morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-09
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter 

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel 
Miles today: 18.6

A quick blip up to 6400 feet then down to 1400 with the occasional bump along the way, piece of cake. After the last dip below about 5800 then with any luck I've seen the last of ice and snow for a bit. I opted out of the sidetrip to the Mt Kammerer fire tower, it was clear but pretty smoggy, especially to the west. I did end up at the hostel so I am clean, pizza'd, and laundered, waiting on the dryer. Good hiking weather is due to end late tomorrow so probably one wet day into Hot Springs. ATT covers interstate highways pretty well and sure enough, not only could I call home but the Kindle connected on 3G for the first time since Gainesville before the hike. Someone called them to complain about coverage and was told not to expect much until Virginia. Updates may be spotty. Crossing I40 is a bit of a milestone - it may be Pennsylvania before the trail crosses another transcontinental highway. The seasons definitely changed coming down the hill. It was hot, dry and sunny, the temperature topped 90 and is still 75 at 9pm. The long johns came off for the first time and hopefully will be dead weight for a while. Flowers were out and spring is at last plausible. Pizza lag is upon me, I'll stop trying to be coherent and just concentrate on listening to my clothes go round and round. Hi yesterday 66 low 42
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel 

To: Roaring Fork Shelter 
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

I found the hostel more than a bit earthy but OK, apparently it was much less inviting for the young ladies (of all ages) present. Apparently some of the staff viewed them as raw meat. Unfortunate. I met a retired Master Chief Torpedoman, the first fellow submariner I've run across in months of cycle touring and hiking over the years. Spent some time swapping stories (mostly listening, as is appropriate in the presence of a Master Chief - no matter how senior you yourself might be). The hot weather continued, ending brief visions of a twenty mile day (to be better situated for Hot Springs). The view from Snowbird and Max Patch made the climbs worth the effort. Max Patch is probably the biggest bald in the range, and just a very, very cool place. I crossed it about as the photographer's "golden hour" began and only the uncertain weather made it possible to resist the temptation to cowboy camp on top. Amazing and deeply appreciated trail magic at Brown's Gap courtesy of Apple. He has been doing this for eleven years (and reports there were 37 thru hikers by yesterday). As it turns out I am alone in the shelter. My fellow denizens opted for tents after seeing the size of the local shelter mice (not rats - I swear). Hi yesterday 91 low 58
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Roaring Fork Shelter 

To: Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 18.0

Another walk in the park. The rock is a bit softer here and the trails a bit less steep, which makes a big difference at the end of the day. I survived the night with the mice and was hiking a bit after eight. Nothing remarkable on the trail - critters now and then (ever notice does are doe eyed?) and with every drop into a gap, spring flowers and whatnot a little further along than the last. Today was for quiet and solitude, other than a local dog taking his owner for a walk I saw not a soul between the shelter at eight and the hostel at five. I believe everyone is dodging the weather (now due to blow in at midnight and, with any luck, blow out again). Great hostel and great town! There was no trail magic today but Thursday is community dinner night in Hot Springs and hikers are especially welcome (really!). It is by donation, so figure what you'd pay for dinner, add a generous gratuity, and then remember that these folks are doing this for you out of the goodness of their hearts. Do the right thing and they will continue to be able to pay rent on the hall and keep this going for future thru hikers. Word is there is a virus laying waste among hikers north of here, so I am dusting off the chlorine dioxide tablets and refreshing my supply of alcohol. They are recommending hikers avoid shelters and camp remotely, so there will be more time alone on the way on the way to Erwin. High yesterday 94(!) low last night 53
Date: 2013-04-12
From: Laughing Heart Hostel

