morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-26
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: overcast clouds

3/26Betty creek gap to rock gap shelter8.4 milesI am a convert to the church of sports tape. I used to believe in duct tape. You could find grey goo in all my liner socks as a sign of my devotion. But I have been swayed. Sports tape is the Way. I'll be buying more soon for the sacramental toe wrapping.I took the blue blaze around the albert mtn rock scramble due to poor weather, fear of slippery rocks, and a healthy respect for ER wait times.  The slippery rocks on Big Butt (not a joke) mtn were sufficient for me. I was happy to see that the one slide and pray rock from 2005 had been supplemented with log steps. The rest of the day was technically easy but hard on the feet.  I think the lack of need for rest breaks led to sore feet. Just speculation.Today I went by one of my favorite Appalachian scenes, a tree with a small waterfall around the roots. It's so gorgeous and peaceful.I nearly got to find out how many times poop would tumble down a steep mountainside but fortunately I found a better spot in time. It was a near thing. I'm in a shelter tonight just a few miles  from the road to Franklin. In the morning we're all getting up early to try to catch the first shuttle. I'd like to get to the post office which has morning hours. If I'm too late I'll leave a forwarding request. After that I'll get a motel room, shower, laundry, and resupply. Cody has a yen for steak and wine. It sounds good to me too so we'll see what we can rustle up.
Date: 2010-03-28
From: Winding Stair Gap / Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

3/28Weather related Zero day in Franklin.I wimped out. Rain is fine. Thunderstorms while I'm on balds is not. I have a wee bit of lightning phobia since getting stuck in an electrical storm while on a ridge in Shenandoah while I was in college.  So here I am in Franklin. I have no real plans for the day. Tv and napping I guess. Feh. Sometimes I wish I were braver but I am what I am. In other news I have discovered patches of poison ivy over most of my body. Cody indelicately suggested that I have been sneaking out at night to roll around naked in the bushes. Of course not!  It's too cold for that. I bring the poison ivy in the tent with me.  THEN I roll around in it.  Obviously.Since I have a day of downtime I have all the tape off my feet and I'm hoping the blisters will heal. They're looking pretty good. I'm also drying out my tent and considering a little seamsealing after the next line of storms go through. I need to touch up my mittens and the corners of the bathtub floor on the tent. I could do it in the room if I open the windows and go sit elsewhere while the sealer dries. There are a few other chores I could do - adding some stitching to things here and there, fine tuning my sternum strap. Ida know. Napping is starting to look more likely.Once the weather clears again I'm looking forward to the next section. There are some great views that I didn't properly appreciate last time through because I was getting sick with Lyme disease. Now I can devote my full attention to enjoyment.It's now seven pm and still pouring and thundering and I hear there's a tornado watch. I am so happy I stayed in town for the day. It was boring, sure, but not the load of misery guaranteed by a day of hiking in severe weather. And a night of camping in it, too. The shuttle leaves at 8:30 tomorrow morning and I intend to be on it. Gonna see myself some balds!
Date: 2010-03-29
From: Franklin

To: Wayah shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

3/29Winding stair gap to wayah shelter11 miles The motel was way too much like a college. Bad weather kept the hilarity to a minimum the second night, luckily. The infiltrating smell of pot was awful the first night. Seriously it smells like burning manure. Blargh.But, motel issues aside.. Boy I feel good! My unscheduled day off did me a world of good. My legs feel good and my pack feels light. I am full of joy and happy to be hiking. Note to self: remember to rest.The afternoon turned out completely different from how I envisioned. I thought I would stop at wine spring and camp so I could see wayah bald in the sun. But I never found the campsite so I kept walking. I got to wayah bald and took a picture of the fog, then kept going. I experienced a "wintry mix" of precipitation. Including sideways snow. Woot.  I am currently ensconced between Stitch and Blue Sky at wayah shelter. I have my space blanket in my sleeping bag and I am prepared to snuggle if necessary. I want to be warm tonight!
Date: 2010-03-30
From: Wayah shelter

