morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-01
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 13.6

We got up early and packed up our stuff. After a few last minute purchases we all settled up with Curtis and were on our way out of Standing Bear Fam (what an experience- WOW). It was raining when we woke up but by the time we left it was just totally overcast and misting. Up up up for about 3 hours to the summit of Snowbird Mountain. I was completely soaked but I wasn't sure if it was from sweat or the moisture in the air. Man was it hunid! And I didn't do laundry at Standing Bear and man do is stink. Wow. So no views from the summit at all and Loon and I were starting to feel bummed about our idea of camping on top of max patch. The weather wasn't cooperating. But then, over lunch at Groundhog Creek shelter (and a particularly bad privy experience) the skies cleared! The afternoon was really sunny and warm with a lot more up hills. I was exhausted and starving. We ran into Loki and the other Rocket and then saw Otto with his dog waiting by the road getting ready to give all the people behind us their packs that he drove up there for him. And then we climbed up to Max patch. It is so beautiful here that I practically started crying. Blue, clear skies a 360 degree view of all that we have hiked and all that is yet to come. A big group is camping up here tonight: Loki, Red Rocket, McBride, Ziggy and Thin Mint, the Baltimre Girls, Duckie, Otto, Brickyad, and an artist painting the clouds in acrylic. The stars are all out tonight ad so are the coyotes! I feel totally at home here and so glad to be back in my tent. Too many nigts in shelters and hostels.Today's reality chaning moment: clear skies for max patch. Best. View. Ever.
Date: 2009-04-02
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Our longest day yet! We climbed Walnut Mountain and Bluff Mountain and some other really annoying knob thing. The weather was overcast most of the day and the wind really kicked up. Egg, Grommet and I spent a lot of time checking out all of the newly blooming wildflowers. Squirrel corn, trilliums, spring beauties, bloodroot, hepatica, geranium and some mayapples that haven't bloomed yet. Today was the first day where I really noticed the woods greening up. The trees aren't budding yet but the ground is looking more and more alive.In other news: I. Am. So. Freaking. Hungry. It's getting ridiculous. I totally do not have enough food for this stretch and it's killing me. My stomach feels completely empty minutes after eating. We are waking up at 6 am to high tail it into Hot Springs for breakfast at the Smoky Mountain diner. We should be eating by 9 am. I spent the last 3 hours of hiking deciding what I'm going to order. Over dinner tonight we all started talking about our food fantasies. Right now I could eat a block of cream cheese.Early night tonight! A long, tough day out here and an early rise tomorrow morning. It just started sprinkling and we're all in our tents. This morning's misty fog at Max Patch seems like days ago...Today's reality changing moment: not feeling too bad after 16.6 miles!
Date: 2009-04-03
From: Deer Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: overcast clouds

A jam packed day. We were up at 6:15 and walking by 7:15 to make it to Hot Springs for breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner. I saw the town and started practically running down the mountain. An omlet, pancakes, and hash browns later and I felt like a human again. Loon went across the street to make sure there was room at Elmer's tonight. Thankfully there was so we headed over and were given a tour of this place: a 160 year old Victorian house that has an amazing history and a pretty freaking awesome present. This is the coolest, most interesting place I have ever been to. I spent the evening (after our 4 course vegetarian feast) reading from the incredible book collection and listening to people play guitar and sing. I love it here and I wish I could stay longer. Could I have a place like this? Please?Resupply at Bluff Mountain Outfitters (the best outfitter yet, by far) and Dollar General, stop at the PO to mail some stuff home (ggod bye gaiters, OR mittens and long sleeved sleeping shirt), and some internet time at the library. Oh, I also got Superfeet insoles (the pink kind) for my shoes.We've got about 6 days until Erwin, so my pack is insanely heavy with food. I'm just hoping I have enough this time!After breakfast here at Elmer's we're back on the trail tomorrow. I miss this place already.Reality changing moment: holding a baby duckling in my hands after dinner tonight! Almost as soft as my cats.
Date: 2009-04-04
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

