morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-04-13
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.2

Day 12 100 MilesOne of the important things I do when setting up camp is to scope out where I can go during the night for the inevitable bathroom breaks ( of the minor kind). Imagine my surprise when I did get up at 2:30am and was about to let loose to realise that someone, in the middle of the night, had set up camp right on my target zone.! They had obviously come in after dark and things were really getting crowded at the campground.It makes it very hard to be quiet and discreet about these things.The night did bring with it only one sprinkle of rain so packing up was so much easier in the morning. I was one of the first to leave but before long I was being past by a steady stream of hikers. We were all heading for our next important milestone being the first 100 mile marker. This happens just after the summit of Mt Albert which is another steep climb. It has a steel frame fire tower on it built in the 1950¢s. Sadly due to vandalism the top platform is locked but it was a great view from the top landing.The path down was gentle enough and I got going at quite a fast (for me anyway) pace down to Winding Stair Gap where there is easy road access to Franklin, my next resupply point. Along the way I ran into the owner of Baltimore Jacks Hiker Hostel. This was a lucky thing for me because I scored the last bunk bed. Things were getting really crowded in town because a major storm was brewing and folks were trying to get off trail away from the nasty weather.At the trailhead I scored more trail magic : drinks and fruit. Then I was so very kindly driven in to town right to the hostel door. The southern hospitality truly is amazing.That evening the local businesses had organised a party of sorts for the hikers at the local distillery. A great opportunity to see old faces and share tales of our travels so far.
Date: 2019-04-14
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0

Day 13 A Rest DayThe weather reports were talking about nasty storms, it was raining, I felt tired so what better thing to do than to stay put in Franklin!The day started with a pancake and bacon breakfast put on by the First Baptist Church of Franklin. The kind folks there have a huge spread for the famished hikers. Even though we had all eaten too much the night before we still had empty bellies!After that it was relax time. Our hostel room has a couch and a TV so I binge watched ¢The Office¢ I cant think of a better thing to do on a rainy day!Outside they had put up a deterrence sign. See photo. How did I pass these rules?
Date: 2019-04-15
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 14 Crisp WalkingThere was a log jam of hikers in Franklin waiting for the weather to fine up. The wet weather had been very gloomy so today¢s forecast of a sunny day was welcome news.Ron Haven, the hostel owner ran a small bus to shuttle hikers to the trail head at Winding Stair Gap at 9am. He was a friendly man who welcomed anyone on the bus regardless of wether they stayed at his business or not. Come 8:30am all the seats on the bus were full and then with each passing minute more and more hikers squeezed aboard. I had 3 backpacks on my lap as the aisle became jammed full. Then when the bus did take off I questioned if it would make it up the hill. I wondered if we would all have to get out to push it up or at least help it get a run up!At the trail head I was first to set off but shortly afterwards the young uns past me followed by a steady stream of others until I was the caboose of the walkers! It kind of stays that way until folks take a rest and I plod on forward.The day started with a couple of stiff climbs. Along the way I came across my first ¢bald¢. These are cleared hilltops possibly done for grazing and they have superb views of the surrounding mountains. The official trail goes past Siler Bald but I could not pass up the opportunity to take a side path up. At the top the wind was brisk and the view stunning.The temperatures sure were cold. Many of the trees had icicles on the top branches. When the wind blew I was showered with a magical ice cascade.Next ascent up was to Wayah Bald and there was trail magic. Jerry ¢Old Deaf One¢, Mike, Cynthia and Nancy had driven up from Texas and provided all sorts of treats. I was so grateful for the Dr Pepper, Cheese, salami topped off with peanut cookies. Thankyou. The summit of the bald has a grand old stone fire tower. Originally it was much higher but the weather extremes cracked the stonework. But rather than pull down the whole thing the forest service reduced the size and rebuilt the roof to match its original design. It¢s now a fine and very popular public observation pavilion.It was starting to get late into the afternoon and many hikers were stopping off at the shelter nearby. I pushed on to Cold Spring Shelter which for me made for a long day of about 16 miles. I¢m so glad I did because I was rewarded with a campsite on a ridge which had a super view of the sunset and an equally fine view of the sunrise. I was concerned that I might be exposed to high winds but the weather gods provided a calm night. Some section hikers had build a great fire which I took full advantage of because it was cold. Once the sun set the temperature really dropped so I headed to my tent  and snuggled into my warm sleeping quilt.It had been a great day.
Date: 2019-04-16
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.7

