morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Half mile north of Sam's Gap
Miles today: 17.1

Wednesday. Sunny, 65 at 8am,85 degrees at 2pm. Wearing lightweight clothing. We left the shelter at 6:15am and the first 8 miles to Devils Fork Gap went quickly. Reached the 300 mile mark just before the Shelton Graves, the grave markers of Shelton men serving in the NC regiment in the Civil War. Don't ya'll wish such wars were 'civil'? The next 9 miles more than made up for the ease of the first eight by long, steep ascents as well as being directionally challenged by going south and west instead of north and east. We had looked at the Wingfoot book and saw a wonderful place to eat when we reached Sam's Gap later in the day. All day we thought about a 'real meal' at a restaurant 2.9 miles down the road from Sam's Gap. We reached Sam's Gap at 4:30pm and sat beneath the overpass trying to hitch a ride. Only four cars passed by in 2 hours and they did not respond to our outstretched thumbs. It was the most disappointing event of the whole hike. Bogey and Slim had the menu choices made before we got to the road but finally gave it up. We had to leave at 6:30 in order to find and setup camp and and ate tuna and crackers for dinner. Plodder came by before we left the gap and he is feeling poorly so Slim called Miss Janet in Erwin and she came to pick him up. Water is just a bit scarce tonight. We'd love to get a bath and cook some hot food but we have less than 1 liter between us until tomorrow. That's what happens when you plan to get to a restaurant to fill up and it doesn't work out. Our feet still ache at the end of the day and we give each other a massage and by morning we are ready to go again. Tonight we are both too tired to do more than breathe. Tomorrow we cross Big Bald and as we go through Tennessee we will cross many balds. Balds are high mountains that have no trees, just grass and short shrubs, with lots of wind. Word of the Day: Directionallychallenged
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Near Sam's Gap

