morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-02
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.08
Weather: clear sky

Arose at 06:30 after a poor nights sleep due in part to not being used to going to bed so early and trying to sleep 12hrs. A great night to be out under the stars as the night was as clear as a bell and all the stars visible.I got up and packed my gear and had a Bagel and Peanut butter for breakfast before heading off towards Springer Mountain summit. On Springer I met many sleeps who is the Ridgerunner employed to take note of the number of Hikers passing springer and to give advice to those newbie hikers who require a few sympathetic words to get them on their way.Many Sleeps had heard I was coming through this year and told me that an old friend from 04, Regular Brian was a day ahead of me and had sent his regards.I decended Springer after taking a few photos, for a beautiful hike to Hawk Mountain Shelter, stopping at Three Forks to fill my water from the stream and chat to some Boy Scouts who were out for the weekend. I met Lil'Mac and her Hiking partner who had spent some time in the Hiker Hostel In Delonegha. I got to the shelter at 13:30 there were already a number of Hikers there but as I intended to tent tonight they did not bother me. I errected my Tarp tent and went down to the water source to fill my bottles, before having dinner and sorting myself out for the night. Many Sleeps had told me that 51 people had signed in at Springer on the 1st the most he had ever had in one day, experience has shown that most of these will fall by the wayside for many different reasons before the next six months is over.so to bed, great to be back in the woods.
Date: 2008-03-03
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.03
Weather: overcast clouds

I could not sleep much last night and got up before dawn rather than just lay there festering in my bag. I packed up my gear and went to recover my food bag and cookset from the Bear Cables provided, my food bag was still there but my cookset consisting of my pot, alcohol stove, spoon and cup was missing a had a good look around in the dark but could not see it, I asked the few people in the shelter that were awake if they had seen it but no-one had so I decided to leave it and move on someone will pack it out if they find it.If all else fails I can replace it at the outfitters in Neels Gap in a few days time, I am not going to die from a few days on cold food. I hiked hard in perfect conditions and arrived at Gooch Gap Shelter at 11.00 am which is far too early for me to stop for the day so I sat and had lunch and re-supplied water from the stream.A 16 Year old hiker Kirby mentioned that he was concerned that the tent he was carrying would not be strong enough when he got into the Smokey Mountains, I suggested that he hike to Woody Gap where The Hiker Hostel in Dalonegha did a daily shuttle at 17:00. from there he could get them to take him to Neels Gap where I was sure Winton and his gang could sort him out.So Kirby and I hiked on to Woody Gap and Kirby rang Leigh on his cell phone to pick him up, I waited with him as there was a change in the weather coming and I wanted to get an updated forecast from Leigh. When Leigh arrived she said severe weather was forcast for the next 24-48 hrs so as she had room at the inn I decided to go back with Kirby to the hostel, Wet woods Verses Clean Sheets and Pizza NO CONTEST.Nice to be back in the Hostel, a truly great place ran by great people.
Date: 2008-03-04
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.06
Weather: moderate rain

