morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-23
To: At the Falls
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday Greg and I arrived at Amicalola falls state park in Georgia. It was 36 degrees and snowing! We went into the visitors center and talked to the staff member about my signing in to thru-hike. After looking at stuffed display animals, samples of what might be encountered during the day, we went into the night time active animal room. It reminded me of the scene in 'Pee Wee's Big Adventure' when he puts on his night vision glasses, screams and is surrounded by all kinds of wildlife. From there I spent time looking in about a dozen snake tanks. Each one had a live snake that I may come across on the trail, from a cotton mouth to a milk snake. I found it absolutely fascinating since I have always loved snakes. Greg on the other hand, intrigued but not impressed. We stomped around outside, visiting the shelter behind the visitors center which is representative of the shelters and lean-tos along the trail, although the staff member said it being screened in is along the front is an uncommon feature. We took pictures and hoped that the weather would improve by the time I set out. After checking into our room at the lodge I played Tetris with my pack again and I realized it was missing a few small but important items like matches in case the lighter konks out. Off we went to Wally World! (Walmart for those not used to that reference) Last minute supplies were aquired and Greg treated me to a very light weight Nikon camera that I got familiar with today. This morning after breakfast at the lodge I suited up in all the gear then Gregory and I hiked the mile trail down to the visitors center. It is a very steep decent beside the waterfall. Among the winding path are set a total of 602 steps and platforms that make the climb possible. At the lodge and visitor center gift shops is a t-shirt that says 'I survived the 602 steps at Amicalola Falls' or something close to that. All along the way down I paid close attention to how my knees and hips were handling the weight, and how my toes felt pushed forward but not cramped inside the shoes. Once at the visitors center I signed in as the 397th thru-hiker for 2010. I will edit this entry to add more tonight, right now Gregory is anxious to go get some dinner!!!!
Date: 2010-03-24
To: Finishing the Approach Trail
Miles today: 7.3

Left the lodge at 10:30, stopped for lunch break at 12:20. Should be at Springer by 4:30. Planning to start hiking again at 1 and break again at 3. I've met 'Winging it', 'Gonzo' and 'Last on the Bus'. Crossed paths with three dogs, so far all positive experiences. I'm sitting on the trail now so having to say many 'Hellos' to passers by Hopefully in the future there will be more out of the way places to take a sit down. The Approach Trail is a hazing at best and I seriously suggest all who plan to hike to get the shuttle to Springer. And save the approach for a separate trip The falls are very pretty but those miles are better reserved for the trail. I've set up camp at Black Gap Shelter. The tent is on a flat spot behind the shelter itself, 1.5 miles from Springer. Very disappointing but according to one of my campmates Springer will have a crowding issue since @ a dozen hikers got the shuttle up to the top. In hindsight I regret not making it to Springer but do not regret doing the approach trail or pushing myself too hard on the first full day of hiking. It will be interesting to see how my calves are tomorrow. My pack is still too heavy. This is a real problem and has the potential to shorten my hike by causing knee problems. I have to rethink my food, again, that is the heaviest part. Definitely could hike in sandals, feet got too hot today in socks and shoes. I tried texting G but there was no signal up here. There is a chance of rain for tomorrow night, I should spray seal the tent in the morning before cooking breakfast.
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Finishing the Approach Trail

