morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Left the Smokies today after a long downhill off of the ridgeline. Last night was very windy, but the shelter was on the leeward side of the ridge and it was calm there, even though we could see and hear the wind roaring 100' higher over the ridge.   Cleared by morning and sun and light wind was the weather of the day. I stopped at a switchback with a rock outcropping on the way down and sat for a while taking some photos. The view was great, looking over the last of the mountains and into the valley. I looked at my watch and said to myself, "It's 9:00 in the morning on a Monday, and I can think of no other place that I'd rather be right now". While I sat grooving on the good feelings, JimDog caught up and we hiked most of the day together. Some beautiful waterfalls after leaving the park, looked like great swimming if it weren't still so chilly and the water wasn't snowmelt! Crossed the Pigeon River and watched some whitewater rafters running the river from the overpass. When we got to the othe side, a car pulled up and the driver asked us if we were thru hiking. When we said yes, he pulled the car around and pulled over on the shoulder, and pulled tow coolers out of his trunk, one loaded with Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback, and one full of PBR and Miller Light. The guy was Timon (a la Lion King) and he had thru hiked last year, and was out doing some trail magic. JimDog had some soda and left, but I ended up sitting with the guy for near an hour just talking relaxing, as we were only 2 miles from the hostel and it was barely noon. When I finally left, I crossed under I-40 and began the last climb over a little hump between there and the hostel. As soon as I got up into the trees, there was a cooler with more soda and 40oz bottles of Colt 45 sitting there too. Double magic on one intersection! I took a soda, declining the 40oz.The hostel is a cool place, kind of a rustic backwoods place, but with everything the thru hiker needs, including shower, laundry (albeit a washboard in a tub) and a small resupply store with all the trail essentials for decent prices. Now, I do need to make one confession here; I'm writing this down the next evening, as I skipped journaling for the night. Someone managed to procure several quart mason jars of some high-test homemade moonshine, which is an evil, vile drink that should be consumed by nobody. Except of course when it is peach moonshine, and it is mixed with half-and-half (Lemonaide and Iced Tea, not dairy product). Then it is magically transformed into a fabulous libation for the good of all, causing a raucous poker game lasting well into the morning. The trail is a hard, hard place.
Date: 2011-04-05
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

I got a great start to my day today, albeit a late one. Breakfast was half a pound of bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese and hot sauce, and the last of the 'shine. Normally I would not drink moonshine for breakfast, but I didn't have an empty bottle to put it in, and wasn't going to carry a quart size mason jar on the trail. Just common sense, really.Hit the trail about 10:40 after a night of thunderstorms and heavy rain. The radio did give tornado warnings last night, but none for the county we are in. Glad I had decided to time it to be at the hostel. Hiking was fantastic today, and I made great time up some big hills, managing to do both my longest day mileage wise, as well as the most vertical elevation gain in a day; about 4500'. Stopped for snacks at Groundhog Creek Shelter and left hiking with Matlock, a German pharmacist here for four weeks on vacation. Ended up having some great conversations while hiking. Always interesting to hear pespective on US politics from someone in another country. Startd the day climbing Snowbird Mt, which lived up to it's namesake, as apparantly the ran had been partially snow at high elevation, and the ground had a good inch of snow on it. I didn't get any photos there unfortunately, as my camera was stowed for rain. Did some up and down ridgewalking until finally reaching Max Patch Bald, the first 360* view form a mountain on the trail, and possibly one of the best views. the wind was hellacious, so not too much time was spent up top, but I did stop long enough to take some pictures and video.Hiking even stronger, and even with the late start made the shelter by 6:00. tomorrow will probably be another 15 mile day to the shelter just before Hot Springs. Bundled up in my sleeping bag with all my warm clothes on, as the temps never got above 40* today, and I'm told may be in the 20's tonight. I decided to sleep in my tent as well, even though I'm at a shelter because popular belief is that sleeping in a tent adds about 10* of warmth. I hope 'everyone' is right on this one.
Date: 2011-04-06
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn Hostel, Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

It was indeed a cold night last night, a little ice in the water bottle this morning. I was decently warm though, only waking up cold once at about 3:30, and after doing some brief muscle excercises in my bag for 10 minutes I was warm enough to go back to sleep for the rest of the night.Got hiking about 8:40 this morning, planning a big day. I thought about it last night, and decided that I'm out here for enjoyment, and the hostel is supposed to be one of the nicer ones on the trail, so pushing all the way. The day was not a difficult one climbing wise, only about 2500' combined climbing, but doing my longest day on the heels of my previous longest day and biggest climbing day made the hiking on the harder side. I did take a couple good breaks, including a 20 minute shoes off rest at the 15 mile mark. Still hiked fast enough that I made town by 4:30, average speed of 2.3 mph including breaks.No major scenery, but the descent down Bluff Mt. was the prettiest part of the day because of the multiple springs and lack of undergrowth in the hardwood forest.The hostel was fantastic, it had a huge amount of books with each bookcase dedicated to a specific subject like Zen Buddhism or environmental activism. I got my own room with a woodstove (too hot to use it though) and a balcony, the hostel itself is a mansion built in 1840. When I got into town I didn't get any of my stuff done, I just went to the diner across the street for dinner with JimDog, and EnZed, HI-5, Lego and Redwood showed up. Lego and Redwood are from Spencer, NY where I have a good friend; small world! It will be a slwo staart tomorrow, still have to do shopping and laundry. Curling up in bed with a stack of books.
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn Hostel, Hot Springs NC

