morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

What a long hike. I swear the mountains only went UP today. (and UP and UP) my feet are starting to hurt...a few blisters forming on the toes and one heel, I've got them taped but they are still sore. My left achilles tendon hurts a whole bunch, I'm glad to be heading into town so it can rest. I love the way word travels on the trail. I pasted a bunch of familiar faces, stopped to talk to a few new people as well today. Met 2 young guys who were going south, they kindly told me my friends were not too far ahead and that Last Minute and Gumby were still having some leg pains of their own. I told them my name and the one guy knew right away I was from Pittsburgh! I told them about the storm and they said they were heading for a shelter for sure!Finally met up Spins and Gumby at the road. It took a while to hitch in but we finally got a ride from a nice guy in the back of his pick up. Got to the hotel where about 20 others were! Bill, who was Buffalo Jim and is now Billy Goat, was there with Milo, Gaurdian, Bubbles, Goopha- he looked soooo familiar, turns out he lives in College Park, MD and we hang out at some of the same places so I'm sure we've crossed paths before, and a bunch of others were there. I stayed in a room with Doc Boom (formerly Crack Boom but he has some med school experience and has helped us all out with our pains, thank you!) and Little Bird. Last Minute finally got in and he had an amazing story of hitching and getting some free beers (those nice folk in Georgia like to have a few cold ones while they drive). Then we went to an all you can eat country style buffet, drank some beers at the hotel parking lot, watched Spins do her thing with fire, watched the rain and lightning, then slept! First zero day tomorrow, yea!
Date: 2011-04-06
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Whiteoak Stamp
Miles today: 12.6

Free breakfast at the hotel was amazing! Easy hitch back to the trail. Hiked with Doc Boom, Little Bird, and Spins...I can finally keep up with them My achillies tendon still hurts a lot, I had to slow down a lot near the end of the day. We crossed into North Carolina today, yea first state done!!! North Carolina welcomed us with a huge mountain, straight up! no switch backs, crap. The shelter was super crowded so we continued to the campsite after. Had a really nice fire and talked for a while. So many stars tonight!It's a different type of friendship out here. I knew I would make some close friends out here but I never really thought about just how close we would be. We spend 24 hours a day together and do just about everything around each other including all our personal stuff. We go through the same experiences, good and bad. It's different, but I like it.
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Whiteoak Stamp

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Really nice hike today. I was walking with Spins and she said when you think you want to get off the trail, think 'where else do I want to be right now?' If you can answer it with another place, then go there. If not, continue walking. I kept walking.The shelter was so much fun. There were actually 2 shelters, the old crappy one and the new one. We set up in the new one but they both eventually got full. We met the girls that Gumby and Last Minute had met, Rocky, Laugh Track, and 3 Hats. They are funny and loud- they stayed at the old shelter. We had a nice fire and took a bunch of ridiculous group pictures.I cut off my first dread too! I don't know what I will do with them yet so its in my bath bag for now. In case I haven't explained...I am cutting off my dreads, one every 90 miles or so, so I will have no dreads by the time I am done with the trail. I am also starting at the front of my head so I can rock a dread mullet by the time I get to DC to visit friends
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Longest hike so far today! We also broke over 100 miles. It feels so good. We did have good motivation, town! Our hiking chant was 'pizza hut, diary queen, pizza hut, dairy queen'. My other motivation was calling my work during their weekly happy hour so I could talk to all my friends who I miss so much! I didn't think I would miss work so much but they are like my family so I do miss them lots. Had a little bit of rain early. It turned out beautiful once we got in, it was a great ride in the back of a truck too! The guy dropped us off right at pizza hut, turns out dairy queen is directly next door! We all got the salad bar AND a large pizza each. I still had to take half my pizza back to the hotel but it was so great to eat veggies! Then we got blizzards.We stopped at the outfitters so I could buy a tent, I am super excited to sleep in it, I got an MSR Hubba. My feet still hurt a bit from the blisters. I hope they heal a bit while we rest tonight at the hotel. We are crashing with the girls (Rocky, Laugh Track, and 3 Hats).
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Ron Haven is awesome...he runs a few motels in Hiawasse and Franklin. He has a school bus that he will shuttle us into town and such, he told us about the Baptist Church that does AYCE pancake breakfast for the hikers. They came and picked us up from the hotel at 730am and it was soooooo good. They do it everyday for a few weeks each year, they have a big banner for us to sign and they take a picture of us and mail it home to our parents. The pancakes were great, I ate 5 and drank lots of orange juice. Afterwards I did not want to move. We still had to walk to the post office so I could mail my hammock home and go to the grocery store, of course they are in opposite directions so it was lots of walking.I oacked out lots of food so I was glad we only had a few miles to go. Set up at the shelter about 12:30, we heard it was supposed to rain at 3pm. I got anxious about seeing Silers Bald so I wondered up the mountain on my own to see it. It was incredible, 360° views! I sat for a while alone but noticed some storm clouds so i began the steep descent back to the shelter. Well it started to rain so I ran all the way back in my crocs, no rain gear! I got to the shelter just before it began hailing! The sky cleared up right away thankfully. Doc, Last Minute, and Spins went up to see once it stopped raining. After dinner Me, Little Bird, Doc, Gumby, and 3 Hats went up to watch the sun set, it was awesome. We could see the fire tower on top of Mt. Albert!
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

