morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-24
From: deep gap shelter

To: dicks creek gap, blueberry patch hostel, hiawassee
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: few clouds

Getting miles up to date...will add more later.Up at 6am, hiked for almost an hour in the dark with my headlamp straight up a mtn in crazy wind, glad I had stayed in the shelter as it had downpoured all night. Got to the top just in time for an amazing sunrise and then dropped down into the mtn laurels and was an easy hike down the mtn. Got to the gap an hour early and got a shuttle to the blueberry patch hostel. By 9 Mary and I had claimed a bunk and knew where the showers were. The patch is a wonderful hostel and definitely recommend it to anyone going through Hiawassee! Got a ride with Gary in town, did hiker errands and then hitch hiked back (with 3 other people and a little old lady picked us up). Lots of lounging around and eating at the hostel with the 5 other hikers there, heard some crazy 400 lb, green eyed bear snatching food bag stories from fortis and redstripe!
Date: 2011-03-25
From: blueberry patch hostel, hiawasse

To: muskrat creek shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Happy birthday mom! And happy new state day for me. Had an amazing home cooked breakfast at the patch, steelcut oats with flax, walnuts, cinnamon and apple for me, and pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns, chedder biscuits, sausage and gravy for everyone else.SO GOOD! And homemade blueberry syrup, from the bushes out back. Gary and Lennie are wonderful people! Up to the trail by 10am, up to buzzard knob and then easy walking (after I ate a snickers). Got to the GA/NC border and ate lunch at Bly gap with a bunch of others who were all headed to muskrat creek shelter. More walking, then food and a nice big fire until the rain started and drove me to my tent for bed.
Date: 2011-03-26
From: muskrat creek shelter

To: carter gap shelter-crawlspace
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Rain. Walked. Cried. Walked. Thunderstorms. Walked. Got to a shelter, which was full, shoved down a poptart and dried fruit but had to keep walking because I was soaked and so cold. Decided that rain on the trail is no fun. Followed Sunday (one of the germans) up standing indian mtn. Warmed up going up, but quickly got cold on the downs, trail was a river, surprised there weren't fish swimming up it. Picked up the pace for the last 5 miles and put the headphones on..got to carter gap. Shelter to find no room left. Checked the crawl space below, found torch, hardback and fortis and weaseled my way onto the wooden platform. Set up sleeping bag and in dry clothes by 4pm...didn't leave my bag after that. Mary squeezed in a bit later. Huge thunderstorms came through from 9-11pm, so glad to be dry! But, had to fight off the mice who were coming out of their lair at the top of our heads. A warm but rough night. Decided that the push for town was necessary for the next day!
Date: 2011-03-27
From: carter gap shelter-crawlspace

To: rock gap, franklin NC
Miles today: 12.2

Town day! Rough night in the crawl space, woke up to cold and foggy, but no rain! Soaking wet clothes and shoes went back on, so muddy. Also, mice found my wool icebreaker shirt and nibbled all down the front...potential new trail name of mousebait? Not sure how I feel about it. Lots of foggy walking, warmed up quickly. Passing a big rhododendron patch, a guy popped out and said "hey hiker, come get some pancakes". Trail magic! Thanks Fishin' Fred for the blueberry pancakes! Followed steffon and hardback up the steep albert mtn, climbed the fire tower on top and got some amazing views of the fog stuck up to the side of the mountain and the wind brushing it into the valley. Really awesome, but sadly no phone pic to share. Off down the trail with town on my mind, to rock gap where there was more trail magic! And mary, shark and hardbackm got the ron haven shuttle to the franklin inn, cleaned up and aired everything out. Possibly taking a zero tomorrow, gonna see if my shoes dry out overnight! Real bed with pillows feels amazing. 2 more days til the NOC then the. Smokies 27 miles after that!
Date: 2011-03-28
From: rock gap, franklin NC

To: franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took a zero day in franklin, did a couple of errands (got more fuel and another dry sack) and laid low in the hotel room. Was nice to just sit around and not be on my feet! Back on the trail Tuesday morning, the hotel shuttles hikers for free the 11mi back up to the mtns. I'll miss the bed, but I'm ready to be back in the trees
Date: 2011-03-29
From: franklin, NC

