morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Nantahala River

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: light rain

April 1st to April 4 Nantahala River to Fontana Dam 29 milesMy hike to Cheoah Bald from the River was just what the guide book ordered. From 1,740 feet to 5,062ft in 9 miles. The good news was that the weather was gorgeous. Sunny and even hot at times. The best part of the day was the view from my camp site on Cheoah Bald. Breath-taking!!! I do not think I would have gone another step...unless a bear was chasing me. I enjoyed the views and solitude well into the darkness and the stars of the night sky.It poured rain for the next two days, and I was glad to reach a place to dry out. I do not know if any of you have ever camped in the rain, but it is hard to keep anything dry...and out of the mud....or clean. The forecast calls for hail tonight. One thing about the trail between Nantahala River and Fontana Dam there are no switchbacks or graded paths. It is straight up and straight down. It has been a challenge to keep up right!I start for the Great Smokey Mountains tomorrow. I must confess that I have had a love affair with this National Park for the past 20 years,from my visits to Le Conte Lodge, hiking many of the waterfall trails, and working with the Rocky Top Trail Crew. I am looking forward to spending the next 7 days and 8 nights right in the park. I also know that the trail will be graded with wonderful switchbacks and great views.I would like to give a big hello and thank you to my family and friends who have sent good wishes and care packages. I sure do appreciate the thoughtfulness and kindness. Keep them coming.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Fontana Dam

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 40.7
Weather: overcast clouds

April 4th to April 8th Fontana Dam N.C. to Newfound Gap Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 40.7 milesHiking out of Fontana Dam, was a slow, gradual climb. The day started out cloudy and turned to a steady down pour. It never let up and by the time I reached Mollies Ridge Shelter, I resembled a drowned rat. The shelter holds 12, but the hikers came enmasse and by the end of the day there were 25 of us cramped into tight quarters. It was nice to be out of the weather and in such good company. By 9:00 all you could hear was the deep breathing of heavy sleep.Sunday was a much better day with spectacular views from the top of Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountains. You could see for a hundred miles in all directions. The hike to Derrick Knob Shelter was long but well worth the effort. While hiking in the National Park it is required to sleep in the shelters. They want to minimize the impact on the National Park. I am having a whole new expierence hiking the trail with shelters as the destination. I have met many more people...all interesting and with a kindred spirit of adventure. Tree, the tallest hiker I have ever met at 6' 11" and his new wife, Moonpie, are celebrating their honeymoon.The highest point on the Appalachian Trail is Clingmans Dome. 6,643 feet. Needless to say that was a highlight of the day, for me. I have been on top of Clingmans Dome on five previous occasions, but in a bank of clouds. Today it was amazing to see it on a clear day. I could see where I had come from and where I was going. Clingmans Dome is the 200 mile mark, so being able to see the 100 miles from where you had just hiked was inspiring and amazing. I could see Standing Indian Mountain, Cheoah Bald, and all the way to Georgia. Hard to believe I walked all that way!!!!Hit the state line of Tennesse today, am hiking in the Smokies, the sun is still shining....what could be better.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pidgeon River
Miles today: 37.6

April 8th to April 12th Newfound Gap to Pidgeon River TN. 37.6The Great Smoky Mountains put on a show, that along with the weather, made the journey full of views and vistas that would not stop. Each was just as beautiful as the next. From Newfound Gap to Charlie's Bunion and all along the ridge to Peck's Corner, where I spent the night,the Great Smokies filled the sky.Most of the time I am hiking by myself, but the evenings are spent in the shelter with fellow hikers from all over the United States. I met Retred who is from Alaska and others. They come in all sizes (the largest being Big Chunk tipping the scale at over 300 lbs.) and ages (the youngest, a high school student named Kirby; and the oldest so far being a 70 year old woman}. They are interesting and entertaining in ways you would not expect total strangers to be. It is the bond of the common goal to hike the AT and all of the trails, with the tribulations and triumphs that go with it.Hiking from Peck's Corner to Cosby Knob and then down to Davenport Gap was unique because I worked on the trail in this area with the Rocky Top Trail Crew last fall. It was great to see the work we had done and to use it,now, as a thru hiker, and feel like I was a part of something good and much bigger than myself.I have not seen much in the way of wildlife, but I have heard a great deal from our fine feathered friends of the forest...Birds. The knocking of woodpeckers, the thumping of the ruffed grouse, the chitter of the junko's and the melodious sounds of the song birds. The crashing of a turkey taking off from it's perch in the trees, the rustling of a bird in the underbrush, the hooting of owls at night all help keep the journey interesting and alive with sounds of things you hear cannot see. I would like to give a big thank you to my sister Lisa and Mrs.DeYo for the wonderful cookies, and kind thoughts sent to me by way of a care package. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Much appreciated and very good tasting.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Pidgeon River