To: Wesser bald shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

3/30Wayah shelter to wesser bald shelter10.6 milesA few days ago I jokingly referred to my degree in physics during a debate, as if it would somehow make me authoritative. Since then questions of physics have come up over and over and I've had to dig deep. There are a lot  of curious minds out here, and a lot of basic survival issues that we think about. Things like how does insulation work? will my alcohol stove explode if it gets too hot? Etc.Today was an utterly beautiful hiking day. The views were everywhere and astounding. The weather was as good as you can ask for. I'm in love with hiking and I think I'm getting the hang of this thruhiking thing. I even slept in late this morning in the shelter. Sitting in the privy this evening I turned off my little headlamp and looked up at the stars and felt so serene. I also felt that I needed more fiber in my diet.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Wesser bald shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

3/31Wesser bald shelter to NOC5.7 milesThis mornings hike starts on a high, narrow beautiful ridge. I feel like I'm walking on top of the world. It is magnificent to stride along in the calm air. The views go on for many miles but the nearer details of the rhododendron, the still bare trees and the clear blue sky keep capturing my attention. In bad weather this would be an uncomfortable and hurried trek, but in this moment it is the perfect place to be.The Jump Up, however, was not somewhere I wanted to be. I had never wanted to do it again, but I did and I was okay.I hurt so much more on downhills than uphills. It seems like humans evolved to go up. But why?Dear trail down to the NOC,My new blisters, (Martha, Jolene, and Rita) would like to speak to you privately behind the woodshed.Sincerely, Mrs Joy's feet PS Us too - the kneesPPS Loved the pines at the end! Thanks!  - the noseThis evening I sm staying in the hostel at the NOC. I have arrived ahead of my down quilt and I really want it so I hope it shows up tomorrow. I also need to buy some groceries in the morning and I hope to get an unhurried look at the contents of the outfitter. So far on this trip I've been in a rush everywhere!  Cody and I could be getting a late start but we think we have it planned out so that doesn't matter.One more section and then we are in the Smokies! I've been saving them for a thru so they are all new to me. They're supposed to be gorgeous. I can't wait!
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

4/1NOC  to Sassafrass Gap Shelter6.9 milesI have purchased a strong headlamp in case of further night hiking or even finding privies in the dark. My old little LED light is not cutting it for more than finding things in the tent. I also got some iodine tablets in case the steripen fails. My backpack ripped when I was packing up tonight. I'll try to patch it tonight but I'll be shopping for a new pack in Hot Springs or Damascas, assuming it makes it that far. I think it must have UV damage. I've had it a while.With every gear change I make my load gets heavier. This is not how I usually operate!  I have two impulse purchases in the pack - a little wine and a cuban sandwich. Yummy, but heavy. I am as happy to be leaving the NOC as I was to get there. Too much noise and commotion.Come on, leaves! I feel like skin cancer is stalking me here. It's so bright up here on the ridge that I'm using those sunglasses everybody says you don't need. Also sweat is dripping into my eyes.Today was so warm! It felt more like August than April.  The hike up to sassafrass was more than sufficient for me.  I'm at the shelter and perfectly happy after home dehydrated food and a sip of Shiraz.  I was typically slow up the hill (at about a mile an hour) but I feel pretty good. I hope I speed up eventually. It's embarrassing to get to the shelter hours after everybody else. There's another hole in the backpack after a branch caught it. I'm debating buying a new gossamer gear pack or just getting something at the next outfitter. I love the GG packs but it would be nice to try something on and maybe have something bombproof. But that would add pounds to my load. It's a dilemma.Tomorrow Cody and I are planning a long day so I better hit the sack.
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

4/2Sassafras Gap Shelter to Brown Firk Gap Shelter9.1 miles What a day. If you've done it before you know what I mean. If you haven't it's hard to describe.  Toward the end of the day there was a long, long hill of the "really needs a ladder" variety. It was brutal. And we're in the middle of a heat wave with temps in the 80s. We were all sucking down water, which quickly got hot in the packs. I'm sporting a headache of the heat induced variety. And I have firecrotch of a severity I've never even seen before. The heat and sweat have combined to create several square inches of hot, swollen, alligator-looking skin on my thighs. Oh my but it hurts. I'm really looking forward to my day off on Sunday to try to let it heal some.  But first I need to try to do the 11 miles into Fontana by 4 pm tomorrow. I will have to run part of it to do it in time as my hiking pace is still close to 1 mph. But that's my only way to make sure I can get some groceries there, and there are a couple of things I need that aren't in my maildrops.
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

