morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-27
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Nothing to report as we just lazed around all day. I must say we our having outstanding luck. Thunder storms and rains today. We could not have timed our zero day any better. Overall the weather has been outstanding. Very kind to us novice hikers!Thanks to all of you reading my posts. I realize they are a bit raw. A combination of my, should I say limited self editing skills, and trying to write these things laying horizontal in a tent on my iphone notes app at the end of the day. Give it a go - a bit challenging. If there is anything in particular you would like me to write about or have any questions, drop me an email, tomgkenyon@gmail.com, text, +1.617.784.1915, or leave a comment/question on my visitor guestbook. A prize (you get to buy me a beer) for the most interesting or creative question.
Date: 2017-04-28
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

While it was very relaxing at the Fontana Lodge We were anxious to get back on the trail after our zero day.An easy start to day - breakfast at hotel, shuttle back to the trail, 9ish start. About 2 miles in we reached Fontana Dam. The largest dam east of the Mississippi. Spent a few minutes at the visitor center. The next mile or so the trail followed around the lake. Very pretty - especially since a beautiful day out. We then entered the Smokies. Hiking not to difficult just a slow grind up for most of the day. I didn't realize it till the end of the day but we hiked back and forth between North Carolina and Tennessee. Spring became less evident the more elevation gain, but still spring. It was deceptively warm even with the breeze.  Arrived at Russel Field shelterat 4:30. We were surprised no one there. 4 other guys - thru hikers - who have been hiking more or less together the past 2 weeks arrived within 1/2 hour. They all started a day or two before us. They had some pretty funny stories of folks they have been seeing on the trail.In the Smokies hikers are required to stay in shelters so this will be out first experience doing so. Fortunately only 6 of us in a shelter that holds 14.
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Staying in the shelter was not bad. Lots of stories about the mice that scurry around at night, but I did not see or hear any. Wind was howling last night. It has been great hiking with Will. Our pace is very similar. I'm faster on the flats and initially I was stronger on the uphills, but as he gets in better hiking shape I can tell he is getting faster going up. Seems like in the mornings I'm first up the hills/set the pace, but as the day progresses, roles switch. I guess youth rules. Will is also more curious about finding views and stopping to observe nature. I really appreciate that as I would have a tendency to go walking by. He makes the trip that much more enjoyable. So far no bear sighting but we did see a turkey and deer. Will practically walked right into the turkey. Does not speak well for his ability to spot a bear!We arrived at the shelter around 4. Only one person was there. We claimed spots. Within an hour a bunch of people arrived included the 4 guys we spent last night with at Russell Field Shelter. Fortunately we were able to give up our spots in the shelter and tent. By 6 was very crowded - shelter filled, 10 folks tenting. Big day tomorrow as we climb to Clingmans dome, the highest spot on the AT, pass the 200 mile mark, and go into Gatlinburg to resupply.
Date: 2017-04-30
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Really windy start to the day. Wind kept up thru about noonAn easy climb to clingmans dome but alas visibility about 10 feet so we spent a sum total of 10 seconds on top. Felt like we were going to get blown off the tower. A bunch of times we walked through some really cool pine forests. Everything was covered in the greenest moss you've ever seen. We hiked to Newfound gap and hitched hiked into Gatlinburg (15 miles) for lunch and resupply. Might tasty pizza. Resupply was a big disappointment. The main market was 1.7 miles out of town so we hit local out fitter that did NOT cater to thru hikers. We will be surviving on expensive cliff bars the next 2 - 4 days.  We hitched back to Newfound gap for a three mile hike to icewater spring shelter. Will set a blistering pace. Either he was hungry or was afraid he would miss an podcast episode of Barstool! We did stop for some outstanding views of the Smokies. We now appreciate why they are called that. A slightly hazy blue gray smoky mist that hangs all around the mountains and in the valleys. Since it is suppose to rain heavily in the morning we decided to spend a cozy night with 10-12 total strangers - one of which is inches from me - in the shelter. As I unpacked I realize I left my baggy with my money, license, credit cards, headlamp, tape, vitamins, earplugs ( basically my daily / nightly essentials) back at the resupply place in Gatlinburg. A phone call and request to have it sent to Hot Springs will hopefully rectify the problem. We will see in 4 days!
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Tri-corner knob shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello May. What ever happened to April showers bringing May flowers??Extremely windy, rainy and cold today. We initially contemplated doing 20 today, but sanity took over and we quit at 12. We ripped off the miles (and for the first time I had some ankle pain/issues - where did that come from??). Left after 8 and arrived at the shelter 12:30 - 12:45. Totally soaked. Amazing how fast unpleasant weather makes one hike. Many miles the trail was just stream. See pic - That's Will at the top of the trail. Yes we hiked in shorts and short sleeves, no rain gear. It does NOT keep you dry. Besides when is the last time you got to run around in the rain, splashing in puddles, playing in a creek/stream, and stepping in mud? We got to for the better part of 12 miles. Lots of ridge hiking today. We passed many spots where there must have been spectacular views - all we got was blasted by wind and rain. Someday we will have to come back and rehike the Smokies.Again we were the first to arrive at the shelter. Had plenty of room to get into dry clothes, eat lunch, get settled. I put my long running pants on for the first time. Hikers started arriving an hour later. By 3 the Shelter was pretty much full. There will be some very disappointed hiker arriving later. All looked extremely wet and weary. A few commented the toughest day they had on the trail so far. I concur. Weather broke about 3:30. Sun out and wind decreased. Still chilly though. The humanity started emerging from the shelter to enjoy the sun some of the warmth it provided. Clothes lines were hung, dinners cooked. Weather is suppose to be better tomorrow. If ok, we will head to Green Corner Rd / Standing Bear Farm (hostel) 18.4 miles and exit the Smokies. If not we will shelter at Davenport Gap Shelter still just inside the park.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Tri-corner knob shelter

