morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm at Mountain Mama's near Davenport Gap tonight. The day started off cold. It said 37 degrees on my watch, however, on top of Mount Guyot (or as I call it... Mount Gut it) there was still snow. It quickly warmed up as the day progressed and I dropped in elevation. I started at about 5,850', went up to 6,360', and came out at about 1300'. There were several horses and a few day hikers today. Several went from the shelter last night to stay at the Cammerer Tower, a look out tower built in the 1930's. I got to Davenport Gap Shelter shortly before 6:00 p.m. and it was empty, so I left and came on down to Moutain Mama's. The bunk houses were mostly full so I pitched my tent here with Reggie. I had heard tent sites were $5 but they had upped it to $10. It was one month ago today I boarded the plane, leaving San Antonio for Knoxville.
Date: 2005-04-18
From: Davenport Gap

To: Ground Hog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

Eating is a necessary evil to me on the trail. Cooking for me, at best is a misadventure; at worst, a nightmare from the local EMS Director wondering if he will have to activate the disaster response system. Two nights ago, I turned boiling water on my left knee. Today it was the first day it was warm enough to wear shorts again and I discovered a 5" X 3" partial thickness burn with blisters on my knee. At least I didn't have to cook for breakfast today. I had a wonderful breakfast of pancakes at Mountain Mama's this morning. She took us up to the trail head and I left shortly after 9:30 this morning. The highlight of the day was crossing Snowbird Mountain. The FAA has a VOR for aviation navigation on top of the mountain so it had been totally cleared of trees. There were awesome views back into the Smokies. Tonight, I am at the shelter with Reggie (trail name, Vermont), Hot Flash, Rhino, and Preacher. Rhino had his dog back with him. Dogs are not allowed in the Smokies so he had boarded him in a kennel until he got out of the Smokies. He brought the dog all the way from Germany with him! The only English word the dog knew, was "food!" The shelter tonight is in a gorgeous setting with tall white pines around it.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: Ground Hog Creek Shelter

To: Old Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: few clouds

Last night there was excellent cell phone service at the shelter. After going to bed, I realized why. We could hear I-40 traffic all night. I didn't leave camp until 9:00am. I'm leaving camp later and later, a trend I'm going to have to reverse! It was a wonderful day of hiking. The views from Max Patch Mountain were spectacular. Apparently the top of the mountain had been cleared years ago to raise cattle. I hiked with Hot Flash this afternoon until I came to the Old Roaring Fork Shelter. I continued to go on to the next shelter, but Vermont hiked up to the shelter and then came back the 1.8 miles to tell us the shelter was not in good shape with low water flow. I'm glad I decided to stay here as there were a few rumbles of thunder and lightning near bedtime (but no rain). Two days until Pam comes!
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Old Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

One month ago today, I started! I'm sitting in Hot Springs, a quaint town with lots of character on the NC/TN border on the French Broad River (honest, that's the real name!) I'm happy to be here. This past month I have froze, sweated, laughed, cried, and made new friends. As I descended into Hot Springs this afternoon, the trail guide said there was a good winter view of the town. I initially thought that the view was not very good, but then it occurred to me that it's no longer winter in the valley. There are a lot of leaves on the trees obstructing the view now. I slept in the shelter last night with Preacher, Red Wing, Hopeful (from Traverse City, MI), Hot Flash and Vermont. I started earlier today, at 8:00am and arrived in Hot Springs by 4:30pm. I was glad I didn't go on to the next shelter last night. Mother and Bogue said they were pestered by mice all night. We didn't have any mice in our shelter last night, though I still prefer to stay in my tent when the weather is nice. I'll be off the trail a few days since Pam comes tomorrow. I need it. I looked at my reflection in the window today. I really look like a mess!
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Hot Springs

