morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-16
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

When Swamp Fox woke up, his watch said 6:30 am. This was a reasonable time to get up as we were due to leave for Hard Core trail work at 8:15 am. He proceeded with morning chores quietly, so as not to wake up others. However, some how his watch gained three hours during the night. He had actually gotten up at 3:30 am and never could get back to sleep. He couldn't understand why it was still dark at 9 am. This is going to be a long day. Eventually things got organized and we were driven to the Hard Core work site. It was south of the trail crossing of US Route 321. It was a walk of about 2 1/2 miles to the section of relocated trail under construction. Trail construction is exhausting work and we were both aching and tired at the end of the day's work.The Hard Core group of about 75 people completed the construction of about 2100 feet of new trail. With the new section of trail completed, it was time to paint the white AT blazes. Some of the younger participants were very eager to paint blazes on the trail they just help complete. Some were quite emotional about the experience. It was imspiring to see the devotion of some of these young people for the Appalachian Trail. Many are in the process of thru hikes and took the time to do Hard Core. It means we hope that there will be a new devoted generation of trail maintainers in the future.We returned to Kincora for the traditional post-Hard Core feast: Soup, spaghetti, salad, and tons of ice cream and cake. The hostel is quite crowded. We did laundry, took showers, and got ready for bed. We chatted with Sam I Am and Orgami into the night. We had met them in April 2006 at Gooch Gap, along with Baggins. Tomorrow we start hiking from Allen Gap. We hope it is a dry day. The last two days here at Kincora have been rainy.
Date: 2011-05-17
From: Allen Gap, TN Route 208

To: Little Laurel shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: moderate rain

Bob Peoples's priority was to get the Hard Core thru hikers back to their stopping points of the Trail. As a result he could not get us to our starting point on the trail until the afternoon. We chose to start our hike here as this was the point where we had to get off the Trail in 2009 (see our AT 2009 TJ). It rained all day. We started walking north from Allen Gap at 2:30 pm. After two miserable miles we were tempted to go to the hostel at Log Cabin Road. Other hikers at Kincora raved about this hostel.   However, we could not justify stopping after two miles, so we continued in the rain. We arrived at the Little Laurel Shelter at about 5:20 pm, with out pausing once in the rain.There were three hikers in the shelter who had taken a zero day due to the rain. They were two thru hikers: Francois Dillinger and Big Ben, an Englishman. Additional Honey Badger,a grandmom hiker was there. We cooked our dinner and got into our sleeping bags to get out of the cold. We were in the sack by 6:30 pm. Later, another thru hiker, Tom from Tulane University, came in. He had done a 22 mile day in the rain. We moved over and made room for him.
Date: 2011-05-18
From: Little Laurel shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We were up at 7 am on a drab, foggy morning. At least it wasn't raining. After a cold breakfast we left the shelter at 8:20 am. We had trouble packing up due to the other hikers and first morning disorganization.We had a stiff climb out of the shelter of 1000 feet in 1.3 miles. Then we descended to the ridge walk beyond Big Firescald Knob. We were fortunate there was no rain for the ridge walk. This is a section of trail which is exposed to the wind. It is made up of a series of up and downs on rock trail work. We remembered this section as being quite difficult during our 2005 thru hike attemps (see Rocky's AT 2005 TJ). We were quite apprehensive as we started into the traverse of the ridge. Surprisingly, it was not as difficult or as long a section as we remembered from 2005. Of course, it helped that there was no rain. We stopped at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 12:45 for lunch. We met Wolverine there. Swamp Fox's shoulders were aching from the pack load. He carries our five pound REI Half Dome tent strapped to the middle of the pack, where it creates an overturning moment. We experimented with attaching the tent to the very top of the pack and found that it eased the strain on the shoulders considerably. After some discussion we elected to proceed to the next shelter, Flint Mountain. We left Jerry Cabin at about 1:15 pm and arrived at Flint Mountain shelter at 4:40 pm. There were several other hikers there already. Later John (no trail name yet) arrived. He is 68 years old and was great fun.We survived a second day on the Trail.
Date: 2011-05-19
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: campsite 0.6 miles north of Sam's Gap
Miles today: 11.9

