morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: NOC Wesser
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

April 20 Departed Cold Springs Shelter destination Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Wesser. The hike was not all that bad. Lots of ups and downs, but nothing really taxing. The weather was cool and sunny for the most part, some fog and mist. Crazy Jim hurt his back and had to leave us at Telico Gap. He walked down a service road until it intersected with NC 1310. There he caught a ride into NOC at Wesser. He actually beat us to NOC. The views of the valleys and mountain tops looked like chocolate chips floating in a bowl of marshmallow cream. At one point, the misty fog blocked our view until a puff of wind would expose a mountain in the mist. That hole would slowly close, then another puff would open another window in the fog. It was really neat. Constant Motion and I hiked over Copper Ridge Bald, Wesser Bald, and Jumpup Lookout, and then down, down, down into the Nantahala Gorge and the NOC. Today is Easter, the Lord has risen, the heavens declare His glory and the earth shows His handiwork. Praise the Lord. What an awesome Lord we serve! Heather, a thru-hiker from Vermont, and her mom were handing out Easter candy as we hiked into NOC. What a treat! We ate real food tonight at the River End Restaurant, and I had real iced tea. The Nantahala Gorge Sandwich is huge! A lot of hikers are here: Muk Tuk, IB, Hoops, Killroy, Chillie Willie, Moth Man, JABA, Pebbles, Bam Bam, Wide Load, and Captain America. We took a shower in the hostel bath house for $2.00 (hot water felt wonderful). This is a great gathering spot for hikers. The weather is clouding up again and rain is expected (more rain!), so we¢ll sleep in the back of Crazy Jim¢s camper. It¢s turning cold, too, so Jim¢s camper is a lifesaver. Crazy Jim is from Arkansas and a great guy. He and Constant Motion are cousins. It¢s been a good day, but I am really bushed, so that¢s all for now. More later.
Date: 2003-04-21
From: NOC Wesser

To: NOC Wesser
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

April 21 Destination NOC ¢zero¢ day, no miles.        It was raining when we woke up, so we decided to take the day off. Constant Motion wanted to see Gatlinburg, so Crazy Jim drove us over the mountains and into Gatlinburg. It wasn¢t raining on that side of the mountains. In fact, it was warm and sunny in Gatlinburg. We walked around, took in the sights, and ate lunch. Crazy Jim cut out a white blaze (the trail marking for the AT), taped it to a post in downtown Gatlinburg, and took our picture as we stood by the post. Hey, we were just following the white blazes :-} On the way back to NOC, we stopped at Clingman¢s Dome and climbed to the top. By the time we got back to NOC, it had stopped raining, so Crazy Jim drove along the Nantahala River for several miles. With all the new greenery, it was a beautiful drive. We met up with a bunch of the hikers staying at the hostel for dinner at the River End Restaurant. The trail community that develops out here is absolutely amazing. The people run the gamut from college students to retired business men, men and women, old and young, and the newly married to those married a quarter a century. They encourage and assist one another with no thought of personal gain. All in all, they are a great group of people. Ah, zero days are wonderful.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: NOC Wesser

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

April 22 Departed NOC   Destination Stecoah Gap 13.6 miles        The hike out of NOC was very difficult for me. Constant Motion just keept moving up, up, and up, but I had to really slow down on the climbs. They definitely take their toll on my energy and stamina. Hiked over Swim Bald (not really a bald), Cheoah Bald, and down into Stecoah Gap. We were slack packing today as Crazy Jim had loaded everybody¢s packs into his camper and driven to Stecoah Gap. There were about 10 or 12 of us strung out along the trail. Constant Motion keept us going at a brisk pace, so it was a quick push through the mountains. Crazy Jim was waiting at the Gap with some groceries. Capt America (a professional cook who worked in Pensacola) cooked up a huge omelet, Papillon donated some hot chocolate, and we had a great meal together. Grandpa Bear, Pebbles, Bam Bam, Moth Man, No Pepsi, Killroy, Chillie Willie, and Muk Tuk are some of the hikers camping in the gap tonight. Crazy Jim has agreed to ferry our packs to Fontana Dam, so we¢ll get another day of slack packing. Man, I could really get use to this slack packing. :-} It is getting very cold, so I¢m going to bed. Tired, but well fed. :} Good night all.
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

