morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-02-27
From: Betty Creek Gap 

To: Moore Creek Campsite
Miles today: 13.2

In the early hours of the morning, it rained enough to wet the tent and turned into a rather overcast misty day but with intermittent sunshine to lift the spirits. I got to Bearpen Gap and had a steep climb up to the fire tower on top of Albert Mountain. At the location was a picture that showed what I might have seen had it not been so foggy!  Interjection by Monarch: Hey WOW, if this blog is not written so well today its because I can¢t hear myself think, due to two helicopters circling just above me, trying desperately hard to put out a bush fire just on the far side of the river at the bottom of the garden!  And to add to it, the fire engines have arrived for back-up) - it¢s serious - not trying to compete with your exciting moment, you understand!I met Trail Runner whose job in a given section, is to look after both the hikers and the trail, by ensuring that every one is doing the right thing.  On having a chat, as you do, I found she had been to Australia, so we had a bit of a yarn.  I also, met a husband and wife team who are Trail Ambassadors and we talked about the trail, its history and our blog.   They came to the conclusion that while in Northern Carolina, my trail name should be ¢Diddling¢ (akin to doddle, or look it up and have a real laugh)!  I was heading for a shelter but was told it was not worth it, so called it a day at Moore Creek Campsite which turned out to be a very picturesque spot, which did me nicely.
Date: 2019-02-28
From: Moore Creek Campsite

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

The forest green and bluesAll day long with clouds and birdsgreens and blues moving through the waterI wish my fingers were water color crayonsto paint these scenes on leaves of paperto capture water drops on stones, lighter, darkerthe sky, the soft rain I tasteall the ways I lived this day.In the morning to wake updeep and breathing inan ancient forestCA Guilfoyle  Nah! Just kidding I woke up early to see it was overcast with rolling fog bringing in rain.  I was out on track soon enough though and met Mad Dash and his elder brother T who had just had a zero day at Siler Bald Shelter. Needless to say they zipped past me (Oh! to be young again).   As I approached Wayah Bald I soon found myself in a high-altitude treeless open area with large rocks strewn individually on the ground.  It was presumably from these same rocks that the historical Wayah Bald Observation Tower located at the area¢s highest peak (5,385 ft.) was built.   It was originally built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1937 for fire detection but old photo¢s show it in pretty poor state back in 2007 so it must have been rebuild since then.   Wayah Bald received its name from the Cherokee natives. It was named "Waya", the Cherokee word for wolf, after the red wolves that once inhabited the area. Spear points found on the bald indicate that indigenous people used the area as hunting grounds more than eleven thousand years ago.  A very pretty place and I can see that it would have been an even more inspiring visit had I seen it with all the rhododendrons and azaleas out in full bloom.  I might even have been inspired to write poetry myself! I pressed on towards Cold Spring Shelter and Jamin whizzed past me this time but I met up with him again at the shelter where we had great fun hanging the bear bag rope. I much enjoyed talking trail with everyone last night ¢ great company.
Date: 2019-03-01
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Centre
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: snow

Trekkers are nothing if not organized, as can be seen here in this photo, taken inside Cold Spring Shelter.  We couldn't find any suitable trees by which to hang our gear, so we hung it like little vegemite soldiers on mouse-proof strings at the end of our sleeping platform.   And what a luxury: to be able to un-pack and pack your sack in dry conditions.  It helped us brace ourselves for the extended gloom hanging around outside the shelter.   Today started with a walk along a ridgeline in rain and fog.  Rather then diddling around a mountain, it was more like a roller-coaster experience and with low visibility, things got a little precarious whenever the trail became narrow!   Worst still, on the steep descents, wet leaves cleverly disguised gnarled tree-roots and other obstacles.  I¢m not usually prone to performing arabesques whilst trekking but I did it with great aplomb today!  Then, with one mighty leap I landed, snapping my ultra light Black Diamond carbon fibre trekking pole. Seriously though, I didn't put much weight on it and I was very surprised that it broke.  A little further down the trail, Mad Dash and T passed by and T mentioned that he too had broken his pole which is the same model, and at the same location.  Buyer Beware!!!  Well having walked some 11 miles or so, I made it to the Nantahala Outdoor Centre and decided it was time I took my first a zero day.  So having showered, I made my way to the Laundry Room where I managed to call Monarch whilst washing my smalls.  All is well, so now for a good meal and some well earned rest!
Date: 2019-03-02
From: Nantahala Outdoor Centre

