morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-03-19
From: Nantahala Outdoor Cener

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Woke early in my bunk and got ready to leave NOC. First went to the restaurant for a good breakfast and used the bathroom to clean up and get everything set. The NOC is a deep gorge between 2 mountains. Nantahala means something like land of the noonday sun because the gorge only receives sunshine when the sun is straight overhead. It is an uphill climb all the way to Sassafras Gap shelter where I had lunch. Great views all the way. Then another tough climb 1.2 miles from there to the summit of Cheoah Bald with even more awesome views of the surrounding mountains and all the way back down to the NOC and some beautiful rural villages. Distance today was 10.4 miles but very difficult 8.1 to the top of Cheoah Bald, with the remainder of the hike to Locust Cove Gap a steep downhill which was a welcome change from the climbs. Locust Cove Gap has a long narrow clearing where we set up about 20 tents virtually with inches between. It was a good group. We had a campfire and sat to tell stories and poke the fire until nearly dark. Got into my tent and set for the night. Warm and snug and slept well. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-20
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

This crowd of tents packed into the small clearing came alive just before dawn. We all broke camp, ate breakfast, and left, mostly one at a time. The first 3+ miles had the usual ups and downs and was a pleasant hike to a major road crossing at Stecoah Gap. There were picnic tables and a place to offload our trash. I had a snack as other hikers came through. The next 3+ miles included something called "Jacobs Ladder" which is a very high series of succeeding knobs to climb one after the other with no letup. Just as you finally summit a knob the next one comes into view - straight up with no switchbacks to ease the climb. One of the toughest climbs so far. After that it was about a mile to Brushnel Knob where I found some of the others having lunch so I joined them. Then on to Cable Gap shelter with fairly mild hiking punctuated by a few climbs just to keep me honest. Most of us hike at our own pace so we enjoy hiking alone and then meet up at the site for the night. So I am at Cable Gap shelter where I have filtered water, eaten, and am nearly ready for the night. Tomorrow I will hike to Fontana Dam and catch a ride to Fontana Village and pick up resupply and spend the night. I have decided not to try to carry enough food to get through Great Smoky Mountain National Park - about 6 to 7 days, so we are working out plans to resupply in Gatlinburg and then again at Standing Bear Farm after I leave the park. I will also be keeping an eye on the weather as the Smokys can be a bad place to get caught in winter storms. I am ready to sleep. There are high mountains all around and no one has phone service. I miss the time to exchange messages with Marlene. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-22
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a really good hike. I felt strong and ready. Got up, cleaned up one last time, ate my sausage biscuits and was ready for the 8 a.m. shuttle to the trail right at the south end of the Dam - you walk across, turn right and follow the trail beside a dead end paved road to the trailhead into the park 1.1 miles. I printed my thru hiker permit in Franklin, NC so I filled in the date, tore off the part for the rangers and dropped it in a metal box. I was off. There is a fire tower that looks tiny up on the Shuckstack ridge from below at the Dam, and the 4 1/2 mile climb to that tower is a real gut check. But I made it, climbed the tower and got pictures. On past Birch Spring Gap campsite to Doe Knob where northbound hikers go with one foot in Tennessee and one in North Carolina - through the park. So my third state is added to the mix. On to Ekaneetlee Gap where Dr Stretch was filtering water with his gravity system and offered to top off my bottles - was great! After that it was a long slog uphill to Mollies Ridge shelter but I did very well and felt strong. I had intended to stop for the night but I had time and was having a good day so I kept going 3.1 miles further to Russell Field shelter. Very happy with that progress on a beautiful day with great views to the lake basin below. I checked in with Marlene, did my chores and settled in for a good night after a good first day in the Smokys. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-24
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: clear sky

Today more of the same. This entry will be short. Very much the same condition but a little stronger. Got away in pretty good time and got to Derrick Knob shelter - 6.1 miles. Had to climb Rocky Top (TN) and Thunderhead Mountain, very challenging climbs. My pack is not lighter since my eating has been limited. But that will allow me to have food for the longer time to cover the distance to Gatlinburg for resupply. Pluses and minuses. I made it to the shelter and went pretty much directly to sleep. Took all day. I'm surrounded by hikers recovering, new ones getting sick, and others not affected so far. I have to keep driving forward to make the next road. Nothing else to do. Thank you Jesus for progress today. Goodnight Sweetheart
Date: 2017-03-25
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Springs Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

