morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Dick Creek Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 15.8

The days have been getting progressively warmer after a cold first day. It's also humid today. The birds were singing and spring is in the air. We hear birds singing in the morning and then woodpeckers later in the day. The AT goes up over mountains or knobs and then down to a gap and keeps repeating all day every day. Crossed into North Carolina, mile 78, around noon. One state down and just 13 left. There was a beautiful, twisted tree the locals call "the tree" in the middle of the trail. Georgia is supposed to be the second hardest state. Sections of Maine/New Hampshire are the hardest followed by North Carolina in third. Well, it better get easier quick. We started out the state with a huge, steep 1,000'climb. Welcome to North Carolina! Only a few hikers today. One guy hiking barefoot and seemed to be quite comfortable. With 3 good climbs we topped out at 4,800' and started the rocky trail down toward Deep Gap. At Deep Gap Wayne and Chris had to arranged for a shuttle driver to pick us up and take us out to their RV because the road was narrow and rutted. They are amazing trail angels and good friends. Weather forecast is for severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail so we are leaving the trail and heading to the town of Franklin. This is our sixth day on the trail so we were due a rest day anyway. We are at the Sapphire Inn safe, dry, clean and well feed. Life is good.
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Deep Gap

To: zero day in Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This is the best trail town on the AT so far. Ron Haven provides reasonably priced rooms, shuttles hikers to and from the trailheads, and the Baptist church picks up the hikers at his 3 hotels and drives them to their church for breakfast every day. So far they have served over 575 meals. Caffe Rel @ the Hot Spot gas station is run by Chef Richard Earl Long. Chef Long has worked at the Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs and the Pocono Hershey Resort. He opened this little restaurant because he wanted to provide good food at a fair price for real people. No reservations, no credit cards, 16 tables and fantastic food. The PCT has the Whoa Nellie Dellie at the Chevron gas Station but this is just as good! The big storm finally reached us around 9/10:00 pm. Very high winds and driving rain with tornado warnings. Glad to be warm and dry in the hotel. This was an unscheduled stop due to the weather, which is part of hiking the AT, but we have enjoyed our time in Franklin and meet many interesting hikers and we especially liked our Baptist bus driver Austin, Bill our trail shuttle driver, and Mr. Franklin (Ron Haven). Sandy's having trouble updating the journal via her droid so it looks like our updates will not be as often as we would like.
Date: 2013-04-12
From: Deep Gap

To: Mooney
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: snow

After another nice breakfast at the Baptist church of pancakes, bacon, coffee and juice we caught the shuttle to Deep gap for today's hike. I was glad to be out on the trail again refreshed and ready to follow the well worn trail north. Plenty of runoff from the storm but the trail was OK. Its probably 30 degrees cooler than Thursday and the air is fresh. We made 13 miles which was good for us considering the late 10am start. We only saw 3 guys and chipmunk, a 14 year old girl trying to be the youngest solo thru hiker. Her parents are meeting her often but she is very brave. At 4500' we are prepared for a cool night. Wayne and Chris are meeting us again tomorrow. They are good friends and we will miss them when they have to leave.
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Mooney

To: Wayah picnic area
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 8Very cold morning to start hiking but we warned up quickly with a 750' climb in less than a mile. It was a wall of rock steps and chutes up to Mt Albert. Once on top there is a fire tower with 360 views. The rest of the day was just the typical up to a bald and then down to a gap and then up again. Many hikers on this beautiful weekend. The last couple of days have ben good to us and we were able to get in some decent mileage. I hope it continues and we get stronger. So far packs still feel heavy but legs feel stronger. Time for shut eye.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Wayah picnic area

To: Wesser bald shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 9This is the second day in a row we starred with a 1000' climb. Yesterday was mt albert fire tower and today was Wayah Bald old stone fire tower. This tower was erected in the 1920s and rebuilt in the 30s by the CC. its a real fine looking stone structure. Truly a lost art. It started raining during the last hour of our hike and we had to down the rain gear and packcovers. We put the tent up in the rain and then went over to the shelter to cook our diner. A lot of young hikers having a great time despite the gloomy conditions. Seven miles from NOC where we have a resupply and hopefully a shower. Probably a nero day as the hike out is long and hard. We are on our own now. Wayne and Chris are heading for indiana where wayne is running a 50 mile race. He is still running well at age 65 withe over 220 marathons.
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Wesser bald shelter

