morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-07
From: Roaring Fork Shelter, NC

To: Deer Park Shelter, NC
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: few clouds

The College folks are up and going at 7am. I do not get going until around 1pm. I hit the trail around 2pm. I am going to walk into the night. I would like to get into Hot Springs, if possible. The trail is not too bad today. I basically walk down hill to Lemon Gap for 4 miles with no problem. I then make the 1.5 miles up to the Walnut Mtn shelter with minimal effort. On Walnut Mtn, the forest service has cleared the entire forest to make a bald. It is all burned and looks like a bomb hit. When I get to the shelter, all the college folks are taking their naps. Ah, the college life. I see how they wake up at 6am. I talk with them some. I thinked one for the "Gorp"(gorp is a mix of dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, etc) that he had left for me. He said the gummy bears in the mix, makes it taste like peanut butter & jelly. I actually picked the bears out. It was too unusual of a taste. I told them to look me up on Trailjournals and said goodbye. A girl gave me a thumbs up as I left. Now the big climb up over Bluff Mtn. I stopped at a good spring and ate a big meal. If I hike at night, I try to get alot of calories in me right around dusk. This way I dont have to do much when It gets cold. I get to the top of Bluff and am dismayed with the lack of a view. Now for the 4 miles down to Garenflo Gap. I have climbed this 4 miles a couple of times. I am glad that I am going northboun About a quarter of mile down there is the view that I was looking for. It is towards the east. It looks very remote. I was reminded that I always see bear and wild boar from here to Pond Mtn, Tn. I have not seen any bear this whole trip or boar for that matter. My feet start hurting half way down. I take some Ibuprofen. I have not had to take many on this trip. As I get to Garenflo, I hear several people. I eventually see about six tents off the trail. They dont see me and it is dark now. It is uncool to walk up on a caampsite after dark if you do not know folks. It can scare people and get you shot. I just move on. It is so warm. It must still be about 55 degrees and no wind. I felt like I could walk forever. I climb out of the gap and over a mountain and down to another gap. I see off to the east of Hot Springs some unexplained lights. First of all, I want to say that I am not drinking, smoking, or taking any drugs. There are lights that initially look like lava. I sit on a log and let my body cool down. I deduce that it has to be two lite ski runs or a mining operation. Ill have to ask in town to see what they are. I have not seen anything like them. Im sure there is an explanation. I climb to the shelter and there is no one there; so, I strip down butt naked. It is so warm that I just stay that way as I get into my sleeping bag. I decided to not go into Hot Springs. I did not want to wake up Elmer @ the SunnyBank Inn.
Date: 2007-03-08
From: Deer Park Shelter, NC

To: Lover's Leap Rock, NC
Miles today: 5.0

I wake up pretty early & get going early. To move quick in the morning, I sometimes skip breakfeast and drink a blend of powder milk, protein shake, instant coffee, and instant oatmeal. I shake it up well and drink it down cold. It actually is not bad, it's quick, and has quite a kick. With this, I get down the 3.2 miles in no time. I like Hot Springs. The trail goes right through the middle of town. First off, I have to go see Elmer. I first met Elmer when I was a near pup on my first big section hike. He remembers me OK; but, remembers a guy I hiked with much better(Grasshopper AT '90) He ended up staying in town a month. Elmer did a thru hike inthe mid 70's and the lady that owned the end left it to him in her will. It is a great Victorian mansion on main street. It is a must see on the trail. I go in and talk with "Sunny" who informs me that they do not need any work. I reminisced with Elmer a bit and moved on. I took some things out of the hiker box which Elmer encouraged. I walked to the store and bought a 24 ounce beer and they gave me a cup to drink it out of. I went to the outfitter and picked up a package that my "cyber trail angel" "lipstick" had sent. I then went to the post office which was closed for lunch. So, I went across the street to a city park where a caboose sits along with a sign that has some AT miles on it. A chestnut haired beauty walked by and I said, "how are you doing?" She said she was fine and asked how I was. I said, "Im good now that I am sitting". She walked on. After about 15 minutes, this woman comes back. She walks up and sits down next to me. She had to step over my hiking gear which I had sprawled out all over the ground. I also had my mouth full of a chewy, stale brownie which left me kind of mumbling. We talked for a bit and we locked eyes and we both were in awe at how much chemistry we had. I told her that I was going to camp on Lover's Leap Rock and she was welcome to join me. I said that I would wait until noon the next day for her. The post office was open now and I went and got my mail. She followed me and wrote down my trail journals information. She then walked away. I thought to myself that I wouldnt see her again. Man, there was some sparks there, though. I picked up my package and went up to LOver's Leap. I carried about 25 pounds of water; but, made the whole climb without stopping. I spent the rest of the day in my shorts sunbathing. I spent the night thinking of the woman that met and wondered if I would ever see her again? The town is beautiful at night; "but, you cant say, 'I love you' to an array of city lights"(Ray Price).
Date: 2007-03-09
From: Lover's Leap Rock, NC