When we got up at 7 am, there were patches of blue in the sky. This was quite encouraging when we left the shelter at 8 am. It was a perfect day to hike: cool at 55 degrees, dry, and breezy. The sun did come out but we had no problem in the "green tunnel" of the Trail.Rocky was like the Energizer Bunny this morning as we started out. She set a blistering pace, covering the 2.7 miles to the next road (NC Route 212) in 80 minutes. We saw many wildflowers along the way: lady slipper, trillium, monk's hood, may apple, buttercups and violets. Rocky just loves wildflowers and photographed some along the way. We stopped for our first rest just past NC Route 212. Then began a long uphill of 1600 feet in 2.8 miles. We stopped for lunch at 12 noon at the Big Flat campsite. The next 2 1/2 miles to Hogback Ridge Shelter were quite painful for Swamp Fox. His back, quads,and hamstrings were hurting. John passed enroute to Hogback Ridge Shelter, but we caught up to him at the shelter. The three of us discussed the options for the rest of the day. Swamp Fox was inclined to stay at the shelter. Rocky and John wanted to push on. We ended up deciding to continue to campsites beyond Sam's Gap, about three miles ahead. Swamp Fox had a difficult time. We reached Sam's Gap at 3:30 pm. We decided to continue until 4:15 pm. If we did not reach a campsite with water supply by then, we would stop at the first site with out water and conserve what supply we had (about 72 ounces). It turned out that at 4:15 pm we came upon a site with spring. The spring was about 20 feet off the trail and there was an excellent site just above the spring. This is home for the night.
Date: 2011-05-20
From: campsite 0.6 miles north of Sam's Gap

To: campsite 0.1 mile south of Spivey Gap
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a light rain overnight, but it ended before we got up at 6 am. We were on the AT by 7 am. It was a cloudy morning, but pleasant at around 55 degrees with a breeze and occassional sun. Swamp Fox felt better today. We spent most of the morning on the long climb to Big Bald. Enroute we met five trail maintainers from the Carolina Hiking Club. We thanked them for their efforts. We continued to the top of the Bald, arriving at 10:35 am. There were beautiful open vistas all around. The summit is grassy and open. This makes hiking worthwhile despite the discomfort and occassional pain. After spending some time on Big Bald we continued to the next bald, Big Stamp. We stopped for lunch here. Then we continued down to the Bald Mountain Shelter, arriving at 11:55 am. We loaded up on water here. We wanted to reach the next shelter, No Business Knob, this afternoon so as to have a short hike into Erwin tomorrow. However, we tired as the afternoon wore on and an additional 10.6 miles was not in the cards today.   It was a very steep descent. As we could not make it to the next shelter we looked for a campsite before Spivey Gap. We couldn't locate the site listed in the guide book, so we ended up stopping just before Spivey Gap at a site with a nearby stream for water supply. We arrived at our campsite at 3:30 pm, which is early for us, but we were tired. We were finished dinner and evening chores by 5:30 pm. It was about this time that Norsewoman showed up. She camped closer to the stream after we chatted a bit.We expect to be on the Trail early tomorrow. Town Day!
Date: 2011-05-21
From: campsite 0.1 mile south of Spivey Gap

To: Chestoa Bridge (Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

We wanted an early start to get into town early enough to do town stuff. We were up at 6 am and on the Trail at 6:50 am. Another nice morning with a clear blue sky. It was about 50 degrees when we left the campsite, but the temperatures reached the 70's today. Swamp Fox had a difficult climb out of Spivey Gap. Rocky is having a much easier time on this hike. The easy living on cruise ships this past winter and spring must have taken its toll on Swamp Fox's conditioning. We reached No Business Knob shelter at 9:20 am, a 2 mph pace for the first 5 miles of the day's walk. We took a lenghty break here for snacks and water. We left the shelter at 9:45 am and began a short climb. The trail in this area is cut into a steep cross slope. A misstep could be disasterous with a fall of many feet. Rocky did slip once but it was into the uphill side of the trail. No damage done.After some downhill we reached Temple Hill Gap. We faced a 400 climb according to the map profile. This was the last uphill before the final descent into Erwin. However, the climb was a bit maddening. Just as we reached the top of the climb, there would be a short downhill then another uphill. There were four such uphills before we started the final 2 1/2 mile downhill to Erwin. The steep downhill is a real toe banger and Rocky has the blisters tonight to show for it. On the way down we passed a cache of food. We couldn't find anyone around. We didn't know if it were trail magic. We suspect some weekend hikers we met at No Business Knob shelter may have left it to lighten their load. We took a few items and left most of the food. We reached the bottom at 1 pm. Uncle Johnny's Hostel is located right at the road where the trail reaches bottom, but we elected to go on to the Holiday Inn Express, about 1.3 miles away. The Holiday Inn has laundry, hot breakfast buffet and internet. After walking part way on the road to the hotel, a nice man offered us a ride in his truck which we readily accepted. We checked and Swamp Fox started laundry while Rocky soaked in the tub. After we both cleaned up we walked into Erwin to buy food for the next segment of our hike (five days to Route 19E and the Mountain Harbor Hostel). There was not restaurant near the stores we shopped at so we bought some food to cook at the Hotel. We had time for a leisurely dinner at the hotel and entering these notes into our journal. Tonight will be quite nice in this beautiful hotel. Swamp Fox stayed here in 2005. It is more expensive today, but still a great trail stop.
Date: 2011-05-22
From: Chestoa Bridge (Erwin, TN)

