morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mtn.
Miles today: 11.0

Breakfast this morning at the sunnybank inn (aka Elmer's hostel)organic mixture of oats, seeds, and other grains. whole wheat waffles..fruit, tea, coffee, apple juice... it was a great start for the short day!Rain is moving in so the day might be shorter than my tentative 20 miles...its about 67 or so miles to Erwin and I'm doing some last minute food stocking for the lengthiest time between towns.Heading out in an hour or two and will post at some point in Erwin or the next town... don't know where to stay in erwin since Miss Janet's isn't open but maybe there might be a chance for internet..Hot Springs is the greatest town east of the mississippi "walk a simple path, a simple way".......UPDATE:Got out of Hot Springs at @ 2pm...Huge rattlesnake on the trail slithered into the French Broad River.Saw a few more babies along the way up to Lovers Leapbtw, if anyone knows the story of the Lovers Leap area, clue me in! The day was fine for awhile then it quickly became foggy and rainy.Shelter was PACKED for the night and I layed on the ground under the overhang...most of the folks from the zero in Hot Springs were there:Slurpee, Grits, Samson, Campfire, Cheif, Prometheus, Mr. J, Freewil, Spot, Aussie Mike, and many others.The hunger is growing and growing..... my new friend is Gatorade premix and more candy bars: I now carry a variety between Snickers, Butterfinger, Starburst, Kit Kat, CLIF, skittles, etc.Nighty night in the pouring rain....
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Spring Mtn.

To: Flint Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 21.4

RAINED HARD!!!!!!!!!That's the beginning of a foggy day with no motivation from mostly anyone, except Aussie Mike and his friend that are pushing to hike into trail days.Aussie is doing something insane like 25-30 mile days for a week. WOWZA! not for me!The day was probably the most diverse hiking so far this whole trip.It started deep, dark, foggy, sloppy trail and slowly lifted.Allen Gap had a sign for cold beers, refreshments, and snacks but didn't open til 3pm so I was actually glad I was way earlier than that. I entered the Cherokee National Forest and the path switched to pine needles and soft cushioned ground. The rain had disappeared. Another temptation existed at Log Cabin rd. gap... near Greeneville, TN. Everything a hiker could want and you could think of... passed it graciously and somehow miracously.I breaked at Little Laurel Shelter for some airing of the feet and snacks.Then, the ascent of Blackstack Cliffs and whiterock cliffs that gave some good views.The path got really rocky and STEEP as I climbed Big Firescald knob.The trail opened into a ridgecrest along the way...which could be detrimental in inclemental weather....with a BLACK CLOUD hanging I went up anyway.I arrived at Jerry Cabin (@15) where I planned to stay but passed on since it was only 4pm. It was 5.8miles to the next shelter so I busted out.The climb up Big Butt mtn. was steep and offered some interesting terrain with a drop into an old country road. This became a really nice stroll into the Shelton graves...the story is that an uncle and nephew joined the union army during the civil war and returned home for a family reunion only to be ambushed by confederate troops, there they lay! I descended to Flint mtn. shelter (3,750ft) surrounded by mtns on all sides!!!I also passed over 300miles today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!tomorrow big day into Bald mtn. (19miles)
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Bald mtn. shelter

To: Erwin,TN
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

COLD, WINDY, RAINY, bleh...fairly easy terrain but the cold wild wind did blowlunched at Spivey gap before the downpour. Met another southbounder and hiked the day with Jogle, Vegas, and Blazing star.The sun came out after awhile and dried me out. generally overcast the rest of the hike. too nasty to push onward past erwin. Coming down into Erwin was a nice descent and the sky kicked out a nice rainbow that was picturesque.Uncle Johnny rocked it! Thanks for the stay and the good food.You get what you take from the hiking community, ya heard! "walk a simple path, a simple way"....
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Erwin,TN

