morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-06
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Our longest day so far! Today will be dubbed trail magic/free food day, and it will always be remembered as a magical time. We pulled out of BMS at 8:30 am(with tuna that someone else did not want). At 2 miles in, we ran into Mother Nature who was setting up some trail magic at Unicoi Gap. Her peppermint patties (truly worthy of their legendary status), banana bread, cookies, and hot chocolate were all simply splendid. Thanks Mother Nature! Mmmm...still can taste the peppermint pattie...Hiking on, we ran into trail magic again a few miles later at Indian Grave Gap. Someone had put coolers of soda, pudding, doritos, band aids, and pretty much everything else a hiker could use. An amazing pick-me-up on a hot day.When we stopped to camp at Sassafras Gap, we first went to get water. It was a ways down, and I had grabbed all of my water containers. Realizing that the plastic Fiji water bottle was full, I left it mid-way, hidden next to a log. We went down and soaked our feet and filled up the tank at the beautiful stream. Hiking back up from it, we couldn't find the bottle where we'd left it. Turns out someone else had grabbed it, thinking it was trail magic left there so that people wouldn't have to walk all the way down to the water source. Looks like I did my own trail magic today. Although it wasn't very good magic, since that water was untreated.
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: clear sky

We're at the Blueberry Patch today, enjoying the beautiful town of Hiawassee and the hospitality of Gary and Linny. Georgia, you've been kind with your wonderful weather and relatively few flies. We hate to leave you tomorrow...but we all know that's not really true and we're plumb tickled to have only one more day of hiking left before the next state. Ok, I could be eating ice cream right now so this post is a short one. Catch up with y'all again from North Carolina! Thank you so so much to all the folks who give trail magic and have made our hike wonderful so far. Thanks to Hotrock, too - it was great to meet you on our ride to Amicalola. Hope things are going well.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Carter Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

An insane day. We charged out of the shelter like a bull charging at a red flag. Right before Standing Indian we ran into some weekenders who arend us about an impending thunderstorm. We weight our options and there were two - hang out at the closer shelter and wait for the supposed storm to come or push on and risk life and limb by trying for the further shelter. Naturally we chose the second. It was a good ting because otherwise we would have been waiting at the closer shelter for hours. It was a bad thing because we got caught in that thunderstorm. Which then turned into hail. Marble sized hail. Luckily I could use my hair as a helmet by piling it on top of my head (just one of the many uses of long ample hair). And of course, we reached the shelter right after the storm blew away. Many hail jokes were made.Looking forward to Big Butt Mountain tomorrow!
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Carter Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

We got to the shelter at 3 pm today. We went over Big Butt Mountain. It wasn't very big or buttlike. But it WAS near Mooney Gap, which Catalyst noticed. The big winner of the day was Albert Mountain - intense 0.2 mile climb, to be rewarded by some of the best views we've seen so far.
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's amazing what you can get excited about on the trail. Today was somewhat of a tough day - I was devoid of energy and it was rather balmy out. The big up for the day was Wayah Bald. So here I am, struggling on the uphill for what seems like an eternity, and the trail suddenly intersects with the road that goes up Wayah Bald. There's a stone little building at this intersection, and just as I am pondering what the stone building could be, it turns out to be a bathroom. Wow. A real live bathroom, that's not made of wood or dirt! Let the band start playing. So yeah. Sometimes those are the kind of things you start appreciating on the trail. And let me tell you, everyone in the shelter that night agreed that it was really exciting to come up on that surprise bathroom. We actually sat and talked about it for a minute. Welcome to the simplicity of thru-hiker life.
Date: 2011-04-12
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

