morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-01-25
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday Jan.25, 2007 Had breakfast at the River's End Restaurant. Went to the outfitters to pick up my package from Franklin and use their computer. Was told the computer has been down for over a year. Come on guys with the money you make you could have bought and paid for a dozen computers. Decided to stay another night because the temperature is going down to 17 degrees tonight. Took a nap and had lunch at the restaurant. Went back to the outfitter and bought some new insoles and post cards. Took a lot of pictures of the Nantahala river. Had supper in the bunkhouse.
Date: 2007-01-27
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

Saturday Jan.27, 2007 Started Sassafras Gap Shelter 8:00AM. Finsihed Stecoah Gap 2:30PM. Sunny day and light winds. Very hard up hill again today. Totally exhausted when reaching Stecoah Gap. Hitched a ride into Robbinsville, N.C. Checked into the MicroMotel Inn. No computer to update journal. They have wifi in the motel but no computers for guests. No hiker rate. Winter storm advisory with bad wind chill for tomorrow.
Date: 2007-02-02
From: Phillips Motel

To: Phillips Motel
Miles today: 0.0

Friday Feb. 2, 2007 Used computer at the library. Looks like the weather is OK for the next 2 days. Settled the motel bill and Mrs. Phillips offered to shuttle me back to Stecoah Gap in the morning. For any hikers reading this journal I highly recommend the Phillips Motel in Robbinsville N.C. They are very kindhearted people. There motel is not fancy but it is very clean and comfortable. The do give a special hiker rate which I found to be cheaper than anywhere else in town or at Fontana. In Robbinsville you have all sorts of places to eat. Ingles, Dollar General, and Family Dollar are within walking distance. Why not take a break after that long uphill from the NOC and stay in Robbinsville. Rest, shop and send your supplies to Fontana.
Date: 2007-02-03
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

Saturday Feb. 3, 2007 Started Stecoah Gap 8:00AM. Finished Cable Gap Shelter 4:25PM. Signed shelter log. Mr. Phillips drove me to the gap. Thank you very much Mr. and Mrs. Phillips for everything. Snow everywhere today. Yes folks there are no salt trucks or snow plows on the A.T. Snow on the south side of the mountains has melted off but everywhere else it is 2" to 4" deep wiht patches of 6" here and there. Sunny all day and cold in the morning but warmed up in the afternoon. Wind is very cold but intermittent. Followed tracks in the snow all day. Looks like someone with a boot about 2 sizes bigger than mine came through yesterday heading North. I wear a size 11. I dubbed him big foot. Also looks like earlier this morning a deer came through heading South.
Date: 2007-02-04
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Marina
Miles today: 5.5

Sunday Feb. 4,2007 Started Cable Gap Shelter 8:00AM. Finished Fontana Marina at 1:00PM. Day is cold with very cold wind on the mountaintops. Guys at the marina called the Fontana Inn. After about an hour they picked me up. Surprise it is Super Bowl Sunday and the North Carolina Panther cheerleaders are here for a Super Bowl celebration. Took lots of pictures, of course and got some autographs.
Date: 2007-02-05
From: Fontana Resort Inn

To: Fontana Resort Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Monday Feb. 5, 2007 Resting at the Fontana Village Resort Inn. Picked up packages at the post office. Visited the outfitters store and had lunch at the pitstop. Weather has turned extremely cold. Do not know what I am going to do at this point except to wait a few days and see what happens. The Inn staff was kind enough to let me use the office computer to update this journal. Many thanks to the Fontana Village Resort staff.
Date: 2007-02-09
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Friday 2-9-07 Mollies Ridge 7:50AM to Spence Field 4:20PM. Sunny and cold wind. Little patches of ice and snow here and there. Night was just as cold as last night. Two hikers came in from Cades Cove shortly after I arrived. Three more hikers arrived from Cades Cove at 3:30AM. They had started from Cades Cove at midnight. They were headed to Derrick Knob the next day to join a group of fellow workers from Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Knoxville, TN.
Date: 2007-02-10
From: Spence Field Shelter

