morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Tonight I am at the "Fontana Dam Hilton" named becauseit is such a nice and big shelter. Capacity is 20people. There is also the availability of flush toiletand showers nearby. It overlooks the Fontana Lake anddam. Very nice place. It has been threatening to rainmost of the day but nothing yet. The wind blew lastnignt, but no storms materilized. Tomorrow I will stayat a hiker hostel and do my transmitting, andresupply.Then it is into the Smokies. I think it will be a 7day before resupply. I will know more by tomorrowafter I study my map. Sad to say that Jim has gotten off the trail. He hiked2 miles to the road today and decided he needed to gethis ankle looked at. He hiked into ohe nearest townand is riding the bus bach to Nashville then on to hishome in Kentucky. The pain is high on his leg, aroundboot height. Could be a simple as shin splints, or asbad as a stress fracture. He said he would let me knowthe diagnosis. Today after I got in around noon. Ishowered then went over to the Fontana Village, an oldCC camp that has been converted to a resort. It is asmall operation but has an outfitter, post office,store and restaurant. I had dinner with a group ofother hikers. I enjoyed the company, and getting toknow new people from different areas of the country.Well time for bed, more tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Fontana Dam

To: Hiker Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Today was an off day. I spent the night at the fontanaDam Shelter. Around 9:0 am I was picked up andshuttled over to the Hiker Inn about 8 miles from thefontana dam. If you can imagine one of he old 1950'ssmall mom & pop motels on a slow rural highway in thecountry. This where I am. But I am happy to say it isclean and nice. After weeks of nothing but noises ofthe forest, the sound of cars zooming by isunnerving. They also seem to be going faster than theyreally are. This is especially evident when I am ridingin one. So after a nice warm shower and about 20minutes of shaving my face I got a ride into thislittle town to do my resupply shopping and upload myjournal entries. It feels odd to walk around a town atmidday and not be working. I see other people at workand I feel as though they are staring and wonderingwhy is this guy in shorts and a tshirt walking aroundwhen he certainly should be working. I am sure itwould be even worse if I looked more scraggly,unshaven and I smelled bad. I guess I still have away to go before I can fully grasp this not workingthing. The hiking and camping is hard busy work, butwhen I do finally get a chance to sit and do nothing,I find myself nervous and antsy. Hopefully this willpass in time. I keep thinking I am working on myself.Certainly that is a job. I will elaborate more on thatlater. I have now finished my resupply shopping. 6days of food for the Smokies. I plan on 5 days to getthrough with an extra day in case of bad weather. Iate a good meal. Have my pack packed and am going tosleep in a soft bed tonight. Good night,Clay
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Hiker Inn

