morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

"Congratulations on 200 miles!"-- toast at dinner with Bat, Flip and Orange LighteningIt was a better day than yesterday, all the way around. Got out on the trail early and walked in the coolness of the morning, despite the record highs,  in the 80's, set on the last day of winter in Tennessee. Much of it was in the coolness and shade of the spruce and fir forests near Clingman's Dome during the heat of the day. The trail continues to be a mud wallow through much of this area, but we just take what we get. And we get tons of biting black flies, and I wish they'd all disappear -- I hate biting black flies and their kamikaze dives into your eyes and ears, and the occasional errant one into your mouth: you get your protein however you can out here.Grouse, downey woodpeckers and juncos are the birds of the day. Spruce, fir and pine are the ubiquitous trees and scent of the day. Day hikers are the wildlife spotting of the day -- tons of them around Clingman's Dome. At 6,643 feet Clingman's Dome is the highest spot on the AT and it is quite the attraction for thousands of visitors daily, and it seems that thousands are there when I walk up to the observation tower -- namely in the presence of over 50 students from 5 universities (including Penn State, Eastern Carolina U, NC State, et al.) meeting for a week as part of an outdoor studies seminar. Tons of people and tons of questions, which are frankly fun to answer as you're seen as a curiosity, a novelty and center of attention. More than once I heard: "look, that's a thru hiker!"There is also a great deal of energy and attention being expended both at Clingman's Dome and Newfound Gap on trying to find a missing day hiker. The man went missing two days ago.  Apparently in the midst of a depressive episode, Derek Leuking walked into the woods on Saturday and went off the trail without any overnight gear or food. There were news trucks at Newfound Gap for live remotes for the local news as well as numerous park rangers, police and family members searching for Leuking.  I was very fortunate to not have to "yogi" for a ride down to Gatlinburg, TN, as Shorts (who thru hiked in 2010) and his wife Kim had initiated a conversation and I was able to ask them for a ride to town. They're very nice people. Shorts is showing her some of the highlights of his hike through the Smokies and they're spending some time in Gatlinburg. Trail magic for me!Once in town I find that I've caught up to Bat, Orange Lightening, Yappy and Flip. They took a zero day. They're staying at "hiker central" in Gatlingburg: the Grand Prix Motel. This is the motel that for decades has caters to hikers in town. They inform me that they assisted in helping a section hiker with a broken ankle get taken off the trail near Indian Gap.Indian Gap! Happy 200 miles! Actually closer to Mt. Love, but yes! At 206.8 miles we're nearly at 10% of the trail! At least another milestone. Yay!
Date: 2012-03-20
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

"When it's raining there's always room for one more in the shelter..."-- hiker aphorism Orange Lightening, Bat and I took the 11am NOC shuttle back tithe trail. Flip has a bad back and decided to stay one more day, and Yappy has poison ivy poisoning on her feet and is getting treatment so she stayed in Gatlinburg as well.Newfound Gap is still abuzz with activity: news vans, helicopters buzzing about, search parties staging all in hopes of finding Derek Leuking who walked into the woods here, totally unprepared, and disappeared.  His family is in distress passing out posters and coordinating search parties. The walk itself is quite nice, mostly ridge walking at or near 6,000 feet with beautiful views in every direction, especially at Charlie's Bunion. After that an afternoon long thunderstorm rolls through and sticks around through the evening. Lots of rain. It feels like a cold front coming through.The three of us roll in to Peck's Corner Shelter and eventually another 4 hikers roll in after us. We know have 16 hikers squeezed in to a shelter made for 12 -- there's always room for more when it's raining.
Date: 2012-03-21
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: few clouds

