morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter tentsite
Miles today: 20.3

On the trail from 9:15am to 6.15pm--my first 20 mile day. Today's highlights: 2400' ascent from Pigeon River, flyover of 12 attack helicopters on a training a mission at Snowbird Mtn summit, trail magic at Brown's Gap, spectacular 360* views from top of Maxpatch Mtn, descent thru Roaring Fork stream valley. I'm beginning to be able to hike the long ups at good speed and with few breaks to catch my breath. At the low elevations the colors were the bright green of clumps of spring grass and the chartreuse and light green of just sprouting leaves on a background of browns and tans from last year's decaying leaves. Accents were white speckles of small flowers and the occasional lavender of a redbud against deep blue morning sky way up there. Sounds: an occasional warble of a bird, the pecking of a woodpecker, and burbling of streams draining yesterday's rain against the background rhythmic clomping of my boots, the tic-tic of my poles, and my steady breathing as I made my way up the mountain. On the way up Outbreak and Jukebox passed me along with DonQuixote, but I caught up with them at the top where the copters did their flyover. The top is a big grassy bald with an FAA "tower" all white and alien-looking squatting on the summit. Then it was down again and Hui, a young guy from Hawaii, passed me by positively running/stumbling downhill. He says that gait is easier on his knees. Caught up to Hui at the bottom, another Deep Gap, and followed him up to Brown's Gap without pausing at the shelter. At Browns Gap, Apple from Austin, TX had trail magic set up. Just in time since at 1pm I was looking for a lunch spot. The trail magic was lunch: 3 hot dogs, two pops, and blueberry pop tarts. Inspired by that, I decided to skip the next shelter and set on the climb to the summit of Max Patch Mtn -- a big grassy bald. What can I say, the views were simply spectacular. Outbreak, Morning Fit and Don Quixote were there, and we took turns taking each others pics. The day was clear and the views very long, but even 360* pics wouldn't have done it justice. On the way down, I met some locals on a Sunday afternoon outing, and they gave me a pretzel, some cheese, and a chocolate. They said it was just about the best viewing ever at the top. Their magic hit the spot and, along with the powerbars in my pocket, gave me the energy to make it the additional 6 miles to the shelter. It was full so I set up camp on the ridge above, fetched water, and made dinner by last light next to the fire a group had going. In the tenting area were DonQuixote, Outbreak & MorningFit, Chillout who passed me out of Fontana, Jukebox, and three new people: CatchUp, Carnivore, and Mule, three of the four WildTurkeyBoys. Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter tentsite

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

An easy hike today with only two long ups in the general descent to Hot Springs along the French Broad River. I was 3rd out this morning. Only Outbreak and Morning Fit from the shelter passed me, but later, Hui, Hellbender, and Dinosaur passed during the final 3 miles into Hot Springs. Pretty much a normal hike with some different wildflowers. The trail was very good -- not rutted out from overuse like in the Smokies. I played a little joke on the new group of hikers this morning, which evidently had them laughing and talking all day. In Hot Springs, I'm staying at Elmer's, an AT legend. It's a 150 year old mansion, updated by carpetbaggers into a Victorian mansion after the Civil War. Here are Supersize, Irish, Don Quixote, and Chillout. Just about everyone I've listed since Fontana is here in hostels, motels, or the campsite. A group of us, 11 guys in all, "took the cure" for an hour at 5 then went to dinner at the pub. It helped my stiff knee which I twisted coming down from Clingman's Dome several days ago immensely. Most of us are zeroing here and we will be at the spa again tomorrow. At the pub the younger group from the campground came in and invited me to their fire at the campground. I spent about an hour and a half there, then returned to Elmer's about 9:30. Have signed up for the breakfast in the morning and will have dinner there tomorrow evening after the spa. Elmer's is renowned for its vegetarian fare. In a respite from, Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs NC

