morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-29
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

For the first time, I got claustrophobic in a shelter. Had to get up and go outside about 11:30 for a breath of air. Ended up praying for about 30 minutes or more & was able to go back in and get some sleep. Thank you, Lord, for calming my spirit.We got up and hit the trail by 8:30 and reached the first shelter by noon. We had planned to call it a day there, but the shelter was not very nice and we decided to push on to Davenport. That will leave only 3.3 miles to Standing Bear Hostel tomorrow. Good nero (no quite zero mile day)!We will be out of the Smokies tomorrow. We have had no rain, very few clouds & great views all week. The flowers have been beautiful: trillium (red, white & yellow), spring beauties, trout lilies, bluettes, dutch iris and lots of trees blooming out (especially the dogwoods). Could not have asked for a better week of hiking.That's all for now. I hope you are all enjoying the journal; hope to be able to add more pictures soon, but it may be another week or so. From what I am hearing, I may not be able to get the pictures done for a while, but keep checking. Much love to all - One Track signing off.
Date: 2009-04-30
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We were sleeping good until 1 am when 2 hikers came in making lots of noise. This was our 1st ch\\shelter that had a cage to lock the bears out and these hikers made lots of noise trying to get the gate open and closed, crawling into the upper shelf and then immediately started snoring. Don't think I got back to sleep for a couple of hours and woke up again about 6:30. We decided to get up and get going. It was a fairly easy hike and we saw our first running water since entering the Smokies. Got a bit confused about directions to the hostel and missed about a mile of the AT. Phatmandu walked back and did the mile but I'm not going to worry about it. I figure I just took a detoured route but we still got here.Today has been a day for resupply, washing, resting & updating my journal. It has been a relaxing day - I needed it.My hope is a good night's sleep before pushing on towards Hot Springs, NC tomorrow. If the scales at the hostel are right, I have lost about 12 pounds!
Date: 2009-05-01
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Great night's sleep at Standing Bear. We decided to get ready and push on only to have the sky open up and it poured. We waited a while - much to Phatmandu's chagrine - and started hiking about 9 am. I have discovered that I do not like walking in rain. In spite of the raingear, everthing gets wet anyway because you are sweating so much. I am thinking about getting a backpacker's poncho. I'll talk to those who have them to get an idea whether or not this is a good idea.The rain quit about 11 and we took off all the gear. It was a short day as we arrived at our planned destination by 1:30 (4.5 hours to do 7.2 miles - not bad). I am getting stronger and somewhat faster. Tomorrow & the next day will be 13.1 mile days to put us in Hot Springs on Sunday. I am looking forward to taking a zero day. I will part ways with Phatmandu in Hot Springs - it has been fun but he needs to start putting in more miles. I will continue doing what is comfortable and play things out one day at a time.
Date: 2009-05-02
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

I have officially been on the trail for one month! In a way it seems like it has been forever and yet I can't believe a month has gone by already.Phatmandu set the alarm for 6 this morning & we rolled out about 7:30. We made it to the 1st shelter by 12:15 - 8.2 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes - not bad! I am definitely getting stronger and faster.It started raining before we reached Max Patch Bald so there were no views, just lots of wind and fog. Oh well, can't have beautiful weather every day. It rained off and on all day long today. We pushed on to the 2nd shelter (4.9 miles further) and pulled into this shelter about 3. We just beat out 3 guys & a dog who are section hiking. They were trying to get to the shelter 1st to claim spots in teh shelter - it sleeps 5. They have now decided to move on down the trail a bit, so tonight it will be me, Phatmandu, Library & John in the shelter. Others may still show up as it is early yet. Tomorrow we are hiking into Hot Springs, NC - another 13.1 mile day. I will take Monday off as a zero - can't wait!
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Walnut Mtn. Shelter

