morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-20
From: Weseer Bald 

To: The NOC 
Miles today: 6.0

4/20 -Day FourteenMy shelter mates and I slept until 8:15. Tracie immediately reported mice activity during the night. My pack was hanging from a nail pounded into a shelter rafter.... And I left a small bag of chocolate in the inside pocket.Evidently the mice smelt the chocolate and breached the pocket of my pack by nawing their way through. And to add insult to injury, the blue brick (which was hanging by a rope in the shelter)somehow took a small naw hole.As I packed for our hike down to the NOC, I dreamt of that Black Racer Snake getting the ultimate revenge on the shelter vermin. And people wonder why I have a truce with snakes? The good news is at Damascus Trail Days all the gear company's offer repairs. In the mean time the mouse hole will be patched with good old duct-tape.I hiked the 6 miles to the NOC with Brooklyn Shawn. As we hiked I got to known Shawn better. Shawn is on his second attempt for a thru-hike having gone 580 miles last year.The hike to NOC was all down and in some places light scrambling. NOC is in a valley and we have to climb out 3,000 feet tomorrow!We discussed night hiking out. However, the NOC is cool and we were immediately caught in the vortex. I knew right away I was staying the night. We ate lunch at the restaurant on the river and then decided to soak our feet in the river... Where a hiker hang-out party commenced as more and more of our crew filtered into the NOC.As we chilled by the river I sorted through my stuff and built a small "to be sent home" box. I also grabbed two packages from the NOC. One package was from my friend Keith and included jerky, slim kind and things. The other package came to the NOC later in the day and was from Amazon. Kelly has sent my an Anker 5200 battery pack for my phone.My friend Keith sent me beads and rawhide and I made a necklace with 14 beads (one for each state on the AT). I will remove a bead after each state do I immediately pitched one (Georgia). As we kicked it by the river I spent time with Dave (The Judge). He is a few years older than me and is a retired NY State Trooper.I also met and talked with Mayfly. Mayfly is a big fly fisherman and is carrying a fly-rod. He intends to catch a trout in every state. We agreed to fish some as I intend to have Kelly send out my fly-rod further up the trail.In the morning we take on the big climb. The climb out of the NOC. They say this climb separates the hikers from the non-hikers. I am culling as much extra weight as possible. It is 7 miles long and the elevation goes up 3,000 feet.
Date: 2016-04-23
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

4/23 - Day SeventeenThe plan today was to hike the 13 miles to Fontana Dam, get a room, rest and get ready to resupply and do laundry. No one wants to zero here... Most are moving out mid-day on Sunday. Me included. I hiked with Mayfly and brothers Holy Diver and Ghost for most of the day. We also hiked with Ranger who moved slow today due to shin-splints.The hike was not brutal until we reached the decent to Fontana Dam. We could see the dam very far away and it seemed like we were right there, but the trail went in and in running ridge-lines and descending on a trail covered with rocks and roots. When I finally reached the bottom Holy Diver, Ghost and Mayfly were there (they were a few minutes ahead of me). We decided to walk 1.5 miles to the Fontana Dam Visitor Center. There we would call the shuttle to the Fontana Lodge. We were lucky to get a room because both car and motorcycle clubs have the place booked.At the end of the last 1.5 miles we reached the infamous Fontana Hilton Shelter. The Hilton is a shelter everyone talks about. It was well built and in s cool spot, but since we already booked a room we said hello to Scoutmaster who was sleeping there and kept walking.I was very beat. My food supply was low (which made my pack light) but I was low on energy. Early in the day we found some apples and bananas at a road crossing and I ate a banana (probabally the first one in 40 years) and and apple. They were both great.Despite the mid-day break my tank was on empty. We were trying to hump it to the general store before it closed at 6 and we had a mile to go when we walked up on trail magic.In this case it was a dude named Wildcat who did a thru-hike in 2015. He had it all! Hot dogs, chips, Gatorade, soft drinks, cookies. We immediately abandoned the run to the general store and feasted with Wildcat.Just when you thought it could not get any better, he offered some good resupply stuff like Ramon and Knorr's pasta sides to us. It was a very kind thing. Wildcat is a good mellow dude.As we were finishing our feast Odie and Tracie pulled up in the AT Yearbook Bus and into the nearby parking lot. Odie offered to take us to the Fontana Lodge in the bus so we all piled in! We would later return the favor by offering Odie and Tracie a place to park the bus and whatever they needed from our cabin. As it turned out, trail angel Wildcat was staying in a cabin across from us so a little hiker get together happened. Note... Hiker get together are not raucous events after a 13 mile hikes. We were all pretty spent. I start hiking in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park tomorrow!
Date: 2016-04-24
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Creek Gap Campsite
Miles today: 7.0