To: wyah bald tower
Miles today: 13.9

Great day to be back on the trail! Foggy morning ups and downs, climbed above the fog and looked down into the lake of fog below with only the tallest blue peaks poking through. Climbed the first 3.5mi in hour and 15 min (which wsas probably because I was following behind the guys). Then a nice walk up to siler bald where I had lunch in the meadow with a bunch of boy scots. More ups and downs then one last up to wyah bald tower and amazing views. Ate dinner up here, waiting on the sunset. Debating whether or not to stay in the tower as its supposed to rain starting this evening. Nice walking weather today and glad to be out in the woods!
Date: 2011-03-30
From: wyah bald tower

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: moderate rain

Note to self: do not try to sleep on top of a tower on top of a bald that is the highest peak we've climbed so far (5342ft) when the forecast calls for 90% chance of showers (which in the mtns means raging thunderstorm and gale force winds). It may end badly. Spent the evening on top of the tower watching the stars come out and the lights of the town below come on while under the tarp roof the guys had rigged up. By 1030pm the wind was blowing pretty hard and I bailed to my tent beside the tower. At 2am it started raining. At 530am I was re-evaluating my life choices and bargaining with god to make the wind stop after having to re-set up my tent 3 times from the wind and rain. Then I heard music. 'Rain over me' by the Who coming from Torches tent. It was perfect music timing. I realized everything was going to be ok, turned off my headlamp and went to sleep. This morning was a bit sleepy, but we knew there was Trail Magic 4.4mi down the trail. No rain or wind all day, just lots of fog and mist. Thanks Grits for the doughnut, orange and chips, definitely made my morning! Rest of the day was ups and downs. Looong down to the shelter which I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it to, but I got the last spot in the shelter. NOC tomorrow for the morning! Then a planning a short day up to the next shelter.
Date: 2011-03-31
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: sassafras gap shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

It's amazing what 13 hrs of sleep and a veggie burger does for me. Lots of wildflowers blooming along the trail and the sun peaked out on the one mile walk down the trail to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Late start out of the shelter, hung out in the hammocks in front of the noc for 4 hrs. Bought 4 more tent stakes and some cord so that I will no longer be parasailing in my tent when it rains! Also a poncho...I'll now be fully fain proof with a rain coat, rain pants, pack cover and a poncho, yess. Steep climb up out of the noc, from 1723ft to 4691ft in 6 miles. Leg burner. Climbed up into the fog and wind, temp dropped 15 degrees quickly! Had to tent as the 14 person shelter was jam packed...snow started about 9pm, not heavey though, and the thick fog socked in. Torch, Shark and Hardback had an awesome fire going and was good to warm up before crawling into the tent!
Date: 2011-04-01
From: sassafras gap shelter

To: cody gap campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Cold frosty morning, late start as we waited for the bright sun to burn off the last of the snow. Intense climb right off up to Cheoah Bald, amazing beautiful views at the top of frost covered peaks and blue valleys, was worth it. Ups and downs through many gaps, then came to the start of Jacobs Ladder...a stright up the side of a mountain mile long climb. No messing around with switch backs for the trail! Then down to brown fork gap shelter, was almost full and only 3:45 so we pushed the next 2.9 to cody gap. Some sweet views over to fontana dam, way far down below. Winds picking up and the temps dropping...not a very sheltered gap. 6 others here though and working on a fire. Headed to fontana dam tomorrow for a shower and resupply before the Smokies!
Date: 2011-04-02
From: cody gap campsite

To: fonatana dam village
Miles today: 8.6

Windy morning in cody gap, a couple of ups and downs, then one final up with some nice views of the lake that fontana dam creates. Seemed like a never ending down, knowing that food was down in the village! Lots of wildflowers out once I got down into lower elevations and the first hint of spring green on the trees! Finally got down to NC 28 where the guys and I hitched a ride into fontana dam village. Got food and did laundry...a huge college frat party was going on up the hill from the village, listened to live music for awhile. Sat around and ate on the porch of the country store. Decided not to try to hitch back to the fontana shelter "hilton" and instead stealth camped up the hill from the country store. Taking a zero tomorrow, waiting for the post office to open on monday.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: fonatana dam village

