morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-26
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 20.4

Cuppa Joe and I were the first to break camp¢¦by 8. He says he has to start early as he is slow¢¦but steady. Although I didn¢t pass him all day he must have been behind me somewhere.It was sunny but very cold and breezy through early afternoon. I stopped at Carter Gap Shelter for lunch. I only took a half hour as I wanted to keep moving to let the body heat build up.The highlite of the day was climbing Albert Mtn. Last year it was mostly cloudy, low ceiling with limited visibility. I remember taking pictures here with Mule, Driver and Goldberry. Today it was sunny and beautiful! I took a nice break and ate some snacks before hiking on. There I met a female hiker, Jake, who seemed to be struggling a bit. I believe she was with a gentleman whose name I did not catch. Although the climb up Albert was short and steep, going down was a breeze. I breezed by Big Spring and Rock Gap Shelters.When I got to Wallace Gap a local friend of the Trail in his pick up pulled up and gave me a ride down the hill a mile to Rainbow Springs. There my nice bed was awaiting for me in my motorhome. And, there was my Blazer that Seiko had returned with. So, I arrived here from Springer the 7th day and that included doing the approach trail from Amicalola Falls. It was on the 10th day when I hiked past this point to Winding Stair Gap (3 miles further) last year. And I felt just as good or better this year than last.On the way down the hill we passed a young hiker, Full Moon who was hiking with his dog, Jesse. At the campground there was Doug using the phone. Got to talking with Full Moon and found he wanted to rest up a day at the Microtel in Franklin. Told him I would run them into town as soon as I got cleaned up. Did just that and dropped them off at the motel and went to Fat Buddy¢s for the best baby back ribs ever¢¦and I mean ever. Had to take a number and wait as people are lined up to get in this place. Picked up a few things at the store and went back and got a good night¢s sleep.I planned on taking a couple of days now, rest up and do some trail magic.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Wallace Gap

To: Rainbow Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Got up around daybreak and fixed myself the best 3 egg and bacon breakfast. Afterwards, grabbed my laundry and went to town. Did my laundry and got to the library as it opened at 10. There, I used the internet for a couple of hours. Read some journals, sent some emails and guest book entries.Ran into Full Moon who said he and Jesse could use a ride back to the Trail whenever I was going back. Left just before noon, picked them up at the motel; dropped them off at the Trail and went back to camp.Later went back into town and bought some things for my trail magic tomorrow¢¦a canopy (that was half price), a cooler, some more hot dogs and buns, etc.Late afternoon I drove up to Burningtown Gap to set up the canopy, chairs and leave some things for tomorrow. I also brought along a cooler full of cold drinks and some snacks. It was a good thing cause I had hikers showing up immediately.I believe it was Nightwind (Zach), Adventure (Henry), Little Bit (Cherie), and Adam that first came by. Adam and company helped me erect the canopy. Those who know me know I always can use help erecting things. (That didn¢t sound right¢¦did it?)Also got a visit from Grizzly Dave. I believe he is a retired State Senator from Iowa. He seemed a bit surprised at the Trail magic¢¦and like a true politician, somewhat leery about a guy out in the middle of nowhere handing out food and drink to people he didn¢t know. He told me it was going well as he recently had ¢new knees¢ installed. The last person today was Snowbird who just completed her first 19 mile day.We all sat around and chatted after which I drove an hour back to Rainbow Springs where I got another good nights sleep in my camper.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Rainbow Springs

To: Rainbow Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Got up around daybreak and fixed myself anther 3 egg and bacon breakfast. Got cleaned up and drove up to Burningtown Gap arriving around 10:30 or so. Got a fire going on the grill and got everything set up. No sooner had I set out the last chair than the hikers started filing in¢¦and there was someone there all day until I packed up and left in the evening. It was a beautiful, sunny warm day (I should have been out hiking). The following is a list of the hikers that stopped in for a bite and signed my guest book: Squirt from Seattle, Deerhunter, AD-Rock, John O & Loose Lucy, Full Moon & his dog Jesse (I had a box of Meaty Bones for the dogs), Lush, Gump, KrispyKritter, Paddler, Beartracks, Boo Boo, Chef, Pappilion, Gaia, Phil Mill, Grant (Fire Marshall), Pegasus, Stumblebum, Cuppa Joe, Bluebelle and Eagle Eye.BTW, it was Eagle Eye that took the prize by eating 4 hotdogs. It was a great day with a great group of hikers. I only wish I could take a whole week like Apple but I¢m a little selfish in I had to get some hiking in too. I did get some pictures that I¢ll post here¢¦only thing I wish I would have taken some better close ups¢¦I¢m not a great photographer¢¦oh well.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Rainbow Springs