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

Saturday 2-10-07 Spence Field Shelter 8:00AM to Derrick knob Shelter 5:30PM. Cloudy and cold. Very hard pull up Thunderhead. One place was so steep and had so much snow I had to crawl on my hands and knees about 20 feet before I could stand up again. Very cold and exhausted when I reached Derrick knob shelter. Almost hypothermic. A crew from Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Knoxville was at the shelter when I arrived. They made room for me and I got in my sleeping bag right away. After warming up I cooked some ramen while I was in my sleeping bag. Nights and mornings still very cold.
Date: 2007-02-11
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Sunday 2-11-07 Derrick Knob Shelter 8:00AM to Double Spring Gap Shelter 4:30PM. Still lots of snow and ice on the trail. Night was a little warmer. Sunny day melted some of the snow so I was walking in slushy up to 12" most of the day.
Date: 2007-02-12
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Clingman's Dome
Miles today: 2.5

Monday 2-12-07 Double Spring Gap shelter 7:50AM to Clingman's Dome 11:30AM. Lots of snow on the trail. Cloudy and very cold wind. About 1/2 mile North of the shelter a tree about 2 feet in diameter was completely blocking the trail. Had to go off the trail about 20 feet to go around it. When i would sit down to rest the wind would chill me. Got to Clingman's Dome very cold and exhausted. Could not go another 5 miles to Mount Collins shelter. Called the park rangers and they took me to a motel in Cherokee, N.C. I am afraid that I have had enough of winter hiking. Will stay off the trail until the nights get above freezing. As the days grow longer I am getting stronger but the freezing temps and the bitter cold winds are a bummer.
Date: 2007-02-13
From: Cherokee N.C.

To: Gatlinburg, TN.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tuesday 2-13-07 I was sitting outside the motel early waiting for the transit bus to take me to the Northern end of Cherokee to hitch hike to Gatlinburg when a nice lady drove up and asked me if I was resting. I told her I was waiting on the transit bus. She asked where I was going and I told her I was trying to get to Gatlinburg. She said after she talked with her daughter, who was working in the motel, she would take me to Gatlinburg. She was on her way to Sevierville TN. Arrived at the Smokey Mountain Outfitter in Gatlinburg. Talked with the storekeeper for a while, and then went ot the welcome center to find a place to stay. They recommended the Grand Prix motel. The Grand Prix is a hiker friendly motel. They give a special hiker rate as well as provide a shuttle back to the trail.
Date: 2007-02-19
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday February 19, 2007 Enjoying Gatlinburg, TN. and getting ready to go back on the trail. Looks like Wednesday might be OK. Saw Vern and Jean Kalt while I was out shopping. Quite a surprise to see some friends from Winchester. I am replacing my zero degree sleeping bag (North Face Snowshoe) with a 20 degree sleeping bag (North Face Cat's Meow). It dropped 2 pounds off my pack weight. I believe that with the extra clothing I am carrying it will be quite comfy.
Date: 2007-02-21
From: Clingman's Dome

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: broken clouds

Wednesday Febrary 21, 2007 Start New Found Gap 9:30AM. Finished Mount Collins Shelter 5:30PM. Hitched a ride from Gatlinburg to New Found Gap. Had to walk up the Dome road because it is closed. Arrived at Clingman's Dome around 12:30PM. Started from where I left off 10 days ago. Ice snow and slushy every where. Ice very dangerous. Dug out my yak traks. They gripped very well on the ice until the right one came off somewhere in the snow and slushy. Went on using the one yak trak left.   Finally reached Mount Collins shelter for the night.
Date: 2007-02-22
From: Mount Collins Shelter