Breakfast at Elmer's was even btter than dinner! Pancakes with dates and nuts and granola with soy milk and cantalope. Mmmmm. We checked out and it was hard to go! The place was amzing and I hope I can visit it again someday. Pain! Today was filled with pain. My pack is heavier than it's ever been with food for the next 70 mile stretch. And since my appetite is so over the top, that's a seriously heavy food bag. The new superfeet I got at the outfitters started to make my feet kill this afternoon. I know they can cause discomfort at first so tomorrow I'll wear them for just half a day. We'll see. My pack was like digging into my back on the up hills and it started to pinch a nerve in my neck. Ow. We had a long climb today and it got petty warm. I was redy to stop by the time we got to the shelter. It's beautiful weather this weekend so there are a lot of weekenders out. I met a group of women today, one of whom thru-hiked 2 years ago and one who lives like 6 blocks from where I used to in Philly! Small world. The shelter is so crowded tonight. Ducky and Madison are tenting with us, the Portland siters, Aaron, Chuckles and Knuckles, Red Bear, Crispy and about a dozen others. Wow. We've got a long day tomorrow so I'm off to bed.
Date: 2009-04-05
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

What a day. I was hiking by 8:30 and it already felt warm. There was a rumor about some trail magic that ended up being just a rumor. And then at 11 Egg and Loon were stopping for lunch an hour earlier than we planned. I wasn't complaining! My new lunch of tortillas, peanut butter and raisins is rocking my world. Soon enough Ducky and Madison came by and the Portland siters. I had like no water, but the water source at Hemlock Hollow was .6 miles (NOT .06 like the sign said) and I didn't want to add 1.2 miles to my day. So NC we climbed 3 miles in the blazing sun and none of us had enough water. It was terrible. I was so hot and was like hallucinating that I saw the shelter. Finally it was there and the water source sucked! But we all managed to fill up and drank as much as we could before climbing the final 1 (very steep) mile. The walking after that was pretty blah until all of the sudden we were on a ridge of a mountan with an incredible view! I felt like I was on top of the world. I'm so glad we had a clear day for this one (even if it was like 85 degrees and I was drenched in sweat). Trout lily in bloom at the top! And there were lichens and mosses. It was just incredible. Egg and I were excited. Then the last mile or 2 after that seemed to go on forever. I switched out my soles and put my Superfeet in after lunch and they were kind of feeling sore around mile 14. And then we felt like the shelter would never come. Until it did. We found a spot for our tents even though there are several others here. Ducky and Madison, Preacherman, Crispy, pPrtland sisters and a bunch of weekenders. Man, I am tired and ready for some sleep!
Date: 2009-04-06
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

A cold and cloudy morning turned into a snowy and freezing afternoon. Around mile 12 I got a pinched nerve in my neck which sucked. We finaly made it to the shelter where Loon's dad and uncle were aititng for her. She headed into town with them while the rest of the packadivs are sleeping in the shelter waiting out the storm. We're supposed to get a foot of snow tonight. Whaaaat??? We're not sure what tomorrow will bring but for now the four of us are cozy in the shelter with Gloworm and Red Bear for company. It's so cold that there probably won't be any mice problems at least! Unfortunately it seems to be snowing IN the shelter. hmmmm.....
Date: 2009-04-07
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 2.4

