morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Cherry Gap shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Erwin, TN
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

Definitely not as cold last night as the night before. Thank goodness! Woke up to a dry tent, did the usual preps and was on my way by 7:30am. Early for me but I confess, I was motivated by a "town day" and Uncle Johnny's hostel in Erwin, TN runs its last shuttle into town at 5:30pm. Pleasant hike today. First couple miles were up and over Unaka Mountain with nice spruce forest on top. Rest of day was overall a drop in elevation. Some really nice sections of forest and some that were a little more disturbed. Some beautiful mountain laurel blooming closer to Erwin along with a sprinkling of rhododendron and flame azalea. Trail magic at Indian Gap road. Thanks so much! Got to Uncle Johnny's about 3:30 pm so plenty of time to shower and put in a laundry before the town shuttle. I'm tenting as the weather is supposed to be great and, frankly tenting appeals to me more than a crowded bunkhouse. Surprising number of NOBO'ers here. Makes me wonder if "the bubble" will ever end.
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Uncle Johnny's Erwin, TN

To: New Bern, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Went into Erwin last night for supplies ( Walmart) and dinner at nice Mexican restaurant. I liked Uncle Johnny's. Seemed like nice folks and services were reasonable. Unfortunately Rebecca's dad is back in hospital and things aren't looking good. I'm off trail - again. Got ride to Tri-City airport and rented car. I'm in New Bern now. Hike is on hold again but as Arnold says, I'll be back ( on the trail).
Date: 2015-05-31
From: Uncle Johnny's Erwin, TN

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 20.8

A full day back on the trail. Stayed in Johnson City last night. Up early to run errands (BB&T), get breakfast (McD's) and return rental car. Got picked up a little before 8am and shuttled back to the trail. I was hiking by 8:30 am. First part was up ( about 1,400 ft climb but great switchbacks). Nonetheless, after a week of inactivity the pack felt heavy (and I probably do have too much food for this next section). Mountain laurel and galax were outstanding all morning. Sometime this afternoon the trail design and maintenance changed. Think it was south of Spivey Gap. Steeper grades, less switchbacks and more trail erosion and encroachment by vegetation. Call me a spoiled thru hiker but it was noticeable. Still beautiful forest. Saw my first bear! Actually the black furry hind side of one scurrying away. Still exciting.   Got to Bald Mountain shelter around 5 pm and filtered water from the nice spring there. Shelter also has bear cables which is nice BUT shelter was absolutely trashed. Very disappointing. I picked up a large ziplock bag full including a bunch of cigarette butts but you would need a 35 gallon trash bag or two to clean it all up. Weather was warm but dry until about 2 pm when the first shower hit. Not bad and the subsequent one was even milder. It rumbled coming up Little Bald mountain (5,100 ft) but by the time I left Bald Mountain Shelter the sun was shining. That made the trip over Bald Mountain proper very nice. Got to this campsite in Low Gap around 7:30 pm. Just started to put up tent when the rains started again. Got it up and threw everything inside in the nick of time. Sometimes you get lucky. Rained for quite a while so I had to cook in the beak (vestibule). Worked out well, I stayed dry. Now the rain has stopped for awhile. I'm pooped but good. The sleeping bag is calling
Date: 2015-06-01
From: Low Gap

To: Jerry Cabin shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: few clouds

Wow. Another long day in paradise. No more rain overnight so was able to pack a semi-dry tent. After 7 days off trail the back needs a day or so to get back "in shape". Real stiff this morning so I emerged from the tent like I was 102 years old. No matter how diligently I stretch when off trail I can't seem to keep muscles loose but after a couple days backpacking all is good. Hiking by 8:45 after extra stretching. Beautiful forest and nice trail today. Lot of side hill construction. Things definitely greening up in understory and canopy. Still nice flowering but not the "wow" blooming I'm sure was here earlier in spring. Flushed three different coveys of grouse today, some with little ones that now can flight. Weather not as humid starting out (due to higher elevation?) but thunderstorms came in a little earlier today. Pretty long pretty hard rain for several hours right after lunch. Then the rumbling started again around 4:30 pm. Luckily as the first drops fell I was pulling into Flint Mountain shelter. Had some food and talked with a couple nice NOBOers who had been off trail with injuries for 3 weeks. Storm passed, sun came out and I was off by 5:15 pm. I intended to go about 4 miles and camp but a combination of good trail, good weather, and lousy campsites took me all the way to this shelter. A little before shelter on Bald Ridge ran into two guys running along. One supposedly started in Springer 6 days ago. No backpacks so don't know where they were going tonight. Nearest road I knew about 8 miles north. Got in around 8 pm. Set up tent in site nearby and, as with last night, the rains started again. Cooking in beak again. It makes you really appreciate your tent!
Date: 2015-06-02
From: Jerry Cabin shelter

