morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Hemlock Hollow Hostel

To: Mile 303 tent sote
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It poured this morning! I didn't get out of Hemlock Hollow until 10:00. And then the rain stopped. The low clouds became valley mists. You could watch the valley clouds ebb and flow up to the trail from below. Views cleared. Altogether a fine day. I didn't see anyone for a while but as usual hikers would pass me during the day. And occasionally I pass someone who passed me days ago. The hiker community is full of these fun encounters. It's part of how relationships form. I like it!Big Firescale Knob was fun. There's a blue blazed side trail for bad weather. But today was turning out very nice. Lots of rocks to climb along the ridge line. I don't know how long I sat at the crest but it deserved the time spent! The word for today could be MUD. With last nite's rain parts of the trail were ankle deep in hiker churned mud. Impossible to avoid. Ha, one of the reasons I wear gaiters. Keeps the muck from sneaking in over the tops of my trail runners. It may not sound masculine, but I love my Dirty Girl gaiters...light, colorful, and effective. It was getting too late to make the next shelter, and I knew it would be full anyway. So after cresting Big Butt Mountain (yes that's what the guide says) I found a great tent side and made camp. It dawned on me that this was my first nite on the AT completely alone. I made a fire and enjoyed the stillness as the sun set and the stars came out. A great day! Wasn't until later that I realized I'd passed mile 300.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Mile 303 tent sote

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 14.4

I used a picture of last nite's tent site. Tonight I'm doing the same. I'm tenting, sitting in front of my campfire as I peck at these little IPhone keys. US I-26 is right below the knoll. Seems a bit strange to see/hear traffic while at a fire. Strangely I'm sort of enjoying the close distance. I'm hanging out, waiting for trail magic tomorrow. Breakfast. Scrambled eggs. OJ. Hash browns. And who knows what else. Real food!!! The last shelter is 2.4 miles back. I ran into a man whom I assume is a pastor. He was posting a sign for the trail magic at the turn off to the shelter. He walked 2.4 miles each way to do this. It chokes me up. And these angels know how much hikers eat. Kinda renews one's faith in mankind. And makes you want to pay it forward. Erwin is still a couple days away and I'm not excited about what's in my food bag, as good as it is. Trail Magic!!! The word has gone out on hiker telegraph. Guaranteed smiles and excitement. I'll try to leave them some.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: Sams Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.4

I was wrong. It wasn't trail magic breakfast by a church group. Only one man is pulling this off. For 10 days, starting today. Quiet Paul. Two time AT thru hiker. Once NOBO and once SOBO. He says he'll run through about 100 dozen eggs alone. Amazing. Giving back to the trail. I got there first but a gang of hikers soon showed up from 2.4 miles away. I know what got them up and moving fast...hot breakfast. Quiet Paul just kept cooking and passing out huge plates of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and muffins. It became a very happy place. I learned that Quiet Paul was a stone mason and had worked on the National Cathedral in DC for 20 years. I've been there, standing in awe of the workmanship. Thank you Quiet Paul. Next up, Big Bald. The trees approaching 5516 feet had ice in their high branches. As they warmed in the sun sprinkles of ice fell in the forest. I could see the beautiful bald rising out of the mountain profile. A mound of grassy clearing. 360 degree views at the top. Exquisitely beautiful. I doubt I could ever tire if these great Appalachian balds. I'd add a picture but the morning cold ate the life out of my IPhone battery. Later that afternoon I tented in Spivey Gap, by a creek, in a nice flat spot among rhododendrons. A couple section hikers added their tents to my campfire. It was one of those great days that satisfied until the very end. Big Gulp, Pretty Bird, Snorlax, and Red Beard moved on up the trail in the gathering dusk. Erwin, TN is on everyone's mind.
Date: 2014-04-06
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 10.7

