morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Campsite beyond Tyre Top
Miles today: 8.2

Happy Birthday to me! Let's see, it's been a very long day. Last night, just after my last entry, I stepped on a piece of glass and cut my middle toe. Went to bed early and was up by 5:20. Lonestar gave me a birthday hug then we packed up and were on the trail by 7:00. A couple of ups and a couple of long downs later we were at the NOC. The most beautiful sight today (other than the hugh sandwich I had for lunch, more on that later), was the view from the jump-off. WOW, that was just georgous! I took a really good picture of Lonestar for him to give to his son. Once we got into the NOC, we headed right for the River's End Restaurant. I had a sweet tea and a Gormet Cheese and Ham Sandwich with potato wedges. That was the best sandwich I've ever had, bar none. Whole grain bread grilled with swiss and chedder cheese, 5 or 6 slices of ham, tomatoes and sprouts. Absolutely delicious! And it cost just $7.06. We spent the afternoon,(we got to the NOC at eleven) doing laundry, getting showers, hanging out at the base camp, and I picked up my mail drop, thanks for the candy Mama. About 5:30 we headed back up the mountain. One and a half long hours later (2.6 miles) we were at the campsite. We set up our tents, had some spiced sider, and now it's time for bed. "night"! Snail
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Campsite beyond Tyre Top

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Good Morning! Here's the lesson for the day, DO NOT leave the fly off of your tent without first checking the weather report. I went to sleep without puting on the rain fly because it was hot and the stars were shining so brightly. Some time during the night I hear "Snail, Snail, wake up, it's raining, you've gotta put your fly on! So I got up in the pouring rain and fumbled around in the dark until I got the fly on. All the time it was pouring down the rain. Literally seconds after I got back into my tent, it stopped raining. Go figure. More tonight. Evening. Hard morning! About the time we started walking, it started raining. Then about a mile or so up the hill it started really storming. It blew and blew, rained, hailed, and then started thundering and lightening. We hiked in the pouring rain all the way up the hill. When we finally got here to the shelter, we just decided to stay here. We'd sort of planned to stop here, but it was only about 1:30, so we did really short miles. It was a beautiful afternoon though. We've just been hanging out here at the shelter talking to Pepper, Play-do, and Crisis. 9.1 miles tomorrow. Snail
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a hard day today. It rained again this afternoon, so everything got wet, but luckily my boots didn't get too wet. Lots of step ups. This is the strangest shelter I've seen yet. There's a sleeping platform then about 2 feet of space and a log wall. Really strange. Anyway, I'm pooped so I'm going to keep this short. That's all for this day. Snail
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: moderate rain

Long rainy day! But how sweet it is to be at the Hilton. Rolled up to the marina about 5:30 and called home. Got to talk to Melody and that was great. They all seem to be doing well. It took me a while to find the trail again, and when I did it was not flat like the profile said! I had taken off my boots and socks and put on my crocks for the 1.1 mile hike to the shelter that was supposed to be flat. Then I start hiking up and down, I was not a happy camper. When I finally got to the Shelter there were two cops standing in front of it. I thought OK, is this a drug bust or what? Yankee was in the shelter looking for something. What I later found out was that Ben, a former thru hiker, and his family was having a cook out for the hikers down near the dam and had some beer and wine. Apparently no beer or wine is allowed on the dam property and Yankee had tried to drink a cup of wine before they took it away. He got a citation, but the party went on. I caught a ride down to the cookout with Yankee in the cop car. The cop had a tape of Stanley Miller! (A preacher I know.) He was a PK too! (PK-preachers kid) He said he'd have to keep a closer eye on me because he knew how those PK's were. Anyway, the cookout was awesome. Chips, pop, gatorade, hot dogs, bacon cheese-burgers, Ice creme, they even had a pinata! Ben had a whole hugh box of hiker gear that he was giving away to who ever needed it. I got my alcohol bottle filled up. The cops came back down just as he was asking if anyone needed anymore alcohol! Even the cops cracked up. After the party we all piled into the back of the truck and they took us back up to the shelter, perfect end to a long day. Night, Snail
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Fontana Hilton