Day14  Room with a ViewI¢m finding the ascents and descents are getting longer and steeper and physically more taxing. I¢m yet to get my hiker legs so I¢m finding the trail quite hard. On the other hand the views when I do make it to the top of the mountain are stunning.The standout today was Wesser Bald which had a disused steel framed fire tower on top. After a very stiff climb up it might have been easy to miss as it was off to one side. Often times I¢m totally exhausted and my eyes are glued to the patch of trail only a couple of yards distant as I do my best to work out where to put my next weary footstep. But this time I caught sight of the structure out of the corner of my eye, so I took off my pack and wandered on over. It wasn¢t a significantly high frame being only two stair flights up. At the top, to my amazement someone had left a couple of beach chairs. Definitely an invitation to kick back, laze and enjoy the view. And what a view it was. I had a clear sight down one of the narrow ridges which the path followed all the way to Nantahala Outdoor Centre, my destination for the night.I spent an hour or so on the platform then set on down the trail. It was really quite tricky at times because the ridge was only a yard or so wide with the hillside steely dropping down on both sides. On and on it went. By the time I reached the bottom my legs were spent.I take a fair bit of energy to save my knees so I¢m often past by others. Yet to date I¢ve not had any knee problems so maybe my strategy is paying off. My original plan was to continue on a couple of miles past the NOC but at the local general store they had a good deal on the hostel beds and the offer sounded too tempting. I was also looking forward to a hot cooked meal so the bunkhouse at NOC was my home for the night!
Date: 2019-04-17
From: NOC

To: Locus Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.7

Day16 Another Steep ClimbA weird thing happened last night. When I was making my booking the shopkeeper suggested that they had a laundry and would I like to use it. I thought that this was a subtle hint as to my general clothes odour. Actually it was ¢on-selling¢ upon reflection. Anyways I grabbed $5 in quarters and headed to the laundry room with all my clothes other than a pair of running shoes and my spare fresh top. Putting them in the washing machine I headed over to the restaurant for a meal only I got distracted by some random hiker conversations. I returned to the washer and transferred the washed clothes to the dryer. Back at the restaurant more conversations followed and then when I placed my order I was told the kitchen was closed. Disaster! (Note to self: Order food first then start talking, and not the other way around!)Anyways I was annoyed but then I went to the dryer only to find an empty dryer! My clothes were gone! Well I guess that news on top of the lack of food made me a tad upset. As it turned out later in the night my clothes turned up. There had been a mixup. But waking up in the morning I think I was more upset about getting upset in the first place if that makes sense. On the AT little hiccups (like loosing your way, or loosing your trekking poles or loosing your clothes) happen. And it¢s best to not get upset but to go with the flow. Thinking about this I decided I¢d slow down a bit and take up all the 10am checkout time I had. It gave me the chance to sort out my gear and get back into a hiking mindset. As it was the walk today was another really steep one and by my altimeter watch was over 4000ft with all my ups and downs. My campsite for the day was Locus Grove Campsite. I didn¢t see any locus but it was a nice spot to camp.
Date: 2019-04-18
From: Locus Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 17 Jacobs LadderIn the bible (Genesis) the story of Jacob¢s Ladder is of a dream Jacob has of angels climbing up and down from heaven. The major climb for today was called Jacobs ladder and although for me it didn¢t lead to heaven there were angels! Just before the start of it one trail angel left me a breakfast bar then straight after that another angel drove up in his pickup and handed me a couple of bunches of bananas. Trail magic score! It was just what I needed and I flew up Jacobs Ladder.The forecast for the night was for heavy rain so I headed for Cable Gap Shelter. It¢s half a day away from Fontana which is the start of the Smokies. I figured it was too late for me to walk there without getting totally tired. The bonus was that during the rest of the afternoon lots of hikers I hadn¢t seen for a long time turned up. It was great to see so many old faces again.
Date: 2019-04-19
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana
Miles today: 5.1