4/24 - Day EighteenWe woke up early and went to the Fontana Lodge buffet breakfast. Ghost, Holy Diver (who we discovered are brothers!), Mayfly and I participated. After breakfast we went back to the cabin and started sorting through all of our food trying to build five days worth (you can leave Smokies and resupply in Gatlinburg, but I would rather die from a rouge bear than to not hike straight thru).What holes we had in our 5 day supply we quickly filled at the general store (which was surprisingly well stocked for hikers). Both Mayfly and I recieved resupply boxes so we did not have to buy much. We also did laundry at the general store's laundromat. By noon (one hour after check out) we were ready to hike. Our packs were scary heavy with the weight of a lot of food.Odie and Tracie left in the bus, so we got the shuttle driver to drop us off at the visitor center on the Fontana Dam. I went inside and learned a little history from the hosts, but my mind was in the climb and the heat of the afternoon sun."The brothers" went out ahead of us. We knew that with our weight there was no way to keep up with them. They were resupplying in Gatlinburg and therefore were not loaded down. Ranger was there, but was not going forward now, his shin-splints were taking him back to Franklin for a few days of zeros (I assume at Gooder Grove). We will see him again. Mayfly and I fought the good fight as we entered the Smokies. The climb was all up hill, but not too steep. Regardless, the weight of are freshly supplied packs and the afternoon sun made it hell.We hiked to Birch Creek Gap (the first campsite in the Smokies). Carl the Ridgerunner welcomed us in and pointed out a tent pad site. We settled in and joined the others (two new thru-hikers named Cowboy and Mozy). We built a fire and ate as much food as possible. We have to lighten out load as we are going 12 miles in the morning.Around the campfire was a group of section hiker girls from Florida and a very quiet girl that hung by the fire and did not say much. Midway through the short evening I learned this quiet girl was Special K. Special K is 14 years old and is attempting the youngest solo thru-hike ever!!!! I thought it was an honor to share a fire with her and told her so. Reception here in the Smokies is iffy. If I go dark for a day, don't panic. It's all good.
Date: 2016-04-29
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

4/29 - Day Twenty TwoI thought I would talk about trail legs today, but something more exciting happened. A bear encounter!!!!Justin, Mayfly and I hiked out of Peck's this morning early. We wanted to get a leg up as the choices of next shelters were Tri-Knob (5 miles) or Cosby Knob Shelter (13 miles). We were shooting for the 13 mile hike!We decided to take a break at Tri-Knob. There was a good water source and shelters are always fun to stop and see who is there.There was a big group of people. Chicken Little, Nila and several other hikers I did not know. One man I did not know (Rocketman) picked up his backpack and headed out back up the trail. We kicked it for another 25 minutes and then saddled up.As we left the shelter there was Rocketman! He was standing about 100 yards from where the trail met the shelter trail. He had saucer eyes and said.... A bear just chased me!The fact that I was almost done hiking through the Smokies without seeing a bear over took my good senses. I said... Let me go see and I hiked quickly past Justin, Mayfly and Rocketman. I did not have to go far. I ran into the beast standing in the trail right by the shelter sign. So I did the wise thing... Took out my camera and took several pictures!He eventually left the trail and hit a ridge. We would find out later he walked the ridge back to the Shelter and everyone there for a bear show!We made it to Cosby Knob Shelter. There are a ton of people here and most everyone saw at least one bear and a lot of bear loads in the trail.In the morning we will hike the last 10 miles of the Smokeys and make for the Standing Bear Hostel at Davenport Gap.
Date: 2016-05-01
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