To: Natahala Outdoor Center (NOA)
Miles today: 5.9

Day 10Short hike today. We felt like we should have kept pushing on but with our next town day five days from now and some big climbs we decided to enjoy a day at NOA. It rained for 8 hours last night but only clouds and sun this afternoon. Had a wet tent but still on the trail by 7:30. There were at least 20 camped in or near Wesser shelter and we were the oldest by far. Of course the trail started straight up for a couple of miles and then down for 2500'. It was a steep, rocky, wet, rooted downhill. I fell once but it was only because I didn't have my morning Via (coffee). We are at NOA, a huge kayak, rafting, biking, and hiking complex near the town of Wesser, NC. Not much here for resupply but cabins, restaurant, showers and laundry. All situated on the beautiful Nanhala river. CA friends think Coloma. Sat around the river talking to some really great young people and have some ideas for our next adventure. These young people have been teaching English in Korea and traveling the world in their free time.
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Natahala Outdoor Center (NOA)

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 15.8

Day 11. Early start needed today due to the climb, carrying 5 days of food, and the heat. Eight miles of uphill over Swim bald and Cheoah bald. Topped out at 5062 for an elevation gain of 3500'. Late lunch at locust camp as not many water sources today. It was early so we pushed on to the brown fork gap shelter. The hike down to NC 143 wasn't bad but then we hit Jacobs' s ladder. This was an incredibly hard 700' climb with no switchbacks, just straight up. A hard way to end the day. We are finding this trail never goes around obstacles. It always goes right thru them. Didn't get to camp until 6:30 with dark sky and thunder rolling in the distance. Managed to get the tent up and dinner made before the storm hit. Threw everything into the tent and crashed. Tomorrow should be easier??
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Brown Fork Gap

To: Fontana hilton
Miles today: 12.7

Day 12. Still thrashed from yesterday. Very humid this morning as it has been for the last 3 days. We had generally downhill from 3739 to 1864 but as usual there were a lot of PUD's. A brief shower cooled things down this afternoon. Just enough that we had to pull out the jackets and pack covers. Home tonight is Fontana dam, the largest dam on the TVWA. The shelter here is called the fontana Hilton. Its a pretty nice setup. There are bathrooms with showers, shelter sleeps 20, and picnic tables. We have a tent site with a view of the lake, our own picnic table, and close to the bathrooms. Meet a nice guy our age that lost his wife and brother recently and decided to go for a walk. Scotty is an inspiration to us all. German couple that we have seen at few times and a group of young guys going for a night hike plus more we haven't meet round out the group tonight. Have seen hikers of all ages, sizes, and nationalities.
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Fontana hilton

To: Russell Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8

Day 13. Walked across the Fontana dam and into Smoky Mountain National Park. Much nicer trail maybe because it is a national park. This is the most visited National Park in the us. Around 4000' elevation the hills were covered with low growing white/pink flowers. Maybe phlox? We leap frog-ed with Scotty all day. There are many AARP card holders on this section of trail. The wind has been blowing hard all day and temperatures are dropping. 90% chance of rain in the forecast. Hope to make some good miles to get to Gatlinburg by Sunday.
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Russell Spring Shelter

To: Derrek Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 14. You know there will be hard days on the trail but the only word to describe today is NASTY. No Nice on the trail today. The wind blew hard all night with gusts of over 50mph. The wind was so loud it was hard to sleep. Temps dropping and then the rain started coming down as we started to pack up. We packed our bags and took our tent into the shelter to pack up out of the wind and rain. Everyone was crammed inside trying to decide what to do when Carl, a ridge runner showed up and told us we should be moving on to make way for the hikers coming behind us. So one by one hikers took off in the driving rain and wind. Slogged though 9 tough miles climbing up to 5000' several times and then dropping to a gap. Rain gear helped but eventually we were soaked to the core. When we finally arrived at Derrek Knob Shelter it was packed! Carl had not been there and most everyone had taken a zero at this shelter. I would guess that there were 50 hikers here. The good news was that with the high winds a lot of tree limbs had fallen and there was a good fire going in the shelter. We were welcomed in and given seats in front of the fireplace to warm up. One fellow made us a cup of tea and 2 guys were playing ukuleles and singing. Definitely the highlight of the miserable day. Eventually new arrivals come in and we had to brave the weather and go set up our tent. It was early afternoon but we put on the few remaining clothes and climbed into our sleeping bags to try to warm up.
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Derrek Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5

Day 15. Everything frozen this morning including our boots, socks, and water tubes from our bladders. Last night the rain quit and the sun came out and everyone rushed to cook dinner before dark. The temps are low 20's. It took about 2 hours for our bodies and boots to warm up. We had 10 miles to Clingmans Dome at 6588'. There are pine trees at this elevation and they were covered with ice. The sun is shining and its a beautiful, clear, cold day. Views from the dome were great but there is a road and many tourists. We relaxed and had our lunch before heading out to mt Collins shelter 4 miles away. Two good old boys hiked in .8 mile with one 18 pack of beer plus another cooler bag full of beer + a can of beans. They are sharing. Should be an interesting night.
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Mt Collins shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 4.5