Day 18 DelugeA funny thing happened in the shelter last night. I went out to do a very early morning bathroom break (as I do) and then when I got back to the shelter my sleeping bag/quilt was gone! My mattress was still there so I lay down on that and considered the options. I decided that a bear had not taken it. So then I had to work out who. This was a bit of a problem because it was pitch black and I did not have a torch. I couldn¢t just wake up the whole shelter and I could just go groping about because I¢d get into all sorts of bother. In the end I figured out who might have it because my Katabatic bag is extremely puffy with very high loft. With the very dim light from a cloud covered moon I could see that one sleeper had a higher bag than the rest. ¢Pssssst¢,I said, ¢you¢ve got my bag¢. No response. So I tried again. Then came a matter of fact voice. ¢Oh I thought I was feeling warm!¢ At that he climbed out of my bag and handed it back, rolled over and went back to sleep.I tried to do the same. No sooner than I¢d settled back down than the shelter was lit up by lightning, followed by a deep rolling thunder that echoed for 5 seconds or more as it tumbled down through the valleys. Next came the rain. Lots of it. And so it continued for the next 12 hours. There was a lot of it. I later learnt that some localities received between 5-10inches during the onslaught. There was major flooding and some hikers needed to be evacuated. I¢m not sure if we got that much but it sure was a lot. When dawn came (not that it was easy to tell because it was dark and misty) there was one thing on everyone¢s mind:pack up and get to Fontana as quick as possible. There would be warm dry places to hang out in there. The route took us over exposed rocky ridges which with the lightning still about was a tad disconcerting. It added to the urgency of making tracks. I first got to the public restrooms at Fontana Dam which surprisingly enough have a heater. What a relief that was to warm my soaked and chilled body. It also had a public telephone so I could call for a shuttle that would take me to the Fontana Lodge about 5 miles away. Once there ¢Jarhead¢ a fellow hiker suggested I share a room since they have two queen sized beds. I happily took up his suggestion. An hour or so later I had had a refreshingly hot shower, was dressed in dry clothes and felt so much warmer. Jarhead and I headed over to the grille for a hamburger washed down by a beer or two. After that I headed to the store for a 6 day resupply. That night I slept in the most comfortable bed and to top it off no one tried to remove the quilt. Bliss.
Date: 2019-04-21
From: Russel Field Shelter 

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 20 Slog in the SlushThis was a slog of a day. Lots of snow and at the higher elevations the tree branches were drooping down from the weight of the accumulation. Much of it was ice so I was constantly getting slapped in the face and having to clean it from my pack and clothes. The trail was a mess. Ice, mud, tree debris mixed together make for a slippery soup.But as it was such a new experience to me I was having a great fun time. I can¢t say the same for most other hikers as I later heard all sorts of dramatic tales of hyperthermia, freezing cold and forced evacuations! Not for me.Late in the afternoon I arrived at Silers Bald Shelter. The front verandah floor was an iceberg laden swamp. Inside it wasn¢t much better. Most other hikers had taken one look and had moved on. But not me. I was tired out. The top sleeping tier was dry. I have a very warm sleeping quilt so it was a lovely home for the night.
Date: 2019-04-22
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter 
Miles today: 15.3

Day 21 Clingmans Dome Today there were a couple of significant milestones. First I was to complete 200 miles. Then straight after that I was to reach the summit of Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the AT at 6658feet. The day started with a visit from ¢Bambi¢! When I emerged from my warm sleeping quilt cocoon and ventured past the verandah swamp there were a number of deer grazing on the grass outside the shelter. It was enchanting. In Australia I¢m quite used to see kangaroo grazing outside my window at my tree farm in the Adelaide hills. Here I guess it was something similar, just different native animals.The weather for the day was much nicer. The cold front had moved on, the day was clear and sunny; in fact absolutely perfect for the vista from Clingmans Dome. The climb was mostly gentle up through pine forests which gave out the sweetest fresh smell. (Much different from my clothes and shoes which were starting to get that damp rancid odour!) The summit itself is topped with a spiral ramp leading to a concrete mushroom construction. There were lots of visitors and they were having a difficult time of it all. The snow had melted then refrozen so the ramp had become a dangerous skating slide. I saw quite a number of slip ups and slews. The views from the top were quite amazing and I really counted my blessings. Heading off down the mountain I came across Newfound Gap a major road crossing and a seriously crowded car park full of visitors to the mountains. Many hikers take off from here to visit Gatinlinburg for a resupply. I though still had 4 or more days of food so headed on back up (and up and up) to Icewater Spring Shelter. There were lots of hikers camped there as they were returning to the good weather. I found a comfortable mossy spot to pitch my tent. It had been a great day.
Date: 2019-04-23
From: Icewater Spring Shelter 

