morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-09-28
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 16.4

I got out of my sleeping bag about 6:00 AM. It was foggier than it should have been - according to me. I ate breakfast of dry cereal and coffee and then hit the trail. The weeds and trees along the trail got me all wet. I saw some animal run up the trail. It was dark gray and had a long tail. It was 4-6" taller than a house cat. I clanked my trekking poles together and it disappeared.It didn't make a good meal. I had my longest day yet - 16.4 miles and seemed like 25 miles. I saw a only a couple other hikers today. I hiked almost 12 hours and it was a job and a half for this old goat. The last 3 miles were a big struggle. I didn't even have any fumes to run on and the last 1 1/2 hours were downhill. Downhill with 18 switchbacks - OH WOW. During the day I came upon a 4' snake in the trail. I stopped because it was looking at me. It said "old man you are ugly." I said "you are not very pretty yourself. So get off the trail or I will whack you!" So old sneaky snake slithered off into the grass and pestered someone else. I got to Uncle Johnny's Hostel at 7:45 totally exhausted. They said "man, you look beat to the last inch." I was so tired I couldn't even shake. I took a hot shower, ate a few snacks and drank 2 cans of pepsi and that got me going. I then washed my clothes. I was almost too tired to even sleep but did somehow sleep fitfully. Now let that be a lesson for me and not do 16.4 miles in that type of terrain again.Happy birthday to son Jim.Thought for the day:Try not to do more than you should. It only makes your body angry. And you don't want much of that.
Date: 2013-09-29
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Indian Grave Gap TN 395
Miles today: 8.8

I got up at 6:15 and felt rested but very hungry. I packed my stufF into the backpack. I had cabin G all to myself. I had laid out my tent and things to dry. At 9:00 Uncle Johnny took 4 of us to Erwin to a Huddle House for breakfast. I had 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, 2 sausage patties, hash browns, toast, and biscuits with sausage gravy. I was filled to the brim and it felt good. I got some things at Uncle Johnny's and hit the trail at 12:00 and put it into high gear because I had some big uphill climbs. The trail had the most rocks of all the trail I walked. Some say there is honey in the rock for you and me, but all I found was meaness in the rocks. In the afternoon I heard a bear grunt beside the trail so I blew my whistle and it moved out of there fast. I met a father and 2 young boys hiking in the afternoon. Father was JB and sons were Patrick and Isaac. I walked 8.8 miles to Indian Grave Gap which was only a campsite 500' from a road. I was there all alone and survived it. I even built a fire for the first time. About 9:00 PM the wind started to blow and made the trees shake and creak. I woke up at 12:30 AM and all was quiet. I rolled over and went to sleep again.Thought for the day:If someone can find honey in the rocks, please show me. Or is the song we sing in fairy tale land?Hey Whitesidewalls: Do you remember the 18 switchbacks coming down to Uncle Johnny's? And yes, it was just around the corner! An hour and 1/2 later - HA.
Date: 2013-09-30
From: Indian Grave Gap TN 395

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: broken clouds

I got up at 6:15 and put stuff away and made breakfast of oatmeal and then headed out. I had a couple steep climbs today. I met 3 sections hikers that I hiked with this spring. Now what is the chance of that happening? I came around a bend in the trail and this guy said "I know you from this spring". We talked a while then he wanted a picture of me. Maybe he will show sneaky snake my picture and make it shudder. I was tired today so I stopped at Cherry Gap Shelter. Total miles was 8.7. I wanted to do 4.4 more but I was too tired. I met a SOBO hiker at the shelter and his name was The Bear. He wants to be at Springer Mt by October 26. WOW. I worked on my journal and picture ID's. The Bear and The Leopard were the only ones at the shelter. The Bear took the shelter and The Leopard slept in his tent. We had two great animals at the shelter. It was about 9:00 PM when an owl in the tree above me started whooing to his friend. It took him about 5 minutes to tell his friends about us. He goes "whoo whoo boo whoo". His friend said, "whoo, whoo, boo, whoos." Owl #1 said, "whoo, whoo, boo, twoo twoo fools, boo whoo. Owl #2 goes, "whoo boo twoo fools boo whoo". Owl #1 goes "whoo, boo, boo fools." End of conversation. I conked out about 9:30 then got up at 4:00 for a pee break.Thought for the day:Do not second guess the birds and the animals. They got us figured out.
Date: 2013-10-01
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 7.3

