morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Fontana Dam 

To: Russel Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I am dedicating this next leg through the Great Smoky National Park to all the great folks at Tyson Foods International Group especially the CSR's who make everything work. I think about them often.As with NOC, I did not look forward to the "jump on" to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fortunately, the trail ws more "graded" with more switch backs and so I bypassed Mollies Ridge Shelter and made it to Russel Field. Along the way, I met Charlie Goodman "Ridgerunner" who is a census taker for the Park Service. Apparently, I am only the second person from Arkansas he remembers coming through this year.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Russel Field Shelter

To: Siler's Bald
Miles today: 14.7

The "front" we'd been hearing about wasn't supposed to be coming through until Thursday. Early this morning it started coming down in buckets.   By the time we got up, it had stopped. Still, the sky was overcast and the moisture was heavy in the air. It rained intermittently and the visibility was less than 30 ft. There were 2 bear sightings today. I saw something black and furry weighing about 50 lbs but it moved so fast I couldn't tell whether it was a bear cub or a small pig. By the speed it was traveling I suspect it was a wild pig. We were told once you were "up" in the Smokies you could move fast as you are essentially on a ridge and can make good time. They lie! 15 miles is still 15 miles and I am tired! As luck would have it, the shelter I stayed at had a school group from Wisconsin. Miss Tsugam and her 5 teenage girls and one teenage boy. I was just too tired to try to move on to another shelter. With no other option I marched into the shelter and announced, "I'm Colonel Wilson. I raised 3 girls and spent 20 years in the Marine Corps. If there is any noise after "hiker midnight" (darkness) I will line you all up and we will go on a forced march! Miss Tsugam's jaw dropped and then I smiled. To be fair I reminded them that this particular shelter had snoring mice so don't pay any attention to them. In the end the kids were delightful.Tomorrow is Clingman's Dome and reunion with my brother Joe and wife Pauloa who are vacationing at Lake Douglas. They have no idea how bad I am going to smell.
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Siler's Bald

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I left the shelter before all my little kiddies awoke. I t was cold trudging up to Clingman's. Then when I finally got there, the sign that was posted .3 miles from the Dome was turned in the ground 45 degrees. So took the bypass trail for about a mile and then had to double back. I hate it when that happens. The AT is really very well marked but there have been 3 specific instances where it was not and I was just lucky. This time I wasn't.Rendezvous with Joe and Paula. I'm not sure, but I think I scared them with how I looked. I was freezing in the car on the way back to their condo (owned by Paula's brother David Kirsch) and so I asked Joe to either put on the heat or roll up the windows. "Roll up the windows", I thought. Now that is really stupid considering I smelled like a goat. We settled on the heater and windows down. Joe and Paula couldn't have been more gracious. I got a shower, shopped for provisions, had a great meal and even got my beard trimmed so I didn't have to keep eating my mustache. I expect to get back on the trail tomorrow, but am a little worried at the weather forecast calling for violent thunderstorms.
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Peck's Corner

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Remind me to double check the mileage for yesterday and today. Left Peck's at about 9 and arrived at Cosby just before 4 PM. Just after I got there, Ridgerunner "Shatter" a 34 yr old midwesterner popped in. He had hike all the way from Newfound Gap that morning or about 24 miles. His pack was 55 lbs. Animal! These ridgerunners are employed by the AT Conservancy and are "loaned" to the National Park. The do a great job.   The really big "blow" of 4/15 caused 300 trees to be blown down over the AT affecting hiker movement. These guys sawed or otherwise removed all the nock downs by this date. They are amazing.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel, Green Corner
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

There was lot's of bear scat last night at the shelter and the Ridgerunner was a little worried about a bear problem.   Actual bear warning signs have been posted in the area.Left about 8:30 and it was a fairly easy hike. I met my first group of horse travelers along the trail. The first horse spooked when it say\w me and I thought for sure it was going to take its rider over the edge. I rooled over on my left ankle twice today and thought both times it was going to put me out. I think those prayers of Joe and Paula must be working.   This Standing Bear hostel is a real kick. Run by a former Marine..they're everywhere, they're everywhere...it has attracted the biggest characters on the trail. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.   Going into town tonight for some Mexican and Bluegrass....and will call my daughter, Jenna whowe birthday is today.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Standing Bear Hostel, Green Corner

