morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Carter Gap Shelter (new)

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Last night was the most intense night on the trail by far! We were all in our sleeping bags by 7pm and it poured the rain all night long as was very windy. It was by far the strongest wind guest I've ever experienced before. Right before bed we watched a bolt of lightning hit right next to the shelter and it shook everyone up. I met a very cool guy named "wild card" who wrested at Virginia Tech while in school there. I left the shelter to a nice sunny sky but it was still cold. I stopped at a creek and filled up on water around a mile after the shelter. There was a very nice view three or so miles after the shelter so it was a great place to take a break. I met Prince who seems to be in his 70's and enjoying every minute of the trail. He asked me to take a picture of him and had Chickadee get in the picture as well. After the nice view around two or so miles later we ran into the best trail magic we have yet to come across. A man who makes all kinds of AT stickers was cooking pancakes, grilled cheeses, and hot coffee. There was a younger guy there playing the guitar who will also be playing at Trail Days. He has a great voice and could play the hell out of the guitar. After we left the trail magic (which was very hard to do), we started to scale Albert Mountain which was a fun, short, straight up climb. There is a fire tower at the top which we got to climb to the top of and see a nice 360 degree view. We were told you could see S.C. from the top of the tower. After leaving the tower, I hiked with the girls for a bit while playing the game "contact" and then they stumped me with two riddles. The first one went "A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bar tender points a gun at the man. The man says thank you and leaves the bar. What did the man want?" (he can get it from both being held at gun point and drinking a glass of water). The second went "There is a man inside a concrete box. He has nothing but a 2x4 piece of wood. How does he get out of the box?" This one took me the longest as it is not actually physically possible but is abstract and some what mathematical. Tonight Pyro made an awesome first that felt great because it is the coldest night we've had yet on the trail. It's another great group tonight. No rain yet but it is looking like that could change later tonight. I have every bit of clothing that I brought on to stay warm while asleep. I only have 3 or so miles to Franklin tomorrow so going to try and get up early and get it over with and spend the day in town. I can't wait to shower, see my mom, and eat some great food. This morning my dad reminded me it has been 5 years since my grandfather passed away so that was on my mind all day especially when we had so many great views that looked like the mountains were touching the sky. Everyday has been a blast on the trail despite the pains and aches that come with the physically aspect of hiking on the AT. Advil has been my best friend the last few weeks. It was another great day with many more to come.
Date: 2011-03-25
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning around 4am and couldn't fall back asleep as it was so cold last night. It made me realize I need to get a sleeping bag liner before entering the Smoky's. I left camp right at 8am and had a pretty steep climb as the sun started to come up over the mountains. I arrived at Winding Stair Gap at 9:15am and watched Ron Haven pick up a good sized group of hikers in his bus headed for the Budget Inn. My mom was on her way to pick us up at the gap so I decided to wait for her instead of hitch into town and meet her there. Caleb and Moose got to the gap around 10:30am and my mom showed up around 11am so it all worked out well. Our first stop was a Subway and a hot sub has never tasted so good. We then checked into a cheap motel in Franklin called Knights Inn. I took a hot shower and then my mom and I decided we would drive the hour or so back to Asheville and wash all of our clothes and take care of a few things I needed to do. I couldn't stop smiling and was happy as could be when we pulled into our road and I saw that Laura was already at my house as she is house sitting for the weekend while my mom is in Franklin with me. She certainly gave me the best hug I have ever had and it felt awesome to be seeing her in person after talking to her so little the past few weeks while I've been on the trail. Laura and I talked for a while until she had to go to work. Once the clothes were done, we got back on the road and drove back to Franklin. My mom stopped by a Taco Bell on the way back and it tasted so good but I soon remember what fast food will do to you after you haven't eaten it in a while. Once back in Franklin we stopped at a gas station and I got a nice assorted six pack of some delicious IPA's. Caleb and Moose are out eating and having a few drinks with some fellow hikers. I opted to stay at the motel and have a few beers while watching TV. Letting the body rest feels great! Tomorrow we're taking a zero day and I'll resupply on food as well as fuel. I'm sending a few items back with my mom to lighten my pack a bit. All my clothes are now clean and my phone/ipod is now charged. Tomorrow will be my last zero day until Hot Springs when I take a few days off the trail and stay at home during that time. I'm taking advantage of this zero day and letting my body heal as much as possible. My feet are still sore and I have a few healing blisters. It's raining once again here in Franklin, and looks to be the same forecast for tomorrow. I hope it's all gone by Sunday, but it's not looking that way. I'm glad to be inside a motel when it's raining. My tent and gear is spread out across the room so it can dry. I've hiked 107 miles to Franklin from Springer, and more from the Lodge at AFSP to Franklin. It feels great to be in NC and have past the 100 mile mark on the trail.
Date: 2011-03-26
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I got to sleep in till around 11am this morning and then we went to Outdoor 76 which is a local retailer here in Franklin. I ended up getting a sleeping bag liner that adds around ten degrees to my bag to get ready for the Smoky's. I also got a hat liner, more fuel, and some easy to cook Mountain House meals. We stopped by Ingles to resupply on food. It was nice to have a meal at a local Mexican restaurant here in town. We were back to the motel earlier in the afternoon and just rested for the remainder of the day. The pizza and beer this evening were both very nice to have.
Date: 2011-03-27
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Fire Tower
Miles today: 10.4