Here I am at the AYCE buffet at KFC in Erwin. They are definitely losing money with me! I went through the $7.99 on my first trip. My laundry is done. I'm clean...ish. The hiker funk becomes pervasive. Using wool instead of synthetics helps though. I do what I can. I may zero here tomorrow. The forecasted rain promises to be almost a two day affair. And I haven't taken a zero since Gatlinburg...however many days ago. I'll decide in the morning. Most everyone is at the hostel, a couple miles out of town. I decided to get closer and opted for the Super 8. Maybe the idea of soaking this old body in a hot tub was the deciding factor. It was wonderful. I was thinking while hiking today that my entries are pretty much positive. So I spent a couple miles of a great hiking day thinking about negatives of life on the AT. I honestly couldn't come up with much. Hiking conditions and weather are what they are. People snoring in the shelters are just people being people and it'd be a shame to miss a fine friendship just because someone happens to snore. But I did come up with one thing...getting out of a warm bag in the middle of the night to pee just plain sucks. So everything's not all wonderful! Maybe throw in smelly socks. That's all I've got. My plan was to hike my own hike, not get in a rush, and enjoy every moment as much as possible. Steadily hike north, but throw The Schedule of my recent work life out the window. So far it's been a great plan. Meanwhile, I got to get back to this buffet.
Date: 2014-04-07
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0

What's your motive? The steady rain in the morning was enough to tip the scales to taking a zero. But really? It stopped raining later and I could have hiked. I really did just want to not hike for a day. McDonalds was closest to the motel for breakfast. And there was Zacksquatch at the counter. Pinecone and GB are also in town, at the same hotel. Big Gulp and Pretty Bird are also taking a zero. We all met that evening, back at KFC to do some serious damage to the AYCE buffet. So much fun!I noticed something at McDonalds. I guess they now put the calories on their menu board. I found myself ordering based on the most calories. Hiker hunger is definitely kicking in. I think a big motive for the zero was so I could eat more town food. I don't know where it goes. Seems like the food hits my stomach, vaporizes, and I'm hungry again. It's very different from normal. I don't know how much weight I've lost but I've definitely lost quite a few pounds. Kinda fun to eat whatever you want and still lose weight!
Date: 2014-04-08
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

17.5 miles today. The most yet. I had no intention of going this far. It just happened. Leaving town pretty much means climbing back up out of a valley. With an extra 8 to 10 pounds of food resupply. Today was no different. But the trail didn't seem as steep as it could have been. The miles just went by. Still, Erwin is at 1768 feet and the trail is heading for 6212 feet at Roan High Knob. But not today. To be honest, I was a little disappointed by Beauty Spot. But only because of the expectation that came with the name. Unaka Mountain more than made up for it. The spruce forest at the top was incredible. We were all talking about it later as we circled the food bags. The lush mosses and soft spruce needles underfoot made a quiet, almost mystic, moment away from the usual crunchy leaf and dirt tread way. Very nice!My new supper kick is mashed potatoes. Take a four serving pouch of instant potatoes. Add two cups of hot water. Slice in hard salami. Slice in lots of cheese. Enjoy. Do not fall to temptation and eat tomorrow night's portion as well. It was a great day on the trail today. About 10 of us are at this shelter. I count 5 tents. It's been an overcast and cool day, which is good for hiking. But once you stop for the night a chill wants to settle in. By dusk most of us are in our sleeping bags, getting warm. It's hiker midnight.
Date: 2014-04-09
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Ash Gap
Miles today: 15.2