To: Green Corner Rd
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Ahhhh. Nothing like putting on a cold wet shirt and shorts to start the day. Remember when you were a kid and put that wet bathing suit on? Just like that - only worse. The best part is putting on wet socks then slipping your feet into cold wet shoes. Was wicked cold this morning. Probably in the upper 30s. First few miles we hiked really fast to warm up. Our Fingers were killing us. For those of you who ski, the feeling you get when your toes or fingers get really cold then begin to thaw out / warm up and you get that pain as the warmth returns. We met Concrete last night and spoke with him today. He holds 4 world record speed hiking records and is attempting to break one of the AT ones. He is training by walking the entire AT northbound, will rest for a week then head southbound to break the record. He will have to average just over 40.1 miles per day. Oh and by the way Will and I passed him 4 times! OK right now he is just hiking at leisurely pace and will not amp up his trading pace till end of June. He is the second person we met on the trail who is going for a record this year. The other guy was doing a similar training approach. Even though it was cold, sun was out, it warmed up and turned into a beautiful day. Days like yesterday make days like today even more special. Got many great views of the Smokies. We hiked about 11 miles to Cammerer Tower. Suppose to be the best 360 views of the Smokies and surrounding landscape. It did not disappoint! We could see for I'm sure 100s of miles. 5 miles Down hill to Davenport Gap and the exit of the Smokies was tough at least for me. Not steep but constant. I felt like my toes were coming out of the front of my shoes. Feet hurt knees hurt (I may never squat down to line up a putt again). For the first time I took some ibuprofen. As soon as we Exited the Smokies we ran Smack dab into a bit of civilization - I 40, cars and trucks. Only lasted about a mile. Stealth camped just outside a hostel. Will made feeble attempt at making a fire. I did no better. We finally saw our first bear. Was crossing the road just down where we were camping. Was too quick to get phones/ cameras to snap a pic.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Green Corner Rd

