morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Amicalola Falls 

To: Max Epperson Shelter
Miles today: 0.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Our mother and sister drove down with us to Amicalola Falls to drop us off. We dropped off our maildrop packages on the way down. We decided to use maildrops through the Smokey Mountains so there would be less to worry about as we get accostumed to trail life.We dropped one of our boxes off at the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels Gap and we ended up with a huge group of people debating whether we should hike the approach trail. Some said that it is really hard and isn't part of the official AT. Others said that it was worth the climb and that they would do it again. Gear was very adament about hiking the approach, and we all agreed that after 2,000+ miles, the 8.8 of the approach will have seemed like nothing.While at Neels Gap, they went through our packs and could only get rid of a few small items: gloves, an extra bandanna, extra socks.We wanted to actually start hiking today, but until we left Neels Gap and made some last minute decisions of what to take and what to leave, we decided to just stay in the Max Epperson shelter at the base of the falls. We all wanted to get a couple miles in that night, but night was coming fast.Walking up to the shelter, we met our first 2006 thru-hiker as thru-hikers: Lucas. Gear had brought along some marshmallows, so we built a fire and toasted a few. The shelter had metal wire for bunks and we could only find two that looked safe enough for our air mattresses, so Gear slept on the floor with the mice. Yes, we had a mouse visitor our first night on the trail. The mouse thought our supper was pretty good too: Sweet Sue chicken and minute rice. We left a peace offering (the chicken foil packet) outside the shelter and thankfully our gear was overlooked by those sharp teeth. Other then that, our first night was very restfull. We joked that we had to come out to the trail to get a good night's sleep.
Date: 2006-03-18
From: Max Epperson Shelter

To: Springer Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

35*F in the morning/ 50*F afternoon   Well, we hiked the Approach trail and we're glad we did. The three of us agreed that it wasn't as bad as the 500 steps in PA. We all had a great time. None of our feet hurt and the miles flew by as we talked while we walked. We couldn't have asked for a beter day to start our thru-hike. Lucas and we were tag-teaming for most of the day; we'd pass him and then he'd pass us...    It was picture perfect on top of Springer Mtn. We were the only ones there and an older gentleman cam up and introduced himself as the caretaker of the area. His trail name was Many Sleeps and he took our names and ages, told us that we were number 26 up Springer for the day and thru-hikers 318, 319, and 320 for the year. We took a couple of pictures and headed over to the shelter, the first one on the AT. We arrived around 3 pm, but the time went fast. Between talking to all the other hikers and taking care of camp chores, it was soon time for the sunset. A lot of people went back to the top of Springer to watch the sun sink into the clouds overtop the rolling mountains. I didn't think that we'd see these many mountains and no civilization until the Smokies. A few of the thru-hikers that we met: WildBill, Squarl, Bugler, Bear, Rusty, and a couple who came to see WildBill off.
Date: 2006-03-19
From: Springer Mtn. Shelter

To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: broken clouds

   cloudy/sunny, about 50*f afternoon   In the morning we went back to the top of Springer (I love that mountain, there are even daffodils blooming on top) to take a few camcorder moments and thank Many Sleeps for making Springer such a special place. Yes, my dad is carrying a camcorder. We all think that it will be awesome to be able to look back over this trip and see our faces through the pain and glory. We're keeping the camcorder as incognito as possible. I'm glad Dad's bringing it along. Our pack weights aren't that bad: Dad has about 48 lbs with around five days of food and water, I carry around 28 lbs, and Brandon easily carries his 22lbs. He really wants to carry more, but we told him that he has to wait at least ten days and then he can carry more if he wants to.   Our first full day on teh AT. So far, so good. The first part of the day was much easier then the Approach Trail. Everyone took off from the shelter early, gut we hung around to pick up our pebbles to carry to Katahdin. (I forgot, yesterday Many sleeps talked to us about leave no trace ethics and gave us a match booklet to carry to Neels Gap where we can pick up a free leave-no-trace bandanna).    We ate lunch at a lovely waterfall, Long Creek Falls, and spent about an hour there taking pictures and relaxing. We met a lady thru-hiker from Houston, Texas who sews wedding dresses while we were there. Few thru-hikers usually stop at the falls, but Mala (who we met at the Walasi-Yi center) told us about it.    We stopped at a hollow tree with a giant hole about five feet up it's trunk. We climbed in and I could hardly see out the hole even when I was standing on my tiptoes.    We camped because the shelter was full when we got there a little before 3 pm. Everything seems to take longer on the trail; making supper, cleaning the dishes, getting water... Hopefully we won't have to take down our tent in the rain that is supposed to come tomorrow. After the supper dishes were clean, we put in an appearance at the fire ring where we met Branch and Clay, a couple from Georgia.
Date: 2006-03-20
From: Hawk Mtn. Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: moderate rain

