morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Our day to finally enter the Smokies! We're leaving our life of luxury (out of the past 5 nights, we've spent 4 in hotels, so much for roughing it) for 8 nights on the trail. For those of you who have been keeping up, you'll recall we've had that plan before and didn't quite make it b/c of the lure of the zero day, but this time we're motivated . . . only time will tell : )First we walked over the Fontana Dam -- very neat. Would have been fun to explore, but our packs were v. heavy b/c of all the food, so we just walked over it and entered the Smokies. Not very dramatic entering them -- almost the first mile was on pavement. Then we went into the woods and started and intense uphill climb. Had lunch at a fire tower with amazing views -- the dam that had seemed so big before looked really tiny. Three day hikers came by all sweaty in shorts, they had just run up from the dam 4 miles away w/o water and were heading back. Nice guys from Norway, Moo took their picture. Then Blaze & Face showed up, good to see them. We left them at the fire tower and went on our way to the shelter, another 6 miles away or so -- lots of rules in the smokies, and you can only stay over night at shelters, so we had to make it there before stopping for the night. When we got to the shelter it was full so we camped out. The shelter itself had a fence across the front -- a tangible sign that we were in bear country. Of course, the bear cage did nothing to help the people camping in tents outside of it . . . Everyone was careful to hang their food and anything else that might attract bears, such as lip balm, insect repellant (?), suntan lotion, toothpaste. Made an alfredo meal that night, which neither of us liked -- we had to force ourselves to eat it (don't want to throw it away, it might attract bears!). Then to sleep -- aside from worrying about being eaten by bears, a nice night. Blaze & Face never did show up, where were they? Hope the bears didn't get them . . .
Date: 2003-04-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

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

Another beautiful day in the Smokies. We had heard that the Smokies rarely have nice weather, but so far so good. Passed a couple of shelters, went through some balds, then climbed up to Rocky Top where we had lunch. 42 relaxed and enjoyed the sun, Moo got irritated by the bugs. Chapeau enjoyed the sun & didn't let the bugs bother him. Still some snow remaining up over 5000 feet in the Smokies -- so we built a mini snowman to bring smiles to the faces of other hikers. Got to the shelter. Moo went to get water. Slipped on the way down & had a mud bath, then wound up having to wash everything in the spring -- poor Moo, but getting clean is always good. 42 talked to Brian about religion and philosophy, nice & light conversation. Moon almost full, a gorgeous evening. We decided to sleep w/ the fly open b/c such a nice night. Then it got really cold in the middle of the night, but both of us were too tired to close the fly.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Another sunny day! Very glad, b/c we're supposed to get to Clingman's Dome, the highest point (6643 feet) on the trail, and we're excited to have a clear day.Just about the last ones to leave the shelter area (no surprise there). Got to Silers Bald, very neat. Had lunch at Double Spring Gap Shelter, where we met some day hikers who were very nice. We yogi-ed some fruit from them, almost didn't know what to do w/ fresh fruit. Btw, "yogi-ing" means "the good-natured art of 'letting' food be offered cheerfuly by strangers without actually asking them directly (if you ask, it's begging)." Met High Octane, who informed us that the ascent to Clingman's Dome had lots of false summits -- definitely good to know. And he was right -- just as we thought we were there, we'd realize it was a false summit, and not be frustrated. The climb wasn't as tough as we thought. We got up to the real summit to see the observation deck teeming with tourists. We went up the ramp (phew, no stairs) and saw the gorgeous views. On the way up the ramp, we heard a guy say to the woman he was with, "don't worry, the way down will be easier" -- c'mon, it was a ramp! Anyway, met Bonzo and his dog Rio, very nice, and a friend of theirs. On top of the observation deck saw Malachai Jaggers play Christian music on a guitar while his uncle made a video of it (soon to be released at Barnes & Noble). Enjoyed basking in the sun. Then went on to shelter. Shelter was 0.5 mile off the trail -- that's getting to be a drag b/c it doesn't get us any closer to Katahdin! Camped on side of shelter. Met Two Speeds, Dimple Rock, Wrong Way Brown, and Sparky (now Chafe Master J), very nice. Two Speeds is a master at 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, kind of scary! High Octane, George also there. Cooked our first dehydrated meal (lasagna -- mmmm), sent by Mom -- we didn't add enough water at first and the taste was overpowering. 42 was so hungry she would have eaten it anyway, but Moo whipped up more boiled water to add, and it got better. Worth the wait. We went to bed. Sometime late in the night/early the next morning, some other guys showed up -- they had night hiked Clingman's Dome in the light of the full moon, including Pez (Pants?). We met them the next morning.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