To: French Broad River Hot Springs N.C.
Miles today: 34.0
Weather: light rain

April 13th to April 16th Pidgeon River TN to French Broad River, Hot Springs N.C. 34 milesI left Pidgeon River with my friend Stormy. She got this trail name because when she did her thru hike, it snowed 2 feet. On the two other ocassions that I have hiked with her, it snowed and stormed. Well... true to her name...it snowed and stormed on two of the three days we hiked together. As we made our way over Snowbird Mountain (4,263 ft) small hail started to fall, the temperature dropped, the wind picked up and by the time we reached our campsite, there was snow on the ground. Our hike over Max Patch Summit (4,629 ft.) was colder and it was blowing a gail, we nearly got blown away. We reached Roaring Fork shelter and were greeted by Bear Trap, Hoosier Bob, and several mice. We opted for our tent and hammock. The frost on our breath and the themometer read 20 degrees.The sun finally came out on the third day. Coming down the back side of Bluff Mountain was magical. Out of the cold, snow laden tundra of Max Patch...into a spring summit garden...dotted with blossoms of goat vetch, fire pink, trailing arbutus, blood root, and yellow , red and white trillium. There was also a green carpet of ground cover dotted with dutchman's breeches and spring beauty. . The day was the kind you can only dream about hiking through. A group of hikers ahead of us expierenced a 350 lb maurading mother bear and her two year old cub that ransacked their food bags. The bears were working in tandem and managed to take Willows food. Trail news says that they have moved to another shelter for better pickings. This bear would of had a hard time with my food... it would to need get through the kevlar and add water!!
Date: 2008-04-16
From: French Broad River Hot Springs N.C.

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 68.1

April 16 to April 22 French Broad River Hot Springs N.C. to Nolichucky River Erwin TN 68.1 milesThis section of the trial was Magical, Mystical and Miserable.Sleeping in the Fire Tower on Rich Mountain (3,600 ft) with an unobstructed view of Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest was magical & awe inspiring. The sunset was clear and beautiful, the moon was bright and bold and the sunrise was dramatic with colors you can only see on rare ocassions.Trail Magic appeared in the most opportune moments. Cold sodas in a stream on a hot day, Hot coffee in a thermos and homemade cupcakes on a mountain top on a particularly cold morning, a three course hiker feast of a Belgium waffle a chili stew and homemade dessert, and a tail gate of hotdogs on a grill. People we never saw left magic on the trail for us... people they have never met...Trail MagicHiking over Spring Mountain in a cloud made everything look mystical. A wizard or high priestess could have appeared at any moment. The mist and fog made the most ordinary objects look mysterious.It was often mystical to know what state you were walking at any given time since the trial weaves in and out to North Carolina and Tennessee in such a way that sometimes you were in two places at once!!Leaving Hot Springs my pack weighed 46 pounds, bacause I was lugging 6 days of food and some extra water....miserable.I was caught in a down pour that soaked me to the bone. I had to hike on because the Shelter was miles away and evening was upon me. I was cold, wet and miserable. When I reached the shelter I was able to get into dry clothes and make a hot drink. Hiking over Big Bald was cold, foggy, and miserable not to be able to see more than 20 yards in front of your eyes. I have had more than my share of good views and panaromaic vistas....but when you climb from River to Mountain Top for days...you always want to see something of a view when you reach the pinnacle.
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Nolichucky River

