morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-11
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Started at: Plumorchard Gap ShelterEnded at: Standing Indian ShelterMiles: 12.2!!!!We set out today for the N. Carolina border today, yippy! We made it pretty early...it was a small wood sign on a tree with a metal pipe pointing in the directions of the border line. It was very exciting because it was our first of many smaller goals to accomplish. These smaller goals are what keep you going forward. At this point though, these goals also remind you how small a percentage of the trail we have actually done. Anyway, 1 state down and 13 to go. In two days we will hit the one hundred mile mark! At this point we wil be 1 / 22 done with the trail!!So we crossed the state line thinking the trail would be no different, but we were wrong. Almost immediately, the trail became super steep and stayed that way for miles. It was a very rude welcome to NC.   Arwen & Heather Vaughanvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-12
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap Campsite
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Sarting at: Standing Indian ShelterEnding at: Betty Creek Gap CampsiteMiles: 11.3I got my hiking legs today!!! I guess it started yesterday when we all noticed a spike in our appetites and hiking more miles seemed easier. Well today my appetite doubled (seriously doubled!!) and I could have hiked 20 miles, but I didn't want to go ahead of everybody. We have a good group of people here and we are all going to hang together for a while. Unfortunately, we are losing one in our group named Nuffy. She came here from Australia to do the trail but is really missing her family. She is very tired as well. We will miss her...she is very nice.    We walked for miles today through fully enclosed tunnels of rodedendron trees. They completely cover the trail, letting very little light through. You would hardly know you were walking on the ridgeline of pretty tall mountains, but periodically the trees disappear and you can see the other mountains and the horizon in all directions...completely breathtaking. Tomorrow we will make it to Franklin to resupply and we will be forced to take a day off because the post office is closed on Sunday. We wil pick up our packages early Monday and hike the rest of the day. I was tempted to go ahead today so I could pick up our package before noon on Saturday, but everyone talked me out of it...probably best. Arwen PS. This coming week we're turning over a new leaf. We've decided it must be a bit dull for you, dear reader, to have us blather on about how many rocks and sticks we passed in a day. It's all been so new to us, we had to share every mundane detail. But now that we're starting to get the hang of things, all this walking lends itself to a lot of thinking. So we'll try to share some of those thoughts with you.Cheers,Arwen & Heather Vaughanvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-13
From: Betty Creek Gap Campsite

To: Franklin, NC (motel)
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting at: Betty Creek GapEnding at: Franklin, NC (motel)Miles: 12.2Albert Mt, Wasilik Poplar, 100 mile mark, NightStalker, Wetern Sizzlin, DylanToday was a long walk into town, but with several high points. We had a steep climb over Albert Mtn and were rewarded with an awesome view. We also got to see our first firetower. At Glassmine Gap we passed the 100 mile mark! Woohoo! Seems like a major achievement. Then we took a half-mile side trail to visit the Wasilik Poplar, the 2nd largest in the US. We were able to get a ride into Franklin from Winding Stair Gap from a trail "angel" who charged all 5 of us $5 a head to "cover his gas." Can you say price gouging? At that point we were too tired to care. It turns out that the motel we stayed at, the Franklin Motel, is extremely friendly to hikerss and even hooked us up with a guy who gave us all a free ride to the best (only) steak joint in town. Ooh Yeah. Arwen & Heather vaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-15
From: Franklin, NC (motel)

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

Starting at: Franklin, NC (hotel)Ending at: Siler Bald ShelterMiles: 3.7Today was another busy town day - running to the post office, the grocery store, back to the post office, etc. We got back on the trail later than we hoped and had a short, rainy hike to the shelter. More rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Yippee.I think tonight we're all thinking back on the awesome meal and company we enjoyed yesterday, thanks to two trail angels, Joe and Francis. Xena met these kind folks yesterday at a church service she dropped in on, and they kindly invited us all into their home for a huge homecooked potluck dinner.We had sirloin tips, burgers, hot dogs, mmm sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, delicious frito pie, potatos au gratin... and then there was dessert! The most amazing thing was, here were all of these people who didn't know us from Adam, and yet they took us into their home, broke bread with us, and treated us like members of their own family. Joe and Francis are really neat people. They're hiking enthusiasts, planning to walk from Springer Mtn back home to Franklin this April. Then maybe next year they'll finish up the AT from there. Joe is also a volunteer trail maintainer. I hope that while they're out hiking they have the good fortune to come across people as kindhearted as themselves.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Siler Bald ShelterFranklin, NC

