morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-02-08
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: clear sky

Start time: 1445End time: 1600Overnight low: Dunno, don't very much care. I am in a Holiday InnMorning weather: 40 and clearAfternoon weather: 40 and clearEvening weather: 30s ad clearBreakfast: Continental breakfast @ Holiday InnLunch: Shoneys Sunday buffet compliments of Lauren and Nancy (granny)Dinner: noneTrail description: uphillPeople: Dave Greenleaf?, Lauren and NancyMoney spent: $121 for 2 nights @ Holiday Inn and about $96 for new boots. (ouch)Complaints: tiredTrue to form, the alarm clock went off @ 0730. After a 30 min shower I tackled the breakfast bar. By 0830 I was back in my room cleaning up and packing up. Dave knocked at about 0930 and announced he was on his way if I needed a ride. I felt bad turning him down but I needed to get new boots and I didn't want them to then have to bring me all the way back to Dicks Creek when he was headed for Springer anyways. Plus I wanted to eat with Nancy and Lauren and we already made plans. And thirdly I wasn't ready yet. But by 1030 I was so I triple checked the room and checked out. Lauren wasn't going to be here until 1115 so I journaled until they arrived. We headed up the street to the Shoneys and I made efficient use of both the breakfast and dinner buffet. And of course the bottomless bucket of Mr. Pibb. Nancy then loaded me up with suckers and we headed back to the Walasi-yi where I got fitted for anew pair of boots. Salomon pro mis is the model I think. They should work out fine. The are not Gortex or by any means waterproof, but I think I can work with them. So then we packed up and head back to Dicks Creek where they dropped me off at around 1430. I am so thankful for Lauren's granny Nancy to shuttle me all over northern Georgia and Lauren too for dinner and more excellent conversation. The 4.3 miles up to Plumorchard shelter was as eventful as a 0330 AM potty stop. My boots felt good and I reached the shelter ready for a nap. So at 1700 I laid down for a quick nap figuring that when I woke up I would eat. No such luck. I stayed in the bag until 0830 the next morning. 2 zero days sure does take it out of you...
Date: 2004-02-09
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light snow

