morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-22
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

In the morning, we got up early just to get ready for the River Raft cleaning with Huck Finn's River adventure. It wasn't raining that time when we got to the river.   I assume there is about 30 people participating in the river cleaning project.   My team contain of 3 thru hikers, (Fishin Fred, Tapeworm and Me) and Fishin Fred's friend Berry.   We pulled several tires, bags of garbages.   Guess what I found?? a black bra!   I show off of my discovery and everyone on the river laughed. I told them that I am going to bring it to Maine! Some thru hikers have stuffed animals or toys to bring with them to Maine as traditional ways of thru hiking of Appalachian Trail. So, why something different? I'm going to bring the bra all the way to Maine! Approximately 8 Raft boats were filled with trash and we stopped at a point where we remove all of the garbage to move them to the roadside. A heavy hailstorm struck at us. Its funny that Fishin Fred is holding the raft on the river while the hailstorm strucks while we are hiding under the roof of the house. He found a way to secure the raft, and came up to try to avoid the storm but the hail storm stopped. HAHA. We got back on the raft, and try to do some more clean up but the weather dampened our effort, and we stopped for lunch and hop in the bus because we are too cold and freezing to continue the clean up. At least, we did the difference for the state of North Carolina!
Date: 2005-04-23
From: Hot Springs, NC

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

Zero days again.... but it is Trailfest Day in Hot Springs. The festival were dampened by wet weather. It doesn't look good. I was disappointed about the weather. I wondered if they did it on purpose. There were perfect weather for first 5 days and turned ugly just on festival weekend. Anyway, I met a sweet woman named Sara, but I would call her Little Sara because there are two Sara in the same bar. One is big Sara and another one is Little Sara.   She told me about her son and her dogs, her new settlement in Hot Springs, etc.   She told me about the duck race is going on that day.   I told her that I never seen any ducks. ( I thought there would be real ducks) and she laughed, no, it is rubberized ducks. Yeah, how fool I felt because she is only new to this town for 2 months and I am a thru hiker who supposed to know better about this. Anyway, I seen the World Famous Duck Race, just under the bridge, on the river. I don't know who won the race because I don't hear the announcement. At least, I enjoyed my day's worth of converstation with Little Sara, with her son, Thurston. As night came, the weather turned ugly again, made me jump in tent earlier. It was COLD and crazy!
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero days again because Fishin Fred and I felt that weather is too cold to start the day. Indeed, it was some flurries. I did saw some snow. There is no build ups. I slept in sleeping bag most of the morning. Got up, decided to warm up in Paddler's Pub, and happen to meet Little Sara again. She is sooo sweetie. We chat a lot by writing. I settled for water first, but later on, I settled for some beers.   Other section hikers I met in the bar, offered me beer and I accepeted. They even offered me a spare bed in the motel but I decided to stick to my tent because I don't want to overslept because of the warm environment.   So, Little Sara asked me if I want to join her for a stroll to the riverfront with her, her son and her dogs. I did. It was a wonderful walk! I stared at her. Sweet woman. She have wonderful son named Thurston who is very smart. She have two dogs, I remembered one she named, Fred. I forget about another one.   Two crazy dogs! haha Anyway, after the stroll, we got back to the Paddler's Pub. We continue chatting. After the chat, I left with good memories. Also with 4 free beers! I zoomed to tent because of the bitter cold weather. I am so thankful for the money worth I spent on the 15 degree sleeping bag! It kept me warm all night in the tent, how wonderful feeling it is! A warm sleeping bag in the tent in the cold weather... something different what you feel from inside your house.
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up, not a bad day. Killed down the tent. Oh boy, how unprepared body I have after 9 ZERO DAYS and beer filled stomach! Fishin Fred, Gator Aid and I went to Smoky Mountain Diner for breakfast. Fishin Fred complained that they cooked TOO LONG! haha. It was a good breakfast anyway. After the breakfast, I went to Bluff Mountain Outfitter to buy a little stuffed animal for Little Sara because I hoped that it would cheer her up after her tough week at work. I met Big Sara outside and asked her to hold on for a moment after I made the purchase. I made the purchase and went outside, instructed Big Sara to give this stuffed doll is for Little Sara. She smiled and will do that so. After that, I have no idea how this goes. We hiked out of Hot Springs and to Spring Mountain Shelter.
Date: 2005-04-26
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Little Laurel shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up, it wasn't raining. It was good day to start hike. The cloud look grayish but more of white. We hike down to Allen Gap, and we approached the paper sign that says Trail Magic about 75 yards on the road off the Appalachian Trail. We walked down the road and got up to the house. The trailmagic was provided by thru hikers of 1999, Fal and Hercules. They are wonderful couples. I wish I could understand the converstation between Fishin Fred and them. I guess they doesnt bother to share the converstation with me as I was busy eating the delicious beef stew, ice cream and reading the weather report. As the converstation continues, I was like, I wish I could know what they are talking about. I guess they thought I don't need to know as if its not important.   Yeah hearing people left deaf people out often and even didn't meant it.   It was about 1 hour worth of converstation and I only get about 5 minutes worth of it. I was kinda disappointed but I am used to it. It is my hiking adventure of silence, an adventure where the world seemed so quiet to me. We arrived at Little Laurel Shelter, and Fishin Fred got excited about the whereabout of Gator Aid. (Apparently I forget to mention that Gator Aid was transported to the trailhead ahead of us, and hiked ahead of us, as we are trying to catching up with him, and he is only section hiking most of the trail) Gator Aid is only few miles ahead of us. We got a few minutes break but the grayish cloud rolled in, we decided to wait for a few moment, but finally, we decided to stay overnight because we don't want to get caught in the rainstorm.   The weather become nasty later and we were glad that we made the right decision. We avoided the wet weather.
Date: 2005-04-27
From: Little Laurel shelter

