morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-02
From: Amicalola Falls, Ga,

To: Stover Creek shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Dessert slack packed the Approach trail with me to say goodbye, so she had a long day at over 15miles. I pushed myself harder than I should have in the attempt to keep up with her, and paid the price later in the day. When I reached the summit, I was getting punch-drunk from fatigue. The summit of Springer Mtn was windy and cold, and I knew it would be hard to cook on my little alcohol stove in that wind, so I pushed on to Stover Creek shelter. Good decision. An odd feeling hit me as I started the descent from Springer after my wife turned back. I suddenly realized I was alone out here, with 2,175 miles to go. It was a very lonely feeling. Stover was in a quiet valley by a pretty creek. I was exhausted, and hurt when I stood and even when I sat down. The shelter had about 10 people sleeping in it and another 20 scattered around in tents. I soon began to make new friends and fall into the trail routine. The southern part of the AT actually gets rather crowded in late March and April. Good tenting spots are at a premium around the shelters, which often are constructed on hillsides. This was my first night in a shelter, and I decided tenting would be preferable in the future. You just have more privacy in a tent, and they're quieter, too. I'm going to count only AT miles in my calculations, so this day goes in at 3 rather than the actual 11 miles that l hiked.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Stover Creek shelter

To: Gooch Mountain shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

When I began this day, my back hurt so much I had difficulty tying my shoes, but a mile down the trail the pain subsided, and I thought, with the help of God and Ibuprophen, I can do this. Late in my first day, a large tree had suddenly crashed across the trail ahead of me, reminding me how easily one can get in trouble out here. You can do everything right, and still run into big problems. Each day I walk until l can go no more. When I stop, it's all I can do to pitch my tent and heat water to hydrate my food. For the first couple of days, I've been so fatigued that I haven't been thinking clearly, but I'm doing better, and am very happy to be living my dream. Many hikers have said it takes several weeks to develop your trail legs. Beauty is everywhere, even though winter still clings to the high ridges. I heard a wild turkey gobble on a distant ridge today, a delightful sound to me. It occurs to me that despite wars and pestilence, earth quakes and famine, as long as there are wild turkeys in the woods, a man can be happy. Of course, you'd have to be a turkey hunter to know what I mean. I love turkeys!
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Gooch Mountain shelter

To: Slaughter Creek campsight
Miles today: 12.4

We were warned repeatedly about the coming storm, but the hotels and shelters were full, and there was no alternative but to hike on. One trail maintainence volunteer said to me, "This storm is gonna separate the thru-hikers from the wanna-be's." Late in the day I made Slaughter Creek, just below the summit of Blood Mountain, where a nearby mountain would block some of the west wind. I was concerned about my tent being blown off the ridge with me in it. As I stumbled into the campsite, a note on a post warned us a bear had raided the camp the previous evening. Bad news! I quickly hung my food, threw up my tent with boulders over the stakes, and crawled in. No time for supper because the raindrops had begun to fall. It was a terrifying storm, with high winds, limbs crashing all around, and frequent lightning that seemed to burn through my eyelids. When I went to bed, it was around 65 degrees, but when I awoke, the temperature was around 28. My knots were covered with ice and had to be cut. I couldn't work with gloves on, but my hands quickly became numb when I took them off. I had no sleep during the night and was exhausted, mostly from lack of food. Fortunately Mountain Crossings hostel was just 3 steep downhill miles away. The bear had spared our camp but raided the shelter on Blood mtn a half mile ahead. The clever bruin had taken the first bag, then was run off, but returned to climb the tree again and pull the second bag up by the cord. He sat in the tree eating. The hikers took their remaining food into the shelter. During the night, the bear entered the front room of the shelter and stole another bag. The only bag he didn't get was the one in the back room next to the sleeping hikers. During the next day, the story would be embellished so that the story was that the bear had the hikers climbing out the windows during the night, but that's not the way it happened. Since nobody was hurt, and resupply was not far away, it all became great fun to talk about. Unfortunately for the bear, one of the workers at nearby Mountain Crossings commented that this would likely become a dead bear. The critter was just trying to make a living, but when bears become so emboldened that they approach hikers, the bears eventally lose.
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Rocky mtn campsight

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

I camped next to G Man here, a newly retired FBI agent. We stayed up later than usual talking about our former jobs, family, retirement, and life in general. He said this hike is his retirment gift to himself, and I relate to that. For those like me who thought Georgia is not known for big mountains, be warned. These hills are heart-breakers. They are constant ups and downs, where the climbs work on your hips and calves, and the descents stuff your toes painfully into the front of your boots. Most of the hikers I know prefer the uphills.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Hiawasse, Ga.
Miles today: 6.3

