morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-25
From: Tri-corner Knob Shelter

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 20.5

Got up early, it rained all night and was still raining when we took the tent down. With pack covers and rain gear on we headed out at 6:00. I was warm until my gloves got soaked, and feet were getting wet as the trail was a stream of water. Then it starts to snow. My Poncho was soaked and not holding out the water, so cold water was dripping down my back. I had to stop and put on more clothing as I felt I was getting hypothermic. Felt much better, but my hands were still freezing. Stopped at Cosby Knob Shelter to try and warm up and eat something. I could not get warm, so I wanted to start hiking again. Eventually it warmed up by 11:00, but was cool all day. Left the Great Smoky Mts. at 2:00. Went over Pidgeion River Bridge and under I-40 at Green Corner Rd. took gravel road to Standing Bear Hostel. Arrived about 2:55. Critter, Honest Abe, Guac and friend, were all there. Bought some food for dinner tonight. Had a pepsi and cookies to eat, then head out at 3:30, after filling water bottles. Hiked to Painter Branch were we camped between two streams. By 8:15 Make time was snoring.
Date: 2012-03-26
From: Painter Branch

To: Bluff Mountain
Miles today: 20.3

Took our time this morning but still managed to be on trail by 6:15. Seemed like a long climb too early in the morning. Finally got my walking legs on. Made it to Max Patch Summit about 11:50. Stopped at Roaring Fork Shelter, met Jeff & Candy Man. Today turned out to be a very pleasant day. The trail was fairly easy and scenic. Camped atop Bluff Mountain. Beautiful with Wild Flowers, and big boulders, arrived about 5:30. Got our campsite set up. It was so beautiful I spread a pinch of mom's ashes by a young tree by a circle of boulders.
Date: 2012-03-27
From: Bluff Mountain

To:  South side of French Broad River,Hot Springs, NC 
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

On the way into town we stopped for breakfast at Smoky Mountain Diner. Had vegetable omelette's and coffee. It was good, but expensive. After Breakfast checked into the campground, set up site and showered. Then off to do laundry, and now at library, catchin up on journal. Make time just went over to check out the store.
Date: 2012-03-28
From:  South side of French Broad River,Hot Springs, NC 

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up early and went to the little market got 2 cups of coffee, bought two cup of Raisin Bran Cereals and a pint of milk for breakfast. Got on the trail about 7:10. Got to Spring Mountain Shelter about 12:15 for lunch with the older Badger, left about 12:50. Got to Little Laurel Shelter about 5:00. Set up tent. Cicada and Chia Pet were present. Later Brian,Bean,Badger, Kid Badger,Glow Worm and Ron Paul all showed up.
Date: 2012-03-29
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: broken clouds

Got an early start, stoped at Flint Mountain Shelter for lunch. About an hour before we reached Hogback Ridge Shelter, we were drenched. Luckily no one was there when we arrived, so we were able to easily change clothes in private without having to do the sleeping bag shuffle, had our dinner. A couple of hours later a lot more people arrived. Sketch, Kid Badger, Glow worm and Ron Paul, another guy who came in late did not get name. The 3 brothers who tented it, and others I did not see. We were asleep shortly after the rest arrived.
Date: 2012-03-30
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: North of No Business Knob
Miles today: 21.0

Got up early, but had to take pain killers. For some reason my ankle was swollen and could hardly walk. Took at least a half hour to warm up to actually walk, but in pain the whole way. Stopped at Bald Mountain Shelter for lunch wher we met Daryl a section hiker sitting out the rain and spending a zero at the shelter. He started a fire while we were eating our lunch. We wished him no rain and he did the same for us. We manage to get a little wet in the rain, but stopped the minute we got our pack covers, and rain gear on. Finally had to take our rain gear off as we were getting more wet from our sweat and overheated. Went further then would of liked but was afraid the pain would be worse in the morning and wanted to get to Erwin,TN.
Date: 2012-03-31
From: North of No Business Knob