It was so hot today, about 80° and sunny. I was afraid to get more sunburn. We watched the sun rise from the shelter, so cool! We got to the Cold Spring Shelter and it was kinda ghetto (built in 1933!)so we camped about .1 mile after on a ridge line. First night in my tent, I loved it and slept so well. It was nice to be able to move around and not feel like I would fall. Tomorrow we will get to the NOC where they have a pub with live music and I get my first package from my mother, I cannot wait!
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Cold Spring

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Another nice day for hiking, hot and sunny. Got to the NOC, it was incredible- rafting and outdoors center, it was like a town of outdoorsy people. I got my box and we got a cabin (Doc, Little Bird, and Spins). The cabin has a loft, it was so nice, and we had a common living room with a few other people. We watched Family Guy! We are at the restaurant (the pub was not open yet) pizza, salad, fries, and beer! it tasted oh so good. We got some beer to go and hung out with the others, they were staying at the hostel but came to chill in our cool room! There was a rain storm over night so we lucked out, yet again
Date: 2011-04-12
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

Sleep in a bed was amazing. Woke up early to get breafast and go to the post office. Then we went rafting at 9:30 with Laura- and guide in Hot Springs who Little Bird met on the trail! We ran into her in the parking lot yesterday so she offered to take us for $3 instead of $46, wooo! I've never been white water rafting. Of course today was rainy and cold 50° out, but we didnt care. It was so much fun, we rode for about 1.5 hours I think. Then we went to eat more pizza and warm up before we hit the trail again. We had a really hard up hill the entire way out of the NOC we were dreading. Turned out to not be THAT bad, we did it in 3 hour 15 min! We are really getting fast The shelter was crowded but they made room for Spins and I, Little Bird and Doc tented. We got to bed early since it was so cold. I probably would still be at the NOC if it wasn't for everyone, we all really encouraged each other to hike, our first real test to see if we'll make it in bad weather. No rain, no pain, no Maine!Me met the guys at the shelter- Bronza/4 beards, Coyote, Rebel, and Fishhead. They are hiliarious, they sing and Bronza was running around in some shortie-shorts...they all got free girl shorts at the NOC and all they had to do was jump in the river with them on!
Date: 2011-04-13
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful weatehr today. The hike was not too bad either, Thought about going a few more miles to Fontana Dam but decided to stay at the shelter. I'm excited to get to the Smokeys. Got to save some money by not staying in town! I do want to go to Gatlinburg though, I'll spend my money there.
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam HILTON
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: clear sky

Nice hike into Fontana, sun is out. Got a shuttle to the Village resort area to resupply and eat. It was so expensive in the store, over $1 for ramen, seriously?! At least the food was good at the restaurant. Shuttled back to the trail to hike to the Hilton, it was a party! About 40 of us there, 24 in the shelter and the others tenting. We had marshmellows on the fire, beer, Old Crow had apple pie and ice cream, free hot showers, went for a COLD swim in the lake. We didn't have graham crackers so we made smores out of brown sugar cinnamin pop-tarts and nutella and honey, yum!
Date: 2011-04-15
From: Fontana Dam HILTON

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

First day in the Smoeys. Woke up to some mice running around in the ceiling. Glad I slept thru them running over me. Walked over the Fontana Dam, it was pretty cool. Entered the Smokeys and within 5 miles we saw our first bear! I was with Little Bird and Spins, we heard this screetching noise and thought it was a bird. Then about 50 yards in front of us a mother bear crosses over the trail, looks right at us, then continues followed by 3 small cubs about the size of a cat! It scared me a bit, did not get any pictures. I was shaking for a while after too. The rest of the hike was long, a lot of up hill. It got cold and super windy as we climbed elevation, maybe 50 mph! I thought the trees were gonna fall on us. Finally made it to the shelter, Doc Boom went ahead 3 more miles to the next shelter where Freight Train was going, we lost another guy to a girl! A big storm came in around 5pm, its supposed to be scattered showers tomorrow too. I hope it just rains at night and not during the day.
Date: 2011-04-16
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Long hike today, it was so cold waking up. There were some snow flurries and ice on the trail. I was real tired and hungry, I probably need to eat more. I cut my second dread off today in a field. I walked into a tree since I usually look at the ground when I walk so I dont trip. It hurt. We were all nearly out of food so we must hurry into Gatlinburg tomorrow! Our trail hunger must be kicking in, we bought 3 days worth of food and ate it within 2.
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