That's right -- 5.2 miles!!! Look -- after 4 incredible and sunny Smokies days of 12.4, 11.7, 13.5 & 14.9 miles -- the rain set in, we were tired and decided to take it easy.Actually, woke up that morning and packed up camp. Along with Dimple Rock, Wrong Way Brown, Two Speeds and Chafe Master J, we were the last to depart -- we love having nowhere to be at no particular time. As we were hiking to the next shelter, approx 5.2 miles away, Moo turned to 42 at about mile 4 and suggested that we not hike any further than the next shelter. The rain had begun, the 2nd shelter (another 8 or so miles up the trail) would be packed -- why not call it a day, set up in the shelter, play cards, backgammon, read?? 42 was all over that idea. In fact when our friendly 4-some showed up behind us, they bit hook, line and sinker as well.So it was about noon and we were done hiking -- all set up, cozy as could be. Well, several hours and much rainfall later, we're about 24 smelly, wet, clammy, hungry hikers sardine-canned into a shelter builter for about 14 -- and we all really got to know each other. It was actually a pretty wild experience with everyone cooking and eating in the shelter during the torrential downpours outside. Good way to attract bears and our furry mice friends. But -- like many Smokies shelthers, this one too had bear fencing on it, creating a zoo-like exhibit out of all of us.We tried out and loved Cindy's spicy Asian noodle soup --- mmm, good -- for lunch and some Louisianna red beans & rice for dinner -- very tasty -- too bad, Moo spilled some of his on the dirt floor of the shelter -- talk about mouse food. Anyway -- fun was had by all, played 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, geography, cards and backgammon, read. Relaxed -- off our feet. At least one mouse was scurrying around that evening. A couple folks exhibited flu-like hacking -- but all in all -- we survived the night and actually had fun, despite the incredible odor of multiple hiker feet, as noted by 42.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Springside campsite just past Mountain Moma's
Miles today: 16.9

Good wet morning to all. Foxy, who slept on the shelter floor, was lucky not to have floated away -- who knew that water would seep in during the night?Anyway -- for a change and maybe b/c we had been horizontal for approx 18 hours, Moo & 42 high-tailed it out of Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. You know we were moving b/c 42 let Moo start the day without brushing his teeth -- our single means of daily hygiene on the trail.We had one goal in mind -- cheeseburgers (moo) and grilled cheese (42) awaiting us a mere 15 or so miles away. You see, at Davenport Gap, a dirt road at the NC/TN line winds down the hill approx 1.3 miles to Mountain Moma's Kuntry Kitchen, home of some big ole cheeseburgers, cheese stix, grilled cheese and some resupply Snickers bars. Let's just say, we were moo--ving that day. Grill closed at 5pm and we had to allow for time to walk the extra 1.3 to the shop. This was our 6th and final day in the Smokies -- raining in the morning, but turned into a nice day as the day went on. We were now coming off the ridge line and descending down from 5920 feet @ the shelter to 2600 feet @ the gap -- tough on the legs, those downhills.A great day of rigorous hiking -- you see, we rarely ever have to be somewhere by a certain time. We are strong and we believe in cheeseburgers and other yummy veggie delights -- so we arrived at Moma's (with the help of a back of a pick-up truck lift the 2nd half of the way down the hill from the gap) for last call for the grill. Mmmmm --- mmmmm good!!! Huge cheeseburger!!! It was fun seeing all the happy thru hikers gorging themselves at the store.Moma herself drove us and 4 other hikers back to the trailhead, where the 6 of us joined about 5 others about 1.5 miles up the trail, where we tented that night.Streamside camping is special b/c you hear the sounds of the flowing waters moving by and it kind of lulls you to sleep. Also nice to soak the sore feet in the ice cold waters and dunk the greasy head in the water as well. Great campfire that evening with Deysman, Spielberg, Sherpa, Otter, Axel Rose, Casey, White Lightning (from B'ham).
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Springside campsite just past Mountain Moma's