To: fontana dam village 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Great zero in fontana, woke up late at the campsite, walked up through the village for the buffet breakfast at the lodge. Yum. Sat around and talked with fortis for awhile. Took a shower, and decided the four of us would get a room for the night rather then stealth camp again. Packed up from the campsite and hung around in the sun outside the hotel room. Gorgeous spring day. Warm and sunny, lots of flowers out! Was great to have a lazy sunday Headed into the smokies tomorrow, which means a huge straight up hill for 14 miles...hoping the good weather holds! Lots of other hikers in the village...all waiting on mail drops at the post office too. Might be some crowded shelters the next couple of days...but its good to see some old familiar faces.
Date: 2011-04-04
From: fontana dam village 

To: russell field shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Great day to be out in the woods...sunny, blue skies and 70. Beautiful views crossing fontana dam, then the trail climbed straight up for 10 miles. Real hot and sweaty but some great views. Ran out of water and got more at mollies ridge shelter, caught up with fortis and decided to push the 2.5mi more to russell because after 12.5mi what's another 2.5. Raced the thunder and clouds, managed to get water, eat and hang my bear bag before the rain started. Cozy in the full 14 person shelter tonight!
Date: 2011-04-05
From: russell field shelter

To: silers bald shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Snow day! Hurricane thunderstorm with rain and hail turned to sleet and snow at 3am when the temperature dropped. Everyone always said to expect snow in the smokies so we were warned! Yesterday=melty snikers, today=frozen snappy snikers. Yesterday=luke warm water from the platy, today=crunching the ice out of the mouthpiece to get water. I feel like 2 winters in summit county, CO prepared me well for the blowing snow and wind all morning. The snow got deeper the higher up we went, made for a great morning of walking! Things started to turn slushy in the afternoon and the last 5 miles to the shelter was calf deep mud and slush..every step sucked me back. Temp dropped really low in the packed shelter...first night I used my sleeping bag mummy hood along with my hat cause I wasn't sure I would survive. Burr.
Date: 2011-04-07
From: clingmans dome, gatlingburg, tn

To: icewater spring shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Another great day for hiking! Continental bfast at the grand prix hotel was krispy kreme dougnuts...an excellent way to start the morning. Did a few errands s around town, then hitched a ride back up to clingmans dome. Sunny and warm all day, but cool in the shade. Lots of spruce and white paper birch forests. Took a break at newfound gap with hardback and torch, then headed the last 3 miles up to the shelter. Another full shelter tonight, couple of familiar faces and they've got a fire going out front.
Date: 2011-04-08
From: icewater spring shelter

To: cosby knob shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: broken clouds

Long day but was a good day. Rocky, foggy morning but the mist held off so could view down below charlies bunion. Ups and downs, through crazy, moss covered hemlock and spruce forests. Amazing views off into the smokies every so often, made the ups worth it! Got into tri-corner knob shelter for a late lunch, felt pretty good and decided to push on. Heading up mt sequoyah it got really foggy and dark, thought it might rain but it blew over. Sun came out for the last few miles of the day...made the end to a long day doable! Full shelter again tonight, fair amount of new faces here.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: cosby knob shelter

To: standing bear farm hostel
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up with doughnuts on my mind...was excited to know that Lori would be meeting me at the hostel! Ups and downs, foggy last morning in the smokies, the dropped down into the sunshine. Came upon trail magic at davenport gap (end of the smokies), thanks smiley! Loonng downs, was sore from the 20mi day before. Warm and spring in the valley though and flowers always make me happy. Crossed over piegon forge and under I-40, then up to standing bear farm hostel just off the trail. Awesome little hostel, nice people and a great resupply. Snagged a bunk, shower and relaxed. Lori came with amazing trail magic of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, beer and whiskey. Yesss. Huge thunderstorm with large marble sized hail rolled through, was glad to be under a roof! Great night hanging with old and new friends
Date: 2011-04-10
From: standing bear farm hostel