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

Turned out to have a full house & a great night last night. The 3 section hikers decided to stay - 1 in the shelter (Termite) with his dog & the other 2 tented. Termite built a great fire & we stood around talking for the longest time. Good times. It rained & stormed off & on all night long but the coolest thing we heard was a pair of owls calling very loudly to each other - incredible!Got up about 6:30 & began packing up. Left camp about 7:45. Long uphill right out of the shelter with little ups & downs until the 1st shelter - Deer Park - where we stopped to dry off & have some lunch about 12:00. Had a bit of trail magic before that - a big container full of baggies with crackers, a Snickers bar, a bottle of water & a hand cleaner towelette. Ate & drank the goodies & kept the ziplog bag for future use.After the shelter it was 3 miles downhill to Hot Springs - another long series of switchbacks. Walked into town to find Elmer's & then went out to have a look around & find food. Ate dinner at a place overlooking the river - fried shrimp, baked potatoe & salade. Ate with the 3 section hikers from last night - Bourbon, Termite & Mark, me and Phatmandu. Ran into lots of others we have been seeing on an almost daily basis: Maya (Jungli), Good Will, Bruce (Socrates) & Dot (Dame Dotty), & others.We have seen the most amazing flowers (no pictures due to rain): trillium (white, off-white with black centers, red, yellow, pink); flaming azalea (bright orange - tree version); pink lady slippes; and a lot more I don't know the names of. Spring is beautiful!
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

Miles today: 0.0

Today has been a pretty relaxing day. I was not sure what I was going to do when I woke up this morning. I had planned to take a day off & finally decided I needed to. Phatmandu & I made reservations for breakfast here at the Inn but when we got down to there all they had was cereal & pancakes. I don't like pancakes & I was not going to pay $6 for a bowl of cereal, so I went across the road to the Smoky Mountain Diner - 2 eggs, bacon, grits & a biscuit for $6 (much better). We did laundry, went to the post office & outfitters (new pants, shirt, sock liners, boot laces (hopefully mouseproof), & ear plugs (to keep out the snoring)). After that it was back to the Inn to put everything up & walk Phatmandu out of town. It was hard to see him go but he really needs to put some miles behind him. I came back to the room & took a nap. Felt good. Went back to the post office to mail stuff home & then got on teh cell phone to Mark Hogewood to check in. It was great to talk to him & tell him what's been happening & where I am & where I'm heading. Of course, I also talked to Mom & Dad for well over an hour today. Can't wait to see them in Damascus.Good Will and I are going back to Rock Bottom Sports Grill for dinner tonight & I am hoping to hit the trail fairly early tomorrow. Now I am going to organize my stuff to get ready to go. Have my cell phone charging, my sleeping bag aired out & everything but my boots are dry. Hopefully they will be dry by morning.
Date: 2009-05-05
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Started off my day by coming wide awake at 4 am. Don't know what woke me up but i had to work to stay quiet until after 6:30. Got a roommate yesterday afternoon - SNP joined me. Tood another shower before setting out. Went to the Smoky Mountain Diner again for breakfast, got some good water at the Dollar Store, packed up, paid for my stay, went to the outfitters to check the weather & started walking.This morning was great - 70s temps & no rain. Got some photos & then it clouded up so I put the camera under cover. Good thing cause it poured for most of the afternoon. Everything I was wearing was soaked and is now laying out to dry. Saw some great stuff today in spite of the rain: a rabbit, 2 indigo buntings, a piliated woodpecker & a turkey that ran right out in front of me. That was the most wildlife I have seen so far. It was weird walking without Phatmandu. He left me a note here at the shelter (in the register). I will definitely miss his company. Don't know what tomorrow will hold - weather calling for 80% chance of rain.
Date: 2009-05-06
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: moderate rain

