morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-02-23
From: Knoxville

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Nothing like a zero day when you do not need one - but I was curious and wanted to meet the famous Miss Janet in Erwin. As I got to the house nobody was home but a for Red Dane hung on the door telling me to come inside, feel at home, and DON'T let the dog out! How did she know I was coming today? It sure did make me feel welcome. I went inside and got settled in. Played a little with the dog, Fabian. A little later Miss Janet got home and we got to talking a little - what a nice lady. Can not say enough good about her and all that she does for us hikers - she is getting her house all ready for when the big wave of hikers will roll in. You all have something to look forward to.
Date: 2006-02-24
From: Miss Janet, Erwin

To: Curly Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

Curly Maple Gap Shelter Sunny 60F Got up early as the sun was shinning in through the window. It is so easy to get out of bed when it is not freezing. I do not need to put on boots to walk around, the bathroom can easily be accessed, and the light can be turned on by merely flipping a switch instead of waiting til morning or finding a headlamp. Was at the postoffice already at 8:05, unfortunately, it did not open til 8:30! So much for being an early bird. I guess the advantage of being a hiker is that you do not need to stress because you have to wait for half an hour - Katahdin will still be there. Instead I had the opportunity to exchange morning greetings with a few locals that also came in early. Back at Miss Janet's I played with the dog and the cat and watched a movie after finishing packing. At 14:30 Miss Janet took me back out to the trail.It was nice having all the morning to do - NOTHING. Only hiked a few miles (4 mi) up to Curly Maple Gap Shelter. There I cooked a nice dinner and made my lunch for tomorrow (Almost sounds like a little house wife!!!) Thinking about hiking a loong day tomorrow just to see if I can do it but I do not want to injure myself so I guess I will make that decision tomorrow as I hike along.
Date: 2006-02-25
From: Curly Maple Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Clyde Smith Shelter Cloudy, windy 50F Wanted to be gone by 7:00 but the usuall struggle of getting out of the bag took a little longer today Well, had to get up as I was planning for a long day of hiking. Unaka Mountain seemed to be the toughest challenge of the day and it did not look too bad on the map. The only reason Unaka could become a little bit of a challenge was due to a FULL foodbag. The Cherry Gap Shelter was full of trash! - I picked up some of it but not even close to all as there were so much. Toyed with the idea of stopping early here but ended up convincing myself that a few extra miles today are a few less tomorrow! Ended up going all the way to Clydes Smith (21.4 mi) Met the Mayor of Erwin and a few other people, Miss janet had shuttled them yesterday and they were now on their way back to Erwin. Today I had put on my MP3 player while I hiked - The combo of hiking and listening to music had not worked well last time I tried but I wanted to give it another shot - and it worked great today. Arrived at the shelter just before dark. Someone had left a bag of trail magic! I took a few freezedried vegetables, wonder if it was the group of guys that I had met earlier today, as they had spent last night here - Thanks guys.
Date: 2006-02-26
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter (Red Barn)
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Overmountain Shelter (Red Barn) Sunny, clear 5-20F Ever being awaken because you snored? Well, I have a new one - I woke up because my stomach was growling rather loudly! So at 5:00 I got up to cook some breakfast - of course I ate it in the sleeping and now that I was warm and full it was time for another nap Got up a few hours later and cooked a second breakfast. Today it was on and over Roan Mountain. It was slow getting up the trail as it was steep and very icy. The wind was blowing hard and it was all I could do to stay warm. beautiful views from the top but I had to keep moving to stay warm (No warm sunny bald upon witch I could take a nap!). I came walking along the trail finally out of the wind as I saw something on two wooden boards coming flying towards me. I quickly stepped off the trail as it was coming closer and closer until it came to an abrupt halt right infront of me. After the big cloud of snow had settled I saw that it was a pair of skies taking a guy for a ride!!! As he was laying there he started to yell toward the top of the hill where he had come from - Oh oh, that could only mean another "snowball" was approaching. Yes, here it came, in eloquent style and flair but the ice turned the 10.0 into a 0.00 as first one ski then the other got out of control in an attempt to avoid both the hiker and the fallen skier - Wham! Two down, anymore to go? It was two guys out having a little fun trying to cross country ski. We talked a little but as they seemed OK and I was getting cold I took off again. Behind me I could see the struggle of straightening up the skies, putting them in the right direction, and hardest of all trying to stand up again while the skies moved forward down the hill! It was hard not to laugh out loud - but they sure seemed to enjoy themselves A while later I stopped to put on my thick fleece pants and my down jacket and as I stood there I noticed that everything seemed to be spinning - I was getting really dizzy. It could not have been a lack of sugar or food as I had eaten well all day, must be due to dehydration. I emptied my Nalgene bottle and went on but everytime I stopped to catch my breath I could feel it. Reaching the parking lot I met some hikers that had been out for the weekend. They offered me a beer - Couldn't say no! (it is more liquid helping to cure the dehydration, right?!!) On top of Jane Bald I met Adam White, who had just started a chiropractic clinic in Spruce Pine (Good Luck with the business). Sure has seen a lot of people today. Took a quick stop at the Stan Murray Shelter to drink another quart - the dizziness seemed to be going away - must have been the beer!Found the Red Barn and by now the wind is blowing strong and the temp is 10F - looks like it is going to be a really cold night.
Date: 2006-02-27
From: Overmountain Shelter (Red Barn)