Woke to some 20° weather! ice on the trail again. Ate a vitamin, packet of peanut butter, and a packet of chocolate-gel (gross) for breakfast...all I had left. Saving 1 packet of sour skittles for a trail snack. Of course we have to go up and over Clingmans Dome today, the highest peak on the entire trail! 6643 ft. I got a head start from Little Bird and Spins and I saw the sign .3 miles til the tower on Clingman's Dome, I got so excited and re-energized, I strongly walked on and got about .3 miles and still wasn't there, I was actually going down hill too. I got this strange feeling I was on the Bypass Trail. I heard some people heading my way and they confirmed I was. Crap. I sat down on a rock and thought about what to do, turn around and go back up? I can't miss the highest point on the AT but I really don't want to walk back up! While I was debating, Little Bird comes strolling down. I told her the bad news. She checked her book and we decided to continue on the Bypass Trail and then walk up the path to the giftshop. We got warmed by the fireplacem got passport stamps, a chocolate bar (yummmmmm) then headed up to the tower. People we passed told us Doc Boom and Spins have been waiting for us and were worried. Opps, I felt bad for taking so long! The tower was cool, I am glad we went, nice views too. We hiked on to Newfound Gap to get a hitch into Gatlinburg, Doc decided not to stay the night since Freight Train wasn't so he went on ahead. The 3 of us girls were taking pics at the NC-TN state border when a guy came over to offer us a ride into town. He had an Austrailian Shepherd named Merlin. His name is Kevin and he works at the NOC in Gatlinburg so he took us there, awesome! My package had not arrived yet so Kevin offered to ship it to Hot Springs for me, he was so nice and helpful! We ran into Bo at the outfitters so he said we could stay with him in the hotel. We dropped out stuff and went where we always go, Pizza Hut. This time I got a medium pizza and ate it all and a salad. We walked to the grocery store (big mistake it was soooo far), saw a crazy lady talking nonsense sitting on a microwave, showered, did laundry, and slept! Gatlinburg is a weird town...its like a touristy place like the beach, there are so many shops and attractions, it was not what I expected at all but I am glad I stopped there once in my life. The town folk were real nice.
Date: 2011-04-18
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got a hitch back to the trail from Jeff (a pilot) he was so nice. In the parking lot everyone was asking us questions and taking our pictures, we felt like celebrities! We did a real short hike to the first shelter. Rocky and Laugh Track were there! The guys showed up later on too. Its supposed to be a nice view for the sunrise so we planned to get up early. The shelter was packed for the night and about 8 people tented.
Date: 2011-04-19
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Up for the sunrise, it was kinda cloudy but still nice. I hate how noisey the people are in the shelters in the morning. Some are SO inconsiderate to other peopl sleeping! We got started about 7:15. First views were at Charlies Bunion (big ol' rock), it was great there. The wind started picking up, thought we saw storm clouds. Stopped for lunch at Peck's Corner Shelter and checked the log book. I love that Milo always signs the register and says hi to us. He is only 1 day ahead, I hope we meet up with him soon. We hiked a bit with Coyote, he is so nice and funny but really fast up hill. Got in to the shelter early, about 2-ish. We relaxed and ate while the guys did laundry and bathed! felt backwards Slept nicely, it stormed overnight.
Date: 2011-04-20
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke to rain, ick. Last-Minute made it in at midnight with Woodstock and Cool Cat. We waited about an hour for the storm to hopefully pass but it didnt. Wer started in the rain about 8:45. The hike was nice, not too much uphill. I don't really mind the rain, it takes my mind off of walking. My calf hurts. Last night in the Smokeys. The shelter we come to is the only one left with a fence on the front. Word on the trail, a man died in his sleep in the shelter 2 weeks ago. creepy and sad. It was fun hanging out with the guys again in the evening.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Stupi loud people in the shelter woke at 5:30 today! I tried to sleep til about 7 but they all talk so loud. Got ready for a long uphill day. Stopped to take pics at a waterfall and I fell butt first in! Then I slipped on a rock with my pack on and twisted my ankle a bit. I tried to walk it off. Got to Standing Bear Hostel for some soda and pizza. Heard the party the night before was amazing. Then Laugh Track told me 2 original members of Old Crow Medicine Show were there playing fiddle and banjo...I about cried! I'm waiting to see pics to confirm but I would have LOVED to see/hear some live bluegrass regaurdless of who was playing. This news made the next few miles crappy for me. I was ready to leave the trail to go to a concert...had to keep telling myself everything happens for a reason. Then I came to Snowbird Mountain Bald and saw some great views and caught up with Little Bird and Spins, started to feel happy again. We pushed on to Max Patch-amazing views! My feet were killing me, soooooo sore. Finally made it to the shelter after a wrong turn and night fall. We wanted to camp at Max Patch but its supposed to storm. I am so tired and sore, our longest day yet. The guys arrived shortly after us. Wondering if we will push on to Hot Springs tomorrow or nit. I hope my feel feel better, they need a zero! and I need to check some concert schedules.Bear activity warning signs recently posted here, I hope no bears come, I am sleeping with my head out of the shelter!
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up alive, to rain. Its a great sound but sucks cause you know you have to go out in it. Packed everything up an started a long hike into Hot Springs. It was so motivating to see the town from up on the mountain. Lots of energy down! Went straight to the outfitters for our packages. Great food selection there, lots of veggie and healthy stuff, had some kombucha! Went back to the Alpine hotel where we saw friends- saw Doc Boom. Roomed with Milo and Bo! Cleaned up then ate at Rock Bottom, got a case of PBR and relaxed at the hotel, Rocky and Laugh Track came by too I cut off another dread and gave it to Little Bird. Laugh Track and Rocky each took a dread that I had been hanging on to.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

