morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-19
From: Clingman's Dome

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

Teach and I have decided to spend one more day in Gatlinburg, but we will be back on the trail Thursday morning rain or shine for the next 41 mile section. We already miss the trail but there are thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow and Teach has not been feeling 100% the last couple of days. Teach is my hiking partner and I'm staying with her. I checked my weight for the first time since starting the trail and I've lost 25 pounds. That's in the first 10% of the trail. I've lost count of the mountains we've climbed, but you burn a massive number of calories carrying a heavy backpack everyday. Most men who successfully hike the AT end up losing all of their body fat.Today I used the bathtub to try to find the leak in my Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pad and I found no less than 12 leaks. Some in the top, some in the bottom, and several around the air nozzle. I've only had the pad for three weeks. I'm going to go back to using a foam pad. They're bulky and not as comfortable but they're pretty much bullet proof. I didn't keep the receipt for the Big Agnes, so I probably can't get it exchanged. I'll ask at the local outfitter, but I'll probably end up throwing the thing away. I thought of mailing it home until I get to Trail Days in Damascus and then having it mailed back. I could probably get it replaced for free that way, but I would have to pay shipping costs both ways and I still wouldn't trust the thing to hold air.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We caught the 6:30 shuttle to Clingman's Dome. It was a very misty, rainy ride up the mountain, but it wasn't raining when we arrived. Actually, the views were amazing from the parking area at the dome, with the valleys below us filled with cloud and fog. We first had to walk the half mile from the parking lot up to the Dome itself to get back to the point where we had left the trail. I have to say that it's not very pretty at the Dome. There are dead and fallen trees everywhere. The hike down the mountain was filled with them. The hike to Newfound Gap was fairly easy. The skies cleared and the weather was nice. We took a break at the gap before hiking the other 3 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter. The shelter was nice with a great view, but the clouds and wind starting moving in and it started getting cold so we turned in early.
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

The hike today was filled with cloud, mist and fog. There were no views. We passed Charlies Bunion, but we didn't stop because of the cloud bank we were in. There's not much to report for the day. When the weather is bad, you don't even take breaks. You stop long enough to eat something and start trudging again. The sun finally tried to come out toward the end of the day, but it stayed cold and windy. We reached Tri Corner Knob Shelter about 4pm. Interestingly, the brothers Coach and Big Ben showed up. I had last hiked with them in the first 30 miles of the trail, but I lost them after that. I had been checking the trail registers, and they were consistently 3 to 4 days ahead. I was surprised when I saw them at the hotel in Gatlingburg. Big Ben hurt his knee, so they'd slowed down. Again I turned in early fire to the cold and wind.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

We decided to make an easy day of it today. We're still in the Smokeys, so we have to stay at the shelters. The first shelter was a little over 7 miles in and the second was 15. Maybe we should have done the 15, but we didn't. We've done 31 miles in the last 3 days though so we're not doing too bad. The weather was beautiful today, so we took our time and enjoyed the views. One good thing about getting to camp early is you get yup pick a good spot. It's about 7pm now and the shelter is full, the good tent spots are all taken and people are still coming in.Tomorrow we will hike 10 miles to the Standing Bear Hostel, at mile 238 and just outside the Smokeys. After that we can go back to camping where we want and don't have to be tied down to the shelters. We will resupply at the Hostel enough to get us to Hot Springs, NC.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning, for the first time since I've been on the hike, I saw a sunrise. Most of the time you don't see the sun until it rises above the trees. But our shelter had a good view of the mountains to the east. It was also the warmest morning we had seen since starting the Smokeys. For the first time I was able to start hiking without my capilenes. In fact it quickly turned into one of the hottest days we've had yet on the trail. The temperature hit 90°, and we had a 3300 foot descent into Davenport Gap. I've talked before about how painful long descents are. Your toes get smashed into the front of your boots and your knees are on fire. Long climbs may be tiring, but they don't hurt. Long descents equal pain. But we made it down of course and were rewarded with trail magic at Davenport Gap. Thanks to Mark, aka "Section 11", for quesadillas, chips, Snickers bars, Little Debbie's and Gatorade. It was extra special because the gap marked the end of the Smokeys. No more having to stay only at shelters. Now we can go back to camping where we want. The Smokeys were beautiful, but the rules and regulations are annoying. Anyway, after filling up at the gap, we hiked on to the Standing Bear Hostel. We got showered and did laundry and resupplied with food. We also took a ride up to a truck stop on I-40 to get fried chicken and ice cream. After breakfast tomorrow we'll start the 34 mile section to Hot Springs, NC. Tonight is a bunk at the hostel.
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 9.9