Log entry: 9Start: 0915Stop: 1530Overnight: Not too cold, very clearMorning weather: Cloudy, mid 30sAft: Foggy, mid30sEve: Cloudy, a short sunny moment around freezingBreakfast: ocp and frLunch: CIB and puddingDinner: Turkey tertrazini and orange delight puddingTrail description: Real long climb up from Bly gap, otherwise not too bad, snow coveredPeople: no oneAnimals: NoneMoney spent: NoneBiggset complaint: Lost my packcover somewhere between Dicks Creek and Plumorchard shelter, so I mentally wasn't in the game muchRough morning. Got up later than I wanted, out of water but too cold to pump, then once packed up I couldn't find my pack cover. I swore I saw it before I went to bed. I know I had it when I started yesterday. I grabbed 2 smaller pieces of plastic and I prayed for no rain continually as I walked. The climb immediately leaving the shelter is along one. I was school girl excited when I reached the North Carolina state line. I am going to miss Georgia, but one day I will return...Another long climb into Carolina and I was beginning to feel the effects of no water. I kept pushing until what seemed like forever and came upon Muskrat Creek shelter. I drank the creek almost dry and read the shelter log and made pudding for lunch.Muskrat Creek shelter must be a pot smoking hippie hang out, tons of graffiti. Carrying on it was a quick 4.9 miles to Standing Injun shelter where I feasted on turkey tetrazini. As Adam Sandler puts it:Turkey for me, turkey for youI could eat turkey in a big brown shoeGobble-de-ge and gobble-de-gickleI wish turkey only cost a nickle
Date: 2004-02-14
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: The Hike Inn (Fontana Dam)
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry: 14Start time: 0900End time: 1400?Weather: pleasant, clear, don't recall detailsBreakfast: unknownLunch: unknownDinner: Ryans steakhouse buffet (Might have been my best meal ever. For sure the best buffet I have ever had.)Trail description: long and windy downhillPeople: grouse hunter, the Solemates, Jacob¢s parents, Jeff and Nancy of the Hike Inn.Animals: lots of dogs, birds, and squirrelsMoney spent: noneBiggest complaints: right achilles tendon, terrible pain, the 1.4 miles between the first information board at NC28 and Fontana Dam. (I thought I was done but had a short but h___ish stretch of trail to go.Thoughts: I don't remember a whole lot from this day, trailwise. But I will do my best. The biggest problem about this days walk was my sore right ankle. It hurt unlike any ankle pain I have had in the past. I met a really cool grouse hunter with 4 beautiful springer spaniels. Tickling their ears made me miss my yellow lab Broots back home. I ate a quick lunch at Cable Gap Shelter and made the final push towards Fontana. I remember coming down off the trail at NC28 and thinkingthat I was at the dam. Little did I know that there was a short, grueling 1.4 more miles till the dam. Once finally at the dam I called the Hike Inn and let them know I was ready. I also called home to let the parents know that I was okay and it turns out that Andy Brown was hangin' at my crib. I think he was dropping something off. Anyways within 10 minutes Jeff rolled in and I as was on my way up the road to the inn. I was shown to my room where my food drop was waiting on the table. I was also greeted by the Solemates who advised me that theywere going to head 50 minutes away to the closest Ryans Steakhouse which is a buffet place. Jacob's parents were also staying at the Hike Inn invited me along. So I showered and dropped my laundry off withNancy. Within an hour I was in fresh clean duds and enroute to Ryans. The meal was wonderful. So many varieties and all the Mr Pibb I could swallow. On the ride back I listened to a cd from the groups Tigers Roar. They are an honors choir from Clemson who sing popular secular songs acappella. They were really neat. I may have to buy a cd or 2 when I get back. We also got stuck in a traffic jam on the way back because of a bad accident. There was a volunteer fireman slowingtraffic down. Jacob asked him what happened to which he replied with a heavy southern drawl, "Rake, up uh hil." which roughly translates into, "wreck up the hill". We had a good laugh for quite some time. Back at the ranch I called home again then did dishes and sorted out my food for the Smokies. I had enough to get me to Hot Springs. So I planned on sending 3 days worth ahead to Mountain Momma¢s. I then journaled for 3 hours until 0130 when I went to bed. I got all caught up only to have it all lost by morning, lousy Pocketmail.
Date: 2004-02-15
From: Fontana Dam (The Hike Inn)

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: snow

Departure time: 1100Arrival time: 1615Morning weather: cool and threatening, rainAfternoon weather: rain, 38Evening weather: snow/sleet/ice/rain, low 20sBreakfast: oatsLunch: candy barsDinner: Hamburger Helper, double cheese pizza (excellent)Trail description: Up, then up, but broken up nicely by some steep climbsPeople: Jeff and Nancy, the solematesWildlife: wild turkey, tweety birdsMoney spent: $64 (44 for stay, 20 for shipping, a soda, white gas, and tip)Biggest complaints: Right achilles, weather, Pocket Mail, mad that I didn't zero.Thoughts: I woke up at 0800 and put the water on to boil. As that was going I planned on typing a little more. But my Pocketmail wouldn't turn on. When I replaced the batteries I noticed all my entries were gone. I was very upset. So I ate and packed up and headed over to the house to let Jeff know I was ready. We headed first to Robbinsville for the ATM and Jeff needed a few things from the store. As we drove back to the dam I couldn't help but think I was making a mistake. It was just starting to sprinkle when Jeff dropped me off. As I called home one last contact, it started to pour. How very discouraging. As I walked cross Fontanta Dam my ankle continued to hurt, bad. My gut told me to stop and head back to the Hike Inn for a zero day. For once in my life I went against what my gut told me was a smart choice. I was so upset that I had lost all my journals, it was raining, my achilles felt like it tore, and I had to climb Shuckstack, my nemisis. I can honestly call it my nemesis. When I climbed it a year ago I was tired from lack of sleep (30 plus hours) but the weather was so perfect that I dare not complain. This time my body and mind were not in the game and the weather was threatening to change to snow at any moment.Today was the 2nd day my heart was completely not in the hike. Day 1 being the other. Something else pulled me up that mountain. I sure didn't want to go up it. My ankle hurt so bad and it also hurt differently than I had ever had it feel before. It burned and cut on the high, outside right part of my right achilles. Almost well into the calf. My strides were very short. Trisha commented that my footprints were closer together than her's, and she's 5 ft 2in. I thought they looked more like trudge marks.It rained the entire climb, eventually changing to sleet, then hail and snow too. My spirits were uplifted little when the solemates ambled in, but with wet gear and a blown ankle I figured that I was in for a long 70 miles through the Smokies. Oh yeah, and it was snowing hard, hard enough to be audible on the shelter roof. And Mollies Ridge shelter is haunted too.
Date: 2004-02-16
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

