morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Hot Springs, N C

To: Hot Springs, N.C.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started out like any other (strange) day on the trail. We woke up and had breakfast with Elmer and Sunny, a former thru hiker, that helps out Elmer around the house. As we sat down to eat I found myself sitting across from identical twin sisters that were thru hiking. The two sisters looked a lot like my own two sister (that are also identical twins) and so the conversation ensued. They told me that they were originally from North of Boston and of Irish descent. This made sense, for although I seem to have no Irish traits, my sisters have fair skin and look most like our Irish side of Locketts and O'Neils. After breakfast we all went our separate ways to run errands and resupply. At noon we all met at the local burger joint and inhaled some more good food. I had to get a salad to balance my diet out, but that didn't stop me from geting another rootbeer float! Slyvan, who was also with us, ordered a banana split that disappeared quickly. We let our stomachs settle and then hit the hot tubs. After getting a half hour massage on my legs I was a little dazed. I had to ask the massuese three times how to get to the hot tubs. Eventually, I made it there and soaked some more of the soreness out of my body. I kept thinking to myself, as I was melting in the water, no wonder those German soldiers never left!I walked back to town to prepare for the next days hike out of town, then joined up with everyone for a huge fundraising spagehtti dinner. Each of us easily ate three plates of pasta, along with garlic bread and salad. We saw lots of our fellow thru hikers that we hadn't seen in a while. Back at Elmer's strange events began to develop. After sorting gear in the room, Buffalo Bobby came in and asked if anyone knew how to pull teeth. Ronin and I obviously said no, but our neighbor Bludog (in the next room down) stepped out of nowhere and said he had experience pulling teeth in Guatemala. Bobby had broken his tooth eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream and needed a piece of his tooth pulled. Bludog stepped to the plate with Ronin's buck knife and head lamp and proceeded to perform the quickest tooth extraction I've ever witnessed. Bobby seemed relieved and was grateful that there was no charge. Immediately following, we heard a loud crash and a women yelling for help. We went out to investigate. Apparently, a pickup had driven off the road and down a forty foot embankment. Someone called 911 and we waited to be certain that everyone was ok. A man, woman and new born child were all taken away in an ambulance. Both parents were intoxicated and the child was not in a child seat!? Not good! After taking the time to process the days events, we all got some much needed sleep.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Hot Springs, N.C.

To: Spring Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Ronin and I left from Elmers, and went across the street to fill up Carbs at the diner. We heard rumors that the climb out of town was going to be tough. Around noontime the Trail Day's Events started up. There was a free cook-out for thru-hikers and some performers. There was one woman who was singing a mixture of Applachian/bluegrass music, another duo called the Grit Pixies that harmonized really well. One of the guys from the Pain Train, Side Show volunteered to be a judge in the Chili cook-off contest. He took his job as judge very seriously. As he sampled each chili, it appeared that he was jotting down chemical equations- one of the other judges tried to look at his notes but he quickly covered them up. He was probably the kid in high school that everyone tried to copy off of.After a lot of good food and hearing some great music, we walked through town down by the edge of the river.On the trail, we met a group of moms out for a day hike. We began talking and they had a ton of questions. Eventually, after all their inquiries they offered us some chocolate oatmeal cookies. How could we resist?!
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Spring Mtn Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter 
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Up at six thirty and moving by seven thirty. Clear weather and nice, cool temps. All of our old buddies were back with us. Robo and Benjoli (the snoring duo) had caught up to us, along with others that we had seen in and around Hot Springs over the past few days. We all took off for Allen Gap where we heard two former thru hikers were cooking breakfast for long distance hikers. At about ten we came across a note that confirmed that delicious rumor. A short way down a road and up a steep driveway was a log cabin house, the owners Hercules and Fal, had through hiked in "99". Every Sat. and Sun. for the past 2 months they had been feeding thru hikers and this was their final weekend. We were very lucky to have stumbled upon such good "trail magic" (a term hikers use when people help them out by leaving food and/or beverages on the trail for them). Hercules and Fal sat everyone down to a three course meal. They offered us; Belgium waffles with pecan maple syrup, followed by a bowl of beef stew, topped off with our choice of four different desserts! We were shocked but very grateful for the generosity and kindness of our fellow hikers. After thanking Hercules and Fal we continued on with our day and began to do some very big climbs. We saw a few new wild flowers, Pink Lady Slipper, Jack in the Pulpit, Indian Cucumber and Purple Larkspur.Later in the day, I was surprised to see a good size limestone cliff! The trail wove up and down the cliffs edge with a few challenging areas. Views were great and scrambling around on the rocks revitalized me. We pulled into Jerry Cabin Shelter with a crew of other thru hikers; Willy Goat, Trail Dancer, Big Daddy, I-pod, Fire Hazard, Benjoli, U-turn, Red Arm, Bludog, Sven, Ufta and Ronin. After dinner a group of women showed up that were out hiking for four days. They were hauling some big packs and needed a little help hanging their bear bags. The whole process was entertaining but we were finally able to get all the bags up (over forty pounds). I slept out again and enjoyed the moon light.Hi Heather, Adam and Simon. Thank you for helping us out. You have been great friends.Yesterday I received a picture from Ava-Louise! Ava and Matthew have been good friends since the day they first met. Thanks for the picture Ava and tell your Mom and Dad that I'll be in C.T. in a couple of months.To all my Whitneyville neighbors- a BIG hello! Hey honey, don't think for a second I'd forget about you! Big hugs and kisses!!!!!!
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter 

