morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-25
From: Baggs Creek Campground

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

The good news this morning was that we were dry and the tent intact. The bad news is that a bear got our food bags that were professionally hung by Mike. Luckily we only had to hike about 1.9 miles to where Mike & Helen's car was parked. We drove back to Woody Gap got a new food bag and food. We were dropped off at the trail head about noon with 12.5 miles to go to Blue Mountain Shelter. By the way did I say that it has been raining all day and cold. Wild Bill & I set out at a mad pace and arrive at the Blue Mountain Shelter about 6:15. It was cold and nasty and no room at the shelter so we pitched our tents in the rain had dinner and went to bed.
Date: 2009-03-26
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: heavy intensity rain

We were up enjoyed breakfast, it had quit raining. As soon as we had breakfast it began raining as we packed up. There is nothing like a wet everything. It rained all day. As we slipped and slid along the trail we were passed by two hikers. Both hikers were wearing tee shirts and shorts and made cold just looking at them. The two were Short Circuit and Sherlock, they walk the trail every year and provide a ministry for the hikers. We chatted for a few minutes and then with their long legs they disappeared up the trail. The good news is that when we got to the Tray Mountain Shelter Too-tall, Many Names, and Huck saved us room in the shelter. The rain actually let up and Wild Bill started a campfire and the sun was actually visible for a magnificent sun set. Wild Bill declared sunny hiking for tomorrow and we went to bed
Date: 2009-03-27
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Hiawassee Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

We started out this morning and after about at 1/4 mile the heavens let loose. We hiked in a monsoon all the way to Hiawassee. The trail was so muddy and deep that it was impossible not to nearly fall with each step.I managed a dramatic fall (9.5 on a scale of 10) and was soaked. It was hard to tell if the total wetness was from the rain on the outside or the sweating on the inside of our supposed breathable rain gear.We never stopped at all during the day and arrived at Dick's Creek Gap about 3:00. Luckily we had cell service to call our shuttle and arrived at the hotel about 5:00.A shower never felt so good and there were hot chocolate chip cookies in the lobby. We attempted to clean up our equipment. Wild Bill actually clogged the shower while trying to clean his boots.We had dinner at an all you can eat restaurant with Too-tall, Huck, and Many Names. The place was full of AT hikers. The good news is that we waddled back to the hotel the bad news is the restaurant lost money!!I set up my tent to dry and went to bed. Don, Rose, and Linda are arriving in the morning. I can not say enough about my good friend Wild Bill I learned a lot from him this past week so I may survive by myself but I cannot say enough about his wonderful friendship. Wild Bill, I look forward to you meeting up wuth me further up the trail
Date: 2009-03-28
From: Hiawassee Holiday Inn Express

To: Hiawassee Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up about 9:00 this morning and had a great buffet breakfast. Linda, Rose, and Capt D arrived about 10:30.We spent the day roaming around Hiawassee with Too-Tall, Huck, and Many Names.We said our good byes to Wild Bill and Rose and just hung out for the afternoonWe had dinner at the local Barbecue place (actually had great pizza) While waiting for our pizza Sun Seeker walked in and joined us. She had called in an order and her pizza was to busy to deliver it and would she mind walking over and picking it up. After dinner I spent the rest of the night re-packing and getting ready for our Sunday departure
Date: 2009-03-29
From: Hiawassee Holiday Inn Express