To: campsite about 1 mile north of Beauty Spot
Miles today: 11.6

Despite the comfortable beds at the Holiday Inn Express, we didn't sleep well. In fact Rocky spent several hours during the night watching Susie Orman dish out financial advice on TV. The Hotel has a hot breakfast buffet as part of the package at $75 per night. We had a full breakfast before leaving at 7:25 am to start the 1.3 mile walk back to the Trail. About halfway a nice young couple in a pickup truck offered us a ride the rest of the way. Rocky tried to give them some gas money but they didn't want to accept it. Real Trail Angels.We started up the Appalachian Trail at 7:45 am. Immediately we ran into an obstacle. A freight train was parked blocking the Trail. It was endless in both directions. What to do? We considered crossing under the cars and passing the packs through. Instead we climbed onto a freight car ladder and worked our way across to the other side and lowered ourselves to the ground by the ladder on the other side of the car. Barely two minutes after we crossed the freight train, the train began to move and rapidly accelerated. Had we been two minutes later the consequences could have been horrendus to contemplate. It was a sunny day that would climb into the 80's. The Trail initially hugs the high steep bank along the Nolichucky River. At the NOC Camp the Trail turns uphill away from the River towards the Curley Maple Gap Shelter. We reached the shelter at 10:17 am and took a half hour break. This is a beautiful two level shelter which has been recently rebuilt.We continued uphill to the road at Indian Grave Gap. We passed and repassed Yazoo enroute. We reached the road at 1 pm. This was our lunch stop before climbing to Beauty Spot. The climb to Beauty Spot was brutal. Trees are sparse and we got the full heat of the sun. Also we were low on water. We didn't dwell on the view when we reached Beauty Spot, a bald. We continued down the north side to a difficult to find spring at the road at Beauty Spot Gap. Now armed with our full load of 72 ounces we headed for the campsite at Deep Gap. However we found a suitable tent spot above the Gap at 4:30 pm. It was a little knoll just off the Trail. By 6 pm we were done with camp chores. Several hikers passed us enroute to the campsite below us at the Gap. About 6:45 pm a gentle rain began. Soon we had thunder and lightning as well. Fortunately the storm soon passed as we relaxed in our tent. We had a brief respite then the real storm started. Beside heavy rain and lightning, there was a violently heavy wind. The force of the wind blew rain and dirt under the tent fly and into our tent. Swamp Fox's sleeping bag was on the windward side and got wet. We had some tense moments during the storm. We didn't sleep well during the night.
Date: 2011-05-23
From: campsite about 1 mile north of Beauty Spot

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

After a restless night, we were up early. We left our tiny campsite at 6:50 am. We walked the short distance down to the Deep Gap campsite where four hikers (including John and Honey Badger) were tented. After chatting about how we got through last night's storm, we started the thousand foot climb of Unaka Mountain. This mountain would be today's big challenge. We reached the top at 8 am on a cloudy, humid, damp, buggy morning. We had intended to do a long day (at least for us) of over 14 miles to the Clyde Smith Shelter. This would make for a short day tomorrow for the 2200 foot climb of Roan Mountain. At 9:50 am we reached the Cherry Gap Shelter for a rest and chat with other hikers.We continued on a partly cloudy morning to the road at Iron Mountain Gap, arriving at 11:55 am. There we caught up with John. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and chat with John about the Trail and life in general. He is an interesting man of 68 years, with great physical ability on the trail. He is thin and wire-y and an ex-marathoner would be. His pack seems enormous. We slowed down in the afternoon as we tired of the endless ups and downs. We reached Clyde Smith Shelter at 4:15 pm. John was already there. Yazoo was leaving as he planned to reach Roan Mountain's summit, seven miles ahead. We set up our tent, minus the fly, in the shelter, as John was the only other person in the shelter. It is a pleasant evening and we are dry and bug free in our tent.
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Roan Mountain Fire Warden Cabin
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We planned only a seven mile day, so we didn't rush this morning. We were on the Trail at 8:30 am. Almonst immediately it began to rain as a thunderstorm passed. We put on pack covers, but no rain jackets, as it was fairly warm at about 65 degrees. The rain did not last long as we continued to Hughes Gap. We arrived there at 10:40 am. We rested awhile with John. This is where the 2200 foot climb of Roan Mountain begins. It was a brutal climb. Steep and buggy, but fortunately there were occassional breezes. There was a brief respite at Ash Gap. Then the climb continued and became steeper and rougher. The Trail is badly eroded and we saw markings where the Trail will be relocated on future switch backs. Eventually we got to the road near the summit where there is a rest room. Unfortunately it was closed. After another brief rest we continued the 0.7 miles to the Roan Mountain Fire Warden's Cabin. We arrived at the Cabin at 2:30 pm. We had planned to stay in the Cabin but we were appalled at its condition. It was damp and trashy and quite depressing. John had arrived an hour earlier and set up his tent. We did likewise. We had lunch and relaxed in our tent. Our "only seven mile day" had been brutal and took us six hours. It is a sunny, breezy afternoon, but the black flies are annoying. Good to be in a tent tonight.
Date: 2011-05-26
From: Doll Flats campsite