We arrived in Hiawasse in early afternoon with great excitement to be taking showers, washing our clothes and tending our feet. There's much to do in a short time when hikers hit town. You can't afford to stay in town long and reach Maine by late September. A bunch of us thru hikers went to the Smoke Ring restaurant for good BBQ and companionship. I prefer to hike solo, but I do relish getting to know other hikers in the evening. On the trail, however, I'm usually in my bag before dark. It gets cold quickly on those high ridges!I ran into G-Man this morning in the parking lot. He said someone had apparently broken into his motel room last night and stolen his new tent. I wonder if the thief realized he was stealing from a newly retired FBI agent? Anyway, he asked me to be on the lookout for it along the trail. We're getting out of town today on the 11:00 AM shuttle, which is later than I had planned, but it gives me more time to do my chores. We're planning a short, six-mile day today, but we surely will be in North Carolina by tomorrow night. The people of Georgia have been wonderful to us, offering frequent trail magic at road crossings. They are generous and kind, and their mountains are beautiful, but these hills will hurt you. It looks like the hiking will be easier for a while after we cross the state line, and I need that. I have a couple of healing sore spots on my toes from the punishing descents. Backpacker magazine said the first 30 miles of the Georgia AT are the most difficult of the AT, particularly for those who are soft like me. Of course, the White Mountains in New Hampshire are technichnially more difficult, but hikers are far more seasoned by then. I've heard that most potential thru-hikers never get out of Georgia. Well, doggone it, I'm gonna get out of this state! I love you, Georgia, but you hurt me.
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Hiawasse, Ga.

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: clear sky

We got a late start Sunday out of Hiawassee and decided to stay at the beautiful Plumorchard Gap Shelter after just 3.4 miles. Alex, Meagan, Scrub, Lance and Hawk Run were among the other hikers who stayed here. We had a good time joking and telling stories, basically just taking it easy. This shelter is perhaps the most interesting I've seen. It was airlifted to the sight in 1992 by Army helicopter. It has three sleeping levels, and was ruggedly constructed by post and beam technique. It's clearly built to last for many decades. This was the last shelter I visited in Georgia, and I soon learned those across the state line would be pitiful in comparison. The Georgia hiking clubs have done a really good job in building their shelters and maintaining their section of the trail.
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I pushed hard during the day to get across the state line and enter North Carolina. It was uphill much of the day, as the North Carolina mountains appeared in the distance, looming higher than what we had seen previously. It occured to me that the North Carolina mountains look down on the Georgia mountains, and the the Georgia mountains resent it. They express their frustration by being cruel to hikers with many steep climbs and descents. The North Carolina mountains seem to be older and wiser, and they offer encouragement along the way. They seem to say, "Just one more step. One more step upward, and we'll show you the top of the world." It's a deception. The North Carolina mountains are just as cruel to hikers, if not more so. When I reached Standing Indian, I elected to tent behind the shelter because it was almost full, and I expected Meagan and Alex would need to sleep in it. Meagan was having a hard day, and we knew a storm was coming. It was a mistake. They never reached the shelter, apparently deciding to tent with Scrub just down the trail. The storm that came in after dark was more severe than I expected. While my tent held, morning light revealed a tent splattered with mud. Everything was damp. It was 35 degrees, with very strong winds and continual light rain. I dragged my gear into the shelter and packed up as best I could. It was clear this would not be a good day.
Date: 2011-04-12
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

I set out from Standing Indian in full rain attire, but my gloves soon became soaked and cold. My plan was to hike just to Carter Gap Shelter, after about 8 miles, and lay up there for the night. At Carter Gap, I learned from several hikers there that the shelter had a terrible problem with mice. One lady said the mice had even climbed a tree to chew a hole in her bear bag. There was one over-nighter there still curled up in his sleeping bag after spending virtually 24 hours in it. He told me he had almost slipped into hypothermia, and decided to ride out the rain today. I decided this was not a place I wanted to be any longer and decided to push on, even though that would mean doing more miles than I had done so far, more than 14 total for the day. Keep in mind that much of the trail is very steep and rocky, and most of us are carrying about 30 lbs. Included in this mileage today would be the steep Big Albert Mountain, which I might have dreaded even in nice weather. When I got to Big Albert, it was worse than I expected. The final ascent on the south side was virtually hand over foot up wet rocks. When I reached the summit, where a fire tower stood, the weather was so socked in I could hardly see anywhere. It was obvious that, on a good day, the view would have been extrodinary. I attempted to take a photo of the base of the firetower, since that was about all I could see, but my phone/camera wouldn't let me. It kept saying "incorrect password." I didn't know whether it was me or the phone, but the cold wind was getting to me, so I moved on. The descent on the north side of Big Albert was much easier, fortunately. I soon reached Big Spring Shelter. Shortly after arriving, it was soon obvious I was more tired than I realized. My hands were numb from the wet and cold, and I had trouble prouncing words. Another hiker offered boiling water to several of us new arrivals, which I welcomed. I re-hydrated my chicken and rice dinner, threw my bear bag over the line after a third attempt, and crawled, shivering, into my bag. We were elbow to elbow in the shelter that night, and I wasn't the only person on the verge of hypothermia. An hour or so later, my very warm bag forced me to remove my down jacket to cool off. During much of this trip, my 15 degree bag has been too warm, but on a couple of occasions it has rescued my cold buns from what could have been miserable nights.
Date: 2011-04-13
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Winding Star Gap and Franklin, NC
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

