morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-16
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 07:00, out the door at 08:40, used computer at the Stone House for an hour, then dropped off items in Hiker Box at Outfitter. On Trail, shooting for Sassafras Gap shelter. It's only 6+ mile hike BUT 2,700' elevation gain!! It was sustained climbing (typical lazy NC trailbuilding style, straight up, no switchbacks or accommodations) for 6 hrs and as I climbed, it got colder and more windy. By the time I got to the shelter, it was close to 40°F; once the sun goes down, it may get down to 30°.I took care of a couple of foot blisters for Flyfeet but felt a little alienated from the rest of the - all male, 50-70 - crew. I made a comment to one man that a statement he had made was sexist. He countered by saying that was strange coming from a man wearing pink Crocs. I took off my fleece cap so he could see my hair and earrings, and he apologized... It's 21.5 mi to Fontana Dam so I will have to pick up the pace the next 2 days. Tomorrow have a 650' climb on what is called "Jacob's Ladder"... Damascus is 300 mi away. Trail Days is less than a month away!
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Cooollld morning: 25°!! One hiker found that a mouse had built a hasty nest in his pack and delivered 3 mouse pups... They went outside post haste! A few minutes later, the apparent mother arrived, looking for her brood, she fell victim to a Croc attack and followed her ill-fated progeny.I arrived at the top of Cheoah Bald and found a typical problem in NC. There were three (3) trails leading down from the summit. NOT ONE OF THEM WAS MARKED with a white blaze. One was marked with a yellow blaze (Bartram Trail) but not a white blaze to be seen. After trying two of the three - which lead nowhere - I went down the third. I walked seven (7) minutes before coming to a wooden sign indicating it WAS the AT, but still no white blaze. I'm sorry Smoky Mtn Hiking Club, this is haphazard blazing at a minimum, simple incompetence at a max...I'm very angry at Nantahala Hiking Club and the Smoky Mtn Hiking Club for the quality of trail design, the inadequacy of trail construction, the total lack of concern for erosion abatement and the ridiculous method of erosion remediation (which seems to be relocation?). They build trails going straight up a hill at a 35+° incline, inviting erosion. When erosion becomes a problem, they apparently just relo the trail... Almost no switchbacks, few water bars or dams and all this with the only apparent justification being making the trail more difficult... I only did 9.1 mi today, this means another day on the Trail before I reach Fontana.I dug up a ramp, shared some with other hikers - and talked about ramp use with Trilobite - and cooked dinner with it. Very spicy when cooked! I was enjoying the sunset and just when the sun disappeared below the side of a distant mountain, I swear I head it hissing...? Then I looked up and saw an airliner passing over at 30,000'. Sun gone, such beauty... How many people really see, really enjoy this beauty that is all around us?
Date: 2011-04-18
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontan Dam/Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

I was the last out of Brown Fork Gap Shelter - of course...? - but still on the Trail by 09:05. Same crappy trail a hiker comes to expect from NC but by the time I got to Cable Gap Shelter, I knew I could make it to Fontana. I stopped there for lunch and filled my hydration bladder, then pushed on. I took a number of photos on the Trail, some of new flowers, some of the beautiful green valleys. There seem to be more trees with leaves on them than farther South, it contributes to a real sense of Spring.Still feeling - no surprise - a great sense of outrage at the NC Trail maintaining clubs at their sadistic attitude about trail siting and construction. There is an awful problem of erosion on the trails because they do not incorporate simple erosion abatement techniques... Why? Indeed, why do they still have a Charter with the ATC and NPS to maintain the AT when it is obvious they are not adhering to current Trail building and maintenance protocols???Resupply options in Fontana very limited. I am low on food and alcohol and the next option for resupply is Gatlinburg... shit! Bryson City is 42 miles away, may have to hitch there? I'm right across the Dam from GSMNP!!The Fontana Hilton - Fontana Dam Shelter - sleeps 28! hikers, has showers, flushing toilets and sinks!! Also trash cans
Date: 2011-04-19
From: Fontan Dam/Fontana Hilton

