morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-16
From: neels gap

To: Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Left neels gap. Beautiful day had great vistas from wolf laurel gap and cowrock mtn. Stayed on the side of the trail at Hogpen Gap. First scary event, they say to not camp close to roadways. Here is an example of why not. Around 3 AM I awoke to go water a tree. I slipped my boots on got out of my hammock, turned on my head lamp so as to not walk into a tree, and as soon as I turned on my light I heard five gunshots. Figuring they mistook my light for deer eyes shinning in the dark I immediately turned my light off sat down on my hammock and herd alot more shots. I realized it must be someone on the road shooting at who knows what, so I got up without my light and watered the tree,and got back to bed.
Date: 2010-03-17
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

Only doing 4 miles today, because the rumor is that some trail angels bring hot dogs and beer into this shelter for St. Pattys day celebration. I just wanted to see what kind of people would bring in all of this over a mtn for free just to help out hikers. Sure enough about 5 PM here comes a group of people over a hill from a side trail. They said if you want beer and dogs we need empty packs to go get it, so all the young guys in camp ran too get it all. We had a great time. Not I but most of the rest partyed to 2 Am or later. Thanks to Geek, Boudain and all the rest for the hospitality
Date: 2010-03-19
From: Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Tray mtn Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Along day. I started at 8 AM Hiked until 6:30 PM. Tray mtn was a tough climb. I chose to pass Tray mtn Shelter and camp on the trail. I am glad that I did because it made the next day a shorter day. I hiked until I saw Ron and Earl two hikers that had passed me in the morning and decided to camp with them.
Date: 2010-03-20
From: Tray mtn Shelter

To: Hiawasee
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got up early and hit the trail at @ 7:30 AM made it over to Dicks Creek Gap about noon TRail Angels were cooking hamburgers and had chips and sodas for any through hiker that wanted them. Trail Angels great people at almost every Gap with a road you can find them. Most are past through hikers or just friends of hikers that want to help everyone have a good hike. They do this for free. I have not mentioned many of the people on the trail yet, so let me bring you up to speed on that. Every day I start hiking and seem to get passed by a lot of hikers but seem to never pass any hikers, so I believe I am the slowest on the trail right now. However there are a few I would like to mention that I have been around most of the time. They hike faster than myself and then I seem to catch up at stopping places The Big Dipper I like he is from Maine so he is walking home. Makes a great fire every night so it is great catching up with him. Then there is Cobb He is from Maryland a little older than myself but is hiking a little faster. Mishap is from Florida and saw his first snow on Blood Mtn. He is worried about getting cold in N.C. There has been snow above 4300 foot elevation in GA. When we get to N.C. we will be between 4000 and 5000 feet alot of the time so we think there will be snow most of the time. Then Akido Joe carries a big stick and practices Akido in case he sees a bear that will not go for his thrown down pack he may have to use the stick on the bear, as long as he can keep the bear entertained I can run away. Then Gearbomb she is fron Indiana. My hat goes off to any lady out here attempting this. Gearbomb is outhiking me everyday She got her trailname because when she hits camp her gear always seem to get spread out and she has to look for it in the morning. All of these mentioned are leaving Hiawasee today I will be leaving tomorrow. I may not catchup to them again, but there are more hikers coming along all the time. I will be taking my time from here to Franklin. They are still backed up at the Smokies waiting for better weather. It may be a week before I can update again.
Date: 2010-03-22
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light snow

Started snowing as I started hiking. Snowed all day, about 4 PM I crossed the state line into N.C., at Bly Gap wind was blowing snow sideways. The next day two hikers told me they tried to get me to stop and camp with them, but I did not notice them. I had my head down and mind set on getting too the next shelter before dark. I did not know that there were two big climbs between Bly Gap and the shelter. With the snow piling up on my boots and the botttom of my pants legs it was getting pretty cold. Got to the shelter about 6:30 PM. Hung my hammock, ate dinner then fell into bed. Slept warm and dry.
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Betty Creek Trail Campsite

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Tough climb up Mt Albert. Sometimes you had to grab rocks and limbs to help pull you up the next step. It was a long hike, but with about 4 miles to go, I and three other hikers were together crossing a roadway to make our last climb of the day, when a red van pulled up and three ladies jumped out and said we have hot pizza and cold cokes. That was the best timing I have had yet with trail angels. They waited until we ate and took all the trash we had even what we had in our packs. The other three were not going into Franklin as I was, so the ladies offered to meet me on the other side of the last climb about 4 miles, and take me to Franklin. In about two hours when I got to Winding Stair Gap it was raining and there they were waiting for me. These ladies are not even from around here. They had hiked the trail before and people did this for them, so when they are around the trail they try to give back.
Date: 2010-03-26
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started out to reach wine creek campsite. When I got there it was a sheet of frozen snow, so I pushed on 2 miles to wayah bald. When I got to the top there was a great view from the top. The shelter was another mile down the trail. When I got to the shelter everybody was around the campfire staying warm and was disapointed, because when they past the top it was still covered in fog, and they could not get pictures.
Date: 2010-03-27
From: Wayah Bald