"I'm gonna miss the Smokies, but I'm not gonna miss not being able to tent..."-- Silent Sam, from Tricorner Knob Shelter registerIt turned out to be a beautiful hiking day -- partly sunny with a high around 70, and spectacular views of the northern section of the Smokies on the AT. A good part of the walking today was on a ridge line above 6, 000 feet around the Mt. Guyot area. I saw Orange Lightening and Bat often today and we planned to stretch out the mileage in order to get closer to Standing Bear Hostel tomorrow. I saw bear tracks in the mud near Mt. Camerer fire tower, but yet again the bruins remain elusive. Also spotted the remaining wreckage of the 1969 jet crash north of Mt. Guyot. We needed a day without rain to allow the trail to dry out a bit -- the water sources are flowing well -- but some of the mud pits up here are excessive. I guess I should say something about these guys I've been hiking with for the past 10 days or so. Orange Lightening works as a light bulb changer at Syracuse University -- the Syracuse "Orangemen" (mascot) and he's a light bulb changer "lightening" -- Orange Lightening. He's about as enthusiastic a first time AT hiker as I've ever seen. He loves everything out here and his enthusiasm is infectious. Bat hiked last year but had to leave the trail near Roan Mountain because he came down with Lyme's disease from a deer tick. He is legally blind -- has only 5% functional eyesight, but can "outhike" anyone out here. He took a disability retirement from being a psychologist last year at the age of 40. He's been cooking up the itinerary and the plans are to slow down over the next few days to allow Flip and Yappy to catch up to us at Hot Springs. We all like zero days... we'll see what we cook up next.
Date: 2012-03-22
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Green Corner Road, Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

"First 200 miles complete! This place is awesome!"-- Choker, from Standing Bear Hostel registerI don't know the last time I was this tired, absolutely wasted Orange Lightening, Bat and I walked the nearly 4 miles down to Standing Bear Hostel,  and then after a half hour break were driven to Max Patch Road to begin a 12 mile slack pack back to the hostel. It's not that 16 miles is too much to do, but those 16 after the 20 yesterday knocked the crap out of me this afternoon. I'm walking around punch drunk.It was great to get out of the Smokies, as scenic as the the GSMNP is the restriction of not being able to tent wherever you fancy irks some hikers -- including me. It's also nice to complete such a discrete section of the trail and hit both the 200 mile mark and the 10% of the trail completed mark. No bear sightings, too bad.The idea to do a sobo slack was Bat's -- this is what he did last year when he was here. And frankly, as tiring as it was to bike out of Brown Gap and up to Snowbird Mountain later, it was such an improvement over that killer hike up Snowbird northbound.  The rest of this section, in my opinion is full of "PUDS" -- pointless ups and downs -- and all straight up some sharp hills.  In my estimation whether you go nobo or sobo through this section prepare yourselves for some very strenuous hiking. The FAA beacon still sits like an inscrutable giant bowling pin atop Snowbird Mountain. Then the 5 mile descent down Snowbird is interrupted by two mating black snakes that Orange Lightening nearly steps on but acrobatically avoids at the last second. On the second day of spring there are tons of flowers starting to bloom: spring beauties, trillium, fire red, red bud, bluets, et al., we also spotted two wild turkey early on the walk. By the time we get back to the hostel my feet feel like raw pounded meat, my legs are rubbery and I can barely put a sentence together -- but we did the work. The hostel is nearly full 12 hikers here tonight and plenty of frozen pizza and soda. Add a shower, bunkhouse mattresses, a camp store and you have a great one night stay at the tail end of the Smokies and far enough up trail that we might hit Hot Springs tomorrow. We're cooking up a zero day in Hot Springs.  That works for me!
Date: 2012-03-23
From: Green Corner Road, Standing Bear Hostel

