morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Bly Gap

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 12.1

A very noisy cold front moved through last night, sounding something like a train. We were camped in Bly Gap, just across the North Carolina Georgia border.It seems as if many hikers had made like gap their destination for the night having departed from Dick's Creek Gap in Georgia.Well the bad part of the story is that I got wet again. My tent seem to leak from where the tiebacks for the fly, as well as some seepage into the bottom. It was a very cold morning and I was really quite chilled. We got up, and with cold hands, got everything packed up. Carrying a wet tent made everything that much more heavy, however, rumors of trail magic at Deep Gap spurred us onward. Somehow in our minds, that was only a 5 1/2 mile or so hike. However in reality it was over 7 miles. By the time I got down into Deep Gap, which included a grueling descent, I was wiped out. A younger hiker asked my if I was Katwalk, and commented that I had started way before he did. It made me remember some advice I got from Left Turn, about ignoring the speed of the young folks. Way to go dude; benchmark yourself against the 60 year-old granny!!! Everything can change in a minute however when the big sign of trail magic for Easter weekend appeared, along with some tents and vehicles parked right at the gap. I had hands-down,without question, the absolute best barbecue sandwich I have ever had. True North Carolina style with a vinegar-based sauce; it was unbelievably good. The chef gave me a huge portion and I couldn't finish. I passed along my leftovers to another thru hiker, Splinter,who accepted with enthusiasm. Fortified by food, we hiked on with huge enthusiasm. The miles just seem to fly under my feet. We ended up camping again at Beech Gap. I was thankful that there was no rain forecast for that evening, but the temperatures were very cold and were expected to fall into the high 20s. Because my tent had gotten wet the night before, I was worried that it was still damp inside. After listening to all of the warnings about hypothermia, I askedBonBon if I could room with her that night and she has a two-person tent. Thankfully she said yes. I don't think either of us got much sleep, but we both feel we were better off being together with the shared heat of both of our bodies inside of one tent.Even though this day was hard, it left me feeling that we really could do this. I took stock of all of the things I really have to be thankful for beginning with the fact that I am having this incredible opportunity to hike on the AT and do a through hike.I am also thankful for my hiking partner, the powerful mountain goddess,BonBon. We seem to be a good pair and are able to support each other whenever we need it. And I am thankful that,at 60 years old, I seem to be doing this hike without any huge degree of physical discomfort at this point. I know that will come eventually but right now I am enjoying just having a few little knee twinges and sometimes some sore feet at the end of the day."In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood. "Bluebeard's Egg"
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Beech Gap

To: Long Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.8

It was an absolutely incredible day to be on the AT. It was so hard to be away from family today, but the trail gave back so much and in ways we least expect it. Today would have been my dad's 96th birthday; we lost him in 1991. My kids were 10 and 7 when he passed and I have always felt the sadness that they had him for such a short time in their lives. Somehow, though, I realized on the trail today how much he would have loved meeting his three great granddaughters. And how they would have ADORED him. Somehow this came to me multiple times over the day and I bawled each time.As the trail got difficult at times - and it does every day - I found myself talking to my dad. I felt so strongly that he was there, helping me along. The weather was amazing and BonBon and I did good miles to the Long Branch Shelter.   We planned to do our first night in a shelter and hit two other milestones: our first 5000 footer - Mt. Albert - and we passed our first 100 miles. My daughter asked if we cheered at every state line - like we used to do on family vacations. With each mile walked being so hard won, I think we will also cheer a variety of other milestones. "But the beauty is in the walking, we are betrayed by the destinations. Gwyn Thomas
Date: 2015-04-06
From: Long Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 7.3