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 10.9

Starting at: Siler Bald ShelterEnding at: Burningtown Gap (tenting)Miles: 10.9Stayed mostly dry last night sleeping on the gravel floor of the shelter. Enjoyed the loud ping of heavy rain on the tin roof all night. Rained on us a little on our hike, but cleared up early.About a mile and a half from our planned destination our whole group threw off our packs and took a break. A few minutes later, a guy came up the trail and said, "Hey I'm a trail angel and I have been waiting a few hundred feet down the trail". We all looked at each other and sprinted down the trail to find a giant geodesic dome tent set up with all you can eat snickers, reeses peanut butter cups, hot dogs, popcorn, apple cider etc...nice!!!!! We all felt stupid for resting for so long just up trail from pure bliss.The trail angel is named Apple from Austin, Tx. Needless to say he is a really nice guy. I am amazed by these trail angels...why would they possibly go to so much trouble? Apple drove all the way up here, spent a day setting up a huge hand made tent, and has been up here for days giving away hundreds of dollars of food. He asks for nothing in return and will not even tell you why he does this every year. He just hangs out talking to everyone and listens to all the stories. He left us in charge of his tent for the night so we all (10 people) slept in it after making popcorn and apple cider! We needed a good nights sleep so we can hike 13 miles tomorrow to reach the NOC by 5 o'clock.Good nightCamera2 & Camera1Arwen & Heather vaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Burningtown Gap

To: N.O.C. (house)
Miles today: 12.6

Starting at: Burningtown Gap (tent)Ending at: N.O.C. (house)Miles: 12.6This morning we awoke from an excellent night's sleep (ala Apple) to get an early start on a long day. As if Apple hadn't done enough for us, he brought us donuts this morning!It was a long long hike. We passed by 3 shelters. It wouldn't have been so bad for me, but today in the middle of a great hiking day I suddenly experienced intense cramping in my lower calf. Arwen tried to fix me up with massage, electrolytes and water, but the last 6 miles or so were fairly miserable and slow.We got into the NOC (the Nantahala Outdoor Center) around 4 pm. There had been some big talk amongst several of us about picking up our packages, taking a quick break, and then doing another 2 miles to the next campsite, to avoid paying $15 for a bunkroom. Instead when we got there we gorged on ice cream and cheetos and made an immediate about face. We found a house for rent that could sleep all 10 of us (we've picked up a few new characters - HoneyPie, Hoss, WolfCookie, and Dances With Wolf Cookie) and the dog.They even picked us up and swung by a convenience store (the only place around to grab something for dinner). We picked up 8 large frozen pizzas, french fries, chicken fingers, and a smorgasbord of chips, sodas, and snacks. All this food is for one night's consumption. And believe me, it'll all be gone. We are spending the night watching funny movies, gorging on pizza, tending our blisters, and icing our sore spots. Aaaah.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-18
From: N.O.C. (house)

