morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-19
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Even less to write about today than yesterday. This was my second zero day in the NOC, and the day I planned to go white water rafting. Unfortunately for these plans it began to rain late last night and this morning saw a number of thunderstorms whip through. It cleared up enough in the afternoon, but by then I was already engrossed in a book and decided that it would probably be best to just keep resting.Three of our group, "Von Pepper", "Crisis", and "Play-doh" set out today for Fontana. They are planning to take a zero there. "Turtle", "Librarian" and myself are moving out in the morning and don't plan to zero in Fontana. This puts the larger core of the group marching on the Smokies on Sunday morning, which should be interesting. The Smokies don't really accommodate thru-hikers very well. You must stay at the shelters while in the park, which severely hampers the sort of flexibility we rely upon when planning our days. You can't just go "Well, I'll shoot for place "x", but if I don't make it there's good camping at site "y". In the Smokies you either have to be conservative and do nothing but short-mile shelter hops, or bet the farm and go for the next shelter further. There's just no middle ground.What's worse is that the shelters in the Smokies are always full of non-thru-hikers since even they must stay in the shelters. It's extremely jarring to have to obey these bizarre rules after 160 miles of being able to camp wherever we wanted. Only 4 places per shelter are set aside for thru-hikers use. Our group, at full numbers, has nine people in it. Thru-hikers, and only thru-hikers, are allowed to tent next to the shelters when they are full. This puts the burden of making room in the shelters entirely on us. This doesn't bother me so much, as I prefer my tent anyway. What bothers me is that if the shelter ISN'T full, I HAVE to use it.Most thru-hikers just grit their teeth and knock out the Smokies as fast as they can. Once past the park boundaries, we are once more free to be flexible with our camping.That's all four days away, though. First, I have to make it to Fontana. The landscape of the area makes it look perfect for another of those big miles drives that brought me to the NOC so fast. I dunno if I want to be stressing my body that badly again so soon, though: It'll largely depend on how I feel after tomorrow morning's 3,000-foot climb. I'm aiming to do 10-miles or so tomorrow, then anywhere from 12-19 the next day. The approach to Fontana is another massive elongated descent, much like the approach to the NOC was. Maybe I'll end up just coasting those last five miles like I did two days ago. We'll see.It'll be good to get back on the trail again. I think I'll try to avoid extended stays like this in the future. Ii am definitely itching to be back out there, even if that initial climb is going to be the worst thing ever. sitting here accomplishes very little.
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Mollie's Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Lots to talk about tonight.For starters, I hate the Smokies. I feel like a second-class citizen. Thru-hikers don't have to pay admission fees or camping fees or any of that and it seems they are determined to give us what we pay for. There are actually signs on each AT shelter saying that the shelters will be closed if human waste becomes a problem. No other shelters I've been to seem to have any problems, then again, they have mostly had privies built, a move that the Smokies resist for whatever reason. Instead they have specific areas near the shelters where everyone must bury their waste, and rules that force everyone to always use the shelters. Gosh! I wonder why there's a problem!Meanwhile they have opened up large sections of the AT through the park to horse traffic. These sections of the trail are liberally scattered with horse droppings and the hordes of flies that go with them, both of which we must walk through. We have to bury our waste. A hiker with a dog has to bury the dog's waste. Why is it okay, then, for a horse to crap all over the trail and the rider just leave it there?Today was also just not very good hiking To start out the trails were beautiful with nice grades and plenty of switchbacks. As soon as the horse trail went off in a different direction, though, that all went away. For the last six miles they ran us straight up and straight down every stupid little knob in the area. No switchbacks, no gentle grades, few views. Just annoying clambering up too-steep trails.On a more positive note, I have passed the 176 mile mark. That may not sound important, but when you consider that the trail is 2,176 miles long, it means I now have fewer than 2,000 miles to go.Anyway, I know I said I had a lot to say, but I'm too tired to say it. I'll try to get to it tomorrow night.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today has not been one of the better days, I must say. I woke up this morning to the soft pitter-patter of rain against the roof my tent. Striking a tent in the rain is really one of the worst things I've done so far, since there's no way to do it that doesn't result in the tent being completely soaked and you ending up carrying a wet tent around all day. And then when the time comes to camp again........wet tent!So it was still only a drizzle when I woke up and I hurried all my gear into the shelter nearby, then struck my tent. It was only a little damp and I managed to keep the inside dry. Not long after I finished, the rain became a torrent.It rained constantly all morning and, of course, I had to hike in it. I have to say now that I've been having the same dream pretty much every night for the past week or so. In that dream Jen tells me that she was wrong and that we won't be getting divorced. Every time in this dream I assure myself it's not a dream this time, and every time I am wrong.So here I am, hiking through the miserable cold rain, after having that dream again last night. I basically started crying and kept at it for several miles. The futility of walking through the rain towards my inevitable divorce just struck me hard. I wish there was some way to change things, but I can't think of a single thing.Fortunately it stopped raining at around lunchtime right as I caught up with the rest of the group. The rest of the hike was in more or less good spirits. Today I climbed Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT. There were actually some great views there, since it had stopped raining, and I climbed up the huge gaudy tower they've built on top of it. There's actually a paved trail that runs down half a mile to a parking lot on the side of the mountain. Lazy people need good views too, I guess.Right after I made it to the shelter, it started to rain again. Hard. I'm very glad my timing was so good. Being caught out in this torrent would have been the final nail in the coffin of a really bad day. Getting here just in time pushes it over in an "OK" day. I'm in the shelter now, as I hate tenting in the rain, and most of the group is here with me. the only ones missing are Whistler and Limbraker, who are a day behind, I think, and Turtle who pushed on ahead because she needed to go to Gatlinburg and none of the rest of us did.I neglected to mention that I've picked up my third state, by the way. The AT runs along the North Carolina/Tennessee border for much of the Smokies. So I've got TN in my collection now. The next will be Virginia, which is still 256 miles away.Anyway, my resolve to stay out her remains firm, though that questioning voice sure is a whole lot louder when it rains. I've tried to use my cell phone several times, but it just doesn't work. It has bars indicating service, but no calls will go through. I'll have to test it during my next town stop.
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Mt. Collins shelter

