morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Wine Spring Campsite

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

SNAKE!!!We had heard that rattlesnakes were spotted here and there on the trail. I researched snake bites and dogs on the internet and know what kind of snake it was. Copperheads don¢t become the problem that others do. Even if they bite, they don¢t always inject so it¢s kind of a wait and see. This morning we were traipsing along as usual with Chloe in the lead and Larry close behind me when he said, ¢Snake, where¢s the camera?¢ I said ¢Where?¢ He pointed back the way we had come and there laying all stretched out and asleep in the sun was a 3¢ diamondback rattler. We had each walked by until Larry almost stuck him with his pole. Chloe never took any notice. I approached him with the camera and when I got too close he whipped into a coil and boy did he rattle. Chloe raced by us and attacked him, nose to nose. I don't know why he didn't strike. We started yelling and grabbed her. She kept throwing a fit and now I had to get my picture with him coiled to strike. We walked on hoping he would leave the trail before other hikers came up on him. Later, we heard another hiker threw him off the trail with his stick so others could continue hiking. The spring at the shelter was true to it's name. The coldest bath we have had so far. It always feels so good when it's over.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

Cut the mileage today because the climb up Wesser Bald was going to be tough. It was. Started the day with pancakes. We had maple syrup and strawberry jam packets from Hardees. I put the jam down the middle and folded them up like a burrito. Wonderful change from oatmeal. The weather is so beautiful it¢s getting boring. We saw the first pink blooms on the Rhododendron today.After the very strenuous climb up Wesser Bald, we took our lunch to the top of the tower where the views were a bit hazy. Even so we could see Fontana lake where we will be in four days. There was a family there having lunch with us that pointed out the lake and NOC in the distance. It¢s unbelievable to think that our feet will carry us there. I was offered an apple, my first trail magic. Chloe had to be carried up and down the steep tower stairs, the same as their two dogs. The trail now begins the long decent to NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) a popular kayaking and hiking outfitter. There is a hostel, hot showers, a couple of good restaurants and our supply box waiting for us. We plan to spend one night only. It¢s a very long steep climb out of there.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Wesser, NC
Miles today: 5.7

Braved the walk to the privy this morning. Yesterday there was a large Diamond back rattler on the trail to the privy. Everyone at the shelter left early making the mad dash to NOC. We brought up the rear letting them break down the cobwebs and chase away the snakes. What we all thought was a long 5 mile descent was actually 6 or 7 peaks along the ridge we were walking. One part actually included rock scrambling and I sat down twice to reach the step below. Of course, Chloe ran up and down, scrambling and having a great time. We finished what might have been an all day hike, by noon. Larry says I¢m like an old mare heading for the barn. The NOC didn¢t look anything like I remembered. We took a four bunk room (more like a 10X10 cell) for the night. We paid the whole $60 to make it private. After a shower we headed to the River¢s End restaurant for lunch and then took Chloe for a swim in the river. She fetched sticks in the shallow area until I put a harness and rope on her so she could swim in the fast moving current. We picked up supply box #2 and washed our clothes. Tomorrow we head out to climb 3000 feet in 7 miles.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Wesser, NC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

