morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-01
To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Underway around 6:00 a.m. and a beauty of a day it is. At noon at (second-to-last shelter in Great Smokey Mountain National Park...not Davenport Gap, the one before it) and met two nice guys: Ring-Master, retired contractor from Paducah KY, with son in Winter Park (FL)...son has a skate-board shop with "Target" in the name. Ring's been a Scout leader for years.; often taking the Scouts to Philmont. He is devoted to hiking the "Ray Jardine" way, having made his own gear & it's small. & light: he carries it over one shoulder; went on a backpacking seminar held by Ray out West and learned a lot; then went to a sewing class at Ray's House. Real nice guy who's cruising with no problemss. Other gent from. Ft. Worth (raised in Southern New Jersey) who calls himself "Gimpy" and wears a small knee brace, but outhikes me; they both do, but I start early and finish late, so make the same mileage in more time. PM I did the .6-mi. side-jaunt to Mt. Cammerer Lookout, a real nice vantage point, made of stone quarried and cut right there. At day's end made it the 20-miles to Standing Bear, a real nice, cobbled-together hostel. Dan, a college kid who worked with me last year with Trail Crew on Firescald was the first to see me; and proffered a Guiness; it was great (has been summer-like). Several other friends; many opted for the concentration-camp ambience of the bunk room: I happily tented. Holding court was none other than Baltimore Jack; probably the most popular and one of the better-educated hikers; he's doing the trail for maybe the seventh time. Jack's a good cook and someone had gotten two large bags of industrial-strength ravioli, so Jack cooked it and made an excellent sauce, plus two salads: 6- or 7-fruit and a green salad w/feta cheese. Outstanding. Curtis owns the place; had been a Marine on Okinawa, where I was years ago, so we talked some of that and the service.; he later took a commission in the National Guard but has a pony-tail now & not involved in the Gulf War.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Under way 5:50 a.m.; towards noon the three other older gents who'd been at the hostel caught me. Enjoyed Max Patch, the 4,000+ ft. bald, then some pleasant-enough meandering. Gimpy and Ring I'd meet up with at day's end at the very humble Dogwood, Shelter, built 1938. The other guy jus' kept on going. Meanwhile the younger set was either languishing back at the hostel or opting for less than a full days' hike (as is their custom; we older guys outhike 90% of the younger set as we're not here for a party).
Date: 2007-05-03
To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Underway 6:15; had overslept and Ring beat me out of the shelter area; first time I wasn't first out on this trek. Nice enough, slightly sultry AM; we were to lose some 2,800-ft. of elevation, but naturally there was some 1.500-ft. up-hill to be gained in the process. A couple of flame azealas, well past their prime and some hanging white bell-looking flowers. Toward 12:45 came into Hot Springs with Ring; reported to Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, where my package was (thanks so much, Joan) and learned that there was no room available. There was a lively group of Missouri gals there; they'd had a beer or two and were massaging each other, so I took a foto. On to the outfitter: needed socks, an umbrella and shoes. Got 'em all: $154; I think I'll be happy with each purchase. On to the campground and took a shower; then lunch on the Main Street with a couple I'd seen: they're Janet and Yonder, who live some 45 mi. away. They're hiking the trail, but got a ride to go home for a spell.Turns out a second package from Joan wasn't in town, so I had to spend the nite, not a bad prospect with ever-darkening skies. I took a rather expensive B&B-style room (minus the breakfast) at the Bridge Cafe. Gimpy loaned me his needle & thread & I did a repair to a pocket on my shirt. Then had the luxury of sitting at the outside tables of a bar & grill, with a couple nice hikers: "PBR", so-named because he once kayaked a keg across a lake to a hiker feed; he's a hi-speed hiker who's doing sections and had gone by me yesterday at Brown Gap. Next: "Bobcat", a lively gal from PA by way of Stowe, VT; she shared onion rings with us and "Wildcat", a German guy who's a statistician in banking/finance in NJ; has been in the US for some 20 yrs. and recently moved to Stowe; though he and Bobcat didn't know each other before the trail, they jointly chose their names; Wildcat is more of a listener, which is alright by us talkers. Next was "Big 0' Boy" a young man from Mississippi, I think, who didn't have much money to do the trail and his father bet him $2,000 that he couldn't do it, so he's determined. Should he go to Maine and return via the trail, his father will give him $5,000. B.O.B. has worked his way up the trail, literally, spending some three weeks at a hiker hostel and was doing some trimming on a house in Hot Springs. Next he would hike to Damascus to build a house for someone there. Apparently the bet with his father isn't time-sensitive. We all adjourned to the nice Bridge Street Cafe for dinner with Ringmaster; gourmet food with good company, but expensive; prob. the best meal on the trl. for me. Flaxseed and Wimpy came by for brief conversation. 9:00 p.m. Hiker mid-night (9 PM, 'though I often call 8 PM "Old Hiker's mid-night) and I to my comfortable, pricey bed.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally got my package, which had my lighter sleeping bag; then to the P.O. to mail the heavier one back to Joan, along with other cold-weather gear. My Pocketmail device had been jamming on me, so I sent it back also. Tried to leave town at 9:30, but here came good-guy Tim from Wisconsin off the trail, so spent the requisite 15 min. talking to him. 9:45 stepping out; strangely, there was poison ivy on the rock steps leading into town, as well as the ones leading out. Other info on Hot Springs: along the main street, which is the AT, there is a AT logo carved in stone, about 1 ft.-square, every 100 ft. or so. Soon was along the nice .4-mi. flat stretch along the French Broad River, then ever upward. Met "Thumper" along the way, but not too much talking. Toward early afternoon at a nice pond which has a bench which is perfect for fishing; there were Wildcat and Tuna Bag. W.C. gave me some cookies, had too much of them. Was determined to make 20 mi. for the day and suceeded, ending at 8:30 at Little Laurel Shelter, a humble place of 1930's vintage. Naturally Flaxseed and Ring Master were already ensconced; space in the shelter was offered but I demurred, tenting out back; a gent whom I didn't really meet was hammocking nearby.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Another 20-mile day in store. Plenty of rain, 'tho enjoyed the umbrella I'd bought in Hot Springs. Passed two pink lady slippers, the sight of which turned out to be time-consuming, what with getting my highly-protected camera out of my backpack, out of a baggie, then back again; worth it, I think. Soon was hiking with Flaxseed, the retired car-repair gent from Houston, TX; he's normally faster than I, especially going up-hill, but I think he held back for the conversation. We went over Firescald knob, a trail relocation I spent two weeks on building, and it was a joy (Id really been lookin' forward to cresting the viewful place); took Flaxseed's photo on some rock steps I'd worked on. We later met Farmer, a nice guy from MA; he gardens big time, and so does Flaxseed, so they talked quite a bit about soils, etc. We paused at a big tree which we suspect had been hit by the prior night's lightening; large pieces of bark, limb and wood were scattered over a sobering area. I should mention that this was a drizzly day. Later Farmer fell back and Flaxseed out-hiked me; 7:30 or so at Hogback Ridge shelter, with my fellow oldtimers, Flaxseed & Ringmaster encsonced; there was space for me, but I can't abide rubbin' elbows with a bunch of old guys (Playboy bunnies, maybe), so I tented outside. Soon "Bullwinkle", a tall young man, wearing knee-length gaiters and a plaid hiking kilt showed with two dogs, followed by his beautiful girl companion, whose name I forget (can't believe I remembered his name, and forgot the beauty's name); they tented next to me. Finally "Sweetwater", from Iowa showed; he got into the shelter.
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Lap of Luxury
Miles today: 0.0