Awoke in my nice clean sheets at 07:15 for breakfast. It was raining Cat's and Dog's outside but decided to hike never the less and Josh ran me out to Woody Gap where he dropped me in the carpark amongst the puddles and almost torrential rain.The route to Neels Gap goes over Blood Mountain which is not the place to get caught in bad weather so depending on the situation I get to Woods Hole will depend wether I climb Blood Mountain or take the Freeman Trail which is the foul weather route.Despite the rain the hiking was good with plenty of trail surfing on the floods coming down the trail there is some serious water coming down on us today which as they had drought last fall I suppose is welcome. My Paramo Alta Jacket is fantastic and is realy standing up to whatever come at it.When I reach Woods Hole the weather is worse with high winds and driving rain so I opt for the Freeman Trail around Blood Mountain, the trail is rocky and has massive amounts of water pouring down the side of Blood but it is navigable and I picked my way gingerly through it, the last thing I want is a bad fall resulting in broken bones at this early stage of my hike.I re-joined the AT at Flatrock Gap and hiked down towards Neels Gap and the Mountain Crossings Hostel where I hoped there would be room at the inn for this drowned Rat.I got to the outfitters just in time as the last bunks were just about to go, I went into the bunkroom which holds 17 people to find it full of hikers 2 cat's and a dog all glad to be out of the rain. I had a hot shower and put on some dry cloths and put my wet gear into the laundry just in time to hear someone say "Beer and Pizza run 6 o clock" Oh yes life is sweet.I replaced my lost cooker and kitchen stuff in the outfitter, Winton Porter the owner and his staff are experts on equipment and trail injuries, it is entertaining to see them take someones outrageously heavy pack and go through it reducing the weight and increasing the over burdened hikers chances of finishing the trail. Heres to you Winton and your team truly unsung heros of Trail life.So to bed after 1/2 a pizza shared with "Chief Daddy" and swallowed down with a couple of Black and Tans.
Date: 2008-03-05
From: Neels Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Sorry folks no photos for a while the torrential rain yesterday got to my camera so no photos till I get things dried out in town.I woke up early to the smell of Pancakes cooking so crept quietly out of the bunkroom to find "Pirate" cooking up a mountain of Pancakes and gallons of strong black coffee. I had two helpings of both before sticking my head out of the door to check out the weather. No rain but Artic like conditions outside everything was frozen over with poor visibility. Oh well at least it ain't raining.I packed up my gear and headed out of the door thanking "Pirate" for his tremendous hospitality and feeling like Capt Oats I ventured into the wilderness. It was bitterly cold as I climbed out of Neels Gap thinking maybe that I should have stayed in the shelter of the Hostel after all tonight was going to be "Delverance Trivia Night" with the first prize being a Hike Faster I Can Hear Banjo Music T Shirt. Youve just got to love those Redknecks, strange hobbies but great folks.Bitterly cold conditions with the whole moutainside covered in rime ice and looking like someone had sprinkled iceing suger over it, the rime ice thawed as the day went on with the sun coming out and burning up the mist which led to a great hike in the afternoon towards Blue Mountain shelter.The last 2.3 miles to the shelter follows a twisting and rocky path which I remember well from 04, as I approached the shelter I refilled my water from the stream as I remember the spring close to the shelter is not that good.When I arrived at the shelter it was empty which I was surprised about still it mattered not to me as I was going to tent due to also remebering that this shelter is also the home of some persistant mice.so to bed
Date: 2008-03-06
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.03
Weather: clear sky

Tenting at Blue Mountain Shelter can be fairly exposed but the sunset and sunrise far in excess compensated for the exposed position of my tent and certainly better than being woken through the night by those pesky mice.I rose just after first light and packed up my stuff before sitting down to bagel and peanut butter for breakfast. There is not a restraunt in the world with views like these, I might get sick of the peanut butter and bagels but never sick of the sight of these mountains.The terrain today is very up and down compared to yesterday and for the most part is above 3,000 feet. The Trail Club in Georgia don't care much for taking around things straight over the top is more their style, it makes for a long day. I hiked up Rocky Mountain where I sat and updated my diary as it was to cold to hold the pencil last night at Blue Mountain, you can see Fontana Lake from here on a good day I should be at Fontana next week, just before I go into the Smokey Mountains. Once I had completed my diary I hiked on to Tray Mountain Shelter where I had lunch and filled my water before hiking on towards Addis Gap.I reached Addis Gap in 04 to have my first taste of Trail Magic which is provided by people who support Hikers on the trail, It takes many forms from a few candy bars and soda's to full scale Hiker Feeds. unbelievable hospitality provided by total strangers to total strangers at no cost. These people are called Trail Angels and very rightly so.I met a young couple just plus of Addis Gap who like me were headed for Deep Gap Shelter they were hiking as far as they could before they had to get off the trail in August to go to college, they are going to have a great summer.Deep Gap Shelter is a great shelter constructed in Oak in the traditional way with morticed and tenoned pegged joints with wooden roof shingles, a real piece of craftsmanship that was a pleasure to enjoy.More hikers joined as darkness closed in, I cooked my first hot trail meal since Springer before having a cup of Compo Hot Chocolate that I had been saving since Siera Leone (well I'm a Yorkshireman) it still tasted great.A hard but great Day
Date: 2008-03-07
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: moderate rain

It started to rain at 05:30 and I lay in my bag just waiting for a little more light before crawling reluctantly out into the morning chill. I rose and packed my stuff in the dry of the shelter before venturing out into the rain to recover my pack from the bear cable outside and packed the remainder of my gear into my pack   ready for the short hike into Hiawassee.I left my fellow shelter dwellers asleep as I set out for Dicks Creek Gap where I hoped to catch a hitch into town where I intended to stay at the Motel in order to re-supply and shelter from the bad weather that was forecast for the next 24 hours.I got to Dicks Creek Gap for 08:00 in heavy rain and wondered if I would get a hitch this early and looking like a drowned rat. The first car to come around the corner was a top of the range Mercedes "no chance" I thought but to my surprise over it pulled and out jumped a guy in shirt and tie and insisted I just threw all my wet gear in the trunk. Davis was on his way to a meeting in Atlanta but dropped me at the Hiawassee Inn. Thanks Davis for the ride.I stayed at the Hiawassee Inn in 04 and was pleased to see one of the owners Sam   who booked me in and even gave me my old room for old times sake. I managed to get to get to the library and update my journal and re-supply at the local Ingles supermarket, more importantly I bought a Cell Phone so as to be able to phone home as payphones are becoming as rare as hens teeth here in the USA.Rang home and spoke to the family which was a relief all around great to have reliable comm's.A good nights rest and some Town Food at the all you can eat Chinese buffet,      I noted the worried look on the owners face as four hungry hikers tore into his lovingly prepared and displayed buffet, a swarm of Locust could not have done a better job!!!!!!!!!!!Great to be in out of the weather and greater still to be full of hot cheap food.
Date: 2008-03-09
From: Hiawassee