To: Elmer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zeroed today as planned in Hot Spings, along with just about everyone who came in yesterday, except a number of the younger crowd have gone over to Ashville for their zero. There will still be many leaving tomorrow. Today was warm and sunny and the forecast calls for continued good weather. Did the usual town things: laundry, resupply, a few needed items at the outfitters, checked the internet and updated Trail Journals. One of the items I got at the outfitters was a knee brace. My right knee has been very stiff in the mornings since I wrenched it in a fall coming down off Clingman's Dome last week. The zero today and relatively short day yesterday along with 2 sessions in the hot tub at the spring have helped greatly. I will be either 4 or 5 days getting to Erwin, TN, where I'm scheduled for my next zero and a visit from Carol. I caught up one of the two days I was behind schedule on the section from the Smokies to here. I might make up another day on the next section. It all depends on how my knee feels tomorrow. There is no cell phone service in Hot Springs. Hopefully, there will be from the mountaintops in the next few days, so Carol and I can commnicate about our rendezvous. Had breakfast and dinner at Elmer's which is strictly vegetarian. Both meals were excellent. The place lives up to its reputation for great hospitality. Hot Springs is the quintessential hiker town. Many thanks to all who have signed my guestbook or sent encouraging emails. Off tomorrow on the next leg.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Elmer

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started out overcast, but by noon it was sunny. Started out at 7:15am and rolled into camp at about 7:30pm, just a few minutes before the sun set. I set up my tent next to Blank, from Pittsburgh, who's out doing a section from Hot Springs to Rural Retreat. He and I chatted while I quickly set up my tent, then I fetched water from the excellent spring in the waning light. Why did I stop so late? Well, there was most excellent trail magic at Allen Gap, just 300 yards from the trail. For hikers reading this, 2 points: 1. If there's no sign there's no magic. 2. Be sure to read the directions--I was so excited about the magic that I had to backtrack 300 yds when I realized I didn't know which house. The other hikers and I went into overdrive for the 3.5 mi to the magic from the shelter where 2 sobo section hikers, Hick Finn and May Pop (who maintain the 1st 2 shelters in MD in association with the PATC (a big thank you to all the volunteer trail maintainers) clued us in about the magic. A big thanks to Hercules & FAL (GA-ME,'99) for being such gracious and generous hosts. The magic turned into dinner for me, consisting of two bowls of a hearty pork stew, a very rich jello salad with mandarin oranges, and for the coup de grace, a brownie sundae. Wow! Enjoying different selections were Afterburner, Jetwash, and Bearcan. I crossed paths with Outbreak and MorningFit as I was arriving, and DonQuixote and NattyBoh arrived as I was leaving. None of us needed to cook dinner, though we arrived a little later than planned. FAL & Hercules, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. There were only two remarkable things other than the magic. There is a new wildflower that looks like a miniature iris, and I had a barred owl land on a branch only a couple yards away at eye level and stare me down. As I brought out the camera, he retreated about 25 ft. Don Quixote, coming after me about half an hour, had exactly the same experience with the owl. The knee brace helped immensely today, but the proof is in the pudding tomorrow. Way past hiker midnite now at 10pm. Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Sugarloaf Gap unofficial camp
Miles today: 17.7

I got up early and was on the trail by 8:15am finishing up at 6:15pm. The day started overcast, but the predicted rain passed us by. By noon it was sunny and blue skies. Today started with about a 1000 ft climb to the top of Camp Creek Bald, which wasn't bald but which did have cell phone service for a call to Carol. There was an interesting exposed ridge walk weaving through large rock formations in such a way I sensed I was in a maze. There were good views from the tops of the rocks and I took a couple of pics. The very end of the day I photographed a waterfall on the way up to this campsite. During the twilight, Outbreak and MorningFit passed my campsite on their way to one they thought was a mile off, but which is really more like 2 miles. Bet they'll be hiking in the dark. Now 9:30 and I'm tuckered out. Maine Ho!
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Sugarloaf Gap unofficial camp

