morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-11
From: Neel's Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Didn't sleep well at the hostel so after only about 5 hours of actual sleep, I got up at 4 AM, had coffee and breakfast and was on the trail at 5 AM. Walked in the clouds all day in heavy drizzle which was pretty eerie with visibility only about 30 feet, but hiking in the fog and dark of early morning was downright spooky.My optimistic self played with the thought that the fog was the mountain's cocoon, its way of holding me close in its arms. But then my pessimistic alter ego would say no, the gray fog is more like a funeral shroud. Then my positive side would say, hey! Shake it off! You're hiking NOW! You're in the mountains NOW! Do you really want to spend the next week worrying about death when you have a whole week to truly celebrate life? And besides, worry is like paying interest on a loan I may not owe.So obviously had quite an internal battle going on in the gloom of cloud walking. Looking at one's mortality square in the face certainly sharpens one's senses. I caught myself drinking in every nuance and detail of everything around me, almost as if I was having a sensory overload; a compulsion to imprint my existence, my soul, onto the fabric of my surroundings.Kept a good warmth sweet spot in my layering system all morning but then the wind picked up and I started to get chilled. Found a wonderful rock overhang just north of Tesnatee Gap where I stopped for lunch. The overhang kept me out of the rain and wind so I had a leisurely hot lunch with what would have been a great view but today was just a gray murk.Last few miles were the longest ones of the day. I was cold, so tired I thought I would fall asleep while walking. Was right on the edge of hypothermia so kept moving to keep the body heat engine running. Slipped on some ice and had my first fall. No injury or even a bruise, just an underscore to be vigilant with every step.Made it to the shelter around 3:30. It was already full and several tents were already set up. So worked efficiently to set up my tent, get water, change into dry clothes, make a hot dinner and hot chocolate, hang my food and climb into my sleeping bag. Being out here, as I've probably said before, gives one a profound appreciation for the simple pleasures of warm, dry clothes and a hot drink.
Date: 2010-03-12
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Still raining this morning and didn't have enough dry clothes to safely continue so holed up at the shelter for the day in the rain. Hoped that things would dry which isn't going to happen when you're sitting in the middle of a cloud.So just kept my last set of dry clothes dry and warm on my body and waiting for the weather to break which it should by tomorrow morning.New rain gear is my first order of business when I next hit town.9 days out; 3 hostel stays; average daily miles 4.6; 2 zero days, $1,500 in medical bills. Not how I planned it. TRAIL TRUTH #8: Be flexible. Was hoping this storm was winding down, but instead it intensified right before dark. Torrential rain, lightning, thunder and pea-sized hail.Really hope it ends overnight so I can dry things out and get moving again.TRAIL TRUTH #9: Never wear your last set of dry clothes in the rain.TRAIL TRUTH #10: EVERYTHING gets muddy when it's raining.
Date: 2010-03-13
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Took awhile to break camp because everything is so wet and it's in the 40's so hands and fingers are numb. Eventually I got on the trail and for a change wasn't the last one one out of camp.First five miles were relatively easy and flew by. Allowed me to let my mind wander a bit. I was thinking about one of my character flaws: being judgmental. Fortunately as I got older, I was able to rein it in and understand what it was all about. To me, being judgmental is just a way to defer responsibility for one's own actions while criticizing those exact same traits in others. So now when I go into judgment mode, I identify the offending action in myself and come up with ways to modify my behavior or at least understand where it's coming from.So that little exercise in self-examination was what was bouncing around my head for awhile. Then the trail got harder with some sharp elevation gains (read "Steep"), and it started raining, and it got colder as we climbed the John Hancock building (1,000 feet = 100 stories). So had to start paying attention to keep moving and not get hypothermic and always pay attention to where I'm placing my feet. Stopped for water about .25 miles before the shelter which delayed me just long enough to get caught in a hail storm that really stung until I could hustle to the shelter. Then it started snowing.Glad I got to the shelter when I did so I could get a space under roof in the shelter. Wouldn't have wanted to set up a tent in the wind and snow as several other people who arrived later had to do.The creature comforts of dry clothes, a warm sleeping bag and a hot drink are priceless out here when the weather is so challenging.
Date: 2010-03-14
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Cold and blustery on the top of a mountain, snowing and in the clouds again. Again managed to get out of camp before most everyone else. Icy slick conditions for the 1,000' downhill to the Gap were most of the people who were at the shelter last night decided to get off the trail for the night. I continued on climbing 1,000' in 1.25 miles, then down 1,000', then up 1,200' with the last half mile excruciatingly steep.I've found my legs and knees are good and I'm strong on the uphills as long as they are under 3,000'. Higher than that and the elevation has me gasping for breath. Better get used to it soon as I have several 5,500' mountains just ahead of me.I was the only thru-hiker at the shelter tonight. Late in the afternoon six section-hikers came in but they all tented.Another cold night in the 30's with snow and wind all night.
Date: 2010-03-15
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Had to get under 3,200' to get out of the clouds. Spent another night over 4,000' which merely translated to snow and cold and fog. Hopefully, though, it's helping to acclimate me to the altitude as I'm still getting short of breath on the uphills over 3,200'.The sun finally came out and warmed things up though I did manage to take a second fall on some slippery mud and banged my arm on a rock. Have a colorful bruise. There are some parts of the trail that are wide and flat where I can easily pour on the coals and get that long, fast midwestern stride going. But the vast majority is going up or down at a significant angle with a path a scant 12-18" wide climbing over rocks and roots where one misplaced step could cause a fall or injury. A lot of this is along the side of a mountain so if you fall off the path you could roll downhill until a tree or rock stopped you. Then you would be hard pressed to climb back up the trail except on all fours as the inclines are so steep.So watching each step becomes second nature and you just deal with the crick in your neck looking down at the ground all the time. Have to remind myself to pause and look around at my surroundings occasionally rather than just at the ground.Finding a good spot for lunch becomes a daily challenge but always appears before you like magic. Sometimes it's a mountain top with a great view; sometimes a low sunny flat area out of the wind both preferably with something to sit on like a big rock or log rather than the ground. Having a good water source nearby is an added bonus. I usually take 30-45 minutes for lunch, remove my shoes and let the tired feet rest and air out. Caught up to and passed some section hikers who are a few days into a 10 day hike. This is a first! I'm actually hiking faster than someone! Then an hour or so later I noticed a couple hikers keeping pace with me about 100 yards back. I stopped at the turn-off to Deep Gap Shelter, having already hiked a respectable 7.5 miles. The two young hikers, Russell and Jay, said they were going to the next road crossing 3.5 miles uptrail to get a shuttle into town. So like a horse going back to the barn, I kicked up the pace and made it to the road in about 70 minutes, managing to keep pace most of the way with the boys.Since I was going to be in town for two nights, I got a room at the Holiday Inn Express with a whirlpool tub in the room, laundry facilities on each floor and complimentary breakfast in the morning.Went to an all you can eat buffet right across the street with Russell and Jay. Then back to the hotel for a long hot bath, some cable TV, and the luxury of a pillow.
Date: 2010-03-16
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The only clothes I had that were relatively clean were my rain coat and rain pants so that's what I wore while my laundry was getting done. Had a great breakfast (free) at the hotel and took another bath. After laundry was done and I had clean clothes, I used one of the hotel's complimentary bicycles to ride the mile to the post office and pick up my mail drop, buy 6 oz of stove fuel at the hardware store, and went to the grocery store to buy food for lunch and dinner that I could microwave in my hotel room.Back at the hotel I arranged for tomorrow's shuttle back to Blairsville to get the results of last week's biopsy, took another whirlpool bath, and vegged out on cable TV until the wee hours.
Date: 2010-03-17
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: light rain

