morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Franklin
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: light rain

6/12/09 - Friday - Standing Indian Shelter to Franklin - 23.5 trail miles, downhill. (actual walk was about 11 miles), Day 10Another storm at 5:30 AM woke me up and I bagged everything in the tent and rested on top of my pad to wait out the storm. Coffee and Poptart revived me but I decided to shortcut the trip to Franklin. The PO closes tomorrow at noon. I need Advair since I've been out for 2 days and can't afford to miss the pickup. I could spend another night in the woods, at Rock Gapp, and still manage it. But if I can hike it I'll try to reach Franklin tonight.On Lower Ridge Trail there was a family of Ruffed Grouse. This trail descends Standing Indian towards the state campground. At the top of Standing Indian I watched 2 male Canada Warblers, my first ones. They phish easily and I brought them in to about 10 feet. At the camp store the hounds I heard earlier are still chasing a problem bear away. There's no hunting here but the campground brought in hunters with their dogs to drive the bear away. This is National Forest and the helpers at the camp store are here from Kansas. The camp store is modern but all the talk is very slow, rural North Carolina.Saw a Blue-Headed Vireo (solitary vireo) on the roadwalk out of the campground. This was just when I passed the hunters with dogs.Nice ride to Franklin, from an Ohio woman who now works at an Franklin historic inn. She gave me a diet Sierra Mist and drove me right to the door. It's high priced, and there are no hikers here. The town is too spead out for any connections. Got supper from Dominoe's and ate in my room. The Waksi Mound (sp?) is a neat piece of Cherokee history. Today I walked 5.3 miles on the AT, about 6 miles non-AT, so a skip of 12 miles.Finished Augusten Burroughs "Running with Scissors" this morning.
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Franklin

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: light rain

6/13/09 - Saturday - Franklin to Siler Bald Shelter - 3.7 miles, 1200' ascent, Day 11Walked a lot in town, first to the PO where I picked up my meds and mailed extra stuff to Harpers Ferry. walk to the motel, repack and cleanout of the room by 11 AM. I spent almost 2 hours on the computer sending messaged and trying to recharge the MP3. The player hasn't worked since I started this hike, except for short periods. (It gets worse and quits).Then walk to the ATM, walk to Ingles to shop, walk to Bojangles (past Rt. 64) hicken lunch and then walk back to Rt. 64 to stand in the hot sun. The hitch took about 30 minutes.A man & woman picked me up, slightly older than me I think. They volunteer for the local maintaining club and they wanted to stop along the way. I got to see the cabin, we returned table & chairs to the building. I saw some old Mt. Oglethorpe and other signs. The Oglethorpe sign was of plywood so it was definitely post WW 2 vintage. They brought me to the trail and I started walking at 2:30 PM. Then a T-storm hit pretty hard and soaked me while I waited it out above the trail. I looked for birds along the way. There's a long blue blaze here to the shelter, almost .5 miles. Arrived about 5:30 and met Steve and Charlotte (again). I had talked with them the day before when I stopped to leave a message in the register at Rock Gap Shelter. (message for Appy & Pappy about pickup in the Smokies). Steve is disabled in legs & hips and takes all day to go about 7 miles.Bear activities started around 6:30 PM and go to 8:30, as dark occurs. Bear left after we removed the food bags from the bear cables and put in a high tree, not in view. Steve worked hard at making a smoky fire, the wood is all wet here. I used up my candles all night. I think Steve & Charlotte were glad to have me around.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