To: Bald mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

Got up early and headed out after a cold breakfast of leftover gorp and power bars. On the trail at 8:15am and got to shelter at 5:45pm. Two other thruhikers were here and father/son both name Paul out on their annual spring break section. Later some locals out for the weekend rolled in; they are bunking upstairs. My knee was feeling better this morning and better tonight than the end of day yesterday. The brace I got at Hot Springs is really helping. About a mile into the hike I passed Outbreak & MorningFit's campsite. Morning Fit had a head start on Outbreak and passed me by but I caught up with her at about 11:15 at the shelter 4.5 miles into my hike. Outbreak arrived shortly and we had lunch and discussed our destinations. They are going for a 20+ mile day to the 3rd shelter in order to get a maildrop before the post office closes on Saturday at Erwin. As I left the shelter, I met Hui and Gunner, who were snacking and also planning a long day. On the way down to Sam's Gap where the trail crosses under I-26, I noticed the smell of woodsmoke--a little out of place on an 80* day. Turns out there was a section that appeared to have been logged, all charred up but no flames. Apparently the wind that came up during the day sparked the fire, as you could see the smoke in the pic I took from Big Bald. Shortly after Sam's Gap, I caught up with Hui and Gunner who were finishing lunch having gotten water from a spring. They soon left. I filtered 2 liters of water and mixed up some gatorade in one of them, ate some gorp and a powerbar, and pushed on in the climb up from the gap. Someone had left some water jugs as trail magic at Street Gap, and I refilled my bottles as it was hot and I was going through a lot of water. Then I came to a high bald and decided to try my cell phone. There was a good signal so I called Carol to tell her to come down to Erwin tomorrow and made reservations for us. From where I made the call I could see ahead to Big Bald Mtn which eventually the trail ascended. The views from the 5500' summit were great and I snapped a pic of me with the fire and smoke in the background. Also took a panorama of 3 shots northbound, one of which showed Erwin in the distance. I'm hitting the hay early as I want to get moving early tomorrow. I have 16.9 miles into Erwin where I'll be taking 2 zeros. The profile map shows mostly downhill whereas today's hike was mostly uphill. Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Cherry Gap Shelter tentsite

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: moderate rain

Woke to thunder at 5:30am and quickly retrieved my bear bag to keep it dry. Soon the rain started though not too hard. I'm going to wait it out, as I don't want to be atop Roan High Knob in a thunderstorm. It was still raining, though not too hard at 7am when the alarm went off. I decided to roll over and snooze. Later the storm brought 1/2 in. hail, so I rolled over again and only woke up at 11:30 when the storm was apparently over. I got packed up, had lunch since I missed breakfast, and wound up hitting the trail at 1 pm. Today's hike was uneventful and relatively level but with lots of 300 to 400 ft. ups and downs. A new wildflower, a yellow lily, the trout lily, made its appearance today. When they really start to bloom they'll be everywhere. The bloodroot are now shedding a scent and they are everywhere. When I got to the shelter only Mr. Breeze and Double Shot were here, so I got one of the prime spots along the left "mouse run" (wall). I put out a line to dry the tent which I'd put away wet, got water, and made supper. Soon a bunch more people rolled in: Moe & Ponch, Squarl, True Grit, Billy Goat, and Crake. Most of us are headed to the famous Overmountain shelter beyond Roan High Knob, a 2500 ft. climb, tomorrow. My knee has felt good all day so maybe the combination of the Aleve and the two zeros helped. It's 9:15pm and everyone is journaling and getting to bed and so will I. Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Not many miles but lots of vertical from 4400' at the shelter to 6285' at Roan High Knob shelter where I ate lunch with Moe&Ponch and Crake. I was 2nd out of the shelter at 8:10 and hiked alone pretty much until lunch. The lower hillsides were carpeted with the green foliage of the wildflowers with a profusion of what we call Spring Beauties at home. On the flatter areas the pointed leaves of the yellow trout lilies predominated. There was an intermediate climb of 500' to Little Rock Knob where there were vistas and I took some pics. Then it was down 900' into Hughes Gap and back up to Beartown Mtn and Roan High Bluff, once the location of a resort hotel that straddled the NC-TN state line. As we moved above 5500' the forest again changed from hardwoods to evergreens-balsams and white pines. This area was quite damp from yesterday's rain and from being in a cloud much of the day. Although it was clear earlier in the day, it became overcast as I reached the high points. True Grit, Moe&Ponch, Squarl, Mr. Breeze, Double Shot, and I are here from the shelter last night. Minnesota Smith and Able Jack are also here, and Ponch and Double Shot are backtracking 2 mi. to the previous shelter to recruit Grinds, who I last saw way back, to move up. There is also a large group of 14 locals from Bristol from whom we yogied the fixin's for bread, chili, hot dogs, and other goodies. The chili was my 2nd dinner. Tomorrow a number of us are headed for a campsite near Elk River then on to Kincora hostel. The knee is still doing well and I am more confident it won't force me off the trail. Maine Ho!
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Elk River Campsite