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

Everyone was beat from yesterday's rock scramble but we were moving by seven thirty to beat the heat. Gradual climb to the top of Big Bald. Great elevation and views! Walked by some grave sites on the trail. Some were local folks but others were people who had hiked the A.T. We took a break at noon and then headed for Hog Back Mt. Shelter.Most of the group we had been hiking with ate their dinner and continued on. We met another thru hiker (Tony the Tiger) who been sick with fever and headaches for a few weeks but was now back on the trail. I slept out and nursed my feet after a long, hot fifteen miles. Both my big toes are still numb but my heels are starting to adjust and hurt less everyday. It will be great when my feet adjust to long days then maybe I'll up my miles.I got in touch with my buddy Josh and plans are coming together to meet up in Pearsburg. I'm also starting preliminary plans to meet up with another good friend, Jeff, sometime in late July.We set up our tents and listened to the owls and whipoorwills for half the night.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivy Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

We left Hog Back Shelter early due to another scorcher of a day and a big elevation climb to the top of Big Bald Mt.Great views from on top! We are nearing the end of big elevation gains and cold weather. Once in Virginia packs will lighten, days will be warmer and miles will increase. For now the weight stays with us until we are past Mt. Rodgers in Southern Virginia (about two weeks away).After our climb and then descent (tough on old knees) we stopped at Spivey Gap for the night. Another fifteen plus mile day. What a great camping site though. We were under a big stand of hemlock trees that formed a large canopy overhead and a short way down the trail was a stream, great for soaking tired feet.After settling down we listened to an orchestra of owls, whipoorwills and in the morning, turkeys.
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Spivy Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Spivey Gap to the Nolichucky River. Some moderate climbs out and then a long descent with lots of switch backs. Once we landed on flat ground we walked over to Uncle Johnnies place and raided the soda machine. Ronin called a well known hostel (Miss Janet's) for a ride and within fifteen minutes Miss Janet pulled up.We drove into the town of Erwin for resupply and rest. Once settled at the hostel, we ran down to the local Sonic for some grub. A few burgers later, we sluggishly walked down main street and checked out the local scene.Later in the day we went food shopping and contacted folks back home.Hi to everyone at Mishkan Isreal Nursery. I hope Emelia is being a good girl for you Ms Doreen and Ms Mary. Hi Ms Dawn, Ms Paulina, Chava and Bec. I heard Matthew has been having lots of fun running around like a race car. Just so you all know, Matthew offered me his race cars to attach to my boots so I could hike fast!
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Erwin, TN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After pulling out my ear plugs and finally getting a decent nights sleep, I spent a few hours catching up on my journal entries. Breakfast is included when you stay at Miss Janet's and there were over twenty hikers anxiously waiting for a home cooked meal. As soon as the food touched the table people started digging in. It was like a magic show, now you see it now you don't!After eating we had to figure out our game plan. Ronin's ankles had swollen up and I was having some problems with theknee that I had injuried earlier in the trip. We quickly agreed to take a zero day and leave the following day. Others that we had been hiking with also opted for a zero day and decided that they would slack pack the next day. Ronin and I agreed that we would not slack pack but instead would carry five to six days worth of food and continue on to the next town for resupply.As the day progressed other hikers began to file into town to resupply and to check out Miss Janet's Hostel. For most of the day it rained steadily with lightening storms.We iced our injuries, ate lots of carbs, caught up on sleep, and quality TV time.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Miss Janet's Hostel