Had another great breakfast (free), packed up and checked out just as my shuttle arrived. I was quiet for the half hour drive to the doctor thinking it had taken me almost a week to hike the distance. I finally let my own thoughts of concern and worry run free so when I got the clean bill of health from the doctor, it was quite a relief. The symptoms had been an anomaly - the tests showed nothing but healthy (for my age) tissue. SOOO happy I hadn't stressed about this all week.Got the all clear to continue hiking and had the shuttle drop me off at Dicks Creek Gap where I had left the trail a couple days ago. Since it was already early afternoon, my plan was just to hike to the first shelter.Felt good after two days off so took the 1,500' elevation gain in stride. Upon arriving at the turn-off to the shelter, I saw the water source was down a steep ravine on the other side of the trail. Beautiful spot.Climbed back up the ravine and went on to the shelter where I found there was a water source right by the shelter. Guess I should have read the guide book, it would have saved me a steep scramble.Met Signage (GAME '07), Wild Life and Hiker Nutt, three women who are section hiking, and EZ Hiker and Martin. Got talking about what we missed from our real lives. One of the things all the women agreed on was pillows. Some good laughs about how women sleep with an additional pillow for every decade of their age. The quizzical look on EZ Hiker's face wondering what all the pillows were for was priceless.
Date: 2010-03-18
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I was teased this morning about talking in my sleep and even funnier, laughing in my sleep. Today was the first day since Keith got off the trail that I hiked with anyone. Formed an easy comaraderie with Signage, Wild Thing and Hiker Nutt. They were generous in sharing their hiking experiences. Just observing their efficiencies in packing up and getting ready to hit the trail was a learning experience.Red letter day! I crossed the Georgia/North Carolina border at mile 76.4 and as AT tradition dictated, kissed the famous contorted tree at Bly Gap. One state down, 13 more to go.We sheltered at Muskrat Creek with a full shelter and numerous people camping, including the memorable Pyro (aka Johnnie Walker) who lights campfires with Fritos. He also successfully tempted Wild Life into eating a hot dog. She promised to go to vegetarian confession when she gets back home.
Date: 2010-03-19
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