Today was an exceptionally fun day. We all go to Winding Stair Gap around noon and a few guys we've seen around doing trail magic were there talking with Pyro and Max. They said they were going to drive up to the fire tower and if we wanted to try slack packing today we could. I was quick to take them up on the option and threw my pack into the bed of their truck taking only my trekking poles and a water bottle to knock out the ten miles without my pack. We did the ten miles (which felt like nothing) in a little under four hours. It felt great to be hiking so fast today without my pack on. We got to the tower and they had trail magic sitting in the top of the fire tower which included beer and soda. I ate a nice hot meal an d then had a few beers after setting up my sleeping bag and pad in the top of the tower. The terrain was fairly easy today. There are 15 or so people staying here with us tonight. As the sun was setting to our west, we could see the clouds and fog rolling in from our east. It was a perfect way to end a great weekend spent with my mom in Franklin. I ended up getting to see a good amount of friends when I made the trip back to Asheville. The days seems to just keep getting better and better on the AT!
Date: 2011-03-28
From: Wayah Bald Fire Tower

To: Cold Springs Shelter
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was by far the worst night on the trail yet. We went to bed with a great sunset and the stars shining above us as we watched the clouds roll in from a distance. One would think after seeing the clouds and fog heading our way, we could make sure to have rain protection. Around 1:30 this morning, Pyro and Cheech ran up to the tower as it started to pour the rain. I had the second pick as far as where I was going to sleep and chose next to the wall in a corner thinking that would be best as the rain wouldn't hit me if it did rain. That was the worst choice possible as when it started to rain the wind was blowing my direction so every drop of rain blew directly onto me. I was sunk into the bottom of my sleeping bag as the rain sounded like it does when it hits the outside of my tent; only this time hitting the outside of my sleeping bag. I didn't sleep after that to say the least. It rained close to two inches and every bit of it was on my sleeping bag, gear, and some of my fellow hikers. I got up and packed all my went gear when I heard four elderly ladies voices coming from below saying "trail magic." They brought up hot dogs, chips, rice crispy treats, cokes, and fruit! It ended up being a great morning after all as I was wet, but certainly full. The clouds and rain didn't seem like they were going to let up anytime soon so I would be wearing my rain gear all day long today. After hiking about four miles in the cold along a very wet trail while the rain still beat down, I came across yet another trail angle. Grits was a previous thru hiker and he handed me a bud light as I walked into his campsite along with a hot dog. I couldn't have been happier at that moment on the trail. I had been sloshing through puddles all day long, everything was soaked, and all of a sudden I had a cold beer and a hot dog in front of me. You never appreciate trail magic more when its on days like today. So far that is two meals today which I did not have to cook or use my food for as it was given to me by trail magic. I left Grits' site after a couple beers and a good conversation about his thru hike and started down the trail which no longer actually looked like a trail but more like a mud pit. I met moose at the shelter and brought of my soaking wet sleeping bag to try and dry it out before sleeping in it tonight. It was still foggy but the rain has stopped so I figured it wouldn't be drying out anytime soon. We thought we were going to do a nice 12 miles day but no one showed up after waiting for two hours so we called it a day and set up inside the shelter. Waldo and Pyro both made two great fires; one being at the shelter and the other being at the campsite. I hung my sleeping bag on my trekking poles next to the fire and it surprisingly dried completely before I went to bed. I'm in a shelter tonight and there is a nice stream less than 20 yards away from me which sounds great while trying to fall asleep. Tomorrow we'll do 11 miles to the a shelter which is only a mile from the NOC.
Date: 2011-03-29
From: Cold Springs Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

