morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Todays start 7:oo am sharp. Impatient to reach Hot Springs. One o'clock there !Easy walking mostly on good pathes uphill.Before I had a shower I decided to have a big salad SALAD ! with potato and sour cream at the diners with the row of motobikes in front.Hot day but nice and easy walk in the shade. Nearly every mile or so the vegetation changes and the last part of the way I had Mtn. Laurels alleys or fine smelling Pinewood, respectively.I am staying here at Elmers Halls' house. A GREAT place. A Victoran house, wonderful rooms, wonderful little garden, wonderful furniture, countless books in nearly every room, wonderful veranda with rocking chairs, wonderful, wonderful, wunderbar.....He and his helpers serve vegetarian evening meals and breakfasts. I am looking forward to it. Fortunately the dinner is soon.1 big black rat snack again this morning. Is it the same I mentioned already ?
Date: 2004-05-22
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

ETA (voraussichtliche Ankunftszeit) Damascus has changed ! I am much faster, than I thought I would be.It is now 6.6.04. Fuer alle meine lieben Freunde, die mir was schicken wollen. Ich freu' mich drueber.I am afraid, my writing is a bit a higgeldy-piggeldy. No structure at all. But I hope, not too confusing.Yesterdays dinner and todays breakfast: I have no words for it ! Sooooo goood !2 Aussies at the big table, 1 German and countless Americans. All ages (except kids). I am glad having a next "round" until I'll leave tomorrow. Just finished lunch (3:00 pm). 5 hs from now to the next meal.Hot Springs is a hikers town. Elmer told me, many former thru-hikers make their living now he. Like himself. Even the 2 physicians here are former thru-hikers. The outfitter is a pretty good shop with competent staff and reasonable prices. Yesterday afternoon one hiker after another dropped into the "town" and I met the whole bunch I was walking with during the last days. The small main street was busy. Grocery, outfitter, bank, Post office, everybody met at the laundry's picnic table, wearing the rain-gear since all other clothes were in the laundry, Diners, Coffeechop, pub, library. A hustle and bustle wherever I went. And, you bet, I did my best and hustled and bustled as well. Funny to see the many hikers trying to find packs and parcels for sending different items back home or to their next maildrop. Every alternate hiker walked around carrying a more or less big parcel. And this morning at the outfitters the PC with the UPS connection was running hot and half the floor in the shop was covere with hikers packing up and struggeling with their (partly) new gear. As for me, I only had to packe the food for the next 5 days. Chanced my tactic. Or at least, I try a new one. Hopefully it lessens the rummaging in the food bag. Have now 1 big Ziploc bag per day with breakfast, dinner, 2 Power Bars, 1 Snickers.Yesterday = Friday evening = every friday evening: Blue Grass live music at Paddler's pub. I had my first glass red wine ( first alc at all since I moved into the USA). The musicions were a good amateur group (bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle and vocal) and some people danced. Or at least it looked like. They must have been teached by one of the local black bears. It was a great atmospere. I felt again like being in amovie. In Germany they play one at the very moment: "Schulze gets the Blues". I was in before I left and I can confirm: the reality is congruent with the phantasie. As everybody has to admit - this doesn't happen often. Quite the reverse, mostly the reality is unlike the reality. And it proves again: Amerika ist das Land der unbegrenzten Moeglichkeiten, indeed. Or: Everything can happen in America. Easily.
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