To: Elk River
Miles today: 14.5

Elk River Sunny, windy 0-50F The Barn was a nice shelter. I had set up the tent inside on the top floor because the strong wind went right through the walls of the barn. At midnight the temp had dropped to -5F and the wind made it feel really cold. I woke up at 5:00. The poles inside my tent all had a layer of frost on them. All my water had frozen solid even though my camelbak had been wrappe din clothing inside a plastic bag inside my pack. Thawed some ice in my pot and used that water to thaw out my camelbak, then I could enjoy a hot Nalgene bottle of tea in my sleeping bag, brrr it was really cold outside, wonder if I should stay in my bag the rest of the day? Nah, it really is great once you get up and out. Leaving the barn I had a nice view of the valley and I must have taken about 10 pictures of the barn in the sunrise. Such a picturesque barn in a little valley. Right before Little Hump I got lost! I kind of knew it right away (no blazes, no prints in the snow - hint hint!!). But I did not listen to my instinct because right there in front of me was a nice trail laid out going straight ahead. Kept wondering why I did not see a trail and finally after 1/2 mile I decided to listen to me - right enough, I had missed a turn! The views form Little Hump and Hump Mountain were amazing, mountains 360 all the way around. The sun was shining but gave of no heat and the wind was still blowing strong especially up there. Down again and away from the chilling wind I met Bemis and South Paw both SOBOs (South Bounders). They had started last July!!! Took a break at Christmas and now just hooked up to finish the last 1/4 of the trail together after they each had hiked alone most of the time. At Elk River there was a nice flat spot so i took it. Dinner was freeze dried Beef Stroganof, actually rather good. Then it was time to write the memories of the day down before they quickly would fade! (That happens when you reach my age, makes me wonder what will happen when I turn 40!). As my pen scribbled I heard something walk up to the tent. Earlier I had seen Poop (not the bear kind), so I thought maybe it was a deer and yelled "Go Home". I then grabbed my camera and looked out - Not three feet away from me was a cow! It starred at me as if saying "I am home, why don't you mooh've?"
Date: 2006-03-01
From: Bob & Pat Peoples (Kincora Hostel)

To: Bob & Pat Peoples (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Pat Peoples had to work - she teaches therapeutic riding to children. Meanwhile Bob took me along for the ride as he shuttled day hikers. One of them, Pam (Teflon), was doing the AT in smal sections - I sure did admire her little lightweight daypack! The other lady, Cynthia (Rookie), was out for her first hike on the AT. In the evening I went to church to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
Date: 2006-03-02
From: Bob & Pat Peoples (Kincora Hostel