To: Zero Day at Nantahala Outdoor Centre
Miles today: 0.0

What a great place!  The Nantahala Outdoor Center is known for offering guided trips of kayaking, canoeing, and rafting trips. Apparently it¢s now a part of a facility where the U.S. Olympic athletes in kayak and canoe events train.   A popular form of kayaking in this region is called duckys, or an inflatable kayak to make it easier to go down the river and back up quickly. The duckys are suggested for experienced river rafters who are looking for a more high-performance trip down the river. The word Nantahala is Cherokee and means "Land of the Noonday Sun".   The river runs through a narrow and steep gorge where in some areas the sun reaches the ground only when it is directly overhead during the middle of the day.The center also has a clothing store, lodging, and three restaurants.   So naturally, I¢ve been sorting out my resupply for the next week and doing a general ¢shake down¢ of my gear. In addition to my iphone, I still have a 3 1/2 pound camera that to date has not come out of its waterproof bag! I went to the outfitters to sort a few things out and on arriving I noticed a young man sitting on the pavement being tended to by his partner. I could tell from his body posture that he had possibly dislocated his right shoulder.  Having brought what I needed from my sack, I went over to him and introduced myself and had a chat. On asking the young man about his obvious distress, he told me he was trying out his new canoe and had dislocated his shoulder. His partner was getting instructions over the phone and said that help was on its way and mentioned that the NOC run Wilderness/Remote medical courses.  They were using the hang technique, a method to relocate his shoulder.  Tentatively, (not knowing the legal ramifications off the top of my head) I offered my help and the young man promised not to sue me.   So with my mind at ease, I was able to apply a prolonged steady traction to the arm and the shoulder was relocated.   Many Blessings! Having had poor weather for the last few days I am so enjoying a fine sunny day today - with tomorrow¢s weather prediction being poor again.   I¢ve given myself a seven-day resupply then I noted that tomorrow is a long steep climb.  Oh dear! Learning has not occurred  - hopefully I will have my act together by trail end. Well these miles don¢t walk themselves. One step at a time.  NoBo ever NoBo.
Date: 2019-03-03
From: Nantahala Outdoor Centre

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 16.2

Big ¢shout out¢ to Tom from NOC outfitters for helping me to select these ¢ dirty girl gaiters.¢    If you think the choice of colour is a bit off, you should have seen the others he had on offer!!! I got up very early this morning and witnessed the awesome silence as the first rays of the morning sun gently kissed the mountains.  We all knew that it was going to be hard day today and indeed much of it was spent climbing up to Cheoah Bald at 5,062 ft.   As has become the custom, Swede, Catmando and Lucky whizzed past me as they headed off for the next shelter.  Can¢t say I blame them, as they wanted to arrive before the impending change in the weather.  And change it did.   By midday the rain belted down and then eased back a tad, to continue at a steady pace for the rest of the day.   I finally got to the shelter where T-Rex, Kenny, Noodle, Corb and 15 Minutes quickly made room for me.    Then the fun began, as selecting a ¢good spot¢ to hang up your food-bag makes for a great sport.   Clearly too much frivolity as I lost control of the swinging food bag and it took flight.  Interjection by Monarch: I know your not quite there yet but I¢ve been singing this ditty all day long whilst thinking of you and have now changed a few lines for this occasion:¢On Top of Old Smokey¢ Lyrics by MonarchOn top of old Smokey, All covered with snow, I¢ve just lost my food bag By moving¢ too slow.It rolled down the steep slope, And into a stream,  Did this really happen  Or am I caught in a dream?   (Reply by Wow - hey Monarch it did happen and what¢s more I was not messing about it was freezing with horizon snow - note to self must have a word to my  poetic editor!!! )Then for a bit more fun, it was thought to be a good idea to hang a bear proof bag so it was just visible from the hut, that way they  could get a good view and education of exactly what these furry critters get up to when we are not looking!
Date: 2019-03-04
From: Brown Fork Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 13.3

Clearly Monarch is more intuitive than I give her credit for as at the shelter overnight, the rain did indeed turn to snow as the temperature plummeted.   All wet things became frozen, causing some problems starting out in the morning.And if last night, we thought chasing after flying food bags and swinging them into trees was fun, I can tell you retrieving them this morning was just as good, as most had frozen in situ.Now, I¢m more than used to putting on wet socks and ramming my feet into a pair of soggy boots but attempting to put on a pair of frozen socks was new to me and judging by the expletives coming from all corners of the shelter it was new to others as well.  Everyone was having problems in one form or another but the frozen boot situation was the worst of it, absorbing a good thirty minutes of my time.  Well, as most of us know, the only thing to do when cold, is to get moving.  And so we did, all the while praying for an up hill climb just to warm up.  But what do you know?  Today¢s trail was basically down hill to Fontana Dam and needless to say, the covering of snow made some sections pretty tricky under foot. At one point I slipped and while my body fell to the right, my sack hit a tree trunk throwing me leftwards, causing a chronic lower back problem to ¢talk to me¢.   I tried to straighten up but could only manage to mimic a half opened pocketknife.It¢s too early in the trip for medical issues, so I opted to stay in a comfortable bed for the night to ensure the back-pain settles down.  I¢ve not had a good long soak in a hot tub in years but I had one as soon as I could and things seem to be improving. Let¢s see what the morrow brings.
Date: 2019-03-05
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

