morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Rock Gap (Franklin)

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day. Ate the free pancake breakfast at the First Baptist Church with lots of thru hikers. Many thanks to the wonderful folks who spend their time cooking and cleaning up after all us hikers.I called and checked on my pack repairs, but no luck. The sewing person is unavailable until Monday and no guarantee that it can even be fixed. So the pack was mailed home and I'll get a new one on the evening run.Washed clothes and made some phone calls. After a phone call with 3 Eagles, made the determination I would be getting new back pack so I took old pack around the corner to Package Store and it was mailed home--future parts source.I then went to McDonalds for burger, shake and fries. Back to the Budget Inn to make the afternoon Outfitter run and picked up my new pack.Went to dinner with 4 Trees, Hal, Vinny (all from Michigan) and Gypsy Lady (from Australia who is recovering from broken leg). We were shuttled by and to and from Vieto's Pizzeria with a short stop for beer. We had a great time and especially appreciated Vieto's jokes and good humor. Many thanks.Got back to Budget Inn and made a few more phone calls to the west coast, packed up my pack and took a shower. Tomorrow I hike again.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Franklin

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 18.4

Up at 7 am, ate breakfast and went to the Post Office to mail package home--good bye dead weight (Ipaq, etc).Got back to motel just in time to catch ride back to Rock Gap and continue journey north. Me Crusty and Anasty at Winding Stair. Met Alaska Jim at Siler's Bald where we ate lunch and continued north.Lots of people on the trail and a mob scene at Wayah Bald with many, many people. Saw a pereguin falcon at Wayah. Called Carla and then hiked on to Burningtown gap where Alaska Jim and I are camped for the night. Tomorrow, NOC.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Burningtown Gap

To: Nantahala River
Miles today: 12.7

Up about 7am and ate breakfast of hashbrowns, eggs and sausage (my favorite of the dehydrated breakfasts). Packed up gear and headed north to NOC. Stopped at Ice Water spring for some ice water and hiked on. Stopped at Wesser Bald Tower for lunch with Alaska Jim and then continued on. It's getting hotter and hotter!First trillium of the season was blooming along the trail.Got a motel room at NOC and my next mailed food box from the outfitter store. Took a shower and went to dinner with Alaska Jim and TinMan.Called Hike Inn for reservations and my next food box has arrived. All is well, off to bed.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Nantahala River

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

Up about 7am and took another shower--last one for a few days. Packed up gear and went to breakfast. Nothing outstanding, breakfast of 2 eggs, sausage and toast. Said good luck to Alaska Jim who is taking a zero day and then headed north. I need to hike 30 miles in 3 days to make my reservation at Hike Inn. Pretty doable except for the short vertical climb out of NOC. This time, no ice and snow on the trail. It was really warm climb!Got to Cheoah Bald after lunch and took my retiree's afternoon break in the sun. Nice views in all directions-and lots of LGB's (little gray birds) for entertainment. I am camped at Locust Gap for the night. Four tents here: Frank and Hika from Germany, Tortise, TinMan and me. HomeBrew moved on and I expect to see him again down the trail. Beautiful sunset.Water is long hike (as in take your lunch) down hill from the Gap.Ate sweet potato casserole for dinner--I am in the south and need to fit in...Off to bed.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Barred owls were in rare form last night. They were making all sorts of noises for about an hour. I could see them in the trees against the dark skylight as they were chasing down snacks.Woke up to a Tom Turkey calling his mates.At my breakfast of breakfast casserole and packed up.It was warm last night and the warmth continued and then turned to hot day. Fortunately, this is not a dry section of trail or I would have been hurting for water.Stopped early for lunch at Browns Fork shelter before pushing on to Cable Gap Shelter. It was really warm so I stopped early for the day.Washed off a bit with creek water before dinner. My dinner was sweet and sour noodles followed by 2 candy bars for dessert.Met Toasty, Ripple and Songbird here and they pushed on another 3 miles to a camp spot on the ridge.. Dave (Grumps) came in later and is a bit tired from all the heat.Camped here with TinMan, Dave in the shelter and Frank & Hika camped down the hill.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana-The Hike Inn
Miles today: 6.9

