morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Neels Gap

To: Wildcat Mt
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

April 11thNeels Gap to Wildcat Mt.Milage 7.5I had a horrible time getting to sleep last night. I had heartburn due to the frozen pizza I had for dinner, so at around 1am I gave up on sleep and instead half wayched a movie on TV and half focused on repairing my pants. I had found some needle and thread in the hiker box. I sewed on a patch of Lekuo tape (a type of thick sticky bandage). So far it has worked out well. I was up till 4am. I thought about seeing if I could stay another night in order to get some sleep but decided to sleep late and get a late start as a half day is beter than nothing. I ended up leaving Neel Gap at 11:30am.   It was a beautiful day for hiking and there were some great views. A lot of it was ridge walking which is my favorite type of hiking. Loads of dayhikers but not many thru hikers and no one that I knew. I ended up making 7.5 miles which is good - I had always planned on doing @ 8 miles a day for the first month. I am currently camped atop a mountain by myself with great views.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Wildcat Mt

To: Site of former Rocky Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

This entry is missing - it was saved to my phone which died in the rains on the 19th. It was an epic day though - the most miles in one day yet, partially due to the fact that several of the miles were along the bed of an old woods road so the trail was well graded and without roots or rocks to deal with.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Site of former Rocky Knob Shelter

To: Dicks Gap
Miles today: 20.0

April 13th - 17thCatch upI haven't been writing in my journal like I should for a variety of reasons - party of it is that I have not been in the mood and also because I have often been too tired at the end of the day.    On the 13th (Monday), I came down from Blue Mt. into Unicoi Gap. It was pouring rain and I wasn't in the mood to go further, so I got a ride into Helen, Ga for a stay at the Super8 there. Helen is an amusing Faux German Alpine village tourist trap, but it was largely vacant while I was there. I ended up stay the next day (Tuesday the 14th) there as well - my knee was aching eo I wanted to give it a rest.   On Wednesday I headed out again and made it to somewhere on Tray Mt. for the night.   Thursday the 15th was rough - I was exhausted all day, it was cold, and it was raining for part of the day. One of the big problems was just trying to go down hill - I was spending more energy doing that than going uphill. The trail down hill had often become nothing but three inches deep of mud, so going downhill consisted of trying not to slip. It was so taxing that just looking at muddy down slope would make me tired. I eventually made camp at Sassfras Gap (one of many so named).   Friday the 16th there was more muddy slip and slide action. I was fed up with it and decided that despite my reluctance to do so I would need to buy and use trekking poles. I had tried them in the past but didn't care for them, but I needed something to help with the mud situation. The next outfitter I knew of was in Franklin, NC which is about a week away.    Down Powell Mt. I went (or rather slid) across a road at Dicks Camp. Sitting there was a guy in a van from Top Of Georgia hostel. He mentioned that they sold trekking poles at the hostel - and wouldn't a hot shower and a nice meal be nice? Oh, and he would be happy to give me a lift to the hostel. I hadn't planned on staying there that night but..... It was like Lucifer himself with the temptations. I was week and went along. The shower was awesome, and after that they gave me a lift into town for dinner. After dinner I went to a Dairy Queen for a Blizzard. I probably have not had one in 30 years but GOD - it was heaven.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Dicks Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0

April 18thDicks Gap (Top of GA Hostel) to Bly Gap 9.        0 Miles I didn't sleep so well at the hostel, and I was unimpressed with their 'hearty' breakfast. Two scrambled eggs, three frozen sausage links, and two pieces of toast for $8. For the money it felt like a rip off.   We had heard that there was a 80% of rain today but the weather was beautiful. The hiking was not too strenuous and there were some fair views. At the end of the day I crossed over into N.Carolina, and immediately came to a camping site. There is a group of 'bros' here and I am regretting the decision to camp here. One of them was washing dishes in the spring that people have to get water from, I mentioned how that was contaminating the water supply which prompted jokes about how more they were going to contaminate it when the piss and shit in it later tonight.   Bly Gap is right across the border from Georgia into North Carolina. One state down and thirteen more to go.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Bly Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