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

Took a zero day today. Went into Fontana village to do laundry and get my mail drop packages. When I got to the Post Office, my express package wasn't there, but my food package and a package from Lori, a woman I met in Franklin, was there. She sent me a Ziplock Cozy and enough materials to make a pot cozy. I shared the pot cozy material because the ziplock cozy worked so well! The Post Mistress told me to come back at 11.30 to see if my other package came. So I hung around with Roll Tide while we did laundry and ate some of the gookies Mama had sent me. When I went back to the Post Office my package had come! I was very thankful for that. When I got back to the Hilton, Lonestar came walking up the hill! I think I forgot to say that I left him up at Brown Fork Gap Shelter. He didn't want to hike down in the rain. So we made plans to start out together in the morning and tackle the Smokies. Snail
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Started into the Smokies today. Beautiful day. We saw a deer on the way up Shuckstach (sp). It first walked right up the trail in front of us. A big doe I think. Shuckstach was hard, but not as bad as I was afraid it would be. Tonight we're at Mollies Ridge Shelter. BeeKeeper, Play-do, Crisis, Pepper, and Wooly Bear are staying here too. Good Night. Snail
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Spruce Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: clear sky

Decided to just do short miles today. This shelter is in such a beautiful spot. Well, the beautiful spot and some of the hikers that I stayed with last night kind of got on my nerves. Two of them just went back and forth this morning. Kind of a "I know more than you do" thing. Really drove me crazy. But this evening has been really pleasant. Beedeeper, Lonestar, Postman, Wounded Heel, and a guy we named Tater, who is carrying about thirty pounds of potatoes in his pack, are here tonight too. Snail
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Spruce Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another short day today. The climb up to this shelter about kicked my butt, plus, the weather sucks and the radio says it's going to get worse. Rainy and cold. It was pretty for a while this afternoon though. Enjoyed laying out in the sunshine. The shelter has a bear cage on it, kind of makes you feel like you are in a reverse zoo. You're caged up and the bears can come around to see the hikers. Night. Snail.
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: moderate rain