We got started early from the shelter with the goal of Wayah Gap. We both had maildrops at the Nantahala Hiker Lodge, and were eager to get to them. It would be a long day - 13.2 miles - and with rain in the forecast. We really were making good time and had a bailout plan to get to Winding Stair Gap and a night in Franklin. After BonBon took a tumble and landed on her behind (or her "asset" as she would say, she made the call for plan B. I never fell but slipped a bit into my knee and was glad not to go much further on the slippery trail. BonBon had made a reservation at the Sapphire Inn as it had a guest laundry and our clothes were STINKY!   While we were waiting for the free shuttle, we danced around in circles to keep warm in the rain. BonBon put into words what I had also been thinking: we looked straight out of "Private Benjamin." I looked at her and yelled "Where are the condos?"   A car pulled up with two through hikers that we hadn't seen for awhile. Huckleberry and Jot are retired musicians from Brooklyn.   Their shuttle driver, Miss Beverly, asked if we would like a ride as well. As the free shuttle hadn't left town, we happily jumped in. After dropping us at the motel, Miss Beverly went to pick up some other soggy hikers while we "freshened up." She came back and took us to an AYCE Asian Buffet where we gorged. She did not steer us wrong and we were happy to treat her to lunch. For dinner we walked across the street to a Mexican restaurant and had a good dinner. Franklin is a really cute town - only wish we had more time. "Suddenly I came out of my thoughts, to notice everything around me again - The catkins on the willows, the lapping of the water, The leafy patterns of the shadows across the path. And then myself, walking with alignment that only comes after miles." Rebecca Solnit "Wanderlust: A History of Walking".
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 5.4

Today was a day of a relatively short hike, as BonBon and I headed from winding stair gap to Wayah gap.Both of us had packages waiting for us at the need to Haila hiker Lodge. The lodge is run by a former through hiker Steve (Wiggy) and his wife Maggie. While the lodge has frequently been referred to as the Aquone Hostel, Steve prefers the term lodge as he feels that he likes to treat all of us as his guests. He built much of the facility with all kinds of native wood and stone. See photos. We were very excited to reconnect with "No Spring Chicken" as well as her hiking partner "Tortoise SAL." NSC and I had been communicating since nearly a year before the start of this hike and we did finally met in person previously at the Blood MountainCabins. Tomorrow I'm going to do a slack pack from Wayah gap to Telico gap and stay another night at the lodge. Bonbon will hike on and camp, proving irrefutably that she is the tougher of the two of us. (A really powerful mountain goddess).  Not that there was ever any doubt in my mind!Note, the mileage for today is slightly off to get it corrected trip to date" 'It won't snow on us,' I told my hiking companions, 'because I lead a good and virtuous life.' 'We're dead,' Dave Long said."   Tim Cahill. "Lost in My Own Backyard: A Walk in Yellowstone National Park"
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Wayah Gap

To: Tellico Gap
Miles today: 14.0

If my thoughts on Easter all around my dad, my thoughts today centered very much on another person who is very special to me in my life. It is amazing how hiking can take so much out of you physically, but leave your mind free to wander and let it focus on thoughts that really are important to you in someway.Having lost my own mother at the age of 20, I became very close to my mother in law over the years. When I first met her I was very much intimidated feeling very green as a young woman of 24. She seems so much more polished and sophisticated. I was from the hills of western Massachusetts and she grew up outside of New York City. Over the years we found more and more things in common that drew us together.We both like to cook and to drink tea and were as acknowledged Anglophiles. My two children were her only grandchildren. Well my mother had her on me when I was young, my mother-in-law had a great deal of influence on the woman that I was to become.She help me to become strong and I grew to love her dearly.Sadly we lost her, before she got to meet any of her great-granddaughters. Like my dad she would have loved them so much. Until I became a grandma, I could never understand this intense love and joy. This hike for me is helping me think through many of the sadder parts of my life. I am guessing that we push these thoughts aside in our day to day life, but now they come to the forefront.   This hike up to Wayah bald was one of the most beautiful days yet on the trail. Please look at my pictures to see some views of the mountains"Thousands of tired, nerve-shattered, over-civilized peopleare beginning to find out that go into the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity..." John Muir
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Tellico Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 8.1