To: Near Devil's Creek Gap
Miles today: 15.6

Our first full month on the trail. Today was a lot easier than yesterday. We encountered Trail Magic at 10am where some sweet trail angel set out a cooler with hard-cooked eggs, coffee, and water. We do not drink coffee but we each had an egg. The best tasting egg we ever ate, by gummit! Thank you for the trail magic. We crossed Big Bald at about 11am. Winds were strong, dark clouds covered the area. We were glad it didn't rain. Stopped at Big Bald shelter and had a snack of cheese and salami on Triscuits. Then it began to rain, first lightly and then steady. We were warm and cozy in our rain gear. By 3pm we removed the raingear and plodded on. Soon we refilled our water bottles from the creek at Spivey Gap and continued on. At 5pm we found a place to pitch the tent near Devils Creek Gap. On the way here we walked past the remains of a forest fire. This area is maintained by the Eastman Hiking club of TN. Last evening Slim called her sister, Joan, in Kingston, TN and she and her hubby are going to meet us at Erwin on Friday. Joan, a nurse, gave us some good advice for Bogey's problem. He's okay. We removed his fanny pack which we believe was abusing his kidneys. We are still keeping an eye on him. We love it out here and are determined to finish this hike. We may check on a new backpack for Bogey when we get to Erwin. Can't wait to take a real bath and do laundry. A restaurant meal would also be nice. Thanks to everyone who has signed our guest book and forgive us if we do not respond. We don't get much time on the internet. Our cell phone service works only 10% of the time so our posts are often posted a week late. Do not use Cingular cell service in these mountains. Use Verizon, it's always been available to other hikers. Word of the Day: Bald?
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Near Devil's Creek Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Friday. We hiked safely out of the gap even though thunderstorms and possible tornadoes were in the forecast last night and all we had was sprinkles. The tent is perfect for keeping us dry and warm. We heard a barred owl in the morning and during the night Bogey heard Whip-or-wills while Slim slept through it all. Bogey is a very light sleeper. We knocked out 2 1/2 miles quickly arriving at No Business Knob Shelter and again seeing Cheeks and Steps Small there. They are not stopping in Erwin but we need to restock, do laundry and take some time off. Joan and Jim, Slim's sister and husband, said they will meet us at Erwin and we will spend the day together eating real food. As we rounded the mountain and began the descent to the Nolichucky River we tried to call Joan but the reception again was poor. We did manage to get a call off to the Best Southern Motel which was our second choice after Uncle Johnny's hostel. As we came down the mountain and neared the bridge we spotted a silver SUV sitting beside the Trail. As we passed by out popped Jim from under the lift gate. Then Joan spotted us from Uncle Johnny's where she and their King Charles Cavalier dogs, were mingling with the hikers and making friends. She ran over and we all hugged. We asked to stay at Uncle Johnny's but they were full to the brim. Luckily we had a ride in the SUV to the motel where each of us couples rented a room. After hot baths and organizing the laundry we all went for cheesburgers, salads, fries and sodas or shakes. So...good! Beats crackers and cheese. They had a lot of questions about thru-hiking. Then we all went shopping for the next leg of the hike to Kincora Hostel. Later that night we went to Golden Corral in Johnson City for a real feast, then back to the motel and a good night's sleep. While in town we saw Kim and Trevor, Rockstar, Cayohouga, Dirty Dozen and Jungle Jim. Word of the Day: Yum!
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday. ZERO DAYWe're still enjoying Erwin and all its amenities. Sunday we will be on our way to Dennis Cove, then Damascus and our fourth state. Bogey and I knew we'd like this hike but we really hit it in Tennessee and are feeling good. Beautiful mountains and rivers. Easier hiking than the Nantahalas but never easy.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Fair weather cumulus clouds, cool breeze, warm sunlight 90% of day.Temp:65 @ 8am; 75 @ 2pmJoan and Jim left the motel to go to Kentucky and a family get-together. The day started with us leaving the motel at 7am for a light breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and Mountain Dew. Then we began to hoof it up the road the 1.5 miles to The Chestoah and the bridge across the Nolichucky river. We hoped to hitch a ride but no one picked us up. Don't understand, We even looked clean and smelled as good as any town folk. We had a big climb out of Erwin and the breakfast helped us to make it with ease. We are definitely stronger now. Here we are hiking with full packs and 5 days' food. Slim's weighed in at 24 lb. Bogey's was near 30 lb. We weighed them at Uncle Johnny's before going back on the trail. There were many streams we crossed north of Erwin and they have such an earthy smell and the sound of the water bubbling over the rocks sings a most peaceful song. Just about noontime a hoard of thru-hikers are going past us in a southbound direction carrying no more than a water bottle. It seems Uncle Johnny and Miss Janet shuttle these folks to slack-packing these hills. Amazing that we saw Mara (Stitches) on a slackpack; Nice was hiking right behind her. Slim said, "What am I doing wrong?" Stitches replied, not missing a beat," Carrying a backpack" There must have been 10 slack-packers including Achilles and Plodder who last week was sick enough to go to the hospital. We will stick with backpacking. Anyhow we love to sleep in the woods, not in towns or in shelters. Plodder told us he slacked 24 miles on Friday and 20 miles today. The shelter is full tonight and we are tenting nearby. Critter and her dad are here along with Who-doo, HikerNutt, Mountain Man and three others. We had Pizza Hut pizza for dinner brought from town in our backpacks. We are considering sending the stove and pot back home since Bogey can't stand the cooked meals. He likes cheese; meat, crackers, chips and candy.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Ash Gap
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Sunny, clear day for the last day of April. We are back to the temps we enjoyed in the beginning of our hike i.e. highs 85, lows 65. At Last! We heard a wood thrush and later a hermit thrush. We love their songs. What a way to welcome the day. As we walked we disturbed thousands of newly hatched crickets flying all over the path trying to get out of our way. There were so many of them had we not seen them and the sun was shining they could've been mistaken for raindrops on the wet leaves. We passed Kimo, Ketchup, AT70 and again saw Plodder who was again slack-packing from Carver Gap to Iron Mt Rd. This day was tough for us with nearly 4000 ft elevation gain, most of it later in the day, climbing Beartown mountain, a long, tough climb after already hiking 12.5 miles. We were so glad to see Ash Gap where there are many nice flat camp s¬tes. We arrived at 5:30pm after hiking since 8:15am stopping along the way for pizza lunchables at one of the few water sources. Then at camp we had summer sausage and cheese on Triscuits with Pringles and cocoa. Now we are settling in for a well-deserved rest but a lady hiker came in with a black dog that barks at hikers. I hope he doesn't bark later and keep us all awake. Nice also passed by and there is young man here who doesn't yet have a trail name. We have 30.1 miles to reach Kinkora Hostel and restock and rest, showers, etc. Should be only two days if we can make 15 miles each day. It Is Possible.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Ash Gap