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 4.1

Still in a quandary about what to do about resupply. The convenience store at Fontana Village has limited resupply options and other, larger towns are from 32-44 miles away, including Bryson City...I rode with Chance to the Village, was able to resupply but very limited choices and high prices. Later this morning, I decided to go back to the Village to use computer available to hikers. I walked halfway to the Village before I was picked up by a local. I ended up walking all the way back to the shelter... Total of 4.1 miles, road miles of course, known as yellow blazing. I talked to REI and arranged delivery of new gaiters (broken snap) to Gatlinburg and talked to JanSport who agreed to replace my Klamath 68 backpack because of construction issues. It also will be mail dropped at the NOC Outpost in Gatlinburg.17:45, shelter is filling up with smelly thru-hikers, it's gonna be a loud night! Rain supposed to start tonight and continue for 4-5 days... ugh! all the way to Newfound Gap. There was a very nice - large - fire in the firepit tonight and all enjoyed gathering around it. Rain, accompanied by frequent lightning and really high winds commenced about 23:00, I for one was kept from sleeping well as a result. Mouse count: 3
Date: 2011-04-20
From: Fontan Dam/Fontana Hilton

To: Mollies Ridge shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

Heavy rain and lightning greeted everyone as the shelter came to life around 05:45. Most of us up and packing but not many leaving. My mouse count for the night:4 (yes, I am carrying mouse traps...). Hikers began leaving around 08:00, hiking in the rain or not. I waited a bit and finally left the shelter about 09:30. There is a long road walk over the dam and on National Park roads to the AT trailhead. I finally reached the AT at 10:30. Hiking involved long climbs totaling over 2,000' to Birch Spring Gap, where I decided to camp. It seemed a better option than continuing on the Mollies shelter where it might already have reached capacity. During the early afternoon, I climbed to the top of Shuckstack Mtn where there is an old fire watch tower. The tower is about 75' tall and was actually moving in the heavy wind but OMG, the views more than made up for it. You can see Clingman's Dome from the fire tower, along with so many mountains I had been to the top of in recent days! I took lots of photos, then climbed down to enjoy some lunch on the foundation of the old fire tower watchman's shelter. There is still a very old fireplace/chimney and an old cement cistern.I talked to a couple of day hikers about a purple fern I had seen only twice but which I had not photographed. Each time I saw it, I was either too tired or not happy with the lighting available but knew I wanted to photograph it because of the wonderful deep purple color. I found that this color is an extremely short color phase when the fern is just growing up and that I may have squandered my only opportunity to capture it. I was devastated to hear this, add this to so many other opportunities lost....The campsite at Birch Spring was scattered on both sides of a valley but most of the tent pads were far from level. I found one that seemed the most level, then installed a water bar to keep the thunderstorm that night from washing me away. I set up the tent, cooked some dinner, hung my foodbag from the well maintained bear cables then hit the sack.Mouse count: 4
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Mollies Ridge shelter

