morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

10 days and counting, working on our Mail Drops. Very exciting time.Stevie has been working in Mississippi, we will be joining up there on 3/20/12.We have been working,seems endlessly, on closure of our present activities to free up the 5 months we expect to complete the trail. I have been setting up our Spot, this will allow all interested to follow us on google map daily,we will give the link in a future journal entry.To all.. I have also dedicated my hike.I usually ride the trans NH Bike ride for Muscular Dystrophy Association to end Neuromuscular disorders. I will be on the trail during the ride and so I have setup my site to collect for MDS on the hike. I ask to all following our venture to consider donating to our cause.My donation link, highlight and copy/ paste https://www.joinmda.org/MyEvent/MyHomepage/tabid/252949/Participant/lewiserc/Default.aspxThank you all, we will be in touchGumpy
Date: 2012-03-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Dad made it down to Mississippi today. By the looks of what he¢s carrying, I might need to have an intervention and help him *ahem, reassess some of his gear. Other than that, we¢re all set. I could still use a pair of crocks as mine seem to have disappeared sometime after my last hut season. Side note: if you plan on going cheaper and buying ¢gaters¢ instead of ¢crocks¢ don¢t expect the two shoes to be the same size, even when they say they are. We¢re headed out of Mississippi tomorrow to the trail head in Georgia. Jay McIlwain will kindly be taking us this last leg and hopefully hiking with us the first few days. It will be nice to have a sendoff, but sad for sure.Its already muggy here in the south. The shower every day kind of muggy¢¦ but now I¢m realizing this might be my last shower for some time ? Our next post will be from the trail! Exciting times! ¢The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.And miles to go before I sleep.¢ ¢Robert Frost-Stevie
Date: 2012-03-23
From: hawk mtn

To: big cedar mtn 
Miles today: 14.0

Wet but a great 2 days,rain aprox an inch while we were putting up our tents.everything and every body is cold and wet. But it's great to be out here.Stevie has few blisters, but all is well.Jay,Stevie's sign. Other leaves us at neels gap tomorrow.And on we go!!!!Thank you all for making this possible.This typed on my droid,my fingers are getting tired.Gumpy
Date: 2012-03-24
From: big cedar mtn 

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

Dad is having me enter on his phone. Too high tech for me. Anyway, we have been off to a great, but wet start. We have been lucky in the past few days to meet some great people and do some awesome hiking. Dad never ceases to amaze me with his ambition for adventure and overall interest in life on the trail. Yesterday we ran into two boys who spoke of going to a hostel in a town not too far from the trail. They said the hostel offered a free shuttle and breakfast in the morning for those who stayed. I thought nothing of it, but as we were hiking up the trail dad goes "did you hear those boys talking about free breakfast at the hospital?" Guess you can take a man from his work, but maybe not the work from the man. Anyway, neels gap was awesome we were able to resupply and pick up our first mail drop.everyone there was so nice and helpful. have a full belly and off again down the road.thanks Jay for coming with and putting up with us.you will be missed. Pictures soon hopefully.thanks for following.Stevie
Date: 2012-03-25
From: poplar stamp gap

