morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

We were joined the night before by Dean Clark who got the trail name of Crooked Sticks because of the wooden hiking poles he uses. Matt got the trail name of Big Man after he was greeted by Papa Tats. Big Man is probably half my age but Crooked Sticks is 64. I had met Dean on the approach trail up the falls, and like me had a tough time on Blood Mountain so he decided to stay at Blood Mountain Cabins for a zero day. Big Man and I said goodbye to Crooked Sticks at the Walasi-Yi center at Neel¢s Gap and headed to the Low Gap shelter close to eleven miles away. I told Lumpy the night before that I was missing my family and friends back home. He said ¢Keystone, you¢re part of a new family now, a family of trail hikers¢.
Date: 2012-04-10
From: Low Gap

To: Unicoi Gap, Helen, GA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

We got an early start out of Low Gap and were on the trail by 7:30. It was cold the night before and I had to wear my long undies to stay warm in my 40 degree sleeping bag. It felt good to get on the trail and get my blood pumping and feel the cold leave my hands and feet as my body warmed by the exertion of hiking uphil. The section around Low Gap is overrun with poison ivy. I thought about my anti-itch lotion sitting on the bathroom sink back home. "Lets hope I don't need that" I thought to myself and was careful not to touch the green shiny leaves. We hiked pretty hard the last five miles into Unicoi Gap. I wanted to get to Helen, GA before the post office closed. I had a food drop there and also my bounce box. Sitting down to a prepared dinner I waa reminded by Big Man that we had covered 20 miles in two days and had crossed 12 mountains during that same time. I stayed up late tonight to get these journal entries posted as I know you will look for them today at work and at home. Sitting here in this warm and comfy hotel room I would like to update my status and report that I am sliightly ahead of schedule and "slightly" over my budget. Looking back its hard to believe its been one week already. All in one week I've learned to bear bag my food and put on my backpack military style, and hike up mountains using my trekking poles. All in one week I've met and said goodbye to Crooked Sticks, and Wolfgang, and Papa Tats, and Easy, and Lumpy, and Barb and Glen and her Mom and Dad. I've felt sadness to leave behind one family but glad to be embraced by another...all in one week.
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Unicoi Gap, Helen, GA

To: Unicoi Gap, Helen, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Took a zero day in Helen to get mail drop, bounce box, and do laundry. Staying at Helendorf Hotel. Nice hotel with computer access, WIFI and coin operated washer/dryer. Visited Helen and took some photos. Sent all my cotton clothes and sandals back home. The plan is to do five milse tomorrow. Next upldate will be in a week or so. See you then.
Date: 2012-04-12
From: Unicoi Gap, Helen, GA

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

We were shuttled out of Helen, GA by Woody of Woody¢s Mountain Bikes, www.woodysmtb.net. On the ride out of town Woody gave a good narrative on the town¢s history. The town of Helen, GA is quite unique in that it has been reconstructed to resemble an Alpine Village in Bavaria, now a state in Germany. The reconstruction started in 1969 and the work continues to date. Matt was right when he said ¢be sure to stop in Helen, GA. And see for yourself ¢the story of Helen¢. The hikers are the tourist industry during March and April up here similar to the Beach goers back home. Big Man and I wanted to make it to Tray Mountain shelter to camp for the night and were told by the locals that there were some beautiful campsites near the shelter. I passed a few hikers on the way to Tray Mountain and when I got there midafternoon the shelter was empty. I got water for dinner from a natural spring and found an ideal campsite facing south overlooking the valley. I had no sooner staked my claim on my campsite then one of the hikers I had passed joked ¢oh you got our campsite¢.   I replied with a chuckle ¢I had to tip the reservations clerk big time to get this one¢. I slept with my vestibule open that night as I watched as the moon softly shown over the valley below and sparkle of town lights as they came on in the distance.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

I slept in Friday morning and watched the sun come up as I ate a cooked breakfast of cream of wheat. I¢m normally on the trail at sunrise but thought it would be nice to watch the sunrise from my campsite. Big Man was on the trail at 7:00 AM and I was confident I would catch him later so I bid him ¢see you up the trail¢ and lazily broke camp. I was on the trail after 9:00 AM and quickly realized how warm it was going to be that day. Big Man was right to get an early start as I soon began to sweat from the exertion. What a day to sleep in and a 12 mile day to boot. When I arrived at the campsite it was almost 6:00 PM and I was wore out. I must have sat and rested for an hour before I had enough energy to make camp and start my dinner. It was almost dark as I hung my bear bag and called it a day. ¢No more sleeping in for me¢ I thought as I turned in for the night.
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Campsite

To: GA/NC State line, Bly Gap
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: few clouds