To: near Hurricane Gap 
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

A bit above the gap actually, which may be a tactical error as there does seem to be a bit of a breeze. My goal was an easy day and a less used tent site. The outfitter came through and I am now the proud owner of a pair of Dirty Girl gaiters that clash with everything else I have (which is, after all, their design strategy). I also replenished my alcohol, made up some bleach solution, and got another one quart jug so I have a clean water container to use while the disinfecting agent de jour does its thing in my larger bottle. Fie on evil viruses. I was sure I was the last one out of town, leaving tenish or so, but was assured by folks passing there were still lots of folks in town looking for their motivation. I hike very slowly (especially in steep spots) but for more hours than many, so there is often a group I leapfrog with. I spend little time in towns, so every few days I trade for a fresh group coming off a zero or town day. Yesterday I met someone from the hostel the first night but she is slack packing, so we aren't really hiking at the same speed. There was also a guy in town I last saw at NOC, but he is actually a must faster hiker I don't expect to see him again any time soon. So, I meet lots of folks but within a day or two or three pretty much without exception they have passed me or I have left them in a trail town. The French Broad was angry this morning, what had been a brisk blue river through town was a boiling muddy torrent, courtesy of the thunderstorm that blew through last night and revisited just before dawn. The other big change is that literally overnight all of the trees in the valley leafed out. It is still stark on the heights but it is definitely spring along the river. A very Seattle-like mist this morning burned off to sun in the afternoon and it is breezy and cool - perfect hiking weather. In recompense for a long third week through the Park I am giving my feet the rest of the day off, it is pretty good sitting around being lazy weather also. High yesterday 87 low 57
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Hurricane Gap 

To: near Big Butt (honest)
Miles today: 18.5

First, a moment of silence for the Kindle. I cowboy camped last night on a windy knob above the gap, it was just a tad too cold for my summer quilt. It might have been enough out of the wind or in the tent, but then how would I see the stars. The morning was easy, the afternoon tough over high rock. No sign of weekend trail magic at the road crossings, but mid-morning a bottle of sour apple schnapps showed up by the trail in the middle of nowhere. Not my favorite, but it would have been antisocial not to have a taste. The sierra club cup (or any cup) did not make the cut for weight, but it turns out the ziplock that Dirty Girl gaiters come in makes a perfectly serviceable shot glass. Little Laural shelter was crowded at midday, but this evening the Jerry Cabin shelter was deserted (there is a stomach virus about) and I've seen no one since. High yesterday 82 low 41 PS - As night falls the valley below blazes with what looks like the lights of a city. I81? is 20-30mi away and from here the lights of all the towns along the highway all run together.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: near Big Butt (honest)

To: Bald near Street Gap
Miles today: 16.5

I can check "cowboy camp on a big bald" off, and it is as cool as you'd think it is. Barn owls - they were very distinct in Georgia, here they slur a bit and often abbreviate. There was a big crowd stopped at Devil's Fork Gap (NC-212). Some were ending their hike after a month and a half (planned for three, no intent to thru), the rest eating lunch and considering a ride to Erwin. While I was stopped for periodic airing of the feet a couple of trail maintainers passed. After exchanging pleasantries, they offered to take my trash. Oh happy day! Amazing how getting rid of an ounce and a half of trash feels as good as a resupply. It was a stiff climb up Frozen Knob, but the stream was cascading, everything was sprouting and blooming, and you just wanted to stop and take it all in. There was a sign announcing trail magic at I-26 posted at Hogback Ridge, but only until 2:30 (I reached the interstate at 5:30). Not a crumb. I camped at the first likely spot past the freeway after getting water. With any luck I can get a phone at Damascus to replace the Kindle. It turns out the answer is 16.5 - high enough to be a real challenge, low enough to be tantalizingly possible. We will see. Hi 67, low 41
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Cowboy camp on a big bald

To: Temple Hill Gap 
Miles today: 18.7

Drizzle started at sunset and went to first light but for a total of only a quarter inch. It was cool and damp all day but good hiking weather. Big Bald is amazing and, well, big. Strictly IFR though and I had to put the camera away until things got drier. Heard a train whistle that sounded just out of sight but had to be way the heck down the mountain. I finally hiked down out of the goo at about 4700 feet, it cleared off to a really nice afternoon. I saw what looked like bear grass in the high country but below the bald, could it be? I stopped five miles short of Erwin to be set up for resupply in the morning. Hi 76 low 47
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Temple Hill Gap 