To: Uncle Johnny's Cabin, Erwin TN
Miles today: 6.0

Sure enough, I was in no pain while laying down, but the minute I tried to stand I was in excruciating pain. Today I took two Aleve instead of one. That was the longest six miles of my life. Usually we can hike 2 miles per hour, with breaks. Today it took us about 40 minutes per mile. It took about an hour before I could even come close to imitating Walter Brennan, of the Real McCoys. I was a quarter speed Walter Brennan. I tried to keep a smile on my face like him. Luckily as soon as we got out of the woods Uncle Johnny's Cabin was right there. Sat around had coffee, Make time had a Yahoo, and I had a V8. Later took shuttle into town for all you can eat Pizza and Salad Bar. But the Pizza's were all meat or cheese only, no vegetables. Planning a zero tomorrow and going into Urgent Care to have my ankle looked at, to see what is wrong. Have our laundry in now.
Date: 2012-04-01
From: Uncle Johnny's Cabin, Erwin, TN

To: Uncle Johnny's Cabin, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Moved from tenting at Uncle Johnny's to a cabin, paid for 3 additional days to rest my ankle. Went to the Dr's they took xrays, nothing broken. Probably just a pulled tendon. The swelling is down. Sat with my foot elevated all day with a bag of ice, watching movies and playing Sudoku. This morning all swelling was down, but still unable to walk on. Picked up a walker yesterday, to get around.
Date: 2012-04-03
From: Uncle Johnny's Cabin, Erwin, TN

To: Uncle Johnny's Cabin, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Have one more night here. Ankle not getting better any time soon. Going to rent a car to rest up at Make time's Moms House. Had Breakfast at the Corner Cafe, with Older Badger, Apple sauce, Tickle Monster and another hiker.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: Off Trail

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

Greetings,Make time and I have been off trail since the 1st of April, to heel my foot and ankle. Been spending time at Make times Mom's house and also visit his friend Cob from April 13 - 16, then headed back to his mom's on the 17th.Everyone has been really good to me. Not used to being so spoiled. Resting,iciing, compressing and elevating, and soaking my foot and ankle. Our plans now are to rent a car on the 23rd of April and head back to Erwin. Then see how I feel, may spend a day or two at Uncle Johnny's, depending on my foot.Then our plan is to start out with low mileage days.Make time II & Walks Softly
Date: 2012-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"If hikers as a rule tend not to spend much time thinking about what they want to do with their life (something many hikers intend to figure out but few get around to), it's likely because, so long as they're hiking, their life already has purpose and direction, making the question unimportant, at least for the time being. This perhaps explains why the only answer many hikers come up with after five or six months is to do more hiking, and to adopt a life style that allows them to return to the trail or pursue another adventure every year or so."-- "Portrait", NoBo 2011
Date: 2012-04-05
From: amicalola falls state park

To: dicks creek gap
Miles today: 69.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm already finding it difficult to summon the motivation to update this, but now that I am in Hiawassee I have a little more down time and a little less physical strain.I am currently with a group of 5 other thru hikers. Only 2 of us have trail names so far -- Fonzworth Belvedere Tiberius III (otherwise known as "Bowtie") and Treehugger.I've been trying out this new bear-bagging technique that whiteblaze tempted me into called "sleeping with my food in the tent". So far the experiment has proved successful for 3 trials. If I get attacked, knowledge will be gained in the AT hiking community, and it will be a positive day for Progress.Tuesday 4 of us were brave (or stupid) enough to leave Neels gap with thunderheads looming. Within the hour lightning at eye level was cracking the skies by the mountain as bullet sized hail shot my sides and accumulated on the ground like snow. Meanwhile the river I was navigating, formerly known as the Appalachian Trail, was steadily rising, forcing us to continue moving and pull an unplanned 19 mile day to low gap shelter. It was the first time I'd felt alive in months, and I thank the Trail for giving me the opportunity to experience the contrast in living that I've so desperately needed.Wednesday at Indian grave gap there was some trail magic in the form of hot dogs, baked potatoes, and vodka. Needless to say, the next 3 miles climbing Tray Mt were a breeze, since I was extremely focused and well-hydrated.Despite my mind's affinity for uncertainty, there is one thing I can say without the smallest shred of doubt:I am exactly where I belong at this moment in time.
Date: 2012-04-10
From: dicks creek gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 67.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Friday we were shuttled to the trail in a rapist van. You had to pull a string on the back door where the handle used to be to open it. There was a large peanut butter smudge on the ceiling. (Or at least, it looked like peanut butter. I chose not to touch it.)That night it was freezing. It seems the bipolar weather god has entered his depressive phase. Hopefully he will be manic again when I enter the smokies, because I do not have a jacket.Easter Sunday I hitched into Franklin and graced the Ingles grocery shoppers with my pressence. I tried to remember when my last shower was as I walked amongst families in church clothes. (It was Thursday.) Afterward I sat outside the exit eating my avocado and sipping chocolate milk like a resurrected king. Next stop was the nearby Burger King, where I ordered an obscene amount of grease off the value menu. 15 minutes of face stuffing and 30 minutes of failed hitching later, I was riding in the back of a pickup truck with a dog who seemed just as content as I was.I've decided that a group of 6 is a little too big for my tastes. Perhaps the SoBo in me just needs a bit more time adjusting to this overly social hike...
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Erwin, TN

