morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Nantahala (Outdoor Center) River, and Wesser NC

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Breakfast was laced with stories of hiking in yesterday's snow storm. Hikers rushed off the mountainside, making for the NOC. Shelter! Warmth! Food! However, we headed out to hike in the sun, of all things.   We climbed up and up. Those first two miles were tough! Without the distraction of bad weatehr, we rester here and there, and looked at wildflowers. It all looks so innocent in the sunshine. We passed the spot where Ranger and Grunting Bear stayed the night, and where we turned around.   It turned cooler as we went on up the mountain. It's a yo-yo: warm in the sun. cold in the shade and wind. The snow is on the ground at the top of the mountain. It's a bit of fun walking in the snow, different. Later, it's a slushy, muddy mess, where it melts in the sun on the hard packed trail. We slip backward on each step forward and up, 7 miles uphill! On top of one peak, I purposely snow-angel an "ailing hiker pose" on the bank beside the path.   The snow is maybe 6-8 inches deap. On the ridges, it has blown into drifts up to our hips. There, we step (hallowed voice) "exactly in the footprints of those who had gone before us." And, I'm convinced they made the path up. Sometimes we passed blazes, sometimes we didn't.   Finally, after we sat down in dispair, convinced we had passed the shelter, we saw it. Sassafras Gap Shelter. Everything with "sassafras" in its name is double bad.   Then, we actually decided to leave the shelter to get in a few more miles that day. More uphill to a fabulous view of the mountains we crossed on the left; and mountains to come were on the right. Local, Michael, and his dog, Sally, were kind enough to point out the sights and take our picture. We can see Fontana Lake to come, the Smokies, and most excitingly, Clingman's Dome.   We made camp in Locust Cove Gap with Ranger and Grunting Bear, who I was so pleased to catch. They spent last night freezing! And, supposedly just outside of a bear cave. I am happy to find a spot clear of snow and resembling "dry" to pitch the tent. It was a good 10.5 mile day with the snow and uphill. Go us!   I get in a good share of girl talk as the sun goes down. We're camped so close to each other, it's like we're all in the same room. The girls banter between their two separate tents; the dialog is a comedy in and of itself.   Love you girls! I'll miss you when you take a hiking break for the wedding.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Stecoah Gap (Fontana Dam Shelter)
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we yellow-blazed for all its glory! After hiking for a mere 3.1 miles, we popped out on a busy road with a pull off and a grassy spot complete with a picnic table. It begged us to sit awhile and dream of hamburgers and milkshakes. Then, when a truck pulled over to adjust his load, it didn't take much for us to decide to all the way ahead to Fontana Dam! Whoo-hoo!   It took two hitches to reach the Fontana "Hilton" shelter. Named for the luxerious sleeping space with showers and a real bathroom. The Hilton was hot stuff. There is even a $1 shuttle that comes at 9, 11,1, and 3:30.   Linus's pack is here but he is not. We sit with Treetrunks to wait for the 1pm shuttle and dream of lunch. Treetrunks is named for his enormous calves.   The Fontana Dam Village is a ghost town, a resort village in the off season. We get cheeseburgers and poke around the store and outfitter. I look up some wildflowers. We've seen trillium of some sort: dark red with mottled leaves.   Domino! Bearbait! Both are here and ready to go. Domino is heading out immediately. He's been stuck here for a few days because they were turning people away from the Smokies. Our days of rain, were days and days of snow up there. No one was moving around, so the shelters stayed full. Bearbait is leaving tomorrow.   Linux is back when we get back from the shelter. Throughout the evening he continuously receives a message that I sent up the trail for him from hiker to hiker. "Rigatortoise has you tent poles" which Linux had left at Cold spring shelter. Grins! So cool! The hiker-express works.   We arranged a ride in the morning to slack pack the ~15 miles we skipped to get here a day early. The ride is some trail luck, an overenthusiastic hiker of another year, Taba, who is around working some trail magic.   Fabulous shower down by the dam. The view is beyond gorgeous, a huge lake surrounded by mountains. The day was a perfect one: easy hiking, lovely weather, good food, fab. shelter, fab. view, and a shower.   Ranger shows up at dusk. She pushed ahead of Grunting Bear to make it to town a day early and get a zero day tomorrow as she waits for G-bear to catch up.    August (the only black guy weve seen hiking and he's decked out in camo.) has made a bonfire for the night. It's good company: everyone is happy. As the fire burns down to coals, August, Torch and I sit out talking.   Overall, I have been quiet out here, not getting too close to anyone. But with August, the dark night, and the glowing coals, I feel free to talk. Torch is uncharacteristically quiet; he's listening to us talk. We talk of jobs and life, the trail, where we are going, who we are, and who we want to be. The usual topics for such a night under the stars.   A bit on August: he is 35 and looks maybe 25. He has been in the army for more than a few years. August writes plays and wants to publish them; and, he has tried to hike this trail in its entirety since 1998. He won't do anything else until he's hiked it; it is his "nemesis."
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Stecoah Gap