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Got an early start from Standing Bear and about noon had my usual fatigue set in. I was ready for a break and was looking for a place to have lunch. When I came out of the woods at Brown's Gap to a dirt road I saw before me a sight that makes it all worthwhile. Off to the side of the road were 2 bright orange Tennessee tents tarps and 10 bright orange Tennessee camp chairs. I thought I was hallucinating.   (Ox '97 thru-hike) was there camping with 3 friends for the weekend. This "Trail Angel" had more food than I have ever seen in one place. His first words to me were "would you like a rib-eye steak or a hamburger...or both?   We have salad, baked beans and anything you see on these tables. Help yourself? I asked him if he would still feed me if I was a Razorback fan? "Anytime except the fall," says he.There were bananas, oranges, apples, every kind of cake Miss Debbie makes, Girls Scout cookies, sodas, juice, water...I can't even listeverything he had. Truly, thousands of dolars of food and drink. As with all "trail angels" he does it for the sheer delight of overwhelming thru-hikers. "Ox" is Franklin La Fonde of 470 Water Haven in Alpharetta Georgia. He thru-hiked in 1997 and does this every year. Later, I came to Max Patch which is 362 acres of bald and the highest elevation around. Walking over the trail I could only think of the Van Trapp family escaping the Nazis in The Sound of Music. I broke into song...The hills are alive...no one could hear me.   That's good. Just after Max Patch I saw my first creature up close. It was a cottontail rabbit in the middle of the trail. I kept getting colser but he wouldn't move.   I could have pushed my trusty staff at him to move, but you see I didn't know his nature and, you know, I remember the mess Jimmy Carter got into with a rabbitt so I waited him out. Sure enough he moved on and so did I. Arrived at Roaring Fork about 6PM.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

I left Raoring Fork with the intention of staying at the Deer Park Mountain shelter and easing on into Hot Springs the next day.   As with the horse who gets back near the barn or the camel who smells the water at the oasis, I couldn't resist the pull of Hot Springs, so I hobbled on into town about 5PM. Hooray! My first blister. Thought I'd never get one. Hot Springs is a hiker town part of the year with the Appalachian Trail running right down the sidewalk of the main street of town. My meal at the Paddlers Pub (the only bar in town) was: An entree salad (enough greens for 4 people) a dozen raw oysters (not that I need them) a large, deluxe cheeseburger with slaw, pickles and chips, a large water, lemonade, and a Mr. Pibb. The waitress didn't even bat an eye.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up this morning and my feet felt like someone had beaten the bottoms of them with a baseball bat. I think I'll take a zero day and sightsee Hot springs. That should fill up about 20 minutes. More later.After reprovisioning and putting mygear in order, I took a walk around thesmall town. There is a bed and breakfast on a small hill overlooking thetown called Mountain Magnolia that has quite a history. In 1868, Colonel (CSA) Rumbaugh built this stately four story home for his wife and 7 children. Sometime in the mid 1900's it fell into disrepair and eventually the top 3 floors were razed. Current owners Pete and Karen Nagel bought the home and restored it in 1999 opening it as a B&B. In the afternoon, I took one of those famous hot baths and then went over to the MM house for the best meal I've had in quite some time.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hemlock Hollow Hostel
Miles today: 17.3