To: Hawk Mountain
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

It is now 11am and I am sitting on top of Springer Mountain. Got up this morning @ 8am. Had a good night sleep but woke several times since I went to bed at the very early hour of 7pm the night before, absolutely exhausted. I have another reason not to regret my timing on the approach trail. If my journey had not gone the way it has I would have missed bumping into Lisa 'Just Lisa' who I first met in 1996 when G and I were living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is thru-hiking as well with a partner. It was quite amazing to re-meet someone from a past adventure in my life, over 12 years ago, who is also going on this one. I hope to see them in the future. Todays goal from here is Hawk Mountain Shelter 7.8 miles from here, here is to doing it! With the 1.5 miles I missed yesterday the total will be 9.3 miles. I will stop at the Springer Mountain Shelter for water then take a rest at Stover Creek Shelter, 1:20pm made it to Stover Creek Shelter. There is some kind of group doing work on the trail. They are taking a lunch as well and the girl sitting next to me has a tuna salad sandwich that is making me drool! I think I can safely leave my pack here while using thr privy. The Georgia shelters have excellent composting privies but remember if you use wet ones to pack out your trash, t.p. is okay to leave in them but the antibacterial wipes destroy the point of composting privies. The group seems to be @ a dozen twenty somethings and 6 older guide types. A side bit from this morning. Chris who is hiking with his dog Josh bumped into another couple, they tented at the shelter with their dogs as well, when they returned from a morning walk. Apparently She is a photographer and in a ruse He talked her into going to the top of Springer to get some sunrise photos. Once they were in the midst of the sunrise on springer He proposed and She accepted! The Trail maintainers have gone. It was a group of college students spending their spring break maintaining the trail rather than laying on a sandy beach somewhere. Yay them!! I wish I had been as constructive with my spring break time. The shelters have all been really nice and clean. I have yet to sleep in one though. I plan to keep to my tent but socialize when everyone is around eating. In the distance I hear some kind of wood boaring bird working away at getting it's dinner from a tree. I'm going to try to use the privy then pack on and get to my next goal.
Date: 2010-03-26
To: Gooch Mountain
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Everything is damp this morning including my spirits. Last night we had terrific thunderstorms at Hawk Mountain. Lightning struck close enough for me to feel it tick in the earth at the same as the light and boom came. This little tent didn't leak though and I am very happy about that since I didn't get to spray seal it. The phone gave out yesterday morning. I had shut it off the evening before after sending G a text message that wouldn't go through since there was no signal at Black Gap. The thermometer says it is 46 degrees f. in the tent and it feels warmer here than outside when I made breakfast. There is an excellent stream down the hill and the filter/steripen system seems to be working like a champ at cleansing the water. I had heated meals last night and this morning. Thank you Katie B for lending me your Whisperlite Internationale! I may have G cut the amount of gorp in my mail drops because I'm not going through it fast enough, not yet anyway. My left knee gave me a bit of bother this morning whole cooking. We'll see how it goes after pack up. Todays goal is 7.6 miles which is a lot of up and downs. It will be a break from yesterday at 9.3 mi, The camp routine is taking a bit longer than expected. I need to get up earlier and stop hiking earlier in the evening even if I don't make the shelter. Starting to get cold from not moving- better get packing and onto the next goal. Very Windy this morning!! 1:50pm I have stopped for a luchbreak at the top of Sassafras Mountain. I had hoped to make Coopers Gap before stopping but my turtles pace has prevented that. My left knee is getting worse and the fact that Sassafras Mtn. is like the steps at Amicalola Falls only twice as long doesn't help. It is fogged in and windy up here but there are birds chirping in the background which kind of makes up for the snow flurries. I met another thru-hiker, Kevin, who had commented on not seeing too many other thru-hikers, that he thought there would be a lot more at Stover Creek Shelter where he stayed last night. I told him about the ten or so hikers at Hawk Mtn., that they were all ahead of me and he would catch up with them tonight. His enthusiasm was refreshing. I am getting cold, better down some food and get a move on! Got to the shelter later than planned, all the tent pads are occupied so I set up on the loft in the shelter with 'Mary Poppins', her hiking partner (sorry I don't remember her name) and 'Winging It'. I'm losing the light so not much more writing for tonight. There is a lot of activitiy going on. 'Gonzo', 'Last on the Bus', Paco and another man are playing a card game form of Monopoly. There are others over enjoying the firepit. More tomorrow right now I'm just happy to have made it to the Shelter. Town tomorrow and the first mail drop, woot!
Date: 2010-03-28
From: A.T. Hiker Hostel