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

I am finally back on the trail. The time off was great. Pam came and we went to a Bed and Breakfast in Bryson City one night (The Folkestone Inn). I highly recommend it. We then spent time at my in-laws house, my sister's house, and my parent's house. I gorged and my waist belt felt tight on my pack when I put it back on today. However, I also had a flair-up of diverticulitis last week. I am better now. I didn't miss much weather-wise last week, however. It has been awful in the mountains the past few days. I am at Deep Gap with Get-er-done and Dutchman. Ger-er-done just got back on the trail after a week off. His tent and belongings got destroyed in the horrific storm on Max Patch mountain. The wind blew his tent and belongings across the mountain into a blackberry patch. When the storm had subsided at 1:00am, he went and unwound his clothes off the thorny blackberry canes. He still had to hike to Hot Springs, however. The rain turned to snow and he tried to trudge through 14" of snow on Bluff Mountain before he could get a new tent and supplies. It is cool and windy, but sunny today.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Deep Gap

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Some days you know you'll always remember even as the day occurs. Today was one of those days. It started out mundane enough. Despite plans for an early start, I didn't leave camp until 9:00am. Shortly after leaving camp, there was a sign for trail magic. There we met Fal and Hercules (thru-hikers '99). They had made a wonderful stew and homemade biscuits with ice cream cake for dessert! Fal then showed ua a quilt she was making of the Appalachian Trail. Each state was represented by it's characteristics (e.g. Pennsylvania was a fabric pictured with rocks.) Finally, Jaywalking played the piano for us, playing Dixie and Silent Night (Christmas songs are okay as long as they don't bring more snow!) The piano playing made me somewhat sad because I missed Pam's concert at the Majestic Theatre yesterday. The Majestic Theatre is an ornate theatre for the performing arts in San Antonio. She played before a packed house of about 1,800 people and I'm sorry I missed it. I ate with Chipmunk, Jaywalking, Baby Steps, and HitMan, the self-proclaimed Appalachian Mafia. Then 1.6 miles later, we got more trail magic from Mean and Hiking Heidi with soda and Little Debbie cakes (they were not even disgusting looking - if you read Bill Bryson's book!) One more trail magic and I could not have climbed the steep mountain to Camp Creek Bald. From there the trail ran along the knife-edged top for 1.5 miles with incredible views, but the trail was a bear. (At one point the trail involved climbing down a 7' to 8' rock ledge). It was nearly sundown before we got to camp tonight. Somebody said we have a freeze warning tonight.
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Jerry's Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

It was another pretty day. No rain for three days now. The hike started by climbing Big Butt Mountain (this is my first time hiking the trail and they've already named a mountain after me!) There was a pretty waterfall near Devil's Sport Gap. The birds really seemed to come alive today. The day started with a Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing to us over the shelter. At one point I could see a Black and White Warbler, a Scarlet Tanager, and a Black-throated Green Warbler at the same time. Then I saw a Blacburnian Warbler and an Indigo Bunting this evening. There was much more, but I needed my binoculars (of all the things that I've lost this trip, I miss my mind the most but I miss my binoculars a close second). The binoculars were cut because of the weight. I'm camped tonight with a number of people including Mama Bear and her Three Cubs. It is a mother with her three kids, Achilles, age 12... Bip, age 10... and Bop, age 8. They are from The Woodlands, Texas.
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Near Spivey Gap
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I am camped on the edge of a deer browse field tonight. The field appears to have been sowed with some type of grain. It seems to work though. I just saw the white tail of a deer running in the woods. One odd tidbit about the trail tonight... Yesterday and today the north bound trail actually travels southbound for 10-15 miles, that is before it turns east. In Sam's Gap the northbound trail that is going east crosses first east I-26 but it is actually going south and then goes under west I-26 but it is actually going north. It reminds me of my in-laws church in South Carolina that is on the west side of east North street in south Greenville! It's no wonder the daughter gets lost so easy (I've been in the woods too long!) I didn't feel very strong today. I felt like I had no energy going up Big Bald (about as weak as when Pam gives me the honey-do list!) I ate some and layed and rested and felt a little better. I may not be eating enough. I'm taking Cipro and Flagyl for the attack of diverticulitis I got last week and still may be recovering from that. The good news is Flagyl is the treatment for giardiasis, the bug you get from stream water in the woods. Giardia is also called monkey face, because the bug looks like a monkey face under the microscope.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Near Spivey Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