Woke up at 0515 hours and was on the trail by 0700 hours. Beautiful sunny weather. Some ice and snow on the north sides of the mountains made for some serious slilpping and sliding. Our early start was because we planned a 12+ mile day. Our group was the first out of camp. Signage led the way and kept a pace that challenged but didn't overwhelm.They showed me how to pace myself on the uphills so I didn't have to stop before reaching the summit thereby improving my stamina for the climbs.They showed me the value of having a first lunch and a second lunch to keep the calorie and ergo the energy load going.The day grew warm and I was too hot so we did some sleeve surgery on my one wool top and so I now have a short sleeved top.It was nice hiking with the group. We had times of conversation and times of easy silence and it was very pleasant.We had a long ascent up Standing Indian Mountain which I summited after a continuous climb. It looked a lot harder on paper than it turned out to be which prompted the following toast which only an AT hiker would understand. "May every difficulty in life be as a Standing Indian."
Date: 2010-03-20
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

Long gradual climb starting at 4,500'. Even after the big (for me) miles yesterday, legs felt strong and feet amazingly ready for the day. Pleased with my progress physically in getting used to the rigors of hiking every day. Also getting much better at dealing with the altitude and start the huffing and puffing at higher and higher elevations.Three days since I've had a shower and it's starting to get noticeable. About 3.5 days before I hit the next town. Not only need a shower but also hit the laundromat, pick up my food resupply, mail some journal pages and then right back on the trail so I can be at Fontana Dam and ready to enter the Smokies in 3-4 more days.Got my first taste of an AT rock climb today as we went up Albert Mountain. 500 vertical feet in .3 of a mile. Some steps and a lot of hand over hand rock climbing. Upon gaining the summit, all of a sudden we were as high as all the other mountains with the valleys far, far below. There was a fire watch tower on top that we climbed and I swear it was swaying in the wind.Hiked another .5 of a mile or so to Big Spring Shelter where I met two brothers from Manchester, England who are hiking for charity to benefit injured British soldiers coming back from Iraq; Ringleader, Lightning, Monkey and Blue Jay who are doing a documentary about women on the AT; Addie and her dog Beast who are section hiking and teaches trail maintainers how to do trail work in the Bob Marshall Wilderness just south of Glacier National Park in Montana. Great group; lots of fun and laughs.
Date: 2010-03-21
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

