morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Blue Mountain Shelter GA

To: Hiawassee GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning a storm rolled in. Had to crawl out out of my sleeping bag to get my tent out of the woods (was airing out) lots of rain.Woke up later, three people who had to tent outside the shelter were soaked. They pack up and leave. Just me and Armando now. Armando is worried about his friend Bearfoot who is MIA. We notice a blue bag! Lots of food in it, someone left their food bag. We looked at each other, decided to wait 4 hours then claim it. We divided it like wild savages, we were out of food, I kept the bag because mine has a mouse hole in it.We leave for Tray Mountain Shelter in the pouring rain. We cross Unicoi Gap, Armando has second thoughts. He decided to turn back and hitch hike to Hiawassee to find a place to call home about his friend Bearfoot who is MIA.I decided to press on, knee is really hurting. Met up with a drifter hiker from Colorado, Eric is one of the three I met earlier, he is very nice and polite to say the least. He has traveled all over the country, Hawaii and Canada included. He doesn't know if he will continue the trail or not.We hike up to Tray Mountain, very steep climb to top. Is very cold and windy, dirt flying everywhere. Two more guys at shelter, Jeff is a lab scientist who travels the states, lived on an Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona.Some of the group began an incredible technical discussion about marijuana plants and mushroom growing, ph levels etc. A very scientific discussion.Fixed dinner, very cold, learn that Stephanie is about a day away. I will try to get to Hiawassee to a doctor.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Tray Mountain Shelter GA

To: Dick's Creek Gap GA
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

Last night was very cold on Tray Mountain, we are basically living in a cloud. Thick mist blows through the shelter. All of us woke about 9:00am. Very cold!! Eric has a hoard of food, bread, snickers, p-nut butter everything. I have none.My knee is on fire, I dread to start walking. First mile is hell! All other miles are absolute hell!! I decide to try for Dick's Creek Gap then hitch to Hiawassee, I basically am crawling through the woods now, can't walk, crawl awhile, walk some.The last five miles take forever, I'm able to take 40 steps then have to stop and crawl.I finally reach Dick's Creek Gap praying to God I won't have to walk on to Hiawassee.Withen minutes I see a lady drop off Rowboat, he recognized me and asked the lady who was dropping him off if she would take me into Hiawssee. God bless you Rowboat, I owe you one. She does and drop's me off at the Hospital in Hiawssee.Went into the Emg room there, doctor couldn't find any breaks or cracks, said it was probably just muscles that I haven't used in a while. Tells me to keep an ice pack on it, stay off of it for at least a week.Leave Hospital and go to drugstore to have prescription filled, bought candy and ibuprofen.Go to Hiawssee Inn, these people were very helpful, they cater to thru-hikers, provide shuttles, breakfast etc.. Heard a knock on the door, it was Armando!His friend Bearfoot (who lost his boots to the bear) had caught the Bus and was on the way back to Texas.Armando's knee and ankle are hurting him, he hints he might give up and go back to Brownsville Texas where he lives.Took a very long shower, ate candy, watched tv. My clothes are rotten, my stomach hurts now that I have food in it and it's full, Probably go to bed soon...
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Hiawssee GA

To: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up in hotel room. Filled ice buckets and put ice packs on my legs and knee's. I'm almost paranoid to walk around because I want to heal up.Around dinner time the owner call's to offer me a home made hamburger, how thoughtful of him. He say's he remembers Adam (Gather) coming through.Reluctantly I walk to Rite-Aid to buy some junk food and supplies. Very doubtful about knee healing in time. Nothing to do but watch tv. Learned that Armando has caught the Bus and gone back home to Texas, will miss him.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn

To: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up hungry, tried to make in in time to breakfast, but a little too late.Does have some fruit left, took some back to the room with me. Go back to room and ice my leg down, sick of being in this room. Saw Andy the Englishman in the hotel lobby, said he spent two day's in Helen GaVery strange feeling to be here compared to being in the woods, being exausted all day. I basically just lay in this bed all day, I don't like itThere is a steakhouse down the road I want to go there so bad but don't want to walk that far just yet. Knee has to get better soon.Wondering how Adam (Gather) is doing. The quality of what's on tv is disgusting
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn

To: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up, nothing to do but watch tv, it's nice to be able to keep up with the news. Knee is sore, wondering when it will get better ? Sleep as much as I can.Went to Subway and got a sandwich. May be leaving here tomorrow, need to re-supply, can't stay here forever. It's make it or break it time.Feeling miserable, prepare pack for tomorrow. Have a very bad feeling tomorrow's going to be the last day.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn

To: Laid up in Hotel room at Hiawssee Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Woke early, prepared to leave. Several other thru-hikers leaving also. Highway from Colorado, G-Man from PA who thru-hiked it in 77 and some kid from Montreal Canada. Leaving was a big rush, the motel owner was in a hurry. Everybody was scrambling to get ready. We went to post office where I mailed jeans back home, then to Ingles where I re-supplied. Pack is now heavy with food, about 38 lbs total I'm guessing. Knee is still sore, I'm very apprehensive about walking, but it's time to find out.Was dropped off at Dick's Creek Gap trail head. I stay behind to pack my food up. Knee hurts some, but not like the other day, alittle better now. I met 13-Steps a thru-hiker from Indiana, very helpful guy, gives me a packet of sugar free Kool-Aid, I give him a Nutra-Grain bar.Walked 5 miles to Plum Orchard Shelter, a nice place except for the mice. Another fellow is there from Kentucky taking a break, he's on his way to Damascus VA. He leaves , I'm alone. I hope it stays that way, doubt it will.Anxious to see how my knee will do tomorrow. I'm only about 6 or 7 miles from the NC line. Learned that Andy the Englishman was bitten by some insect and is leaving the trail.Fixed dinner and laying around, listened to baby birds that were in a nest in the shelter. Bug's are bad, a little 100% deet ought to help. Not going any further tonight. Going to go easy because of my knee. Will try for Muskrat Creek Shelter tomorrow, 7.5 miles into NC.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Plumb Orchard Shelter GA

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter NC
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

Woke up, got very little sleep at Plum Orchard Shelter because of the mice. One in particular would crawl into my pack, I'd reach over and shake it and he'd scurry off, but this went on all night long. Tried to get a picture of him but I'm not quick enough.Fixed pasta for breakfast. Knee is still a little tight. Leave for Muskrat Shelter 7.2 miles away. Having some trouble walking but better than before. Met two men who are studing the trail using a laptop and a gps unit. One lives close to Neels Gap, the other in Vermont. Jim gave ma a banana. Around middayI crossed into NC. I immediately took a break and a nap. Knee feeling a little better. It's trying to loosen up, but still too soon to tell.The climb into NC is very mean, almost straight up for three miles. Takes forever because I'm very slow. Met an older fellow with big white beard, reminds me of my Uncle Milburn Hale. I am now walking on the ridge line. Knee is trying to heal so I stop and take breaks while decending.Absolutely beautiful views. Finally get to Muskrat Creek Shelter. Nice place but empty, no bear cables. There is a small squirrel and a bird here that will almost eat out of my hand.Beginning to thunder in the distance, fix noodles for dinner. Find a tree and hang up my food high in the tree's, begin to settle in.The register had entries from G-Man and 13-Steps from last night, they stayed here last night. Haven't seen Adam's (Gather)name in any of the shelter registers. The next Shelter is Standing Indian, fixed me a place to sleep going to bed.
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter NC

To: Fontana Dam NC
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Awaken, got very little sleep, there were bears outside the shelter, I'm pretty sure they were bears. Eat then off to Standing Indian Shelter about five miles away. Knee still stiff, but I still pushed on. Got to Standing Indian Shelter and saw where G-Man and Highway stayed there, but It's empty now.Took a break, plenty of light left so I went up Standing Indian Mountain. At the very top a vicious thunderstorm suddenly appears. I'm exposed to bad lightning so I crawl under a dead log. The storm wouldn't pass on so I decided to descend. Very heavy rain, lightning everywhere, my nerves are on the edge.Storm finally moves on, sky turns blue. It's 7.6 miles to the Carter Gap Shelter.It's 7.6 miles to the Carter Gap Shelter, trail becomes fairly easy. Bear shit everywhere. I'm wet and hungry and knee is hurting. Would stop and tent but It's just too wet. The trail goes through a very damp area, tree's have a pretty shade of green, moss all over them, very peaceful place.Late in the day I finally get to Carter Gap Shelter, empty. I hang up all the wet stuff, am starving. I call Mom and Dad, while talking to them a little squirrel tries to steal my food, he would almost eat out of my hand. I give him some cashews, he liked that.Darkness is coming quick, settle in. No bear cables here, have to find a good tree to hang my food food bag from, hope the bears and mice stay away. Someone has left a toy plastic mouse in the shelter, Ha Ha.
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