To: Rich Mountain campsite
Miles today: 18.1

Awoke to the pitter patter of rain on the tent. We had several spells of rain during the night. Needless to say, although the rain stopped before I started packing, it was not a dry tent going into the pack this morning. Day started off quite cloudy but the sun emerge mid morning and didn't leave until the now customary after lunch rain. Today's rain started a little early and although we had quite a lot of rumbling it never did rain hard. Enough to need your pack cover on but not enough to get you wet. I'm definitely through the peak of NOBOers but still run into one or two dozen a day. Some section hiking, others late starting thru hikers. Ok, a little rant. More lately I've noticed quite a few hikers walking with music blaring. In the days of quality ear buds I'm not sure why as the quality of sound from their speakers is almost aways poor. Maybe they think everyone wants to hear their music as they walk through the forest? If so, they think wrong! Trail did some more barreling up hills today (gone are the beautiful switchbacks you found so often between Damascus and Erwin). And the section this evening could definitely need some pruning. Thought a couple of times I was off the AT. Bunches of poison ivy. Luckily -hopefully - I had on my rain pants. Got into this nice campsite a little after 7 pm. Set up tent got some water and almost ate a full dinner before the rains came and into the tent I went. Stopped for awhile but a steady rain is falling now. It is lulling me to sleep
Date: 2015-06-03
From: Rich Mountain campsite

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to a wet tent but today is a town hall oday so I'll get to dry it later. Took advantage of cell reception at the campsite ( plus a bench!) to find a dentist near Hot Springs. A couple of nights ago while enjoying my dessert of a chocolate almond nut bar I cracked a tooth. Long story but the gist is had root canal years ago, dentist thought enough enamel not to crown. New dentist in Berryville thought I should crown, I've been procrastinating and .... who knew those nut bars were so hard. (I think the corn nut appetizer had a role too). Anyhoot it cracked one night and the next lunch, although I tried to eat on the other side, a sizable part of the tooth came out. It doesn't hurt but I contacted my dentist and she thought I should see dentist here since I won't be home for awhile. Third dentist I contacted had 9am Thursday opening so I was off hiking by 8:30 am. Beautiful morning except for my time at the Rich Mountain lookout tower when the clouds rolled in and views were minimal. Nice trail today and, after gently bashing trail maintenance yesterday I met four hard working friendly members of the Carolina Mountain Club heading up the trail to clear a reported blowdown ( a blowdown that while reported must not have been much as I couldn't remember seeing it). Mountain laurel beautiful as has often been the case lately. Got into Hot Springs around 12:30 pm and went into my town frenzy mode; outfitters to secure shuttle to dentist tomorrow, library to transfer photos from phone to flash drive, Elmers to check in and shower, Mexican restaurant for lunch, Elmers, outfitters, Elmers, outfitters to get new tips for my hiking poles and to get my Smokies permits, Dollar store for resupply, Wash tub for laundry (during which time the pm rains came), Elmers, the Spring House tavern for dinner and a very nice White Zombie wheat beer from Catawba Brewing Co, Dollar store for ice cream and now back at Elmers. I'm ready for bed. Particularly since this place is great! 180 year old beautiful old house, antiques everywhere, private rooms that are very nice, all for the thru hiker rate of $20. My only regret is they needed four guest to sign up for vegetarian dinner and only three did so it was cancelled (hence the white zombie and the AT triple bacon cheeseburger!!!). Getting up early tomorrow so going to bed now to enjoy this fine room.
Date: 2015-06-04
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Roaring Fork shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

