morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-24
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Up at 640, slept pretty decent in spite of the crazy weird dreams. Dreams out here are psycho! Got moving around 730 and the temp was way better, pretty nice. Around 1pm I got to a place called Standing Bear Hostel and was just planning to get a cold drink and some food. Once I saw this place though, I had to stay here. It is so neat and unique that I know I will never see anything exactly like this again. There is a house that the owners live in, but the hostel part is all made of rough cut lumber and has a bunkhouse, resupply building, kitchen area, laundry area that has a scrub board and roller wringer with a electric dryer, a bunkhouse, shower house that has roof and doors but has open bottom and tops on the stalls so you get an open air shower basically. There is a creek that flows right thru the property and a fire pit area where everyone hangs out. You can buy food here and cook it in the kitchen area yourself with all dishes and cutlery there. you just clean up after yourself. It is very chill here and a great atmosphere. The stay includes shower, towel and bed linens. Very nice! There were several things here that gave me ideas for future home plans. Today was a great day!
Date: 2014-04-25
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Got up at the hostel and was able to heat my breakfast and grab a Dr. Pepper to take for lunch, sweet. There was a decent climb out of the hostel and rain was threatening most of the morning. A few miles up the trail I hear of possible trail magic in form of a hiker feed. I don't wanna get my hopes up but I still hope it is true. Well I came around the trail and I smelled the grill going!!! I go about another 50 yards and there is a 15-20 foot long trailer, 3 canopies and a tailgaiting set up like no other. There was burgers, fruit, chips, cookies, salad and lots of other munchies. The two guys hosting it were Moose and Ox, former thru-hikers, who do this all for free. They do not take donations as trail magic is free! It was a great lunch because seconds after I got there it poured some rain and wind was crazy. After eating I headed on and went over Max Patch. It is a bald and basically looks like a grass yard on top of the mountain. It looks like it is mowed even, probably for hay. The wind up there was insane, it almost knocked me off balance a couple times. I took several pics and moved on. The next several miles were very damp and swampy ground. I came to the first shelter but had no desire to stay there due to the swampiness. Onward to the next shelter 5 miles away. I finally made it to Walnut Mountain Shelter at 815pm. I have walked most of 12 hours today and am beat. I snagged the last spot in the shelter and didn't even cook dinner. I just wanna crawl in bed lol. Muzzle shows up a few minutes after me and is soliciting volunteers to hike the rest of the way into Hot Springs which is almost 14 more miles! He gets no takers, then makes some coffe and presses on at 9pm. I can't believe that he is going to hike almost 34 miles. I later found out that he went 13 miles and could see the town and decided to rest for a minute and fell asleep sitting against a tree for 4 hours. Crazy. I was happy with my 20 mile day lol.
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Well the 13 miles into Hot Springs were hot and dry. There was almost no breeze so it was tough walking. I stopped a couple of times for water and was drinking alot. I also met a nice couple, Josh and Stephanie with their dog Lily who invited me to their campsite later in town, that was cool. As I got into sight of the town I was wanting a cold drink or some ice cream or just something cold! I get to the spot where the woods end and town begins and what do I see but a sign tacked to a tree that says TRAIL MAGIC. I see a couple coolers and a table of ham rolls, salad, fruit, cakes, etc...WOW. It was so good and the Cokes were so cold. Just what I needed. The lady there was Spaceblanket's mom and she brought everything with her. I ate a good bit and thanked her, then she started talking about renting us all a large campsite at the campground of the HotSprings Resort-Cool, more trail magic! I headed on to the campground and end up seeing Josh and Stephanie and talk to them abit. They are very curious about the AT and are thinking of planning their own hike. I have no problem sharing hiking information! They end up inviting several of us to stay on their site and it saves Spaceblankets mom from spending $33, cool. We even got to use the shower house and bathrooms which were right near their campsite. We even kept an eye on Lily the dog while they went to eat. The only thing I am not liking about Hot Springs is I HAVE NO CELL SERVICE UUGGGHHH. I don't know what the deal is but 95% of hikers don't have service here. We wnt to a place called Spring Creek Tavern to eat and I had a brick oven pizza which was excellent. There wasa cool band playing classic rock and classic country. They were great and made the night even better. I will sleep good!