Absolutely crappy weather today, but the last 2 or 3 miles were just magical! The trail winds over a ridge and through a pine forest. There was a dense fog and everything just looked like something out of a fairy tale. I just felt like I wwas the only one in the world for a while. The clouds were so dense that you couldn't see more than ten or twenty feet on either side of the trail. Like you were on a deserted island in a sea of clouds. Snail
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Lonestar decided to stay at the shelter today but I have to move on, so I'm hiking alone again. Eventful morningk! About 5:00am Postman woke me up and said, 'I think our friend is in trouble." I looked out in front of the shelter and Tater was out there doing jumping-jacks, trying to stay warm. He slept in his hammock last night under his tarp, but because he set it up the wrong way the wind and rain just poured right in and everything got soaked. We got him to come into the shelter and I gave him my fleece to wear and Beekeeper gave him his cap. Lonestar made him drink coffee and eat some oatmeal. He was real close to being hypothermic. We all tried to convince him to at least go into Gatlinberg and get some polyester clothes at Goodwill. Hopefully he will. Rainy again today, but cleared up enough to get a few pictures from Clingmans. Snail
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Very long day today. About a mile before I got here I just set down on the trail and about gave up. But I got back up and kept going. I nearly cried when I saw the shelter. Beautiful views today though. I really enjoyed the first twelve miles. It was very cold this morning though. 32 degrees with frost! My bag kept me nice and toasty though. Last night some folks who are section hikers gave us all hot cocoa with marshmallows. It was soooo good! Now thats trail magic. Tonight I'm just glad to be at the shelter and off my feet! Actually I did more like 15.9 miles today because Mt. Collins is a half mile off the trail as is the shelter. Who knew that Snail could do a sixteen mile day? Night.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Another long day today, but just as beautiful! The Smokies are definately saying bood-bye with better humour than they welcomed me. Mostly ridge walking today, so the ups and downs haven't been too bad. I talked to a couple of section hikers this evening about my situation with the divorce and everything. They asked me why I was doing the trail and a lot of stuff just came pouring out. Both of them were very kind and had some encouragement and good advice. One of the gentlemen had been through a divorce and said it was just like someone dying and that you have to allow yourself to grieve, and that the trail was the best place to do that as well ad decide where to go from here. I wish I could remember their names, but I just want to say thanks, so thanks guys.MORNING! Just a quick note about what else happened last night. I had crawled into my sleeping bag to go to sleep. The guys had made a roaring fire in the shelter fire place when who walks up, TATER! He saw the fire and started pulling potatoes out of his pack and wraping them in foil. He asked if any one wanted one. Well, I took him right up on that. Someone said, "I thought you'd gone to bed?" I told them that the only thing that could keep a thru-hiker up past 9:00 was food! Boy was that baked potato good! Thanks Tater! Night.
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farms Hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Add 2.6 miles to that total mileage for a trip to Mountain Mommas! Yumm! The guide book said to go right 1.25 miles to the intersection from Davenport Gap. Well I did and I thought for sure I was going the wrong way. It was just a little gravel road that seemed to go on forever. About a dozen motorcycles whizzed past me about half way down the mountain. But finally, I came to an intersection and there was a sign that said "you're almost there-Mountain Momma's Kuntry Store" and the sign was in shape of an arrow pointing left. Boy was I glad to see the store. There was a nice little resturant inside so I ordered a corn dog and fries with an ice water. They were busy though because all of those motorcycle people had stopped in too. But it was worth the walk and the wait. A corn dog and huge plate of fries for $3.00 plus tax, and man was it good. Of course then I had to walk back up the hill to the trail, but it was worth that too. A couple of miles down the trail I ran into Beekeeper and Cappy. They were camping by the river about a mile from the hostel because they had spent a couple of days in Gatlinburg. So I stopped and talked with them a while before coming ahead to the hostel. I really hustled that last mile though. It was sprinkling off and on and I was afraid I would get soaked. It never really rained though so I could have took my time. This is such a laid back kind of place. When I just got here Eagle showed me around. He is attempting to be the first disabled veteran to complete the triple crown (AT, CDT, PCT). The AT is the last one he has to complete. He caught a cold though so he's doing work-for-stay for a few days while he recuperates a bit. Most of the folks who are staying here went into town to eat, so i've been hanging out with Curtis (the owner), his two girls, Mahayla and MaKenzie, and Sprocket (a family friend). Very nice folks. Sprocket made some awesome dirt rice that he shared with me. Absolutely delicious! And the girls are just adorable. So it's been a very pleasant evening. Only planning on doing seven miles tomorrow, but five of those are up hill. But now it's time to rest. Snail
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Standing Bear Farms Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: few clouds

Long hard climb up Snowbird Mtn., then right back down the other side to the shelter. I walked with Beekeeper today and we had a wonderful time talking and looking at all the flowers. We saw 2 pink lady's slippers. Absolutely georgous! Got here to the shelter about 5:30 but then we didn't leave the hostel until about noon. Cappy loooks like he ruptured a ligament in his knee. I hope not, but it has an odd knot under his knee cap. Like Beekeeper said "It just don't look right." But he's meeting his parents in Hot Springs too so maybe if he rests it a while It will be better. NIce folks here tonight, two brothers who are section hiking, the canadians, Rabbit, and another guy that's just out for a couple of days. Time to rest. Snail.
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