To: where we tire
Miles today: 15.0

Has been beautiful day,windy and cool,and finally dry. Had hail and and rain last night,thankfully we missed the hail for were in town for resupply. Jay has left and we are both alittle sad,but he was struggling with his knees, he plans some physical therapy before he rejoins us in Virginia for another section hike. Hopefully others will join us too for a time.All is going well,we did hit our planned average hike of 15 miles today and we feel great.had some trail magic today,beer was waiting for us in one of the many gaps we traversed. Peeper was very appreciative,I had water.Cold tonight, wearing all we have,expect it will be even a little colder in the am. Brrrrrr.Still lovin it,this is truely Gods world,beautiful.Thanks to all,GumpyPicture to follow when we get to a computer, all mine from the phone are sideways,we will figure it out.Gumpy
Date: 2012-03-28
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Warning: this computer does not have spell checkTrey Mountain Shelter was the best campsite we had seen yet. There was a beautiful rock outcropping that looks out over the vista. At night the lights from a small down in the valley slowly light up. It was really peaceful. The next day we headed into Hiawassee. Roomers and other things spread on the trail quickly. Somehow someone had heard that it was an easy hike down to the valley with only one small uphill climb. This was false. Unfortunatly, we knew we would not have cell phone service in the valley and we needed to call a shuttle to take us the 14 miles into town. So after the first big uphill we called the shuttle to pick us up in an hour or so... This ment we had to book it up the two large uphills we encoutered, and run down off them into the Valley. We were 20 min late and the shuttle had left. But it ended alright because they came back about an hour and a half later. Getting into town was awesome. We were starved, but since we didn't have a car we had to be methodical about how we went about our hungry stomaches and the things we needed to get done. We didn't end up eating until about 4, but made up for it at an all you can eat southern style restarant named Daniels. I already can't believe how much food I can put away. Chicken breats, pork chop, mashed potatoes, cornbread, coleslaw, a huge salad and two desserts. Anyway, we made it into town after, woddeling because our feet hurt. We met several more hikers in town, identifiable from the noticable limp and crocks. I wasn't hungry for dinner since we ate so late, so instead about 6 of us ended up relaxing in a hot tub. Boy that felt good. Dad left early to go get his fav. McDonalds.. and at about 10:00 I was hungry again. I wondered up the road to the closest thing open that wasn't McDonalds, Huddle House. I was craving a cheese burger anyway. The waitress informed me they were running a special on the tripple paddied burger, I just said "Yes Please."
Date: 2012-03-29
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Swinging Lick Gap
Miles today: 17.0

This was an incredible day but ended very wet. We felt great,and moved along. Weather called for Thunder showers in the pm, WE WERE WARNED! We climbed up mountains and down into many gaps, we were always looking for some trail magic in each gap, for we were all looking for some food we could not carry, I was wishing for a Coke, for Peeper a few days previous got her wish of a Rolling Rock. Climbed down a long down climb called "Winding Stair Gap" its name tells the story. Had one of those wonderful trail experiences in a small ravine of a stream and 100 year old timber and moss that I just sat and felt truely at peace. (Video of this spectactular area to follow when I can get it downloaded).This put me about 20 minutes behind Peeper who was trucking ahead with Blue Clues chattering away. I finally climbed out, and there, Peeper and Blues Clues were enjoying my dream, trail magic of Cokes. Trailside in a Styrifoam container, Ice Cold Sodas. WOW did that taste good. Thank you Trail Angels!!!Skies threatening,already having past the last shelter with a thunder shower passing just to our north, we felt we could climb out of the gap to a nioce tent site, oops, not so fast, the showers came, we got wet and again were setting up our tent in the pouring rain, not to find dryness until the am.Stopped at Swing Lick Gap ( the sign had been scratched out and made somewhat derogatory, adding an inappropriate "d".) Woke up to a heavy mist and looking forward to a good drying day.A day I hope never to forget.Gumpy
Date: 2012-03-30
From: muskrat stream shelter 

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

Had a wonderful day, climbed our 1st 5,000 footer with more to come, "Standing Indian ", very nice view but somewhat overcast, caught up with hikers that had started 2 days earlier than us, always meeting new thru-Hikers. Met 2 brothers from Australia, had many good conversations about "down Under". They were trail named Little and Big brother, but there sizes were opposite. Climbed a good part of the day with Blues Clues, a young man from Boston area.Good conversations around the evening campfires. Updating daily 2 x/ day on our spot GPS tracker, Stevie " Peeper " is going to give the upload information. We look at the GPS coordinates and it looks like we only went 4-5 miles but we serpentine around and along all the ridges and valleys and many miles between the straight line the crow flies.Our feet hurt but are holding out, otherwise " feeling Great"Gumpy
Date: 2012-03-31
From: Swinging Lick Gap