To: Walnut Creek +.8
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

Off a bit late - 9:15. Will wanted to sleep in a bit. Immediate 4.4 climb to get the blood flowing. Till lunch just typical ups and downs. Had lunch at Brown gap, about 10 miles in. A harsh 2 miles up after lunch. We then emerged from the woods just below Max Patch Summit. What a transformation experience I had at Max Patch. Max Patch is a summit that has been cleared and is maintained as bald. By far the most beautiful striking view of the Smokies and the Tennessee Valley. Words can't begin to describe the views and feelings it inspires. One of the gentleman who we have been kinda hiking with the past day or so, was move to tears when he reached the summit. Time seemed to stand still and an inner peace overcame me. We stayed for about a half hour just aborting the view and the feelings it inspired. The pic is looking up the Tennessee valley. BTW we hiked along the ridge line in the very back ground which included many views down into the valley. Please take a few minutes and google Max Patch - some stunning pictures which of course can only begin to capture the beauty.  The Smokies were never on my radar to visit, I sure want to come back and encourage those reading this to add to their list.  After Max Patch a very pleasant hike through the woods along and crossing many streams. Time seemed stand still and we seemed to be walking along at a very peaceful pace - this directly as result of our time on Max. It was later in day, so peaceful and relaxing. Kinda like going to beach very late afternoon / early evening in late August, early September. Had our feet not been speaking crossly at us, we felt like we could have hiked for many more hours. Last 1.4 up to Walnut Mountain Shelter was tough especially since we had already done 19. We read on our guthooks app that Walnut Shelter and the surrounding tent sites had big issues with mice, so we got water and hiked on, fortunately down hill. Just short of a mile past the shelter we came across a great tent site. We were the only ones there so made camp, ate, hung bear bags (Will provided some entertainment for the night with his attempts at bear bagging) and crashed.  12 miles into Hot Springs tomorrow where we will get a room for the night.
Date: 2017-05-04
From: Walnut Creek +.8

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 12.3

Excellent night sleeping although wind woke me up at 3:30. Rain was expected today but never materialized.Very windy on the trail. Many trees, branches, twigs, etc on the trail. Will got hit by a falling branch - small one no damage. It was actually quite scary at times. Easy day of hiking. We made it to Hot Springs. apparently 50% of thru hikers have left or leave by here. So another big milestone for us.Some sort of festival this weekend so rooms were hard to come by. We have one tonight. Not yet tomorrow night (we decided to zero tomorrow as our last zero / day off the trail was 7 days ago). Weather report for next 2 day less than stellar.Got lunch. Strange that people can still smoke at restaurants. outside tables but still.If you remember my post from Gatlinburg, I left my "valuables" ziplock bag at the local outfitter when we bought expensive clif bars to survive on. Well it arrived safely at the outfitter here in Hot Springs. Also an expected package from MK. Swedish fish was a major league hit!!! Okey okey hand soap was a vey close second.When we entered town saw Gretchen, Matt and Greg. We hiked with them for multiple days a week back. We were surprised to see them. They zeroed yesterday so we are just a day behind them. Will went to have a few beers with them. I stayed back as I'm sure the "old" guy would have only provided a few minutes of amusement before it became awkward.
Date: 2017-05-06
From: Hot Springs Zero Day

To: Little Laura shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Yesterday Watched my first TV since we started. Fortunately only a few old episodes of Food Channel Alton Brown Good Eats. Heard only the second news story since starting. The first a few weeks back was about Aaron Fernandez, yesterday I heard about the House repealing Obama care and some of our esteemed, thoughtful representatives chanting "nana nana nana nana hey hey hey good bye". Very mature of them. Just when you think they can't do anything more childish ... We still don't have a good handle on our food. Weight and cost per day too high. Seems to be an issue with how many Clif type and candy bars we have and in general too much extra food/meals. Clif type bars weigh a lot and cost a lot, especially if eating up to 6 a day. Ideally one should enter a town/resupply with no food (thus no food weight). We seem to be entering with a 1/2 to 1 day extra food. Something to work on. Nothing exciting on today's trek. Was cold and damp, on and off drizzle. Temps in the 40s? Just like one of those cold clammy damp New England April days we all love so much. At times a cool misty/foggy atmosphere in the woods. Not too much up and down so we made pretty good time although we ran out of gas the last 3 to 4 miles. Just slogged it out. Sleet / hail when we set up camp. Ate quickly and jumped in sleeping bags to warm up. Guy at the shelter said it was suppose to get into the 30s tonight.Couple of days ago when we were hiking into Hot Springs, I wrote about how windy it was, how Will got hit by a falling branch and we were kinda scared hiking. Well apparently they shut down that section of the trail for awhile that day due to the wind and danger.We are at 293 miles so will pass 300 tomorrow morning.
Date: 2017-05-07
From: Little Laura shelter

