morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Beech Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

I had three milestones today. First, I passed the 100 mile mark from Springer Mt and the official start of the AT! Second, I did my first 15-mile day. And third, I climbed the famous Albert Mt rock trail to the firetower and had wonderful views, including a very distant Clingman's Dome in the Smokies.The first few hours and miles of the day were on a primarily easterly trail. At Carter Gap Shelter the AT finally turned north again and finished the long 'S' curve it has been doing since Standing Indian Mt. Now I am headed north again for good. Carter Gap Shelter appears to be less than 1 mile from the GA state line, but it took me a day and a half of often rough walking to get here via the AT!Along Little Ridgepole Mt a lookout had been cleared from the east side of the ridgeline offering the most impressive views of the trip so far! Row on row of higher rocky peaks were visible to the horizon, without a cloud in the sky. While sitting at the lookout 2 Osprey and an adult Broad-winged Hawk soared by on the gusty westerly winds. They were close and barely above eye level, clearly northbound migrants. After nearly an hour I finally managed to tear myself away and head on up the trail.It was about 3.00 when I finally reached the firetower on the summit of Albert Mt. The final 1/4 mile of the trail is famous for its very steep and rocky climb that requires hands in several places. It reminded me a lot of similar trails in VT and NH and I did not find it that difficult, just steep and slow. There were great views from the upper levels of the locked firetower with the tower on Clingman's Dome in the Smokies visible in the far distance to the north.At Big Spring Shelter just north of the summit of Albert Mt I said farewell to Gavel. He has been very good company and is a very interesting man. He is heading to Franklin tomorrow then driving to VA to meet up with a friend who is also hiking the AT. I will miss his company and explosive laughter.Idecided to keep going another 5 miles to Rock Gap Shelter and arrived about 7.00. Alpine Strider was there along with Hippie, 2-Dogs and several other hikers. My dogs were howling after 15 miles today, my longest day of hiking so far. But it's been another great day on the AT!
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 18.4

Quite uninentionally, today became the longest day of my trip. Because of a forecast for heavy rain and snow at higher elevations, I ended up hiking 18.4 miles today to reach a lower elevation camping area. Predictions are for 1-2" of rain ovenight with tenps in the valleys of 36' and in the mid-20's in the mts; likely snow on the Balds. Having bypassed Franklin and hiked further than intended, I could make the N.O.C. Tomorrow, 2 days ahead of schedule.I started the day with trail magic in the form of a dozen Capri-Sun drink packs in a creek just past Wallace Gap. Very Nice! I hiked most of the morning with a nice couple who were slack packing (hiking with light day packs only) from a hotel in Franklin, NC. They had completed from Springer to Winding Stair Gap last fall and had since retired and were now returning to thru-hike the rest of the trail. They were the ones who gave me the good news about the weather forecast. I ended up hiking with them up and over Siler Bald and all the way to Wayah Gap. Yellowjacket was her trail name but I didn' catch his name. Very nice folks.I caught up with Alpine Strider going up Wayah Bald. We agreed to try for Burningtown Gap to camp at the lowest possible elevation in hopes of avoiding snow tonight. Although the mileage was more than either of us really wanted to walk. This would make 33.7 miles in the past 2 days.We had good views from the old stone tower on Wayah Bald in spite of the impending rain and thunderstorms. We took a few quick photos then headed on for the final 4 miles to camp. Then we found our second Trail Magic of the day. This time it was a tupperware of homemade brownies sitting on a log courtesy of a 1999 thru-hiker with a note that said "Onward to Maine!" What a great trail - Actually, what great people along the trail!It rained most of the way to the gap and we set up tents in a persistent rain. I managed to cook just outside the awning of my tent while sitting inside (and not barbequing myself in the process); another first for me. Good thing because the rain really set in. It looks like the storm has finally arrived.
Date: 2007-04-15
From: Burningtown Gap

