morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-24
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

Up late and not on the trail until 10:00. Hiked in the rain about half the day, getting to Deep gap shelter which is 3.5 mi. From US76 and shuttle pickup. Got to the shelter early and claimed my spot. Every thing is wet including my self. I got into the sleeping bag with my wet clothing and let my body heat dry things out. Except for my fleece vest. It would be wet tomorrow. Making a nature call in the night I saw that the rain had turned to snow, temp was low 20s and my flese vest was frozen!
Date: 2013-03-25
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: US76/Dicks Crk Gap Franklin
Miles today: 3.5

Up at seven and away by eight. 22*F And snow. Had to make it to the hwy by 1100, and did, but the shuttle was late. Hiking was pretty easy on the frozen ground with an inch or so of snow. My name was not on the shuttle list but a call soon cleared that up. I did not eat breakfast an that caused me to start chilling.Settled into my room for two days (another zero) to finish my recovery from the cold. It was a good night to be inside with heat and a bed. 26th was bad night on the mountain.H.
Date: 2013-03-26
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Decided on another zero after getting up to snow and blow. Doing town stuff today and little thing like sewing up my gloves and putting screen protector on my phone (packing tape). Left over tape to the hiker box. Shopped for food yesterday and will break it down today. Laundry is next on the list.
Date: 2013-03-27
From: US76/Dicks Crk Gap

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

Back on the trail after a good rest and nearly recovered from my cold. 4.5 miles was enough for the first day back. Still had to force feed dinner. Meet Chris and Bunny, two ladies not together, and a young guy with a dog. In bed way before dark!
Date: 2013-03-31
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Long branch shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

New shelter, really nice. Good crowd. Meet Don's Brother. 8.6 is my best miles to date!Albert Mtn was a fun climb, 300' elv gain nearly strait up, almost needed climbing gear. A little later rain made it tougher for others, I'm sure. I really felt good after the climb and went a little faster, for a while! Everyone was heading for Rock Gap for trail magic, but I knew I couldn't make it so I stopped here.
Date: 2013-04-01
From: Long branch shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 7.3

Got to US64 and the second vehicle stopped for me and drove me to Budget Inn. What a country! Hike seemed harder today for some reason. Walked doe the street for pizza and it was great! Meet Woodstock and Cook-n again, Cook-n was doing a zero to give his blisters time to heal a little.
Date: 2013-04-02
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to stay another day. This old body requires a lot of rest! Did resupply, laundry, an bought a new rain jacket. Hope it vents better than than the cheaply I had. At least it weights a little less! Sent the Stri-pen home and switched to aquamira to save a little weight!
Date: 2013-04-04
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: moderate rain

Didn't get away til just before 10:00 but was able to do 10.6 miles in freezing rain with iced limbs falling around me every where! Shelter was full, so I had to sleep on the edge. No problem with that, just had to climb into my sleeping bag early because I was starting to chill. Warmed up quickly and was nice and comfortable and dry!
Date: 2013-04-05
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.8

Weather turned nice today an it was 50* and sunny by the time I got to the NOC. Caught up with GloBug,et all. Lunch, laundry, phone calls an ready for the big climb tomorrow. Spent the night in a platform tent (free for the weekend) and watched Grizzly Man documentary. He was strang for sure. So was the documentary. We had a big fire going later and so it was late to bed.
Date: 2013-04-06
From: NOC

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9

6.9 miles strait up! 3,000 feet elevation gain! Like being trapped on a down escalator and couldn't get off and had to keep going up or get swished! Good training for the Smokies, I guess. Alone in the shelter for the night. Frenchie (Frencb/Canadian) is here but set up his tent. Said he sent 12 pounds home to lighten his PAC from fifty something pounds. He had been a scout leader and the standard for them was 1/3 of body weight for their packs. Guess that did not account for all of the climbs and over 2,000 miles! Lots of hikers stayed at the NOC for hiker fest, I decided to move on, and the this is as far as I can go. I started the day with a good breakfast and that really helped.
Date: 2013-04-07
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 9.0