To: Iron mtn. gap
Miles today: 19.0

Hello fellow journal readers, the next installment is for you!Just really want to thank everyone for their support, thoughts, prayers, gouda vibes, and encouragement along the way! It means so much and I can feel everyones intentions. This is a remarkable hike, and I feel so priviledged to be doing it at this time and wish all you could be here with me: not just in spirit. Sorry if the journals don't make much sense, or sporatic... sometimes I have lots of time to type, or not much to say, or just random thoughts chicken scratched on paper for later but I lose my initial memory/emotion so yeah!THANK YOU for just being there, this is a really great vacation now,the first few miles outta Erwin is hikeable for anyone, at any skill level. Just basic flat ground, spread out path, and nice little bridges that cross over streams. I stopped at the first shelter: Curley Maple Gap for some snacks: Love the candy bars I'm packin' now. Great mental food. not too nutritious but keeps you happy when its rainy or your tired.The next gap, Indian Grave Gap was an area where there was "prescribed burns" here in the Cherokee National Forestland. It reminded me of walking around Mordor. "The eye was upon me and I could feel the weight of the ring more than ever. I grasped it tightly as I....." oh, wait, that's another story! HAMy next bald, Beauty spot, kicked in some winds and storm clouds making it not too beautiful. Coming down into the gap I noticed my bandana had fallen from my pocket. I dropped my pack and went southbound on the trail to find it. eh, somewhere around a half mile back it was lying there on the trail. I hobbled back to my pack and with the storm pushing forward I raced up Unaka mtn.The climb up Unaka SUCKED! I was tired and hungry but the crest provided some relief. Sitting at 5,180ft. Unaka mountain was more like a passage back into the PNW mountains. It was dark, damp, mossy, red spruce, pine needles softly laid on the ground. Unaka is cherokee for "white" but I couldn't tell why.If there were no blazes I could easily have lost my way in the denseness of the majestical forest. The eerieness provided some inspiration to sing "shantytown". It just seemed right. A spring sprang up about 0.3miles from the summit. I really love coming up on a mtn. top spring. The purity and excitement of really clean drinking water is a blessing. no need to purify this kind of water. That was the highlite of the day. Coming down the mtn. was a cinch. Voted #1 for best descent in my book. gradual drop and soft pathway, mmmmmm. after that the day turned sour. I somehow twisted my ankle or hyper-extended my muscle on a rock. the shelter, Cherry gap, was in serious bear country, no privy, poor H20, and with no one around I snacked, signed the register and left the shelter.I was headed for the road: Iron mtn. gap near Unicoi,TN and it was a HARD 2.7 miles. My foot was so painful and swollen. I cowboyed the luxury road. not the best day but Unaka was def. the best mountain so far!cheers,
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Iron mtn. gap

To: Overmountain shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

Good morning!my left foot was sucking early on so I walked sooooo slow the first few miles!the climp up from Iron mtn. gap was gradual. @4miles in I got to a trail crossing that headed downhill on an old forest service rd. to Greasy Creek Friendly (hostel). I mailed my tent to this place from Hot Springs and was eager to get it back, just in time for Overmtn. camp and TRAIL DAYS! The hostel was nicely tucked away in the national forest boundary area. I wished I could have stayed there...Made a call to Britt for some lovey dovey and re-supply info and headed back to the trail. There and back added 1.2 miles to the day but I wasn't worried since I got my tent The day grew hotter and H20 was non-existant. Little rock knob provided some great views/pics and became another great mtn. in this journey.I breaked at Hughes gap, just before climbing the insanity of Ash gap and the HIGH Roan mtn. This is the last time the trail reaches above 6,000ft. until the Whites in New Hampshire. I climbed from 4,040ft to 6,275ft in 2.5 miles!!!It may look easy on paper but it was definitely not!It was worth the views and experience. ROAN MTN. is the best mountain in the east! At least so far. Even though the altitude gain was rough, the shade, and denseness reminded me more of home, in Oregon. I didn't sweat because of the shade and my thirst vanished. It was nice and breezy, piney scents, and water bubbling up from the top. The rhododendrons aren't in full bloom yet but covered the bluffs and the reminants of an old hotel and info kiosk are at the top. There is a parking area for the non-hiking types and restrooms with running water. $3 fee for the suckers, thru-hikers PRICELESS......well, except for the greuling struggle for a couple hours to the summit.I WILL return here someday. Its the pinnacle of natural beauty. The old fireplace from the hotel sits just north on the trail, from the summit. The woods also remind me of home! It just keeps getting better and better all the time. After clearing Carvers gap I ran up and down three or four balds with views of farmland and small towns. It was a nice sunny day even though forecast predicted rain. From there I went downhill to Overmountain shelter.Backpacker magazine claims that overmountain is #1 campsite in America. so I setup the ole Big Agnes SL2 and hopped in. The overmountain shelter is an old red barn that holds over 20 people inside. Its huge and has the best camping views of the trail so far. The area has history that dates back to the Revolutionary War. In the area residents of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina gathered near here (Sycamore Shoals) to take a 170 mile hike to fight the British loyalists at Kings mountain in southern NC (1780). The overmountain men volunteered from nearby counties and marched right thru the area in the middle of winter. Their path crossed the AT at Yellow mtn. gap where the shelter is located. I got some amazing pics and learned a little bit that day! tomorrow I might head for Mountaineer shelter. Until next time....Same bat time, same bat channel,
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Overmountain shelter