The owl woke me up at 5:30 AM and told his friends "whoo, whoo, boo two fools" and that was it. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and got dressed and got breakfast going. The Bear was making his breakfast and he left before I did. I took my time because I only had 7.3 miles to Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel to pick up my 3 day food drop. So I was picture happy today. When I got to a road crossing called Iron Mountain Gap, Rob Bird was there in his truck with pop and snacks. We call it trail magic. I had a cold coke and banana cream cake. He also pulled out a padded stool to sit on. Life was good. Thanks a bunch Rob. After my snack I shot down the trail all smiles. I got to Greasy Creek Gap about 1:30 PM and went off trail to Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel. It was a .6 mile walk but worth it. On the way down I met the owner and she said make yourself at home and I'll be there soon. I took a nap in the yard and when she came home I got fed 2 nice juicy hamburgers, chips, cookies, and an ice cream drumstick. A nice day to have! I took my shower and she washed my dirty clothes so I can be clean again. I went through my food drop and rested in my cabin while I journaled and went over my walk for Wednesday. Looks like some tough climbing. I will end up at 6194' for the night. It could get cold.Thought for the day:Life was good in the woods today - birds singing, sunshine and lots of trees and flowers.
Date: 2013-10-02
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

I was up at 6:15 and started to pack. My breakfast was supposed to be ready at Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel at 7:45. I had some turkey bacon, scambled eggs, hash browns and coffee. I put that away real quick and Connie made me another angus burger to eat at lunch today. I met a hiker an hour into my hike then I was alone until 3:00 PM. Met a lady day hiker coming from Roan Mt. It was uphill all day and the last 4 miles were a mess - uphill, rocks, washouts, and roots. It was really a tough climb. They say you moan up Mt. Roan and it's true. I started at 400' and ended up at 6194'. I had about 200 big black flies on my backpack pushing me through the hardest parts - maybe. In the late afternoon I met 2 brothers from Maine hiking south. They left in June sometime. Their trail names were Stream Walker and Jesus. So I did meet someone famous. I got to camp about 6:00 PM and was glad for it. I ate supper and journaled. Maybe I'll have an easier day tomorrow. I'll still be in the 5000' elevation. I also walked through a lot of pine forest today and it jolts the memory. It was like Christmas smells. It even smelled like cinnamon and nutmeg - you know like when the pies are baking for Christmas day. Did I jog your memory? The other hikers I met were Bird Watcher, Leaf, Hip Hop, and Face Plant. I also met a women hiker named Side Show. Face Plant said she was following my journal.Thought for the day:Sometimes with luck a person meets someone very unusual. I met Jesus and Stream Walker.
Date: 2013-10-03
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Bradley Gap
Miles today: 10.0

I got up around 6:30 and made breakfast and took pictures of the campsite. I hit the trail around 9:00 and headed out. I had a lot of mountain tops with no trees. Just grass and weeds and flowers. I had a lot of nice views almost all day with a lot of sunshine blazing down on me. I bypassed several shelters to make up miles. I stopped at Bradley Gap and set up my tent because I had phone service. I had trouble setting up my tent which alarmed me. Maybe I shouldn't be camping here alone and I was right. It was after dark when I heard what I thought was a screech owl but it was a lot harsher scream. I found out it was a bobcat. I had set up close to the trail and about 8:30 I hear this plumping sound and I saw the headlight of a hiker go by. No big deal. The night was crazy. Leaves were dropping on my tent all night. A bit away from my tent was a chestnut tree and they were dropping all night. WOW. At one point I could smell something like a wet animal. I tossed and turned all night long. My instinct had told me not to camp there and now I know better. I had a lot of great photo opportunities. It was a 10 mile day and not a bad one at that. I met a father and son team during the day. The father was Gray Wolf and the son was Dog Man. The son had hiked this summer and now they were on a short hike together.Thought for the day:Always listen to your sixth sense. It won't let you down. I could have avoided a bad night.Kathy at Mid-City: You are good at making cards. Would you please make one for Ed K at the sales counter? He looked off his feet the last time I saw him. Thanks, The Leopard
Date: 2013-10-04
From: Bradley Gap