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

It rained all night, hard at times. I had not bothered to hang my food bag and left it lying, along with most of the rest of my gear, under my tent vestibule for ready access in the morning. It was nice to be able to heat water for coffee and oatmeal from the comfort of my tent without getting out and getting wet. That will come soon enough today I'm afraid.I had woken up just after midnight with 2 red welts on my hip that itched like crazy. I must have been bitten by something but couldn't find the culprit. While packing up in the AM I found 2 centipedes in my tent and think one of them must have gotten me during the night.I hiked nearly all day with Alpine Strider. It rained all the way to Tellico Gap so we had no views from Copper Ridge Bald or Rocky Bald. Both were fogged in. Wesser Bald was also fogged in so there were no views from the firetower.Day hikers yesterday told us that the area was under a severe weather warning today with winds gusting over 65 mph and 2-4" of snow expected on the ridges above 3,500'. We first saw snow in the air at Wesser Bald Shelter and it kept snowing all the way down to the N.O.C.We got to the Nantahala Outdoor Center about 5.00 and got checked into the hostel. We then went over to the Riverfront Caf© for cheeseburgers, beer and a huge but well earned bowl of blackberry cobbler! Ahhh, the hiker life 'aint so bad today in spite of the rain and snow! Later, about a dozen other hikers came in, including Ronin. He told us that WTF got off the trail in Franklin because her knee just couldn't take the strain. She has had the same problem I have, just different knee. My left knee still bothers me but it appears to be gradually getting better. The nearly 3,000' of downhill today from Wesser Bald to the N.O.C. didn't do it much good though.Alpine and I will both take a zero day tomorrow (hike zero miles on yhe AT) and rest our tired dogs. Then we go up the infamous 8-mile ascent and 3,200' climb to the summit of Cheoah Bald. But, that will wait until day after tomorrow. Until then, we rest...
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I took a zero day today, which isn't to say I did nothing. These "days off" are turning out to be rather rushed and busy days and not as relaxing as I had hoped.I ate breakfast at the Riverfront Caf© then went next door to the outfitter and picked up my first mail drop boxes, along with some very good looking lunch bars from a VT bakery sent by mom & dad. Back at my bunkroom I reorganized and repacked the new supplies and made a list of the few items I'd need to get to Fontana Dam. Alpine Strider and I then hitchhiked into Bryson City, about 13 miles away.We went to the grocery store, the Post Office (Pauline, I sent a package to you in Bayfield), and most importantly, the Library. I'd finally found a library that had photo editor software and spent a busy 2 hours re-sizing photos and uploading them to the web. I had no time to add captions or place them in proper order because of the time limit on computer usage, but at least they are now up for folks to see.We then hitched back to the N.O.C. and I did laundry, sent some emails, made a few phone calls and just barely made closing time for dinner. When I got back to my bunkroom at 8.30 I found I had a roomate who was already asleep - so much for getting my pack ready to go tonight! To make matters worse, he had forgotten to turn off his cell phone before he went to bed and it rang a number of times during the night. I didn't get much sleep.Back on the trail again on what looks like a clear and cool day - perfect hiking weather; headed up the 8-mile ascent!
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

I got up after a less than restful sleep and went to breakfast at 7.00. After breakfast I took another shower, likely my last for the next week or 10 days. When I got back from my shower my bunkmate was up and gone so I could finally begin packing up.I was ready to go by 10.30 and had a fresh coat of waterproofing on my boots. After mailing a box home I hit the trail at 11.15; up the famous 8-mile ascent. I caught up with the folks with the pack goats about 2 miles up the trail and took a photo of them trailing along. After a brief stop for lunch along the way I arrived at the Sassafras Gap Shelter at about 3.30. Six and a half miles down, two more to go to the top of Cheoah Bald.Since the day was still young I pressed on to the top of the bald. The 8-mile ascent was tough in places but I found it to generally be pretty well graded on smooth trails and not too bad. From N.O.C. the climb gained about 3,200 feet of elevation.I found it a little amuzing that the sign "Cheoah Bald" was nailed to an old oak tree at the top of the mt. Like most of the "Balds" we've climbed so far, Cheoah really isn't bald either. But, it has great views fron two lookouts. The southeast side of the top appears to have been recently maintained but the top of the "Bald" is completely forested with trees, some of which appear to be 50+ years old.On the north side of the mt there was a very nice view of Fontana Lake in the distance with some of the high ridges of the Smokies just beyond. Snow was visible on some of the distant ridge lines this morning but it appears to have all melted now.I continued on another few miles and ended up tenting in Locust Cove Gap with Alpine Strider and 2 other hikers. This appears to be one of the only water sources for a while in either direction. Hopefully we can make Fontana Dam by Thursday afternoon.Another great day on the AT and another famous stretch of trail passing under my boots! What a great adventure! And next, the high peaks of the Smokies loom in the distance...
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Walker Gap Campsite
Miles today: 14.4

