morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-07
From: Beech Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Today we hiked all day with David and Alana. We planned on hiking 15 miles to Rock Gap Shelter. We hiked all day over beautiful ridges covered with Rodedendrum trees. The hike was over 4,000 feet all day until we reached the shelter area. A high light was climbing up Albert mountain which is 5,250 feet with a fire tower on top. The trail was the most difficult that we have encountered with many rocks that had us in climbing mode. There was also a long stairway section that left us all breathing very hard. The trail after Mount Albert was a nice gentle downward section which made it easy to hike fast. When we arrived at Rock Gap Shelter it was a full house and we tented next to the shelter. Dave accepted a trail name of Pegasus, Alana is still unnamed. At the shelter was Old Yeller, Singe, Fish, Chips, Joal (named Dog Father), Pinky and The Brain, and Erin. Also there was a section hiker southbound named Keith. We had a small fire and most went to bed early leaving Taken, me, Pegasus, Alana and Old Yeller up tending the fire. The stars are out again tonight and it is a beautiful night. We are in our tent and it is lights out. Tomorrow we are hiking to Winding Stairs Gap and getting a ride into town at Franklin, NC.
Date: 2007-03-08
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

Everyone was up and going at 8AM. The walk was about 3.8 miles. The hike took us over a nice climb which warmed us up enough to de-layer. We arrived at the gap to find Crutch waiting in a van. He advised that Ron Havens was on his way in the short bus. We all posed for photos as a group. Everyone was in a good mood looking forward to town treats. Ron picked us up and drove us into town telling one of his good country stories about an old man to keep us entertained. We will shower, eat, do laundry and re-supply, eat some more and be ready to go back to the woods tomorrow morning.
Date: 2007-03-09
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Camp Site
Miles today: 11.4

We got packed and mustard for our shuttle to the trail head at Winding Stair Gap. Crutch and KTR (Kick The Rocks) drove Pegasus, Alana, Taken, me, Swamp Yankee, and Triple H. The day is sweet for a beautiful hike. We hiked up out of the gap reaching Silar's Bald then Wayah Bald. The forest service was doing a controlled burn so the view from Wayah Bald was smokey. We hiked down to where we planned to tent camp but found about eight tents set up there so we decided to walk to another site. We stopped at a water source and I took a fall. My feet slipped and I ended up falling face first down a steep slope towards a rock where I slammed my face breaking my glasses and cutting my nose. Luckily, Pegasus was there to help me up. Taken cleaned up my face and put a bandage on my nose. I was glad I had my sunglasses so I could atleast see. Darkness came fast, mostly because I had my sunglasses on at night. We set up camp about a mile from out planned site and cooked a delicious dinner and hung our bear bag. We noticed a big widow maker hanging over out tent site so we spent about twenty minutes pulling it down before we set up our tents. The stars are out but I can only see a few, the sunglasses. We finally make it into the warmth of our bags and it is soon lights out. Oh, I forgot Alana has a trail name, Caboose. And another side effect from my fall is I can't remember things in the proper order so some of this is not chronological. Oh well, atleast I can still hike tomorrow.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Camp Site

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

We are in our tents. We hear someone walking by on the trail. It's early. Then it starts to rain. We get up and break camp. Our bear bag hanging from last night was a work of art. We started hiking on a day that looks like rain but turns out to be nice. When we get to burning town gap I remember the trail magic that Apple did last year and wish he was here again. We hike up to the Cold Spring Shelter and take a water break. We then hike on reaching Tellico Gap and then charge up to the Wesser Bald observation tower. The views are spectacular from the tower even though I was scared sh*tless. We stopped for lunch and then had a short hike to the Wesser Bald Shelter. We think we are going to be alone but three section hikers arrive and we make room for our new friends. Roy, James, and Davon have hiked up from NOC for the night. We rebuild the fire pit and collect wood. Before it gets dark we started the camp fire. The fire evolves as it grows dark and we sit and talk and the stories flow as the laughter grows. The fire is beautiful and the night is sweet. The mice are out tonight when we get in our bags. Around midnight I see someone up on the ridge near our bear bags with a headlamp on. I shine my headlamp at them and he identifies himself as Rockhound on a night hike waiting on his hiking partner. About a half hour later as we go back to sleep, another headlamp comes down to the shelter. It is Doc Gnarley, who says he needs a break and is thinking of cooking something to eat. He finally realizes he woke the entire shelter for no reason other than his stupidity. He finally leaves and we go back to sleep.
Date: 2007-03-11
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

