morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started from Hawk Mtn. Shelter - good hills today. Stopped at Cooper's Gap for lunch, then took break at Justus Creek. Hit Justus Mountain - tougher climb. Started theme song today - "Stinky Las Vegas". Stopped at Gooch Mountain Shelter. Mike, Liz, Pete, and others moved on, but Healer (Hassan) stayed. He cracks me up. NICE PRIVY!Hassan Quotes: The spring is so nice! If anyone needs anything, I got it! Popped everyone's back.Met Adrianna (Banna) from NY - she is great. Had a great time hanging out with everyone.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Day started out cold/windy - thought it would rain, but turned out to be a good day. Started at Gooch Mountain Shelter, passed Woody Gap, GA 60. Talked with Tom, Skip to my Lou, Foreplay - Tom's brother Paul - nice people. Passed Big Cedar Mountain (picture). Jarred Gap, Turkey Mountain? Long climb. Made it to Woods Hole Shelter. The shelter is very far from the Trail, nice. Starting to notice my appetite is increasing. Met back up with Mike (Moo), Liz (42), Tom, Skip to My Lou, Paul. Mary, Michelle, myself, Sarah, Hassan, Banna, Josh, Michelle, Chuck, Ben, and Christy - all staying at Wood's Hole. My attitude is good. Legs sore - blisters on left foot - OUCH! Looking forward to Neel's Gap. Hitting Blood Mountain tomorrow!
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Walasi Yi Center
Miles today: 4.4

Started from Wood's Hole - foggy - no sun. Hiked with Hassan, Mike, Liz, Michelle, Mary, Tom. Reached Blood Mtn. Shelter. Blood Mountain is not a bad hike. Shelter is pretty cool, drafty. Passed Tom for short and Skip to My Lou. Started about 9:00 am - reached Walasi-Yi Center, Neel's Gap at 11:45 am. Neat place. Bought some food/gear. Staying in cabin tonight with Mike, LIz, Michelle, Mary, Sarah.P.S. - weighed pack - 49.5 pounds!!!! AARGH!!!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Walasi Yi Center

To: Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

Left Walasi-Yi Center late - around 12:45 - reached Whitley Gap Shelter about 4:45-5:00 pm. Walasi-Yi Center is nice. Bought some equipment/supplies - tried to lighten pack weight, but didn't get a lot accomplished. Most of the big stuff I am not changing, so the smaller things here and there is where I will have to cut weight. Anyway, Whitley Gap Shelter - camped in tent. Cold, windy, rainy. Got water, food quickly. In early tonight! Once we reach Blueberry Patch Hostel, will take a zero day - not there until about Wednesday? Took some good shots of Crow Mountain.
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Whitley Gap Shelter

To: Helen, Ga
Miles today: 0.2

Stayed at Whitley Gap Shelter - woke up with 2-4 inches of show. Met Rhett, Tammy, and Clark and family. They drove us to Helen, GA. Stayed in Helen tonight - Super 8 - me, Michelle, Mary, Sam, Ben, Chuck, Christy, Hassan. Decided not to go on due to wet tent and other items. It is nice to stay in town, but I am anxious to get moving again.
Date: 2003-03-31
From: HogPen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Started at Super 8 with a lift from Wildwood Outfitters to Hogpen Gap. Started around 10:45 am. Hike was good. The goal today - to make it to Blue Mountain Shelter. Right now I don't have a lot of mind-numbing thoughts or ones that are very profound. Just concentrating on keeping my feet in good shape and my attitude good. Made it to Blue Mountain Shelter - met Garth, Darcy?, Gretta. Cold night, but everything good. Hung out by fire with Chuck, Ben, Christy, Mary, Michelle, Sarah - laughed a lot.
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Left Blue Mountain about 9:00 am. Hit the Cheese Factory for lunch - however, no Cheese Factory left standing. Saw Michelle and Josh again today. Hit Tray Mountain. It was a hard hike, especially after lunch. My attitude today is borderline. Nice views from top of Tray Mountain. Staying at Tray Mountain Shelter. Reached shelter about 2:30. Next stop - Dug Gap Shelter and then Blueberry Patch! At this point I STINK!!! Caught a great sunset - watched with Smokie. Listened to Q play the Irish flute!
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