I left camp with Alpine Strider at about 8.15, one of our earliest starts. Ali Baba was still drinking tea and lounging around in no hurry to leave camp. He was planning to take 3 days to hike the same trail we planned to do in a day and a half. He is 61 years old, recently retired, self proclaimed 60-70 lbs over weight, and a former Texas oil man who has worked and lived all over the world. He is a big man with a big personality who slept last night in what appeared to be a very small hammock - though he swears that once he is in it it's very comfortable.The day started with some ups, followed by some steep downs into Stecoah Gap. We met Hurdy Gurdy Man as he was packing up his camp on a narrow hogback ridge just before diving down into the gap and played leapfrog with him the rest of the day. He is a low key and quite pleasant guy from north Jersey in his late 20's who is having knee troubles but seems to be on the mend. He started in early March but has had to take 2 weeks off along the way to rehab his knee.The remainder of the day into Cable Gap Shelter was a constant series of ups and downs along the crest of ridges going from 1 gap to the next. By the time we got to the shelter at 4.45 my feet were sore. It would have been smart to stay there but for some reason we immediately decided to push on to the next campsite.Eagle was at the shelter eating dinner. He is a perennial AT thru-hiker on his 3rd "Yo Yo". He left Springer Mt in early March of '06, summited Katahdin in late September, then immediately turned around and began hiking back south. He summited Springer Mt again in early March of '07. He then turned around and began anothet northbound hike! He said he's a bit tired but would be only the 3rd person to successfully complete 3 back to back "Yo Yo's". He told us that he is 55y years old and recently retired as a gunnery seargant from the Marine Corps.I would have liked to hear a few more stories from Eagle but Alpine, Hurdy Gurdy Man and I pushed on. Not long after we left Cable Gap Shelter it began to rain and kept up until well after dark. We arrived at the Walker Gap campsite about 6.30 where I again managed to cook dinner from inside my tent. I heard and saw Ovenbirds for the first time today.
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Walker Gap Campsite

To: Fontana Dam Visitor Center
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: scattered clouds

After raining most of the night we awoke to mostly clear skies and calm winds. Overnight 2 Barred Owls came in right overhead and carried on with a wide variety of calls for quite some time. They also came back several times during the night in spite of the rain.I left the campsite about 8.45 and it was mostly downhill, steeply at times, 2.5 miles to the marina on Fontana Lake. The trail dropped a total of 1,400 feet down to the lake over sometimes rocky terrain and trails that were still muddy from last night's rain. From there it was another 1.1 miles to the famous Fontana Hilton Shelter over a series of PUDS (pointless ups and downs). This is the largest shelter on the trail and sleeps over 20. It has a great view out over the lake and to the Smokies beyond. From there it was only 0.3 miles along a road to the dam.When we got to the Fontana Dam Visitor Center we found it closed, not open until May 5. There was no cell coverage to call the Hike Inn for our pickup and it turned out none of us was carrying any quarters for the pay phone! So, we waited for some unsuspecting tourist to come along. A while later a retired couple from Rochester, NY drove in and they kindly gave us 50-cents for the local call on the phone. A half hour later Nancy hoch picked us up and took us back to the Hike Inn where we had made reservations to stay the night.After getting checked in we laid out all our wet gear to dry, did laundry, took showers, developed a schedule for the next week of hiking thru the Park, and figured out what food we'd need to buy in town to get us 7 days up the trail to the next resupply. The park requires a schedule of which shelters you will stay at and when, listed on a permit that must be carried with you at all times.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Fontana Dam Visitor Center