C-c-c-cold. Coldest day on trail so far. Rain/slush all day. I'm staying a mile outside of the NOC at A. Rufus Morgan Shelter. We've been staying at shelters with Skins and Bearman, a father/son duo. Skins was wondering what A. could possibly stand for in Rufus' name such that he would prefer to go by "Rufus" instead. Can't wait for the NOC.
Date: 2011-04-13
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Best day on the trail so far! Actually, not really on the trail - since we spend most of it relaxing at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Started off with a huuuuuge breakfast, did laundry and showered, and ate these enormous double cheeseburgers at an awesome hole-in-the wall place called the Burger Shack on our way to the Food Mart a mile away. Deelicious (the Burger Shack, not the Food Mart). We got our first hitch, which Catalyst negotiated. I have feeling she's going to be much better at getting us rides than I am. Back at the NOC we sat by the river relaxing in the sun for a while. That's when I decided that I needed a haircut. Catalyst agreed to cut my hair, but only if we could use my Leatherman. So here we sat by the picnic tables next to the river, with her cutting my hair with the Leatherman, and me taking the hair she cut and putting it into a ziplock bag. By far the most memorable haircut I've ever gotten. We left the NOC around 5:30 pm with 6 miles of uphill to go. I can tell you, those double cheeseburgers were still sitting in our stomachs, heavy as rocks. Or so it felt going up that hill. We decided to never overeat right before a big climb again. Heh...likely. We reached the shelter around 9 pm and turned in after some customary bearbagging hijinks (no bear cables at Sassafras Gap shelter)
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We had picked up marshmallows at the food mart near NOC, so we made a deal with Skins that we would provide marshmallows if he made a fire at the next shelter. Sure enough, he made a fantastic fire with the incendiaries (vaseline and cotton balls?) that he and Bearman had been carrying - he was really excited to be able to finally use them. Marshmallows were toasted. Mmm. We also consulted with Skins about possible mischief one could engage in with a ziplock bag full of (clean!) hair. Trying to gauge how creepy it would be to find a bag of someone else's hair in your pack...or sleeping bag. You see...we should have probably thrown out my hair from yesterday, but it seemed like such a good opportunity for a practical joke. Skins' advice was to make sure the person knows to whom the hair belongs. Apparently that makes it much less creepy. Either way, we are keeping the hair for a little while for the right opportunity.
Date: 2011-04-15
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We got to the Fontana Marina by 2:10 pm. We decided to hitch into Fontana Village to pick up our package from the post office, which would close at 3 pm. We thought we were 1 mile away on the road, so we started walking. By 2:50, we were still walking - and still not at the village! We had been trying to hitch a ride, but the ratio of normal car to tiny convertibles was about 1:20. It's hard to hitch a ride in a 2-seater convertible. Luckily Catalyst finally found us a ride (a mid-size BMW convertible...which was probably for the best with the way we smelled. but the lady still apologized for having a mess in the car, which made us chuckle). They dropped us off in front of the post office at 2:58 pm. We rushed and got our package, which had been placed in a biohazard container due to a leak. Turns out it was olive oil...from the caramelized onions! So it didn't matter that the package had leaked, since we now had delicious, delicious onions. And Snickers. And loads of other snacks and food that Deborah, Catalyst's amazing sister, had organized and sent. Thanks Deborah. We would be sad and hungry without your generous help. Anyways, on to the Hilton for the night!
Date: 2011-04-16
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Mollie's Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

We're in the Smokies! Not much happened today. Oh, you know, except for finding out that the kid next to me in the shelter apparently vomited a great deal last night. I slept through the whole thing luckily, but was surprised to find out from Catalyst that this kid was just throwing up into a bag right next to me. She had pulled me farther away from him in the night. That part I remember - but I couldn't figure out why at the time. I thanked her profusely when I found out. We're looking forward to meeting up with my parents in a couple of days.
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Mollie's Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a tougher day than expected with all the uphill. Still, we laid out on the grass for half an hour and napped, which made it all okay. It took all of our strength to get up and keep going instead of napping some more. Luckily we could take it easy since we decided to not to go as far as we had been planning to go. In the Smokies, you have to stay at shelters and the next shelter was an extra 5 miles, so we made the wise choice of stopping at Derrick's. That will mean a longer day for us to reach Clingman's Dome tomorrow, but then...we're meeting up with my parents and going into Gatlinburg. Saweet.
Date: 2011-04-18
From: Derrick's Knob Shelter

