morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Log Cabin Road (Hemlock Hollow Cabins)

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Bama and I got up about our usual time. No rain during the night - only the beautiful rushing of the creek and the frogs. We had breakfast and coffee in the room and quickly set about pulling everything together to get Bama back on the trail. She packed her pack and I loaded the truck. At a little before 8:00 am, I drove her the 5/8s of a mile down Log Cabin Road where the AT crosses it. We had our usual farewell, and off she went again alone into the wild green yonder.I heard from her as I was just unloading the truck back at the house in Pelham about 2:00 ET. She thought she was a mile or so from Jerry Cabin. The climb out from Log Cabin Road was straight up the Bald Mountain stretch of the AT. "#*@!," she said, "haven't these people ever heard of switchbacks?" Then to add insult to injury, after the climb leveled off somewhat, she crossed a huge boulder stretch. (White Rock/Blackstack Cliffs) It was one of the hardest on the AT yet. She said there were times she was doing scrabbles on all fours to negotiate the rocks and thought she was going to have to lower her pack down some of the bigger boulders with her bear bag rope. She even lost her Diet Coke bottle out of her tied-on camp shoe holding place - a first - but was able to retrieve it. She thought ahead about the infamous boulder fields of the northeast - Hmmmmm - not good. But she made it and will certainly be happy to stop after only 11.1 miles today.Tomorrow, I will update her photos and add the new ones. Tomorrow, she have to do 14.7 miles to get to Hogback Ridge Shelter.Bill
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Bama made it to Jerry Cabin Shelter fine last night (wonder where the name Jerry Cabin came from?). She met Transcriber and her young cousin Jeremy (who was the official campfire maker to keep away the gnats - now officially called Burned Pancake), Rhyme & Reason, Tatto & Pigeon, and trail friends, One Foot and Gray Goose. The younger hikers were thrilled with the boulder field and thought it was fun! Bama and Gray Goose (about her same age) just looked at each other and thought, "Yeah. Right!" Later on, a section hiking group of about six from Michigan set up tents outside the shelter. There was only a 20% chance of showers and well, they got them. But only three other hikers and Bama decided to use the shelter, so there was lots of room. This morning Bama called to say how different today was. First, no rain. She is out of the trees and crossing what she says looks like beautiful pasture land as far as the eye can see all around. Good flat walking at times; seems almost like an old farm or settler's road was once there. Weather calls for typical summer time patterns of 20-30% rain or thundershowers every day.Bama says this section is like walking across a farm, albeit up and down hill. She's crossed many stiles and around barbed wire barriers; she wonders who owns all this beautiful land, complete with waterfalls and vistas of the valleys below with houses and farms. Just when she thought she had the best view ever, up comes another! She saw her first snake, a scarlet king snake, about 18 inches long, slithered across the trail in front of her (of course, the snake seem to keep growing with the re-telling). Transcriber and Burned Pancake saw a 7 foot black snake earlier. Bama and Gray Goose met up at the Flint Mountain Shelter and had lunch. Soon, Gray Goose's brother-in-law, One Foot came up and Bama left them to talk while she hiked ahead.She arrived at Hogback Ridge Shelter and was beat - almost 15 miles today. She met Rapunzel, Poppy, a couple of section hikers from Huntsville, AL and others she'd seen earlier. Behind the shelter about 12 young folks were tenting, including the Michigan crew from last night. Rain has held off. By 7:00 pm, Bama, Gray Goose and One Foot were ready to get in their sleeping bags and go to sleep.Bill
