morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Spivey Gap

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 11.2

Today Ron decided to take a zero day since his blisters were bothering him. Ron and Bob are section hiking for 2 weeks from Bristol, TN, and this ends week 1. Ron hitched to Erwin and got a ride from Shiver's husband, who is here slacking for her from VT. Bob, AT70 and I hiked in beautiful cool weather to No Business Knob Shelter for a snack. It was a cinderblock shelter with no privy. Later, we stopped for lunch and the weather turned hot. We noticed the Mountain Laurel is now in bloom. When we were hiking a side trail, with a steep hill on our left, a bird fluttered by my head startling me. We stopped and I looked at the hill in the direction where I heard the bird. I saw a hole. I looked inside the hole and was thrilled to see a perfect bird's nest with 4 small gray eggs with brown specks. The nest was lined with long white hairs, resembling horsehair. Bob used his cell phone to call his friend who thought the eggs belonged to a song sparrow. So, for the remainder of the hike, instead of looking for black snakes on rhodedendrum branches, or the scenic view, I looked for holes in the banking to find more nests! It was interesting to descend the final hill into Erwin, TN to see the Nolichucky River, railroad and town from a distance. We are staying at Uncle Johnny's Hostel which is right beside the trail, for $12.50, in our own room for 4. After a shower, I rinsed my clothes in a sink and hung them out on a clothesline. I noticed our friend Mark spitting out Gatorade as if he was sick. Someone explained that he had taken a drink from his fuel bottle by mistake! Fortunately, he had not swallowed it, but was repeatedly rinsing out his mouth with Gatorade. (His bottles were marked with the fuel.)At 5:45, Marked, AT70 and I met to walk to the Baptist Church for the 7 pm service. When we were seated, Bob joined us and later Ron did, too. So, we had a pew full of hikers. The weekly attendance at this church is about 65, and 21 were in the choir! They sang 5 hymns I had never heard before.They are preparing for a Revival this week with Pastor Frazier(!). We will likely stay here at Uncle Johnny's Tuesday night, so we hope to attend the Revival meeting. The sermon today was from John, Chapter 6. I enjoyed the service, which was quite different to our customs at First Christian Church (only the choir sang the hymns and everyone prayed out loud their personal prayers at the same time), but it was a litle difficult to understand the fast preaching with the Tennessee accent. Regardless, it was great to be in church with Trail friends, and then all go out to dinner. According to the scale here, I have lost 16 lbs, but one again that was BEFORE dinner!I may need to ask Bob to bring me a belt when we meet May 14!
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 8.3

Before we left Uncle Johnny's Hostel we weighed our packs for the one night out southbound trip with Bob and Ron. My pack weighed 20 lbs, AT70's weighed 28, and Bob's weighed 30. We drove to Iron Mt Gap and parked the truck there, to start hiking south 8.5 miles. Our highest peak today was Unaka Mt, elevation 5180'. It was 85' and we were very hot and slow moving. At the designated water source, we realized it was perfect timing because we were all almost out. Yet, the water was barely trickling so we had to filter or purify enough to last us for cooking tonight as well as drinking tonight and tomorrow, until we reach the next shelter 7 miles away. There are alot of "floaties" in the bottles that I hope will get disguised in the Beef Stroganoff! Today we met Slim and Bogey from PA, Critter and Critter's Dad from IL, and a young man with his guitar and 3 legged dog from NC. We are tenting on Beatuy Spot, ele 4300 which is a Bald Mt. Two of us hope to sleep under the stars, thou we have pitched our tent.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Beauty Spot

