morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-14
From: Carver's Gap

To: Campsite near Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 10.1

Checked in with Tehani before we left - nothing new.Charlotte picked us up at 9:00, we had a very enjoyable ride chatting about all sorts of things, and were back on the Trail by 10:15.The morning was lots of rocky downhills... Packs that feel heavy...and Boots feel like they belong to someone else...Had our lunch in a very nice area where there were remnants of a grand old hotel (Cloudview??) there was some information there, but we've forgotten...   and our afternoon was much better.We saw our first trail rabbit, and we went through about a half mile section where every time we would take a step, it sounded like papers rustling and the leaves on the ground would move. A closer look showed that it was small grasshoppers - thousands of them!   We went through another section that strangely, smelled like fish ?? There were some flowering trees there, so I did what I always do when I see a flower I haven't seen before. I smelled it. Phew! It smelled like fish! Talking out loud, but not expecting an answer, I said "I wonder what kind of tree that is?"And without a moment's hesitation, my wonderful husband, always ready with an answer, replied, "A fish tree, of course!"   (I guess you had to be there - it was pretty funny at the time.)We stopped at Smith shelter at 5:15 and at 5:20 the skies opened. What a downpour! The noise of the rain hitting the tin roof was so loud that, even shouting, we couldn't hear each other.There was another hiker there and we discussed politics while having our dinner.At 6:30 the sun came out and we decided to go 2 more miles to a campsite. We'd only gone about .2 when the downpour started again. We continued on, got to the site, set the tent up, and got right in.The rain never let up, but it was a good day. We did better than we thought we would - 10.1 miles.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Campsite near Greasy Creek Gap

To: Beauty Spot Gap
Miles today: 12.2

The rain finally stopped during the night and now it's hot and humid, but we are very glad to be hiking again.Stopped at Cherry Gap shelter for lunch. There were some other thru hikers there and they were drooling over our lunch and threatening to fight us for it       lettuce & tomato & red pepper & cheese on spinach wraps ...We discovered that if we put the tomatoes in a Pringle's can, they would keep for 5 or more days, and bag lettuce was good for about 4 days if we kept it in the top of our pack, peppers for even longer.Today we went through my favorite part of the Trail so far - the wooded summit on Unaka Mt. - a fabulous section of forest. It was so quiet and green and cool, with huge old trees. I felt like we'd stepped back in time and would have loved to have just stayed there for a few days.There weren't too many camping spots to pick from in this stretch - the 2 mentioned in the book weren't very good. One was right by the road and th other was down a ravine and not very flat. We were tired, but we kept going and ended up right before the Beauty Spot vista for a total of 12.2 miles.I've got 3 blisters all on the same foot! I suspect because it's been so wet my boots and socks can't dry.Looking forward to seeing Erwin again....
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Beauty Spot Gap

To: Erwin
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: broken clouds

Heard voices and lots of noise during the night, and then as we came up the Trail to Beauty Spot, we saw about a half dozen tents in the field and several pick ups in the parking area. One tent was actually pitched right ON the Trail. We heard a dog barking, but didn't see any people and just kept on walking, when suddenly, a large black dog came running right at us and nipped me on the thigh. I was calling to whoever was in the tents while Yang was using his poles to keep the dog away, but it kept growling and coming at us. Finally, a head popped out and said 'Oh, don't worry about him. He's friendly.'!! And then even after we told him what happened, and with the dog still after us, it took several more minutes before anyone moved to restrain it and we were able to continue on our way.A very scenic day! Beauty Spot is aptly named - the vista is incredibly gorgeous! Lots of water and we hiked along the river for a bit, too, which was very nice.And the rhododendron are beginning to bloom a beautiful pinkish purple. Did 10.8 miles and it was a pretty easy day until the rock climbing and bouldering for the last hour or so. But we got a nice surprise at the end. Right after Jones Branch, we went through a section of Trail lined on both sides by towering fragrant honeysuckle bushes. We could smell them long before we got to them. Mmmm..   A wonderful end to the day.And it's great to be back in Erwin. Going to have our B&J's right away
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Erwin

To: Doll Flats
Miles today: 10.9

Got to Carver's Gap at 9:00 to continue hiking north. The trail to Stan Murray Shelter, where we stopped for lunch, was mostly washed out and hard on my knees.Think this was our best day hiking yet! Great weather, gorgeous views - lots of balds - and mostly good trail. Hump Mt. was fabulous - loved having mountains on all sides! and we loved Doll Flats!We walked right into a small herd of long horn steers (and a calf) scattered about on both sides of the Trail! I just about came face to face with one as I rounded a corner. Surprised me, but it didn't even seem to notice.   They didn't pay much attention to having their pictures taken, either The last mile or so to where we camped was all rocks and roots, but our campsite about 1/2 mile after Doll Flats was good.Did 10.9 miles and really enjoyed the day. Very content.....
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Doll Flats