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Rough day. Bama is trying to make it to Erwin by Wednesday, April 26, but the miles are long between shelters here. She was hoping to tent it somewhere between shelters, but thunderstorms and rain are forecast for all day today, tonight and most of tomorrow. She tried to reach me a couple of times, but I was on my way to Austin, TX to manage my company's tradeshow and missed her calls because of the airplane cut-offs.I did get one voice mail from her asking me to call John Shores at Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel in Erwin, TN to reserve her a bed. I called John from the Austin airport and told him to give her a private room, not a hostel bunk - she deserves it. This last stretch has been a pretty - but rough - row to hoe. John is an old acquaintance of ours and was a member of our Vulcan Trail Association in Birmingham years ago.UPDATE: Bama hoped she would make good time to get ahead of the rain. At 10:00 am there was a minor shower for about 20 minutes, but that was it. It cleared up and by the time she stopped at Big Bald Shelter for lunch, it was beautiful. She said Big Bald was as impressive as Max Patch and the views were stunning. She could have stopped for the day, but she wanted to make Erwin by Wednesday, so she went on.She prayed that the storms headed her way wouldn't hit until she could get No Business Shelter. At 6:45 pm she struggled into the shelter area, got unloaded and ten minutes later, the skies opened up and it rained almost all night! Thanks, God! This was her longest day yet, over 20 miles! Thank you Rapunzel for sharing your water. The stream was before the shelter, and Bama didn't stop and was too tired to go back.Her sheltermates this time were Bison, Rapunzel, Boogieman, Ghost, Miss Fortune, Catskil Eagle, and Tatto & Pigeon. This morning it was still raining, but everybody else left the shelter in the rain at 7:00 or so. "Shoot," said Bama. "I've only got six miles to go today and I ain't gonna do it in the rain if I can help it." By 8:00, the rain had stopped, and off she went to Erwin and soon found a cell phone signal to call me. Some things just work out.Bill
Date: 2006-04-26
From: No Business Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: moderate rain

TODAY MARKED BAMA'S 1 MONTH ANNIVERSARY ON THE TRAIL!So far, she has hiked 338.3 miles, traveled thru the Chattahoochee National Forest, Natahalia National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, Cherokee National National Forest and crossed three state lines.Bama left the shelter after the rain for her relatively short hike to Uncle Johnny's. She ran into a light shower, but it was brief. She got to the hostel before lunch and Johnny's employee shuttled everyone there to lunch at Pizza Plus. Bama really likes the hostel and has a small cabin to herself and even a TV! She told me this was one of those "we need to come back here" places. In addition to hikers, Johnny also caters to whitewater rafters, kayakers, etc. You can view his website at: (http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/26621-Uncle-Johnny's-Nolichucky-Hostel). Bama was tickled by Catskill Eagle, who is also at Johnny's, who said that his friend from New York was following Bama's journey. Tonight, everyone who wants to will be shuttled into Erwin for dinner. While there, she was happy to again see Peter Rabbit, Rusch Hour and Oyster who were waiting for a shuttle from Miss Janet back up trail. She didn't know if she would ever see anyone from the old group again.Bill
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

Bama left the hostel at Uncle Johnny's yesterday morning and headed down a jagged, stoney trail downhill toward a gorge botton where a large creek flows into the Nolichucky river. Once she finally reached the bottom, she found the creek was swollen to a whitewater stage due to the recent rains. It was 30-40 feet across and about thigh deep - rushing too fast for Bama to try to negotiate on foot by herself. Hmmmm. What now? She thought maybe Catskill Eagle and Snickers whom she knew to be behind her could catch up and they'd do a arm link crossing.After a while, they hadn't shown up yet and Bama looked up stream and saw a log which had fallen across the stream where it was only about 15 feet across or so. She scrambled up the bank in the mud toward the log. She said, "Well, here goes" and threw her hiking poles across to the other side then took off her boots and threw them across. She stowed her socks in her pack, put on her water/camp shoes and climbed up on the log and scooted across on her butt (Bama is not into walking logs over white water!).Finally across, she picked up her boots and poles and noticed the trail coming down from the other side looked like a log flume with water rushing down the middle of it, the sides all mush and mud. So she gathered up her gumption, rolled up her hiking pants legs and hiked up the middle of it in her bare feet and water shoes. After all, it was only about 4 miles or so to Curley Maple Gap Shelter where she could dry off and rest.She arrived, dried off and put two of the little chemical