To: Rainbow Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Today the plan was to drive to Hot Springs to find someone to shuttle me back here and drive the Blazer back to Hot Springs and leave it there for me to pick up as I hiked through.Got to Hot Springs late morning and went right to the outfitter. Chatted a little with Baltimore Jack and started asking around for someone who might be interested in doing my shuttle. Right away there was a young man who was enthusiastic about helping me out¢¦until he found out the Blazer was a stick shift. One of the guys working at the outfitter was also willing to help, but I would have to wait until he got off work after 4.Also met Burn, who I believe was on his 3rd zero in Hot Springs. We had a beer together and chatted about his hike. Sounds like he is doing well and enjoying himself.Then I ran into this great young couple, Bam Bam and Pebbles. They were more than happy to help me out. After they got cleaned up, we took off for Franklin. These were the nicest young people. We chatted the whole way there and it made the 2+ hour drive wiz by.We got to Franklin at 5 and stopped at the Chinese buffet where I treated them to dinner. We all ate like pigs and it was quite good. Picked up a few things at the market and they dropped me off at Rainbow Springs. Said, good bye to them and my Blazer. Great people¢¦wish they were on Trailjournals so I could follow their hike.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Wallace Gap

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Not a fantastic hiking day but nothing to complain about. It was cool and breezy all day. It only took me a little over an hour to go 3.1 miles to Winding Stair Gap. This is where I got off last year to hitch into Franklin. I can¢t say I remember anything that stood out about today¢s walk. I did stop rest and eat a snack at Wayah Bald (where Apple performed his Trail magic last year). Just about that time I passed Caroline and Adam who I had met at Dicks Creek Gap. They seemed to be doing quite well and enjoying themselves.When I arrived at Cold Spring Shelter around 4ish there was one hiker huddled inside. It was cold and they were calling for rain tonight. The shelter is small, old and built close to the ground. I decided to hike on and find a good tenting site.About a half mile up the trail were some good camp sites with a fire ring and plenty of dead wood around. A young hiker called Sunshine was already set up and I believe I was the 2nd to pitch my tent. As I was setting up camp Caroline and Adam showed up, then a hiker that goes by two initials CJ, I think. Before evening two more for a total of 7 tents.We gathered wood had got a great fire going. It was cold and the ¢cowboy tv¢ did its job. We chatted until after dark and everyone turned in as it started to rain.During the night the precip made a funny sound on my tent¢¦like heavy rain drops falling slowly off the trees. I should have known¢¦the rain changed to a heavy snow. When we woke up at daybreak it was cold and everything, and I mean everything, had several inches of snow clinging to it. It was a ¢winter wonder land¢ as they say¢¦very pretty.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Not a great hiking day¢¦still cool and of course, there was the snow in the mountains. Mid morning or so it started to drizzle, which continued most of the day. If you stopped for very long it was cold and uncomfortable. I was happy to arrive at the NOC in Wesser before noon. Here I had the famous Wesser burger and chatted with CJ and others over lunch. Saw Kickstand who I believe said was waiting out the weather¢¦the snow in the mountains. My big decision was whether to stop for the day (as 90% of the hikers do here) or do some miles in this crummy weather. The forecast was for more of the same and I thought it would be good to get to the Inn at Fontana Dam tomorrow night where there were nice cheap rooms and good food¢¦a great place for a zero in bad weather. So, I was back hiking at 1:30.I pretty much hiked alone up to Sassafras Gap Shelter. The snow was this beady sleet like stuff and the mountains had several inches covering everything. As I walked up to the shelter, with its back facing me, it was one night I was hoping there would be plenty of room. Not to be. ¢Oh no! it was full...there were two decks crammed with hikers in there bags (and a dog) staring out. No one said much¢¦the dog didn¢t even bark. One woman did offer that I could sleep on the overhang area. I looked around and found a level somewhat clear tent spot directly behind the shelter. As I was pitching my tent, Cuppa Joe came out and said they would gladly make room for me. I thanked him, but would much rather tent than be packed in like sardines. I would most assuredly sleep better in my tent. I was lucky as it was the only ¢clean site¢ I could find. I crawled in my bag where I stayed until morning. It also sleeted some more during the night (which I did knock off the tent). It was cold, but I was not uncomfortable.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: light rain