To: Overmountain shelter
Miles today: 41.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm sick of the rain.I'm also sick of inconsiderate shelter dwellers who jeopardize the safety of everyone in the shelter by not performing the Lightning Dance -- a simple technique that takes no more than 5 minutes that shrouds the hiker in a repelling aura, guaranteeing he will not get struck by lightning for that night. If just one hiker neglects to do the dance out of laziness, the rest usually follow suit, since it's pretty pointless to repel from yourself if the person sleeping right next to you is still capable of attracting a massive bolt. When this happens, I can't sleep -- every sound in the atmosphere is a rumble of thunder, a building electrical charge about to ground itself on the shelter.Some reckless skeptics might claim that the only places to be concerned about lightning on the AT are the high elevation areas, like the Smokies -- but this is not true. Lightning can strike anywhere along the AT, so why not be safe than sorry? Why not take that extra little precaution to ensure your survival? Is the ritual really that much of an inconvenience for you? Also, as we've recently discovered, not every shelter is going to have lightning rods or step-by-step instructions to guide you through the dance, so get in the habit of doing it unassisted.This applies to tenting as well. I don't want to be woken up in the middle of the night by some irresponsible prick getting electrocuted 30 ft away from me who was either too lazy or too ignorant to danceIf you're going to sleep in a shelter or tent near others, do the Lightning Dance. Don't be an asshole.
Date: 2012-09-14
From: Gorham, NH

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 204.9
Weather: clear sky

Our Trail which art in Appalachia, Hallowed be thy name. Thy trail magic come, Thy maintenance be done, on Springer as it is on Katahdin. Give us this day our daily pop-tarts. And forgive us our yellow-blazes, as we forgive those who yellow-blaze ahead of us. And lead us not into the town vortex, But deliver us from expenses. For thine is our kingdom, and our power, and our glory forever. Ramen.
Date: 2012-02-06
To: .....exhausted and excited!......
Miles today: 0.0

....can barely express what it means for us to be getting back out to the trail again!........our apartment is almost empty....our old gear patched up and ready to load...and we can't WAIT t' get out there and breathe the air again!....we aim to set the world's record...........................................for the journal with the least words!..........(i knoooooowwww what you're thinking!) ;-)************************************************************************
Date: 2012-02-09
From: stover creek shelter

To: gooch gap shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

.....KABOOOOOOM!......(army ranger maneuvers near cooper gap!).......BRRRRRRR!....(BATH!....ahhhhh!)................."princess and the pea" syndrome........olympic deer on steroids...........spring running so well at gooch, paw kept feeling he must "turn off the spigot"!....(springs!....what a great metaphor for the Life God gives!....oh yeah!).....
Date: 2012-02-13
From: still at neels

To: poplar stamp gap
Miles today: 12.9

.....forgot to tell of paw's heroic leap out of the tarp into the snow in his bare feet to rescue my airborne umbrella!...(love you paw-ee!)........if you've never had a "big sur" bar, go out TODAY and get one!...(yum!)........nanny boo boo, poison ivy!....we've got the jump on ya!....
Date: 2012-02-14
From: poplar stamp gap

To: unicoi gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: light snow

....happy valentine's day!....nice hotel....AYCE (all you can eat pork chop buffet)....popcorn....a hot shower....fluffy pillows and clean sheets....what else can we say?........met "crash" today.......crossed the "chattahoochee divide"....(which side do you want to "water"?...atlanta or chattanooga)........spent time being mindful concerning the ingredients in my breakfast bar.......paw noticed a big difference on the west side of the mountain compared to the VERY windy and cold east side : "feels like daytona beach!", he says.....
Date: 2012-02-17
From: muskrat creek shelter