5/1 - Day Twenty FourLong day of hiking. I am beat from the ups and downs. We left Standing Bear early and hiked all day. In addition to the many steep elevation gains it rained on us good.Our goal was Max Patch .... A big open "bald" of grass. There are no trees up there and the AT is marked with stakes in the ground.When I got there Mayfly was with his brother and his brother's wife (Peter and Tracy). They also had their two little boys. Mayfly was going to Asheville for the night and they met him at Max Patch. Much to out surprise they brought a picnic lunch of BBQ (pulled pork). Today was a big day of trail magic. A super nice couple drove up to the first bald we hiked to and presented us with the best spread yet. They were very nice people and talkative.Between the trail magic at the first bald and Mayfly's picnic I ate good today!   In fact, when we arrived at Max Patch there was another couple camping there of which Justin had made quick friends. They learned of our pursuit and offered some food. I thanked them and explained that we were well fed and we'll stocked to get to Hot Springs and declined the offer.So the picnic ended. Mayfly left with his peeps (we will meet him in Hot Springs). Justin and I decided not to camp on the bald, but to finish the 15 miles at the next shelter. We descended from the bald into the woods and found a great campsite on the edge of the lower bald. It has water and it is protected from the wind. It's the coolest campsite of my journey and it fell into our lap just as the sun was setting and out belly's still full from the picnic. What a great way to end May 1st.note ...reception has been poor I just posted two days of journals. Take a look back from yesterday's post. It's a goodie!
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: moderate rain

5/2 - Day Twenty FiveToday was a genuine 16 mile day!!! My longest yet. Since Justin and I camp outside of a shelter area, it meant no early risers waking us up. This translated into waking up at 8:30. The plan was to organize our stuff and dry out the wet stuff on the tree and old fence near the campsite. Because of the bald nearby there was a lot of sun light. So we cooked breakfast and pontificated whether or not our cool campsite was used in the Civil War and then we started sorting through out gear. Organization out here is critical.About then Mozy came by. He camped up on the bald with Nila. When you see Mozy hiking you know it's mid-morning. He is not an early bird and today, neither were we.We finally broke camp and started hiking right around...11. Hey, when you have the perfect campsite right on the trail it's tough to get going. But we got going and decided to head to the Deer Park Shelter which is just 3 miles from the town of Hot Springs.Before I discuss the hike, I will share some thoughts on the changing dynamics of the trail. Justin and I sat literally on the trail organizing our gear and only Mozy and one other guy (Wind Walker) came by. After the Smokies there seems to be less hikers still out there. BTW ... Wind Walker is from Alaska and is a 20 mile a day hiker. He is at the Deer Park Shelter tonight.The hike was not super hard today and it was not super easy. There was two big climbs. One that was 750 feet (which quickly descended) and then back up again 1,000 feet. I felt good on both of these climbs.Because we were walking the late shift we knew we would not get to the shelter before 8! With only 4 miles left the blackest and nastiest cloud came over the mountain. I could hear thunder in the not too far distance so I got out my back pack rain cover and rain jacket. I was hiking fast but I knew I could not outrun this cloud. Lightning became intense for a minute (it was close, but I had closer encounters).... But still it had my attention. Then the cloud broke open.Justin and I hiked fast in the rain. The trail turned into a small river and out boots quickly were soaked. We hit the top of the mountain and the wind was howling... Perfect hypothermia weather. We agreed to not stop and hauled ass! We were both soaked head to toe.We finally hiked into the Deer Park Shelter looking like wet rats. It's a small shelter. Mozy and Wind Walker were in there. They made space for us and that is where I am now, in a tiny shelter wedged between Justin and Mozy. It has not stopped raining and I am happy to be in the shelter.
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs 
Miles today: 3.0