What a comfortable stay at Elmers. I can see how one could be talked into taking a "zero" in Hot Springs. Up at 6am to stretch and pack. Got to the outfitters around 7:15 and shortly later Bill picked me up to shuttle me to the dentist in Mars Hill. Bill was a really nice guy. Retired grandfather from Cincinnati. We dropped his granddaughter off at her elementary school and me at the dentist. The verdict was a chipped tooth - the remaining portion, mainly a big filling the dentist felt was "most likely" structural sound. Did some X-rays which indicated my root canal would probably have to be redone but that's for another day and place. Got some antibiotics in case the tooth should get infected. All the dental folks were very nice. Then Bill picked me up and we were back in Hot Springs by 10:30 am. Had a late breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner which actually wasn't all that good, ice cream cone and banana at Hillbilly Market both which were delicious and I was off. Off until I adjusted my treking pole and the new carbide tip fell off. Back to the outfitter who put it on yesterday so they could put another one on that actually stayed on and I was really off by about noon. Trail was great today, lots of uphill climbs (over 3,300 ft from Hot Springs to the top of Bluff Mountain) but the grade and tread were excellent. That makes all the difference in the world. Nice forest and enough blooming to keep surprising you - lots of nice spiderwort, goats beard and water leaf which I've been seeing since Erwin, phacelia, penstemon among others. Most interesting meeting of today was with day hiker heading north about 7.5 miles out of Hot Springs who wanted to know if Max Patch was close. Well Max Patch was about 13 miles south! Evidently he intended to go out and back from his car just south of Max Patch but somehow didn't get the "back" part right and kept going north. Didn't seem too fazed when I located him on his map and decided to hike into Hot Springs and call his wife to pick him up ( I suggested he have a White Zombie from the tavern while he waited for her). Got to the shelter area about 8:15 pm. Quite a crowd here. Mostly short section hikers. I'm tenting and the owls are hooting. Time to call it a day - a good day.
Date: 2015-06-05
From: Roaring Fork shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Well, yesterday the forecast was 50% showers and it was blue skies the whole day. Today's forecast was 30% showers so I had high hopes when I went to bed. Unfortunately it rained overnight into the early morning. It stopped by 8ish so I did all the morning chores and waited to take down the tent until last - hoping the sun would pop out and dry things out. No such luck. A couple miles up the trail I reached Max Patch, an open bald with 360 degree views. Weather still was mostly cloudy/poor visibility so I decided to sit it out. Watched clouds roll through for well over an hour - interesting in itself - and finially was rewarded - sort of - with partly cloudy skies and nice views. Not the kind of weather we had yesterday but it didn't look like it was going to get any better so off I went. One more climb today up Snowbird Mountain ( where I got my first view of the Smokies) and the rest was downhill. Got to Standing Bear farms around 5:30 pm, picked up my mail drop, bought a few items from their "store" and ate a whole pizza minus one slice which I shared with a couple young NOBOers. Surprisingly quite a lot of young NOBOers there all starting in May and hoping to reach Maine this year. Fueled by the pizza and three root beers but weighted down by my heaviest food load of the trip (I must have been pretty hungry when I mailed it) I trudged the last three miles (no other way to describe it) into the Smokies - YEAH!- to this shelter. About 8 others here, most tucked in bed about the time I arrived a little before 8:30. Not really hungry after the pizza but ate a couple bars just to get rid of some of this weight. Still light out but everyone's in bed now so I'll join the others in this old style caged shelter
Date: 2015-06-06
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Otter Creek
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I've concluded that I'm on a different schedule than many of the older backpackers. As I mentioned yesterday when I arrived at the shelter around 8:30 pm last night most of the folks not only were in their sleeping bags but were asleep. Well 6am this morning the bugle sounded and the shelter came alive. By 6:30 most folks were preparing to hit the trail. Me? I headed out about 8:30 am leaving behind only the two teenagers who were up when I arrived and were still in their sleeping bags when I left. The morning hike was up about 2,500 ft to Mt Cammerer. Took the 0.6 mile side trail out to the lookout tower. It's a neat tower perched on the side of the mountain. Was restored a number of years ago by the Smokies friends group. Unfortunately it was quite hazy out (smoky?) so views were so so. Still had the place to myself and enjoyed a snack on the deck. Next it was down to Low Gap,up pass the Cosby Knob shelter, down to Camel Gap and finally up to the Snake Den Ridge trail (5796 ft). Here I left the good ole AT to head 2.3 miles down to Otter Creek backcountry site. Set up my tent, hung my food bag and headed down the Maddron Bald trail to the Albright Loop trail (about a 6 mile round trip). Area is great example of old growth cove hardwood forest. Diverse variety of huge trees and numerous beautiful rhododendron lined creeks too - one which I accidentally fell into when crossing, not deep luckily just slippery.   Coming back to Otter Creek, and about 10 minutes away, I saw my second bear. He was on the trail about 35-40 ft ahead of me. Unfortunately he heard me about the same time I saw him and bolted before I could take picture. Still, got much better view of bear 2 than bear 1. Got back to camp about 8 pm. Two other groups camping here. Although it was only 11 miles on the AT today I figure I hiked 8.5 non AT miles as well. I'm bushed. Tomorrow I head back up to the AT where I left it yesterday and continue the journey south.
Date: 2015-06-07
From: Otter Creek