04/23/03 Departed Stecoah Gap. Destination Fontana Dam Shelter. 15.1 milesAnother great day of slack packing - thanks to Crazy Jim House. Jim has been a real blessing and a genuine "Trail Angel" for a lot of hikers the past several days. The slack packers were strung out all along the trail from Stecoah to Fontana, but we all seemed to have arrived at Fontana with one thing on our mind - food! We also had the opportunity to take a hot shower. There is a bath house at the dam with hot showers! Man, what a day. Looks like we might get more rain tonight. Rain, that has been one constant this entire hike. I wonder if Spring time in the Appalachians is always this wet. That's all for now. Stay tuned.
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Fontana Dam

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

April 24 Fontana Dam ¢Zero Day¢      We are staying at the fabled ¢Fontana Hilton¢ shelter at Fontana Dam. It is a nice shelter and will sleep about 20 or so hikers. It¢s right on Fontana Lake, and the view is beautiful. I am tired and foot sore, but my spirits were lifted when I got my food drop and mail. Got some letters from Gabriel, Elena, and Katie. :-} They also sent me a picture to carry with me. Ida Nissen sent me a very encouraging card - THANKS! Rain was forecast for this afternoon and tonight. By the time we got our packs redone and all the food situated, we decided not to hike. We could not make it to the first shelter in the Smokies and did not want to set up camp in the rain. Crazy Jim left for Arkansas. He will be sorely missed by me, Constant Motion, and a lot of other hikers. He has a heart as big as Sam¢s. His friendly face and words of encouragement (not to mention all the goodies) will be things that a bunch of hikers will be talking about in the days to come just like they did when Sam left for home. The Smokies are next. I have already completed my Backcountry Camping Permit for the National Parks Service and will hike tomorrow rain or shine. A word of thanks to DATA for the ride to the post office and back. Last night we all chipped in some money and Crazy Jim went into Robbinsville and bought groceries. Captain America did the cooking and about 16 hikers dined like trail kings and queens on great hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chips and slaw. It was a fantastic ¢dinner party.¢ The rain and cold are starting to move in. The air is blasting through the shelter so I think I will get ready for the sleeping bag. Good night one and all.
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Fontana Dam

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

April 25 Departed Fontana Dam - Destination Mollies Ridge Shelter 11.3 miles (In the Great Smoky Mountains)      Last night at the Fontana Hilton Shelter, just before we turned in for the night, "Trail Angel" Laura showed up with a cooler full of cokes, fruit, and a half gallon of ice cream. Needless to say, we ate it all! :-} The hike from Fontana to Mollies Ridge was a difficult climb in the cool (Cold is more like it), wet mist that lay over the mountains. The sky was dark and ominous looking all day, and the wind blew in cold gusts. When we arrived at the shelter, Capt America, Moth Man, Bam Bam, and Pebbles had a wonderful camp fire burning in a stone fireplace in one wall of the shelter. The wind was still gusting when we arrived, but in about an hour the mist cleared and you could see the sky line again. Muk Tuk, Matt, and Amanda hiked in about two hours after we arrived. Papillon was already here, and a new thru-hiker by the name of Easy Street was here, too.      I¢ve seen a couple of Rachel¢s entries in the shelter registers. She has taken the trail name of Apollo. She left a message for me in the Fontana Hilton register - neat! According to those that stayed in the shelter last night it was cold and windy (low 30¢s) and the same is expected for tonight. Someone has stretched some tarps over the front of the shelter to block the wind (Shelters in the Smokies have chainlink fence across the front - bears). Sam and I had to do that at Old Orchard shelter in Virginia. Well, I have worked through a blister on my left heel, and I am now working through a blister on my right toe and right heel. Papillon (a nurse from Canada) helped me doctor them at Fontana. He is a great guy. I have also fallen and skinned my left knee - hikers call it ¢red blazing¢ because you leave blood on the trail. Before the night is out, I bet the shelter will be almost full. Ate a good dinner - Constant Motion shared her chunky chicken with me and Papillon, and Papillon shared his cheddar cheese with us. Had my coffee and dessert (cereal bar), so I¢m heading for the sack.
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter 