To: Road 19E
Miles today: 16.7

We tented at Mountain Harbour B&B. Mileage:Today 16.7, Trip 385.5We woke at 6am and were on the trail by 6:45 and ready to tackle Roan Mountain at 6285'. The climb up from Ash Gap was 845' in 1.5 miles, much of it very steep. Slim went up the side trail to Roan Mountain shelter and snapped a picture of Riggy and Lizard King who were just getting ready to leave after a night in the highest shelter on the A.T. The hike through Roan was nicely scented with balsam and then we descended to Carvers gap and ascended Round Bald and then Jane Bald. Both around 1 mile elevation. Then we descended again and stopped at Murray shelter just for a breather. Slim had set her Pedometer today and there was a big difference between the book mileage and the pedo mileage. We passed Overmountain shelter and were low in water but did not find the springs mentioned in the book so we pushed on to Little Hump mountain and then to Bradley Gap where we found a spring and loaded up for the push up Hump Mountain. This was pleasant this time in 80 degree weather with a 30 mph breeze unlike the last time when we pushed through with gale force winds and side-wise rain and sleet. We passed Plodder again today on another of his directionally challenged southbound slack-pack - aka northbound thru-hike. We had planned to get to Apple House shelter at 17.6 miles but there were some recent, major relocations and the pedometer said we did 19.2 miles. When we arrived at the shelter we decided to go an extra .5 miles to the road and then to the hostel just .3 miles left on 19E and it was well worth it for the shower, a tent site, the restaurant dinner, and the delicious breakfast all for 34 dollars. We slept near a boldly gurgling stream that sang the slumber song all night long. We met up with JimE Cricket again, and Retreiver, Nice and a hiker from Chicago who were also staying at the hostel. Temps have been ranging from 55 in the am to 80-85 in the afternoon. We have been wearing shorts and lightweight, long-sleeve tops. Until the big trees have their leaves we will have to continue to wear long-sleeved shirts and sunblock. The smaller trees have leaves, the larger are profusely pushing buds and in two weeks we should be hiking under the green canopy. We also met up with Achilles who a few days ago was slack-packing from Erwin.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Road 19E

To: Hardcore Cascade
Miles today: 14.6

We hit the 400 mile mark today and we're still having fun. Today was much easier than yesterday. Less steep climbs. Of course it helped that we set off with a huge breakfast from the hostel. Fuel (food) is energy. It was a steep climb out of the road but soon it leveled off and was pleasant most of the day. We passed an area where trash of all sorts was dumped off the steep side of a mountain road and was littering not only the hill but was in one of the most beautiful streams below. We passed three lady day-hikers, the Stoner Sisters, of whom the eldest was 75 years of age and her sisters were not too far behind. They were blissfully happy to be together hiking the hills of Tennessee. We enjoyed their spirit and took their photo. Amazing women! We came to Jones Falls, at least one hundred foot high water falling over rocks in a quiet place along the trail. A photo would not begin to capture the beauty of this place but we did take one. We arrived at 2pm and 8.4 miles at a blue blazed trail that led to a new shelter and we went part way and stopped to sit on a fallen tree to have lunch and relax before going on. We stayed 1 1/2 hours, setting a personal record. We again passed Plodder on one of his southbound slack-packing hikes. One of these days we may also slack if we have to but we love the tenting so much it would be a tough trade-off. We are now camped on top of a mountain listening to the whip-or-wills call while the breeze rustles the trees overhead. Serene and restful it is as the sun sets and we await the full moon. We will soon nod off for a good night's sleep. We may not have mentioned that there are many holly trees growing in all three states that we've hiked through. We don't often see them along the Trail in Pennsylvania, our home state. Slim saw a garter snake that was so anxious to get off the trail when he saw her coming that he totally rolled off the hillside. We also surprised a turkey that was on the ground. The sound of his big wings beating to get him the lift he needed was quite loud. We surprised a turkey! Cool! We must've been quiet or he was asleep. Goodnight all. Thank you for showing interest in our adventure. Word for the Day: HikeAlicious.
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Stream at 400.1 