To: Ice Springs shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

A dry night! A dry tent! Sleeping next to Otter Creek made me think the wind was howling all night. This morning I headed the 2.3 miles back up to the AT. Had spotty cell reception but was able to check messages and got some bad news. Rebecca's dad died this morning. Not totally unexpected but sad. Frank Harriett was 92 years young. He had an amazing zest for life and a endless list of plans, projects, and dreams ... And the talent to ensure those dreams became realities. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Today's hike was along the spine of the Smokies. In and out of some great spruce-for forest ( who doesn't love the smell of the frazier fir?). Occasional nice views either into North Carolina or Tennessee. As the day went along weather turned mostly cloudy. Some rumbling, a little rain. Rain stopped by the time I hit Charlie's Bunyon. This is one of the great rock outcrops in the park and, at least I think, along the whole AT. It doesn't seem to get the attention like McAfees. Ran into five seasonal employees of the park up at the Bunyon. All nice folks. Got me thinking about my time working here. What a fun time! Got to the shelter about 7:30pm. Earlier for me. Just 5 others here now. Had hellacious storm come through a little after 8. Glad I was in the shelter. Tomorrow I'm going to Newfound Gap and try to catch ride into town. Will rent car and drive to New Bern for a few days. Then back to the trail.
Date: 2015-06-08
From: Ice Springs shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Short hike today. Down the well used, well groomed AT to Newfound Gap. Weather was cloudy but rainless until I hit Gatlinburg. Got to Newfound Gap and connected with three NOBOers also trying to get into town. After about 11/2 hours we were still at it when a woman approached asking if we needed a ride. Carol Ann and her husband Donald proceeded to not only to give us a ride into Gburg but feed us multiple sausage biscuits, fruit, sodas, cookies etc. AND that's not all. Turns out Carol Ann's brother thru hiked in 1979 and for the last 20 or so years they have together provided a phenomenal Easter feed for hikers at Deep Gap, NC. It's an event "No Pants" hiked into last year and it was his most fantastic and memorable trail magic experience. Wow! Talk about an AT "coincidence". My hat is off to "the Cook" and "TAA". They are magical.   Got into Gatlinburg and contacted Enterprise who picked me up as advertised and off I headed back to New Bern. It's time for a couple days off the trail to remember and celebrate the full and wonderful life of Frank Harriett
Date: 2015-06-12
From: New Bern NC