Not a bad hiking day. I was up and hiking before most of the people in the shelter. I did catch up and pass Cuppa Joe. I said it wasn¢t a bad day¢¦I meant weather wise. The Trail had plenty of ice and snow at the higher elevations.   When I got to Carter Gap Shelter I sat and reminisced. I remembered Dag, Mag, Border Riever, Driver, Mule and myself spending a somewhat sleepless night here and a rainy, dreary hike on to Fontana Dam the next day. This time, no one else was there so I hiked on. I wanted to get to Fontana Dam and catch the shuttle at the Marina as I was looking forward to a day of leisure at the Inn.The other thing I did get reminded of was the ridiculous winding PUD trail into Fontana Village. It seemed to go out of the way over every hill along a big U shaped approach. The decline was much longer than I remember and seemed to take forever.   This year however, had good views of the dam itself on the way down. I even stopped and tried to get a picture through the trees. I did pass Sunshine along the way. He wasn¢t sure if he was going into Fontana Dam tonight.When I got to the marina I called the shuttle service for the Inn. While I was waiting I grabbed a cherry coke out of the machine. It was still cool in the shade with a good breeze. The ATC Ridge Runner guy came by and emptied the box where you put your permit to enter the Smokies. He lost some in the wind which I retrieved, He owes me,Checked in and got cleaned up. Made it to dinner where I saw a table full of hikers¢¦a lot of who were at my trail magic the other day¢¦Boo Boo, Bluebelle, Doug, and many others. The weather was going to be crummy tomorrow and I would be on a zero.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Fontana Dam

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

Well, this is why I didn¢t stay at NOC and hiked 3 days straight from Rainbow Springs¢¦so I could take a day off and relax at the motel type resort of the Inn at Fontana Dam. It was one of my favorite stops last year.After having breakfast I went to the Laundromat to do the wash. There I met two hikers who are on Trailjournals¢¦Good To Go and Willie Goat. (although I¢m not sure Good To Go got his name until a few days later) The washer ate an extra 3 quarters so I had to hit up Good To Go for one I needed for the dryer. In return, I gave him some extra detergent.I was planning to do the 2 miles from the marina to the dam but the weather never got decent¢¦ it was cold and overcast with some rain¢¦a good day to stay inside as much as possible. I hung around the room and watched some TV.I got to know a bunch of this year¢s class better at breakfast and dinner. Spent some time talking with a couple of older guys like myself¢¦Bear Behind and Grizzly Dave. Both took today off too. Grant, who spent some time talking with me back at the trail magic, also joined in the discussions. Cuppa Joe, Bluebelle, Boo Boo, Chef, Eagle Eye, Phil Mill, KrispyKritter¢¦there must have been at least 30. And, everyone was taking today off and maybe tomorrow. I couldn¢t see taking 2 days off even though this was supposed to be my ¢leisurely hike.¢ The plan was to be on my way in the morning.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Fontana Dam

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

I was there when the restaurant opened for breakfast at 7:30.   Ate with BearBehind and Grant and immediatedly headed to check out around 8:30. Even though the shuttles back to the Trail don¢t officially start until 9, they were there shortly and I was off hiking by myself. The decision to wait seemed worth it as the sun was out. It was a bit chilly and seemed to get colder throughout the day as I climbed into the Smokies.It wasn¢t bad at first¢¦then came the the snow which eventually covered the Trail. I don¢t remember much else except there were several sets of foot prints ahead of me and I often tried to step in those tracks¢¦it was a little easier.I pretty much hiked alone all day and got to Spence Field Shelter early evening. Already there were Good To Go and WillieGoat plus a couple of weekend hikers. Good To Go and WillieGoat had been hiking in sandals and waterproof socks. My feet were cold and wet in low cut boots¢¦there¢s must have been frozen. They said they were wet and somewhat uncomfortable but weren¢t complaining. The other guys had a fire going in the shelter fireplace as one guy packed in a ¢starter log.¢ ...pretty nice.We all were cooking supper and getting water. It seemed cold and everyone was anxious to get into bed. I had my favorite¢¦instant mashed potatoes and bacon bits.I slept on the upper deck as there was just too much snow to pitch my tent¢¦well let¢s just say I¢ve yet to pitch it over snow covered terrain and I didn¢t want to start now. Bear Behind slept upstairs a few spaces over from me and there were only 7 of us in the shelter that night. No one snored¢¦I don¢t know if that was because no one could sleep or we
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