I burst out of the shelter quickly this morning, anticipating a motel bed, good food, and a general re-organization of my gear in the evening. I hiked solo all day at my best pace, knowing that it would be considerably shorter than yesterday. It was a beautiful day. At mid-morning, I heard a ruffed grouse drumming, a sound of which I'm especially fond. When calling a mate in the spring, the male climbs atop a log and makes a loud drumming sound by beating his breast with his wings. The sound reminds me of a farmer trying to start an old single-cylinder John Deere tractor. It's not a sound you would expect out of a bird. Only one person passed me today; Hawk Run, who is about 30 years my junior, is faster than me. Most of the young people are, but as my feet are less sore, I'm picking up my pace. Of course, I knew what awaited me in town. When I came out of the woods at US 64, two trail angels named Richard and Sherry Miller were waiting in the parking lot. They had just delivered another hiker named Truckin' back to the trail after a night in Franklin. Richard and Sherry are a retired couple who are moving from Austin, TX, to build their retirement home near Franklin. They offered my a ride into town, which I gladly accepted. Most of my afternoon was spent washing and drying my gear, and re-organizing. I even put my tent in the bathtub to get the mud splatters off, and then I dried it on bushes behind the motel. This venue is a popular destination for hikers, and I noticed several others hanging their gear outside their rooms to dry. I went down the street to the Road House for a late lunch, where I found Stoker and Wheazer doing the same. I hadn't seen them in a couple of days, so it was a nice reunion. Wheazer, about my age, is on his second thur-hike. He has Parkinson's disease, but it doesn't slow him down. Stoker is a high schooler, who plans to attend Ohio State, majoring in computer science. Stoker was so pleased with the huge mug of root beer and large hamburger before him that he had Wheazer take a photo of it. You can't imagine how hungry we get after eating mostly dehydrated food for four days. Later that evening, I found G-Man, Bob, and Hawk Run at the hotel, and we went to another popular eatery for dinner. It's been a good day.
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Winding Star Gap and Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Passed over two high balds today with beautiful views, Siler and Wayah. The photo was taken from the old tower on Wayah bald. Phone and internet access are gettin very spotty for a while and there are fewer opportunities to charge my phone, so l must avoid using it for anything other than emergencies. Also, it's very tedious to do this journal on a phone keypad, so be patient, and I'll try to provide more dretail in a week or two.
Date: 2011-04-19
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Mollies Ridge shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a tough, 2,739 ft climb with few good water sources along the way. I think all of us at the shelter were surprised at the difficulty. We crossed over Shuckstack mountain and climbed the firetower there. The views were terrific, but the steps were old, and it was more fear than I enjoy. OK, call me a chicken. I took a couple of photos, but somehow lost them.
Date: 2011-04-20
From: Mollies Ridge shelter

To: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I hiked solo today, as I usually do, and realized I needed to slow down at this altitude. The peaks are getting above 5,500 feet, and I'm feeling it. Some of the younger folks are passing me by, but we usually end up at day's end.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Double Spring Gap shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I cut my miles back today, because the next shelter would have been more than 13 total, with Clingman's Dome near the end. Clingman is 6,643 feet, highest point on the AT, and I'm really feeling the thinner air. It was funny to watch some of the young guys put away thee or four meals tonight. I'be decided l'm not eating enough. In fact, I didn't bring enough food to get me through seven days of the Smoky Mountains. Plan B, Gatlinburg, here I come.
Date: 2011-04-22
From: Double Spring Gap shelter

To: Clingman's Dome, Gatlinburg
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

