morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-30
From: little laura shelter 

To: fint mt 
Miles today: 0.0

4-30-08 day 32Campsite 1 mile past Flint Mt Shelter.Passed the 300 mile mark today! Another cold night. Not as cold as last night, but felt colder sleeping. Except for an exposed ridge walk for a mile or two, nothing exceptional today and reasonablely easy hiking. Temperature warmed up nicely as day progressed. Because of large group at shelter last night and small size of Flint Mt shelter with no good tent sites, Franklin and I pushed on another mile to this place. A small gap with just enough room for our two tents. Some water just down the side of the gap. Clear skys tonight, but should be warmer. Trail magic burgers tomorrow at Sam's gap, 11 miles away.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: fint mt 

To: street gap
Miles today: 13.5

5-01-08 day 32Tenting at Street gapYet another perfect morning. Reasonablely warm overnight. We are now in an area with development in the nearby hills. Several paved road crossings in the 1st few hours of today's hike. Long slow climb up to Frozen knob. Passed ruins of old homestead a mile up the ravien with stream the trail took us up. All inAll a pretty area. After eventually achieving the top of Frozen knob, there was an open area with good views into Tennessee. A few miles farther was the Hog Back shelter where we stopped for a break. 2.4 miles away from the shelter is Allen gap and trail magic. Of course the trail had to go over several knobs before heading down into the gap.At the gap there was a group cooking burgers, hot dogs and offering other goodies. Pretty much everyone from yesterday was there. At least 15-20 hikers. The people doing the trail magic said they feed 50 some hikers as we were finally leaving, as they were packing up. Its still pretty crowded around here!Key Chain came in just in time to get the last meal. Sea bass was behind him, but hadn't arived by the time Franklin and I headed up the trail. Franklin and I made it about 2.5 miles from Alan gap to this place called "Street gap". A dirt road passes through the gsp here. We are tented just pass the road in a small grassy area with a nice view to the north east. The sky is overcast and there is a wind blowing, making the tent flop around and noisey. No rain is in the forcast, though it looks like it could. Hope it doesn't.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: street gap

To: No Businesses knob shelter 
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

5-03-08 day 33No Businesses knob shelter Was windy most of the night, making the tent flop in the wind and making it hard to get any good sleep. The wind finally did settle down and got some rest. Morning was clear and sunny, again. Getting spoiled by all this good weather. Very unusual for this area, this time of year.Day started with another long, slow climb towards Big Bald. Along the way we traversed a ridge line which has development on the other side. Along this ridge we found trailmagic of fresh baked cup cakes (with chocolate frosting) and a thermus of hot coffee set out each morning by a lady who lives on the other side of the ridge.Eventually we reached the top of Big Bald and good views, including all the development on the nearby ridges. Meet a group of lady day hikers going up the bald as we were coming down. We could see smoke from a fire off on some ridges in the distance. We reached Big Bald shelter about noon and took a lunch break. Then off to do the 10.5 miles to here. It wasn't easy. Another steep accent, followed by a longer decent, an obstacle called "high rocks" took a lot of energy to get up and over. Plus the smoke we had seen earlier was getting closer and it looked like we were going in that direction.Sure enough, we soon came to charred areas along the trail. These became large and more numerous a we went along. In fact we had to run past a section of trail which was burning when we got there. We had hoped we were past the burning areas at this shelter, but we can see fire burning down on the hills below us. The fire line seems to have slowed down since the sun went down, but there is still some glowing areas. Hopefully we are safe here tonight and get past the fire tomorrow as we head into Erwin for a day off.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: No Businesses knob shelter 

To: uncle johnny's 
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

5-03-08 day 33Uncle Johnny's Hostel We lived through the night at No Buissness knob. The fire moving up the ravien petered out after sun set, with only a few hot spots visable. Dispite the shin splints Franklin had developed, we made the 7 miles to here in time to get to the post office before it closed at noon.The hostel wa very busy, with 42 here the night before and nearly that many today. At the dinner run to town, I found a cheap digital camera at Rite-aid, so now can take pictures without worrying about film and can up load them. Lots of hikers, beer, electricity and camp fire ment a late night for most. The fraight trains going by didn't make it any easier to get a good night's sleep.Taking a zero tomorrow to rest up for the next 70 miles, some of which are a little hard.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: uncle johnny's 

