morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Clingman's Dome

To: Ice Water Shelter, TN
Miles today: 10.7

Today was my very best day on the trail since I started March 1st. The weather was warm and beautiful, the sky blue and the air was filled with bird song. This section of the Smokies is a moist, green, lush evergreen forest, and in spite of the tremendous loss of trees to that nasty Solly Adelgid, the beauty of this back country forest is amazing.Our taxi picked is up this morning at 7:30 and we were headed up to Clingman's Dome by 8:20. The building that was restrooms in 2003 is now a beautiful gift shop, and glorified privies have been added down in the parking area.Grits,Beerdra and I were happy to be back on the trail after our "rest" in Gatlinburg. It wasn't long before we had to put on our Yak Trad to safely handle the icy, north side of the mountain trail. I felt so much more safe and secure with them on my feet, helping with my every step.We had wonderful trail magic at the first place the trail comes out to the highway. I had a tomato and spinach sandwich on wheat bread with Swiss cheese and lots of Mayo. I also had Cheetos, a tasty cake, a tangerine and some little tomatoes. I refilled my water too, which is always nice....and, they took our trash. We stayed for over an hour, enjoying our good fortune, then left with full tummies. Unfortunately, we had not lightened our packs one ounce! Now I am carrying too much food, so when we got to the shelter, I shared the snacks I had been carrying for the day with other hikers.We had a nice stop at Newfoundland Gap where numerous tourists treated us like celebrities, taking our pictures and asking us questions, which of course we ate up.The afternoon's hike was as enjoyable as the morning's hike had been, and after several breaks arrived at the shelter rather late for us....around 6: 15. I set up my tent, collected water, made a dinner of rice polar and chicken and turned in for the night. I should sleep well, I've been up since 5 this morning. Not looking forward to the forecasted storms tomorrow afternoon, but have only a 7.4 mile day, so we should be settled into Peck's Corner Shelter, with plenty of firewood gathered for the shelter fireplace, before the storms hit. I sure hope so anyway.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Campsite just north of Davenport Gap

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 1.7

I awakened at 7:15, happy from my good night's sleep on our little island. By 8:15 we were packed and hiking. We walked along the creek for a while, enjoying the waterfalls and wild flowers as we made our way a short 1.7 miles to Standing Bear Farm, a great place to stay, with food resupply, laundry, and an outside kitchen and shower. I washed my stinky hiker clothes in a wash tub with a washboard and rolled them through two rollers that squeezed most of water out....then they went into an electric dryer.We have rented a little cabin tonight for the 3 of us to keep out of the 14 bed hostel and possible carriers of the nasty virus.I had to walk to the top of the hill to get a signal to call Jack. I hadn't talked to him since Gatlinburg and it did my heart good to hear his voice.My food resupply is done, laundry done, home contact made and pack is ready to go tomorrow morning when we head north toward Hot Springs. We've decided to continue to hike north, staying away from shelters, privys, campgrounds and groups. I hope it works.
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Campsite north of Max Patch on edge of farmer's fi
Miles today: 14.8

As I laid in bed, I could see the headlamps of the early risers heading back to the trail in the dark. Not me....I closed my eyes and slept for another hour.At 7:45 I was dressed, packed up, square on my bill and headed down the gravel road with Beerdra, back to the AT. Grits would bring up the rear after he squared his bill.Our day started with a 4-mile uphill that took us several miles to complete. The blood root is blooming and along with the Spring Beauties are covering the forest floor with a sea of white. Just beautiful to see and hike through.The sun was shining, heating up the pine straw that littered the forest floor and the wonderful aroma reminded me of camping at Batsto in the Jersey Pine Barrens.We lunched at the top of Sunrise Mountain on a bald. With amazing 360-degree views, I enjoyed the company while I ate my tortilla with cheddar cheese and beef stick. We took an entire hour break as it was to be a long 14+ mile day.We had several long ups today that sap my strength and make my feet ache, but with the help of ibuprofen and some wintergreen's oil, I got through.In the late afternoon we finally reached the amazing Max Patch Bald. It didn't disappoint. As we traveled over the bald in a stiff, chilly wind, we stopped here and there for pictures. I was happy to see that the damage done several months ago by the ATV and 4-wheel drive vandals is healing.We went over the bald, but didn't stay at the first campsite as the water was far away and downhill. We got water from the creek and continued on as we had seen tents in a field when up on the bald and were hoping to stay there. It all worked out as Grits had trees on which to erect his hammock and Beerdra and I joined several other tenters in the field. Dinner was late and I'm now journaling at 8:20 when I'm usually asleep. Tomorrow is an 18-mile day, so I'll check out and put my body and mind to rest~J.
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Campsite north of Max Patch on edge of farmer's fi