6/14/09 - Sunday - Siler Bald Shelter to Cold Spring Camp - 12.1 miles, 2200' ascent, Day 12Barred owl at Burningtown Gap. Canada warbler at Wayah Bald. Bear in camp first thing this morning at 6:30 AM. It moved off right away but it was lying down inside the shelter, too close for all of us. It's a tough climb along the blue blaze trail to reach Siler Bald where it joins the AT. A weird guy with tatoos and no pack was walking in the area of the shelter as I left this morning. He said he's from Franklin, and likes to walk in the woods. Well, it's Sunday so perhaps he's just what he says but it seems a long way into the woods for just a walk with no pack, water or snacks. It made me suspicious. Today I'm tired from all the events last night combined with no sleeping well in the shelter. I was in my tent but I was self-conscious with Steve & Charlotte nearby. It's a nice day today, no hint of rain, with mild temperatures. Nice! On the way up Wayah Bald I phished for birds but found only 1 friendly Black-Throated Blue. These birds are pretty reliable for my call. I did a road walk for the last 2 miles to Wayah Bald. This is where I left Steve & Charlotte. Nice clear views along the road, and no traffic. There's a spring right at the road for the AT here. I rested a bunch at Wayah Bald, had a lunch, tried to sleep and watched birds. I knew that Charlotte & Steve are staying at the Wayah Shelter and that's where I'll say goodbye to them. They are getting of the trail at NOC anyway so it's only 2 more days for their trip and then Steve heads to grad school in NY.Took pictures and said goodbye at Wayah Shelter. They are from Alabama, via CT and Medford, MA (Tufts, I think). They're northerners stuck in the South. The last climb from the gap to the shelter was a strain for me but in general I feel a lot stronger than the start of this trip. That's after 11 days on the trail. There are no flat surfaces around so I set up in the ancient shelter. But then I notice that the bear cables are destroyed with lots of bag cords stuck in the trees. I rethink my situation with this bad sign in front of me. I watched a Chestnut-Sided while it took a bath in the spring, made and ate my supper, one that was very restful and relaxing with the water tinkling in the background and I get to sit on a nice wooden bench. But I decide to scout around and find the overflow area is N on the trail, and uphill on the ridge. I tear down my tent and start to setup as it gets towards dark. As I'm doing this a couple walk in, asking me questions that they should know the answer to. They look dazed from the trail, can't process my answers & I start to resent that I'll have them as neighbors.I think they're rude. So I mention where I'm camping, and ask them not to camp too close to me. It's a beautiful spot up on the ridge with views and very private near a big rock outcrop.
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Cold Spring Camp

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

6/15/09 - Monday - Cold Spring Camp to Nantahala Outdoor Center - 11.5 miles, 1300' ascent, Day 13-skink at Tellico Gap-2nd chickadee since Springer at the Jump Up.-2 snakes, the first since the rattlesnake on the approach trail. These are a small black snake and a garter snake.-the trail has definite "character" from the Jump Up, heading N for the next 2 miles. A nice sense of boreal forest in a very small section.- warm, clear up top, and hot & steamy below. - Got to the NOC about 5 PM, had a quick sandwich at SloJoe's - walk to campsite about 8 PM. The river has changed so there's a lot of dead water and the mosquitoes are fierce. I opted for the island but someone is camped at the point. I moved to a spot along the trail but it means that I'm not hidden.
Date: 2009-06-16
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

6/16/09 - Tuesday - Rest day at NOC - 0 miles, Day 14The neighbor came by, he's young & cute, works as a guide. He suggests I go for a ducky ride. The plans went pretty smooth, breakfast in camp & then I packed my pack for the day, leaving nothing of value at the campsite.
Date: 2009-06-17
From: NOC

To: Simp Gap, plus a little bit
Miles today: 12.0

6/17/07 - Wednesday - NOC to Simp Gap + 1/4 mile - 12.0 miles, 3900' ascent, Day 1510:30 AM start today. - baby bird on trail out of nest, perhaps a junco. - Box turtle on trail, the first this trip. - Nice Red-Eyed Vireo on the climb up.
Date: 2009-06-18
From: Simp Gap, plus a little bit

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: light rain

6/18/08 - Thursday - Simp Gap + to Fontana Hilton - 16.7 miles, 3200' ascent, Day 16I got an 8:30 start after squeezing water from many items and reached Stecoah Gap & the road at 9:30.
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

6/19/09 - Friday - Rest Day at Fontana - 0 miles, Day 17- phone at Visitor Center doesn't work - small ice cream sandwich is $2.50, they can keep it. - nice lady from Kentucky works here - fill out form in back of the toilets for entry to the NP - $3 (paid $5) for a shuttle to the Village from here. - I sent a small package to Harpers Ferry
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

6/20/09 - Saturday - Fontana Hilton to Spence Field Shelter - 16.7 miles (need ascent numbers), Day 18(need some information about the ascent, I remember there was some storm damage along the way and I stopped to look at Shuckstack.)(got an early start because of the heat) - early supper at Mollies Ridge Shelter with a large group. There are at least 7 tents and a full shelter. This is Fathers Day Weekend and most are men and sons. I move on to arrive at Spence Field by 8:15 PM. The shelter is full so I set up. These people all know each other and aren't very welcoming.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: moderate rain