We wake and prepare to hike. Before leaving we build a morning camp fire. The hike to NOC is a nice rolling hike with ups, downs, and some steep sections. We arrive at NOC at about 12:30 just in time for a nice lunch at the restraunt. The NOC is booked with kayak groups and other hikers. The day is nice and warm and we decide to hitch to Bryson City to get a hotel room. Taken gets a ride in the back of a small pick up. I am so afraid that I will fall out of the back that I am tense and not able to look around. We finally arrive at the hotel and get our chores completed. I am happy and lucky to be here with such good company. Taken, Pegasus, Caboose, and I are now trail family.
Date: 2007-03-12
From: NOC

To: Cheoah Bald
Miles today: 8.1

We woke at the Sleep Inn and slowly began to get going. We had breakfast and went out to begin hitch hiking. We had no luck and walked up the road to the highway where a pick up stopped down the road. Pegasus ran, actually sprinted, with his fifty pound pack to be sure we had the ride. Caboose and I got in the cab since I am afraid to ride in the open pick up area. Pegasus and Taken got in the back. Before Pegasus could sit down the truck was taking off. We got to NOC again and began our hike which is a long series of ups. We finally reach a nice area called the jump up where we had our lunch and took a few photos. While there I ran into Chef and Trooper who I hiked with in northern Virgina last year. We passed them again and I talked with the at the Sassafras Gap Shelter. We set off again to our camp site. We reached Cheoah Bald and it was the perfect camp site. We pitched our tents and collected rocks to improve the fire ring, collected fire wood, and built another perfect fire. The stars were out and the were no trees overhead to block the view. The night was perfect as we sat by the fire until very late.
Date: 2007-03-13
From: Cheoah Bald

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

The sun rises and warms our tent. It's a perfect morning. Shorts and short sleeve shirts from the get go. The hike is across ridges and gentle rolling mountains. We arrive at Stecoah Gap, where we sit and eat lunch at picnic tables. While there a trail angel gives us each a root beer which tastes fantastic. We are hiking again and headed toward Ass Kick Mountain. The trail goes straight up with a few switch backs at the very top. Finally, we have summited Kick Ass Mountain and continue our rolly mountain hike. We stop at Brown Fork Gap Shelter where we get water and set off again for another three miles to Cody Gap. Here we set up our tents, get water, and quickly eat dinner because we are starving. Pegasus goes way down the trail and brings back four logs for us all to sit on and we began to make another beautiful fire which provides tonights entertainment. The bear bag lines are run and we are relaxed telling stories until late.
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke to early hikers walking past our tent. We all got up about the same time. It seems like we are having late night camp fires and sleeping in but all is good because we are walking as far as our legs can carry us. Every day we try to push on as far as we can. Many hikers are walking further but as they say hike your own hike. The day is warm again and we get hot going up the mountains and seem to be thirsty. We try to keep hydrated as we hike. Knowing we are heading into town pulls us quicker down the trail. The trail today rolls like most days and we find more challenges as we push up the mountains and roll down the other side. The downs are tough on our knees and toes and the ups reveal our level of fitness. The day passes as we keep hiking over more mountains with nice open winter views. We finally get to a mountain with views of Fontana Lake and begin our mostly downhill charge into town. We reach the Fontana Hilton and speak to Fish, Chips, Tony, and Rockhound before finishing our hike for our day at the Fontana Dam visitors center. We call for a shuttle to take us to the village and stay at The Lodge. Before cleaning up we take care of our hunger at The Lodge Restraunt. I call Little Brother who might want to join us for a while. We call home and the homesickness returns. The Lodge has a nice big lobby with a gas fireplace where we sit, talk, and play cards. Pegasus, Caboose, Taken, and I are happy hikers.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