To: ZERO
Miles today: 0.0

5-04-08 day 34Uncle Johnny'sLazy day hanging around Johnny's, just resting. Most of the crowd from last night finally pushed on by mid afternoon.The place is much quieter, with mostly the older hikers here tonight. Will try to get out of here by 8 am or so tomorrow ourselves. 70 miles to the next supply stop.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: NONE

To: Greasy creek gap
Miles today: 23.2

5-06-08 day 37Tenting at Greasy Creek gapAnother beautiful day on the AT. The only major obstacle today was Unaka Mt, a stiff climb first thing in the morning. On top is a pine forest stretching for 1/2 mile or so. Looks like your in Maine. Then another stiff decent. At Cheery gap shelter, we found a large garbage bag full of trailmagic left by some slack packers. In it were goodie bags of fruit, candy and bubble soap. As I wrote in the register, "the treats would have slowed us down but the bubbles stopped us cold". We made bubbles for at least a half hour. The rest of the day was suppose to be easy, but a series of PUD's (pointless ups and downs) slowed us down and wore us out. They also played havoc with Franklin's shin splints.The day ended with us at Greasy gap and down to the hostel .6 down the hill for dinner. I had 2 sodas, a Cheese burger, small bag of chips and a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.Then back up the hill to camp out for the night. Tomorrow is Roan Mt, the last major obstacle before the Damascus highway.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Greasy creek gap

To: Roan high knob shelter 
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

5-07-08 day 38Roan High knob shelterSky was a little overcast this morning and even had 10 seconds of sprinkles, but cleared up. Easy walk over to Clyde Smith shelter, then a stiff climb up to High rock knob with some good views. From the top of High rock, a 900 foot decent, but gradual. Now the 2000 foot climb to Roan Mt started. The first 1000 feet was long and gradual, simply tiring. The second 1000 feet was more interesting, as the pine forest, rocks, roots and steeper trail started. Another little piece of New England here.At 6280 feet, Roan High knob shelter is the highest on the trail. Being originally a fre warden's cabin, it is one of the few shelters with four walls and a door. There is a good sized crowd here tonight, more than we have seen in awhile, but thrn we have been camping the last few days.Weather forcast is for showers and T-storms tomorrow, so might be interesting going over the exposed sections of Roan in the morning.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Roan high knob shelter 

To: Overmountain 
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: scattered clouds

5-08-08 day 40Overmountain shelter Over cast skys in the morning and prediction of rain, so was one of first out of Roan mt. Crossed open areas of Roan bald as fast as I could. By late morning, clouds broke up annd sun came out. Mostly easy trail to Overmountain and was there by noon.Overmountain shelter is a large old barn, originally used to dry tobacco leaves. It sits near the top of a very senic valley. Then the wait for the party started. There already was a good sized group waiting who got there the day before and more rolled in as the day progressed. By the time the Appalachian Sate trai crew group showed up with the food and a keg of beer(!) there were at least 40 hikers at the shelter with a large tent city forming. Many burgers and hot dogs were consumed and the keg of beer went dry in about 2 hours. A beer run was organized, which took about 2 hours to complet with another 5 cases of beer to finish us all off. A fair wind had been blowing up the valley all day and after dark it really started to get strong and with it rain moved in. The wind would shake the whole barn and blew down some of the tents, which were all set up in an exposed area near the shelter.The party didn't full wind down untill midmight.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Overmountain 