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.6

Day 22 Great Memories I will remember this day of hiking for a long time. Nothing extraordinary happened. It was simply a peaceful, great day of relaxed walking. The weather was kind, there were some stunning vistas and most of all was the trail. It ran along ridgelines that were only 3or 4 feet wide and which would plunge steeply down for a thousand feet or more on both sides. Simply stunning. I totally soaked it up and ambled along as lazily and carefree as I could. I was one of the first ones out from the camping area but was one of the last to get in at the end of the day. Some hikers who I often see followed my example and I think we took turns to find the next viewpoint and then to take 15-20 minutes rest to soak it all in. The first major feature was Charlie¢s Bunion: a series of rock outcrops protruding over the valley many thousands of feet below. I took the opportunity to climb up and do a pose for the camera! My end point was Tri Corner Knob Shelter. There was space inside so I set up my mattress on the sleeping platform. Outside under the verandah there was a long bench table for cooking, bench seat and very pleasant comraderie with all the hikers. A spring right nearby provided water. It was all a very effortless setup and an easy end to a great day.
Date: 2019-04-25
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch Road
Miles today: 12.6

Day 24 BearsA relatively short day highlighted by seeing my first black bears in the wild! I deliberately took my time leaving Standing Bear Farm as I was quite enjoying the chaotic quirky atmosphere that oozed from all the characters that seemed to be drawn there. Also they had bottomless coffee and that was a bonus.When I did get going it was an uphill slog. I was on my own for the first part of the day and possibly because of that  I managed to quietly come across first a Mama Bear with her two cubs, then later a baby bear on its own on the trail. Now I don¢t have the photographic evidence. The truth is when I came across the baby bear I had no idea where Mama was and I was madly clicking my sticks trying to scare it away! I didn¢t want to come between Mother and child and then face the wrath of an angry parent. Next time though I¢ll try to remember to also get my camera out!The trail climbs to the top of Snowbird Mountain where there is a curious spaceship themed FAA facility. ¢2speed¢ (from Quebec) and ¢Joe Cool¢ were there taking a rest. Usually they are well in front of me, but this time I managed to keep up. We all walked in and finished the day just short of Max Patch, camping on an old forestry road that was being reclaimed by the forest. A great day.
Date: 2019-04-26
From: Max Patch Road

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 17.3

Day 25 Hailstorm Today I faced all sorts of weather extremes. I knew that it was going to be a rainy day so I got going early. The disappointing part was at Max Patch. Many hikers get to experience this bald with its 360 degree views in clear weather. On days like this it¢s incredibly popular. But for me it was dense mist so I saw little and I was on my own! After that the weather deteriorated until I was caught in a freezing hailstorm. Soaked through I trudged on. It left the trail a slithery mess. My pace reduced to a shuffle as I did my best to avoid slipping on the greased path. But then the sun started to shine on through the clouds. I stopped just short of Hot Springs at Deer Park Mountain Shelter. I could have gone on but I was tired and figured I¢d enjoy this trail town more when I was refreshed from a sleep. The campsites there were perfect with a carpet of cushioned pine needles. Plus nearby was a stream with a couple of logs ideally positioned so I could soak my feet and take a much needed scrub.
Date: 2019-04-27
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter 

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.1

Day26 Hot Springs Hot Springs is a small country town where the Appalachian Trail goes down its Main Street. It makes for a perfect place to rest up, do a resupply and meet up with lots of fellow hikers. A bonus was that a hiker festival was planned for the weekend. Whilst lots of activities were planned those that know me well would know that the real attraction for me were the hiker feeds. They were plentiful! So I was up early at sunrise and headed off well rested from the day before. The town was only 3.1 mile away and that was mostly downhill. What a bonus!The first hostel I came across and the most popular was Laughing Heart. For $75 I got a 3 bed room that I shared with ¢Joe Cool¢ and ¢2speed¢. First task was clothes washing, next a shave and shower then a large group of us headed to the local diner for comfort food. That done it was resupply time. Foolishly I bought too much food not fully appreciating I would have to haul it on out the next day. Sometimes my eyes and stomach rule over logic! Back at the hostel it was relax time until 6pm when tables laden with salads, cheese bakes, chilli, vegetarian dishes and fruits were set up on the lawns. A band started planning and it was a pinnacle gathering of the hiker community. I met up with folks I hadn¢t seen for weeks and there was such a friendly atmosphere. One of the talking points was how so many hikers had passed through Standing Bear Farm then had got ill. I don¢t know if the two are connected. Certainly none of our party had suffered but I think there are obviously stomach bugs lurking out there that are striking the unwary. I also got to speak with Jennifer Pharr-Davis who set the AT  speed record at under 50 days. I¢m aiming at 3 times that rate but I sure respect the physical ability to daily walk the distances she did. The party lasted way into the night and at 10pm we were all totally exhausted. That¢s so very beyond our bedtime schedule. It had been such a fun evening!