Short hike into Deep Gap Shelter - watched a portion of the sunrise this morning at Tray Mountain. As I was walking today, I noticed the sound of the wind running up the gaps to the tops of the mountains. It sounds like a jet plane. It is pretty neat. Seeing more birds, squirrels. Hit Kelly Knob about 12:50 to 1:00. Killer hike. Anxious to get into Blueberry Patch. Still stinky!! Short hike tomorrow - 2.5 miles - then hitch to hostel. Blueberry pancakes - here I come!! Met Claude, Papa Bear, and others. Claude is giving us a ride to Blueberry Patch tomorrow. Oh, the bugs at camp suck!!!!!Slogan for Smokie: WalMart greeter: "Just a looker"
Date: 2003-04-03
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap/Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

Destination - Dicks Creek Gap and the Blueberry Patch Hostel! Claude informed us last night that his wife would be at the parking area around 10:00 am. So, woke up early - 6:30 am. Claude and I ended up hiking the whole way. He is great - 60 years old - hikes, rock climbs, ice climbs, goes to Europe every summer. We took in the overlook at Powell Mountain - nice, then on to the road. We talked about work, attitudes, and values. It is good to have someone else take the attitude of life is more than making a lot of money with a big house. You go, Claude!. Reached Dicks Creek Camp and met up with Moo and 42! It was good to see them again - I hope we meet up again. A great couple from Rome, GA named Paul and Cindy Shumpert greeted us with breakfast at the road/trail intersection. Their son hiked the AT a couple of years ago and he stayed at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. So, every year on the anniversary of their son's stay at the Blueberry Patch, they (Paul and Cindy) meet thru-hikers and feed them breakfast at the trail head. It was awesome!! They fed us a great breakfast, so Moo, 42, Michelle, Mary, Gretta and I ate breakfast. People are really great to people hiking the trail. Gary Poteet pulled up about 9:30 am - he owns the Blueberry Patch Hostel- so we threw our bags in the trailer and headed for a rest. Cleaned up, showered, walked around some cool green grass with sore feet. Headed into town and ate dinner at a restaurant where the owner collects semi-junk from "Gone with the Wind". We hung out at the square in Hiawassee, GA. Hitched a ride back to the hostel. Discovered my bunk was too thin, so Michelle and I quickly switched out the pad before the girl who was going to use it saw us. Ha! Ha! Start eating Blueberry pancakes tomorrow at 8:30 am - on the trail at 9:30 am.P.S. - Talked with Heather, Superman?, Jim - they had my trail mix at Walasi-Yi - thought it was good.
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Dicks Creek Gap/Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Began the day at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. Ate a great breakfast of pancakes (with blueberry syrup), cheese biscuits, sausage, and OJ. Gary Poteet and his wife were very gracious. Gary gave about 10 of us a ride back to the trail head at Dicks Creek. My pack weight is still too heavy, and I have a lot of food. The hike to the shelter was hard!! Met two guys from England and Wales - Sean and Rob. They were going southbound. Today I saw areas on the trail that were pretty nice. The trail was pretty steep with water running down rocks lined with rhododendrum. I realized today I haven't driven a car in a while and it is a good feeling.Finished GA today at around 2:15 p.m. NC had a tough start, but a small victory finishing our first state. Nightime at the shelter it rained like cats and dogs. Papa Bob an older gentlemen who was at the shelter worried us because he wasn't feeling well. I gave him some Brown sugar cinnamon poptarts and Mark and Heather gave him hot chocolate. We are worried he was getting hypothermia. Checked on him later and he was doing better.
Date: 2003-04-05
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: moderate rain

