morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-31
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

I Know I was supposed to rest another night, but I felt really good this morning.Went to the outfitters to send some things back home and resupply. I think my pack is down below 30lbs now with 3 days food and a liter of water. Figured I should cut down as much as I can because of my ankle.The uphill out of NOC felt fine and the weather was sunny and cool. My ankle felt good with the exception of a few full pains. I still need to slow it down on the flats and downhills. Got into the shelter around 1pm just as temperatures started to drop. Hail started and stopped with a bit of rain. It's getting close to freezing temperatures now and I'm happy to have a place in the shelter. They are calling for snow tonight. I think there's close to 25 people at this site tonight and every spot is full. I'm glad for the company but it's a pretty rowdy bunch. I'll sleep with ear plugs tonight.Very happy to be on the trail again.. Should be in Fontana Dam in two days!
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

Cold Weather to start out. There was some form of snow on the ground, but it looked more like pellets. The trees were iced over, leaving a trail of frost in the direction of the wind (pictures soon to come).I was happy to get an early start, given the number of people at the site. There is something magical about morning hiking. The woods seem pristine, unspoiled, like making the first cut into a homemade pie. Everything was perfectly formed, undisturbed. I got to watch sunlight climb a mountain, cutting through a forest of ice.The rest of the day I spent fighting with my ankle. I think I had a good 9 miles to debate in my head what the best options would be. Obviously I enjoy being out here, but the pain I feel with every step is definitely disturbing my mental attitude and overall experience. I'm glad I didn't run into other hikers, I didn't want my attitude to ruin their fun.I was surprised to find Snowy River, Spit Walker, and REM at the shelter when I arrived. They put in a short day of 7 miles, allowing me to catch up. Pretty soon we had a fire going and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening listening to music and hanging around the warmth. I was very happy to be with the group again.The large group that was at last nights shelter decided to night hike and rolled into our site at 9:30. Not thrilled with the hours they keep or the numbers they travel in. They were courteous though and we were able to get to sleep right after they came in.Fontana Dam tomorrow!
Date: 2011-04-02
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 6.6

Nice warm day with a bit of a breeze. The woods were sunny and the birds were awake as I came down the mountain. It didn't help me in my debate to heal my ankle, all I want to do is stay with it and hike.Made it to the Lodge around 10:30 and located my first mail drop... Very exciting to open up a package from home! The resupply would last me through to Gatlinburg.Made a tough phone call home, finally decided to stop the hike and heal up. I'll be picked up tomorrow and rest for two weeks before returning. This isn't how I planned my trip, but luckily the time line doesn't set me back at all. It will be like I started on April 1st now.It is a difficult day to leave. The sun is shining, the lake is beautiful, and saying goodbye to Snowy and Spit Walker wasn't easy. I hope to catch up with them further up the trail. The shelter here is fantastic, and everyone here is pleasant. (someone just threw a bag of chips at me... Score). I got a shower and washed up a set of clothes in the bathroom. Hopefully I won't smell up the car too badly.I appreciate everyone following the journal, and I'm sorry for the disappointing news. My decision was a difficult one to make and I feel like I've let some of you down. I do intend to continue my hike, but will try to refrain from posting while I'm not on the trail. I'll be adding pictures to the journal and doing some editing. Please keep checking in and I hope to catch up with my fellow hikers soon!
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I do apologize for the delay in posting, I have been out of range, out of time, or out of energy to post since I've returned.BUT... I have returned!The day started late with saying goodbye to my parents around noon after taking pictures at the visitors center. The climb up was simple enough and I was glad to take my time. The shelter itself was full of section hikers and a few thru-ers. I couldn't have asked for a better group to reintroduce me to trail hospitality. I ended up tenting the night thinking it wouldn't rain... It did. I managed to keep somewhat dry but only slept a few hours.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Hard Day for hiking today. The weather was very warm and the trail was not covered very well coming over Spence Field and Rocky Top. My body wasn't ready for the uphill yet and I couldn't find a stride. At the shelter that evening we all agreed the day was one of the more difficult sections to hike. (Side note: I followed a turkey for about 100 yards down the trail.) Surprisingly a mother and her son, who were out for the week to hike the smokies (with no experience), managed to hike the same distance as most other thru hikers. Everyone at the shelter was hoping they had decided to only go one shelter in the day (due to the difficulty of the day). The sun had gone down and we were all laying awake in bed when we heard a shout from the woods. Five of us jumped out of bed and ran down the trail to find the mother and her sun limping into camp in total darkness, without water for the past two hours. They were grateful for the reception, but I think we were more impressed with their will power to finish the hike. They are admirable people.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5