UPDATE:After a marvelous breakfast at the River¢s End restaurant we collected our packs and Chloe from our cell which they call a cabin. Four hikers would have been very friendly after a day and night or more. We stayed late at the Pub watching the finale of ¢House¢ last night.This morning I trembled at the thought of what was ahead. Many have said this next stretch is the hardest on the AT. We were at 1,740 ft. and climbing to 5,000 ft in 6 miles. My blisters are all healed, but the inflamed tendon at the back of my heel has spread to the bottom of my foot. I now have Achilles Tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitis. I can barely walk on my left foot after sitting for as little as five minutes, after walking a few minutes I can limp along and as it works out, I can hike, but it means taking rest breaks standing up. I am treating it with lots of ibuprophen and soaking in the cold creeks and springs.The effort necessary for climbing makes me feel sick to my stomach. That goes away when the trail levels out. The pack weighs more and more as the trail gets steeper. Throw in some rock scrambling and it¢s a full body work out. For much of today I am soaked in sweat from head to toe. My hiking clothes will need rinsing out at the end of today. Maybe they will dry and maybe not. The weather has definitely turned warmer. The last climb had me in tears. I kept watching Chloe go up and up. Even she was slow and tired. I was gasping for breath and choking back sobs as Larry encouraged me to go on. ¢Just 85 more feet, you can do it.¢ ¢I think I can see the top.¢ You mentally know you will go ahead but emotionally you keep thinking ¢No more, please no more.¢ Then you suck it up and slowly put one foot in front of the other until you finally catch your breath standing at the top with that mountain behind you. Another mile down and there¢s the shelter. It¢s filthy. No broom. Chloe lays down in the dust and now she needs a bath. Larry goes for water..., thankfully it's just in front and he takes his bath. I take our little whisk broom and sweep every flat surface we¢ll use. I bathe Chloe and myself, then dry and wrap her in a sleeping bag. We have dinner and try to play cards but the black flies are driving us mad. They leave as we crawl painfully into our bags. We have more of the same tomorrow.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

I soaked my feet before starting out this morning. I trust this too will heal like the blisters and the poison ivy. I¢m afraid of pushing too hard and doing more damage as it is I keep losing toenails.We start climbing again. The top of Cheoah Bald is 700 ft up from the shelter and we have less than a mile to the top. Today becomes a series of ups and downs. We¢re ridge walking all day. The south is having a drought and dried up creeks and springs are making that obvious. At the end of 7 miles we have no more water. We were careful, but the water finally ran out. I¢m not carrying any water bottles to keep my weight down, but now I must start unless it rains. We come to Stecoah Gap, NC 43 road crossing. There¢s a picnic area. The family that has stopped for a picnic gives us a bottle of water and a Coke. Trail magic. Then a forest ranger stops and gives us 2 more chilled bottles of water. We think we can make the next two miles easy. Not so. Preparing to leave we were looking up at the next mountain at least 900 ft higher. Again, I fight back tears as we gain 100 ft at a time and stumble over rock slides and blow downs (trees) in our path. By the time we reach the shelter all I can do is sit. I take out our little whisk broom and sweep out half the shelter and the cooking area while Larry goes for water. He says it's only a small trickle so it will take a while to fill the bucket. I keep Chloe out of the black dust until her bed is made and then we get her settled. All she wants is sleep, dinner and sleep. As Larry fills the water bucket it begins to rain. Not much more than a heavy sprinkle. We both bathe using a water bottle. Pouring slow from face to toes its just enough water to rinse off all the sweat. No bugs tonight and we¢re both exhausted. Larry reads the shelter journal to me while I cook cheesy pasta and chicken. He writes in the journal and asks me if it¢s the 31st. I say it can¢t be or we would have to be in Fontana tomorrow. Our shuttle is picking us up at 7:45 on the morning of the 2nd. Now I¢m terror stricken. I realize that I¢m a day short on my planning and we will have to push a 13 mile day tomorrow to get to Fontana. I can do it if its all downhill. Not much chance of that. We go to sleep listening to Law & Order trying to keep my mind off the miles ahead. A late hiker walks in after 16 miles. He¢s a little younger than us and he goes straight to bed.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