The night was hard. The bro squad didn¢t bother me much after I put in ear plugs, but it rained hard. The foot of my sleeping bag managed to get soaked ¢ the water came in through the floor of the tent and probably from my bumping the side walls with my feet during the night. To add to my woes I had pitches my tent on a slight slope (which I knew and was okay with) but it also curve slightly to the side. I didn¢t notice that as I was setting up my tent but it was enough of a curve to cause issues with my sleep.As usual, I woke up around dawn (6:45) but due to the rain did not break camp until @ 10:30. By 11 it was pouring like I was in middle of a hurricane. It was only 3.2 miles to the next shelter and the topography didn't look too bad, but for some reason it was tough. I got to the shelter around 1pm at the same time as the bro squad, and even they were talking about how difficult those 3.2 miles were. At the shelter were the rest of the people who had stayed the night before at Bly Gap and a few who had overnighted at the shelter. No one was inclined to continue hiking that day due to the rain.At this point I had become concerned because water had gotten into the zip lock bag that I kept my phone and kindle in. Neither would turn on. This was bad because taken together they comprised my totality of my entertainment while on the trail.After an hour or so at the shelter I was getting cold, so I decided to head out in the rain. As I was leaving people were asking why I was pushing on ¢ I replied that ¢I can¢t see myself just sitting here for another six hours before I have to set up my tent in the rain anyway. I might as well get some mile¢.The next four mile actually were not that bad. Physically it was easier and with my rain gear I was warm and not too miserably soaked. I was more worried about my sleeping bad and electronics. I passed an older couple who mentioned that they had a friend waiting at Deep Gap who was going to pick them up ¢ they wanted me to inform her they would be late.I made it to Deep Gap and talked to Deb (the woman waiting for the couple) for a half hour. I had been planning to camp at Deep Gap but my concern for my gear got the better of me and I asked for a ride out. She and the couple were going to Hiawassee and agreed to take me along. They dropped me off at the Holiday Inn there which turned out to be fabulous! My room had a Jacuzzi in the bathroom ¢ just the thing for a tired and soaked hiker!
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Deep Gap

To: Carter Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

April 21stDeep Gap to Carter Shelter 8.        5 Miles Got up early this morning and took one last soak in the jacuzzi. I am going to miss it. Did some last minute stuff before Shuttle John picked me up. The previous afternoon he did not sound enthusiastic about my chances of making it back to Deep Gap. He had heard that the forest service road that goes there had been washed out, but he would take me as far as he could and I would hike the rest of the day. I was worried about that but in the end we made it all the way to Deep Gap.   The day was beautiful and practically custom ordered for backpacking - dry, sunny, and just a nip of cold to the air so that I didn't overheat but didn't get cold either. I zipped along the trail despite the late start.   I encountered Scoop, Iceberg, and Google slackpacking SOBO - they were the folks who gave me lift out of Deep Gap on Sunday.   Made it to Carter Gap shelter without issue. If I had more time I would have tried for more miles. There are a number of people around (including one guy who I met last week at Unicoi Gap) who I recognize, but I the only one staying in the shelter itself. I have not slept in a shelter in years (I normally avoid them). I decided to risk the mice for tonight.   Oh, and the Kindle is officially dead.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Carter Shelter

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

April 22ndCarter Shelter to Rock Gap12.1 MilesNo mice disturbances overnight, although it was cold. Since I was the only one staying in the actual shelter rather than camping nearby I set up my tent in the shelter to get a few more degrees of extra warmth.   I had started out with a 15 degree down sleeping bag, which means it is only comfortable to @ 40 degrees or so. It has been getting below that over the past few nights.   The days hike was good, and it included going over Albert Mt. Other people had been concerned about it for miles in advance since on the topography map it shows as a steep spike. IMO it was not a big deal - some rock scrambling but only for .3 of a mile. That sort of thing is common in New England.    I ended up really jamming, and made 12.1 miles. As I arrived at Rock Gap Shelter a guy from Franklin, NC showed up. He had just set up his own Hostel and offered to take us there and after we got cleaned up take us to a Chinese buffet. I was weak; I could not resist a soft bed and unlimited warm food. . Mamma Skillet and I took him up on his offer. The buffet was awesome, but I didn't eat as much as I thought it would.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Rock Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.8