To: Bob & Pat Peoples (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

This is the first time I am taking two full zero days at a hostel - but my knees and legs needed it. Instead of hiking I got the opportunity to see the horses being fed, while the cats chased after the horses' tails - a wee bit on the dangerous side as the horses could easily kick them. Wished I had my camera.Got to talk a little more with Bob. Bob and Pat are really great people, if you get a chance on your thru-hike you should plan on staying there for a night or two - a truly unique place - kinda like what Elmer is to Hot Springs.
Date: 2006-03-03
From: Bob & Pat Peoples (Kincora Hostel)

To: Watauga Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Watauga Shelter Left Kincora this morning. The stretch from Kincora to Pond Mountain is absolutely breath taking and wonderful with Laurel Falls and all the rock formations. There were also "SMALL" signs of beavers (they had chumped down two huge trees causing them to fall right across the trail! A great place to stop and camp if it weren't because I had only done 2 miles! Watauga Shelter was a standard TN shelter but the water source was really convenient as it was located right next to the shelter. Met Lone Wolf and his dog, Max. They spent the night in the shelter too. Lone Wolf knew a ton of great stories from the trail so it almost felt like a continuation of Kincora as Bob also had told a lot of crazy stories from the trail.
Date: 2006-03-04
From: Watauga Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

I actually got a little cold last night but it was my own fault as I did not put on long johns! As morning arrived I did not want to get up as I could hear Max, Lone Wolf's dog, snore loudly. Max is a beautiful and very well behaved dog, and Lone Wolf had me entertained all evening with crazy hiker stories, such as being invaded at the Red barn (Overmountain Shelter) by a SWAT team thinking a dangerous criminal had hidden there! to stories like chasing off young vandalizing guys from the shelter sites. After a healthy 4 pkgs of oatmeal it was time to hit the road - oops! I meant hit the trail. Stopped for lunch at the Vandeventer Shelter. There was a rock outcrop behind the shelter with beautiful views over Watauga Lake. I sat there bathing in the sun and just enjoying my lunch. Reading the shelter register I saw that bear and Papabear were planning a 32 mile long hike into Damascus - ouch, and I think they made it from what I heard though the trail drums. The next seven miles were pleasanly easy and I made it to Iron Mountain Shelter early. At the spring before the shelter I met two gentlemen out camping. Their had their hands full of water containers as they were making their way back toward their campsite. One of them looked at me and said "I recognize you form the internet - you must be Red Dane!" I was just speechless, so surprised - I guess I knew friends, family, and even strangers would be reading this journal but that someone would recognize me out here!!! - Does that mean that I am not as incognito out here as I would have thought - do the bears read the journals too, if yes, then I need to change my dates of my mail drops so they don't catch me fully restocked on chocolate and sardines No Sooner had I arrived at Iron Mountain Shelter and retrieved water as 3 hikers came up to the shelter. Looks like I've got company again. They introduced themselves as BC, Amy, and Elly (Hope I got your names spelled right). And then they too state "You must be Red Dane" At that moment I am starting to get just a little paranoid - OK, who put the little yellow Post-It note on my back with my name on it? They told me that Bob Peoples had shuttled them to the trail and he had told them about me. Phew! I can be my own incognito, invisible, Red Dane hiker again BC made an awesome campfire (awesome in this case does not mean Redneck HUGE campfire! - just means a nice warm fire) I fried up a bagel with cheeseand later it was rice ala Jambalaya. As it slowly got darker another 3 hikers came into camp they were tenting - I am about to get people overload - haven't camped with that many since - not at all on this hike. We all had a nice evening together. BC, Elly, and Amy I hope you all have a lot of fun hiking the AT in sections - enjoyed getting to meet you all.
Date: 2006-03-05
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Said our goodbyes as both parties were headed for Damascus but in different directions. The big question of the day: where to sleep tonight? I thought about stealth camping (Where you dress in all black like a ninja and then pitch a camouflaged tent!!! - just kidding) There really is such a thing as stealth camping; you cook your meals and do your washing etc before you get to where you want to pitch your tent, that way very little odor and distubance has ocurred where you spend the night - keeps the bears away. In my case I simply just wanted to be closer to Damascus so I would not have far to walk next day. At McQueens Knob I saw the old emergency shelter. It was used when a lightening storm passed through so the forrest ranger could leave the metal firetower and seek shelter further below. Someone had engraved "Holiday Inn" on the front. Getting closer to Abingdon shelter the clouds got thicker and darker - I decided to spend the night at this shelter instead of tenting. Two hours later it rained then it snowed.
Date: 2006-03-06
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