As I was gettin up and packing, a very nice guy, ex-coastguard, named "Oregon" came up and chatted. He's known for picking up any litter along the trl. Rain delayed my start, but hiking by 7:45 on a totally overcast day. What did I care about the gloom, as I was headed but 16 mi. to Spivey Gap, where I was to receieve VIP treatmet with a visit to Carolyn and Rich Raichle's new retirement home, 18 mi. from the trail, near Burnsville, NC. As I hiked along I met a young Ramp picker and talked to him about his undertaking; he gave me one, and offered more; I enjoyed the taste but wasn't going to take any more from his effort. A bit further down the trail was a cooler w/some 20 bottles of water, and cupcakes and a thermos of coffee. A road was just above the AT there, and someone has been leaving these goodies for months, evidenced by the register we hikers signed. I got the last cupcake, but left the carrots for Sweetwater. Next, over Big Bald, some 5,500-ft., with clear skies and panoramic vista; then over to neighboring Big Stamp, and as I approached the treeline, I found Hog Greer's old digs; he's a hermit type who lived up here early in the 19th century, and considered himself sovereign, only to be killed later in town; what's left there is a fireplace.  Later, the sun finally broke out and I dried my tent during lunch at Bald Mtn. Shelter; Sweetwater showed as I was leaving. Toward 4 PM, met Carolyn Reichle and Phyllis Duenas, who had a neighbor's dog, Axel with them. They'd come out to greet me and we had a nice reunion and hike back down to the road. As we walked down to Spivey Gap a turkey, which had been right next to the trail took flight, went some 75-ft. in the air, then glided out of sight; really impressive! As we got to the car, Axel decided to return to the wild, slipping out of his harness and escaping down a steep bank. Carolyn lured him partly up with a granola bar and the two gals jumped him, wrassled a bit (I took a foto of this comedy), and finally Phyllis picked up the pooch to get him safely into the car. Awaiting me was a cooler with a couple of my favorites: Sam Adams Lite beer; tasted out-of-this world! Then the pleasant ride to their home; they live in a nice, hilly development, with houses comfortably apart, all situated with views. Got a nice tour of their wonderful two-story home; couldn't be better. VIP service continued with angus steaks for dinner, and four-vegetable accompaniment. I'd arrived with all dirty clothes, so Rich loaned me some, so all my clothes could be washed. I soon faded, and got into my incredibly comfortable bed.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Lap of Luxury