Today's hike was to get me to the famous Nantahala outdoor center or NOC. I had really been looking forward to seeing the NOC after hearing so much about it from journals of prior thru hikers. The NOC has several buildings right on the Nantahalla river and you could see lots of people already doing some white water kayaking and the place was swarming with kayakers and hikers. The biggest goal of the day was to have a burger there. I hoped to connect with BonBon on the trail, but she had headed out early and beat me down to the NOC. The hike looked much easier on paper than it actually was. Being down near a river, the NOC was only at an elevation of around 1700 feet. It was a bit of a knee workout coming down, but it was great to reconnect with BonBon and to finally meet GORP Gobbler who had been ill earlier on the trail; it was great seeing him look so fit.Dino and Seashell, a couple from Melbourne, Florida, as well as IceFire, from New Hampshire, also joined us for lunch.Steve (Wiggy) picked us up in front of the general store. Loon was also there as well as a hiker I had not met before, with the trail name of Hands. He is a massage therapist and was kind enough to give many of us foot massages that night at the lodge.Saw my first snake today - a very young black one. Yet another outstanding day on the Appalachian Trail. "Sometimes in the summers evenings they walked up the hill to watch the afterglow clinging to the tops of the western mountains... Usually they stood silent for a while and breathed in the peacefulness." John Steinbeck. "East of Eden"
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Yellow Creek Gap
Miles today: 8.7

I had planned to take zero today even know I really would prefer to keep hiking but the weather reports looked awful. Looking at the weather underground site as well as the ATC site for the various shelters, it seemed as if a very strong front was moving through including localized hail and lots of thunderstorms.The plan for the day was to relocate from the Nantahala hiker lodge to the Cabins in the Woods, up closer Stecoah Gap. Steve (Wiggy) from the lodge dropped off Loon and me in front of the general store. Loon is a retired college professor who is through hiking for the fifth time. He has also hiked extensively in Europe and on the PCT. Fill from the cabin pick this up and as soon as we headed north the weather began to improve dramatically. We found that we could get a shuttle from a colleague of his who also leads a lot of flyfishing group excursions. So rather than lose a good hiking day, we caught a ride to stick our and then hiked northward to Yellow Creek Gap. It was a hike of just over 7 1/2 miles in included the portion of the trail called Jacob's Ladder, as it resembles the children's toy by that name. Spring was really beginning to show itself in the forest today. Lots of trees were in bud and showing fresh green leaves; you could also see more flowers than ever. I even spotted my favorite white violet with purple throat. By 430 we were done hiking and soon back at the cabin. We hydrated a meal that St. James and I had eaten over the winter one of my absolute favorites lamb shanks with carrots peas and barley in a red wine sauce. I wish that I had had this in my food bag to share with BonBon for Easter dinner. It really looked kind of icky as it was rehydrating, but it tasted fantastic. I think that hiker appetite is beginning to kick in.Thank you all for your positive comments prayers and kind thoughts. When the going gets tough, I can be tough back, knowing that I have all of you behind me."There is wisdom in climbing mountains... For the teach us how small we really are." Jeff Wheeler. The Wretched of Muirwood"
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Stecoah Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 13.7

Today was a SOBO day for me.   I started at Stecoah and climbed up to Choeah Bald and then went way down to the NOC. The climb up was beautiful and I met up with many of the hikers in our "pod" - Dino, Seashell, IceFire, GORP Gobbler, and, of course, the legendary BonBon. I also met Seneca for the first time. While I like some alone time while hiking, it felt long to go nearly 14 miles alone. The trail, which had been so clearly marked in NC, was sparse on white blazes. Being alone, it made me question my location multiple times. I just missed getting a photo of a hawk above Cheoah Bald. The forest comes alive more with each passing day. There were lots of butterflies out today - from the tiny periwinkle ones to larger blue and black and even larger yellow and black. I also saw two animals today - a chipmunk and a lizard. This, counting the snake seem before, brings to three the total number of animals (excluding birds) that I have spotted. Thanks to Stretch for giving me a beer outside the NOC. Thanks for all of the comments about my tent. St. James, being St. James, shipped me a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2.   I have a new home sweet trail home!"It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy in his natural state, 'till he returns to them again." Benjamin Rush
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Yellow Creek Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 5.0