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

I woke at 06.00 and showered before packing the last of my stuff ready for Sam to shuttle me back to Dicks Creek Gap. I had a small breakfast and coffee with Sam whilst waiting for another hiker (Squire) who was also heading out that day.The snow had stopped falling though as we drove towards the gap i could see that there was still plenty of snow on the ground and there was likely to be more on the higher elevations.Sam Dropped us off at the wayside and wished us a good and safe hike and we set off North on a frozen trail. It was a great day for hiking the air was clean and crisp the sun was shining and snow crunching under foot.I met " Mother Nature" and her husband "Smokestack" who's entries I have often read on Whiteblaze.net. They are good friends with "Stumpknocker" and were out doing a little trail maintenance and inspection. Great work and much appreciatedthank you. Squire and I had crossed the Georgia/North Carolina State Line and hiked the few yards into Bly Gap where we sat and had lunch with Mother Nature and Smokestack, we swopped trail stories in great company during the conversation I soon realised that Mother Nature is Stumpknocker's personnel Trail Angel he even drops his hiking laundry there when he goes off with Mrs Gorp and then picks up his clean gear when he is ready to hit the trail again. Well I suppose that is what you get when you are almost Trail Royalty like Stumpy.After Lunch and saying goodbye to Mother Nature and Smokestack I climbed out of Bly Gap and onto Muskrat Creek Shelter where I just signed the register and moved on to Standing Indian Shelter some 4.9 miles further North where I intended to stay the night. I reached the shelter at 16:30 filled my water from the creek and cooked my dinner before settling down for the night.There are no bear cables at this shelter so I had to throw a line to hang my food bag from for the night. Squire, Ron, Riley and Hearts joined me for the night.Big day tomorrow, Albert Mountain awaits.
Date: 2008-03-10
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.04
Weather: clear sky

Due to a 1hr time change it is still dark at 07:30 so at the moment I am getting a sleep in although I am not really sleeping just laying there waiting for daylight to come over the horizon. I had breakfast of a couple of English muffins that I had packed out of town and a couple of big spoons of peanut butter straight from the jar swallowed down with a cup of hot chocolate, one of the great things on the trail is eating great spoons of peanut butter straight out of the jar, things that would have brought swift retribution if you had done it at home as a kid LOL.I hiked out on a fairly easy trail through rhodedendron thickets that in a few months time will be in spectacular bloom and will be like hiking down a long green tunnel but at the moment there is little foliage on the bushes or trees. This part of the trail is good going as the trail is about a foot wide and clings to the side of the mountains as it meanders North.I stopped for lunch at Carter Gap Shelter's, that is because there are two shelters at Carter Gap one is old and rarely used the other is almost new and was a great lunch stop, once again thank you all those who give their time to build and maintain these structures and trails.After Lunch I moved on towards Albert Mountain, there are many expletives that can be used to describe the climb up Albert Mountain some that can be published here and many others that can't however the view from the top and the fire tower make the toil of the climb worthwhile.Once I had recovered from the climb I hiked down to Big Spring Gap Shelter where I stoked the remains of a fire which would provide both warmth and a boost to moral for those hikers behind me. I went to the spring to fill my water and noticed that there was a broken glass Mason Jar that had been broken due to the water freezing within it, the question on my mind was "who the hell would carry a glass Mason jar as a water bottle" all sorts of folks hike the trail some sane some maybe not.Another great day.
Date: 2008-03-11
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Siller Bald Shelter
Miles today: 12.08
Weather: broken clouds