I awoke at dawn and got myself on the track pretty quickly at its awfully cold, so there was no point dawdling around.  I was to be reward, for it was still first light, and as I walked across the Fontana Dam, engineers were releasing water from below.  It was like witnessing a creative process of art right in front of me.  For the water vapour produced as the water gushed forth, landed on the trees and softly and slowly turned them all glistening white, right before my eyes!   Today is the beginning of the Great Smoky Mountains and I am so looking forward to the privilege of being in its ranges.   The mountains are said to be 2-300 million years old, making them one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth.  Also known as the Salamander Capital of the World and there are said to be over a hundred species of native trees to be found here (most National Parks are lucky to boast twenty)!  In this beautiful snowy environment, with the weather crisp and clear, the azure blue sky seemed to go on forever.  Buoyed by such beauty, I ascended above the snow line and then, of course, the breeze began to pick up.  With every tree having wind driven snow on its branches this proved a little tricky as I don't know about you, but anything icy-cold and wet dripping down the back of my neck whilst I'm walking, usually drives me nuts!   The sun lifted in the sky and provided its delicious warmth but now, the slightest wind insured that a personal shower of ice-shards were received and if that didn't drive me mad, an occasional hard lump of ice was thrown in for good measure!  Well, it was far too icy to climb a fire watchtower that I came across on the ascent so I pressed on towards the next shelter. As I reach the shelter, the sun was still shining but the only warm place to be had was in my sleeping bag, which is where I am now.  Another great day in the hills!   Thank you for sharing it with me.
Date: 2019-03-06
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

I awoke to everything frozen, including the rubber plugs on my air mattress and pillow. Basically anything with moisture in it was iced.  Slowly I managed to get packed for the day ahead, only to note that my water bottle was also frozen solid.   This was a bit of a problem as all available water on the trail was frozen too.  In fact, the only running water to be had was at the shelter itself.  Note to self:  Empty my water bottle before I go to sleep!This mornings trek was more like an assault course as the trail took me up and down numerous knolls with ascents and descents that resembled ice chutes.  In summer there would be numerous small streams crossing the trail.  However following heavy rain and floods they freeze over the entire length of the track - which made for slow progress. I met a fellow heading south who said he had had enough. I wished him well. At one of the shelters where I stopped for lunch (it turned out to be a lump of frozen tuna) and I noted that someone had left a sizeable bag of hiker type food behind.  Well today my legs were not interested in walking and told me so on numerous occasions. Still it was another beautiful day with clear skies, albeit with an occasional chilly wind.  The icicle showers continued as did the slip sliding - another great, but tiring day on the hill.
Date: 2019-03-07
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

The night was freezing but this time I was so prepared!   Although to keep drinking water in an unfrozen state was impossible in this climate. This morning I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise seen from the trail as it took me along a ridge line and into a beautiful pine forest.  Pine forests in the snow are so quiet, and gentle compared to the stony high ridges. The trail then led me out onto Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the AT and in the Great Smoky Mountain range, at 6,643 ft.  I hope you¢re as impressed as I am!  It feels great to be here!  The descent once again was via a total ice chute - that was the trail.  It literally went on for miles. If I had known it was going to be like this, I would have brought ice skates and my favourite tutu and made a video clip for Funniest Home Videos.  Needless to say, it made for slow progress and required a great deal of gymnastic ability.At one stage, with the sun in my eyes and trying to watch my every step, I walked into an over hanging branch which sent me flying backwards, where I ended up flat on my back, like an upside down turtle. It was great to see a number of young day hikers out and about, enjoying life. As I rambled into Newfound Gap (which is a mountain pass located near the center of the Great Smoky Mountains Nat. Park) I met up with Fresh Grounds and his people providing trail magic.   Many thanks to them all!  They were telling me how thick and extensive the ice was on the trail ahead and I had miscalculated the distance to the next shelter.  So being short of time, I had to quickly thank everyone and head up the hill, as I did not want to be travelling by head torch over this kind of terrain. The pizza, doughnuts and coffee (a dieticians nightmare) that Fresh Grounds had provided gave me fuel to cover the last few miles quickly!   Thank you once again, my friend!
Date: 2019-03-08
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