Today was a short hiking day. We got up and there was a lot of snow on the ground and the sky went from looking ominous to continuing to snow. So we called Loon and asked her to pick us up from Sam's Gap at 10:30. The 2.4 mile hike was difficult with drifts of snow up to our knees. But it was beautiful. We all tried to grab pictures. We made it in under an hour and were shortly on our way to the Holiday Inn. Later we stopped by Uncle Johnny's (which was full) and saw Smiley! He told us tales of 3 hikers getting a stomach bug and getting really sick. Ugh. It's still snowing so we've decided to take advantage of Loon's family being in town and doing some slackpacking tomorrow and ending up back here at the hotel. Blah. I wish the weather wasn't making everything so difficult. Such is life on the trail I guess.One good thing: I saw the Phillies game here at the hotel!Reality changing moment: 2 cinnamon buns as soon as I walked in the hotel door. Oh yeah.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Sam's Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was our first slackpacking experience! The 5 of us plus Loon's dad and uncle piled into the car. The Loon flock dropped Grommet, Storm, Egg and myself off at Sam's Gap and loon and her family would go to Spivey gap and hike south. The snow was so deep for our morning hike. It was exhausting to try to hike through. And our packs weighed a fraction of what they normally do. I just kept thinking how hard it would have been on a normal day. Thankfully a couple of people hiked before us that morning so we could use their footsteps as guides to find the trail. We got to big bald and big stamp and I was yet again blown away by its beauty. It was a dramatic landscape, especially with the snow blanketing evryting. We ate a quick lunch because it was windy and our feet were soaked. We met up with Loon and her uncle at the shelter and then headed to Spivey gap. It was a long afternoon filled with a couple of amusing slips and falls and far less snow than in the morning. A lot of it had meltedby the afternoon. Loon's dad was there for us to bring us back to the hotel and Loon and her uncle arrived soon after.We're off in the AM to head back to our normal routine and out of the Holiday Inn! Thanks a million to PF Flyer and Papa loon for driving us places, dinner and beer. I won't think of Erwin, TN without thinking of you guys.
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Spivey Gap

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Today I was feeling a little under the weather. My head hurt, my stomach felt weird and I was exhausted. Thankfully it was beautiful weather and the trail wasn't too tough. The most difficult part was the long descent into Erwin and I pulled up the rear for most of the day, taking my time and trying not to trip like I did first thing in the morning. It was neat to see Erwin and the Nolichucky River from so high up. We even spotted the Holiday Inn where we spent the last 2 nigts. It was definitely weird to start and end the day in Erwin. We're at Uncle Johhny's tenting for the night. Storm, Grommet, Egg and I took the shuttle into town with Moses, Ducky and Madison to get a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich with fries and a coke. Delicious. The Dari Ace was awesome. Loon and I caught The Office on TV in the bunk room and then our newest guest star hike rolled into town. We're so excited to hike with Stride for a few days and I just hope the weather cooperates! We got to chat a little tonight while she set up her Hubba but I can't wait to hike and talk with her more about her thru-hike last year. She has already been such a huge help and wealth of information. It's awesome to have a new Diva in the crew, if only for a few days. Another amazing thing happened in Erwin: THREE maildrops! The one I sent myself with additional treats and excellent reading material from my Mom and Sister. A maildrop from Persistant!!!! Amazing!!! I was so excited. Everything in it is delicious and perfect and was just so awesome to have something sent by the incredible Persistant. AND some treats from Michelle and Steve. It was so thoughtful. They knew exactly what I was And Persitant! So we started the day off saying farewell to Loon's family and we ended it welcoming Stride! So many guests, it's wonderful. I'm off to sleep now and can hear the river.Reality changing moment of the day: maildrop heaven!
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: Beauty Spot Campsite
Miles today: 12.1

Our first day hiking with Stride was actually pretty confusing! We got hiking at about 8:30 and as we crossed the street Lamar left the hostel with us to see us off. He's the adorable little dog that lives at Uncle Johnny's. So about a half hour into hiking it started thundering and lightning and then the rain started. It poured all the way up to Curley Maple gap shelter where we stopped for a break that turned into early lunch. We figured since it was teeming rain we weren't going to feel like stopping in it for lunch later on. But then by the time we started walking again, the rain slowly stopped and the sun came out for us all afternoon! It was great. I was able to hike with Stride for awhile and hear stories of her hike last year. And right at Indian Grave gap someone left 6 sodas. Perfect for our group of 6 today! We took a nice long break in the sun and enjoyed them. Thank you, whoever you are! A few miles later and we arrived at Beauty Spot, appropriately named, indeed! We got really confused about where the campsite was though. And then we got confused aout where the deep gap campsite was after that. And then we came across some southbounders who were even more confused than us! We finally found the spot which has a great water source and Ducky and Madison, Ms. Muster and Ketchup and the Tagteam joined us a little later. Then the weather started to look incredibly ominous. We pitched our tents and made dinner just in time for the skies to open up and a thunder and lightening storm is all around us right now as I'm writing this! Lightening brightens the sky and then the thunder literally rolls all around us through the mountains. The weather on this hike has been amazing. I'm totally in awe.So, confusing tent sites, confusing weather! But a wonderful day nonetheless filled with laughs and stories. It's great to have Stride here with us!Reality changing moment: tenting in a thunderstorm!
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Beauty Spot Campsite