To: Rector laurel Rd +.5 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

Cold and foggy/misty when we woke 7ish. Stayed in bed for a bit, ate breakfast in the tent (a no no, but it was too cold to eat out). We packed up, sun came out and burned off the mist just as we departed. Hiking was easy. That's a pic of Will at white rock cliff. We encountered a very challenging 1.5 mile rocky ridge. So challenging that there was a bad weather bypass trail. Fortunately for us weather was brilliant as were the views. Just before noon crossed the 300 mile mark!We missed a trail magic event. Some club was providing free burgers, hot dogs, sodas, etc. We passed the spot at 10, event didn't start till 11, so we passed. Last few days we've seen few on the trail. Today hardly anyone. Typically we pass a lot of north bounders, but last few days hardly anyone. Numbers since the Smokies seemed to have dropped appreciably. Stealth camped along a steam.
Date: 2017-05-08
From: Rector laurel Rd +.5 

To: Whistling Gap camp
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

What a shitty start to the day. Sorry readers but if I kept telling you every day and everything is wonderful I would lose credibility. Terrible night sleeping. Was up at 2, felt like I never went back to sleep. Then I woke to cold hard ground. Did my mattress pad spring a leak? Will and I looked but nothing apparent. Let's see what tonight brings. Finding a small leak will be tough. Maybe there will be a big bath tub at the next hostel - Ha!Put my right shoe on and it felt strange. Like I had it laced to tight. Despite several adjustments the top of my foot was killing me. Hiked the First 5 miles in agony. Felt like some medieval torture device was affixed to my foot. At 5 miles stopped for water and Ibuprofen. Pain subsided a bit but hiked in pain all 18 miles. Could only go 60-70%. Other then my foot, felt great. Some amazing (again!) views from the balds we hiked over. See pic Great day for hiking. Sun out, blue sky, white puffy clouds, cool temps, some breezes. Still very quiet on the trail. Had it almost to myself. Will hiked ahead of me for most of the day so was kinda my first day on the trail "alone".  13 miles into Erwin TN tomorrow. We are just planning a resupply then move on. Hope the foot is better.
Date: 2017-05-09
From: Whistling Gap camp

To: Irwin Gap +1.7
Miles today: 15.1

Yep my air mattress had a slow leak. Nothing like doing planks every 3 hour to refill it. Just try doing a plank at 2 in the morning in a mummy sleeping bag in a tent. Do planks create 6 pack abs? If so I'll be ripped! Started early today in case my foot bothered me again. First few miles it was a bother, then pain started fading. By late morning was doing pain free miles. Kept the pace down a bit. Right after lunch it was cranky for the first 1/2 mile or so but hey everything is cranky after a lunch break. Always seems to take me 15 minutes to get back up to speed. If a big up hill after lunch, very painful to restart. I'll go a couple 100 yards and have to stop to catch my breath. Lesson learned - never eat lunch in/at a gap. Gap = hill! Was overcast all day. Very comfortable temps. Since the sun was not out, the woods, especially the mosses, were a very vivid green. Limited views today as the trees are really filling in. Even so some of the views not as dramatic as the past 4 weeks. Pic is the river just below Irwin. Again not many on the trail. Cruzed into Irwin, well Uncle Jonny's hostel and outfitter on the outskirts of town. Low and behold they had air mattresses!!!! And the guy there did a free swap out as he thought my mattress was defective!!! I got an upgraded model with sleep number adjustments, mattress pad heater AND memory foam. We resupplied and hiked 1.7 miles out of town to stealth camp. Pretty cool site. Streams on both sides so we'll be sleeping with running water stereophonic sound all night. So all and all another great day - especially after the foot and mattress issues yesterday. You were't gullible enough to believe the "sleep number adjustments, mattress pad heater AND memory foam" part of the story were you???
Date: 2017-05-10
From: Irwin TN + 1.7