My Legs are coming back, my body is allowing me to walk uphill without stopping...Met up with some great section hikers who take the pace I can maintain, and are interesting to talk to. Four of us plodded up Clingmans Dome together. With the conversation and pace, you would have never known we climbed the highest point of the AT today.The view was...touristy. Spectacular, but too busy to be enjoyed by a hiker used to silence and solitude. The day was clear and I snapped some great pictures. Ironically, the highest point east of the Mississippi does not get cell reception. For those of you that haven't been up Clingmans Dome, there's one man made structure in view from the top. It's a cell tower. If you're going to ruin the view... Make sure the structure you build is functional. Sorry to complain but it was easter, I could see the tower a couple hundred yards away, and I couldn't even send a text to my family. Stop getting my hopes up!We spent an hour or two up there, ate lunch, visited the over priced visitors center (that didn't even have a vending machine), and took a leisurely pace down to the shelter. The trail to the shelter was a half mile long, but it was an old pine forest and the path became a tunnel with the scent of earth and pine. The gentle slope down was welcoming. The shelter itself was protected from the wind, AND bug free! Great ending to an epic day... It's the little things
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Fast morning hike to Newfound Gap. Arrived when I said I would (11am) to meet my family. They were kind enough to drop me off at Fontana Dam and stay in the area for three days while I hiked to the halfway point in the Smokies. It was an unbelievable confidence boost to know I had help close by. (Side note: they shuttled two hikers up from Gatlinburg to the trail. I have been hiking with those two guys since)Gatlinburg was...touristy. But then again everyone would say that. I got a shower at my parents hotel, went to Texas Roadhouse (16oz steak!), did laundry, went to the outfitter, and stocked my salt and pepper from Mcdonalds. All in for hours. It was great to have a car!Said final goodbyes to my parents and continued three miles to the first shelter. Another spirited crowd was there to meet me.. Onto the second half of the Smokies
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.6

If You ever want to experience the Smokies, do the northern half. I can't describe the beauty to you, and a picture will never capture the depth and complexity of this forest.I had an amazing hiking day. Though wind threatened to blow me off the mountain, the temperature was warm enough to hike in a t-shirt. Views opened to the left and right of me at every turn. I had good company from Calgone and Stardust and got some amazing journaling done. I have been writing in my own journal these past few days instead of online. It's late tonight but I will try to copy one of my entries in here for you. Keep in mind I have all day to walk and think.. That's what my entertainment is. Welcome to hiking.I have heard alot of talk about "experiencing the trail to the fullest". Honestly, you could probably spend a lifetime in each step of this trail and still have a new experience every moment to tell about. I do however believe there is a difference between young and old hikers. Older hikers have had more experience with new experiences. They know how rare they are and 'savor' each new experience because they only happen once. Only once will you see the view from Springer Mountain for the first time. Only once will you step around the corner to find four layers of mountains sprawled across your view. Only once will I feel exactly the way I feel right now. The more experience you have with these new experiences, the more you will want to prolong them. Young hikers don't have that wisdom. Life moves quickly and we are exposed to so many new experiences. Our lives haven't settled down yet and we don't see an end to something else new waiting for us after this. Most of us are just out of school, starting a new job, leaving town, marrying. We have so many new things to look forward to. We never think to slow down for fear we may miss the next new thing. It will take until these new things become fewer and farther between for us to slow down and savor them. We may not know what we missed until it's already gone. Give us a break, it's easier for you to remember your regrets about speeding through life than it is for us to predict the future.I'm just thankful I found it so early on in life. Live in the moment, no regrets.So that's a brief look into my world. I have pages more of this stuff, but have been hesitant to share. On another note, I hit the 10% marker today... Already??
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