To: stranded in town
Miles today: 0.0

Another ear plug night in the hostel but still easier to sleep than in the shelters. There was another large crowd of hikers for breakfast and well worth the wait. Janet cooked up french toast, hash browns and scrambled eggs. After breakfast we started to organize our packs and tie up any loose ends before heading out. Ronin's ankle was looking better and my knee was appreciative of a days rest.By noon we ready to go but we could not find a ride back to the trail. We waited til two then gave up and headed out for some more town food (Sonic). After making a few calls we were told we could get a ride but we would again have to wait. Three hours later we were told no one was coming so we would have to spend another night in town. We had also lost our spot in the hostel so we had to hustle down to the hotel and get a room. It was frustrating to spend another night in town but another day of rest never hurts.Tomorrow is another day.
Date: 2007-05-06
From: stranded in town

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 9.5

Got up and checked out of the hotel. At ten we were picked up and dropped off at the trail head finally! We hiked eleven miles to a great spot on top of a small bald. Although it was raining we were able to get a fire going and a couple of other hikers cooked up some hotdogs. Overall, it was a decent day.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Beauty Spot

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Woke up to rain and cold weather. The fog was thick and no one was moving. Around seven I got up and started heating water for breakfast. The clouds started to break up and for a brief moment I could see out across the valley. I packed up and started moving by eight thirty and hiked until noon before taking a short break.The second half of the day was tough with lots of gradual climbs but the clouds had broke and the sun was out. I saw lots of slack packers (people hiking with no packs) and I found my first wild ramp. Oh, the elusive ramp. I'd been looking for these for a month now with no luck. I ate one and boy, was it strong! (like onions).Pulled in to camp around six o'clock with part of the Pain Train (Grizzle, Side Show, Chach and Bigby). No rain at Clyde Smith Shelter but the temp. is dropping quick. It's supposed to get down in the thirties tonight. Get the long johns out!I wish you were here to keep me warm. Please tell Matthew and Emelia I love them.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Thirty degrees last night! I'm still having trouble sleeping at night but I managed to doze off eventually between rolls (I have to roll from my left side to my back then on to my right side due to back and shoulder pain). I got a little cold towards the morning hours but was okay.I left Clyde Smith Shelter at seven thirty knowing that I had a six mile climb to the top of Roan Mt. I took my time and slowly worked my way up the trail. While crossing a minor road a car pulled up and sitting inside were Benjoli and Buffalo Bobby. After slack packing the past two days they were getting back on the trail. The hostel owner that was driving them said I should have stayed with them. I promptly said no thank you and continued hiking. It seems like many of the hostel owners capitalize on the thru hikers by helping them slack pack so they can then spend another night at their hostels. As I've already mentioned, hikers have been slack packing lately for many different reasons. Some have injuries, others have time restraints and others are growing weary of pack weight. My plan is to NOT slack pack. I may need to lose more weight from my pack in order to do longer days, but that should be easier as the weather warms up.At Roan Mt. I saw another group of thru hikers that had spent the night on top. They had intended to sleep out in order to watch a meteor shower but instead they froze in their tents trying to stay warm. A few of them had sent their winter sleeping bags home already and were not ready for such a quick drop in the temp.I ate lunch on top of Roan Mt. and waited for Ronin, Bigby and Grizzle. We all hung out and enjoyed the warming sun for over an hour. After lunch we headed down the trail for what has been described by many, as one of the nicest sections of the trail.As we decended through a thick pine forest the path leveled out and we came out on an access road. We crossed the road and began climbing up an enormous bald. As we gained elevation we could see for miles in all directions, and we still needed to climb to the top of an even higher bald! The view, as described by one hiker we passed, was like being in the Swiss Alps with large open fields and little villages far below. I was expecting Julie Andrews to start singing at any moment but I guess that was the Austrian Alps. Anyway, it was incredible.We kept on moving until we reached our destination at Over Mountain Shelter (an old barn). A bunch of us are sleeping up in the old hay loft while others are sleeping below deck. A couple of hikers, just out for a few days, collected a ton of wood for a great camp fire. Lots of people are rolling in late. To bed early for a long day tomorrow. We are aiming for seventeen miles to Mountaineering Shelter.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Mountaineering Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Cold again this morning, everyone laid snug in their bags waiting for somebody else to get. Turtle was the first to get up, then I jumped up and the rest of the crew followed quickly. Within the hour the sun was starting to come over the balds to our east and the valley below began to gleam.We took off and began the climbs up the balds with some great views. About half way up the trail I stopped to talk to another hiker, who is planning to climb Mt. Rainier after he gets off the trail. After our conversation and exchanging climbing info. I was suprised to see a deer bound forward from the high grass. Before I could take a picture the deer darted away (Oh well). This area of the trail has been incredible. The views, as I've said many times already, are unbelievable. I just hope the pictures I've taken do some justice. (Stay tuned...)I hiked with Ronin, Grizzle and Side Show for awhile then eventually it was just Ronin and I. Ronin had tons of energy so he took off at warp speed. Our plan was to hike until noon and then get a ride to a local diner for lunch. We all made it to the diner one way or another but I was the only one that made it back to the trail and kept hiking. Some stayed at a local hostel while others walked back up the trail to a shelter just a mile from the road. Ronin's knees were giving him trouble again so he opted for the first shelter to give them a rest.I continued on for eight more miles and finally arrived at Mountaineering Shelter. Lots of good folks here like Chuck Norris, Hawaii and all the Ewoks. I also met an older section hiker from New Hampshire who had seen my picture in the New Haven Register (go figure). Everyone was either in the shelter resting or sitting out by the camp fire when I arrived. I set up quickly, cooked my meal and then spent some time socializing before settling in for the night.Earlier in my hike I took a short detour to a waterfall that was over forty feet high (Jones Falls). If it had been earlier in the day I would have jumped in but I had to keep moving. Further down the trail, I saw two thru hikers wading in a nearby river looking for crawfish. They came up to the shelter later with about a dozen good size ones that they cooked up! I also saw Walker who camped out close to the river with his mother who came out to hike with him for a few days (How about it Mom? You would love it). Another fifteen tomorrow and then a stop for resupplies.Hi Louro's! Looking forward to seeing you guys up in North Conway. First I have to get there. This walking stuff takes awhile.(Mark- these are his words, I swear!! ~C)
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Mountaineering Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel 
Miles today: 15.0