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Up for a great breakfast, then Rich started burning my digital fotos from my memory disk, a slow process. I needed to go to the store, so Phyllis took me, then gave me a tour of the real nice town of Burnsville. The Raichle's had an appointment to see a potential store for their prospective busnesses: Carolyn does real fancy sewing of all things drapery for home decor, and Rich does furniture covering. The Service at Chez Raichle was out of the world and I didn't have to ask for anything. Rich is a computer whiz (among many other talents) & offered 2 down-load my e-fotos & burn 'em/post 'em, etc. This was a lengthy process and he got the job done, beautifully. 'Twas as if I were some mogul with a paid expert. In the AM the Raichles went off on business. so Phyllis took me to the store (this after a bounteous breakfast.) Later I extended an invite to take all to lunch at a real nice, I mean, REAL nice cafe in town; we went & Carolyn grabbed the bill - unfair! Meanwhile the Raichles had made a deal on opening/running an Amish store, a couple blocks from the town's nice square; will sell eggs and other farm products. Phyllis took me back to the trail & I had an EZ 11 mi., the EZiest so far (albeit without views) to the Nolichucky River/Erwin TN where I stayed in a bunk house at Uncle Johnny's, arriving there at 9 PM/dark. Met Oregon, a super-nice gent who's a 5-yr. Coast Guard vet; he shared a couple beers with me as we chatted many things military & trail. Also, Oregon had picked up my umbrella back at the shelter two days prior and gave it to me; what a nice guy. I also met Quick Toes, 35-ish who's a tech. aficinado with an IPOD which has thousands of downloads in it such as every James Bond movie; he can make that thing sing. QuickToes was the club house manager for a Red Sox AA minor league club and a real cool guy. Also, Tree....(forgot the last part of his name) who just finished college. 11 mi.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Erwin, TN Miss Janet's