Tough nine miles today. When I crossed NC143 I was very low on water so when two ladies drove into the parking lot I walked over and asked if they had any extra water and they did not, But they did have a big cup of sweet tea (you know you are in the South when people have sweet tea). I don't like like sweet tea but gladly accept it with much appreciation. The day ended with a long climb up Jacob's ladder, a seemingly strait up climb of several hundred feet elevation gain. Did I mention that I hate long climbs late in the day?
Date: 2013-04-08
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Jacobs Ladder, part deuxDay started out great! Up at seven, out by eight! Great hiking for an hour or so and then I saw some power lines that I recognized!!! Damn! I was going the wrong way! Waited for a hiker to come by and confirm my suspicions, and damn, I was going the wrong way! I got turned around and headed north again. I stopped for a break and to text try to contact Tore, with whom I was to share a room tonight, left voice mail and sent a text. Up and on my way again and doubt suddenly set... "Was I going the wrong way again?" So I stopped and waited for another to confirm or relieve my fears. before long a familiar face, Whirled Peas, came along and convinced me that I was going north. What a relief! I had planned to make it to Fontana Dam tonight, but damn, I was going the wrong way. So,it was back up Jacobs Ladder. But I have to say that it was much easier earlier in the day! So, 11.1 mile only count for 6.1 official miles... Damn, I was going the wrong way.But, I refuse to change my trail name!
Date: 2013-04-09
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontanna Hilton
Miles today: 6.0

Up and out by 9:45. Called the shuttle for a lift to P.O. and the General store for mail drop, a little resupply (mostly day snacks) and do laundry. When I stepped on the porch, people started talking about my Jacobs ladder episode and trying to give me a new name but I would have none of it. Damn, I was going the wrong way! Messed around a little more and caught the shuttle back to the trail and had one more mile to do before the Hilton. A 10lb food drop can add about 20 lbs to your pack weight, or so it seems. Crowd at the shelter but most tented so the shelter was nearly empty. Tomorrow I enter the Smokies.
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Fontanna Hilton

To: Birch Spring Gap camping area
Miles today: 6.0

Up at sunrise and out by nine to do six miles into the GSMNP. Lots of rules to go by in the park and I knew I couldn't do 12 miles today so I settled in early. Upper 70s and 10 lbs extra food made for tough hiking so I just took my time and rested a lot. Running low on water, I spotted a little puddle spring so I stopped an topped off. Half mile later a good stream was running across the trail. Oh, well, I didn't know!At one point I just dropped my pack and rested for 30 minutes. I was dead tired setting up the tent. This is only the second time for the tent. I did get a good night sleep and much needed rest. Note to self, "Trail food is getting really, really bad. Must do something about that!"
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Birch Spring Gap camping area

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and out early enough, but miles are hard to make. I wanted to make it to Russell Field Shelter, but a storm with high wind is coming in so I stayed at Mollies. Full house to over flowing. Rain started just after dark with winds and lightning. Lots of familiar faces here tonight.
Date: 2013-04-12
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Record day today with 11.7 miles!   Earlier, I hiked for quite a while without seeing a white blaze and was getting ready to make a major decent and I didn't want to go down an have to climb back up. I had turned a number of times to look for a south bound blaze without seeing any. So, I turned and started south. Saw a white blase in about 200 yards so I turned North again a went down the mountain. I stopped and made dinner on the trail because I was running late didn't want a lot to do when I get to the shelter. Got to the shelter just before dark an just had time to set my pad and sleeping bag. Good night, I'm tired!
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 10.1