Wolfhound and I intended only to hike 11 miles out of Hot Springs. There is a very tough mountain leaving Hot Springs just over the French Broad River. Forfuture reference, itwould be bertter to shuttleout on the highway 2-3 miles and slack pack back to Hot Springs thereby avopiding the climb. We fell in with Bubba on the way out. He looks a little like Jabba The Hut. He firststarted lecturing us on organic chemistry, thenwe heard how he had developed feramones and then he shared with us that he had reduced the crime rate in Tampa by fifty percent using his newly developed feramone. Like I said...characters everywhere. We picked upthe pace.In the end, we hiked to Log Cabin Road and then another .6 miles (fora totalof 17.3) to a quaint little hostel called Hemlock Hollow. Miss Hattie leaves the fronts hop (countrystore)open and you are free to take whatever you need from food to drinks and then let her know later what you took...on the honor system. I have always loved that concept...the honor system. I think it brings out the best in people. Fred and Hattie Kinsey do a great job and their hostel will become an icon on the trail before long.
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Hemlock Hollow Hostel

To: Big Butt
Miles today: 12.0

So, let me explain slack packing. Somebody had the idea we couldget Miss Hattie to drive us to Big Butt,pick up the trail and then hike back to the hostel using only day packs. Sounded like a great idea. Unfortunately, we couldnot drive to the trail and after she dropped usoff, we had to hike nearlystraight up the mountain for almost 4 miles. We were exhausted! We did not start the slack pack back to the hostel until noon. We hike through 2 thunderstorms. The second one was dangerous. I was on a ridgeline when it hit and I could not get off. The strikes were very close. On 2 of them I could smell the ozone and the hair on my arms stood straight up. there was not much time between the flash and the bang. I don't mind telling you, I was scared. So much for slackpacking.Miss Hattie surprised us with hotdogs and hamburgers, cole slaw and cowboy beans topped off with a huge fruit salad.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Sam's Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: light rain

Slack packed from Sam's to Spivey Gap. It rained the entire day. Peter, with whom I hiked the very first day, hiked with me again today and we looked like drowned rats when we got to Spivey. We cleaned up at the Super 8 and went in to Erwin for Burritos.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Erwin, Tn

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

We shuttled to Iron Mountain and then slack packed back to Uncle Johnny's. Started the hike at 7:45 and got into the hostel at 6:15. 19.3 miles.   My longest hike so far and an incredible day. The most beautiful day so far. I won't even get into what I ordered for dinner but suffice it to say I ate a lot.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 5.0

As with life, it is the unexpected side trail you take (on a whim) that becomes the magic! We had intended to hike to the top of Roan mountain today. At a little campfire along the trail at a place called Greasy Creek Gap I noticed a samll piece of paper tacked to a tree with some writing and a crude map in pencil. For some reason I just decide to read it. The note explained that Greasy Creek Friendly (a hostel) was not far down this side trail and that a crazy neighbor is trying to scare off the hikers so "don't pay him no nevermind." I looked it up in the book and sure enough, there was a hostel 0.6 miles down this small trail...and they had Ben and Jerry ice cream. Well, I've been on this trail long enough now that I can sniff out magic along with the best of them. What a find. Connie is the owner of the rustic looking hostel located in Eula Dean township and the first thing she offered was a strawberry sundae. "OK", says I.   "I'll take it." At this point I am hiking with Treework (21 yr old recent college grad working as a tree trimmer) and Wolfhound (60 and "in training" for the Continental Divide Trail which he will start in June. He has already hiked the AT and the Pacific Crest Trail and wants to add the CDT for the Triple Crown.)Connie, drives to town and gets us all huge pizza's which we devoured instantaneously. Other hikers had sniffed out the magic as well and they poured in until about 9PM. Connie made grilled sandwiches for all of them.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: Overtown Mountain
Miles today: 14.0

No one wanted to leave Connie's but we knew we had to go. Ahead of us was Roan mountain, a very steep climb. Onward we trekked. When we reached the top of Roan Mountain, there was Connie with Gatorade and Crispy Creme donuts. Now, I know you may think that is an odd combination, but it is a hiker's delight. Rehydration and fat. Unbeatable. That cinched it. We all wanted to marry Connie and I sure hope I get to see her at Trail Days. At the top of this mountain there used to stand Cloudland, a hotel built in the late 1800's for the rich and the famous to pass the warmer days in the cool of the mountain top. The plaque stated that the rooms were $2/day or $30 per month, fine dining included. A dirt road up the other side of the mountain conveyed the carriages and luggage up to the hotel. The hotel was torn down in the early part of the 20th century and it is now a bald. We continued on down the other side of the Roan to Overmountain Shelter. This shelter is an old red barn with sleeping platforms on the bottom and a loft upstairs. It was the backdrop for the movie "Winter People" which I think starred Kurt Russel, but not sure. I slept upstairs and enjoyed one of the best parties I've had along the trail. Great guitar music and young people that made me feel very young myself. Now, none of that would have happened if we had not taken that side trail.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Overtown Mountain