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

We were up early to enjoy the Holiday Inn Express buffet breakfast. Linda dropped myself, Captain D, Huck, Many Names, and Too-tall at Dick's Gap to continue our trek north. Today will be a big day for me as we will complete our trek through Georgia and step into North Carolina. It will also be a big day for Captain D as he begins his first full day on the AT.As we were heading towards Dick Gap we passed "Pink Blaze Nazi" who was hitch hiking towards Dick Gap. Pink Blaze is a 17 year old high school grad from Maryland who is hiking in a kilt.We began the day with a few good climbs. The weather was cloudy but not to cold. As the day went on the temperature began to drop and the fog thicken. We actually got to take a picture at our first scenic overlook but it was the last one. As we passed from Georgia into NC we passed Two Pack. Two pack is a young man from Rhode Island who is actually carrying two packs; one he has on his back and the other he carries like a small suitcase. In North Carolina the trail started going straight up and the wind hit and the temps starting dropping! The wind was blowing very hard. The fog that was covering the plants, trees and foliage began to freeze and then the wind would blow it of and it looked like were walking on shaved ice.Captain D did a great job for his first day as we continued to climb and climb over boulders and up tons of large log and stone steps.When we arrived at the Muskrat Shelter it was full with several folks pitching their tents everywhere. We looked around and could not find a suitable site. Just as we were ready to push down the trail further Huck, Too-Tall, and Many Names showed up. We all decided to continue up the trail and see if we culd find a suitable camp site.About .6 of a mile up the trail we found a grove of Rhododendrons and we all set up our tents. A few minutes later Two Pack showed up and joined us. We all got our tents up and were working on dinner when we heard someone yell "who is over there?" It was Sun Seeker and she came in and joined us.   Two Pack got a nice fire going even with the icy fog coming down. Sunseeker is becoming an expert at hanging food bags and we all took advantage of her new found skill.It was a cold and windy night(Thermometer registered between 15 and 20 degrees.My sleeping bag works just fine and I was nice and warm. I worried about Captain D but all I heard was snoring from his tent. It was like a symphony as SunSeeker's tent was pitched on the other side of mine and she was also sawing logs.
Date: 2009-03-30
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

We were all up early and on the trail. The weather forecast for today was sunny and in the low 60's. Would you believe as we hiked along it began to get warmer. We stopped to pump water from a nice source coming out of the side of the mountain when Sun Seeker came around the corner and asked how we had gotten ahead of her since she left about a half hour before us this morning. She suddenly realized that she had gotten turned around and was going the wrong way. She had done this for the second day in a row. She turned around and headed down the trail again.We were passed by the Pink Blaze Nazi whose legs are at least twice as long as mine and of course the 46 years age difference also helps. We arrived at the Deep Gap USFS 71 and stopped for a snack. Pink Blaze nazi was there and we chatted for a few minutes. His goal is to be in Toronto Canada by mid August!As we began leaving our rest stop we heard Too-Tall, Many names, and Huck coming up behind us. We chatted with them for a few minutes and then took off up a 1500 foot climb over the next 4.2 miles.We made our climb and then had a gradual descent to our night stop at Carter Gap Shelter. When we arrived at the shelter we were met by a 13 year old young man who was section hiking with his father. After his father showed up they cooked dinner and then headed down the trail to spend the night in their new tent.Many people showed up and the shelter was full with many people pitching tents and two even sleeping under the shelter. We were entertained by the local shelter rabbit who kept showing up.After dinner we chatted with several people and then hit the sack. The forecast for tomorrow is more rain *ugh)
Date: 2009-03-31
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The plan for the day was to go to Rock Gap Shelter, but Capt d and I decided to see what time we got to the shelter and then determine if we spend the night there or try to do the additional 3.8 miles to Winding Stair Gap and get a shuttle into Franklin NCAfter a couple of hours we passed a young couple who were section hiking south and said that there was trail magic a few miles up the trail.As we approached a thicket of trees, and saw a sign for trail magic. Gatorade and Fishing Freddie, both from Michigan, were standing around a fire. They introduced themselves and offered us coffee or soda. Sun Seeker was there enjoying the trail magic and chatted for a while before heading back to the trail. We took advantage of their magic and talked with them about half an hour. I was beginning to get cold so Captain D and I started out toward Albert Mountain. Albert mountain was quite the climb, much of the trail was solid rock and trees that we used to pull our selves up. the blazes were painted on the rocks and in several places it was a guess where the trail actually went. At the top of Albert mountain was a fire tower. Captain D and I decided we had climbed enough and continued on. We arrived at Rock gap shelter around 3:00 and hiked down to use the facilities. the funny thing was is that as you sat on gthe latrine you hada clear shot of the trail just above us.A young section hiker Andrew showed up and decided he was spending the night. Sun Seeker wandered i and the 3 of us decided that we would push on and do the next 3.8 miles to get us to Winding Indian and see if we could get a shuttle into Franklin.Andrew was looking at a shelf full of canned foods lined up on a shelf wishing he had a can opener. Then he sees a can of pineapple slices that had a pop top. He popped it open and shared his find. I tried to convince him that he could open the others with a knife if he wanted to eat something else.Sun Seekr, Captain Dand myself headed for our final 3.8 miles.While we were on top of Rocky Cove Knob, I had a cell signal and set up a shuttle and reservations for us. We got to Winding Stair Gap at 5:30 in the rain. We had to wait for about 45 minutes and even though we paced around the parking lot we were all getting cold.Ron showed up and we climbed aboard. What a great guy!! He had to pick up some other hikers at the store before he took us to our hotel. When we finally made it to the hotel, we were all freezing and could hardly wait for a hot shower.Captain D and i walked, or I should say waddled over, after 15.9 miles, to a local restaurant and enjoyed a tremendous meal of ribs, steak, salad, beer and a whole lot more. Tomorrow is a zero day and we have lots to do.
Date: 2009-04-01
From: Franklin NC