To: Gatlingburg--Grand Prix Motel
Miles today: 4.5

Short day today. I awoke this morning to find that it had started raining again just as I got up. All through the morning I hiked in a cold, steady rain getting steadily wetter. The sense of futility I mentioned in my last journal came back harder than ever. By the time I got to Newfound Gap, I desperately needed a break.Fortunately Newfound Gap is one of the main park entrances to the Smokies, and the city of Gatlinburg is just down the road. I wasn't planning to stop here, but I really, really needed to get out of the rain and talk to some friendly voices.I approached two hikers who looked like they were waiting for a ride. I asked and they said they were waiting for the shuttle. I assumed they meant one of the pay-to-ride hiker shuttles that operate in the area. When the guy arrived, I approached and asked if he had room for a third. Somehow we fit all three of us and our equipment into the small car he was driving. I indicated that I was looking for a hotel, and he brought me to the Grand Prix, which he indicated was hiker friendly. When I asked him how much I owed him for the ride, he said "Nothing". I was a bit surprised because I thought he was an official shuttler. Apparently, though, he was just a friend of the two hikers. I completely forgot to get his name or information, but I really appreciated the ride.The rest of the day has been pretty uneventful, until a few hours ago, when a lady from the park information center showed up with strawberry shortcake for myself and the three other thru-hikers staying here. It's amazing all the little bits of kindness you find out here that bolster your spirits and keep you moving forward.
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Gatlingburg--Grand Prix Motel

To: Peck's Corner shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was a much better day, I am happy to say. I've talked to my friends and family and my spirits are greatly lifted. That today was also an excellent day for hiking helped tremendously as well.Yesterday, while I was hiking in the rain, I prayed for wisdom to know what I should do. I didn't want to leave my new friends, but I was absolutely miserable on the trail. After I prayed all I could hear was my own words: "Never let a group determine how far you hike." I took my own advice and from the way today turned out, I firmly believe I made the right decision.After eating breakfast, talking to Mom, and packing my stuff, I went looking for a ride back up to the trail. The main shuttle service didn't have any drivers available, so I went down to the "Happy Hiker" outfitter to see if they knew any. The only place they could find wanted $45 for the 13-mile trip. I told them I'd take my chances hitchhiking before I'd pay that. That's when an older couple approached me and said they'd drive me up. Just a little trail magic!They drove me up to Newfound Gap, and I started hiking. It was still cloudy and foggy when I started, but after three miles or so it cleared up completely. Not a cloud in the sky. The trail today was completely beautiful as well. Well-graded, nicely maintained, and almost entirely a ridge-walk. There were dozens of spectacular views that I would never have seen had I hiked on yesterday. It felt like I was being rewarded for listening to my own advice.The group is a day ahead of me now, but that's fine. I'll see them whenever. Right now I'm in a shelter with a number of section hikers as well as "Possum" and "Roll Tide", and older thru-hiking couple whom I met in the NOC. It's pretty cold, though, so I'm going to retreat into my sleeping bag now.
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Peck's Corner shelter