toe warmers in her socks and put her hiking boots back on - nice and comfy. Catskill Eagle and Snickers caught up with her and they said they were able - with their additional weight and each other - to cross the wide part of the creek she had avoided, but they said it was very scary. Also at the shelter drying off was a girl named Kutsa from Israel. They hiked on to Cherry Gap Shelter for the night. There were a few younger section hikers there, too, but they all wanted to stay in their tents, so the "older folks" got the shelter to themselves. Old Granddad, Snickers and Bama. Tonight on to Roan High Knob Shelter (most likely), one of the more scenic views in the area. I am everymore impressed with my wonderful wife and partner.Bill
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: few clouds

Bama reported that she left the Cherry Gap Shelter and headed up toward Roan Mountain Knob shelter, the next stop and the highest shelter on the AT. Two local people told her she was still in NC & Tennessee. One side of the trail going up Roan Mountain is in NC & the other side is in Tennessee. She decided that when she arrives in Virginia then she will say she is out of NC. Very confusing, because the map says she was out of NC a few days ago. Bama enjoyed hiking and sharing stories with Kutsa today.She said it was hard hiking all day, but very pretty. Unlike the earlier forested areas, this trail section jumps from bald to bald, large grass or shrub-covered rounded field-like mountaintops (for a lack of better explaination).At the shelter with her was Catskil Eagle, Kutsa, Grandad, Snickers. Peter Rabbit, Rusch Hour, Oyster, Outlaw, Fish, Goodtime Charlie, SamIam, Origami, Melatonin, Kegger, Johnny K, FireFly. The shelter was very large with two levels and was the only one so far with a door to keep out the wind and cold. Since there are few trees here, the wind is incessant and the temperature low for Erwin was predicted at 39, meaning it was much colder up there on the top of the knob.Not much detail due to no cell phone service on 4/28 at all. Bama can fill in when she gets to Damascus. I'm sure there is much to hear about this most beautiful of the NC/TN state line vistas; Roan Mt. boasts one of the most beautiful displays of Catawba Rhododendron in the world.Bill
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel, Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Again, a very short cell phone call. After leaving Roan Mt. Knob Shelter, she and Kutsa hiked together. Kutsa, from Israel, is 29 and she said she was happy to finally find someone who would hike at her pace - I thought that was pretty cool as she is young enough to be Bama's daughter.The hiking was long and hard today, but the beauty of this place simply has to be experienced to be appreciated. An Internet entry by Don Hyatt describes this stretch north of Roan Mt. as, "Probably the most beautiful place I have ever been is a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee near Roan Mountain, and some of the highest peaks in the eastern United States. This section of the trail from Roan to Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge winds along the ridges at an altitude from 5000 feet to over 6000 feet through mostly open meadow. At the top of Round Bald, the view is magnificent on a clear day. It reminds me of the opening to the movie 'Sound of Music.'"This area also contains the highest peaks east of the Mississippi, several above 6,000 feet, which accounts for the difficulty up and down hill. Roan and Hump Mountains, and these other balds, are also noted for their furious and sudden snowstorms and dangerous lightning hits during the summer months. Trails.com says, "With an elevation change of nearly 1000 feet per mile, this hike is an aerobic challenge going up and difficult and challenging coming down. It is separate from the adjacent hikes because it's so different from them. Rewards for the climb include the Rhododendron Gardens, Roan High Bluff, and cool boreal spruce-fir forest. The hike goes straight up the northwestern wall of the Roan Massif, a 15-mile-long series of 5500- and 6000-foot peaks and balds."Wow! I'm worn out just writing this! Bama and Kutsa have hiked as far as they could, not even stopping for lunch until late in the afternoon, trying to get to a hostel only a few tenths of a mile off the trail somewhere past Overmountain Shelter. The weather was been clear and beautiful since the rain in Erwin, but the weather is getting iffy and rain is forecast tonight and tomorrow (Sunday).More info tonight, if Bama and Kutsa make it to the hostel and there's cell service. Another great day on the AT!Bill