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

Log entry: 16Start time: 1030End time: 1715Morning weather: cold and foggy, well below freezingAfternoon weather: sunny and cold, high 30sEvening weather: cold and foggyBreakfast: chocolate CIB and oatsLunch: Poptart, oats and honey, tangDinner: Benny¢s jerky stroganoff Trail description: snow covered, gentle climbs, long descents, some steep climbsPeople: some day hikers, the solemates all dayWildlife: chipmunk, coyote tracks, mice, mice, miceMoney spent: noneComplaints: Left shoulder, cold and wet feetThoughts: The night at Mollies Ridge was filled with adventure. Mice attacked us all night. I had one crawl into my mummy bag hood and running over my bag. Jacob had one bite his ear, so he wins. They were active well into the morning. We slept until 0930, it was good sleep too. I woke at 0700 to pee and my right ankle was still tight. But by 0930 I didn't even notice it.I hiked all day with the solemates. It was nice to have conversation. We hiked pretty slow and took a long lunch at Spence Field shelter. After that we climbed Rocky Top on full bellies and were rewarded with bright sunshine. Sometime during the climb we acsended out of the fog. At the top it was like the lake of clouds affect. We stayed up there a while.As the day wore on my feet got continually wetter and colder. I won't ever hike in non-waterproof boots in the winter. Once at the shelter for the day we all dried our feet and crawled in our bags; it¢s cold out here man. Too cold to type efficiently.
Date: 2004-02-17
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry: 17Start time: 1015End time: 1730Morning weather: very cold, low 20s, foggyAfternoon weather: cold, foggy, below freezing all dayEvening weather: dropping temps, doing some kind of precipitation now.Breakfast: choc CIB and oatsLunch: Twix, Chewy Bar, cashews, TangDinner: cheddar potato w/ ham, hot chocolateTrail description: very snow covered, climb up Clingmans Dome wasn't that badPeople: no oneWildlife: squirrelsMoney spent: noneBiggest complaints: cold, wet boots, hungerThoughts: Very nice day walking with the solemates, they make such good company. We got a really late start, but the sleep was good and sound. There were no views all day, just fog. The climb up Clingmans Dome, the highest peak on the AT, was a lot easier than I remembered. Really nothing to worry about. The descent down the backside was not any fun because there was about 3 feet of hard packed snow on the ground. We did not break through and walking would have been much easier but the pines that the trail winds through weren't trimmed for us. Branches which would normally barely brush the top of our packs met Jacob and I squarely in the chest, there was that much snow. We still made good time and spent a short evening eating then right to bed; it was too cold for anything else.
Date: 2004-02-19
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

