morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: moderate rain

Got a shuttle out of Fontana Village with Nails and Dances with Scarfs. Long hard up. Cold, windy and foggy most of way. Turns out Nails and Scarfs are only a little faster than me and was able to keep up with them farely well. The picture is from our hike out of the Smokies on March 23rd.
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Nice to be able to do another 17 mile day, but was hiking in the dark for at least an hour. Both Mollies Ridge Shelter and Silers Bald Shelter are pretty nice for shelters. Was only able to keep up with Nails and Scarfs for an hour or so. Met up with them at the shelter. Started snowing during the night and got even colder. Was glad to be in a shelter with both sleeping bags to keep me warm.
Date: 2004-03-18
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: moderate rain

Was going to hike to Icewater Shelter, but the snow, hail, ice, etc. convinced me to hitch a ride into Gatlingburg. Plus, Scarfs was meeting with a friend of hers at Newfound Gap and they gave us a ride into Galingburg. The hike was a little hairy. Fell down at least four times on the ice and was pretty miserable for most of the day. Had a nice dinner in Galingburg at the Peddler's Inn, but the prices were really high.
Date: 2004-03-19
From: Newfound Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Spent another day in Gatlingburg. Nail's body needed a bit more rest. Scarfs friend left and they stayed together in the room next to me. I purchased a pair of shorts to wear in the hot tubs at Hot Springs, plus a new pair a gloves. The old ones kind of wore out.
Date: 2004-03-21
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Hiked with Nails and Scarfs all day. A little treachereus today. More ice, but only fell down twice. Very cold. The no cooking option is working pretty good, but since all I could come up with was tuna on torteas, so it's geting a little old. Bought some bananas, but they froze and are inedible. Hate to carry all that weight only to have to throw them away at the next hostel. The carrets are holding up well.The Moonbow Gearskin is still working pretty good, but it still takes me too long to pack up in the morning. Plus, can't get it close enough to my back compared to other packs I've used. By placing all the gear as close to my back as possible (with the sleeping pad away from my back) helps, but isn't as comfortable as having the sleeping pad next to my back. But at a pound and a half, I'll live with it's problems.
Date: 2004-03-22
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

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

Another really cold day, but less ice today. Things seem to be clearing a little and able to see a few views. Still not able to get up mountains very well, took me 10 hours to hike 12.9 miles. Stayed with Nails and Scarfs most of day and met Hippy Long Stockings - or did I meet her yesterday? Too cold to remember.
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Tree Farm Hostel
Miles today: 10.4

Nice day hiking. Not as cold as the last couple days. Very little ice and almost all downhill, at least until we got to the other side of I40. Stayed with Nails and Scarfs all day. Hippy Long Stockings is a much faster hiker, so all we see of her is when she passes us sometime during the day. Hippy and myself stayed in the main cabin, Nails and Scarfs stayed in the smaller cabin. We were able to get a little resupply, enough to get us to Hot Springs.
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Standing Bear Tree Farm Hostel

To: Max's Patch
Miles today: 13.6

Was only able to keep up with Nails and Scarfs for a couple hours, then fell behind. Got lost for about an hour and was hiking in the dark until 8:30 pm. Nails, Scarfs and Hippy were in their tents about half way down Max Patch. Since I need trees and a little less wind, I stayed at the bottom in my hammock. Was comfortable, over slept and everyone was on the trail just as I was starting to pack up.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Elmer's in Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Shouldn't have been, but was a long hard day for me. My heart just wasn't in it and had a hard time leaving Hot Springs. Nails and Scarfs stayed back and took a zero day.I have a lot of mixed feelings about Hot Springs. On one hand it's my favorite town, so far, on the trail. Everything is so accessable. You can walk to anywhere in town. On the other hand, a lot of memories of Sunny and me when we hiked together here in 1998 and then she dropped me off for a section hike to Erwin in 1999.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Spring just before Blackstack Cliffs
Miles today: 11.6

Another hard day that shouldn't have been. Was passed by Mouse Trap and later by Lars and Mazing - several times. Lars and Mazing would stop for a break and I'd go by them. Then they would fly by me - I think Mazing was doing four mile per hour with Lars about 15 minutes behind.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Spring just before Blackstack Cliffs

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Lars and Mazing were in the shelter and I set up the hammock on the other side of the trail. I rained during the night, but, except for the hammock canopy and ground cloth (I keep everything under a ground cloth under the hammock), kept everything dry. The no cook option is still working pretty good for me, but not well enough to send the stove back home.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Hogback ridge shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

Met Endorfen and his mother Double Nickles at the shelter. Later, Nails and Scarfs came in. They hiked in three days what took me four days to do. Two other hikers showed up as well. Rained most of night and there was three inches of snow on the ground in the morning.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Hogback ridge shelter