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

This morning was a really slow start. I slept later than I have since I've been out here: 8:30! The packadivas were all awake but no one was budging. It was rainy and so windy and we thought we could wait it out but the weather wasn't letting up. I ate breakfast in my tent and read some of my book and when I decided to finally pack up the weather was so crappy that I started to get really annoyed. All my stuff was wet and muddy. Ugh. So it was 10:45 by the time we started hiking. Yikes! We climbed Unaka mountainn and then it seemed like forever until the shelter. I ate 2 lunches and then ate about 1800 calories in trail mix. Wow. This afternoon I hiked with Stride and Loon. It was a nice hiking day. It was cloudy and foggy with no rain pretty much all day and then the sun came out around 4! But it is decidedly colder now. The Tag team and Ketchup and Ms. Muster camped at Greasy Creek Gap but we went on 1.9 miles further. The last half hour or so was killer and I was so releaved to see the shelter. The water source is annoyingly far here though.I'm off to bed after a long and tiring day.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was my best day out here! We got up nice and early and started hiking aroung 8:30. We stopped to get water after an hour or so and then made our way to Roan Mountainn. Mountains are funny things. They can look so imposing and far away and then all of the sidden you're in the middle of climbing them. Well, this one seemed to go on forever. Loon, Stride and I hiked together and since Stride climbed this mountain before, she could tell us for the 14th time that we weren't at the summit yet. Wow. This mountain was exhausting. As Ducky said later 'It was like the final exam of the first semester.' Well, we got to the top and were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Grommet's roommate and her Mom, only to realize the service road was closed! So they waited for us at Carvers gap and we hiked another 2.2 miles. It was amazing. They brought us sandwiches, chips, pickles, drinks, coconut cake, cookies. I was in heaven and could not stop eating. THANK YOU to Nina, Nina's mom, and Lou. You made the climb up Roan so worth it. The best tral magic yet, by far. Nina also brought Grommets' plant book to her so now we can figure out our question plants!!The hike out of Carvers was the most beautiful yet. The sky was was blue as could be. The sun was shining and I was feeling so strong after that hike. We walked for a long time among the balds. The beauty is hard for me to describe. Ducky and Madison hiked with us and we caught up to Ms. Muster along the way too. When we ran into Jones a the gap, she said 'I think this is the year of the woman!' I think she might be right. There are so many ladies out here.So we finally made it to Overmountain shelter, a converted barn that is pictured on the cover of our thru-hiker handbook. With us is the Tag Team, Ducky and Madison, Cajun, Ms. Muster and Ketchup, Tekla, Pogo and Cscade and a couple others. We've gone almost 380 miles and today was the fist day that Ireally felt like a thru-iker. Tis trail is beautiful and life is good. Happy Easter!
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Mountain Harbour B & B

To:  Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

It was hard to say goodbye to Mary, Terry, all 5 cats at the B&B and the horses and goats this morning. Especially after the best breakfast I've ever had! It started raining after we ate, so I popped in la bamba in the vcr and waited until the sun came out about noon to hit the trail. It was really humid. And the trail meandered through a cemetary, a few roads, some backyards and a Christmas tree farm. It was pretty weird. And then at 3:00 it started pouring. And Grommet said she didn't feel well. Oh boy. But we all made it to the shelter and after some snoozing I think Grommet is back to her old self and feeling fine. We are staying in the shelter tonight with the Tagteam, Cajun, the sectionrrs from last night and 4 or 5 others that I ddn't meet. We've got a long day tomorrow so I'm off to bed at 8 pm.
Date: 2009-04-15
From:  Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kincora
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