Woke from a decent sleep, no bears or mice, just the squirrels to worry about. Takes me forever to pack up and leave. First two miles are painful, then my knee begins to feel better. I finally feel good for a change. Pass through Mooneys gap, very wet area. By far the toughest part of the trail yet. Giant rocks and water run off make this part very dangerous. One wrong step and you could fall hundreds of feet down the cliff. The trail dries out but goes straight up, can't believe how tough this is going to be. Takes me a very long time to climb the mountain, at times having to hang onto tree's and bushes so I won't roll down the cliff side.Get to the top of the mountain and there's a big fire tower and a family taking pictures. I asked them how they got up here ? Because I know there was no way they could have come the way I did. They didn't, they came from the other side which was much easier. They asked me to take their picture, I asked them to do the same for me.Beautiful view at the top of the tower, head on down the trail for big Spring Shelter. But somehow I go right on by the blue blaze trail leading off to it. Now I have to shoot for Rock Top Shelter 5.3 miles away.Here's where the trouble starts with my knee. I am furious! Why is this happening to me ? I feel like just giving it up ! I'm hurting, not going to make it to the next shelter. I am now looking for a tent site, think I'm close to the shelter, but I'm done for the day.Camp at Rock Gap just off the trail. Very, very steep on each side here This part of the forest has been on fire at one time. Set up camp, started to light my stove and the lighter was out of fluid. I'm pissed off beyond rational thought. Hurt knee, and no hot food. Just fed up with everything.If I don't heal there's no point in going any further. Am pissed off at the world, but it is what it is.Hope there's no bear problems tonight, have hung my food a good ways from the tent. Settle in for the night listening to all the song birds around me. Hope tomorrow is better.
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Glassmine Gap NC, Beside the Trail

To: Wallace Gap NC
Miles today: 6.1

Woke to a sunny day. This was the best sleep I'd had yet. No mice, no bears, but my knee hurt so bad. It simply wouldn't bend. tenting is nice but it's a lot of trouble to pack up.Knee is stiff as a board this morning, I take three ibuprofen and push on. Trail is not so bad, bear shit everywhere. First two miles are always painful until muscles loosen up.Met "KTR" a thru-hiker from NH. I recognized his name from the registers of past shelters. He's injured himself, tendonitis. He spent eight days in Franklin to rest, but it isn't helping him. Says he's giving up. I feel bad for him because I can relate to this.I ask about Franklin, he recommends the Haven Motel and gives me their business card. Tells me to stay away from Rainbow Springs, (I will not go into detail). I wish him luck and push on.I take a side trail along the way to see the 2nd largest poplar tree in the US. Very big tree !! Push on to Wallace Gap. Once there I'm confused about directions to Franklin, just then an english hiker appears and tells me I've gotr three more miles to go to Wallace Gap. He's thru-hiking and stopping at Rainbow Springs.That three miles is hard but I arrive and call the Haven Motel for a shuttle to town. While waiting I nap in the grass and am wakened by other hikers. They offer me ice cold lemonade!!The shuttle driver is a "good ol boy", tells me he enjoys the hikers company, speaks fluent French and Spanish! Was raised on migrant farms and his father was French.Get to town, everything I need is here but I have to walk to get it. Go straight to room and order pizza and catch up on news of the world. I need to be on the trail instead of in Motel rooms.The owner of the Motel tells me he has heard of Bearfoot (the one the bear ran off with his boots ) on the internet and other hikers, word travels fast on the trail, a lot faster than you can walk it. He tells me that "El Oso" means bear in spanish.Dread tomorrow, got to re-supply, do laundry, get fuel then go back to trail 14 miles away to where I left off. Almost want to stay another day to get all this stuff done.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Glassmine Gap