Day 16. Another cold day but much warmer than yesterday. Perhaps around 32° with sun. Mt Collins shelter is .5 miles off the AT but one of the many rules in SMNP states you must stay at shelters only and we hear it is strictly enforced. Hiked the 5 miles in just over 2 hours and attempted to hitch to Gatlinberg. Unfortunately it was early and everyone was going up to Clingmans Dome. After 20 minutes a woman in the parking lot took piety on us and gave us a ride. Turns out she is Doggy Daddy's wife who had dropped off Doggy Daddy and Slow & Steady at Clingmans to slack to Newfound Gap. We met him back in Franklin. She made an extra trip to drive us the 15 miles to Gatlinburg and then had to go back up. Thank you marilyn!!! Microtel let us check in early, 10:30, so we are warm and dry and clean at last.
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Newfound Gap

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in Gatlinburg. Yesterday we just crashed in our hotel. Today is laundry, grocery shopping, and catching up on our journal. Gatlinburg is VERY much a tourist town but they have a nice trolley system that runs from 10 to 10 and for only 50 cents you can go anywhere. They will even take you to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. Maybe next time. Also many restaurants to choose from. Brockcade Runner and Hightide, another older couple we have met, are also here. Trail talk is all about the illness running rampant in the Hot Springs to Damascus area. We are armed with hand sanitizer and wipes and hope for the best. We hear it is violent but short lived, usually only 24 hours. We have a few aches and pains but getting in shape. The last NOC Shuttle for their year will take us back up to Newfound Gap Tuesday morning.
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Gatlinburg

To: Pecks Corner
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Took the last free NOC shuttle back to Newfound Gap of this hiking season. The NOC is an outfitter located in a beautiful building but prices pretty high. The free shuttle was much appreciated. All the other outfitters have charged. Its big business for outfitters and hostels. Hiking by 11 with 10 miles to go. Like the last couple of days the views of the Smokies were great. Back up to 6000' and traversing the ridge between Tennessee on the left and North Carolina on the right. Charlies Bunion was an interesting rock formation. Arrived at pecks shelter by 5 and cooked diner. The shelter holds 12 and filled so we were able to tent again. Most thru hikers like to sleep in the shelters because they can get going so much faster. Packing up the tent takes time especially if it is wet or frozen. Sandy doesn't like the smoke and with the virus hitting hikers it seems like shelters are a place to avoid right now. So, we cook and do a little socializing and then set up the tent.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Pecks Corner

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night we had to hike a half mile off the AT to our shelter so this morning its back to the AT. Smokies have all these rules that you can only stay in the shelter or next to it if full. It really limits your mileage and allows for no flexibility. Its cool and sunny but rain in the forecast for this afternoon so everyone is up and headed out early to try to beat the storm. Started on the ridge traveling around Mt Sequoyal, Mt Chapman and Mt Guyot all in the 6000' range. There was wreckage from a plane crash. Nothing but small pieces. There are trees with white blossoms that a local told us were sour oak? Supposedly bee keepers bring their bees up during the day and home at night because its too cold. The honey has a slightly sour taste but delicious and expensive. I bet they try to make whiskey also. Tomorrow will be our last day in the smokies. Been nice but its still winter. A couple of weeks from now everything will be blooming and it will be warmer. BTW we beat the rain by 30 minutes. Shelter full so made it through the smokies without having to stay in a shelter,legally, and we didn't end up in smoky jail.
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Painter Creek
Miles today: 13.1

Rained hard all night. We are in the clouds this morning. Puddles on the trail frozen and slippery for the first couple of hours.Saw a white tail deer. Only second animal I've seen since we started this hike. First was a squirrel. Day began with 800'climb followed by a 3600' descent from 5000' to 1400' and back into Tennessee. Really pretty creek and also the huge Pigeon River. Stopped in the Standing Bear Hostel for lunch and a few supplies. Curtis and Maria have a good supply of food at reasonable prices but we felt out of place so didn't spend the night. At one of the social gatherings today pot was offered for sale to everyone but Sandy. There are a lot of medical conditions on the trail. Maybe it would cure Sandy's bad ankle. I think the kids were happy that the old guys didn't stick around. We are out of the park and on forest service land so now we can camp wherever and whenever we like. Tonight we have a nice site near a babbling creek. In a group of around 20 hikers we see daily.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Painter Creek

To: Near Lemon Gap
Miles today: 16.3

The trail was good today. Nice dirt and not many rocks. Sandy is suffering from an ankle injury. The same ankle she sprained two years ago on the PCT. Elevation was between 3500 and 4500' which meant an abundance of wildflowers. Snow Mountain Bald had a FAA tower that looked like a flying saucer. Trail magic at Brown Gap. There was already a group camped and planning to take a zero but I think most had a meal or snack and moved on. We had fresh fruit and Girl Scout cookies and didn't stay for lunch as we need to get within a day hike of Hot Springs tomorrow. Max Patch Bald was the largest so far. About 10 acres of lush grass with 360 views. Had a good day due to the good tread. Camped by a stream in Tennessee, we think. 15 miles to Hot Springs with a rainy day in the forecast tomorrow. The last few days we have been hiking with 2 brothers, F & O,Florida and Ohio. They have been section hiking for years and plan to thru in 2015. Real nice guys and hate to see them leave.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Near Lemon Gap