"I don't know how to tell you this but you're the loudest snorer in the shelter right now." Those words were spoken by Loon to ME at 8:30 last night. Wow. Apparently I snore. Really loudly. But I slept like a log last night and was glad I stayed in the shelter because it rained overnight. Today was very gloomy all day but it never actually rained. The walking was pretty flat today and I felt like I was flying. It was so nice to hike on flat trail today. We had a steep descent into Dennis Cove and by the last 2 miles my knees were killing me. Loon caught up with me at some point and we had a snack and complained about our respective pain. The others caught up and we all made it to the road together and hiked .2 miles to Kincora. We got bunks and Bob Peoples let us know that they were waiting for us to arrive to go into town for resupply. How nice! We all piled into the truck and went to town to go food shopping. Afterwards we came back and were able to make a delicious dinner together. Spagetti, salad, garlic bread and I had a chipwich ice cream for dessert. It was the first normal meal I've had since coming out here and it made me feel so much better. Not greasy restaurant food and not dehydrated camping food. It was delicious. We gave all of our leftovers to Cajun, who will eat anything.It's wonderful and cozy here. I love it. On the ride back Bob told us all about hard core and the logistics of it. It sounds awesome and I would love to do it. Maybe next year?Tonight in the hostel is Cajun, Tag team, Lonewolf, South side, Pogo and Cascade and a bunch others. Full house tonight!Today's reality changing moment: spagetti dinner with the ladies
Date: 2009-04-16
From: Kincora

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Today seemed like a pretty lazy day for us out here and the weather was beautiful (finally!) so it felt really nice to not be rushing through the day trying to get out of nasty weather. The hike out of Kincora was really beautiful and headed down to a waterfall. Loon took her pack off and went to go check out the falls, and her pack went tumbling down the hill! Thankfully it stipped before it hit the water.After a pleasant morning on pretty flat terrain and running into the Tagteam and others who slackpacked southound, we had kind of a grueling climb up Pond Flats. We had lunch at what we thougt was the top, only to have to climb another half mile or so. And then we had to go down the thing. Altough there were a lot more switchbacks going down which helped. Knee pain, I've mssed you so! Ah, you're back again. After that 15.6 mile day my knee kills. Still only going down hill though. I'm looking forward to a not too strenuous couple of days and then a zero in Damascus.Anyway, we made it to Watauga Lake where we rested for a long tme. I fell asleep and actually woke myself up snoring. Wow. Then another 2 miles or so and we made it to the shelter. Its just us and Cajun here tonight. We had an amusing time hanging our bear bags and watching Cajun hang his. Always amusing. I finished my book last night about Loretta Lynn. It was an excellent read. her story is pretty amazng. I gave it to Cajun after I fnished it so he's reading it in the shelter and we're tenting tonight. It's still light out at 8:00 so I'll read a little and then hit the sack.Reality changing moment: finally good weather!
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

Another clear day with sun! We haven't had consecutive days of sun in I don't know how long. It was a climb up Iron Mountain but then the rest of the day was a gradual climb along the rigde. We had a nice lunch spot at Venventer shelter with a view of Watuaga lake. We also ran into Timber, a sobo from last year who Storm and I met on an overnight hike inat the Delaware Water Gap when we first met. Ah, meories. It was good to see him again. The water was really far away from the shelter so iI pushed on another 4 miles to the next water source. It was a hot day and I really needed some more water by the time I got there. Another 3 miles or so later and I made it to tonight's shelter where Cajun and a sectioner were already here. Three women hiking with a dog that we met yesterday went hiking by and camped a mile past the shelte. I think they are zeroing in Damascus so maybe we can hang out more. Nutmeg had underarmour pants like me and she had her ankle elastic part cut so she could pull the pants up on hot days. I have been hesitant to do this because I thought the pants might fray, but not so! I cut mine soon after.A crowd came after I finished dinner. The Tag team, Ketchup and Ms. Muster, Chocolate Chipmunk and Indiana Toad, Cajun, are here with us.Tomorrow is a long day so I'm off to bed at 8:10 even though it's still light out!