To: Sassafrass Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 6.9

Starting point: N.O.C. (house)Ending point: Sassafrass Mtn ShelterMiles: 6.9I thought things were supposed to get easier as we grow stronger, our feet grow more caloused and we learn how to put more miles behind us in a day. Instead, in the past few days most everyone in our group has acquired new aches, pains and blisters. This is true even for the stronger hikers and the ones most anxious to start cranking up the miles.My calf is still a litle tight and the other one is threatening to flare up. Arwen's feeling worse than me tonight though. Both his achilles are extrememly tight. And one of his knees got a little "tickle" as he described it, but he's watching it closely. The "mile nazi" as some in our group affectionately call him did not want to push past the modest (although brutally steep uphill) 6.9 miles. The next patch is supposed to be a little rough too. So when we got here at 2:30 (a short hiking day by any standards) he pulled off his shoes, elevated his feet and borrowed a dab of sports cream from Xena (definitely have to get some at the next town) and crawled into his sleeping bag. The rest did him good; he's feeling excellent now.Maybe one reason we're all feeling a little better tonight has nothing to do with taking it easy today. Tonight we're being serronaded by a trail regular, Takoma Tedd. I think he's thruhiked several times and section hiked a zillion miles or so. He knows the whole trail by wrote.Tonight he's singing all original music and playing a backpacking guitar, an amazingly powerful instrument for its skinny frame and modest 3 lbs. All of his songs are in some form about the AT or hiking or being in nature and putting aside all the petty distractions. Several of his songs are orginal music put to poetry by Earl Schaffer, the first AT thruhiker. There is nothing like the sound of an acoustic guitar and one ringing voice to me. Maybe it was all the hours sitting next to my daddy and listening to him play. He's a terrific guitar player and his voice is strong and so beautiful. Even when I was a little, little girl he would play songs that talked about sad or difficult things, about grownups hurting each other, loving each other, leaving each other. So to me a steel stringed acoustic guitar player sounds as though he's channeling the truth, ugly though it may be at times, straight from its most unadulterated source. Something about an acoustic song helps you turn inward and wrestle with the bad stuff. If you listen to the right songs enough, you may even get through the bad stuff and make it to the other side.Peace,HeatherCamera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-19
From: Sassafrass Mtn Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Starting at: Sassafrass Gap ShelterEnding at: Cable Gap ShelterMiles: 15.2Ouch. Everything hurts. A very very very long day. Just kept walking, trying not to think about the pain in our feet, making deals with the various achey parts of our bodies, trying not to think about how creepy the woods are in the dark.The highlights today: we passed the 150 mile mark. Seems like only a few days ago we passed the 100 mile mark. We also got a hefty measure of trail magic. Takoma Tedd's good friend Mala was at the first road crossing we passed. Not only did he give us a bunch of cookies (which we devoured instantly), he offered to slackpack us for the next 10 miles. Slackpacking is when you hike without your pack, which someone brings to you at a later point. It allows you to cover more territory with less pain. There is no doubt I for one wouldn't have made it the whole way with my pack. For one thing that particular patch was *incredibly* steep - both up and down. And that damn cramp in my right calf came back with a vengence. Probably not getting enough water. I will make a big effort to correct that situation. I hobbled the whole way to camp.And did I mention Mala made us hotdogs? With mustard, ketchup AND onions. Yes!! Now we're finishing off the night with a group crossword. We're packed into this shelter like sardines.Summer camp is awesome.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-20
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam, NC (hotel)
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Starting at: Cable Gap ShelterEnding at: Fontana Dam, NC (hotel)Miles: 5.5Raced in to town to make it before the post office closed. If we did not make it we would have had to wait 2 days for the post office reopen. Got a nice room at the Fontana Village Inn, had a fantastic hot lunch at the cafeteria there, met Xena's parents and experienced the bliss of monkeybread!We were sad today because we had to say goodbye to our sweet doggie, but it's only for a week. She is staying at a nice kennel (Loving Care Kenels) that picked her up here and will drop her off on the other side of the park in Davenport Gap. We miss her already, but we should be able to put more miles in without her for a while.The lights went out at the hotel tonight and we had to eat dinner by candelight. I would've paid extra for that. It was magical. It was a bad storm; wind, rain, and lightning. The smoky mts. are going to be bad! Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-21
From: Fontana Dam, NC (hotel)

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

Starting at: Fontana Dam, NCEnding at: Mollies Ridge ShelterMiles: 12.4Although we got onto the trail late (nearly 11 am) we still managed to get over 12 miles in. Today our group parted company: Xena and Bloody Cactus went off with Bushwhack and Bramble. They have a tough schedule planned for the next few days that we decided we couldn't keep up with. We're planning to be at Clingman's Dome on Tuesday, where we'll hopefully meet up with my Dad and Karen. They plan on being 8 miles further down the trail by then at Newfound Gap. Hopefully we'll all meet back up in Hot Springs for a dip in the hot tub and massages!It was a good day for hiking, and a steep ascent. The temperature started dropping rapidly in the afternoon; it was already 32* by 6 pm. We heard last night that a cold front is hitting the Smokies for the next couple of days so it could get interesting.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-22
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

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

Starting at: Mollies Ridge ShelterEnding at: Derrick Knob ShelterMiles: 11.7Well when we woke up this morning it was 15.6*. Super cold. The overnight low was 15.4. We stayed in bed for the longest time waiting for it to warm up but finally gave up at 10 AM when it was still only 18*. There was snow on the ground and a little was falling when we first got started. Out drinking tubes were frozen up and there was snow *in* our shoes. Arwen learned a valuable lesson: always put your gel insoles in your sleeping bag, otherwise they're popsicles in the morning.We simply had to get up and hike...so we did despite the temperature. After about 30 minutes of hiking your fingers and toes are no longer numb. You can not stop hiking either because your sweat will freeze and so do you. The temperature never got above 32* today!! We also heard today that the road to Clingman's Dome may be closed until April, so Heather's parents may not be able to meet us up there and we may be out here an extra day. We have very little food so it will be tight.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Starting at: Derrick Knob ShelterEnding at: Mt. Collins ShelterMiles: 13.5Well you can tell by the fact that we're in a shelter tonight that the nasty rumors were in fact true: the road to Clingman's Dome was in fact closed. We were so excited to get to the top of the mountain, and then so devestated to find out hat there would be no warm beds or hot meals tonight.Thanks to a group of college kids on spring break that happened to have a working cell phone on them, we were able to phone my dad. My dad and Karen are the greatest. They had it all under control. They'd already talked to the park rangers and negotiated a police escort for us down the mountain! Call the rescue team, my kid is stuck on that mountain, ahhh!!! But then they had the foresight to realize that if they weren't able to get us back up to Clingman's Dome, that wouldn't work because we'd either have to skip 8 miles of he trail (no waaaaay) or do a 16 mile slackpack. They even looked into a helicopter escort (can you believe that?!!!) but found out that helicopters aren't allowed in the park (o darn).So long story short, we briefly considered putting in the last 8.3 (making it a 18 mile day) miles to Newfound Gap and then we came back to our senses. We decided instead to do the 4.6 miles to the next shelter, get a meal and a good night's rest, and make a short morning of it tomorrow. It was a good thing we decided on the more prudent course because the trail from Clingman's to the shelter was an ice rink, extremely slow-going. It was like a river of ice, beautiful but dangerous. We have one dinner left in our packs, but nothing for breakfast or lunch. I told Karen we'd be hungry when they pick us up, and she assured us that getting us well fed would be their first priority. Oh yeah! Parents are the greatest!Dreaming of town food...Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN (house)
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: few clouds