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: moderate rain

"The nearest way to the universe is through a forest wilderness."-- John Muir, inscription on the golden anniversary AT plaque at Hot SpringsThe idea was to get in to Hot Springs today and we walked like madmen to do so. After yesterday's slack pack we were driven back to Max Patch and headed, fully packed, back north again. After 56 miles of walking in 3 days my feet are festooned with blisters, time for a day off tomorrow.The only climbs of consequence today were Max Patch, Walnut Mountain, and Bluff Mountain -- the remaining trail was very well graded -- it was mostly slabbing the side of numerous mountains today. I spotted two very large pileated woodpeckers darting about today -- they are extraordinarily large birds for woodpeckers, and their very distinctive call was the inspiration for Woody Woodpecker. And again spotted bear scat on Bluff Mountain, but the bruins seem to be eluding me on purpose. When I get in to town at 6pm I find that the old Franciscan Monastery run hostel which was  closed for over a decade to hikers is under new ownership and has reopened as a hostel -- The Laughing Heart -- and what a spot, literally on the trail as you descend into Hot Springs. Chuck Norris (GA-ME, 2005) is helping to run it. The hostel just opened yesterday, so it naturally didn't make any of the guides and it's a bargain: $12 for a bunk,  $25 for a single, and $40 for a couple's room. It's another great option to have in Hot Springs, especially if Elmer's is full -- which it is for me on the 5th of 6 times here! I've only been able to stay there once, 2001 I believe. I'm staying at the Iron Horse Inn and Yappy, Bat and Orange Lightening are staying at the Alpine Motel down the street.As usual the town is full of hikers: Yappy, Corky, Sunroof, Yellowtail, Falling Turtle, Irish Charm, Greyhound, Krispy Kritter, Pretzel, JC, Bat, Orange Lightening... and that's just a fraction. Much consumption of protein at dinner -- lots of red meat -- what we lack most on the trail, and of course a beer or two.  All the chores are on tap for tomorrow: laundry, resupply, post office, and the paramount job -- staying off our feet and  REST!
Date: 2012-03-24
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"The Appalachian Trail runs straight through town, further proving that you're in the midst of a Sierra Club dream..."-- "Our State" magazine about Hot Springs, NCChilling in Hot Springs. Doing: laundry, resupplying, the post office and... lots of nothing else. Spending plenty of time off my battered feet. Hanging out with Orange Lightening, Bat, Corky and her husband, Yappy and her friend Kate, and Truth Commando at dinner. We've got a 14 mile slack pack back in to town planned for tomorrow from Allen Gap, courtesy of Bluff Mountain Outfitters. But today a:Zero, zero, zero day!
Date: 2012-03-25
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

"Name changed from Warm Springs, 1886..."-- from historic marker in Hot SpringsYappy, Bat, Orange Lightening and I were driven to Allen Gap at 7 this morning and hiked the 14.8 mile slackpack back into Hot Springs today. Tomorrow we hit the 300 mile mark!
Date: 2012-03-26
From: Allen Gap

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

"Happy 300!"-- Yellowtail & Sunroof, from Flint Mountain Shelter  register Dan from Bluff Mountain Outfitters drove us out to Allen Gap, and I started up the trail immediately while Bat, Yappy and Orange Lightening went to Hercules and Fall's house to have a free hiker breakfast. I just wanted to get moving northbound again with my full pack. We all eventually met up again at Whiterock Cliff for lunch. The views from Firescald Knob down toward Greenville, NC and the surrounding valleys were phenomenal. The ridge is a scramble of broken trail and rock slabs and makes for slow going but tremendous views. Lower down the trail is ablaze in spring beauties, bluets and buttercups -- lots of spring flowers on the sprout.I hiked with Yappy for part of the day. She's from Two Rivers, Alaska, about 30 miles outside of Fairbanks. Her husband Brad is a logger and they spend the remaining time of the year after logging season digging for gold. They're huge Iditarod fans and know many of the racers. Odd thing is that Yappy ended up in Alaska after spending her first 20 some odd years in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.She's hiked the AT twice before,  as well as the PCT and Colorado Trail. In 2005 she had to leave the AT in Vermont when her mother passed away, and she's hoping to do the whole entire trail one last time this year.Today was one of the best weather hiking days yet. Clear and cold in the morning and a high around 65, just beautiful. I heard numerous vireos and pileated woodpeckers throughout the day, and again spotted bear scat but not the ursine depositors. Elusive bunch they!We made it to Flint Mountain Shelter and are here with Tater Tot, the Dude, Sunroof and Yellowtail. The plan tomorrow is to hike 11 miles to Sam's Gap and one of Bat's friends will meet us to slack us the remaining 24 miles into Erwin, TN the following day... let's see how the climb over the imposing and steep ascent of Frozen Knob goes first thing tomorrow.
Date: 2012-03-27
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 11.2

"I'm done."-- Orange LighteningTonight is one of those nights were I am so terribly tired, so depleted, that I can barely think let alone write. Walked 11.2 miles that felt as if they were 30. It was terribly hot today and I was becoming borderline dehydrated. I was walking punch drunk by the time I reached Sam's Gap.Bat had set up a pick up at the gap so that we could be shuttled into Erwin, TN and then we'd slack pack the 24 miles back  into Erwin tomorrow. But the ride fell through, but he then thought that Uncle Johnny would come out and pick us up for the slack.  So we drove into Erwin, are now at Uncle Johnny's and will be back tomorrow night.
Date: 2012-03-28
From: Sam's Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: overcast clouds

