morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: clear sky

Monday, May 7, 2007 -- Day 3 (Morning)I was too tired to write ajournal entry last night so this will be a recap. I left Hawk Mountain Shelter at about 10 am yesterday morning with Irish and Caveman but fell behind after about 20 min and was surpased by One Love later. What started to be a good morning turned out to be a nightmare. The morning breakfast was burned chocolate pancakes and the stove I cook on was so hot that I melted by plastic spork--I will have to get an aluminum one at Neels Gap. During breakfast Echo mentioned that he heard Army Rangers sneaking around our campsite during the night. It is well known that the Army Rangers from Ft. Benning use these same mountains to train in and the lore includes Hawk Mountain in these training excersizes. Make Tracks also mentioned that sometimes the Rangers will take AT hikers as prisoners for excersize purposes but I think this is just a veteran thru-hiker playing a joke on us newbies. Anyways, I climbed 3 mountain peaks in about 6.5 miles with no water sources available and when I descended on Justus Creek I didn't have another step in me so I camped there for the night. Dinner looked like the gruel they served in the Oliver Twist movie and tasted worse.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Dans Gap

To: Blood Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, May 8   Day 4Camped at Dan Gap last night w/ One Love and their beagle. Today I hiked 5.1 mi. to Blood Mtn., the highest peak on the AT in GA. The view is awesome and even though I am on a strict timetable to get to Maine and am already behind I am staying here to see the sunset and sunrise. Hopefully the weather will be clear. The bugs up here are terrible. There are swarming flies, nats, fleas, and chiggers. Luckily I will be able to delouse in Neels Gap tomorrow where I am taking the day off to re-outfit so my pack is about 15 lbs. lighter and can get 5-7 days worth of food and fuel. I can already feel myself getting stronger, taking fewer breaks and hurting less. Hopefully I will be able to start getting back on schedule! At about 10:30 a.m. today a thru hiker by the name of Chopsticks passed me about 25 mi. from Springer Mtn. In that morning he had hiked from Springer to where I was which took me 3 12 days! I guess I won¢t be seeing him again.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Blood Mountain Shelter

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wednesday, May 9 Day 5It¢s hard to imagine it is only my 5th day hiking. Today I left Blood Mountain planning to take the day off at Neels Gap, about 2 mi. away. Instead I chose to go onward until Hiawasee about another 30 miles down the trail. Right now I am on Tesnatee Gap about 5 mi. to Low Gap and staying at the shelter there. Along the trail today I found an arrowhead for the first time in my life and am excited about that. My grandfather used to buy arrowheads and drop them for me and my brother to find. I wonder if someone salted this one like he used to. Either way I enjoyed it!
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelterr
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday, May 10 Day 6I made the mistake of going to Whitely Shelter last night looking for H2O. I can¢t believe it but the trip was actually uphill both ways - literally. Now I¢ll be able to tell my kids and grandkids how hard times were in my day. It cost me about half a day and I¢m going to really have to move to make it to Hiawassee by tomorrow night. Had a fun lunch w/ 6-pack - he got the name because he tried to hike w/ a 6-pack of beer.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Helen, GA (access)
Miles today: 2.3

Friday, May 11 Day 7I didn¢t make it anywhere near Hiawassee. The hike from Low Gap to Chattahoochee Gap was quite easy. From there to Blue Mtn. Shelter was really hard though and those 2 miles took me nearly 4 12 hours to cross due to changes in elevation and rocks on the rock washes. It was miserable. I decided to take the next day off at Helen, GA for R&R - recuperation and repair. It¢s funny how good and bad things happen on the trail. For instance, after that awful hike I saw a sow and her cubs the next morning on my descent to Unicoi Gap. I was warned by a southbounder named Banra that she saw a ¢Big Bear¢ the day before on the same mountain. I didn¢t think I would be lucky enough to see a bear but what a sight. The 2 cubs ran up a tree and the mamma ran up about 3 ft. up another tree before running down the mountain. As the cubs were climbing down the tree to follow mamma I was able to take picture of one of them as well! Those bears are fast! They can climb trees like squirrels and run like deer. I¢m glad they were scared off by my presence because I was too stupid to do anything but watch them. I guess my trail name Black Bear¢d is now official.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Helen, GA (access)

