morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-02
From: Tray Mountain Shelter 

To: Dicks Creek Gap - Top of Georgia Hostel
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Once again I am wide awake in the middle of the night. I looked outside and was startled to see city lights in the valley below. Probably Hiawassee. A few hours later the city lights were hidden by a thick fog. We got an early start since we heard the weather might get worse. However it misted and drizzled all morning. Not much visibility but still a beautiful hike though we couldn't enjoy the views. We caught up with Yoda, Utah, Hands and Patrick who camped next to us at the shelter and hiked more or less with them the last couple of miles. We came out at Dick Creek Gap at 12:51 and was happy to learn the Top Of Georgia Hostel shuttle was due at 1 pm. We ran into Grandpa whom we had met at Unicoi Gap the day before and who is only 26. The shuttles were busy so someone smoking in a Subaru came from ToGH and took half of us the half mile up the road to the hostel. Renaissance gave us a hot beverage, checked us in and gave us the grand tour and showed us our bunks. The hostel is nice and we were happy to take a shower, shuttle into town and eat town food at a Mexican Restaurant and re supply at Ingles in Hiawassee - the first short term town goal!! This is certainly one of the hardest things I've ever done, but the transformation is slowly, slowly happening as my feet don't hurt nearly as bad as they did the first couple of days, I'm getting more used to the 30 lb pack weight, becoming more efficient at camp set up and tear down, etc. For the record, Side Kick ("the hiker formerly named Susiwellness" or THFNS) has gone two days without coffee and seems fine!! Appalachian Tracie Confession ("ATC"): I have fallen in love with my Crocs. I refused to wear them and was dubious about bringing them for camp shoes on the trail. Side Kick earns a big "told ya so!" However if you ever see me wearing Crocs in town and I'm not hiking, I demand you rip them off my feet!
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Dicks Creek Gap - Top of Georgia Hostel

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rained last night as we happily shared a bunk room with Ice House, Woody, Gorp Gobbler, and Bourbon's son Joe. Fortunately nobody snored too loudly. It was our most social evening on the trail as we chatted with people. A lot of people were hurting and planning to take a zero "rest" day tomorrow.This morning Side Kick's face was very swollen not from a bar brawl but from her tooth. So we squished into the back of the hostel Subaru already stuffed with priority mail boxes of excess gear people were shipping home, along with Mellow, another hiker and a dog and rode to Hiawassee. Mellow at one point was speeding around a curve, cigarette in his left hand, texting, talking and trying to pull back his wild mane into a hair tie. It was our most dangerous moment on the trail so far! We went to the ER and Side Kick got some antibiotics and horror stories of hikers whom the doctor had to send home. We ate sandwiches and then asked some ladies if it was safe to hitch in town. They said yes and one said she was a through hiker 23 years ago (trail name "Larry" since she hiked with Curly and Moe) and offered to drive us 11 miles back to the hostel. We even picked up another hiker we saw walking along the way. Our first hitch! Larry was great and told us views to see along our hike! She recalled amazing details about her hike and said it was the best adventure of her life and she has seen a lot of the world. We finally got back on the trail at 1 and hiked 9 miles and camped at Bly Gap just past the GA - NC border! One state down, 13 to go!! Storm is forecasted during the evening! Hunker down!PS. A "Nero" day is hiking less than 10 miles
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Bly Gap

