morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingmans Tower Path
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was full of ups and downs mentally. It was really windy last night and I had a hard time sleeping which always makes for a rough day. It was very muddy and rainy all day. That didn't really bother me until I got to Clingmans Dome. I'd planned to hike on to the next shelter and go into Gatlinburg for a resupply tomorrow. The weather made for a day of absolutely no views and I refused to accept it! I didn't even go up to the Dome. I hiked from Georgia to get here dammit. So I met a nice family of five on the way to the parking lot and they gave me a lift to Gatlinburg for the night. I'm showered and ready for a re-do tomorrow. I'll get a ride back to the parking lot and there better be views when I get up there. You hear me, Smokies?! On the brightside, the rain brought out the biggest earthworms I've ever seen. Seriously. They must eat well here because they were 1-2 feet long. Crazy! There are, I think, firs up by Clingmans so I got a nice change of scenery. The forest got dark all of a sudden because of it and the fog made it extra creepy. I can only assume this is where all the bears and witches live. And because I came to town early I got to meet up with Chip and Hot Chocolate for dinner. I've been carrying Chip's bite valve that he left on the motel floor since Fontana. I got the chance to give it back to him after eating my weight in chicken fried chicken. Also, video chat with my husband, son, AND cat! I love their faces very very much.P.S. Gatlinburg is atrocious. It's bright and loud and I think people thought I was homeless before I washed all the mud off me.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm having a hard time sleeping in towns. First it was midnight. Real midnight, not hiker midnight! Then 1am, 2am, and last night 4am! Of course, I still woke up at 7am. I checked out of my hotel and walked down the street to resupply before hitting the trail again. I never made it out of town. By the time I got to the store my knee was hurting really bad. Something is going on with my knee cap. I must have hurt myself falling in the mud yesterday more than I thought. Had my first good Appalachian Trail cry that was thwarted by Young Gun and a banana split for breakfast. Spent the day with an ice pack and terrible movies with the guys. Clingmans Dome will have to wait. I'll have to see how I feel in the morning but it'll be either a few miles to the first shelter or another zero.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Clingmans Tower Path

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Today started with an accidental headbutt to my eye and ended with me singing into my trekking pole handle. It's funny how quickly things can change out here. I tried hitching this morning and it was hard. My first time was so easy! I waited half an hour, turned down the first offer because it was weird and then got a ride to Newfound Gap. I didn't need to go there but it was closer than I was so I took it. They were super nice. Got a ride from there but then it turned out they weren't actually going to Clingmans Dome so they dropped me off on the side of the road! I started walking back to the parking lot and saw Hemp and Sandpiper pass by in a car. I was so annoyed and amused at the same time that I didn't know what to say to them. I really like both of them. They make me laugh. Found a bit of gravel where someone could actually pull over and got a ride within minutes. All of this took three hours! These women were super cool and even gave some sodas to my hiker friends that were there when we arrived.I finally got on the trail at noon and walked all the way back to Newfound Gap... where I just was! The drive was about ten minutes but the walk was four hours. I know some people would have just hiked from where they were dropped off but I couldn't do it. What if I missed something awesome in those 8 miles?! And I would've too. I met a couple pretty early on in my hike. They were looking for a shelter and we talked a bit. They aren't thru-hikers but like to do a couple miles here and there. Today they were hiking and they wondered where I was... and there I was! We had a good laugh about it. Right place, right time. If I'd started at 9am like I'd planned I would have missed them.Once I was on the trail again the day was amazing. I got my pics from Clingmans Dome that I couldn't get the other day. I ran into that couple and talked a bit. I treated myself to music for the first time and practically flew down the trail. I saw a tourist with a shirt that said "Girls just want to have funds." But I was too chicken to ask her to take a picture with me. The weather was beautiful. The mountains were beautiful. Day hiker trail magic Snickers was beautiful. Over dinner, I had a moment with Fancypants about freaking out over the crowds in Gatlinburg. I'm sorry he didn't like it but was secretly happy to know I wasn't the only one.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

I used up my one good weather day on Clingmans Dome yesterday. Today was cold and gloomy. Because of the fog I missed out on Charlies Bunion. In fact, I didn't even bother going up. There was fog and rain and my knee was hurting. Once I got warmed up it was fine but it was really bad to start off with. So bad that I took my first ibuprofen of the trip. Today has been my worst day mentally. I spent the entire day with my head in the clouds. Literally and figuratively. I miss my family.I want to do 14 miles tomorrow but we'll see how my knee feels in the morning. I've been filling my water bladder with cold water from springs and using it as an ice pack on my knee before I filter and drink it. Seems to help.I forgot to mention the other day that I've hiked over 200 miles! Haha now I just have under 2,000 to go. It's still a big accomplishment even if it's tiny in the grand scheme of A.T. things. Also, I've touched my third state! It's not nearly as exciting as the GA/NC border was because I'm not really done with NC. Someone had to tell me we were in TN the other day. This following the border business is confusing.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter 