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 14.4

Rained all night but at least it wasn't cold. We were surrounded by tents this morning. Since we have left the Smokies everyone has been tenting. Probably because you can go as far as you want but also because of the virus hitting over 70% of hikers in the upcoming area. The Walnut Shelter only had one brave soul. It had been sprayed with belch as have the other shelters coming up. Only advise we have been given is to keep our hands clean. Trail was wet but not muddy and more good tread with a few hills but mostly downhill to 1300' and Hot Springs. It rained off and on all day but really let loose when we reached town. Elmers where we had hoped to stay was full as was every other place listed in the AT guide. Elmers Sunnybank Inn is a 1840 Victorian hostel hosting AT hikers since 1947 and famous for good vegetarian meals. Finally found a room at the Spingbrook Cottages with a nice view of the French Broad River. Unfortunately its a dismal rainy day and we can't appreciate the view.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Hot Springs has been a popular resort since the 1800's. Our little cottage is between the river and railroad tracks. First freight train came thru at 11:29pm, the second at 11:59pm and then our neighbors came in around 1am . Very long trains. I'm reading a brochure that claims the healing properties of the springs are good for muscle activity, a laxative, corrects anemia, helps blood, nerves, tissues, heart, bone, teeth and aids digestion. Had breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Scotty, Slack & Steady, Johnny Thunder, the Germans, Graylocks and many more in town. Trail gossip all about every room booked with hikers coming in this morning cold, wet, and with no place to stay but the church took them in. Our plan is for me hiking out tomorrow and Sandy will take a shuttle to Erwin, take a few days off, and hopefully be ready to continue.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Hot Springs

To: Little Laural campsite
Miles today: 19.6

Ended up being a long day because there was nowhere to camp except on a road three miles south of Little Laural. Got started by 7 am by crossing the French Broad River running close to flood stage after the last 2 days of heavy rain. The trail followed the river climbing to the NE for a nice easy morning. The afternoon was far different with lots of PUD's. More grave stones today. There was an old dam forming a nice pond that farmers used to grow tobacco and fruit. A lot of history dating back to colonial times. The Appalachians mountains were as far as anyone went. The Cherokee Indians lived here. Many hikers camped here tonight. Everyone happy to have nice weather.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Little Laural campsite

To: Sugarloaf Gap
Miles today: 17.3

4/30 When I woke up I was surrounded by six tents. I heard a few come in after dark. With no place to camp the last 5 miles you had to keep going. First out at 7 but it was hard to walk and drink my morning coffee because it started up so fast. Topped out on a beautiful ridge overlooking the countryside, the trail was covered with huge talus with white blazes painted on the rock showing the way. It was slow going and a real challenge. The rest of the day was the typical PUD's with a 1100'climb the last 2 miles. There were 6 grave sites today. First was Howard Bassett. He hiked the trail at age 68 and died in 1988. The Shelton gave site I was told was civil war era and included 3 brothers and Mrs Shelton. A fellow I met there said the brothers were killed during or right after the war when they returned home for a family reunion and the guard did not no the war was over. The movie/book Cold Mountain was based on this civil war family. Just before camp I spotted a small fenced in plot with headstones for husband and wife named Ridel. Both were born in 1860 and died one month shy of their 100th birthday. Pretty remarkable for that time. There was an old foundation of I what I presume was the old homestead. Lots of history on the AT.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Sugarloaf Gap

To: Whistling Gap
Miles today: 17.4

5 /1 Trail gossip was that there would be trail magic at Sam's Gap in 6.6 miles. I made it with time to spare. There were already 20 hikers. The methodis church provides TM on May 1 every year. They had hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, beans, fruit, cookies, soda, and best of all fresh brewed coffee and Klondike Bars. It was fantastic. Thank you Erwin Methodist Church. I knew I had another 2400' of climbing left today but I still stuffed myself. Hiker hunger has started. There was Big Bald, Big Stamp, and Little Bald in the next 11 miles uphill. Not sure what a stamp is, but it looked just like the balds. Nice views of Tennessee on the left and North Carolina on the right. The decent to Erwin is 3800'. I hiked 1700' of it to my camp at Whistling Gap. Ten tents already at 6 pm. Its very cold and windy. The clouds are rolling over us providing a light mist. Wet tent tomorrow but I hope to be in Erwin by early afternoon. Sandy is waiting for me at Uncle Johnny's Hostel.