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

Good day of hiking today. It was freezing cold this morning, but I warmed up quickly once I started moving. It was a cool day but the sun was bright and it wasn't exactly cold. There weren¢t any real clouds in the sky all day and the views were amazing.I've spent last night and tonight with four section hikers and two thru-hikers (George and Grace) as well as an ATC Ridge runner who goes by "Shatter". they're a fun bunch, but with an ATC person around we've got to be careful of all the rules, and there are so many of them. I'll be glad to get out of the Smokies. That'll be tomorrow. We've got an eleven mile day tomorrow to make it to Standing Bear Campground.It's supposed to rain again tomorrow, which is a pain. Fortunately the rain is supposed to hold off until the evening and is only a 30% chance. Hopefully we'll be set at the campground bunkhouse if it does rain. Unfortunately it's also supposed to rain the next day. I don't look forward to hiking in the rain, but I feel with all the moral support I have been receiving that I can manage it. Also I'm hiking towards the meeting with Daniel at Hot Springs, which makes it that much easier to keep on.My trail legs have definitely come in. Today I didn't have to stop at all during any of the ascents. I actually got into camp at around five today, which is very unusual for me. I usually do not arrive into camp until nearly eight. It's pretty nice to have an obvious sign of my physical condition improving. I'll need it to start making bigger mile days when I reach the easier areas.It's another cold night, so I'm going to keep this short. Definitely time to retreat into my sleeping bag.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a good day today. Woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise and got a relatively early start for me. My destination for the day: Standing Bear Hostel. However the real goal of the day was to get out of the damned Smokies! Finally I can plan days that don't have to begin and end at some shelter or another!The hiking was pretty good. Almost entirely downhill save for a single moderate climb. The grades on both downhill and uphill were nice and gentle. Not much in the way of views, sadly, but the last section I hiked went along the banks of State Line Branch, which featured a number of nice waterfalls.I arrived at Standing Bear at around 2:30 to find that the owner, Curtis Owen, is the same man who gave me a ride down from Newfound Gap a few days ago. Talk about a coincidence. Standing Bear is a very nice place. There's a bunkhouse, phone, laundry, Internet service, kitchen, showers, and all it cost is $15. There's also a well-stocked re-supply store that operates entirely on the honor system. It's definitely the sort of place that's hard to leave.Fortunately I have motivation to leave. I spoke to Daniel earlier and discussed our plans. It will take me 3 days to get into Hot Springs, and I intend to stay in town on the fourth day and take a zero. He has exams on Monday and Tuesday, but is free on Wednesday, which is my zero day. He'll join me in Hot Springs and we'll go for massages and suchlike.I've heard some unfortunate news, though. It seems that "Librarian" injured her knee in some way. Curtis gave her a ride to a nearby car rental agency and she drove to her grandparents' house to rest and recover. Curtis said she intends to return on Monday, but wasn't sure which Monday she meant. Hopefully she'll be okay to continue.The latest weather has only a 30% chance of rain tomorrow and only scattered thunderstorms the day after. Given that it was supposed to rain all day today and tomorrow, this is great news. I plan to hike two fifteen-mile days to put me in position to make a three-mile hop into Hot Springs on the third day. Given that almost the entire day tomorrow is uphill, not having to slog that out in the rain would be great. I'll still be there on day three. It's just the difference between that third day being a full day of hiking or a "Nero".
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

What a great day today was! After only a few sprinkles of rain in the morning, it cleared right up and the sun came out. I checked the weather before I left Standing Bear, and it said there would be PM showers today, AM showers tomorrow, and then sun. Well, the PM showers held off until I had arrived at my camp for the night, which is good. What is not so good is that the shelter was completely full, so I had to pitch my tent. Now the PM showers have hit and I am listening to their drops against the roof of my tent. This does not bode well for tomorrow. As I've said before, striking your tent in the rain is a miserable experience.But that's tomorrow. For now I am warm, dry, and have had a very satisfying day of hiking. I got a late start, as is usual for me when I am staying somewhere nice, only making it onto the trail by 10 am. I knocked out the 3000 foot ascent from Davenport Gap without having to make any real rest stops, which was very satisfying I still get passed by other hikers all the time, but at least I'm getting faster. The last big climb of the day was over a particularly awesome bald mountain named "Max Patch". The views from the top of Max Patch were incredible, as was the wind. I rolled into camp at around 8 pm, which is pretty good for a 15 mile day after getting a late start.I have another 15-miler planned for tomorrow, as I said before, however if my tent is soaked from tonight's rain, or if the day is just nasty, I may just bite the bullet and shoot for an 18-miler and hike all the way into Hot Springs and get a room somewhere. I still intend to stay there Tuesday and Wednesday, even if I roll in on Monday, so I can still meet Daniel. I just know that the next shelter will be full when I get there as well, and if my tent is soaked, I'd be much more comfortable in Hot Springs, even if it does mean paying for an extra day in a room.I forgot to mention a few things about Standing Bear last night. The first being a bit of Trail Magic that was there when I arrived. A man from New Orleans was there waiting for his son and he made a huge pot of gumbo for all the hikers. He had also brought a cooler full of beer and coke. I helped myself to several of each while I ate gumbo, which was incredibly good, by the way.The other thing was that one of the hostel's current residents was a hiker who goes by the name "Cherokee". I had heard about him from the AT Ridgerunner I met in the Smokies. Apparently the Ridgerunner basically had to chase him out of the park because he kept taking zero days in the shelters. You have to keep moving in the Smokies so that's not really allowed. "Cherokee" is definitely a nice guy, but man does he love to talk, and it looks so far that talk is all he really is. Anyone who has met him will know what I 'm telling about. I doubt I'll see him again, as he only did a mile hike into the first shelter today, and said he was going to take four or five days to get to Hot Springs. I have doubts that he'll finish.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Roaring fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: few clouds