It did not rain all night long but lots of wind. I was out of camp by 8. I made pretty good time (approx. 2 miles an hour). Of course it started raining. It did not pour like it did yesterday but at least I had all of my rain gear on today. Everthing is still wet though.Saw my 1st box turtle today but that's all I saw. I stopped at the 1st shelter with thoughts of staying there for the night, but the people there were pretty strange so I decided to eat and move on. I had a choice of trails at one point and should have gone with my first insting - the bad weather trail. Instead, I stayed on the AT and climbed the ridge trail. Big mistake - very rocky - very windy - no views. As a result, my right shin is aching. Took 4 ibuprofen with dinner. Hopefully I will feel better in the morning. Intended to call home, but no signal up here.Phatmandu has been leaving messages for me in the shelter registers. Really miss him. Tonight at the shelter are Sean (Trampoline), Two Kids, Jungli & Goucha.
Date: 2009-05-07
From: Jerry's Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

Last night was horrible. We ended up with a full shelter plus a boatload of tenters - tons of people. A bunch of them decided to play music and sing forever. I finally spoke up and asked Strings to quit playing his guitar. After that they stood outside the shelter and talked. Two Kids finally asked them to have some quiet time - it was 10:00. They finally took the hint and it got quiet enough to sleep. Thank goodness.Today was not my best day. I was down because of the weather and my right shin was really hurting. Got to the 1st shelter by 11:30 and decided to push on. I was looking for a campsite listed on the map at 12.6 miles. Never found it and needed water so kept pushing (limping). Finally turned a corner and there was the 2nd shelter. Thank goodness - long day. Saw a piliated woodpecker and almost stepped on a small snake that was laying across the trail.I'm not sure what I will do tomorrow. I may take a zero at this shelter and rest my shin for a day. The next shelter is 10.1 miles - a long way when you are hurting. I'll see how I feel.
Date: 2009-05-08
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Injury timeout! Decided to take a zero day today. I definitely have shin splints in my right leg. I was bummed this morning as everyone was leaving, but at 9 the bottom dropped and it poured with thunder and lightening for 2 solid hours. Goucha decided she would wait out the storm with me. After she left it wasn't too long before Stickman showed up (with an extra Snickers bar - lunch). He pushed on after Toubab showed up, the Photoshop and Good Will came in. Good Will also pushed on.I think I made the right choice to stay put today. I will take it very easy tomorrow. I should make it to Erwin, TN on Monday. Will pick up my box from home and may stay the night at Uncle Johnny's hostel.
Date: 2009-05-09
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain SHelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Got an early start this morning. Up by 6 and out of camp before 8. The 1st 2.4 miles went incredibly fast. The shin was feeling good. After that I started a series of uphill climbs and by mile 8 I was hurting. I was glad to see the sign for the shelter and called it a day here at 2.I went through a beautiful area and took a couple of pictures - gorgeous views! Stopped for lunch on a huge fallen tree. It got a bit cloudy so I put the camera away and got out the rain cover for my pack.Most of today was up hill - lowest point 4000 feet; highest 5516 feet. Crossed 2 balds (360 degree views) but did not stop - it was getting very cloudy and I was ready to find the shelter. Right as I was clearing the 2nd bald it began to rain so the last mile to the shelter was fun & slippery - great! Tomorrow's terraine looks a bit easier - I hope so anyway.It's funny walking right now. You hear this rack that sounds like rain and stop to listen only to discover hundreds of baby grasshoppers jumping all over the place. Nature is cool!Phatmandu left me 2 voicemail messages - he has calf problems and is holed up at Uncle Johnny's hostel. I will try to get back in touch with him later today.
Date: 2009-05-10
From: Bald Mountain SHelter