I'm sitting at Uncle Johnny's Hiker Hostel in Erwin, TN listening to Jimmy Buffett music. I have visions of sitting in a warm Carribbean beach cabana with the music but it is anything but! Instead it's another cool, blustery, windy day with intermittent sprinkles. I've had the rain gear on today but fortunately haven't needed it. I'm going to my sister's house again tonight. I've developed a blister on my heel. She thinks I need new boots. They way I feel (and look, and smell), I need a new body. I just ate 2 Snicker's bar and had an orange juice (who says they don't go together?) Backpackers can burn up to 5,000 to 6,000 calories a day. The increased caloric burn combined with the appetite supression and the bland backpacker's food (and my inability to cook) makes it tough to keep up on the calories. I did see two deer today and just saw two Canada geese flying up the Nolichucky River. The views looking to Erwin and up the gorge were awesome.
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Erwin, TN

To:  Near Unaka Mountain
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: few clouds

It is amazing how the terrain and weather change due to elevation changes here. I am tenting alone in a fir forest at 5,000 feet on Unaka (you-ache-a) Mountain. It was considerably warmer at lower elevations today but will be chilly here tonight. Today has been mostly climbing from the gorge at 1,700 feet, the last climb to Mt Unaka (you-make-a). As I climbed it, I'm fairly certain I saw a Veery (in the Thrush family). It is an interesting bird because it has two firynx (the equivalent of a human larynx or voice box). Thus the bird has the ability to sing in harmony with itself. It has an ethereal downward spiral song on summer evenings. It is a good thing humans don't have this ability. My singing would be twice as annoying. My hiking cohorts for the last week are ahead of me. I only saw Dutch today. He told me Get-er-done left the trail because of his knees and may not come back. It is lonely tonight. I heard of one guy who left the trail because he missed his wife. I might be the next one.
Date: 2005-05-09
From:  Near Unaka Mountain

To: Afh Gap
Miles today: 16.2

One and a half goals for this week were accomplished today. First, I finished the section from Erwin to Iron Mountain Gap which the guide book says is very strenuous. Secondly, I am part way up Roan (groan) Mountain. It was a hot day today and the heat wore me down. But the birds were very active today (have I said I missed my binoculars?) I saw a Canada warbler only 15-20 feet from me as I came down from Little Rock Knob. I heard a yellow-bellied sapsucker too. It is the only woodpecker that has a characteristic hammering sound, starting fast and regular, then becomes slow and erratic (kind of like my work day). I was surprised at the lack of thru-hikers I saw today. I only saw Moose at the shelter when I cooked lunch. I am camped tonight with Axeless and Breathless, a real nice couple sounth bound from Georgia. Axeless got his name when he tied his bear rope to an axe and threw it in to a tree. It wedged in the tree and left him axeless! One problem with hiking as late as I do is it doesn't leave much time to visit in the evening.
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Afh Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: moderate rain

I am sitting in the Overmountain shelter in the rain. Today started with sprinkles and it was cloudy and foggy through the day. I summitted Roan High Knob but there was no view due to the fog and clouds. I walked over to the old Cloudland Hotel site. It was a posh hotel at the turn of the century around 1900. It was quite a hotel for it's day. There was a large banquet room. Interestingly it sit on the NC/TN state line. The state line was painted through the middle of the dining room and down the dining room tables. In those days, it was legal to drink in TN, but not in NC, so it was legal to drink alcohol in only half of the dining room. Legend has it that the sheriff from NC would watch for people to cross the line to arrest them. The weather was threatening all morning. When I stopped at a shelter at noon to cook, it started to sprinkle with thunder in the distance. I called Pam and had her look at the radar for the area. As the storms seemed to be moving away, I continued to hike to the next shelter. I hiked past the Overmountain shelter but turned around and went back when it started to rain. I'm glad I did as it came quite a storm shortly after I got to the shelter. I didn't get in the miles today, but... oh well! It appears lightning started a fire across the valley from us as quite a bit of smoke was coming from the woods, but it is almost out now.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Near Walnut Mountain Road
Miles today: 19.0