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 16.0

I got to Uncle Johny's hostel just as the store opened and was in and out in an hour, including sending the dead kindle and spare socks home. There was a fee to mail from there, but it was the same as shuttle fare to the Post Office. Funny how that works. Not really what I wanted for resupply but enough calories (thank you honey buns!) to get by. Hostels have personalities. The cabins at Neel's Gap were great (they did laundry free! And cheap pizza!). NOC was businesslike but friendly. Standing Bear was sketchy. Uncle Johny's - grumpy (but had all the essentials - itemized ala carte). There seems to be a coal train crawling up the grade out of Erwin every half hour. Up on the Beauty Spot I kept hearing what sounded like rain but whenever I stopped, nothing. After a few times I this drill I paid close attention and found the culprit. Grasshopper nymphs that jumped from the dry leaves whenever I moved near them. I'm rolling the dice and cowboy camping again tonight. Hi 76 low 52
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Deep Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: light rain

Another rainy day. It went like this. I was cowboy camped (for those who don't know, that means spreading your bedroll out on the ground and sleeping under the stars) and woke up a bit after 2 to faint flashes in the sky - very distant lightning. It was hard to tell because they were so dim, but my best guess was southwest. No problem, as winds had been out of the east all day and all night. Right up until it became obvious from a passing clearing that no matter what the surface wind was doing, the weather was definitely from the (you guessed it) southwest. Crap. After watching for a while I supposed it might pass to the north, and went back to sleep. At 4:30 the wind arrived like a freight train. Not one of those crawling Erwin coal trains, but a fast freight (full of tank cars). I had exactly enough time to get the tent up and throw everything inside before le deluge commenced. It slowed to a stop about the time dawn was gathering, then one more cell passed directly overhead at sunrise. When the rain finally stopped I mopped off the outside of the tent and packed everything up for a late start. About fifty yards down the trail, more rain. Off with the pack, out with the poncho, and so went the day. Actually, the cool weather made for good progress, much better than sunny but hot afternoons. It turned out today was orange salamander day - I saw a dozen of them on the trail. I made Roan Knob just before sunset, so I should be able to get to Mountain Harbor hostel tomorrow in time to get the present I had Amazon send me. Hi 86, low 54
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Roan High Knob Shelter 

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

This is the highest shelter on the entire trail (I did not mentioned yesterday they saved us some snow, three foot drifts scattered by the trail on top) and I woke up in the clouds. Except for brief clearing for pictures as I set off, that was today's weather until mid afternoon. Much of the trail today was over high exposed balds, well into the cloud deck. It also seemed like every air molecule on the east side of the mountains wanted to be on the west side all at the same time. As I clawed throught the wind, fog, and mist (and the occasional ice cloud) I thought I heard a voice saying "don't go up on the moors, and whatever you do, don't leave the path!" I expected to meet Heathcliff or the Hound of the Baskervilles wandering around, or perhaps a passing 747. I did finally break out of the clouds and made it to the hostel in time for the five o'clock shuttle to town for dinner. At four miles, this is the farthest I've been from the trail since I started four weeks ago. My new toy (a surprisingly inexpensive high fidelity digital sound recorder) works fine, BBQ was great, and resupply at an actual grocery store with actual food. The weather forecast is grim, I could use a zero and tomorrow may be it. Hi 57 low 48
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Mountaineer Falls Shelter 
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It began to rain as soon as I settled in and continued off and on nearly all night. Nearly. When I woke, the tent was actually dry. Now if the hostel had not been booked for the night I'd be zeroing, but any day you can pack you tent dry is a hiking day, so off I went. The trails this side of Roan/Elk Mountain are much smoother and much less steep. Although the rain came tennish or so, it was a very nice morning. I stopped at the Mountaineer shelter to dry my feet (or try to) and while I was there the sky opened. My feet reminded me they had asked politely for a zero day and pointed out the shelter I was shooting for was nearly ten miles away. That and very small, so late arrivals are likely to tent, not an appealing idea with tonights forecast. So, short day it is, spaghetti for dinner, work on journal, and placate feet. Got a recording of a Tennessee barn owl. High yesterday 78 low last night 61 (but 46 now, at six PM).
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter 