A little stronger today. 7.4 miles to Double Springs Gap shelter. Several climbs today and I have hit the alpine zone above 5000 feet elevation. The scenery in this zone is beautiful and I will try to describe it in an entry later when I can do it justice. Just gorgeous little areas in the pines. I would have liked to try for a couple more miles today but the next shelter is too far away and between me and that shelter lies Clingman's Dome - the highest elevation point on the entire Appalachian Trail - Georgia to Maine. I would not be able to make it to the Mount Collins shelter north of Clingman's Dome so I am at Double Springs Gap shelter, 10.4 miles to Newfound Gap for tomorrow. A little more than I wanted but hoping to get there before dark so I can hitchhike into Gatlinburg. I am eating as much as I can today both for strength and to lighten the pack. Tomorrow will be a long but hopefully rewarding day. Today at the next shelter back (about 1.7 miles back) I briefly got service and talked with Marlene. Thank you to her and any of you who knew to be praying for me during this stretch. I appreciate it so much. Thanks also to those who encourage me through my guest book. You will never know how much it helps. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-29
From: Newfound Gap - Gatlinburg TN

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Back to work. After taking two days to recover and take care of town chores I was ready to hike today. I went to a restaurant in Gatlinburg at 7:00 a. m. and had a big breakfast. Back to the room to get everything and out to the main road (US 441) to hitchhike up to Newfound Gap. A few minutes later a former thru hiker (Calamity - her name is Jane) pulled over and I loaded my pack into her vehicle. She was doing a day hike and could relate to the hitchhiking hiker looking for a ride to the trail. Soon I was there, unloaded and ready to go. It began with a long but gradual climb which was just what I needed to see how it would go. 3.0 miles to Icewater Springs shelter over a rocky trail - I was happy with how I felt - stronger even than before. On to Charlie's Bunion for pictures. The Bunion is a series of odd outcroppings on the mountainside with straight cliffs hundreds of feet down. The day was clear and warm (high 70's) so I had good views. The trail traveled over long narrow ridgelines like a knife's edge. Many times the ridge was less than 5 feet wide on top - just enough room for the path. These ridges dropped straight off on both sides. Many areas had trees clinging precariously to either side. Some trees had fallen off and in other areas no tree or shrub could get a foothold. Not dangerous really, but pretty and interesting. I hiked strong the whole way (10.3 miles), with the usual fatigue as the afternoon wore on. I am at Peck's Corner shelter for the night, so far with 3 high school students hiking on spring break and two other thru hikers tenting. My strength seems fine. Tomorrow I plan a little over 12 miles. That will position me to exit GSMNP the third day. I will be so glad to have this part completed. It's beautiful but presents some problems when you are required to stay at trail shelter sites. So that's the plan. I am in a deep bowl-shaped valley down off the ridge and 1/2 mile off the trail so there is not phone reception. I will check in after I get going in the morning. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-30
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Up early and out early with a 1/2 mile climb back to the AT. I made a point not to know my exact location and not to be aware in detail of the elevation changes today. I felt strong, even on the climbs, and feel that I am over the "bug" and coming back stronger than before. Most of the way today was on very narrow ridges, literally only a few feet wide. There were great views at some points. I have to confess that my attitude today was to pound out day 2 of the 3 day push to exit the Smoky's, so it was a bit of a forced march. But I made the 12 1/2 miles to Cosby Knob shelter. The shelter is full and there are several tents also. It is a beautiful bowl-shaped shelter site, water from a spring right out front, bear cables to hang food so the critters don't get it, and a real privy. But the best part of today's hike is that I am in position to hike out of the northern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about 3 miles further to the hostel at Standing Bear Farm. I will be glad for this milestone to be completed. Then on to Hot Springs, NC. No service and not much contact today. Likely not tomorrow either. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-03-31
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: moderate rain