Barred owls were the wake up call. Two of them were close to camp and raising the dead at 6 am. I think they are following me north.Short hike to Fontana Marina where we made arrangements to be picked up at noon at the visitor center at the dam.Saw Rider again, camped on ridge above shelter. He came thru last night after dark. He has been slowed with shin splints.Passed thru Toasty's, SongBird's and Ripple's camp on descent from Walker Gap.Lots of woodpeckers in the woods today and saw a toad in the trail. Lots of greenery at lower elevation.Ordered cheese burger and fries for lunch--delivered to The Hike Inn.Took a shower and Nancy did my laundry before we all piled into the van and headed for town.Many thanks to Jeff and Nancy for all the help and great support of thru hikers--they do a great job of keeping us going.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Fontana-The Hike Inn

To: Mollies Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up early about 6:00am, ate breakfast of donuts and orange juice, paid my tab and rode with Jeff to the dam.Saw one deer on the hike up from Fontana.Dave reported seeing a rattlesnake and bear along the same area.Trying to slow down speed so I get to Hot Springs after trail fest. No place to stay during the event and way to many people to get anything done in town.Lots of folks here at the shelter. Due to the NP rules, thru hikers are waiting on the appearance of section hikers with reservations. Until they show, or don't show we don't know who can or can not stay in the shelter. And the rules state that no one can camp out until the shelter is full....such a deal. A better rule would be that the section hikers need to be to their reservation spot by 7 or 8 pm or they lose the reservation....but then I don't make the rules. Time for bed.
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Mollies Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Cool, cloudy and lots of mist on the trail. Much later start than normal, as I left the shelter about 8:30 am. Put on poncho due to mist drips off the trees and then took it off a couple hours later when the sun came out.Stopped on top of Rocky Top for lunch with Dan, Randy and Tinman. A day hiker gave us a couple candy bars and breakfast bars--many thanks.This is a pretty difficult section of the AT-lots of ups and downs with plenty of rocks to go around.The sun came out and it warmed up, but was still a very comfortable hiking day--weather wise.Another full shelter tonight and more Park rules to wait out. So far only thru hikers are here and we are over booked. Some folks have set up tents.The temperature is dropping and the forecast is for freezing temperatures tonight and tomorrow morning.Frank (from Germany) made and passed out stove top bread he made while we watched--it was great..many thanks.The wind is picking up and its getting cold so I am headed for the sleeping bag.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