To: Pond Flats 
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was clear and cool, perfect for hiking. The word for the day was diligence, I passed four hostels but kept to the trail. My afternoon hiking companion was the Laural Fork, a fair to middlin' river with a fine waterfall. As the gorge meets the valley, a side trail leads to a fine hostel and just beyond that, a McDonalds. I turned right, and the trail headed smartly up the side of the gorge, 1800 feet to my current camp under the stars (with the tent close at hand). Hi 76, low 31 (there was snow on the mountains I came down two days ago)
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Pond Flats 

To: random camp 
Miles today: 22.9

It was surprisingly warm this morning. I should explain "Pond Flats" is the flat space between the three summits of Pond Mountain, the highest piece of real estate in the area. As often seems the case, the descent was more gentle than the climb, a nice walk to a nice (flooded, actually) picnic area with bear proof garbage cans. I emptied a stove cannister (only lasted since NOC, not very good) so getting rid of it quickly was nice. At the dam responsible for the lake was a great surprise - trail magic! A special thank you from the trail to Safety Bob, safety foreman at an engineering monitoring project at Watauga Dam. He helped out a pair of hikers two days ago, she had a stress fracture. They shared stories of the trail, including how important trail magic is to all of us. Safety Bob thought that sounded like a wonderful thing to do, and filled the backseat of his truck with a little bit of home for those of us on the trail. Thank you, Bob, it could not have come at a better time (there is no bad time for trail magic) and means more to us than anyone but another thru hiker can understand.The rest of the day was walking the ridgeline on the other (North) side of the lake. Not many landmarks on the trail, but it was at the edge of the rim and the trees are still bare so the rest of the day was a scrolling panorama of coves, marinas, inlets, and the countryside beyond. I've run into a bunch of hikers coming out of the hostels I passed yesterday, the shelter I intended to stop at was packed, as were the next few campsites. I will not need to work too hard the next couple of days to catch up with my new (Verizon) phone, due to arrive in Damascus Monday afternoon. One calendar month on the trail! High yesteday 66, low 42
Date: 2013-04-22
From: random camp 

To: The Place, Damascus VA
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: clear sky

I was up bright and early but before I had hardly began to pack up (and long before 7:00) a couple of hikers passed, he looking earnest and determined and she looking cold and tired. Later more folks passed who, based on where they camped, had to have been on the trail at six. The register at the next shelter solved the mystery - from the Iron Mountain Shelter to the middle of Damascus is a regulation marathon, I had stumbled onto the Damascathon. Although disqualified myself (for stopping past Iron Mountain last night) I could hardly stop short of town. By five o'clock, I had completed another twenty mile day.My phone was at Mt. Rogers just as it should be and I was checked into the place and doing laundry.Hi yesterday 66 low 34
Date: 2013-04-23
From: The Place, Damascus VA

To: Beech Mountain Road 
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

After a breakfast and a half I went in search of the elusive Food City and a fresh supply of lithium AAs. I headed out very late and was waylaid by Subway on the way out of town. A five dollar footlong later and I was finally on the trail at eleven.The hiking was good, the trail cut into the slope above Laural Creek. The Virginia Creeper railtrail mocked hikers all day - it is nearly flat and about ten miles shorter than the AT to their next meeting.It would have been an easy day except thunderstorms are forecast tomorrow afternoon and there is a long stretch of trail that is high or exposed. To be set for a shelter tomorrow I did a few extra miles including a stretch by moonlight. Today was probably the best of the hike for it, after the weather clears the moon will be out in the morning rather than evening, and after this month the mosquitos will take much of the fun out of it.Hi yesterday 76
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Beech Mountain Road 