To: Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

We hauled @$$ to Clingman's Dome (Tennessee's tallest mountain) today, since we were supposed to meet my parents at 1 pm at the top and we had 10.5 miles to get there. We decided to wait on lunch until we met my parents, to devour whatever delicious things they would bring to us. We got to Clingman's Dome at about 1:15 pm, only to find out that my parents would pick us up in another 45 minutes. We walked around checking out the summit of Clingman's Dome with the bajillion other people that were there. There's an auto road which most of the other people had taken - so there were little kids, people decked out in makeup and jewelry, women carrying purses, etc. It seemed like a different planet to us. A planet called Civilization, I guess. My very first act in Civilization was to make a child cry (by accident..). I had propped my poles up on top of a bench, against the wall. They stayed propped for about a minute before the wind knocked them over onto a 4-year-old's head, prompting him to cry. I felt really bad. But that kid was a sissy. My parents came and we went all Tasmanian Devil on the food they had brought (thanks Catalyst for that comical comparison). We had deeelicious Turkish food and some orange juice, after which we got into the car and....drumroll... DROVE down a mountain. It was magical. My mom declared that we would go to the hotel first. She was like "let's go to the hotel so you can shower before we do anything else. you're filthy." So we went to the hotel - a Holiday Inn in Pigeon Forge, which felt and looked like the Ritz Carlton after all the shelters. All cleaned up, we drove back into Gatlinburg and had dinner. Gatlinburg was a complete tourist town. It was either awesome or terrifying, depending on how you saw it - it had many hilarious things, like way too many haunted houses, a salt and pepper shaker museum, ski lifts for tourists to see the town from higher up, and about one mini golf establishment per block. We walked around checking out the different shops. There was a candy store, which had a man in the window who was making strawberry taffy. We watched him curiously as he fed the taffy into a large metal contraption that broke off small pieces and packaged them. Suddenly the contraption stopped working - the power had gone out in the store. The man looked sad. We turned around and realized that the power had actually gone out in the whole town. All of a sudden shops were closing, people were out on the strees, and the cops were out directing traffic in the absence of traffic lights. (Don't worry, the ski lift people weren't stuck - there was a generator so they came down, ever so slowly). We were hoping for a riot, but it was all disappointingly orderly. We headed back to Pigeon Forge, which still had electricity. If you're ever in Pigeon Forge, check out the upside down house and the Titanic. Anyways, we went back to the hotel where I - da-da! got to take a bath. Delightful.
Date: 2011-04-19
From: Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge

To: Ice Water Springs Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After a bomber breakfast at the Log Cabin Pancake House in Pigeon Forge, we did our errands (post office, grocery store, outfitter's for fuel). We were back at Clingman's dome at about 3:30 pm, well aware that we still had several miles to do with our now-ridiculously heavy packs. Then my parents asked me where my fuel bottle had gone. A fateful question indeed. Turns out I had forgotten it at the outfitter since they had taken it to the back to refill it. Luckily for us, my parents offered to go grab the fuel bottle for us and meet us at the next road crossing. They took our packs, too, so we got a chance to slackpack. We met them 2.5 hours and 8 miles later (a speed record for us) at Newfound Gap. I was glad I got to see my parents one last unexpected time, and it was a-MAZing to slackpack. I felt like a bird. Thanks Mom and Dad (anne & baba) for driving down all the way from New York to Tennessee to spend the night with us, treat us to all kinds of delicious food, a hotel, driving us around for errands, AND for getting our fuel bottle. We had such a great time in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.
Date: 2011-04-20
From: Ice Water Springs Shelter