So you checked out the top of the page to see if we made it! We didn¢t have any choice, but what a day. It was supposed to be a long descent from 3,800 ft to 1,775 ft. In between we made 5 or 6 steep short climbs before the long downhill. Suddenly the wind kicked up whipping the tree tops. Thunder rolled around the mountains acknowledging the storm that was coming our way. Now you could smell the rain. The cool breeze dried the sweat and gave us a chill as we stopped to put on our pack covers and gaitors. I couldn¢t wait to get wet and clean. Then it poured. We crossed the road at the Fontana Marina and took shelter at the restrooms until it passed. There was a coke machine and phone for the shuttle to town. Although very tempting we were soaked and Chloe was wet, cold and muddy. Going to town wasn't an option. We hit the trail for the last mile to the dam and shelter. The trail was muddy and slippery, the trees kept up a steady dripping even though the rain had stopped. I felt refreshed and stronger. At the dam we found the shelter called the ¢Fontana Hilton¢ and put Chloe to bed after a bath. The hot showers were 34 of a mile away, but who¢s complaining. I was about to start dinner after two cups of hot tea when I saw a gentleman coming our way pulling a red ice chest. Could this be our first ¢trail angel¢. Sure enough he opened boxes of apples, bananas and cookies. The ice chest had a variety of sodas. We helped ourselves along with several other hikers who had been arriving after the rain. What a truly pleasant surprise at the end of our most challenging stretch yet. My heel is certainly worse tonight, but sometimes I feel things get worse just before getting better. Like the blisters and maybe a cold. We ate our fill and the Trail Angel went on his way. He will return again tomorrow, but we'll be gone. I put the stove away and Larry hung the food bags to keep out the mice. Before turning in we opened up all the pockets of our packs so the shelter mice have easy access in and out. If they don¢t they might chew a hole in the pack. So far only one mouse has run along my back. It tickled, but I was too tired to care. I just laughed. Chloe is also too tired to care. She hardly moves until dawn. At times I check to see if she is covered and warm. Towards morning she sometimes schmoozes her dad into sharing his pad and sleeping bag with her. She knows there¢s no room in Mom¢s bag. Maybe someday!
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Standing Bear Farm

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

Glory be! My heel is much better. This morning I got out of bed and walked without my sticks. I couldn¢t believe it. I¢m on my way to a full recovery. Pancakes were a celebration. Chloe is really taking a zero day. We find her in bed every time we turn around. Larry wants to change her trail name from ¢Fuzzy Butt¢ to ¢Zero¢. Tonight is steak night. Hikers are coming in and running to the store for steaks. Should be a party. I have been writing trail journals all day and resting my foot. The laundry is done and we are packed for the trail. The packs are heavy....what's new? Three days left to Hot Springs. Massage, hot tubs and food! Now it¢s pouring rain. Have to go ...party¢s starting.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Ground Hog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

UPDATE:The steak dinner last night was a huge success. More hikers joined in and Sprocket (hostel caretaker) made mashed potatoes with scallions and sausage gravy. A troop of boyscouts came in to escape the rain. They will be joining us on this section of the trail. We played ¢tortoise and the hare¢ all day with the scouts. They were well mannered when we reached the shelter and cleared out leaving it for us and any other hikers that might show up. Everyone was tired. The long constant uphill hike over Snowbird Mountain at 4,263 ft. from 1,800 ft. depleted all of us. It was a little tricky taking a bath with 11 scouts of various ages running around. Larry and I took turns behind the shelter with one of us standing guard. Snowbird Mountain was our first true bald. The entire top was a grassy field with a 360 degree view. Wonderful place for lunch. We looked for wild strawberries, but we must be too early. The scouts camped down below the shelter and all were turned in early before the rain started. We were warm and dry in the shelter. Early morning brought a chorus of owls to wake us, the perfect start to a new day.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Ground Hog Creek Shelter