Almost to Roan High Knob. I just like the sound of the name. It's actually Roan High Bluff and High Knob. Seems there's a bit of a saddle between the two. I'm not sure exactly when the trail last went over 6000 feet but I want to say it was in GSMNP. So today had a lot of ups. Most everyone moved on ahead of me. I'm pretty slow up the inclines. I don't think it'll get a whole lot better. Age does what age does. What pleases me is that I don't seem to huff and puff so much any more. There's a pace for every degree of incline. One just keeps on going until the top is reached. It's close to 4 miles of up from Hughes Gap to the top of Roan. But before the top there's a brief dip into Ash Gap, where I hoped to tent. As I got higher I began to see the trees on top were covered in ice. It had rained in the morning before I got up. And it was foggy for a long time. Obviously the top of Roan was below freezing. Day light was running out. Most of the other hikers had gone to the shelter at the top. I was happy to pitch my tent in Ash Gap. By the time I set up camp, ate, and hung my food bag the skies had gotten clear. The sun was setting. The moon was rising. It was beautiful! The promise of a fine day in the morning hung in the wind. I had the gap to myself...nice.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Ash Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

What? Only 8.9 miles? My mind keeps poking at my contentment. I stopped here at Overmountain Shelter at 1:00 and it's now 3:00. I could still put in some miles. Zacksquatch is stopping 9 miles ahead. I could catch him. I've known about this converted barn shelter for quite some time. I just want to stay here. It's so very picturesque. No regrets. And maybe Big Gulp and Pretty Bird will show up here. I know they wanted to stay here. Don't know how far behind they are but it can't be much. AND there's a good signal! I can catch up on my journal. Today was an outstanding day. It's warmer. Sunny. The trail up out of Ash Gap is new. I was so glad to hike it fresh in the day and appreciate the fine work that had been done. Really, these volunteers do an incredible job. It's a LOT of work. And the trail down from Roan High Knob to Carvers Gap is pretty new too. At the gap there's road access for day hikers. And a restroom! The simple joy of having a basic restroom available! Good timing. The nice trail continued up the first bald after Carvers Gap. Then the trail became itself again...well worn. Eroded. Kind of comfortable and familiar. Much of the morning, on the new trail, had been over patches of ice and frozen mud. After Jane Bald the ice was gone. In its place was a couple miles of some of the slipperiest mud ever. By lower elevation the trail has gotten dry and nice. A day like today will dry things out even more. The forecast looks great. So far I have this cool converted barn to myself. It'll be interesting to see who shows up. Meanwhile, I need to hang my sleeping bag in the sun and dry out last night's condensation. Things to do! Good to get this journal caught up. I'll check spelling later. Maybe. For sure cheesy mashed potatoes is on the menu.
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

It's been a couple of great days. The Roan Highlands has been one of the very best stretches of the trail so far. Great weather. Long views as one hikes over the grassy balds. Yesterday was a play day. I promised myself I'd have those. Only 8.9 miles. I spent most of my afternoon laying in the grass, shoes and socks off, and letting the most springlike day this year recharge my system. It was wonderful. Later a few hikers came in. We all marveled at the Overmountain Shelter. Sunshine, warmer, and great views. The moon rose over the ridge. The sun set. We lit a campfire and just drank in the wonderfulness of it all. Today was my longest yet. 18 miles. Beautiful day. We're now down from the Roan Highlands. Midway through the day I came to a road with a bakery in the town of Roan Mountain on my mind. Smoky Mountain Bakery. Don't miss it! Cactus, Aroo, and I hitched into town and it was awesome. Wood fired oven fresh pizza and baked goods. I got back on the trail feeling full and packing some good food. I passed 400 miles today. Also left North Carolina for the last time. We've been bouncing between NC and TN for a long time. Now I'm in TN. But not for long. The VA border is only a couple days away. The trail is now gentler. I had the shelter to myself until well after dark. Late Start and Sky came in under head lamps. We had a fun visit before sleep came. Today was one fine day.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