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

As I hunkered down, my back against the side of a bigthick tree, my pack between my legs and my 4 ft by 8 ftpiece of Tyvek over my head all I can think about ishow mad my mother would be if I got killed out here inthis thunderstorm. I had expected it to rain today,just not this early and not this severe. About an hourinto my day the clouds became black and dropped downon me. I was no where near any sort of shelter, so Ifound the biggest tree I could that didn't have anydead limbs on it. I threw my aluminum hiking poles upthe hill far away from me. Quickly as I could, Istruggled to put my rain suit. Of course, that is ahilarity! trying to get them on over my boots jsut asthe wind rain aand hail hits all at the same time. Ijust think, man is my Mom going to let me have it whenI get to heaven. "What have I told you about playingout in thunderstorms!" Whack!So, I hunker under the tree with my Tyvek sheet heldover my head for about 15 minutes and soon the wind,hail aad lightning subsides. The rain doesn't so I getup and return to hiking. IN\n about 2 wet hours, the rainstops. Don't assume that a rain suit keeps you dry. Itmay keep the rain out, but you sweat so much you endup wet anyway. Of course after the rain stops theheat and humidty comes on strong. The trail was finefor most of the day, as I ascended it began to looklike snow on the ground . What is was, was SpringBeauty flowers as far as I could see. Little whiteflowers all over the ground. I have never seen flowersas ground cover in the forest before. And it hascontinued that way for most of the day. I am stillsurprised I haven't seen much wildlife. Maybe Ishould work on being more stealthy. For the end of the day I stayed at Spense FieldShelter. You can tell the field was once an orchardused by the mountain inhabitants of the late 1800 andearly 1900 before the park took over. No fruit yetthough. In the Great Smokie Mountain National Park weare required to stay in a shelter and cannot tentunless the shelter is full. Tonight my shelter matesare Post Card and Master Plan. We are all wet andtired. We chat a little, but soon we each climb in oursleeping bags. We are blessed that the shelter has afire place in it and we fall asleep to the crackle ofa nice fire. Finally warm and dry, I fall asleep andsleep restfully all night.Clay
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silar Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Today I struggled for some reason for most of the day.I suspect that it may be just a bit of altitudeproblems. Now at around 5,000 feet for most of the dayI had trouble getting my breath on the climbs. Isuspect that will pass. The day was uneventful. Ihiked by myself again all day, just like yesterday. Istopped for lunch and a rest at Derrick Knob Shelter.Met a guy Named Cherokee, who was himself taking azero day there. Said he felt dizzy and tired. Isuspect he was also dealing with the altitude. I atemy snack, and got fresh water. As I was getting readyto hit the trail I heard thunder in the distace. Aftercontemplating it for a few minutes I decided I did notwant to risk getting wet again today, so I decided tostay at the shelter for a while. I pulled out mysleeping bag and took a nap for about an hour as therain poured down. I was glad that I chose to stay,glad that I was dry, and glad that I could relaxenough to be still and even take a nap. After the rain subsided, I returned to the trail. Thegreatest benefit of hiking after the rain is thatthere are no bugs. Before the rain the black flys arealways around, going for your eyes, ears and nose.Just as you are trying to step down a precarious spot,all your weight on the poles in your hand a $^*&(*&$bug tries to fly up your nose! Now that is damnedannoying! The worst is when one of those buggers goesfor my ear. I have had a bug in my ear and it candrive you mad in a matter of minutes, so I definitelydon't want one of them in my ears at all.I arrived at Silar Bald Shelter aboot 4:00 pm. Looks likea full house. 5 section hikers from Florida and 5 thruhikers. I have done my dinner of suddenly salad noodlesand now it is time to do the bedtime chores. Hang thebear bag. Put away all my stuff, brush my teeth, Dothe trip to the privy. Better to do it now then havingto get out of my warm sleeping bag in the middle ofthe night! We expect rain all night tonight.Sweet dreams,Clay
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Silar Bald Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: moderate rain

Rained all night long and into the morning. We werehanging around watching it rain when the ridgerunner comes strolling in between thunderstorms.He was nice and personalable, but his job it to keeppeople moving. He reminded us that we were notallowed to stay two consecutive nights at the sameshelter. We, the collective bunch of thruhikers andsection hikers that we had no intention of staying, wewere just waiting out the storm. Nonetheless hehovered around until we were all packed to go then heleft to go onto the next shelter down the trail. I, Mike from PA, and Chuck Buster from Maryland tookoff in the rain, thunder and wind. We made good timeand didn't hang around the high spots. We made it toClingman's Dome around 1:00 pm. This is the higgestpoint I will cross on the Apliachian trail at 6,643feet. Of course, there was no view due to the clouds.We continued on in more rain and wind to ourdestination of Mt. Collins Shelter. When we arrivedthere were already a few hikers there, and a few morearrived in the late afternoon hours. We were all wetand tired. The shelter sat in a low spot so almostall the surrounding ground had standing water.Everyone croweded around each other to dry clothes ormake their dinner. The forecast was for more stormsfor the night and the morning, and that came to betrue. We went to sleep to rain and thunder and awoketo it in the morning.Clay
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: moderate rain