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 5.8

I was up by 5:30 because I had enough of this night. I got packed and it was so foggy I could hardly find my food bag up in the tree. I hit the trail as soon as I could see. The first 1 1/2 hours were foggy as sam hill. I couldn't see 50-100' ahead of me. The trail was uphill and no trees. There was only grass, rocks, weeds, and flowers. I was wet up to my knees because everything was wet. I saw a long black snake today and will need to find out the name of it. I snacked all day and about 3:00 PM I got to Mountain Harbour BB and Hostel. There are 7 of us guys staying in the upstairs of a barn. The donkeys are below us. It is a nice place being a barn. It has an upstairs loft, living and cooking area, and two bathrooms. At 5:00 PM we went to town to eat and resupply. I got caught up on my journal and we talked until about 10:00 PM. The guys there were: The Leopard, Grateful, Captain Andy, Stove Top, Streaming Mountain, Bernie, and Steel Cut. And not one of us snored. What a relief!To son Nate: I'm seeing a lot of mushrooms. I don't know if I should kick and walk or pick and eat. Get here soon!To Brandy at Mid-City: I need a quote on a solar powered toilet for the AT. Specs are color bright orange, auto flush, auto wipe preferred, soft bristle-like camel hair, needs camouflage, auto blow dry, self cleaning, auto umbrella. Some privies don't have roofs. Please keep price low. Thanks, The LeopardThought for the day:
Date: 2013-10-05
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Upper Laurel Fork
Miles today: 12.6

I was up by 6:30 and got packed for the day. I had bought a foot long sub the night before for my lunch. I put it in a blue bag and thought I had hung it on my pack. At noon I looked for it but it wasn't there. I had lost it along with my rope to pull my food up into the tree. What a let-down! I started my walk at 8:00 AM and it went pretty good except for losing my sandwich and rope. I had a lot of easy walking and arrived a Vango/Abby Memorial Hostel about 5:00 PM. I did 12.6 miles. The fellow that runs the place is Scotty and he has walked over 14,000 miles. He is a nice guy - in fact, a real nice guy. I showered and made supper and jounaled and slept a little in between. I had to figure out my new walking schedule because 2 shelters north have bear problems at night. Right now you are not to sleep at Watauga Lake Shelter so I have to redo all my schedule. But I will get it done. I'm at mile 404.2 which leaves me with 62.4 miles to go this year. It's supposed to rain sometime Sunday so I have to start early.Thought for the day:Some days are good. Others are better. I take them as they come and make the best of it.
Date: 2013-10-06
From: Upper Laurel Fork

To: Dennis Cove Rd USFS 50
Miles today: 12.3

I woke up and checked my watch and thought it was 6:00 AM. I got up and packed some of my stuff and happened to look at my watch with my glasses on and it was 6:00 AM. So I had gotten up at 5:00 AM! I had breakfast and headed out by 7:15 because a rain storm was coming. I saw my first deer on the trail today. The AM hiking was good but about 11:00 it got hilly and rough. I got to Kincora Hiking Hostel about 4:30. I hiked all day without seeing anyone. It was one lonely day. I met Bob, the owner of Kincora Hostel and he is great. There are only 3 hikers here tonight. It's The Leopard, Kramer, and another one I don't know. We had free pizza and moose tracks ice cream. So that was good. My mileage was 12.3 in 9 1/4 hours. I took a lot of breaks and at 3:00 PM I took a 15 minute nap. I was tired!Thought for the day:Wisdom is great. Stupidity is silly and can be fixed.Harvey at Mid-City: Would you please try to give an answer about the difference between super heat and sub cooling? This is your lesson for today. Have it ready when I get home. And Ed K, please get back to work before I come and make you work! HA Thanks, The Leopard
Date: 2013-10-07
From: Dennis Cove Rd USFS 50

To: US 321 Hampton TN
Miles today: 8.6

I was up at 6:15 and ate breakfast and got ready for the day walk. It was raining so I waited until about 9:00 AM then Bob Peoples of Kincora Hiking Hostel took me to the north trail head and I hiked back 8.6 miles to the hostel to spend the night in dry. I had a good hike most of the day but had a few rocky ups and downs. The fog and rain left about 12:30 PM. I saw a lot of good stuff in the woods today - lots of mushrooms and waterfalls. I finished my hike at 3:30 PM. I then showered, washed my clothes, ate supper, repacked, and then shot the breeze with Hatter Fox, Kramer, and Phatt Chapp. I will be taken to the trail head by Bob Peoples and head to Iron Mountain Shelter for the night. I have 15.7 miles to cover. It will be my last night in my tent for this trip.Thought for the day:We should give thanks for the wonders of nature that we see. I see a lot of amazing things on this hike!
Date: 2013-10-08
From: US 321 Hampton TN