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Two firsts today.First hints of summer warmth. Just those occasional almost warm breezes with the accompanying smell of summer and humidity. We'll be wishing for cool hiking days soon enough. First real trail magic event. A gentleman had a pick up truck with sodas, lemonade, coffee, tea, brownies, banana bread, etc. and a bunch of real chairs set up in one of the gaps. We've scored an occasional soda left in coolers on the side of the road and missed some of the bigger trail magic events by hours or a day. Had lunch on a nice bald. Last two days I mentioned issues with my air mattress. Now seems like Will maybe having the same problem. Hope these things are good for more than 30 nights sleeping! Passed a couple of guys on the trail. One was telling the other about the bear that visited his tent last night. He heard it sniffing around, it gently pawed the side of his tent. Guess this bear stuff is real. Taught a guy how to hang his bear bag PCT, Pacific Crest Trail, style. He was amazed. He just couldn't figure out how I seemly got my bag to magically suspend itself in mid air. I'm quite the expert at it now. It will certainly come in handy when I get back home. For a beer, I'll teach you too. Hopefully this will be the last mention of my foot. Was much better this morning. Just felt like a small knot in my ankle. A bit of discomfort for the first few miles, rest of the day was just fine. I did "ice" it down in the stream last night and this morning and again in the spring when we reached camp.A most amazing orange/red full moon (?) moon rise tonight.
Date: 2017-05-11
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

Roan High Knob Shelter the highest on the AT at 6193 feet. Ah. Nothing like starting the day with a breakfast of two cold pop tarts and a Jumbo honey bun! Before the hike last time I had pop tarts was I think elementary school. Never ever had honey buns - and will never have them after the hike. Pop tarts are basically pieces parts after a day or so stuffed in a back pack. Honey buns are, shall I say, compacted smooched, flatten. It's all about the calories/ounce. Target is 130 calories per ounce times 32 ounces (target 2 lbs of food per day) = 4160 calories. But hard to get to 130 for each ounce. (Just add olive oil to your nightly Chicken Ramon) We are probably somewhere shy of 3500 / day. 2 Pop tarts 420 calories, 1 Jumbo Honey Bun 590 calories = 1100 calories. Total weight 8.6 ounces thus 127 calories /ounce. Not bad. Nice weather day. We made good time. Pic is from Little Rock Knob vista Loooong 2100 foot 5 mile climb after lunch to the shelter. Nothing to steep, just kept going on and on and on, switchback after switchback after switchback. Set up tents, ate, etc. Suppose to be very rainy tomorrow. Will make a long 16 miles to Roan Mountian TN. We are thinking of zeroing there. Definitely have to resupply as almost out of food. Only have breakfast, very limited lunch and a bunch of Clif and candy bars. Should arrive might hungry.
Date: 2017-05-12
To: Roan MT TN
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

So I guess this an official trail anniversary. We started April 12, so have completed one month and 377.4 miles. Only 1812.4 to go! We have averaged 94 miles a week and that includes the first week and a half when we started slow. We are now doing over 100 miles per week. My initial guess is we would make hot Springs about May 15. We were there May 5. 100 miles a week means a 21 week hike or early September finish. But still way to early to be making guesses like that. Rumor was heavy rain starting at 7am, so I decided to take off early - by 7. It did lightly rain about 7:30 got 1/2 hour. Rest of the day was comfortable temps but hiked in the clouds, mist, and fog all day. A few times the sun almost came out. Walked across several balds. I'm sure the views would have been terrific but visibility less than 100 yards. I did get the pic above in one of the brief breaks in clouds. While pretty easy ups and downs, walking was difficult due to trail conditions. Some very rocky (small) and lots of very muddy/slippery section. Was hard to get good footing. Also I was feeling the effects of yesterday's loooong 5 mile uphill. I reached trail head at Roan MT TN about 1:30-2:00 and headed to mountain harbor hostel and B&B. They were booked as all the other local hostels due to impending bad weather. Got a tremendous burger though. Will arrived 1.5 hours later. We decided to pitch tents (next to highway) resupply and have burgers for dinners. Yep my second in less than 4 hours! Rain started in anger at about 4. It is going to be a long night. Tent already a bit damp in places. Hopefully will not get much worse. Fortunately not cold out. Sounds like I'll be lulled to sleep by the sound of 18 wheelers rushing by.