To: (slack-packing) Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It is a winding, turning, tipping, falling trip to Stecoah Gap in the back of Taba's cargo truck. Eeewww... I feel blah. Where is land?    Taba (accro. for "There And Back Again") is an extremely enthusiastic thru-hiker of another year, who is paying forward some trail magic, aka. giving us a hitch. He has decked out the back of this truck just for the purpose. I am currently rolling around with two couches, some climbing gear, a desk and chair, a bike, a skateboard, and countless other objects that are closely tethered to the wall or hanging by some magical means. There is reggae music playing. Land? Land?   So, we thought 15.1 miles would be cake without our packs. I mean, the dam is low-lying, and we're starting in the mountains, you'd think much of it would be downhill. Right? Yeah, right!   After we were dropped off, it turned out to be a very warm day. We were sweating and huffing up many hills, sunburning all the way. Finally, 7 miles to go we can see the Lake! But, it's many more pointless ups connected with rocky downs. Then, some random switch-backs, back and forth, and back, and forth, and back... Ahhhhh!   Finally, we've hit civilization! There's a bathroom in the middle of a random parking lot with ...! Can it be! ... an ancient drink machine! (And the weary hikers rejoice!) Lucky for us, I do have my wallet with $1 bills. Sodas all around! And, we still have two more random hills to cross in our last mile on the AT. Figures. If it's uphill, you must be on the AT.   Finally, the Hilton and another shower!
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Highlights of the day: AYCE breakfast which includes biscuits and gravy!, clean laundry, more beautiful weather, food shopping at the ghost town store and the outfitter, Starbucks Frappichino, lots of blooming trees and bushes, and wildflowers, idle chatting with hikers as we wait for our clothes to dry, and ... $1 shuttles.   We hear bad weather is on the way, supposedly hitting us and the Smoky Mountains tonight. Alex had a bad hiking day yesterday (imagine that!) and is feeling spent. He has already suggested that if bad weather is coming, he will want to zero again tomorrow. (He's learned his lesson, weather-wise.) AND, it would be nice to really do nothing for a day; no hiking, no off-day hiking chores. We will see what the winds bring, litterally. With the wonderful FREE accomodations we have at the Hilton, we can afford to chill out for a few days.   Rigatortoise has sweet talked the restraunt lady into cheaply selling him 10 burgers and 10 chicken breasts with buns in order to grill out tonight. I unintentionally miss the party because I am finally calling home; it's been over a week. Grins, it's so good to hear familiar voices! I am in high spirits after talking to my much loved ones. My parents are renewing their wedding vows at the end of April on their 25th wedding anniversary. Cool Mom and Dad!
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, it's not exactly raining, though it did during the night. It is cloudy and gray. I quote Ninja, "Looks like an AYCE breakfast delay at least." I feel like I could procrastinate hiking into the Smoky Mountains for a 12 mile day until tomorrow. But, my excuse would have to be laziness because weather-wise, it is a hike-able day. Alex votes to veg-out, and relax we do.   We shuttle into town, breakfast, and relax by the community tv. We are greatly saddened that although there are movies to rent, there is no way to watch them. They taunt us all day. We watch trash tv instead, catching the weather forcast and the news too.    The news is facinating. The pope died, everyone who is anyone went to pay their respects. There was a local car crash, some arrests ... a report on a study that stress reduces health. Man turn the tv off, I'm stressed out!   Our rainy day has more sunshine than rain. We play putt-putt for free because the course is in such disrepair. There are leaves and sticks scattered here and there; it's the most challenging putt-putt game I've played. Cross-country putt-putt. The forsytheas, azealeas, dogwoods, rebuds, pear blossoms, and magnoleas are all in bloom throughout the course. It's quite nice.   Umble-dog and Sqeaker make enchaladas tonight back at the Hilton. Poor Torch can't eat them because the rice mix includes poisonous peas. Sorry, babe. He made Thai-noodles instead, my favorite lipton side dish thus far. For dessert, I sacrificed my Toberone, my most prized purchase at the outfitter.   The shelter is the most crowded tonight, there are maybe twenty? people or so. Ten on either side; five on top, five below. The day's predicted thunderstorms finally descend upon us. I still shiver to be out here in these storms. The thunder cracks and lightening strobes the sky. Eeee! It is raining strong. Oh, please do not be like this in the morning!   Tomorrow, we cross Fontana Dam into the Great Smoky Mountains. I am so excited to be back, and thru-hiking. It'll be four days out, strictly shelter hugging, then we can resupply at the thriving metropolis, Gatlingburg, Tenn. Hiking in the Smokies is highly regulated; we have 8 days, 7 nights to get through. That's how long our permit lasts. 71 miles; that's doable, if we don't play in Gatlingburg. (But, I want to go to the Happy Hiker!)   I hope we get some clear days up there, and that there isn't much snow. I have 15 wildflowers so far and more to collect. Okay, okay to bed with me! Love you Mom. Miss you Dad. Hello-o friends. Hello-o old co-workers. Thinking of you Grandipop and Grandimary. Missing you Peter! And, you too Emily!!! Lawton you'd love it out here. Elizabeth, I got your message a long time ago and appreciate it ... I'll try to call ya.   Hugs, Love Kisses, GOODNIGHT!
Date: 2005-04-08
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