The rains died down last night and gave way to a beautiful morning. Our bunks were opened to the east overlooking a wide, green valley. The Overland shelter is a converted 2-story barn. Most of us thru-hikers were on the first floor with a bunch of high-schoolers on the second. If you guessed that is a recipe for disaster, you are right! Food and debris came through the slats from the second floor on to us. Another time, water came pouring through the slats on to someone's sleeping bag. However, it was a restful night and the shelter is a classic on the AT. I crossed Hump Mountain today with INCREDIBLE VIEWS, but I did not see the Texas Longhorn cattle that are pastured there. But more important, I oficially completed my second state today (NC). Now I'm in TN and only 60 miles from VA. The last 7 miles of the trail have been re-routed recently and it goes by a GORGEOUS WATERFALL, called Jones Falls. It was quite warm this afternoon and then it rained. The rain, however, didn't cool things off, it only made it more humid.
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Near Walnut Mountain Road

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 13.5

The heat is really starting to set in. It was another warm, sunny day and the water needs increased because of the sweating. The perspiration really increases the BO factor! I had something of a dilemna today... After eating lunch, I still had 15 miles to go for re-supply, but only had 2 breakfast bars to eat until 1:00 pm tomorrow. The alternative was to leave early (in 5 miles) to Kincora Hostel. As it turns out, I got another blister on my foot and had to leave the trail early. I caught a ride down the mountain to Elizabethton where my parents picked me up. I'm a little discouraged with the blisters on my feet... and may have to get new boots (I may have to re-boot!)
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Watauga Lake
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

Well, I am on the trail again but not necessarily away from civilization. I went through the BEAUTIFUL LAUREL FORK GORGE and then crossed Pond Mountain, which is the ultimate PUD (pointless up and down!) It's a steep climb up the mountain. When you get to the top, you look around and say, "Here we are and...?" Tonight, I went around the shore of Lake Watauga. As I was setting up, 5 kids wheeled two 12-packs on a dolly into camp and started a fire. They seemed nice enough. One even offered me a joint (reefer, maryjane, hippie lettuce, whatever the venacular of the day is!) Anyways, hopefully it will be a quiet night! I made some equipment changes. I got new boots in Asheville. They feel good, however, my Steri-pen, that sterilizes the water by UV light, quit working. We drove through Damascus on the way here and dropped it off at Mt. Rogers Outfitters. I will pick ip up this week as I go back through Damascus on the trail. I went to my parents house the past 2 days. I literally gained 7 pounds in 2 1/2 days... oink, oink, oink.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Watauga Lake

To: Near Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a long night last night! It turned out to be 10-12 kids with a guitar and plenty of beer. They were loud for much of the night. Finally, between 12:00pm and 1:00am, they started talking about going to a cave. I wanted to run out and encourage them to go! They finally left when they ran out of beer and I went to sleep between 1:30am and 2:00am, I think. So today was a low energy day. I was tired... I was breaking in new boots... My food bag is heavy... It was hot... I would have been a real crab if I hadn't been by myself. But it is the pits to listen to yourself when you're crabby. It was a gorgeous day today, however! I crossed Watauga Dam and spent the day hiking the crest of Iron Mountain. I met Skywalker today. He is from Georgia and 6' 11" !! He is an imposing figure in the woods and I think he could intimidate a bear. He is really nice though.
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Near Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Near Abington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.2

It was another pleasant day for hiking, but today's highlight was seeing 2 BEARS! It was about 7:00pm, north of the Abington Gap Shelter. They were on a small ridge as I came around the corner of a trail. There were 2 cubs on top of the ridge, 50' away. One cub was standing on his hind legs, leaning against the tree. It looked like he was trying to hide behind the tree and play hide and seek. My biggest concern, however, was not knowing where mom was at! I started to bang my poles together, but I was afraid mom might think that was an act of hostility. Nonetheless, they ran away without incident. I made sure the food was inaccessible with the bear rope tonight. The section of trail today was very pleasant with no major ups and downs (a pudless day). I did part of this section last year in early May with Pam and Krista and we got spits of sleet on us then. Well, that is the bear facts and naked truth for today!
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Near Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Pond near Straight Mountain
Miles today: 19.7