To: Mountainer 
Miles today: 17.3

5-09-08 day 40Mountaineer shelter It was still overcast and occasional rain in the morning. Looked like a good day to take it slow getting up and moving. We lost Franklin this day. He finally decided to get off the trail and have his shin splints looked at. He got a ride out of there with the college kids who did the beer feast for us all. We alsp lost Sea Bass who will be visiting with his family for a few days. So its just Key Chain and myself left of the April 1st group. About 10 am it looked safe to leave and got going. The hike over Little Hump and Hump Mt was long and exposed. The fog was thick and the wind so strong it was picking up water from the grass and making seem like rain. Obviously, tnere were no good views. Apple House shelter was eventually reached after a long decent with many areas of slick rocks and tree roots, making paying attention to where the feet were placed important. At Apple House, I hooked back up with Key Chain and Johnny Thunder, who had left before me. After some lunch we all headed out for Mountaineer shelter about 2:30, some 9.2 miles away. The trail took us up an open valley, which at one time was a farm from the looks of it. From the top there was a nice view back from where we had started. At about 4 miles in we stopped to see Jones falls, a nice larger cascading water fall. By this time it was 6:30 with some 4.5 miles to go. Thankfully the trail leveled out so we made good time and reached it just Before dark. Only Banjo was already here, then a short section hiker arrived. Quiet night compared to last night ! Just swatted my first misqueto and the peepers are out - getting into late spring now.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Mountainer 

To: Kinkora hostel 
Miles today: 15.0

5-10-08 day 41Kinkora hostel Cool and overcast in the early morning, so we waited a bit before heading out. Cleared up and warmed up in the late morning. Fairly easy trail at first, then a number of PUD's just to tire us out. Mostly a wooded ridge walk, only one view as we headed down to Dennis cove road. With 15 miles or so to do and trip to towm at 5:30, could not delay. As it turned out, the ride was an hour early that day and theynwere hesding out just as I approached the driveway. Thankfully, Pat saw me waving and stopped, so got the ride to town.The hostel was pretty much full when I got there, but was able to get a bunk.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Kinkora hostel 

To: ZERO
Miles today: 0.0

5-11-08 day 42Kinkora hostel.Took a zero day as forcast was 70% chance for rain. It held off for most of the day, but got stormy towards evening. The ride down to town was in a heavy rain. This was exciting, as the road is narrow, steep and twisty. I bought a steak and the fixings and cooked it on the gas grill at the hostel for dinner. The wind was strong all night, with occasional heavy rain. It also got much colder. Was glad to be inside a warm place for this night. Place was overflowing again this night.
Date: 2008-05-11
To: Watuga lake 
Miles today: 10.6

5-12-08 day 43Watuga lake shelter. The storm pretty much blew out overnight, but was still overcast in the morning. Because I had bought a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon for breakfast, we didn't get going until about 10 am. Its hard to leave a hostel, especially when it is still overcast and cold out.But eventually Key Chain and I left. The first few miles of trail were flat, then dipped into the Laurel river gorge. At the bottom is a nice cascading water fall. Eventually the trail climbs out on up to Laurel Mt., a 1700 foot climb all together. Then all the way back down to the road, with this descent a lot more gradual then the climb up was. After a short rest at the side of the lake at the road, we headed for the shelter. About halfway there, a party was in full swing. I stopped for a beer, but decided to push on to the shelter instead of staying with the party crowd. I've had enough of that lately and will soon be in Damascus right in time for trail days, another major hiker party.The shelter here is full also, we are packed in tight. It will be an early night for a change, the last few being late nighters. One last climb to do tomorrow and then we are on the fast track to trail days.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Watuga lake 

To: iron mt shelter 
Miles today: 13.7

5-12-08 day 43Iron Mt shelter Clear and cool morning. Apparently the party down by the lake went on well past midnight, so good thing I went up to the shelter and got a decent night sleep. Key Chain stumbled up to the shelter and tented about midnight also. Once past the dam, short steep climb onto the ridge and onto the "Damascus highway", as it is less than 40 relatively flat miles to Damascus. We are nearly out of NC/TN and onto the ridges of VA. About 20 hikers here tonight as we bunch together for the final push to Trail Days. Might try to make it all the way tomorrow as the forecast is 80% chance of rain Thursday. A real dirty and shaggy sheep dog which was hanging around the beer party and a little beagle/hound dog which was hanging around Watauga lake shelter followed us all up to this shelter. If they follow us all the way to Damascus, they might get adopted.A short section hiker was just on his cell phone trying to explain to his wife how to record with the VCR, doesn't sound like it was successful. Tenting out as the shelter is full and it is a clear night. I'm afraid I might be coming down with a flu a few of the hikers have picked up recently. Hope not. One reason to try and make it all the way to town tomorrow, so can avoid getting wet and chilled.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: iron mt shelter 