To: Flint Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

Mother Nature is DRUNK! Let's see ---- In the morning, there was partly sunny in the morning, but beautiful day to start the hike. While hiking in the morning, behind Fishin Fred, and ascending the Blackstack Cliff, there was heavy fog. Summiting the top of the mountain, I can see some sunshine, but fog hovering around the mountain. Then I was hiking down the mountain, descending to Jerry Cabin Shelter as I was hurrying up to try to catch up with Fishin Fred, I got hailstorm. When arriving the shelter, I met Ez Does it and Fishin Fred there. Fishin Fred left as he was braving the weather because he surely miss Gator Aid. He want to catch up with him badly.   So, took some minutes break inside the shelter. Several thru hikers came in, (Mayfly, Jersey Girls, Coyote, several more I don't know their names) Weather become more nasty, I saw all of them, SNOW, HAIL, RAIN, DRIZZLES, FLURRIES. The temperature plummeted to 37 degree Farnhereint. A few minutes, Ez Does It asked me if I stay or continue to hike. I said I don't know. Ez Does It cautioned me that there will be COLD up the mountain, more worse than the location I am staying at. I decided to stay for overnight. I took my therm-a-rest out and lay them out but didn't take my sleeping bag out yet as I wasn't sure if weather would change during the afternoon. As it was only 2:15pm.   About 15 minutes later, weather surprised us. Sunshine came, beautiful day! Temperature rose from 37 degree Farnehernit to 43 degree Farnehernit in just 10 minutes. Strange? I decided, I am not going to waste the beautiful day. I RE-packed my pack and left the shelter and hike as fast as I could to reach the next shelter. While hiking, the weather changes again, and I got was a dry and brief hailstorm. While hiking, I saw a fresh, but probably 2-3 days old bear scat on the trail, I looked around to be sure bear is not too close, then I continue the hike and when I got to Flint Mt. Shelter. I can't find Fishn Fred. I read the register book that he moved on for other 6 miles becaused he learned that he is only 2 hours behind Gator Aid. He wrote down, Hurry up Flashand. I just don't want to hurry up because of that, instead I stayed overnight and enjoy my night inside shelter watching weather changes from hail to rain, to sunny to cloudy.
Date: 2005-04-29
From: Low Gap

To: Bald Mountain shelter
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: light rain

Got up late because of the continuing rain. Waiting for the rain to stop. Finally it slowed down, and I quickly packed down the tent and hiked up to Big Bald Mt. It was a tough climb but rewarding. It is beautiful. There were some snow caps around the mountain. So, I descending to the shelter. Fishing Fred and Gator Aid then arrived there after me. We decided to stay there overnight because we believe that weather will be nasty later in the afternoon. Indeed it does. It was a good experience for us to battle the nasty weather. The trail was very muddy. It was tough hike. So, I had a good and long sleep.
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Bald Mountain shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: moderate rain

Got up, it was just some scattering showers. It stopped when we left shelter to hike down to Spivey Gap. I told Fishin Fred I will be pissed off if we got to the Gap, and get zero days with beautiful day. I am tired of getting zero days when it was sunny and hike when its raining.   Indeed, Sunshine came out when we were at Spivey Gap. Fishin Fred got lucky enough to use cellphone from group of wilderness school boys to call Miss Janet for the shuttle. We waited for about an hour and finally got a ride into Erwin. I rented a room at Super 8 Motel. Then, I got a nice hot shower since I haven't bathed for 6 days. After that, we went to very wonderful restaurant. I ate a really good beef platter with colesaw and potato sald, turkey soup and salad. After that, I snuffed myself into bed!   Yeah, damn the motel, they furnished all bed with pink sheets and blankets!   I shouldn't teased Fishin Fred about his purple rain cover.   I told him that he would look better in pink pack raincover. Now what I got is a pink sheet. Yeah, he took a picture of me in the pink sheets. Damn. I will mark F on Super 8 Motel's report card.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Spivey Gap