To: max patch bald summit
Miles today: 13.6

Ate the last of the chocolate glazed doughnuts to breakfast, a great way to start the day. Got to help feed the rescue baby squirrel! Curtis warned us that it was going to be "hotty hot hot" out today as we headed down the gravel road back to the trail. Lori is a winner...a night of hiker funk and then a sunday morning hike straight up snowbird mtn! Got warmer and warmer as we climbed, great views from the bald on top though. Met up with torch and hardback and lay in the sun for a bit, the Lori headed back south down the trail and we continued north. Ups and downs, really hot out. It can never be said that I don't sweat, I wrung out my bandana 3 times and soaked through my shirt allll day. I knew that the reward would be views off of max patch bald...and lucked out to get to the top before sunset. A whole tent city of other hikers formed, ate dinner and relaxed in the sun before the real show started...an amazing sunset. Great end to a great day on the trail!
Date: 2011-04-11
From: max patch bald summit

To: deer park mtn shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Second to last person to leave the patch this morning...views were so beautiful and clear that I couldn't motivate to leave. Downs to the water source then ups and arounds. The guys were pulling a 20mi day and pushing for Hot Springs but wasn't sure if my feet were up for it. Didn't so much feel like walking and flip flopped around a group that was headed for the shelter just outside hs. Great windy trail off of Bluff Mtn, meandered down through lush green forests past ama-ng little springs. Sun stayed hidden til the last final 3.4mi up before the shelter. Then it blazed down full force on the pine and oak scrub hills. Made it in to deer park and was happy to recognize a few familiar faces. Calling for rain tonight, dreaming of biscuits and fruit in town!
Date: 2011-04-12
From: deer park mtn shelter

To: hot springs. nc
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

Stormy night. Woke up to sun, packed up the wet tent and raced down the mtn for breakfast. My biscuit dreams came true at the first diner the trail passes by. Delicious. Elmer's hostel was full, decided to get a cabin for 5 from the hot springs spa on the other end of town. Hiker errands and lots of food eating. Rainy cold day, nice to lay around all afternoon!
Date: 2011-04-13
From: hot springs. nc

To: hot springs, nc
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up and headed for the diner for another round of biscuits for breakfast. While there decided a zero day was probably a good idea. Heard from Fortis that Model-T had passed away on 4/11...sad news. He was 70 and died doing something he loved, thoughts go out to his family. Last time I saw him, I passed him heading up to the 1st shelter in the smokies, he was making his way along the trail, hoping to outrun the storm. Very kind and interesting man, he will be missed. We spent the rest of the afternoon lazing around by the river, then the 5 of us ate a massive dinner at the iron horse inn with glide and rem. Relaxing zero day and ready to get back to the trail tomorrow!
Date: 2011-04-14
From: hot springs, nc

To: spring mtn shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice walk out of town this morning, followed the french broad river out of town, the climbed up out of the river valley. Almost stepped on a huge black snake, then continued my herp walk and saw a fence lizard and toad. Lots of wild iris' along the trail today. Warm and sunny. Discovered that Primal brand vegan soy jerky, the texas bbq flavor, is probably my new favorite trail food, sooo good!! Passed a really neat boxed spring pond and walked through the mill ridge fields. Ups and downs, climbed the fire tower on top of rich mtn, awesome views. Then more downs and ups to the shelter, which is right on the trail. Calling for rain late tomorrow, hoping to get up early to get most of the 15.4mi to the next shelter done before it hits!
Date: 2011-04-15
From: spring mtn shelter

To: jerry cabin shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

Really windy day, kept up all day with strong gusts. No rain til the evening though so wasn't a bad day for hiking, just loud! Big ups, ate lunch at little lural shelter, others caught up and I had missed amazing trail magic (I didn't want to walk 350 yds up the rd to get it). Its ok because the highlight was the ice cream Along big firescald, crazy exposed ridgeline walk...rocky and big ups with intense wind! Glad to be behind shark and hardback! Downs to the shelter, already full but we squeezed 8 of us in the 6 person shelter. Strong winds and the rains started just at dark. Was glad to be warm in the shelter!
Date: 2011-04-17
From: hogback ridge shelter