When I was in fourth grade I did a science fair project on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Never much of a science student, I found the history of the TVA fascinating. I grew up in a city with a dam that created hydroelectric power, so I guess the connection is logical. I had really been looking forward to seeing the dam and it did not disappoint! Today was a short mileage day from Yellow Creek into Fontana. The miles shown for the day are off again as I seem to have gotten the trip to date miles wrong again. I can't seem to adjust a prior post, so I just will update today.   Some trillium had started blooming; please see photos. I met up with No Spring Chicken and Tortoise SAL at the village resort. We are planning to share a room here. NSC's brother wants to hike the Smokies with her, but can't start right away, so her sister is going to drive us to Hot Springs, the first trail town north of the Smokies. From there we will hike north. NSC's husband will then drive us back to start the Smokies when her brother can join us next month. This will mean a bit of a hiatus from hiking with BonBon. She has a faster pace built into her plans, and I don't want to jeopardize them.   This gives her a chance to see if she can make bigger miles without me to hold her back. We really were perfect hiking partners other than my speed (slow). In her opinion it is because we both have the maturity level of 14 year old boys!   I do not dispute that. :-)When I got to Fontana, I got laundry done and then had lunch of a Hot Pockets (the horrors) plus a big bag of chips and a pint of strawberry ice cream. I think my appetite may be kicking in as I followed it up with a burger and fries at dinner.   Had a bit of time to talk to St. James and FaceTime with the kiddos. "The journey itself is going to change you, so you don't have to worry about memorizing the route we took to accomplish that change. "   Daniel Quinn. "Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit"
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Shelter
Miles today: 1.2

No Spring Chicken's sister is flying to Knoxville and then meeting us at Fontana tomorrow. Since we got off the AT at the entrance to the Fontana property, we thought we should do a very short hike of the 1.2 miles from the Fontana "Hilton" (I.e. a shelter that has restrooms and showers in a nearby building) and walk back to the entrance.   After that we walked down to the "Pit Stop" for lunch. We also walked past the earliest cabin built on the property and peeked inside.   It is amazing to see the colors of spring at different stages.   Near the resort the trees are really sprouting their bright green leaves; in the colder areas of the mountains and near the water, they are not as far along. The contrast of the green leaves with the blue of the mountains is breathtaking. We spent the next few hours planning out our schedule going forward. St. James had sent me more mint Girl Scout cookies, which I shared in the resort lobby. They are good karma cookies as they were sold by my niece, Caroline, if the Girl Scouts of Maine. I feel much more comfortable with not starting the Smokies right away. Because it is a national park, there are restrictions on where you can camp. With one exception near the southern entrance, all through hikers must stay in or near shelters.   If there is room in a shelter, we must use it. However, if a section hiker comes through, we have to give up our space. Section hikers are restricted to where they camp each night, so this makes sense - to a point. But the thought of getting out of bed and setting up a tent at 11 pm is not at all appealing.   Because of these restrictions, plus a limit on how many days you can stay in the park, you may need to hike longer distances on several days than I am comfortable with. So, we are taking a zero tomorrow and traveling beyond the Smokies to restart our hike on the15th. "I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery - air, mountains, trees... I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.'" Sylvia Plath "The Bell Jar"
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Fontana Shelter