To: Curly Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

Got up from Super 8 at around 7am to start packing and at 8:30am, Fishin Fred and Gator Aid came to pick me up. We went to Miss Janet's House to eat breakfast and then Miss Janet shuttled Fishin Fred and me to Spivey Gap, where we start the hike to Curly Maple Gap Shelter. The weather was nice to us this time.
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Curly Maple Gap Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 8am and left the Curly Maple Gap Shelter at 9:15am. I don't know why I tend to get up late and leave late. I always want to leave at 6 or 7am. I guess its hard to get out of sleeping bag in the cold mornings OR a tiring mind that need a good and long sleep. I stopped at Beauty Spot for the break, waiting for Fishin Fred to catch up. We loved the view from Beauty Spot down to the town far down the mountain.   When we start hiking again, we got on the top of Unaka Mountain. It is beautiful mountain infested with red spruce fir trees. I took the Digital Video Cameracorder out, to film around the mountain and walking at the same time. Approaching Fishin Fred and he said SHHHHH, slow down, there is a deer over there, and quickly I caught the deer on my video cameracorder! YAY! The deer doesnt appear to be scared, but busy eating and watching us. I told the deer that we are NOT hunter, so enjoy the eating. During hiking down the trail, I was scared S**T out of the pant when I saw a black dog. It was because Fishin Fred told me that he saw three wild dogs a few hours before, thinking it was the same dog he saw, but it was Miss Janet's happy and friendly pooch who is hiking with slackpackers. It already charged my tiring heart to a racing pulse! When we arrived at Cherry Gap Shelter. Batch, 83 years old hiker, arrived and I was thrilled to meet him. He might be the oldest thru-hiker if completed this year at age of 83. Last time I know was 81 years old that thru-hiked.   Batch thru-hiked with his wife before but now he is on his own. Believe me, he is strong guy and very inspiration person!
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Cherry Gap at late at 9:45am, met several cheating slackpackers again hiking up with Miss Janet's dog. No, I didn't get scared this time. HA! Beautiful day today! Arrived at Clyde Smith Shelter. A short hike because I left the shelter late.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

I hike isolated all day because Fishin Fred was ahead of me. I hiked inside the FOG all the way up the Roan Mountain. I saw two different notes along the trail that made me amusing and sad. First one, Turbo Joe, who think hes fast, according to the trailname, and his note said that he forget the water purifier at the last shelter, hoping that other hikers might bring them and give it to them. So, I wouldn't pack too fast and forget things. Note number 2, it was Batch who decided to quit that time at Carver Gap. I felt so sad because I want to see him succeed. I arrived Overmountain Shelter and met Fishin Fred there. I was amazed to learn that hikers tented out inside the Overmountain Shelter's 2nd floor. It become Tent City! I found an available space, and the last person to tented out. They want to stay warm inside the tent. There was very windy and cold outside.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 8.2

When we got out of Overmountain Shelter, Fishin Fred and I hiked an easy trail down to Apple House Shelter. It was beautiful day and warm too. When we got to the shelter, Fishin Fred set up tent and I set up a sleeping bag in the shelter. We then went to Buck's Place, contains of country restaurant, beer wash with pool tables and free hostel. We went to eat first then played pool all night.   I saw Batch there, and learned that he decided to go back on the trail after several thinkings. I was so thrilled to hear him back on the trail. I made Batch played pool with me. I won but it was a while for him to remember how to play pool. It was a great night! Buck took us back to the trail near midnight. Thanks Buck!
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Apple House Shelter

To: 19E Highway
Miles today: 0.5

Nero day, just 1/2 mile after I left Apple House Shelter because I love the Buck's place. Fishin Fred left and went ahead on hiking. I chatted with the bartender all day, watching TV for weather and slept good in the hostel just above the restaurant. It was a great and pleasure day!(Nero meants near zero day)
Date: 2005-05-08
From: 19E Highway