At Fontana Village we enjoy a zero day. We spend the day laundering clothes, getting mail, resupplying for our next section, and planning our Smokey Moutain to Hot Springs section. It looks like rain is heading our way. We will spend the night at The Lodge again tonight. Tomorrow we will begin our hike again.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light snow

Last night it poured and we were glad to be warm and dry at the lodge. This morning the weather is not good but we have decided to head out. We are looking at low clouds with a cold wet wind. After getting our stuff together we ask the front desk to call our shuttle. The shuttle arrives and takes us to the dam where we resume our hike. The hike starts across the dam then heads up to the trail. The trail climbs up about 3,000 feet to the Mollies Ridge Shelter where we will spend our night. As we climb higher the temperature falls and the wind increases. We stopped for a moment to break and we feel the cold. It is freezing and the tree limbs are collecting frost from the clouds. The trees are fully coated with frost and the clouds are blowing past us as we hike on looking forward to our shelter. The shelter has a tarp on the open side and a fireplace. We start a fire using some dry kndling from the floor of the shelter. Pegasus makes the fire using froozen wet twigs and branches found in the wet forest. The fire warms us and dries our boots. We share the shelter with Boy, so we have plenty of room. The shelter has one inch dividers on the sleeping platform but we all sleep close trying to get warm. The temperature is in the mid teens. Tomorrow should be interesting.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

We wake and don't want to get out of our sleeping bags. It is cold. There are some coals in the fireplace from the night before and Pegasus builds a morning fire so we can warm our frozen boots. We leave the shelter and enter a beautiful place where the trees are all white with frost and ice. It is so beautiful that we can barely begin. We take many photographs. My camera is frozen so I hope that Taken will share some of her photos. The hike is through gentle rolling forest. We stop at Russell Fields Shelter and then continue passing three horse riders on the trail. The riders look frozen. We climb up to Spence Fields Shelter through more beautiful forest. Everything is a winter wonder land. We climb up Rocky Top then Thunderhead Mountain. The views are spectacular. We finally reach Derrick Knob Shelter where we will spend the night. At the shelter are locals taking a short hike. They have brought fire starters and a hatchet. We have someone else start the fire tonight. Shortly after all are in their sleeping bags and I find myself tending the fire. I load the fire up with all the logs and go to bed. The shelter stays warm until we can fall to sleep.
Date: 2007-03-18
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We wake and enjoy another morning fire. It's cold again and we get a late start. The shelter is busy with everyone getting ready to leave. It's another cold morning with frozen trees. The wind blows and some of the ice falls on us as we hike. The last couple of nights have been noisy with the ice blowing off the trees and hitting the shelters' metal roofs. We climb up to Silers Bald, which is a very nice place, then we reach the Double Springs Shelter where we will spend the night. The shelter is in a wet muddy area and it is cold. Pegasus atttempts to start a fire to warm us but it's so wet that he cannot start a warming fire. I set my tent up because it seemed so wet and muddy in the shelter. My tent looks like it's covered in crushed diamonds. It's covered with frost and it falls on me when I get in. Luckily during the night conditions change and my tent is dry in the morning. I have had problems with my steri pen and have used aqua mira as a back up. Also my liner has ripped so I will either need to repair or replace it soon.
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: New Found Gap Road 
Miles today: 10.8