To: Kincora Hostel, Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 17.5

It's a good thing I had everything under cover when I went to bed as it rained hard last night. When I woke at 6:30am it had just stopped, so I packed up my wet tent, had breakfast and hit the trail even though rain was predicted. I wanted to make the hostel for a dry place to sleep and a hot shower. Pulled into the hostel at 4:45pm with 10-Speed who I walked down with from a bit before Moreland Gap Shelter. Grinds, Slick-B, and D-Rock pulled in shortly, and there were hikers already here including Stumpknocker. Bob Peebles, the affable owner, shuttled 8 of us into town for resupply and pizza. The hostel is full tonight. Some days the trail is good with few roots and rocks in the tread and I go into auto-pilot hiking allowing my mind to wander. Today was one of those days and I really got to absorb the damp forest. The streams were running full after the recent rains and the two waterfalls we passed were quite spectacular. We had every level of precipitation from a condition I would call "damp" where the whole forest seems to be dripping, through cloudlike mists, drizzles, and light rain to heavy rain. Since I didn't have to concentrate on hiking, I could open my senses of touch, smell, hearing, and sight to experience the forest. There were the sounds of bird songs and the sounds of the numerous swollen streams we hiked beside on good sidehill trail. The visual included the mist-shrouded glades of rhododendron and mountain laurel under pine and hemlock trees. When I lifted my eyes I saw the still naked skeletons of the large hardwood trees silhouetted against the steel-gray sky. Twice I startled a turkey and heard the whoop-whoop-whoop of air rushing from its wings as it fled. All the while the precipitation varied as indicated. The morning passed quickly and as the precipitation changed to heavy rain, I found myself not far from the shelter where I had lunch. On the way, I passed 3 adults and four boys from a scout troop who arrived at the shelter shortly after 1pm where they too had lunch. The boys seemed in good spirits in spite of their second day of rain. After lunch 10-Speed and I hiked the remaining miles into the hostel together. He is traveling very light and has previously done the PCT. I'm now back on my schedule and found a package from my daughter Vicky waiting. It had marshmallow peeps, a letter, some jerk spices, and a picture of me with my grandson---all much appreciated. I'll be zeroing here tomorrow then back on my regular schedule. Maine Ho!
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Kincora Hostel, Dennis Cove Road

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a zero and a truly lazy day. I did the usual puttering around to get ready to pack up and leave tomorrow. I considered slack-packing about 10 miles today, but woke up about 2am with a stomach ache which I attribute to the pizza I ate, as several others were also complaining of stomach upset. So I rolled over at 6am and slept in until about 9. When I did get up, I moved slowly and babied my tummy. I started out with a cup of chamomile tea and then drank some orange juice others were sharing. When that seemed OK, I ate the apple and then the two bananas I'd bought in town. In between, I dried out all my gear and organized my food bags for tomorrow. About lunch time, I made 3 poached eggs to top a toasted bagel. It was hard to say no to the greasy kettle chips and cheetos I'd bought to load up on calories, but I managed to keep my consumption to just a few chips and shared out the others with the hikers here. The Cheetos, however, all 1000 calories of them, will go into my pack. Thus fortified and without anything else to do, I took the shuttle into town again, this time for two large vanilla shakes and a broiled chicken sandwich at Arby's and a 2 qt ginger ale bottle to share with Grinds who also has the pizza ailment. In town I had cell service so I called Candace to wish her a belated Happy Birthday and spoke to Carol. I also called Vicky to thank her for the care package I found waiting for me here. When we got back from town, 6 aditional hikers had arrived at the already-full inn. Just about everyone I've named in these journals many of them tenting out back. Andy DuFresnes, whose mother offered the trail magic after th Smokies, has caught up. Nira Duvan, now '42', who I emailed back-and-forth in the planning stage, was among the late arrivals. Soon after I returned from town, I felt chilled as I normally do after eating, so jumped in the sack for a nice one hour nap. As I'm feeling no ill effects from all the rich foods, I'll head out on the trail tomorrow to begin the 3-4 day run to Damascus. Maine Ho!
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Vanderventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

