morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-03-29
From: bly gap

To: standing indian
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

There are no flat spots for tents on the AT. Except for the man-made spots called shelters inhabited by two-legged walkers who snore with gusto. I think I'm going back to a hammock. The night was long trying to sleep on a hillside. The morning view as I climbed out of bly Gap was spectacular and made it worthwhile. You have to take the good with the bad out here, just like you have to in the real world. I'm staying tonight at Standing Indian. The stream where we get our water has a pool below where we are filtering. We all took turns soaking our feet in the cold water. It's amazing how much better my feet feel after an ice bath. One of the hikers with us is having shin and leg issues. It's causing him to go slower than he expected, and it will take him longer to get to a food resupply than he expected. He will run out of food, so all the hikers pitched in a little food so he will make it. It's hard to carry something on your back for miles and then give it up, but I see it all the time in the hiking community. The AT community looks out for one another. I'm grateful to be a part of this giving group.
Date: 2017-03-30
From: standing indian

To: carter gap
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a day for surprises.1. As I walked down the trail this morning I surprised a ruffled grouse. He got up almost at my feet and flew across the trail. His feathers made a lot of noise. Almost as much noise as a turkey I scared one time. As I watched him fly away quickly I thought there's not even time to get a picture of him.2. As I walk down the trail today I misstepped and I twisted my ankle. This was the ankle that I broke in high school and used to have a lot of problems with. For a moment I was very afraid. I thought, "this could be the end of the hike." I tested it for a moment, and it appeared to be OK. I kept walking and it's fine now. Out of 5 million steps that it takes to get to Mount Katahdin a thing as simple as one misstep could end it all. I don't want that surprise.3. As I walked up standing Indian mountain this morning the weather again surprised me. On my right was a thick fog bank. I couldn't see 50 feet in that direction. On my left it was perfectly clear. I could see three rows of mountains in the distance. I was caught in the middle between the fog and the sunshine. Surprised.4. I have been surprised by the size of last autumn's wildfire devastation. For the entire hike today I was walking through burned trees. The devastation is between three and 6 feet tall from he ground, turning the ground, fallen trees and everything else pitch black.5. My speed is increasing. I'm surprised that today it was over 2 miles an hour. That's what it will take to get to the end.6. As I was walking down the trail this morning, I looked ahead to notice a woman hiking south down toward me. I knew I had seen her before so I stopped a moment to talk. I said, "Havent I seen you before?" It's surprising to see the same person coming toward you multiple days in a row. She said maybe so. I found out that she and her husband are hiking the Appalachian Trail by doing what's called swapping keys. He drops her off on the north end of the trail they're going to hike for the day and he drives to the south end of the same trail. Then she walks back to the car while he walks to where she began from. She gets in the car and goes to meet him. Then they use the car to go stay in a motel for the night. They don't have to carry big packs and they get to hike the entire trail. A fun way to hike the trail. Surprising.Im grateful2.
Date: 2017-03-31
From: carter gap

To: rock gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Word travels fast on the trail. People pass their friends and have a quick conversation. Hikers meet at the shelters and talk. Word was traveling fast yesterday that there were going to be bad storms last night. I decided to spend last night in a shelter because my tent still has a leak I can't locate. I was among the first to arrive at Carter Gap shelter last night. The shelter is made for six people. We had seven on the platform and three more on the dirt floor under roof. We were full. After supper we turned away four or five who ended up tenting near the shelter. Then one guy about 20 showed up and announced that he had hiked almost twenty miles and he needed a spot in the shelter. He could see it was full, but kept insisting he needed a spot because he deserved it after hiking so far. From the back of the platform someone said, "ok", and the self- entitled hiker put down his pack and began to unpack. He talked and joked loudly after hiker midnight ( dark) when it is kind of assumed that everyone goes to bed. Most of the people are courteous and respecting of others, but a few seem to act like they are better than the rest because they hike faster or longer or are a thru-hiker. That was this guy. He was just better. We finally all went to sleep. This morning, the first thing I heard was, "Oh f$&@, Oh sh$&! I did everything right and they got it anyway. I hung my G$&d&$@ foodbag just like I was supposed to and the f@&$ing mice got in it anyway. They chewed a hole in my bag and ate my food."YES! Trail justice. It rained buckets last night. The shelter stayed dry. The morning ritual for most is to visit the privy (outhouse) when you wake up. This morning several hikers were standing around the table fixing their breakfast before they left. One of the hikers said, "l was the first one in the privy this morning and it was dry. Someone could have slept in there last night and stayed dry." One of the female hikers standing at the table said, "It wasn't dry when I went in." Then she realized what had happened. "Eww", she shrieked. Everyone laughed but no one took ownership. The trail is not the cleanest environment I've ever been in.
Date: 2017-03-31
From: rock gap