To: Thomas Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Single digit miles, so this counts as an easy day. It took very little to break the minimal camp from late last night, so I was hiking by 6:45. Just the same, the day crawled. Where the trail was good the views were entrancing and when there was nothing to look at the trail was a tangle of roots and rocks. I got to the (empty) shelter at 1:30 and a small crowd showed up for lunch, bringing with them a gregarious and gravid pony. When she wasn't cadging for treats she was licking salt off every bit of exposed flesh within reach.Eventually about a dozen people showed up for the night. This is the first night since the reports of norovirus past Hot Springs (hikers refer to it as the plague, at its peak more than half the people in that section of trail were afflicted) that I've stayed with a group. Conversations and everything.Hi 81 low 47
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Thomas Knob Shelter 

To: Dickey Gap 
Miles today: 21.2

It was a pretty good storm last night. Lots of wind but no lightning, which had been forecast. In the morning it was clear, and the mountaintop was a wonderland. Falling temperatures brought freezing rain. Nothing froze in the shelter but in the open it was 22.Not a morning for big miles. I was not well situated in the shelter for a quiet departure, so it was polite to wait for folks to begin to stir. After getting out a bit late, absolutely everything wanted its picture taken. Trees, ice, mountains, valley clouds, ponies, pretty much everything.The day was split between wilderness and high pasture kept open by the (introduced) ponies and controlled burns. The two were separated by fence, which the trail passed via a grunch of stiles of every description.Much of the afternoon was through open forest that looked like a Bev Doolittle painting about to happen. The weather was pretty much perfect for hiking and I made better progress than the lazy morning foretold.High 76 low 22
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Dickey Gap 

To: Chatfield Shelter 
Miles today: 21.6

The trail out of the gap was smooth and free of misc. sharp objects, so the miles flew by. The highlight of the day was the Taj Mahal of shelters. It has showers, fifty cent bus service to town, and pizza delivery. With all that I assumed the shelter eight miles further on would be deserted but we ended up with seven people in a six person shelter and at least eleven more camped outside.Hi 76 low 31
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Chatfield Shelter 

To: Lynn Camp Creek 
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

My timing is all off. The Barn right on the trail in Adkins has a buffet brunch on Sunday but of course it is Saturday, and they have a 16oz Hiker Burger but I arrived at 9am. Turns out they do a perfectly fine breakfast, so all was well.Rain was forecast, but by wearing my poncho draped over my pack I kept it mostly at bay (of course if I had put it away, instantly cue the torrential rain). The rain finally arrived just in time to require putting up the tent on wet ground in the rain. Doing this in a backpack and poncho while keeping everything dry is like crossing a stream in a small rowboat with a fox, a snake, and a chicken. I not sure I can manage the reverse in the morning, if it is raining, something will get wet. I can hear my feet chanting "zero, zero!" We will see.Special thanks to everyone who helped hook me back up with my data book and notes I left at the shelter, people really do look out for each other out hereHi 76 low 50
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Lynn Camp Creek 

To: Jenkins Shelter 
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: light rain

Ok, so the rain stopped at dawn (it often seems to). I had just enough time to pack up and mop off the outside of the tent when the sky opened. I lashed down the tent (it takes a while to get it into its tight stuff sack) and put on the poncho to face another rainy day.Silnylon being what it is, it took just thirty minutes for the tent to escape its bindings. I draped over a packstrap under the poncho and there it rode until I reached the Chestnut Knob Shelter at lunchtime, where there was just enough flat space free to sort it out and pack it away.I don't mind the rain (wet tents notwithstanding) but it was a tougher day than those of late. Something like three thousand feet of climbing before noon and too much of it over steep broken rock. Most of the afternoon was along a narrow rocky ridgeline, in and out of the clouds. It wasn't a bad day, but I used up most of the good guy points I've earned from my feet by hiking smooth trails the last few days.I stopped a bit early, I can't make Bland tomorrow so a few extra miles today would not make much difference.Hi yesterday 74 low 50