morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-11
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Waterlog Gap
Miles today: 13.5

¢Holy Hills! Gotta love North Carolina!¢- Mr. T & Flint, from Muskrat Creek Shelter RegisterHad another ¢excellent-good¢ stay at the Blueberry Patch. Gary and Lennie are the best hosts on the trail. Gary dropped Stickman, Puck, B-Dub, and me off at the trail, but Bdub had to go back to the hostel as he forgot his Tevas. Then off we all started, headed for our first border crossing into North Carolina ¢ hard to believe Georgia¢s history.The walk into North Carolina is chick-full of strenuous climbs, especially Sharp Top (4,400 feet) and Courthouse Bald (4,700 feet), but it¢s worth the effort just to get into another state already. Hiking weather is good ¢ cool and drizzly, and the company is ¢excellent-good¢ as I get to hike with Loon from Bly Gap, at the famous old gnarled Oak, to Muskrat Creek Shelter.It¢s great hiking with him as he has encyclopedic knowledge about the environment ¢ he was the department head of environmental studies at George Mason University. We talk about waterbars ¢ he even does a bit of maintenance ¢ we talk about Bluets, Bloodroot, Black Bears, you name it. I later spot a couple of Ruffed Grouse.At the shelter, which is bursting with hikers staying out of the rain, Loon decides to stay. Also here are Stickman, K-2, Puck Finn, B-Dub, Java, and her sister Trail Hippie, and a couple of other hikers. I cook dinner and push off, I don¢t want to stay at a packed shelter ¢ too busy, smelly, and noisy.I walk 1.9 miles north of the shelter to Waterlog Gap and find my self a spot to pitch my tent. I¢m expecting rain tonight so I¢ll be happy to stay dry. And just now I hear the call of a Barred Owl in the distance, better than someone else¢s snoring any day ¢ or night I should say.
Date: 2004-04-12
From: Waterlog Gap

To: Wallace Gap, Old U.S. 64
Miles today: 23.4

¢ . . . when the world is mudluscious and puddle-wonderful . . . ¢- e.e. cummings, ¢In Just Spring¢Rain, rain, lots o¢ rain today. One of those days when you pack a wet tent and just keep right on hiking. Although the rain has a way of transforming the landscape: leaves glisten and seem vivid, streams become torrents, and one seems to be walking in the clouds all day.On days like these I minimize breaks ¢ there are usually no views ¢ Standing Indian Mountain (5,498 feet) and Albert Mountain (5,220 feet) were both socked in ¢ although the insides of the cirrus clouds were wonderfully wet and misty. I was flanked by Galax all day ¢ that wonderfully ¢fecundal¢ smelling plant. This is quite possibly the wettest stretch of the trail anyway ¢ Mooney Gap receives over 93 inches of rain annually.Every shelter was bursting early so I just kept on walking. The sun finally peeked out at 6:40 p.m. Near Rock Gap Shelter I spotted a huge Barred Owl taking flight and it perched itself on an Oak about 40 yards to my left, and just stared at me ¢ the walking fool out at 8:15 p.m.I decided to push on to the camp at Rainbow Spring. And I¢m glad I did because an intense thunderstorm raged all night. There are 13 other hikers staying here at the new yurt tonight ¢ Java and Chill Out are among them. I¢m glad to be dry tonight.
Date: 2004-04-13
From: Wallace Gap, Old U.S. 64

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 0.0

¢What a way to celebrate my first 100 miles . . . ¢- Quincy Girl, from the Camp at Rainbow Spring RegisterAfter last night¢s severe thunderstorm, and the impromptu 23-mile day, all I needed to hear this morning was the forecast for a winter storm tonight, and I decided to take an unplanned zero day. It was virtually impossible to resist.The new owners at the Camp at Rainbow Spring have built a yurt, which sleeps 20 hikers, and the pull of warmth and ¢dryness¢ easily triumphed. Plus, I ran into Chill Out and a new group of hikers and decided to slow down a bit.I spent some time at the seasonal outfitters, which Mountain Crossings at Walasi Yi is running here, and we watched a DVD entitled ¢Walking¢ about hiking the PCT.It was well worth the stay as the rain turned into snow late in the afternoon ¢ and then Loon came in around 7:30 p.m. It was good to see him again ¢ we thought it wouldn¢t be until Trail Days in Damascus, VA, about a month from now.An uneventful zero day ¢ a real zero day. Well, I¢m back to walking tomorrow, regardless of the weather.
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Wallace Gap