To: albert mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked over Albert Mountain today. The trail is easy leading up to he base of the mountain. The trail is easy the other side of the mountain. I made good time getting to the shelter area tonight. The trail over Albert Mountain is another story however. I need a new trail name. I need to be called "Afraid of Heights". I've always been afraid of heights. The trail goes almost straight up at about a seventy degree angle. I put my pole straps around my wrists and started to climb hand over fist up the rock face. I was scared the weight of my pack would pull me off the rocks, but I kept going. I was by myself and I thought if I fell that there would be no one to rescue me but I kept going. I was ecstatic when I finally ascended the top, not because I had scaled Albert Mountain, but because I didn't fall and didn't have to do it again. I'm afraid of heights remember. They tell me there are worse ascents of the AT. Oh no! I'm still Grateful2.
Date: 2017-04-01
From: rock gap

To: winding stair gap
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Sorry to make you wait for this post. It's about anticipation. There is anticipation before you get to the trail concerning what the trail will be like. Once you get on the trail, anticipation develops concerning what happens when you get off the trail. Many of the hikers on the AT seem to live for when they get to town. Some for partying, some for a real bed or shower, and some for cooked food. It almost seems funny to me that when we finally get out here, we are thinking about not being out here. We all anticipate when we get close to the roads out here. The roads bring change for us. First we notice the trail is descending. Then we hear the cars in the distance. Then we see the road. Anticipation. Sometimes the road is a ride into town. Sometimes it holds a trail angel who has set up a hamburger feed. For me today it is the anticipation that my wife and Gooseman are waiting at the next road crossing. And there they are! We will be spending the next several days together. She will slackpack me to the trailheads. This means that l will not have to carry a pack. The miles will be easier for the next several days, and I will be sleeping in a real bed and eating in restaurants for a few days. Best of all I will get to spend some time with the ones I love. Anticipation.
Date: 2017-04-02
From: winding stair gap

To: burningtown gap
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

Up early for my wife to drive me to the trailhead at Winding Stair Gap. I'm hiking faster today than I have yet on this trip. I only have a small day pack and it makes a huge difference. Almost 15 miles today, and I still get to eat at a restaurant with her for supper. It was a long hike up over Wayah Bald today. When I visited this spot many years ago I climbed the tower at the top of Wayah Bald. Today I didn't climb the tower because the top of the tower burned in the wildfires this winter. Sad to see. Tomorrow I will walk to the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
Date: 2017-04-03
From: burningtown gap

To: noc
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Big drop in elevation today. From 5100 to 1770 feet. The climb over the jump-off was very difficult for a guy with a fear of heights. The worst yet. So glad it wasn't raining. When i got to the noc we ate an amazing meal called a Sherpa.
Date: 2017-04-04
From: noc

To: zero day
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up this morning to a severe weather forecast. Decided to take a zero day. We went to a restaurant called the Sunset Restaurant. Met the owners,Mike and Rene, who treated us well. Food was delicious, especially the pies. Went to Walmart and just hung out at the room. I'm repast enjoying spending time with the family! I will so miss them when they go home in a few days. It's also great to slackpack, and I'll miss that too.
Date: 2017-04-05
From: noc