The first thing this morning was a 2400 foot climb out of Standing Bear Hostel. We were a few miles in when Teach said she was feeling dizzy and suddenly passed out. Fortunately we were on level ground at the time. She ended up laying in a bush. She had been stung by a bee yesterday and said she felt a little ill when she went to bed last night. She continued to feel light headed throughout the day. After the climb was a 1000 foot descent followed by another 900 foot climb and finally a 400 foot descent into Brown Gap at mile 248. It would have been another 1100 foot climb out of the gap and Teach was still feeling ill. There was no good water source in the gap and being by the road it didn't feel very safe either. By coincidence (sort of) the driver from the hostel was at the gap. He had come out to meet a friend of his who had hiked out of the hostel that morning. We ended up getting a ride back to the hostel to spend the night and we'll take the shuttle back to the gap in the morning if Teach is feeling better. She seems to be better after spending a few hours at the hostel. We met Jaffe and Journey at the hostel. They're a young couple we had met back in Franklin. Their going to take the shuttle to the gap with us so we can hike together. Reaching mile 248 today marked Teach's and my 200 mile anniversary. Tomorrow we'll go over Max Patch Bald. We were planning to camp on the bald tonight before Teach got ill, but oh well. Teach's health is more important.
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Brown Gap

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

We had to wait until 10 am to get a shuttle back to Brown Gap. We were joined by Japhy and Journey, a couple we had met back in Franklin. Teach was feeling mostly better after a good night's sleep and the hike went okay. We started with the 1100 foot climb to Max Patch Bald. I've read about Max Patch in many journals, so it was nice to actually be there. I got several pics which I will post to Facebook. I also took a short video which I will post to my Youtube page. Look for me under the user name "wraijthify". We wanted to eat lunch on the bald, but the wind was blowing at least 40 miles per hour, and was occasionally gusting so hard we were nearly being blown over. Instead we hiked down to the next shelter and ate there. I had gotten a weather forecast calling for a 70% chance of thunderstorms, so we booked it 5 miles to the next shelter as quickly as possible. The end of the day came with a steep climb up Walnut Mountain which wore us out. Walnut Mountain Shelter is the oldest shelter I've seen yet. They had recently replaced the roof, though, and left the wood from the old roof in a pile behind the shelter, so we used some of it to make a fire. The wind blew strongly all night, but the thunderstorms missed us. I got up about 1 am to use the bathroom and I could here thunder and see lightning off in the distance, but the skies overhead were completely clear. We decided to set an alarm for 6 am tomorrow and hike into Hot Springs.
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up at 6 am and headed out for Hot Springs. The rain held off except for a little 2 minute shower about noon. The hike in made for 75 miles since Teach and I took a day off, so we decided we would take a zero day in Hot Springs before starting the next 70 mile section to Erwin, TN. Japhy and Journey have joined us and will hike with us for awhile. We had another 2000 foot descent early in the day which wore me out. The climbs are actually fairly easy for me, you just take them slow, but those long descents are killers. There's no recovering from those. We took an hour break for lunch at a shelter a few miles short of town, but my toes wouldn't stop pounding, and then we had another horribly steep descent into town. My toes and knees definitely need a day off. As soon as we walked into town we saw the Smoky Mountain Diner and decided to stop in for a cold drink. It was funny, Japhy and I were talking about wanting a bacon cheeseburger while we were hiking in, and when we walked into the diner, we saw a bacon cheeseburger being cooked on the grill. Well, that's all it took. And I can say the burgers at Smoky Mountain Diner are definitely worth the trip. I highly recommend them. We decided to splurge and get hotel rooms instead of staying at Elmer's hostel, even though it's very popular. I haven't had a room to myself since Hiawassee, 200 miles ago. Sometimes having your own bathroom is worth spending the extra money. Right now we're sitting in the hotel restaurant listening to people sing karaoke. Call me uptight if you want, but you couldn't get me up there at gunpoint. Tomorrow will be spent doing laundry and getting supplies and basically just relaxing. There's supposed to be major thunderstorms with possible tornados coming through tonight, so it's definitely a good day to be indoors. I hope all those on the trail tonight will be okay.The hotel where we're staying has wifi, but no cell signal. So I have been able to update my journal, but I can't make any phone calls. Well, I'm tired, so I'll write more tomorrow. Bye for now.
Date: 2011-04-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