To: A.T. Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Here at The Hiker Hostel they serve a kick butt breakfast! There was plain pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, oatmeal with brown sugar and raisin fixings on the side, eggs, grits, coffee, two kinds of juice, it was awesome!!! I took a glorious hot shower then spent part of the morning going through the first aid kit, removing items unlikely to be used and filling the space with things from the toiletry kit. The two kits are almost completely merged and the edited items will be sent home or bumped ahead with the extras from tomorrow's mail drop. Going to do some laundry later and go over the pack a dozen more times.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Neels Gap

To: Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning I helped Sid bring laundry and trash to the office only to find the caretaker had gone to a dentist appointment. We brought the stuff back to the cabin and left it neatly inside. We locked things up and headed up the side trail to the outfitters. As we were hiking up the path I saw Janes truck pull into the cabins. Sid went back and got a ride up the hill which was good since her feet were so sore. I kept to the path, what a wake up call to the calves after a day off the trail. At the outfitters I picked up some Tyvek to use as a ground cloth and another 50' of cord for future bear bag use. I spoke with Sid and Jane briefly before heading outside to call G. Once off of the phone it was 11am, very late start but I still wanted to meet up with BillNye at Low Gap today. Around 3 o'clock I stopped on the top of Wolf Laurel Top, took off the boots and socks and let my feet air out. It was a nice view and the feet really enjoyed the breeze. I heard people behind me and looked over my shoulder to see .com and Fe3O2. We shouted hellos but they kept going on. Once my break was done I caught up with them at Baggs Creek Gap where we discussed plans for making it in the heat. I decided to hike until @ 7pm and see where that put me. .com and Fe3O2 decided to head to Whitley Gap Shelter. I found out later it is the shelter that is actually over a mile off the trail. I had confused WoodsHole and Whitley, in hindsight really wish those oreos and oranges had made me get off the trail there that night. 5pm and I'm staring at the sign for Whitley Gap Shelter. There are people I know here and importantly bear cables so I decided to stop and hike the 1.2 miles off the trail to the shelter. It was a nice shelter with lots of campable areas. There was a man in the shelter who had been there a couple of days. His hiking name was CaptainGutz. He had injured his foot and hip on the hike and was giving them time to rest up. .com and Fe3O2 were there and I met another couple who I had leap-frogged with, Just Doug and Peaches. The five of us set up tents in the camping area. Just Doug and Peaches built a nice fire which we all ate dinner around. .com taught me about the dehydrated meals she makes, it is something I'd like to try for future hiking events. As the sun went down and the stars came out I was overjoyed with having stayed on the trail. Hit the hay around 9:30pm
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Whitley Gap Shelter

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up early for me, ate poptarts and an oatmeal pie for breakfast. planned to meet up with .com and Fe3O2 for luch at Low Gap Shelter. I warned them that they would probably be headed out as I came bumbling in. 9:30am left the shelter and not looking forward to the uphill of getting out from Whitley Gap. 1:30pm Made it to Low Gap Shelter. It is way too hot, 84f in the shade. If I push myself in this heat it will be sick time so I'm stopping here for the night and catching up on journaling. Right now Just Doug, Peaches, Krusty and Stretch are here. Krusty is moving on as far as he can, Just Doug and Peaches are heading to Blue Mtn. Shelter once they take a break in the shade. That leaves me and Stretch in the shelter so far for tonight but others are expected to show later. My arms are sunburned the right one more than the left. I used a scarf to cover it this morning and protect it a bit more. The view out from the shelter is nice, of the stream where hikers get water but the sound is even better, it could easily lull me into a nap. Tried the phone to text G but it crapped out again. Again I powered it off with 3/4 battery and it won't come back on. This really stinks because it will be 4 days 'til I get to a place to charge up.
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