To: Cold Spring Shelter, NC
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

I heard someone walking up the rocky trail. I could not believe it. It was her. We spent the late morning and early afternoon getting to know each other better. It was all very innocent. It was schoolboy stuff. We parted ways with the possibility of her meeting me at Allen Gap, NC or farther up the trail. I gave her my silver bracelet and she gave me a hand written note with a turqoise stone. Man, It was tough letting her go. I hiked the rest of the day with her constantly on my mind. I met "Jaberwocky & hiker-nut" who just got married last night. I told them congratulations and asked if they could try to find out what the lights were that I saw up before Deer Park Shelter. They were leaning towards extra-terrestrials. I did the undulating climb up and over to Mill Ridge. I like this spot. It has some open feilds and ponds. I then went down to Tanyard Gap and had a snack. Now the next 3 miles are a serious climb up to Rich Mtn. I climbed it with only taking a few breathers. I did get cold though. I also noticed that the clouds were moving in. I also was getting tired. I did not sleep much thinking of my new friend last night. I ate a good snack at Forest service road 422 @ waved at four trucks of TN good ole boys with their dates. A couple stopping and making sure I was OK and if I needed anything. I said no, but thanks for asking. This next 3 miles or so is a tough bunch of "puds" and it was getting dark. I just turned it on and got there without stopping. The wind was blowing right into the shelter at about 20 mph. I got alot of water. It looked like I would be here for awhile if it rained. I told The woman from Hot Springs that I would be at Allen Gap in the morning. She did not know it she could make it. But, I still need to be there. I then heard a sound in the ceiling. It took me back to a night when I spent here about two August's ago. There is a long story here, that I will tell later. I went to sleep with the wind blowing on me; but, I did not get to cold.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Cold Spring Shelter, NC

To: Little Laurel Shelter, NC
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Man, I woke up late! It took a group of about 20 day hikers from a local hiking club to wake me up. It was about 11 am. The rain held off. I hope she did not go down to the gap. No wonder I am divorced. Well, I got my stuff together and drank that morning concoction I mentioned earlier. I got to the gap with no signs of her. There was a van here; but, not her. I told myself to be positive. She will understand or maybe she did not come at all? Anyway, I walked down to "FAL & Hercules's" cabin. Remember, I met them at The Deep Gap Shelter, GA. They told me to come by. They also had a sign up inviting hikers over to their house. I walked up the driveway and their they were. Their dog Heidi came down to say hi. I took my shoes off and they treated me to a giant bowl of some sort of chili; a bowl of pork stew; southern sweet tea; and a real banana split. We fellowshipped for awhile. We talked about my work as a boy's counselor and one particular incident where I challenged a boy with "666" tatooed on his back. This is a whole story to be told later. As I left, they gave me a book by Lee Stroebel, "a case for Easter." They asked me to give them a call if I needed anything. I went back to the Gap and thought of my new friend, again, and hiked all the way to The Little Laurel Shelter without stopping. I was so full and had so much energy. Calories are so important on a long distance hike. It is a good haul up to this point. I wanted to get up over Camp Spring Mtn; but the rain started as I got to the shelter and it got dark. I laid there thinking how different my hike had become. A female friend on my mind, trail legs, and spiritual nourishment from Allen Gap. I could not sleep; so, I read "The Case For Easter". It made a great case for the death & resurrection of christ. It changed the authors life. The line right at the end that had the authors daughter saying to her mother: "mommy, I want god to do for me what he did for daddy!"; made me weep. It stills gets me shook up as I write this.
Date: 2007-03-11
From: Little Laurel Shelter, NC