I snuck out of the shelter at 7am to run down to the dam and get in one more shower before we leave. It's such a nice shower; the ladies actually have hot water and water pressure to be reckoned with. The guys are jealous and threaten to use ours. Theirs are mass showers, high-school style.   Torch and I file our permits just before we leave, then walk ceremoniously over the dam. We take a few pictures, even set one up with the timer capabilities on the camera. They should be nice: us with the mountains and lake behind and the dam curling around. Now, we're in the Smokies!!!   Horses are allowed on some of the trails here, and for the first time our paths croass with horsemen. I warn Torch that I may be tempted to ride a day through the Smokies. The horsewoman in me is strong. We pass maybe 20 horses being tacked up as we enter the park.   I feel like I'm walking through malassas; the air isn't that warm but it's ultra-humid! Two days off really seems to have taken its toll. Even on the "flat," I feel like I'm moving backwards.   Here at the southern end of the Smokies, it looks alot like what we've been walking through. Maybe a bit more wild or that could be me hoping. The largest animal we saw on our first day in the Great wild Smoky Mountains were 3 chipmonks.   Eventually, I picked up my hiking gear and started to enjoy the day. The humidity slacked off a bit, and the sun played peak-a-boo all day. It was near perfect temperature wise, with a slight breeze.   We walked the extra hill to the creaky fire-tower and were surprised with teh phone service to go with the great view. Too bad the G-parents weren't home; I'm thinking of them. We had lunch of lemonaid, cheese, triscuits, and dried apples. Burrr-, gets a bit cold in the wind with my sweaty shirt. Time to move on.   The Smokies are gentle so far. I feared steap inclines to get us from dam-level to the ridgeline. We got a day of gently rolling hills instead. As we creasted a few of them, their tops were blanketed with spring beauty. The tiny white flowers are maybe the size of a dime with pink stripes. Fairy glens. All the downed trees, and even the standing ones are covered with green moss. It's good to be back here.
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