   It drizzled on and off throughout the day today, but we were lucky because it was dry in the sky more then it was wet.      We woke up before 6, it wasn't raining, Dad and I talked, it started dripping and we figured that we'd better get a move on with tearing down camp. The sprinkles let up just enough to allow us to tear down our tent in the morning without getting our stuff all wet. We left the shelter around 8 am all decked out in rain gear and ready for a downpour.    Sassafras Mtn. was a climb. We kept wondering if the next mountain would be the one, but we sure knew it when we climbed it. We just kept chugging along at an easier pace then what we'd pulled off on our training hikes, and we were passing people. That surprised me.   Our home-made pack covers worked great. They are easily adjustable. I'm glad that we prepared for this hike as much as we did, with our gear search and training. It is really paying off for us and making things easier. As Dad says, "I'm waiting for the excitment to wear off, but it hasn't."   The group of people at the shelter tonight is great. Everyone sat around the covered picnic table and talked as it poured down rain a few feet away. These thru-hikers are a pretty good group. Everyone has their own story tell and their own reasons for being out here. Strangers from all over the world; friends after only a few miles.
Date: 2006-03-21
From: Gooch Mtn. Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

   Our biggest day yet! We're all holding up great. No blisters. We zoom along on the trail; all of our training and preparation really paid off. I'm the slowest and hold the guys back, but we still pass the young guys. We didn't expect to be passing people. We're just hiking along, talking as we go.    It was raining when we started off today. We whipped up some instant breakfast drink and tried to get going early. (8 am)    This morning there was mist everywhere. I felt like we were walking through a fishbowl. I always wanted to hike above the clouds. With the mist, greenery, waterfalls, it was beautiful. We hiked across a waterfall that was cascading down along a rock, through the huge, gnarly roots of a giant tree and across the AT.    I can't believe that we hiked four tenths of a mile into this shelter. When we were walking in to the shelter it felt like the trail just kept going and going and going. We got to the shelter early, so we had a lot of extra time.   We're all having a great time. Everyday is unique. Thru-hikers are a great group of people overall. Everyone is so happy and relaxed.   So far, a campfire every night.
Date: 2006-03-22
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Walasi-Yi Hostel, Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

   We weren't planning on staying at a hostel this early in our hike, but this morning we got up and it was in the 20's with stinging wind and ice covering everything. Our water bottles were frozen solid. We were comfortable in our sleeping bags, but when we got out of them we packed up fast and got hiking. We didn't even eat breakfast. We would've been freezing by the time the oatmeal was ready.   Blood Mtn was an ice castle when we went up. Everything along the trail was covered in ice. Blood Mtn shelter was a stone cabin with open windows. We stopped at the shelter to warm up because even after hiking up the mountain, we were cold and Gear's hands hurt even with two layers of gloves on (a wool glove and a neoprene glove) and lots of clothing. We ate a few tootsie rolls that we had and started hiking again after Gear's hands felt better.   The views from the top of Blood mtn were breathtaking. We were above the clouds. The wind would blow some of the clouds away to reveal the ripples and bumps fo the Chatahochee mountains. Only the tops of the mountains were covered with ice. As beautiful as it was, we didn't stay up there very long because it was too cold.   We picked up our first food drop box at Neel's Gap. We've got a lot of food in that box. We'll be hiking a bit slower when we leave because of all the food that we have to carry.   There was a great bunch of people at the hostel; Tech, AOL, Bear, Rusty, Caveman, Bugler, Natty Boh, Jeanne and Bob. Tech should be a comedian. He was telling stories that evening and had everyone laughing so hard that they cried.
Date: 2006-03-27
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