To: Laurel Fork Falls
Miles today: 0.0

April 22 to April 28 Nolichucky River to Laurel Fork Falls. 68 milesTrail and ErrorIn an effort of expand my hiking experience, I tried some new techniques this week..... "trail and ERROR"Leaving Nolichucky River I headed up to Beauty Spot (4437 ft), and true to its name, I fell in love with the idea of spending a night on this high bald that looked across Unaka Mountain Wilderness, the town of Erwin, and Pisgah National Forest. I decided that this would be the perfect opportunmity to try a little "cowgirl camping". I took my bed roll and put in on the ground and decided to "sleep under the stars". It was a clear and crisp night with no sign of any percipitation anywhere on the horizon.  I layed down and looked up into a million stars. It was glorious. The moon had not risen yet so the night sky was vivid with the constellations. I dozed off for a few hours and when I woke, the moon was up and my bed roll and everything not under cover was dripping wet. I was done in by the DEW!!!The next night I slept in the highest shelter on the AT...Roan High Knob Shelter (6,285 ft). It used to be an old fire warden cabin...so it had a few amenities not seen in AT shelters...i.e.4 windows and a door. I selected a spot on the floor, which I shared with 5 other people, and as soon as the head lamps went out and the room fell silent with the notion of deep sleep, the cabin mice started their nocturnal scampering. I think my head was used as a launching pad to the prone body beside me. I was left sleepless by maruding marsupials The best sleeping of the week was had on Hump Mountain (5587 ft). I carried 4 liters of water to this high place just so I could camp on the summit. It was the best of my trail trials, and I took some video that you can view by going to the left margin and clicking on video. The wind can blow at 40 miles an hour , and the weather can be unbearable, but for some rare reason the night was dead calm and clear, and the weather perfect...if there is such a thing?
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Laurel Fork Falls

To: Beaver Dam Creek
Miles today: 50.2

April 28th to May 2 Laurel Fork Falls TN to Beaver Dam Creek, Damascus VA 50.2 milesThe past few weeks have felt like "Walking with Spring". The ground cover that carpets the mountain sides with spring beauty, trillium, trout lilly, pussy toes, plantain, cut leaf tooth wart, bluettes, and dog tooth violets. The distant landscape splashed with the color of the Dogwood, Wild Cherry, Red Bud,& Service Berry blossoms and the young leaves of the Red Maple. The view of the valleys from the Iron Mountain ridge looking so green with the growing of grass and the naked winter trees growing the spring wardrobe of new leaves. Walking in the woods for the last 6 weeks, my sense of color, smell and sound are keen to the changing of the season, the singing of the birds, and the odor of the pine, dead leaves and the aroma of flowers. When people ask me if hiking the trial is what I thought it would be...I would have to say NO. I could not have imagined that my perspective of walking for hours at a time on the trail in the forest, through the valleys, across the rivers, for weeks on end...with the amazing group of people I have met, could ever be imagined...or thought of in advance.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Beaver Dam Creek

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 75.3

May 3 to May 9th Beaverdam Creek Damascus VA to South fork Holston River VA 75.3 milesHiking out of Damascus is the start of over 400 miles of Appalachian Trail in Virgina. This area is considered as one of the "crown jewels" of the trail, and I have to say it was a jewel for me. The "High Country" is above 4,000 ft and has unique scenery for the AT because of the combination of spruce-fir stands, northern hardwood forests, rock outcrops, and mountain meadows. In addition to that... there is a herd of free-roaming ponies. I am an equine enthuasist and seeing them along the trail with the new born foals was a hiking horse lovers highlight.We were also in the shadow of Mt. Rodgers (5,729 ft) the highest point in Virgina, and the weather made for an exceptional week. I left Damacus with a very witty, whispy, whimsical woman named Willow whose married name is White. She is alot of fun and good company. It is also nice to have someone who would be looking out for you if you did not walk into camp at night.There were a few bugs...that I should mention:The man eating bug that took a pound of flesh from the back of my right arm.The daddy long leg that hitched a ride in my lunch sack for who know how long.The centiped that burrowed into my right boot and bit my big toe for ten miles, and left a big red spot. One good thing about numb toes.And finally a flu bug I picked up from PIPS at the hostel that has left me with alot of congestion and a hacking cough.I am on the mend from all of these bugs....so no need to worry.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Dickey Gap