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

We left the Hike Inn about 8.15 and were dropped at the Fontana Dam Visitor Center. The lake and dam were completely shrouded in fog. It was pretty neat walking across the top of the narrow dam, not being able to see the bottom of the dam face or the water in the lake, just the narrow ribbon of the top of the dam quickly disappearing into the fog in both directions. By the time we got most of the way across the fog began to lift and we got some nice photos of the dam, lakeshore and surrounding ridgelines coming out of the fog.About 9.30 Alpine Strider, Hurdy Gurdy Man and I started up the AT towards the Shuckstack lookout tower. It was a well graded but continual climb of some 4 miles and 2,000 vertical feet. We quickly left the green spring of the valleys behind and hiked back into the brown of winter.I got to the tower about 11.30 and immediately climbed to the lookout. What a great 360 degree view! Hundreds of ridges, peaks, bumps and knobs stretching in all directions for as far as the eye could see into the proverbial Smoky Mt mists. The very narrow but tall tower is perched precariously on the top of a small knob that drops off steeply on all sides down to Fontana Lake. A large old chimney is all tha remains at the base of the fire warden's cabin. About a dozen other thru-hikers were also enjoying the view but I had only met 2 of them before. Every day I seem to meet new hikers that I have not seen before but that have all started about the same time I did.We all headed north again about 12.30. The trail continued to be well graded and nicely maintained, but climbed continually for a number of miles and gained another 700 vertical feet. We finally topped out at 4,500 feet and wound up and down along a series of high ridgelines. The trees are all rather stunted by the wind. There are nice views thru the tops of leafless trees off the ridge crest in both directions. The forest floor is coming alive in some areas with a carpet of blooming Spring Beauties and Bluets that look like a dusting of new fallen snow.Arrived at Mollies Ridge Shelter about 3.30 and decided to continue another 2.5 miles to Russell Field Shelter, arriving about 6.00. It is full with about 10 people so I have to tent out nearby. It is surprisinly cold in the gusty winds of late day, but the skies are clear and no rain is forecast for the next few days. Ideal weather to enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Russell Fiels Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

I got up about 6.30 and cooked and ate breakfast in the tenting area, about 300 yards behind the shelter on a small knoll. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was singing all around where I was sitting and a tom turkey was gobbling as it walked along the back side of the knoll.I didn't get on the trail unt after 9.00 and was the last of the thru-hikers to leave the shelter. I ended up catching and passing most of them before the day was over. I walked the 3 miles to Spence Field Shelter in less than an hour, but the next mile to the summit of Rocky Top took over an hour. The trail was rocky and steep and passed through a number of small meadows and mt laurel thickets that had to be photographed. The views from the open meadows were very nice.The view from the small summit of Rocky Top was superb! For 360, peaks and ridges all around. To the northeast, Clingman's Dome dominated the distant skyline with about 8 layers of ridges in between to be climbed this afternoon and tomorrow morning. To the southwest, the Shuckstack tower and Fontana Lake and Dam could also be seen. Far below to the northwest were the green fields of Cades Cove.We'd been warned that today would be rocky, steep and rough, and they were right. It was a long and fairly rough 5 mile walk along the ridges and gaps to Derrick Knob Shelter with lots of ups and downs. I got pretty dry along the way and went to the shelter spring to fill up my water containers. While I was filtering water a Solitary Vireo landed at the spring just a few feet from me and took a number of quick drinks. It then hung around on several low perches offering wonderful close views of a fresh bird in bright spring plumage.The next 5+ miles to Silers Bald Shelter was over more graded and less rocky trail but was basically climbing most of the way. At one point I passed what appeared to be an old American Chestnut stump that had a small tree growing out of the top, its roots draped across the top of the stump and down its sides.The views today were some of the best on the trip so far. It's no wonder this is the most heavily visited National Park in the country!
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