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

Today was my longest day! I did 14.8 miles and about 7 of them with what I will currently call a sprained ankle. But first! Drizzly morning that wasn't too bad. It was cold last night but warmed up quickly in the morning. Passed by an old plane crash sight. I don't know any of the details but there were bits of metal on the ground and in the trees. It was interesting. I hiked in and out of clouds all day. It was sort of pretty. Then came the bad. I rolled my ankle coming out of Cosby Knob Shelter after eating lunch there. It was sore but didn't really hurt or I would've went back. The more I hiked the worse it got. By the time I couldn't put my full weight on it, I was already a few miles to the next shelter so I kept going. Every time I put weight on it, it shoots pain from my ankle to my knee. Two hikers, whose names I already forgot unfortunately, came up behind me and ended up taking my pack the last mile to the shelter. I'll have to ask their names again in the morning so they can get props on here. I can't thank them enough. Also, I don't know how he spells it, but Six Twelve is also amazing. I only met him a couple days ago but he hung my pack, got my water, and set up my pad and bag in the shelter for me. I think I've exhausted all the favors I can get from him. The best part of today was catching up with the twins. It's nice to see familiar faces at the end of the day. I'm going to try to make it to Standing Bear Farm in the morning and take the rest of the day off. Worse case scenario, if my ankle is just as bad in the morning, Davenport Gap is only .9 miles so I'll get a ride from there to an urgent care or something. I'm ready to be out of the Smokies.
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: I-40 Underpass
Miles today: 2.8

I forgot to mention last night that the Davenport Gap Shelter is the only one in the Smokies that still has a chain link fence to keep out bears. I found it pretty entertaining. I think others thought it was ghetto or creepy but the human zoo was interesting. At least until people starting getting up to pee in the middle of the night. Then not so much. I thought there was a bear for a minute in my sleepy midnight haze but bears don't wear headlamps and it turned out to just be Fancypants.I woke up, felt okay, and trekked out in the rain. I got to Davenport Gap and decided to try for Standing Bear Hostel. This was one of the worst decision I've made so far. My ankle got worse as I hiked and it took me three hours to go two miles. There were like five river crossings that looked like they should've just been easy rock hops but weren't because of the now pouring rain. There were several times that I was forced to put all my weight on my hurt ankle to get across and it was definitely not helping. Throw in a group of blowdowns that I had to climb over and crawl under and you have my morning. I ended up not even making it to the hostel and accepting a ride from a former thru-hiker driving by that saw I was in bad shape. He dropped me off at the hostel where I got a ride to the urgent care from Maria that runs the hostel. She was very patient and we talked about a lot of stuff. Or maybe it was just me because I was trying to distract myself. Either way, I really enjoyed talking to her. The urgent care didn't do x-rays which by the way I'm pretty sure just makes them a freakin' doctor's office. Maria picked me back up and took me to the ER instead. The good news is that nothing is broken and a huge mental weight has been lifted. I know a lot of people would've saved the money but I also know ignoring things like this could make them worse... hike-ending worse. I couldn't bring myself to do that kind of damage so I went. I don't regret it. The bad news is that they told me to take a couple days off and I'm actually going to listen. I am already behind what I expected. I may miss the Trailfest in Hot Springs this weekend now. I don't want to be in Newport at all. What I do want is to make it to Katahdin and this one body is all I have to get me there so I'm choosing to take care of it. So they wrapped it, told me what i already knew they'd say, and sent me on my way. Maria picked me up again and dropped me off at a motel because the hostel was full but it turns out most of the folks from the shelter are here too so it all worked out. I talked to my husband for over an hour after dinner with Colt and his dad. I only hiked a few miles today but this is the most exhausted I've been. I'm going to try to get all my town chores done at once in the morning and then it's nothing but ice, ibuprofen, and bad hotel television for me. Spoiler alert: the next few posts should be pretty boring.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Newport, TN

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

I did all my town chores so tomorrow I can take a complete zero. It involved a little walking but it also involved a walk to buy an ankle brace so it was pretty necessary. Six Twelve kept me company and I chatted with Hemp and Sandpiper for a bit. I mostly vented and they listened and I was grateful for that. So, my laundry is done and I'm resupplied and ready to go when the time is right. I would've been in Hot Springs tomorrow but I'm not and that kinda bums me out. I was looking forward to a massage, the twins, and Trailfest! I talked to my husband for an hour and he always makes me laugh so that really helped.The current plan is to get a ride from Stitch and her folks in the morning to Standing Bear Farm. I'm going to spend the day icing my ankle and crossing my fingers. Then Saturday I'm off to test out if I can hike more than a mile without crying. Go go gadget ankle!
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Newport, TN