It was very cold last night and frost this morning. Glad I put my battery stuff in the bottom of my sleeping bag. Strong cold winds during the morning hours made for a cold hike...I wore my fleece and rain coat to keep warm. But, the sun finally came out and it warmed up a bit.Called Carla and talked with Brenda as well from Silers Bald. First cell coverage in two days.Made a reservation at Hot Springs at the Ducket House B&B for Sunday next.Today, I hiked over Clingman's Dome, highest point on the entire AT..tis all down hill from here, so to speak. There is still snow along the trail on both sides of Clingman's, but it did not slow down the hiking speed. Just patches of the stuff and good news, no ice on the trail.Collins Shelter is at the 200 mile mark so I am 200 miles north of the start point. Still feeling good.The shelter is about full and it is cool with snow not too far away. The water source is a long distance down hill, but I took my towel and washed off some of the trail dirt when I when for my water run.Lots of folks, me included are having issues with steripen water system. I think I have mine fixed, but the dependability is in question. I have chemicals for back up if it fails me again.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up to a day warmer than when I went to bed. Hikers were coming in late and we ended up with 13 people at the shelter. Two went south (section hikers) and all the thru hikers went north. All but two of the thru's jumped off the trail to make a Gattlinburg food run.I continue to hear grouse drumming as I hike along, but have only seen a couple so far. I did see a red squirrel today and he was fun to watch looking for food in the leaves.Today was a good hiking day, cooler and the sun was hid in the clouds most of the day. Good thing as I have almost emptied my supply of sun screen. I had great views of the Smokies as I crossed over the Sawtooths. No snow past Ice Spring. I am noticing not much water in some of the springs, certainly less than last trip which is surprising with all the snow they got here. I am guessing the previously dry ground is sucking it up and the warm weather is just evaporating it. Even at 5,000 feet, the trail is somewhat dusty in most places.Eight of us at the shelter and the weather forecast is for thunder showers tomorrow afternoon. If so, hopefully the next shelter will have a space when I get there.The thru's here tonight are Troll, Hopper, Llano and me.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Crosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Late last night, like 7pm, Home Brew rolled into the shelter so we had one more in the count.Up to this point, there have not been any one snoring in the shelter, but that all changed last night. It was like I got them all at once and it made for a long night. I think they were practicing taking turns as I never did hear it get quiet.It was a pretty cold night, but got warmer in the AM as the clouds rolled in. Not soon after I started hiking, it started raining and got worse as the day went on and became a down pour.I stopped for lunch and to get a break from the rain at Tri Corner Shelter. I was later joined by all the thru's from the last shelter. Home Brew and I hiked on, but Hopper, Troll and Llano stayed for the night.As I hiked toward Crosby Knob, the sun finally came out for a brief spell and then it became intermittent sun and rain. Occasionally broken up by some very strong winds and mixed snow and rain up the mountain tops of Mt. Sequoyah and Chapman. Also ran into more snow along the trail.Here at the shelter are thru hikers Freedo, HomeBrew and myself. There is also a group of 4 nice local people who built a fire to keep us all warm.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Crosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Had a great night last night, especially the fire to keep warm.When the rains parted, I went out to call Carla, but then the rains returned so our conversation was rather short as I was getting wet. Later in the night, the monsoons returned and it poured all night. The trail today was in pretty good shape considering how much it rained last night. It was a pretty quick trip down to Standing Bear where I have taken a shower, done laundry and had a pizza dinner. Life is good.I think that Freedo is getting off the trail here as he just ordered a shuttle to take him back to pick up his truck. He has thru hiked the AT before and was fun to be around.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero day. Eat and sleep. Slept in until 9:30 am, then sat around drinking coffee until noon. At noon, I ate a can of clam chowder for lunch and washed it down with a soda and snickers bar.I updated TJ, but could not use the e-mail option. I can read them, but can not respond. Guess there is a software glitch.Spent most of the day talking with A-Troll and Hoakie about the AT and tehn talking to Hoakie and Tom Banks about "leave no trace". FYI, the AT is a mess of garbage and TP scattered thru the trees and brush all the way from Springer to the end of the Park. It is much worse than I have ever seen anywhere on the AT in the past.Ate a chicken sandwich and snickers for dinner and washed it all down with another soda.Went to bed about 9am.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