To: big spring campsite
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

....one perfect day!.........standing indian AND "big al"!....(don't get freaked out, hikers....albert mountain is NOT the one you first see with the sheer rock face!...look for the fire tower on top!)....and by the way, i LOVE albert mtn!........reminded of a psalm : "God gives the power to stand on the heights!"....(amen!)...
Date: 2012-02-18
From: big spring campsite

To: winding stair gap, franklin, n.c
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

....okay....even if we hiked naked every day and ate 5 miles from every campsite, we'd still smell "food-y" enough to attract a bear!........saturday....sunday....rainday..........(paw sidesteps a log in the trail) : "not a 'blowdown'...just a 're-route' ".........YAYYYYYY!......BILL AND DIANA!!!!!!....
Date: 2012-02-19
From: winding stair gap, franklin, n.c

To: microtel...zero day with friends
Miles today: 0.0

...(i know...i know....no posts!....i keep searching out here under every stump and mossy rock, but there just AREN'T any computers out here in the woods!...thanks for your patience, dear friends!)....have caught up tp the "pooler bears" once again...here at the microtel where we moved to from the budget inn....always so good seeing friends again!......BREAKFAST!...AYCE!....with bill and diana and our very generous new friend, "crash" (who bought our meal!...thanks, crash!...you rock!).......snow in the forecast!.....
Date: 2012-02-20
From: microtel...zero day with friends

To: cold spring shelter (tent site)
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

...best "wayah visit" ever!...lots of sun and views there with our friends!........"apple" was at burningtown gap with his famous magical tent!....cocoa has never tasted so good!...thanks, apple!........spoke with an elderly gentleman at the motel who actually hiked and did trail work with the "moses" of the mountains": rufus morgan (for whom the shelter was named)........told us how once when they were headed to leconte and he and some others were complaining of rain, how the rev got down on his knees and (as if talking to his best friend) gave thanks that there was provision for all the thirsty animals of the forest!...tom said they were all "humbled" a bit by THAT!.......got a new lightweight marmot windjacket today on sale for 40 bucks!...woohoo!...(now i don't hafta go around looking like caspar the ghost!)......this campsite above the coldspring shelter absolutely rocks my face off!....(check it out, hikers)........
Date: 2012-02-21
From: cold spring shelter (tent site)

To: sassafrass shelter (below cheoh bald)
Miles today: 18.4

....last night....stars so bright...so numerous....so close you could almost pluck them out of the sky and put them in your pocket!.......red sky at morning....sailors....EMOTE!.......jumpup lookout today!...(one of my very favorite places on the AT!)........real trail magic today : i had lost my wide mouth water bottle.....BUT...when i got to NOC, AJ (apple juice) walked up with a sprite AND a gatorade (with a wide mouth) and said, "would y'all like a cold drink?"....(thanks, AJ, for bein' there just when i needed with just WHAT i needed!)....
Date: 2012-02-22
From: sassafrass shelter (below cheoh bald)

To: campsite past walker gap
Miles today: 18.4

....food in my foodbag....food bag in my backpack....food in cookpot....cookpot in backpack...food in my hands....hands in gloves....gloves in pocket....food in pocket...pocket on ME!...SHEESH!....food smells everywhere!...(but i didn't eat in my tent!) :>)......RUACHHHHHHHHHHH!.............(hard day)....no views on cheoah....if it ends in "O-A-H", it will kick your you-know-what!........can't walk these awesome mountains without conjuring up images of the NEW earth!.....
Date: 2012-02-23
From: campsite past walker gap

To: fontana dam visitor center
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: scattered clouds

....."NEROOOOOOO"!....at the Hike Inn!....spring-like weather....feet propped up.....generous crash comes through once again with chips and nancy's homemade salsa!........funny how i "learn" things out here on the trail....for instance, crash told the story of a friend who conveyed a truth about the pros and cons of "good" food versus "bad" food...."it all makes a 't--d' ", he said!....(we laughed, of course....but i remembered that jesus once said a similar thing : "it's not what goes in that defiles, but what comes out"...a comedic way to get folks thinking perhaps of pharisees in the outhouse like anyone else!...his double entendre works well to turn our attention to the fact that "digestion" can transcend the physical....(there's so much MORE to take in and give out than meets the eye!...that's what i'm learning out here)....and only a truly Good Creator can remove the "baseness" and cause REAL "good" to come from our lives!..........(okay...enough bathroom humor for today!)....
Date: 2012-02-25
From: russell field shelter