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

North Carolina welcomed us with a torrential downpour and gusty winds all night. We had a beautiful view but very exposed tent site. It was a chilly pack up but fortunately we had a tough steep climb up Courthouse Bald to start which warmed us up a little and would not have enjoyed had we done it at the end of yesterday. In spite of the blustery start, today's hike was pleasant and we were excited to see some friends and former thru hikers of one of our NC friend hosting their 24th annual BBQ and breakfast for thru hikers every Easter weekend in Deep Gap. We enjoyed BBQ pork sandwiches (mine was sans pork but I love BBQ sauce), slaw, chips, baked beans, drinks and snacks. I have eaten more chips and drank more soda in the past week than I typically do in a year! They had first aid, supplies and even gave us a postcard to address which they would mail. Awesome trail magic and the campfire was a nice rest!! We are already planning how we will reciprocate trail magic for next year's hikers. It's been so generous and wonderful to see the hiking community support each other.The afternoon warmed up and we enjoyed a nice hike to Carter Gap Shelter for 15.3 miles, our second longest mileage day. My other highlight today was finding ramp, a wild plant whose flavor resembles a mild scallion. The white root tastes like an onion and the leaf has a peppery taste. I picked a few leaves to add to my couscous tonight. It was nice to have a fresh veggie!It's supposed to be 30 degrees tonight so we are bundling up!! So long as it's not windy and rainy again!
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap Campsite 
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: few clouds

Survived the cold night. We packed up and hit the trail passing Betty Creek Gap. We met Rabbit Stick from Sugar House, UT on the trail and hiked with him for awhile. Gorgeous day which started off chilly but warmed up. A Trail Angel gave us a Reese's peanut butter egg just before we hit the steep rocky climb Albert Mountain. We made it up Albert Mountain to a stunning view. The hike to Rock Gap was pleasant but we were ready to be done when we finally arrived to a group of hikers waiting for the promised a trail magic from the 24th Annual Easter Weekend Feed on the AT from The Omelette Angels at Deep Gap the day before. An hour later several vehicles pulled in and started unloading tables, chairs and food! They gave us menus and we could custom order omelettes and sandwiches along with tons of cookies, chips, friendship bread, candy, fruit, soda, chai tea latte, first aid, etc! You could custom order an omelette or sandwich to eat there and then order a sandwich on homemade bread to go! My veggie hummus sandwich was delicious! We even got custom printed bandanas! I was also happy to get some packets of Tony Chuchere's Cajun seasoning for my couscous.A two hour rest and generous meal later, we decided to conquer 4 more miles past Winding Stair Gap to camp at a small site already packed with tents but we squeezed our way in along with Flash, Mosey and Bard Owl.It's been a week but we know many of the hikers ahead and behind us who are hiking similar miles each day. We look forward to seeing familiar faces along the trail, at campsites, Shelters and Trail Magic stops. On a sad note, we have seen three hiker friends leave the trail in the past 24 hours due to illness, feet issues and mentally done. It's strange because we only knew some of them for 24-48 hours but it's hard to hear they are gone.
Date: 2015-04-06
From: Winding Stair Gap Campsite 