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 9.2

The day started with clouds and a little sunshine but degraded by 12pm to drizzle and then to three full- blown thunderstorms. We got to Moreland Gap Shelter at 10 am and were greeted by Barry Manilow, not the singer, but the hiker. Also there was Sopra. They were both getting ready to leave. We hiked the last 3.2 miles to Dennis Cove Road in an hour and a half and arrived in Hiker Heaven. Pinch me, I'm still not sure this is real! We did our laundry, took showers, ate ice cream and hard-cooked eggs, then made phone calls to home. Slim's mother is not doing well. Her back has been hurting and getting worse for the last 6 months. The doctors still don't know the cause. We are concerned. Sweet Violet was having fun with her little ones. Little Grace found a beetle and wanted to kiss it. Sasquatch is getting ready for the 4 state challenge on Saturday. Thats a hike from Virginia through West Virginia and Maryland and then into Pennsylvania in one day, a distance of 40 miles. Our good friend Lynn is mowing the lawn and driving the cars for us while we're gone. What would we do without family and friends? WORRY A WHOLE LOT. Bogey is kicking back here at Kincora reading magazines. Slim made phone calls and sent pocketmail to Sweet Violet. Tonight we get shuttled to the store to restock. Many of the hikers walked in after the rain. Here with us are Nice, Riggy, Lizard King, Barry Manilow, Plodder, Retreiver, Wagos, Newt and Bluegrass. Newt tells how he got his name. He took water from a spring and treated it with his aqua-mira. When he took a drink he nearly swallowed a small, dead salamander. From then on he was known as Newt. A couple of flip=flopping section-hikers named Pearls and Starvin Marvin left before the storm and are going south. They are on trailjournals too. Say Goodnight Gracie. Word of the day: Nice.....
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Kincoa Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The Hostel was a great place to be. The owner is very hospitable and only asks $4 per person, per day donation. We left much more. Free showers with heat lamp, hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, towels, laundry and detergent and dryer sheets, a refrigerator full of food and ice cream. We liked the ice cream. We had the private room with a double bed. Best yet place on the Trail. We dragged ourselves away at 7am and entered the Laurel Fork Wilderness. Laurel falls was beautiful and the gorge was 18 inches fuller and much faster with yesterday's rain water. We came to the place place where Slim fell in the water a few years ago with a full backpack. De-ja-vu but Slim was extra careful. She crawled around that corner (photo was taken just before her crawl) and made it safely. We hiked until 5:30pm passing over the dam at Watauga Lake. The day was uneventful except for the pizza lunch at the lake that we took with us...yum. The Azaleas are blooming profusely some white, some pink and some flame orange. Horray! The trees are shooting out leaves and soon the protective canopy will appear. The day was tiring after 17 1/2 miles and we arrived at the shelter to find some old friends who had left Erwin a day before us. There was Steps Small, Cheeks, Kim, Trevor, Beast, Rubber Duck, and a young lady whose name we both forgot. We were confronted immediately by two large dogs that came up barking at us and no one called them off. They went away in a few seconds. There was no room for us so we found a nice tent-site and are camped listening to a pileated woodpecker giving us the business for being in his woods. Nice just showed up and he is camping near us. How Nice(pun intended).
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Vandeventer Shelter 