I am camped by a small pond tonight and I've quite a chorus of frogs to serenade me. I had intended to camp one mile earlier but where the guide book said was a stream... was only a mud puddle. But today I entered VA and finished my third state! Three out of fourteen states are completed. The bad news; VA has 536.4 miles of the trail. I've done 15.2! I spent 3 hours in Damascus today... one of the best trail towns on the AT. I got a pizza at Sicily's Restaurant. It was 14" cheese with onions and I ate 3/4 of it there. I ate the other 1/4 for supper tonight (oink, oink, oink - only on the trail can I get away with that!) I also picked up my Steri-pen light at Mt. Rogers Outfitters. Tom Davenport contacted the company and got it fixed for me. Tom said he started the trail at Springer Mountain and got to Damascus to take a zero day. That zero day turned into 14 years and he never left Damascus! Thanks for your help, Tom.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Pond near Straight Mountain

To: Summit Cut
Miles today: 5.2

I am at my parent's house one last time before I move futher up the state of Virginia. After this it will be too far to take a zero day here. So far, I feel like I've been a glorified section hiker because I was fortunate enough to have family close to the trail. Much to their relief, I will be moving further north... but they have been nice support for the first quarter of the trail! It was a quick, easy hike this morning, part of which was along the pretty Virginia Creeper Trail. I was to meet my parents at 4:00 p.m. but got to Summit Cut at US 58 at 10:45am. I therefore hitchhiked into Damascus. It took 5 - 10 minutes before a car came by but the second vehicle picked me up. In Damascus, I ran into Baumer (from the movie, The Tannenbaums)& Pip and Vetters (their Siberian Husky). We gave them a ride into Abingdon, VA. They are predicting bad weather for tonight, so it will be nice to be warm and secure. But it will get expensive and take a long time to get to Maine if I run to a hotel or home every time it rains!!
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Summit Cut

To: Grayson Highlands State Park
Miles today: 13.4

Just about all the signs of spring are here. Birds are laying eggs, horses are having foals, I'm suffering from allergies... The only sign not here is the weather! It has been a cool, windy day with a few sprinkles here on the Grayson Highlands. I didn't leave Summit Cut until after 11:30 am. My parents drove me to the trailhead and hiked in some with me. There were two major climbs today, White Top Mountain and Mount Rogers, the highest mountain in Virginia. It is a gorgeous part of the trail and I saw five small blue eggs in a nest well hidden right next to the trail. It belonged to a Junco. Tonight I'm camped across the fence from Grayson Highlands State Park. In the park are several feral (horses that roam free). I can see several of them... at least one mare had a foal frolicking around her that someone said is only days old. I can hear them outside the tent. It reminds me of when Pam heard Buffalo outside our tent all night on Catalina Island in California. As I'm writing, I hear three ponies chomping outside the tent. I'm proud to say also, that I made it through "fat-man's squeeze", an actual tunnel through rocks where the trail traverses.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Grayson Highlands State Park

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 18.9

Sometime during the night, the chomping of horses gave way to the splatter of rain on the tent. It started after 2:00am and rained steady for awhile. Fortunately, it quit by the time I had to break camp. It was very foggy, cold and windy when I left. Somebody said 40-50 mph winds were predicted, and I suspect it was at least that on the exposed mountain tops. It blew me off the trail several times and at one point, it blew my hat off and I had to race (race being a relative term with a full pack) across the grass to retrieve it. The "balds" in VA are interesting. They are not true balds. The land was cleared for lumber in the early 1900's. The grasslands were so pretty... the park service decided to try and keep them free of trees. They tried sheep but they died from eating the rhododendrons. They tried goats and cattle, but they couldn't survive the brutal winter. In 1974, they introduced the horses and the horses have done very well. They roam free, surviving the winter by eating dried vegetation and are a treat to see! They round the horses up once a year to check for diseases and vaccinate them.