The day started same as the day before. Wet cold rain.All morning, starting at 8:30, I walked down a trail thatoften looked like a small stream. There was no reasonor ability to avoid the puddles. MY FEET STAYED DRYMOST OF YESTERDAY So I just trudged right through the puddles.The temp was mid fifties, there was wind, and I woremy same damp clothes from yesterday but I stayedreasonably warm. My hands were chilled, but all elsewas warm enough. I knew enough not to riskhyperthermia. I wore my boots, my socks, my gaiters,my shorts, a short sleeve polypro shirt and my FrogTog jacket. I moved quickly to generate heat. I madeit to Newfound Gap by 10:30 am, a distance of about 5miles. The rain had dissapated, but the wind and mistcontinued. The wind had shifted from the south to theNorthwest at about 15 miles per hour. After a briefstop for lunch I continued northward. Near 2:00, theskies began to clear and I saw the sun for the firsttime in 4 days! I finished my day at Pecks Shelter. Iguess the Pecks lived here in the past? I got hereabout 3:15 and since there was sunshine I have hung aclothes line and have been drying clothes and boots. Tomorrow and Monday is forecast to be sunny andwarm . Tonight it will still be chilly, but we aregetting a fire started. Warm sweet dreams I hope.Clay
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was finally a clear day. Got a chance to seesome views. But it was very windy. Temp was in the 60'sand winds at 20 mph with ocassional higher gusts,especially on the passes.I only went 12.9 today and I plan on only a 7.1 mileday tomorrow. There is a large group of hikers aheadof me. They fill the shelters over capacity. So theywill fill up the Hostel I am headed for as well, so Iwill hold back from them. There is rain forecastfor Tuesday so I will plan on being at the hostel forthat day. I will do my laundry, and email / trailjournal chores. My clothes and boots are mostly dry. Very glad forthat. I look forward to a good meal and shower in 2days It is 7:00 pm. Time to get in the bag. I alwayslisten to the radio for a while then put my ear plugsin and go to sleep. (drowns out the snorers)GodnightClay
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Cosby Shelter

To: Standing Bear
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Well my plan of just a short day didn't work out. Igot to the Davenport Shelter at about 10:30 AM. Therewas a guy there, who said his name was Jersey. He saidhe had just started his hike yesterday. He rodethe bus from New Jersey, then hitch hiked from I40SOUTH to this shelter! He said his pack weighed 75pounds and was full of canned goods. I saw text booksand he was burning some incense. The people at theshelter last night named him Jersey. He was spendingthe day at the shelter contemplating his situation. Ifelt sorry for him, took a quick look at his TWOpacks. He had cotton long underwear. I suggested thathe hike back DOWN the hill, go to the hostel and getsome help and advice. He should ship back the cottonstuff, give away the canned stuff, and buy the rightstuff. He understood he was unprepared. I sat down andlooked at my map, and looked at my watch and decidedto move on. I went on to the hostel. Standing BearHostel can be described the true hiker hangout. Rusticfarm buildings converted to bunkhouse, cabin orlaundry building. A nice large fire pit for people tocongregate and visit. A common kitchen area for peopleto cook their food. A hiker store to buy supplies orjunk food to cook and eat. But best of all they had ahot shower. It was nice to remove a weeks worth ofdirt, sweat and grime. My mail drop was there so I hadclean clothes to put on, and I found good microwavefood to eat! The bubble I had been following were all there. Ienjoyed visiting with them here. It wan't crowded likeit would be at a shelter. We got a ride to the localBQ / convience store for more junk food and supplies.I spent part of the evening checking email, makingphone calls and sitting around the fire chatting withothers. I even tried a little Tennesse White Lighting.A small sip was enough for me. I went to bed in thebunk house at the late hour of 11:0o o'clock, butgladly clean and well fed. Clay
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Standing Bear

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got up at 6:30 AM and hit the trail by 7:15. I movedout by myself and made good time. I met the first andonly person I was to see hiking today at he firstshelter. Breeze is his trail name. A nice guy fromSouth Carolina. He went on his way and I stayed at theshelter to rest a bit. It had rained a little on meearlier so I tried to dry a few clothes. After I brief while I moved on and still didn't seeanyone else until I again found Breeze sitting on topof Max Patch Bald eating his lunch. The scenary wassimply awesome. I said hi and left him to his personalserenity. I pressed on off the bald and finallystopped here at Roaring Fork Shelter. I decided a 15mile day was enough as more rain was coming. Breezestopped by again right before a big storm blew in. Hewaited it out and decided to do another 5 miles.I laid down to rest and soon 3 college boys on springbreak hiking Southbound came in to stay for the night.I continued to snooze then around 6:00 PM and 4thruhiker friends came in, Larry, Monalogue, Dadgumand Pacecar. They had been caught in the last stormand were wet aad tired. We made room for them aad wesettled in for a stormy nignt. A good 15 mile day.Clay
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: moderate rain

