morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Fontana Dam Shelter (the hilton)

To: Russel Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

When starting the trail, I had no intentions of doing any food drops and my first item of anything I had mailed to me was at Damascus VA. That was gear. My first mail drop of food was in the middle of VA, which didn't arrive so the first one I recieved was at Bear Mountain NY. Buying as you go is totally possible and I would do it the same all over again.
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Russel Field Shelter

To: Gatlinburg (Newfound Gap)
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Yep, I along with 4 others hiked from Russel Field to Newfound Gap where we got a ride into Gatlinburg TN and got a hotel room for the evening. One of the people with us almost got hypothermia from a nasty storm we hit. Ascencing Clingmans Dome it hit us, out of no where from the west came a rain that quickly turned into hail and lighting. All of us were already on the exposed ridge so we all hustled over the top past the dome and headed back down the other side of the mtn for safety. A mile past the dome the storm let up and vanished. By then we were all soaked, freezing cold and the decision was made by all to go to town for the night.
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Gatlinburg (Newfound Gap)

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

After doing laundry last night and resupplying early this morning, the only thing we had to do before leaving town was breakfast. Then one of the group headed up to the road to hitch. They had been there for a bit and as soon as I got there, bam. The first car that passed I stuck out my thumb and we got a ride. Talking about luck. We had great weather for the rest of the day and saw spectuliar views while walking atop the ridges in the northern part of the smokies.
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Rolled into hot springs around 2-3pm. Started doing laundry when half way through the wash cycle, the power went out in the entire town. I could finish laundry, resupply, go to the outfitter, nothing. I tried to sun dry my cloths a few hours later but there was not enough sunshine left in the day. Overnight they soured.
Date: 2003-05-07
To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I planned on getting some breakfast and washing my cloths at the same time but the laundry place didn't open till 10am, by the time I was ready to leave town it was 1pm and everyone agreed. It's about time to take a 0 day. This would be my first and really didn't want to take one right away and decided it would probally be best for me to do so. I should have taken two, lol.
Date: 2003-05-08
From: Hot Springs

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Leaving bright and early was just what the doc ordered. I was itching to get back on the trail. After breakfast of course. The river in town flooded and submerged the official trail so everyone had to take the old trail up the side of the mtn to reconnect w/ the official trail.
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: light rain

After a hard hitch to a dinner for breakfast, I had a rough time hiking for the next several hours. I think I drank close to a pot of coffee. Seriously. I had stomach pains so bad, all I wanted to do was ralph so I would feel better. I finially did after summiting big bald. From there I relaxed, enjoyed a well deserved break on a nice warm sunny day infront of great views.
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Overmountain Shelter (barn w/ a sweet view)

To: Kincora Hostel (Dennis Cove/ USFS 50)
Miles today: 33.2

This turned out to be my longest day on the entire trail. I thought about doing the 40 miles shuffle into damascus but decided not to since there was no need to do so. I hiked the miles today because I had heard about Kincora since my 3rd day on the trail. It was not to be missed and those I was hiking w/ for a few days didn't want to zero there but I did so I did the miles today. What a long day indeed. There was a reroute that added 3ish miles which made the day just drag on and on.
Date: 2003-05-24
From: VA 603 camped 1/4 mile from road

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had long heard about being able to order pizza from this shelter but didn't. There were a few guys there putting on a hotdog roast and pancakes in the morning. Wow. This is where I first met dirty frank and footslogger formally known as toot.
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 14.3

With a belly full of pancakes and coffee, I was ready to go. Walked through some beautiful tunnels of rhododendron's which were in full bloom. I took a nice rest at US 11, had a nice sit down dinner with jest bill, got a blizard from dairy queen and spent the next few miles eating my ice cream while walking through some beautiful open rolling hills.
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg (motel)
Miles today: 16.2

Today I first met Doc, Llama and coy whom through conversation, I knew already from others I hiked with early on. They had all hiked together for a stint on the PCT. The trail into town was so muddy, it was some of the worst trail conditions I can remember on the entire trail.
Date: 2003-05-30
To: Pearisburg (hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Last night I stayed at a motel, tonight i'm at a church hostel. Be sure to say hello to melvin. I met bearable whom wanted to wash everything he had so he changed into his sleeping bag and wore it around the laundry mat. That was a funny sight to see. An local old guy was not impressed by his creativity though, he said he had seen it all before. To him it was just another day, lol.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Hard Time Hollow