To: Campsite across from access trail to Deer Park She
Miles today: 15.1

The singing birds awakened me at 6 AM. It was a delightful way to awaken, but at 6:30 someone called out, "Stupid birds", so I guess not everyone was as happy as I was with them By 7:50 I was packed up and hiking. The winds last night brought the dense, wet clouds, so we carried out wet tents again.The early morning trail was amazing as the sun rose over the ridge and speckled the forest with its warmth. I wore a sleeveless shirt with a light fleece over it, but the fleece didn't last long and on the first climb I had to stop to remove it.On my 2003 hike, trail sister Karen Reilly and the LTC Hiker Chide had sent me Larry Luxemborg's book on Appalachian Trail wild flowers, and I had carried the book for miles because it was so much fun to be able to identify all the flowers we were seeing along the way. Today I wish I had that book. The forest is coming alive with color, pink, purple, yellow, white, and combinations of them. It's amazing to see the forest come to life as we get lower in elevation. Even the trees here are leafing out and the Redbuds and dogwood are beautiful.During an especially tough uphill in the sun today, I turned my cell phone iTunes on and enjoyed the music while I climbed. Maybe it's time for Jack to send me my iPod shuffle and head phones.During our break at Lemon Gap today, a group of 5 cars arrived as we ate. It was a local hiking glib out for their weekly hike. All were senior citizens and just as full of life and humor as could be. I took their picture for them and a sweet lady told me that we were the happiest thru-hikers that they had ever met....and they hike weekly, year round. That sure made me feel good. We all chatted for a bit and as they headed out, one gentleman came up to me and asked from where I came. I told him western PA, and he only knew towns on the eastern part of the state. So I told him I grew up in the Woodbury area and he said, "Oh, well then, I'm from Cape May Court House," he said. "I have relatives from there," I told him and started spouting names. He not only knew my Aunt Kate and Uncle Charlie, he told me that their grandson Jonathan just spent 3 days interviewing the Obamas and had written an article for last month's Vogue magazine. I had tears in my eyes, and had to give him a hug. Now I ask you, what the heck are the chances that can happen in the middle of a forest in Tennessee?As I left a message for Jack today, I spotted a Rufus Towhee in the brush. What a beautiful little bird. We're starting to see lots of squirrels and chipmunks too now that its warmer. Unfortunately, with the warm temps, comes the bugs, but I found out by accident that my wintergreen essential oil keeps them away!We are camped at a campsite across from Deer Park Mountain Shelter, where I stayed in 2003. Just now as several birds started calling back and forth, I had a flashback to 2003 when 2 Whip-or-wills called back and forth starting at 10 PM. It lasted for over an hour! I sure hope we don't have a repeat performance tonight from their descendents.
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Campsite across from access trail to Deer Park She