April 23rdRock Gap to Winding Stair Gap 3.        8 Miles I made a series of stupid decisions today. My right foot hurt badly due to a callous that had grown between two toes and was aggravated by the previous days miles. Because I had agreed to go back to Rock Gap at 9:30 I didn't have time to go to the pharmacy to get something that might help. The hostel guy messed around and didn't get us to the gap until 12:30 - he was busy playing with his camera and other things. Due to the pain in my foot I decided to do a short hike over to Winding Stair Gap where I got a ride back to Franklin. I decided to stay at the Microtel. I spoke with my cousin on the phone for an hour and soaked my foot.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wine Spring
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

April 24thWinding Stair Gap to Wine Creek 8.        1 miles I woke up late and immediately started to worry about how I was going to get back to Winding Stair. I made some calls with no luck. Around 11am I decided to check out - I knew there was a bus at 3pm that would take me but that meant I would not be able to do many miles with such a short day. There is a saying on the trail - that the trail will provide. And it did. As I was checking out there was a couple whom I had not met that were obviously hikers. I talked to them and they had already arranged for a shuttle to Winding Stair, which they agreed to share with me. Problem solved! Around 7pm I arrived at Wine Creek which looked to be a good place to camp for the night. It had been 8.1 miles mostly uphill and I felt like I still had more miles in me but it was close to dark. I didn't want to end up stumbling around in the dark looking for a camp spot so I decided to stay at Wine Creek. Mama Skillet, Eric, and some others I know are here as well. They decided to make yesterday a zero. They all were puzzled about how I managed to get behind them, but I refused to explain (so I could keep the mystique of my trail name).   One alarming thing is that there is a rumor that the bunkhouse at the Nantahala Outdoor Center has bedbugs. I have reservations to stay there Sunday night. Bedbugs could be really bad news on the trail. I could see how they could get into a pack or sleeping bag and use that as a way to travel along the trail infecting shelters along the way.
Date: 2015-04-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

April 25-27Franklin, NCWoke up with a lot of foot pain. It was the corn that had developed between my toes. I climbed up to Wayah Bald and called to be picked up. I decided to try and freeze off the corn with a kit I purchased at Walgreens.    Ended up staying in town for three nights due to personal issues.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Waylah Bald

To: Tellico Gap
Miles today: 8.7

April 28thWaylah Bald to Tellico Gap 8.7 miles Got back on the trail at Waylah Bald around 1:30pm. There was trail magic BBQ going on when I arrived. Figures! First one I had seen and I had just had lunch in town.   On the way back to Walah Bald I heard about a supposed bear attack on the AT in the area. The hiker had to be airlifted out. I'm not sure I believe it because Black Bears are usually timid (unless it's a momma protecting her cubs).   I made it to Tellico Gap without any problems. It was a fairly easy day. The big question is how my foot is going to feel in the morning due to the corn. Will the freezing treatment prove to be effective? If not I may have to tolerate the pain for the next 100 miles or so until I can get to Hot Springs to go to a clinic to have it removed. I also need to monitor the spot to make sure it does not get infected.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Tellico Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 8.1