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: light rain

Saturday, May 12 Day 8Today I left Helen, GA relaxed and well fed after a night in a hotel room and visiting my folks. I got a super-expensive sleeping bag to save about 2 pounds and for extra warmth and switched my water filter for the smaller & lighter iodine treatment. I also switched from a 6 lb. internal frame pack to a 3 lb. external frame pack and may even get an ulta light in the future. Today during a hike to Tray Mtn. Shelter a huge thunderstorm passed by with thunder & lightning and marble sized hail. I was first scared about getting hit by lightning since I was on a mountain top and then I was worried about hypothermia since it was so cold. A 1 mile run w/ my pack to the shelter was a long way. Luckily I am warm and dry.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Tuesday, May 15 Day 11At Deep Gap on Sunday 3 people riding horses came through camp. They had the most southern accent I have ever heard. I couldn¢t understand everything they said but one of them kept referring to shorts as ¢hippie britches¢ and I thought I was the only one who said that. Anyways, the hike from Deep Gap to Muskrat Creek Shelter took all day and was my longest yet. It wasn¢t so bad until I got to the NC/GA line at Bly Gap and the trail just went straight up. I got into camp at about 8:30 p.m. and went straight to sleep. Today I hiked to Carter Gap. Standing Indian Mtn. was not very hard even though it looked like the largest mountain encountered yet (5498'). At Carter Gap I met some nice folks who were finishing the AT and they had started back in 1967. They were very knowledgeable and gave lots of good advice except they didn¢t hang a food bag from a tree but hung it from a string in the shelter. In the morning they justified this practice by saying I snore so loud that a bear would not come w/in a mile of the shelter. I¢m surprised they have been hiking 40 years w/o bear incidents.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Wednesday, May 16 Day 12Today I hiked from Carter Gap Shelter to Rock Gap Shelter. Along the way I met 3 really nice hikers - Ken, David, Dean. We kept on passing each other all along the way and stopped for lunch at Big Spring Shelter which does not have an especially big spring. It was raining all day and I was soaked and cold so I cooked up a warm meal and drank 3 cups of hot chocolate. I will probably be sick soon because after I did this I noticed something was growing in my H2O bladder. Oh well, too late now. David gave me a copy of the new testament and while I appreciated the gesture I decided to leave it at the shelter to save weight. You don¢t need a Bible to be spiritual out here anyways - there are more than enough mountains to do that job. Speaking of which the climb up Albert Mountain (5220') was the hardest yet. The first part was pretty easy but the last 3/10 of a mile seemed like I was hiking along a commercial air traffic lane. After that climb it is hard to imagine how jumbo jets get off the ground.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stari Gap
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

Thursday, May 17   Day 13Well, I bumped into David, Ken, and Dean again today hiking to Winding Stair Gap. David gave me an apple and unlike the Bible he gave me yesterday I put it to good use, i.e. ate it. Every thing I have is soaking wet from the rain yesterday and as a result I am cold - even in the sun. It¢s a good thing I only had to hike 3 miles and change before I could take the day off in Franklin, NC. After a BBQ sandwich and a nice steak I am ready to get back on the trail. I watched some TV in the motel but all the programs seemed boring to hiking and I cannot sit still enough to watch a program from start to finish.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Winding Stari Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