To: Rich Mountain Lookout Tower
Miles today: 8.7

Super late start on the trail today ofter procrastinating all day in town. Had a fantastic breakfast family style at the hostel, then packed up and hit town by about 10:00. Did my laundry at the laudromat and shopped at the Dollar General, resupplied for less that $10! Went to the other diner at the campground on the way out of town, and ate with JimDog, Hot Sauce (formerly Tyler, Stretch, Shitty Beard, and Big Bird) and another who I didn't write down; I think it was Grasshopper.Hit the trail itself at 3:00, and quickly got passed by Bean and JB, and I ended up riding their wake for a while in the very hot, humid weather. Saw many lizards today on the trail, got good pictures of one who just sat on a stick and posed for me.We did 8.7 miles to the Rich Mountain side trail, where there is a big lookout tower. JB and Bean were sleeping in the tower itself, but due to wind and clouds and lightning paranoia, I set up tent a few hundred yards down at a campsite. Good day overall, wish it wasn't so damn hot. It's going to be a long summer, I think.
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Rich Mountain Lookout Tower

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up early to watch the sunrise from the tower. No storms last night, but it was very windy and I'm glad I didn't stay up on the tower. The sunrise wasn't that good because of clouds, but got a couple of photos. Planned on a 13 mile day today, and got an early start, leaving before JB and Bean. They did catch up to me at Spring Mountain Shelter when I stopped for a privy break. Met another hiker there going by U-Haul, who apparantly started sometime in February, and is only hiking a few miles a day. My guess is that it may have something to do with the size of his pack. (Also how he got his name). His food bag alone was about the size of my whole pack. But he is hiking every day and still has a great attitude, so more power to him.That 13 mile day never happened as we got a little sidetracked when we arrived at NC 208/TN 70 crossing and found a flyer taped to a post stating "Trail Magic...4/8 and 4/9..Belgian Waffles...East 350 yards!" It actually said a lot more than that, but we saw "food" and "east" and booked it down the road. After we got a good half mile and saw nothing but abandoned and ramshackle trailer homes with no sign of anything, we realized that perhaps we should have read the rest of the flyer. As we turned back for the trail, we heard a voice from the top of a long driveway that we had gone past yelling "Hey, hikers!"   We went up the big driveway to find Deuce and Ibex there already at a big new looking log home, with a car in the driveway with the plates "THRUHIKD". We knew we were in the right place!We were invited inside the home of Hercules and Fal (AT '99), where we were treated to a surreal three course meal at their dining room table. It started with a drink menu (Yes, I said menu). When Bean asked for Root Beer, Hercules asked if he wanted ice cream in that. it only got better, with fresh Belgian waffles, choice of stew or vegetarian chili, then a selection of desserts that blows the mind. All sorts of ice cream sundaes, floats, brownie sundaes, and more. I had fresh baked bread pudding with ice cream on top. The meal was huge, filling, and delicious. The five of us (Deuce and Ibex as well now) made our way back to the trail, where we promptly collapsed into food coma instead of tackling the 2500'+ climb out of the gap. We did eventually get going, but the miles were slow in coming, and I fell short of my goal. Totally worth it though.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Rector Laurel Road campsite
Miles today: 15.9

