morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2001-04-05
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory site
Miles today: 13.0

In the megamid, 8am -- Rained again last night but appears to have stopped now. T and I got a fire going in the fire ring last night much to everyone's delight. I didn't think we would, but on the second try it worked. I kept blowing and blowing on it til it took -- with a crowd around me I was not goint to sing to Tatewari! Standing around the fire last night made me wistful that I'm not thru-hiking with these guys -- the group I've seen to fallen in with -- but at the same time I'm not so sad because the hiking is difficult physically. Jamie and Gerber showed off their tuna can stoves last night; mighty impressive. CW finally pulled in about 5p, a little after Mike and Andrew came in, rested, and moved on -- they're trying to make up for a slow start. Didn't see Whiskers Mike at all. Oh, and I finally met the Belgian (Fossil, but everybody calls him "the Belgian"). I signed his map, which he asks everyone to do. Most people say "the Belgian" and roll their eyes, but he was only in our camp for a little bit before heading down to the shelter to crash.Today's hiking will be mixed: the trail from here to Unicoi Gap is mostly level ridge-walking, but after that is Rocky Mtn, with an almost 1000-foot ascent and descent. Aiming for the Cheese Factory site for a 13-mile day. that will leave 11.7 miles for Friday's hike to Hwy 76 and a ride into Hiawassee.Cheese Factory site, 5pm -- I've been here for about an hour. The palatial 'mid is set up. I've got water and my camp clothes on. Tomorrow will be a long day: 12.5 miles to the highway where I catch a ride into town. My plan is to go to the Blueberry Patch hostel, get a bunk, a shower, and my clothes washed. Then maybe a restaurant, though food ins't a big priority so far -- I don't feel underfed. But I will need to resupply and must figure out my ride to ATL.The Cheese Factory is jumping: T and Dutch are here, along with six others. Leprechaun and Numbers pushed on; probably what Gerber, Jazz and Jamie did, too. I've got to write down a story Jamie told yesterday that had me chuckling all day. Just before Damascus, if you push, you can hike in four states in one day. To reach the last state, you have to cross to the other side of a bridge in Damascus. The guy he was hiking with was so tired, though, that he blew off the bridge and headed straight for the motel. When Jamie caught up with him in the loby, the clerk was saying, "All we have left are smoking rooms," to which the tired hiker replied "I don't care if the m****'s on fire" -- It is still making me laugh. Okay. I'm getting up to make some noodles and tea.One more note. T made it official: I'm now Bedouin on the trail, on account of the 'mid looking like some sheik's desert tent, and my desert hiking.In the megamid, 7pm -- It just started raining, even though Dutch assured us it would be clear tonight and lovely tomorrow. Porkchop said earlier that if he's wrong she would throw things at him.
Date: 2001-04-06
From: Cheese Factory site

To: Blueberry Patch
Miles today: 12.5

The group at the Cheese Factory was up and about early. I hit the trail at 8a because, hey, this is my vacation. At Tray Gap BSA Troop 605 had set up a thru-hiker feeding station. I didn't stop but everyone else from the C.F. must have because I didn't see any of them all day. Made real good time on the trail, probably because I knew a shower was at the end of it. Passed Spike (nee Whiskers Mike) near the end. As I was coming into Dicks Creek Gap and the highway I saw two hikers hitching -- a relief not to have to hitch alone, since it was my first time and all. Just as I got ot the road a truck pulled up so I ran and jumped in the back with the other two and rode to the Blueberry Patch Hostel outside of Hiawassee. Quite a crowd showed up -- 12 people, so a bunch of us camped among the fruit trees in back as there were only 7 beds. First thing I did was shower and put on clean clothes, then put my filled laundry basket by the door to be washed, then made the round of introductions: Orion and Wiley Coyote from Florida (they gujys I rode in with) and Achilles from Maine (worst blisters I have ever seen but at least it got him a cool trail name) -- he'd been there since Saturday recuperating. Doccson, Spike, Dutch, Chinook and Izzy showed up, too. Oh, and Dave "Breaking Wind" the windsurfer from Maui. Real nice guy. Dutch, Spike and I hitched a ride into town for Daniel's $5.99 AYCE. Not as good as Blairsville, but tasty. Mike and Andrew showed up at the buffet, and we heard that T was in town at the Hiawassee Inn. Got a ride back, made phone calls (arranged a shuttle back to ATL -- $165, ouch!). Oh yeah, and cokes in the hostel fridge and a box of home-made chocolate-chip cookies sent by a thru-hiker's mom. Beautiful night.
Date: 2001-04-07
From: Hwy 76