The shelter site filled up @ 15 people but only 2 actually stayed in the shelter; Shakin' Britches and Call of Nature. Teflon came in and so did two girls from Austrailia? There was a young guy maybe 21 with his 2 younger brothers and a dog named Diamond. They became 'Diamonds Crew'. Also 'Caper' and 'Not Yet', I'm forgetting some now. Woke up at 7:15am broke camp, cleaned water and then made breakfast. Left camp finally at 10am. 2:30pm Found a shady spot under a pine tree and am taking a break. 82f today, still too hot for comfortable hiking. Shoes and socks are off!!! Feet are roasting. Hungry and nausous from over exertion. Will wait a few minutes then eat something. Been drinking plenty of water. Spent most of today leap-frogging with other people from last night but this break will put quite a space between us. Going to chill here for at least a half hour. One hour later I trekked the .7mi up to the Blue Mountain Shelter. Hadn't realized it was so close. Got in at 4:30, treated some water and set up my tent. There was room next to the girls from Australia except one is from Aust. and the other is from New Zealand. They are 'Lift and Step' and 'Make You Wait' I hung out in the shelter as it began to fill with people, ate dinner with everyone. We talked about stoves and the next days hike, the terrible Tray Mountain. By the time we gathered around the fire there were 15 hikers. I hung out by the fire until @ 9pm, watched and awexome sunset. Hopefully I will get out of camp early tomorrow. I woke at one point to watch the shadow of a mouse climb up the tent line, then it slid down the fly as though it was a carnival ride. Luckily no scent was worth chewing through the tent to investigate.
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke early and finally had a morning where I left camp early, 8:30am and on the move. Plan to hike for 4 hours and take a long lunch at 12:30p. 2:30p made it to Tray Mountiain Shelter, Woot!! Boone, Stretch, Lift and Step and Make you Wait are all here along with many new faces. Cooked oatmeal for a late lunch and hung out in the shelter after setting up the tent. Dead Man Walking came in later and later still was LowKey.
Date: 2010-04-04
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke at 7:20a, out of camp by 9a, hope to meet with the group in about 10mi just before Dicks Creek Gap. Got to Deep Gap Shelter at 2:15p. Eight miles in just over 5 hours, meh so-so. It was a good bit of elevation over Kelly Knob though. Debating wether to push on and meet up with others at the stream or do those three miles in the morning and try to get the shuttle to Hiawasee Inn.
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Hiawasssee Inn

To: Campsite past Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke woke up at 5am, an hour before the alarm was set. Dag Nabbit!!! Why can't I get moving that early when out on the trail. The shuttle from the Hiawasee Inn left at 8:30a and after a bit of chat I was on the trail at 9am. Stopped around 1pm at the PlumOrchard Shelter, ate lunch with Lift n' Step, Make you Wait, Boone and Stretch. They moved on at 1:30 but I had to wait for my food to go down on such a hot day. There is going to be a border party at Bly Gap tonight to celebrate finishing Georgia. I'm looking forward to it It is another hot one today, 85f but there should be a cold front moving across the area soon. Perhaps some T-storms by Thursday and more spring-like temperatures after that. No signs of the Copperhead snakes that are suppose to inhabit the stump outside of the shelter. This shelter has a unique layout, three levels. It was airlifted here by the army 5th ranger training battalion in 1992. Still have 4.5mi to so to I better use the privy, treat some water and get a move one. Pooped out before making it to Bly Gap, very dissapointed to be missing the Border Party but hope everyone ahead of me has a good time. Camped a couple of miles away just before Rich Cove Gap with Doggin It, Shoe Horn, Krusty, Sideways, Ups and a man from Belgium whose name I don't know yet. Wish I had been able to pull the miles but it was just too hot for me.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Campsite past Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Wateroak Gap
Miles today: 6.9