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: few clouds

Beauty Spot to Nolichucky River 10.8 plus an additional hike from Carvers Gap to Roan High Knob Shelter 1.5I awoke this morning at 4 am to an owl hooting in the lone tree on the Bald where AT70 was sleeping. Then, the owl flew closer to the woods near Bob and me, and did his hooting routine again. As I tried to get back to sleep, I heard the freight train's whistle, 10 miles away, going over the Nolichucky River in Erwin, TN, probably carrying coal. I stayed in bed til 6 am and suddenly realized I had probably missed a beautiful sunrise, so I quickly went to the summit of Beauty Bald to "see what I could see". I thought I saw the back of a bear descending quickly over the rise, so I moved as fast as I could, camera in one hand, Poptart in the other. When I got to the top, there was my reward...a wild turkey! Fooey on me! Plus, I missed the sunrise! Ron said he got a great picture of the sunset last night, which I know he'll send to Richard. Sleeping for 12 hrs has its advantages and disadvantges. As the weather gets warmer, AT70 and I would like to start hiking earlier than 7:30. !Today we hiked 10.6 miles in 5 hrs in 85' temps toward noon. We arrived back at Uncle Johnny's Hostel and all 4 of us paid $3 to take a shower. AT70 and I wore our clothes in the shower to rinse them out. They dry so quickly!. We hope to hike more this afternoon, but we'll be driving more than 20 miles north so Ron and Bob can shuttle cars. Ron's blisters have been doing pretty well but now he has a cough. Today I met a 51 yr old woman named Rockstar from PA. We also passed VanDyke, Lynx and her husband and Torpedo with Nice Enuff. We will look forward to seeing these Thru Hikers again once we resume hiking north. It was great to see Waterfall at Uncle Johnny's eating her pint of ice cream, which seems to be the norm for Thru Hikers! So, Ron has dropped us off at Carvers Gap, opting to stay in a motel himself. Bob, AT70 and I hiked south 1.5 miles to the Roan High Knob Shelter, which is at 6285', the highest shelter on the AT. It has a door and a loft. Just think, it's 3 ft lower than the summit of Mt Washington! As you can imagine, there is a lovely breeze, which we appreciate after 2 extremely hot days. Life is good!
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Roan High Knob Shelter to Iron Mt. GapBob, AT70 and I left the Roan High Knob Shelter before 7 am. There were 9 of us there last night, so we tried to pack up, eat and depart without disturbing the others. The hike we completed today is supposed to be the most difficult hike on the AT to that point, if you hike it northbound. We hiked it southbound. However, it still had steep ups and downs, but we were able to keep the 2 mph pace plus a stop at the Clyde Smith Shelter along the way, where we saw Handyman and Doodle. We also met Lynx and her husband, Rockstar, Torpedo and Quinn the Eskimo with his guitar and pooch Patty. Along the trail we saw a snake and 4 wild turkeys and as usual many beautiful wildflowers. Some hikers have seen Lady Slippers and Jack In The Pulpit, so that's what I am hoping to find soon along the trail near the brooks. Ron met us in town and had secured bunks for us at the MT Harbour Hiker's Hostel. The Hostel is in the upstairs of a barn and has a deck overlooking a fast flowing brook. I am watching 2 horses and I have seen their goat! I am hoping these animals will allow me to soak my feet in the stream!We have had showers, though I wish I had a Brillo Pad for my filthy feet!The owner is doing all our laundry together and will cook us breakfast in the morning, then shuttle us to start our 14 mi slackpack.Also staying here is Mt Man, Hiker Nutt, and Bonfide with Bone, her poodle!
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Carver's Gap

To: US19
Miles today: 13.7

Today Mary fixed us an incredible breakfast at their home for the Hostel guests. For $6 we were served blueberry pancakes, homefries, egg casserole, bacon, grits, biscuits and gravy, peaches, oj, chocolate cake with cherries and coffee. Terry then shuttled us to Carver's Gap, which the 4 of us shared the $22 fee. Today was my favorite day on the AT so far. We hiked 13.7 miles in 6.5 hours, but we actually hiked an additional .4 miles to see a historic site. In 1790, during the Revolutionary War, the Over Mt Men stayed there in a barn, prior to defeating the British Loyalists. Thousands of soldiers lost their lies being unprepared for the bitter winter. A barn has been reconstructed on the site to serve as a hiker hostel. It is featured in many AT movies. What made the day so great is that the temp was around 60, there were great views on the Balds, elevation 5526, then maxed out at 6050. The men (Ron, Bob and AT70) lead most of the day, so I was challenged to keep up with them. I saw two wildflowers I had not seen before. One was a yellow trilium with pinkish accents and the second flower was a ground flox, i blue and pink. Usually on these Balds there are long horn sheep. There was a lot of "evidence" that they had been in the fields recently, but I was disappointed not to see any today. It started thundering and sprinkling with about an hour to go. The rhododendrum leaves were upturned, blowing in the wind. I imagined they were clapping for us having such a wonderful day!
Date: 2007-05-04
From: US19