Date: 2014-04-27
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

DID I MENTION THAT I HAVE NO CELL SERVICE??? Today ahs been pretty chill, did a little shopping, sent some stuff home, ate breakfast at Smoky Mountain Diner. I packed up my tent and stuff and tonight I am staying at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn. It is legendary on the trail, as is Elmer himself. he has been helping hikers for decades. I got my room and as I went to the room, there is small plaque on the door of the room that says "Earl Shaffer slept here in 1948 and 1998". Why is this significant and who is Earl Shaffer you ask? He is the first person to step off the trail and claim to have hiked it all in one continuous span. He is a trail legend. I feel fortunate to have the room I have. The Inn is a huge house that has been basically converted to an inn. It was built in the 1840s and is just an awesome place. I have read about it many times and was glad a room opened up and I was able to stay here. I got my food shopping done today and now my foodbag is heavy again, ugh. I am now caught up on journals and will post some pics soon, when I have cell service again. As I sit and type these at the outfitter, I am at their desk near the register and people keep asking me questions like I work here and I have actually helped a few of them with where stuff is located. I got this! lol This is the job for me! I have to be careful in outfitters because it is like Christmas time in here and I would like to buy everything. I am packing up later and maybe doing breakfast at Elmers and I guess heading out tomorrow morning. I think I am only going 10 miles or so tomorrow so no big hurry in morning. As always it is a climb out of town so a shorter day will be in order. Hot Springs is a cool trail town.
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Leaving Hot Springs today
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am heading out today from Hot Springs but had a chance to type an entry before leaving. I stayed at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn last night and it was great. The building was built in 1850s and is very rich in history. I stayed in the room where Earl Shaffer stayed in 1948 on his thru hike which was basically the first thru hike of the AT. He stayed in the same room again in 1998. I felt pretty fortunate to have that room. I also volunteered to take a former thru hikers ashes out today and spread them somewhere on the trail ahead. His name was Doc Gnarly and he died last year and his wish was to have his ashes spread on the AT and his wife had asked Elmer to ask hikers to do this for her. I took one of the last three small containers. I think it is a pretty cool thing and I feel pretty privileged to be doing it for the dude. My pack feels great today because I sent a few things home and everything is fitting in my pack better. I plan to weigh it on my way out of town as I pass the outfitter. Hot Springs is a very cool little town and I hope to bring the kids here one day to raft and camp, maybe just chill for a long weekend. I can understand why hikers either never leave this town or they return after their hike. Well, I hope I have service back soon for the phone, it is weird being unable to call out. I did use the phone at the Inn a little. We are supposed to be seeing some rain the next couple days, hopefully it won't be too bad. Onward to Erwin, TN. Thanks everyone who is signing the guestbook. I hope you all enjoy the journal, I enjoy writing it! Take care everyone and keep reading! I appreciate the thoughts, prayers and support! I miss you all
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Leaving Hot Springs today

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

This may duplicate the previous entry a bit. I slept really well at Elmer's Sunnbank Inn last night. The door to the wrap around balcony was open all night and there was a screen door so the night air was in the room and it felt awesome! I actually got a shower before breakfast which was a switch lol. We all sat around the table with Elmer for breakfast and did introductions of ourselves. Elmer shared some of his trail knowledge with us, he hiked in 1976 and then moved to Hot Springs and bought the Inn and has been helping hikers ever since then. He is a great guy. Jesse, the house helper was great as well. He is working here during hiker season. Leaving town the elevation change was from 1300' to 4700' so quite a climb and of course it was hot and I was wondering why I left town where there was cold sodas and ice cream ;-) Today was the first day that I wore my bug headnet. The gnats were ferocious toward the end of the day. I carried the Stephen King book, Christine, out of a hostel recently and been reading that at night. As I am laying here the bear bag cable are creaking in the wind. I will explain those abit. It is usually a good idea to hang your foodbag, cookware and any little smell good things like toothpaste from a high point somewhere away from your tent. The cables are a cable strung between two trees and there are pulley cables hanging from the main cable. They have loop hooks on them and you lower a pulley cord, hook your food bag on the loop and then pull the pulley cable bag up which lifts your food bag about 15" off the ground and the end of the pulley cable in your hand hooks to a eyebolt drilled into the tree. There are aluminum discs around the ends of the main cable to prevent critters from crawling out on the cable and down to the foodbags. I will try to put a picture of them up sometime soon. Today I saw a sign in the woods advertising a hiker feed Thursday May 1 !!! Sweet! It is at a place called Sam's Gap. i will have to post a pic of that sign for sure since my youngest son is named Sam. Okay I am getting sleepy and it is time for earplugs. I hear a train in the distance, wind is blowing, bear cables are creaking...time for some quiet.