Another excellent day! The AM showers I mentioned yesterday blew through early in the AM. By the time I woke up the sky was starting to clear and the rain had been over for a while. I was able to get my tent mostly dry before packing it up, which was my biggest concern.Just before leaving camp this morning, there was a sudden serenade of howling coyotes. It was weird to hear them howling in broad daylight like that, but definitely a cool experience. Maybe I'll get to see one of them before this hike is through. So far I have seen very little of any animals save for birds. I see and hear signs of them all the time, however. From coyotes howling in the woods to fresh bear scat right in the middle of the trail. I know they're out there.The actual places hiked today were fairly unremarkable. No spectacular views or overly remarkable features though we did cross a whole lot of streams. Water was certainly not a problem today.What was remarkable about today was the weather. After so many days of overcast skies and outright rain, it was heavenly to again be walking under clear blue, cloudless skies. It was nice to be able to finally ditch all the rain gear back into the stuff-sacks.I rolled into camp at around 6 pm today, which is pretty early for me, particularly on such a long-mile day. I briefly considered going on into Hot Springs tonight, but finally decided that there was no need to. The weather is great and there are fun people at the shelter. The town can wait until tomorrow.The journals seem to be getting smaller again. I guess it's just because I don't have a whole lot to say right now. Plus I tend to write them just before bed, so I'm tired. Maybe I'll try working on them earlier in the evening and see if that kicks the content up a bit.
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Deer Park Mountain shelter

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

It's a bit of a cheat to count this in the "days on" column, but technically it is, and it feels better than to have two zeros here. Hot Springs is a nice little town. The AT runs right down main street and is marked every few yards with the AT symbol on a plaque embedded in the sidewalk.I woke up this morning to the howling of coyotes once more, though I still have yet to see one. That's okay, the howls are cool enough. The hike down was pretty easy, only a single sustained climb of moderate height. I arrived in town shortly before ten. Then I cooled my heels until twelve because most things were closed because the owners were out having breakfast or some other errand. Small mountain towns are definitely a different world.I finally secured a room at the Alpine Court Motor Lodge and am now just waiting for Daniel to arrive. We have an appointment tomorrow for a mineral bath soak and deep tissue massage. It promises to be a nice day tomorrow.There's not a whole lot more to say right now. Please see the attached poem as an example of what happens when I write something as soon as I wake up.'Twas the night before Hot SpringsAnd all through the campNot a hiker was stirringNot even by head lamp.The food bags were hungfrom the tree limbs with careIn hopes that they would notbe eaten by a bear.Then out in the woodsThere came such a howlingI sprang from my tentTo see what had come a'prowling.'Twas coyote it seemsand four or five of his mateshad come to tell methe morning was late."Six-thirty is time to get upyou big hairy dope!Now get into Hot Springsand wash with some soap!"Now hearing those wordsI was fully roused from my slumberand leapt quickly to workto free food bag from lumber."Perhaps you would find yourselfMaking better time into town,"the coyote said with a grin"Were your food bag not so weighing you down"."Oh Coyote!" I exclaimed."I am wise to your ways!besides I am sworn:'Feed not the animals and please Leave No Trace.'""Besides o tricksterIt is not from me you should be griftin'My bag is nearly empty!It contains a single uncooked Lipton!"The coyote's companions,they sniggered as they fled:"Expecting to get food from a hiker?Only maybe if he were dead!"