The highlight of the day was walking into a tree. So concentrating on the trail that I didn't see it leaning at a 45* angle across the trail. My hat's brim blocked my view and BAM, top of my head right into the tree. Next thing I know, I'm sitting on my butt! I just sat there and laughed at myself for a minute or so. Now to get up with my pack on, not an easy task, nor is it a pretty site to watch!Something seemed crazy with the altimeter. I know I did the 500 foot climb, but the altimeter said I had not. I readjusted the altimeter and continued on... right up a 500 foot climb, so, I re-readjusted the altimeter! Made it to Clingmens Dome an caught a ride heading for Gatlinburg for the night, sharing a room with Laura and Charlie at the Grand Prix. Saved me having to my own room so I treated them to dinner @ TX Rd House. I had the ribs and they were great. Charles bought the beer. May take another zero tomorrow depending on the rides back to the trail and need more rest.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0

Decided I need another day to get all the rest I need and get chores done. Wanted to do a breakfast buffet that I had heard about but found out where it was too late so settled for KFC for lunch.Went to NOC outfitter to look for shoes but found nothing that fit. Why is it that out fitters, and manufactures don't carry shoes and boots in wide widths? Did my grocery shopping and later back to NOC to find thinner socks. One of my big toenails has been banging the toe box of my current boots. It has darkened, don't know if I will lose it or not. Trimmed it really short and that did help. Signed up form tomorrows free shuttle while I was there. Got the last slot.Went back to TRH for dinner, got a big salad but could not eat all of it. Maybe it had something to do with that pint of ice cream am had eaten earlier!Planning for next few days looks like 10+ miles the first day out with am late start.
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Gatlinburg

To: Ice Water Springs shelter 
Miles today: 10.6

TaxDay. Had breakfast Buffet @ Bennetts. Good food. Back to the room and pack up everything an could not find my head lamp so I picked up one at the outfitters before getting on the shuttle. With the late start and having to make a half mile hike/climb up to the trail (that did not count) 10.6 miles put me at the shelter just after dark so it was good that I bought the new head lamp. Used the lamp the last 200 yards, just for safety. Set up and go to bed without any supper. Found my lost head lamp rolled up in the sleeping bag, will have to send it home. The new one has a red lamp feature which other hikers will appreciate.
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Ice Water Springs shelter 

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's hike was tough, I guess because I went to bed without dinner last night. Took the Charlie bunion side trail for the view. A day hiker there offered me some summer sausage and cheese. Tasted great! Meet PrayerWalker there. I had read her journal here. We hiked together for a while. The gang showed up at the shelter and spent the night.
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.2

Started with the intention of doing 13+ miles but gave that up when I got here and it started to rain. Had a snack, settled in and waited til time to to cook dinner. Someone woke me up and asked if I could move over a one space so the three of them could be together. They apologized for waking me but I told I had to get any way and fix dinner.   Group of four a little after dark.
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Tri Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Caged in! Wow, 14.8 miles in one day! Quite a record for me. And in only 9.5 hours! Good hiking day more down than up. Peaked @ 5,000 ft and then down to 2,600 ft. Water was scarce on the trail, but I had treated a liter near the shelter I passed so I made it with out problem. Good thing my toe nails were trimmed very short! The shelter was caged in to protect us against the bears! Until the last few years all park shelters were caged when they learned that people were feeding the bears through the chain link fence and started to remove the cage. This is the only remaining 'cage'!
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 3.8

Short hiking day, in the rain. "Rustic" old farm stead with the old buildins converted for hostel use. Bunk house was tight and full. PrayerWalker came in later haviving hiked all day in the rain. Resupply room was on honer system. Recorded things and prices as I picked up stuff and added the bunk then stuffed the envelope and dropped it off as when I leave. Lots of rain so hikers are huddled everywhere. Shared a Degorno pizza with PW and it was great.
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 9.8

Up ant by nine and did 9.6 miles to Brown Gap after a Jinny Dean Sausage and coffee. Caught up with PrayerWalker on Snow Bird Mountain just after passing the FAA unit. She had been there for while because she found a cell signal. Otherwise I can't keep up with her. We hike together for a while and later we camped together. After setting up and fixing and eating dinner I was getting chilly so climbed into my sleeping bag. A couple join up and set up for camp. Note: Was awakened a loud "Roll over" from PrayerWalker's tent. The guy in the third tent must have been snoring very loud, though I didn't hear it. PW had not gotten a good night sleep for the last two nights because of loud snoring and just couldn't take it any more. I laughed abut it the next morning!
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Brown Gap