To: Lemon Gap Campsite
Miles today: 11.6

Happy Birthday, Larry. The big 60 and counting. Today was supposed to be a 13 mile day. The scouts made it. My feet didn¢t. Another long gradual climb up to Max patch started our day. Although sunny, the wind was blowing at least 20 mph steady. We hunkered down behind some rocks at the top for lunch and then started the second half of the day to the shelter. I soaked my feet twice and still couldn¢t make it. The Walnut Mountain Shelter had a problem with bears stealing food bags and the water source was small and hard to find. We were pushing to make the shelter to lessen the mileage into Hot Springs. A mile and a half from the shelter was a lovely campsite next to a creek. My feet were screaming and I was near tears so Larry said this was home for the night and I gratefully agreed. Even Chloe was happy to call it a day. There had been many short climbs after the big one, each taking its toll. Splendora and Brad stopped to say hello and decided to stay after hearing about the boyscouts that were at the shelter ahead. They cut their 20 mile day a little short. We enjoyed their company and will miss seeing them along the trail. At their speed this will undoubtably be the last time we see them.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Lemon Gap Campsite

To: Deer Park Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

We chased the scouts and then they chased us. We stopped and rested at their supply stop on Garenflo Rd. Larry was given some tasty GORP for his birthday and they relieved us of our garbage sack. The forest is lush and green winding back and forth between mountains. Today had many small climbs, but in general we were descending down to Hot Springs at 1,326 ft. I wish I could say my feet were healing faster, but the truth is I get only 6 miles out of them before the pain starts. Soaking in a cold creek makes a big difference. We¢re hiking an average 1 12 miles per hour. This includes uphill and water breaks. Larry and I hike steady with short stops to swallow water and I can even pee now without removing my pack. (I know, "Too much information!") The scouts had no trouble with bears at the shelter last night. We were all very relieved. They caught up with us at Deer Park Mountain shelter and we had already picked out our tent site away from the area they needed. The scout masters were doing an excellent job of instructing the scouts on their 50 mile hike and we enjoyed their friendship along the miles and in the evening.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Deer Park Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: broken clouds

The anticipation of our staying in Hot Springs added excitement to the short hike we had for today. It still had short climbs even though we were descending so many feet. Scout Troop #257 were up and gone early. We caught up with them in town and said our goodbyes. Larry and I felt a real welcome with the AT emblems embedded in the sidewalk along Main Street. We checked in at the Hot Springs Spa and Campground, choosing our site along the French Broad River and setting up the tent. A hot shower followed and we were off to ¢Sweet Inspirations¢ for lunch. It was delicious. Afterwards we shopped around the small stores and well equipped outfitters.We spent the afternoon looking forward to our evening at the Spa. The hot tub was right along the river¢s broad expanse. The natural hot mineral water was continuously pumped in and siphoned off. An hour would have been too long if not for the cold water spray from a hose. After our soak we were greeted by our separate masseuse and taken to our private rooms for an hour long Swedish massage. We were all oiled and loose as a noodle on our way to the Bridge Street Caf© for dinner. Cliff, our chef, was a thru-hiker in ¢84. He came out from the kitchen to talk about our hike. It gave us an opportunity to praise his cooking as our meals were extraordinary. We promised to return the next night. Another hot shower to get the massage oil off and we were forced to disturb Chloe for a place to sleep. She had gone swimming upon our arrival and her exhaustion matched ours. With much growling complaint she moved into the middle allowing us to settle on our pads at either side. Sleep came quickly to the three of us with the constant roar of the river¢s rapids just outside our door. Finally a level spot for the tent. At $40 for a tent site it should be level. The water faucet is handy but we haven¢t any use for the electricity. We¢re here for three days and looking forward to all of it. The town welcomes hikers and everyone is friendly and helpful
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs Spa & Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Real down home cooking at the Smoky Mtn. diner. Regular truck stop fare and plenty of it. I can¢t say we fit in with the locals, but they always had an easy grin if you looked them in the eye. Two old pick-ups with four old geezers are parked in the same place at the convenience store on the busiest intersection in town each and every morning. We can just imagine them discussing the comings and goings of everyone in town over their morning coffee. We picked up our supply box at the P.O. and completed our resupply at the Dollar General. In a town this small everything is on Main Street. I had scheduled a 5 day section into Erwin, TN next week. A couple of the days had too many miles for my hiking ability so I added a 6th day and kept the miles at 10 or below. We¢ll stay in Erwin only 2 days instead of 3 and that will keep us on schedule. The rain showers came through in the early afternoon and then the sun came back out. Our hot tub reservation was for 8pm and the wine was chilling in the Styrofoam ice chest on the picnic table. Off we went to the restaurant leaving the flaps to the rain fly open so Chloe would stay cool. Suddenly at the end of our meal the wind began to blow, whipping the trees along the river and driving the patio diners inside. The rain came down in buckets and Larry made a mad dash down Main St and through the campground to our saturated tent. By the time I came limping in soaked, he had it all mopped up. We took hot showers and put down our plastic shower sheets to cover the wettest areas in the tent. Our only sorrow was missing our hot tub hour.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Hot Springs Spa & Campground