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3

It's Saturday, and I'm on the second half of my trip. I got a late start out of town today. First, we had breakfast at the hostel: pancakes, sausage, cheese biscuits, orange juice, coffee, as much as we wanted. And it was really good food -- take it from someone who cooks. I packed up and hitched in with Julian and Porkchop and Spike. Spike got a room at the Holiday Inn Express, Julian and Porkchop went to do e-mail at the library, and I bought Tevas and groceries, then went back to Spike's room to grab my pack. Called Greg from the lobby then went upstairs to find Spike's family there, one of whom having been born in Albany! Very nice people, and very encouraging about my hiking. Caught two rides to Dick's Creek Gap and set off for Plumorchard Gap Shelter, only 4.3 miles in. I passed a guy going out on the blue-blazed access trail -- he said no one else was there. I was thinking of pressing on another couple of miles in hopes of shortening my hike on the 13th as well as catching CW and T, who are both ahead of me on the trail, but the Tevas gave me new blisters (natch) and I have to say the novelty of staying at an empty shelter was appealing.Plumorchard Gap Shelter, 5:20pm -- Two robins are foraging in the leaf litter, and those slate-grey birds are in the trees, and I can hear if not see woodpeckers. And someone keeps hopping onto the roof of the shelter. So I'm going to stay. I'll sleep in the shelter instead of the 'mid, too. Whee!Well, at 6:15p I heard noise on the path and who should show up but Numbers and Leprachaun. They also left town late (about 2:30, he said), which put them about half an hour behind me to start. I am glad to have some company -- it's very different to be by myself after a week or so of camping with others. I also have to do something about my blisters or I'm gonna have some serious mileage problems. I think that if I can tape my feet right, the Tevas will be the way to go, even though I hate adding the weight of my shoes to six days' worth of food and my cold-weather clothes (it was low- to mid-70s today, with more of the same forecast through Wednesday). The blisters on both my little toes have blisters underneath the original blister -- how's that for messed up? But now, the Tevas are rubbing my heels and I can't get the moleskin and duct tape to stay put. My feet are fine when everything's in place, but it doesn't stay that way for long. Now Leprechaun is offering me Crazy Glue to keep the tape in place! He also has an alcohol stove -- made out of two V8 cans and some bent paper clips. Sweet. I hope my soda can stove is waiting for me when I get back.
Date: 2001-04-08
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 16.6