If Only I could sum up my day and you could experience it as I have. Today I watched the world change. I started at 6,000ft and descended to 2,500ft. The day started with wind, rain, and fog. It ended with sun and heat. The morning was a pine forest on the ridge of a mountain, the afternoon was a lush green canopy and a carpet of flowers. I sat on top of a rock today and looked around a 180 degree view of green hills. I saw a snake, two salamanders, and countless butterflies.And now an entry from my journal...Many people ask me questions about what it's like to hike the Appalachian Trail. Almost everyone has logistical questions to ask me: "What are you carrying", "What do you eat", "How far do you walk". Most end by saying they could never fathom doing something like this themselves. I don't think they were asking the right question. The right question in my mind is: 'What is it like spending the day as a hiker?'Imagine a day where you were only concerned with what you had the power to control. A day free of worry because everything you felt concerned about was in your power to control. Let go of the elements in your day you have no power over. Now walk and experience as much of the world as you see fit to do. Don't worry about food or shelter, it's on your back. Don't worry about water, it's coming up from the ground. You have as much time as the day allows before you have to rest and be ready for another day full of carefree exploring....That is a good day.To hit this mentality every day has not yet been possible. There are always forces working against you it you imagine it so. If I had expected a sunny day and rain filled my tent... I did not have a good day. But I guess that's really what morphs people out here. Every day you try to let go of your believed power over forces you can't control, and grasp the moments of the day without any worry. With practice out here, where things are less busy, you can begin to embrace exactly what you have control over. It becomes easier with practice, and all we have out here is time to practice. After awhile we are only left focusing our energy over what we have the power to change. Seeing as how we can change what we want to, we turn each day into a perfect day free of worry.After awhile we will have to return to the lives we left behind. But, I believe the people who experienced the trail without worry or stress will start to apply it to their lives at home, and see the same results as they did on the trail. Sadly, there are more things to stop worrying about in the life I left behind than there are out here. I guess it gives me something to work on when I've finished hiking. So another day is over and I've caught up on my journal. I can't say every entry will be like this one, but I do hope to make small advances every day in the life I am leading. I no longer worry about finishing the trail, but then again I'm not here to walk 2,172 miles anymore. I'm out here to make myself better with each experience, and when that is no longer possible I will happily continue my journey elsewhere.
Date: 2011-04-28
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

I have to apologize about not posting for some time. Be assured I am still hiking, I've just been more distracted lately.I managed to weather out the tornado with no issue, it missed our shelter completely. Many other hikers were hit and plenty of southern towns were damaged, but I stayed safe and dry. A note about the shelter: It's the last one in the smokies that still uses a fence across the front (to keep out bears?). I felt like I was part of Jurassic Park IV and we were stuck in the raptor cage. I spent some of the evening making raptor noises and commenting how well we were penned in for the attack. The night was restless due to the fact that everyone who had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night had to open the squeaky gate to get in and out. I'm glad they decided to do away with this method of warding off bears... It's unsettling to sleep in a cage. The hike down to Standing Bear hostile was thrilling... We got lost. Natie Bird Dog, Stich, and I all took a wrong turn and went a mile out of the way on a dead end road. We did see a turtle... so it was worth it?Plenty of downed trees from the storm as we came out of the Smokies. This will continue to be the case up till now (after Erwin). Standing Bear was wonderful. It's 5 or 6 cottages grouped together to form a little hiker haven. One was a store, the next a bunkhouse, the next a kitchen, and so on. It was a great group of hikers gathered there (many of whom I had gone through the smokies with). I resupplied and left (after eating 2 ramen noodles with half a stick of butter, a Mt. Dew, and some candy). The power was out because of the storm so I had no reason to stay. They did however have a dog the size of a bear that I wanted to steal and strap my pack to... Too bad The rest of the day was slow going and I managed to meet up with some nice day hikers. Shelter was full so I tented.
Date: 2011-04-29
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