To: Fontana Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

When No Spring Chicken proposed this scheme of bypassing the Smokies until her brother can join us in May, my first thought is that it was very "Bill Bryson" of her. One of the most-read books on the AT, Bryson's classic "A Walk in the Woods" tells the story of two (woefully unprepared) friends who had not seen each other in years, and their plans to hike the AT. At one point in the book they skip the Smokies due to the notoriously bad early spring weather. Unlike Bryson, we will come back early next month to hike the portion we jumped over. The only hard part of this is the logistics. We took a full zero today. My knees that were sore definitely benefited from the day off, but we also need to zero tomorrow as we drive north and that will be harder. I think we all are ready to be back hiking.   A big thanks to NSC's sister for coming all this way to shuttle us and for driving us to Bryson City for a lovely meal. "There comes ... a longing never to travel again except on foot." Wendell Berry "Remembering"
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Fontana Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today No Spring Chicken's sister, Jean, drove us across the Smokies to the town of Hot Springs, NC. The road we took twisted and twisted as we went past the mountains that we will hike next month. It was a rainy, misty day and the roads were slick. I think that section of road is called the Rattlesnake and it is easy to see why!First order of business was to get some lunch (really!). Not counting those made by St. James, the second good pizza that I have ever had in the south, was here in Hot Springs. The crust and sauce were homemade and it was baked in a wood-fired oven. Then we poked around the outfitters and a few other shops. We ran into thru hikers from 2013 (Neema and ?) taking photos for the 2015 AT yearbook   It was so cool to see the AT markers right through the center of town. After chilling for a few hours, we went back for dinner and met several hikers. It was a good day and a good day to not have to hike, but I am really looking forward to being back on the trail tomorrow. BonBon is up in the Smokies and I am hoping she stays warm and dry. "I love nature. I just don't want to get any of it on me."Woody Allen
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Hot Springs

To: Tanyard Gap
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: light rain

Today NSC's sister dropped us off at Tanyard Gap and we hiked SOBO back to Hot Springs. We could have done a longer day, but this let NSC have more time with her sister (Jean). Jean also gave another hiker (Buffy) a ride up the trail to do a 20 mile slack pack in 8 hours. I hope she makes it! Buffy's second trail name is Iron Lady (think Margaret Thatcher), so I'm thinking she will pull it off. The hike today was mostly downhill and we were able to see some lovely wildflowers one the trail.   We walked into Hot Springs and saw Jean through the window of the Iron Horse having lunch. We joined her and I had - what else ? - a CHEESEBURGER!!!This sweet, little town is so hiker friendly and has some fabulous food!   "'What day is it? asked Winnie the Pooh. 'It's today,' squeaked Piglet. 'My favorite day,' said Pooh. A.A. Milne. "Winnie the Pooh"
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Tanyard Gap

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 10.4

Today was a long day. We were back to full backs after slack packing and zero days. We also carried 4+ days of food. I had the added weight of my new tent as well. Following breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner, where we ran into Hopeful(yay!), Jean dropped us off at the trailhead. We went up up up at the beginning and one layer came off very quickly. It was a picture perfect day to hike, but definitely warm. We took a lunch break at the Spring Mountain Shelter. Saw the three ladies from Down Under for the first time since our first days on the trail. They are now named Muddy Duckling, Fire Bear and Red Back Spider. On the way down a blue trail to get water, I spotted some white violets edged in pink. I had never seen any like them before and regretted not having my phone with me to get a photo. We had planned to stay at the Hemlock Hollow Hostel. We asked if we could get a ride from the trailhead (AWOL guide says they provide shuttles) and were told that "everyone walks in." I think it was the longest .7 mile; my guess is that it is that long as a crow flies, but not by road. The owner checked us in and told us that she wasn't sure how clean the cabin would be as she hadn't looked it over since the last girls left. I tried to come up with some good things about the place and NSC and TS joined in (don't have to hang a bear bag, nice stream outside, spectacular view of the stars, bathrooms), but they were far outweighed by dirt, no running water in the kitchen, filthy mattresses, etc. when you consider that this costs just $5 less per night than the Nantahala Lodge (where you got a long shower, bed linens, a common room with TV, wifi and a landline) it is hard to believe. I think that running a hostel has to be a labor of love for those that are attached to the trail. Oh well, tomorrow will be a new day in the AT! "Exploring the world is one of the best ways of exploring the mind, and walking travels both terrains." Rebecca Solnit "Wanderlust: A History of Walking"