After a loooong hearty breakfest with a bunch of international people again and friends of Elmer, I left this great place with a bleedin heart. Everybody wished me a good time and I made ahilarious photo with the Boss and his staff in the kitchen.10:30 I left Hot Springs to hit the trail anew. Not far to go today. Originally I planned to pass the shelter and pitch up my little red tent somewhere in the woods. But just before I reached Rich Mountain summit a heavy thunderstorm came up. It was not cold but it rained torrents and worse, all around me the lightenings came down withourt ceasing. Than I heard a load noise. Loud, deep vibrations. Going on without ceasing as well. The first moment I thought it might be a bear. Bad tempered due to the bad wather perhaps ? Looking for somebody to be blamed for ? ME ?But than it struck me. Not the lightening, luckily. The metalllic Fire Tower on the summit ! It was "singing". Electric tension ? At any case it was no question what to do. I didn't dare to proceed my way, threw the poles away, took off my rucksack and crouched down feet together on a little stone in the steep slpe beside the trail. Even exhaled trying to be so smal and tiny as possible. The trail was not trail anymore, it was a torrent. I had to sit it out and did so. Meanwhile I had time enough to mull over what I'd like better: an attacking bear or being in the center of a thunderstrom right on the top of a hill.At the end I arrived , nearly dry again, the shelter where I, unexpectedly, met K-Bear, Trogdor, Mecury and 3 Irish blokes. We found out, that Mercury must have crouched down during the Thunderstorm not very far from me. The shelter an old and small one. Placed in a small col on the ridge. Nice and friendly spot. We had a peaceful evening.
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Spring Mtn Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Great hiking day again. Weather was holding. I practiced the whole day my rain-magic: have the rain gear always handy !. That means outside the rucksack. What makes the rucksack pretty uncomfortable to carry. But I stay possibly dry. I decided to pracitce that from now on every alternate day.The todays about 16 miles took me longer than expected since there is this awsome ridge to walk after having passed Bearwallow Gap. A nearly alpin stretch and very strenuous for me. But worth it ! Great views !INFO: in no case cross this ridge when a thunderstorm is in the air ! One is about 1 h completely exposed. Only low growing rhododendron arond and it is hardly possible to go fast. Before entering the ascend there is a big sign which shows a bad weather diversion.(later Rowbow told me, he had been on the ridge during the thunderstorm and is still amazed that he is still alive)After the ridge gentle stoneless path to the shelter. Where I sit in now and look out. Mercury came in late. He has injured his left ankle severly. Could hardly walk but did the ridge with the injured foot. Typical !
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Early start on a foggy morning. Ascent to Big Rock trough a grassy area with big trees here and there. A turkey flew up. I liked the atmospere very much and hoped to see some people from the other land. But I didn't. Later bit of rain, lots of rhododendron again and than sun and shade playing together in the bright green woods. Easy walking on gentle pathes. here int the shelter I met again Sparepcket and a hiker I haven't met as yet: "One-Thing". He finds it important to do one thing right and completely and with all his heart. Better than to begin many things not doing one of them right. He is right.He is wearing a kilt. NOT A SKIRT ! That makes it easy in case he gets lot we find. One can ask:"Have you seen a guy with a kilt ?"Before you ask: he wears a shorts under the kilt. Whether he wears underwear too, I don't know. I recommended not wearing anything under the kilt in case of diarrhoe. He found this idea cool.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Nolichucky River, Chestoa Bridge
Miles today: 26.0

Whow, what a day ! It began great and ended nearly in a disaster. Easy walking across the country. Bald foggy summit again. Later again a few Ladyslippers and Jack-in-the-Pulpit now and there and Plox. Mayapple bloom is gone. Grass is hight. Leaves are fully out. All in all a lush vegetation. Disturbed some female white tailed deer and again a Garter snake. Many tiny red salamamders. Excellent forthcoming. Arrived at No Business Knob Shelter (My original todays goal) at 5:45pm. 2 Foodbags were already hanging. But, strange, in one corner of the shelter beneath a matt and a sleeping bag some clothes and some other stuff were scattered. No hiking clothes, no hiking gear to see. Nobody there.1 Entry made by a fellow hiker that described this situation. He has stayed here 2-3 hs and has left the place just half an hour before my arrival since he found this situation weird. So did I. I fetched some water and thought it is better to press on 5,3 miles more to Chestoa Brdge where is a hiker hostel located directly at the bridge. Or, maybe, camp a bit further on. Set of at 6:30 in the beginning rain and pressed through in no ceasing heavy rain. Water in the boots after 5 min. I reached the hostel at 8:30 just before it gets dark(after more than 13 hs walking, 26 miles, more than about 1.000 m up and about 1.300 m downhill). WHAT A LUCK, IT WAS OPEN ! I was in alone, had a shower, had a soup. Outside heavy rain all the time. It is nearly 11 pm and slowly I relax and feel tired. I hope neither K-Bear, Sparepocket nor One-Thing mad ist alone to the shelter. Hopefully they stayed together at the campsite near Spivey road this night.Thank you left foot, thank you right foot, thanks a lot both legs and thanks to my whole corporeal and mental self. Good night.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Nolichucky River, Chestoa Bridge