Arose at 07:30 and after breakfast set of after Squire who was hiking to Winding Stair Gap where he had to go into Franklin to pick up a mail drop. It was a nice hike down to the gap with a short stop at Rock Gap Shelter to use the privy. I got to the Gap and saw Squire waiting for Ron Haven to shuttle him into town for his drop. In the car park at Winding Stair Gap I came across my first "Trail Magic" of the season from a couple from the Franklin Churches Group. For those who do not know Trail Magic is Provided by people who are known in the hiker community as Trail Angels. They are people from all walks of life who at there own expense come out either onto or close to the trail and give support to hikers, this support can take many forms such as drinks, food, medical, moral and physical support they are great people and much appreciated by Thru Hikers.I sat and enjoyed a cup of hot coffee a can of Mountain dew and some cookies before dragging myself away back to the trail, transiting Swinging Lick and Panther Gap's I pushed on as the dark clouds above signaled there intention to open up and give me a little more moisture than I wanted to receive               . The heavens were rumbling as I followed the blue blazed trail down toward Siller Bald Shelter, I passed the excellent piped spring as I approached the shelter and just managed to get under cover before the first raindrops started to fall onto the tin roof of the shelter.I swept out the shelter and layed out my gear it would not be long before the others would be coming down the trail trying to avoid the threatening rain.That night the rain held off and myself,Squire,Riley,Mathew,Hearts and Ron spent a dry but cold night at Sillers Bald.
Date: 2008-03-12
From: Siller Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 17.09
Weather: clear sky

I expected to have a big day today so I arose early in order to get going as soon as possible I intended to do 17.9 miles to Wesser Bald Shelter today which is a bit of a stretch as far as mileage goes at this early stage.I set out along the Blue blaze behind the shelter as it looped around back to the AT which would save me back tracking the .5 of a mile that i took to get here last night. I got to the open area just down the trail and took the obvious trail to the right, after 500 yards and seeing no blazes I turned around and headed back to the bald there I saw a white blaze heading up hill so I followed it and it led me back to the trail. A lesson learned here and I should have known better.Once back on trail the hiking was a little up and down, dry but with a lot of loose rocks and plenty of tree roots just to keep you on your toes.I hiked to Wesser Fire Tower where I relaxed in the sun and had lunch overlooking some spectacular mountain views from my vantage point at 5,342 feet as far as the eye could see.I slept a little in the sun with my boots off giving my battered feet some recovery time outside their leather prison. pushing on after lunch I noticed that there is little water on this part of the trail with a lot of the springs being dry this area is still suffering from last years drought. I hiked on to Burningtown Gap where I saw through the trees the familiar sight of a large Mountain Hardware Maxi Dome tent that I remember from 2004 inside "Apple" was providing Trail Magic for passing hikers. I ate 2 hotdogs and drank 2 soda's before dragging my full belly up the climb out of the gap.I arrived eventually at Tellico Gap with only two miles to go to the shelter, two miles uphill that is. I got to the water source before the shelter and filled up my water bottles before moving away from the stream to wash some of the days grime off. I hiked the .1 of a mile into the shelter where I set up my tent for the night.After a dinner of loaded mashed potatoe made in the packet by adding hot water I retired to bed.
Date: 2008-03-13
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

Woke up early and packed up my gear with great enthusiasm for this morning was the 5.7 mile downhill race to the NOC, that is The Nantahala Outdoor Centre where there is a great riverside restaurant that does an amazing breakfast. Like small children we packed our gear mouths already drooling at the thought of town food.The hike to the NOC is on fairly good trail but in parts it is steep which can be hard on the knees and feet but the pain in the feet fades to the back of the mind as the thought of real fresh cooked food and ice cream becomes all consuming and the legs take on a life of their own commanded by the stomach.After two and a half hours we drop down the last bit of trail into the NOC almost surfing on a wave of saliva, I'm sure I can smell eggs above the smell of my unwashed body. I made up my mind that I was not going to hike any further today this was going to be a "Nero" day for me, that is a day with only a few miles my feet hurt underneath they needed a break and I was going to stuff myself on "Town Food"Straight to the Rivers End Restaurant where we dropped our packs outside I conducted a quick smell test of myself "yep I can still smell eggs" and inside to be met by the delightful Emily who showed us to a table and took our   gigantic order one that would probably kill most humans, but after two weeks in the woods we are no longer just humans we are Thru Hikers and are just developing that famous Thru Hiker see all eat all appetite.Coffee, more coffee, breakfast, more coffee more Breakfast, we emerge like locusts looking already towards the next feed "I'm sure the outfitter sells ice cream". Squire and I sort some Accommodation a simple room with two bunks then strip off our dirty cloths for laundry before having the most wonderful shower.That afternoon I visited the Outfitter and hung around the rivers edge watching the Paddlers (Canoeists) performing like sea lions in front of us whilst we sat in the sun discussing the merits of the alcoholic beverages on sale in the store. I rang home that afternoon before going back to the Rivers End for Dinner kindly paid for by Ron, darkness was falling as we climbed the hill towards our chalet.In the Community Dining hall a church group were cooking dinner and Squire and I were subject to many questions about the trail, we were offered dinner but politely refused I simply could have not ate another thing (Maybe they do breakfast??) we Prayed with them for a short while before wishing them a goodnight and retiring to bed.A truly great day