To: Flint Mtn Shelter, NC
Miles today: 13.6

I wake up late again. The rain passed through in the night. Two section hikers showed up and said that no one was ahead of me for days. I am in a gap as the AT goes. Way up front is "GHOST, Trek, J, CP, Martin, HellKat" in mid-VA. Then there is the chase for the 1st of the 2nd pack with "The Boyz 2 Maine & The Good Fella's". Then me, then the first of the big pack is right behind me. I make the climb up over Camp Spring Bald w/o stopping. I then head out over the Blackstack Cliffs. This is one of the best trail reroutes in years. You get way up   on this exposed ridge with falcons buzzing around. I stop and sun and marvel at how beautiful this day is. I look all the way to Roan Mtn & Mt Mitchell. The view back to the Tn Valley is starting to show all the black smog. This section is very demanding. Up rocks and down. Sometimes you have to use all fours. It took it's toll on my knees. I got to Jerry's Cabin Shelter. It is a beautiful spot. I was getting cold as the wind was picking up. I ate fast and climbed up and over Big Butt Mtn(that is it's name). There are nice views up here as well. It is a long descent down to Flint Mtn Shelter. I got there and inside were 3 thru hikers: "Polar Bears & Kathy". They were nice. We talked some, not a whole lot. Now, they are different thru hikers. They do sections of the trail at a time. They will do an area that the climbs are easier in one direction. They skippped the Smokies due to the weather. They will do it later. There is nothing wrong with this, "do your own hike". That is the AT slogan. I did sleep good this night. In August 2005 I had a local girl show up here out of a thunderstorm. She was not wearing shoes; had her jeans rolled up to her knees; a big "Bowie" knife on her hip; a shirt that barely covered her bossom; unshaved underarms; two red pig tails; and accompanied by a big bear dog. She was a red headed Ellie Maye from THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. We talked for a moment and left as quickly as she arrived. Never know what you'll see in this woods.
Date: 2007-03-13
From: Big Bald Mtn Shelter, TN

To: Miss Janet's House, TN
Miles today: 16.5

Oh, I just dont want to move! I am so fatigued. I must get to Miss Janet's. I woke up very slowly. Drank my coffee slowly. If I had not ever done any long distance hiking before, I would want to quit this hike altogether. I know I am just worn out. I just need a day off. It wont be today though, 16.5 miles to "uncle Johnnie's" porch where there is a payphone to call Miss Janet. I get to moving. It is downhill for about a mile and then climb over little bald. This is a misnomer as there is no bald on little bald. It is about 2-3 miles down from little bald to the gap where I then climb up and over High Rocks. Then it is about another 2 miles down to Spivey Gap. All of this downhill has my feet hurting. I take some Ibuprofen, the first 2 of 6 this day. Spivey Gap marks the spot where the TN Eastman begin trail maintenance and you notice right away. The Eastmen do not believe in privy's, switchbacks, or bear poles. I have an inside source in their meetings and this person says that there is about a 95 year old man that says, "Benton Mackaye would not have approved of a privy there!". So they just keep going and maintaining. Well, it is about 11 miles from here to Erwin & I know to make it; I will need an all out Blitz to make it there at a decent hour for lodging. So, I smoke up from the gap; over a controlled burned mountain. Looked rather bizarre with all the brush burned out. Kept pushing to the shelter where I was completely wore out. My feet were killing me and I was starving. I couldnt afford the time to cook a big meal; but, I was not going anywhere without cooking up some calories. I cooked some cous-cous and changed socks and got to rolling. Now, this 6 miles to Erwin is not easy. It looks all down hill. But there are also about 10 "puds" that kick your butt. Also, when you start going down for 3 miles; you really go down, steep in places. I finally get to the pay phone around 8:30 and Miss Janet comes and picks me up. She left me at her house with "crumb snatcher"(he has done 3 AT thru-hikes) & his girlfriend. I take an hour shower and he gives me some good beers. So glad to be here.
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Miss Janet's House, TN