11.7 miles is very, very different from yesterday's 11.3 miles. We heaved our packs up to Rockytop, a sweating trek through the ridgetop fields. There was a gorgeous 360 degree view, however, I was too overheated to stay and look. Quick; keep walking; must find shade. From here we moved onto Thunderhead Peak, another rocky climb, -err beautiful view.    The new Smoky Mountain animal(s) of the day were two red ground squirrels. I search for bears every minute of the day, and also last night when I just possitively HAD to venture out into the dark.   Tonight's shelter has a bear fence. I'm not fond of it; I feel trapped in.   Yay, for tomorrow's short day! Oh, I'm hungry. I can't wait to sleep, so that I can eat the breakfast ration in the morning. We are eating so much more, but there is no "extra" food anywhere. Torch is majorly cranky about it. He hates being hungry, and that I no longer let him finish off every meal. Sorry, I eat my share now. We've solved this low food delema this time out by shortening our days into Gatlingburg from 4 1/2 days to 4 days. We get an extra dinner out of it to use for two day's lunches (a meal we usually skip).
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingman's Dome (AT high point!), Gatlingburg, TN
Miles today: 10.1

The day's options: We could (1)hike 7.2 miles to a shelter and tomorrow hike 10.8 miles to Newfound Gap, hitching into Gatlingburg from there, OR (2)hike 10.1 miles to Clingman's Dome (the highest point on the AT) and hitch into G-burg to resupply a day early OR (3)hike 13.5 miles to a shelter and tomorrow hike 4.5 miles to Newfound Gap, hitching into Gatlingburg from there. We decided to wait to make a decision and see how the day turned out.   After hiking the first 5.5 miles of the day without water and in great time, the votes came back for the 2nd option. It gets us into town earlier and means that we can now eat all of our snacks. I wish I hadn't been agast at my chocolate intake at the last resupply and refused myself any chocolate snacks. I crave those colorful, melt-in-your-mouth M&Ms. I will have to content myself with knawing on my powerbar as Silent Bob dips Hershey's bars into peanut butter.
Date: 2005-04-27
To: My AT Wildflower List
Miles today: 0.0

1) common dandelion2) bluet3) common blue violet4) early yellow violet5) rue-anemone6) bloodroot7) trailing arbutus8) pussy-toes9) robin's plaintain10) spring beauty11) toadshade (trillium)12) wildflocks13) trout lily14) yellow trillium15) cut-leaved toothwort16) star chickweed17) dwarf cinquefoil18) white trillium19) halberd-leaved violet20) fringed phacelia21) dutchman's britches22) wild geranium23) wild ginger24) crested dwarf iris25) wild strawberry26) wake robin (trillium)27) fire pink28) jack-in-the-pulpit29) wood anemone30) 31) smooth solomon's seal32) showy orchis33) blue cohosh34) bird's foot violet35) 36) 37) squaw root38) large flowered bellwort39) mountain bellwort40) fringed polygala ("gay-wings")41) carolina vetch42) squirrel corn43) sweet white trillium44)45)*There are a few that I left blank because I know it's a new flower but I haven't looked it up in a flower book yet.
Date: 2005-02-24
To: Get Ready
Miles today: 0.0

I can't believe I'm actually starting our journal. It's only 20 days until we will be on the trail. It seems like it has been forever. Bill and I met almost 16 years ago in Charleston, SC and hiked in the Smokies while we were dating. We kept talking about the trail as something that we would like to do someday. We kept talking about it during our transfers to Spain and then Tampa, Fl. We kept our dream in mind when we planned to have children. Brian is 10 1/2, old enough to hike. 6 years ago during our last year in Tampa, we started telling people that we were going to thru hike the spring following my retirement. Somehow, it made our dream seem more real.   We spent my last 2 years in the Navy in San Diego. It seemed like I was waiting. Waiting to retire. Waiting to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. Waiting to move back home to Washington state. And waiting to thru-hike the trail with my family. Bill and I never considered going without each other or without Brian. I have spent enough time away from my family, that I think they deserve some intensive quantity time instead of limited quality time. We started on some of that quantity time last March when we toured Costa Rica as a family. Springer is the start of this March's adventure.   On the 14th of March, we start our journey when we fly east. I would like to invite our friends and family to enjoy our journey and adventure when we start hiking 2 days later.
Date: 2005-03-04
To: Go
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