Friday, May 18   Day 14I got away from Franklin today and hiked 3.7 miles to Siler Bald Shelter. The weather today has been the best of the trip yet and I am just out in the sun enjoying all of it I can. Unfortunately, some idiot left their trash here and I am going to have to haul it out tomorrow.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Saturday, May 19   Day 15I had a good view of the stars last night and by chance happened to see a shooting star - it was a big bright one too! If that wasn¢t enough excitement I ran into a bunch of wild hogs at Wayah Gap. They were black, gray, tan, and white in a splotchy pattern and blended in perfectly with the environment. I couldn¢t have been 10 ft. away and could barely see them. You sure could hear them though - sounded like an elephant crashing through the woods! The view atop Wayah Bald was amazing. There was even a map there showing where Greenville, SC was 113 miles away!
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Sunday, May 20, 2007 Day 16If I get bitten by a snake, fall off the mountain, have a huge boulder fall on me, and then get eaten by a bear my worst experience on the trip will be NOC. If I make it all the way to Maine it will still not be far enough away from NOC.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelte
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Monday, May 21, 2007   Day 17Today was a pretty hard day. I was totally tired out and just did not feel like hiking at all. Hopefully a good meal and long rest at Sassafras Gap Shelter will allow me to get close to Fontana Dam tomorrow. The ascent out of NOC was really tiring and long with very little H2O. I guess one good thing today is that I have put more distance b/w me and NOC.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Sassafras Gap Shelte

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Tuesday, May 22, 2007   Day 18The 16 mi. hike from Sassafras Gap to Cable Gap where I am staying tonight was a long one. I have decided to take off 2 days at Fontana Village to keep off my feet. This is the most tired I have been since that 2nd day in Georgia where I felt like I got beat up in a fight.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Fontana Village

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Friday, May 25, 2007 Day 20I am sitting eating breakfast at the Bistro in Fontana Village and am reluctant to leave. My pack weights more than ever since I am carrying ~ 7 days worth of food. Since there is no tent camping in GSMNP I am going to leave the tent behind to save weight until I get out of the park. I have 11 miles to hike today and probably won¢t get started until noon. I am looking forward to seeing Fontana Dam - that is if the terror alert isn¢t high. I have no idea what is going on outside the AT - there could be a 3rd world war and I wouldn¢t know. It¢s amazing how much I can miss something like Pepsi on trail but not miss the news at all!7:30 - I just got to Mollies Ridge Shelter and in the 9.9 miles from the trail head I¢ve seen 2 whitetail deer, 3 bears, and a flock of turkeys. One of the bears didn¢t even run off when he saw me but just took a sniff in the air in my direction and went about his business. Not 50 yard away is a sign saying the campground was closed due to aggressive bear activity!
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Saturday, May 26, 2007   Day 21Hiked to Derrick¢s Knob Shelter today which was roughly 12 miles from Mollies Ridge Shelter. Met a Boy Scout troop there from Alabama and they were very nice. I¢ve decided to go to Double Gap Shelter tomorrow so I have an ¢easy climb¢ to Clingmans Dome tomorrow.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday, May 28, 2007 Day 23I¢m at Clingmans Dome right now which is the highest point of the AT. It is really crowded and loud w/ all the chatter and I can¢t wait to get back on the trail away from all the commotion. Apparently there are miles and miles of coniferous trees that have died due to parasites and acid rain. It¢s a good thing I¢m hiking the trail now instead of later when all the trees are gone and it is even more crowded. Now I¢ve got to go - on a hazy day like this I don¢t want to breath in the high amounts of ozone and other pollutants for very long.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: few clouds

Tuesday, May 29, 2007   Day 24A bear came into camp last night at Mt. Collins Shelter. We tried to scare it away by yelling at it and blowing whistles but it wasn¢t scared at all. Everybody ran into the shelter and locked the fence around it and the bear walked right up to me about 5 ft. away. Seeing a bear up close they are smaller than I expected but their claws are much larger than I expected. So many people have told me of seeing bears in the Smokies and being locked in there like animals at a zoo. Now I know about what they are talking about first hand.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