To: Wallace Gap, Franklin NC
Miles today: 8.1

Woke early today, lots to do. Ronnie (owner of hotel) takes me to the laundromat, he owns the vending machines there. Offers to take me to Bi-LO but I stay with my laundry. Bi-Lo's just up the road from here.At the laundromat I read a newspaper article about the murder of his Aunt there in Franklin. This happened two weeks ago. The suspect killed himself during a police chase. Finish clothes, hike to Bi-Lo and buy supplies and call Ronnie to pick me up and take me back to the trail head. He said he is considering building a hotel around Nantahala NC, wishes me luck and drops me off.Knee feels better today. Hike to Siler Bald Shelter, but don't stay, too early in the day. Met two hikers who asked me if I were "KTR", Ronnie had heard that "KTR" was having trouble and had some hikers looking for him. I push on to Cold Springs Shelter 12 miles away knowing I won't make it.Met a group of section hikers from Florida, nice people. Cross several forest service roads, while resting at one two elderly ladies drive up and ask if I need anything ? They are members of the Nantahala hiking club and end up giving me 6 candy bars! So nice.I go a few more miles and decide to tent it, fix rice and lemonade and rest. In the distance someone is doing a lot of target practice with guns. Am very tired.
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Wallace Gap, Franklin NC

To: Cold Springs Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: moderate rain

Rained last night. Tent is wet again. Clouds moved in very, very fast. I pack up and head for Cold Springs Shelter. Long walk. Pass by a christian camp from Andrews NC. Got to Big springs read the register and move on.Stop at Wayah Bald fire tower, very old made out of stone. There was a guy from NH who slept in it overnight. Supposed to be an incredible view, but the clouds had engulfed it, very wet. Move on, met a family from Orlando Fla whoose destination is Nantahala Outdoor Center, their son had just recieved his masters degree. Got to Cold Spring Shelter, gonna stop here tonight.two other guys from Rocky Mount NC there along with a Korean fellow called Kamikaze who understands very little english, he pitched his tent in the Shelter. The NC boy's are aborting their thru-hike attempt and quitting at Hot Springs NC. Two more guys come in, one slept in the shelter, the other tarped it. Nobody got any sleep because one guy snored all night long. I would bang the floor with my feet so he would stop for a little while.Knee is getting better, but right ankle is swollen badly .... what's next.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Cold Springs Shelter NC

To: Nantahala River NC
Miles today: 12.0

Wake,NC boy's left early. The only thing the Korean man can say is "good hiking"he wears a camo helmet on the trail. Nantahala Outdoor Center is only about 6 miles. Downhill I pass by the Orlando family, they tell me to get the giant hamburger at the Rivers Edge Restaurant get to NOC. This is a paddlers heaven.Lots of people here, store and restaurant are right on the water, tables and benches everywhere.Very nice place, good food, eat while watching kayakers. A young lady, a waitress asks if I'm walking the trail. She and a friend were thru-hiking it when they both hurt themselves. They were both high level competition runners or skiers from Salt Lake City Utah. Thet made it to Nantahala and decided they had better think of their primary careers first and hiking second. NOC gave them jobs to make enough money to support themselves.While setting outside I see two familier faces coming my way. Trey from Alabama and G-Man. Trey caught some sort of virus near NOC and had to be ambulanced to town. Says he lost 2 pints of blood from throwing up. Has been at NOC for 4 days. He and others are going to trail days in Damascus VA. G-Man tells me that Highway went home. G-Man has been here three days because of a hip problem. Says he's sick of the place. I see many hikers I haven't seen in a while.Go to NOC store to pick up a package from home, it wasn't there. Was worried about this. Now I have to decide wheather to stay the night and wait on the mail or move on. Am very frustrated at losing valuable time. Decide to hike a mile back up the trail and sleep in a shelter and wait for the package to arrive. Will eat lunch there again. Buy some candy bars and move on. I really wanted to buy some Teva sandals, but didn't want to try them on because of my swollen feet.
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Nantahala River NC