Last night was a snorefest. There were at least four heavy duty log cutters, along with a few nose whistlers, supported by the heavy breathers. The scary part was that I actually slept through most of it! I was up and out by seven and I walked four and half hours before stopping for a lunch break. After eating and giving my feet some rest I hiked another three hours and was on the road walking to Kincora Hostel around three o'clock (a total of fifteen miles). As I was walking down the road to the hostel there was a cherry picker (logging truck) loading huge poplar logs onto a boom truck. One of the loggers got out of his truck and offered me a cold soda. He asked me if I had hiked from Georgia and if I intended on hiking to Maine. We talked for awhile and I thanked him for the drink and words of encouragement. I must say, I have met a lot of very good people on this part of the trail. In the past, hikers were not welcome in this area due to land disputes and trail access problems. Hopefully this is changing.I continued up the road and turned up the driveway to the Kincora Hostel. I checked in and immediately took a shower. After getting a bunk to sleep, washing my clothes, sending and receiving journal entries, I was able to relax and call Carissa. I wasn't able to get in touch with her for the past six days so it was wonderful to finally talk. Matthew told me how when I was finishd hiking we are going to build a fire truck. He has it all planned out (I can't wait). Emelia didn't have time to talk to me because she was watching Cinderella (priorities). It felt so good to hear their voices.Soon after, Bob, the hostel owner arrived and said he would shuttle us into town for resupplies. He took us to a barbeque restuarant where we order some pulled pork sandwiches to go. We then ran over to the supermarket for food for the next fifty miles of hiking. After we finished shopping and picked up our sandwhiches Bob drove us back to the hostel. I couldn't help but notice Bob's very stong Boston accent. So, I did what I usually do and asked what part of New England he was from. Bob told me he was of Scotch-Irish descent from Medford, MA. We talked about the Boston area for awhile and then someone started in on politics.The conversation went sour pretty quickly so we just about jumped out of the car once it stopped.I inhaled my sandwich along with any other food I could find and kicked back. Later on two other hikers, Iceman and his brother came in. I found out that they are from the same town as my old buddy Wade Wolfe. These guys were old enough that they actually knew Wade's mother and father because they had gone to high school together. It's a small world!
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Kincora Hostel 

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

From Kincora to Watauga Lake Shelter.Hawaii cooked up a great breakfast and Binjali, Buffalo Bobby and Kokopelli stopped by on their way out to the trail for a day of slack packing.After eating and packing up, I sat on porch with Mellow Yellow, Chuck Norris and Tiger figuring out my next few days into Damascus and beyond. By ten I was ready to hit the trail so I said my goodbyes and headed out down the road. While walking towards the trail, I saw Ronin heading up the road. We stopped and talked for awhile about how his knees were doing and where he stayed the night before. He said his knees were in rough shape due to the high miles and that he really needed to give them a rest. Ronin also has been carring a pretty heavy pack which has really been pounding on his joints. I continued on knowing that Ronin would be able to catch up with me in Damascus (fifty miles away).As I entered the woods another hiker was resting at the trail head. He told me the next section of trail, although difficult, was incredible. As I walked on, the trail dropped into a large gorge that lead to a fifty foot waterfall.To be continued.Happy Mothers Day to all the great Moms I am lucky to know!!!!!!