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

Today was spent relaxing and resupplying. We stayed at the Iron Horse Hotel. The owner, Jim and his sister, Barbara were very nice to us and gave us a nice discount on our rooms. Teach talked me into trying a mineral bath at the Spa. I found it to be very enjoyable. The brothers Coach and Big Ben came into town around noon. They're going to stay in the campground.The nice thing about staying in a trail town is you don't have to wait for a shuttle back to the trail. The AT runs down the sidewalk through town. Step out the hotel door and there you are.Tomorrow we'll have breakfast before starting the 70 mile section to Erwin, TN. The weather is supposed to be beautiful for the next few days.
Date: 2011-04-29
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 11.4

We decided to take our time today getting out of town. Teach went over to the spa to take another mineral bath. After that she bought us all lunch at a cafe by the hotel. We said goodbye to the brothers and headed out about 1 pm. Barbara from the hotel joined us for the first hour and a half. The weather was beautiful. Teach was happy because Barbara offered to carry her pack for awhile to see how it felt. She had to work at 5 pm so she said goodbye to us after the first few miles.I want to stop focusing so much on the ups and downs and and how hard the hiking is each day. It's the AT. It's up and down and hard everyday. That's life out here. I'd like to start focusing more on what we experience each day. It's hard through because it's usually at the end of the day that you're trying to write your journal. You've been hiking all day, you're tired and sleepy and you've just eaten and you can hardly keep you're eyes open. The days begin to blend together and you have to ask your hiking partners: "Where did we eat lunch today? Was it by the lake?" "No, that was yesterday. Today we had lunch up on the rocks, remember?" I can't remember anything particularly interesting that happened today so that's why I'm writing about how hard it is to write your journal when you're sleepy. We did come upon a fire tower with an amazing 360° view.Anyway, we rolled into camp just after sunset, pitched our tents next to the shelter, had a quick dinner and turned in about 9.
Date: 2011-04-30
From: Spring Mtn. Shelter

To: Jones Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 10.8

We packed up and headed out around nine. We've decided to take our time and enjoy ourselves instead of racing up the trail to try to do a bug number of miles in this terrain when we're not ready for it. The miles will come, but this terrain with the big ups and downs is tough. Right now we're still doing 10 to 12 miles a day on average. We're happy with that right now though. I will be glad when the terrain gets easier. We found trail magic today coming down into one of the gaps. Singing Sister and her husband Mr. Blister were handing out bagels with cream cheese and peanut butter, as well a milk and water. I haven't had a glass of milk since starting the trail. It was wonderful. I had three of them and three bagels. The water was also welcome since the gap had no good water source and we were running low. Right now we're at a campsite at mile 293. There's a trail maintainer here who has a nice fire going to drive away the bugs. I don't think we have a particular destination in mind tomorrow. We'll just see where the trail takes us.
Date: 2011-05-01
From: Jones Meadow Campsite