I slept the best I have ever slept on the trail last night. I only woke up twice and slept till 7:30am this morning. I was packed and ready to go by 8:30am and decided to hike close to 11 miles without stopping and then go the extra mile to the NOC and pack in some trial magic for everyone hiking behind me. Moose hiked in with me and we split up close to seven cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and packed it the mile back to the shelter (which took me a good hour or so as there were many breaks to hydrate). Moose left as soon as the beer was in his pack and I told him if he gets stopped by the trail police just tell them he is 21. I ended up eating a great ham and cheese sandwich or two before I headed back to the shelter. I then started back up the rather steep one mile climb back to were we had set up camp when I came across a man named Grant who goes by the trail name Shaw. He was playing his banjo which I could hear from the NOC store but wasn't sure where it was coming from. I stopped and had a few of the beers I was packing up with him. He started building banjos this year and was a great player. He played a few songs while I listened. It was a great feeling to have no worries, no place to be, and no time restraints. I was sitting on a foot bridge in the woods listening to a stranger whom seemed like a brother playing the banjo on the AT. He gave me the trail name "Old Blue" because I was packing so many Pabst Blue Ribbon beers he couldn't believe it. I also had a blue buff, blue shirt, and blue shorts on. Everyone was more then happy when they arrived to camp and saw more beers then they could count waiting for them. It felt great to repay all the trail magic in which I have received along the trail. Again, it was another great day on the trail.
Date: 2011-03-30
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: NOC Cabin
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: moderate rain

It started raining around 2am this morning. I was glad to be in my tent and not sleeping cowboy style and getting rained on. I left before everyone this morning and got to NOC around 9:30am. The rain had stopped for the time being and I wanted to push on but everyone in our group wanted to get a cabin so the ten of us pitched in and got a rather nice cabin. I'm ready to pick up the pace a bit and plan to do so after tonight. When everyone got to the NOC we ate at a very nice place on the river. Pyro and I both got 16 inch pizzas and tried to eat the whole thing (which didn't work). I washed the pizza down with a Nantahala IPA which tasted great. Everyone ended up purchasing more beer for tonight so it should be interesting. I dried out my tent and anything else that was damp from the wet weather. It was nice to be inside when it started to rain again and a cold fog set in. Tomorrow we have seven miles up hill from the NOC .
Date: 2011-03-31
From: NOC Cabin

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: broken clouds

I was up and in the shower by 7am this morning with a pounding headache which only a genius could tell me why. Pyro, Bobby, Max, and I decided we could drink every beer before we went to bed so none of them went to waste. To say the least, this was the worst hang over I've ever had and I figured it would be my first day hiking with one. After falling asleep around 3am, getting up 4 hours later, we all ate breakfast at the NOC and I started my day of hiking. To my surprise, I felt great while hiking today. The uphill was not as bad as I thought, and I was the first one to leave with Cheech close behind me. Today is my dads birthday so I sent him a text to say happy birthday as I couldn't call him because of the bad service I have. I didn't stop the whole 7 miles today as I wanted to make sure I had a place in the shelter as it looked like rain again. When I arrived after flying by many hikers there were only three spots in a 20 person shelter left. It was a very cold night with a few flurries of snow. It was foggy at the top of the mountain and hasn't let up since I hiked into it. It has been on and off hailing since I arrived. At 5pm it was in the low 30's so I expect it to drop even more. I have all my clothing on tonight and plan on cooking a hot meal then hanging out by the fire before bed. I'm glad we actually got a few decent miles in today and that we'll be in the Smoky's by next week. I can't wait to get to Hot Springs and take a few days off the trail and see everyone back home. I'll sleep well tonight after no sleep last night. We are taking longer than I had thought to get to this point so I plan to knock out some miles in the next few weeks. Even though it was straight up hill today, it was still a fun day with some awesome terrain which included tunnels through bushes, big rocks, scaling down trees, and some challenger boulders.
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I ended up leaving around 9:30am and it was 28 degrees. There was ice all over the trail and was very cold all day long. I had service at Stecoah Gap so I got the chance to talk to my dad, mom, and Laura. My buddy Tony called right as I turned my phone on as well so it was great to hear from him as well as he called out of the blue to see how I was doing expecting to get my voice mail. I had the steepest uphill yet titled "Jacobs Ladder." It was by far the hardest day on the trail. There are seven others camping around the shelter tonight. No one from my group is here so that feels a little weird. It's the first time I've camped without at least Moose or Long Beard (Caleb) camping with me. Tomorrow I have 5.5 miles to Fontana. Most of the people I passed today are staying at the last shelter. I should be starting the Smoky's on Sunday.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