To: spivey gap campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Frosty, snowy morning, didn't get out of camp til almost 10am. The day turned much better as I was strolling through a meadow on top of a mtn at noon on a sunday, this is why I'm hiking. Never mind that the huge waayyy far off mtn with a bald on top is my halfway destination for the day. I followed torch and r.e.m. for a moment down to the bottom of street gap, because that is what the AT does. You climb mtns, hopefully to a sunny, craggy aple tree filled meadow or to a bald with amazing views, but more often to a rocky, treed in summit. And then you go straight back down to a gap or a ridge or a dirt road on the other side. Occasionally there will be a switchback or 2, thrown in for fun, but generally its a rock strewn gully down the side. And then boom, an un-named sadle for a pause or a lunch break, then straight up the next mtn. That's what hikers do, we climb mtns, or hills and occasionally huge rocks. Its why I wake up in the morning, sometimes in a crammed shelter with 5 inches from a person on either side, or in my tent behind a shelter or tenting in a gap where we built a great fire the night before and stayed up late til 9:30, an hour and a half past good hiker bed time. Then sweet sleep, hopefully not too mouse scrambling filled. Then sunlight once again wakes me up. I get up to say hello to the mountains and start walking.
Date: 2011-04-18
From: spivey gap campsite

To: river rd, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Up with town food on my mind. Ups and then a long down to town. Got pretty hot by noon, seemed like a never ending down with some sweet views to the Nolichucky River below. Came out by Uncle Johnny's Hostel, got a ride into town to the Super 8 motel. Ran into Fortis! Who unfortunately has injured his ankle and may be off the trail for a bit hoping he gets better soon! Hiker errands...shower, laundry, chinese food and food lion for a resupply. Finally have good cell service since Hot Springs, up loaded a bunch of pics from the last couple of days. Town is nice but being back in the woods tomorrow will be good!
Date: 2011-04-19
From: river rd, Erwin, TN

To: curley maple gap shelter
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Lazy morning getting up. Cont bfast at the hotel, them headed to the PO to mail a few ounces home. Need to lighten up my pack...coming out of town with 4 nightd/5 days of food is too much for my knees! Thinking of switching out the 0degree down bag for a 25degree synthetic...going to see how warm it stays for the next few nights! Got a hitch with out even having to stick our thumbs out, riding through town in the back of a pick up on a sunny late morning is pretty nice! Headed over the Nolichucky out of town, awesome shady walk following a roaring mtn stream. Had to stop and put my feet it the cold felt amazing! Then a hot, steep up to the shelter, new 14 person one that's really nice! Got in about 2:45...lazing about in the sun all afternoon. Spotted my first salamander when I was pumping water! Small little brown guy, not sure what kind. Glad it's getting warmer, even if the heat does mean lots of sweat!
Date: 2011-04-20
From: curley maple gap shelter

To: cherry gap shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain started just as I was leaving the shelter and continued through the morning but it was warm enough that I just needed my poncho and my pack cover, too hot for rain pants. Ups and downs, then up to beauty spot which is actually a really pretty bald. The rain cleared off and the sun even came out. Could see views of Unaka Mtn which has a dense spruce forest at the top. The climb up Unaca was steep, but the hushed spruce needle carpeted trail at the top was awesome. Made me feel like I was in a harry potter movie set. Downs to Cherry Gap, tiny 6 person shelter so we ended up tenting with about 16 other people. Good day.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: cherry gap shelter

To: roan high knob shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Rainy night, but cleared off by morning. Seems we've really lucked out this year with the rain tapering off quickly in the morning, or just starting at 9pm when everyone's already in for the night and then clearing off by the am. Lots of ups and downs, about noon I could see the views to roan mtn...one of the taller mtns (6285ft) and the shelter is actually located just 5ft in elevation below mt washington. Torch has been talking about the balds after roan mtn and they sound pretty awesome, a lot like the white mtn in NH and really cool to walk through. There's a good chance of rain tomorrow though but hoping it holds off. Huge intense uphill for the last 3 miles of the day. Sun was out and it wasn't too warm, perfect uphill hiking weather Steep upward push to the shelter, hardback caught up for the last bit, got in and there was still room in the 2 story 15 person shelter. Snagged a spot in the attic...which means that I'm actually sleeping higher than the summit of mt washington Cool spruce forests surrounding the shelter and lots of familiar faces.