Date: 2014-04-29
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

Topped 300 miles today !!! Very cool! Woke in the middle of the night to some thunder and rain, I will hate packing up my tent in the morning! There was thick fog this morning which is so cool. The trees take on a skeleton look in the fog, I love it. The inside of my tent stays about 98% dry which is acceptable. Met some new faces today-Poncho, Charcoal(who I gave a dollar to in Hot Springs cause she was short $ at a store so I put a name with the face today), Sparklefeet and Fenn. Met them at a lunch break. Jim, Bama and I came upon a sign in the woods that read "Mom's Store-Hikers welcome" with an arrow on it. We were near a road and the store wasn't listed in the guidebook, but we decided to take a side trail and see what was there. I have some pics I will post, but it was an old gas station, minus the pumps, that this lady was selling sodas, snacks, ice cream,etc out of. It looked sketchy but man was it a good treat. 2 popsicles and a Dr. Pepper and I was set for awhile. It is the kinda place you really don't wanna go in, but the desire for cold food items was enough to throw caution aside! The trail fooled me later in the day. The guidebook looked to be telling me it would be a fairly easy day. Wrong! There was a stretch of the trail that went along an exposed ridge that was actually strenuos. I usually don't think the strenuos marking on a trail really lives up to the description, but this time it could have used that designation. At one point, I threw my hiking poles down about 8' and then climbed the near vertical 8' of rock down. Crazy! I am whooped for sure tonight. I didn't linger on dinner very long, I just wanted to climb in the tent to rest. i did have raspberry tea after dinner which was something new for me. It was very good. The wind has blown most of the day, it is blowing now and will blow the entire night and into the next morning at the same consistency. I don't know how it can do that for so long, but I am glad there are plenty of bushes and trees that are blocking it from our campsites. Sleep time!
Date: 2014-04-30
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The wind is insane! Up early and walking! I almost forgot that yesterday i came close to taking a big fall. I stepped on a notch in a log to cross over it. My right foot found a good spot. Well, my left foot found a slippery part of the log and went out from under me. Thank goodness it landed about 3 feet down on dirt and I was able to keep my balance because to my left was a straight down hill. After catching my breath I climbed back up to the log and kept hiking. I can't count it as a fall cause my butt did not hit the ground! tonight it is raining and the shelter crowd is way too loud so I am tenting aways from the shelter. I am in the tent for the night and don't plan on coming out until morning. I broke two rules tonight-I cooked in my tent vestibule and I ate in my tent. Actually I will be breaking a third one as well because I am not hanging my foodbag, I am just keeping it in the tent. I don't feel like going out in the rain lol. I like being able to pack up everything in my tent, then I just pop out, take my tent down real quick and strap it to the outside of my pack and I am off, if it is raining that is. If it is dry I put the tent inside my backpack. Hiker feed tomorrow-woohoo! Met a kid from Chilhowie, VA tonight. Talked to the kids, said goodnight and sleep time is here!