Muskrat Creek Shelter, 12:30pm -- I've been here about 10-15 minutes; Wiley and Orion are here, too. T was here last night about 7p. If he goes into town to catch Arkon tomorrow I might be able to catch him. Chinook and Izzy are headed for Standing Indian Shelter four miles away, as are Wiley and Orion. Depending on the terrain, that would put me in camp about 3p -- kinda early. If I push on it's up and over Standing Indian Mtn (about 5300 feet) and then a additional easy 4.5 miles to Beech Gap and campsites. We'll see how the feets are doing.Well I did indeed make it to Beech Gap, but it was a long day -- 16.6 miles from Plumorchard Shelter. I saw a big fat glossy black snake on the trail today. At first I though it was a stick; when I realized it had a face, I shrieked and backpedaled several feet. Thank goodness no one was around. When I saw it wasn't poisonous, I started to laugh, and took a picture as the snake glided across the trail and up the hill.The ground and trees are still bare. So, so strange, since spring was in full bloom when I left the Bay Area.Beech Gap, 5:45pm -- I ran into Robert, already set up; haven't seen him since Low Gap. No one else here. It's a big wide gap, too, so plenty of sites. Buggy, though -- Robert gave me a couple of spritzes of Avon Skin-so-soft. Now I smell clean, though I certainly am not clean.I went through my book to see if I could not only make it to Wesser, but get there on the 12th so I can shower and launder before heading home, and I can. If I do only 12 miles/day I'll be there no problem. Before I came out here I was expecting something akin to a Desert Survivor hike; in other words, a wilderness experience with no roads, cars, buildings or phones. But with road crossings most days and towns every three days or so, it's quite the opposite (not to mention the shelters and the actual trail itself -- I don't even use maps or a compass). Which fortunately means the opportunity to get clean on a regular basis. Unfortunately it also means I'm packing way too much food. I don't mind sleeping on the dirt, using the bear's toilet, or eating the same thing day after day, but I really, really, look forward to a hot water shower after three days on the trail. Funny what you miss. It's 8p now and I'm going to bed.
Date: 2001-04-09
From: Beech Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Whoo-ya, now that was a hike! I'm taking another breather after tackling Albert Mtn, the only real climb on my hike today, but what a doozy. Last one-third mile was pretty steep -- needed to use my hands getting up the trail. But an excellent cap to what has been my favorite stretch of trail so far, from Beech Gap to Albert Mtn. Great views coming up the mountain, lots of sun-dappled trail, not a lot of up and down, birds a'plenty -- just a real nice, pretty day of hiking. It's 1:30p and I took lunch from noon to 12:30p, started this morning at 9a. Only have three miles to go this afternoon, and all downhill. I didn't see anybody on the trail today until Mooney Gap!Yesterday was a sea change for me -- now I'm walking towards home, not farther from it. Definitely a mood-improver for me. I really miss home: not the food, not Mons Nestus, not the hot water or any one thing, just the whole package, home. I can't wait to see what Greg and Jay did with Jay's room. And while I'm enjoying myself out here tremendously, contemplating what color they painted Jay's walls is even more pleasing.Well, I missed the campground in the book; now it's 3:30p and I'm at the Long Branch cutoff. I'll stay here even though it's a dry camp. There's water at Rock Gap Shelter, just two miles more, where I can load up tomorrow. But, you know, Rock Gap Shelter is just 2.5 miles away -- an hour and a half. Traildancer -- the first black hiker I've seen -- just cruised by on his way to Wallace Gap. I think I'll rest up, pee, and head on out.Rock Gap Shelter, 4:45pm -- I'm here. I was hoping for a tent site, but few suitable sites, which are all taken already. Drat -- those shelter floors are hard, and it looks like a few people will come in later from town; their stuff is here. Achilles is here, as is a guy I've seen in the registers, Packman (second black hiker, yeah!). Apparently, Traildancer didn't stop in -- Achilles didn't see him and he's not in the register. Two hikers, Lobster and Chowdah from Bangor, are here, too. Lots of graffitti here (as at several shelters past), including "Seniors Rules!"Maddog and Bloody Stump just grabbed their stuff and moved on, and I see "the Belgian" showed up. Another resident tonight is Hard Time -- he's with Stump, who's also here, along with Robert (now Chill Out). The map is out.
Date: 2001-04-10
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Bartram Trail Cutoff
Miles today: 12.0

I am half a mile up the trail and one mile down the road, at Rainbow Springs Campground; an unplanned stop. I have 1) showered; 2) started my laundry; 3) called home; and 4) sat down for some lunch, a pepperoni pizza and a Dr. Pepper. Just met Spider and his dog Girl (both very sweet), and Liverwurst and his dog Miles, all getting a ride back to the trail in the camp pickup. Packman and Robert are showering now. A load of people that had spent the night here were leaving as I came in. Saw T -- rather, he spotted me -- for which I was very glad. Got his e-mail now. He said he plans to spend an extra day in Wesser on Friday (his birthday) rafting. My hope, when I'm done here, is to ride back to the trail and hike to the Bartram Trail cutoff, about 12 miles.Okay, a little more about last night at Rock Gap. Despite my concerns the five of us in the shelter slept well. Only Robert and I had our heads pointing out -- the others had them by the wall and the mice. Achilles started a real nice fire in the ring; he, Packman, Lobster and Chowdah and I sat up and chatted til about 9 or 9:30p. We talked hiking/outdoors experiences, environment, Bush, California energy crisis, etc. -- We noted that few Republicans seem to hike. I hope that's not true!Got the scoop on Packman's trail name: when he pulled into Neels Gap, his pack weighed 91 pounds! And Packman is not a big guy. Among other things, he had a 12-lb fruitcake (great trail food, but how 'bout slices next time?). Oh, and the stars were out last night, too -- brilliant and beautiful.
Date: 2001-04-11
From: Bartram Trail cutoff