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a strange night last night. No one else came in so I had the place to myself (the shelter slept 10). Very eerie, windy & cold. No mice, thank goodness. Most of last night was spent trying to get in touch with Phatman - finally called home and had them get in touch with him and let him know what was up with me and where I was. Got a voicemail from him this morning that he was leaving Uncle Johnny's at 7 to come and get me and for me to start early. I did not make it out of camp by 7 - 7:15 actually. Took it easy, being very careful where I placed my feet to keep from slipping and sliding!I had just crossed Spivey Gap when he came out of the woods toward me. I was so happy to see him and he grabbed me in a big bear hug and then told me to unload my pack, that he was taking everything heavy out of it.We found a flat spot and ate some snacks and caught each other up on our injuries and what had been happening. Seems like a lot of people on the trail have been asking Phatman where his "wife" or "girlfriend" was. We laughed about this. He has been telling folks that we are just trail buddies but that he had left me in Hot Springs. I told him that using his venacular we are "trail mates." He liked that and now calls me trail wife - too funny!He has resigned himself to this injury & now thinks he will continue to hike with me at my pace. Suits me fine - I was missing his companionship & everyone else I know on the trail has passed me by. With this inconvenient shin injury I would have been hard pressed to run into any of them again.I saw a baby snake today - about 8 inches long - and another piliated woodpecker. They are all over the place, which is very cool!We are going to take it easy here at the shelter for the rest of the rest of the day and then head down to Erwin tomorrow. From there we will take it one day at a time.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: No Business Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel & Outfitters
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

Got up early this morning, packed up and were out of camp by 7. Had a good group at the shelter last night, but I am ready for a shower and clean clothes. Uncle Johnny's here we come!Phatmandu carried all my heavy stuff & we made pretty good time getting into Erwin, TN. We had rain most of the morning so no views. When we finally got to the ridge above Erwin the clouds broke a bit for a cool view of the Nolichucky River. It was all downhill from there - literally. I was doing fine until the earth moved under my feet and down I went. Man did that hurt the shin, but we were almost there. I checked in and rested for the remainder of the day. We are taking a zero day tomorrow and then it's back to the trail -slowly!I was able to get my pictures developed in town during the lunch run so I hope you all enjoy the views!
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel & Outfitters

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel & Outfitter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I am so tired! Not much sleep last night. They finally turned off the TV at 11 and people finally started settling down. I had been tired before but was now wide awake and it took a while to go to sleep only to wake up to lots of snoring and people getting up and down all night. Gave up and got up right before 6. I'm staying in my tent tonight.Got on the computer first thing and was able to get all of my journal updates done and pictures loaded. Hope you all enjoy! I iced my shin down after that and moved all my stuff to the back of the hostel and set up my tent. Hopefully I will sleep better tonight.I got everything together and took the lunch shuttle into town to eat and go to the post office. Was able to send all pictures and unnecessary things home - less weight to carry! Came back and iced my leg a couple of times and took a nap. Today was beautiful with temps in the 70s and lots of sun shine. I enjoyed it.Talked to Mom and Dad a lot today and caught up on all the news. They are coming to Damascus over Memorial Day weekend - Can't wait! The rest of my day was spent with phone calls and relaxing. Phatmandu and I will go out to breakfast tomorrow morning, pack up and head out. I have no idea how far we will go, but we are going to take it very easy with both of us just coming off injuries. I got a brace for my shin splint so this will be interesting to see how well it works. The weather is suppossed to be in the mid to upper 70s for the rest of the week with the biggest chance of rain on Sunday. Hope that holds true - I could use a few days of nice weather for a change.Well, it's almost 10 and time for bed. Don't know when I will get to update again, but I hope you are enjoying the posts so far. I think of and pray for you all often.
Date: 2009-05-13
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel & Outfitter

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

Left Uncle Johnny's this morning with the intent of taking it easy today. Let's just say - the best laid plans, and all that. Did the breakfast run then went back to the hostel to pack up and go. Finally got away about 11:15 and were at the 1st shelter 2 1/2 hours later. Had lunch and considered our options & decided to make for a camping area at Beauty Spot (a large bald area). Well, we got to Beauty Spot but no camping area so we pushed on to Deep Gap. It was way too big a day for the 1st day back on the trail. My leg is swollen and tired despite my new brace. Tomorrow will be interesting.
Date: 2009-05-14
From: Deep Gap