Date: 2014-05-01
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap Campsite
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Up and ready to go 2.4 miles to the highly anticipated hiker feed! this 2.4 miles flew by and we smelled the grills going and walked into a great sight at Sam's Gap. I had 2 burgers, 2 helpings of potato salad, coleslaw, donut, 2 pickles, chips, 2 cherry cokes and a glass of icewater. I took with me for later an apple, orange, baggy of trail mix and some hershey miniatures. Wow was I full! Those folks were awesome. Okay, back to the hiking. I spread the ashes of the hiker i mentioned after I left the hiker feed. I thought it fitting that he got to go to the feed and then be left at a campsite overlooking Sam's Gap. My stomach was full but the miles weren't too bad today. No cell service at tonight's campsite, and no rain which is good. Went over Big Bald and Little Bald which was very cool. I was able to dry my tent there in no time due to the steady wind. A bald is a mountain top which has none or very few trees and is more like a meadow. We had 360 degree views, it was great. Met a brother sister duo today from Roanoke! That was very cool. Their trail names are Hansel and Gretel. Also met Switchback and Ferris today, more new faces.There were owls talking at last night's campsite and there are some here just talking with each other. It sounds so cool!Tomorrow we will get into Erwin, TN and do the cleanup stuff and get some food! I can't wait! I am very happy with tonight's tent location, very level ground which gave my tent a tight pitch so I should sleep well. It is seeming to be a chilly night so hopefully it won't be too cold. Goodnight for now!
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Spivey Gap Campsite

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is looking to be a good day into town. I am ready for a shower, laundry, and some mexican food! I am splitting a room tonight with Jim and Bama. I gorged on mexican. I had fajitas and fried ice cream. I was stuffed to the gills as they say. I got my maildrops sorted and food ready for the next several days. I had a few things to pick up and headed back to the motel to relax. Planning on eating breakfast at the hotel and leaving out sometime tomorrow morning. Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and things people have sent to me. I appreciate it so much! I appreciate everyone signing the guest book, I love reading the messages. I miss everyone from back home and can't wait to see everyone!
Date: 2014-05-03
From: Erwin, TN

To: Unsure at moment but it will be north!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Just waiting on a shuttle to get back to the trail from the hotel I stayed at last night. Stayed up way too late putting pics on the journal lol. Had breakfast at the hotel which was decent, and free. Mailed a box of stuff ahead and got some new water bottles. Less bulky than Gatorade bottles. Talked to Sam and Caleb this morning, Sam scored a goal in his lacrosse game! Hanging in the hotel lobby for now. Erwin is a nice little town, I wouldn't mind coming here to visit one day after my hike. Figure it will be close to 2 before I get on the trail today so who knows how far we will hike. Probably between 10-13 miles. I should cross into Virginia in about 8 days or so, maybe on the 10th even, depends on terrain and weather. I need to do some calculating on mileage but it varies each day so plans are hard to stick to some times. I guess that is part of the draw out here. You can adapt to whatever the day throws your way. My foodbag is full but it is good to not have to resupply for a few days. I sent a few things ahead to a stop about six days away. It should help me be about 75% resupplied at that stop. I won't need but a few things there. Next stop likely is Hampton TN for at least shower and laundry. It is about six days from here so I will prob be doing a little creek laundry somewhere along the way. Alright folks, I am about to head out. Just wanted to drop a note before leaving. Check out the pics and sign the guestbook. I hope everyone is enjoying reading my journals as much as I enjoy hiking and writing the journal! Get out for a hike! Bye for now
Date: 2014-05-03
From: Erwin, TN

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Didn't get on trail til 2pm and was slow moving lol. Tonight's campsite is great. We had a fire and I have the most level spot so far. This entry is short but not alot happened today. Just a short day out of town and not much scenery. The thing I noticed today as we left town was how marvelously blue the sky was and how bright the green colors were of the trees and grass. It screamed SPRING is here! Ok time to write and read for a bit.