To: Burning Town Gap
Miles today: 13.6

Had a great day, stopped early to get setup before the next thunder storm, not to be caught again. Beatiful day, many ups and downs. Feet are hurting and made it a short day. Peeper is having some issues with her L big toe. I have a few blisters. Found a good tent site in a field. Appears like an old Homestead with apple trees and a memorial stone somwwhat washed off. Good restful night with the plan to get to N.O.C. ( Nantahala Outdoor Ctr) tomorrow for some R and R.GumpyTAKE NOTE, my days are off somewhere but someone yesterday told me it was really the 31st when I though it was the 30th, Not well oriented to time eh!
Date: 2012-04-01
From: Nov,wessor 

To: resting, zero day and SPOT info
Miles today: 0.0

Here is the link again to the SPOT: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k6VjxtZNGT7aQscNUHfIuVLxUZpBhDSfWe have gone130 miles, my feet are doing better but Peeper has abcess under a callous on her left big toe. I drained it last night.She is very sore this am. Rest is her Rx.N.O.C. is a beautiful place to me for a few days.good place for white water rafting,I'll try that today while Peeper heals.I'm still working off my phone.We will try and get to a computer today and update our journal of the missing days and download our pictures.Gumpy
Date: 2012-04-03
From: N.O.C.

To: Cheoah Bald
Miles today: 0.0

Dad and I have had a great time taking a zero day at the N.O.C. We enjoyed rafting on inflatable duckies (inflatable kayaks). I was having a good laugh watching dad get hung on the rocks, but the joke was on me because I flipped my ducky on the last rapid.   We enjoyed rafting with other thru-hikers who also went for involuntary swims. We grabbed pizza for dinner at N.O.C. and rested up for the evening. Dad did a second surgery on my toe. Although I'm walking on it gingerly, I'm doing much better. We would like to thank the N.O.C staff, particularly Noel, for a great time and letting us borrow his truck to run into town for a resupply. We left the N.O.C. that morning and took it easy but hiked a little in the rain and thunder. We tried staying at a shelter but were informed that it was too full. We ended up finding a great campsite and set up for the evening. Screech owls serenaded us all night long!Peeper
Date: 2012-04-04
From: Cheoah Bald

To: hogs back gap
Miles today: 11.0

Last night we pulled off the trail and set up our tents just in time to miss the rain. We both awoke to several screech owls that calling right over our tents. Awoke to a beautiful morning with an undercast over the valleys. Very pretty climbing day in the ridges of N.C. gumpy
Date: 2012-04-05
From: hogs back gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

Stevie's foot healing better, she is able to walk more comfortably. We have been dressing it daily and started using a saline gel that will help the healing. Infection appears resolved. She has had much less pain, a real trooper!!Very pretty day, thunder clouds in the distance again. Hiked along the ridges, at 4000 feet overlooking Fontana lake. We arrived at Hike Inn just in time for the storm to hit. Those who were still in the mountains reported hail, glad we missed it. We have noticed many new flowers in the woods,and pictures to show you when we get the card reader for Stevie's camera. Where's a Wall Mart when you need one.We have met several new hikers, Day Pack who is on his 3rd AT hike, very knowledgeable. We up with All Smiles and Brabndon at the Hike Inn and went into Robbinsville for resupply and Mexican food. Mike ( all Smiles) and Brandon (SKEETER) ate really hot food, I chose the more mild. Very enjoyable day.GUMPYNOte this computer is missing keys and will not allow me to make corrections, sorry for the miss spellings.
Date: 2012-04-06
From: Fontana Dam

To: RUSSELL FIELD SHELTER
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: broken clouds