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We heard it was supposed to rain today so we packed up really early so we wouldn't have to pack up in the rain. We were on the trail before sunrise and started towards Siler Bald. The rain held off until we were almost there and then it sprinkled on and off. We didn't take the side trail and summit the bald since it was raining and we couldn't see the view anyway. We hiked on to Wayah Bald which was a long tough climb and seemed to last forever. We noticed a lot of tree damage from the ice storms a few weeks ago similar to what we saw at Albert Mountain. We finally made it to the tower only to be surrounded by fog and mist. We ate a quick "lunch" buffeted by blustery winds in the tower until we couldn't take the cold, ran into Flash whom we thought was ahead of us and hiked on a few more miles to Cold Water Springs Shelter in on and off again rain. It was only 3 pm but we had hiked 15.5 miles so we set up camp on a sloped tent site and hunkered down in our tents.I walked to the shelter to inquire about Mosey and someone said Mosey wasn't sure if she wanted to leave the last shelter and hike farther in the rain. Captain K gave me a weather forecast update - 100% all night and thunderstorms around 10 am tomorrow. Sitting in my tent with wet gear and nothing to do but pack up wet gear in the morning and hope to hike 12 miles to the NOC... The emotional ups and downs of the AT are almost as frequent as the terrain itself!
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After being confined to our tents in the rain for nearly 14 hours, we packed up at 5:30 am in between rain showers and hit the trail with only 10-15 ft visibility in thick mist trying to beat out the thunderstorms. At The Jump Off, we even saw the mist lift almost instantaneously revealing the mountain hidden beneath. We got lucky and instead of thunder, we even got a little sun. We made it to the NOC around 12:30, changed into dry clothes and sat down for a delicious (vegan) burger at the Riverside Cafe. Great to be met there by friends! Thanks Mike and Lynn!Made it to the short-term goal destination #2 a day earlier than expected partially due to weather forecasts which are unpredictable!!
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we slack packed (carried only a 10 lb day pack vs 30 lb full pack) the tough, long climb up 3,279 ft up to Cheoah Bald and back down to Stecoah Gap. We hiked with our friend Mike. Dense fog covered the mountain in the morning but gradually burned off revealing a beautiful, hot day and some fantastic views. We sweat up each steep climb one after another, enjoying an occasional breeze or walk through shady rhododendron. Our lunch rest on top of Cheoah Bald was cut short from the biting black flies. At least the view was beautiful! We passed Captain K along the way and met a couple new hikers. Tough section with just day packs so we were grateful not to be carrying full packs!
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Dam Visitors Center
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today Side Kick kicked me out onto the trail to face the AT on my own. Fortunately she let me slack pack 15.6 miles to Fontana Dam Visitor Center. Flash was also slack packing so we met at Stecoah Gap after an incredible sunrise and started climbing a blood pumping steep Jacob's Ladder as a wake up. Today's miles were not nearly as challengiing (STEEP!) as yesterday though there are always plenty of ups and downs. We enjoyed conversing about yoga, cooking, travel, etc. while hiking in nice warm weather. We saw some unexpected wild life and beautiful wild flowers. Climbing a small summit I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a decent size turtle in front of my pole! We also saw a large long black snake a few miles later. We also met a couple high school students section hiking with their dads one of whom had an awesome chair he let us try! I left Flash at the Fontana Marina where his shuttle was picking him up and hiked my first 1.4 miles on the AT solo. I felt good and made it to the Fontana "Hilton" shelter which I decided to check out. As I walked by the entrance someone said "Hey South Pole!" I turned and it was Turbs whom we had been leapfrogging on the trail for the past week. We chatted and I met Square Peg who was also in the Shelter. Then I hiked on where Side Kick was waiting for me with cold Gatorade, chips and peanut M&Ms!! The best hiking buddy! She purchased extra so we walked the goodies and some extra food to the shelter and gave some to Turbs and deposited the rest in the hiker box. Tomorrow I enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the next 75 miles. Who knows if I will have any service so it may be a few days until the next update.
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Fontana Dam Visitors Center