To: Derrick Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

April 26 Departed Mollies Ridge Shelter - Destination Derrick Knob Shelter 11.7 miles      Rained and stormed most of the night last night. The rain hitting the tin roof of the shelter reminded me of my grandmother¢s house in Pollard. It is a soothing sound to me. The hike today was cold and wet as we hiked into and out of the clouds all day - not many views. Hiked over fabled Rockytop today (Go Vols!) :-} and over 5500 foot Thunderhead Mountain. I have been cold most of the day, so when we stopped at the shelter this evening, I put on my wool hat, fleece, and rain jacket. Finally, I warmed up enough to cook dinner. It¢s starting to rain again right now (More rain!). That will put me to sleep for sure, so good night all.
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Derrick Knob Shelter 

To: Mt Collins Shelter 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

April 27 Departed Derrick Knob Shelter - Destination Mt Collins Shelter 13.5 mile      Last night it rained again and got really, really cold. This morning sunshine! Beautiful sunshine. Praise the Lord! Maybe I can get warm today. Had a sad and potential dangerous situation today. As Pebbles and Bam Bam approached Double Spring Shelter, they found a weekend hiker beside the trail in bad shape. They took his pack and helped him back to the shelter. They gave him water and juice to get him re-hydrated and had him rest for a while. When Constant Motion, Papillon and I got there, Papillon checked him out, and he seemed to be stressed and exhausted. We helped hang his gear in the shelter, put his food bag on the bear cable, and gave him a full water bottle. Pebbles, Bam Bam, and Papillon decided to walk him back to Clingman¢s Dome while Constant Motion, Muk Tuk and I went ahead to notify the rangers. The man's name is Stanley Brown. It took them 6 hours to walk him the 2.9 miles to the Climgman¢s Dome parking lot. Those three were truly ¢trail angels¢ in every sense of the words.   WOW, did I enjoy the sunshine today, and I did get warm! :-} There are a bunch of hikers here at the shelter - Boo Boo, Jimmy, Andrea, Brain, Overshot, Jingle Jim, Kilroy, Chilli Willie, Lee, Little Sister, Raven, Jerry, us, and a couple of others. As I hiked up to Clingman¢s Dome, I began to think about all the fun times I¢ve had in the Smokies and Gatlinburg with my family. Memories are wonderful as they let you relive all those special moments. Believe it or not, it is cooling off (Anyone surprised?), so time for the sleeping bag. That¢s all for now. More later
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Mt Collins Shelter 

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

April 28 Departed Mt. Collins Shelter - Destination Pecks Corner Shelter 14.9 miles        Another beautiful day for hiking, we had some beautiful views of the Great Smoky Mountains - finally. Hiking through places like Clingman¢s Dome and Newfound Gap has certainly brought back a lot of good memories. In fact, that¢s what my journal entry will be about tonight. What goes through the mind of a backpacker during the day when all you do is walk and walk and walk? Well, this backpacker has thought about many things and relived some wonderful memories. I¢ve thought about decisions and choices I have made in my lifetime - some good, some not so good, but all of them have helped shape my life. I¢ve looked back on my childhood and recalled the wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that made it so special. I have thought about my Grandmother Roberson¢s apple pie, my Ganga¢s (that¢s what we called my mother¢s mother) home made jams, my Aunt Mary¢s dinner table (it was always covered with wonderful food), my Grandad Roberson¢s teasing and sense of humor, my mother¢s fried chicken and sweet tea, and my Aunt Flo¢s collard greens. I¢ve thought about growing up with my brothers Charles, Mike and Scott, and my sister Linda. The great times we had at Christmas just waiting for Christmas Day to arrive, and the delicious Thanksgiving dinners my mother used to cook. I¢ve thought about my successes and my failures, and I¢ve thought about things I did right and things I should have done differently. Lots of thoughts, memories, and prayers run through my mind as I climb up and down these mountains. It¢s getting dark, and it's cold. Time to hit the sack. Good night.
Date: 2003-04-29
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