All women in the shelter last night, how unusual. We were on the trail about 0730 and the first five miles flew by. I'm at altitude and it's not bothering me very much at all. I crossed my 100 mile mark two miles uptrail from the shelter and celebrated with Signage and Wild Life. Signage gave me an orange lunch stuff sack as a 100 mile gift.Light rain started mid-morning. Stopped at Rock Gap Shelter for our first lunch. Lightning, Ringleader and crew passed us here and the Brit Boys didn't pass us until just before Winding Stair and were really surprised it took them so long to catch us.Had our second lunch at Winding Stair Gap where Signage, Wild Life, Red Feather and Joan Blade met their shuttle and left. I left Winding Stair alone, passing a beautiful waterfall and climbed steadily for 1,000' in pouring rain 4 miles up the trail.Friar Tuck, who is thru-hiking the AT and then thru-biking to Key West "and beyond", and Umbrella Man, a dedicated section-hiker were at the shelter when I arrived and Doodlebug and Didgereedude showed up a half hour later. Haven't seen them since Stover Creek on Day 1. Glad to see they're still hiking.Rained hard until about 0200 hours in the morning with occasional lightening and thunder. I was SO happy to be in the shelter rather than tenting. It was a bit cozy as we made room for two latecomers so they could get in out of the wet. Started to snow at about 0200 hours and we had an inch my morning.Had my first North Carolina fall in the mud, on the butt, and not hurt!
Date: 2010-03-22
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light snow

Said goodbye to Signage, Wild Life, Hiker Nutt, Joan Blade and Red Feather yesterday at Winding Stair and continued on to Siler Bald Shelter. Made it to the shelter before the drizzle turned to a deluge which was good but slipped and landed on my butt in the mud. Fortunately I had my rain pants on so took them off and left them out in the rain to rinse off. A few hikers came in late so we had a packed shelter. Part of it had a tin roof but we were all so tired that the staccato beat of the raindrops punctuated by the rumble of thunder actually put us to sleep.I woke up about two in the morning sensing something was different. It was quiet. The temperature had dropped and there were gentle flakes of snow falling. I hunkered down a little deeper in my sleeping bag and went back to sleep.I was first up and first out in the chill morning. Because of the snow, the trail was hard to follow. It was also very rocky and slippery so the going was slow but no one caught up with me until Wayah Bald. Had my second North Carolina fall on some ice. Aggravating but no injury. Burningtown Gap was the last gap before the climb to tonight's shelter. I noticed a truck parked and a big tent set up and was never so happy to see some trail magic.Our benefactor was Grits, a 2009 thru hiker. He cooked up cheeseburgers and had chips and soft drinks. Just what the body needed for the final climb to tonight's shelter.The Cold Spring Shelter is the oldest or one of the oldest on the trail. It was build in 1933 and is right on the trail. There's a nice campfire ring right in front and a wonderful spring right in front of that. Very nice and idyllic.
Date: 2010-03-23
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nanatahala Outdoor Center (N.O.C.)
Miles today: 12.5

Cold night with freezing rain and snow. Fell on the snow getting my bear bag down in the morning. That makes #3 for North Carolina.Hiked off and on with Umbrella Man in the morning. Had a steep down, then a steep up, then an impossibly long steep down about 3,200'. Climbed the fire tower at Wesser Bald and saw the intimidating chain of mountains in the Smokies.Fell hard at a rock scramble called the Jump Off. Ripped the seat in my rain pants. Had to sit for a minute making sure nothing was broken. It was a hard fall but amazingly just a couple minor bruises. That's #4 for North Carolina.Found Umbrella Man's wool jacket hanging from a bush so I attached it to my pack and sent word ahead to him with some faster hikers that I was bringing it down. He was waiting for me when I arrived and was very appreciative. Went to restaurant and ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Then got a bunk at the hostel and did my laundry and took a shower.
Date: 2010-03-24
From: Nanatahala Outdoor Center (N.O.C.)