I left the hostel after a breakfast of "real" food: scrambled eggs and toasted bagel. Beautiful hike up Laurel Fork on what appeared to be an old rail bed to stunning Laurel Falls. Saw wild azaleas in bloom, and was overtaken by a sectioner from Maine, Pieces, who is filling in his last miles. I followed him right onto a blue blaze, missing the turn of the AT uphill---and what an uphill it was, steep and long, but with glimpses of TVA's Watauga Lake. Irish chugged by me here and shortly today's slackers passed me going downhill, letting me know I had about another mile of uphill to go. Talk about taking the wind from your sails. Down to Watauga Lake was not bad, as many switchbacks moderated the descent. I lunched at Watauga Lake Shelter a bit after 2, where Sanford was putting an entry into the log covering a contest for most litter between smokers vs all other litterers. It was dead even, but by the time I reached Vanderventer the "all others" had won. Sanford does us all a service by picking up pounds of litter on his hike. Bravo, Sanford! The wildflower color of the day was the deep blue of monkshood, intermixed with the lighter blue of wild geraniums. These covered the hillsides as I rounded the lake toward the dam. After the dam there was more uphill. I noticed my water was running low, and that there was an even bigger climb than this morning. It was a long way to the trailside spring where I had the foresight to pump water for tonight's meal. The water source for the shelter is 1.2 mi roundtrip! I arrived at the shelter about 7:45pm and found Mr. Breeze, Irish, and Pieces there. They made room for me and I quickly unpacked and got some dinner going. I cooked and ate by headlamp. My knee has been doing very well. I skipped the Aleve last night and this morning, but took one as a precaution with dinner. The stomach upset I had at Kincora--from the pizza I think--is gone, thank goodness. It is cold and late so I'm turning in.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Vanderventer Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I was a little slow getting started this morning due to the long day yesterday, but was on the trail at 9:15am, arriving at the shelter at 5:15pm with a half hour for lunch. Had cell phone coverage so I got to speak to Carol before my hike. When I left this morning, I had my pack cover stowed so, naturally, it started to rain within the hour. Fortunately, the rain didn't last long and the day was relatively nice but threatening. The hike was easier today and mostly downhill. The wildflower of the day was the common violet which was blooming in profusion. The downer of the day was the epitaph on Uncle Nick Grindstaff's tombstone on the top of Iron Mtn: "Born alone/Lived alone/Suffered alone/Died alone." Certainly gives me an appreciation of my family and friends. When I arrived only Pieces was here and I claimed the opposite "mouse run" (side of shelter) and took advantage of the privacy for a sponge bath. Just as I finished, in walked the first of the young hiker crowd, and soon the shelter designed for 6 held 8 with some folks relegated to tents with the rain threatening. By 7 the thunder signaled imminent rain, which arrived in force along with two more drenched hikers at 7:30pm. All these young folks came from a shelter behind me. I'm really glad I decided to stay rather than move on as I would probably have been caught in this storm. I'm still within a day's walk of Damascus and a dry bed, shower, and real food. Just going to chill while the rain rattles the metal roof 'til I'm ready to fall asleep. Maine Ho!