It's 4:35 pm. and the Hiawasee public library is going to be kicking me off this computer in about ten minutes. Apologizes to all, but I'll catch up later. Now,...Last night we stealth camped for the first time near the parking lot at Dick's Creek Gap. We wanted to make certain that we would be able to catch the shuttle to the Blueberry Patch. Around 9:30 a truck pulls up with a trailer full of backpacks and a truck bed full of thru-hiker's.The Blueberry Patch is wonderful. Hot shower, donkey's and goats, warm fire, soft beds with pillows... beautiful. The couple who run the hostel are some of the nicest people.Gary took us in to town on his way to the P.O. We ate a HUGE lunch at the Georgia Mountain Restaurant with Jenny. Then we stopped by the supermarket to pick up bagels, cheese, a lighter, and bananas. (Big shopping list, I know. Either we have to eat it, or carry it.) Anyway, we are all really excited to be on the trail. So far, none of us have had any blisters. I really thought that I would get some, but I've got some terrific feet. Amazing! We love you Allison and Mom.Sara of the Wanderers
Date: 2006-03-28
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Blueberry pancakes,eggs,sausage,cheese biscuits,orange juice,tea and coffee; we had a very filling breakfast at the Blueberry Patch Hostel.Gary & Lenne Poteat run a very nice hostel.
Date: 2006-03-31
From: Camping two miles before Winding Stair Gap

To: Silar Bald Shelter
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: broken clouds

It's amazing to look at where we are on a map of the AT. It actually looks like we've done a decent chunk. We came into Franklin to see what the Hiker Fool Bash is all about and we've come to the conclusion that it's basically a way to get hikers to stay at their motels and hotels. Ron Haven, the guy running the hiker bash and two of the motels in town, gave us a free ride in his shuttle that he runs out to Winding Stair Gap and a few other spots every morning at 9 and 11 AM. The hiker bash was basically a huge tarp strung out from the balcony of one of his motels with a couple tables and chairs set up under it. They serve all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a requested donation of $5. When we got in (around 10 am.) all that was left was a couple scoups of eggs. We finished those and then headed over to the library.      Everything has been going great. Things seem to turn up just when you need them on the AT. We walked into some trail magic yesterday around noon. We had just finished a steep and rocky section up Big Butt Mtn. when what do we see but a red bandanna and a sign reading:Trail Magic beside a little path leading into a patch of rhodedendrons. We follow it into the thicket only to see a griddle made out of a saw mill blade with some huge blueberry pancakes cooking away on top. Mmmmmm. Thankfully we hadn't stopped for lunch yet. Have you tried a qusadilla? (How do you spell that?) They're good! Two tortillas with cheese, taco sauce, and optional jalopenos all toasted together.   We're planning on getting a couple groceries, filling our stomachs and then heading back out to the trail where we're hoping to camp on top of Silar Bald. Our first bald, cool.
Date: 2006-04-02
From: Wessar Bald Shelter

To: Campsite north of NOC
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: scattered clouds

   We hiked through the Nantahala Outdoor Center today. The trail goes right through it. We stopped for Wessar burgers and to pick up our food drop. The food just keeps piling up. We are covering ground quicker then we had expected, so now we have to eat douple meals sometimes. Which isn't a problem.
Date: 2006-04-03
From: Campsite north of NOC