To: Damascus 
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: clear sky

5-14-08 day 45Was up early as had big day to do. Not a whole lot of sleep with the nagging cough as the cold took hold. First 5 miles went quick, then detoured off on the Iron Mt trail, the old AT. This was reasonablely easy for awhile, but got increasingly difficult at about the 6 mile marker. This trail has mile markers, so you can tell how far you've gone. Following the top of the ridge line, the trail turned into a roller coaster. Up and down and up and down, endlessly. The flu I was suffering from didn't make it any easier. It looked like only an occasional bear and deer had used the trail for sometime. A burn area cleaned up the trail for a couple of miles. I finally got to mile 15, with only 3 more to go for about a 24 mile total day - longest yet. Somehow I missed a turn on the trail and ended up on a section of abandoned trail. I was too tired to turn around annd go back when I realized I probably wasn't on the right path. Since it seemed to be going in the right direction, I continued to follow it, though it got very faint at times. After some serious bush wacking, the abandoned trail did come out to the road, but 5 miles from town! After walking about a mile of that, someone stopped and gave me a ride the rest of the way. Another 4 miles of road walk ontop of what I had already done would have killed me! There was thankfully an open bunk at "The Place". Didn't want to risk camping in the rain which was forcast for overnight -and did.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Damascus 

To: Damascus 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

5-15-08 day 45Damascus "The Place"Spent most of the day in my Bunk with a fever and sleeping on and off. Not too much sleep durring the night between the snoring and my hacking. I too a cussion off a chair to use as a back rest to prop myself up a little and that helped a lot. About 4 pm I finally got up and went outside to have a smoke on the front portch. Unfortunately, The Place has a no smoking anywhere on the property rule and I was caught by one of the monitors. I was rudely told to immediately pack up and leave, rather than nicely asked to please follow the rules. I was after all outside with no one else around to bother, not that anyone has ever been bothered by my pipe smoke. Most everyone says it smells good.So I packed up and had to move to tent city on the outskirts of town. I was going to leave a significant donation at the place, but after being thrown out, I didn't donate anything and noted by discust with the stick no exception enforcement of the rules in the register there, not that anyone there will care.I was able to score the free church home cooked meal though, which was pretty good dispite the fact I was still a little too sick to eat much.After dinner I went over to tent city, paid my $5 fee and found a spot over in the quiet area. There were already several 100 tents set up. I hit the sack right at dark, while most every one else started to party. It started to rain again about 10 pm, so it quieted down quickly after that.I sleeped pretty well and stayed reasonablely dry. In the morning I was felling much better.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Damascus 

To: Tent city
Miles today: 0.0

5-16-08 day 47Damascus, Tent cityThe rain cleared up in the morning and it turned into a nice day. This being Friday, the vender area was getting busy and more and more people started to filter into town. I went to the "cowboy caf©" for breakfast and meet "Peregrine trail dancer" there. Had not seen her for a while with all the slack packing she had been doing. Not likely to see her again, as she was about to head out of town.Later I got a free shower at the FEMA shower trailer and scored a free lunch someplace else. Wandered up and down the vender area and talked to several. Then finally back to tent city for the last time. Meet up with Gary, a.k.a. "MacGiever" a fellow ham radio guy who carried one of my ATS-3 radios on the AT last year for 1000 miles. Free dinner of venison stew tonight.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Tent city