To: Mountaineer Waterfall
Miles today: 11.2

It rained all last night with lots of thunder and lightning. Very windy.We stayed in the tent until 9:30 waiting for it to clear. It finally stopped raining, but stayed cloudy and was very humid all day.We stopped for lunch at Apple House Shelter. This is the worst shelter we've seen! Yech!The afternoon was hard... lots of washed out Trail and rocks and roots. and black...the last couple of miles were all burned out with black trees and black boot sucking mud. There was that awful burned smell, too.And the cobwebs!#@! aaarrgghhhh...Late in the day we were going down a woods road when we saw something bright through the trees. Yang thought (was hoping) it might be some 'Trail Magic' to brighten our day. HaHa....as we got closer, we saw that the brightness was plastic flowers in a small cemetery. LOLThe first campsite we headed for was already taken and we couldn't find the 2nd one. Finally found a spot right before Mountaineer Waterfall around 7:00. Lonnnggg day....11.2 miles. We're Tired. Our Feet are sore. And I've got a blister on the edge of my foot from walking on the sides of my feet in the washed out areas.Still hot and humid, too....but tomorrow is anothe day
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Mountaineer Waterfall

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

The morning was cloudy and the hiking was depressing....dark, dismal, and humid with more black, burned out areas and LOTS of mud.Around 11:00 the sun came out and we finally got to an area where it was green again.Stopped at Laurel Fork Shelter for a rest and some lunch, and got to soak our feet. ahhh...The afternoon had a lot of uphill sections. Only 9.3 miles, but it was another long day and when we stopped at Moreland Gap Shelter for some water and dinner, we decided to put the tent up there and call it a day.Planning a short day tomorrow - only 6+ miles to Dennis Cove for a shower. We STINK! Need to resupply, too. We don't have much food left and it's probably still 4 more full days to Damascus.
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Fork
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

Neither of us got much sleep last night. One hiker came to the shelter around 10:00 and then 2 more came in at 11:15 and put their tent up RIGHT next to us! Then they took 45 noisy minutes to get settled.We got a late start - 11:00. The day started out very uphill, but it wasn't too bad. And it was sunny, but not too hot.We kept seeing flower petals on the trail that looked like large candy corn - yellow and orange with white tips - but haven't seen any still on trees. Would like to find out what they are.8.0 miles to Dennis Cove where we got a private cabin at Laurel Fork, a very nice place right on the river. Our only disappointment was in their store. They were cleaned out - nothing left. They apologized and explained that they were under new management, and then they gave us a ride into town to the grocery store so we could get what we needed.Laurel Forks has a kitchen hikers can use, so when we got back from town I enjoyed cooking dinner on a real stove and eating off a plate sitting at a table. There was one other hiker staying there, Kokomo,and he accepted our invitation to join us for dinner. It was a very enjoyable evening with good company and interesting conversation.Very quiet...until (surprise) pouring rain woke us up around midnight.Rain, rain, go away...
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Laurel Fork

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

It cleared up late morning and we left Laurel Forks Cabins around noon.It was great hiking along the water, even with all the rock climbing and bouldering.   We took pictures of the part of the Trail that's just a narrow rock ledge along the water.Laurel Falls is gorgeous!Saw lots of wild strawberries.The morning hiking was very good! The afternoon was ALL up. And Pond Flats is NOT flat. This may have been our steepest climb yet...But I think this is my best day hiking. I feel really good - lots of energy, and my pack and legs feel light!   We had dinner at a picnic table on the edge of Lake Watauga around 6:30. It was peaceful and beautiful - and so nice to have a place to sit. If it had been a bit earlier, we would have gone swimming.Then we went another half mile (8.8 miles for today) to a campsite listed in the handbook, and found ten hikers already there - 9 guys and 1 girl. They gave us each a beer and we listened to them telling elephant jokes and engaging in a contest of bodily functions for about an hour before going to bed.And it was perfect timing because right after we got in the tent it started raining again.   It was so warm that we slept outside of our sleeping bags for the first time, and had a good night's sleep.
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Campsite past Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Whew!! Morning was all uphill.But great weather. Very windy - which I like.Clouded up in the afternoon and lots more uphills.We camped about 4 miles after the Vandeventer Shelter. There were 2 other tents there - one thru hiking couple that we've met before, and 3 section hiking guys, but there was still plenty of room left for us.What a change in the weather! It's cold!! Went to bed early and fell asleep to the sound of the 3 guys talking.
Date: 2005-05-25
From: Campsite past Vandeventer Shelter