To: stecoah gap
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: moderate rain

Today I climbed back out of the Nantahala Gorge. 1770 to over 5000 feet. The threat of severe weather again hung heavy in the air. First I had to go to the noc and register for a permit to go through the Smokies. $20 Then it was an ascent. After an hours hike the rain started, along with the thunder and lightning. Fortunately it stopped before I got to the top of Cheoah Bald. I heard from other hikers today that at least three hikers were near hypothermia yesterday. One was shivering so badly that he couldn't even get his wet jacket off when he got to the shelter. He had to be helped out of his wet clothes into dry ones and then someone cooked a warm meal for him and put him in his sleeping bag. Glad I didn't go out yesterday. The weather finally cleared off and thehike was. Ice for a while until the north wind started blowing again. The hike down to Stecoah Gap way the worst 1 mile mud slip-and-slide I've ever been on. So glad to see my wife and son in the parking lot to take me back to the motel!
Date: 2017-04-06
From: stecoah gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Today was my last zero day with the family. Rain and colder temps predicted for today. We went to McDonald's for a late breakfast where we met thru-hikers who had just come off the mountain at Winding Stair Gap. They said it snowed on them. Snow is predicted for tomorrow morning with winds expected to be forty plus miles an hour. A winter weather advisory is in effect for tomorrow until noon. We have decided to stay another night in our airbnb because of the weather. We went to Walmart again, the Chinese AYCE buffet again, and the outfitter again. Stuff hiker trash dreams are made of! We even saw Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers in Walmart. Never can tell who you might see while hiking the trail! Tomorrow we have decided to get up early and go to the Nantahala Forestry Ranger station located here in Franklin to find out about the weather before we go up the mountain. The radio says there will be snow accumulations at the higher elevations and gale force winds tomorrow afternoon. Just want to be safe not sorry before I hike tomorrow. The wind and weather always seem to play a major role out here. On a positive note, my body seems to be getting used to the rigors of hiking. Time will tell. I'm grateful2!
Date: 2017-04-07
From: stecoah gap

To: yellow creek mountain
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

The predictions for weather were dire for today. Winter storm warnings with snow accumulations at higher altitudes. High wind warnings. Didn't know if I would be able to hike today. Got up early and we went to First Baptist Church Franklin for a free hiker breakfast of pancakes, orange juice and bacon. Delicious. The good people of FBC do this for 29 days every year. There must have been seventy hikers there. A real Herculean effort. After breakfast we went over to the forest service to check on the weather and road closures. Everything was open and there was only a dusting of snow where we were, so it was time to hike. The wind was predicted to be 40 mph, and maybe it was, but the wind seems to blow that hard up in the mountains almost every day anyway. Hiked a quick 8 miles without a big pack and it was back to the car. Man, am l going to miss slackpacking. It is the heavy pack that makes hiking the mountains so difficult. The only notable feature was Jacob's Ladder. Straight up the side of the mountain with no switchbacks. Only lasted twenty minutes, but it was a lung-burner. Tomorrow the family goes home and l won't see them for about eight weeks. Sad! It will be tough saying goodbye. Time to get back into the routine of sleeping in a hammock every night.
Date: 2017-04-08
From: yellow creek mountain