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Erwin ! The biggest place so far since I have started. Cool !Moved from Uncle Johnny's Hostel, what is a good place to stay, to Miss Janet's Hous in Erwin. Miss Janet's is famous. Lokated in a typical street, one neat, silent, lifeless and clean house beside the other and than: Miss Janet's. The veranda full hikers. In an out, out an in.About 2 minutes after I'd left Johnny's Hostel a pick up stopped and the guy asked me whether I want to go to MJH. I took the offer, you bet. He drove me to the house and, big hello ! The veranda was crowded with nearly all the hikers I had met the last 2 weeks. A hustle and bustle. Some ready for set off, other rummaging in the rucksacks, 2 sitting in rocking chairs with tendinitis."Hey, here you are !" "Good bye", Photo, "See you later", "You will catch us up", Photo, "Take care", and so on. No question. I decided to stay here today. Anyway, I am too fast. I feel good, no pain anywhere in my body. But better taking a break after the long adventure yesterday. I don't want to risk suffering a tendinitis as well.Took over my bed, threw my very few clothes into the washing machine and off for lunch to Burritos Place. Sit here now at the window tho the main street, eating a Quesadilla and drinking strange sweet stuff. People and cars are passing by, short stop at the traffic light. Whow, this place is busy. Sun is shining. it couldn't be better.Before I went to lunch i had to fetch some money at the ATM (Geldautomat). That is funny since the ATM's are constructed for car-traffic only. So, as a walker one has to queue between the cars. It is an experience to feel like living monster between metallic 4 wheeler but, honestly, I prefer the German way.Another funny thing is, I begin more and more to re-supply out of the "hiker-boxes". These are boxes placed in every hikers hostel and sometimes at the outfitters where hikers drop things in they don't need or want any more. That can be anything: clothes, fuel, oatmeal, Ramen-noodles, instand food, powered milk, watterbottles, Ziploc bags, bandages, etc. The packages from the supermarket are oftenly so big that one doesn't need all of them and many hikers send too much food to their maildrops. I was teached by K-Bear the other day: "before you buy something, go to check the hiker-box." And so I do now.1. Found Oatmeal, nuts, dry fuits and powdered milk for the next 6 days breakfast. Took some of it.                  2. Found small butan/propan canister, nearly full.Took it.3. Found the notorious Ramen-noodles en masse. Took 3 packs.4. Found 1 pair of good walking socks ! Needed new ones urgently. One of my own pairs are nearly gone. Took it.5. Found a lot of stuff I didn't need at all. Left it.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Erwin

To: Cabin near Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After a long late breakfast Janet shuttled the 4 of us (Sparepocket, One Thing, K-Bear and me) to this cabin Sparepockets friends hav rent for the weekend. One the way we stopped at a supermarket to stock up for dinner. I wanted to prepare salad and pasta with zucchini/tomato/creme sauce (hopefully the others will like it). It doesn't sound interesting, I know. I mention it since it was hilarious at the supermaket. I bought several kinds of salad and the staff didn't know what to charge for it. They couldn't find the salads at the price list since nobody knew the names of the different salads and herbs and I was asked about the names. But I mostly knew only the German or Italian names and so we tried together figuring out the right one. Everybody gathered at the "paypoint" and we had a great party while I was explaining how to prepare and "Italian" mixed salad (pretending I know how).The fellow hikers bought a lot of other stuff and we are going to have a real great dinner this evening.After having arrived at the cabin I had my first wonderwonderwonderful coffee with hothothot milke since I lef Europe. I was amazed that this kind of coffee was completely unknown to the American friends. I am not sure if they liked it.And than we sang a bit: "I like to be in America..."Todays best thing, you won't believe it! The red, heart shaped jacuzzi in the cabin. I always knew they exist. Those red, heart shaped jacuzzies but I'd never seen one, so far. Let alone, used one.In fact, I don't like jacuzzies. I took a shower.K-Bear is in for hours now. With a book, watermelon and hot chocolat.
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Cabin near Damascus