To: Gatlinburg TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Headed back to Gatlinburg this morning. Long drive. Enterprise again shuttled me between Gatlinburg and Sevierville. I'm staying at the Grand Prix. Tomorrow they have 10 am shuttle to Newfound Gap. I'm going to try and hitch but the shuttle is Plan B. For now though the bed is calling.
Date: 2015-06-13
From: Gatlinburg TN

To: Silers Bald shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up pretty early and was out trying to hitch a ride by 7:30am. No luck by 8:30am so I went to an AYCE breakfast I'd heard about. Tried to hitch after breakfast but still no luck (offers to Chimney Tops and Townsend but not Newfound Gap) so a little before 10am I wondered back to the hotel where a 10 am shuttle took a couple of us up the mountain. Cost was supposed to be $15 each but they charged us $30 each. The Grand Prix owner was not happy as he had negotiated the cheaper price with the owners of the shuttle. Don't think the two will be doing business in the future. I was glad to be out of Gatlinburg. In some respects its kind of the opposite of an AT trail town. Trail was mostly up to Clingmans Dome and then down the rest of the day. Hiking the spine of the Smokies. No rain but mostly cloudy until evening. It's beautiful right now - lots of blue sky. Crowd of people up at the Dome but not many backpackers - typical for the Smokies. I had wanted to go one shelter further but unfortunately the next shelter is closed due to bear activity. So I'm at Silers Bald with 4 section hikers and a family with 3 young (under 7?) girls. The energy level is off the charts. Wish I could siphon some for tomorrow.
Date: 2015-06-14
From: Silers Bald shelter

To: Birch Spring Gap campsite
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Went to bed early last night - think the physical and emotional effects of the last few days caught up with me. Slept good, a pretty warm night for 5,500 ft and woke up to a beautiful morning. Up at 6:30 am and on the trail at 7:30 am. That's about as fast as I can do it with stretching and all. The weather stayed great all day. If I had to complain, it actually got pretty hot, especially since much of the day was above 5,000 ft. Again, much of day spent walking the spine of the Smokies. Occasional nice views. Only real ascent was up Thunderhead Mountain and that actually was quite steep. Beautiful mountain laurel and flame azalea on Spence Field. Had lunch on Rocky Top. While I was up there four Old Order German Baptist young women hiked up from the south. They were very friendly and hiking the AT through the Smokies - backpacks, bonnets, and long dresses. It was great! While the young women had stayed at Mollies Ridge shelter, several alpha males I had encountered warned of lots of honey bees in the shelter - the young women said yes, there were quite a few bees but they were friendly bees. Nonetheless I decided to pass the shelter by - it was early and the idea of dealing with bees for 3 or more hours didn't appeal to me. I'm camped at the only campsite on the AT in the Smokies. It's a beautiful site and I'm the only one here. Think I just about maxed out my hiking today. Time to hit the hay and let my muscles recover - hopefully.
Date: 2015-06-15
From: Birch Spring Gap campsite

To: Brown Fork Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Another warm night - not using my synthetic jacket for anything but an armrest. Funny thing. Sometime last night I was awoken and saw blinking lights shining on my tent. Figured it was a late arriving backpacker but this morning I'm still the only one here. The ghost of Birch Spring lives!!! The bugs live too - black flies, etc were bad last evening. Had to finish dinner inside tent. Left campsite at 8 am and first stop was Shuckstack Fire tower. Great weather, great views! Then headed down to Fontana Lake. Spiderwort and fire pink were blooming nicely. Crossed the dam, checked out the shelter "aka the Fontana Hilton", and stopped by the bait store for three ice cream bars and a Dr Pepper. Thus fueled I popped over the first 1,700 ft climb of the day. Sometime, during the afternoon the day's heat began to take its toll however and I was glad to see this shelter around 7pm. Thought about going further but was pooped and didn't have any information about other campsites a little further south. Shelter itself is pretty bad - log book mentions mice many times so I'm camping at a little campsite down the blue blazed trail toward the spring. Nice site. Bugs bad again but this time I put on some Deet and the bugs are keeping their distance. Had an extra dinner I figured I wouldn't use so had red beans and rice AND turkey tetrazzini tonight. I'm pleasantly full and soon, hopefully, pleasantly asleep!