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

¢What a wonderful reward we got today . . . hiking all day in snow-covered trees and really quiet and peaceful (and muddy) trails . . .- Saffron, from Cold Spring Shelter RegisterIt was ¢excellent-good¢ to get out again after a zero day. It was beneficial to wait out the sleet and freezing rain in order to walk in something of a winter landscape all day today. The area received between 1 ¢ 3 inches of snow.I got a later start than I prefer because we had to wait for the 9:30 a.m. shuttle out of the campground. Rainbow Spring is much improved.The temperatures seemed to hover in the 30¢s all day. The trail seemed like a late season snowshoe trail in the Whites. At the junction of the trail and the Siler Bald Summit Trail (~ 4,950 feet), I couldn¢t see the 0.2 miles up to the summit ¢ it was worthless ascending as there were no views and a flurry was blowing snow sideways.Earlier, between Swinging Lick Gap and Panther Gap, I heard a pack of Coyotes about a mile below in a hollow. It was odd seeing the Rhododendron encrusted with snow drooping at the extra winter weight.The day did clear up by the time I ascended Wayah Bald (5,342 feet) ¢ there were excellent views over dozens of miles. I could even distinguish Cheoah Bald and The Smokies which are coming up soon.Later in the afternoon, I ran into Java and her sister Angela ¢ they had a great campfire going. They said they spotted some wild piglets that seemed lost. Luckily, the sow was nowhere in sight. The afternoon walk was a bit of a slog as the trail is quite muddy north of Wayah.Tonight, I¢m tenting beyond the full shelter. Good weather expected tomorrow.
Date: 2004-04-15
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Wesser, N.C.
Miles today: 11.5

¢I never want to go downhill again . . . ¢- Cool Hand Luke, from Rufus Morgan Shelter RegisterLast night was dreadfully cold ¢ I slept about 40 minutes out of every hour and tried to keep warm the other 20 minutes. I awoke around midnight and had to put on all the clothes I had - balaclava, wool hat, T-shirt, 2 long hiking shirts, rain jacket and pants, and Capilene long johns ¢ and I was still cold. My bag is rated at 20 degrees, so despite being blustery, it had to be cold.It began to warm quickly though, and by 9:30 a.m. I was back to hiking in short sleeves and shorts. I did spook a Grouse who in return spooked the heck out of me with an explosive take-off near Copper Ridge Bald (5,150 feet).I had an early lunch atop Wesser Bald fire tower where I had views well into the Smokey Mountains ¢ the only snow-capped ridges remaining by 11:00 a.m. I spotted some Cardinals on my way into Wesser, after the infamously knee-creaking 6 and a half mile, 4000 foot descent ¢ one of the longest descents on the trail.I was originally going to spend just a couple of hours re-supplying, hanging out, and eating a warm restaurant meal at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, but after I was able to make arrangements with the post office at Fontana Dam to have my bounce box delivered to guest services at Fontana Dam Resort, I decided to take a short 11.5 mile day. I no longer have to beat the noon Saturday post office deadline. I can now catch up on my sleep.There are a couple of dozen hikers staying tonight at the NOC base camp, a hostel for hikers and paddlers. Among them are: Adante, Raven, Saffron, Fast Ox, Southern Boy, Caterpillar, Southern Man, Syl, Garcia, Wildman, et al.Tomorrow, the longest sustained ascent on the A.T. ¢ an 8-mile hike, 3,500-foot ascent of Cheoah Bald and beyond.
Date: 2004-04-16
From: Wesser, N.C.

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

¢The food at NOC was awesome . . . many PUDS (pointless ups & downs) today but I still feel great . . . :¢- Nevercash, from Brown Fork Shelter RegisterI slept great last night ¢ seems I always catch up on sleep when I¢m on a proper mattress. Headed out early this morning, around 6:55 a.m., and leap-frogged Adante, Raven, and Fast Ox all day. The seemingly interminable 8-mile climb out of Wesser, N.C. up to Cheoah Bald (5,602 feet) never gets any easier. What a work out for the calves and hip flexors!It¢s mostly cool and clear all day and the hiking is gratifyingly tough. It¢s not the most fun-filled day, but the views of the Nantahala Gorge and the Smokey Mountain just north of us are ¢excellent-good¢and it is gratifying to be getting in shape, but tough.I actually tried to yogi a Coke from a couple of tourists from Indiana, at Stecoah Gap, but they had nothing ¢ and none too subtle on my part either. I think Adante and Raven were both embarrassed at my attempt.After dinner at Brown Fork Shelter, Fast Ox and I continued hiking. Fast Ox hiked until 7:45 p.m., just shy of Hog Back Gap on a small spur. I walked until 8:15 to Cody Gap. Tomorrow is Fast Ox¢s last day on the trail. He¢s a very nice guy and very strong hiker ¢ he seems to be able to sustain a 3-mile pace going uphill ¢ and at 6 foot 5 inches, one of his strides equals nearly 3 of my 5 foot, 9 inches strides.Fast Ox came out on a two-week vacation from Honda (he does reliability testing for them) to hike with Saffron. He leaves tomorrow and she¢ll continue north. Even though I couldn¢t have kept up with him, it would¢ve been neat to hike a bit more with Fast Ox.Tomorrow it should be a relatively short day into Fontana Dam, N.C., and a major re-supply, laundry, and other mail chores to prepare for the Smokies.
Date: 2004-04-17
From: Cody Gap