To: Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Sparepockets friends arrived in the morning. Three lively ladies and 2 dogs. Big hello !Breakfast conversation while showing the trail pics:1. Friend: "What's the name of this mountain ?"Sparep: "Don't remember. Big Ass Mountain ? What do you think, One Thing ?"One Th: "Well, we climbed many Big Ass Mountains, didn't we ?"Friend: "And how do you dig a whole for the human waste?"(human waste, auf Deutsch Scheisse. Man drueckt sich hier sehr fein aus. The hikers dig a whole in the woods to shit in and close it with earth and stones)Sparep:"I use my boot or the hiking pole"One Th:"It depends how much time I have."
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Nolichuky River Bridge

To: Curley Map Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

5 o'clock am in the cabin. Torrents of rain are coming down and heavy lightenings brighten the early morning. One Thing is wearing his rain poncho (same colour as the jacuzzi) even in the cabin. After having watched the local weatherforecast he went to bed again. Without saying a word. I know, you won't believe it but it is true: he went to bed with his rain poncho on and his biggest earplugs.Nevertheless, we did 4,2 miles today ! Rain has stopped later. Trail more like a wild stream than like a path. Due to the persistent high rain possibility and the very late start we decided to stay at this first shelter. And, anyway, we are all still filled up with food until the upperedge of the lower lip and are hardly able to waddle along at all after the 3 days lazy days in the cabin (with the red, heart shaped jacuzzi).There, after having stopped to talk about food and gear we started talking about "dirty" things. Like teenagers. Trailmagic ? Eventually we found beside our "good" trailnames "bad" trailnames, not to say nasty trailnames, not to say naughty trailnames for each of us. We have very naughty trailnames now but they are secret and no one of us dares to publish them in the TJ.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Curley Map Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

One of the best days, so far. Not too hot, not too cold. No rain. Great views. Nice stops. Every few miles "another" forest. Enough water. Not too far a walking distance.Not easy to mention sth bad today - hang on ! I have it: Not enought hooks in the shelter.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Yesterday 24 hs without rain after a long time. I had at least 1 heavy shower every day or night since entering the Smokies. And today, so far, nice sunshine and a breeze. Highest shelter on the AT (6.285 feet = approx. 2.070 m). Wind has ceased in the evening, shelter is the old Fire Warden Cabin. Dark, not so nice. But I am too lazy to pitch up the tent despite the good tentpads nearby.I guess the 3 days in the cabin have spoiled me.Nothing particular happens. I am sorry for being boring.The ascent to Roan High Knob is not so long (700 m) but really steep and I was glad to reach the shelter eventually. Altogether 1.300 m up today. Time to prepare my dinner. Today: dehydrated beans with a I don't know what sauce.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Doll Flats Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Another 24 hs without rain. This is what I call a day. A walk like in the Lke District in England - without rain. Nearly all the day on the "fells" (=bald ridges and tops) with outstanding views.Yes, there are views on the AT. Not many, I admit. Could be more of them.Bit of a headache from the sun. Must get used to it again. This is the last day in the hight regions (often more than 2.000 m). From now on the mountains are becoming lower.The night yesterday in the hight shelter was cold and a cold morning said "Hello" to me. This night I stay with the 3 other hiking maniacs camping at a nice spot at the edge of the forest with a view to a summer meadow. High grass and many flowers. Have pitched up my new tiny summer tent (winter tent didn't dry anymore and is on the way back home) without the fly. Hopefully I can see the stars tonight.Time for sending the rest of my winter gear home.Soon fly in use. Starting at 9 pm heavy rain for hours.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Doll Flats Campsite