To: double springs shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

.....COLD COLD COLD!.........corn won't grow at all on rocky top....dirt's too rocky by far...that's why all the folks on rocky top get their "corn" from a jar! (heh heh!).....one of my favorite places in the smokies!.......all that climbing.....but i somehow managed to freakin' fall down walkin' out of the shelter!...
Date: 2012-02-26
From: double springs shelter

To: icewater springs shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

...wonderful day!....(but are they not ALL wonderful out here in the woods????)....had a little "date" on the tower at clingman's dome!.......as beautiful as it all is...(and it's ALL VERY beautiful), our Creator is more "Beautiful" still!....
Date: 2012-02-27
From: icewater springs shelter

To: tricorner knob shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

..."botanical wonders" today!.....crossing over more of our favorite terrain : charlie's bunion!....the rare (and wonderful) "sand myrtle" grows there....cutest little evergreen shrub you've ever seen!.....and paw enjoyed the abundant rhododendron minus that graces the ridges through there....ahhhh!.....rock gardens!.........plenty of ice flow coming down from icewater springs....thinking of trading in my shoes for a pair of ice skates!........paw said at a 5480 ft peak today : "yep.....that's purt near up in the sky!....gonna hear some angels flappin' their wings in a minute!".....(i said : "yeah....i hope that 'flappin' is the sweet sound of their hand tossing PIZZAS!"......(hiker appetite kickin' in!)....
Date: 2012-02-28
From: tricorner knob shelter

To: campsite at state line
Miles today: 17.0

.....awwwww....a little robin with "all but one of his fires gone out" (as dylan thomas would say)....alas....such is the fallen natural world........crash's rule : "you have to fall at least 10 times"...(good...only 9 to go!).......hmmmm.....park service mus be treating hemlocks.....sweet!.........first "spring beauties" today (a favorite wildflower).......finished the smokies!....best trek ever through there!.....poyfect!.......(and hearin' from grandkids don't hurt none neither!) :-)...love this old homestead where we're camping!....(even had "baths"....uh....not from a faucet)........God has been so good to us!.....protection...provision....you name it.....Divine mercies all 'round!.....
Date: 2012-02-29
From: campsite at state line

To: roaring fork shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

....sharing artwork with our new artist friend, "monk"....(who woulda thunk!).........."squirty cheese"!...FREE!....(thank you, curtis-king-of-standing-bear!)........oh...and happy leap year!....(i hear there are lots of "starters" at springer today!....they'll come flyin' past us one o' these days and we'll get to meet them ALL!)........snowbird AND max patch today....(whew!.....and wow!)........snuck paw a present from the hiker box at curtis's : a GRAPEFRUIT!
Date: 2012-03-01
From: roaring fork shelter

To: hot springs, nc
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

.....if "earth is his footstool"...wowee zowee!...i can't WAIT to see his THRONE!.......ahhhh...."hiking styles"!!....for example....paw breathes through his nose (the proper way)....me?... i've got my tongue hangin' out gulpin' down all the air i can!...(needless to say, paw digest far fewer of these early black flies than i do!)......great to get to hot springs (though we both felt like we could have hiked forever today!) : new friends (spicolli...erin...rambo).....THE DINERRRRRR! (FREE dinner! thank you, miss lucy mullinax!...you're "magical"!)....awesome outfitters (thanks, guys!).....cabin by the river...tour of the famous victorian haunts of elmers place (thanks, elmer!)...ANNNNNND....clean clothes!...
Date: 2012-03-02
From: hot springs, nc

To: rich mountain firetower campsite
Miles today: 8.2

....paw is " stylin' " after a trip to the outfitters yesterday and a new toboggan we found in a shelter (anyone lose a toboggan?)......been grieving the loss of hemlock habitat....however...today we were pleasantly surprised to walk through a small thriving "forest"....this puzzled me until we came on a sign that had been posted that declared these wonderful green results were the work of a scout troop from raleigh who had been treating the trees!..(thanks, guys!)......paw "engineered" my "over-engineered" laces on my new balance shoes and now my toe is FREE from pain!...(thanks, paw-ee!)........YIKES!....LIGHTENING!....