed, and now comfy in my tent! Pics to come!50/50 Out
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Left hostel at 10 am and headed to Roan Mountain. What a day, hard but beautiful views all day! Hardest hike to date as far as elevations. Roan Shelter is the highest shelter on AT! Hiked with DB Cooper, Turtle Tracks and a few others. Lost 2 Socks for most of day. Met up with him at shelter. Had some glucose lows today, had to stop and eat, check glucometer, and press on.