WELCOME TO THE SMOKIES.Beautiful clear day, we were told by the Hike Inn we would be lucky to see all the lookouts from the SMOKIES due to changing weather. Today must have been an exception.Climbed Mt Shutstack Fire tower, very old and missing many parts, I was very nervous with my fear of heights and old fire towers, but incredible views. Peeper of course just raced to the top of the tower, show off. Very long climbing up day, up into the 5000 ft level from 1200ft. Very soon we met our first Park officer and the ATC ridge runner who checked our permits and reenforced the park rules. Thank God we had our permit. This was to be our first stay in a lean-two. Park rules.Stevie (Peeper ) is back to much her old climbing self, youngster leaving the old man behind. Climbed with All Smiles and Skeeter.Great 1st day in the Smokies.GumpyI hiked up the crumb-cake and lemon squares that mom and grancy sent to the Hike Inn. Shared a good bit. Giving a thru-hiker baked goods in the back country is like giving a moose a muffin . No, but really, they were fabulous and made many smiles. -Peeper
Date: 2012-04-07
From: RUSSELL FIELD SHELTER

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Incredible day, beautiful views. Fields in the highest elevations, Rocky Top Mt, incredible. We older folk wanted to sing "The hills are alive with the sound of music" but the younger crew all sang "Rocky Top" and were all looking for the moonshine still. We hit our 2nd and 3rd views in the Smokies on a clear day, we are blessed.Long climbing day, beautiful flowers, views, birds and companionship of we thru hikers. Tomorrow on to the highest Mt on the AT, Clingman's Dome.Another one of those very special days !!!GUMPYDad seems to have met a kindred spirit here in the smokies. The man chorus of "the hills are alive" is not something I will not soon forget. The two men (Gumpy and All Smiles) remind me of the two old muppets. What are their names again?-Peeper
Date: 2012-04-08
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy EASTER !!I gave some of my hiking treats to the others in the shelter, a little bit of home.All of us felt some homesickness today.All Smiles and Skeeter left early to meet some friends at New FOUND gap to go into GATTLINBERG(sp). Peeper and I took our time and climbed SILARS bald and then Clingmans dome. Beautiful day again. Made the mistake and went a 1/2 mile down to the visitors center, to see if they had something good to eat. But no, only souvenirs, boy were we disappointed to climb down and up a full 1/2 mile. They would make a killing selling candybars and sodas to thru-hikers. Were we blessed though, TRAIL MAGIC HITS AGAIN, New Found gap had 2 families of previous thru hikers who had sodas, candy, fruit, cookies, pretzils ect. WOW HAPPY Easter. Both Peeper and I had called our family to wish them a happy Easter, many lost connections, emotional for us both.Clingman's dome was somewhat anticlimactic, but the climb out of Newfound Gap was spectacular, into a much different terrain of cliffs and jutting rock faces. Flowers still abound but more into the pines rather than the oaks.Climbed back up to 5,000 feet. We had one of the coldest nights yet at 30 deg. Frost on my tent in the am. Peeper stayed in the lean-two. GumpyFinally met up with some female thru hikers! Woopie. Was a really cold night though. I figured out how to keep a little warmer in my sleeping bag by using my rain jacket at a skirt. So fashionable. -Peeper
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

Another beautiful day, we will have had ALL days clear in the smokies. Went long and far today so we can have a short day tomorrow to get to resupply and rest at Standing Bear Hostel. What a beautiful climb, first hit Charlies Bunion, a scary outcrop that over looks a large ravine. Needless to say, I was nervous, Peeper was thrilled. We will soon download these pictures when we can. I hugged the rock when Peeper was dancing on top. Our longest day, longest miles and we feel good !! Outlooks abound as we descend from the Smokies. Gumpy
Date: 2012-04-10
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm - Hostel
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Pretty climb out of the Smokies. Thank you SMOKIES, we saw all 6/6 spectacular notable views, without a cloud, and many more. We were truely blessed.Climbed out and came to Standing Bear Farm Hostel for resupply and rest, to move on tomorrow. Good rest and good companionship with 15-20 other thru hikers. Met some new friends.Very rustic, off to the bunk house for some rest on a real mattress, but still in my sleeping bag.Peeper today calculated that in the past 5-10 years she has slept more than a year in a sleeping bag, a real world traveler. She is an exceptional hiking partner, I hope I can keep up with her. More to follow when we get back to a computer and get connectivity. LOVE to all back home, and thank you for all the supportand thank you to all we have met on our travels, keep the support coming.Especially Thank you to our mothers, Grancy and Mom( Casey) for the treats, lemon squares and Crumb Cake, yum! ALSO TO MY OFFICE, lOVE YA !To my wife Paula, keep healing and I miss you awful.Gumpy
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Standing Bear Farm - Hostel