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tuck is finally here! Tuck is our friend from the outing club through which Catalyst and I met. She and I were also in the same class at our alma mater. Tuck is going to hike with us for about 3 weeks before moving on to hiking internationally (she's traveling all over the world this summer before going to med school/grad school for an MD-PhD). We hung out at Ice Water Springs Shelter till about 1 pm while she hiked up from Newfound Gap to join us. We took the long morning as an excuse to lighten our packs by eating lots of food. Woohoo, we are a trio for now.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

And now for something completely different. At almost every shelter so far, we have seen graffiti carved or sharpied into the wooden walls. Mostly it's people writing their names (as if anyone really cares that "Mountain Man" passed by in 2005). But once in a while, there is a real gem - a random phrase or sentence that someone took the trouble of writing or carving into a wall that makes absolutely no sense. Or too much sense. As you'll see. Here is some of the fantastic graffiti that lines the walls of AT shelters and privies: Shelter wall Sassafras Gap Shelter: "Once you cross an ethnic boundary, you never really go back." Privy wall at Rock Gap Shelter privy: "Smile! You're on privy camera." Privy wall at Peck's Corner Shelter privy (a poem, and my favorite): "Here I sit with naked cheeks Upon a throne that really reeks Making sure that no one peeks While I sniff my finger" Shelter wall at..some shelter I can't remember (Catalyst pointed this one out. Carved into the wood in HUGE letters): "RANK PUSSY"So as much as I dislike people carving/vandalizing a shelter, all I have to say is this, graffiti people: If you're going to do it anyway, at least make me chuckle.
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Painter's Branch Campground
Miles today: 12.7

Twas rainy in the morning, sunny in the 'noon. We stopped by Standing Bear, but kept going real soon. Camped at Painter's Branch, with only one branch in sight. That poor branch carried our food bags, all night, with all its might. Ok I'm done rhyming.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Painter's Branch Campground

To: Max Patch Bald
Miles today: 11.0

What an amazing, splendid, joyous, fantastic day. We woke up at Painter's Branch, where we had camped with Kermit and Caro and Truckin'. I got behind the others because I was hiking rather slowly (mornings have that effect). Then a pair of hikers coming the other way told me about some trail magic that was 5 miles away. Well, that got a fire lit under my butt. You don't normally hear about trail magic from that far in advance unless it's good. The day before, we had run into coolers of trail magic that was out - empty soda cans, candy wrappers, etc. So I tried not to get my hopes up too much. I caught up with Tuck and Catalyst hanging out on Snowbird Mountain, checking out the air traffic control structure (which looked like a bowling pin/shuttle/time capsule). The mountain had no trees on it - it was completely grass covered and it was a sunny, clear day. We couldn't move for a while because it was just so nice...but the thought of that trail magic up ahead finally got us moving again. Sure enough, everyone we met going the other way kept telling us of this amazing trail magic they had run into. Once the word "hamburger" was mentioned, we really took off. We got to Brown Gap and we were mesmerized. I first saw all the hikers that had passed us that day all hanging out. And when you see that many no-nonsense hikers all hanging out, you know the trail magic is good. Then I saw the tents. And the huge sign that said "Welcome AT Thru-Hikers! It ain't about the miles, it's about the smiles!" Then I saw the burgers. And the beans. And strawberries and bananas and oranges. And Girl Scout Cookies! I can't tell you how fantastic that was...it's just indescribable.Rat, Ox, Lisard and their crew cook all weekend for the thru-hikers once a year at Brown Gap. They call it the Brown Gap Feast - "the largest assembly of trail magic ever in one spot in a remote location!" And a feast it is - with music, neverending delicious food, and lots of laughs. We couldn't tear ourselves away. And once Ox mentioned marinated steaks for dinner, we didn't even try. We hung out all afternoon. We were talking, eating, and listening to Dogsled, Rat, Tyler (his son, who had his birthday today and was apparently born 17 years ago today when Rat was at another Brown Gap Feast) play guitar. We had people on horses pass by, cars pass by, dirt bike riders pass by, but no thru-hikers that passed by. They all kept accumulating at the feast. After dinner we digested for a while and listened to some of the more amusing musical stylings of Rat and Dogsled. Then we mustered up all of our power to leave the trail magic feast and keep hiking. We hiked for about an hour and a half in the dark underneath the stars, getting to Max Patch at around 11:30 pm. Looking forward to getting up for sunrise on Max Patch, which is a bald (completely covered in grass, no trees, with spectacular views). Thank you Rat Patrol for an amaaaaazing afternoon! Can't wait to see y'all again at Trail Days!
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Max Patch Bald