Starting at: Mt. Collins ShelterEnding at: Gatlinburg, TN (house)Miles: 5.5Wow, what a great day. The hike into Newfound Gap seemed shorter than its 5.5 miles. When we got there we were slightly crestfallen that Dad and Karen weren't there yet, maybe a little worried that we hadn't told them the right time, but just when we were about to yogi a cellphone to call them, they pulled in. And they brought some hikers with them: Mickey One Sock, Pebbles, and Bam-Bam, who were hitching in from Gatlinburg. It was great to see Jim and Karen... Heather was very happy. They brought fresh fruit and cake, so we had first breakfast at the back of their car, before going into town for second breakfast!! We saw the house, had lunch, second lunch, and a big dinner. Heather ate more than any person I have ever seen today. Some alternate trail names have been suggested: Hollow Leg, Pit (as in bottomless), and Hollow Foot.We had discussed running a buch of errands in town this afternoon, or at least trying out the ping pong table here, but in the end we just sat around, relaxed, chit chatted, and ate some great food. We took Nuffy to Outback steakhouse tonight to see if it was 'Australian' enough to give her a taste of home. We had a good time quizzing our waiter, a Gatlinburg native who is, alas, rather uniformed about Nuffy's mother country.After dinner we tried to to et dessert at the Marble Slab, but it was closed so we settled for Baskin Robbins. There's always room for ice cream!Tomorrow: errands galore!Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Gatlinburg, TN (house)

To: Gatlinburg, TN (house)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Starting at:Gatlinburg, TN (house)Ending at:Gatlinburg, TN (house)Miles:0Today was busy, busy, busy. We started with an awesome home cooked breakfast, ala Dad and Karen: bacon, eggs, pancakes, biscuits, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Then we hit the library and got our internet fix. Also Heather managed to find and print out copies of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, in the original middle English and in modern translation. Yeeees! Something to keep her mind occupied while plugging down the trail on her own pilgrimage.We also hit two outfitters, the gocery store, and had a fantastic southern lunch at the Old Mill restaurant.We spent most of the rest of the evening getting organized and packed up. Dad gave Heather an all time award winning backrub that worked out all the kinks, aches and pains. Tomorrow we'll be starting the trail with what feels like new bodies.We had a fantastic homecooked meal, thanks to Karen and Nuffy: pork tenderloin, baked chicken, salad, corn on the cob, and rice. Then we topped that off with chocolate chip cookie ice cream sundaes. Yeeess!!We've gotta give Karen and Dad a huge THANK YOU for everything they've done for us on this trip. They thought of everything. Really. Instant trail angels,these two. Love you guys. Thank you.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-03-26
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Starting at: Newfound GapEnding at: Pecks Corner ShelterMiles: 10.4So. We wake up every day and do the same thing...break camp, hike, set up camp, & sleep. There is little time for anything else, we barely find the time to do our daily journal. Each day we follow this simple routine over again.We are now starting to hike for most of the daylight hours without being too sore to do it again the next day. We get up when the sun rises and get to our destination an hour or so before the sun sets. We are doing fine but now we would like to start doing 15 to 20 miles a day. In the last week or so we have been doing about 10 to 15 a day. I think we can do this but we will need to be very disciplined about getting up when the sun rises and trying to pick up the pace just a bit.Heather and I have both lost close to 10 pounds in the last three weeks. We feel very good, but sore. Even though we are getting stronger and get 12 hours of sleep a night, we still wake up sore every morning. The feet never heal completely, you just get used to the constant dull pain.   So, is this fun? Well, I can honestly say that I have not been so relaxed and content while working so hard! I think it scares Heather a little to see how happy I am, especially on the difficult days. She says I am only happy when I am miserable!? I think she may be on to something. Heather is happy too, but not on the difficult days. Anyway, we are both feeling great and are building up momentum. Almost a month later, and we have just started this adventure!! ArwenCamera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net