yea zero! Hot Springs is only about 2 blocks long. Woke up early to use the computer at the convience store and get to the post office before they closed (they were only open for 1.5 hours). Seem to have a hard time sleeping inside.Went to the spa to soak in the mineral water hot tub with Rocky, Laugh Track, and Milo. It was so nice and my feet are feeling better already We hung out outside of the motel in the grass and drank and listened to good music, then went to Iron Horse for live music and back to Rock Bottom for a late night veggie burger.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Leaving town is so hard! Especially with so much food weighing me down! Ran into Laura, she walked us out to the trail past her house. Another great day, 80° or so. Had a super steep uphill, saw a big snake, set up camp at the shelter, met some new peopole. I was making hummous and tofu scramble for dinner and my spork broke! Luckily Middlebury had an extra and gave it to me. oh, that was the best food ever I need to make it again!
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Spring
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Had the best trail magic in the world today, 3.7 miles in was a sign for Belgian waffels and veggie chili! We saw Squeaks and Chevy (from Alexandria, VA & Pittsburgh!) heading towards it too, got to a house, left our packs and shoes on the porch and inside was about 7 other hikers at a table with cloth napkins and nice dishes. Jodie and John (FAL and Hercules) fed us breakfast, lunch, and dessert! They thru hiked in 1999 and moved to the house 5 years ago and do this for about 6 weeks each year! It was incredible, they even had about 7 hikers stay the night over easter and took them to church! They were the most generous couple ever. The food was amazing, they even had a menu of beverages with the weather forcast on the back so thoughtful! We filled up and more people arrived, then we sat in a food coma in their living room for amother hour. We read their trail journal and looked at pictures.   They took our pictures too to add to their book. We did not go as far as we had planned today after all that good food. It started raining a bit but it cooled us down which was nice and to get the damn nats away! We planned to sleep on the fire tower but the threat of storms pushed us to camp just beyond. The fire tower looked like a lightning rod! I have a bunch of bug bites and Stylin (from b-more) told me it could be a Recluse bite! freaked me out, I sure hope not! It's still 4 days til Erwin!
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Spring

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Some days it feels like your hiking in circles...today was like that. I love day dreaming so it's not all that bad. We had some great views early on at Blackstack Cliffs, then some ridge line walking and rock scrambles and lots of wind! Mostly down hill or flat terrain (i know that's never true but it was!), then we were in a field and down a long gravel road past some graves. The shelter was pretty packed but i got a spot on the end. Gravity has a guitar so he played us some music and we sang along. Also here is Phlegm, 630, Pixel (booty club), Seven, Rocky, & Laugh Track plus some other people I don't know. Excited for a ghost town coming up and possibly a trip to Johnson City and/or Boone!
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

Almost fell out of the shelter over night! Woke to crazy storm winds, looked like rain all day. Hiked with Milo, Little Bird, and Spins. Nice hiking weather though, cool and keeps the bugs away. Stopped at a road crossing and Netti hitched in to get us pop and chips! We walked a bit more to a nice campsite. We heard there were big storms coming our way around 230am. We always seem to have trouble hanging bear bags, the only downside I can see to camping away from a shelter. Little Bird almost knocked 630 out with a rock! Gumby strolled in near dark, so glad he caught up! Milo stayed to camp and a nice spot with Seven and Middlebury that had a nice view. I wanted to stay there but there was no water source near by. Checked my phone for service and got a text from my mother saying big tornadoes were expected! Great, we are surrounded by trees and on a mountain with no where to go. Hope my tent doesn't blow away with me in it. We prepared the best we could and said our goodbyes! I stayed up with Rocky, Laugh Track, Gumby, and Bootlegger telling ghost stories for fun.