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 9.0

It was only 9 miles from our little red barn to Mountain Harbor hostel, a picturesque little place that is also a B&B. Terry and Mary own the place complete with horses and goats. Wolf Hound and I chose the RV (that's right, a Connestoga) and he took the back and I took the front. We showered in the barn. This was fun because we got to see Talladega nights on DVD in the RV but the best part was the breakfast the next morning. I don't think I have ever seen as sumptuous a breakfast ($8) as Mary served up that next morning. About 10 hikers were there to enjoy it. I think Mary got more of a kick out of seeing our faces than we did in eating.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Braemer Castle
Miles today: 13.0

In the first month I was mainly on the trail grinding out the miles and getting in shape. Now, I can sniff magic. Abby's place (our intended destination) was not it. We talked the owner into taking us to Braemer Castle. That little hostel has a history which I will be brief in describing. In the small Tennessee town of Hampton, the Pittsburg Lumber Company established a headquarters, comissary, ice house and boarding house in 1909 for the purpose of logging out all the hardwood in the surrounding mountains. Today's owner and innkeeper is Sutton Brown. His grandfather was involved in this organization and came to be the foreman of the sawmill. In the early 1920's, all the timber that could be taken was logged and the hastily constructed headquarters was left. For some reason, Mr. Brown loved the old place and so, in the the early 1930's he bought the run down building. In those days it cost about as much to paint a building as it did to put rock around it. He chose rock and so it looks today like an old castle. Some of the original furniture is still there and because it was also a US post office, the original letter sorter/post office box is still there...in Sutton's living room. To me, part of the magic of hiking this trail is stumbling onto old places like this.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Braemer Castle

To: Braemer Castle
Miles today: 0.0

Well rested and well fed we started out for Iron Mountain Shelter. Peter, Wolf Hound and myself had only hiked about 4 miles when it hit me. I've never felt such a wave of dizziness come over me like that. Peter (Dr. Peter Block) said I turned white as a sheet and ordered me to sit down. I rested a few minutes and tried to go on. Not more than 30 steps farther the same thing happend only worse. I sat down but the feeling would not pass. Then I became nauseous and started vomiting. I was flat out on the middle of the AT. This can't be happening. Peter and Wolf Hound called 911. Fortunately, we were less than a quarter of a mile from an access road and withing 20 mintues an EMT named Chris was standing over me. His partner came in a few minutes later with EKG equipment and in another 10 minutes a team of six came in with a Stokes Basket which is a cross between a casket and a wheelbarrow mounted on a single fat 4-wheeler tire centered in the middle of the contraption. A plexiglass canopy covers the face and torso of the patient so that branches aren't a problem for the patient. The team of six included 2 young ladies one of whom was steadying the right side of the canopy and the side to which my head was turned.   Now, I won't describe it in detail, but do you remember the scene in Cool Hand Luke when the little country girl was washing her car in front of the convicts? I knew I wasn't terminal if I could appreciate that moment. I was rushed to Sycamore Shores Hospital where they could find nothing and released me. Back to Braemer Castle.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA.
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

They call the portion of the trail leading into Damascus, the Tennessee Turnpike and for good reason. It is a smooth trail mostly free of rocks and PUD's (Pointless Up's and Down's) and generally, a decent into this friendly hiker town. Wolf Hound and I made the 10 miles in a little more than 3 hours. Along the way we crossed into Virginia. I remember the bumper sticker "Virginia is for lovers". Add that to the list of things I am giving up.Damascus has hosted an event called Trail Days and this is the 21st year of the event.   Equipment vendors turn out to fix anything that might be wrong with your equipment, the town hosts free showers, food and medical care. As I said, a very friendly town for hikers.I'm in Damascus a little early. Barb will meet me here day after tomorrow, so I will try to hike ahead and get in a few more miles before she gets here. There probably won't be any journal entries for a few days so don't worry.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Damascus, VA.

