morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Black Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

DAY 1 & 2Well it did get dark before I got to the top of Springer so I stayed at black gap shelter. There were 6 other people there in the shelter so there was room for me. There were 2 tents also. Everyone went to bed around 8 and then it got really loud. I hope I'm not snoring that much. Did get some sleep though. Tuesday it has been raining hard since early afternoon. There were a lot of people ahead of me so I'm camping by the river tonight. About 2.5 miles short of the next shelter. Got to find out if the tent leaks any ways. Didn't look like the rain was going to let up so just put it up in the rain. One seam drips right over the window onto where my feet go. Going to have to put a trash bag over my feet tonight. So far I've met lone wolf at the very beginning, No Sleeves at springer shelter. Wee Willie at the Springer summit parking lot. Drifter at Stover Creek shelter. Had lunch there. He is on his 3rd thru hike. Wow! Everyone should wear name tags and carry cards. Ya meet so many people you get the names mixed up. So, day 1 miles = 7.3 on the approach trail and day 2 miles are 1.5 on the approach trail and 5.0 real actual honest to goodness AT Trail Miles. The rain was fun. Now I've been there and done that. Here's to good weather tomorrow.
Date: 2005-03-23
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It is wed at 2:30. Sun is poking out and I'm taking off the pack rain cover. Yeah hope it lasts. darn nats are out already. Heading to a little before Gooch Gap. They say there is good camping by the river there. Rained and thundered like crazy last night. Wow! Gonna have to hustle to get there before dark.
Date: 2005-03-23
From: Gooch Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.6

Weather turned out good today. Only very light sprinkles. Made it to mile 13.6 and got a good camp site by the creek again. Thought I was going to be alone again but about an hour after dark Cup saw the fire and decided to stay. Now the bears will have a choice. Although our food is hanging from the same bear line. These mountains are killing my bod. Saw Lone Wolf again today. Also met Circuit Rider and Sherlock. Kept passing each other. First trail magic today. Someone left a case of Aquafina at Cooper Gap I think it was. I only took one... Cup said he didn't see it. Don't know if someone picked it up or what. Good stuff! It was nice to get a signal at the top of one of the mtns to get email. I could actually see the Atlanta skyline and stone mt. The trail is really in our back yard.
Date: 2005-03-24
To: Granny Top Mtn
Miles today: 8.8

Well, didn't make it as far as I was planning. It was almost too hot with the sun out. Got on the trail by 9:30 and passed Gooch shelter by 10. Spent a little too much time on the overlooks. And then my socks were a little damp and my feet started to hurt. No blisters but really red. So, made camp a little early on Granny top mtn. Nice to make supper while it is light out. I had just got the stove out when Cup went by. Said he was going to try to make it to Woods Hole Shelter. About 4 more miles with some climbs. Bet it will be after dark when he makes it. The moon is out now and it has got to be about full. Time to call it a day and hope my feet hold up tomorrow. So, I'm at mile 22.4 and made 8.8 today.
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Granny Top Mtn

To: Wolf Laurel Top
Miles today: 11.5

Wow, put on some miles today, 11.5 and really felt good. It was the right thing to stop last night when I did. Good nights sleep and the feet were feeling better today. Lost a little skin but still ok. On the trail by 8:30am. Getting a little faster at breaking camp. Passed Woods Hole shelter at 11. Was half way up Blood Mtn before I realized I was on it. Some people at the top said everyone thinks Slaughter mtn is Blood mtn coming up the AT and it looks a lot harder! So made Blood Mtn shelter a little after noon. Good views and really sunny and warm. Going down passed a lot of people heading up from Neels Gap. Good 3 or 4 hour hike round trip. Got to do that someday! Most the hikers are getting sunburned, go figure! The back of my neck is hot now. Last thing I need is sunburn. Sunscreen tomorrow for sure! Made it to the Walasi-Yi Center around 2pm. We have driven by it lots of times but never stopped. It is really cool. A lot of sport bikers were out tearing up the curves. Met Teflon and Slug who did the AT back in 02 or 03. They had a magic cooler in the back of their truck full of ice and beverages. Thanks Guys, that was awesome! Got some munchies and cheese at the store. Been craving cheese for a couple of days because Cup had some. Cup was there also along with Hotdog and a bunch of other hikers. Just can't remember all the names. All in all everyone is just super nice. Most the guys were hanging out to catch a ride into town for some supper but I hit the trail at 3 and made it to mile 33.9 Wolf Laurel Top. It has a beautiful clearing on the top with super views. The moon is so bright you can see your shadow. Orion is out. Life is good. Good and sore...
Date: 2005-03-26
From: Wolf Laurel Top