To: Roan Mtn, TN (town)
Miles today: 9.0

Left the shelter so late cause it was so fun to camp out and eat breakfast in bed! mmmmm oatmeal and tea!The last climbs for a bit started my day. went up @1000ft to little Hump mtn. within the first mile. Then the real Hump mtn. had great views. Just more bald views! Very windy but so much fun. Houston ridge views included.I descended into a rocky rocky path and passed 5-10 army guys in full uniform "training" on the AT. That's right! The AT is that badass, that army recruits are training on it. I feel like an Iron war hero, not really though, hehe. Really weird occurence happened also....I came up to what appeared to be the biggest black bear known to man (from behind) but when I let out an " OHHHHHH SHIT" it stood up and was a dairy cow. Then two of them: one female, one male (bull). It just stared for awhile so I snapped a couple pics. It was strange to see such a wild animal on the trail, like a dairy cow. I've heard of Wild, Wild Horsessssss but never wild cows.When the path leveled I saw a barbed wire fence that led downhill to a farm. They must've escaped the demands of fresh milking. The farmer must be drinking sour goods at the moment. The cows gave loud "mooooooo" as I descended away from the area. Good times!I finally saw a snake also that didn't scurry away as I staggered by. A gigantic black snake huge out of a hollow of a tree and layed coiled on a branch eye-level right next to the trail. I snapped a few of him and ran past on down the mtn.Another great day of hiking with no rain and not much pain but a short one at that! I got off at US-19E and visited the mountain harbor B&B hostel. Really nice place that sits atop a barn of billy goats. They had a guitar too!With TRAIL DAYS coming up I'm gonna rest the knees, ankles, caluses, blisters, and anything else swollen, infected, rashy, bloody, etc. and get some laundry and bathing done! Tomorrow is a zero followed by Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the throwdown at trail days!!!!!!!Basically, Trail days is a hikers paradise. Music, camping, beer, 5000 or so hiking community friends just having a good time and enjoying themselves on the TN/VA border in damascus, VA. When I get back on Monday (5/19) I will begin from Roan mtn., TN and hike the next 60 or so right back to Damascus and within a day cross 400 miles ladies and gents! Thank you and see you soon!!!
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Roan Mtn, TN (town)

To: Knoxville,TN
Miles today: 0.0

ZERO DAYGary picked me up in the tri-cities area and drove me back to relax and get some rest before trail days. I get to see Britt and have other enjoyment.My legs are doing ok. My ankles are really swollen and I'm soaking them right now.....party time in damascus soon......."walk a simple path, a simple way"Much love,
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Damascus,VA

To: here
Miles today: 0.0

TRAIL DAYS!hiker parade with water balloons and auper soakers....Beer at Dot's and a nice jukebox with Stones and CCRwalked around and checked out the town a bit, cops everywhere of course....met up with friends ahead and behind:Sanford, Geoff, Matchstick, Slurpee, Spiller, Cary, Donny(pretarian), Cheif, Mich Wolverine, Caboose, Dahwahe (sp?), Tailgunner, Big Stick (from day 1!), and a host of othersesp. finally meeting DIRTY FEET! WUT WUT EUGENE in da house!Ate dinner at Sicily's: spaghetti and a huge burger with two patties, with a jukebox also containing hits like "Shakedown Street" and "Fire on the Mtn."AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHfell asleep pretty early but got some great Newcastle for the tentsite!yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh,
Date: 2008-05-18
From: here