April 29 Departed Pecks Corner Shelter - Destination Davenport Gap Shelter 20 miles        Wow, my very first 20 mile day. I was tired and aching but very pleased that I hung with Constant Motion, Papillon, Pebbles and Bam Bam for the 20 mile hike. Pebbles and Bam Bam continued on to Standing Bear Farm for the night (another 3.3 miles). We hiked over our second 6,000 foot peak since entering the Smokies - Clingmans Dome and Mt. Guyot. Had another ¢trail magic¢ event today - found a fresh tomato on the Davenport Gap trail sign. It was so good! Yesterday we had two ¢trail magic¢ events. At the Icewater Spring Shelter, Mary Ann and Charlie shared their lunch with me and Constant Motion - apples and a roast beef sandwich with lettuce and tomato. :-} At Pecks Corner, Mike from Indianapolis was on a week long hiking trip and gave me and Constant Motion some soup and butterscotch pudding - good! After the 20 mile hike today, this will be our last night in the Smokies and, believe it or not, it¢s warm tonight. :-} I¢ll continue on with the thoughts that run through my head in another journal entry. For now, that¢s all. Time for bed. All is well on this magical Trail. More later.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

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

April 30 Departed Davenport Gap Shelter - Destination Standing Bear Farm 3.3 miles        Hiked out of the Smokies today in beautiful sunshine. Hiked past a beautiful waterfall, across the Pigeon River, under I-40, and into Standing Bear Farm. What a nice oasis in the middle of nowhere! When we hiked under I-40, I told Constant Motion and Papillon that I could easily get up on that interstate and go home! But, I¢ll hike on to Maine. The loose trail family we have developed is here: No Pepsi, Moth Man, Bam Bam, Pebbles, Loa, Hoops, and Joe Hiker. This is really a neat place. It has a very rustic bunk house and cabin with outside showers and hot water. :-} There is a little resupply room built into the side of the mountain that has cold drinks, candy bars, soup mix, cakes, frozen pizzas in a refrigerator, and all kinds of hiker food. Everything is on the honor system. You just write down what you take in a notebook and pay when you leave. It is a super place for hikers to relax a little and get cleaned up. I fell today as we came by the waterfall and jammed my wrist, so this is a good stop. I have had an ice pack on it for about an hour. Nothing broken, but a little sore. Papillon checked it for me. Well, I am going to sit back and relax a little. Gracious, the dark clouds are gathering again, so it looks like rain is coming. Stay tuned.
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Standing Bear Farm

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

May 1 Departed Standing Bear Farm - Destination Groundhog Creek Shelter 7.2 miles        It was hard to leave Standing Bear Farm. The place is extremely rustic and very hiker friendly. But, we said our ¢good byes¢ and hiked on to Deep Gap and Groundhog Creek Shelter. Because the post office in Hot Springs closes at 10:30 on Saturday, we decided to slow down and hike into town on Sunday, enjoy the day there, spend the night, go to the post office on Monday, and then hike on. On top of that, it started to rain shortly after we arrived at the shelter. We have 8 hikers jammed into a shelter made for 6 and about 10 others tenting around the shelter. After the rain stopped, we got a good camp fire going. Then, the rain started again. Oh well, that¢s the life of a thru-hiker. Three more hikers just hiked in. They will have to find a tent site in the dark. Constant Motion wrapped my wrist this morning so it¢s doing much better this evening. A lot of the swelling has gone down. I also taped my shin this morning, because it feels like I¢m developing shin splints on my left shin. It still hurts this evening. Sam and Smiley would say ¢run it out,¢ so I¢ll just keep hiking :-}        That¢s all for now. Time to hit the sack.
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

May 2 Departed Groundhog Creek Shelter - Destination Roaring Fork Shelter 11.3 mile        The hike up Max Patch Summit was very long (4,629¢) but the view was awesome and well worth the effort. Met some new hikers today, Chicken Legs, Triple T, CB, Semi-sweet, and Swamp Ass. They are all here at the shelter because of the rain. Yes, it rained again today. I was cold and wet when we finally got to the shelter - what¢s new, right? :-} Max Patch was truly gorgeous. You could see for miles in any direction. It was so spectacular that Constant Motion took a half hour break and we just laid back with a couple of other hikers and enjoyed the views. The hike down Max Patch was a gentle grade that took us over several bubbling brooks and through numerous rhododendron thickets. We saw lady¢s slippers, painted trillium, and dutchman¢s breeches. The forest floor is blanketed with wild flowers. Until the rain came, the hike was very enjoyable. We have another full shelter tonight and another tent set up outside. We have 12 in a shelter designed for 10 - feel like sardines. :-} My wrist and shin are still hurting, so I may go see a doctor in Hot Springs. Guess what? It is turning cold again. Time for bed.
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