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I got a ride this morning to Hot Springs, picked up my bounce box, and decided to come back to Standing Bear Farm. I knew if I stayed in Hot Springs I'd spend the whole time walking around trying to find something to do at Trailfest. That's not exactly resting. So I came back just in time to see a bunch of people I know move on. It's hard knowing I should be farther along than I am but I also know I'm exactly where I should be. I held back tears all afternoon. With any luck I'll be right behind them in the morning but if not that's okay too. It may be time to do a little hiking by myself anyway. Two and a half days without a pack has definitely helped but I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
Date: 2015-04-18
From: I-40 Underpass

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

After two zeros and a nearo, I felt it was time to get going. Standing Bear Farm was okay but I had trouble sleeping. Earplugs work pretty well against snoring hikers but not so much for barking dogs and a rooster. I walked about a mile in addition to my A.T. miles to get back to the underpass where I left off. Five bucks isn't a lot but it seemed too much for a 2 minute drive down the road. So I walked. I took it slow and stopped for lots of breaks. My ankle is sore but doesn't hurt so that's good. It was a warm day with not much to look at but was made better by all the wildlife I saw: a dozen or so chipmunks, several centipede, and a snake. There were so many crickets in one spot that I thought it had started raining. Several people saw rattlesnakes but they must have scared them off for me. I'm not complaining. After I left the hostel I didn't see anybody I knew all day. The people at the shelter are nice but I'm not feeling up to making new friends today. Coed and Tuscon are just ahead of me and I hope I can catch them. Ankle permitting of course. Time for all the zzzzzzzzs.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: moderate rain

Today was rainy and lonely. I went slow again but definitely felt better than I did yesterday. I missed out on the views from Max Patch. The rain was horizontal so I went full speed straight over it. I was thinking it might be fun to do a road trip with my husband and son next year to all the places I missed because I couldn't see anything. And that way it's not like "hey look what I did without you" but it would be a new experience for me too. So far Max Patch and Charlies Bunion are on the list.I was feeling great coming into the shelter and genuinely considered going to the next one. It was only 3pm and I hate wasting daylight. I think I made the right decision but it was a hard one. Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should and I really should be going easy on my ankle.I made more of an effort to be social this evening and it paid off. I met some nice guys that are section hiking. I finally found out whose rain cover I commandeered back at Muskrat Creek Shelter the night it snowed. I carried it all the way to Franklin asking everyone I saw if it was there's before deciding it was mine. He already bought a new one and had a good sense of humor about me keeping it. He was just glad that it got packed out. Leave no trace love! I met an awesome woman, Linda, who was excited to meet me because she's been following my journal. I even ran into Rock Steady who I haven't seen since Unicoi or Dicks Creek Gap! She said Stix should be here too but hasn't shown up yet. Mentally I'm feeling loads better. There are advantages to falling behind. I don't know how far I'll get tomorrow with my ankle but it matters less when I'm in good company.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Still no Stix! I was looking forward to seeing her today. Maybe tomorrow. Leapfrogged Rock Steady most of the day. There was a little rain in the morning and some in the late afternoon but the middle part was beautiful. Lightning is a little scary but it was nowhere near me and it didn't last long so it wasn't that bad. The end result was a rainbow but I think there were too many trees to get a good picture of it. The hiking was super easy, which is the only reason I did 14.8 miles today. Except for maybe the mud. No falls though! I was telling someone about how I fell a billion times going up to Clingmans Dome and I heard someone from inside the shelter ask, "Why did you fall? You have two legs." It was The Bionic Woman. If you don't know, she's hiking with a prosthetic leg and she is amazing! It was nice to finally meet her. It definitely put things in perspective. My ankle only hurt once today but I've got a spare so I can't really complain. Can't wait to get to Hot Springs to dry out!
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter 

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2

Slept in a little this morning. Sometimes I'm so excited to get into town but sometimes I know I've got all day so I bum around. Today I bummed around. Easy hiking at a slow pace and not because my ankle told me to but because I didn't have anywhere to be. Lots of people in town. Too many to mention but I was happy to see all of them. Lunch, shower, laundry, dinner, and laughs. Everything you want out of town. Got my picture taken for the hiker yearbook. Sounds neat. Relaxed in a hot tub at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa with Rainbow and it was exactly what I needed. It's funny how at home I have a hard time making friends with women, but on the trail I cherish the moments I'm not surrounded by gallons of testosterone. Considering a slackpack offer for tomorrow but they hike way faster than me. If they don't pressure me to do crazy miles it could feel really good to hike without a pack. I think Hot Springs is my favorite town so far. There's such a good vibe here! I feel like a hiker again even if I didn't get much hiking done today.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Rich Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: few clouds