To: Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

¢Drowning here in summer¢s cauldron . . . under mats of flower lava . . .:¢- Andy Partridge, ¢Summer¢s Cauldron¢Woke up this morning to two Barred Owls doing a call and response down the hollow from Cody Gap ¢ it was marvelous! Even though I had my bounce box moved to guest services at Fontana Village, I¢d still like to get in before noon so I can mail my own box to Hot Springs, NC, and not have to ask someone else to do it for me.The walking is fine, but I¢m feeling a bit funky ¢ I think a combination of the food at NOC and the hellacious climb out of Wesser is catching up to me today. It turns out to be quite a warm day, almost summery.There are a profusion of wildflowers blooming, especially around Walker Gap: Fire Pink, Bluets, Trillium, Blood Root, Spring Beauties, and Rabbit Tobacco. At the Fontana Dam Marina I called to be shuttled into the village. I took care of my bounce box, settled into my room, and then went to walk the 1.8 miles from the marina to the dam at the Little Tennessee River. Then back to finish the chores like repacking, food, laundry, and shaving my head for the sake of the burnt-in half moon.It was a pretty busy half-day of hiking. Also staying at the village tonight are: Fly, Timex, The Bandana Bunch, Dream Catcher, Andante, Raven, et al. Fast Ox came by to visit and it was great to talk to him some more before he heads back to Ohio tomorrow. He¢s staying at the Hike Inn.Tomorrow, the Smokies.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Little Tennessee River, Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

¢Stopped here for the night, made a fire to ward off flesh eating flies. Must stay alive!¢- Adam, from Mollie¢s Ridge Shelter RegisterI headed out with Fly, Dreamcatcher, and Speak Up on the first shuttle this morning at 8:15 a.m. and started the long climb up into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.There was plenty of evidence that bears are around ¢ copious amounts of scat ¢ but no bears to be seen today. It¢s a very warm day and there are plenty of biting gnats and black flies about; you swallow a couple accidentally with your Snickers and their brethren get back by doing kamikaze dives into your ears, eyes, nose, etc. They leave multiple welts on your arms, legs, and forehead ¢ black flies are insidiously active this year.There is an unbelievable amount of flowers, especially Spring Beauties (5 quarter-inch long white petals with 3 or more purplish lines radiating out from the stamen) flanking the sides of the trail for miles past the Gregory Bald Trail junction. Patches of Bluets also abound. It seems as if nature sprinkled bits of cotton all along the forest ¢ sometimes it resembles snow.I do spot a Grouse near Russell Field Shelter. I had intended to walk on to Spence Field Shelter, but my legs, and especially my feet, have had enough, so I stop walking earlier than usual.Later, the legendary Aswah shows up with his girlfriend Daytripper, and we start catching up on trail news and reminisce ¢ we both started hiking the AT in 2000, and both had journals on Trailplace. Sauerkraut also arrives later ¢ he¢s in a bit of a rush as he has to finish his hike in 4 months, so he¢s doing big miles. He works at the German equivalent of REI ¢ he¢s from Frankfurt. Tomorrow, more up, up, up into the Smokies, and hopefully less protein ingested by way of black fly.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