It was to be a monumental day as we were to cross the North Carolina state line today. I was told by a 2010 thru hiker Stick Walking that there is a tradition when crossing the state line. The hiker is to turn back toward GA and pay his (or her) respects. This upsets Stick Walking because he is from GA so when he crossed the state line he paid his respects to NC. I had to laugh; it¢s all in good fun. I am sorry to report to my readers that as we crossed the GA/NC line we had seen no bears in the beautiful state of Georgia. We heard about nuisance bears and were cautioned about marauding bears, we camped close to areas reported to have high bear activity, we saw signs warning of bears and signs indicating bear habitat, we hung our food in bear bags on bear cables and high in trees in hopes it would foil the crafty bear¢s attempt to steal our food. One of us even gathered rocks intended to fend off the hungry bears during the night and the only thing we saw of the bears was some scat. Well there is always North Carolina.
Date: 2012-04-15
From: GA/NC State line, Bly Gap

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

As far as my hiking schedule I have pretty much turned it over to Big Man. He has some great maps which show the elevation with mileage and he studies his maps the night before and picks out the mileage for the next day and destination camp sites. He has done a great job to date. I¢ll suggest a destination camp site and he will show me on his map that we will have a three mile hike up a mountain to reach it at the end of a long day and I¢ll say ¢where do you suggest we stop?¢ So now I just get up break camp and hike. Whichever one of us reaches the campsite first stakes claim for two tent sites and we are ¢home¢ for the night. You may note that our daily mileage is increasing. Big Man is getting stronger at hiking and he is half my age and may someday leave me behind but, for now I will enjoy his company as we hike this trail. On this particular day I reached Beech Gap campsite first and picked out a nice tent site in the opening of a rhododendron thicket within site of the trail. Oh by the way it was right next to a sign warning of a ¢bear sanctuary¢. I was beat after a 12 mile day and spread out my ground cloth and laid down in the warm sun and soft breeze and immediately went to sleep. It was uncanny but I woke up, sat up, and stood up just as Big Man came walking by. We greeted each other with the smile and a nod and he picked his campsite at the edge of the rhododendron thicket. We were soon joined by Stick Walking and settled into the evening routine of pitching tents, gathering water, cooking our dinners and before we retired for the night hanging the bear bags. Before Big Man turned in the night before he suggested we hike to Winding Stair Gap the next day and catch a ride into Franklin, NC. ¢That¢s over 19 miles¢ commented Stick Walking, ¢that¢s a long day¢. ¢Yea but it¢s mostly downhill after Albert Mountain¢ replied Big Man ¢we should be able to make it¢. I looked at my dog eared copy of the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers¢ Companion and noticed that Rock Gap Shelter had water and was at 16 miles. Big Man and I came up to a consensus that whoever made it to Rock Gap first would wait on the other hikers and decide if we were to hike into Winding Stair Gap. ¢Rock Gap is 16 miles away¢ said Stick Walking. ¢I would like to try a 16 mile day¢ I said. ¢You¢re a better man that I¢ said Stick Walking as he retired to his tent. ¢No, not a better man¢ I thought, ¢just one that is new to long distance hiking¢.
Date: 2012-04-16
From: Beech Gap

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 16.0

I woke about 4:00 AM and was anxious to get started. I tossed and turned and finally I turned on my head lamp and proceeded to quietly break camp, retrieve my bear bag, cook a breakfast of Sunrise Spuds and make a cup of hot green tea.   Big Man came out of his tent and asked ¢when are you leaving?¢ ¢In about 15 minutes¢ I replied as I looked at my watch, it was 5:30 AM. ¢It won¢t be light for another hour¢ Big Man said. ¢I¢ll use my head lamp to follow the trail, besides I hikeed Pine Mountain, GA on a morning like this¢ I replied. I couldn¢t see the expression on his face and perhaps its best I didn¢t. ¢Be careful¢ Big Man cautioned as I slid on my backpack. ¢I will¢ I replied and smiled as I thought about my new family.This morning was cool and damp with a light fog. As soon as I left the campsite I turned right to head North and suddenly realized how foolish I would look if I couldn¢t find the first white blaze. I took a path that looked well-traveled out of the campsite and after several agonizing minutes of slow walking my headlamp illuminated a white blaze! ¢Headed North¢ I thought as my stride lengthened, ready to get my blood pumping and lose this cold, damp feeling.   I hiked cautiously for the first hour while I listened to the Barred Owls calling from the creek beds and then as dawn approached the sounds of the song birds. Suddenly I heard the explosive sound of a ruffed grouse flush from its hiding space. I was trying to remember when the last time I had experienced that when I stopped to listen to the sound of a ruffed grouse drumming or beating its wings against a hollow log. It¢s the male ruffed grouse way of attracting a mate. I stopped by the trail in the early dawn light and listened to the drumming sounds and went back in time to a spring morning in the Pennsylvania countryside and realized it had to be over 40 years since I had last heard that sound. My how time flies.Well my friends it¢s time for me to get this posted, finish packing and catch a shuttle out of Franklin. My next update will be from Gatlinburg, TN. sometime around the 28th¢¦good Lord willing and the creek don¢t rise. I will update with my zero day in Franklin, NC and seeing the sights...on foot. Till then, ¢see you up the trail¢.
Date: 2012-04-17
From: Wallace Gap