To: Saunders shelter 
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

5-17-08 day 49Saunders shelter.First thing I did after getting up was run to the porta-potty and squirt out most of the free food I had been eating. Took a couple of trips and turned that was not the end of it for the day. Lots of greecy food takes its vengeance. Went to the food store and bought food for the next few days on the trail, basically need to resupply breakfast foods - cinnamon buns and apple pies. Also got the "breakfast special" from the deli. Back to the vener area to wander around some more, pack up the new food and then get the fireman fried chicken lunch. Finally heading out of town just as the hiker / water fight parade was getting organized. There was some confusion on my part as to which way the trail headed out of town, a I came in in an unique way, following that old abandoned trail. But finally got it sorted out. The trail was reasonablely easy for the first 8 miles, more or less following the creepern trail most of the was. Then a long 2 mile climb to get up here to the shelter. Only one other person here "5 Stones" someone I have not meet before. Most everyone else is still in town and will be leaving tomorrow, which is why I left for here today. The gang I've been with the last month or so is finally breaking up. One last note, saw 2 deer behind the shelter about sunset. First large wild life I've seen so far on this trip.
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Saunders shelter 

To: Lost Mt shelter 
Miles today: 6.4

5-17-08 day 50Lost Mt Shelter Dark clouds in the west when I got up this morning. Sure enough, light rain started a few hours later. Pleasant 6 mile walk from Saunders to Lost Mt. Rodidenrums are starting too bloom. Part of trail used Creeper trail to cross a big ravien and river crossing on old RR treassle. Other parts of trail went through valley with streams. All inAll a pretty walk in the woods.When I arrived at Lost Mt shortly before noon, "5 stones" had already set up camp in the shelter. I thought he would be half way to the next one, but when it started to rain, he decided not to go on. I agreed that it was a good idea not to climb another 2000 feet into the clouds, so stopped for the day also. Rain, somewhat heavy at times occurred the rest of the afternoon. More hikers eventually started to roll in, to the point of having a good dozen here now. Only about half are thru hikers, the rest just out for a feww days. One of them is a former Lt. Governor of Virginia of all things! Its amazing the people you can meet out here!One of the thru hikers to show up was "Sweat hog". I've spent the night next to him before and will not again - he has to be loudest and most presistent snorers I've run into out here yet.Since the rain had tappered off, I went out to set up my tent and move out of the shelter. Of course, it decided to start to rain again, quite heavily, just as I started to get things spread out on the ground.The rain has again stopped, it looks like for good this time, but everything is now damp or wet. At least I'll sleep tonight.It should be a nice day tomorrow to go up and across the Grayland highlands.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Lost Mt shelter 

To: Marion, Va
Miles today: 2.3
Weather: light rain

5-19-08 day 50Moterinn , Marion, VARain stopped overnight and dried out best I could before heading out. Only made it about 2.5 miles and found "Cool Breeze" with "Guns" car at a road crossing. Shortly later "Guns" gets there and after some discussion, it turns out I could get a ride to the Bus station in Marion with Cool Breeze, who is also taking another hiker a little farther up the road. I really hate to miss the Grayson Highlands, but with my lingering cold and forecast of more rain tonight/tomorrow, figure its best to take the escape route rather than stagger along for a few more days. So off we go to Marion, a fairly long, but very scenic drive. Once at the bus stop in Marion, I buy a ticket for home. Turns out the bus leaves at 10:45 pm. I could leave today, but really need to clean up first and get some more rest. So, up the road to the motel. Once there I find out "Peregine" is also there, having arrived yesterday and is taking a zero, so we have a chance to catch up and talk for a while.
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Marion, Va

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

5-19-08 day 50Moterinn , Marion, VARain stopped overnight and dried out best I could before heading out. Only made it about 2.5 miles and found "Cool Breeze" with "Guns" car at a road crossing. Shortly later "Guns" gets there and after some discussion, it turns out I could get a ride to the Bus station in Marion with Cool Breeze, who is also taking another hiker a little farther up the road. I really hate to miss the Grayson Highlands, but with my lingering cold and forecast of more rain tonight/tomorrow, figure its best to take the escape route rather than stagger along for a few more days. So off we go to Marion, a fairly long, but very scenic drive. Once at the bus stop in Marion, I buy a ticket for home. Turns out the bus leaves at 10:45 pm. I could leave today, but really need to clean up first and get some more rest. So, up the road to the motel. Once there I find out "Peregine" is also there, having arrived yesterday and is taking a zero, so we have a chance to catch up and talk for a while.