To: Hard Time Hollow
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Rusty Slackpacked a bunch of people from Rockfish Gap back to the hollow. This was my first slackpack on my hike and I didn't see the point. I hiked no faster than I did before, the weight I normally cary was not much more than my slackpack so to me it was pointless. Though most who carry 40-60 lbs, I can see why they would do it every chance that arose, but for me and my 25lb pack, there was no use. I would end up slackpacking only two additional times in the future, the second time in Maine from through Maula from East B Hill Rd into Andover to South Arm Rd into Andover and the last and third time was the final stretch into Katahdin Streem Campground from Abol Bridge. I carried my full loaded pack up Katahdin.
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Hard Time Hollow

To: Hard Time Hollow
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: moderate rain

This was a bike blaze. This was my way of sticking it to the man. Instead of slacking or yellow blazing, I did a bike a blaze on the road though the Shendoahs for a nice pace catching all of the wonderful views the ATC feels are unecessary for hikers to see. Screw you ATC, i'm taking the scenic route for once.
Date: 2003-10-04
From: Springer Mt. Georgia

To: Mt. Kathahdin, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone, I summited Katahdin today Oct 4th, 03. C.C. and I attempted to summit on the 3rd but it was a no-go. They closed the mountain after we had already started up and hypothermia began to set in just above tree line. It got pretty hairy. Loss of feeling in our fingers, toes, a huge patch on C.C.'s back. We had to take cover from the wind, get in out sleeping bags, boil some water to get warm and let the feeling come back in everything. It took all the strength in us to make it down safely. 4" of snow a top 1/2 layer of ice on EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE on all 360 degrees of every rock. It was beautiful but the gear a thru-hiker carries was not enough for this summit attempt. I look forward to my return trip to Katahdin in the future and congrats the the class of 03. What a wet and wild ride, woo hoo. Happy Trails, Karma
Date: 2003-12-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As the wind howls through the hills and the snow whirls around for what seems like forever before it hits the ground, the thought of what it would be like still hiking on the trail on my way from ME-GA can't escape my mind. I don't know if i'd like to try a winter southbound thru hike but it would be nice to walk above the rocks in PA rather than on them.Karma
Date: 2003-12-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

If I haven't contacted you yet, I am putting together a email list of the class of 03 A.T. hikers. I need your info. If your interested in being put on the list which only goes out to those whom are on the list, please sign my guest book. Please include a permant/valid email address and your trail name, not your real name. I will add you to the list and send you a current list. Please, this is only for those who hiked this year on the A.T. in 03. Section hiker or thru-hiker, it matters not. Happy Trails, Karma
Date: 2005-06-05
From: boulder, co

To: unknown
Miles today: 0.0

way back in the winter months i routinely had several fellow hikers that resided out west (montana, wyoming and colorado)hound me about visiting them. finially on a whim, barely enough cash in my pocked for gas money i went for it. you only live once and if i die, my folks get 200,000.00 so that would help pay off the gas i put on my credit card. (i though that was funny). my first stop was some little town in colorado that i only heard of because skittles moved there a bit ago. seriously, that was it. two weeks later, several down hill ski trips, rentals of tele skis and crampons, purchase of crampons and very small odds n n's, i decided to look for a part time job to help recoupe some cash so i could head on up the road to wyoming. the second job i called about was a sweet paying one, they hired me the next day. that was almost 3 months ago. i'm still i boulder colorado living the dream. i recently lost my job not knowing where my next amount of income will come from and don't really care. it's just one of those things. i have a couple jobs for me back in ohio that i could seriously start tomorrow so that's awesome for a back up plan but damn. my heart is in the mountains. always has been even before hiking the a.t. since i was around 10 years young driving through of all places the smokies. they have never left me. on a off the cuff coment by my father about me walking on a gravel path a top clingmans, "your on the wrong path son". thinking it would lead to the same place at the concrete dome i said "then where does this go". something about if you take it far enough, all the way to maine. i never looked at hiking it as a dream or something i really wanted to do. just thought wow, what kind of a person you would have to be to do something like that. some 17 years later as i took steps across that very spot "and i knew exactly where it was down to a couple of feet) despite a severe rain/hail storm blowing 30+ winds, my heart melted. The trail was the best and worst thing that's ever happened to me. As the white blazes ceased and my life on the trail ended, a new one began. One of traveling. This means leaving my family and friends of my lifetime behind for the third time in my life. The first when i enlisted and served in the us army and the second when i hiked. I have lived many lives, litterally walked in many different shoes but despite it all, life just keeps getting sweeter with each day. Never let fear stand in your way of living your dreams. Friends, family and the search is what drives me. L I V I N, just do it.KarmaOhio 76-95 Germany, Hungry, Croatia and Bosnia 97GA-ME 03Boulder, CO 05
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Stover Creek 