To: Hot Springs, North Carolina
Miles today: 3.2

Wrote this entire journal, then accidentally deleted it. Argh!Will recreate later when time allows. When I do here's what I'll be talking about:Birds and owls in the middle of the nightThunder and lighting storm at 6 AMFlowers and trees on hike into Hot SpringsLaughing Heart LodgeChanges in town since 2003HeatOff to Erwin, TN~J
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Today was spent relaxing for the most part. Tigger was extremely helpful in my planning for tomorrow's hike. I was lamenting the fact that I would be hiking in the pouring rain...mostly uphill, with 5.5 day's food on my back. Tigger had a better plan, so in the morning I will place my heavy pack on the front porch of the Lodge and hike out with a Fanny pack of water, food, and 1st aid. The Hemlock Hollow Hostel will pick up my pack and take it to the hostel where it will be waiting for me when I have done the 17 miles to them. We've been doing 14s with the packs, so a 17 should not be a problem, even in the pouring rain. It was easier to relax once that was out of the way.Loved, loved, loved the lodge cats, one year old brothers, Smokey and Bear that so resembled our cats Big Mike and (deceased) Isaac that at times it seemed I was petting my own animals.We had dinner tonight at the Community Center. Every Thursday there's a community dinner where you can eat for free or make a donation. Needless to say, it's a big hit with the hikers. We ate our fill of salad, Shepherd's pie, potatoes, hot dogs and more, then helped wipe off tables, and fold up the tables and chairs. Grits and I swept the hall and we all left happy.Back at the lodge I started a bath and walked out of my room to give Beerdra and Grits a message. I have a HUGE tub that was begging me to sit and soak for a while. When I returned moments later, I had pulled closed my LOCKED door! The caretaker for the evening was not in the building. I ran outside and told Chuck what I had done and he ran for the spare keys....which weren't where he thought they would be. I was beginning to panic at this point. I would just die if that tub ran over! Just then he found the keys, ran to my door, and unlocked it. I ran in to turn off the water....and it was still a good 6 inches from the overflow. Thank goodness for HUGE tubs I talked to Jack for the second time in 2 days. That doesn't happen often. I enjoyed my hot bath in a huge tub, and now I need a good night's sleep so that I'm ready for that 17 miles tomorrow~J
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hemlock Hollow, NC
Miles today: 16.3

My day started at 6:30 when I dressed and went out back to retrieve my poles and pack, then put it on the front porch to repack and label with my real name so Hemlock Hollow could pick it up and keep it safe until I arrived later in the day.We hiked out at 7:45, packless and with water, snacks and our hiking poles. We Hiked down the main street of Hot Springs, over the tracks, crossed the swiftly flowing French Broad River, jumped the guard rail and followed the river for a quarter of a mile. It was high and moving very quickly, and would be rising soon enough with the expected heavy rains this afternoon.Before long we were headed up, up, up Lover's Leap, a high rock outcropping far above us. Packless, we moved quickly and efficiently up the mountain. The heavy rain held off until just after noon, when the sky opened and drenched us with a cold, cold rain. For the next 2 and a half hours we hiked heads down and as quickly as we could.I had 2003 flashbacks constantly as I hiked. I kept wondering how on earth so many of us survived our hikes that year. I had only been hiking in the pouring rain for a couple of hours with NO pack, and I was cold, wet and miserable. I thought of the day in the Shenandoahs when Scubaman and I stood in a wayside in a heated restroom for 2 hours waiting for a shuttle to someplace, anyplace dry and warm. I never thought my body temperature would return to normal, but it did. I survived and continued north over and over again that spring, getting off the trail every 2-3 days to dry out and warm up. Kudos to the fine people in the Class of 2003!We arrived at the Log Cabin Road, turned west and walked the .7 miles to Hemlock Hollow. They are full tonight, as nobody else wanted to set up a tent and deal with the expected freezing temperatures when they were already soaking wet.Tonight's special at the camp's restaurant was catfish. Served with it was fries, delicious cole slaw and (an old family recipe) hush puppies. I had a wonderful pot of orange-green tea with dinner and left very full. Grits, Beerdra and I are sharing a little cabin to stay out of the hiker hostel and the possibility of illness.Tomorrow morning we will pack out heavy, food laden packs for our 4-day trek into Erwin. We can't check weather as the camp's wi-fi was blown out in a storm 3 days ago. We have no cell coverage here either, but last weather report was for 4 beautiful days in a row. Erwin....here we come~J
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Log Cabin Road