Max Patch was windy but beautiful. I met Simmeron, the oldest thru hiker (89 years old). If he completes the thru he will set the age record. I don't doubt that he will, his pace is very strong. A bit grumpy, but I can't say I blame him. If I get to be that old I'll be inside on a recliner, not out in freezing temperatures with 30 pounds on my back.I for lost again for half a mile after Max Patch, but found my way eventually. I took an hour break by a small waterfall and did some reading. Plenty of section hikers. Talked with one couple for another hour. I guess it's nice to have time to relax like that. They had a pure bred collie which I got to play with the whole time. It came up to my waist and enjoyed running around the woods, chewing on low hanging tree branches. The man I talked to ran a boy scout troop for 15 years, so much of the talk was centered around camp talk and how to teach life lessons. There troop was based out of a church. The church provided the annual budget for the troop and the scouts provided labor for all the grounds keeping. I loved the idea! The church gets the lawn mowed, the troop gets their funding, and the scouts learn about responsibility. Brilliant!It's amazing what I learned by taking the time to say hello to a complete stranger.
Date: 2011-04-30
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Did the hike in 4 hours averaging 3.25 mph. I was happy to learn I could still crank it out if I need to.I stayed at the Sunnybank Hostile. I can't say enough about the place! It's a beautiful victorian house built in 1875, now owned by a very educated old priest named Elmer. I will try to post pictures when I get home... The house is enthralling. Open sky lights,wrap around balconies, library, sitting room, music room, private rooms for guests, and the AT runs right down the sidewalk in front of the place. Truly a magical place. I had to strip the seam sealant off my tent and start from scratch again. It took 3 hours with my thumbnail and paint thinner to do this.Went to dinner with 15 other hikers, and knew all but 3. By the end of dinner we all agreed to take the party back to the 2nd floor balcony of the hostile and drink some wine and beer.Topics ranged between philosophy, books, and who should play Wonder Women if they make a movie (verdict still unknown). We also taught Stoker (a 17 year old student who is hiking for credit) how to open a beer with a lighter... Life lessons they don't teach. It's nights like that that make all the pain of hiking seem insignificant compared to the bond shared between fellow hikers.
Date: 2011-05-01
From: Hot Springs

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day!Had such a great time I decided to stay. I mixed up silicone and paint thinner to make the correct sealant once and for all. My tent is beautiful and water proof now!Did some reading, sent some letters, went to the store, and had a delicious vegetarian dinner cooked at the hostile. I also ran around the house taking pictures of everything. In every book of the house there is antique furniture, religious relics, eastern souvenirs, or one of a kind brass work. You should probably just visit. It's not a place to compare to anything else because there is nothing else like it.Another great night with most of the same people. We all decided to stay. There was someone from Sweden, Israel, Australia, Germany, and half a dozen states. It was a cultural melting pot of opinions and customs.Headed out tomorrow.
Date: 2011-05-02
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

So hard to leave the hostel (have I been spelling hostel wrong this whole time?). Elmer even asked me if I wanted to stay an extra day, I said I had to hike then immediately regretted it. Nattie Bird Dog ended up staying ... I will miss his company.Hiking out of Hot Springs was terrible. The weather was hot, the climb was tough, and I didn't want to be walking away from such a great place.About 5 miles in I came across a pond. I was upset and hot so I decided to fish. I made a nice hook out of a safety pin, tied some floss to a stick, and tried my luck with a worm. I convinced Yoga Boy to do the same. After an hour or so we had nothing to show for it, but I was feeling better so I continued to hike.Met up with 9 guys called The Safety Crew and we headed up to the fire tower at Rich Mtn. It wasn't great but it was a view. Ended up in camp at 7pm which gave little time for anything but food and sleep. Nice group of guys though, they share everything (food, water, etc.). Too bad there's too many of them to fit in most shelters.
Date: 2011-05-03
From: Spring Mtn Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Late Start today, probably because of the late night.Found a sign for trail magic and pressed most of the day to get there.The Greene Valley Hiking Club had setup camp at Camp Creek Bald. They had burgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, cookies, fruit, toppings, milk, water, and piles of candy. I have never seen such a spread for hikers. Seven or eight of us were up there as the clouds came in and rain started falling. I started to get my pack on first, then everyone else got the idea to make it to the shelter first. It was a five mile sprint to the shelter. I ended up passing everyone and trudged trough the pouring rain for the 2nd to last spot in the shelter... Win!There was a fire place in the shelter and it was already going when we got there. The shelter filled up and I think we had 13 campers there. The space in front of the fire was impossible to get to and wet packs were hung everywhere. Yoga Boy was running around the shelter all night in boxers as his only pants were soaking wet. A note to future hikers: please don't think you're being smart by sending all your clothes home along with your rain gear.... It's May and the temperature in the mountains is around 37 degrees AND it just poured rain. I don't care what you wear at night, but I do care if you have to take up a spot in front of the fire to dry your only piece of clothing.All in all the rain was a fun experience and I'm glad to have it out of the way. I'll know how to deal with it better next time, and the other hikers are way funnier when you put them in a survival situation. Watching people run around in boxers, set up a tent inside the shelter, and dry out various pieces of gear is pretty amusing.