What an exceptional day for the Smoky Mts! Clear blue sky and excellent visibility, one of those memorable mountain days that aren't soon forgotten.I got on the trail about 8.15 and had a quick walk to Double Spring Shelter which was empty so I left a note in the shelter register for Thumper, Flax Seed and Tortuga and headed on up the mountain.It was a nearly continuous but generally mellow climb up to the top of Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 feet this is the highest point on the entire AT. We have been joking about the fact that it must be all downhill from here to Mt Katahdin in Maine.The sky was a clear blue, visibility very good, and light winds allowing the smell of the Fraser Firs to linger in the air. It looked and smelled like one of those wonderful Vermont mountain days that I knew so well from Camels Hump and Mt Mansfield.At the top of Clingmans Dome is a concrete tower with a circular concrete ramp that carries people above the forest canopy for a 360 view of several states and some of the highest mountains in the eastern U.S. Nearby Mt LeConte was very nice and I could see Mt Mitchell in the far distance. Someone said that the smog line on the horizon was Atlanta. A number of folks commented about how unusual this clear weather was for the Smokies at this time of year so we really hit the weather right.I hiked most of the roughly 4 miles down to Mt Collins Shelter with Tree Work, where we stopped for lunch. He is a thru-hiker in his mid 20's who earns a living as a ground man for a tree company in Richmond, VA. He got really excited by all the big spruce blowdowns and 15 foot tall root fans that we saw between Clingmans Dome and Newfound Gap. He has nasty blisters on both feet from doing too many miles day before yesterday so he's going to hitch into Gatlinburg for a layover day.We got to Indian Gap about 3.00 and found Trail Magic in the form of two '06 thru-hikers handing out drinks and food from the bck of their car! What a trail! I got to Newfound Gap and managed to reach Brenda on the phone and sent a few emails. Back on the trail again by 5.30 in a line of 7 thru-hikers all heading for the same destination, an already full Icewater Spring Shelter. So, I tented around the shelter again. My streak still holds; 206 trail miles and I haven't actually slept inside a shelter yet! This is aa very nice stone shelter and the first one in the Smokies with a view.I know I said this yesterday, but this had to the best day of the trip so far!
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Another superb mountain day with clear skies and excellent visibility. The smell of spruce-fir forest hangs strong in the air everywhere and is wonderful. Today we passed the 220 mile mark, one tenth of the trail is now behind us!Only 0.8 miles beyond the shelter is Charlie's Bunyon. It is a rock pinnacle perched on the top of a narrow spine of a ridge overlooking a deep wide canyon with Mt LeConte in the background. A beautiful setting with expansive views across many ridges to Gatlinburg in the valley far below. Alpine Strider, me, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Sven & Uff-da spent nearly an hour soaking in the view and the sun on top of the rocks.Just before leaving I heard a loud Swooshhh go by and saw an adult Peregine Falcon flash by very close in full stoop chasing a swallow. It missed the swallow then soared off into the big air over the expansive deep canyon, finally disappearing off toward Mt LeConte. This was the best bird of the trip so far.We finally left about 11.30 and got back on the trail. It was interesting that a number of us were saying "we only have to walk 12 miles to the next shelter so we can spend extra time at Charlie's Bunyon", when a few weeks ago we would have gotten up early to be able to walk 12 miles before dark.The trail along the Sawteeth and Bradley's View was often on the top of a very narrow hogback that wasn't much wider than the trail and dropped off nearly vertically on both sides with wonderful views in both directions.We made the 7.4 miles to the Peck's Corner Shelter trail junction by 2.30 but no one wanted to walk the extra 0.4 miles down to the shelter spring for water. I hoped I'd find another spring in the 5.2 miles to the next shelter, which didn't happen and I ran out of water along the way. The Tri-Corner Knob Shelter was very full (about 30) and lots of tents in the very small available space outside.Another superb mountain day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!