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel, Roan Mountain, TN

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The Mountain Harbor Hostel was beautiful, formally a horse ranch, and the retired owners, Mary & Terry, had turned their house into a B&B and their barn into a hostel. Bama arrived with Kutsa and Lucky Dime and her brother, Sue. Yeah, I know, her brother named Sue - it's a funny story.The property was really fantastic and again, one of those "gotta come back here" places. They arrived about 4:40 pm and needed to go to the store which closed at 5:00 pm. Host Terry, loaded Bama and Kutsa in his truck and off they flew to the store. Bama said she and Kutsa hardly looked at some of the snacks and things they bought - they just grabbed and ran. On the way back, Bama spotted Peter Rabbit, Rusch Hour, Oyster and Kegger walking on the road. They all hollered at each other, whooping and laughing, and Terry stopped and the boys jumped in the back of his truck - whatta reunion!The hostel in the barn was pretty full, but Bama and Kutsa lucked up (again) and got a queen-sized sofabed with a down comforter (luxury!) in the apartment area over the barn. Above them was a loft and several hikers were bedded down there. Plus, there was a camper on the property and several hikers stayed there, and more were in tents outside. Mary and Terry just seemed to make room for everyone. There were about 20 hikers in all, a few decided to go to town to eat. Mary went to the barn later in the evening and told everybody she was treating them (about 18 people) to free homemade pizza, salad and fudge for dessert (TRAIL MAGIC!). Everyone just ate and ate. Mary really out did herself!After the almost 18 miles of grueling hikes off Roan Mt. Knob and up and over the "humps," Little Hump and Hump Mountains and others, and the near 30's at night with the winds, rains and sleet of the balds, this place was some kind of oasis.Bill
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Lodge & Hostel, Hampton, TN
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Received a very brief cell phone call this morning. Bama is hiking with Kutsa, Lucky Dime and Sue. She asked me to call and see if I could get them a reservation with Bob & Pat at the Kincora Hostel. Pat said they don't take reservations and they have been full for several days - but she would look out for them and try to wedge them in somewhere. Seems there are a lot of slackpack hikers on this stretch and they aren't moving on from their rooms, but using the hostel as a base of operations while they shuttle out and in from section hikes. Hmmmmm. Update: Bama called from a pay phone and we finally had a nice, relaxed chat. Kincora was bursting at the seams, so Bama, Kutsa, Lucky Dime and Sue walked down the road a short ways to Max and Dee Ann's Laurel Creek Lodge & Hostel. Bama said it was a beautiful place, not crowded and their hostel bed was only $6 a bunk. The grounds are wonderfully landscaped with flowers and plants. The lodge also has cabins, as well as lodge rooms and the hostel. They also do shuttles for shopping in Hampton. Bama is going for a long, hot bath and soak.Bama saw a lot of the old "gang" at Kincora when she passed thru; it was nice to keep running into shelter mates. She was also happy to see Little Wing and Flat Rocks again at Laurel Creek. Neat thing is, even when the fast ones hike ahead of you, they go zero days and sometimes you catch up and vice versa.This last couple of days have been the most challenging yet. The weather has been windy on the balds, cold and the intermittent rain and sleet hasn't helped. BUT, that aside, it has been truly beautiful. No complaints from Bama and her spirit is still strong and determined. Luck and angels have been with her and she has avoided any illness or injury and has had no problems with her feet or legs. Today was crystal clear and bright and a great R&R.Bama said she and Kutsa would hike only about 10 miles tomorrow, to Watauga Lake Shelter. I look forward to meeting her in Damascus on Friday afternoon. I'll probably bring the mountain bikes so we can ride some of the Virginia Creeper rails-to-trail if the weather's pretty. Bama and I did the entire Creeper from Abington, VA to Damascus to White Top, NC, about 70 miles from end to end and back, several years ago and we want to do it again some day before the old cycling legs give out.Bill
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Laural Creek Lodge & Hostel, Hampton, TN