To: Wesser Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Great day for hiking. getting warm. Some great views from Wesser observatin tower. For the last three days I have been able to hike with a group about my age. DoFuss, Too Much, Denver from Chicago, and Gearbomb. They out hike me, but I usually catch-up at camp.
Date: 2010-03-28
From: Wesser Shelter

To: N. O. C.
Miles today: 6.0

A hard downhill into NOC I slipped off the side of the trail. I slid down about 10 feet when an sapling stopped me from going a lot farther down. It was hard to get out of my pack and not let it go farther down the hill. I slowly got back to the trail, crawling and pushing the pack up in front of me. I hurt my ankle when I slipped. Denver came by as I was getting back up to the trail. Ha said he would have thrown me a rope if he had been there earlier. Got into NOC and stayed an extra day to help the ankle feel better but it was raining anyhow, so it was a good day to take off.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Sassafras Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

Long day of hiking. Late in the day you cross Stecoah Gap. When you leave Stecoah Gap you climb for the next 2 miles, and just before you get too the shelter the climb becomes very steep. You are actually climbing on your tip toes rather than planting your whole foot down each time.
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Brown Fork Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

A long day. The temperature was in the eighties it was too hot to hike. The first 5 miles were easy. Had lunch at the shelter there. Then the climb out of the shelter was a couple miles, then we started the downhill into Fontana Dam. You can see the Dam from about 4 miles away and you just hike and hike and hike and it seems as if you are never going to get there. When you get to the Dam there is a phone to call for a shuttle to Fontana Village. I will start the Smokies on Saturday the 3rd.
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Davenport TN

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a good time at standing bear farm. By skipping the smokies I have caught up with some hikers that I have not seen in a couple weeks. It was great to hear that I made a good decision on skipping ahead, they were telling stories of climbing clingmans dome on top of ice that you did not know when your foot would go through and sink up to your crotch, and usually it was water underneath from melting runoff.
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The climb from Standing Bear Farm was 5 miles of climbing. Then 2 miles down to the shelter. The weather has gone straight to summer we had temps in the low eighties and humidity to match. After taking 4 days off from hiking my legs were wondering what was going. I needed a couple days to get them going again.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut MtnShelter
Miles today: 13.0

Today was not as hot but still humid. I made my most one day miles for the trip that was good. Two big climbs today but they seem to be getting easier, not faster. I crosssed Max Patch a big bald that is kept-up by the USFS. Had lunch and met Old Drum a past thru hiker and his family hiking to the next shelter, giving out chocolate bars to all of the thru hikers. Old Drum is preparing to go do the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) next year. Walnut Mountain is not one of the better shlters.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Walnut MtnShelter

To: Deer Park Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

I left Walnut Mtn Shelter at 8:00 AM. I was at Deer Park Mtn Shelter at 1:38 PM. That is 10 miles in just over 5 and a half hours. With two climbs of about 2 miles each that was a good day. The bad part is it started raining about 9:00 AM., and rained until I got to the shelter. I was a little cool so I ate my supper for lunch to warm me up. I thought I would do 3 more miles into Hot Springs N.C., but I called all the numbers in the book and could not find a room for the night so I stayed at the shelter. The rain made a lot of hikers take an extra day keeping the rooms full.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Deer Park Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: few clouds

Hot Springs N.C. is a great a little hiker town. The trail goes right through town. The trail markers are enbedded in the sidewalk right down the main street. Stayed at Sunnybank Inn, an old victorian house. There are a lot of hikers in town and some of us got together at the Iron Horse Station to listen to live Blue Grass music. I picked up a replacement hammock for mine which must of had an defect because one night the bottom layer split across the middle. It was a double layer and was still usable. I bought a new backpack that will save me almost 3 pounds in weight. My original one would not stay up on my hips. The pack would slip down, pushing my pants down, so the crotch of my pants was halfway down to my knees. It is hard to hike when you can't lift your leg all the way up. Then I am having to stop and take the pack off and fix my pants. Maybe that is why I am slow.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Trail along French Broad River
Miles today: 2.0