An inch of snow layed a nice white blanket over everything, however I was glad I had decided to stay in a shelter as it was wet snow. 7:15 and it was off to town. I kept a good pace as the terrain was fairly level. I was walking in the fog thinking about the movie "Never Cry Wolf" as I saw something coming running toward me. I stopped right in my tracks and with hiking poles lifted I yelled out loud HEY!. Whatever it was it stopped. Then I saw it was just a dog - with a collar, wonder where the owners were? "Huckleberry" I heard someone call out - Phew, in my mind it had been a wolf coming toward me. The owner apologized, but I didn't mind, the dog was just protecting the owners and it was not going to bite me, it was just barking doing its duty. At 10:30 I had reached Damascus, wow, that "wolf" must have given me en extra adrenaline kick to get me to Damascus that fast. "The Place" and the church were closed this time of year so the Hikers Inn was the cheapest place in town with heat. As always, priorities first so I went to get the mail drop this time from Laura. It was a goodie box filled with lots of great food such as fancy pasta that I can't wait to taste, and lots of good chocolate. Ate a package of Chow Mein as there was a microwave in the hostel. There were also a couple of surprises from BG Today is Bjarke's Birthday (My youngest brother) Happy Birthday.
Date: 2006-03-07
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

The best thing about waking up in town is that I can have real milk with my cereal. Made my bounce box containing extra stuff such as batteries and charger, spices, and a few other items. Off to say good bye to Mount Rogers Outfitters (MRO) and thank Jeff for the velcro solution for my camelbak hose. They are absolutely great guys there and know just what a hiker needs. The food bag is all heavy again and I added a loaf of bread to the huge bag. Just missed BC, Amy, and Elly as they stopped by MRO, they were going to do a 14 mi dayhike. I seemed a little spacey today - got lost in my thoughts and then lost them too! As I was walking along the trail in my own little world I saw something quickly pass me on the inside - I nearly jumped out of my boots and fell down the mountain side thats how scared I got. Looking a second time to see what had passed me: it was my own SHADOW!!! Guess that is what happens when the sun comes out after you have gotten used to snow and clouds. Scared of my own shadow! - should have taken an extra day off in Damascus. You would think a shock like that would keep me on my toes - but no, I lost the trail several times that day simply because I did not pay attention - even ended up following the wrong trail for about half a mile before I noticed the blazes were blue instead of white. Passed Saunders Shelter and decided to go on to Lost Mt Shelter - another 6 miles. The trail followed Virginia Creeper Trail and right before reaching the shelter there were a parallel trail for fishers - it was really pretty and had a great campsite right before the parking lot. It was a good sight to see the shelter - a really nice shelter. It is now 20:00 I have eaten my dinner, cleaned up, and done a Su Doku puzzle, and now I can barely stay awake. Will sleep good tonight. Today it is two months ago since I started on this trail
Date: 2006-03-08
From: Lost Mtn Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept solidly throughout the entire night - so solid that I did not even hear or feel the mouse that chewed a hole in my sock - and those socks were squeezed up between the wall and I. Took my time enjoying breakfast - pancakes with peanut butter. Today I would pass over Whitetop Mtn. and Mt Rogers, where Southpaw only a couple of weeks earlier had gotten caught in a snowstorm and ended up with severely frostbitten hands. As I reached Elk Garden I saw several areas of the forrest being taped off with some blue string. In the parking lot I met some people and asked what was going on? They believed the trees were being tapped for the famous Maple Syrup. Last mountain today was Mt Rogers, I had thought it was going to be really tough but it wasn't - maybe it was the short day with only 13 miles or maybe I am getting in shape? Walking along the trail I started thinking about what I had accomplished today - absolutely nothing was my first thought! Nothing had been built, painted, repaired, Hmm, if everything is measured that way what am I doing out here? Got my thoughts straight - I had actually accomplished something: I had almost walked 13 miles today making it a