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

Wednesday, May 30, 2007   Day 25Hiked 12.8 miles today from Icewater Spring Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. The view from Icewater Spring Shelter was the best yet and you could see the sunrise from the shelter right in you sleeping bag. The view from Charles Bunion was the best one yet. I met 2 Gamecock Fans from Columbia, SC at Laurel Top. I also met a trail angel named Rock Dancer who give out food and drinks up north so hopefully I¢ll run into him again!
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday, May 31, 2007 Day 26Hiked to Davenport Gap Shelter today. Stopped by the Mt. Cammerer tower and the view was amazing even in the haze. The entire day was spent hiking downhill and has take toll on my knees unfortunately. Luckily I¢m only going a couple miles to Standing Bear Indian Farm Hostel tomorrow and then home for a dentist¢s appointment.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Davenport Gap

To: Standing Bear Indian Farm
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Friday, June 1, 2007   Day 27I got lost on the way to the hostel but luckily a postman gave me a ride to the hostel. I was hiking in the entirely wrong direction. It¢s amazing how easy it is to stay on the right path on the AT but then go astray when back in town!
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Sunday, June 10, 2007Stopped for 2 nights at Elivers in Hot Springs. Yesterday was the Bluff Mtn. Music Festival so I stayed and extra day to enjoy that. It was the nicest hostel I¢ve stayed at yet even though it looked like a haunted house and even more scarier - served only vegetarian meals. I hiked 10 mi. or so to Spring Mtn. Shelter and it has lots of bugs. If I still had my tent I would probably set it up just to avoid them but I left it aside a while back to save weight. Oh well. I am already getting anxious for Damascus even though it is 2 weeks away. I can¢t wait for things to start smoothing out.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday, June 11, 2007Last night my rope for my bear bags got hopelessly tangled in a tree. I tied a rock to the other end to untangle it but became more tangled w/ each attempt. Hopefully no bears will try to eat my food hung in the shelter while I am sleeping until I can get another one in Erwin. I hiked from Spring Mtn. To Jerry Cabin today - 15 mi. I stopped at Little Laurel S to eat and was told there is no water for 11 mi. so I have another 5 mi. to go until H2O and only about a liter left. The last 6.8 mi. was the hardest 6.8 mi. of the trail - a massive up for 1.5 mi. and then a rocky ridge for another 3 miles but the view was amazing! Right now I am sharing a shelter w/ 2 guys wearing kilts who are pretty funny. The are hiking home to Plutly over the summer. I am definitely ready for Damascus where there are no more hills.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, June 12, 2007Whoever said GA was the hardest part of the AT forgot abut the last 30 miles. Three folks from NC have been keeping up w/ me all the way which is amazing since they aren¢t through hikers - I never would have been able to keep up this pace when I started out but they are real troopers; Bob, Ross, & Patrick if you read this. I can¢t wait to get to Damascus and leave these mountains behind me. The hike today was from Jerry Cabin S to Hogback Ridge Shelter (14.8) and it was tough.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wednesday, June 13, 2007I hiked from Hogback Gap to Big Bald Shelter today (10.8). Today was wet and cold and it is threatening to rain so I am going to read for the rest of the day. I did run into Double Dare again and wonder if they¢ll be coming to this shelter or camping. I have parted ways w/ the two guys wearing kilts - they had to hitch into Erwin to meet friends. They were pretty funny and I will miss their company. I am really looking forward to Erwin - hopefully I can make it there tomorrow if I get an early start but somehow I doubt it.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Uncle Jonnies
Miles today: 16.9

Thursday, June 14, 2007Hiked from Big Bald S to Uncle Jonnies hostel.. Miss Janet¢s is closed which is a shame because that place is a legend on the AT. The view above Erwin is excellent - like you are flying over the town but the descent is very steep and hard on the legs
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Uncle Jonnies

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Friday, June 15, 2007Picking up a package in Erwin and am taking a zero today. Will leave tomorrow bright and early hopefully. I have been having stomach trouble and hope I am not sick w/ giardia, crypto etc. That would be my luck - taking time and effort to purify my H2O while those drinking straight from the stream are fine.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Uncle Jonnies