To: Stream
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

I got up, had a good breakfast at Buck's place then got hitched within 15 minutes, and started hiking at 11am. It was a beautiful day of hike. It was hot day. A lot of sunshine.   I happen to encountered a snake on the trail. I believed that snake is very smart. He played dead when I tried to poke it. I know he's alive. I pushed the snake off the trail so I can hike across, and yeah he escaped down the hill.   I don't know if it is a posionous snake or not.   So, I felt a bit tired to hike a little more but it was 6pm and I found a perfect space to tent out by the stream It was a beautiful place. I was so glad I tented out there!   It is because its by the stream and the Appalachian Trail, with whiteblaze on the tree! I woke up in mid of the night, scared that something *boom* on the bottom of the tent, I took flashlight out of the tent hoped that nothing happened outside. Later on, I realized that a coat was slipped out of the therm a rest and the weight of myself hitting on the tent floor, make it a boom feeling. Yeah, it might sound weird but I become very sensitive during sleep because I can't hear anything but rely on vibration or tent movement for anything going on around.
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Stream

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 12.4

Got up with a beautiful day! dismantled the tent down, left at 10am, hiked for a mile, encountered four thru hikers who tented by the Laurel Fork. I acrossed the small footbridge, and saw USA Today newspaper on the trail, as my mind had thought, why violate a LNT (Leave No Trace) policy but probably other thru hikers left it for other hikers to read. Indeed, I sat down, read the newspapers by the bridge to catch up the news. There was no newspaper at Buck's Place. I learned that President Bush threw out the Clinton's no road rules through national forest. I just hope it won't be anywhere near Appalachian Trail or any other National Scenic Trail. I understand that they need some more resources from trees or go through the forest but it will become uglier if they chop down more trees and build roads. Anyway, four thru-hikers passed me, except Coyote, who tapped on my shoulder and showed me bear footprints on the creek. He told me that they heard bears wandering near their tent overnight! Fear just come across my mind on that time, thinking about the boom I felt at my tent last night, just fortunate it wasn't any worse than like this. So, I have to suffer PUDS (pointless ups and downs)hike from the stream to Moreland Gap Shelter. I just want to check out the register book in the shelter to find out where or how far Fishin Fred had gone, but learned that he is going to hitchhike to Damascus to set up booth for his craft made stuff to sell during trail days festival this weekend. I arrived Kincora Hiker Hostel, owned by Bob and Pat Peoples. I barely make to the hostel, get showered before join the shuttle to the store in Hampton.   I bought too much food because I felt so hungry on my little stomach. I used to have LARGE stomach but its not anymore. I just eat little by little. Even a package of ramen noodle is one good size enough to fill up my stomach every night! So, when we got to the hostel again, I quickly took all clothes in the laundry because I don't want to wait for other hikers to finish. The washing machine is empty. So, I quickly put all SMELLY, STINKY, SWEATY and WET shirts, pants, shorts, towel and socks in the machine. After 30 minutes, a thru hiker, Tal, the guy I met on the first day of hike, mentioned me that my laundry is done and I went up to the laundry and opened the machine, and it come to my disappointment. I forget to take my 2005 edition Appalachian Trail Data Book out of my hiking short. It is all over inside the machine. The book was so devasated. I was so mad at myself for not remembering to take things out of pants before putting in laundry. The last time before that was two paychecks destroyed in the washing machine on the same day and 4 hours before plane leaving for Florida in 1997. WHY ME? But kindly, Bob Peoples, who is very friendly and hikers' favorite, gave me 2004 edition Data Book. So I can use it until I get new 2005 edition in Damascus. I even have to use broom and dustpan to pick up papers all over the floor! Geez!
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: moderate rain

So, I got up, checked outside and see grayish clouds instead of beautiful day. It was a day of disappointment because I want sunshine so that I can several great pictures of the waterfalls, flowers, bridges and Appalachian Trail. I did take some pictures before heavy thunderstorms and downpour hit on me when I summited the Pond Flats. I hid under the fir trees. I stayed dry for a while, but the rain get harder and my thought changed and don't want to call myself sissy hiker, so I have to move forward, also, because of thunderstorms flashing across the sky, the rain was so thick, and I become soaked from head to toe except my pack, which stay dry. I hid another tree for a while, then hiked again, but that time, a real loud thunder boom that shook the mountain real well. The vibration hit my feet and my body real hard. It scared the S**T out of my pant! It was like, God was teasing me, *boom*, gotcha ya. Why it does happen AFTER I got out of the tree hiding place. So, when I descending the mountain toward the Watauga Lake, the rain start to slow down then finally stopped, and here come sunshine. I was LIKE why rain had to stop when I am closing in to the shelter? I am glad rain stopped and sunshine comes out when I was by the lake, and I can dry myself out little bit and enjoy the chips and taking pictures of Geeses and the lake. At 4:30pm, I hiked around the lake and luckily enough to take a space at the shelter. I had a good converstation at the shelter with Lady Mustard Seed. We chatted about my deafness, the hike and the thunderstorms. It seemed that she is very nice woman. She is attempt the thru hike with her husband.