I was up around 7am and took a nice hot shower at the bathhouse near the shelter which isn't too far from the visitor center at Fontana. I packed up my stuff and soon found out the whole group was going to take another zero day after last night. Once again I parted ways with our group of ten and took off into the Smoky's alone. In the park section hikers can reserve a place in the shelter so if that happens and the shelter is full, a thru hiker must set up their tent and camp. Everyone has to fill out and have with them a slip of paper saying they are a thru hiker with ones name and address. The hiker keeps the bottom copy and the top copy goes into the registration box. The climb out of Fontana is the longest I've climbed yet as it's almost 11 miles straight up. I came to the first shelter after a long day and it quickly filled up before I could set up a spot for me to sleep. I'm very glad that happened because the next shelter which was only a few miles away was brand new and is similar to a small cabin. It has a fire place to keep warm on the very cold nights, three rock walls, and a tin roof with fiberglass openings so one can see the stars at night. The open end of the shelter was sealed with a tarp to keep the wind out. Today was one of the nicest days I've had since I started my hike with temps in the high 60s. I doubt I'll be back with our group until Hot Springs, if they make it there by the time I get back on the trail after a few days off. I plan on doing some higher mileage days so I can get to Hot Springs and take some time off. I'm looking forward to seeing my mom, Laura, and friends once in Hot Springs. I miss my dad and family in Maine very much when I think about how long it will be until I seem them again. I'm not sure at this point if I'll go into Gatlinburg or not yet. That will depend on if I need to resupply or not. I've been there so many times so I don't need to go there to see the town, I would only go into town to resupply if I don't have enough to make it to the first town right outside the Smoky's. I'm not to worried about leaving the group today as I have Hot Springs on my mind and the Smoky's is a great section of the trail.
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

I had a great nights sleep in a brand new shelter last night. I was up at 6am and on the trail by 7am hoping to do a 18 or so mile day to the last shelter before Clingmas Dome. I ate lunch at the second shelter I passed today got word there were some very storm storms heading our way; and that was right. I saw the storms building around 1pm and by 3pm they were over the valley below the ridge I was on. I ran the last two or so miles to the shelter and right as I enter it began to down pour. I ate as much of my food as I could stomach and then gave a lot of it away to fellow hikers who were running low to lighten my pack for the 12 or so mile hike to Newfound Gap where I decided I would hitch into Gatlinburg and get a room for the night. That would give me time to shower, resupply, and be back on my way to the trail in the early afternoon. I didn't want to try and make it out of the Smoky's with minimal food. I hope the rest of our group made it to a shelter tonight because it is hailing golf balls right now and lighting is striking every few minutes. After talking with Laura as well as my mom over text tonight, I certainly can't wait to get to Hot Springs and see them. It is very nice to be in this shelter tonight and out of the dramatic weather. I plan to get out early again tomorrow morning and get into Gatlinburg as soon as I can so I can have a nice hot meal and a shower. It doesn't feel weird being away from the group anymore and feels great to be putting in some good miles while in the Smoky's. Whoever said the Smoky's were easy must have climbed Everest because they are kicking my ass. I plan to get everything done tomorrow evening so I can hit the trail again early the following day. I hope to be out of the Smoky's in a few days. I'm planning on some 17-20 mile days before Hot Springs to make it here by next weekend but things never go as planned on the trail so it's better to just go with the flow and how the body feels. REM, Silver Fox, Spit Walker, Blue Stick, James and his girlfriend, Ian, and Stanly Thermos are all here tonight. It was nice to see two white tailed deer around the shelter this evening before bed. It has been another fantastic day on the trail.
Date: 2011-04-06
From: Newfound Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

On the way home yesterday after my hardest day on the trail and talking with my mom, I decided I would take a zero day today. I had to get new pants as my size 36 hiking pants no longer fit and fall off me as I hike. I got on the scale this morning and weighed in at 190.4lbs. I started the trail at 212lbs. I went to REI and picked up a pair of size 32 hiking pants that convert into shorts as well as a new hiking t-shirt after realizing my dividend from REI was on my account. I hung out with Laura all day and that was great. I got to have lunch with my friends Ricky and Brad. All of us went out to eat tonight as well. I resupplied on food and fuel. I also sorted through my pack and got rid of a few things I do not need. Today made me ready to start the trail back again tomorrow and it was a much needed day. Ricky will be giving me a ride back to Newfound Gap tomorrow afternoon and depending on what time I arrive there will depend on how far I hike. I plan to get to Hot Springs within 5 or so days and will be taking a few days off once I'm there as I told a bunch of people I would get up with them while I'm in town. Hot Sprigs will be the last time I see a lot of these people until after I finish the trail so I'll be making sure I take the time to do so. I'm in great spirits tonight, and that is what I needed. I couldn't do it without the people around me. A day off the trail does amazing things to the mind, and I'm more than ready to start again tomorrow. I look back on yesterday and I'm thankful for the experience and knowledge I took away from it all. I got my journal up to date and did everything I wanted to get done today. Talking with my grandmother was great and made me realize how many people are thinking about me while I'm on the trail. I thank all of you as it really helps. I got a text from Moose and Caleb today saying they are at Russell Field Shelter; the same shelter I stayed at a few days ago my first night in the Smoky's. They wanted me to take another day off the trail so they could catch up but I told them I'll see them in Hot Springs. It's going to be great to sleep in my bed again tonight and then head back out on the AT tomorrow. I'm only 200 or so miles into my hike, and the trail has already changed me in many ways and made me realize things I would've never thought about if I hadn't decided to do this. I'll update my journals again in Hot Springs. Thanks to everyone who is checking in on me.