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

I was up and snacked and had coffee in the Kincora Hostel. I had Bob Peoples take me uptown to pick up a foot long and one 6" sub for my meal during the day. I had 15.7 miles to go today. It was fairly easy but had a few ups and downs to slow me down. I even took a tumble today going downhill. My one foot caught on a rock and the other stepped on a hickory nut and I went sprawling! I hit my head on a rock and took off some skin. Overall it wasn't too bad. I saw my first bear today beside the trail so I slapped my trekking poles together and and the bear shot off into the forest. The Leopard scared a bear for sure this time. I was pretty tired when I got to Iron Mountain Shelter. I had enough water for the night. I ate snacks and a 6" sub. I set up my tent and am all alone tonight. The bears are out there somewhere! It was about 9:00 PM when one owl had a 1 minute concert.Thought for the day:Meeting people like Bob Peoples makes a person wonder why I haven't done more for strangers.
Date: 2013-10-09
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Low Gap US 421
Miles today: 11.1

I got up a little late this morning. I only had 11.1 miles to go to US 421 where my wife was to pick me up and go to Lazy Fox BB for the night. I walked about 10 minutes from camp when I saw a little bear cub go up a tree about 200' away from me. I looked around and didn't see mama bear so I waited until the cub got almost to the top of the tree then I whacked my trekking poles together and he slid down the tree like greased lightning and did a disappearing act. The trail went through pastures today with cows in it. I made a few wrong turns today. I will blame it on bumping my head on a rock yesterday. Oh well. My wife picked me up at a parking lot then we found a Huddle House for some food. I had shrimp and a 10 oz steak plus hash browns, toast and coffee. It was nice to have some real food again. I got 2 things today -- a good wife back again and some good food.Thought for the day:Good things come to those who wait but still keep doing what's needing to be done.
Date: 2013-10-10
From: Low Gap US 421

To: Damascus, VA south
Miles today: 14.7

My wife and I stayed at the Lazy Fox BB last night and we had a clean bed and a nice shower. We also had a big breakfast at the Lazy Fox BB with another couple that had stayed the night. My wife took me to the trailhead on US 421. I started my hike of 14.7 miles to Damascus. I started at 9:00 AM. The walking was nice today. In fact, the best yet - just 100-200' rises. I had taken everything out of my pack except food and water for the day. I saw 5 hikers today but didn't get their names. The hikers were all southbound. I turned on both after burners and took 2 alleve pills and shot down the trail. I ate some lunch on a 20 minute break about 12:30. I walked so fast the squirrels thought I was nuts so they were chasing me. I think maybe a dozen or so were giving me a run for my money. I saw no bears today. I was walking with a light pack so the miles flew by. I emerged from the mountain about 2:55 PM with a light drizzle of rain. I busted out 14.7 miles in 6 hours. That's a record for me. I called my wife and she was just done catching up on my journal at the library a couple hundred feet away. My wife took pictures of me at the Damascus sign and then we headed for the town of Roan Mt. to pick up my late arriving food drop at Mountain Harbour BB/Hostel. We then went to Uncle Johnny's in Erwin, TN to pick up my stuff I had left there to lighten my pack. We ate supper at a KFC buffet and they didn't make any money on us because we put away a lot of food. We found a motel and slid to a stop for the day. My thoughts for this trip - over mountains/rocks/streams/valleys, cold days and nights, hot days, alone days, camping alone at night at times - can't be put into one sentence. I walked 157.6 miles in 15 days on time and came out alive. My wife asked me about my feelings as I got done and I had to swallow about 6 times and bite my tongue to keep from crying. There were a lot of emotions going on in my head at that time. It's hard to imagine walking a total of 466.6 miles this year on a trail in the mountains. It took a lot of hard work for me and even a lot harder amount of work for my wife - the thousands of miles of driving me to and from, keeping my journal up to date, and sending food packages to the right place. So hats off to my wife Marilyn!Thought for the day:
Date: 2014-03-01
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone!Happy 2014 and news from The Leopard. I am getting antsy to hit the AT once again. I hear Maine calling me loud and clear. I am one year older and hopefully wiser for this trek. I lightened my pack a bit. I got a new tent which cut 3 lbs off my pack. I also got a SteriPen UV water purifier with cuts off 11 oz. (I may still take my regular water purifier along.) I have a walking partner to start out this time. My nephew Jon is going along for a while but he doesn't know for how long. We will leave around April 13 and try to hit the AT on April 15 in Damascus, VA where I left off last fall. See you all later in the journal.Thought for the day: A person becomes the song he or she sings.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: TN 91