It's gentler hiking now. The ups and downs are shorter. And it's warm. I'd say hot, except I know it'll get much hotter soon. The rhythm of hiking is pleasant. I left the shelter at my preferred 7:30 and enjoyed the morning cool and long shadows. Yes, getting warmer...I cleared the trail of a lot of spider webs. I was looking forward to Kincora. I wanted to meet the legendary Bob Peoples, who runs the place. Bob is in charge of well over 100 miles of trail maintenance. His attention to this responsibility shows. It's a big task. We visited with Bob well into dusk. I really enjoyed talking with him about the Camino Santiago (sp?) trail, which he had done recently. His love of the history and culture around that trail system speaks volumes. Plus, he has traces of a South Boston accent...always a plus. I have no desire to hike the PCT or CDT but that Santiago trail keeps cooking in my mind. I think I know what will come of it. I met a new batch of hikers at Kincora. My usual companions are either ahead or behind me. It's all pretty great. The family grows. I like it!Damascus is three days away at my pace. The forecast is excellent. I've got just enough resupply. Northward! Very exciting to think VA and Damascus are so close.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

I thought about Bob Peoples a lot this morning. The excellent handiwork of he and his trail maintenance team was very evident in the hike through Laurel Gorge and over Pond Mt. But soon enough the day warmed up. A lot. And I tried to not think about the gathering heat. It's going to get a LOT hotter. But today was a striking change from less than a week ago. Nice to be able to hike in just a T-shirt and shorts. The trail wasn't so gentle today. But it made up for it with the beauty of Laurel Gorge, Watauga Lake, Watauga Dam, and the spectacular view from this shelter. We're sitting on a ridge with a clear view some 1500 feet above the valley below...just at the edge if the lake. There's just me and Hey Everybody at the shelter at the moment. I expect some will show up later under headlamp. The climbs today took me by surprise. Shouldn't have. I paid close attention to upcoming water sources. I drank liters of the stuff today. With the warmth the buds are swelling. The forest floor is sprouting all sorts of interesting things. Spring has sprung. It's so much fun to spend all day observing the developing green. And the changes with altitude. Just another fine day on the AT. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: haze

I'm sitting at my computer at the Lazy Fox Inn (B & B) in Damascus, VA. Wow. Damascus. It seemed so far away at one time. I just got back from supper at The Blue Blaze. Gotta love a place where the local eatery has a hiking reference in its name. And it was full of hikers. There were people I hadn't seen for days. And new friends to meet. I hadn't seen Grasshopper and Runaway for weeks. And Beandip's mom is here from Brisbane to join her daughter's hike for a few weeks.For me it was just 10.4 miles into town. In the rain. It's suddenly turned cold. Snow fell this afternoon. Up on the AT hikers were hustling all day through the rain, sleet, and snow to get to Damascus. Some came 26 miles. But all the wet and cold was forgotten under the spell of high calorie food, micro brews, and fellowship. A great time was had by all. In the heat of a couple days ago many thoughts turned to sending home some winter gear and lightening the pack. You tend to rethink your strategy when it snows.I was by myself when I came upon the sign at the VA/TN state line. Didn't stop me from doing a little jig in the rain. Three states down. And now, here's Virginia...containing about 25% of the AT. I'm at mile 467.6. Mile 500 is coming up. The trees are well into bud in Damascus. Despite the snow, things are changing. I feel very excited about being here.I'm going to zero tomorrow. Resupply. Laundry. Eat some more town food. And see who the trail delivers into Damascus during the day. It is going to be so much fun. And I hear that the breakfast at this place is incredible.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It's a few days later...and I have a good signal right here on the trail. I'm behind on my journaling. Not unusual. The zero at the Lazy Fox Inn was wonderful. Miss Ginny (89) has been running this place for over 20 years. Wonderful lady who loves what she's doing. She shared some stories with me about the Barefoot Sisters and The Family From The North that I really enjoyed hearing. The house is so comfortable. And the breakfast...incredible!So I ran errands. Did a lot of visiting with other hikers. And ate a lot of food. It's a zero day. The rain was over and the sun came out. Some hikers rented bikes and got shuttled 20 miles up the Virginia Creeper trail and coasted on bikes back to Damascus. But I did pretty much nothing. A great day for everyone.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Time to load up and hike out of Damascus, after Miss Ginny's massive breakfast. I liken my body to a caravan camel. It groans and protests, not interested in hiking...at all. I have a theory. I think my body goes into lazy mode on a zero day. It reverses. It just wants to do nothing except restore town food as fat. Like I said, it's running in reverse. It takes the first 1000 foot climb to tune the lazy thing back up. Get the body busy converting reserves into energy to drive the pistons that are my legs. Until then I have "town legs."After two 1000 foot hills the AT returns to the Virginia Creeper trail. About 13 AT miles in. The Creeper has been gently climbing out of Damascus too. With no 1000 foot bumps. Tempting. End up the same place! Guess this makes me a white blaze purist. Sisyfus joins me for the final couple miles to the shelter. We're back in hiking mode. Senator, H2O, and a couple other hikers join us at the shelter. Peabody just got on the AT today, for a section. Says his pack weighs 69 pounds. We all look at him in shock and concern. And help him kill off the four bottles of beer he's carrying. Being new, with that much weight, non of us expect to see him on up the trail. Unless he does a major culling of his gear. Feeling great. Good to be back on the trail.
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