To: Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 8.6

Ok, paying for the fast miles yesterday. Slow is all I want to go today. Can't remember if I said it yesterday or not that I saw Late Start and Slow and Steady. More about them later...Ran into Che and Rosey in the next gap from where I camped. They are out for 3 days checking out their gear for a 6 month slack pack hike. Sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to see all the sites that the thru hikers miss because they get too focused on the miles. Something to think about for after this hike. There were Trail Angels at Testnatee Gap. Coolers full of munchies and pop. They are getting an organization together that gets donations of stuff hikers need from local churches and then gives it out on the trail. Good Christian folk out being Christian like. I think they are on to something there. It was nice talking to them and the Cheetos were good too. The word spreads up the trail so fast when something is going on up ahead. You hear about it hours before you get there. Amazing.Did tweak my right knee going down hill. I've had problems with that knee for at least 10 years. So now I'm wearing the elastic wrap brace and taking it really easy on the down hills. Up hill is no problem. Just downhill if I get side pressure on it. A lot of people's knees are hurting them so it gives us something to talk about while hiking. It really is like a big nursing home out here with all the aches and hobbling around...
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

Last night found a nice place to camp a mile or so past Low Gap Shelter. That place was so crowded they need their own zip code... Bet nobody has thought of that one before...Ok so everyone probably has. Should have gotten a picture. There are usually nice places to camp all along the trail. I'm enjoying staying away from the crowds. I figure I will get enough of that in the Smokies.Went slow and about everyone I know passed me throughout the day. But I got a early start and saw about 8 or so wild turkeys crossing the trail ahead of me. We had been talking about turkeys yesterday because hunters came down into the gap with the trail angels. It is Turkey Season now. I don't think I look too much like one but I try to make some noise to let any hunters know I'm coming down the trail. A couple more days and I will be out of state.Made it over all the slippery rocks, and down to Unicoi Gap to wait for a lonely girl in a fast car. Figured I had 3 or 4 hours to wait worst case. Got a dry shirt on and all the rain gear and waited under the info sign overhang. Late Start came down by himself and decided to thumb a ride into Helen, GA. We had heard a guy had left a cooler behind the big rock but just before I got there somebody told the Rangers and they took it. Bummer! So waited some more and the cooler guy came down and I gave him the bad news. He said he had done it a couple of times and had a log for the hikers to sign if they grabbed anything. The Man just won't let anyone alone anymore. Don't know what was in the cooler but someone said Mt Dew at least. Oh well...Late Start caught a ride into town with him. Was just settling in for a long wait in the rain and thunder when my ride showed up a half hour earlier than I thought would be possible. Both of us have mapping GPS units and it brought her right to me. Worth every penny! Magellan Platinum for me and Gold for my pit crew. Probably saved hours driving around looking for me because the gap is not marked well.Went into Helen and got a room at the Helendorf River Inn. Thru hiker rate I think $24. They were great. Late Start stayed there too. There was slush on a car in the parking lot. Guess it had just hailed there. A very good night to not be on the trail. The TV had tornado and severe weather warnings for the area. Had a nice supper at a restaurant right overhanging the river. Expensive but hey, it is Easter. First shower in a week. And a mirror to see how messed up my shoulders are from the pack straps. I think I look very European with a weeks growth hair and beard and tight polyester hiking clothes. Think Hans and Frans from SNL.Happy Thoughts!
Date: 2005-03-28
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 3.6

