morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night. I kept very dry, but my Thermarest was unusually cold. In the morning I found out why. A small tributary was running down under the tent and I was sleeping on a small pool of water. That I should at least be dry is a tribute to the Hilleberg tent. I dressed and went down to the shelter. What a scene! The earth floor had become a large pool of water overnight. Some of the late arrivals had decided to set their ground sheets and sleeping bags on the earth floor, and, of course, had been flooded out. It was still raining, and it took a long time for the shelter dwellers to decamp and get on the road. Typically on wet days, the tent dwellers then move their stuff into the shelter, both to cook breakfast and to pack. It was a slow process. Within an hour of starting on the road, the rain stopped, and gradually, as the morning warmed up, the mist pulled back and then mostly lifted. The sun burst through for all of two minutes, but it was an excellent walking day overall. The trail was a running steam most of the morning, but it's at such times that you notice the work put in by the AT volunteers. Frequent channels and sloughs have been built to help the water run off down the hillside. By the afternoon, most surface water was gone. Our target for the day was Davenport Gap Shelter, and we got there about 6.00pm with another 14 miles under our belts. This is an excellent shelter, made on the usual GSMNP design, but with an additional, covered, outer section beyond the bear fence, with bench seating and cooking surfaces. It isn't full either so we can spread out. The K.C. girls are here, "Two Speeds", Justin (now with trail name "Chafe Master J"), a very sociable young couple from Ohio, "Face" and "Blaze", "Viking", (a young German fellow), and a late arrival "Semi". No privy here, so the shelter's nickname of "The Smokies Sheraton" may be a bit of a stretch!
Date: 2013-09-29
From: Monson

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 133 - Wilson Valley Lean-toAs is customary now, in the morning we went through the scenarios that would exist if we zeroed in Monson. Of course at this point it's not really possible as we want to finish on the 5th of October, but we decided that a day of 10 miles would be ok. So, we got some breakfast at the gas station grill, drank coffee and went back out on the kayaks again before finally getting a hitch at around 1. We then entered the Hundo Wildy (100 Mile Wilderness), which is a 100 mile stretch with no real resupply options. It is possible to have food dropped (for a fee) at a logging road at about the halfway point, and there is a hostel about 70 miles in with limited items, but that's about it. We decided we wanted to take all our food with us, and plan to finish in 5 days. It should work out alright, as we have done plenty of 20 mile days in the past. The hiking was pretty easy, and we were in the usual town induced good mood (which comes mostly from full stomachs and a shower) so the miles went quickly. We camped near the shelter at which there was a pretty big crowd. We had our first fire in a while (Voice left his fuel at the hostel and now wants to cook on a fire), so that added a little spice to the evening.
Date: 2013-09-30
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Terrible stealth spots near a spring
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: few clouds

Day 134 - Terrible stealth spots near a springPeople say the Hundo is easy, but at least for today I'd have to say they're wrong. We had some sizable climbs of up to 1400 feet, and plenty of rocky ups and downs and some bouldering. Some of the views were really great though, as the leaves are almost in full force and the flatland below is littered with lakes. Night fell upon us and we still had 3 miles to go, so we decided to headlamp it. Unfortunately, Rabbit's batteries are dead (and they didn't have triple A's at the only gas station in town) so we only had 2 between the three of us. After 45 slow going minutes and numerous trips and stumbles, we decided to not to carry on. There's a big descent coming up and we feared it could be too dangerous to go down with only two headlamps. The problem existed though that there was no flat land anywhere, as we are on the side of a mountain. So, in the end, Rabbit and Voice are sleeping at seemingly 45 degree angles just off the trail, and I am literally on the trail. How's that for stealth camping?
Date: 2013-10-01
From: Terrible stealth spots near a spring

To: Camp spot near Mountain View Pond
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 135 - Camp spot near Mountain View PondToday was another tough day in the Hundo. It was easier than yesterday, but there was still lots of elevation gain and loss so it was pretty exhausting. Lately we're also having to actually ford rivers, which is a new experience (and a cold, painful one for my wimpy feet - V and R are jokingly referring to me as "Tenderfoot" now). Luckily the water levels are pretty low - maybe knee high at most - so it's not really a big deal. It's more just time consuming in that I have to change into Crocs and then back into shoes on the other side. And it doesn't help that sitting down to change shoes usually turns into a snack break. What could be a 5 minute deal easily turns into 15. Today, from White Cap Mountain, we got our first view of Katahdin. It was really weird to finally see what I've been working towards for so long. It's SO close now, and it gave me new life. It was interesting to actually see where my journey will end, because up until now it's been a seemingly unending repetitious pattern of hike/eat/sleep. Now there is a tangible destination, and all I have to do is cross the lakeland below to get there. The end is literally in sight, and it's making me realize just how close to being finished I am. It's all very strange, but I am happy to be here and can't wait to complete the trail. We found a great spot near a lake at around 5 and decided to call it a day. We were beat and thought it would be nice to have an hour or two of daylight to enjoy in camp. We made another fire and enjoyed being by the lake.
Date: 2013-10-02
From: Camp spot near Mountain View Pond