It was a hard day in Paradise!  I started out the same way that yesterday finished.  Picking my way through an ice flow and reminding myself that come spring/summer, this will be an inviting track once more.As the day progressed the weather closed in with a chilling wind.  My technique on the track alternated between side-to-side ridge walking and/or sliding down a mountainside.  There was little visibility all day. I met a couple of hikers doing a trip involving a number of tracks in this National Park. They were saying that it was possible to do nine hundred miles of tracks within its boundaries.I also met a young female ridge runner who had a huge pack on her back with two large canvases on top.  It must have been hefty.  I hung my head in shame as I thought my pack was heavy!The day continued to require much concentration and at one point, swinging round a tree to avoid the ice, my water bottle made a bid for freedom and flew down the steep snow covered mountain side.  Let¢s just say that retrieving it was not fun.The Weather Gods sent a another light snow covering which concealed the ice my under boots, making it difficult to detect until it was too late.  Naturally I found a good deal of it and have to admit I don¢t bounce like I use to!Every now and then I get a fleeting glimpse of the solo walker called Hawk who is doing huge miles per day. Fresh Grounds said that he has completed the whole of the Appalachian Trail in only a hundred and nine days!!  At present he is doing a Yo-Yo trip of the AT. It¢s now raining outside and I¢m already wrapped up warm in bed and have said my final prayer for the day, which is ¢Dear God, give me a ten-hour bladder¢!!!
Date: 2019-03-09
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I love the silence that has been with me since being in the Great Smoky Mountains and tonight it continued, as I was the only one sleeping in the shelter.   The rain we had in the last twelve hours meant that I woke up to a misty morning and soon discovered that the trail had turned to slush.  No complaints, that's got to be easier than the ice-chutes I¢ve been negotiating all week!The much-welcomed lift in temperature also meant that my trail bars were defrosted and I could chew them rather than gnaw them.The trail took me ridge walking for most of the morning and descending in the afternoon. I had initially decided to stay at one of the shelters but on arrival it was still early.  So after a conversation with my legs, ¢we¢ decided to push for Standing Bear Farm Hostel where a shower awaited. I passed down to Davenport Gap, which marks the northern end of the Great Smoky Mountains and along the way I met a number of day hikers and runners.  I even had my photo taken with them as they celebrated the fact that I was from Australia. Finally I arrived at Standing Bear Farm, which is a beautiful turn of the century farmstead, nestled in the Cherokee National Forest.  The shower was worth the wait and they generously provide room in a clean, comfortable rustic bunkhouse, all up for just $20. The shower wall displays the AT symbol in beer bottles.I¢m in heaven!
Date: 2019-03-10
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: snow

The miles were hard won today, as it was a long slow climb from Standing Bear Farm to Snowbird Peak then a roller coaster trail up and down numerous knolls.   But rather than monotonous it turned out to be quite eventful, for at one point a big athletic-looking young man came hiking past me.  He had jet-black hair, all black clothing, black boots and a black backpack.  Not only that, he was spotless and with not a hair out of place!   I almost expected a booming voice to shout ¢Cut - get that old scruffy hiker (me) out of there ¢ he¢s spoiling the commercial¢.  It was quite surreal and, unbeknown to me; it was to set the tone for the day.By mid afternoon I climbed to the grassy bald known as Max Patch, which gave great 360-degree views of the entire area. There was a cold chilling wind and only a few people on top. Just after starting to descend off the summit, following the trail, a large collection of people came into view (see photo to understand what I¢m about to describe).  They appeared to be up to all sorts of antics and were spread across the trail. As I approached, I saw an antique chair with a bunch of silk flowers on them.  I then noticed about five ¢bride and groom" couples just milling around.  Just off to the right of the photo there was a ¢bride and groom¢ sitting on the grass with fifteen young good-looking females surrounding them, all with good quality cameras, pretending to take photos of this couple. Then behind the group of ¢female photographers¢ there is a couple kissing who are also holding cameras while being photographed by other photographers. (Are you confused yet)?    The remaining ¢bride and grooms¢ stood separate from each other until a lens was pointed in their direction, then they too would instantly become intimate and Oh, so lovey-dovey!  As I passed by one young "groom," I offered him my congratulations on his "wedding".  To my eye, his dress sense was a tad over the top - I felt he would have been more at home at the Mad Hatters Tea Party. (Hey!  This observation is coming from a bloke who thinks he is the height of fashion when he buys himself a new pair of hiking-trousers).   The only thing I can say about the whole surreal scene, was there were a large number of seriously good quality cameras on display.     Well back to reality.  Arriving at the shelter I was soon joined by Jim and Britta known collectively as Better Together. I had seen them at Standing Bear Farm the previous night. These guy are clearly well organised and they had completed a three hundred mile training trip.  In describing her experience of the trail today Britta stated, ¢there had been far too many PUDs (pointless ups and downs)¢.  I know where she¢s coming from. We talked about the Appalachian Trail and then other international trails and now both our bucket list of trails to be walked, has just been increased.