Date: 2014-05-04
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night was my best tent sleep to date! I was tired after a day in town and a nice site led to great sleep! Did 3.4 miles the first hour! Then a little later in day we hit a road crossing and met Rob Bird who had drinks and snacks! Trail Magic! Talked with him awhile and then moved on. Was contemplating staying at or stopping at Greasy Creek Hostel but we missed the path for it and ended up two miles past the hostel. We were bummed but oh well, we knocked two miles off tomorrow. There were a set of eyes in the woods on the edge of camp tonight as I was getting into my tent and I watched them til they were gone. It was dark and at least the eyes didnt reflect red which would have been a bear. Probably was a fox.
Date: 2014-05-05
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke early and stretched ankles, got food for day ready and chugged water to camel up. Roman Mtn is abit climb early today but it does pass through 'dense spruce forest' according to the guide so hoping that is cool. The spruce area ended up being great and smelled great. I took lunch break at Roman Mtn shelter which is highest shelter on trail at 6194' above sea level. It was a solid structure for sure. Weather at that elevation can be severe so t had to be solid. The Overmountain shelter was an old farm barn that was converted to a shelter. I still tented. I have my tent facing a valley and the view is great. I gave myself a foot massage tonight because today's terrain was rocky! Plan is to hit Mountain Harbour Hostel/B&B tomorrow. It is a house with a barn hostel. I have read about it alot so def wanna see it and stay there. I am falling asleep as I write so time to call it a day. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 6am and opened my tent vestibule to see the view. I eventually took my pad and sleeping bag outside and just laid in grass, ate my pop tart and watched the sunrise. It was a bit windy last night but still slept good. Yesterday's mountain was Roan Mountain, not Roman. Got to the hostel before 1pm and showered and threw my laundry in, which was basically almost all my clothes. I had to walk around with just my shorts and croc shoes on til stuff dried. It's not like I have an abundance of clothes lol. I have read about this place many times and am glad it worked out to stay here. The bunkroom and common area are above the barn. Horses live in the bottom and the hostel is on top. I never smelled any farm smell and the hostel looks like the inside of a cabin, it was very nice. The main house is the B&B part and is very nice as well. We did a town run and I got pizza for later. I also bought a box of popsicles to share. Brotherman bought a watermelon and shared it. I watched some movies and eventually went to bed. I def could have stayed here longer! Lots of new faces and some I knew. I plan to sleep well and get up for breakfast here which is highly recommended from others. Just a note to say thanks for reading my journals and for signing my guestbook. I appreciate it and am glad to hear from folks.
Date: 2014-05-07
From: Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel

To: Vango/Abby Memorial Hostel
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up and was able to shower before breakfast anf chill. I was already 95% packed. Breakfast was AMAZING! Got to hiking and terrain was pretty good. Saw 2 snakes about 30 minutes into the woods. Saw 2 cool waterfalls but didnt go chasing them. I stuck to the rivers and the lakes I'm used to. Did see a goose on a river today and some rabbits. So the wildlife tally is 1 coyote, 4 snakes, numerous squirrels, a goose, rabbits and some hikers who qualify as wildlife lol. And yes I am at a hostel again but this was a last minute decision based on cold soda and iced cream. Dustin aka Mountain Goat decided to check it out and at least get some food. Well the guy who runs it is a 3x thru hiker and a very nice guy. It is donation based and very cheap...we are staying! Tonight is first night I have not camped with Jim and Bama. All good tho because we are on different schedules for next week or so. I had Ben &Jerry pina colada ice cream after my rice mix dinner. Shower in the morning and shooting for close to 20miles tomorrow. We will see what happens. Okay a sidenote-There are a lot of people for me to thank so far and they all are part of my hike! I have a specific thank you for my daughter who on day 4 of my hike encouraged me greatly and is a very big reason I am still moving forward. Others encouraged me as well and here I am on day 38! Awesome! Thanks Phoebe! Thanks everyone else:-) I am again falling asleep as I type this so I am going to bed! Good night all.