Start time: 0800End time: 1500Morning weather: clear and cold, mid 20s, not a cloud in sightAfternoon weather: sunny and mild, around 50Evening weather: clear and cool, about 40ishBreakfast: stuffing and sausage gravy, strawberry CIBLunch: pudding vanilla CIB, snickers bars, fudge roundsDinner: Freshettas Supreme PizzaTrail description: snow covered, gentle climbs, long downhillPeople: the Solemates, various hostel folksWildlife: squirrels, llamas, dogsMoney spent: $26 (15 for stay, 9 for pizza, 2 for rideComplaint: cold feetThoughts: I woke up today at 0540, the hour of death. I cooked a hearty breakfast of sausage gravy and stuffing. It filled me up right. By 0800 I was all packed up and as were the solemates. We made great time and the weather was perfect. Sunny and very clear, no complaints from anyone. It didn't get above freezing till we dropped down under about 3500 feet, but much warmer in the sun. My feet feltsurprisingly good, though very cold and wet. (Being numb is bittersweet I guess)We made really good time, mostly due to the very favorable grade which looked to continue to close out the park. The views were simply breathtaking, and once again I would have to say that this is my favorite part of the Smokies, AT wise at least.We stopped once to de-layer and I then inhaled my pudding which tasted great. To rinse out my mug I used my last CIB. Then onward.We "boogy timed" it down to Davenport Gap and were at the exit to the park. We then decided to hang right and head to Mountain Moma's for a cheeseburger. So we walked a mile and half in the winter sunshine. By the time we got to Mt Moma's we were ready for hot meal. What we got was big fat closed sign. We sat and sulked on the steps and a lady came out, Mt Moma I guess, and told us that they were closed due to family illness. She gave us all Pepsi¢s but advised us there would be no chili cheese burgers.I called the standing bear farm and they were down within minutes to pick us up. We had planned on staying at the standing bear and eating at Mountain Moma's per the advice of Stumpknocker. The folks at Standing Bear are top shelf. They weren't quite ready for hikers but did all they could to make us feel welcome. In a couple weeks this place will be primo. Curtis and Maria work hard and have a cool place to show for it. I did a load of laundry and attempted to check email, albeit not very successfully. The laptop which sits out in a shed with the wash machines has a messed up key board which triple types some letters and also misrepresents the usual QWERTY keyboard. He has a new Pentium 3, just hasn't got time yet.I ate a Fresheta's Supreme pizza done in their pizza oven. Very tasty. I then feverishly am trying to catch up on my journals. I had them all done up to the Smokies but Sunday morning when I went to send them out my Pocketmail took a dump and I lost everything. I lost replies I had typed, all my address book, and the weeks worth of journals. Life, as they say, goes on.
Date: 2004-02-22
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Log entry: 22Breakfast: scrambled eggs and toastLunch: potluck at ChurchDinner: a whole lot of grub at ElmersWhat a great day today. The Solemates and I ate breakfast with Jacobs parents and friends at their rental trailer. We then headed to the 1st Baptist Church of Hotsprings. A small, quaint mountain church in a mountain village. We were greeted and welcomed so kindly by all the members. I guess the 7 of us stuck out seeing as the average attendance was about 20. The service was nice, lots of singing. Afterwards the church was having a potluck. We were almost forced into staying. Talk about great southern food. I don't think it is fair to say that you have ever eaten if you have not eaten at a potluck in the south. After that we went over to the outfitters in town and I sent a lot of my extra winter gear home. The Solemates and family went to enjoy hot mineral baths in the Hotsprings resort. I went back to Sunnybank and journaled and planned for the upcoming week. Here is the plan. I will be in Erwin, TN next Friday afternoon where my family will be arriving late that evening. I will be staying at Miss Janet and the Fam at the super 8. I am not sure what plans will unfold for the weekend but I am just glad I will get to see the Fam. At around 19:00 the dinnerbell rang and we sat down to a wonderful vege feast. I am not sure what I ate but it tasted real good and it didn't kill me. I journaled some more then made some phone calls and fell asleep at around midnight.
Date: 2004-02-28
From: Miss JanetÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs House