It was damn cold last night¢¦I think one of the guys said he had a thermometer and it read in the single digits. I had originally thought I could get to Newfound Gap today and hitch a ride into Gatlinberg or even stop at Clingman¢s Dome and get a ride down. Neither were to be. It was one of the most difficult hikes I have done and the Trail had 6 inches or more of packed, frozen, melting, slippery, muddy snow. Of course it was frozen hard at first but it was sunny and that meant slippery later,I did meet up with Chef at the first shelter, Derrick Knob, late morning. He was the last one out. He said it was packed¢¦so stopping at Spence Field last night was a good choice. Even the fallen trees and logs were snow covered. Little had melted and there were few clean dry places to sit down. Rocky Top was sunny and clear¢¦great views and a nice stop even if it was cold and breezy.When I got to Silers Bald Shelter it was too early to stop¢¦around 2:30ish. There were several hikers already in the shelter with a fire going. Talking to Chef, it sounded like the next shelter, even though it was only a couple of miles further, might be full with last night¢s crowd due to the slow trail. The ones there already said anyone could stay as long as they went out and gathered fire wood.I called it a day and immediately fixed Ramon with chicken for an early supper. I then crawled into my sleeping bag to warm up. Bear Behind showed up an hour or two later. I got up and we both went scavenging for firewood. We kept the fire going all night. The water bottles on the floor closest to the fire still froze by morning. The other hikers were nice enough to hang their tents as wind shields over the front of the shelter. Did I mention it was not only cold but windy as hell¢¦even colder than last night. Again the shelter did not fill up¢¦another good decision not to hike on.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

BearBehind told me to wake him up as he planned to hike with me and go into Gatlinberg today also. Actually, I had planned to go in yesterday but it was good that I didn¢t. Word was the highway up to Clingman¢s was still closed and I would have never made it to Newfound Gap by dark. Who even knows if I would have found a ride. I had to get moving because it was cold. I never saw BearBehind again.Another tough day on the Trail¢¦packed snow and ice, some muddy spots¢¦hard to do miles. I got to Clingmans around noon but didn¢t bother to go up on the ramp and lookout. I could see it from the Trail and there was no one there when I went by. It was sunny cold and breezy all day. Not much of the snow was melting and where it was it was a mess. I said to myself, ¢this is no fun.¢ I was out here this time to have a good time and it turned into a ¢job.¢ The Trail surface was more difficult than any time on my thru-hike. Instead of going on to Hot Springs this leg as I had originally planned, I decided to look into getting off at Gatlinberg.Just before I got to Newfound Gap, I passed BJ on the Trail. It sounded like he was going to stop at the next shelter until I told him about the motels in Gatlinberg, I got to the Gap just before 4 and hitched a ride with a family in the back of a pick up. They took me to the park entrance where I hitched and 2nd ride to town.I first visited the outfitter, The Happy Hiker. Looked up my photo from last year with Mule, Driver and Radio Shack. They gave me the business cards for the taxi and a shuttle service, A Walk in the Woods. For a ride to Hot Springs, the taxi wanted $125 and the shuttle $60. I made an appointment for tomorrow morning with the shuttle.I got cleaned up and went to dinner. If you¢ve been reading other journals you know how quickly things can change. One night you¢re freezing in a shelter and the next night watching cable TV on a queen sized bed in a warm motel.
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Newfound Gap

To: Rainbow Springs
Miles today: 0.0

So, I got in over 200 miles this leg and got to meet some of this year¢s class. I had heard of many thru-hikers who hadn¢t made it this far. I would be heading home only a few days earlier than planned. When I return in May for Trail Days I¢ll try to get some more hiking in¢¦if I¢m not partying too much.The shuttle service picked me up at 8:30 and dropped me off less than 2 hours later in Hot Springs. There was the Blazer parked at the Trail by Bam Bam and Pebbles. A couple hours after that I was back in Franklin having ribs at Fat Buddy¢s. Then, Rainbow Springs where I spent the night in the RV. I¢ll resume this journal when I¢m back on the Trail. If not May probably June with Charlie in Vermont or back down South where I left off. See you then.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Massie Gap

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today¢s hike was part of my visit to Grayson Highlands State Park. On Tuesday the 11th I moved my motorhome to campground here which is about 30 miles north of Damascus. I decided to camp here through Sunday, do a little hiking Wednesday and Thursday and attend Trail Days in Damascus Friday, Saturday and Sunday.It¢s a nice campground with water, electricity hot showers and flush toilets. Actually, it¢s not that far off the Trail (half mile from where I parked). The drive up from Damascus was another story. It was a steep, winding and twisting road (which I was warned about), worse than the one to Rainbow Springs. There were lots of nice vacant spaces with most of the tent spots filling up on the weekend.I wanted to stay here to re-hike the Grayson Highlands as it was cloudy, foggy, cold and dreary on my thru-hike. So today, I hiked NOBO eight miles to Old Orchard Shelter. The blue blazed side trail up from the park was pleasant and easy to follow. It wasn¢t long before I reached Wise Shelter. Charlie, Liteshoe and I stayed here last year. It was one of the few places we built a fire¢¦we did it for Liteshoe who limped in late on a cold dreary evening.Today's hike was pretty uneventful but enjoyable. Talked to a couple of hikers at Old Orchard, then turned around and hiked back. So I did 16 miles, but only 8 count towards this journal.