Rained really hard last night so starting today was hard. It rained in the morning then cleared up to turn into a beautiful day. Talked with Papa Bob today he was feeling a lot better which was a good thing. Good hike today, there was a lot of rhododendrum canopies which make the trail look like a tunnell, pretty cool. Reached the base of Standing Indian Mtn and FREE LUNCH!! Lunch was being served to thru-hikers by Tom and his grandsons Hunter and Burton. It was great! I ate three hamburgers and got to drink a soda. Tom runs a place called foresthostel in Brunswich, GA. Sounds like a great place. After lunch hiked with Mark/Heather. Took in the scenery at the top of Standing Indian Mtn. Quite a view. NC was a little better to us today.
Date: 2003-04-06
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Started out from Carter Gap Shelter a little slow today. Trying to get used to 12 mile days, but it is getting better. Met Easy Street this morning. He is an older guy that is just hiking until October, he was hilarious. Trail had a lot of canopies as the day before where you feel that you are in a tunnel. Caught up with Mark and Heather from Minnesota and we hiked most of the day together. Today my pack is officially named LUMPY. It seems to have lumps everywhere from all my stuff, so I thought it was appropriate. Hit Albert Mtn. and the trail practically went straight up. Had to do some climbing without poles in some spots where the only thing you had to hang onto was the rock in front of you. Stopped at the Firetower and had lunch. The firetower was neat, climbed to the top, a little scary in the wind. Reached Rock Gap Shelter and met Willard who plans to start in May. He drove us to Rainbow Springs Campground. Staying here tonight then plan to head out in the morning. Weather report says the rain is coming whoop de freakin' do.
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Rock Gap

To: Wallace Gap/Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.6

Met up with Michelle and Sara (Smokie) as I was leaving. They stayed in the shelter prior to Rainbow Springs. So we decided to take it easy and go into Franklin, NC. Last night I got to sleep in a bunkhouse with Wee Willie the Prince of Whales, the Pirate, WildChild, and others. Interesting. Hiked a short distance to Old US 64 at Wallace Gap, and then caught a ride into town by a guy nicknamed Nightstalker. I rode in the back of the truck with packs while Sara and Michelle rode up front. My rain jacket was flapping in the wind pretty good, so I acted liked I was skydiving. The noise was awesome, but I got some crazy looks from people passing us by. It was funny. He took us on a tour of Franklin then dropped us off at the Microtel.
Date: 2003-04-08
From: Wallace Gap/Franklin NC

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Began the day with Michelle and Sara, I felt pretty good after a partial day in Franklin. We started at Wallace Gap. I knocked out 3 miles fairly quickly, so I kept going. Saw Michellle and Sara briefly and I hate to say that was the only time I would see them for the day. The weather turned crappy - rainy and foggy. I kept going, hit Wayah Bald in the fog and rain. At this point I was very cold because I was soaked. It rained almost the whole day. We were supposed to camp out but when I got to our site it was washed out and flooded. So I headed for the next shelter 5 miles away. Stayed in my tent. It was miserable, cold, wet, and rainy. Hiked today with Sidewinder, Parkway, and Booble.
Date: 2003-04-09
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Packed all my gear up in the rain today. Tents suck in the rain!! Talked with Christy and Ben at the shelter. At this point Chuck, Michelle and Sara are probably 5 miles behind us. Rainy in the morning. Foggy. Tried to take a look off of Rocky Bald but the view was too foggy. I intend to make it to the Nantahala River Outdoor Center (NOC) for a dry bunk or room. Hiked with Sidewinder, Parkway, and Booble for most of the day. This weather is crappy. Reached NOC about 4:30 pm. My legs really hurt. Weather reports say rain/snow in higher elevations. So I got my bunk for the night. Ate dinner with Moo & 42. It was good to see them again. I am thinking about staying another day to take a break.
Date: 2003-04-11
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