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

We were picked up by Ronnie Haven late Monday afternoon who owns the Budget Inn and the Sapphire Inn in Franklin, NC. Ronnie runs a free shuttle service twice a day to/from Franklin for hikers coming off the AT. We stayed at the Sapphire Inn which was a bit further from the post office from the Budget Inn but the Budget was full. The next morning I went to the PO and picked up my bounce box but my food drop wasn¢t there. We were planning on leaving the next morning so I decided to resupply in town rather than chance heading to Fontana Dam without any food so we added grocery shopping to our list after the coin laundry and gear outfitters. Just like in Helen we walked most everywhere and my feet didn¢t get much rest.   We could see a storm coming in and we were safely back at the motel when the rains started. The forecast called for rain all night and into the next day but I didn¢t want to spend two zero days in Franklin¢¦ plus I told Bob I would meet him in Fontana Dam on Sunday.   Dang even hiking the AT has scheduling issues.
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Wallace Gap

To: Wine Spring campsite
Miles today: 11.3

When I woke up in the motel room the rain was still coming down but not as hard. I looked outside and hikers were coming off the trail by the dozens as I sealed my bounce box and finished loading my pack. The weather report said the rain would subside by evening so I hoped I wouldn¢t have to make camp in the rain. Big Man came up to the room and told me he was going to take another zero day in Franklin and I told him he could catch up with Bob and I on the hike out of Fontana Dam.I¢ll have to admit the rain didn¢t seem to be letting up and I did think about the warm, dry hotel room as I put on my pack cover and rain jacket at the trailhead at Wallace Gap. I thought no one in their right mind would start out hiking in the rain but as I hiked up Winding Stair Gap I was soon passed by six thru-hikers.   I felt a little better¢¦there must be something to the saying ¢misery loves company¢. The weather report was correct and the rain did let up and I settled on the Wine Creek campsite for my home for the night. All of the other hikers had gone on to the Wayah Shelter but I was hiking slow, my boots and socks were wet and dusk was fast approaching¢¦the Wine creek campsite looked pretty good to me. I made camp, cooked dinner and hung my food just as it started raining again. Only when I was warm and dry in my sleeping bag did I worry if I had picked a good spot to prevent my tent from being washed away or if I had hung my food high enough from those crafty bears. I listened to the rain on the tent and wondered if I had sealed the seams good enough. I didn¢t feel any drips or water trying to wash away the tent nor did I hear any bears fighting over my food and I soon fell fast asleep.
Date: 2012-04-19
From: Wine Spring campsite

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

By morning the front had passed and it was a beautiful clear but cold morning. I decided on a hot breakfast of sunrise spuds to celebrate surviving the night. I was looking forward to hiking on such a bright day because I did not get to view any mountains during my hike on the foggy rainy day before. I had managed to keep everything dry except the outside of my tent. Even though I had dried it off the best I could I knew it would add pounds to my already heavy pack. My first stop was atop the Wayah observation tower and I hoped to get my first look at Fontana Dam but the valleys were full of fog and I was looking over the top of the fog at the mountain tops in the distance. I got a glimpse of Clingmans Dome before the observation tower was enveloped in the fog. When I hiked into Wesser Bald shelter the choice campsites were taken and I was considering hiking on when a hiker named Tom aka Nuga said ¢I¢m just drying my tent over here, you can have this tent site, I¢m staying in the shelter tonight¢. I ended up with a choice tent site close to the ridge line and my wet tent dried out quickly.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

It was a cool dry night and with the help of the wind over the ridge my tent had dried out completely and I broke camp early. When I stopped at the Wesser Bald observation tower and I was treated to a clear day and I got my first look at Fontana Dam. The water in the dam was deep blue nestled in a sea of green mountains and still appeared pretty far away. I also got a better look at Clingman¢s Dome. The smokies were indeed impressive and I was excited to begin our hike there but first Fontana Dam.My original plan was to stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that I had heard so much about from everyone. Also Bob was good to remind me to call to confirm my reservations at the Hike Inn in Fontana Dam. I called and talked to Jeff who thanked me for calling in and asked if I had seen a Tom (Nuga) in my travels as he had yet to confirm his reservation. I assured Jeff that if I should talk to Tom I would pass this along.   Jeff reminded me that I still had a tough hike ahead of me and to be careful.When I stopped at the Nantahala Outdoor Center it was quite different than what I expected. The center was set up primarily set up for kayak enthusiasts, specifically white water kayaks. I watched a few kayakers performing demonstrations in the rapids and was really amazed how maneuverable the small kayaks were. I decided against stopping for lunch and just as soon as I was about to cross the railroad tracks and begin the long hike out of the NOC the Great Smokey Mountain train appeared. I was surprised and didn¢t think to get out my camera and film the train passing. That would have been a good video clip to send back to Rick at work.
Date: 2012-04-21
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