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

We had another fabulous breakfast at the Mt Harbour Hiker Hostel. Mary prepared french toast with syrup or honey pecan sauce, sausage, fresh fruit plate, lemon pound cake with whipped cream, croissants with creamed chicken, assorted muffins and biscuits baked with egg, ham and cheese. I told Mary she should be a caterer! Her presentation is just as impressive as her culinary skills. The 4 of us said good by and walked 3/10ths on the road to the AT. Three of us decided to try to hike 17.7 miles to the Moreland Gap Shelter. Today we started hiking near the road where locals had dumped their trash and old appliances over the banking. So sad...Then we went through a field where buttercups lined the path. Next, we were beside several picturesque streams. There was a 70% chance of rain today. The first shower came at 10:30 and only lasted a half hour. It was a muggy 70' so I hiked without wearing my glasses. We visited a brand new three decker shelter for lunch. There, we met southbound flipfloppers Pearl (she was wearing them!) and her husband Starvin Marvin. I saw 5 pink Lady Slippers today. Bob left the group to return home, having completed his 2 wk section hike. The second shower occurred around 4 pm. It seemed like "forever" to get to the shelter, but as usual, it was a 2 mph day,ending at 5:15, just in time for lasagne and bed at 6 pm!
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Ponds Flat
Miles today: 11.8

So, imagine yourself going to "the john" in the woods at midnight (because there is no privy). You turn your headlamp off to enjoy the stars and not disturb the tenters near the shelter. Then, all at once, 3 different headlamps emerge from the shelter, each pointing in a different direction to "do their business" in privacy. The only problem was that one was coming in my direction and I was not in a "position" to turn my light on to signal them that "this spot" was occupied! Fortunately, HE stopped before getting to MY tree...phew!As I was almost back asleep,I felt a "scratch, scratch, scratch" on my head. I'll leave the rest to your imagination!I don't know if Mickey lived to tell Minnie about this incident!AT70 and I hiked 6 miles from 7-9:30 to the Kincora Hikers Hostel where I was expecting my next mail drop. We spent 3 hours there as I opened the box with my replacement Gregory pack, emptied my pack with the broken zipper, sealed it up in the same box and was positive everything would fit in the replacement. It is a heavier pack and has different compartments than mine. I hope to have the repaired pack back in 3 weeks. This Hostel is owned by a couple who suggest a $4/night donation. What a deal! However, AT70 and I agreed to try to hike 10.7 more miles this afternoon. The straight uphill to Pond Flats elevation 3700', "did us in", and I was so grateful AT70 willingly agreed to tent at Pond Flats. When he returned to the site with full water bottles, he suggested we take turns taking a sponge bath at the stream. I thought that I must smell really badly for him to suggest I get cleaned up before dinner! I took my tiny pack towel, powder and a wet wipe for my soapless "bath"!! Today the flaming azeleas (orange) and Mt Laurel (pink), were a striking contrast to our difficult rocky trail.Thank you friends,students and family for your cards, letters and care packages received today, along with my maildrop full of goodies to resupply me until Damascus, VA!
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Ponds Flat

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Last night two tenters arrived as we were going to bed at 6 pm. We met Circuit Rider, who is a Methodist minister from MI and Sherlock, from Cuba. At 4 am a barred owl decided it was time for us to wake up, and he did his best to do just that. When AT70 and I were having breakfast, it started to rain, but we were mostly packed up, so off we went! The rain stopped as we descended to Lake Watauga. The Trail brought us right to the public beach, with picnic tables, grills, and a roped off swimming area. How I wish we were ending our day here! The Trail continued right beside the lake, across a dam, then ascended a mountain where we still had beautiful views of the lake. Here at the shelter, looking at the lake 1600' below, I think of Mt Major with the view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the trail around Knight's Pond back home in NH. There are a few jet skiis, fishermen, and a party barge on Lake Watauga. It is a perfect day to relax for the afternoon. Shhhh! Tree Whisper is sleeping in his hammock!I didn't even know he was here. Today the May Apples are in bloom and I saw 8 more Lady Slippers.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: North of US421 at spring
Miles today: 20.2