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: few clouds

Very hard, steep climb out of the N.O.C. Gained 3,000¢. Altitude really bothered me at about 3,500¢. As I got more tired not being able to catch my breath, I tripped on a tree root and fell forward hard. I took off my pack, sat in the middle of the trail and cried. This is so hard.I got up, dusted myself off and once I gained the summit, got a breathtaking view of the Smokies with snow still at the top.Met a Boy Scout troop at the shelter who are doing a southbound section hike. Very nice, very polite, very respectful of the ¢leave no trace¢ philosophy.
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

It was a steep climb to Cheoah Bald at start of day. Could see the Smokies, snow covered at the tops. They¢re big. I¢m still having problems catching my breath at elevation so am concerned. Had a steep descent into Stecoah Gap (1,850¢) where I had lunch. A North Carolina D.O.T. truck gave me a much appreciated half-liter of water as the spring at the highway crossing was dry. Then another painfully steep climb, which I thought would never end and seemed to go straight up the mountain. No Wussy switchbacks for these North Caroliners!Threat of rain and burning calf muscles pulled me into the Brown Shelter Gap. Supposedly built in 1996 but in rougher shape and more beat up than the Cold Spring Shelter built in 1933 that I stayed in a few nights ago. It¢s 500 and no one else is here. It¢s drizzling and temp dropping so going to cook dinner and climb into my sleeping bag.
Date: 2010-03-26
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: NC 28 Fontana Dam
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

No one showed up at the shelter last night. First night I spent alone on the AT. Slept like a rock anyway.Long downhill to Fontana Dam but nothing like going down to the N.O.C. Called the shuttle and got a room at the Lodge. Had a wonderful blue cheese and mushroom burger and a long, long hot shower.
Date: 2010-03-30
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Was the first one out of the ¢Hilton¢ and on the trail by daylight. Walking across Fontana Dam so early in the morning with no other people or vehicles had an ¢end of the world¢ feel to it. The long, slow climb out of the valley wasn¢t as hard as I thought it would be even though visually Mt. Shuckstack is very intimidating. I kept a fairly steady pace and just kept going up and up and up. Finally hit the side-trail to the summit and went up there. A very unsafe-looking and rickety fire tower was on top along with the ruins of a cabin with only the hand-laid stone chimney still in place. I did not climb the fire tower.As usual, the miles went by slowly but eventually came to the shelter, which was really crowded. A lot of people tenting and cowboy camping tonight.Met Spaz, from Quebec who is southbound and started last year on the International AT in Canada and has been snowshoeing a lot of the trail. He¢s going to finally send them home when he gets to Fontana.Also met Lodestone, a retired Army officer. Lots of younger party-minded people but that didn¢t stop me from falling asleep in the shelter at 830 pm.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

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

Milestone day. I passed the 179.1 mile mark which means I have less than 2,000 miles to go. Total trail length in 2010 is 2,179.1 miles.Trail was difficult for me today as the elevation rose to over 5,000¢ with the usual ups and downs.There was snow and it kept getting deeper the higher the elevation went. In sunny spots and the south side of the mountains it was clear but heavy with snow melt.I¢ve decided to rename the trail through the Smokies from the Appalachian Trail to the Appalachian Trench. And guess where all the snow melt goes? Right down the trench as if someone opened a sluice gate. First time since the start of the trip my shoes are wet.Came to a beautiful bald, which is a grassy area at the top of a mountain devoid of trees. I stopped for lunch and a nap. Could have spent the whole afternoon there but had a few more miles to do. We climbed Rocky Top Mountain and I was regaled with 2 versions of the song. A couple miles later I realized I had missed the shelter I was shooting for so ended up hiking to the next one arriving just before dark. It was packed with lots of people tenting and cowboy camping but I was able to get a spot in the shelter. Long day.