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

   In North Carolina they don¢t believe in putting in many switchbacks. When you see a mountain, it¢s straight over the highest point, period. It took 100 miles for me to get blisters, but now that it¢s warmed up, I have some.    We ate lunch on top of Cheoah Bald with Ork & Bean, and Baltimore Jack. The wind was whipping up the gray clouds overhead and it looked about to pour on us at any moment. We got moving quickly in the hope of reaching the shelter before it poured, and we did.   Dad¢s backpack is coming apart at the seam. Hopefully we¢ll be able to get it fixed or swapped out for another one soon. He can still load it up, but it¢s not as comfortable and there¢s always the chance that something could slip out.   That night in the shelter, everyone was telling riddles and talking about the infamous Smokies.
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontana 'Hilton' Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

   So many people at the shelter tonight that it feels like the first week again. There are even two southbounders here who have been hiking for eight months. Wow.   This is the Hilton of shelters. For a five minute walk you can take a hot shower. For a shorter walk there¢s a lighted toilet with TP. Deluxe.   We are having a great time. We whistle, sing, and talk about all sorts of things as we hike. Ever since the NOC, there have been flowers everywhere along the trail: red trillium, lemon trillium, all sorts of delicate, white flowers.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Fontana Shelter

To: Fontana Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

   What a gorgeous, sunny day to kick back and relax. Actually, Dad and Gear walked down to Fontana Village to mail a CD for the southbounders, pick up Gear¢s new rainpants at the P.O. (his other ones had ripped and were sent back at Hiawassee), picked up our foodbox, bought some bread and cheese, and checked at the outfitter about Dad¢s pack. Dad called Granite Gear and they said that we¢ll be able to exchange it for another one in Hot Springs.   A guy interviewed us for his website. He is interviewing a few thru-hikers as they come through Fontana Village to get their story. Then he edits it and broadcasts just the voices, not pictures, from his internet site.
Date: 2006-04-06
From: Fontana Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

   After much debate, we left the Fontana Hilton today with me wearing Gear¢s crocs. My achilles tendon has been hurting for the past couple days, probably because of a piece of duck tape that I put too tightly over a blister on my heel. Fortunately, when I don¢t have any pressure against it, when I wear Gear¢s crocs with the strap in front of my ankle, my tendon doesn¢t hurt.   It started raining soon after we set out from Fontana, but the sun came out after awhile. We filled out our thru-hiker permit and then headed into the Smokies. They say that the first climb into the Smokies is the hardest; it just keeps going and going.   We¢re the only people at the shelter tonight besides a ridgerunner. We lit a fire in the stone fireplace inside the shelter and played cards late into the night. The shelter was made out of stone on three sides and had a tarp strung up on the other. It kept out the wind nicely, but I don¢t think that it would do so well with the bears. Where are the bear fences that we heard were across the front of the shelter?
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

   I hiked in Gear¢s crocs again today. My tendon doesn¢t hurt and my blisters are healing. We ate lunch on top of a grassy bald that reminded us of the Sound of Music. The sun was shining and we could see for miles. We could all the way to Fontana Dam and the Shuckstank firetower that we had passed yesterday. We layed out on that grass for about an hour and a half, soaking in the sun and watching the clouds crash overhead like we were underwater.   Those five miles from our lunch spot and the shelter were harder then we expected. Some steep sections today came out of nowhere. At one point, we turn a corner in the trail as we are hiking uphill and are faced with a rock wall on one side and a steep, brushy hill on the other. Guess which way the trail went. Up the rock wall of course.   Finally, we made it to the shelter. While we were cooking supper outside of the shelter, we talked to K'ACHE and PI. Another hiker was a bird enthusiast and he set us straight on a few bird calls.
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: moderate rain

   We slept in as everyone else in the shelter left. We stayed at the shelter until the afternoon, waiting for the rain to stop. When we did leave, the rain was tapering off.    Gear started a fire in the shelter's fireplace. It warmed the shelter up a lot. We can see our breath when we're outside of the shelter.
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