To: Max Patch Summit
Miles today: 15.2

Woke up in our beautiful campsite near the stream. Just a mile or so later we came to an interstate -- felt worlds away from our idyllic camp site, but we were soon beyond the highway and back in the woods. Tough, tough day with many, many steep, challenging climbs. Finally came to a bald called Max Patch at approx 5000 feet -- what a sight! It was beautiful -- 360-degree views, and a pretty clear sky. We kept climbing up and at the top was a lone camper, White Lightening. We couldn't resist camping up there and pitched our tent. We were soon joined by Coyote, Axl, Runaway, Trog, Casey, later Indiana Slim. A day hiker, Igloo, camped up there as well, and he had some friends who had thru-hiked, so he brought over some beers for everyone. He had a friend and 2 great dogs w/ him who kept coming over to check us out. (Another couple was up there as well, but they wanted nothing to do w/ us -- think they were trying to be romantic, and we didn't help the atmosphere.) After dinner some people played frisbee. Amazing night. Got pretty cold, though, and Coyote, who was sleeping in just his sleeping bag, went into someone's tent during the night. We were plenty warm in our tent (the Zoid rocks).
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Max Patch Summit

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Waking up atop Max Patch was incredible. The views! Amazing. On to Deer Park Mtn. Shelter. A lot of people had the same idea as we did, to stay at the shelter and have an easy walk into Hot Springs the next day, so the shelter was pretty crowded. We pitched our tent and made dinner, dining with Vermont Pete, Joe/Amble, and Spice Bag. A pretty early night -- very excited to get to Hot Springs & shower!
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: light rain

This was the morning that 42 reached her limit -- she had to get to a shower or else (it was the 9th day w/o a shower -- can you blame her???)! She woke up Moo at 6:45 am and told him they had to get to town NOW. Her freakiness combined w/ the threat of rain propelled us to get ready in record time, and we were on the trail by 7:30. Only 3.2 miles to Hot Springs and a shower!Walked the final 3.2 miles of our 109-mile, 8-night, 9-day stint out in the woods right into Hot Springs, NC. We got there too early to check into a place (shower delayed, ugh), so we stopped at the Smoky Mtn Diner for some good breakfast. Next stop, Creekside Lodging @ the Paddler's Pub for a room. Finally showered!!! Wonderful. Had dinner that night at the Paddler's Pub -- the pub is the first place on the trail to have beer on tap, so it was frequented by many. Ate w/ Dimple Rock, Wrong Way, Two Speeds, and Chafe Master J -- turns out that everyone at the table had lost significant weight on the trail (ranging from 10 lbs for Moo to 40 pounds for CMJ) except for 42! That is so wrong!!! And seemingly impossible -- we're doing about a 1/2 marathon each day, how can that be? Hmph. 42's not happy about that. Moo hung out in the pub for a while; 42 went back to the room to veg out and watch TV. Only problem, we only got 2 channels, one of which is Fox News (enough said) and the other kept on getting static. Moo came in to find 42 watching almost all static, but 42 said you just had to get used to it and it didn't bother you.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A fantastic zero day in Hot Springs! This place is amazing. Slept in. Had lunch at the Paddler's Pub w/ Boy Scout Brian (sorry Brian, but that's your name). Took care of stuff -- internet, phone calls. Got massages! Pretty great. Had dinner at the diner w/ Dimple Rock, Wrong Way, 2 speeds, CMJ, Carnathy Bob & Verity, then went back to the Paddler's Pub for a while. Spoke to our folks -- always great to catch up. Hot Springs is a relaxing haven . . . but we're planning on getting back on the trail tomorrow, although no one thinks we'll make it back. We've met people who were hiking the trail until they got to Hot Springs, then they never left, so we'll see . . .
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Pond
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Hot Springs is the Hotel California -- you can check out any time you like, but you can (almost) never leave. We got up, packed up our stuff, checked out of the hotel, planned to have a good lunch then hit the trail for at least 11 miles . . . then we got sucked back into the Hot Springs vortex for a while. First we ran into Smokey -- hello Smokey! She was behind us on the trail but yellow-blazed (got a ride) to Hot Springs to meet up w/ her fiance & brother, so it was great to see her again. Then we found ourselves planted in front of the outfitters, enjoying the sun and hanging with people who came by -- Blaze & Face, Dimple Rock & Wrong Way et al, Clete . . . Got lunch . . . hung out . . . Clete started talking about how he wasn't going to go for a few more days, which sounded better and better as the day went on. Friends invited us to crash in their rooms, convinced we weren't going to get out of town. Finally, at 5:30pm, we rallied. Loaded up w/ a six-pack of beer (for Casey and Axl, Moo said) on top of our newly stuffed bags, we began the climb out of town -- and kept on going for 5 miles! Came to a murky pond and thought we might have to camp there, but there was a great campsite nearby so we headed up there. No Casey, Axl, or Runaway there, but 2 other guys were there (Gunner and Matt). It was getting dark so we pitched the tent then hung out by the campfire. Realized we forgot marshmallows, bummer. Then went to hang our food on the bear rope Moo had hung -- and for the first time, Moo's bear rope failed! As we started hauling up the food, the limb the rope was on cracked. So we had to find another one -- not easy in the dark w/ only our headlamps for light. All of the trees seemed limbless. Finally found another one, but the branch just bent over and the bag slipped off. The third one's the charm -- got the food hung, and confident that the bears were thwarted, we went to bed.
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Pond