Went through my gear and ditched maybe 5 pounds. Resupplied food. Didn't bring near as much. I haven't been hungry on the trail yet. Guess that will come later from what I hear. Did laundry and checked out at 11. Huddle House for brunch. Philly steak omelet and hash browns loaded. Ummmm. Ok, still an appetite just not any more than normal. Went to the Helen library so we could get some high speed internet action. The Sidekick II is great for email but the internet on it is like a 33.6kbps dial up modem. Nice to get the weather update on it though.Back to the gap about 2pm. Geared up and just then thru hiker Jeff hollered for a ride. He got there just in time. Tossed in his pack and they took off and I hit the climb. Brutal cold and damp with strong winds. Water dripping off trees. Was really chilled at 5 when I stopped to make camp. Got the tent up and climbed into the sleeping bag and it took about an hour to thaw out. And it is supposed to hit 70 tomorrow? The GPS is saying 32 degrees right now. Got all my dry clothes on and am going to leave them on. 3 pairs of socks too. Don't know how those people do it who start the trail in Jan or Feb. Crazy. Rigged the tent up so the wind doesn't blow through as much. It is going to be an interesting night. I wonder what it is like another 800 foot higher up at Tray Mtn Shelter. And shelters are always colder than a tent. Burrr.
Date: 2005-03-29
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 7.2

Warm sunny day! Let it warm up and didn't get on the trail until about 11am. You appreciate a nice day so much more after a couple of slushy ones.Another short day. Ended up at Addis Gap with Dutchman, Circuit Rider and Sherlock.Dutchman had a long day and crashed right out for the night. I ate supper with the guys and had a really good time talking to them. They have spent a lot more time on these trails than I had thought. They have a really good mission and are more good Christian people out on the trail being Christian like. It is a good thing. And hey, they are from Michigan now so they know my old stomping grounds. It is a really small world.Dutchman is Penn Dutch not Michigan Dutch. Had to ask him that. Would have been something if he was from MI too.
Date: 2005-03-30
From: Addis Gap

To: Campsite at mile 67.7 just past Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Another warm, hot and sunny day. Went slow and easy and enjoyed the vistas. Someone wrote "Awesome echo" at one but I couldn't get it to work. Oh well...Went up the hills just fine but the drop into Dicks Creek Gap about killed me. You see the road from almost the top but it takes about an hour to get down to it. Seemed that way to me any ways... Downhill is slow still to baby the knee. I can avoid the knee pain but my feet take more of a beating. Going to be interesting to see if I get my trail legs before something serious snaps. Use it or loose it, right!The gap was nice with stone picnic tables. Sat in the sun and rested up. Thirsty Boots stopped by just as I was getting motivated to climb out of the gap. He said the next shelter was one of the nice two story ones. He almost had me talked into pushing on the extra 3 miles. There was plenty of time. But he also said that on the trail you have to be your own doctor. Got thinking about that and my plan for low miles this week to heal up and decided to camp where I had originally planned. I will have to stop by the shelter tomorrow to see what it looks like.Wow, it is late. 8:30pm. It has been dark for an hour already. Time to crash.
Date: 2005-03-31
From: Campsite at mile 67.7 just past Dicks Creek Gap

To: North Carolina/Georgia Border
Miles today: 7.5

RAIN! That hit about 12 hours too soon. It started around 2am. Had to take the tent down in a down pouring thunderstorm in the morning. The tent is now mud colored. Should have followed Thirsty Boots to the next shelter. It just suprised me because it was so clear and the stars were out. The thing is, even if I had gone to the next shelter I probably would have still slept in the tent. Maybe it would be worth it lugging a small weather alert radio. Or at least a good small AM radio. I'm getting nothing on FM. Cup said he was picking up AM at night like crazy. Hmmm.Didn't see much of anybody today. Nobody I knew. Just raincoats sloshing through the mist. Didn't stop to see Plumorchard Gap shelter. Was afraid if it was nice I'd stay. And didn't want to walk a half mile just to see it.After I passed the shelter a tree in the valley came down. I didn't see it but Crack ka Crash. It made quite some noise.Finally made it to North Carolina! One state down, ? to go! I really should know that...Made camp just past the border. Hung stuff out to dry. Then it starts misting. Take stuff back into tent. The sunset looked good until the fog/cloud rolled back in. Hopefully sun to dry me out tomorrow.
Date: 2005-04-01
From: North Carolina/Georgia Border