4/3Brown Fork Gap Shelter to NC 2811.6 milesMy goal for today was 11.6 miles in 8 hours. It doesn't sound like much but I'm a super slow hiker. I nearly made it. I got to my destination in about 8 hours 15 minutes.  It was pretty much a haul-ass day all day. By the end my knees were very unhappy and my feet were typically sore. The actual hiking was quite pleasant with the exception of the knee grinding descent to Fontana Dam. Along the way I saw my first trillium blossom of the year in a deep burgundy. I took some photos of really impressive trees and rocks but I don't think they came out.  Mostly I listened to an audiobook (Charlaine Harris "Dead to the World") and hiked as fast as I could.  So after rushing all day, Cody and I got picked up by the Hike Inn and headed in to Robbinsville for dinner and resupply. Dinner was some of the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. I got a dish that was complicated to explain, but the sauce had notes of chocolate, hot pepper, and I think tamarind. It was amazing. Back at the hostel I divided food into bags for my next section, maildrops to Standing Bear and Hot Springs, and some to go home.  Since I'm waiting on my maildrop tomorrow with my maps in it, Cody lent me her info so I could plan. A shower later I was ready to pass out and I did so.
Date: 2010-04-05
From:  NC 28

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.0

4/5NC 28 to Birch Spring Gap tentsite7.0 milesHappy birthday Dad! May you have many more, and may I get to spend some of them with you.At the lodge I treated myself to a big breakfast and then packed up. As a special treat I put a bunch of ice in my water so it would start out extra cold and delicious.  I carried three grocery bags of things to mail down to the PO and there picked up three boxes, an envelope, and a card!  Thanks for all the treats mom. I saved the rice krispies and a few cookies and had to give away a lot. My pack is so heavy and I had to hang my raingear on the outside due to lack of space.  The chocolate chip cookies are a big hit. Aspen requests that you send more. (but in smaller quantities!) I carried in enough so several of us could have one for dinner. I also handed out Cody's Reeses eggs to hikers.  It feels exhilarating and freeing to be heading into the smokies as a thruhiker.  I felt very calm and, I don't know, open?  Anyway good. I met Aspen and Jeremy on the way to the park so we took each others pictures at the sign. At two pm it was 87 degrees. Crazy pants!  What happened to April?  I didn't have to pee all day. Sweat was rolling off me and stinging my eyes. After an hour or so ( all uphill, as it was most of the day) I put on an audiobook and zoned out while trudging in the heat. Full backpack, full waterbag, high heat and no leaves. Yowza! It was a little tough but I'm still enjoying it, and especially Aspen and Jeremy's company. The only downer was discovering a letter in my pack that I was supposed to mail for Cody. No way to fix it now though.It was too hot to want cooked food so I ate a tortilla with peanut butter and honey. I'm hungry now though. Maybe I'll get hiker hunger tomorrow?  It's supposed to be another hot one so maybe not.  I volunteered to help doctor a few blisters in the morning with my many many blister supplies, then I'll head on out to see what the smokies have to offer on another beautiful day.Tonight I'm in my tent and so far I don't need my sleeping bag. I hope it cools off a little so I can snuggle down in.
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Russell field ahelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: scattered clouds