To: Curly Maple Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at my usual 6 AM, I had the run of the kitchen and computer, hence these words. We're gonna have great weather again.Splendid breakfast at Ms. Janet's at her sun-washed backyard table, some 15 in attendance. Ms. Janet always poses a trail-related question and each person is asked to contribute to the discussion; the topic is trail-related & today's subject: safety. My suggestion was to sign every register possible, and most agreed, 'tho Rosiesaid she'd been advised not to, to avoid being tracked. Then back to the trail, ride courtesy of Granny Franny, a retired nurse who lives in Savannah; she's an inveterate volunteer who did many chores around Ms. Janet's. She's section-hiking and walked ahead while I arranged my pack. Several pleasant miles along a creek, also a few puncheons made of old railroad ties, appropriate given Erwin's railroad history. Several folks were slack-packing back to town; hostels offer the service of driving you to a trailhead so you can luxuriate minus the pack. Today Flaxseed (the Oriental one, not the gent from Texas), Farmer and Quick Toes all did this. At higher, dryer elevation thousands of grasshoppers hopped about in reaction to one's passing. Late afternoon I went over 5,000+-ft. Unaka Mtn., topped w/evergreens and the trail was a barely-distinguishable bed of pine needles. Then down to Curley Maple Gap Shelter; staying there were Flying Turtle and Spock. I tented and noted another tent, occupants already inside. 16.4 mi.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Curly Maple Shelter

To: Round Bald
Miles today: 18.0

Late getting underway (8:15), which I regretted all day long. Plenty of wild flowers and old, gnarled trees. Soon at Iron Mtn. Gap, a road crossing where "Mango" (AT '06) had a Trail Magic station; I enjoyed some goodies while learning that he was an officer in US Army Transportation and was in Civil Planning in Johnstown and Tidewater, TN. Mango knew of me from Trail Journals. Soon the couple who'd been in that other tent appeared and I hiked on. Took a journal break at Clyde Smith Shelter and trucked on to another tough, late-day high climb: Roan High Knob. Bypassed the shelter, 'though I knew friends would be there, as it was .1-mi. off-trail. Kept going down to Carvers Gap, having dinner in the wide-open spaces of surrounding Balds, and went over Round Bald, a 5,000-foooter and tented in the next Gap. A deer kept snorting at me and coyotes wailed several times. 18 mi.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Round Bald

To: along the Elk River
Miles today: 18.0

Underway at 6; plenty of light as I was in the open. Soon at Stan Murray Shelter, occupied by a couple short-term hikers, one of whom used to acquire land for the USFS and the other who had quite-light gear; I liked his 11-0z. poncho/tarptent rig, but later dismissed it has no floor. Spock also there and we hiked along most of the AM; he's having foot-problems and even cut into his $110 boots for some relief. Took the .2-mi. side trail to Overmountain Shelter; this is the oft-photographed red barn, situated beautifully over a valley which seems to lead up to it. There I saw Sweet Water and met Boognish, who later, on the trail took the time to take off his pack to explain his trail name. He's a fan of Ween, a hometown band who has B.N. as its mascot: it's a logo of a face with electrified hair. B.N. is turning 26 tomorrow and will stop at Doll Flats, so's to have a marathon into Kincorra Hostel. Went over the Humps, a pair of mighty balds. Early PM at Doll Flats, an old sun-washed pasture of 4,500-ft. Took lunch and a nap there; several other hikers did the same; some napping in the pleasant sun. Met "Certain" and "Persistent", two gals from Michigan. They hooked up via the internet and have been doing well. Certain collects college degrees and did some college teaching in Michigan. Passed two trl. sections I had worked on today, and took a picture of myself on a particularly large rock on which I'd labored mightily. In the PM took the 1/2-mi. road walk on Hwy. 19E to King of the Road Restaurant; I got there a bit before they opened and the staff asked me a bit about the trail. I then had four servings of vegetables for $5.50 and went back to the trail Caught a glimpse of some rare nodding lillies, which won't bloom for another month. Took the side trail to Jones Falls; well worth it. Then hiked on, camping with "Shadow" and "Rooster" in a rare flat stretch along the Elk River. These gents make fires, which was OK by me; it was a pleasant end to a hiking day.  18 mi.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: along the Elk River