To: Campsite 4.6m south of Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Up at 5 am. Rain has stopped and began anew after breakfast. Had to pack inside the tent. I love it ! Than, hurry up, during a rain free moment broke the tent and off at 7:30. One Thing was already on the go and I met him about 1 h later at the Apple Shelter near the road U19. Rain, rain, rain. I tried an anti-rain dance, later together with Sparepocket. I am convinced it didn't work since neither One Thing nor K-Bear wanted to join in.INFO: Registerbook entry: B&B 1/2 mile west. Not mentioned in Handbook nor in companion. (I was very tempted to go there)Sparpocket and K-Bear rolled in short after me and we got an airy lift with a pick-up to the Diners at the U19. Second BREAKFAST time! One Thing layed the butter one finger thick on his biscuits and I had Bacon, 2 Eggs (sunny side up), 1 huge waffle with butter and sirup, 1/2 Pancake with butter and sirup (leftover from K-Bear), 1 huge biscuit (so aehnlich wie die englischen Scones nur viel groesser, wie alles in America) with butter and mixed fruit jam and coffee, coffee, coffee. Wasn't hungry again before 6 pm.One Thing went to the restrooms and came backe with a pretty distrubed expression at his face. He was shocked. He had dared a glance into the mirror.I was curious and wanted to see me as well. Unfortunately ? the usual big notice: "Staff has to wash their hand thouroughly...." was fixed right at the mirror. You see, I had no chance to refresh my lipstick.Lift back to the trailhead. Rain has stopped, weatherforecast good, sun came out. I tackled the trail and didn't stop until dust. (Except 2 pee stops to be exact). Eventually, I had to stop at a not so nice, dark, wet spot besides a small river. I didn't know exactly where I was.INFO: The trail is rebuilt in this area (U19 to Moreland Gap Shelter) and neither the map nor the elevation profil matches with the reality. And whether the dates in the book are right or not - who knows ?During my evening meal again rain. So, instead of chewing slowly a nice quiet meal and a hot chocolat as a treat at the end I had to swallow the stuff in a hurry (gulp!) while gathering some clothes and other stuff from the trees and bushes at the same time. Threw all stuff into the tent, hung the food bag and sprang into the tent myself. Just in time.I do hope this rainy weather will stop soon. I prefer using the tent and not to stay in a shelter. I sleep better and I am more independent. But it is quite depressing to use the tent since it rains usually in the evening and morning the last days. That makes cooking difficult and the tent is always wet and everything gets wet by and by. I stopped using the tnet in the Smokies and hoped I could use it more often again after the 2 sunny days. But slowly I get a feeling of apprehension that the weather here is alwys rainy and nothing will change. Quite depressing. Hopefully I am wrong.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Campsite 4.6m south of Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kincora Hikers Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Dark, dark morning. Dark. This is like November in Germany. Of course, not so cold. Until early afternoon it stayed dark.Dark. At least a bitbitbit sunshine. At least no rain, so far.And, what a luck ! Friendly and warm welcome at the hostel. Bob (he and his wife built that all up) was just gardening as I arrived. He shows me the log cabin, shower, laundry, kitchen. Everything perfect and even better after I'd done some cleaning. As usual. Sometimes it comes to me that my old trailname "sheltersweeper" is much better than this neat "DooSie" (YouYou). $ 4 per night is requested as a donation. I wished we had such places in Europe.Later Bob shuttled us to the supermaket and back. I wanted to prpare a dinner, but my hiking fellows prefered pizzas. They ate their pizzas sitting on a bench near the supermarket and drank soda. They don't even drink orang juice !O.k., as for me, I drink Orange juice and treated me with a 4 course meal dinner for myself at the hostel veranda later. I never will get used to the American eating habits. I saw them nearly never eating fresh fruits. But they don't understand my habits either. Must wash the dishes now. That is what I've got from cooking my own dinner. Good night.