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Captain D and I slept in and then enjoyed the continental hotel breakfast. We ran into Sun Seeker and the 3 of us walked over to a local laundromat. Luckily there was a place to change so I put on my rain gear and washed all my clothe which were really nasty.After laundry we wandered around the local out fitter store, ate lunch and had a lazy afternoon doing nothing. We called the entire list of shuttle services listed at our hotel and finally found a cab company that would take us back to the trail. Tonight we went back to Cats for dinner and were joined by Sun Seeker. Once again we waddled back to the motel to get ready for another long day.
Date: 2009-04-02
From: Franklin NC

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

We woke up to another overcast day. Our shuttle driver met us and promptly ran over the curb on the way into the parking lot. As we exited our ride at the trail head it was drizzling. Capt D and I opted just to put on our pack covers and forget the rain gear unless it rained much harder. We walked over the trail head and began another steady climb. We saw our first real wild life, two deer ran across the trail about 100 yards ahead of us. We arrived at Silver Bald which is supposed to have a great view, but because of the fog we saw nothing.As we were approaching Wayah Bald the trail went down a blacktopped road that had his and her toilets. There was a stone tower on top of Wayah bald but we declined to climb it. Of course due to the fog there was again no view!We hiked on and kept thinking were should be close to the Wayah Shelter. We finally saw a sign that had an arrow pointing with shelter 1/4 mile. It seemed a lot longer than a 1/4 but we arrived about 3;30 and decided that it would be crazy to continue on because the weather looked so bad and we were sure we would get caught in a down pour between shelters. Sun Seeker arrived about a half hour later and opted to hike on to the next shelter. We crawled in our sleeping bags and just hung out. Several groups passed by stopped to chat eat lunch and continued on. As we predicted it began to blow and rain really hard. Several hikers wandered in and by 6:00 pm the shelter was full with several of the tent sites also occupied.The weather remained nasty and more hikers kept appearing. The shelter was full but Catfish and his lady friend and her dog slept on the dirt floor of the cooking area. About an hour later George, her boyfriend and her dog showed up and they also slept on the dirt floor. It was very difficult to move anywhere so we went to sleep. In the morning it was almost impossible to get off the sleeping platform without stepping on someone laying on the dirt floor. It was quite the site to see George and her dog's head both sticking out of her sleeping bag. It was very difficult sleeping last night. The shelter had a metal roof and the pounding rain kept pelting on the roof.
Date: 2009-04-04
From: Bryson City