6/21/09 - Sunday - Spence Field to Derrick Knob shelter - 6.3 miles (need ascent numbers), Day 19I got a late start after my 2 cups of coffee and slow Sunday breakfast. The last of the group of 8 hung around with me and I started on a long dialogue about trail shelter etiquette. Party of 8 here were rude and inhospitable last night and again this morning. This last guy seemed to understand and wanted to know how to do it better.The rain had come early, about 6 AM and flooded my tent & gear before I woke. All is wet & heavy so I need a sunny afternoon if possible.
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6/22/09 - Monday - Derrick Knob to Newfound Gap - 18 miles (need ascent numbers), Day 20The first half of the day are heavy to moderate rains with some clearing going on at lower altitudes. In the morning I waited for a clear section and then headed out in heavy mist with dripping trees. But by the time I reach Silers bald Shelter it was all heavy rain again, the trail just a big puddle. A man & woman come in and ask me what shelter this is, and then head through it into the woods. They come back and ask "where is the trail?" Clueless I guess.I wait again while I snack and head off in lighter rains (off & on) to Double Spring Gap Shelter. This one is nice, just recently rebuilt. I eat my lunch and then head out in light rain.
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Newfound Gap

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

6/23/09 - Tuesday - Newfound Gap to Pecks Corner - 10.4 miles, (need ascent numbers), Day 21 - spent night at Appy & Pappy in Gatlinburg, TN. V8 and coffee and banana for breakfast. Pack and made food list to shop. I have too much food after last nights food gift but still need some lunches, a camera and a book to read. - Pappy gave me the Jean Auel book. - Got Appy's account on Trailjournals started & showed him how to do it. In 2010 he will be finishing his section hike of the entire AT,
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

6/24/09 - Wednesday - Pecks Corner to Cosby Knob - 12.9 miles, (need ascent numbers), Day 22Sunny and cool in the morning. had an 8:30 start, 12:30 at Tri-Corner Knob shleter, stoned for the afternoon walk with my MP3 player. The player jammed now and then. - Saw a bear walking slowly away from me directly ahead on the trail, he didn't hear me but sauntered off the trail. It's my 3rd bear for this trip I think. - looked for birds up here and heard at least 5 different sounds from the juncos. I phished the Black-Throated Blues a bunch today. Craig and Greg Balog are here at Cosby Knob, cousins out for the Newfound Gap to Davenport section.
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

6/25/09 - Thursday - Cosby Knob to Standing Bear Farm - (10.4 miles), not much ascent, Day 23 - 9 AM start, last night a mouse ate a hole in my food bag as it hung on the bear cable. - 1 PM - after lunch, Canada Warbler and then a 1-year-old bear in the woods about 25 feet away. I'm moving downhill and the bear is moving uphill parallel to the trail. Later on as I come around a corner I see another large animal, probably another boar since it moved too quickly to be a bear and was dark. - Visit to Davenport Gap Shelter for water at 2:15 PM. The shelter has been modified in the addition of outside cooking & a skylight but it still retains the chain link fence and gate.
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 13.6

6/26/09 - Friday - Standing Bear Farm to Max Patch - 13.6 miles, 4600' ascent, Day 24 (252.0)11:45 AM start after coffee, eggs and potatoes. I made extra for Curtis and the other men from FL. Tried to teach the FL guys about how to pack lighter. They gave me a bunch of food. 2.5 hours to Snowbird Summit & lunch. With my binoculars I can see the Lookout back in the park from here. As I ate Sequoyah disappeared into clouds and it became overcast so perhaps rain is coming. I moved well going down Snowbird to Brown Gap. Found water in the nettles in the gap. I'm tired and it's slow going to Max Patch Road. As I left Brown Gap a SoBo hiker, looked like a thruhiker, may have been Dakota from yesterday. He's heading to Groundhog Shelter coming from Hot Springs in one day - 25.9 miles!
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

6/27/09 - Saturday - Max Patch to Deer Park Shelter - 16.6 miles, 2400' ascent, Day 25 (268.6) - Lounged a bit reading my book. - Totally fogged in this morning with some wind so everything is moist.
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: broken clouds