To: Miss Janet's House, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Spent the day chillin'.......not sure about tomorrow.......From the ask zero page:Question - Are you still carrying vitamins? Do you take them in their bottles or repackage in another container, Any idea how much do they weigh?I'm planning a thru someday and I'd want to take vitamins too, I'm just not sure anything more than a multi would be worth the weight.Also - How is the no smoking going? (I'm trying to quit too!)Darleneyes, I am still carrying vitamins. I packaged them, very laboriously, from bottles to zip-locks. There are companies that will do this for you. I have not weigh them. The weight to me is reasonable considering that thru-hikers after about 700 miles are elite athletes. We burn everything that goes in our bodies and then we burn our bodies. I can tell everyday when I am losing my "mojo" that I need to refuel. I just dont think a multi vitamin has anything in them. Read some of Dr Andrew Weil's stuff and make your own decision.Im a non-smoker now, since Jan 9th.....At times, I want one real bad and then I think of climbing the 7 miles from Hughes Gap, TN to the top of Roan Mtn, TN & say no way; never another one to my lips....well see?
Date: 2007-03-21
From: Greasy Creek Hostel ~ Friendly, NC

To: Greasy Creek Hostel ~ Friendly, NC
Miles today: 0.0

well, after the 30 rounds from the rifle last night; ive decided to take a zero. I slept pretty well; but, I have not felt well for about a week. Im not sure what is wrong, but I am pushing. At Miss Janet's I pulled up this "gummy" material up off her tile floor. She had put down some tile and put the wrong glue down. For 2-3 days I sprayed some GOOF OFF on the floor and then scrubbed it with a gritty green pad. With the fumes, the pollen, the 8 days with no break, eating a stark diet, dreaming/thinking of love, and little sleep; I needed some extended rest and many good calories. I spent the day updating my journal. I did see the psycho next door drive by. I waved at him and he looked stunned! And you know, this night there was no loud noises. Connie said it was because he did not think I was here; but, I thought it wasbecause I waved to him and made it a human experience. Later in the day, Connie wanted to show me her property. It is really beautiful. There is much more than the wooden house. As we did this, she asked me to move a big rock and align it with a fence row. I did and when I bent over to move the rock: a brushed my outer left fingers across a stinging nettles plant. Connie said" watch out for those nettles!" I said that I have been in these woods awhile and stinging nettles dont bother me. Ive walked in them up to my neck. Within minutes it felt like a stinging caterpillar had brushed up against my hand. Only twice had I had a stinging caterpillar bite. The first time was when i was 5 and went to the emergency room. The second time was when I worked at the boys camp in TN and it took a shock from a "stun gun" on the wound to stop the poison. I went inside and told Connie that I did not feel good. I knew anaphylaxis and I thought that I was heading there. I asked Connie if she had some Beandryl and she did, the liguid kind. It took about 5 spoonfuls and I was asleep.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Greasy Creek Hostel ~ Friendly, NC