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Side Kick and Mike dropped me off at Fontana Dam Visitor Center parking lot where we met Flash. I ran into Tortoise and Captain K while we were waiting. It was raining and the forecast was 90% rain all day. Flash and I headed across the dam and past the GSMNP boundary sign and into the park. We deposited our backpacking camping permits in the AT Hiker box and started climbing. We made it to the Shuckstack Fire Tower side trail so we deposited our packs and headed up the trail to climb the tower. It had stopped raining but was still cloudy. We got a glimpse of a view of Fontana Dam and where we started hiking before the clouds rolled in and obscured everything. We retrieved our packs and continued hiking where the trail follows the NC/TN border though we didn't know exactly when we were in NC vs TN. After Mollies Ridge shelter the trail was thick with super slick mud which made the descents very tedious. Some southbound hikers told us they saw a big bear print in the mud. The GSMNP requires hikers to sleep in the shelter building unless it's full and then you can tent. Rumors of mice and noisy hiker noises plague the shelters so neither of us wanted to have to sleep in the shelter. So our plan was to hike until we came upon a full shelter. We passed two empty shelters until we arrived at Spence Field Shelter which was already packed and people were setting up tents and hammocks outside. It started raining right before we arrived but fortunately stopped quickly. The shelter had many familiar faces of hikers whom I have met along my journey like Tortoise and Little Engine.One of today's highlights is about 3/4 mile from our destination, I looked down the path and saw a hiker standing off the side of the trail. I thought he looked familiar and a second later I called out "Semi-Colon?!?!?" I met Semi-Colon in November at Dr. Warren Doyle's AT Institute class. Semi-Colon is hiking for colon cancer awareness and has been plagued by bad weather, illness and someone even stole his clothes at a hostel a couple of weeks ago. But he is still hiking the AT and it was fantastic to finally catch up with him and hike upon him after a long mileage day. Today is my longest mileage to date at 16.4 miles (plus an extra 0.2 to the shelter which seemed very long especially since it started to rain) with a heavy pack since I am supplied through the GSMNP with a couple extra days just in case. A special thanks to my hiking buddy Side Kick for getting me all the way to Fontana Dam. We learned and experienced a lot the past 12 days on the trail and it gave me the confidence to continue on after she had to go back home. Thanks also to Mike for exchanging my tent at REI In Asheville when I noticed the fabric had started to fray near the zipper.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today's mileage options are 13.8 or 20.1 based on shelter locations. It was really windy in the morning but a gorgeous blue sky day. After a hot breakfast Flash and I set out enjoying the views at Rocky Top and the climbs and gaps. The trail was surprisingly still muddy a lot especially on the ridges. We stopped at Derrick Knob Shelter for lunch with a few other hikers (Little Engine, Tortoise, Don, Roadrunner, Cat Daddy) and then pressed on to Silers Bald Shelter and then Double Springs Shelter where most were planning to stay. Cat Daddy hiked with us the last mile and I discovered he had attended Dr. Doyle's ATI a couple months before I did. I already knew of him because a cat had her kittens in his sleeping bag while he was at the ATI, and we had heard about it. So it was crazy to randomly run into him on the AT.The shelter was already packed with section hikers and we knew a lot of people behind us were planning to stay. We filtered water and decided to go the extra 6.3 plus an extra 0.5 miles to Mt Collins. Beautiful hike through some forested area with vibrant green moss growing everywhere. We emerged and climbed to Clingmans Dome Tower where we enjoyed views and a little connectivity. We still had 4 miles to go to Mt Collins and it was 6:51 so we knew we would possibly have to hike in the dark. At 8:23 we had to don headlamps and continued hiking for another 30 min in the dark where we didn't see any white blazes for awhile so I was a little worried if we were still on the AT as we descended over some rough terrain, but it was the only trail we had seen. Finally we saw a double blaze and the turn off for the shelter. We rolled in a little after 9 pm and saw tents were everywhere. We cooked dinner and then set up in the dark. My feet were so tired they throbbed for hours after our 20.1 miles plus 0.7 to and from shelters plus we climbed Clingmans Dome so our first 21 miler!
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9