To: Bluff Mtn tent site
Miles today: 12.4

Had plans to meet up PrawerWalker at Kale Gap and saw in a shelter log that she was over an hour ahead of me so when I got to Kale Gap and did not find her I knew she was having a good day and hiked on. I hiked on and made half way up Bluff Mountain and stopped and set up camp. Will see PW in Hot Springs. It's eleven miles to HS so will be there tomorrow. I picked up another cold from Standing Bear and it is slowly beginning to effect my speed a little. Will have to zero there.
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Bluff Mtn tent site

To: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Miles today: 10.9

Up and out by 0745. Meet PW about .4 mile up the trail and we hiked together for a while but she soon got ahead of me. Caught up with her when she stopped for lunch. I showed her a US Army wrist band that I found on trail. She said it was hers, that she had lost a couple of days ago. She was glad to have it back!Got to Laughing Heart but it was nearly was nearly full. I wanted a private room because of my cold. PW got got the last single and they only had doubles left but 'Chuck Norris' gave me a deal for being alone and doing two nights.Did town stuff and picked up my food drop. I now have 17 pounds of food. Will have to bounce some of it to Erwin, the next trail trow.Laughing Heart is the best hostel on the trail so far.
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs

To: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Zero in Hot Springs! More regular town stuff. Had a great breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner! Bought a bag pump for my sleeping bag, will be much better for inflating the pad! Weighted myself on two different scales an I have lost somewhere between 10 and 40 pounds! Both scale varied each time I stepped on it!
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs

To: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0

Happy birthday to me, number 66 and counting! And feeling every day of it today! Feeling bad all day and had a terrible night last night. Coughing and hacking and awake most of the night. Glad I have a private room! Started chilling mid afternoon and took a few vitamin I and felt lots better!
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs

To: Stelth camp on Rich Mountian
Miles today: 6.0

Decided to leave today even though I am not fully recovered. Started with big breakfast at the diner and did six miles in six hours. It was a steep climb so I took it easy. Made it to 2,500 ft elevation and set up camp. Saw my first snakes today. Water moccasins in dammed pond where I got water!I stopped at 1530 so I plenty of time to rest and set up. I will be using my tent a lot for the next week as there is a nerovirus problem in the shelters between Hot Springs and Erwin.1830 and time for me to get some sleep.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Stealth camp on Rich Mountian

To: Stealth camp
Miles today: 11.2

11.2 miles today. Was going to stop at the Hemlock Hostel but was not convinced that I was at the right place to turn so just continued on. (it was the right road)!My stealth skills need work. Last night at true midnight some night hikers walked by, and there was a full moon. A light lighted up my tent for a second and I heard a voice saying, "There is someone camping over there." I was awake already because of a hiker w/dog that had passed just 10 minutes earlier. Meet the night hikers up the trail this morning. Did not plan to hike 11.2 miles but was running low on water and the next source listed was at the next shelter. Two miles shy of the shelter I came across a little spring just feet below the trail, on a very steep slope! Collected and treated 2.5 liters and continued on up the mountain with five more pounds on my back! Now to find a tent site! And I did about 2.0 miles before the shelter.Set up, cooked and was in my tent by 1900! Less than five minutes later it started to sprinkle a few rain drops, my timing was pretty good. Hope to get a good night sleep!
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Stealth camp