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

After all the amazing trail magic last night, we somehow got off our butts and got ourselves to Max Patch Bald (actually, the steaks provided good energy - we made real fast time on the way up there). Max Patch is a bald - a mountain that is completely covered in grass. They aren't exactly sure how it initially got that way, but it is now maintained by mowing and controlled burns. It's like a giant golf course at 4600 ft. Tuck woke us up in the morning for sunrise, which was nothing short of spectacular. You can see a 360 view of the Smokies, and the hazy orange light of the sunrise hitting the mountains was unforgettable. We weren't the only ones enjoying it - there were about 20 other people up there. And a dog. And a donkey. The donkey decided it wanted to become friends with us. Which was funny, because while it was in the distance, Catalyst had remarked half jokingly that she didn't trust the donkey. "It might come over here and try to steal our food," she said. We laughed about it and started packing up. Sure enough, while we were packing, that donkey slowly slinked its way down to us while grazing and pretending to be all innocent and uninterested. Then while we were busy packing up our tent, it came right up to Catalyst's bags and started sniffing them. Catalyst shooed it away from our bags...but you really had to be there for that, because it was just too hilarious. (I tried to give a sampling in the picture - that's Catalyst, trying to shoo away the vagrant donkey). It backed away a little. As soon as we went back to work, it came back, this time nibbling on Catalyst's sleeping pad. After a few iterations of this we were packed and ready to go. There was nothing left to nibble at, so the donkey lost interest and left us alone. We went on our merry way, discussing how it was probably a good thing that Tuck had gone ahead early because she would have probably tried to ride the donkey. Yahoooo, Hot Springs tomorrow!!!
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

We're at Hot Springs today, hence a short entry (I'd much rather be eating ice cream and sitting out in the sun). We're staying at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn tonight. It's definitely a must - if you're going to stay in 5 hostels in 5 months, this is one of them. It's a beautiful Victorian house full of books and high ceilings, and Elmer and his crew are incredibly hospitable. Also, thanks to everyone who's been writing in my guest book! Nalgene Ninja, Skins, Bearman, we miss you all! Skins - satisfied?? Finally updated my journal. :D (this is actually the first time I've been online since April 8th).Ok..time for fooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Hot Springs

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Guys! Guys! I'm still alive. And hiking. I just wanted to say that we haven't really had much webtime since Hot Springs...hence, I'm going to do one ginormous blog post session this weekend. Things are going well. We're past 600 miles now, still hiking, still going strong, still hungry and smelly, still happy. Catch you next week!(oh, and thank you!! to Bucky, Lumbermack, Stumblefoot, Insomniac, and Hoover's mom. the trail magic has been AMAZING so far.)
Date: 2011-06-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Ooof. Turns out, I've been procrastinating on posting in my journal. You see, if you don't get to the library in one town, then you've got 2 weeks worth of posting to do. Then that seems like a lot so you don't do it...and time just keeps passing and passing. So here I am, a month and a half later with 40 minutes in the Luray, VA library. Virginia has been much better than expected. About midway through, it seemed somewhat interminable and the terrain was all about the same. But the beginning and now the Shenandoahs have been funtimes. Ok...so, here's how I'm going to tackle this haven't-written-in-ages nonsense. I'm going to write a few short entries, each on a specific topic. Next up: cool animals in Virginia!