To: Bryson City
Miles today: 0.0

I called Linda last night and she agreed to pick Captain D and myself up this morning in Bryson City. I had planned to flip flop and do a 13 mile stretch North to South on Sunday but the weather forecast for more nasty weather changed my mind.Linda is having surgery later this week so i made the decision to leave the trail today and plan to to come back after she is fully recovered.Once again it was so great to see Linda. It is hard to describe how much i miss her. We loaded our nasty gear in the car and headed to Chattanooga.
Date: 2009-06-02
To: Amicalola SP Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

6/2/09 - Tuesday - Springer Mountain campsiteMy left knee, the inside edge has an odd feeling all day today. I keep thinking that a pin from my pants is sticking me & then I feel a little unzipping sensation. I took 6 ibuprofen right away and found some ice to put on the knee. It has a funny feel to it, not a good thing when I want to start hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2009-06-03
From: Amicalola SP Campsite

To: Three Forks Campsite
Miles today: 4.3

6/3/09 - Wednesday - Springer to Three Forks - 4.3 miles, downhill, Day 1Today I start walking, first doing the approach trail, over the summit of Springer and then to meet Sawnie at the FS42 crossing 1 mile past Springer.
Date: 2009-06-04
From: Three Forks Campsite

To: Blackwell Creek
Miles today: 10.8

6/4/09 - Thursday - Three Forks to Blackwell Creek - 10.8 miles, 2500' ascent, Day 2Morning listened to a flycatcher doing it's "cher-TEE" sound over and over. I've got to look this one up when I get home.Late start, at 9 AM. On the trail I met a GA crew of workers, mostly young people with a couple older guys. They are restoring habitat on the creek in order to preserve Brook Trout territory. The barriers and diversions are to provide habitat and lower down there are barriers to Brown trout & Rainbow Trout that predate on Brookies. Right after meeting the bunch I fell forward on the trail, flat on my face. I got scrapes & blood flowed and later on I felt leg problems on my right side all day. I used a kerchief to bind my right thigh, above the knee, to ease the knee pain.At Noontime I was at Hawk Mountain Shelter and it was raining, heavily. At 1:30 PM left Hawk in a lull, and there were some mild showers for the rest of the day. I wasn't upset or worried about getting wet in the warmer weather. While waiting at the shelter the 2 hikers I passed came in, ate quickly and headed out right away in heavy downpours. Their raingear was of the shower curtain variety. No patience for waiting for the lull I guess.I decided to do a road-walk past Sassafras Mountain, going around the mountain instead of over it. I noticed relocations of the trail both before and after Justis Creek?, and there are other small relos along here.Finished Lisa White's book "Good Birders Don't Wear White" (2007)
Date: 2009-06-05
From: Blackwell Creek

To: Slaughter Campsite
Miles today: 12.4

6/5/09 - Friday - Blackwell Creek to Slaughter Campsite - 12.4 miles, 2500' ascent, Day 3This was a very painful day on the trail. My back is tweaked from falling yesterday and I'm getting sharp leg pain. I spent the day struggling with finding a way to walk that would allow me to progress. At a rest spot I phished for birds and found a group of Yellow Throated Warblers, Black & White Warblers, and Chestnut sided Warblers. There were both males and females of each. One male Yellow-Throated had a noticeably green back, bordering on Yellow so I later called this one a Sutton's Warbler, a very rare hybrid with the Parula. Later at night while camped out I heard lots of Wood Thrush, and I was close enough to notice the low prelude to their song that goes "bup ... bup ..."
Date: 2009-06-06
From: Slaughter Campsite

To: Neels Gap Hostel
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: light rain

6/6/09 - Saturday - Slaughter Campsite to Neels Gap - 3.2 miles, 700' ascent, Day 4No notes for this day. I was in a lot of pain and very slow, but I knew it was a short day and had no trouble making it to the hostel.
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Neels Gap Hostel