To: Beech Gap, NC
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Rainy, cold and foggy day. Got the tent broke down before it started raining too much. Heard on the radio, FM no less, that it was supposed to rain most of the day with flood watches and everything. Just what we want to hear out here. A south bound section hiker said the same about the weather report. Made good miles because it got cold if you stopped.Made it to Standing Indian Shelter a little after 2pm. Visited with Aviator and Eagle for a bit while they were rigging a tarp in the shelter to block the wind. My feet were feeling good because I had stopped at the bottom of the hill and wrung out my socks. Smartwool really holds a lot of water. Oh, and water proof boots only means the water won't drain out. So, pushed on to Beech Gap. The whole way passing signs that say NC Wilderness Bear Sanctuary. Great, now everyone is worried about the bears. Entering the wilderness area were signs warning of a bear that has stole people¢s packs. No fear of Man. Great! Guess this is a warm up to the bears in the Smokeys.Got the tent up. No bears yet. Got water. Still no bears. Got dry clothes on. Cooked gruel for supper... Rain. It is still raining. Had to put on the rain coat and eat in the rain. Didn't want to eat in the tent because of bears... Got the food bag hung from a tree branch. Nothing to eat in the tent. Shoo bears. Here is hoping for a peaceful night with just the rain beating down on the tent.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: Beech Gap, NC

To: Beech Gap, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Snow?!! Just a little so I took some pictures. Eight inches of snow later I took some more. Then I dug out the tent so I'd get some ventilation. And it is still snowing. There is probably more snow here than in Houghton. Since my hiking clothes were wet, I figured it was safer to stay put rather than risk getting ALL my clothes wet. It is a little less than 8 miles to the resupply meeting place. If I can see the white blazes in the morning I should make it there a little early. I hope. Just hope the forest service road is passable. If not it will get interesting. I've probably got 2 extra days food.So I just stayed in the tent and wore some damp clothes to dry them off. And practiced tying knots. Pretty much got the Bowline, Clove Hitch, Two Half Hitch and Tautline Hitch down. Should have brought more pages from the book with me. Oh well, next week. The Tautline Hitch is a really cool one way ratchet knot. Usefull on tent guylines, etc. The stuff I didn't remember from Boyscouts. Don't remember getting the knot tying merit badge come to think of it. Hmmm.So with my smartwool shirt now dry, I'm wearing 2 pairs of socks, lined windbreaker nylon pants, running shorts, 3 shirts, fleese jacket, knit hat and cycling gloves. No fingers so I can type. Cool! 2nd Dimension synthetic bag with silk liner on a Thermarest Prolite 3 reg mat. Should be cozy. I'm thinking the tent has got to be a lot more comfortable than the drafty shelters. Just going to be a pain breaking down the tent in the snow.I do have a neighbor tonight on the other side of the stand of trees. He came in Southbound doing the Standing Indian Loop. Don't know if he saw my burried tent so I went over to say hi. Too cold to talk much. GPS is saying 30 in the tent and it is still snowing. At 7pm now. During the day I'd think it had stopped until I'd knock the tent wall and the snow would fall off and then you could hear the snow hitting the wall again.Well, it is getting dark so its time to zip up and listen for a weather report on the radio.Burrrrr, zip ahhhh...
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Beech Gap