May 3 Departed Roaring Fork Shelter - Destination Deer Park Mountain Shelter 11.7 miles        The hike from Roaring Fork Shelter was made in gorgeous weather. The sun was shinning and the sky was filled with beautiful marshmallow clouds. Constant Motion, Papillon, and I hiked together for just a short period of time because my shin was hurting so bad that I had to really slow down. The flowering dogwoods, flame azalea, painted trillium, pink lady¢s slipper, and tulip trees have been spectacular. Walking north with spring certainly has its rewards. We have set up camp, cooked and eaten dinner, and now have a nice camp fire burning. Moose, Popsicle, and Joe hiker have arrived at the shelter and are sitting around the campfire. Over the past several days we have lost much of our trail family for one reason or another (Zero days, Gatlinburg, etc.). Muk Tuk, Pebbles and Bam Bam, Moth Man, No Pepsi, Killroy, Chilli Willie, Boo Boo, and Papillon are no longer with us. This seems to happen on and off again throughout the hike. More than likely, we¢ll all be back in the same general area when we reach Damascus, VA.        I heard from Crazy Jim, and he repaired my Slumberjack sleeping mattress and will mail it to Erwin, TN, for me to pick up. He is such a great guy, just like old ¢Footsteps¢. Constant Motion says we are heading straight for the Smokey Mountain Diner in Hot Springs when we start hiking in the morning. Sounds great to me!! Well, time to gather more wood for the fire, so stay tuned.
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

May 4 Departed Deer Park Mountain Shelter - Destination Hot Springs, NC   3.2 miles        We heard coyotes for the first time last night. What an eerie but haunting sound they make - nothing like wolves. We also had a couple of whippoorwills that serenaded us at night and then woke us before daylight this morning - that didn¢t make anyone very happy. Constant Motion and Joe Hiker took off before I did. We agreed to meet at the Smokey Mountain Diner in Hot Springs. The hike down into town was cool and very enjoyable. I took it very slow and easy because of my shin. At one point I stopped to pray and watch the sun rise between two distant peaks. It looked like a fiery red globe slowly rising from the earth. It is awesome to see the Lord¢s hand in the natural world that surrounds us. I passed Joe Hiker (He has a bad heel blister) and met Constant Motion at the diner. As we sat down, in walks Papillon and Joe Hiker. Constant Motion and I ate an egg breakfast and then ordered another breakfast. I had pancakes and she had French toast - two breakfasts - wow!! Hum, maybe the Hobits are right.  We got a room at the Sunnybank Inn and Hostel. The Inn/Hostel is an old Victorian style house built in the early 1800¢s and has been used as some type of inn or boarding house for over 100 years. It has a lot of period furniture, wall hangings, and an outstanding library. It is very old, very worn, but very comfortable. The meals are vegetarian, home cooked, very tasty, and reasonably priced ($5 for breakfast and $8 for dinner). By the way, it started to rain again shortly after we got settled in the hostel. I¢m in an upstairs room and the rain is making me sleepy so, good night all.
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 5 Sunnybank Inn and Hostel Hot Springs, NC   Zero Day, no milesThe breakfast this morning was strawberry pancakes made with wheat and unbleached flours, apple and maple syrup, melon slices, home made granola, cow and soy milk, coffee and herbal tea. It was very good!        I went to the clinic to have my shin and the sore spots on my ears examined. The doctor x-rayed my leg and eliminated any kind of fracture. He checked the leg and ankle and said I was getting a good blood supply to those extremities. Conclusion, he said the muscle was severely strained and/or bruised, and I needed to stop hiking for 3 or 4 days and let it heal. He said the spots on my ears were caused by the sun and to cover them every day with sunscreen. Once I have completed my hike, I should see a physician about having them removed. So, with some prescription strength Motrin, I hobbled back to the hostel and asked Elmer Hall, the proprietor, about staying beyond the limit of two days. He said for medical reasons he lets hikers stay as long as they need. It looks as if I will be in Hot Springs for a few days. Oh well, this is not a bad place to be stranded. :-} Stay tuned.