To: Whitehouse Landing Hostel
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 136 - Whitehouse Landing HostelThe hundo wildy has become much easier, with flat to gently rolling terrain. It has also become even more beautiful, as it's now among the leafy forests of lower elevations and often passes or circles around pristine lakes. The weather has remained awesome - around 70 and perfectly blue skies. As we get closer to the finish, I am becoming less anxious to finish and less anxious to put miles behind me. I'm content with just hiking among the beautiful scenery and watching as Katahdin becomes closer and closer. It's a good state to be in. It just so happened that the Whitehouse Landing hostel was at mile 20 for the day, and so we figured we definitely shouldn't pass it up. There's a mile long blue blazed "trail" which leads to a dock, across the lake from which the hostel is. After sounding an air horn, the owner speeds across the lake on his boat and brings you back across to the hostel. There's a main house and dining area, a bunkhouse and a few private cabins, all of which overlook Pemadumcook Lake. Both dinner and breakfast are included in the price, and for dinner we all partook in "The Pounder" burger. We all crushed it and enjoyed a couple of Mountain Dews as well. We met another NOBO named World Peas and her husband Carrots, and I enjoyed their company. They also gave us some leftover beers, which was quite nice of them. Shortly after dinner, we retired to the bunkhouse - Voice, Rabbit and I had the place to ourselves, which was nice, and we hung out for awhile in the sitting room before crashing.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Nolichucky River, Erwin

To: Erwin, Tenn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Where the At crosses the Nolichucky River, it's a ride or walk of 3.5 miles into Erwin, Tennessee. There is nothing twee or fancy about Erwin. Plenty of local industry is evident as you drive in, companies like Georgia-Pacific producing building materials, and Vesuvius which makes insulation materials. The dominant presence, though, is CSX, the rail transportation conglomerate, which not only plies the main through-line constantly but has also located its freight car repair and servicing shops here. At any time of day, there always seems to be some rail activity going on. The through-line carries many CSX convoys of coal trucks every day from eastern Tennessee and Kentucky through to the east coast. That lonesome whistle seems to blow all night too.I dropped in on the local Chamber of Commerce as a result of which I can reveal that Erwin has 5,610 citizens (2.2% non-white), an unemployment rate of 5.9% (pretty good), 10 police officers operating 5 police cars, that 80% of its High School graduates go on to college education, and that it has 78 churches, all of them Protestant, with none of any other religious persuasion. Perhaps Erwin's most unique claim is that it is the only town I know of that executed an elephant by "hanging it by the neck until dead". In 1916, the elephant, Mary, killed her trainer while the circus was visiting town.  Erwin is a functional place providing lots of local services. On the continuation of Main Street, you encounter Erwin Auto Repairs, Erwin Lube, Erwin Dentistry, and even Erwin Mental Health Center. If people go bats here, it isn't from agonising over the names of their businesses. It also offers all the usual facilities that hikers want, but they are strung out over quite a distance so the town isn't considered "hiker-friendly" and most hikers don't especially like it. "Wrong Way" and I disagree with them. I found it more interesting than, say, Hot Springs, with more going on. And the people were friendly too. On at least three occasions I was offered a ride by local people who saw me walking between our motel and Main Street and realised I was a hiker. Erwin is a real, hard-working little town, and it suited me just fine.
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Erwin, Tenn