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 13.4

Wesser Bald Shelter, 4pm -- Well, it was hot yesterday afternoon, mid to upper 80s. By the time I got to the Bartram Trail cutoff sites I was bushed. Thirsty, too. Pleasant camp last night with a campfire for cheer and bug repellancy.Today was a motly easy (and cooler -- mostly overcast) day, but the descent into Tellico Gap was a bit hard -- even my knees are tired. And my feet do hurt. Only one other hiker here, Flash (the chatty guy from Columbus, Ohio), and now Republican Stan is here. (Stan's the guy who identified my mystery snake for me, "a black snake." Good enough!) As it's almost 5p I'd be surprised if many more people show up, even though Spider and Liverwurst are behind me. So instead of tenting I am in the shelter tonight, as it's a nice one and good-sized. Stan says the black snake I saw today (it rattled at me -- not near as friendly as the first) was it using its mimic ability. Pretty effective, too. I knew it wasn't poisonous, but the logical part of my brain could not override the instinctual part that heard a rattle and said, steer clear!Yay! Gnome showed up. He let me use his Motorola T900 to send Greg an e-mail! Too trippy, e-mail on the trail -- not to mention the cell phone use. I would never have imagined that you could use a cell phone from the trail. Another wilderness expectation shot down. Oh, and it's not even 6p but I've already eaten dinner. Gnome was updating the crowd at large with news updates (he also gets news feeds on the T900) until Spider asked him please not to. Oh, yes -- Spider and Liverwurst and their dogs are here now, too, so we'll be cozy in the shelter tonight. Gnome just showed me pictures of his kids and grandkids, and a letter they sent with this first maildrop. Way cute. I gave him my e-mail/phone 'cause after the trail he's coming out to the Bay Area, Walnut Creek where his daughter lives.It's going to be a short (5.6 mile) but steep descent into Wesser tomorrow. I've got a new blister on the ball of my left foot -- so tomorrow's hiking will be tough, but hey! Archon says that NOC nachos are tasty.Everyone recommends I read "Blind Courage" by Bill Irwin.Short segue: Republican Stan is very Republican, perhaps the polar opposite to my leftie Berkeleyesque politics. We both stopped at a shelter for a break one day and chatted. We agree on a surprising number of issues, like the energy crisis (stop using oil). A comforting conversation.
Date: 2002-04-12
To: Back to winter
Miles today: 0.0

One year later. I'm on a USAirways flight to Asheville through Charlote; I won't get to my room at the airport hotel until late tonight. It all seems so mundane after the anxiety of last year. This morning I sent off a quick e-mail to Steve Lee -- aka Patch -- saying I was on my way and would be incommunicado for a bit. I also decided to become a tincanstoveman disciple whole-heartedly: I left the Xtreme at home in the backpacking box. Gulp!My biggest worry is slipping into a state on the trail thinking it's last year, with the same people and anecdotes. But those people are gone -- I want to make new acquaintences. Am I worried about missing Greg? Yeah, but I expect that, like I expect some hardship to crop up. But I can deal. I feel very confident about the actual hiking part since I did so much hiking after I came back last year. So, woman, get ready to travel back in time to winter, leaving behind the flowers and new leaves of a California April for the slumbering brown landscape of the South.
Date: 2002-04-13
From: NOC

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Woke up early -- well, considering the time when I got in, 7:30a is early -- paid my bill, bought postcards and Jeff my shuttler pulled up. Timing. Had pancakes and coffee at the NOC and was on the trail by 10a.Partly cloudy weather -- no rain so far -- just about perfect for the big uphill. Which wasn't so bad. It's now 1:30p and I'm at Sassafras Shelter for lunch though I'm not really hungry. Think I'll tank up on water and head for Sweetwater Gap for the night.Met my first hiker today, Flatfoot from Florida, though he sounds 100 percent New York.It's 8:15p,and I'm finally fed, cleaned and in bed. I am at Brown Fork Shelter -- I don't know what happened to Sweetwater Gap; didn't see it. I'm plenty pooped. Sixteen miles, and over that big hump of Cheoah Bald, too. It's gently raining -- waited until I was done with my mac and cheese -- and I'm in the 'mid. Two Brits in the shelter, Bruno & Lawrence. I wanted privacy for my bath, and I think I'm just a bit cranky from missing home and being tired and all. Fontana tomorrow.
Date: 2002-04-14
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontana Village Inn
Miles today: 11.6