"That was Bat's death march..."-- Orange Lightening on today's hikeThe 24 mile slack pack was everything I thought it would be: long, tedious, hellish on the feet, and hiking into the  early evening. I got them all. And just as I'd been thinking, it proved to me it's time for me to go my own way and start hiking my own hike, or at least not go along with an itinerary that someone else devises.Hiking without a full pack is easier on the feet, but hiking 24 miles more than neutralizes not having a full pack on. When I slack I carry my pack but it only has food, water and my emergency kit, i.e., 5 lbs as opposed to 27 lbs., but  you still have to do the walking -- and a long day is a long day. I would have never planned such a hike, nor would I have taken a ride north 24 miles just to hike those back in to Erwin, TN. I went along because I'm always up for trying something new on the trail, especially as I'm coming through here for the sixth time. I won't be repeating this again soon.The  hike it was ok. There were very high winds in the morning, strong enough to nearly blow me sideways atop Big Bald. Later in the day a "widowmaker" tree limb fell just 15 feet to my right near High Rocks trail. Yikes, close call! I spotted a a vibrant rufous sided towhee, and Tater Tot and The Dude, otherwise it was fairly uneventful walking... much walking.Bat, Yappy and Orange Lightening are much faster hikers than I am and were back at Uncle Johnny's Hostel by 5:30pm.  I had estimated I'd be out 12 hours and I was nearly on the mark, I finished my walk at 8:40pm -- 12 hours and 5 minutes after I started at Sam's Gap.  Hiking in the gloaming is one of my favorite things to do, I had a good 40 minutes of it before I was forced to turn on headlamp for the last 25 minutes of walking.The rest is an enervating  memory dissipating into the mist of exhaustion. No more exhaustion marches.
Date: 2012-03-29
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"Blah!"I woke up this morning with a right foot that felt like a cinder block and looked to have increased 200% in volume -- it barely fit in my shoe.  It's not anywhere near as painful as it looks, there isn't a serious injury, but it's obvious to me that I lead pretty hard with my right foot and leg. Anyway, I walked about half a mile on the trail in my Crocs without a pack and quickly decided that today was a good day to "zero." That'll teach me.All I walk today is the seven-tenths of a mile from Uncle Johnny's to the railroad tracks and then realize that I should probably get off my feet today. So I decide to call it a day. I then move across town to the Super 8 motel.Yappy, Orange Lightening and Bat devise another odd hike for themselves -- I'm out of this now -- they choose to hike 9 miles north to Indian Grave Gap with full packs then take two hitch hikes back into town also to the Super 8.I must admit I'm feeling a bit low. My foot isn't hurt badly, nothing that a day or two off won't cure -- but it's also the prospect of losing my hiking friends of the last 3 weeks because I can't keep up with their pace. But that's the trail: there's a chance I won't see them again and there's a chance I'll see them in a few days.I'll probably spend the day off my feet again tomorrow.
Date: 2012-03-30
From: Erwin, TN