To: Sams Gap (Miss Janet's House, Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 2.4
Weather: light rain

Weather was getting worse and the shelters are at 10 and 20 miles, but not at 15 miles where we needed one. Hiked with Nails and Scarfs again. We decided to hitch into Erwin. Got a ride in less than five minutes in the back of a pick up truck. Got to Miss Janet's House at about 10:30 am and then she gave us a ride to Spivey Gap where we tried to slack pack back to Sam's Gap. The weather kept getting worse and the trail hard to follow. Our ride back to Erwin was dependant on us going two miles per hour, but after three hours we had only gone 4.5 miles. It looked to us that it would be 8:00 pm before we would get to Sam's Gap and so we turned back. Not sure what we're going to do since the perdiction is for more snow. Last I heard, there was two feet of snow on the trail both north and south of Spivey Gap.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Sams Gap (Miss Janet's House, Erwin, TN)

To: Sams Gap (Miss Janet's House, Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Took a xero day. Too much snow. Even LWOP, who started hiking north from here yesterday morning is back due to too much snow. Spent day with Nails and her husband going to Johnson City and picking up new supplies. I'm giving up on the bearvault (too heavy) and going to a normal food bag. Also gave up on the water filter and using a MSR MIOX purification system. Should save me about three to four pounds.The plan now is to slack pack for the next three days, which should get us to somewhere around Indian Grave Gap? Hoping that some of the deep snow will have melted by Monday when we start north again.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin, TN (Miss Janet's House)
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Did a slack pack from Spivey Gap to Erwin. Hiked with Dances with Scarfs, Nails and her husband. We left Nails's car at the end and Scarfs friend Leslie and Jimmy gave us a ride to Spivey Gap. There was a little snow and rain, but a nice days hike anyway. Tommarrow we may hike from Indian Grave back to Erwin and then Sunday try to fill in the blank from Sam's Gap to Spivey Gap. We're not sure yet.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Sams Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked by myself today. Miss Janet dropped me off at Sams Gap at about 8:15 am for another slack pack. The weather was cold and windy up through Big Bald and Little Bald, but cleared up and got all the way up to a warm and balmy 50 degrees. I can't imagine how I could feel warm and balmy at 50 degrees back home in Florida! Hiked to Spivey Gap and finished around 4:45 pm - about eight and half hours for thirteen point three miles. Big Bald had some nice views, but it was really cold and windy, plus there was about eighteen inches of snow on the ground. But it was fun - probably wouldn't have been if I had a full pack and knew I was going to have to camp in this stuff. Miss Janet had said she would pick me up at 5:00 pm, but was a little bit late. Got a ride in the back of a small pickup, who took me down to the intersection of 19W and old 23 at which time he was going in a different direction. Just as I was getting out of the pickup and thanking the driver, Miss Janet comes by in her van! Such good timing.Dances with Scarfs and Mr & Mrs Nails hiked the same section today, but a couple hours later than myself.Will slack pack again tommarrow and probably Monday. The weather is supposed to be clear, but cold, down to 10 - 15 degrees at night. Until it gets a little warmer, will see how long I can keep this slack packing up.
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Erwin, TN (Miss Janet's House)
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Slacked packed again, this time with Dances with Scarfs and Nails. Nice short hike, took us three and half hours. Of course we cheated a bit, going south bound so we would be going down hill all day. Nice views of various rivers including the Nolichucky River at the end.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Actually, started at Iron Mountain Gap and went south to Indian Grave Gap. Hiked with Dances with Scarfs and Nails again. Met up with a half dozen through hikers during the day. Pretty hike, what with all the snow on the ground. Got slowed down a bit when we came to a fork in the trail, both with foot prints and blazes. Took about a half hour to sort out. Between Beauty Spot and Beauty Spot Gap is a pretty bald with a whole lot of art work in the snow, including anatomically correct snow angels.Tommarrow have to start back on to the real backpacking.
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day due to late start.   Miss Janet gave us a ride up to Iron Mountain Gap and we started around 1:00 pm. Hiked with Dances with Scarfs and Nails again. Shelter was pretty full, so hung up the hammock. Snow on ground, but not too cold for the hammock.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked with Dances with Scarfs and Nails again, at least for most of day. One of the fast clips on my backpack broke and took a while to work around it. Caught up with them on top of Roan Knob, where we had lunch. A lot of climbing today and seemed to take forever to get to Overmountain shelter. But, this is a very pretty section.
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took a zero day. Was a little tired, it's been about eight days since my last zero day, so it seemed time. Nails was feeling a bit tired as well. Scarfs is a little worried about where she will meet her daughter, but we got it covered.
Date: 2004-04-09
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Campsite north of US19E
Miles today: 14.9