Took the time to cook breakfast this morning. The water source is only so-so here so the plan is to fill up at Bly Gap where other hikers have mentioned the water source being good. Last out of camp again, hoping today will be cooler so I can make up the couple of miles missed yesterday. Can't wait for this heat to subside. Left camp at 9:30am. 11am at Bly Gap, still one couple here from last night who are hanging out and reading. Purified some water and had a snack. Hearing many happy shouts in the distance of other hikers reaching the state line. I had stopped and took a picture of myself by the sign as well. 3pm Cooling my heels at Muskrat Creek Shelter. This has been a tough 5 miles, the elevtion is crazy! Unfortunately there are no official campsites between here and the next road, the next shelter is another 4.9mi. I doubt very much I can make it before dark. A bigger factor is all this new food weight and I have extra since I didn't bump forward the nut&berry mix which has been cut in half for future drops. Hmm... do I head out at 4p and get a couple more miles in? 6:30pm Decided to go on a bit got to Wateroak Gap at @ 5:15pm. It was only two more miles but better than nothing. Still 3 miles behind from yesterday and if tomorrows rain is as bad as the rumors I may just stay in the tent. I'm having a good time but am way behind, not at all happy with my daily miles and the battery on the phone crapped out AGAIN!!! Hopefully G has sent a new one, it seems this one never recovered from one of the early cold nights. My bear bag skills are improving. Tonight and last night Krusty and I hung great bags in a relatively short time. We'll see if tonights bag is still there in the morning. Muskrat Creek Shelter had a nice new privy but the shelter itself was very dirty and thru-hikers have scribbled all over the outside with charcoal from the fire pit. Most of the graffiti istrail nakes and dates, what the heck...so disapointing!! I hope the rain comes through tonight while I'm sleeping so tomorrow is not a wash. If it's hikable tomorrow the goal is Carter Gap shelter 10.6mi.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Wateroak Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up at 7:15am, not clouded over yet, much much colder today. Left camp at 9:15am. Hope to make it to a shelter before the rain but the top of the next mountain is already fogged in. 12:15p At Standing Indian Sheltet. The sky opened up about a half hour after breaking camp. I am soaked to the bone and freezing, only made it 3 miles- so frustrating. Getting out of wet clothes and into warmer layers going to make hot oatmeal and cider then climb into the sleeping bag. When I got here Peaches and Just Doug were getting ready to head out into the storm. Shortly after a group of four showed up; All Right, Half Left, Kahoda and Wild Poodle. Another 15 minutes or so went by and in came Krusty. The six of us took up residence on the floor of the shelter all doing the same thing, laying in our bags trying to get warm and wishing the rain would end soon. 5pm and the rain has finally stopped, too late to go on from here. Wee've been joined by a couple; RedOak and Buttercup, and by a man named Chainsaw. As people are taking advantage of the dryspell to hang bear bags a father and son came in. They are on a loop hike and had been hiking in jeans, they are soaked through! 7pm and the down pour has started again. Luckily during the dry spot the father and son got a fire going that most of us were able to dry wet clothes by. Snuggled down again and waiting for morning. So far behind...
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Woke to freezing temperatures. Krusty's thermometer read 28f in the sun. I did not sleep well last night. My hands are so cold that I can barely turn the valve on the stove to get it going. The father and son who were hiking in jeans had hung the jeans over a tree to dry. The son just picked his pair up and they are frozen stiff. Everyone who tented woke to a coating of ice on their tent flies. While packing up I noticed the dish shamie which had been left out to dry had been chewed up by mice. I was glad to have put my wool hat in the sleeping bag so they didn't get at that. I had hung the fanny pack over the side of the backpack to dry out. Apparently the mice enjoyed using it as a hammock to get out of the wind and have a little dinner on since it was covered in half eaten acorns that they brought to share. Perhaps they felt the group didn't have enough food because a couple of other people found acorns tucked up under their pack covers as well. That was fun but after this second shelter experience I'm all done and will stick to the tent. It should make the Smoky Mountains interesting.5pm Made it to Betty Creek Gap to camp.