To: fontana hilton
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was an incredible day to hike. The sky was clear. This was only the second day on the trail without strong winds. From seven miles away I could see the goal for the day - Fontana Lake and dam. There are no leaves on the trees at altitude yet, so I can see a long way away. The lake was a beautiful deep Mediterranean blue for miles as I drew closer and closer. Tonight I am in the Fontana Hilton, the name given to the shelter at the entrance to the Smokies. In the morning I have to drop off the permit I secured earlier to have permission to hike through the Smokies. It was sad to say goodbye to the family as they dropped me off this morning. It will be months before I see them again. I am so Grateful for the last week with them. Love you and see you soon. I missed the slackpack today also. The difference is like this: go to Walmart and pick up a 2 liter coke and carry it around the store. Now go to the back and pick up 4 gallons of milk and add it to the 2 liter coke. They are heavy. Now carry them up and down 3000 feet elevation changes over rock jumbles. The pack is heavy. The hiking is fun. I'm Grateful2 for the experience.
Date: 2017-04-09
From: fontana hilton

To: mollies ridge shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

The picture is of a wildflower called the Spring Beauty. I have walked today through patches of literally millions of these flowers. On several occasions they have been as far as my eyes could see. Interesting fact about this plant is that it only opens its teals when the sun is shining brightly. The sun was brilliant and so were the Spring Beauties today.Triumphant ReentryToday is the day we celebrate in Christianity when Christ makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The crowds cheered for their new king, even though Jesus knew that less than a week later he would be crucified. It was a triumphant time for the common man. Today was a triumphant day for me in my hike. I have been expecting/dreading this day since I finalized plans for the hike. You see, I have hiked the Smokies before. I managed to make it through the last time, but today's section gave me problems. The first day in (today's section) mandates you hike 12 miles up almost 3000 feet to the first shelter. The last time I bonked, gave out of gas, about half way up. I had to emergency bivouack in an abandoned campground for the night. I just couldn't go any more. I didn't know if it was the difficulty of the trail, or if I was just having a bad day. Today confirmed that last time I was just having a bad day. I made it all the way up the mountain to the shelter this time!Triumphant Reentry! (I just hope the trail doesn't crucify me in less than a week. Lol) Let me tell you more about why I remember the last time so vividly. I bivouacked in my tent, and no one knew I was there. I was completely by myself. I ate supper, hung my bear bag, and went to sleep. I was awakened suddenly about 2 am. There was an animal outside my tent! It was way too big to be a squirrel or a raccoon. I would hear it walk to one side of my tent and then to the other. It was less than ten feet from me at several points. My mind was racing. What was it? A feral hog? A coyote? Maybe even a bear? For fifteen minutes it wouldn't go away. I began to think if it attacked me that I would be stuck inside my tent, unable to get away - a burrito for a bear. I decided the best thing for me to do was to jump out of my tent and try to Bluff and scare it away. I got out my knife, put on my headlight, and slowly unzipped my tent. I jumped out of my tent and yelled. Standing right in front of me was the most startled doe deer you have ever seen. She ran off into the woods where she snorted at me for quite a while. Oh boy, was I relieved. Now you see why I remembered my entry hike into the Smokies. I'm so Grateful2 that this time was a triumphant Reentry!
Date: 2017-04-10
From: mollies ridge shelter

To: derrick knob shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I miss Gooseman. I wonder what the hike would have been like if he was still with me. He cracks me up sometimes with his humor. He missed some great ridge walks today. Incredible views. I have noticed that when I hike that I tend to focus my eyes three to six feet in front of where I am walking. This is almost of necessity. There are lots of things that can trip me up. Uneven ground, jumbled rocks, deep mud, and spiderwebs of massive tree roots are but a few of them. I don't want to fall. (I've only fallen once so far. It was a face plant on the trail when I twisted my ankle.) I concentrate so much on my footing that I often miss the long views. And that's a shame. I did catch a great view today though. Rocky Top was spectacular today. I see it in the guidebook and the Tennessee Vols song starts as a song worm in my head. Do you know that the person who wrote the song has never been to Rocky Top? He just saw it on a map and thought it would make a good song. I've always been a Georgia Bulldog, but now that we have moved to Tennessee? Rocky Top is the picture I posted. I talked to several of the hikers about their concentration, and they all said they focus three to six feet in front of themselves just like I do. I'm afraid most of us live our lives that way. We concentrate so hard on doing just what is in front of us right now. Get up. Go to work. Get the kids from school. Fix supper. Before we know it, another year is gone and we are older. We forget the important because of the urgent. What is really important to you? Make that your priority. The urgent for me now is to get sure-footed to Katadin. The important for me is to enjoy the journey. The important for me is that in a few months I will be back in Chattanooga with my wife and Gooseman. I'm Grateful2 for the opportunity.
Date: 2017-04-11
From: derrick knob shelter