4/6Birch spring gap to Russell field shelter7.9 milesI had hoped the bugs would be better higher up but no such luck. They're loving the hot weather. The bugs are the only sign of life. It's weird to walk through the hot, bare woods.Today was a short, slow day. I'm favoring my knee quite a bit. I hope ( please please please ) that being gentle with it will continue to improve my situation. More hiking friends are getting ahead of me but I must, as they say, hike my own hike. I'm still making progress northward. The bugs have remained fierce all day. I was able to hike in short sleeves but now that I'm stationary, they're attacking every surface. The others at the shelter are jealous of my headnet. I'll be sleeping in it tonight as regulations do not allow tenting unless the shelter is full.This afternoon I ran into two high school seniors on break. They got a fire going to hold back the bugs.  My hiker hunger definitely hit today and they donated food, bless them. I yogied two marathon bars, a granola bar, and a packet of astronaut ice cream from them. Immediately after dinner tonight I was ravenous. So annoying. Tonight's shelter reminds me of pictures I've seen of concentration camps. It has low ceilinged bunks and a fence across the front. Grim, but home for the night.  I hope tomorrow's stop is less buggy and more cheerful.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Russell field ahelter

To: Derricks knob shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

4/7Russell field shelter to Derrick Knob shelter 9.2 milesI woke up feeling remarkably crappy. Tired, nauseated, and anxious. Probably dreamed of bears all night or something. It's super windy today! That means no bugs, about which I am thrilled. Now that I'm here I'm not sure what the big deal about the smokies is. The paths are pleasant and well graded. So far no mud, snow, or ice. I guess I'm only seeing the nice side of the place as of yet.Later I figured out the fuss. My god, the views!  I went over some really spectacular terrain today.  And as usual the hiking made me feel better. In fact I feel in every way better than I did yesterday. Most excellent.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Derricks knob shelter

To: Silers bald shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: moderate rain

4/8Derricks knob shelter to silers bald shelter 5.5 milesWhen I was a kid and read that Davy Crockett "kilt a bar here" I figured he had quite the accent. Now I see that he was spelling phonetically. Logical reasons why I ate my doritos at nine AM:They take up a lot of room in my fanny pack. The bag is good for holding messier wrappers. They needed to be eaten before the rain started as eating them in the rain would be difficult. And, of course, they're quite yummy.The predicted rain held out until about 9 am. Then it rained torrentially. I of course got soaked and then chilled. I decided to stop at the first shelter after a whopping 5.5 miles. There were a ton of people here when I got here. They have all left to go the 1.7 to the next shelter. Me, I'm in dry clothes and my sleeping bag. I don't intend to go anywhere anytime soon. I think a nap is called for. I haven't had one since I started this trip. The rain isn't especially conducive to napping but I'll make it work. For now my food is hanging from a rafter. Hope a ridgerunner doesn't yell at me. I don't want to go out in the rain to hang it just yet.It continued to rain heavily, sideways, and loudly until maybe 5. At 6 we are still deep in cloud with the occasional sprinkle. It should clear up overnight to provide fantastic views from Clingman's Dome tomorrow. What happens after that I'm not sure. It depends on trail conditions. Last report had 3-4 feet of snow on the trail near  Newfound Gap. The rain may have helped that, but it may also have turned to snow higher up. So we'll see. I may hike the road down to 441 (seven miles ugh) and try to get a ride into Gatlinburg for groceries, laundry, and a maildrop.  Or I may stay another night on the woods and try to hike down to Newfound Gap on Saturday morning for same. Either way I'm way behind Cody.  So sad! I miss her.  Today finished the destruction of my new silk long johns, proving conclusively that they aren't up to the strain of backpacking. I'll be looking for another solution. Also I need to call gossamer gear and order another backpack. More holes have showed up in this one. Yikes!  Might visit an outfitter first though.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Silers bald shelter