April 29thTellico Gap to NOC 8.        1 miles This entry really has to start with were I left off last night. Tellico Gap isn't a designated camping spot - it is more of a trailhead with a gravel road passing through the gap and several parking spaces. I set up my tent in a secluded parking space.    At around 9pm a pickup truck rolls past my tent. I was slightly nervous because I didn't know if I wasn't supposed to be there and maybe these folks were thete to kick me out. They park thete truck and then..... nothing. Didn't get out or anything. Around a half hour later a car comes up and parks next to the truck. Someone gets out of the car and into the truck. I am wondering what's up.    A couple hours go by and nothing seems to happen, when the trucks engine starts up but it stays parked. It stays like that for a half hour. Finally, I am a little weirded out as well as annoyed since it was almost 1am at this point. I get out of my tent and try and peak into the truck, but can't see anything. Five minutes later both the truck and the car leave. I think it may have been an illicit romantic liason, but who knows. I ended up not being able to get to sleep until 4:30, but was woken back up at 6 by another truck going by at warp speed a few feet from my tent.   Short of the story - it was stupid to camp so close to a road and trailhead. It could have turned out a lot worse.    By 7am I had broken camp and was on my way to the NOC. Other than an initial 2 mile or so climb it was to be all down hill. For some reason it was brutal on my feet. Being tired from lack of sleep and with my feet hurting I decided to check into the motel at the NOC even though I had originally planned to hike another couple of miles today. I got into my room and immediately fell asleep for a couple of hours.    Tomorrow is going to suck. All uphill for six miles.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

April 30thNOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter 6.9 Miles I stayed at the 'motel' last night at the NOC. I did have ichy bits but I don't think it was bed bugs - more likely it was some of the 739 other bug bites I have on me at the moment. Today was the dreaded ascent up from the Nantahala Gorge. It was around six miles of nearly constant uphill walking. There were only a few spots that were really rocky or steep. Near the top was a great view of the Nantahala valley - one of the best views I have seen so far.   I arrived at the shelter @ 4:30pm. I would have liked to do a couple more miles but I was too wiped. There are few good tenting sites here, so I had to camp right behind the shelter. The problem is that several of the guys staying in the shelter brought beer. We all know what that means! Still, I have a grudging admiration for their ability to bring it up that climb.
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Friday May 1Sassfras Gap Shelter to Cody Gap12.0 Miles The guys who brought beer were fairly rambunctious last night, but they quieted down at 'hiker midnight' - 8pm, so it was all good.The night featured below freezing temperatures. I am not really geared for that - I figured that this late in the year I would be okay. I know from experience that a 15 degree sleeping bag isn't adequate to keep me warm below @45 degrees. I let myself be convinced it would be okay due to the groupthink on whiteblaze.org (backpacker site). The listed temp rating indicates the temp the bag will keep you alive at - not what will keep you comfortable. I will *not* be taking a 15degree bag through the White Mountains and Maine in late summer and fall.    One of the guys who camped at Sassfras Gap shelter that night decided to quit his thru hike that morning, saying the night was too cold and he couldn't carry any more.   The day went well. I experienced some trail magic at Steocoah Gap. A former thru hiker brought some Apples and Bananas to share. He also gave me a summer sausage. He wanted to take me into town for an all you can eat pizza buffet, but I didn't think I could do that and still put in the milage I wanted for the day.    After Steocoah Gap was the infamous Jacobs Ladder - a section were the trail makes a series of tight switchbacks up a steep mountainside. I didn't really have a problem with it.   About a mile from my destination I ran into DoubleD, a hiker I had met the previous day. We walked to Cody Gap together talking all the way.    I ended up doing a full 12 miles - while not the first time for me to do that many miles it was over more challenging terrain. I was proud of myself.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Rt28
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: few clouds

May 2Cody Gap to Fontana Rt28 8.7 MilesI got into Fontana, NC a couple of hours ago. Fontana is a resort built next to a dam, and the A.T crosses the dam to enter the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. A driver came by to take me from the dam to the resort lodge - it took him a while and he apologized saying he wad delayed because he was helping two women report a bear attack to the Park Service. The women had been staying at the Birch Spring Campsite last night. A bear had torn their tent open and stole their backpacks. No one was hurt but it's considered a major incident.There is a large group of hikers here at the resort. The word is that the Park Service has closed the campsite indefinitely. The problem for me is as follows.... Hikers are required to get a permit to enter the park. One of the conditions of the permit is that hikers are required to stay at designated sites (the ONLY part of the A.T that this is true). The sites tend to be spaced every 6-8 miles.And wouldn't you know it - Birch Springs Campsite is the first, situated @ 6 miles in. The next one @ 11 miles in.I am up to the point that I can do 12 miles in a day over mixed terrain. The problem is that to leave Fontana and enter GSMNP it is basically all uphill to leave the river valley and climb back up to the ridgeline. I just did this three days ago out of Nantahala - that was 6.9miles and I barely made it! The climb out of Fontana is not as bad but I *know* I can't do the 12 miles.I am seriously upset. I have overcome a lot of challenges up until now, but I don't see how this is doable.
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Fontana Rt28