Last night there were 3 of us at the shelter. AT70 and I woke up at 8 pm to watch the sunset over the mountains in our sleeping bags. It wasn't spectacular, but it was a bonus for staying at that shelter. It got very windy during the night and my thermometer in the shelter read 40'. As usual, I sleep beside AT70 on top of his plastic ground cloth. I like my head at the edge of the shelter but his is at the opposite end against the wall. The wind was blowing the excess tarp that draped over the shelter, over my head like a windshield. It was a huge help to keep me warm. I wore 2 shirts, pants, hat and gloves, but I wished I had my sleeping bag liner and skiing hand warmers which were in my backpack. It was hung on a hook out of reach. (Lesson learned) I eventually reversed my position to have may head at the wall, and that seemed a litle warmer. We got up and 6 am and moved very quickly because it was still cold and windy. We started hiking at 6:30, but by 7 am we were in shorts and t-shirts because it had warmed up to 42'! I signed the register at Iron Mt Shelter and noticed a hiker had written that he had seen a brown bear that day (yesterday), which he estimated to be 4 ft at the shoulder and 500 lbs. The bear was 150' from the hiker going parallel to the trail. Wish I was there! By 1 pm we had hiked 14.4 miles and stopped for a cooked lunch and hour rest at the Double Springs Shelter. We then hiked to Low Gap, US421, where I convinced AT70 to let me try to hitch a ride to Damascus so we could slack tomorrow.(My loaner pack is making my shoulders a little sore and I hoped for a break!) No such luck after a few attempts (do you think they knew I was smelly?), so we hiked to the spring and that's where we are camped out. Tomorrow is a big day, a new state! VA at last, and a shower at The Place in Damascus! Yipeeeeee!
Date: 2007-05-08
From: North of US421 at spring

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

If you've been following my journey, sit down when you read this entry!It was another cold and windy night. AT70 and I had an easy hike into Damascus today from 7-11:30 as we crossed the state boundary from TN to VA. We had great conversation, as usual. He stopped briefly to take meds for a sore shoulder and arm, which he's done the past couple of days. As we arrived in town, you could see the community is preparing for the Hiker Festival called Trail Days, which is a week from this weekend. It includes a Thru Hiker parade, talent show, dance, lectures, and vendors. I walked right to the Post Office to collect my maildrops and letters while AT70 went to the Outfitters to get his new LLBean boots. When I met him there, he was talking on the sidewalk to Hiker Nutt and Mt Man. He told me, and them, he had decided to go off the Trail for good, and was looking into a rental car to drive back to Springfield, Illinois. I couldn't believe my ears! AT70 had a heart attack in 2000. He said he didn't want to have a stroke on the Trail, and that he wanted one more big hike under his belt. His shoulder was sore and he was feeling numbness in his arm and fingers. So, we went to the laundomat and had lunch. We thanked each other for sharing the adventure of the past 39 days and I did what any logical female would do...cry! I am so sad to be losing this great partner, but look forward to my brother, Bob, aka Skiman on Trailjournals, joining me in Atkins, VA Monday, May 14, to continue to ME together. Tonight we are having a group dinner to celebrate Tree Whispers 48th birthday and to wish AT70 well. AT is such a wonderful friend and I will miss him greatly.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Damascus VA