¢Starting to feel like a real hiker. Spent at least half-hour not thinking about my feet . . . ¢- Blue, from Double Spring Gap Shelter RegisterIt is a park regulation that when hiking through the Smokies, hikers must sleep in the shelters unless the shelters are full, in which case one is allowed to tent near the shelter. Most of the shelters still have chain link fencing on the front ¢ here the hikers are in cages on exhibit for the wildlife. The shelters that haven¢t been renovated are still quite ratty, but it¢ll have to do ¢ by regulation.I ran into Wildman again this morning, as I was enjoying the majestic views from Rocky Top (5,300 feet), and he told me an incredible story of taking the Eagle Creek Trail up to Spence Field yesterday. Since Wildman hiked the trail in 2001, he¢s looking for ways to make the hiking more unusual this time ¢ but little did he think that he¢d have to ford Eagle Creek 26 times!I actually spent most of the day hiking with Wildman, and it¢s unbelievable that I come out here to meet him, and he lived a few miles away from me when I lived in Central Florida. Away from the trail, Wildman is an entrepreneur, and has worked for Dole, Merrill Lynch, and was the publisher of Orlando Magazine. And he loves to reminisce about his 2001 thru-hike (I never met him then).Plenty more wildflowers today, on a clear and breezy day. Also lots of bear and wild hog scat, but no sightings. The walk was typical of the first half of the Smokies ¢ uneven terrain, alternately rocky and rooty with lots of elevation gain and loss ¢ and yes, magnificent views.Tonight, there¢s a crowd here at the shelter: Blue, Yola, Rebel With A Cause, Wildman, and me inside, and Aswah, Daytripper, Sauerkraut, and 6 other hikers tenting outside.Tomorrow, Clingman¢s Dome, Newfound Gap, being the center of tourists¢ attention, and maybe ¢yogiing¢ a treat or two.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

¢ . . . staying here tonight, falling asleep to the snoring and flatulation of my fellow inhabitants . . . ¢- Manzooka, from Icewater Spring Shelter RegisterI knew today was going to be a relatively short day because I was going up to the Clingman¢s Dome observatory (6,643 feet), the highest spot on the trail, and because I was going to hang out for a while at Newfoundland Gap, where thru-hikers become the focus of tourist¢ attention - you get to feel like a quasi-celebrity or oddball for a while.Early in the morning I started hiking with Blue, a legal aid attorney from Brooklyn out on a sabbatical. She¢s hiking a bit slow due to an Achilles tendonitis and injured ankles ¢ but she¢s tough, walking through the discomfort. Although the discomfort was set aside for a celebratory raising of hiking poles at Indian Gap after the completion of our 200th mile on the trail.Blue went into Gatlinburg, and I hung out with Momma¢s Boy at Newfound Gap and fielded numerous questions from tourists about the thru-hike. In some ways one really forgets about how unusual it is ¢ what we¢re doing ¢ until someone who is not a thru-hiker in awe and disbelief puts this endeavor back into perspective. Yeah, I guess it is pretty neat ¢ I¢ve just walked 200 miles, about one-tenth of the trail!I hung out at Newfound Gap for a couple of hours and met Papa Smurf (GA-ME 2002) ¢ he¢s driving hikers into Gatlinburg if they want to go into town. Around 5 p.m., Aswah, Daytripper, and Rebel With A Cause show up and almost convince me to go into town ¢ Aswah tempts me with visions of steaks and microbrew - but I resist and push on. Gatlinburg is notorious for being a hiker vortex. It¢s not unusual for hikers to be lured into one or two zero days there. My steak will have to wait until Hot Springs.After a nice walk to Icewater Shelter, I¢m done for the day ¢ I¢m setting up a 20-mile day tomorrow. At the shelter are Momma¢s Boy, Icebreak, Cody, Tammy and Sue (two sisters from Nantucket), and tenting are Wildman, Dean, M&M, and Dawn.I avoided the vortex ¢ the hike continues . . .
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

¢Wow! This is the best part of the trail so far!! Charlie¢s Bunion was cool . . .what views! I could hardly stay on the trail for looking at all the sights . . .¢- Oxymoron & Ruth, from Tricorner Knob Shelter RegisterThis section by far is the best in the Smokies. One starts with the awe-inspiring views from a rock outcropping, caused by a rockslide, called Charlie¢s Bunion. The views stretch far into the valleys northwest of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Then the rest of the morning is taken up by walking miles on a narrow ridge, well above 5,000 feet, with sublime views of the manifold ¢ literally dozens of ridges of the southeast Smokies.Some time after a break on a rock outcropping called Bradley¢s View, I spot my first Black Bear of the hike. We actually startle each other, as we both walk around bends in the trail and are only about 30 yards apart. After staring at each other for what seemed like a very long second, the bear bolts away headed north as I clack my hiking poles and yell ¢Bear!¢Over the next quarter mile I clack my poles about every 25 yards hoping it¢ll move well off the trail. It was only about a 100 pound bear ¢ a yearling maybe ¢ so the first thing I looked for was a larger sow. None to be found ¢ good!The Dogwoods are blooming in all the adjacent valleys and ridges once I reach Guyot Spur (6,360 feet). Also many Dandelion are in bloom. It¢s a nicely graded walk today, with cool breezes under partly sunny skies ¢ good hiking weather.The shelter is nearly full tonight as there are very few flat spaces about Cosby Knob Shelter. Wildman, M, Dawn, Doc, Icebreak, Momma¢s Boy, and I all did the twenty-mile day. There¢s also a couple here doing a 5-day loop in the Smokies, and Fix It and Blue Sky are tenting.Tomorrow it¢s out of the Smokies and the traditional post-Smokies cheeseburger at Mountain Momma¢s ¢ and beyond.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Waterville School Road
Miles today: 10.6