I tried to get out of town early but it didn't work out that way. Sandpiper and Hemp came into town as I was leaving so I had lunch with them and Fancy Pants before I left. I was so worried about being behind and now I'm ahead! I'm sure it won't be that way for long though. It's funny how you never really know where anyone is out here. I passed up the slackpack offer even though I sort of regretted it on the steep uphill climb out of town. The party crowd is a little too much for me to handle sometimes. I'm sure I'll see them soon. Laughter is the best medicine out here and they never disappoint.My ankle didn't hurt once today. That's a big deal! Big uphill at the beginning and another at the end. I even stepped awkwardly on a root and braced myself for searing pain but nothing happened. I'm excited to see what I can do tomorrow. Skipped the Rich Mountain tower because I got in so late but if I can manage to wake up early enough I'd like to try and catch the sunrise.Camped with three self proclaimed old broads and I love it. I hope I am still doing things like this when I'm their age.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Rich Mountain Campsite

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Yesterday was the first day my ankle didn't hurt. I planned my longest day today and then gave up at 3pm. I'm sick! I swear every time something gets better something else immediately gets worse. It's just a cold I think but it's awful. I spent all day blowing my nose and by blowing my nose I mean shooting snot rockets when nobody was looking. Having brothers has finally paid off! Got a pleasant surprise when Rainbow walked up and wanted to stop early too because of her blisters. I'm sorry she's hurting but happy to have more girl time.I watched a woman quit today. She said she was thinking about it for three days. It was good weather and not too bad of a hike but she said she just wasn't having fun anymore. "If you're not having fun then what's the point?" I wanted to convince her to stay but surprisingly didn't. It was the right decision for her. I had no idea that a few hours later I would threaten to do the same. I'm pretty much a big fat baby when I'm sick. I want my husband to make me soup. I want my kid to make sympathetic sad faces at me. I want a cat in my lap. So I threatened to quit. I'm sure I only half meant it but I'm glad I was around people who tried to talk me out of it. Quitting isn't the right decision for me. Plus I got four hugs! I should threaten to quit every day.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Cascade
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was so many things. I was freezing this morning and didn't want to get out of bed. By the end of the day I was sweating my ass off. It might have had something to do with me being sick but still! I had a 30 second dance party with Rainbow on Blackstack Cliffs in memory of McDreamy and to celebrate having such an incredible view to ourselves. Today's hiking was rocky and then easy the rest of the evening. I mean it would've been easy if I wasn't sick. There was one part on the rocky ridgeline where I had to go down backwards. I won't lie. There was lots of cursing today. I even left a shelter just to keep from telling someone off after they made a rude comment to me. Today was not the day to insert yourself into our conversation, give unsolicited advice, and then be a smartass when I don't want to take that advice. I knew if I stayed I would regret the things I said so I just grabbed my pack and hiked on. BUT today was also full of unbelievable firsts. I passed the 300 mile mark, I hiked with a person all day for the first time, and I did my biggest mileage day. Now we're camped with some lovely ladies who were sweet enough to make room for us to tent with them after such a long day. There always seem to be beautiful places to camp in the morning but never any when it's getting dark and you're exhausted! I'm going to sleep well tonight.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Cascade

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Beautiful view from Big Bald today. It was rough getting up there though. I'm still sick but I'm getting better slowly. It was windy enough to make me lose my balance more than once. I could've gotten off at a couple of gaps the last few days but then I'd just be sick in town. If I'm going to be sick either way I think I'd rather be out here doing what I love. I'm definitely taking some time off in Erwin if I ever make it there. Rainbow had a rough day today with her feet and missing her crew but I tried to make it better by making up hiking songs. That's what we do at home. We plug our cat's name into various songs. We replaced the words to the ants go marching song with hiker related silliness. Here is the first draft:The hikers go marching ten by ten.Hoorah! Hoorah!The hikers go marching ten by ten.Hoorah! Hoorah!The hikers go marching ten by ten.The little one stops to zero in Erwin.And they all go hiking down to the gap to get out of the rain.Boom! Boom! Boom!Nine is pack out a bag of wine.Eight is pink blaze a date.We couldn't think of seven!Six is check for ticks.Five is look at a beehive.Four is nap and snore.Three is pee on a tree.Two is glue a shoe.And one is still suck his thumb.This concludes the evidence that hikers have too much free time.Goodnight!