total of ~495 miles for this trail. I know and feel confident I can handle any weather that the Appalachians wants to throw at me (maybe with exception of tornadoes!) and being out here just makes me feel great. At Thomas Knob Shelter I met Alane and Andrew, they were out enjoying their Spring Break. They broke the bad news to me - at this shelter a skunk had moved in! Not again! Well, I had done it before and could do it again. Yes, but this one had just sprayed some people the other night and it had kept Alane and Andrew up all night. Wow, maybe I should go on, then again there are 6 miles to the next shelter and I am ready to stop for the day. Reading the shelter register I read where someome had actually petted and fed the skunk - thats how you get the skunk to stay and live in the shelter! Someone else had named the skunk Percival von Stinkum! Finished with dinner and ready for bed I was just awaiting the arrival of the skunk.
Date: 2006-03-09
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mt Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I heard the skunk roaming around in the loft upstairs but I was fortunate enough that I never saw - or smelled it! Instead, at 3 in the morning I woke up hearing something just outside the shelter - it was a little pony, which had stopped by to see if there was any food left over. I was too warm and cozy to get up and I did not want to scare the pony away either so I just laid there and watched it til I fell asleep again. In the morning the wind had picked up so I did not feel like getting out of the bag - Hmm, now that I think about it - the only time I cannot get out of the bag fast enough seems to be when new snow has just fallen, that is kind of bad news since Spring is getting closer and closer! The trail took me over the rest of Mt Rogers and into the Grayson Highlands. It was beautiful. Instead of scrambled eggs for breakfast I got a rock scrambler! In one of the valleys I saw several "wild" ponies - thay even allowed me to get close enoughto pet them. A little later I got to a tunnel made of rocks, it was rather narrow, hence the sarcastic name "Fatmans Squeeze". Getting on the other side of the Highlands travel got a lot easier. The rocky highlands really do remind me of the Scottish and Irish highlands with all the wind, rocks, sparse vegetation, and rolling hills. Wise Shelter was an older model and seeing the manure right next to spring I decided to go on. The next 6 miles went by fast - again I saw a few wild ponies and lots of good water sources. Old Orchard Shelter did not look too inviting, however, the area around it was perfect for tenting. Drank some more gatorade and felt like the last 5 mi of the day should be doable. Got to Hurricane Shelter in good style. Had a great dinner and into the bag I went, phew! I am hot - it surely is no longer 0 degrees outside any longer. Tomorrow after another 3.5 miles I should have reached the 500 mi mark
Date: 2006-03-10
From: Hurricane Mt Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

As I had thought I did not get up at 5:00 I slept til 6:15. had a quick breakfast and was gone within half an hour. Started out in shorts for the first time on this trip. Did not take long before I had to stop to take off my fleece pull-over. It was fast hiking today. About a mile before reaching Dickey's Gap there was a beautiful water cascade - Comers Creek. It got so hot that day that my chocolate bar melted! that has not happened before on this trip - usually I have to stick the Cliff bar etc. in my pocket half an hour before I want to eat it just to let it thaw out some. Later in the day I saw four white tailed deer crossing the trail in full speed - they were so beautiful and graceful - unlike this hiker who just came stomping up a hill with big boots, hiking poles to keep the balance, and 50 lbs on the back. Not far from the place where I saw the deer butterflies were swirling around in the air. "It's beginning to feel a lot like...summer"! Phew, what is that smell must be a skunk somewhere - but no, it was me! I had actually started sweating inthis hot air - one more first on this trip - can I please have my beloved 50F back, PLEASE. Partnership shelter was a welcomed sight at 14:30 - in 7 1/2 hours I had done 20 miles. My feet were letting me know how hard I had pressed them. A tiny blister on top of the left little toe and that was it Dropped my pack at the shelter and ran up to the Mt Rogers Headquarter from where I could call home and wish Annika (My Babysister - turning 8 years old) Happy Birthday.