5/3 - Day Twenty SixSometimes it all just comes together. Last night when Justin and I reached the shelter and changed into dry clothes we hunkered down for what ended up being non-stop rain all night. But here is the good part, the shelter roof was metal and damn did I sleep good.That being said, getting up and going was tough because most of my stuff was soaking wet. So slipping into wet dirty clothes was not fun.... But the good part was we were just 3 miles from Hot Springs. Another cool surprise was seeing J in the morning. I had not seen him since Day Two when we hiked together! He was hunkered in his tent when we strolled in.Hot Springs is a deluxe trail town. The AT actually runs through Main Street! To make it better, there is a kick ass breakfast place and the first thing we did was crush a Smokey Mountain Breakfast: 3 eggs, hash browns, country ham and biscuits and gravy. Of course I pounded a gallon of coffee and a shot of OJ. It was so good it made me forget my boots were water logged. About half way through the gang started showing up, in force!!!! First Odie and Tracie show up with the bus. Then Feel Good appeared and then Hula Bear and Kia Bear! We decided to go see what was happening at the Laughing Heart Hostel and that's where we found the rest of the crew....Foxtrot, Pending, Magic Man, Ghost, Holy Diver, Lee and Frolic. It was like everyone I met so far on AT was there!My number one priority was to dry out my boots and pack and do laundry. The second priority was pick up a box from the outfitters. A very generous follower of this blog who was kind enough to send a care package and nailed it as far as what I could use out here. While I was picking up my box I bumped into Alister who agreed to join me for a pint across the street at Spring Creek Tavern.Well as it turns out, the entire crew had migrated there, including everyone that was and was not staying at Laughing Heart. In addition to everyone I already met, there was Nila, Mozy, J, Orange Crush, Heather, Rock, JT, chicken Little. Several pints were consumed.When we got back to hostel I realized Jules was working and helping at hostel. I last saw her at Jacob's Ladder. Farmer Luke is here too. Both Jules and Luke are resting after doing too many miles.Today was great. It started with me being wet (not wet and miserable), just wet. I hiked 3 miles and had a great breakfast, received a great box and had several beers with friends. In the morning I will finish up packing winter clothes I am sending home (Kelly get ready for mail). I hope this lightens my load. I did buy a great pair of Columbia shorts to replace my zip off shorts and I found a really cool shirt in the "free" rack at the hostel... But overall I am sending home 2 plus pounds of clothes!I am going to keep my miles under 15 for now. I keep catching the fast hikers on their multiple zeros when they have to rest.
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Hemlock Hollow Hostel

To: Jerry's Shelter 
Miles today: 10.0

5/6 - Day Thirty TwoBig day today. The emotions ran from low (hiking up hill in misty nasty conditions) to high (major trail magic and a beautiful sunny 4 mile walk along a very rocky part of the AT that was fun and offered very good views).Equally as important is I am at Jerry' Shelter which is mile marker 300.8!!!!The lows: we were slow getting out of Hemlock Hostel. The weather look gloomy and we had a 2,000 foot climb ahead of us to start the day. We agreed to do the first 3 miles then break for water at the first shelter.The climb to the first shelter wasn't the hardest and with the muddy trail conditions not the easiest. It just was bit fun gloomy woods). Then two gentlemen passed us and said there was trail magic at Jones Meadow (2 miles above the first shelter).When Rock, Justin, Mayfly and I met at the first shelter we decided to take a very brief break and head for the trail magic. What we did not know was that a nasty climb laid between us and nirvana.The climb sucked... No if, ands or buts. It just sucked. It was steep, the trail was muddy, one second it was drizzling, I sweated, then when I stopped I was cold. You get the point.But then we were there. The Greeneville, NC Hiking and Cycling Club was holding the grand champion trail magic.... Complete with a big tent full of good things to eat. I immediately went for coffee and we all huddled around the warm fire as we were wet and cold from the climb.Them I ate a salad, and then another salad, then a cheeseburger and some mashed potatoes and then more coffee and fire.Plans to do 16 miles today went out the window and we warmed ourselves by the fire for 2 full hours the entire time politely turning down offers to "take as much as you need". Thank you Greeneville Hiking and Cycling Club you made our day!!!!Scrubbing plans to go big miles we decided to go 4 more to Jerry's Shelter. Although this shelter has no affiliation to Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead we still pretended it did. Most people that were at trail magic opted for this shelter.The best part of it all was the 4 miles from the trail magic to Jerry's. It was a cool walk (although trail was muddy) that offered some real technical rock scrambling. The sun came out and with full belkys we were happy. We hiked with a guy named Obie-won (Star wars) and got to know him. We are all tented at Jerrys. The sky's have cleared but it will be another very cold night.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Jerry's Shelter 