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

It's overcast and cool. The climb up the side of Whitetop Mountain, about 2000 feet, warms me up. And about 12 miles into the day I'm entering the Grayson Highlands. The trees thin, the vistas open up, and wild ponies are grazing in the open grasslands. We've all anticipated seeing this favorite location on the AT. The ponies are wild but curious. We're not supposed to feed them. I hear they really like granola bars. The shelter journals are full of pony talk. These animals help keep invasive plants at bay in the highlands. We're hovering around 5400 feet. Thru hikers will not see this elevation again until New England. The highlands are rocky. There's several rocky up thrusts. This being Easter weekend there are dozens and dozens of day hikers and weekenders. Groups of people are climbing over the rocks. There's actually road access with parking at the highlands. I haven't seen so many people around the trail since I started. It's good to see people getting out into nature. Even at Wise Shelter there are lots of people tenting. A youth group came to the shelter before sunset. They had no tents. Trip, Kristo, Cactus, Aroo, and Baloo moved out of the shelter and turned it over to the youth group. In return we all got to share their huge meal of corn on the cob and steak, sausage, and chicken burritos. There was more than we all could eat. We sent the rest to another gathering of week enders tenting nearby. Trail Magic. It was a great evening and an unusual mix of thru hikers and week enders. No doubt the trail will revert to the usual sparce population of mostly thru hikers soon. The Grayson Highlands, with the ponies, seems to be popular. Again, good to see people getting out here. Today was a fun day!Forgot to mention...passed 500 miles today. Someone had placed 500 in stones beside the trail. This is a big milestone for us thru hikers. Soon we will have 25% of the trail behind us. Wow. It's happening.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

The trail is dropping down to 3000 to 4000 feet. Shrubs along the trail are beginning to show foliage. By noon the week end hikers are gone. Sisyfus and I are hiking about the same pace. It's Easter Saturday. Sisyfus and some of the other hikers are hoping to get into Marion tomorrow for church services. It's still overcast and cool. It actually rained for a while before dawn this morning. But it's a fine day for hiking. At Fox Creek some previous thru hikers left a cooler of trail magic. Outstanding. I included a photo. Very exciting. It is such a boost when this happens. The magic comes out of the blue and magnifies all that's good. Hikers gather and talk about it for the rest of the day. The support of trail angels is something none of us take for granted. Magic is what it is. I finished up my 20 mile day at Trimpi Shelter. Only thru hikers now. Elusive is there. And Stakes and Cliffwalker. Sisyfus decides to make the 20 a 30 and hikes on. Val shows up. Then Senator and H2O. It's a very nice shelter. Virginia seems to do shelters well. Some are tenting. Some hanging in hammocks. A couple hours after dark Kristo, Prom Queen, and Geared Up show up. A merry gathering. The sky holds promise of a clear day tomorrow. Easter Sunday.