To: DAMASCUS
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

woke up to the sky wanting to open on us.... we packed the tent up quick like.walked back thru the overpriced vendors ($8 for a veggie burrito???!WTF) yeah right!made it to the Granite Gear tent and the founders offered us some cold corn that was de-lish.........thanked them for the awesome packs they continue to make grabbed some quick coffee and learned some history of the virginia creeper trail that ran right through town and crossed the AT. visited the outfitters in town, Mt.Rogers and Sundog. Transferred my mail drop to the sundog for when I hike back through since I'm already carrying a heavy load and I can make it to Damascus in two hiking days anyways. the sundog outfitters is a newer business to town but has a great staff and they have an unlimited supply of gear. another great coffee shop is nearby with espresso and coffee cakes, and leather couches and a classy feel for such a dumphole of a town.also got to visit THE PLACE, the hostel owned by the methodist church in the front that runs off of donations. it was cozy and looked nice. I might stay if its a rainy day otherwise I'm driving thru that town quickly.we left and went for some real food in nearby Abingdon,VA. It began to look hopeless until we found a nice organic, coffeeshop/cafe with great food options instead of the usual deep fried, pork wrapped, monodiglycerides, and just plain ole filler food. ZAZZY's I believe its called had the best selection for the hungry brunch tummyThis place made-to-order food......Britt had a veggie wrap with local organic greens and veggies in a italian dressing. I had an egg, feta, spinach, and tomato breakfast muffin...mmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm it was soooo great! thank you zazzy's!we left the area and headed for roan mtn, tn. en route we stopped in Hampton at the Kincora hostel (where I plan to stay) and checked out the ammenities. This place is the funk! They work on donation as well and have private outhouses with running water, showers, and tons of bunks. They also prepare huge dinners for the guests! Haven't met the owners but hope to enjoy this area with the laurel creek falls and the thicket forestlands that have been pleasing me so much lately. It just keeps getting better and better for the hike.much love,
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Knoxville,TN

To: nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

sooooooooooo i was talked into coming back into Knoxville.The rain is coming and my feet, shins, and knees can always use the rest.at least, that's what I told myself. All the time I get with Britt the better vacation from the vacation....ahhhh yeah,,,michael, if you read this, the heat is coming for eugene huh?the bloc party with STS9, bassnectar, pnuma...Bill Frisell.....Back to back awesomeness with Railroad Earth at the McDonald and thenRatdog at the Cuthbert!Dude, hope I can hike fast cause I hear the banjo music!Hello to other Eugeneians, LOVE YOU!Can't wait to be back home but still have lots of hiking to do"walk a simple path, a simple way",
Date: 2008-05-25
From: US-19E

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally made it back to the trail after 3 days off for Trail Days then 6 more off with Britt! Spent memorial day weekend at Watauga Lake at a nice spot for FREE!The day of hiking was full of flatlands but it seemed longer and I got bored at times. Laurel Fork had nice campingand a HUGE waterfall : Jones Falls was a great spot to break for snacking/lunchThe shelter never came too late and I ate a can of chili and some rolls from the marina at watauga. It was heavy to pack in, but worth the meal.Enjoyed a campfire and then hit the hay @ 10pm.not much to write home about
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 17.9