To: Route US 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 3.0

It was a very windy night. Our tent shook and shimmied, but there was no damage and no rain. We left our campsite at 6:58 am, while the kids from the Bible group from Tennessee were still sound asleep. It was a 2.5 mile downhill to the Apple House Shelter, which we did rapidly in one hour and 15 minutes. We knew neither of the two hikers who were tented there. We continued on to Route 19E and walked the 0.3 miles west to the Mountain Harbour Hostel. After talking to the person sort of in charge there we decided to spend the coming night there. We will be on a fold out couch. The king sized bed that Swamp Fox was looking forward to was already spoken for. Swamp Fox has very fond memories of the seven nights in 2005 that he spent here while nursing a shin injury. He spent those seven nights in the king size bed. We were delighted that Honey Badger was here at the hostel. She had to get off the Trail due to a foot injury a day or so before. She had to bypass the Roan Highlands and hitched a ride here. This will be a nice Nero Day here. We showered and did some laundry. Later in the morning, Mrs. Hill, the owner with her husband, shuttled the three of us to the Highlander BBQ in the town of Roan Mountain, TN. We had some big burgers and sweet potato fries. Quite a contrast from trail food. We did some resupply at the available stores in Roan Mountain. Upon our return to the hostel, Swamp Fox tried to take a nap on the king size bed, which apparently now was unspoken for. Rocky spent most of the afternoon chatting with Honey Badger. At one point during their conversation they were discussing birth control methods and STD's. Swamp Fox felt like he was eavesdropping on a lady basketball team locker room.We were shuttled back to the Highlander BBQ for dinner and more big burgers. The restaurant TV Weather Channel had dire predictions for storms and tornados in the area. Heavy rain is expected tonight. We spent an enjoyable evening chatting with other hikers in the hostel. With the expected raink it is nice to be under a roof. It was a comfortable evening in the king size bed in an alcove off the main hostel.
Date: 2011-05-27
From: Route US 19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: Vango & Abby's Memorial Hostel
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

It was raining lightly when we got up around 6:45 am this morning. It did not look like a pleasant day to hike. But first we had to content with Mrs. Hill's colosal breakfast buffet at the B&B building part of the Mountain Harbour property. Swamp Fox has raved about Mrs. Hill's meals ever since his 2005 stay here. Rocky finally appreciated what he was raving about for these past six years. Suffice to say it was a marvelous breakfast with a wide selection of delicious food. Our stay at the hostel, with breakfast, and an extra town shuttle, cost us $59. Expensive perhaps, but the breakfast is amazing. Then we had to face the day's hike in less than great weather. We left the hostel at 9 am with our pack covers and rain jackets on. Not long after we left the highway and started north on the Appalachian Trail, we took off the rain jackets as the rain slacked off. The Trail north of Route 19E is easier (No, make that "less hard". The word "easy" should knever be used in a sentence involving the Appalachian Trail.) than the Trail on the south side of Routek 19E. The climbs are not as long or as steep. The trail is less rocky and the footing is softer. Still it took us about six hours to cover the 8.8 miles to the Mountaineer Shelter. We arrived at 2:40 pm and took a lengthy break. We had worked on the construction of this shelter in 2006 as part of Hard Core trail work with Bob Peoples. The shelter is in excellent condition. We had a lengthy discussion on our plans for the rest of the day. Rocky wanted to stay at the shelter or camp a short distance further north. Swamp Fox wanted to proceed to the Vango & Abby Memorial Hostel, which would leave us with a 12 mile day tomorrow into Kincora Hostel. Swamp Fox did not find camping in damp conditions appealing or a longer day's hike tommorrow. Rocky reluctantly agreed to proceed to the hostel.Enroute to the hostel we were hit by another brief rain shower as the sky darkened. The hostel is reached by a 0.3 side trail, which we reached at 5:15 pm. It is a long downhill which means a steep climb out tomorrow. We found Gardener there, a 40+ year old woman, from Michigan, along with a older male hiker we met at Mountain Harbour Hostel yesterday. Gardener had been here several days due to an injury. This hostel is very basic with six bunks, a stove, and a nearby privy. Surprisingly, there are two computers with internet connections. The cost is only five dollars per night per person. It is welcome haven on a miserable day. We enjoyed chatting with Gardener. We had our final trail meal and Swamp Fox updated this journal. By 10 pm, all four of us were in our bunks for the night.Tomorrow is 12 miles to Kincora. We hope it is a nicer day on which to end our 128 mile hiking adventure.