And the rain came down once again. As I left theshelter this morning it was cloudy and it had stormedearlier but I hoped that was the end of it for theday. Sadly, I was wrong. 30 minutes into the walk forthe day, the drizzle started, then the sprinkles, thenthe rain, then more hard rain. It looked like it wasto be a long wet morning trudging to the next shelter5 miles away. However, luckily I came upon an oldshelter about 2.5 miles into the trip and was able tohang out there for an hour or so until the downpour atleast subsided. By about 11:00 AM I started out againwith a long destination of making it to Hot Springs,N.C. that late afternoon. Ready again for hot shower,and food as well as out of the rain. By about 5:00 PM my feet were killing me. I wastraveling with Dadgum, Pacecar and Monalogue and theywere all just as tired as I was. It was a steepdescent for the last 2 miles, but we wre determined tomake it. We set 5:30 pm as the goal to be checked intoour rooms, and happily we made it by just a fewminutes. We then met at the local pub for celebratorycheezeburgers and beers. 18 miles, my longest day yet.
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs day off
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

For breakfast I had 2 eggs, Scrambled. Sausage,biscuits and gravy and coffee. Then I began my choresfor the day. There was laundry, then there wasresupply shopping. Then for lunch I had 3 scoops ofcookies and cream ice cream. Then I spent theafternoon updating my trail journal, and returningemail messages. Then for dinner I had a turkey andchedder on rye with chips and ice tea. And for desertI had a chocolate brownie sundae. It is great I get toeat all this stuff with no consequences. After dinner I finised packing up my bounce box,watched some TV then went to bed. I busy day off.Clay
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Hot Springs day off

To: Rich Mountain Campground
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

I got out of Hot springs about 10:30AM. The climb outwas tough after a day off, and lots of food. But afterit leveled off, the going was easy. I was back totraveling alone again. I enjoy the solitude. I get toset my own pace and choose where to stop. I took iteasy today. With such a late start it would be toughto make it to the first shelter. Anyway, I prefer totent camp. I came upon a fire tower about 3:00 pm. Idecided to take a look. It as no longer in use, but itwas not locked. I climbed up and enjoyed the view. Idecided I would eat my late lunch, take a nap andsince I finally had cell phone service I made a fewphone calls. By about 5:30 p.m., I determined it was time tomove on and set up camp. It was only a 30 minute walkto my chosen spot. I set up my tent, cooked my meal,and since the bugs were buzzing around a started afire. I sat and watched /played with the fire tillabout 8:00 pm. I slipped into my sleeping bag ready fora long day tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Rich Mountain Campground

To: Big Butt
Miles today: 20.0

My plan for the day was to do my first 20 mile day. SoI started at 7:15 a.m. on the trail. I came upon the firstshelter in about an hour, and was told by the hikersthere that ther would be trail magic breakfast at thefirst road crossing this morning. Sounds interesting.I continue on and when I do approach the road crossingabout 10:00 AM sure enough there is a sign directinghikers to a house 300 yards down the road. I decidedmy long day needed belgiun waffles and other treats.The angels were Hercules and Fall to hikers thatsucessfully thru hiked the trail in 1999. They havehiked extensively all over the world. It was awonderful visit with them and the food hit the spotfor sure. I returned to the trail aboot 11:10continuing northward. As yesterday I travelled by myself all day. My destination was a tent site listed inmy trail companion guidebook as well as shown on mymap. It was named simply Big Butt, a campground with aview. Well I cannot testify if there was a view, Inever found the site. I know I travelled at least therequired distance, and found no sign of a view or acampsite. With sunlight fading on a long day I finallydecided to throw out my tent at the best spot I couldquickly find. Unfortunetly, it was not a very goodspot. I spent the whole night sliding down to thecorner of my tent. The site was not level at all, butI was too tired to even consider looking elsewhere. Itook an alleve and a sleeping pill and went to bed. Atleast I achieved my goal of a 20 mile day.Clay
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Big Butt