To: Mooney Gap, NC
Miles today: 7.8

Broke camp in the snow. My toes went numb so I put on my last pair of dry socks. Toes went numb before I hit the trail. Scary. Drifts up to my knees in some places. The first 3 miles had to break the trail. One scary log crossing over a river. Rounded tree covered with six inches of snow and about eight feet above the river. Not a good place for a fall. The sun was out and everything warmed up. Toes too.Made it to the Carter Gap shelter. What a dump. Then about 50 feet farther down the trail is a beautiful new shelter. Pity anyone who stops at the first one in the dark. They would be very upset in the morning.Met an old guy about 64 years old heading southbound to his home around Helen, GA. He looked about half beat but good for him being out on the trail. I think he said he didn't carry a sleeping bag. Burr in this weather. Hope he makes it ok.Made it to Mooney Gap by 4pm. A 5 hour hike. Almost all the snow was gone there and the forest service road was clear! So I waited for a Lonely Girl in a slow car to pick me up. I had worried the road might be gated but we lucked out. I worried all day there would be too much snow on the 8 miles of forest road. A little after 5 my resupply showed up. Oh man was I happy. Rode into town and got a hotel room. Then went and found a Chinese Buffet open late. Not the best. Woke up at 4am and had to decide if it was going to stay down or not. It did but I still think mild food poisoning. The chances you take. All in all a very good day.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Mooney Gap, NC

To: Big Spring Shelter, NC
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: clear sky

Reloaded food and added some gear back. My warm coat shell went back in. Keeping that through the Smokeys. Didn't get out of the hotel until 1pm. Went to the Piggly Wiggly for some more supplies and hit the Laundry Mat. Cleaner cloths, missed a few things in my pack which was a bummer. Hit Wendy's. 99 cent buffet. Still was not feeling all that great from Chinese last night. A Frosty helped. Classy Wendy's. A Ferrari pulled in, how do you spell that? You know, the car with the dancing horse on the emblem... Any ways, they ate there too. And no, not a Mustang, not that horse...Got back to the trail about 5pm. Late! So hard to leave again. Hiked less than a half hour and hit the biggest trail magic camp yet. RV and trucks and a huge covered area and a big fire with a saw mill saw blade for a cook top. The only name I caught was Gatorade. But they really know how to do it up right. They said they have rolled up over three thousand burritos for hungry hikers. And I couldn't eat a thing because I had just hit Wendy's. So sad. So just talked a bit with them and back on the trail. And then an unreal climb up Albert Mtn. Darn near straight up. And me with a full food bag and maxed out on water. Ouch. Awesome view from the Fire Tower. You can climb the ladder to the top but the trap door is locked.Down the other side to Big Spring Shelter. Heard Cup was ahead of me and found him there. So was Stretch and Spitfire. And more but can't remember the names. There were about 7 of us there. That is the first time I've camped by a shelter. Fun. Cup got the fire going good and everyone hung out and talked. When there is no fire everyone goes to bed early and there is not much socializing. If you want to visit, start a fire.
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Big Spring Shelter, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter, NC
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

Was the last one out of camp. Slept good. A lot of them were going to try to catch rides into Franklin, NC. Made it to Rock Gap shelter around noon and got water. Black Helmet was there. He camped by me last night. He got ahead of his partner yesterday. They had their gear split between them. Not good. But, Lobster Boy was there so they found each other.Had to take the .5 mile blue blaze to see the Wasalik Poplar, said to be the second largest yellow poplar in the world. Long hike downhill to get there. What the book doesn't say is the tree is dead and has been for a long time. Kinda sad. The thing is a monster though. You try to picture what it was like back when all the trees were huge like that. All gone now. Makes ya think.Pushed on a bit farther than I had planned. Ran into Merlin '01 at Winding Stair Gap. I agree with him that desk jobs need to be classified as Hazardous Duty jobs. Running construction heavy equipment has got to be safer than a heart attack from sitting at a desk all day. Hope he gets another chance at the AT.Made it to the Shelter and with a bit of help from Thrifty found a flat spot for my tent. Talked to him and Story a bit and everyone went to bed early. No fire, see?! And now I'm up way too late. 11pm. I did seam seal the rain fly so we will see how that works tomorrow night. They are calling for rain again. Joy.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Licklog Gap, NC
Miles today: 8.6

Cooked a hot breakfast and got a late start on the trail. Nice day but was not in the best mood. Then ran into more trail magic. It was Craig (hope I got that right) and a new group of young people. Stayed about an hour and it really picked me up. It is super what they are doing out here.Camping with Circuit Rider, Sherlock and Bootleg.Bad weather heading this way but it was a good day.