6/28/09 - Sunday - Deer Park to Hot Springs - 3.2 miles, 200' ascent, Day 26 (271.8) - There is a college group here from Davidson College doing their Fall Freshmen Leadership - these kids will lead the incoming freshmen at the end of summer. - Lots of motorcycles in town - and last night the music was very loud, even 3 miles from the town. - I've been averaging 10.5 miles each day.
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: near Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

6/29/09 - Monday - Hot Springs to .5 mi S of Allen Gap - 14.2 miles, 4000' ascent. Day 27 (286.0)I took 2 pictures of grave markers just after Hurricane Gap and before Spring Mountain Shelter.I watched a new butterfly, looked like the regular brown one but with black instead and rounded edges, not sharp one.Plenty of Indigo Buntings, in pairs along the hike ove Spring Mountain. The males have lots of gray right now.At 5:30 PM found definite Worm-Eating Warbler, my first one! This is definite, no doubt although I saw one earlier on this trip. It phished easily and stayed on the ground.At 6:30 PM, 2 hours past the last shelter it's obvious that I missed a water source and I'm pissed off. There are dribbles at one spot that is a running source in springtime. I get my water and camp off the trail near the water. This is the last spot before the long downhill into Allen Gap and the road.
Date: 2009-06-30
From: near Allen Gap

To: Jerry Cabin
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

6/30/09 - Tuesday - Allen Gap to Jerry Cabin - 12.2 miles, 3300' ascent. Day 28 (298.2)No good water at the Gap so I have to push on to Little Laurel Shelter. Along the way I spot some turkeys (Mom and 2 chicks about 1 mile from the Gap) and meet the local maintainer. I ask about the dog the boy is looking for.Gorgeous, clear and breezy today but I was cold last night. Of course I just sent my sleeping bag to Harpers Ferry...
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Jerry Cabin

To: Hogbackridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

7/1/09 - Wednesday - Jerry Cabin to Hogbackridge Shelter - 14.7 miles, 2900' ascent. Day 29 (312.9)No bear activity through the night, I was on my guard though and checked several times.I was camped at Jerry Cabin and got flooded in my tent overnight from a 3:00 AM storm. Got a 9:30 start after doing damage control.The rain has soaked everything and the fields are so deep in grass that I can just barely see over them at times. Of course it's wet going but the 2 couples ahead of me have shaken some water off the trail.11:00 AM the sun is trying to break out.Took a long break at the shelter, ate lunch and wrote in the register, something I seem to do less and less on these hikes.
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Hogbackridge Shelter

To: Whistling Gap
Miles today: 13.5

7/2/09 - Thursday - Hogbackridge Shelter to Whistling Gap - 13.5 miles, 2500' ascent. Day 30 (326.4)Cold again, even colder than the last few nights. And me without a sleeping bag, I just curl up in my clothes. I add the silnylon ground sheet to wrap around me and it's enough to sleep. First thing in the morning the radio tells me it's 56 F in town at ETSU, Johnson City, TN, so the high last night at this spot was about the mid-40's. I slept OK but only in bits & pieces. This is the 4th cold night in a row! The forecast has a warming trend coming.I met Ian (the boy looking for his hound named Metal,
Date: 2009-07-03
From: Whistling Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

7/3/09 - Friday - Whistling Gap to Erwin (Uncle Johnie's) - 13.5 miles, 2500' ascent. Day 31 (339.9)Once I reached Spivey Gap I opted for the raod walk instead of the AT. At first it's an overgrown dirt road with a hint of horse travel. It parallels the paved road and stays in sight of it for a mile or two. Then it heads up as a legitimate dirt road to a gap, and here I meet up with some horse people. One horse freaks out but I'm far from it and the rider isn't bothered.I get to No Business Knob shelter at 2 PM, lots of memories from 1997. I clean up the place and take the book remnants with me. One is a childrens biography of Thomas Jefferson, in exchange I leave half of the Jean Auel book that I've been so bored with.
Date: 2009-07-04
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7/4/09 - Saturday - Rest day in Erwin - 0 miles, 0 ascent. Day 32 (339.9)So things have fallen apart on me here. I'm informed there's no breakfast shuttle, and then I embarrass them into a correction and Big Glen gives me a ride to town. After this confusion, and the cold reception last night, I settle up and ask to go to the breakfast place in town with my pack. There's an attempt to keep me there, in the way of apology and sympathy but I insist and hurry to pack everything and get out of there.
Date: 2009-07-05
From: Erwin, TN