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

I'm at Long Falls Creek - I am sitting by the Long Falls Creek spring about .2 mile away from the Hawk Mountain shelter - last night's shelter was Stover Creek. I have walked a whopping 5 miles today and only managed to miss 2 blatantly obvious markers, but wait, there's more. When I blew past the first blaze I met up with a woman walking toward me. I already figured I'd missed the shelter, so I asked her if she knew where it was. She wasn't sure as she was only out for the day - from Atlanta to meet friends. After a brief discussion with her, I backtracked and sure enough, there it was. As I approached the shelter, I ran into 2 female hikers and asked if they were the ones who were supposed to be meeting someone. One turned and "Shhhh" and the other said "Is (whatever her name was) here?". Apparently that woman was out there to surpise her sister on her birthday and I'd spoiled it! Well, I finally have a trail name now - self-inflicted and based on my propensity to procrastinate - Last Minute. Kind of lame, but a true one, and it works for me. Another odd thing happened to me today. I was at the side of the Trail adjusting my boots when I heard "Hi stranger". It was Liz, a woman from work in VA, of all people! (Her pack weighs about half what mine does) I knew she was hiking, but I couldn't believe I was running into her on my 2nd day out. I believe the shelter will be much more full tonight so I'm going to go claim my spot.
Date: 2003-03-23
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

Depite my insane pack weight, I kept up with the rest of the group today (met up with a bunch of neat people at the shelter last night). I would say I did about average: 4 beat me, one paced me, and 7 came behind me. Today was only 7 or 8 miles. Tomorrow I want to do 12. I took my first bath? shower? today, using a small canvas basin that holds about 1/2 gallon of (cold) water, some liquid camp soap and a wash cloth. That water was right out of a spring and about 40 degrees! Needless to say it was a quick scrubbing. I feel better, anyway. The sun is gettin low so I need to go make dinner while there is light left.
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Absolutely brutal day today! 10 miles with lots of ups and downs. I really should not complain much as the weather and company have been exceptional. But, it was the longest and toughest day so far. Nights are extremely cold. Even in a 20 deg. mummy bag with a +10 liner I get chills. But I just sleep through it and in the daytime we hike in t-shirts and shorts. There is a Dalmatian in the shelter tonight - I hope he discourages all the mice. I must close for now. The sun is low in the sky and I still have to cook. Tomorrow a pass through town, dump gear, and use the phone for the first time!
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neals Gap
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

I made first contact with home and sent my first batch of extra gear out today. Now my pack only weighs 50 lb. I feel like I'm walking on air! We will camp here at a spring tonight - no shelter. Neal's Gap is where we stayed. I am with Matt, Liz and Leanna. Roy may come in to visit. The weather has been awesome but I fear soon the real test will begin. Today's 8mi. felt like nothing. Had my first coke and burger today!!! Saw my mirrored face for the first time today :( As we are in tents, I am taking the opportunity to air out since a shower is not possible. My clothes hang over me on a loft (which is just a fancy way of saying a string that spans the front and back of the tent and is toward the top). I saw my body for the first time. I cannot believe my leg muscles! I will be a machine by the time I reach VA! I smell awful. Earlier today, as I was walking up from the spring I saw Leanna and Sprout (Liz) "bear bagging" (hanging food in a tree to keep the bears from getting it) and it was literally 7' off the ground. I laughed and asked if they were bear bagging it or squirrel bagging it. Of course I have no room to speak. I am camped in an animal run, I did not check for dead branches overhead, and I have gatorade in my tent - all potentially fatal mistakes. Matt helped me hang my bear bag. My right knee has developed a peculiar catch in it that worries me. Also I have a small spider bite on my right heel. But, I am very happy with how much better I feel during a hike.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Neals Gap

To: Addis(?) Gap
Miles today: 13.0

The honeymoon with this trip is ending rapidly. All my clothes are soaked because my water container leaked into my backpack. I have a quarter-sized spider bite on my ankle, my allergies are in full force, my knees are aching, I have lost feeling in 90% of each foot, most of my cuticles have separated from my fingernails, I have a dime-sized burn on my knuckle, I fell and broke my walking stick and I am lying in my tent, as it flaps in the wind of Addis Gap. The last 2 days were 13 miles each. I get up before the dawn and hike until sunset. Everything takes 2x as long because I am so forgetful and make so many mistakes. But I know this is a learning process. Through it all I have had awesome scenery, great company, high spirits and a helping hand to keep me going. My hopes are still very high. I go into town tomorrow for my first shower!!!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Addis Gap