To: Campsite Beside The Trail
Miles today: 1.0

Woke late. "Dharma and Greg" from Maine come to the shelter. They are a young couple who is thru-hiking but have decided to get a ride up to Maine, then hike south. "Dharma" has hurt her ankle. They are hiking with a beautiful Australian Sheep dog named Willow.I hike back to the NOC, package has arrived. Have time to eat another hamburger. "Dharma and Greg" arrive, G-Man is there too. Everybody loves Willow the dog. Dharma is not her real name Derek is her fiance, very nice people. After lunch we all set around and watch the kayakers. G-man says he is sick of this place. He drank lots of beer last night at a pizza joint.I buy a few last items, take picture of Greg and Dharma and leave out. It's late in the afternoon so I make camp about a mile from NOC. Little did I know that I camped near a dirt road. Heard what sounded like wolves howling all night.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Campsite Beside The Trail

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Wake, pack up, was told that the climb out of Nantahala is brutal, they were right. It goes on forever. A small shower passes through. Finally get to Sassasfras Gap Shelter. Nice but dirty. Take a break here. While eating a humming bird hovers right in front of my face.Head out, everything is so green and chipmonks are all over the place. Knee is doing better, but my ankle is swollen and hurting badly. What is wrong with me?Am I ever going to heal? How is is that older people, some much older than me are doing this? Some are doing 20 mile days.I push on towards Brown Fork Shelter meet a couple from Houston TX as well as other people. Two and a half miles to shelter, this is the meanest 2.5 miles I have ever seen. Trail is straight up a mountain and I've just run out of water. Tough it out and finally get there.First thing I do is get water and eat like a pig. A woman from MD comes in (thru-hiker called Toga-Monkey) from NOC. She is very much in shape having done a lot of back packing. Learn that G-Man is ataying another day at NOC.All in all I did 16.5 miles today in very rugged terrain!! As soon as it gets dark the mice come out in full force! They get inside of the pack and steal some of my M&M's. WhenI turn on the flashlight they just stare at me. Kind of funny just to watch them.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter, Ankle Swollen
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wake up, Yoga Monkey tells me about her family and how she is planning on skipping an 80 mile section of the trail that she has already hiked. She is doing 20 mile days, sleeps late because it is only 12 miles to Fontana Dam and all downhill. She leaves, I decide to stay here all day.My ankle is very swollen. I'm sick of writing that I'm injured. The first two days were fun but after that they weren't fun at all. When every other step is pain it's difficult to be happy. at this rate I'm not going to make it to the end. It is almost game over. Wanted to soak my ankle in the creek but there Isn't water deep enough.Hope no one else comes here tonight. Tired of being asked the same questions. Where are you from ? Where are you going ? I'm just fed up with it all. Pack is too heavy. Gonna send some stuff home.Nothing to do except sleep. Around evening a fellow frpm NOC comes in. He ran out of water as well. He offers to go to the spring and refill my camel back.Yesterday I had some trail magic. Someone left tortillas,cheese, cookies and sunflower seeds along the trail. I eat a few cookies, cut off a block of cheese, take some tortillas and seeds. Only good luck I had. In the evening a guy on his way to Fontana comes in. I ask about real estate in the area. He says It's too high due to Yankee's coming in. Calls em Half Back Yankee's who move from way up north to Miami Fla, then want to go back home, but stop half way and stay.Quiet night, very little mouse activity.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter, Ankle Swollen

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter, Ankle Swollen
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Lay in shelter resting. Strange guy comes staggering in looking delirious, then staggers out on the wrong trail. G-Man comes in cussing about the last two miles. A black guy comes in with a tiny pack. His trail name is "No Pain". On his 4th thru-hike, a retired military guy. G-Man quizzes him on some of the northern parts of the trail. No Pain is familiar with them. He cusses about the last two miles.Shelter is full, people talk late into the night.
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter, Ankle Swollen

To: Fontana Dam NC
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Woke late. Guy from Alaska has left. Ankle seems a little better. I leave for Fontana Dam 12 miles away. Come by a tree that was hit by lightning last night, big pieces of tree sprayed everywhere. Take a break at Cable Gap Shelter then push on. Ankle hurts pretty bad, should have stayed at Cable Gap for the day.Finally get to Fontana. There is a pay phone at the marina parking lot. Call for shuttle. Charge is one dollar to take me to Fontana Village, check in at Fontana Inn.Can barely walk, ankle is swollen like a baseball. Fill a trash can with ice and soak my ankle.