To: Kimberling Creek
Miles today: 75.6

May 9th to May 14th Mid Fork Holston River to Kimberling Creek VA 75.6 milesWillow and I walked thru Crawfish Valley, across Lick Creek, thru Tilson Gap, up & over Big Walker Mountain, up Chestnut Ridge and spent a day at Chestnut Knob Shelter. It is an old fire warden cabin with windows and a door. It was a welcome sight, as the weather was blowing a gale with hail and rain coming at you sideways, and cold....cold....cold.We continued the next day over Little Wolf Creek, Kimberling Creek, across Lickskillet Hollow, and over 5 Bushy Mountains. The weather was much better and our packs much lighter at the end of our resupply. We are thinking about going to Damacus for Trail Days...but have to figure a way to get from here to there....not an easy task when you are at mile 622.1 and need to go south to mile 459.5. We will have to do some creative traveling to get to the friendliest town on the trail.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Kimberling Creek

To: Damacus TRAIL DAYS
Miles today: 0.0

May 16th and 17th TRAIL DAYS   DamacusAs luck would have it Willow and I got a ride from Kimberling Creek to Damacus. It took three different vehicles over 4 days...but we managed.The great thing about Trail Days is that you get the opportunity to see people you have not seen for weeks or months...because they hike faster...or slower and you can't catch up....or they won't slow down.Crabby Appleton (rotten to the core) was there and we had a chance to share a meal and give big hugs.   I had not seen him since March 20th.No Car, 5 stones, Shutterbug, August, Mary Poppins, Geek, Biscuit Knees, Peanut, Boudain, New York Minute, Clothes line, Upwardly Mobile and many other members of our ever growing trail family.We stayed for one day and were back at Kimberling Creek and on the trail the next day. It was a great time to be in a great town.
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Damacus TRAIL DAYS

To: New River Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 23.0

May 17th to May 19 Kimberling Creek to New River 23 miles.It was good to be back on the trail and going NORTH. There is a certain security and equliberium in traveling in a linear direction with a destination in mind.We met some new faces: Tuit, Dr. Zoo, Buzz Light Year, and Gator. One of the unique and interesting things about hiking this trail is that you never know who you might meet....and who ever they may be...it is usually fun and worthwhile.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: New River Pearisburg VA

To: Catawba Creek
Miles today: 0.0

May 19th to May 24 New River Pearisburg VA to Catawba Creek   68 milesThe good news....I traded my heavy winter gear...for my light summer gear. This is a moment I have been waiting for since I lugged my 46 pound pack with all of my comfortable equipment up the first mountain. My 3 lb boots for a pair of trail runner 1 lb. My 2.5 lb tent for a 1 lb hammock. My 15 degree sleeping bag for a 45 degree sleeping bag. My 6 lb pack for a 3 lb pack. I mean to tell you that I cut my pack weight by 20 lbs. That is the good news.The bad news...the nights have been in the 30's!!!I have been trying to figure a way to stay warm...with out all of my winter gear. It is also a bit of trick getting used to a hammock. The hammock goes one way, the pad goes another, the sleeping bag has a mind of its own and my body is trying to figure how to get into the fetal position. I will let you know if I am able to cordinate all of this sleeping activity.As we were hiking up to Dragon's Tooth, my good friend Midnight met us on the trail. It was such a nice suprise that the long climb of 1500 feet just flew by as we caught up with each other.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Catawba Creek

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 47.8

May 24 to May 28 Catawba Creek to Jennings Creek 47.8 miles The Triple Crown.Many of you may be watching Big Brown run for the triple crown... but on the AT in Virginia...that can only mean Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and the Tinker Cliffs. You will never see better views of Virgina than from these three spectacular vantage points. They do require some climbing as they are all over 3000 feet...but well worth the sweat ...especially on the sunny days that I climbed them. Be sure to see the photos in my gallery.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Jennings Creek

To: Pittsburgh PA
Miles today: 0.0

May 30 to June 1 Family Reunion in PittsburghTook a couple of days to visit my family and friends in Pittsburgh. It was great to see everyone and I even think they were happy to see me. I had good food, good company, and lots of hugs and kisses.I will be back on the trail tomorrow with new energy and renewed good wishes.
Date: 2008-06-02
From: Jennings Creek