To: New Found Gap
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

Thursday February 22, 2007 Start Mount Collins Shelter 8:45AM. Finished New Found Gap 12:30PM. Hiked to New Found Gap. Tried to hitch a ride to Gatlinberg. It took a while and the wind was so strong it almost blew me over several times. Finally got a ride with a Charles Davis. Went to the Happy Hiker outfitter and purchased a new set of yak traks. The new ones have a strap that goes over the shoe. Maybe I will not lose these. Checked in to the Grand Prix motel for the night.
Date: 2007-02-23
From: New Found Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Friday February 23, 2007 Hitched a ride to New Found Gap with four guys from Ohio hiking from New Found Gap to Charlie's Bunion. Started New Found Gap 9:00AM. Finished - Pecks Corner Shelter 7:30PM. About 10:00AM came across ice flowing down the mountain across the trail and down the other side for about 10 feet along the trail. Stepped very carefully on the ice. yak traks are holding. About half way across, woops almost slid down the mountain but caught myself on the down slope. Took my pack off and threw it back upon the ice. Then I grabbed the bottom of my trekking poles and used them like ice picks to crawl back upon the ice. Still using the trekking poles as ice picks I crawled back where I came from dragging my pack behind me to solid ground. Had to climb up the mountain and around the ice. No more trying to walk across thick glazed ice. Arrived at the sign for the sidetrail to Pecks Corner Shelter around 6:30PM. Took another hour in the dark with my headlamp walking on ice and crawling under and over downed trees to find the shelter.
Date: 2007-02-24
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday February 24, 2007 Started - Pecks Corner Shelter 9:00AM. Finished - Tri Corner Knob Shelter 2:45PM. Got a late start because I lost my headlamp looking for the water source at Pecks Corner Shelter. Still had it on my head from the night before. I guess a tree branch knocked it off. Went back and looked for it but could not find it. Good thing I always carry a second light source. Very sunny day, not too windy and just patchy ice here and there. Later that afternoon at Tri Corner Knob Shelter a hiker trail name Labeck (Laid Back) came in. He is from Florida and came here just to hike some of the Smokies trails. He lost a moccasin South of Cosby knob. Very sunny day with very little wind. Rained very heavily all night with a wind that I thought would take the shelter roof off. The roof and shelter survived as well as Labeck and I. Rain did not stop until around 10:30 the next morning.
Date: 2007-02-25
From: Tri Corner Knob Shelter

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Sunday February 25, 2007 Still raining with high winds and cold temps. Finally about 10:30AM it cleared up. Labeck took off, but I decided to stay. It was too late for me to make the next shelter (Cosby Knob). Labeck put me onto the Mount Cammerer fire lookout. I think I will spend the rest of today here and go past Cosby knob to Mount Cammerer fire lookout tomorrow.
Date: 2007-02-26
From: Tri Corner Knob Shelter

To: Mount Cammerer Fire Lookout
Miles today: 10.5

Monday February 26, 2007 Start - Tri Corner Knob Shelter 7:45AM. Finished Mount Cammerer Fire Lookout 4:45PM. Beautiful day for hiking sunny and warm with very little wind. Ice, ice, ice, ice everywhere until just past Cosby Knob. About 2 miles south of Cosby Knob, what's this in the middle of the trail? Hey Labeck I found your moccasin. Stopped at Cosby Knob Shelter for lunch. Just after Cosby Knob a strap on my left yak trak broke and one of the coil springs popped out the side and caught the shoe lace on my right shoe. Down I went. Cut holes in the left knee of my rain suit. Felt all right for about half an hour and then a muscle in my lower right leg began to hurt. Took a couple of hiker vitamin I (Ibuprofen) and kept going. Reached Mount Cammere, known to the old timers as White Rock, just before sunset. Unpacked and took some really great pictures of the mountains at dusk and the sunset. Tried to take pictures of the city lights in the distance but they did not come out very good. The view day or night is very impressive. You can see 360 degress for hundreds of miles. The structure is called a fire lookout instead of a fire tower because it is built on the ground and not raised up. Construction was started in 1937 and finished in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC). Volunteers restored it in 1990. It is currently in very bad need of maintenance. The paint is weathered and peeling. One of the windows is rotted in one corner with the caulking coming out and the glass is about to fall out. The lookout is octagonal in shape and provides a 360-degree view with glass windows all around, similar to a light house on the coast.
Date: 2007-02-27
From: Mount Cammerer Fire Lookout