   Today is my last day at work. Then only 10 days until we are on the plane starting our adventure. WOW.    Our good friend Teri (and maybe her hubby Wayne) will be keeping this journal updated while we are gone. We will use our PocketMail to send her our updates. If you don't know anything about the AT (Appalachian National Scenic Trail), you can go to the Appalachian Trail Conference website (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/) to find out about it. Other hikers on this site also have tons of great information. It took me a while to read all of last year's (class of 04) hikers' jounrals. I learned a lot. If you have a question about the trail someone has probably written about it. And probably better than I would. Take some time and explore this site. One of my favorite features is the view other entries from this day located at the bottom of each journal entry. You can use that feature to see what other poeple that we mention in our journal are doing.    To get in contact with us, you can use the Guestbook entry on the left hand side of this screen. The entries will be e-mailed to us. To actually mail us something, you can use the Mail Drops information. Granted that assumes that I have entered in the Mail Drops. That is one of those things on my to-do-list.    Another thing on my to-do-list, is my Gear page. This will be more of a project than I first anticipated. Hopefully, I can get it finished before we finish our hike. I found complete gear lists on other journals to be very helpful.    Well, this is it for today. I know there will be at least one more prep entry, to give Teri (and Wayne) on the job training in journal maintenance. Did I mention that my family is really fortunate to have such good friends in our life? Well unitl then take care and we will see you on the trail.
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Hostel, Dahlonega, GA

To: Hostel, Dahlonega, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Oh my gosh! We are really here in Georgia and have ALREADY registered at the Vistor Center at Amicola Springs State park. We had our thru hike pictures taken. We weighed our packs with water and food (Bill's - 39 lbs, Jeanene's - 36 lbs, and Brian's - 16 lbs.) Close to our estimated weight. We will probably look for some ways to lighten our load over time. While we were there we drove around the park and so we could aay that we saw the falls. We will actually start hiking tomorrow when Josh (hiker hostel) drives us in. Yesterday was a total travel day. Teri (bless her heart) picked us up at 4 am. She dropped us off at the SeaTac airport for the 1st leg of our trip to Chicago. We had a 3 hour layover there and did lots of wandering and waiting. It seemed to be spitting snow off and on. Hopefully, that weather system will stay north. The second leg of our trip was to Birmingham, Alabama. Why Birmingham? We like Southwest, but they don't fly to Atlanta. Leg #3 was via a Budget rental car (the only agency we could find with one way drop off across state lines). We drove to Dahlonega on much better roads than we expected. Dahlonega was also much bigger than any of us expected. It seems like a cute little college town. A late night call to the Hiker Hostel and a short drive later - we were in bed. The Hiker Hostel is really cute. A 2 story log cabin with a basement. Brian is happy because they have a dog that likes to play. Bill will drop the car off in Roswell, GA in a little bit and Leigh (hiker hostel) will drive him back. I would like to thank the people who have been signing our guest book. It is really cool to get those messages. Take care and we will see you on the trail.
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Hostel, Dahlonega, GA

To: Tent, Hawk Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

OH MY GOD!!! This is so hard. Either the trail is REALLY hard or I am REALLY REALLY out of shape. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that I am way out of shape. We started the day from the Springer parking lot. No 8-mile approach trail for us. We only had to walk .9 miles to reach Springer Mt. We did the usual stuff Signed in and took pictures. Then we had to re-hike the same .9 miles. The weather was cold, foggy, and drizzly mixed with breezes. Actually, good hiking weather. If it had been warmer, I cannot imagine how hot and overheated I would have gotten. I won't bore you with all of the details and will skip right to the highlights. Carsickness on the windy road to Springer for all the McCarty¢s. Bill split his frogg toggs rain pants when he bent down to pick up his rocks from Springer. Brian had the 1st hard slip and the first fall of the day. While walking through a rhododendron tunnel, Brian was overheard saying "I feel like a king, with all of my subjects watching me. Jeanene taking breathing break every 30 mins, asking Bill to check the trail guide again to find out how much further. Brian got a trail name - Oblivious. Those who know his "What?" or "Huh?" can probably understand this name. Bill is now called Troll. I still am nameless. It was so hard for me today. I know tomorrow will be another day. Bill/Troll and Brian/Oblivious were so good to me, waiting and taking care of me. I really am fortunate to have such a good family. When I told Bill that I loved him and appreciated him taking care of me, he told me he just hadn¢t found the right mountain yet (to push me off). Well my hands are freezing and Bill is snoring. Take care of yourselves and we will see you on the trail.