I was up before 6:00 a. m. with a crowd of hikers all feeling the pull of exiting the park. It started to rain shortly after dark last night and we spent the night listening to the wind and rain pounding the shelter. No matter - I love that sound. I was up and packing and eating by headlamp, as were others. I was first out of camp shortly after 7:00 a. m. A quick mile downhill to Low Gap then a 3 mile climb to Mt Cammerer Trail intersection. No matter - I was stronger on the climbs today. Once atop Mt Cammerer it was a long descent to Davenport Gap and the northern boundary of GSMNP. I hiked in steady rain the entire way. But no matter. I did not wear any rain gear - just baseball cap, short sleeved T-shirt and regular hiking pants. Rain gear makes me sweat so much I am wet anyway. The wind was extremely strong yesterday all day and significantly less so today. The hiking kept me warm and I was on a mission. Finally I pulled into Davenport Gap shelter for a break, and one last easy mile to the northern boundary. Davenport Gap shelter seems so remote and deathly quiet. It tends to be skipped because everyone has just entered the park from the north or are really ready to leave if coming from the south. It was a beautiful quiet time to be alone for a few minutes and enjoy the absolute stillness and quiet of the area. A pretty setting. Right at the northern boundary I got about 60 seconds of sunshine. What a treat - "Oh happy day...". I met Not Bob there and he took my picture. No time to find out all the details but Not Bob was very sure to make me understand that he is NOT Bob, hence the name. So I pledged to tell every hiker I meet today that he is NOT Bob. But, nothing can stop me now! About 2 miles to go along state line branch - a stream forming the TN/NC border - and then across the Pigeon River bridge, under I-40 where I found Terry doing trail magic. He was talkative and we talked about his hiking adventures and his daughter's thru hike of a few years ago. He comes out whenever he can to show hikers a little kindness. I had a Subway sandwich and chips and about a 45 minute chat with him, sitting in a real chair and totally relaxed. Nice man. Finally I left and climbed the ridge. I hiked for about a mile to Standing Bear Farm. I have retrieved my resupply boxes from Marlene, done laundry, showered and eaten a pizza. Sitting here now with a group of hikers just talking and doing nothing. On toward Hot Springs tomorrow. Just in case you are wondering, I am so glad to be out of the Smokys. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-04-02
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Another good day. I may have gone a little too far - sore feet and aching body but I'm recovering in Hot Springs, NC. Overnight at Roaring Fork shelter with a plan to stay tonight at Deer Park Mountain shelter about 3 1/2 miles outside of town - I thought that was ambitious. I was out early again and had several miles of easy hiking downhill until I finally hit the climb up Walnut Mountain. That climb was tough but I made it to the grassy open summit on a sunny Sunday morning. I love Sunday's because as I hike along I muse about what Marlene is doing during the morning and then to prepare for church, going through the service and the afternoon. Gives me a connection to look at my watch and think about what she is doing. Got a picture at the ancient shelter on Walnut Mountain - taken by Moose who over-nighted there. Was making good time. Started to think about going into Hot Springs tonight. Bluff Mountain was the major remaining hurdle I thought. It is a long tough climb and took a long time. After Bluff Mountain the way to Deer Park Mountain shelter is a bit of a heart-breaker, with several smaller but significant climbs that surprised me as I tend to write them off when compared to the big ones. Also, it was very hot today in the mostly bright sunshine - I got a little sunburn - minor. I had planned to continue to Hot Springs if I got to Deer Park Mountain shelter by 3:00 (later adjusted that to 3:30). When I got to the trail junction it was 3:01. So I continued on. A long climb up to the ridge on the sunny side, then finally a very long descent into town. You can see the buildings for about 2 miles but the way is long and gradual. Hiking for a long time gets you little perceptible progress (are we there yet?) to the valley floor - the buildings look the same distance away after all that work. But I made it, got a place for 2 nights and am fed, clean and resting my aching body on sort of a real bed in a No-Tell Motel type place - works for hikers. It's great to be here. Marlene and I had a long phone conversation to catch up. A good ending to the day. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-04-04
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.4