To: Flint Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 10.5

I didn't get much sleep last night, so this might be a short entry. I can keep hardly keep my eyes open. My tent was on a bit of a slope so I kept sliding down to the bottom of my tent. It was sleep half an hour and them crawl back up to the top of my tent, over and over. The weather today was a bit cooler, which for hiking was fine with me. Tomorrow we're going to get an early start. We want to hike 11 miles to Sams Gap, and try to get a ride into Erwin. Teach has been sick the last couple of days. We'll probably stay the night and come back the next day. Some people might criticize us for making too many town stops, but it's our hike and until the terrain gets easier, we're going to take care of ourselves. We're just trying to have some fun out here and the hiking everyday day is very hard work. Anyway, I'm really sleepy now so I'm turning in. Bye for now.
Date: 2011-05-02
From: Flint Mtn. Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: broken clouds

We decided to hike to Devil Fork gap and get a ride into Erwin. It looks like Teach may have picked up some kind of bug on the trail, or possibly has food poisoning. She spoke to a local pharmacist who recommended some medicine and suggested she take a day off. We're going to go ahead and take a zero tomorrow so she can rest and recover. In case anyone is wondering, Teach is my hiking partner. We've been together for 250 miles, and if she needs a day off, I'm staying with her. That's what partners do. We'll finish the hike, even if we have to flip flop. Neither of us wants to do that, though, and we've still got more than 5 months left, so there's plenty of time.Coach had a good point when I last saw him in Hot Springs. He said "Remember, it's not the miles, it's the smiles." Now I don't usually care much for advice that rhymes, but that one really made me think. There are hikers out here that are doing 20 miles or more almost everyday, but they don't seem for the most part to be having much fun. They behave like getting done with the hike in the least possible amount of time is an absolute necessity. I don't get it. If you care about nothing but covering as much ground as possible everyday, you're missing the point of being out here. I want to hike. And I want to enjoy doing it. Right now the terrain is very hard, but Teach and I are both much stronger than we were a month ago. Teach hates the uphills, but she's doing them twice as fast as she was a month ago. I hate the downhills, but I've figured out that if I turn my body a little to the right and then after a few minutes to the left, and then back to the right and so on, so that I'm almost stepping down sideways, it puts much less pressure on my toes and I can go much faster. It still hurts, just not as much.Well anyway, I hope that those of you who are following my hike (as well as Teach's) will continue to support us. I should also mention that Teach and I will be hiking alone again. Japhy and Journey are not returning to the gap with us, but we wish them well.
Date: 2011-05-03
From: Erwin TN

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

Well, there's been a not completely unexpected turn of events. Due to pretty much nonstop back pain, Teach has decided to leave the trail. I kind of saw it coming. After all, I've been hiking right behind her for 250 miles, and I've seen the pain she's been in everyday. I'm glad to be able to say that I stood by her side to the end.For now, I'll be on my own. I might hike with others for short periods, but I'm kind of looking forward to hiking on my own for awhile.Today I zeroed in Erwin with Teach. She leaves tomorrow to head back home to New Jersey. We'll say goodbye in the morning and I'll catch a shuttle back to the trail. I don't intend to do any more zeroes for awhile. I'm not going to try to predict it though. I'll take one when I need one. We left the trail about 32 miles short of Erwin. So I'll hike back through in 2 or 3 days. I won't zero. I'm receiving a mail drop here when I come back through. If it's a really big one, I might have to get a ride to the post office so I can forward some of it down the trail. If it's not too big I'll just pack up and head out the same day. Let's not get too far ahead though.The next couple of days will be a bit awkward getting used to hiking without Teach.
Date: 2011-05-04
From: Erwin TN