We wake and hear it might rain so we decide to hike to New Found Gap and hitch to Gatlinburg. The hike is another beautiful one. This section of the hike is very nice. We climb up reaching the beautiful frazier fir and red spruce forest. We hike over balds across ridges and finally up to Clingmans Dome, the highest place on the trail at 6643 feet. After a short break on the overlook we hike on through more spruce and fir forest. On the north side of Clingmans the trail is frozen solid with ice that looks like a steep river of ice. We are very careful and we survive. After a while the trail is thawed out but turns muddy. I am covered with mud. The trail rolls along ridges connecting Clingmans to the gap. We rise up on the trail and cross the road and find ourselves in the middle of a parking lot. The lot is full with many happy tourists enjoying their drives through the mountains. We knock the mud off our boots and stick our thumbs out. The first car stops and takes two. the next car stops and takes the other two. We head towards Gatlinburg. We reunite find a room and eat at a Mexican restaurant. After dinner and a shower we catch up on chores and I update the journal. We don't know what we will do tomorrow. I hope the weather is good. When we leave here we will be going to our next trail town in Hot Springs. I'm looking forward to the next section. The Smokies have been great.
Date: 2007-03-20
From: New Found Gap Road 

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We are zeroing in Gatlinburg. We did our chores and it is raining. I called steri pen and they think it's a battery problem. I sewed my cocoon with needle and thread. We topped off our fuel containers at Happy Hiker and raided their hiker box. Pegasus found a pair of shoes and pants. We ran into Freddy, CB, Mean Joe, Ribs (Swamp Yankee and Triple H) here in town and plan on a hiker dinner tonight.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Peck's Corner
Miles today: 10.4

After a nice breakfast at the hotel we walked up the street and began hitch hiking. Many cars and trucks passed us, some waving, some giving us a curious look. About 45 minutes later we were picked up by a couple who were driving a pick up with a topper. We were dropped off at Newfound Gap and thanked our new friends. The parking lot was buzzing with tourists again. We began hiking with several day hikers headed to Charlie¢s Bunion. The trail is wide at the beginning because of the popularity of Newfound Gap. We hiked on a cloudy day that didn¢t produce any rain. On the way out we ran into a very icy section where we had to bushwhack around it. At the end of the ice section we ran into Boneman, Pinwheel and Glenn. They had hiked out with full, heavy packs with many treats for thru hikers. They knew me from my trail journal. They shared Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Yohoos, fruit drinks, pudding, yogurt, cheese, fruit, great chicken salad sandwiches and every possible treat a thru hiker could fantasize about. They were generous and super nice. THANKS A LOT for all the magic, you are major trail angels. After they left us, they took their treasures to the Icewater Springs Shelter. Thank you, thank you. I hope to see you up in PA when you do your big section hike this summer. We took our goodies in a bag and headed to Charlie¢s Bunion where we had a feast. After a nice lunch stop (the chicken salad sandwiches on the jalapeno rolls were delicious) at the Bunion we headed out across beautiful ridges with spectacular views. We hiked over a gap, the Sawteeth and Bradley¢s View, arriving at Peck¢s Corner Shelter. The shelter was full with Hillbilly, Popeye and Caveman of Ohio. Dave, Bill and Sally (section hikers) and a sick hiker we will call Ralph were there too. We hiked down a path up from the shelter to a spooky cabin and returned to the shelter. Ralph had a small fire going and he did not seem to want to share it. He sat up late and became very ill. The poor kid was violently ill all night long. It was a long night, especially for Ralph. The night finally ended and Ralph seemed better in the morning.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Peck's Corner

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

The shelter awoke early and all but Ralph and our group left. We got up after the crowd left, got organized and began our hike. We hiked the .4 back to the AT and headed north. The hike was through spruce and fir forests along ridges and across Mt Sequoyah, then Mt chapman, both over 6000 ft. We passed TriCorner shelter but did not go in. The rest of the day was over beautiful ridges and mountains, many over 6000 ft elevations. We ran into a group of trail maintainers working for the ATC. They were very busy cutting down many blow downs and clearing the trail for us lucky thru hikers. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers for their excellent work on the trail. We arrived at Cosby Knob Shelter and settled in. We had dinner and gathered excellent firewood for a nice fire in the fireplace. Everyone was going to sleep but decided to stay up for the campfire. Another beautiful day and a beautiful night. The next couple of days are bittersweet. Taken is ending her trail life soon as our family is coming to pick her up. Pegasus, Caboose, Taken and I will spend a few days with our family in a cabin near Newport TN and say goodbye to Taken. I know it will be hard to go on without her. She hikes very strong and has thoroughly enjoyed her trail experience.
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Tent Site at MM 235.6
Miles today: 8.7