To: Newfound gap
Miles today: 12.5

4/9Silers bald shelter to Newfound Gap12.5 milesIf I live a very long time, I may see something as beautiful as the trail I walked this morning. It continued to storm last night, then the temperature dropped, leaving ice rime on everything. It overnight made the world startlingly beautiful. I took a LOT of pictures.Things I noted:Ice sublimating like smokeRibbon candy iceSmelled like christmasBlue skies against ice white treesPlants and trees outlined in iceFrost falling like snow from tree limbsViews many miles off in all directions Clingmans dome was too cold to hang out on so I got started again. I'm hoping to make Newfound Gap today but I'm not sure about it. I'm feeling pretty tired.I was going to walk down the road to the gap to avoid the snow, but I  heard via the ridgerunner that there was a $200 fine so no go on that.  Off I went down the trail.  The tails of horrible snow were greatly exaggerated, or at least it wasn't that bad by the time I got there. But one of the tail tellers had literally just finished going through it so it makes me wonder. Maybe my tough Maryland winter left me more comfy with snow than most? I wore my crampons the first couple of miles but took them off for a long dry stretch. When more snow appeared I didn't put them back on and it was fine. I sank in twice but basically it was a breeze.  The mud was much more difficult and the wet feet it gave me left me sore.  I ran into Tammy and Jerry from Michigan dayhiking southbound. On their return trip they offered me a ride into town. I leapt at the chance. I had heard there was a shuttle but didn't know any details. They took me right to my motel of choice. Thanks Tammy and Jerry!  You were real trail angels today.I was so tired and hungry when I got to town. I didn't even shower, just went to a brewery for beer and a meal. I had a nice conversation with a Welsh GE manager. He turned out to be a hiker too. Possibly he's out hiking today. Btw, last nights storms were horrible. I was so glad I stayed at that shelter. The next one turned out to have been packed. Mine had three people in it so we all had the luxury of spreading out, and my companions were quite nice. When I could hear them. At times the wind and rain were so loud you couldn't understand shouted words.  My tent would have been flattened in that wind. It got much colder than I expected last night. My wet clothes froze stiff. My boots, too. It was 28 when we got up and didn't get above freezing for hours. I jammed my frozen clothes in my pack and hiked in what I slept in last night. I slept amazingly well. I finally used the extra down quilt that JD sent me. Just putting my feet in I knew it was a Good Thing. It worked very well with my other bag and I could not have been more comfortable.  Finally, I slept warm in cold weather.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

4/10Zero day in GatlinburgAs usual the zero day involved lots of walking. If it didn't mean losing so much time I'd take two days whenever I went to town so I could actually rest on one of them. Town days = laundry, shower, real bed, restaurant food, beer, groceries, post office, and outfitter. At almost every town. And this one was no exception.  Gatlinburg is a bit spread out, though. Fortunately there is a cheap trolley service to get you from place to place. I didn't have to use the trolley for my first stop. The hotel manager volunteered to take me to the post office since he was going. So nice of him!  The Grand Prix isn't super fancy but I think they treat hikers well. The grocery was right across from the PO so that was easy. Then I paid 50 cents to ride the trolley to Walgreens where I purchased knee braces for me and Webwalker.  (She and her sister Just Blue Skies, btw, look enough like me to be family. )A trip over to the new outfitter completed my chores, my laundry having been done around dawn. The outfitter just opened and they are working out some kinks but they are very enthusiastic. And conveniently located a couple minute walk from the motel.  They're called NOC. For hikers coming through, note that they offer free showers and wifi to thruhikers.  They also have three free daily shuttles up to Newfound Gap.  You sign up for them at the front desk. I'm lackadaisically getting packed up. I think I'll save the last shower for the morning. The hike up out of the gap looks steep but I'll at least start it smelling fresh. My feet are a wee bit shredded after walking in runoff most of yesterday. It feels like I removed several layers of skin from the inner edge of both heels.  I hope they go numb quickly tomorrow or it's going to be an unpleasant afternoon. At least I was able to recharge the iPod so now I can listen to tunes while I mince along, trying to favor both heels.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Newfound gap

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

4/11Newfound gap to Icewater Spring Shelter3.0 milesI just don't understand all those perverts who think it's okay to have ranch dressing with buffalo chicken. Right minded persons know that only blue cheese is acceptable. I try not to show pity for the poor people but it's hard to hold back.Man the woods smell fantastic. Except where they don't. There is some kind of broadleaf weedy thing out here that smells like a pissoir when then sun hits it.So I hiked a whole three miles today. It was that or get into the next shelter after dark. So I'm stuck in this really nice shelter with a five star view, a privy (with roof!), an excellent spring, and congenial companions. Poor me!  Excuse me while I sob. Okay I'm over it. I love this place! Woohoo!  I'm loving life today.