Slept poorly last night. Between the mouse exploring the tent, the rain worries, and thinking about bears (thanks, Jeff the shuttle guy!), had a hard time settling down. Woke up at 8:30a! No tea this morning -- gonna get going.Cable Gap Shelter, noon--taking a shoe break, having some lunch. I've only got 5.5 miles to NC28 and the ride into Fontana Dam. Hoping to get a room and shower and fuel as the P.O. won't be open til tomorrow. I grossly overpacked food! Again. Sitting in the shelter and sorting through my chow bag, I have three (!) dinners and my resupply about three hours away. Tsk. Oh, I forgot to mention, somebody left a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan mag in Brown Fork Shelter. It was terrible. I read the whole thing. In turn I left a bit more of Fast Food Nation (more of it in the NOC hiker box).Fontana Village Inn, 6:30pm--I'm cooking my dinner on the patio of my room. So, 3p, I pull into NC28 and the message board with the shuttle schedule and phone. Hey! No service on Sundays, great. Should I hike a mile farther on and camp at Fontana Dam Shelter then walk back Monday to grab my maildrop and fuel? Back track?! No way. So I call anyway, since I see that the Inn offers hostel bunks for $15, and they'll come get me. So I register for a hostel bunk -- only nobody's staying in the hostel, they're all staying at the Inn, which slashes its prices during the off-season (which this is). So my $80 room is $26.I showered first (natch) then went down to get fuel and do laundry. Ran into Bruno & Lawrence. The Hiker Supply store is small, I'm warned, and when I get there it's a choice between big cans of denatured alcohol or Colemans. I try the general store--no. Walk down to the gas station and they've got HEET for $1.59. Did my laundry with a husband/wife team from Florida hiking sections with two cars. Don't really feel like eating at the Peppercorn restaurant -- fine dining! -- so that's when I end up cooking on my tincanstove on the porch. Got the tent drying out here, too.This place is a little family-oriented vacation village -- sports, hiking, biking, the lake, etc. -- with a cultivated small-town feel with the sno-cone stand and the sandlot baseball.Tonight I'll figure out how many days it'll take me to pass through the Smokies, and pare down my chow.
Date: 2002-04-15
From: Fontana Dam Visitors Center

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

It's a quarter past noon, and I just came down from the observation tower on Shuckstack. Nice view; partly sunny weather. Jay from Utah was eating lunch there; met him this morning waiting for the P.O. to open. He was also the only other hiker on the 9am shuttle from the Fontana Village Inn to the trail. We both waited in vain for the visitors center to open -- supposedly 9a, but it never did. Off-season? Called Greg, got a liter of water, found a dead cardinal that flew into the glass walls of the visitor center, and left. Heh! So instead of getting dropped off at NC28 where I got picked up Sunday, I skipped that 2-mile section and went right for the Dam. I'll come back some day and finish that. Plus, I wanted a Smokies patch for my daypack -- darn that visitors center!Mollies Ridge Shelter, 4:45pm--Got here about half an hour ago. Thank god! Sometime shortly after Shuckstack my right hip started hurting. Only knowing I had to camp at a designated spot kept me going. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Hung my pack on the way-cool bear cables, put my food and sleeping stuff in the cage -- er, shelter, got my water and popped two advil. In 15 minutes or so the water'll be ready and I'll start dinner. There's a fire ring for cooking 'cause you can't in the shelter. No table, either. Jay is the only other person here and other than the school group we saw going the other way, the only people we've seen today. Logbook shows two others passed through here. It also shows some horrendous weekend crowds. Friday/Saturday saw 20 or so people here, a bit less on Sunday but still a lot. Glad I'll be doing the park during the week!Going to take it easy tomorrow and hope my hip sorts itself out. The pain is in the bone/ligaments, not on the surface. Aiming for Derrick Knob Shelter, 11.7. Oh, hey - -that cardinal at Fontana Dam? Poor bird. Got a good look at the plumage, then took the tail feathers and returned the rest of the bird to the earth. Those beautiful red feathers should make a great fan.