To: Ewrin TN, Holiday Inn
Miles today: 2.0

When does 8=2? When counting miles on the AT! Woke up early after a rough night sleep. Had lite rain/sprinkles last all night, off and on. I was warm and dry but the weather and hiking has had an effect on my cold. I discovered that I had lost my voice when I started talking to myself! I had 50 miles to go to get to Erwin so I started. Two mile on, I stopped, made a command decision, turned 180 degrees, and started hiking south back down the mountain. There was no way I was going to make it 50 miles the way I was feeling. Five miles back to the hostel I missed last night to get a shuttle to Erwin in case I need medical attention. Had to wait for the shuttle but made it Ewrin. Uncle Johnny's had tent room only, in rain. No way. So Alaska, Ducky, and I walked a mile to Holiday Inn Express and share a suite with one bed, a sofa sleeper, and a roll in. I got the roll in, sat on it and thought I was going to hit the floor, but, it was warm an dry.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Ewrin TN

To: Ewrin TN Super 8
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero, I'll never get there this way. Called Miss Janet (a trail angel that helps hikers as munch as she can) for a ride over to Super 8, about 4 four miles away in the rain! I got a room to myself to recover. AK and Ducky smoke, not much and it didn't bother me, but no smoke is better! Rain lasted all day as I walked down to Walgreens for some OTC aids, and some ice cream.Weather appears to be clearing up for the next days and I would like to get back on the trail. Will decide tomorrow on medical attention.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Ewrin TN Super 8

To: Ewrin TN Super 8
Miles today: 0.0

Another day, another zero! Feeling a little better but the cough is getting worse. I'm here for one more night regardless. By mid afternoon I decided to go to the Urgent Care center that I think is related to the hospital here. Got in pretty quick and confirmed that I had a bad cough resulting from the cold and bronchial congestion. Rx's include an inhaler, codeine based cough syrup, and a strong antibiotic to clear up my lungs. I ask how long to stay off the trail and he said at least 48 hours, so add another zero!Scales there say that so far I have lost 15 pounds on the trail.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Ewrin TN Super 8

To: Ewrin TN Super 8
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero while I'm taking all the drugs and waiting to get better. Still coughing a lot and a lot of stuff is coming up so I guess I need that extra day after all. As I was walking a mile up the street to the China Kitchen for lunch, I ran into Nema from way back. She highly recommended the CK. It was good.Took the time to sort through my stuff and have some to send home. I have got to get my pack weight down! I have too much food now but not enough for a bounce box. At least it will go down as I travel.125 miles to Damascus, VA. Trail days there in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to that, just hope I don't catch something there. If that happens, I might have to give up this living in the woods thing!Here's to feeling better!
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Uncle Johnny's

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to recover another day. I left Hot Springs and too early and that cost me in time, miles, and a doctor visit.Took the breakfast shuttle for some biscuits and gravy and just hung around until the dinner shuttle and went for the KFC AYCE buffet.It is not very exciting to hang around a hostile for very long so I am ready to leave as soon as I feel like it.
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Uncle Johnny's

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.5

Eight and a half miles to a stealth tent site just past TN395/NC197. The trail has followed and crossed the TN/NC border for ever. This is not a good tent site an add to that the wind @20-25 MPH and higher gust made for an iffy night, but I was hiking up hill and carrying four liters of water while looking for a place to camp. I passed up a lot of good sites but did not have enough water for setting up camp for dinner, breakfast, and starting off in the morning. Setting up the tent I saw the rain fly was still wet for a few days ago and I had forgotten to get it out and let it dry. The wind soon solved that problem. I met Stretch, Pantry, and Slow 'n Steady during the day. They were hiking together and they found a good water source at the highway but they back tracked to find a campsite as I walked north and found this one. I had to walk back down the trail 75 yards or so to find a place out of the wind just to cook dinner. After settling into my tent I discovered that I had not packed my Nexus 7 tablet very well in my pack and had cracked the glass screen. About 20% of the screen was working and responding to the touch. Everything was viewable, just could not use the touch keyboard for text entry. Tried short hand code to update my Facebook followers and the response I was "you talk funny". So much for that!The wind is howling and gusting. Reminds me of the three little pigs and the wolf huffing and puffing to blow their house down. But my Big Agnes tent is holding up very well. It will make for a bad night for sleeping though!Getting dark, so I will settle down for some rest, if not sleep!