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Moo got up bright and early, but 42 was wiped out from the bear-rope escapades. While she slept in, Moo made a morning fire & had hot chocolate ready to entice 42 out of the tent. We finally got ready and hit the trail about 10:15-ish. Both of us were feeling sluggish as we hiked. Came to a fire tower, but it was closed (although that didn't stop Moo from trying to climb up anyway). Had lunch at the Spring Mtn. Shelter. We were dragging for most of the day, but somehow made it almost 15 miles to the next shelter.At the next shelter we ran into Boy Scout Brian, Runaway, Casey, Axl Rose, and Peeps. They started laughing when they saw us -- turns out they had a bet about when we'd get there (if we'd get there?), and someone lost b/c we made it before 7:30. Had a great campfire & hung out for a while. Only downside -- Moo burned his Waldie! (his camp shoe) Very sad, but the shoe's still usable. Phew. Slept in shelter b/c heard it might rain. The shelter smelled like feet, but what else is new?By the way, today marks one month we've been hiking (if you count the approach trail, which we do)!!!
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

It started raining early in the morning, making us very glad we were sleeping in the shelter. The rain seemed to enervate everyone in the shelter (other than Dirty Harry, who was up and out of there before the rest of us woke up). We finally started moving around 9:15 and left the shelter around 10:30. We thought the next shelter -- and lunch -- was only 5 miles away, but we just kept walking, and walking, and walking w/o coming across a shelter. Moo, convinced that the shelter was just over the next hill, powered ahead. 42, convinced that the shelter didn't exist, dragged behind. She finally pulled out the book and realized the shelter was 7 miles away, not 5 -- disappointment! But at least there was a shelter ahead. Finally made it there and had lunch at the Jerry Cabin Shelter. Then went on -- the hiking was getting really beautiful (the weather had cleared up). Came across a field, and in the middle was a high school biology class. Then back into the woods, and a little while later in the middle of the trail was "300" written in stones, showing that we had come 300 miles -- another milestone! Ran out of water b/c the water source at the lunch shelter was dry. Both of us were kind of parched, but we wanted to get to the next shelter so we just kept on going. Reached the next one, got water, and set up in the shelter -- rain was predicted again. Had dinner w/ Casey, Runaway, Axl Rose (now Claymore?), Marie & Bob, and great campfire. Moo was more careful w/ his Waldies this time : ) We played cards and 42 trounced Moo (actually won by 1 point, but a win's a win).
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Flint Mtn. Shelter