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

The morning was hard.We talked to several members of a group slackpacking with Warren Doyle - all doing 25 mile days, EVERY day! One of them told us that only 4 zero days were planned for the whole hike from GA to Me. Amazing!After hiking behind her for a bit, she told us we were faster than she was and to go ahead. First time anyone has told us that!! The afternoon was better. We stopped at Double Springs Shelter for dinner, and then decided to go further before calling it a day. We surprised ourselves by making it to Low Gap - 13.8 miles. The same 3 guys we camped with last night were there already. Found out they're brothers who hike a section of the AT together for a week each year and that tomorrow they are heading home.Went to bed early. Damascus tomorrow! ?? had lunch at Iron Mt. Shelter, where we met a nice hiker from Austria and Kristen and her sister, Smoke & Kitty, hikers from MA.We both did a double take when we saw Kristen - she looks exactly like Yang's niece, Meegan! We took a picture to send to his sister.
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Low Gap

To: Damascus
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Saw a lot of butterlies today Heard more rustling grasshoppers...Felt lots of cobwebs Also ran into the hiking dog again. The last time we'd seen her was in Erwin. This time she was heading in the opposite direction with the man hiking with his 5 grandsons. Seems they've adopted her.Ran into the 2 sisters from MA again at the TN/VA border sign. We took their picture and they took ours. It's always nice when there's someone around to take a picture so Yang and I can be in it together.Except for my knees, felt pretty good today and the hiking was good. We made really good time, too - got into Damascus - 14.8 miles! - around 4:00! Yang says I'm like a horse going home. Once it knows it's headed back to the stable, it picks up the pace and gets there in half the time it took going the other way. He says he can't keep up on the days we come into town. LOLWe didn't realize it was Memorial Day weekend until we tried to get a room. Fortunately, we were able to get one for thee night at the the Victorian Inn. Linda and Jerry, the owners are very nice people, and went out of their way to accomodate us and make us feel welcome.After a shower and change of clothes, we went to find someplace to eat. We'd only walked a few feet when we saw two famliar faces - Zen & Redbeard! We greeted each other wih our usual "What are you doing here?? We thought you'd be way ahead of us by now!"Zen's mother had come down from Michigan to hike with them for a week and was with them. They had just gotten into town were looking for a place to stay, too. We noticed a place called the Dancing Bear, and went over with them to see if we could get a room there for the weekend. Happily, Bob and Diane were able to accomdate all of us.We decided to all go to dinner together, and while we were waiting for them to get settled in their room and shower, we went over to tell Linda that we had found a place to stay for the weekend - right across the street. We sat on the porch swing chatting and Diane saw us and came over for a bit. It was fun. We found out how they had come to be in Damscus and got a little local gossip, to boot. Just before we left for dinner, Linda told us she was baking a cake and would leave out a piece for each of us to have later. Southern hospitality is a wonderful thing Went to the Old Mill and had a very good time. It was fun to catch each other up on everything, and great to meet and spend some time with Zen's mom - she's interesting and fun, like they are.Got back to the Inn, had our cake (yum) and went to bed.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Even though our bed at the Victorian Inn was very comfortable, I couldn't sleep. My knees made it impossible for me to get comfortable. Yang didn't sleep either because his feet were too sore. So much for doing 14 and then 15 mile days back to back It cooled off and rained during the night.We moved out of the Victorian Inn and across the street to the Dancing Bear, where we were welcomed with homemade cookies and banana bread.I'm a little homesick. Thinking about cookouts and family times. And the bear stuff makes me miss Ronan (our grandbaby & my little 'bear') even more. Went to the library to check email and met an interesting local couple that we talked to for over an hour - but, unfortunately never got their names. More local gossip....Went to the Mt. Rogers Outfitter - great people; Jeff, Christine (Bob & Diane's daughter) and Tom. And great service. I had been having, what I thought, were boot issues and was thinking of buying a new pair. But Jeff said I didn't need new boots, and spent a couple of hours working on my Superfeet and showing me different ways to tie my bots to alleviate various discomforts.We also received another 'goodie box' from Dick & Binki, full of good stuff and with some wonderful surprise contributions from Carolyn, another good friend back in MA. They also both put in nice long notes, which we think are the best part.Went back to the Old Mill for their Friday night seafood buffet. Disappointing.... but then again, we're spoiled. No one has better seafood than New England. But their carrot cake was the best I've ever had! Delicious. Zen & Redbeard were going to the real grocery store. It's outside of town, but they had her mom's car, and asked if wanted to go, which worked out beautifully, since we did need to resupply and there wasn't much in town.It also gave us time to talk some more since they were leaving tomorrow and we don't know when, or if, we'll see them again Going to just sit back and relax with my feet up and ice on my knees tomorrow.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zen, Redbeard & her mom were gone when we got up. Disappointed that we didn't get to say bye. We thought we would see them before they left but we'll probably run into them again somewhere....Rained off and on all day. Did laundry and got things ready to leave tomorrow. Diane & Bob invited us and Mama Bear & the Cubs (who are also staying at Dancing Bear) over for tacos. The food was very good - especially the cake and it was very nice to get to know our hosts a bit. Bob, Diane and their daughter have all hiked the AT. Bob & Christine finished, but Diane had to drop out due to sickness. We really enjoyed hearing about their experiences and about other hikers they've met. They also showed us a great video of hiking the AT that we want to get.It was nice to catch up wth Mama Bear and the kids, too. This was it for them. They decided 500 miles was enough and they are getting off the Trail and going back to Texas. Congratulations to them all for going as far as they did!Thank you Bob & Diane!
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Damascus