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday February 27, 2007 Start - Mount Cammerer Fire Lookout 8:30AM. Finished - Standing Bear Farm Hostel 4:30PM. Beautiful day for hiking, sunny, no wind, temp around 60 degrees. Had to take off some of my cloths because it got to warm. Down hill all the way to Davenport Gap (Northern end of the Smokey's). Yes the Smokey's are now behind me and what a challenge they where. Only 2.4 miles to go to get to Standing Bear Farm Hostel. Now my leg is starting to hurt. Having to use my trekking pole as a crutch the last-half mile. Finally reached Standing Bear Farm Hostel and met Curtis Owen the owner. Standing Bear Farm Hostel is located about a mile North of I40 and 50 miles east of Knoxville, TN. A rustic atmosphere but comfortable and pleasant. A real treat for a true backpacker who needs a break from the trail. Curtis Owen the owner is very friendly country boy type.
Date: 2007-03-01
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thursday March 1, 2007 Still resting my leg. Cold Windy and rainy today. Just Jim went back to the trail about 10:30AM headed North for Roaring Fork Shelter. Rode with Curtis to Newport, Tn. He dropped me off at WalMart and went on to take care of some personal matters. Bought some supplies for the trip to Hot Springs. It looks like because of my leg and the weather going below freezing at night I will not be able to go back to the trail until next Tuesday.
Date: 2007-03-02
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Friday March 2, 2007 Relaxed all day, In the evening I went to the Front Porch Restaurant. A Restaurant owned and operated by Curtis's wife's family. Probably the only Bluegrass Mexican restaurant anywhere. The food is excellent. The recipes are authentic Mexican recipes handed down from generations of there family as well as some original ones created by Curtis's wife Maria. Only open on Friday and Saturday night and Sunday during the season they also feature a an excellent bluegrass band from 7:00PM til 9:00PM.
Date: 2007-03-04
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sunday March 4, 2007 Toke a hike over the ridge to I40 (about half a mile one way) to see how well my leg would do. It felt OK. Took 23 minutes going over and 24 minutes coming back without a pack. Tonight Combat his father and I went to dinner at the Stagecoach restaurant in Newport, TN. and saw a movie (Wild Hogs) afterwards.
Date: 2007-03-06
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 10.1

Tuesday March 6, 2007 Start - Standing Bear Farm Hostel (Green Corner Road) 6:45AM. Finish - Brown Gap 4:00PM. At Brown Gap I met a group from Bowling Green University in Ohio headed South from Hot Springs to Davenport Gap. They had traded keys with another group from there university headed North from Davenport Gap to Hot Springs. Decided to stealth camp with them since I was tired and there is a long hill to climb next. Great bunch of guys and gals. Sat around the camp fire that night and had a really great time. Day was sunny and warm all day. Great for hiking. Zero a hiker I met at Standing Bear Farm Hostel passed me just after 4:00PM.
Date: 2007-03-07
From: Brown Gap

To: Lemon Gap
Miles today: 8.7

Wednesday March 7, 2007 Start - Standing Brown Gap 7:00AM. Finish - Lemon Gap 6:00PM. Beautiful day for hiking. Started out cold but warmed up quickly. Sunny all day. Lost 2 hours on Max Patch trying to find the A.T. Went down one trail that lead to an old dirt road. No blazes anywhere. A couple was walking up when I got there and I asked them where the A.T. was. They said it was back up on the ridge, just take the trail North. So back up the hill I went and took the trail North. After going over the ridge I saw a white blaze to my left but none to the right. It led me back to where I started from. Reversed course on the same trail until I came to the place where I turned on to it and went about 10 yards further. At last another white blaze. Got to Lemon Gap about 6:00PM. The guidebook said there was a campsite and road 2 tenths of mile back but I could not find one. Stealth camped at Lemon Gap for the night.
Date: 2007-03-08
From: Lemon Gap

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 11.4

Thursday March 8, 2007 Start - Lemon Gap 6:30AM. Finish - Deer Park Shelter 4:40PM. Another great day for hiking, warm and sunny. While sitting on the trail a couple of miles from the Deer Park shelter Ramblin Rose came along. We talked for a while and he went on. He was going to try and make it to Hot Springs before dark. Arrived at Deer Park shelter and found the North bound group from Bowling Green university, Ohio. Fixed some supper while we chatted. Decided to leave with them in the morning at 6:00AM and have breakfast in Hot Springs.
Date: 2007-03-09
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Spring, N.C.
Miles today: 3.2

Friday March 9, 2007 Start - Deer Park Shelter 6:00AM. Finish - Hot Springs N.C. 7:30AM. Had breakfast with both groups from Bowling Green University, Ohio at the Smoky Mountain diner. Surprise trail magic from a great bunch of trail Angles, they paid for my breakfast. Thanks heaps guys and gals for the breakfast and the great companion ship. Still would like that group picture to post on my journal. Checked in to Elmer's (Sunny Bank Hostel). Sunny Bank is an old Victorian style home that has been maintained in the same state it was when it was remodeled in 1870. Elmer serves breakfast and lunch (vegetarian meals only). The food is excellent. the last evening I was there I believe he out did himself with a fabulous key lime pie for desert.
Date: 2007-03-12
From: Hot Spring, N.C.