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 5.0

Hiawassee, GA - first visit to town. Sprout, Tang and I camped out in ___ Gap and, as described earlier, we rose before the dawn and booked to US 76. It was 5 miles and it went like nothing. When Sprout and I got to the road 2 beers - Miller Light - were waiting. It was our first trail magic! Hiawassee was great. The people so friendly! Everyone would talk your ear off. We stayed at the Blueberry Patch Hostel - the best on the trail. They do your laundry and give itt back to you folded. You get one free shower and a blueberry pancake for breakfast.
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: North Carolina - Standing Indian
Miles today: 8.0

Snow greeted us as soon as we goin into North Carolina. We pitched camp in a fog bank and tried to bear bag. Someon accidentally took mine, which made for a fun hour of stumbling around in the fog trying to correct the problem. Then we went to sleep and it was so cold I could hardly write. I woke and everything was white - 2-3 inches. We stayed together hiking thgrough it to the first shelter, then had to decide whether to stay there or press on to another shelter. If you stay, you freeze. If you left, you moved and stayed warm but you risk having no space at the next shelter - which turned out to be the case as we decided to risk it. So we paired up. The 2 girls in our group got soaked in their tents last night so Tang is in my tent and Sprout is in Gazer's tent. It is COLD!
Date: 2003-03-31
From: North Carolina - Standing Indian

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

We woke this morning in snow, not only outside, but inside the tent as well- condensation froze on the tent wall. Some of the group wanted to hitch out to town to thaw. I thought I did too, at first, but then decided against it. To my surprise the group stuck with my decision and thanked me for it later as the weather broke and it wasn't a bad day after all. I used my coleman stove for a most peculiar purpose today. After letting several people use it, as their systems did not fare will in the snow, I let Flash use it to thaw his feet. He is not using boots, but sneakers, and everything was pretty well frozen - in fact, my boots were so frozen I really had a hard time getting them on. I watched steam come off this poor guy's feet. We hiked in to a shelter and unfortunately it had no privy. I had to go, so I got out my trusty trowel. Some tasks in life were NOT meant to be done on snowy surfaces. It was by far one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life! We are now camped at Betty Creek Gap.
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

We had a massive hike out! 12 miles before 2 p.m. with an insane scramble up Albert Mountain. I had to use all 4s at times, but what a view! Later down the trail I turned and looked back. There was a watch tower on Albert's summit. I was amazed that it looked like little more than a tall tree. The distance traveled in one day is staggering. 12 miles seems like nothing, but if you consider the timing and terrain it is remarkable. The day stayed between 30-60 degrees, depending on time of day and elevation. This was considered toasty compared to the last few days. I was literally hiking in a t-shirt by 9:30 a.m. We hitched a ride into Franklin - about 10-15 miles - and met Ronnie Haven who runs the Haven Inn. He showed us where everything was in town, and we are splitting a $35 room 3 ways. He has been driving us around all day. I also met a pharmacist in Franklin who thru-hiked in 1979 - Tarheel. He said he wrote the first guide book.
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

I sit in a privy at Siler Bald Shelter. It is one of the many privies on the AT surrounded by only 3 walls. The seat is a freezing u-shaped piece of plastic nailed to a piece of plywood with a hole leading to a most horrendous quagmire of, well, you get the idea. There is little to keep wind, weather, and all manner of wildlife from invading your space. But I cannot tell you how glad I am to have it! There is nothing worse than wandering through the snow looking for a log, clearing snow from it, then sitting down bare-bottomed on icy bark. Thank you Mr. Privy Man! Ronnie Haven, the man who helped us out in Franklin, NC, is a great guy. He took us back to the trail today. Last night, after dinner, we returned to our room to find Sprout and Wu-tang sitting on the stoop outside. Their friend (who was supposed to pick them up earlier) did not show up so all of us ended up sleeping in that room. It was a scene! All of our gear was strewn about the place to let it dry - tents, tarps, stuff sacks, laundry, sleeping bags, food bags, backpacks - everywhere in this little 2 bed, one bath room. I went to Ron this morning and told him about the girls sleeping over and asked how much extra he wanted, but he refused any more money. We did scrounge up an extra $10 to give him for all his trouble.Anyway, it is kind of a sad sight, the little ragtag army that left Hawk Mountain 12 or so strong, than left Blueberry Farms 8 strong, has now dwindled down to 3. Wu-tang and Sprout took a zero day while Gazer, Flash and I hiked out - maybe 4 miles.
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Burningtown Gap

To: Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6 of us are crammed into a shelter that could comfortably sleep 4. I am pretty discouraged today. Yesterday I was so lackadaisical about my hike. Today was straight downhill. My feet were crammed into the front of my boots and my knees felt like they were separating from my legs. I got passed by 7 people like I was standing still. On a brighter note, there was a lot of magic today so I can't complain and don't genuinely fell that discouraged. I just wish I did not feel so helpless about my knees and feet. Tomorrow I will go into an outfitter and see if they can help.