To: Super 8 of Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thoughts: The family picked me up from Miss J's house at about 10ish. A 14 hour road trip with a 3 and a 1 year old meant spills and "accidents" So we headed to the laundromat. It was Bria's birthday today, she turned 3, so we opened presents as the clothes sudsed and dried. It was great catching up with the family. We spent an hour there then headed into Johnson City to find grub......oh, we found it. In the form of a Ryan's Steakhouse. I had only been to one once before and none of my family had. It was awesome. The best part was the potato wedges (all you can eat mind you) and the Oreo dessert. After a gluttonous hour we headed back to the Super 8 for naps. The fam rolled in at 0300 so they got like 5 hours of sleep. My brother-in-law Mike planned on hiking with me to Damascus and I planned out food for the week.When the kids woke up we headed back into town to get fuel. We then planned on driving to Roan Mountain to watch the sun set but after an hour of driving we realized that we weren't going to make it. So we headed back to Johnson City and re-supplied at the Walmart. It was getting late so we headed back to the hotel.My dad and I hit the Sonic for burgers. Then we had birthday cake and watchedsome Law and Order re-runs. A good day...
Date: 2004-02-29
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry 29Starting time: 1030Ending time: 1800Morning weather: warm and sunnyAfternoon weather: sunny, clear, 50 degEvening weather: clear, 40 ishBreakfast: Cheerios, doughnuts, bagelsLunch: Poptart, mixed nuts, peanut M and M'sDinner: turkey tetrazini, austin cracker sandwhich, hot chocolateTrail description: Probably one of the easier stretches of trail so far. Tough climb up UnakaMountain but overall a gentle and agreeable grade. Snowy in spots but no problem for my Gortex boots.People: Family, then on trail my brother-in-law Mike and a lot of day hikers, at theshelter the solemates and Beatle and his dog, SashaAnimals: Horses and some birds, Sasha the dognoneMain complaints: left shoulderThoughts: I woke up at 0730 and could have slept for another 3 hours I think. But my parents were awake and I figured that the girls would be awake very shortly. Turns out they were already up. We then all enjoyed a continental breakfast. It was such fun. After breakfast we all hurriedly packed up and were on the road by 0930. By 0945 we arrived back at the Nolichucky bridge and the family decided that they wanted to hike a ways with us. It was so cool. Bria was so excited to be "climbing a mountain". They followed Mike and I until a bit past the railroad tracks. There we took lots of photos and shed more tears. I didn't get emotional but it was hard to let go. I felt especially bad for Mom. I also felt bad that my dad did not get to hike much or spend a night in a shelter. I still have 1800 miles to go, he'll get his chance. By 1030 the family turned back for the van and mike and I pressed on. The weather was great and the trail was very moderate. Before we knew it we were at Curley Maple Shelter and ate a 15 minute lunch. We then pressed on through the sunshine. Conversation flowed freely all day. It really went by fast. We stopped again for a short break at the beauty spot. The views were great. Then we started the tough climb up Unaka mountain. I thought mike did great but he said he was inches from death. After Unaka the trail is pretty mild up to Cherry Gap Shelter. I thought I could see Jacob's purple sleeping bag as I walked up. We noticed their foot prints but could not decide if they were old or not. They had looked fresh. Sure enough, it was Jacob and Trish. I was happy to see them and I introduced Mike. They took a full day longer than expected because Jacob took sick and they caught the full brunt of the storm. As we were talking a Siberian Husky, Sasha, strolled into the shelter. Behind him came Beatle, northbound class of 2000. He started from Springer on the 8th, skipped the Smokies (because of the no dogs rule), and is hiking til Damascus. We had a great evening of laughter and food. Mikey read the Bible a while and then shut off his head lamp, I think I heard some soft snores within 4 minutes. I won't be too far behind him. Should be a great week.
Date: 2004-03-03
From: Mountain Harbour Bed and Breakfast

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry 32Starting time: 0900Ending time: 1730Morning weather: sunny and warm, mid 50sAfternoon weather: sunnyBreakfast: keesh, biscuits and gravy, fruits, muffinsLunch: Chex mixDinner: Can't remember, but I'm sure it was good eatin'.Trail description: Tough climb to start the day but after that not so bad. Lots of new trail so I am not sure if we did more than the 17.5 miles or not. the new part they added, which is the cover of the 2004 thru hikers handbook, is cool. People: The Solemates, Mikey, the Terry and Mary @ Mt HarbourAnimals: 3 horses, very cool, I think I am going to have 10 horses someday. Money spent: noneComplaints: Long day, but good company.Thoughts: **** this original entry was a victim of a pocketmail crash, this is near as I can remember it ******I do remember that the breakfast was all-star and that the first 8 tenths of amile was steep. The weather was gorgeous and the views were great. I'm gladMikey had a good day to hike in. We took a short break along the beautiful ElkRiver. There is a great place to camp here if your schedule works out. Nicegrassy meadow and the river is lovely. Another short break for water at Mountaineer Waterfall a couple hours later. We then carried on a bit further and ate lunch at Walnut Mt Road.The push to Moreland Gap Shelter seemed to take forever and we came panting inat 1730. We planned on pushing to Kincora's Hiker Hostel which would be another 6.3 miles but none of us felt much like moving. If I remember right, we only felt like sleeping.