To: Waynesboro VA
Miles today: 77.1
Weather: clear sky

June 2 to June 10 Jennings Creek to Cornelius Creek, James River, Brown Mountain Creek, Greasy Spring, Piney River, Elk Pond and many unnamed springs and streams. 77.1 milesThe water sources mentioned here kept me alive and hiking the AT over the past week. The themometer was in the triple digets and the humidity was not far behind with a heat index of 110. I was losing water thru my pours faster than I could purify and drink the liquid gold down my throat.With the heat came every biting insect. I was making free and frequent donations to the Insect Sucking Blood Bank. I was a sweet tasting smorgasboard with lumps, bumps, bites and bruises to prove it.Coming into Hog Camp Gap we were greeted by the best Trail Magic yet...a 6 day and 5 night hiker feast, put on by a group of previous thru hikers. The food was better than any I have had on the trail so far. Chicken, pasta salad, pulled pork with coleslaw and all the liquids you could drink. I only stayed for one meal...but I heard thru the trail grapevine...some stayed for all 6 days and the food never stopped comming.
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 107.1

June 12 to June 19 Shenandoah National Park 107.1 milesThe past week was hiking heaven. The weather was cool and dry, the flora and fauna was spectacular, the vistas and overlooks were awesome, the trail was wide and well graded, and there were places to eat along the way...Hiker Heaven!!! Most of the day you walk with the sounds of birds. It is as if you are in an acoustical avairy, that starts early in the morning with the wood thrush's sunrise song, and continues thru the day with the sounds of the Oven Bird, Northern Towhee, Peowee, and Field Sparrow. There is the ocassional sound of bongos as the woodpeckers beat a hollow tree, and the night is alive with the banter of barred owls in the light of the 3/4 moon and the consant call of the whipowill.The canopy above offers endless shade and the forest floor is lush with Maiden Hair Fern, Spider wort, Yarrow, Devil.s Bit and the exotic purple fringe orchid.To add even more flavor to this buffet of nature, black bears and rattlesnakes crossed our path.Some hikers do not like the park because of the road crossings, the tourists, and restrictions, but I enjoyed it all. My friend Stormy hiked with us for a few days and true to her trail name it stormed... with driving rain and hail....she was great company and alot of fun.
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Shenandoah National Park

To: Chimney Rocks PA
Miles today: 106.0

June 21 - June 26 Bear's Den VA - Harper's Ferry West Virginia - Garthland Park MD - Chimney Rocks PAIt took all of May and most of June to walk the length of the great state of Virginia, and suddenly I find myself passing into and out of West Virginia and Maryland and now in Pennsylvania. Hard to believe!!Virgina left a lasting impression and a parting shot with the roller coaster. That is 13.5 miles of ten steep assents and desents. The good thing about walking those last miles is the Bear's Den Hostel. A wonderful place to catch your breath and say good-by to Virginia.Willow & I stopped at the Appalachian Trail Conference Headquarters in Harpers Ferry and had our picture taken to add to the "history book"!   Quite the traditon for all who have passed through the ATC. We crossed the Patomic River and we were in Maryland. We walked thru the tip of Maryland and were impressed with the shelters and camp grounds that had running water and hot showers.We arrived in my home state of Pennsylvania today...and I got just a taste of the ROCKZILLIA terrian that is to come. The type that can wrench an ankle, twist a knee, dislocate a hip or break a bone...kind of terrain...and I have not even gotten to the really rocky geography yet.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Chimney Rocks PA

To: HALFWAY
Miles today: 40.0

June 26 to June 28 HALFWAYThere is something very nice about being halfway...on a 2176.6 mile trek.   There is this glimmer of hope that you have what it takes to "GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Keep in mind that there is no end of peril that can befall you on such a journey.....but the thought that you have come this far....adds to the hopes and dreams that you have of reaching Kathadin.Hard to believe that I am actually closer to Maine than I am to Georgia!I can only imagin that the next 100 days will be as magical, mystical and at times miserable as the last 100.Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!