I camped on the ridge line above Cable Gap Shelter. I had met up with Nuga during my hike that day and he stopped by my campsite to ask why I wasn¢t camping at the shelter and I told him how the wind at night was keeping my tent dry for the next day. With a smile he cautioned me against getting blown off the ridge line and I settled in for the night. By morning my tent was surrounded by other campers as Cable Gap Shelter filled up quickly during the late afternoon.
Date: 2012-04-22
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke to a cool foggy morning. The winds had stopped sometime during the night and the fog had moved in. I dried off my tent the best I could but it was damp as I pressed it into its stuff sack. My plan was to get all my gear dried out in the cabin at Fontana Dam and get ready to hike the Smokies. As I neared Fontana Dam, the fog lifted and I was able to get glimpses of the dam through the trees as I descended into the valley. I didn¢t have much of a chance for a photo and I remember the blue of the water was quite a contrast with the smokies In the background.As soon as I got to the boat ramp at Fontana Dam I filled out my backcrountry permit and called the Hike Inn. Jeff Hoch answered and told me he was picking up Tom first and would be there to get me within 15 minutes. Jeff told me that Bob was to arrive around 8 PM and that Big Man had called but he was too late and had lost his room. Jeff assured me that should Big Man make it in later that day that he could share a room with me as they gave me a room with two beds.   Big Man showed up before Bob. He had made it as far as the NOC and stayed at a hostel there. He told me that he had gotten word from his brother that he was needed back at work and he had caught a shuttle so he could hike with me and Bob through the smokies and possible as far as Hot Springs.
Date: 2012-04-23
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.0

We got a few photos in front of the Hike Inn before we started out and watched as light snow fell. The weather forecast had changed dramatically from the previous few days as a storm front was headed for the Smokies. Bob was well prepared for the weather and I remember thinking ¢and I just got my gear cleaned and dry¢ but as some thru-hiker so eloquently stated ¢no rain, no Maine¢. Big Man started out ahead and Bob soon earned the trail name ¢Bulldog¢ as we began the long slow hike up the steep slopes out of Fontana Dam. On the way we met Carl, a ridge runner who helps the park rangers keep tabs on the hikers. Hiking and camping in the Smokies is regulated and the park service plans to require fees starting next year which will help pay for two backcountry rangers. It¢s a complex system of trails and shelters and the park service will keep busy ensuring that it is kept clean for those who come to enjoy it.We met a thru-hiker named 65 who thru-hiked the AT in 2004 at the age of 65. He is now hiking from Key West to Canada and has already hiked 1,800 miles by the time he passed us. He was lean and fit and we did not see 65 for the remainder of our time in the smokies. We made it to the Birch Spring Gap campsite early and had our pick of tent sites. The winds picked up and it got colder still. It was hard to imagine that the week previous we were complaining about the heat and then when the cold front moved in we sang a different tune.
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

I was the last to leave Birch Spring Gap and I told Bulldog to start without me as I would catch up. I knew I had just challengd him to stay ahead of me...which he did for the remainder of the day. Big Man and I were to find out that Bulldog was a good trail name for bob. Bulldog already had his tent set up as I entered Spence Field Shelter. While we cooked dinner the snow flurries mixed with sleet and later the sleet turned to rain.. Big Man stayed in the shelter and they had built a fire in the shelter.   All in all we were very fortunate because we were able to pitch out tents before it rained and the rain stopped before we had to take down our tents. I think that was very considerate of Mother Nature¢¦if you ask me.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silers Balld Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

As we hiked closer to Clingman¢s Dome we were reminded by something Jeff had told us before he dropped us off. There were only 44 days out of the year that there are clear views of Clingmans Dome. With the storm around us today was not one of them. All of the rain had turned the trail to a muddy mess and it sure made the hiking interesting. We met a husband and wife hiking together, the Troverts.. The wife has the trail name of Extrovert and he has the trail name of Introvert. They made the hike the Smokies seem easy and were very pleasant to be around.When we made camp at Silers Bald Shelter the sun was shining and the birds were singing but within an hour the clouds rolled in and it began to rain again. As Jeff mentioned the weather in the smokies is unpredictable and many a hiker has sent his or her winter clothing home early only to wish they had it back. The next day we would soon find out just how unpredictable the weather would turn out.