To: Campsite 1/2 mile north of Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.6

Today is dedicated to Jack for running my Chippewa Township Project Greensweep community clean up while I was busy walking in the woods. I love you!We awakened in our little one room cabin at 6:45 AM and started packing up immediately. Our hiker breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon and biscuit was being served at 7:30, and I didn't want to be late.Hemlock Hollow is a family owned business in the hills along the Tennessee, North Carolina border..just a quick .7 miles down a dirt road. It was the reason we were able to do the long day yesterday in the pouring rain, with no packs. They have a bunkhouse, cabins, a wash room, a country store and a restaurant. They have great resupply for the hikers and a fantastic collection of teas and fair trade coffee.We ate our hearty breakfast, settled our bills and were shuttled the .7 back to the trailhead.The trail went up for several miles out of the gap. We climbed from 8:30 until after noon when we stopped for lunch at Whiterock Cliffs, a wonderful, small out cropping of rocks that were perfect for sitting and relaxing. I'm back to crackers and peanut butter for lunch as it had gotten so hot and the cheese doesn't last but 2-3 days in the heat. After about 45 minutes a couple of weekenders showed up, so we gave up our prime spaces hanging above the valley so they could have a turn.After lunch we started into a 3-mile stretch of strenuous, steep rock climbing that was slow going and left my ankles and knees hurting. At the 10.1 mile mark we reached the Jerry Cabin shelter. It was the place that I had experienced my worst night on the trail in 2003 (check out my journal entry from April 17th, 2003). It was my intention that I would camp there again and have a good experience, thus wiping out the negative vibes from the last hike, but when we got there, we couldn't find any appropriate tent sites out of the widow makers, so we got our water for the night and moved on a half mile. We are camped just above the trail on a beautiful, though windy ridge. The ground is covered with trout lilies and spring beauties. We cooked back by the trail, out of the wind and hung our food from the critters great and small.It's only 5:30, but my chores are done and this happy camper is off her weary feet and in a zero degree sleeping bag for the night. A couple of ibuprofen and 14 hours prone will hopefully give me what it takes to hike about 14 to 15 miles tomorrow. Today we passed the 300-mile mark! Hooray for us....and everyone else that did the same today.
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Campsite 1/2 mile north of Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The flowers were amazing today, especially the trillium. In many places the purple, yellow and white blossoms could be seen growing side by side....Mother Nature's work at her finest.The first nine miles were the best yet, with great sections of gentle ups, slight downs and lots of straight aways. It didn't sap my strength like the 10 miles of ups yesterday had.I hiked around 2 trail dogs today and enjoyed having animals around me. One was a little pitty mix and the other looked somewhat like our Brooke. I can't get enough of the trail dogs.The temps have gotten cooler again and I'm back to wearing my winter hat to bed. When I hike out in the mornings, I'm again wearing my hat, gloves and my heavy coat. As the sun rises I start peeling clothing, first the hat and gloves, and eventually I trade the jacket for my lighter fleece. If it gets into the 50s, I unzip my pant legs. Lunch was taken in a pasture where we had to climb up and over our first style. It was the place that in 2003, a goat had followed me and Shocked and awed the entire way through the pasture and into the woods. My day ended in a tentsite abo0ve Hogback Ridge Shelter. The water was a long .3 miles from the shelter and it was exhausting at the end of the day to have to go so far for it, but I couldn't cook without it.Tomorrow will be another high mileage day, so time to turn in~J.
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Campsite near US 19 West at Spivy Gap
Miles today: 15.8