¢Great place to stay: so much to look at ¢ all the old buildings are really neat. Thanks Curtis . . . ¢- Mousebait, from Standing Bear Hostel RegisterAll I¢ve been thinking about this morning is scarfing down a cheeseburger ¢ a tradition of sorts after leaving the Smokies ¢ at Mountain Moma¢s. I startle a few deer this morning with my brisk pace, and also spot a huge pile of bear scat that looks like it came from a 500 to 600 pounder ¢ who knows?!At Davenport Gap I don¢t even try hitching, I just head the 1.5 miles to Mountain Moma¢s. I scarf down a cheeseburger, fries, swiss rolls, chocolate milk, Gatorade, beef jerky, and cheese in 20 minutes, and quickly re-supply so I can catch the morning shuttle (at 11:30 a.m.) back to the gap. I feel quite full and expect to feel sick on my ascent out of the gap.Sure enough, during the first couple of miles I nearly upchuck everything half a dozen times. At the underpass to I-40, before starting the 7-mile ascent up to Snowbird Mountain, a hiker called Sean says to me, ¢It¢s 80 degrees.¢ ¢It sure feels like it,¢ I say, not thinking it really is, but just reasserting that it does feel hot. Then he shows me his thermometer and it¢s reading 84 degrees.It never fails, every time I come through here I¢m at the point of vomiting in very warm weather. At Waterville Road I decide to go check on Standing Bear Farm Hostel ¢ I¢d like to say hello to owners Curtis Owen and Maria Guzman ¢ and to get some water as many of the water sources between Davenport Gap and Deep Gap are allegedly polluted.As I wait out the hottest hours of the mid-afternoon, an ¢excellent-good¢ group assembles: Little Engine, Wildman, Roadster, Giving Tree, Icebreak, and A-Dog ¢ it¢s not difficult to rationalize staying, especially when I check the register and find out that I¢m here 2 years to the day I was here last ¢ good karma.Later we have pizza and a couple of beers around a campfire Wildman builds. Good stories and conversation, and a little classical music Wildman blasts from the stereo in the chow house. These are some of the best moments on the trail. I am happy now, after feeling guilty, that I stopped walking at 1:30 p.m.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Waterville School Road

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

¢The Trillium along the trail are beautiful . . . ¢- Beater & Wife, from Roaring Fork Shelter RegisterCurtis has steadily been developing Standing Bear Hostel into one of the best on the trail. He now offers short term re-supply out of a cool storage room, including soft drinks and ice cream. In the last couple of years he¢s also built a library, chow house (with table, microwave, pizza oven, and stereo), a laundry room with a phone and internet access, to go along with the ¢excellent-good¢ cabin and bunkhouse, privy, and showers that were already there. It¢s a great place!I leave early, only A-Dog and Roadster are stirring at 7:30 a.m., to finish the 6 miles of the ascent up Snowbird Mountain (4,263 feet). It¢s mostly cloudy and breezy all day, so already I¢m happy with yesterday¢s decision to cut the day short ¢ the ascent is a grind in hot weather, and there will be plenty of grinds to come! I do spot a lot of Fire Pink and Rabbit Tobacco this morning, as well as my first snake ¢ a Garter Snake near Groundhog Creek Shelter.A neat surprise at midday is finding the Hiker Hobos setting up their 8th annual gathering at Brown Gap, where they feed thru-hikers and just hang out for the weekend. Sean, Soggy, Pokey, and Vagrant are all taking zero days here. It¢s good to see Pirate, Bookworm, Ox, and others again, as they do this neat thing for hikers. There¢s fruit, drinks, cookies, salad, and later they¢ll have steaks, burgers, beans, salmon, and more. I hang out for a couple of hours, happy to be off my feet and very appreciative for the trail magic, but I eventually head on.Despite the clouds, the 360 degree views at Max Patch Summit (4,629 feet) are astounding. This is one of the absolute best places on the entire AT ¢ my favorite spot in the south. I was planning on camping atop Walnut Mountain tonight, but my feet would ¢go-go no mo¢¢ when I arrived at Roaring Fork Shelter. The Trillium ¢ miles of them ¢ were in full bloom north of Max Patch ¢ it was ¢excellent-good¢.I¢m headed in to Hot Springs, NC tomorrow. I¢ve got the shelter all to myself tonight.