Last night was very comfortable. A few of the hikers in the shelter set up their tents so they could have an early evening. The rest of us enjoyed a nice shelter night. This was the nicest shelter in the Smokies. I will miss the fireplaces in the shelters. We kept our normal routine of sleeping in while the early rush occurs. We started our hike today in short sleeve shirts and it was warm even before we walked ourselves warm. The days are appreciated even more because I know Taken will only be with me a few more days. We try to soak up as much as possible. Every vista, every step is precious. Most of today is supposed to be down but for the beginning the trail rolls throgh nice ridges, knob to knob. We arrive at the sign for the side trail to Mt. Cammerer fire tower and decide to add 1.2 miles on to today's hike to go and check it out. That sounds wierd, but you don't want to miss something special out here, but the trail calls strongly and forcefully for you to keep going. We resisted the white blaze pull and walked out to the firetower. The place is well worth the extra effort. There's a small rock scramble at the end, then you can walk on a circular deck around a structure that is all windows. We were wishing we could have spent the night here. Coming back to the AT we ran into Triple H and Swamp Yankee. We talked and then we all started out together. The hike was down down down. The pace was brisk as we were anxious to get down. I have never seen so many stairs and water bars. We stopped at the Davenport Gap Shelter for a break and to get some water. Another 1.6 miles and we reached our campsite. We had talked about we would like to walk along a creek and camp next to a creek and our campsite was perfect! The creek forked and formed a small level island. We cleaned out and rebuilt the firepit. We then set up camp and collected firewood. Pegasus and Caboose had planned a special night for Taken. Pegasus had carried a box of graham crackers, chocolate bars and a bag of marshmallows. He then selected roasting sticks for Taken to roast the marshmallows. After a nice dinner Taken and Caboose made the fire and we had a s'more feast. We had a special night for Taken's last night in trail world. We retired and the night was mild and the creek gave us a special soundscape.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Tent Site at MM 235.6

To: Pigeon River
Miles today: 0.8

We were planning to meet the family at I40 around noon so we had a lazy morning. We were getting up and I heard my grandson Eli yell "Grandpa." We saw Eli, Bentley, Arturo, Zane and Lynne walking up the trail. They had arrived early and talked to some hikers they ran into at the road crossing who told them we were camped up the trail about a half mile. They decided to take the walk and surprise us! We made a morning campfire for the kids and then packed up and headed up trail to the car. Lynne had reserved a cabin for us to zero and we headed there. We had a great time there as we settled into real world activities. We went out and had a nice lunch, got supplies at SuperWalMart, then back to the cabin for a family dinner and hot tub. We all enjoyed our special time together.
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Pigeon River

To: Del Rio TN (cabin)
Miles today: 0.0

We had a relaxing morning and ate a large breakfast at the cabin, then set out for a visit to Hot Springs. While there we ran into Hillbilly and Popeye. They are now a few days ahead of us. They're such fun and I have enjoyed meeting and spending time with them at a few shelters. It would be nice to catch up with them again. The time is wierd because we will miss Taken and she will miss trail world. But, I know she will be happy to be back with her loving family. I will miss her dearly as we had a very special time together. I am happy we shared so much during our last month hiking together. Taken said at the beginning that she wanted to hike through the Smokies and stay out a month - Mission Accomplished. Good hike Taken, I'm proud of you.I've shaken down my pack again and will send some things home with Lynne. We are ready to head out tomorrow, with heavy hearts. All will be good. I hope our photos show how beautiful it is out here and how much fun we are having!