   What a beautiful, clear day to hike over Clingman's Dome. This morning all of the bushes were covered in ice. They were beautiful with the sun shining through them. We could see for miles from the observation tower on top of Clingman's Dome. Some locals said that today was the clearest that they have ever seen.   We were shocked when we crested the hill at Newfound Gap by the mass of humanity that was swarming around the mediocre lookout, snapping pictures, with cars parked everywhere and lined up two across on the road. We were making our way through the hubbub when we hear someone call out "Yo, Wanderers!". It was Cupcake and there was trail magic being served out of the back of Misty Mountain's car. While we were there, MoonPie drove up with some more trail magic, including moonpies. We each tried one for the first time and brought some along for tomorrow.
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

   I didn't get to sleep until around one in the morning last night because my hands were itching so much. Little bumps first appeared on my hands about 2 weeks ago and now they itch, especially when I'm warm. A section hiker gave me some anti-itch wipes which help.   We stopped at Charlies's Bunioin this morning. It was a huge rock formation protruding from the side of the mountain that resembled..., guess what. We were walking on ridgelines all day. At some places we were very close to teh edge of a high, steep drop-off. We're lucky that we aren't walking through here when it's slippery with snow.   When we stopped for lunch, Gear was tossing out the moonpies. Dad was making a sandwich when Gear tossed one his way and the moonpie bounced, rolled, and dissapeared right over the edge of a cliff. Uh-oh. No sense in letting a perfectly good moonpie go to waste, Dad tied a rope around Gear and held onto it as Gear climbed down to recover the lost moonpie. The recovery mission was sucessful.   Tomorrow will be our last full day in the Smokies.
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Tri-Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

   We think that the bumps on my hands were caused by either stinging nettle or poison ivy. Whatever they are, they're driving me bonkers! Heat aggrivates it so last night, with the hot fire chugging away in the shelter fireplace, even the wipes couldn't help. Dad suggested that I try tylenol and thankfully it helped the itch go away so I could fall asleep. Sherps showed me her hands and it looks like she has the same thing.   We hiked with Cosmic Punchline and Sherps for a long time today. It was great hiking and talking. The miles always fly by when we talk.   We were surprised to see Ork and Bean hike into the shelter this evening. We had thought that they were ahead of us somewhere. We had a great evening swapping stories.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: overcast clouds

   We stayed at Standing Bear Farm hostel today. On the way there we watched five river rafts float down the Pigeon River and slide over some rapids. Dad, Gear, James, and Sprocket played a couple good games of horse-shoes at Standing Bear. Later on, Curtis, the owner of Standing Bear, let Gear drive his old, red tractor. In the evening, everyone at Standing Bear sat around the campfire listening to Curtis and a couple other guys jamming on guitar. Dad and I stayed up until three in the morning, talking around the campfire. We had a great time.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

   We didn¢t feel tired after staying up so late. Gear sent a postcard home to his classmates. It was a long, continuous, five-mile, uphill hike leaving Standing Bear Farm, but at the top was a beautiful, grassy open area. We stopped for lunch at the top, as puffy clouds rolled by overhead.    We¢re glad that we stopped at Standing Bear Farm. They have a great set-up there with showers, laundry, some food supplies, and even a complete kitchen for hikers to use.
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

   Today was stopped on top of Max Patch for about two hours and had lunch with K¢ACHE, PI, Riverside, Fortune Cookie, and Firetruck. Max Patch is a giant, grassy knob. Another Sound of Music moment. The wind blew so hard and the view was so clear that I thought that this must be what it feels like to sky dive. We could see back to the Smoky Mountains that we had just crossed. They rose up behind us, gray, jagged teeth piercing the sky. The wind on top of Max Patch blew so hard that the whistles tied to our packs began to sing, but we found that when we stretched out on the grass, the wind no longer hit us and we were quite comfortable.    We slept in our tent tonight. After the sun set, we could see the orange glow of a wildfire beyond a nearby ridge in the valley below us. Eerie. At least the wind was blowing the fire away from us.