To: Woods (after Sam's Gap)
Miles today: 12.7

Once again it was lucky that we stayed in the shelter, b/c it rained in the night -- love when that happens! The rain cleared up early on, and we had a beautiful day of hiking. We had heard that there were 2 diners just a few miles off the trail at Sam's Gap, so that became our goal: get to Sam's Gap and get some real food! We weren't sure if we'd be able to get a ride, and there was no way in the world we were going to walk (they weren't trail miles, after all), so we decided we'd wait 20 minutes for a ride and keep on hiking if we didn't get one. We descended into Sam's Gap, stuck out our thumbs, and got a ride from the first car to come by. It was 2 guys in a pickup truck -- Moo checked out what was in the pickup bed and was a little taken aback to see chainsaws (!), but then he saw other stuff and learned that they were loggers. Turns out that one of the guys was the brother in law of the owner of one of the diners (small world, right?) so we went there, but it was closed . . . oh no! They drove us to the next diner, and luckily it was open. Yeah!Went in and saw Casey, Axl Rose, and Runaway finishing up there meals. They looked pretty satisfied, so we were psyched to be there. Moo ordered a patty melt & fries & strawberry cobbler & ice cream; 42 had grilled cheese & fries & ice cream & chocolate syrup . . . yum! We were leaving about the same time as another guy (Dave) was leaving, and Moo asked him for a ride back to the trail head -- even though he was going in the other direction, he was happy to help us out. 42 hopped in the back of the pickup truck w/ Dave's dog Joshua and Moo got in the nice warm cab w/ Dave (OK, it was 42's choice), and we went back to the trail. We hiked in a few miles and came across Casey, Axl, & Runaway, who had set up their tents and had the fire going -- great, b/c it was raining by that time & the fire warmed us up. Set up our tent then hung out by the fire w/ Casey. Finally went to bed, but were kept up by the howling wind outside and the rain pelting the tent. Would we be washed away in the night? The adventure continues. . .
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Woods (after Sam's Gap)

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

After the night of rain and howling wind & rain, we weren't sure what we'd wake up to, but we were greeted by sunlight and blue skies. Wonderful! Got up pretty early, dried out the tent, and got on our way in good time. Casey was the first one out of the campsite, and he started out running . . . unfathomable, it's hard enough for us to walk. Then Runaway left, then us -- we weren't the last ones to leave the campsite, another milestone! The plan was to hike 17 miles to the shelter right before Erwin, then have an easy day going into Erwin the next day.An incredible day of hiking. Started off going through some rolling fields. Then a few miles (and an intense climb) later, came upon Big Bald, an amazing bald with incredible 360-degree views. The sun was out & we just plopped ourselves down on top of the bald and relaxed. Met a guy up there with his dog, then hung out with Axl, then just the two of us. Moo was tempted to spend the night there, but it was only the middle of the day and we had only come 5 miles and had talked about a 17 mile day, so 42 propelled us onward. About a mile later, we came to Bald Mtn. Shelter, where we stopped for a snack. Chatted w/ some day hikers from Asheville and Marie. Then hiked about 3 more miles and stopped for lunch at Whistling Gap. Then did a blue blaze to High Rocks -- a bit of a rock scramble up to a rock plateau w/ some great views. Hung out there a bit. Sensing a pattern -- hike, stop, hike, stop -- we began to rethink our 17-mile-day plan. When we came to a great campsite near Spivey Gap, we decided to call it a day and camp out, just the 2 of us. We began setting up camp very early, at 5:30 or so -- really nice to do so in a relaxed way. Got the bear rope hung, cooked dinner. Fixed up the fire ring and Moo helped 42 make a fire. Played cards -- once again, 42 wallopped Moo. Then to bed. At about 1:00 am, Moo heard a hiker go by and saw a headlamp -- a little night hiking for some.