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

53 degrees at 8am Drizzle became a steady rain by 2pm. Woke at 7am to a light drizzle and packed up and were out by 8am. The miles were somewhat easier to day which made the day better for us. Plodder, Wagos, Mountain Man and HikerNutt, Bona-Fide and her dog passed us while doing yet another southbound 20 mi. slackpack. We made it to Iron Mt shelter in 1.5 hr.We had hoped to tent at the campsite 1 mile south of Double Spring Shelter but there were no flat spots so we flopped in at the shelter at 2:30pm. At the Shelter was Beast and Rockdawg the latter we had not seen since the Smokies. Later other hikers came in from Vandeventer and most went on to Abingdon Shelter so their day would be shorter into Damascus on Sunday. Kim and Trevor came in for the night. Its sleepy-time again. Rain has ended at 4:30. It is predicted to rain overnight and tomorrow morning.
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Spring just 1.9 mi from Damascus
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: few clouds

Temps: 50 @ 8am; 78 @ 2pm.We are tenting at the spring 1.9 miles south of Damascus, VA. We had a nice hike today with short ascents and descents and much level walking. Stopped in at Abingdon Gap at 11:30 and set up our tent and other wet clothing to dry them. RockDawg was there and soon Kim and Trevor showed up. We had some food, filled up our water bottles and left at 1:30. We had setup our tent on the side of the Trail in a brushy place. Then Kim and Trevor passed us. A few minutes later Kim returned and said there was a nice site just a short way beyond and we could all camp together. We took down thee tent and followed her. At 4:30pm JimE Cricket came in and we all camped together. They built a fire to chase away the gnats and we all ate then sat around the fire until 8pm. We all plan to go to Damascus early tomorrow for breakfast, lunch and dinner, laundry, restocking and a motel and bath. Plodder, on another slack-pack, with WAGOS passed us, this time northbound to Damascus. Poison ivy is beginning to rear its itchy head and we also saw a pink lady slipper in bloom. Birds are singing all the day long. A hiker named 501 passed our camp on his way to Damascus. Seems like everyone is in a rush to Damascus. The trail in Virginia is 536 miles long, the longest of any state. It will probably be at least 5 weeks before we get to West Virginia. We probably sleep 10-12 hours each night and need every minute of it and more. We are out of food except for snacks and breakfast and that is exactly what we planned. Rule#1: "Never carry water to a spring or food to a town." Word of the Day: Pleasant
Date: 2007-05-07
From: 1.9 miles before Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: clear sky

There was frost at the higher elevations this morning but we had temps at 7am of 43 degrees. A cold wind is blowing from the north but we are all comfortable. JimE Cricket was first to leave the tenting area and we followed. Then Kim and Trevor. I think we finally found some friends that we are very comfortable with and we have a lot in common. We met up with JimE at the Damascus sign where he took a photo of us. As he was readying the camera Slim snapped a shot of him. We then hiked a few short blocks to the town and Mount Rogers Outfitter's where we signed in for a private room at Dave's place, a hostel run by Mt Rogers Outfitters, and JimE got a room across the hall. Slim bought a Lightweight shirt and Bogey a pair of Smart Wool socks. Then off the three of us went to Country Inn Restaurant for a huge breakfast. Wow! Right when ours arrivied, in came Kim and Trevor. That was just what we all needed. When we left, Fishbowl was arriving with his parents who decided to pay a surprise visit. Then back to the hostel for a shower and making a shopping list and getting laundry together. We are now sittng in a laundromat drinking a Coke and waiting for our clothes to dry. Anytime you have a Coke it's a good day. JimE was just finishing his clothing when we arrived. Slim called the bank to find out our account balance and it was still in the black and that's a real good thing. We're solvent! Hooray! Dirty Dozen is also staying at the hostel having serious problems with his right knee. Its giving him severe pain. He walks like an old man. He says he may have to get off the trail for few weeks. We met him on our second day out at Hawk Mt shelter with his friend Jungle Jim. His dad is going to pick him up tonight and take him home to rest his leg. He will return. We feel so sorry for him, his heart is really into this hike and we pray he will recover quickly and that we will see him again somewhere up the trail. After pizza and a Subway sub and some icecream, we are finally ready to sleep and put back on the 10 pounds we lost.