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

Another quiet steady day of hiking. Alone again, as I prefer. I have chosen a sheltertonight because fo the call for rain. It is just toorisky in a tent. I travel all day, get sweaty wet, andrainy wet if it is raining. I carry just one change ofccmp clothes, and my down sleeping bag. I do not wantto take the chance of getting my one set of dryclothes or my down bag wet, so I will shelter wheneverpossible if it look slike rain. The shelter will befull with about 8 people. None I have hiked with inthe past. My pace is increasing so that I am nowmeeting new poeple that started before me. I hope itwill be a quiet night. I plan on getting up early, ifthe rain is gone annd doing a 21 mile day. We will seehow it goes. Time to fix dinner.Clay
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

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

The expected rain overnight did arrive, but not withmuch intensity. I got up about 6:00 a.m. I quietlypacked up to leave. The shelter was full and most allof them had no intentions of getting up this early. Ihit he trail by 7:10 a.m. and made good time all morning.Stopped for a lunch break after 10 miles. I hadcrossed Big Bald a little earlier in the day. The viewswere great, but the batteries in my camera were dead.At least I hope that is what the problem is. It hasbeen taking a beating for a month. I keep it in myshorts pocket. It has stayed dry, but gets bumped aadknocked a lot. I will try new batteries tomorrow intown. Luckily Mike form Pensylvania was along with meand he was able to get some good pictures. I continuedon until about 5:30 and stopped at this shelter. It isonly Mike and I tonight. We are 6 miles from the townof Erwin, so we will rise early and hit town forlunch, then find lodging. I did 20.6 miles today.Another new record. I made good time from Hot Springsto here. 8.3 miles, 20 miles, 12.8 miles and 20.6miles. My feet and ankles do hurt, but the soreness isusually gone by morning time. I take an Aleve, and putsome sport rub cream on my feet and any other soremuscles at night. I have now been at this for 30 daysand Have done 332.4 miles. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! IWALKED HERE! 15% DONE!Wow that makes me tired. I am going o bed.Clay
Date: 2006-05-02
From: No Business Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Mike and I got up about 6:00 a.m. and hit the trail by7:00 a.m. We made good time. It was mostly down hill. Therewere lots of switchbacks on the last descent intotown. We could see it get larger and larger as weapproached. We covered in just over 2.5 hours and werehappily surprised to see Dadgum and Pacecar waitingto pick us up where the trail comes out to the road3.5 miles from town. Pacecar's Mother and Grandmotherhad come to visit them for a few days aad shuttle themaround. So they took us to the Super 8 motel. We eachshowered, then got something to eat. I then did mytrail journal updates at the library. Dadgum wanted tosee a movie so we went to the theatre in the nexttown aad watched the Sentinal. Mike chose to take anap. We returned to Erwin, grabbed some dinner andcalled it a night. It is becoming more difficult tosleep in a bed than in a sleeping bag. More town worktomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Erwin, TN

To: Curley Maple Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: few clouds

I got up early and first didmy laundry, then got breakfast at McDonalds. Went backto the motel. Mike had gone to do some errands and eatbreakfast. I made a quick decision to go visit a localchiropractor. My back had been giving me problems andI knew an adjustment would help. It did and I was gladI went. Dr. Fabozzi fixed me up. He was an interestingfellow. He regularly does work on Nascar Drivers.Pretty interesting. After that I finished up my bouncebox and got that mailed. By tha time it was about 3:00pm and decided it was time to hit the trail. Mike wasstaying an extra day. I put my pack on and began thewalk backto the trail. I brielfy tried to find ashuttle, but no luck. Dadgum aad Pacecar had alreadyleft. So I walked through the old neighborhoods towardthe trail. There were lots of nice old fixed uphouses. I enjoyed the walk. I got to the trail about5:00 p.m. and made it to the shelter by about 7:00 p.m. I hadstopped at the A&W restaurant just before I got to thetrail so I had aalready eaten my dinner. There were 3other guys there. We talked a bit, but got to sleep by9:00 p.m. Tomorrow was to be a big mileage day.Clay