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

Left NOC hit a hard hike up to Sassafras Gap Shelter. Reached shelter at 12:30. Decided to stay and wait for Michelle, Smokie, and others. Reached Swin Bald today it was snowy and foggy. Got a little cold but I'm still going to hang out and wait for the others. Met Coyote and Cleet. Sidewinder, Parkway, and Booble showed up along with many others. Plan to hike a long day tomorrow. Tonight I try to fight off the mice. CHALLLENGE!!!Others that I met. EZ-Does-It, Casey, Axl Rose, Dirty Dave, Runaway, Zeb, White Lightning, Boilerplate. The shelter ended up being packed. It is supposed to hold 12 people. We had 19!!! plus 2 dogs. Two Dog Night had her dogs with her, so it was a packed house. It turned out to be a nice night, the fog lifted. Bad night's sleep. Snores GALORE.
Date: 2003-04-12
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Had a funny night last night with everybody packed in the shelter. Got up early and hit Cheoah Bald in the morning still with snow on the ground. Someone had made a snowman, and it was hanging out at one of the overlooks. Pretty funny. There was another snowman earlierr on the trail but no one can identify what it was. Today felt like a lot of ups and downs. Around lunch time we were greeted by the Flintstones from Flint Michigan who were feeding snacks to all the thru hikers. Great Folks! Ate lunch at Stecoah Gap at NC 143. The hike after Stecoah Gap up thru Sweetwater Gap was very hard, basically straight up. It was like you were kissing your toes it was so steep. Met up with Zeb and hiked into camp where the shelter was located. Set up my tent and I'm ready for a decent night's sleep. Will have an eas day tomorrow into Fontana Dam.
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: NC 28/Fontana Dam
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was an easy day. The idea for today was to hike into Fontana Dam and catch a ride to the Resort for some R&R and pick up a maildrop. HIked today with Mark, Heather, Two Dog Night, Dylan (golden retriever), Cade (a mutt), Michelle, and Chuck. We finally gave Heather a nickname. She is to be called Headlamp. Anyway, we are down in some lower elevations and the sounds, smells, and sights of spring are coming out. We ask each other what each type of plant is and no one knows the answer. It usually starts with a "I think it is ......" but then you realize you really don't know. So you make up a name. Took a shuttle to the Resort and checked out the area. Now I am sitting on the patio of my room and enjoying the sun, breeze and sounds of a brook close by. Thanks God for making this world beautiful! P.S. You gotta love days off. I'm eating oreos, drinking sunkist and sitting in 65/70 degree sunny weather with a light breeze.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: NC 28/Fontana Dam

To: Mollie Ridge Shelter -Smokies
Miles today: 12.4

Left the hotel, checked out about 9:30 caught the shuttle to the Marina. I went by myself because most everyone was not ready. Anyway luck would have it I met up Mark, Heather, and Two Dog Night (minus the dogs). The dogs couldn't come into the Smokies so they have to be boarded. Took about a 1.8 mile trip to Fontana Dam. It is a cool place. Only foot travel on the dam for security reasons.ENTERED THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK today. I am pretty excited. This is great, however most of the hike is uphill. We stopped at a firetower checked out a great 360 degree view of the area. I feel sluggish with 9 days of food on my back. This sucks!!! Good points today were we saw some areas of the trail that had little flowers all over the place. Looked like popcorn spread over the ground. Staying in my tent tonight at Mollies Ridge. I am pooped!!
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Mollie Ridge Shelter -Smokies

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

Still feel sluggish today. Weather the past couple of days has been great. Forecast are for rain tomorrow but I am enjoying this warm, breezy weather. Hiked again with Mark, Heather, Two Dog, and Doc. Had a good time. This section was a tough section. Feels like we are going uphill all the time. Today we reached part of the trail the borders TN & NC. Caught some amazing views from Rockytop. Also hit some areas called Balds where only grass grows on or near the tops of the ridge but no trees grow there, pretty interesting. Talked with some guys riding horses, and asked for a lift to Maine. The Smokies are incredible. Views are awesome, and in some place it looks like the mountains go on for a while. I am sore at the end of the day, and I am walking around like an 80 year old man.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Planned on taking a low mileage day prior to Clingman's Dome. Cold, rainy, and wet today. Wind is cold. Easy hike, caught some great views from Silers Bald. Rained some but I made it to the shelter prior to the heavy rains hitting. Scenery here is great. Right now I am about halfway thru the Smokies, then onto Hot Springs NC. Still seeing a lot of bear poop no bears. Spent the night in the shelter with the Blues Brothers, Hiker Biker Babe, Silverlining, and two unknown hikers. Cornbread showed up with J-rock, then everybody and their brother showed up so the place was packed.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Left Double Spring Shelter early around 8:30 am by myself. Climbed to the top of Clingman's Dome, elevation 6,643 ft, highest point on the trail. Reached the overlook but it was too foggy. Mother Nature - 1, Stephen -0. The hike today was great, and the woods are amazing. The smells of the furs/evergreens are amazing. The smells/scenery reminded me of out west. The trail was wooded heavily on each side so you could only see about 5-7 ft on each side of the trail. Met with some nice ladies at Mt Collins Shelter trailhead. I don't think I got there names, but they were nice gave me some snacks!! It was funny they tried to lift my pack to see how heavy it was, that made me laugh. Reached Indian Gap and met a guy named Mover. Hiked alone today and yesterday it was great. The ground cover after Indian Gap prior to New Found Gap looked like the front cover of Bill Bryson's book "A Walk in the Woods." That book was funny, but he did not capture the experience of hiking the trail very well. Met up with Michelle and we hiked into the shelter. Staying at the shelter with a men's church group from Winston Salem. Brian and all the guys are funny, even snore master Marshall.
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Cornerr Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: few clouds