Got up about 6:30 am as I could not sleep with all the snoring. Ate hot cereal and muffin (with more coffee) for breakfast. Paid my $70 tab for two nights stay and food.It's a long climb (2,400') but not steep out of Standing Bear. Then you go down hill for a spell and climb another 1,000 feet give or take a foot or two. At the top, Max Patch which is one of the most beautiful spots on all the AT. Unfortunately, a bit of clouds and threatening weather so I did not get any good new pictures.At least it did not rain today and last nights rain helped keep the temps down so it was a nice hike--just the right temps.Heard a barred owl on the final stretch to the shelter.Also, saw my first purple trillium of the season.Here at the shelter is TinMan, Cowboy, Red Oak and Buttercup.
Date: 2010-04-24
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and off about 8am. Today included a couple of 1,000 foot climbes, but again the trail grade was pretty comfortable so it went rather easy. I was done hiking about 2:30 pm.Hiked off and on with Cowboy and TinMan. TinMan stopped at the shelter with me, but Cowboy is on a mission to eat dinner at the Smokey Mtn Dinner so he pushed on to Hot Springs.The shelter is more than full with 6 tents set up outside. Bad Dinner rolled in about dark and was greeted with trail magic from a group of section hikers. I did not find out the group name of the section hikers, but they were a hoot and provided the evening entertainment for the thru hikers which we all enjoyed. There was a big camp fire and I went to bed about 9 pm.
Date: 2010-04-25
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Duckett House B&B, Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Up about 6:30 am. Last night provided a thunderstorm, rain and wind. I did not sleep well, but was glad to be in the shelter and dry.I hiked down to Hot Springs, dropped my pack at the Duckett House and headed to Smokey Dinner for breakfast. After a full belly, I went to the Outfitter and the Hot Springs Spa for a look see.The set up at Spa has changed and I'll probably be back tomorrow to soak in one of the tubs.Came back to the Duckett House to wash clothes, take a shower and get organized for the next couple days. Tomorrow is a zero day and I have mail drop coming from home.Went to dinner with TinMan and called it a night about 9:30.Tomorrow, TinMan gets off the trail and heads home. It has been a lot of fun hiking with him and I wish him the best.
Date: 2010-04-26
From: Duckett House B&B, Hot Springs

To: Ducket House
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day of eating and resting. Ate breakfast at the B&B with TinMan, we were the only guests. Walked down town and picked up mail drop box, a few things at the outfitter and returned to the B&B.Sealed the seams on new poncho and called it a day.New back pack is working good, but I needed to adjust the waist belt a bit tighter. I have gone from the medium to small size and pack was starting to slip around. At the outfitter, jumped on the scale to see how much I now weight and I am below 170 pounds. This is a pretty good weight loss program I have found. I am dropping a couple pounds a week and it is staying off--ha, ha. And the good news, eat all you can of whatever you like (or can). Ice cream is food of choice....cool and calories.I am having a great deal of trouble responding to messages due to limitations in my talents using computers..so bear with me. And thanks everyone for the messages, they are helpful to the brain.Back on the trail tomorrow and there will not be any updates to TJ until I hit the next trail town with computer access--Damascus in 12-14 days.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Ducket House

To: Allen Gap Rd
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: moderate rain

Got up about 7am and packed up most of my gear. Then I noticed I missed seam sealing a seam on my poncho so I completed that task and finished packing and taping my mail home box.Went down stairs and drank a cup of coffee while the cat watched a couple rabbits in the yard. The cat finally decided the rabbit was a bit large for prey so we went in for breakfast.After breakfast, I finished packing, paid my tab and went to town. While in town, I mailed by box and stopped at the library to do one last trail journal update and sent out a few e-mails.Stopped at the outfitters and checked my pack weight, 40.6 pounds and my body weight at 176 pounds with my pockets full of gear. I am thinking my actual bodey weight is about 168-169 pounds.IT was raining when I left town and rained off and on all day. I hiked over Rich Mountain and Spring Mountain so I could drop to a lower elevation and avoid some of the wind and cold.Passed Llano at the pond and she was cold and planning to set up her tent.I am camped with 3 other thru hikers, 7D (as in Seven Dwarf's from Maine and a father son team of Sherpa and Draggin Tail.Tomorrow the weather is suppose to be sunny. Hope so, right now there are rain drops falling on my tent......
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Allen Gap Rd