To: mt collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I walked across the top of the sky. Yesterday I thought seriously about quitting. I know that to finish the trail, l need to increase my mileage some. More importantly, I need to be able to do back-to-back-to-back higher mileage days. A few years ago that was not a problem. Age is catching me though. I've tried it a couple of times so far and the second day has been failure. This time I had to do it to get through the Smokies. Sunday I did over twelve miles. Monday I did almost twelve miles. About a mile and a half from the end of the walk yesterday, l hit a brick wall. I bonked. I didn't know if I would make it. I was exhausted. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. 1,2,1,2, make slow progress. My normal 2 miles an hour became half a mile an hour. I put my sleeping bag down in the shelter, fixed supper and went to sleep. ( I found out later that the ridge runner said it was the toughest six miles in the Smokies.)Today was a 14 mile day. When I went to bed last night, I didn't think I could make today. But I woke refreshed, and I started out positive. The only other time I walked the Smokies, it rained the whole week. I couldn't see anything more than a few feet in front of me. This time was so different! I walked through spectacular ecosystem after ecosystem. I started at an elevation of 5000 feet and walked to almost 6700 feet and back down to under 6000 feet. In 14 miles I walked through a grassland, an abandoned fruit tree orchard, a mountaintop bald, and into a spruce tree moss covered fairyland. The sky was neon Carolina blue with wisps of cotton clouds. The temperature rose to 75 degrees during midday with a light cool breeze. ( Only six days earlier there was an eight inch snow with drifts over the knees of the hikers.) Today was the perfect day. The sweet smell of spruce permeated the air and reminded me of Christmas at my parent's house. There was still patches of snow here and there. The sky was so clear I could see mountain range after mountain range on both sides. I thought of the 70's song by Steely Dan, and I paraphrased it- "mountains to the left of me, mountains to the right of me, here I am. Stuck in the middle with a view."And there I was - walking across the top of the sky. And I made it - 12, 12, 14 miles on three straight days. Maybe I can make after all? Maybe, but all I know for sure is that I have 4.5 miles tomorrow to get to Newfound Gap. From there I will hitch to Gatlinburg for a zero day. I walked across the top of the sky and I am Grateful2.
Date: 2017-04-12
From: mt collins shelter

To: newfound gap
Miles today: 4.3

Up first thing today for four and a half easy miles to Newfound Gap, and from there a zero day in Gatlinburg. I arrived at the gap the same time as another hiker, Persistent. I held up my yellow bandana with the words, "hiker to town", written on it. Persistence came and stood by me and asked if work off my sign too. In about ten minutes a woman, Robin, came over and said she could give us a ride to Gatlinburg. Score! She was at the gap dropping off her husband who is hiking the trail again after two weeks off for an injury. Thank you trail angel! After checking in at the motel and taking a shower, a big nap was in order. Then clothes had to be washed. Next, it was time for some serious food. Five Guys here I come. Tonight I get to sleep clean in a real bed. My resupply from Amazon prime pantry worked well too. I'm Grateful2 for the comforts of civilization.
Date: 2017-04-13
From: newfound gap

To: newfound gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Relaxing day in Gatlinburg. Went to the NOC Outpost Store and picked up a lightweight shirt. Weatherman predicting 84 degrees tomorrow. Slept, ate mass quantities of food, watched Tv, and planned for the next week of hiking. Zero days should be mandatory in real life.