To: Spence Field shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

There was heavy rain and lightning over night. Wind was very heavy early in the night but tapered off late. I woke at 07:50, greeted by wind (+-25mph)and eponymous white clouds all around horizon. The water bar I constructed on my tentpad worked very well and my gear was completely dry, very satisfying! I hung the tent up to dry while I prepared breakfast and packed up everything else. I was on the Trail by 08:50, soon meeting Gotta Go, a real character. After that, as I walked I realized that the ground was almost soft, resilient. I thought of the hundreds or even thousands of years of plants, trees and biological and invertebrate action that had contributed to this loam. We literally are walking on our past in places like this, aren't we? White clouds kept drifting through valleys, giving a perfect illustration of the origin of the 'Smoky Mountain" name. It was a perfect, cool broken sunny day. I met an ATC Ridge Runner named Carl/GreyBeard. Very nice guy and I enjoyed talking with him about LNT and other Wilderness issues.I got to Mollies Ridge shelter, found it empty and continued on to Russell Field shelter. I topped up my hydration bladder but continued on to Spence Field shelter where I decided I would spend the night. I saw my first bear this trip today. I was hiking along when I heard a branch snap behind me. I assumed it was another hiker approaching (yes, I am used to being passed by now) but when I looked back, I saw a pretty large Black Bear crossing the Trail about 50' behind me. I think he must have been waiting for me to pass before he crossed the trail. I don't believe it was a sow since there were no cubs. I tried unsuccessfully to photograph a swallow-tailed butterfly again today. It is a striking yellow with black points/accents on it's trailing edges. It really is beautiful.I really felt good hiking today, new muscles seem to be working well, but knee problems continue. My left knee seems less stable than usual and the declines are getting harder... I saw several new flowers today, photographed same. I hope to ID them when I get home. At Mollies, I met a man who seemed to want to argue with me about other hikers who might be on the trail ahead of me. I couldn't believe he was so confrontation so I just said I wasn't there to argue with anyone and just left...It rained all night and I didn't sleep well, couldn't find comfortable position for my legs, lots of pain.
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Spence Field shelter

To: Silers Bald shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Rain and very heavy fog (really not fog, we were just IN the clouds) greeted me this morning, temperature was 45-50°, slight wind, it's gonna be a WET day... It was a hard slog today (lots of incline and mud) but I made it to Siler's Bald shelter (11.8mi). The only other occupants of shelter were Mike/Brandon from Jacksonville, FL who set up their hammocks in the shelter. This was their first night out on a several day SOBO trip to NOC. Also met Doug, an ATC RidgeRunner, a really nice guy and a very hard worker for sure! Doug tented because he expected the shelter to be full but it didn't happen... It was a loud night with much rain and very high winds, I didn't sleep well again. I had dug up a wonderful ramp root while hiking but forgot to use it while cooking dinner.I was really sorry the day was so foggy because I passed a couple of famous overlooks where I could see NOTHING... I'm really getting worried about my left knee (also right one but less so) and whether I am going to be able to continue this journey. By the way, today I was thinking that this "Journey" shouldn't be measured - or experienced - in months, weeks or even days. It should be experienced by the moments, the seconds that move you in unexpected ways. I think it's only by being open to these moving moments and surprises that you can truly live this journey. To those who rush and push and struggle to make more miles today than yesterday, I say slow down, Be The Journey.I love to watch for snails, or unusual flowers, or patches of sunlight on a dark muddy trail. I stop to take photos of "tortured trees" or wonderful old blowdowns... I just sent an SD card to my son with over 500!! photos on it. I hope to get some of them uploaded to this journal so that some of you can share the beauty that I am seeing every day.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: zero day
Miles today: 0.0

Yes, hot showers, copious amounts of hot food, a cold beer and a soft bed make all the difference in one's mood - and WILL! I have my "real" knee brace now and I am recommitted to get back on the Trail.I took care of resupply and equipment issues today. Topped up my alcohol fuel at the NOC Outpost, registered for a shuttle tomorrow afternoon and transitioned from my old Jansport Klamath 68 to the new one (drop shipped to Gatlinburg by Jansport to replace my older one which had a number of deficiencies). I prepared a a bounce box to send to myself in Hot Springs, NC, and also another box to mail back to my son (with a 4GB SD card with over 500 Trail photos). The main reason I took a zero day was in the hope that my left knee would be somewhat renewed. During the day, I ran into Doug (ATC RidgeRunner) at a local outfitter and I discussed, somewhat tearfully, my "near miss" at abandoning the Trail. He is a very nice guy and was very supportive of my trying to continue, even suggesting if nothing else, I hike in to Icewater Spring shelter and stay there a couple of days to heal. I will get a good night's sleep and take a 15:00 shuttle back to Newfound Gap tomorrow.
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Newfound Gap