I was ready to make it to the next shelter but dofuss who was going with me heard about a stray dog he wanted a trail dog so by the time all was done we just went to the river and stayed. Do Fuss got the dog in the afternoon calling it Nemo Goingto stay another day I will leave tomorrow
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

My first 15 mile day. The bad part was a very rocky trail at the end of the day. At certain places you had to lower your hiking sticks down and use your hands and climb down some of the rocks. I got into camp about 8:30 it was dark and I was very tired
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shleter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Another 15 mile day but I got in at 7:30. My stove would not work I borrowed one and got dinner. There is not a lot to write about pretty much just trees and the flowers are starting to bloom. I am taking some pictures with my camera don't know when I will get them uploaded
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Hogback Ridge Shleter

To: Bald Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

Short day, big climb up Bald Mtn over 5500 foot on top. Got into camp at 4:30 hoped to get my stove to work. Did not have any luck. We had a campfire at the shelter so I cooked over coals. My pot must have a coating on the outside that does not like to be used on a fire it melted a little of the coating off.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Bald Mtn Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

A long day 17 miles got in at 6:30. Pretty good time. I did have an experience today. When gettig to the highway 19 road crossing I took a break. There is a creek for getting water so I went down to get the water. After filling my water bottles I picked up my filter and water bottles. Forgeting that I was standing on a rock bridge over the creek I quickly turned around and fell face first in the creek. It was only a foot deep, and I caught myself a little, but my whole front got wet. After getting up and back to the road I got my camera out of my pocket and put it in my pack, so it would not get any wetter. After the road is a big climb, and usually on a big climb I suck on a Jolly Rancher they will keep your mouth moist while you are breathing hard. I even have started to measure climbs by how many I eat on the way up. Big climbs are usually 3, 4, or 5. When I reached a point I needed one I reached in my pocket to find they had got wet and were all sticky, even my pocket had gotten sticky, so no more Jolly Ranchers today. I feel ok but am going to take a zero tomorrow to get resupplied for the next leg of the journey. I am staying at Uncle Johnnys Hostel in Erwin TN
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Many tough little climbs in this stretch. Took a .6 mile side trail to a little place called the Greasy Gap Friendly and had a great cheeseburger and got some resupply that I needed. The side trip added 1.2 miles to my 9 for the day.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Climbed Roan Mtn today, over 6200 feet on top. There was snow still in the shaded areas. Stopped at the shelter for lunch, but it was windy and cold, so I did not stay long. I hiked to a shelter they call the barn. It is officially the Overmountain shelter. It is a barn that was built for a movie called Winter People. After they finished the movie it was made into a shelter for hikers. The view from this shelter is one of the best on the trail so far. One of the best things about this shelter is it had a privy. In Tennesee none of the shelters have privys.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Elk Park, NC / Roan Mtn, TN
Miles today: 9.0

Great day easy nine miles, planned on resuppling and moving on. The Mountain Harbour B/B and Hostel was so nice I had to stay a day. Terry and Mary Hill are two of the best people you will ever want to meet. The hostel is in the top of a barn over where the Goats and Horses stay, but don't let that fool you this was the best hostel I have stayed at so far. More than one hiker came to just resupply, but decided to stay.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Mountainharbour Hostel-Roan Mtn, TN

To: Dennis Cove - Hampton, TN
Miles today: 24.0

Slack pack is where you take a day pack with just what you need for the day and try to do more miles. well this expriment did not go as well as I would have liked. I left at 9:15 AM and got into Kincora the next hostel at 9:30 PM. I had to come down a rocky creekbed for the last half mile. It was dark and hard to follow the trail even with my head lamp. The rocks were hard to judge and I was constantly stumbling. The next day my knee right knee was swollen and hurting. I ended up taking another zero day, making my 24 miles equal two 12 mile days. I could have wore my pack and over the terrain I could have done 18 miles to a shelter, and then hiked passed Kincora and made more miles.
Date: 2010-04-25
From: Dennis Cove-Hostel

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

The trail went down into laurel fork river and followed it for about a mile. The fall were beautiful as was the hke along the river. Then I had to climb Pond Mtn. Long tough 1800 foot climb. Down the other side we came into Watauga Lake. There was a beach area where people were swimming. I laid on the grassy area soaking up the sunshine for a while. The book said the shelter was on the lake. The shelter actually was not right down on the lake but was located about 200 feet up a steep bank from the lake. I guess that is still on the lake.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Iron Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.0