To: Bald Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 16.1

I caught the shuttle back to Devil Fork Gap and got started about 10:30. Even with the late start, I had the highest mileage day I've had yet: 16.1 miles. I had a 1600 foot climb to start, followed by a 600, a 700, and a 1700 footer. There's no way I could have hiked that distance in that terrain two months ago.It was difficult hiking without Teach by my side. I spent most of the day listening to my Ipod to keep my mind occupied. I had intended to hike in about ten miles to a campsite and stop for the day, but the spring there was pretty much dry. I didn't have much water with me so I decided to move on, even though it was 6 more miles to the shelter with a big climb over Bald Mountain. There's a large bald on top, sort of like Max Patch. When I got close enough to see it, I wished I had stayed back at the campsite even without much water. I could see the trees at the top were covered with ice. The temperature was dropping and the wind was picking up. Even so the steep climb had me sweating. By the time I made it up to the bald, I was soaked with sweat in 40 mile per hour winds in sub freezing temperatures. The trees and bushes were all covered with ice. Even so, I stopped to take a couple of quick videos. The view was one of the most beautiful I'd seen yet, with the sun low and shining through holes in the clouds. I wish I could have stayed longer, but if I'd stopped moving, I would have frozen.I had to get to the shelter as fast as possible, and hope that it was out of the wind. It was about a half mile down the other side of the mountain, and thankfully, it did turn out to be out of the wind. I ended up putting on every piece of clothing I had and huddling in my sleeping bag all night. I was actually warm enough, but I was so uncomfortable with all I was wearing I could hardly sleep.
Date: 2011-05-05
From: Bald Mtn. Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

I packed up and got out of camp at 6:30. It was freezing, with temps in the low 20's. The only way to get heat in that situation is to make it. It's hard to be cold while hiking, at least for me. That's why I was able to get over the bald yesterday in freezing temperatures and 40 mile per hour winds while soaked with sweat. As long I kept moving, I was okay. But as soon as I stopped At the shelter I started to freeze. Even in May, you need a 20 degree sleeping bag in these mountains. Not every day, but you don't want to be caught without one with weather like we had yesterday.It was nice and sunny today, and after a couple of hours, it was very comfortable and I was back in short sleeves. What a difference a day makes. The first shelter was 10 miles in. I got there about 1 pm. It shouldn't have taken so long, but I was still tired from yesterday and I had gotten little sleep. Even so, there was no way I was going to stop at 1 o'clock with just 6 miles to town. I was stiff and sore. I had started the day at 5200 feet and had to descend to 1700 to get to town. I made it in about 5. I got a bunk at the hostel at Uncle Johnny's. Tomorrow I will relax here at the hostel a good part of the day. I'm very tired. I still don't have the conditioning to do 16 miles every day. If I was half my age and 100 pounds lighter, it would be easy. It's still going to take a while. Give me another month or so. I will probably just hike 5 miles to the first shelter to allow myself time to recover.
Date: 2011-05-06
From: Erwin TN

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was the first day I can remember that I woke up and felt like I just didn't want to be on the trail. Not that I didn't want to hike, I just didn't want to be on the trail at all. Teach leaving the trail affected me a lot more than I thought it would. I was persuaded by Grimm, a hiker I've met up with from time to time on the trail, to take a day off to get my head together. It's hard to explain my feelings because I don't understand them myself right now. Anyway, I'm starting here tonight and I'll head back out on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2011-05-07
From: Erwin TN

To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm actually writing this while I'm still at the hostel, but I wanted to get it in while I have a signal. I'm heading out today about 3 pm. I'm just going to do about 5 miles to the first shelter.I don't know why, but I find myself nervous about hiking today. I've hiked 340 miles to get here, so why should I be nervous? I'm having a lot of trouble getting used to a Teach not being here. As for the hike itself, I am not going to go homehome. I'm here for the long haul. But i can't think about Maine or 2180 miles. I've got to take it a day at a time and one town at a time. More than anything, I've got to start injecting some fun into my hike. There's no point in being here if I'm not enjoying myself.It's going to take a few days to get my feelings sorted out, but I'll be on the trail and that's the best place for me to be. Just bear with me and help cheer me on, please. As usual, it may be a few days before I have a signal, so I'll update my journal when I can.