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Bama called at 8:15 am this morning (her time) to say that she and Kutsa were getting ready to do a short day to Watauga Lake Shelter. After that, on to Iron Mt. Shelter, then Abingdon Gap Shelter, then into Damascus. Tomorrow, she will start a 15-mile climb up a ridge north of the lake that rises over two thousand feet in the first five miles and then another thousand feet in the next five miles. The trail is almost straight as an arrow but will test the climbing legs. Good thing she has the experience of the "humps" behind her.From Iron Mt. Shelter to Abingbon Gap, the trail, well, you just have to see the elevation rise and fall profile to believe it - the sort of thing most hikers don't want to know ahead of time. Bama will be ready for Miss Ginny's Lazy Fox B&B in Damascus.Update: Bama called from a picnic area on Watauga Lake where she, Kutsa and Little Wing had stopped for lunch. They're still about two miles from the shelter. Unfortunately, Flat Rocks has had to drop off the trail due to a foot injury and I'm sure Little Wing is sad, but Bama and Kutsa have welcomed her as part of their "A" team. Bama said the area around the lake was very pretty and needed another visit in the future. Whatever the trip costs is worth it - how else can you walk thru 2,000 miles of real estate checking out potential sites to retire! I'm ready to go!Bill
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Bama, Kutsa and Little Wing left the relative comfort of the Watauga Shelter early today and headed up the big climb toward Iron Mountain Shelter - about 14 miles or so. But she called back later to say that they were going to try to do about 20 miles, if they could, so they could sail into Damascus late tomorrow. Not sure if they got that far.Don't touch that dial and stay tuned to the continuing story of "How far can Bama hike today under difficult circumstances?" But the weather has been nice and rain is not predicted until Thursday running thru Saturday (Great! Just in time for my visit!) Oh well, Bama and I will sit on Miss Ginny's porch and holler at the thru hikers walking down the Damascus main drag.Update: The A-team Trio decided to press on beyond Iron Mountain to the Double Springs Shelter - a new mileage record, 21.2 miles. Also Bama wanted me to mention that in addition to the Cherokee National Forest, day before last she passed thru the Pond Wilderness and yesterday, the Big Laural Wilderness.Bill
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA - 4th State
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Bama and the A-Team Trio (Bama, Kutsa and Little Wing) made their 21.2 mile goal yesterday! The weather was great and Bama still carries on about the beauty of this stretch since Hot Springs. When they got to the Double Springs shelter, they were pleasantly surprised to find only women there, even one of the hikers' dog was female. They met Cardinal, Silverfoot, Dog Skye, Danger Zone and Mad Dog. I'm sure everyone enjoyed a little "girley time" before any men showed up . Later on, a couple of guys, Low Gear and Cash came in and a couple about Bama's age, Buckeroo & Pacemaker. Buckeroo (the guy) got some pictures of all the girls together.Good News! Little Wing was able to contact Flat Rocks and he may soon be back on the trail early next week. I'm sure Little Wing will be glad to have him back.Today, the Trio will push the envelope once again to get into Damascus by nightfall. Should be about 18 miles to the hostel. Rain's likely, so I hope they can get in. She will soon have North Carolina and Tennessee behind her. Can't wait to see her!Update: They got into Damascus about 3:30 pm. Little Wing and Bama managed to get into the Miss Ginny's Lazy Fox B&B to share a room and Kutsa went to "The Place," a nearby hostel where many hikers had settled in, as well as lots of folks that Bama had met and hiked with. Many of the younger hikers stay in Damascus for several days, having fun, relaxing and taking a long break. Bama saw Outlaw at The Place and she gave Bama some Trail Magic - a diet Coke and Ben & Jerry's ice cream! That was nice and very appreciated. She also found out that Fish, Kegger, Sam I Am and Origami had left Kincora Tuesday at 2:00 am and done the entire 50+ miles to Damascus! Gotta credit the marvels of youth. Snickers and Silverfoot joined the trio for dinner at Sicily's Italian restaurant. Bama and Little Wing went back to the Lazy Fox. A couple of young guys were there, Recess and Expo, and two older ones, Roja and One Day. More on Ginny and the Lazy Fox later.Bill