Today was one of those days that makes all the rainy days worth it. It was sunny, beautiful and we were in the Smokies. Started out around 9-9:30ish walked a little less than a mile and went to Charlies Bunion. The overlook and rock ledges were amazing. This set the tone for a great day to lolly gag. We decided we were going to take it really slow. Took a long break at Laurel Ridge. Today I hiked with Mark, Heather, Chuck, and Michelle. We had an awesome day. The Smokies were more beautiful than I thought. Walked a little more then stopped for an 1.5 hr lunch at Bradley View. It seems almost every turn there was a great overlook. Amazing day!!The shelter was funny too. Chuck and I got stuck on the bottom level where the upper bunk was only about 2-3 ft from your face. Chuck and I are both tall, so we laughed everytime we had to get in and out of our bunks.
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Tri-Cornerr Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today started out slow because I didn't sleep very well in the shelter. The trail was an easier hike today mostly downhill, but my left heel is pretty blistered. We noticed we are going to lower elevations, so the plants are blooming earlier. Started the day by myself, but met up with Mark and Heather after Cosby Knob. We took lunch around Low Gap. The day was beautiful. Sunny and breezy. However, mother nature did show us that rain was coming so we were glad for the sun. Hiked some with Doc today also, but he was wanting to make it to Mtn Momma's for resupply so he left us. Mark/Heather & I decided to go see the Mtn Cammerer fire tower on a side trail. The firetower at the top was spectacular. It had a 360 degree view and was originally built in the 30's renivated in the 50's I think. Glad we went, would have been a bad choice to miss it. Made it to the Cosby Campground/Lowerr Mt. Cammerer side trail. Met up with Michelle and Chuck and decided to go to Standing Bear Farm hopefully to get out of a rainy night. Met Curtis and Maria, great people. Had a hot shower, snacks, steak, baked potato, and a great time talking with everyone. Bad note is my left heal is pretty bad, so I decided to go back to Chattanooga to get my doctor to look at it.
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Chattanooga
Miles today: 0.0

Today is rainy. Decided last night to give my left foot a break/rest. My heal is torn up pretty good, so I am meeting dad. He is coming today and I am going back to Chattanooga since I am still reasonably close (2.5 hrs) to let my doctor take a look at it. Hopefully will meet up with the group around Hot Springs or Erwin.Bad news - saw the nurse prac. she said stay off it 2 weeks. It is more like a burn. This sucks!!!So I will hold up in Chattanooga until it heals...
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Chattanooga

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel - Erwin
Miles today: 0.0

After seeing nurse prac. on Monday, April 28, decided to get back on trail today.Dad drove me to Erwin, TN, to Uncle Johnny's Hostel where I will be spending the night. Hope I meet up with some of the people I left at Standing Bear Farm last Monday in the next few days.
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Spivey Gap US 19W

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 11.2

After much rest for my heel, spent last night at Uncle Johnny's Hostel - went and ate breakfast in town with Cruiser, Indigo, Bumblebee, and (forget his name, dang-it!). Met up with Michelle, Chuck, Cornbread, J-Rook, Fubar, and Miss Janet. Ended up slack packing from Spivey Gap back to Erwin going south. It was good to be able to hike without a pack to get my legs back. Nice hike - got rained on but everything good. Hung out at Miss Janet's house then caught a hotel room.After we got back to the hotel, Windtalker informs us Miss Janet is coming to pick us up to go into Johnson City. Our destination is a shady bar/honky tonk. Windtalker dropped out, so Michelle and I loaded up with Miss Janet, Farmer, Pipes, Smokie, and Bandit. This place was redneck central! More mullets than I could count, and more fat white women than should be allowed in one place. There were a couple of women that I wanted to say "You shouldn't be wearing that!!!"Headed out late, so tomorrow will be a slow day.