To: Roaring fork shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

We stayed at Standing bear Hostel last night. There were about 20 other hikers there, very rustic and basic. We hand washed our laundry and resupplied. We were excited to run into " All Smiles" and "Skeeter" again. It was great to see them. We plannned to hike with them for the next few days. "All Smiles" set up his tent below the Privy, he later felt this was not a great choice with the direction of the wind. We met wiffleball, a husky young man who always carries a wifflebat and ball. He plans to hit the ball off the top of Katahdin, " On Fire". Another beautiful day but temperatures are in the 40's with high wind. The hiking group that stayed at the Standing bear Hostel wanted to play wiffleball on the top of Max Patch, a field on top of a 4,300 ft mountain, our goal at the end of our climbing day. We went 15 miles and when we got to Max Patch, it was COLD,WINDY and not a good day for wiffleball. "Wiffleball" who had the equipment even tried to put his tent up on Max Patch, but it kept blowing away. We would try another day. "Wiffleball" did suggest possible reverse wiffleball where you hit against the wind and field behind home plate, but he had no takers.   We were very cold on top of Max Patch, had all the clothes we had on. We walked further so as to find a less windy place to camp. That night, it got so cold, both Gumpy and Peeper's water froze inside the tents! Burrr
Date: 2012-04-12
From: Roaring fork shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a long days hike to Hot Springs with All Smiles and Skeeter. We met many of our other hikers from Standing Bear Hostel as we climbed. Everyone was looking forward to some R and R and Hot Springs. We had another very pretty day. It was less windy and warmer. We had a long descent to Hot Springs, and the French Broad River. Hot Springs is an experienced hiker's town. The AT goes right through the center of town, and much of it's focus is on the hikers. We felt very welcome. The trail is designated by granite "AT" insignias embedded in the sidewalk on the main street!The six of us, All-Smiles, Skeeter, Hawk, Wiffelball and the two of us, had an indulgent meal of carbohydrates and burgers. We then went to the natural hot springs, had an hour long soaking session. We retired in our bunk cabin that held all six of us, a good day and night. Peeper and I planned to move on in the morning. All Smiles and Skeeter had family coming to meet them and planned to do some "slack packing" from Hot Springs to Erwin over the next week. (Slack packing is when they use cars to do day hikes and can carry daypacks to do sections of the trail.) Peeper and I wanted to meet Mike's(All Smiles) and Brandon's (Skeeter) family. We made arrangements to have them meet us 30 miles up the trail on Sunday. We would slack pack with them for a day and then they would take us back to Hot Springs for the night. They then would drop us off again the next day at our previous stopping point to resume our hike. Arrangements made, good sleep, full belly, Peeper and I would leave our friends and step off in the am. We were unfortunately going to miss a momentous event, there was a planned Wiffleball game at the Hot Springs field in the pm tomorrow. Peeper and I had to move on.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning, we had breakfast in the morning with our friends. We packed up in the and left for our next phase at noon. Somewhat difficult goodbye, left many of our friends back at Hot Springs. Most other hikers were planning to take a "zero" day to play Wiffleball and further indulgent rest. Breakfast was a very social event with many of our previous hiker aqaintances arriving.The climb out of Hot Springs followed along the Friench Broad river, then a very steep climb along the cliffs called "Lovers Leap", climbed over 2000 feet in about a 1/2 mile. We had many beatiful views of the French Broad valley. We worked our way up to a fire tower Rich Mtn (3600 ft), had some beautiful views of our past and future climbs. We met 6 other hikers and 2 dogs in the tower.Tented at Spring Shelter and caught up with our friend Blues Clues again. We were crossing over the TN and NC borders all day on the hike.