To: Lost Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

I left Dave's Place at 6:30 after a tearful good by to AT70.I felt confident in continuing on the Trail by myself, but AT70 had become such a good friend and hiking mentor. Since I had a clean long sleeve shirt on and limited tolet paper for the next 5 days, I perfected my "snot rockets" until my tears for missing my buddy stopped and my nose drips were gone around noon. I called my hometown hiking friend, Asta, who allowed me to get this pity party out of my system and move on.I decided to make the next 5 days (before my brother joins me to hike to Katahdin)into opportunities I have not been able to do, or to do as easily with a hiking partner or group. So, here I sit on a huge boulder overlooking a fast flowing stream,letting my shorts and legs dry from the chilly pool I sat in, until I was afraid my orange Crocks would be sucked off my feet and end up downstream. Fly fisherman and cyclists wave to me as they go over the bridge on the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is the closest I have come to a zero day, and it is wonderful to just "chill".I got out my Ridegrest and had a good long nap. When I returned to the Trail, CNN (from TN) were headed to the same shelter as me, so we hiked together. Charles is 64, retired Air Force and Nancy is a retired PE teacher. Today only 2 college students from Boone were hiking north for a few days. Bonafide (and bone) passed me slacking south.There were 6 others out for a few days southbound, in two groups. At the shelter, CNN are tenting. Colonel and Fog are out for a couple of nights and sharing the shelter with me. Today I saw a rabbit and a brown snake.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Lost Mt. Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I left the shelter at 6:30 am, for the challenge of today's climb. Instead, I encountered a beautifully graded trail with wildflower fields on both sides. The flowers were a great distraction to the elevation gain. I photographed Columbine, Jack in the Pulpit and many others. As I sat on Buzzard's Rock having a snack, CNN came along and took my picture after I had photographed them coming up the Trail. We continued to hike together to Whitetop MT, elevation 5120', where there was a great panoramic view on this 80'day. When we arrived at the Thomas Knob Shelter at 1:30, a decision had to be made to stay or continue another 5 miles. We all had sore feet! We rested an hour and moved on to Grayson Highland State Park where there are herds of feral ponies. At first, we saw some far off in the distance. However, when CNN turned a corner on the Trail, about 20 ponies were right there. The Trail was very rocky and not much fun. It was sort of like rock scrambling at the beach. Then, at other times the rocks were small and sharp, and just a nuisance. I fell forward cutting my knee. It took duct tape to keep the two bandaids on after I washed it the best I could. The Grayson Highlands reminded me of the setting for Bonanza, the Wild, Wild, West or Gunsmoke, for those of you who remember those TV shows. The 3 of us arrived at the Wise Shelter at 5 pm. 2 men and 2 women are with me. CNN and others are tenting. We hear thunder in the distance and wonder if rain will follow!
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Wise Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 16.1

It started pouring at midnight last night. There were no leaks in the roof so the 5 of us were nice and dry. No ponies visited us at the shelter, but we did see piles of where they had been nearby. I left at 6:25 and saw 4 ponies grazing. Next 5 white tail deer were running across the ridge single file. It was a beautiful silouetted sight. When I stopped at the Old Orchard Shelter at 9 am, the Konnarock Work Crew was bringing lumber and supplies to build a composting pivy tomorrow. Once it is built, they will disassemble the existing privy. I took a couple of pictures and then hiked on to Hurricane Mt Shelter, elevation 4300', built in 2004, for lunch. Soon CNN and TK Express, from Seattle, joined me. We joked about the privy having only one privacy wall.I moved on and caught up to Blue Yonder, who had stayed in the same shelter with me last night. We got water at a stream and soaked our feet as we waited for her partner, Daybreak. Daybreak wanted a rest when she arrived, so I hiked on by myself to VA16. There I hitched a ride to the Hurricane Campground, where CNN had saved a spot for me on their campsite. I took a soapless shower with my clothes on in the bathhouse. The water wouldn't go unless you held the knob in, so it was a challenge to scrub and hold, so the water would spray. Next, I used my potholder to srub my filthy feet and legs. Third grader, Grace, Goddaughter ofthe man who gave me a ride, brought over 3 Mountain Dews for us. Their campsite was next door. What a treat since the campground had no store. Today we broke the 500 mile barrier, hiking a total of 508.7. In addition, literature about the AT says is takes 6 weeks to get your Trail Legs. Since this is the end of my 6th wk,ie 42 days, I guess I've got Trail Legs!!
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Dickey Gap

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

A wonderful man from the campground picked up CNN and me around 7:15 and brought us 2 miles uphill to the trailhead. Our highest ascent was on High Point, elevation 4040, and then it descended to Trimpi Shelter, elevation 2900, where we had a snack. Trimpi was constructed of stone with a center fireplace and double decker bunks on each side. We saw a beautiful field of purple and white flox. We met Blue Yonder and Daybreak on the Trail just before arriving at Partnership Shelter. Here, there is a shower, wash sink and toilet in a building with a door! One tenth of a mile away is the Mt Rogers NRA Headquarters where there is a phone to order pizza. An hour later the delivery came and we had a feast! There are about 10 of us here, all arriving before 2 pm, so it's been fun to "hang out" and get to know one another better. For example,I learned that Daybreak has all ready Thru-Hiked once and this is CNN's 3rd attempt. Daybreak and Blue Yonder have all ready hiked 950 miles on the PCT(Pacific Crest Trail)in Oregon and Washington this year. For me,I believe Thru Hiking once will be enough! However, I am meeting more and more people who are return Thru Hikers and just love being on the Trail.The diversity of hikers I am meeting makes fellowship at the shelters really fun.