I caught a ride into town with a couple of college students hiking on spring break. Not a moment to soon. It rained all night, and the short, steep climb up Clingman was too hot for rain gear but too cold without it. We were totally socked in by the clouds, and I was thoroughly wet by the time I reached the summit. It was strange during the 15 mile ride to town as we watched the foliage turn green, the sun came out, and temps warmed. It's a very different world on the high ridges. I'll wash my clothes tonight, get some more grub, and get back up on the mountain early tomorrow.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Clingman's Dome, Gatlinburg

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I picked up the trail at Cligman's Dome this morning. The weather looked too cloudy for pictures, but I climbed the tower anyway. Momentarily, the sun peaked through with the clouds below the summit, so I grabbed this shot. It was too cold and windy to stay here long. The trails around Climbman are heavily eroded and muddy. This area obviously gets a lot of tourist traffic.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

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

Passing through Newfound Gap this time of year is a strange experience. The parking lot is jammed with cars, and day hikers are all over the trail. I couldn't make good time because I constantly was stepping aside to let them pass. For some odd reason, I don't feel comfortable now among day hikers. Their experiences are so different, and they have no idea what a thru-hiker goes through from day to day. Some of them ask questions and offer encouragement, but I feel like an animal in a zoo around them. The Tri-Corner Knob Shelter is in a nice location with a view and convenient water. There was a family there, mother/father/two chidren. The parents were both West Point graduates and were delightful people. During the night, after all of us were asleep, a rag-tag hiking group which calls themselves the "Circus" came stumbling in. They woke all of us up with loud conversation, banging of pots, boozing, cussing and constant farting. There were already seven of us sleeping in the shelter, but the circus moved right in, with one even sleeping on the dirt floor. I plotted all night how I would get revenge by waking them early the next morning, but that would soon change. The family of four rose early, and very courteously kept extremely quiet as they prepared breakfast. I got up with them and apologized to the father for what the children had heard. An Army infantry officer, he was unfazed by it all. It occured to me that if this fine man could be so nice, the least I could do was to follow his example. We quietly packed up, left camp, and put some long miles between us and the circus freaks.
Date: 2011-04-25
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Biggest distance/day yet, but my feet paid for it. The Standing Bear Farm is like a 60's hippie commune, but it kinda works. Nice, easy atmosphere here, and everything is on the honor system. It's like an oasis for hikers in middle of nowhere, after we have escaped the annoying camping regulations of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Getting ready to head out on the long climb outa here. I should have good internet at Hot Springs and hopefully can spin some yarns there.
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 9.9

The weather looked threatening in late afternoon, so I had to cut my day short and put up my tent near a forest service road. I didn't want to get caught on a high ridge if a storm rolled in. During the night, the winds started blowing very hard, and by early morning, I didn't want to come out of my tent. I would occasionally look outside to see things blowing by, and it looked like rain, so I decided to stay put for a while. The rain never came, and the wind subsided some, so I hit the trail for a late start aroun 9 AM. I saw another bear bag hanging near mine, but never saw the other campers. I assume they were futher up the hill.
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Brown Gap

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a crazy day, weather-wise. After the windy start, it looked like good hiking with a strong breeze to cool me down. When I hit the summit of Max Patch, however, things deteriorated. Max Patch is a huge bald, where nothing grows but grass. This one may have been a mile across. The wind started blowing so hard, I looked like a drunk man walking. The wind would hit my pack and turn me sideways, so I had to walk like a crab. Half way across, the rain hit, and I traid to get my parka on, but it was no small task. I couldn't get my arm through the sleeve for several minutes. When I got across the bald, and began to descend, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and everything was beautiful. These mountains create their own weather, and Mother Nature doesn't care what the forecast says. For several hours, I had delightful hiking, but that didn't last. As I climbed Walnut Mountain, it got really crazy. Several of us decided to overnight in the Walnut Mountain Shelter, which was a small log structure, probably older than I am, near the summit. We knew there had been bear activity there recently, and several entries in the register said not to stay there, but the rising wind left us little choice. It blew harder and harder, until it was extremely unpleasant to step outside the shelter's windbreak. We had to cook inside the shelter, although that can sometimes leave odors that could bring in the bears. I had phone signal, so I decided to check in with my wife. While talking with her, I had to hold onto a tree to keep from blowing around. We estimate it was between 50 and 80 mph, but we had not way to measure it, of course. The wind continued most of the night. We later learned that a number of people had been killed in the state by tornadoes. On that mountain, it seemed more like a hurricane. I never knew that sustained high winds could continue for so long other than in a hurricane situation.