To: Low Gap, US 421
Miles today: 0.0

I stepped on the AT for a trial start for the 2014 season. Catfish and I walked a 6.5 miler to warm up our walking legs for Tuesday which hopefully will be longer. I'm so glad to be back on the AT where nature talks to us. The spring flowers and the mayapple flowers are peeping out to look at us as we walk by. The trees are budding and the birds are happy. We walked in the rain for about three miles. It was a nice soaker and flower grower. I met hikers today with funny names -- Reset, Storm, and couple named Bismark and Hopper. My wife and sister picked us up at US 421 and we went to Damascus for a few supplies and then to Abingdon to a Cracker Barrel for supper. We went to a motel for our last night of comfort for 6 days away or 76 miles.Thought for the day:If you want to feed your soul, go for a long walk in the woods.
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Damascus, VA

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I stepped on the AT once again today. My wife and sister and Jon and I ate our breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We tried to wait out the rain but no such luck. Jon and I left Damascus about 10:00 AM in the rain. We had rain until about 2:00 PM then it was sleet. Then more rain for about an hour. Then SNOW. We had our day full of not-so-good weather. We got to camp around 4:00 PM. We set up our tents under some pine trees to keep the snow off us. We filtered our water and ate supper and yes, we were kinda cold! Our supper warmed us up somewhat. We were at Saunders Shelter and a 60-something couple from Alaska was there too. They were Weir Man and Knitter and we had a good long talk. Jon and I hit our sleeping bags around 7:00 PM to get warm. The wind is blowing and it's 30 some degrees - a little sharp tonight. We have snow around camp. It's a wild combo - snow, wind, and cold and we call this the good life. We walked 9.7 miles today. Not bad for bad weather. I had a few pains, but the wild outdoors takes care of that. A good wife and a good hiking partner makes life good.Thought for the day:A nice warm bed would be great but I'm warm in my sleeping bag.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Stream, campsite
Miles today: 7.8

We got up cold this morning. There was snow on the ground and frost on our tents. It was about 22 degrees. Yes breakfast was quick and cold. The sun came out and started to thaw us out. We got warm and plodded on and about noon I started to feel sick and my energy went flying away. We got to Lost Mountain Shelter and rested and ate. We headed on to make miles and stopped at a campsite and set up. We got all our gear thawed out because the sun was still bright and warm. I felt some better but not much. We ate supper and I went to my sleeping bag. Total miles was only 7.8 for today. Today Jon got his trail name. We had to sign in to go through a park. Jon signed in as Catfish, so Jon's friends please note that The Leopard and Catfish are now hoofing it on the AT. The Leopard eats fish so beware Catfish.Thought for the day:Life can be awesomeLife can be strangeLife is an adventure soWhat is your life? Be honest.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Stream, campsite

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

I was up soon after the crack of dawn. It was hard to leave a warm sleeping bag but the walk must go on. The walk was good for the most part. The scenery was great. The small bushes and trees are starting to green up. I was coming downhill to a road crossing and not paying attention and a root grabbed me and down I went. It was a nice tumble, but everything was haywire. I dusted off and walked more carefully. I called my wife from the road crossing since I had a cell signal. It's very hard to get calls out, even from the top of a mountain. We stopped at Thomas Knob Shelter and found a tent spot. Catfish and The Leopard set up camp and ate some supper. We had 10.8 miles for the day. Sometimes tent sites and shelters do not match my get up and go and today was one of those days. Today we again met up with the husband/wife team Weir Man and Knitter. They were a same age couple as some others ages 59 and 62. A very nice couple! Thought for the day:People make plans. Fate makes the plan successful.