Long day today, but so beautiful! It rained this morning, but miraculousy cleared as we reached the summit of Max Patch. It was so odd. We were climbing up the bald under threatening skies, although it had stopped raining, when the clouds just dissapeared! Just poof, and they were gone. So it was a beautiful view from Max Patch. It was windy and chilly, but absolutely beautiful. Beekeeper and I took a long break and the Canadians and Rabbit stopped by not long after we got there so it was really nice. After our little break on the bald, the trail just got nicer and more beautiful. It wound around, in and out of little hollows and along small streams. So many Trillums in so many different shades. There were white Trillums, red ones, pink ones, Painted ones, and just thousands of them everywhere you looked. I saw my first Jack-in-the pulpit as well as some more Lady's slippers. This last hill about got me though. Just as we started up the mountain the skies got black and the wind started blowing. I was sure a limb was going to come crashing down and hit me. Up at the top I saw the clearing that had so many people upset earlier this year. really though it's not that bad. Sure, it looks bad now, but sometimes trees do need to be cut down. Forest fires use to take care of making clearings, but since we put all of those out, sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. Or at least that's my take on it. The Canadians are staying here tonight as well. I wish I knew how to spell their names because I hate just calling them (The Canadians). Anyway, they're wonderful people. Very interesting to talk to. Into Hot Springs tomorrow, then the next day I get to see Mama and Daddy! YEAH!!! Snail
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Walnut Mtn. Shelter

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Another beautiful day, although there was much more uphill than I thought there would be. I think we walked up and down every holler between Walnut Mtn. and Hot Springs. But it is so nice to be in town! Beekeeper and I walked together again today. We are having so much fun sharing our knowledge about plants! (Although he does most of the sharing and I do most of the learning!) Today I learned what Indian Cucumber looks and tastes like. Very good! I'll have to look for it back in WV. It would be really good in salads. Kind of tastes like a sweet water chestnut. Saw more Lady's slippers (both pink and white), lots of Trillum, a few Jack-in-the pulpit, tons of beautiful honeysuckle, and even a few mountain laurel in bloom as we got further into the valley, oh, and some lily of the valley too! Everything is just bursting into flower. It's almost a new variety every day. Once we got into town we went straight to the Smokey Mtn. Diner. Great club sandwiches, french fries, and sweet tea. We'd been there for almost an hour and kind of thought the waitress had forgot about us. She came by the table and said, "ya'll already ate, right?" We were like NO, we were kind of wondering about that. She flew into the kitchen and we heard fries hit the deep fryer. Someone really had forgot us! But the waitress was really nice and offered us some appetizers. The food was definately worth the wait and everyone was so nice there. Bless her heart, the poor waitress felt so bad! But it was nice to just relax and talk and drink tea, so it's all good. We came here to Elmer's after sinner. What an awesome house! It's an old Victorian house with all antique furniture. I got a huge room all to myself with a four poster queen size bed! freshly laundered real cotton sheets, a duvet, quilt, and real pillows! I think I'm in heaven! Went to bed early, but it took a while to get to sleep. So I'm catching up my journal. tomorrow I get to see Mama and daddy! YEAH! I'm really excited about that. Well, I'm going to try to get some sleep again. Snail.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: Rocky Bluff Campground Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Believe it or not, it took me a while to get to sleep last night. I guess the bed was too soft or something. But after I got to sleep, I slept like a baby. Had a wonderful breakfast this morning. Whole Wheat Pancakes with strawberries, maple syrup, cantalope, and granola. Plus coffee and tea. After breakfast Beekeeper and I went to the laundramat and did our laundry, then to the outfitters to look around. We ran around town some while I was waiting for Mama and Dad to get into town. Finally we decided to go to the diner for some dinner. I had just finished my grilled cheese and french fries when Mama and Daddy pulled up in the camper. It was so good to see them. I made arrangements to meet Beekeeper on Saturday and Mama, Daddy, and I drove up to Rocky Bluff Campground a few miles up the road. After we set up camp we had yummy beef stew and talked til about 11:00! That is so past my bedtime. But it was great to talk to them. This is such a peaceful place to camp. Not a lot of people and so quiet and dark at night. I'm sure I'll sleep well! Goodnight. Snail
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Rocky Bluff Campground Hot Springs NC