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

"I scoff @ hills."-- Bat, from Curley Maple Gap Shelter registerI said goodbye to Bat, Yappy and Orange Lightening at Indian Grave Gap and we went our separate ways: they went north and I headed south to walk back in to Erwin after taking the day off yesterday. It was a good move on my part as my right foot feels considerably better and fit into my shoe -- it's still a bit swollen, but that's why I'm choosing to do low miles today.The walk is uneventful, although it was encouraging to note that the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club, which maintains the TN section of trail has started to renovate the shelters in this area. They have been a cinder block model built mostly in the 1960's which have been in sad shape.  The renovation at Curley Maple Gap Shelter resembles the new Mountaineer Shelter up north is some respect -- gone are the cinder blocks in favor of wood and a quasi-Nantahala style construction.Its starting to warm up, temperatures in the 80's are forecast for the late weekend. After I returned to Erwin I resupplied and got off my feet. Tomorrow  I'll continue north from Indian Grave Gap.
Date: 2012-03-31
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"I'm expecting the unexpected..."-- from Pattie's Facebook pageI made an impromptu decision to drive back to Boston, MA for Pattie's birthday and the A1 Occupy Boston actions -- the occupation just turned 6 months old. I hadn't planned it in advance but it felt appropriate, just what I needed at this moment.I was shuttled to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport outside of Johnson City and rented a car for the 13 hour drive to Boston... and off I went...
Date: 2012-04-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"What are you doing here?!"-- question I heard numerous times todayAfter an exhausting 13 hour drive from Tennessee I arrived in Boston at 9:30am. It's both Pattie's birthday and the celebration of Occupy Boston's 6 months of existence today. We had a satirical April fools march and an outdoor General Assembly outside the Federal Reserve building. It was such an excellent day! I don't have a set date to return to the trail at this time. I'll have to figure that out some time this week. This hike is not over, but it is currently on hold...
Date: 2012-01-12
To: 7 Weeks
Miles today: 0.0

Out of curiosity, I looked at the calendar and discovered that today is precisely seven weeks out from the start of my hike.Attaching an exact number to the time left before departure certainly makes it real --daily planning left to do (mileage, where to stop for the night, sights to see, resupply, etc.), real work to do for clients so none of my professional contacts are left high and dry while I'm gone, and plenty of projects around the cabin that need to be done before I go (including income taxes!) -- and puts me in a list-making mood.It's time to get crackin'!
Date: 2012-01-17
To: Endings and Beginnings
Miles today: 0.0

After much agonizing, I finally decided to leave my trusty REI Half Dome (purchased in 2000 for a climb up Kilimanjaro) at home and go with something new. The Half Dome has served me well on Kili and all over Texas (Big Bend, the Big Thicket, Dinosaur Valley State Park, South Padre, Caprock Canyons, Palo Duro Canyon, Guadelupe National Mountains, etc. -- you name it) and I could set it up half asleep, in the wind, in the rain, in the dark, and on occasion under all four conditions at once on the beach after several Shiners and sundry tequilas at The Salty Dog in Port Aransas. It's roomy and familiar and full of memories.Alas, "roomy and full of memories" probably means diddly squat out on the AT after I've been lugging it all day, every day, for a couple of weeks. "Light and quick to set up" probably mean a whole lot more, thus I searched for a new home away from home.Tonight I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the LightHeart Solo - Awning (brick red, if you must know). I'm pretty excited, for many reasons, but mainly because it's so light. (And it's red. Did I mention it's red? It's red.)On a similar though slightly less exciting note, I made yet another trip down the street to Village Outdoor Shop and bought the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout sleeping pad. It's a wee bit narrower than my older Therm-a-Rest but oh so lighter.Rest assured, my faithful Half Dome and orangey sleeping pad that kind of smells funny sometimes, I intend to use you on other trips but you'll have to stay home this summer. Enjoy the rest -- you've earned it.And, to my soon-to-arrive solo tent and new sleeping pad, thank you for helping me bring the weight of my Big Four down to a "I didn't think I could do it" 160 ounces.
Date: 2012-01-18
To: 6 Weeks, and Videos
Miles today: 0.0

I actually did no trail planning today and focused mostly on work. I did take my lunch break, though, and walked the Muddy Creek Trail (plus the little extension at the end) to get in 6 miles. If chopping and splitting firewood counts as exercise, then I'll lump that into my physical preparation.I found a handful of videos on YouTube.com this evening and watched those. The best so far has been this one:On a Thru-Hike - Appalachian Trail 2010https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lif6o8iE5cAI've made a mental note to look for this guy's trail log tomorrow.
Date: 2012-01-21
To: NOBO Thru-hike Planning Completed to Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

After much slogging through tedious calculations, guidebooks, maps, and web research, I can say that I've successfully completed planning the first half of the hike.From the approach trail in Georgia to Harpers Ferry in West Virgina, I've got daily mileage, nightly stops, resupply points, and various sights I want to visit figured out.I will probably go backover that part of the plan tomorrow to double-check things and the I'll start on the second half of the trip next weekend.I will also add that Google Docs works great for this work, as I can access the spreadsheet from both my notebook and tablet computers.