Long day, but the Humps were pretty as was the Doll Flats. Lost my hiking partners today. Scarfs was meeting with her daugher for a couple days and I hiked on. Got some nice trail majic at US19E, a hot dog, bananas, etc. Very much appreciated.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Campsite north of US19E

To: Stealth campsite south of Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather was nice and didn't really want to stay in the shelter anyway. Got a late start in the morning waiting for the dew to dry off my gear. Kind of a mistake, didn't get going until 10:30 am and the hammock canopy and ground cloth were still wet.
Date: 2004-04-11
From: Stealth campsite south of Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kinkora at Dennis Cove
Miles today: 7.5

Got to Kinkora's just in time for Easter Dinner! Bob and Pat Peoples do a pretty good job of serving the hiker community. Stayed for night.The GearSkin backpack no longer fits. The hip belt is at the stops and can no longer tighten it enough to get the weight off my shoulders. Will have to wait until Damascus to replace.
Date: 2004-04-12
From: Kinkora at Dennis Cove

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: moderate rain

A lot of climbing today and stopped short around 4:15 pm. Would have to go another 7 miles to next shelter and as I remember it, there isn't too many places to stealth camp in between. The shelter was full with three section hikers and two of their sons. Rained during the night, but was able to keep dry in the hammock.
Date: 2004-04-13
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Turkeypen Gap
Miles today: 10.7

Should have gone on to Iron Mountain Shelter. The weather got colder, the wind started blowing and the rain and snow fell all night. Have found the limits of hammocking - it's blowing rain and snow. Stayed warm enough, but it wasn't plesant and the top sleeping bag got wet. Fortunately the bottom one stayed dry. Shoulders really sore from carring most of the pack weight, still have two more days until I get to Damascus.
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Turkeypen Gap

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light snow

Another long hard day. And COLD. Snowed most of day, but fortunately started clearing by nightfall. The night was windy, but clear. Dried off most of my stuff from the night before. Was going to stop at Double Springs Shelter, but some section hikers had a mean dog that kept growling at me everytime I moved. Wasn't going to chance being attacked in the middle of the night during a pee trip. I've met three dogs so far on this trip. The first two were nice and friedly. This one should have been baned from the AT as well as its owners. People who bring unfriendly pets on the trail should be taken out and shot! Forcing people to hike an addition who knows how many miles so they can have the shelter all to themselves is just plain wrong!
Date: 2004-04-15
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Nice brisk walk today. But a lot more ups between Abingdon Gap Shelter and Damascus than I remember for the last time I section hiked here in 2000. Was so glad to get to Damascus. Purchased a new backpack - a Gregory Z pack. May have to send a few items home, not sure everything I have will fit in it. Stayed at the Hiker Inn. Didn't want to stay in the usual hostels as I have a hard time getting any sleep in them. You can't win for losing at most of them. After all the partying stops, then the snoring starts.
Date: 2004-04-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: The Hiker Inn, Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Still at the Hiker Inn. Have just about figured out how to get everything to fit in my new backpack. The weather is supposed to be in the 70s for the next three days or so with only a 20% chance of rain on the third day. Will most likely hike on out of here in the morning.
Date: 2004-04-17
From: The Hiker Inn, Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Long hard day climbing PUDs (pointless ups and downs). Weather was nice and the shelter welcome. Hung the hammock again. New pack didn't work too well, one of the zippers pulled apart and one of the fast clips broke, so have to go back to Damascus for yet another pack!
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Whitetop Mountail Road (USFS 89)
Miles today: 5.5

Short day. Had to hitch back into Damascus to fix my back pack problems. The Zpack didn't work too well. One of the zippers pulled apart and one of the fast connectors broke. The Mount Rogers Outfitter people were very nice about it. They felt the problem was too much wieght, the pack was only designed for about 40 pounds. When we wighed the pack, it was only 39 pounds, but who's counting? Anyway, they replaced the pack with a ULA pack with no additional charge to me. I was able to put all my stuff in it and it seems to be working great.I highly recommend the Mount Rogers Outfitter's to anyone who needs help with their equipment, etc. They not only replaced a new pack without questions, they gave me a free ride back to the trail. Pack Rat (the American one) was also helpful in that I forgot to transfer a hose keeper from the Z pack to the new ULA pack. He gave the keeper to some southbounders he shuttled to the Grayson Highlands area and they gave it to me when I met them a couple days later!
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Campsite North of Wise Shelter

To: Raccoon Branch Shelter
Miles today: 17.3

Long day. Nice hike, with a little rain at the end. Met up with Dances with Scarfs and Nails again. We were thinking about trying to go on to Timpi shelter, but decided to stay at Raccoon Branch. Met two section hiking ladies at the shelter. Very pleasant evening.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Raccoon Branch Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Left Raccoon Branch before Scarfs and Nails, but they caught up to me around noon time. The Parnership Shelter is like all the shelters should be! Hot shower, phone to order pizza from, etc. Several other hikers got there before us and ordered Scarfs and Nails pizza for them, I had to order my own and so had to eat alone. Didn't sleep well that night, but during one of my little walks around the area saw lots of bats flying around.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