To: Hot Spring, N.C.
Miles today: 0.0

Monday March 12,2007 Organized and shipped bump box to Erwin, TN. Also mailed some post cards. This afternoon I went to the famous mineral springs and soaked in the spa for an hour. Man that felt so goooood. The springs formerly known as Warm Springs was renamed to Hot Springs. I do not know the year the name was changed but it was some time ago. During World War I the site was an internment camp for German prisoners of war. I understand there was only one successful escape from the camp in its entire history. While here at Elmer's I met such hikers as Mo Lassus, Walrus, Sticker, Hawk, Boone, Woodstock, Ramblin Rose, and Osprey.
Date: 2007-03-13
From: Hot Spring, N.C.

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday Marc 13, 2007 Started - Hot Spring, N.C. 7:40AM. Finished Spring Mountain Shelter 5:40PM. Beautiful day for hiking again warm and sunny all day. Night was cool but pleasant. Probably in the 40's. Started raining sometime after 3:00AM and stopped around 6:30AM the next morning (3-14-2007).
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday March 14, 2007 Started Spring Mountain Shelter - 7:30AM. Finished - Little Laurel Shelter 4:45M. Another beautiful day for hiking. Spring seems just around the corner. Reached Allen Gap around 10:30AM. What's this? A sign at the gap reads, ¢trail magic 300 yards to the right down the highway¢. Hercules and Fal thru hiked the A.T. in 1999. They have a home next to the trail at Allen Gap and serve food and drinks to the thru hikers and long distance section hikers. They are Christians and try to pass on the Lords word. I had some wonderful pork stew, lemonade, home made garlic bread, and some wonderful conversation. I was stuffed. Allen Gap is the official crossing of the A.T. from N.C. into TN. Well I guess I am back home. But not for too long Virginia still awaits me.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday March 15, 2007 Started - Little Laurel Shelter 7:30AM. Finished - Flint Mountain Shelter 8:15PM. Beautiful day for hiking. Temps must be in the lower to mid 70s. Arrived at Jerry's Cabin shelter at 2:00PM. Had trouble on and old road near Flint Mountain shelter the blazes are not well marked. Around 6:00PM. Followed what I thought was the trail down a very long hill into a farmer's field before realizing that this is not the A.T. Hiked back up the hill and found the last blaze and the right trail. It started raining while I was hiking back up the hill and was getting dark. About a mile or so from the shelter I had to turn on my headlamp and hike in the dark. The Lord was leading me because I would have missed the sign for the shelter in the dark. My GPS showed me I was close but I could not see any thing until my headlamp shined on the sign almost covered with branches. Got in the shelter and put on some dry cloths. Cooked dinner and went to bed. It rained all night.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Friday March 16, 2007 It rained all night and all day today. Very cold rain so I did not want to chance hypothermia. Stayed in the shelter another day. In the afternoon the temp started to drop. Got up in the middle of the night to go to the privy and saw little glistening things in my headlamp. Great now it is snowing.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Devil's Fork Gap
Miles today: 2.8

Saturday March 17, 2007 Started - Flint Mountain Shelter 8:45AM. Finished Devils Fork Gap 10:00AM. Woke up to snow covered ground and light snow still falling. Water bottles frozen. Temps must be well below freezing. Took a look at my maps and decided to get out to Erwin TN. In March you never know when the weather might get really bad and I did not ant to be stranded for days on end. P\Ate some breakfast, packed up and started to hike. Hike was very easy, mostly down hll. Got to Devils Fork Gap and saw a house just down the road. They were not very friendly but the man did call Miss Janet's house in Erwin (a hiker hostel). He told me there was a crossroad about 3 miles down the road and I could probably get a ride better from there. Started walking and after about 2miles a very nice elderly lady picked me up and took me to Miss Janet's house (missjanetshouse.com). Miss Janet is a legend on the trail and goes out of her way to help hikers.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: Sam's Gap

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wednesday March 21, 2007 Start - Sam's Gap 10:30AM. Finished Bald Moubtaib Shelter 04:15PM. Slack pack day. Day was overcast and cool. Bald Mountain had high winds. Wind blew all night at the shelter but not into the shelter. Backyard Boogie was at the shelter when I arrived. Tuna Mac came in later. After dark two bothers came in going South bound (no trail names).