To: Abbey's Place
Miles today: 0.0

Underway at 6 and soon at the sleepy, new Mountaineer Shelter. Saw Oregon asleep there and another gent I'd seen before. Water, breakfast and soon underway. Then on to Abbey's Place, a new hostel run by trail friend Scotty Van Dam and "Van Go". I'd met Scotty in Great Smokey Mountain National Park in '95 and Van Go when he slack-packed Scotty that year. Scotty recently bough a parcel of land adjacent to US Forest Service lands, and 1/4-mi. from the trail. I'm in a 2-bed cabin, 'tho as I'm a friend am invited into the big house. Many amenities. Later Spock walked in and he seems to be doing better, foot-wise. More on Van Go and Scotty: For several years Van Go shuttled Scotty on trails around the country (AT, PCT, FT); now the hostel is more or less the retirement home for Van Go who is permanently on assisted oxygen. Scotty gets him to various Dr's. appointments.; today they went to the hospital but decided that Van Go needs to go home to Wisconsin for some work he can get done there. Scotty is an Electrical Engineer and works for a DOD contractor down at the Huntsville Missle Center in AL. He commutes there Sun. PM and returns late Friday nite, which hasn't allowed him much time to fix up the hostel. He's programming the police cars there w/GPS locator systems - no more hiding, coppers! Back to last night, when I camped near the Elk River w/Shadow and Rooster: when in this area, which is notoriously unfriendly to hikers, we talk about it, wondering if a Deliverance-type occasion might happen upon us. I mentioned the locals, to which Shadow responded, "I'm a local...and I put up those signs (meaning the ones that warn about leaving your car at the trailhead overnight)." Well, it caused me to modify my potential rant and we went on to other talk. Then today, Saturday, the two come into Abbey's place (named for a cat) and I introduced Shadow as a local fellow, to which he replied, "I was just funning you"....He really got me. Scotty is a member of many public service organizations, and receives junk mail from each.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Abbey's Place

To: Laurel Creek Lodge
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Up at 5:45 and coffee with Van Go in the main house; Scotty & he consider their home open to hostel guests. As we've known each other for years, they offered me an indoor room, but I didn't want to lord it over the other hikers. Van Go even offered me eggs for breakfast, but I had plenty of food, so demurred. Finally got going at 8:15, a little after Spock left (we only had to do 12 mi. to the next hostel)! Nice day with pretty good trail. Eventually "Melk" passed me, going at least 1/3 faster; I regret my slowness. Then came Certain & Convinced. I talked with the latter a while; she was events coordinator for the (female) Democratic Governor of Michigan & is engaged. She majored in Spanish and was in Spain for 6 wks., studying and traveling. Nearing Dennis Cove Road, where we'd get off-trail for Kincora Hostel, I took a foto of the gals, thru a small barn. Also foto'd some old grape vines & may apples in bloom. At the hostel was a group of some 20 hikers, 1/2 of whom I knew. I was happy to see that a joke I'd framed and sent to Bob was where it should be: on the restroom wall. Bob Peoples, who owns and runs the place as a hobby (not really interested in profit) was out, so I did some sewing on my pack; it's of such light-weight material that it comes up with small tears. When Bob arrived I got my package, thanks again Joan. Once at the hostel I asked "Park Bench" a young hiker who seems to be a bit of a lounger, about any cokes-for-sale. He advised that there were none, but gave me some of his. I'd been sure that Kincora would be overrun with guests, so my alternate plan, on which I embarked, was to walk the 1/2-mi. to Laurel Creek Lodge, a real pleasant place, where I tented. Boognish was just leaving, so we chatted as he packed. I pretty much had the run of the place and hit the fridge for some free food: some Phila. Cream Cheese, which I mixed w/some taco sauce to make a dip for some crackers I had. "Artist" a young hiker from VA stopped in; he's living large in a room in the lodge.(12 mi.)