To: Rocky Bluff Campground
Miles today: 0.0

What a wonderful, restful day! We had bacon, eggs, fried potatoes, and biscuits for breakfast. Then we took a little hike down Spring Creek Trail, Spring Creek is beautiful. I can't wait until it gets warm enough to swim. We have talked all day! It's just wonderful to spend time with Mom and Dad. I got hungry again about 2:00 (surprise, surprise) so I finished off the beef stew, them me and dad took a nap. It had started raining and it was so cool. First nap I've taken on this trip. We had tacos for dinner. Yum! They were so good. Daddy pulled the camper up to a water spigot and got enough water so we could all take showers this evening. Now I'm repacking my backpack and getting it ready to go for the morning. I'm meeting Beekeeper at 10:00 an the trailhead so we'll have time to have a leisurely breakfast. Well, I'm going to get back to packing. More when I send journals home next. Snail
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Rocky Bluff Campground

To: Spring Mtn. shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Got up this morning around 6:30. Hadn't planned on getting up that early, but that's when we woke up, so... Mama fixed biscuits, I fried bacon, and Daddy made the gravy. Everything was delicious of course. Then we packed up and headed back to Hot Springs. Beekeeper was at the outfitters, so we pulled the camper up beside the bridge and I got my pack and got ready to go. I think it was a little easier for Mama this time. I hope so anyway. After saying boodbye to Mama and Daddy, Beekeeper and I headed up the mountain. The first little bit followed the river. That was nice and level. Then it was up over lovers leap and beyond. Lots of ups and downs today. I'm exhausted although we really didn't do that many miles.My knee brace seems to be helping a good deal. I'll have to get use to it though, it rubbed one place on my leg kind of raw, but I'll put some moleskin on it before I start in the morning so that should help.We saw two tombstones on different parts of the trail today. One said "In Memory" so it might not have been an actual grave, but the other one looked like it was. It was fairly new too, the woman only died in 1990. Kind of odd. It's getting pretty dark so I'm going to stop for now. Snail
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Little Laruel Shelter

To: Flint Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

Really nice day today. It was a little cloudy, so we didn't have any views, but the hiking was awesome. We passed a speed limit sign. Apparently the speed limit on the AT is 10mph. That certainly lightened the mood this morning. Made it to Jerry Cabin Shelter fairly quickly. Got to walk for a long way on a nice old road. Just a few miles before Flint Mtn Shelter. We saw the Shelton graves. They were two civil war-era headstones, presumably brothers, and one for a 13yr. old girl. Erected by her decendents. Beekeeper and I are the only ones here tonight. The shelter actually has two platforms so Beekeeper has the left and I have the right. Beekeeper took a fall at the spring, but didn't do too much damage. He said the only thing he could think as he fell was "don't get your jacket wet". We all have our priorities I guess.(NOTE) There are new pictures up. Also if you would like to get a message to Snail just go to her guest book and leave a message and I will download them and send them to her in her next mail drop
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Flint Mtn. Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, there's a good reason they call this Hogback Ridge. The trail goes right along it and it's up, down, up, down, up, down, all the way. Saw some neat old log house ruins this afternoon. They were just about fallen in, but it looked like they had just been abandoned with everything in them. Also saw a very pretty waterfall and got some pictures of that. By the way, I don't think Big Flat exists. It is listed in Wingfoots book, but we haven't decided exactly when we passed it. Apparently it's not a big flat, as the name implies because we didn't walk over anything like that, Oh well. We're here tonight with Cherokee and Librarian. It's nice to know she's back on the trail. Planning to run into Little Creek Cafe in the morning for a quick re-supply. Snail