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Yesterday morning we had various delays getting out of Erwin, but Miss Janet dropped us off at the AT trailhead about noon, and we were soon on our way. the next three hours were a stiff climb of about 1,500 feet into the Unaka Mountains up to Curley Maple Gap. It didn't feel like it, such was the beauty of much of what we passed through. It was sunny, the light filtering through the developing canopy of the tall trees, a sizeable creek cascaded down a ravine up which we did most of our climbing, and the temperature was just right for hiking. But the distant rumble of thunder came steadily closer, and reached us mid-afternoon. Rain was followed by hail and I was very relieved to walk into the shelter at the Gap very soon afterwards to escape the worst of it. After the storm, we walked with a will until nightfall and made camp near a bald called Beauty Spot. Our main concern was that "Two Speeds" had dropped off our group, and, we learned later, had been feeling unwell at the last shelter. He didn't reach our campsite last night and we supposed had probably turned back to Curley Maple Gap. Verity left a message on an AT post telling him where we were. Just after first light this morning, with our campsite still asleep, I took a walk back up to the Beauty Spot summit. The sky was blue, the mists round about were being dissolved rapidly by the sun, and it was a real pleasure walking across the bald. On my way back down, just inside the tree line, I noticed a hammock and tarp set up to my left. The sleeping figure inside was "Two Speeds" who had stopped in darkness just 200 yards short of our encampment, and 50 yards short of Verity's note. He still isn't feeling great today. After our 10.6 mile dash yesterday, and late evening arrival, we've all been tired today and, when we got to Cherry Gap Shelter early this afternoon, we just decided to stay. The highlight of today's walk (only 5.6 miles) was undoubtedly the forest over the top of Unaka Mountain. Red spruce, alder, and a soft forest floor of pine needles made a very enjoyable change from the norm. Tonight, we had our usual suppers, and then gathered round the campfire for a feast of hot-dogs and toasted marshmallows. Verity retired to her shelter space and I to the tent (which I prefer) feeling very well fed for a change.
Date: 2013-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I¢ve been walking, skiing, or swimming almost every day to get in shape. Today, I went out with full pack [maybe fuller than I want] to walk about 6 miles in the snow. Yes, we still have a lot of snow left here in the north woods. The snow was knee-deep unless I could step where someone had gone before, walking, snow-shoeing, or skiing ¢ even some big deer tracks helped at one point. There must be some useful philosophy based on ¢walking lightly in the footsteps of those who¢ve gone before¢. That¢s the way to stay on top of the snow ¢ otherwise I sink in. Thru-hiking is such an individual experience we shouldn¢t forget how much we depend on other hikers, on people who provide services along the way, and on the trail maintainers, not to forget the people back home who support us. I think I¢m getting in pretty good shape, even for snow, but I hope the snow in the Smokies has receded by the time I get there in a few weeks.
Date: 2013-03-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Heading South, stopping in Ohio for a few days to pick up 3 grandchildren [ages 7-10]. We¢ll be taking them down to Knoxville and then to Amicalola Falls to get me started on the Trail. I¢ve spent a lot of time in the past few days packing and repacking, both my pack and some boxes to be dropped off at various places I hope to visit in the first few weeks of my hike. Big disappointment, tho ¢ after much repacking, I¢ve still got 40 pounds. Now, I had hoped for less. I¢m sure I¢ve carried more than that for a week on the PCT in 2011, and in the 100-mile wilderness in 2004. The latter was another time I thought I was trying to cut down on pack weight, yet my weight at the end of the hike was 37 (including 10 lb of extra food between my son & me). That was all with a capacious Go-Lite Gust pack with minimal suspension. Now I have got me a slightly smaller Granite Gear Crown 60 with a nice hip belt; I hope that means it will be EASIER to carry the weight, anyhow. I¢ve been practicing with about 30 lbs, and making pretty good times in the snow, but this definitely feels heavier. OK: I¢ll be honest: I just don¢t understand how people can claim to carry only 25 lbs and still have ¢town clothes¢ and a tent (and maybe even a book!) and seldom run out of food! They must have a lot of gear made of Helium!
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Ash Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: light rain