Was up very early and ready to hit Smoky Mountain Diner when they opened at 6:00 for a big breakfast. Sausage, eggs, coffee, toast, baked apples, and orange juice. Just what I needed for powering up the mountains today. Back to the room and out in a few minutes. Walked down the street in the early morning town waking up, crossed the French Broad River bridge and turned right along the north river bank for about a mile, right next to the fast flowing and wide river. A quick left turn and then the steep climb above the river and the town up Lover's Leap. A long hike with everything getting slowly smaller and then it was gone. The climb continued up and up, then finally coming to local backwoods roads and even a very old pond from an old dam probably built 100 years ago. Pretty setting in the remote woods. On to cross Mill Ridge then over US 25/70 on an overpass and the long, long climb up Rich Mountain (fire lookout tower closed). Beautiful hike from there on a warm afternoon to Spring Mountain Shelter. About 1/4 mile before the shelter I got a glimpse of a bear on a ridge to my right and slightly above me. The warm afternoon sunshine also brought out a snake, smallish and non-poisonous, but I know they are out if it gets warm enough so I'm keeping my eyes open for them. Decided it was too early to stop at the shelter and hiked on about 4 miles to Allen Gap and set up my tent along with two young guys - Boo Boo and Tootles. We built a fire and had a fun evening. We threw our ropes over tree branches to hang our food for defense against the bears - CBiscuit on his first try and the others through several episodes of tangles around the branch and 30 minutes later they had theirs hung too!! So a 14.4 mile day. I am tired and have aches and pains but happy with the first day to Erwin, TN. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-04-06
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and out fairly early again (old guys do that) and a nice hike about 6 1/2 miles to Flint Mountain shelter - pretty bald grassy mountains to climb on the way and some big climbs but a good morning walk. Then more relatively easy hiking to Devil Fork Gap where paved NC 212 crosses. Then 1/2 mile more to another road crossing and the fun starts. I began a 1600 foot climb up a broad draw in the mountainside, soon coming to a beautiful stream with lots of water and the entire mountainside and stream bed littered with green moss covered logs and boulders. Up the left and cross the stream. Turn in the draw and up the right until time to cross the stream again. Very much elevation gain and more and more secluded little valleys in the mountainside (draws?) with each turn. I saw old twisted metal and thought about some old still, then saw next to it a flattened pile of ancient logs - set in a rectangular shape, like there had been a remote cabin there next to the stream many years ago. Once I saw it the site was clear - it was all decayed logs now with the bright green moss. Very remote - probably no road access ever. I stopped for lunch at a waterfall a few hundred feet higher elevation. If you know how a watershed works then you know that if you go high enough there is no water flow visible and you can detect a small flow coming out of the undisturbed leaves and forest floor. The last crossing of the stream was like that - just above the no-flow top of the streambed. Then the snow came and started to accumulate. All the forecasts said snow would come exactly one day later. I still had about 700 feet of climb. The snow became heavy and driven by the wind. The temperature dropped. It was a long, long, long slog to the shelter with several inches of wet heavy snow accumulating. There was some danger in this situation. I was 4th of 6 hikers to arrive and all of us struggled to set up for the night with numb fingers and toes and somewhat impaired judgment (misplacing gear, letting gear freeze that should not, etc.) All came in and got sleeping gear ready and got in to warm up first, then had something warm to eat and drink. Shelters are not windproof. The wind whipped the snow around us. During the night snow continued to accumulate. The wind caused several trees to fall in the vicinity. At first I thought it was thunder. I'll continue with tomorrows entry. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Date: 2017-04-07
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Sam's Gap (I-26, Shuttle to Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 2.5

It became clear that yesterday's hike had exhausted all of us. Apparently these other hikers had a miserable night and woke up with wet sleeping bags, having little if any sleep the entire night. They could not get warm. For some reason my bag stayed fairly dry and I slept about normal, though when I woke up during the night the snow would swirl around me and hit my face (??). The snow had accumulated very deep overnight and was still falling. Older hikers have the reputation of being early risers. Red Goat (another retired hiker) got up as nature called about 5:45 and as is typical he began to prep for the day. There was a flyer in the shelter, placed there by a shuttle service, and it had a phone number to call. I called Red Goat to my end of the shelter and said we should see if anyone could get service and call for a shuttle to meet us at Sam's Gap - 2.4 miles ahead. I strongly urged that no one try to continue the hike north today because Big Bald is the mountain ahead - very high, exposed and only another shelter like this one on it's north flank. (I had been there in 2003). Others began to pop up and express interest in this plan. John Boat, from Minneapolis, got cell service and made arrangements but we had to be at Sam's Gap by 10:15 or he would leave - many hikers stranded in the mountains trying to get picked up to go into Erwin. Five hikers agreed to this plan. One young hiker said he was hiking north. Red Goat, me and John Boat formed an advance party and hiked out first to try and get to the gap and hold the shuttle. We were ready quickly. Tall Red Goat led the way with me second trying to help find blazes on snow covered tree trunks so we could navigate the trail, with John Boat a little slower in the rear - we kept tabs on each other to stay together. We hiked through snow drifts 3 feet deep and were concerned the snow was drifting so fast it was covering our tracks that the others intended to follow. (They did get lost once, for about 100 yards). It was a long strenuous and deliberate trek but we made it. In the gap the wind was sharp and cold but no new snow was falling at the lower elevation. But, Steve and Janet had trail magic set up - fruit (freezing), hot chocolate, candy, raisins, etc., We waited for the other 2 of our party of 5 to arrive about 45 minutes later. The shuttle was not there yet. After that the 6th young hiker came off the mountain, having changed his mind about hiking north and he also came into Erwin. So we are here. I am also taking tomorrow in town as I have to replace some gear that froze - water purification - up at the shelter. All of us have to dry out and re-group before going on. I have talked with Marlene today and that was so nice. I was concerned she might be worried by weather reports and no word from me. I think I will sleep very well tonight. Goodnight Sweetheart.