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: broken clouds

6/7/09 - Sunday - Neels Gap to Low Gap - 10.8 miles, 2500' ascent, Day 5Steve (Dad) and Calvin (son) are from Indiana. Both saw a timber rattlesnake as they got near Low Gap, in an area where some trail work moved a log. They took pictures and promised to email to me. Rob, a solo hiker, is going to Wesser. He lives in Florida now and attended UMass.
Date: 2009-06-08
From: Low Gap

To: Cheese Factory
Miles today: 13.0

6/8/09 - Monday - Low Gap to Cheese Factory - 13.0 miles, 3000' ascent, Day 6Ants all over me in camp in the morning.Older couple is having trouble with their hiking pole straps. Met 2 very loud SoBo hikers who didn't want to talk, but later I found a map that likely belonged to them. Heard baby juncos and found some in a nest along the trail. The fledglings juncos have spotted breasts, a real surprise.Jake & Becky are now Trinket & Journeyman. I said goodbye to them at Blue Mtn. Shelter. A 1-year old bear is reported on the trail between the shelter and Unicoi Gap.
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Cheese Factory

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

6/9/09 - Tuesday - Cheese factory to Hiawassee - 13.0 miles, 2800' ascent, Day 7I got a 7:30 AM start in order to watch birds first. I called some Black-throated Blues, Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting and Veery. The Ovenbird has black lines on its head with a rufous crown line that it raises when alarmed. The Veery has a rufous head, white eye ring and a necklace of faint dots with a streaked breast.It's a constant struggle to focus on the hike with so many birds to look at along the way. The weather is hot and sunny, in the 90's in town. I hiked alone until 4 PM and then met Amelia from Ohio. She's an older woman out for a week, with only 2 miles left in her hike. I headed to the road but let her know I was hoping for a ride to Hiawassee. I tried to hide my smoke along the trail but an army-type guy was hanging around atching. I tried to hitch for an hour, and then Amelia came out of the woods to the road. She offered and I accepted a ride, a very scary ride in a nice Volvo.
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Hiawassee

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6/10/09 - Wednesday - Hiawasse to Bly Gap - 9.0 miles, 2700' ascent, Day 8 Up early for the Post Office, Ingels and the Library. Paid $5 for a ride to the trail and then remembered my MP3 player was sitting on the library desk back in town. Rode back and then got an easy hitch to the gap so I was finally hiking by 1 PM. The rain started at 3 PM and sent me to the Plum Orchard Gap Shelter to eat, and then wait for a lull. I got going again at 6 PM and then to here.
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

6/11/09 - Thursday - Bly Gap to Standing Indian Shelter - 7.7 miles, 2000' ascent, Day 9Early AM hike was foggy and peaceful for 2 hours. Then some sun and I took a nap at Muskrat Shelter. I met a SoBo thruhiker already so tired of the trail so he wasn't very social.After Yellow Mountain I went into Deep gap, where cars can park, there's a trash can. I stopped for lunch and a group of 6 Boy scouts were getting ready to head north. I asked "where are you going" and I guess they thought I was rude. Started up the hill at 2 PM with darkening skies.At 3 PM the rain & wind hit very hard, pretty furious with a hint of the 'roaring train' sound I hear in the Whites sometimes. I lasted 30 minutes under the trees but the rain was too icy and I had to move to warm up. It was only 2 minutes to the sidetrail to the shelter - oh, well! I forgot which mountain I was on, and thought the shelter was at least a mile away.I shivered in the shelter with the rest, ate ramen, drank hot chocolate and decided to call it a day and tent after the storm passed. Boy scout group moved on from the shelter leaving three "frat boys", me, and Appy & Pappy for the night. I'm tenting on a slope here, not easy to sleep but better than in the shelter. I finished the book "Running with Scissors" and thought it was great. In the shelter I overheard a long conversation about a "gay actor doing Batman" between the frat boys. Lots more talk about sports, car and women. A lot of it was pretty offensive.