To: Hot Springs Spa & Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

This morning we were rudely awakened by the sharp pop of a tent pole breaking. It shot up through the rain fly tearing a small hole. I have extra poles packaged for mailing at the home of good friends in VA. They will be getting a call today. At the diner we discussed our repair options. Larry would tackle the problem while I did the laundry and walked up the hill to the library., When I returned to our campsite he had the tent repaired, the mud washed off the rain fly and tent, and our pads and sleeping bags hung out to dry. Everything felt fresh and clean. The sun came out and we headed across the street to the Bluff Mtn. music festival. We ate, listened to local bluegrass bands playing their favorites and perused the items donated for the silent auction. Our hot tub was waiting at 8 p.m. and we soaked, drank wine and watched the sun go down for an hour. The perfect ending to our three days in Hot Springs, NC
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Hot Springs Spa & Campground

To: Rich Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 8.3

UPDATE:Nine o¢clock start after my now famous pancake breakfast. I pinched a few packages of jelly from the diner I had a small peanut butter so I made peanut butter and jelly pancake sandwiches. Larry passed on the peanut butter. He missed a good thing. Our packs are heavy with the additional 6th day of food. Everyone says it¢s a long steep climb north. They were right. We climbed the first mountain with steep switchbacks. The trail remained on one side overlooking the French Broad River and our campsite. Soon the large rock overlooks had great views of the whole town of Hot Springs. The sun was hot on many parts of the trail. A hiker friend caught and passed us. A little later I was surprised to see him again, but he had startled a rattlesnake on the trail which coiled and rattled. He was afraid for Chloe so he shooed the snake off the trail and waited for us. K1PP (his trail name),you are a thoughtful, considerate friend to hikers . My foot caused me a lot of pain today. I was relieved to find a campsite near a spring at the end of our day. I had soaked my feet twice until they were numb and each time it helped me do a few more miles. Larry spent some time digging out the rocks on a level spot for the tent. It was the best yet.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Rich Mountain Campsite

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 8.0

This morning I awoke to a pain free foot. I believe that hiking stretches the tendons where the town stops don¢t . The cold water soaks probably help also. We kept a good pace for 2.7 miles and rested at the shelter. The next goal was a road crossing at Allen Gap. I was dying to soak my feet. Lo and behold a piped spring was flowing next to an old abandoned store. That marked 6.5 miles and I was tired. We started for the shelter, a good 5 miles away, when we came to a sign that said Hemlock Hollow. We had heard good things about this place. With 2 miles hiked it left 3 miles to be worked into the next 4 days if we were to spend the night in a cabin. We sat on a log recalculating the miles and discussing our options. It was doable. Cold drinks, ice cream, hot showers and a bed was too tempting to pass up. It was a really cute place. Our cabin porch was over the creek and very clean. The general store was well stocked with hiking supplies, but specializing in flavored teas and coffees. Chloe had a soapy bath and I washed out our hiking clothes. I doubt they¢ll dry, especially with 50% chance of showers, but they will be clean. We will put the shorts and tops on wet, but the socks will be hung out each evening to dry. It may not rain.