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

7/5/09 - Sunday - Erwin to Deep Gap - 12.1 miles, ??? ascent. Day 33 (352.0)The morning hike is completely alone, the long road walk out of erwin must've been 2 miles. The woods were very nice climbing up to the Iron Mountain area.(Just before the road walk I met a woman and dog at a high point on the trail, not sure if it was here or just before I headed up Roan Mtn from Hughes Gap.)I tried a road walk and then got disoriented in the fog at top. The weather is overcast and threatening and I was hiking up into the clouds. I tried one dirt road after the other to find the trail, surprised a guy in his truck at one point.
Date: 2009-07-06
From: Deep Gap

To: near Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

7/6/09 - Monday - Deep Gap to Clyde Smith Shelter - 14.1 miles, ??? ascent. Day 34 (366.1)In the morning it was a slow start. Met a husband and wife who are hiking to Erwin for a few days. I was on a long descent to a gap sometime in the morning. I didn't meet anyone else until the evening at Clyde Smith. I ate, got water and then moved on to sleep on my own at the next highpoint. Beautiful campsite up here well off the trail on my own. Almost as relaxing and nice as the evening near Allen Gap.woman and man at Clyde smith aren't hiking together. The woman is preparing for a thruhike, the guy is a worker I've met at the ATC office in Harpers Ferry.
Date: 2009-07-07
From: near Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: few clouds

7/7/09 - Tuesday - Clyde Smith Shelter to Overmountain Shelter - 12.9 miles, ??? ascent. Day 35 (379.0)The first thing in the morning is reaching Hughes Gap. (BTW, there are several relos from Erwin to here, not sure if they make the trip any easier but the trail is in good condition.) It's a huge climb to get up Roan Mtn, to Roan High Knob from here, 2.6 miles and 2280' ascent. I manage it in 2 hours flat, a lot better than my hike in 1997 when I called it a 2 Snickers Bar climb and felt torn up by the experience. Then it was an end-of-day hike, today I was somewhat fresher.Lunch at the top in the sun, a tuna package sitting on a sidetrail. Some tourists walked by and stared, I'm sure them were wondering what I was.
Date: 2009-07-08
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: US 19E, Kincora
Miles today: 9.2

7/8/09 - Wednesday - Overmountain Shelter to US 19E, Kincora- 9.2 miles, ?? ascent. Day 36 (??)Otto wants to help me out and get me to Bob's. He knows that Bob has returned from Spain and I'd prefer to slackpack around here. Ottos takes my pack and I head to 19E for a pickup. From there I will get to Kincora.The walk up the Humps is pretty, weather is mild but not warm. My very first Vesper Sparrows are on the trail and I see quite a few. Nice! I can see the white in the tail, the breast mark, light streaking, dark mark on lower face, thick bill and dull colors. It's a friendly bird on the rocks, bushes and twigs all on the ascent of Big Hump.
Date: 2009-07-09
From: US 19E, Kincora

To: US 321, Kincora
Miles today: 8.9

7/9/09 - Thursday - US 321 to Dennis Cove Road, Kincora - 8.9 miles. Day 37 (??)This is a slackpack day, a hiker named Joe wants to do this as well so we get the 8 AM ride to Watauga Lake and we stay together for the first few miles. Then he heads off and gets ahead of me. I want to listen to the radio, walk a bit slower. Joe is on his 2nd section hike, he's from Nebraska. He's an older college student who has worked on the Alaska North Slope for the money. He carries 60+ pounds in his pack and I've told him to lighten up, told him what a slackpack is, etc. His frist section was from Springer to Erwin and he carried 90 pounds in Jan. and Feb. He's big, 220 lbs. but surprised that I've hiked so far, so fast and have no pains and I'm not limping as he is. He's got a lot to learn but he seems willing.
Date: 2009-07-10
From: US 321, Kincora

To: US 321, Kincora
Miles today: 0.0

7/10/09 - Friday - Rest Day at Kincora, sick - 0 miles, 0 ascent. Day 38 (??)I'm not up to the challenge of another slackpack, either from US 91 (20 miles) or from 19 E (23 miles). This hike might be over.