To: Icewater Spring shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

I woke early, took the "trolley" out to the Post Office to mail the two boxes. Back in town, I realized I had forgotten about the AYCE (all you can eat, truly magic words for a thru-hiker) breakfast buffet at Shoneys... I restlessly walked around Gatlinburg for a few hours, then picked up my pack, headed over to the NOC Outpost to wait for the 15:00 shuttle to Newfound Gap. I tried on a North Face skort in size 12 (my normal size) and delightfully, it was too large. Expectantly, I asked for a 10... IT was too large. I was perfectly giddy with excitement when I realized that almost a month on the AT had wrought magic on my waist, the size 8 fit perfectly!! I know, I know, you men just don't understand why that is so exciting, am I right ladies? And no, I couldn't afford to buy it...The 15:00 shuttle left on time. Myself and two other hikers rode in a Subaru for the 18 minute ride to Newfound Gap. It was windy and misting a little but I still took the time to discuss the Trail with several families hanging around the opening to the trail. Non-hikers are so reticent to believe (or at least find it so difficult to understand) that someone would take six months out of their life to walk/hike from Georgia to Maine. I think unless you are doing it (or have thought seriously about doing it) the concept may just remain, ineffable. Truth be known, I was a little hesitant to take those first steps past the white blaze. As close as I had come to completely abandoning my journey just two days ago, I think I was questioning my new found (sic) determination. The 3mi hike to Icewater Spring shelter was tiring, mostly incline with a net elevation gain of a little over 1,000'. The more supportive brace on my left knee seemed to transfer force to my left ankle, causing unfamiliar strain. And for some reason, my right knee was more painful than it had been. When I got to the shelter, I was delighted to find that Calgon and Wedge were there. I had not seen them for several days and it turns out they also had taken a zero in Gatlinburg. Diesel was also there, although without his younger hiking partner. For those of you that remember my harrowing experience with hypothermia, it was Calgon who came back to retrieve me as I struggled on the trail and get me safely to the shelter. He and Wedge are quite a hilarious pair to have around. We experienced extremely high winds during the night, possibly 60+mph and very heavy rain. Low clouds (not fog, just low ceiling) made visibility as little as 10'! On one of my regular nocturnal trips outside to pee, my headlamp actually only penetrated the fog 5-6' it was so dense. I was able to do some adjusting of the tarp on the front of the shelter so it wasn't so noisy in the wind, but generally the weather made restful sleep difficult.Mouse count: 2
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Icewater Spring shelter

To: Crosby Knob shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

We woke to incredibly thick fog (as mentioned before, not really fog, we were IN THE CLOUDS) but only moderate rain. I was on the Trail by 09:00, in full raingear and fleece jacket. I shed it all, layer by layer, and by Charlie's Bunion (1.4mi) I was hiking in shorts and T-shirt. The side trail (not even blue-blazed) to Charlie's Bunion was strenuous, almost technical. The sign at the entrance to the trail says: Parents, closely control children! Back on the Trail, I realized I could no longer deny the fact that the pain in my left knee was becoming a terrible drag on me. It hurt to weight my knee, and it hurt more to unweight it at the end of a stride. The stabilizer brace was not doing the magic I had hoped for and counted on. By the time I got to Peck's Corner shelter (7.4mi) I had not only accepted that I could not continue on to Crosby Knob shelter as I had planned, but that I could not continue on the AT. My thoughts were dominated by the logistics of getting somehow to Knoxville, flying home to Minnesota and consulting with my Orthopedist about joint replacement surgery. I felt thoroughly defeated, it was as though I no longer was in control of my body but that it (the pain from my osteoarthritis) had robbed me me of that sense of volition. I felt genuinely crushed and for the rest of the evening, I alternately experienced bouts of tears, vomiting and diarrhea (all related to my emotional state I have no doubt)...I set out to give away as much food and alcohol fuel as I could (having to explain why only precipitated more tears...) but most hikers had just resupplied in Gatlinburg so everyone's food bag was already full. I hated to have to carry the weight of all of the food back but I had no choice since it would be grossly irresponsible to just leave it at the shelter. I actually baited my traps with aged Romano cheese tonight (perhaps I will attract a finer class of rodent?)Mouse count: 2
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Pecks Corner shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