To: Thomas Knob
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

Damascus was awesome on many levels. Barb met me on Thursday afternoon and we went to Green Cove Station (from were I resumed my hike today) to a B&B owned by friends of ours from the military days. We visited Damascus during the Trail Days festival and Barb got to meet many of the people with whom I had hiked and become friends. With names like Wolfhound, Baltimore Jack, Big Brother, Nuttella, Gazelle, Toodles, Bum Bum, et al, they are characters and great people in every sense of the word.   A few words about the B&B.   Buchanan Inn is owned by Jim and Annette Goode and I've never stayed at a better place! Situated on more than 300 acres, it was built in the early 1900's by Annette's Grandfather who also operated the Green Cove station which is a way station on the Virginia Creeper railroad (now a "rails to trails" conversion and a bike ride you just have to take.) Annette grew up in the house and went to school at the Rock School (named because it is made out of rock). There are 3 rooms in this house, named for each daughter of grandfather Buchanan. After 3 days at the Inn with my honey, I was worried about getting back on the trail. I did not want to leave my best friend but with so many people counting on me to finish, I did my duty and jumped back on. It was only 12 miles to Thomas Knob and I felt good.   On the way, I scared up a fat grouse. I thought, my friend Dale Wyrauch and avid humter would probably walk the AT just to get a look at such a beautiful bird. I crossed VA 600 at Elk Park just as hiker Mountain Dew and Honey Dew pulled up in their truck and offered me a (guess what?) ice cold Mountain Dew. Let the trail magic continue. I hiked alone today and so, was happy for the social interaction that came with the 8 people there. The shelter is fairly new with 2 levels and the privy is well built and keeps you out of the weather. Great.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Thomas Knob

To: Hurrican Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Tody I headed out early (7:30) for the Grayson Highlands and some of the prettiest upcountry pasture land you've ever seen. Along the way, I passed over Wilburn Ridge with huge rock outcroppings dotting open green pastures. I came upon some feral ponies that are known to be n this area. They are like other feral pony herds such as those in Cape Hatteras, N.C. and appear smaller than domesticated horses. I noticed in particular, a mare and a very small pony by her side. I thought the small pony was awfully small and when the mare stood up I could see why. As she stood up she got rid of the afterbirth and so it was clear she hs just given birth with the last 10 minutes. I have a picture of it. Today I hiked with Ranger Jan who thru-hiked in '04 and Artiste (19 yrs old) who will start Virginia Commonwealth University this fall.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Hurrican Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Tough day today...nearly 20 miles and rugged terrain. This day would put my friend and fellow hiker "Gray Turtle" off the trail for a few days due to stress fractures in his leg. One half mile away from the shelter I smelled burning meat. "That's it," says I, "too many miles and I'm hallucinating."   Sure enough, it was a hiker feed! Laces, Pie and one other, all of whom had thru hiked last year, put together a feast for those of us who straggled in. Watermelon, beer (but again, not for me,) hot dogs, cakes, sodas, etc. I used my phone card, called Barb and got some great news. By oldest granddaughter, Chloe, had received an award at school from the Sarasota Sherriff's Department. It was a Certificate of Recognition for exemplary behavior and for being a positive role model for her peers. I'm so proud I could explode!
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

This short hike into Atkins felt like a cake walk. One month earlier it would have been a difficult hike. Going into a town where you can wash clothes (and yourself) and get a good meal has the effect of making even a tough hike not so bad. Got a call from my good friend Paul Fox asking me about life on the trail, but the cell signal and the time of day did not allow me to get back to him. Will call him at my next opportunity.