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've decided that I am going to do the death march up the valley to Molley's Ridge Shelter tomorrow for the 12 miles I am certain I can't do. I am out here to push and challenge myself, and this will do that!I am staying in Fontana today. I plan on waking up @ 4am tomorrow morning to drink as much water and load up on as many carbs and sugar as I can before heading out at 6am. The lodge doesn't run it's shuttle that early so I will need to hitch to the dam.@googleThanks for the encouragement. I do suspect it's possible but I hate not having a plan B if things don't work out. If I get to mile 9 and run out of juice I could have major problems. Going to try it anyway!
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Fontana Rt28

To: around Doe Knob
Miles today: 8.5

May 4thFontana Rt28 to unknownIt's been a horrible day. It didn't get off to a good start and my own inner turmoil made it worse.   First were some problems getting back to the dam from the lodge. There is supposed to be a shuttle but they had problems so that didn't happen until @10. I was frustrated at the late start and I should have not gone ahead with the hike, but I did.   The uphill climb out of Fontana was not particularly tiring but it did take me a while. It was a hot day and there was no place to refill my water bottles until later in the afternoon, so I spent a good amount of the day thirsty after drinking all I had earlier.    At any rate, I was not in a great mood today and that really seems to make a huge difference in how the day goes. It's hard to push forward when you are consumed by dark thought. I am reading 'Flowers for Algernon' right now which is ringing some of my past troubles. I also developed the most concerning blister of the trip to date today, so the pain of that plus the corn did not help my outlook.    I ended up deciding that I was going to make the blister worse by pushing all the way to Mollies Ridge. I found a place off trail to illegally stealth camp. I am not happy about it but don't feel like I've got a lot of choice. I am concerned about bears and what happens if a ranger or ridgerunner catches me.   I knew it was a mistake to do this push today in this way. People alot younger and in better shape are skipping the Smokies or at least this portion of it. I was stupid not to listen to myself.    Today is the first time I have seriously considered quitting. I'm not going to do it but that's how unhappy I am at the moment. This has been the worst day on the trail so far.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: around Doe Knob

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

May 5thSomewhere to Spence Field ShelterToday was a much better day than yesterday. I had no visitors during the night, although as I was waking up I heard and then saw a wild hog. It was huge and was moving through the woods with the subtlety of a marching band.   It had proved to be a good idea to stop when I did, as during the night the blister had faded a bit. I was able to put moleskin and lukotap on it and it did not give me problems for the rest of the day (I had tried that the previous day to no avail ).   The days hiking was not bad. I ran into a trailrunner who didn't give me flak for where I slept (although I may have been less than honest about it ).   I made it into Spence Field Shelter around 3pm. I didn't feel that I had it in me to do another 6 miles to the next shelter.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: few clouds

May 6thSpence Field to Derrick KnobIt was a short day - the hike from Spence Field to Derrick Knob was surprisingly rough. I arrive at Derrick Knob where a couple of southbounders were discussing how unexpectedly difficult the section north was for them. I decided to take a nap to recharge the batteries, but by the time I woke up there were not enough daylight hours left. I thought about doing some night hiking but decided against it. I am wary of putting myself in another position where I have to illegally camp. I always knew this was going to be a problem with me concerning the Smokies - you either put in too few miles or the shelters are outside of your personal range.