To: Hog Back Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

5/7 - Day Thirty ThreeI did 15 miles today and I am sleeping at the Hog Back Shelter. They are calling for more rain. The good news is there is somewhat good reception so I can its updates. Oh... I need a ride to Trail Days from somewhere just north of Erwin. Mayfly and I are not going to make the hike in and we are looking for a ride. Anyone? Anyone?Today's hike was both easy in parts and challenging in others. The 15 miles made me tired, but not beat up.Note, I have had very poor reception ... Please go back a few posts to see all about the crazy weather and stuff. I am keeping it short today as there is lots to read from prior days.
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Hog Back Shelter

To: Uncle Johny's Hostel
Miles today: 26.0

5/9 - Day Thirty Four and FiveJust a quick update. I had a big day yesterday and did 16 plus miles (including Big Bald). The hike yesterday included some simple but very well received trail magic.One trail magic that we stumbled on was a bag of miniature turkey sandwhiches individually wrapped. What tossed these little gems over the top was what tasted like home grown garden tomatoes.This act of kindness enabled me to plow on and Mayfly and I camped at a sweet spot just above Spivey Gap.Our campsite enabled us to do a quick 10 miles today and set up shop at Uncle Johny's Hostel here in Erwin, TN. As usual, they're were lots of familiar faces here.We ended up jumping in a shuttle van and at an all you can eat pizza buffet followed by a resupply shopping spree at Walmart. We are planning to make some big miles in the morning out of Erwin. I can feel the suck of Uncle Johny's as this is a cool place. Cool means mellow, but clean.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Uncle Johny's Hostel

To: Black Bear Resort
Miles today: 0.0

5/10 - Day Thirty SixThe day began with plans to slack-pack out of Uncle Johnny's and get 20 miles behind us. The crowd was big at Uncle Johnny's, but it soon thinned out as hikers left on what seemed like all directions. Before we could get out of there Alister slipped in. We heard he was having s tooth-ache and we found out he had a root canal in Hot Springs!!!Trail Days is this weekend in Damascus and already hikers are trying to get there. I am told hikers start gathering now and "tent city" grows until the festival ends thus Sunday.We dilly-dallied too long today and finally decided to get a ride to Hampton, TN from Justin's girlfriend (Carla). The decision was made as this will enable us to hike into Damascus (Trail Days) by the end of the week. We will then go back to Uncle Johnny's after the festival and do the section between Erwin and Hampton. I don't regret the decision, I do regret doing a complete zero today.We are staying 1/2 mile away from the trail head in the Black Bear Resort. This place is nice. It is a campground with cool cabins versus a hiker hostel, but they do accommodate hikers as well. The odd thing is it is not all the crowded... Possibly hikers pushed ahead to Damascus?Mayfly, Justin and I are in a cabin. We saw one other couple and I just saw a friendly familiar face (Farmer Luke) hike in. I last saw Luke in Hot Springs. He is a fast hiker and said he just did a 30 mile day.Doing bigger miles past Erwin becomes possible I am told as the terrain levels out some.... Although we have a big climb out of here in the morning.Here is the crazy thing. We skipped some 70 miles of trail to get here (again... We will do these miles after Trail Days... So don't go to calling me a yellow blazer!), but by car the distance between Erwin and Hampton was 20 minutes!!! That really puts into perspective how to trail winds through the mountain.We are going to push for miles tomorrow. As always, our packs are heavy due to resupply. Although I did not plan to zero today, the rest is good. The only continual bummer is that many of these hostels are located in spots where cell reception is non-existent and I am having problems texting and posting updates.