It was rainy and cold all morning, so when getting to the next shelter I stopped and tried to get everything dry. Chief stopped in and started a fire under the shelter overhang. He had actually stopped during the day to pickup dry leaves he saw under an overhang and put them in a trash bag for use starting a fire when he got to camp. Everybody coming by wanted to stop because of the fire he had going. We all were able to get everything we wanted dried out. The packs hung up under the shelter even dried pretty well.
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Iron Mtn Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter TN
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Finally a beautiful day for hiking sunny and cool. Made an easy 16 miles to Abingdon Gap Shelter (1959). A little trail magic today thanks to the Walnut Grove Baptist Church GA's and RA's. A metal box anchored down in the woods so bears could not tote it off was loaded with drinks in a cooler and snacks in a tool box. The Dr. Pepper and Honey Bun were good. The only bad part of the day is my knee is swelling again. I will be in Damascus Virginia tomorrow, and can rest it.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Crossed into Virginia today. The trail goes directly through Damascus and everything is easy to get to. No waiting for shuttles to take you everywhere you need to go. Coming down the mtn into Damascus was tough on my knee. It is hurting more each time I get to a stopping place.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The swelling in my knee is going down but it is hurting to walk on it. I hate to think this might be the end, but my knee may have taken me as far as it is going to. I will be making a hard decision today, to start the next section, or set out awhile and let the knee get better. I have 75 miles to the next rest area. That is a long way on a sore knee.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Damascus, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Returned to trail. Flew to Roanoke, VA and driven to Pearisburg (thanks sis) to continue on the Trail. Hopefully no more knee problems to prevent me from arriving at Mt. Katahdin. Staying the night at the Holy Family Church Hostel. Great to be back!
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter - VA
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

As always it is a big climb out of town. You always have to get to the top of the ridgeline. Staying at the hostel ment that I had to hike 3 miles just to get to the trailhead. I started hiking through town, and in less than two blocks a man in a pickup stopped and asked if I would like a ride to the trailhead. I of course excepted the offer, and saved almost 3 miles. Only went 7 miles of which the first 5 were mostly climbing. the knee was fine either the cortisone shot, or the Cho-Pat strap may be helping. But then I did not have any good downhills to test it on.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: War Spur Shelter - VA

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter - VA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Big climb in the morning and again at the end of the day. I went by the Keffer Oak. The tree is the largest Oak on the southern AT. It is about 18 feet around. I saw my first snake today it was a black snake about 4 feet long. It went its way then I went mine. The Sarver Hollow shelter where I stayed for the night was .3 miles off the trail and down a steep hill. This shelter is the best one I have seen and worth the hike down to it. It took me awhile to hike back up the hill in the morning.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter - VA

To: Pickle Branch Shelter _VA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A good day of hiking. A tough climb up to the top of the mountain where the monument was, but was pretty easy the rest of the day. The big thing today was as I was coming into the Niday shelter where I was going to stop for lunch, I spooked a bear that was on the trail just before the shelter. The bear saw me and immediatly ran up the hill through the brush and dissapeared. I still stopped at the shelter and cooked lunch. I knew that a couple was just behind me, and would be stopping in for a break. I still kept an eye out for the bear, but never saw it again.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: Pickle Branch Shelter _VA

To: Catawba Mtn Shelter - VA
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I had to go over the Dragons Tooth today. This is technically the toughest dowhill I have ever done. In my opinion this is a death defying climb down. At times I sat down and slid to the ledge below , because I did not trust my legs to step down and catch all my weight on a ledge no more than two feet wide. I took a couple of pictures, but they never really show the dangers of what you face. Two hikers this week alone have hurt themselves on this climb down.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Catawba Mtn Shelter - VA

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter - VA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A great norning I climbed to McAfee Knob. One of the best known places on the trail. When I started the trail I knew that there were two pictures that I wanted to make sure that I got. One is me setting on McAfee Knob with my legs hanging over. I have it and it was great to get it on a beautiful day. Thanks to some guys from Canada. The other is me on top of Mt. Katadhin Maine, That will come later. Legs still tired from climbing down Dragons Tooth.. Short hike today, Daleville has no rooms because Virginia Tech and Liberty University are having graduations Saturday, will make town tomorrow for a zero day.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter - VA 

To: Thunder Hill Shelter - VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Climbed Floyd Mtn early in the morning very tough and long. In the afternoon I climbed Apple Orchard Mtn. On top of Apple Orchard there is a Radar station that was used by the Air Force many years ago. Now I think it is used for weather radar. At one time the Air Force had about 250 men stationed on top of the Mtn. Coming down the Mtn you walk under the guillotine rock.