To: Stan Murray Shelter, Tn
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up with my hand still tingling. It felt as if I did some sort of nerve damage to my hand. Anyway, I drank alot of coffee and ate some oatmeal and gave Connie a hug and headed up the .6 to Greasy Creek Gap. I affixed a sign to a tree to help Connie with advertising and was on my way. Again, I was back on the "pud" highway. It was a serious climb to the shelter then over Little Bald Knob(5000 plus feet). I wanted to get through here with as little effort as possible. I wanted to save up for the climb from Hughes Gap to the top of Roan Mtn. At the top of Little Bald Knob there is such a view. The view by itself is worth the climb. I could not tary, as I needed to get over Raon. I took time at a "Mother's Milk" spring and ate a good meal. I met a hiker going south who was starting a thru-hike in May. Missed his name. I got to Hughes Gap. This climb is a "bellweather" for me. Only once have I climbed from Hughes Gap to the top(currently w/o trail guidebook, but I think it is between 5-7 miles to the top). When I hiked in 1990 with "Daydreamer & Grasshopper" I went all the way without stopping. That was in my "early prime". I started out with a nice pace. It is a very steep climb. There are switchbacks here and there; but it is a classic climb. I actually made it to Ash Gap. I stopped, I only had about 1 nad 1/2 miles to the top. I felt good though. I think I just climbed 4 very steep miles. I met 2 guys that were section hiking; but, they did a thru hike in the late 90's. They were commenting on how beautiful the weather was and said it was 15 degrees up here in April when they came through here. I was happy with the weather and kept going. I got to the top without stopping. There was alot of ice up here. Not as much as the "Smokies"; but, it was still hazardous in several places. I got down to Carver Gap and ate a big meal. I was so excited about going across all those balds with the sun shining and not much wind! As I was eating, Miss Janet's tan Van drove by up above me. I felt like running and saying hi, but I was too busy eating. I finished eating and heading up from Carver's Gap up to Joan Bald. It was absolutely stunning. It was not cold at all. I had time to walk about a quarter of a mile and do a 360 degree and spin. I did this over and over all the way to the trail towards Grassy Bald. That stretch of trail is what it is all about. I was in complete Aesthetic ecstacy. It was a long way down to the Stan Murray Shelter. Not any switchbacks here. I decided to stop at this shelter. I wanted to go the 1.7 miles to Overmountain shelter; but I knew I would be here alone and could sleep.
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Stan Murray Shelter, Tn

To: Mtn Harbour B&B, TN
Miles today: 10.1

Woke up late as usual; but, refreshed. I was excited as it was a beautiful sunny day. I knew this was going to be a classic hike. I am not going to get into the details of this days hike because once I was laying on top of Big Hump Mtn: I decided that it just does not get any better than this. I set here in my shorts around 5800 feet with a 360 degree. It was totally clear with just enough wind to keep me cool. The only thing better would be to have "Complete Package" with me. I dont know what I can say about this spot. I felt like just spending the night here; but, I had to make a phone call. Now from here, it is about 6 miles down. And not relatively down; but way down. My feet hurt some; but, I finally got down to The Apple House Shelter and saw that "Mo Lasses" was here this morning. Man, Id like to catch this guy. I headed down to 19E and turned left and walked the .3 to the Mtn Harbour B&B. I met Terry the proprietor. He was nice but we did not talk much. The hostel actually was right above the barn. I heard the horse kicking all night. I also listened to the Vanderbilt basketball game vs. Georgetown. They lost on the final shot! I called my friend from Hot Springs, now called "Complete Package". She was going to come see me tomorrow. I watched the movie, SLAPSHOT and went to sleep.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Mtn Harbour B&B, TN

To: Best Western, Elk Park NC
Miles today: 0.0

I did not sleep much. I was so excited about seeing my friend that I went to sleep around 3am and woke up at 9am. I thought I would get a call around then, I did not. I called "CP" and left a message; she did call me back and said she was on the way! I was worried about her because this section of the country has a terrible reputation for rape, murder, and "whatnot". Actually I knew that meeting her here was best, rather than on Buck Mtn Road. She did show up and had a beautiful day together! We both knew that we could not keep this up. The drive was too long for her and the seperation was killing us. We think of each other constantly. I said goodbye to her, never knowing if I would ever see her again? My heart was heavy; but, I knew that we had both been good for each other. In the book, ill tell you more about our situation(the hollywood story & the Harlequin Romance)