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Passed the 300 mile mark. Got up at 6:30 am. The sky cleared off in the middle of the night and the moon came out so the wind finally died down. Everything is really wet this morning and my pack seems 10 times heavier with dampness.Today started out with a 2,400 foot climb and then lots of rocks across Fire Scab Ridge. Lots of work to make the trail across the ridge--rocks, rocks, more rocks only broken up by rock steps. But, the views were great.Early in the day, I got bit by a dog. Fortunately, it was not a terrible bite as it did not tear my pants or break the skin. I do have blood blisters at the teeth mark in the bite and a large bruise. It should heal up ok, but it is already sore. This is the first time in all my hiking that a dog has ever bit me so I was pretty unhappy with the owners for their lack of control of their pet.Today was a great hiking day. Lots of sun and cool weather. Tomorrow is suppose to be more of the same--good news.I was really gald I dropped down off the ridge last night becasue I found piles of hail and sleet as I crossed some of the higher points.I stopped about 5:30 pm and set up my tent so it could dry out. Tomorrow will also be a nice hike with a bit less climbing.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Big Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

Up about 6:30 am which is getting to be my ususal wake up when the birds start singing. I was hiking by 8 am. Walked past the camp of Cody and her partner and did not get another bite from their dog--good news.Today was sunny and cool so I made good time in the morning and then stopped at Bald Mountain Shelter for the night.Today I saw 2 deer, a lizard and a grouse--big critter viewing day. The elevation gains and losses were pretty large and it took all day to make it to the shelter and I was pretty tired at the end.Red Stick and Nature's Own cowboy camped on top of Big Bald and were treated to a fantastic sunset.Here at the shelter are 4 section hikers tenting so I am in the shelter all by myself.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: Big Mountain Shelter

To: Nolichucky Hostel (Uncle Johnny's)
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Last night was not a good sleeping night in the shelter. The mice were playig tag thru the wire netting and making all sorts of noise. I finally had enough and got up about 5 am, packed up and headed to Uncle Johnny's.The trail was much easier today, only a couple thousand feet of elevation gain. Today was also much warmer than yesterday and I was glad to be done, even if I stopped at 2:30 in the afternoon.The chair at Whistling Gap is gone, but I sat on a log and took a break there.At Uncle Johnny's I washed clothes and took a shower.We (thru hikers) were treated by the Crosspoint Church to a bar-bq for dinner. It was really special after so mcuh trail food. They must have fed 30-40 hikers. Many thanks.....
Date: 2010-05-01
From: Nolichucky Hostel (Uncle Johnny's)

To: Slack pack
Miles today: 20.1

Got up with an alarm at 6 am. Skipped breakfast assuming we would stop at a fast food place on the way to the trail and get a fast breakfast. I was wrong and skipped breakfast altogether as I was the only one planning to stop. I volunteered to save travel time for all concerned.We slack packed south back to Uncle Johnny's in a pretty nice hiking day. While it took the over-the-hill gang about 8 hours to do the 20 miles, we were amazed to find out that Legend of a Fall was done in 4 hours. He is a fast hiker with young legs and hiked in Teva sandels. Give the young un' a gold star! I hiked with Troll, Bismark and Krispy Critter. We were left in the dust by Muffin Man, Legend of a Fall and Truth. We stopped at Beauty Spot for lunch and took time to talk with all the north bound hikers we met along the way.After our hike, I called Carla to say happy birthday.Took the free shuttle to town for all you can eat Kentucky Fried Chicken buffet and then to grocery store to pick up tomorrow's breakfast of two oranges and 2 fruit pies. I also added a couple (as in 6) candy bars and a package of oatmeal cookies into the mix for on the trail.Lots of discussion about hiking tomorrow. A storm is approaching and it's predicted to bring 2-4 inches of rain mixed with thunder and lightening. A zero day would miss the first day of nastiness, but the longer forecast is for thunder showers in the afternoon all next week. So it will be a wet next couple days. I need to be hiking so I'll make a final decision tomorrow--as in should I hike one, two or three shelters to the north.I saw Bobby (from early in the trip) at the store with a knee brace. He is still hiking, but had to get off the trail for a week to get his knee issues to a manageable level I wished him good luck. I know he is pretty frustrated by all this as it is his first knee injury.Tomorrow I will hike north and go over the last 6,000 foot peak until late summer when I get way up north.