Today's plan had been to catch up with the "KC" girls, but, on a very misty, damp morning, we got up late, broke camp late, and only reached the summit of Roan Mountain about noon. A clear, grassed area at the top marks the site of the Cloudland Hotel, built here in the 1880s to provide a luxurious mountain retreat for the sum of $2 a day or $30 a month. An interesting feature was that the hotel sat astride the state line, and a white line was painted down the length of the banquet hall, and even the long dining table within it. On one side of the room and table (the Tennessee side) it was legal to drink alcohol. On the North Carolina side, it wasn't. Guests came by train to the small town of Roan Mt., and then endured what must have been a bone-jarring 10 mile ride up the mountain by horse-drawn carriage or maybe even a new-fangled motor car. Maybe that explains why the hotel closed after 20 years. All that remains now are some of the foundations level with the grass. The hotel's most famous feature was its spectacular views. We used our imaginations as we stood peering, not for the first time on this expedition, into a dense fog. But from the hiker's viewpoint, the greatest feature of the summit is that it has public restrooms with running water and flush toilets. What a treat!Down the other side of the mountain, I caught up with Verity by the roadside at Carver's Gap in the capable hands of a Trail Angel. Watermelon, cantaloupe, an orange and a can of root beer were downed in a matter of minutes. In the afternoon, we went up Jane Bald and then Yellow Mountain, where we had a dilemma - either to put more miles in (we had only done 8) or to stop at Overmountain Shelter which some southbounders had recommended. We chose the shelter, a decision which none of us will ever regret making. It sits below the ridge of the AT, at the top of a valley which widens as it slopes down to the south. A number of balds - tomorrow's hike - dominates the scene high to our left. The view down the valley is outstanding as the sun sets, and we anticipate it will be even better when the sun rises if the day is clear. Our accommodation is a large red barn converted for hiker use. The lower level holds two sleeping platforms for about 10 people as well as a conventional picnic table. The loft is a large area, clean, though there are certainly mice (my headtorch has caught two beady eyes looking back at me even as I write these notes), and could hold a brigade of hikers if necessary. There is lots of room, and we are very content with our lot tonight.
Date: 2013-03-25
To: Knoxville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Today we were in Knoxville, with the kids enjoying the zoo, even in the snow. We also enjoyed ¢The Little Italian Kitchen¢ near Sevierville ¢seriously, we ate there twice in one day! The plan for tomorrow is to proceed to Amicalola Falls, leaving off some food drops along the way. When I finished the South end a couple of years ago, I had arrived at Springer too late in the afternoon to get to the falls before dark, so I skipped the Approach Trail and concentrated on finding a ride down to Dahlonega and Hikers Hostel. This time, I want to do the section by the falls Tuesday afternoon, stay with family in a park cabin, and then proceed up the mountain Wednesday morning. In spite of a little more rain or snow tomorrow, the weather looks good for the rest of the week.Even though my wife, Susan, is sad to see me go, she has been quite supportive in the preparations. And it¢s been fun to travel with the grandchildren ¢ they are so excited about my hike. Then my sister Laurel (with whom I¢d hiked a portion of the PCT) called from Oregon to give me a send-off. As I begin, I am very thankful for all kinds of support from family and friends. And I thank God for the health and strength to begin on such an adventure ¢ so many people are not so fortunate! (or at least not blessed in this particular way)
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Roan Mountain Town
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning met our expectations, a clear day interspersed with brief waves of fog that rolled in over the ridge behind us. We shared the breakfast table with a church group of about 12 teenagers from Greeneville, South Carolina, who were setting off for home. Our day was mostly about walking up and along the series of balds we had looked up at the night before. For most of the day, therefore, we walked on open hillsides in no proximity to trees, and, as Verity remarked, it was like being back in Scotland. American hikers were particularly impressed with it. On one of the balds, we saw longhorn cattle grazing a little way down from the summit. They are well named, their horns were enormous, but fortunately seemed to be mounted on the heads of females since there were no aggressive moves in our direction.Before the balds, I should have mentioned that we passed a plaque relating to the War of Independence. Around here, a thousand men from this and the neighbouring valleys, "The Overmountain Men", gathered in September 1780, and marched to meet a British army at King's Mountain, North Carolina. From memory, this was one of the milestone events of the war in the southern colonies - the first occasion that American militia stood up against a British force in full battle, didn't run off, and won the day. Really the "British" were N.C. Loyalist militia led, I think, by British regular officers, but, nevertheless, the battle did start to turn the tide irreversibly against the Forces of Good.    Drawing a veil over this little historical blemish, the rest of the day was uneventful. We emerged late afternoon on US19E going to Roan Mountain to the west and Elk Park to the east. We headed west down to Buck Buchanan's Country Store, which, the "AT Trail Companion" assured us, would offer a small grocery store, laundry, grill and beer. When we arrived, beer seemed to be the only thing on offer - "The Beer Wash", handily near the state line, did a steady stream of drive-thru' beer sales while we were there. But there was no grocery or grill. Buck offered us an apartment next door, not really prepared for public use, but for $10 a head we were happy to take it.   We found time to eat at the dubious Snack Shack & Pizza, which in fact provided one of the finest burgers I've ever had with every possible side and addition included. An evening of cards and beer (Dr Pepper for Verity) has brought the day to a close. Incidentally, we have learned that the thunderstorm three days ago damaged the Baptist Church Steeple on Main Street in Erwin, and started a fire. We haven't heard whether Erwin's 8 firefighters, 12 volunteers, and 5 fire trucks were equal to the task (my Chamber of Commerce factsheet is invaluable), but, if not, it's nice to know there are 77 other churches to choose from.
Date: 2013-03-26
To: Amicalola Falls State Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Started out in the snow from Knoxville to visit some places along the Trail where I wanted to leave food drops, including Standing Bear Farm & N.O.C. We got to Amicalola Falls after the visitors Center closed; so I couldn't register -- and I couldn't find the official scales after circling the building. I started up the Approach Trail with grandson Amanuel, who volunteered to walk, while everyone else just drove up to the cabin we'd rented (I purposely chose the last cabin up the hill, so I could just pick up the trail from there in the morning). My previous time at Springer, I got there at 4:00 (in October) and decided not to do the Approach Trail because I'd get to the falls in the dark and I wasn't sure I could still get a ride out of there. This time, the day was fading and the air was nippy, but it was a good walk, even with my 40-pound pack. Amani decided to count the steps and assures me that there were only 599, not 600 as advertized. No wonder it felt easier than I expected! We saw some red trillium and a couple of other flowers in sheltered places.The cabin is very nice! Well, time for some good sleep, and then off for the Great Adventure!