This morning we got a later start at 9 am. After hiking the 0.5 mile back to the AT, we headed to Newfound Gap. It was another beautiful day with sunny blue skies!! Flash connected with a friend with whom he would have a late lunch but we planned to meet up tomorrow night if he hikes 20 miles tomorrow to catch up with me at the shelter. I hiked alone towards Charlie's Bunion. This part of the trail has many day hikers and I chatted with a few on my way. Many were inquisitive. One couple wanted to shake my hand because the husband had just told his wife women didn't hike the AT solo. There are quite a few of us in the trail. But I am never really solo because I know most of the hikers around me. At this point I am hiking with a lot of people who started a few days to a couple weeks ahead of me because they had the bad March ice storms and I fortunately started the day after the last snow and have not taken any days off yet. I am looking forward to a day off in Hot Springs for Trailfest this weekend!Charlie's Bunion was great as I had a little cell service and took some scenic photos as well as offered to take other people's photos. After an hour I moved on meeting Twilight Zone and Speed Racer on my way to Pecks Corner Shelter, which was also 0.5 miles off the trail but I can't do another 20 mile day.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Halfway Between GSMNP Boundary and Stateline Cross
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It was misty again this morning and forecasted to rain so I packed up and headed out in a light drizzle. I was glad I had not attempted the extra 5 miles uphill to the next shelter. After I passed Tri-Corner Knob Shelter it stopped drizzling and the weather gradually improved. My favorite part of today's hike was walking through a pine forest protected from the wind where the moss was a vibrant green and I could smell the pine. I even saw a trail snail and a deer leap across the path in front of me. I ran into a Ridge Runner 1.8 miles outside of Cosby Knob. It was a pleasant hike to Cosby Knob Shelter, my intended destination where I was supposed to meet up with Flash. However it was only 2 pm and had only rained a little when I arrived. I didn't want to sit around all afternoon in good weather knowing rain was coming tomorrow. So I left a message for Flash and decided to press on to the next shelter even though I had heard it wasn't very good and still had a cage in front of it to keep out bears. I climbed Mt Cammerer just as the weather started to turn again. The last 4.3 miles were downhill but I was feeling it and was happy to come upon PokeyHontas whom we had met at Stecoah Gap. She had jumped ahead so she could keep pace with her group. We arrived at the shelter and it was full and as awful as I feared. No place to really tent except next to the fire pit. Paul, a nice older man from Canada offered to squeeze me in on the top level of the shelter but I couldn't do it. I decided to risk the Bears and tent outside the shelter. Fortunately Johnny Adventurer who is carrying a 70lb pack as he documents his hike for a documentary and a book and K-Bar, a surgeon from CT arrived and we chatted and decided to continue another two miles and camp by a stream. If you had asked me to hike another two miles when I first arrived at the shelter, I wouldn't have been able to do it. After eating my couscous and the prospect of not having to camp outside the bear cage in the dirt, those two miles flew by!! I didn't feel the pain in my feet or shoulders at all! We paused on an upper level and started to set up till Johnny Adventurer told us there was a nicer spot down below next to the stream where we wouldn't have to hear I-40. It was fabulous! We set up and then sat around a fire for a couple hours. Best camp site so far!!!
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Halfway Between GSMNP Boundary and Stateline Cross

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: light rain

It rained during the night so I packed up my wet tent and hiked along a beautiful Tobes Creek to the less beautiful Pigeon Forge Bridge and I-40 Underpass. I was looking for Green Corner Road which leads to Standing Bear Farm. The trail continued up some steep steps which I climbed but the sign only had information for the next shelter. So I descended and walked up the gravel road unsure since it seemed to be east and not west of the trail. Eventually I saw hikers crossing a quart mile ahead and then I ran into KBar hiking in the opposite direction whom I knew was a few minutes ahead of me. I then realized I had circumvented the trail and was supposed to pop out there and then take the gravel road to Standing Bear Farm. So I got in the trail and hiked back a mile southbound passing two hikers until I got to the sign at the top of the steps and then turned around and hiked it northbound to ensure I hiked all the trail. The weather had improved and I considered continuing but I wanted a shower and clean clothes. I arrived at SBF and was met by Lumpy whom I had heard of at some point. He gave me the tour and I took the best hot shower in what would normally have been a very scary shower stall. (Standards are relative!!). I then washed my clothes on an old fashioned washing board and ringer and hung them out with my tent to dry. It was a leisurely day welcoming my hiker friends from the trail ... Some came in for lunch and to resupply (Tortoise, Little Engine, Don, Onward, Anchor) and some stayed the night (Red Hot, PokeyHontas, Roadrunner, Paul, Wilson, Boston, Flash). It turned out to be a nice day with an occasional shower. Hopefully Wed and Thurs will not be as rainy as predicted. I want to reach Hot Springs 34 miles away by Thursday evening.