Earliest wake time today @ 6am...Hike into Dennis Cove (Kincora) was pie. Got there about 9am and took a shower, checked out the place, and made some calls home. There were big plans for a cookout that night so I was considering returning laterWhen I left and entered the next part of my journey; the camera died almost immediately.Missed pics of the Laurel Fork Falls but will def. return to this section at some point. Best falls yet; alot of day hikers abound throughout this part of the trail.Lots of perfume smells, clean clothes, kids, and couplesI hiked down into the falls with Jonathan, a kid from the area, who talked about hiking with me and his love of the outdoors. He was up from the tri-cities with his family. Went on my way, eventually, and while climbing up into the next shelter, laurel fork, met up with Warren. He's a real nice older guy hiking from birmingham using the alabama pinhote and Benton Mackaye trail and doing the rest of the AT. Over the next few days I will be hiking and camping with him...hope to see him again before leaving the trail.The terrain was perfect until the STEEP STEEP STEEP climb on Pond mtn. aka Pond flats. There is nothing flat about this mtn. except the 3 false summits. This has been the most difficult climb for me so far. By the top I was cursing a hefty amount The climb would never end and I was somehow dripping sweat with no sun out! No water at the top either like my companion claimed there to be. If I do this section again I will skip the Pond mtn..... There is a side trail 0.8 miles to 321 and then you can hitch to where pond comes down into 321 a couple miles down the road. You skip about 6 miles of trail doing this but its worth it if you have already hiked it before. Happy to be at Watauga lake and beach day use area I enjoyed the shoreline hike around the whole lake, taking in the fishermen, boats, sunbathers, and other campers. Really great camp spots here all the way to the dam. Finished the day hiking up to the Dam and crossing it looking into a valley on one side and the whole lake on the other. I met a couple that hitched me back down the dam rd. all the way from Siam, to Valley forge, to Hampton. The wife was from Portland and we chatted about the PNW for the drive. I found myself a Subway $5 12in. and a beer and hitched back to Kincora for a stay for the night... Got some laundry done, a bunk, and helpful generous company. Met back up with Warren and 3 ladies from Canada: Mama Maple, P/B, and Jam.Mother and sisters that shared their boston creme pie with me. The leftovers from dinner were added to mix as well: Pizza, dips, cookies, brownies, beans, and so on. Met back up with Chip (met him my 1st day!), and another group of 4 that included Tower and Granpa Joe. "walk a simple path, a simple way"........
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Watauga Dam

To: TN-91 (cross mtn rd.)
Miles today: 17.1

got back to my hard to get to spot at watauga dam @11am. The late start wasn't fun but I got plenty of food in me and hydration beforehand. Got more glimpses of the dam and watauga river and marinas. When I came to the first shelter, Vandeventer, the views behind it almost made me want to stay but I had to push on. It was situated on the side of the cliff and a nice rocky spot for a lunch break.Soon I met up with Hobo Joe and Feather::::::: It quickly turned my hiking schedule to mush... I breaked with them for @ 1hr. and then headed on.Caught up with Warren again and went back and forth with him for a few miles before catching up at the Iron mtn. shelter. It was 6pm and I wanted more of the day so I could not have a super hike into damascus the next day so I pushed on.Batteries for my steri-pen just died....they made it all the way from the NOC to this point, which is longer than I expected. The hike down into 91 included a memorial to a hermit, Nick Grindstaff, that"lived alone, suffered alone, and died alone" on his tombstone.What was weird is that there was a firering behind the memorial (signifying a campsite). i wouldn't camp there....When I made it to 91 it was near dark so I hitched into Shady Valley,TN hoping for a meal, a place to stay, and a small friendly town....and I needed the batteries. When I got there it was two general stores and a silo that read: Home of the Cranberry Festival. That it was it!It was some valley, surrounded by mtns. with nothing but farmland and a blinking light. The townspeople were sketch and it was 20 miles in any direction to a real town so I finally got a ride @ 10pm from some nice folks that happen to be at trail days and knew the deal with hikers. Thanks Laurie Bob!set up a tent site, on the trail, back a little from the roadway and enjoyed the hard rain as I slept.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: TN-91 (cross mtn rd.)

To: Damascus,VA
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: light rain

RAINED ALL DAY! It was fun though...Its really interesting to walk all day soaked, after awhile you don't notice anything. Not any views or anything spectacular but saw an old shelter from 1934, one of the trails oldest and is supposed to be used for emergency only since its so rinky dink. It is also a 4 person but could only hold 2 unless the four people were 4ft. tall. HA!Crossed the TN/VA border around 3pm and enjoyed the downhill all the way to Damascus! The town of trail days... its a vortex and money can be spent way too quickly here. Got some pics from the trail of a baby snake, possibly a rattler.It tried striking Granpa Joe's trekking poles a few times.Hiked the whole day with Granpa Joe and talked about everything and was probably the first time in a longggg time I hiked with someone.Stayed at THE PLACE hostel... owned by the methodist church and bunk central for hikers. The best place in town! Dot's was dinner and beer.... andgot my mail drops from sundog, where I sit typing this journal...Sending my tent home again and trying to lighten my load for the rest of my AT journey for now!The plans have changed and it won't be long till I'm off the AT.I need to go back to Eugene, be with Britt, and finish the rest of the trail next year.I plan to hike the first section of VA and go from there. Railroad Earth and RATDOG back to back in Eugene sounds great to me!!!!!much love to all,