11 to 12 miles is starting to become a short day - when I started out, this was about all I could handle in a day. Got to Atkins about 3:00 pm in the rain, but otherwise a pretty hike. Beginning to see why VA is a favorite place to hike from some of the more experienced through hikers. We saw one well mowed field and couldn't quite figure out how they mowed it, since the land was so steep. Passed the first of dozens of "Brushy Moutains" area.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Atkins, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Took a zero day, the body was feeling a little tired. Dances with Scarfs and Nails left around 10:00 am. Met up with LWOP around 10:30 am. His wife Bonnie drove in and she shuttled us around to lunch, resupply, etc. It was so nice to see both of them again.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Lynn Camp Mountain

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Very pretty hike, but long and in places rocky. The views from Chestnut Knob Shelter were outstanding, but it was too early to stop there. After Chestnut, it rained a bit, but the poncho kept me dry, if not terribly warm. Got to Jenkins Shelter around 8:15 pm just as dark was decending. Spent the night with Rumbler and Loose Foot.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: moderate rain

Rained most of night and was still raining when I started out hiking. Both Rumbler and Loose Foot started a half hour before me. Came to a sign that indicated a blue blaze "High Water Trail". It had been raining cats and dogs most of the night, was still raining hard, so I took the blue blaze. For some reason, everyone else stayed on the white blaze trail. They had to cross over seven rivers, at least two of them in thigh deep water. Glad I took the high water tail! When I got to the VA 615 road, was offered breakfast from the local church group. It was 11:15 am when I got there, plus was in a hurry and declined. I guess everyone else accepted and made me feel bad for not going. LWOP camped out near here and got everything wet and was at the motel when I arrived. Bland is about 2.5 miles off the trail and had to hike about half of it before a nice couple picked me up and drove me to the Big Walker motel. The motel was nice, but resupply was a little difficult since the grocery store was over a mile away. So did what I could at the Shell station. Had dinner and breakfast at the Dairy Queen.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Bland, VA

To: just North of Dismal Creek Falls Trail
Miles today: 20.5

My first 20 mile day! Got a ride out of Bland with LWOP, Rumbler and Loose Foot, after a nice breakfast at Dairy Queen. Started hiking around 8:30 am and was able to keep up with the other hikers for about two hours, even going up the steep climb. Once at the top, took a little break and then was no longer able to keep up. Was planing to go into Trent's Grocery on VA 606 but figured it would probably be closed since it was pass 5:00 pm when I got to the road crossing. Guess I was wrong, everyone else went in and it stayed open until 9:00 pm. My bad judgment and planning left me a little bit short of food, but I figured it would be OK if I didn't eat anything on the last day into Pearisburg (only 8 miles). The stealth camp was OK, but it got down to 25 - 30 degrees and my down blanket is only good down to about 35. I was cold and uncomfortable, but not in any danger of freezing. My thermometer showed 25 degrees, but none of my water froze. Plus, in the morning, found a puddle of water on the bottom of my sleeping pad which got the sleeping bad a little wet as well. Guess it was just condensation, since the rain had stopped around 9:00 pm or so. But - I made a full 20 miles during day light!
Date: 2004-04-28
From: just North of Dismal Creek Falls Trail

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Met up with Rumbler, Loose Foot and LWOP again. We spent an hour or so on an overlook of the valley and the eastern edge of Pearisburg. I think this was the best view I've had since I've been on the trail.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up early and then spent a couple hours at a couple nice overlooks of the valley below up on Angels Rest. Then hiked into Pearisburg where I met up with LWOP, Pez, Rumbler and Loose Foot. Rumbler provided me a dinner of rice and tuna the night before so I didn't have to hike on an empty stomack today. Now I owe someone a dinner! Stayed at the Holiday Motor Lodge in Pearisburge.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Long hard day, but made it to the shelter before dark. Got lost due to missing the white blaze that indicated the trail went under the bridge coming out of Pearisburg. Probably did more like 23 miles today, but only 19.6 was official trail miles.Shelter was full, so pitched the hammock on the ground like a tent. Works, but there was a lot of condensation under the canopy and my sleeping bag got a little wet. Need to work on this a bit more.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Another slow day, just didn't have the energy to go further. The Sarver Hollow Shelter is bit off the trail, the book didn't mention it was also a bit DOWN from the trail to. The shelter was one of the best I've seen, too bad it's in such a bad location.Saw some interesting stone structures along the ridge line part of the trail. About four feet high, maybe four feet in diameter of neatly piled up rocks. Not sure how old they are or what they are for. Maybe signalling devices used during the civil war? Anyone know?