To: Creek Junction
Miles today: 13.5

Got a late start - noon! and then missed our turn off. The AT continues through town for a bit and then goes onto the Creeper Trail for about a mile. Somehow we missed where it goes off again and ended up going a bit further on the Creeper than we were supposed to. But since the At crosses the Creeper several times,it worked out ok.There were a LOT of bikers out, several who were interested in us and stopped to ask us questions about hiking and about the AT. It's sunny and HOT! And our packs are feeling very heavy.We saw two 3+ foot long black snakes within a quarter mile of each other. Actually, I had been enjoying the scenery and didn't see the first one until I'd already gone past it and Yang told me to turn around. I paid a lot more attention to where my feet where after that!We made it 13.5 miles, which wasn't too bad all things considered, and camped right before Creek Junction at a nice spot right by the river.Our feet are sore...and my knees hurt
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Creek Junction

To: Whitetop Mtn. Road
Miles today: 7.8

We did not want to get up this morning...both of us slept pretty well but still feel tired. It's hot and humid.We went uphill All day - more gentle and rolling hills - but still up. I'm feeling really overheated...Stopped at Lost Mt. Shelter for lunch. Yang got himself locked in the privy! I had to go rescue him LOLIn the afternoon I twisted my ankle stepping off a rock - and aggravated my knee trying to regain my balance.Limping along, we didn't get as far as we thought we would today, and ended up camping right by Whitetop Mt. Rd - only 7.8 miles Then setting up the tent I stepped on a HUGE thorn - it was over an inch long and went right thru my Crocs and stuck into my foot! Yang had to pull it out.Not my best day.....
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Whitetop Mtn. Road

To: Whitetop Mtn. Road
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up to rain, heavy fog and high winds. Decided to wait awhile, but it didn't let up. Had breakast in the tent, I read a book, and Yang napped.Had lunch in the tent, read some more, we both napped.On a quick trip out of the tent, with all the fog and rain, Yang didn't see dead branch sticking out and it caught him right below his eye - a quarter of inch up and it would have gone right in his eye. He got a scrape and bruise, but thankfully, nothing serious. Had dinner in the tent, finished the book,went to bed.Still pouring rain and hurricane like winds. Water is blowing into one corner of the tent and condensation is making the walls wet enough to drip.Lonnnggg day and night....
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Whitetop Mtn. Road

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: light rain

It's still raining buckets and windy, but we can't stand being in the tent any longer. Everything is wet...Hiked 2.5 miles to Elk Garden. It was so windy that even screaming we couldn't hear each other. Decided the weather was too bad to go over the bald and to hitch a ride back to Damascus.We were comfortably settled and drying out at Dancing bear by noon. Bob let us put the tent up in his garage to dry and we went to the laundromat to clean and dry our clothes.The weather is supposed to clear up by the weekend, so we arranged for a shuttle back to Elk Garden on Saturday.Spent the afternoon with ice on my knees and ankle.Bob & Diane took us to dinner at a place outside of town, and then Linda & Jerry came in right after us, so we all had dinner together. It made for a very pleasant evening (and the strawberry pie was delicious
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Elk Garden

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It's still raining...We went out for breakfast and I won't say where, in case it was just a one time thing, but we had our worst breakfast everit was so bad that immediately after we both had ice cream instead!Did a little food shopping - we were trying to get either bagels or pita pockets. Dodging huge puddles and streams of water running down the street, we tried all of the stores that sold food items, but no one had any. The pizza place had pita pocket sandwiches on their menu. We told them we were hikers and asked if we could buy a couple of pieces to take with us. They said we could have them at no charge! and then they baked us 2 large fresh pieces.Went back to Dancing Bear and just relaxed for the rest of the day...Bob came by with some cookies Diane had made Went to bed early. Knees still sore