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

Sunday, June 17, 2007Hiked 16.8 mi. from Uncle Jonnies to Cherry Gap S today. Pretty hike and pretty day, tainted by finding a burning fire at Beauty Spot left unattended and two coolers full of trash a Low Gap. @#%@# @#$%#$% $^#$%^!!! Perhaps the mountain lion should be introduced into the area to help eat trash dumpers.
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday, June 19, 2007Hiked from Cherry Gap S to Roan High Knob S today - about 15 mi. Roan Mtn. was a very steep climb and I am glad I took a zero day yesterday b/c it would have been hard w/o it. A storm came in just after I got to the shelter and it got cold and windy. Another hiker become hypothermic but luckily an army cold weather survival expert from Girelly, Alaska was there to help him. A boy scout troop camped near up and they had to camp in the rain - been there, done that and it¢s no fun.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 14.7

Wednesday, June 20, 2007Hiked from Roan High Knob S to Apple House S (15 mi.) today. As I was walking through the fog of the gardens I came across a couple taking pictures - even though the visibility was ~ 5 ft. The young lady asked me if I had a body in my pack to which I replied, ¢Just one.¢ The weather cleared about noon but the wind never died down and crossing little and big hump was very cold. The Overmountain S I luched at had the nicest view of and shelter and was actually an old barn. As I¢m writing now I¢m w/ a summer camp group and one of the kids is asking if he can throw a butane lighter in the fire. The counselor¢s reply is ¢not where I can see you, otherwise I would have to tell you to stop.¢ Seems these counselors are teaching the kids how the world really works at a young age.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Mountaneer Falls Shelter
Miles today: 10.7

Thursday, June 21, 2007Today I hiked from Apple House S to Mountaneer Falls S. The day started slow. After 12 mile I came across 19E and a sign saying ¢Home cooking -> 1.3 mi.¢ I decided to eat breakfast there and walked 1 mi. before getting a ride for the remaining 0.3 mi. I ate too much and as a result the hiking was slow and hard for most of the day. I did go by the waterfalls which was very nice but still hard to get water from. The Mountaineer Shelter is new, has 3 sleeping platforms and is already covered in graffiti. Some people sign the shelter but not the register! There is also a bear carving there which is scary in the middle of the night b/c you can¢t figure out what it is.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Mountaneer Falls Shelter

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 13.6

Friday, June 22, 2007I hiked from Mountaineer Falls S to Kincora Hostel today. It was a pretty uneventful hike - no sights worth mentioning. The hostel is nice and I can already tell it will be hard to leave tomorrow. To quote a sign in the hostel, ¢My hiking is definitely getting in the way of my trail experience.¢
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Dennis Cove

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday, June 23, 2007(morning) I am still at the hostel but am about ready to leave. I am hiking to Watuga Lake Shelter today for what will hopefully be an easy 10 miles. The weather board at the hostel has weather predictions for the whole week - Sun or showers, high 80, low 40. This written long ago and never changed b/c it is all inclusive. I am excited about going to Damascus and finally getting to Virginia in the next couple days. Hopefully the trail will be easier there like everybody keeps saying but I have my doubts. The only easy part of the trail is that part I have already hiked I believe!(evening) I hiked from Kincora to Watuga Lake S today. Climbing Pond Mtn. I drank an entire gall of H2O and when I got to the bottom I found a beer and got excited until I saw it was Milwaukees Best - I¢ll never be thirsty enough to drink one of those.
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, June 26, 2007Hiked from Iron Mtn. S to Abingdon Gap S today. Just after TN 91 there was a really nice field w/ a bench in it! Whoever owns the land must really like the hikers who go through to put a bench on their land. I am camping w/a youth group tonight and as loud as they are I will not have to worry about bears eating my food tonight - that may go for the mice too!