Several days ago I wrote about Jerry Cabin Shelter, the location of my worst day on the trail in 2003. Well, this year I was trying to erase the bad memroies and have a good experience there. As I walked up to the shelter, I could see that the grasy little meadow in which I had tucked my tent up under the rhododentrons in 2003 was now filled with briars and next to it was a path that led to a new privy. A privy that we had vowednot to use as it was in the quarantined area as listed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. But privys have a siren call that's hard to ignore. "Come to us" they whisper, "Sit...relax...don't squat in the woods". As I sat down, after carefully arranging tp over every square inch of it and touching nothing (I swear), my ziploc bag of Awol's AT Guide pages inched out of my left front pocket. I grabbed it and tossed it out of the privy, but instead of sailing to a safe spot in the dirt, it did a flip in the air and disappeared down a crack in the floor....right into that sweet spot under the privy. It seemed as if it was happening in s l o w m o t i o n. "Noooooo", I mouthed as it dropped before my eyes into the pit.These pages are my directions for every day. They include mileage, na mes of roads, mountains and shelters. They list every water sourse or every day. Without them, I am nothing. I do have the pdf in my phone, but I keep my phone off so as not to drain the battery. So the last 3 days I have been tough. I depend on Beerdra and Grits to inform me of where I am, how far it is to where I'm going and what's going to happen along the way. I'm sure they love it as much as I. As soon as I get to Erwin I will putchase another guide, tear out the pages to Damascus,and give the rest of the Guide to Beerdra, who used the ATC Data Book. My remaining pages to Maine are waiting in my bounce box in Damascus. The black cloud over Jerry Cabin Shelter continues.The high point of the day was celebrating Beerdra's birthday. I gave her 4 Starburst when she awakened and sang Happy Birthday to her after dinner. In Erwin we will give her a proper celebration with (of course) beer and burgers.I want to do a shout out to Beerdra's Mom, who is a faithful follower of my journal. Most likely it's the only way she hears about what her daughter is up to We have given Beerdra's Mom a trail name and now refer to her as BeerMom. I understand she likes beer as much as her daughter. Thanks BeerMom for joining me on this adventure!So, back to today: It was long, it was tough, and my feet hurt...big time. Off to bed for me. Tomorow will be a 10.7 miler into Erwin, TN where they hung that poor elephant many years ago. Really. Google it~J.
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Campsite near US 19 West at Spivy Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 10.7

The day that I hike into town is always a good day, whether it's 3 miles or today's 10.7. I was up and out by 7:05 AM. The first mile uphill wasn't bad, but I didn't swee the sun until I got to the top. It warmed quickly from there and I shed my hat and coat before long. I walked for about 7 miles before seeing my first hiker. It was a quiet, beautiful morning.Grits caught up to me about 3 miles before town and we hiked the rest of the way in together. I turned my right ankle several times on rocks and roots; the same ankle that I had peroneal tendon tear surgery 16 months before and it was really starting to bother me.We hit Uncle Johnny's a bit after noon and waited for Beerdra to arrive. While waiting I did some resupply in Johnny's store. It's had a facelift since I was there 10 years ago and it looked really good. I also had my first soda since getting on the trail.Beerdra hiked in a short time later and as luck would have it, Johnny's trash truck was headed toward the Holiday Inn Express, so we caught a ride with him.First order of business is always a shower. I can't wait to stand in a steamy, hot shower and wash the hiker stink off of me. I always try to get a room near the laundry so I can put a load of wash in while I'm in the shower. After laundry I'm always ready to eat.Erwin has a geat new shuttle system called Connex that for 2.00 you can ride anywhere in town. We took advantage of it and rode to the Mexican restaurant where we celebrated Beerdra's birthday with margeritas and of course Beer for Beerdra.Back at the hotel, I realized that my ankle was quite swolllen, and kept it up with ice on it for the evening.Tomorrow is a planned zero day to resupply and rest for our 6-day hike into Damascus~J.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0

This was my very first completely ZERO day ever. I spent the day flat on my back in bed, when I wasn't running to the bathroom to empty the contents of my stomach.....over and over and over again for 9 long hours. Then...the fever and chills started.Grits and Beerdra checked on me constantly by text, and brought me ginger ale and crackers, leaving them at my door so as not to get any closer than necessary.I'm so thankful that I was in the hotel when it hit me and not in my tent on the trail. It'll probably be a while before I can eat Mexican food again!