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept great in my tent last night. Where we camped was away from the wind so even though we heard it all night long we did not get buffeted by it. Got up about 6:30, ate and packed up. It was a late start out of camp - 8:10 - but just could not get going. We had a steep climb right out of camp. That did not help either.We climbed Unaka Mountain and walked through a pine forest in the fog. It was very eerie. We had to really watch the markers or could have gotten turned around easily.Made it to the shelter by 11:30 this morning. I was tired and my leg was a bit swollen so we opted (or rather I opted and Phatman agreed) to take a short day and rest up. We will try to make 10 or 11 miles tomorrow. Most everyone we know has gotten rides into Damascus for Trail Days, so we were surprised to see 4 other hikers besides ourselves still on the trail. Three are here with us tonight: Old Hobo, RLB and Strider. We are all staying in the shelter for the night. I'm really glad - it has been raining (with hail) since 6 pm and it looks like it could last the night.
Date: 2009-05-15
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

I am so glad we stayed in the shelter last night. It poured all night long. We would have washed away had we tented.We got a bit of a late start this morning but were still out of camp by 8. Phatman set out like he was running a race. When he finally gave me a chance to catch up he told me he wanted to push ahead to Greasy Creek Gap and do a bit of resupply at the hostel there. He took off and I got out my MP3 player and walked my pace. He sent word back with a Southbounder that he would meet me at the 1st shelter.It was a very good day with sunshine, birdsong & tunes. I made it to the shelter by 12:20. Phatman wasn't here so I took off my boots & socks, put on my Crocs & fixted lunch - PB&J - YUM!It wasn't long before RLB showed up, then Phatman, Blue Ray (who got caught in the rain last night), Strider & Old Hobo, plus a man who is out for a section hike. We talked about pushing on to the next shelter but that would add another 6.4 miles - uphill - to the day and the weather forecast was calling for more rain this afternoon. I did not want to do a 15 mile day with a still gimpy shin, though it is getting better. We decided to stay put.I scared a doe today, or rather she scared me. I cam around a bend in this beautiful grassy section and she jumped from about 10 feet beside me. She was so pretty. Just the second time I have seen deer out here.Not sure what the plan for tomorrow is. We have to climb Roan High at 6285 feet (1st shelter). The next shelter is Stan Murray Shelter which would be an 11.2 mile day. I am hoping we can do that, but I am trying to be cautious with my leg & not make it worse. They are calling for rain and colder temps for the next 2 days. Should be fun - ha ha!
Date: 2009-05-16
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a freight train in the shelter last night - bad snorer. Phatman kept kicking the guy's bunk (he was above us). Needless to say, sleep has not been easy to come by. Today was another glorious morning followed with afternoon & evening thunder showers. We hiked up Road Mountain - what a bear of a climb! Straight up with no switchbacks - very hard. The views were great. We got to the first shelter for lunch and pushed on to here. Coming down Roan was like walking through a river - so much rain and lots of rocks. We crossed a gorgeous bald - no pictures as it was getting ready to rain and we had put the cameras under cover. Got here about 4. It is us and Old Hobo here tonight. We have had an interesting evening so far. It started to rain and the shelter is built on a slant so rain started splattering in. We had to quickly rearrange everything to keep dry. Then a lady and her dog came by (Kelli & Grace). While Kelli was asking the time we had a bolt of lightning hit and the shock of it sent Grace yelping into the shelter. We think it shocked her pads. They stayed until the storm let up and headed for the next shelter. While they were here we all spent time mopping up streams of water. The weather is supposed to be the same for tomorrow so we will push for Apple House Shelter. After that it is supposed to be beautiful for the next week so we are going to really push miles and camp. We are trying to get to Damascus, VA by next weekend to see Mom and Dad. Can't wait!