I cooked breakfast and made hot chocolate instead of hot tea in the hope it would settle my still unsteady stomach. To say it was a tough morning would be a major understatement. As I stuffed my sleeping back, packed my pack and went to the spring to fill my hydration bladder, I was very aware that this was the last time I would go through this routine until I return to the Trail another year. I was painfully aware that I would not be a component of this secure, somewhat closed community of thru-hikers on the AT; this community that over the last month I had so come to love and feel a part of. I felt desolate and lonely, even as other hikers hoisted their packs and started their day.I was able to give away more of my food and the rest of my alcohol fuel. I was on the trail (SOBO this time) by 09:05, certain in the knowledge that I needed to arrive at Newfound Gap no later than 15:10 to ensure I could catch the NOC shuttle back to G'Burg. The ridge and mountaintops the trail traversed this day were still in the clouds and the wind was howling. In an effort to capture at least some of the sense of being at the will of the weather, I took four videos through the day. They show the trees bending in the wind and amazingly, show fragments of cloud scooting across the trail in front of me. I did manage to reach Newfound Gap by 15:00, but as I stood waiting in the rain, the shuttle never came. I finally started hitching but struck out until a very nice family from Florida motioned me over to their van and offered a ride. I apologized for being smelly and wet but they would hear nothing of it. We talked about the Trail the whole way down the mountain and they dropped me off at the Grand Prix Motel. I checked in, took off my wet clothes and took a hot shower. I put all of the remaining food in my pack in the "hiker box" and washed all my clothes. I made an appointment with a car service to drive me to Knoxville in the morning and discussed flights with my son. The TV was alive with reports of major T-storms and multiple tornadoes all over the South. G'Burg was included in two tornado warnings that night and there were two confirmed touchdowns in Sevier County. True to form, I didn't sleep well.
Date: 2011-04-28
To: Time to say goodbye
Miles today: 0.0

Woke at 07:30, couldn't get on computer at the Motel, hikers (sadly, I no longer considered myself one...) were using it. Watched more coverage of the devastating damage from tornadoes all over the South, over 200 people dead and many more missing. What a tragedy...Flew from Knoxville, TN to Memphis, TN, then caught connecting flight to MSP. My son picked me up and delivered me to my cold dark house, thoroughly befitting my feelings of failure and impuissance.To all of you who have followed my online journal, thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings and get a sense of my Journey. To those that chose to leave a note in my Guestbook, your kind and supportive words have been a real source of energy for me; THANK YOU so very much.And now I say goodbye to you, to my Journey, to the Trail. It is with confidence that I say in April, 2012, I will be standing at Newfound Gap, equipped with the latest implant appliance of stainless steel, polyethylene and Teflon, prepared to pick up where I left off: on my Journey to Katahdin. I would be so pleased if you would grace me with your time and attention on that continuation of my/our Journey. Goodbye, and Shalom Aleichem
Date: 2011-05-06
To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Hey ALL,   I just wanted to let you know that I have an appointment scheduled with an Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Sports/Athletic Orthopedics next Tuesday. I feel better going to a surgeon who understands that performance and functionality is essential when considering joint surgery.   I also wanted to let those of you who met me on the trail know that I DO plan on being in Damascus, VA for Trail Days. I should be arriving Thursday afternoon and eagerly look forward not only to the festivities but to renewing friendships and acquaintances. I know some of you are past Damascus (I never could keep up with you...) but hope you all make an effort to shuttle back for all the fun.   I have been going through the 700 or so photographs I took during my month on the Trail and will be posting some of them to TrailJournals. I hope some of you try to come back in the next couple of weeks to see and enjoy them.