Good night last night, clear skies and a good fire in the fire pit. This morning was cloudy and ominous though and I had my gear stowd for rain and my pack cover on all day. Even with the clouds, it was till hot and humid, and was the third day with sweat pouring off of me. After climbing Firescald Knob, I had to decide whether to take the white-blazed AT over the ridge, or the blue-blazed "Bad Weather Route". Firescald is an exposed knifes-edge ridge for 1.5 miles, a bad place to be in nasty weather. Though it was overcast, I did decide to take the AT route over the ridge. I'm glad I did, becuase the weather held and there were some nice views from the ridge.I have been noticing the first signs of spring around my for a few days now, but today was especially nice. Birds singing all over, most I couldn't identify, but did get a good view of Eastern Towhee singing and displaying just off the trail. My favorite sign of spring os far has been the carpet of Trillium that covers the ridges. They are not real noticable at first because of their small size, but when you take a good look you realize that they are everywhere, and the smell is amazing.I had planned on a 15-20 mile day today, but as usual my plans did not match up with reality. Well I suppose they kind of did, as 15.9 is within that range, but is not the 21.5 mile day that I decided I would do when I stopped at Flint Mt. shelter for a break.   I stopped again at NC 212 road crossing to cook dinner so I wouldn't have to do it late if I got to the shelter after dark, but as I finished up putting everything away, the clouds began grumbling with thunder, and I second guessed climbing up several thousand feet to another ridge with storms rolling it. A quick look at my book showed a stream and flat area about a mile ahead, and I double timed it there. I found a campsite already there just off of the road crossing next to a stream, in a nice protected area with mountains on all sides. I set up camp, and 10 minutes later Bean showed up and set up his tarp. Not 10 minutes later the rain began, and thunder and lightning with it. We could see a nasty looking storm blowing south of us where we had come from, and hoped everyone there was OK. The rain came in waves, and at one point we had about 60 seconds of pea sized hail, but no major wind in our nice valley.Planning a 15.7 mile day tomorrow to Blad Mountain Shelter, we'll see if that works out, unlike all my other plans...
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Rector Laurel Road campsite

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

Well, the storms last night kept of for a couple more hours on and off, but never got real bad. Could hear a couple of close strikes up the mountain though. JB never showed up last night though, so we took our time packing up in the morning to see if he would be along. He did show up finally, and quickly asked us if we were alright. We confirmed that indeed we were just fine, and he wondered how the hell that could be because he stayed at the last shelter about 3 miles or so back, and they had BASEBALL SIZED HAIL. I started to think BS, but he said that Deuce and Ibex were there too, and they took pictures and were coming up behind him. As Bean and I finished packing, they indeed did come up and showed us the pictures. Holy crap, I'm glad the storm tracked the way it did, because my tent and Bean's tarp would not have survived 10 seconds of hail this size. Unreal.Got started hiking around 10:00, and it was a hard day, climbing most of the day. Stopped at Hogback Ridge shelter for a break about 1:15, and found a sign stating that there would be trail magic 2.4 miles ahead with hot food until 2:30. Crap. Moved really fast, but had to go 0.2 miles down a blue blaze for water and back again, and it was 1:30 by the time I got moving again. Practically ran down the trail, and made it to the gap at 2:15 to find Quiet Paul (past AT thru-hiker) cooking eggs, hash browns and sausage with a cooler of orange juice and soda. He made me a huge plate of food, and I happily ate it up. I had been concerned that I might not have enough food to make the next resupply, but after that meal I was set. I didn't eat any snacks for the rest of the day, and dinner was a single package of peanut butter crackers.Kept climbing slowly in oppressive heat and no wind, until reaching the summit of Big Bald at about 7:00 to what I think has been the best view of the entire hike so far. I stayed for over an hour and watched a brilliant sunset, taking many pictures. I hiked the last 1.4 miles to the shelter in near dark, arriving to find a big fire burning and a group of section hikers along with some thru hikers as well. What a finish to day 31, a full month out!
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Started down the trail today at 8:40 towards Erwin, TN with the day being just a 'wait and see where I end up' day, either I make it to Erwin and stay at the hostel tonight, or I camp shy of town and head in tomorrow. Another hot, humid day, and a few years in MN have definitely removed any heat conditioning I had. My Aqua Mira water treatment drops, which are two dropper bottles that you mix some of each together to purify water, apparently one of the two bottles leaked and I ran completely out yesterday. I brought some Aqua Mira tablets to purify water as a backup and am using them now, but they won't last more than a day and a half in this hot weather. Luckily, Uncle Johnny's has some outfitter supplies too, and I should be able to pick something up. Stopped at No Business Knob shelter to cook dinner, complete with summer sausage and olive oil because I really needed the energy boost in the hot weather. Looking in the shelter register, I realize that I am beginning to catch up to some people whose entries I've been reading for weeks ahead of me. Feels good!Did make it down to the hostel at about 4:30 hot, thirsty and dripping sweat with empty water bottles. The first thing I did was pound a liter of cold Gatorade from the store, then got a bunk for the night. Unfortunately, Johnny's was out of the Aqua Mira drops, but I was able to buy another packet of 24 tablets, which should get me far enough along to get some drops shipped ahead to pick up. The reason I prefer the drops is that a package of 24 tablets, which treats 24 liters, costs about the same as two 1 oz bottles of drops, which treat 120 liters. Just a little difference, no?I ordered the drops online, and had them shipped ahead to Hampton, TN to a grocery store that I was planning on resupplying at and that accepts hiker packages. the only problem is that the store isn't open on Sundays, and my plan has me arriving on Sunday. I'll either have to speed up to make a day up, or slow down. Obviously I'd prefer to speed up, but don't know if that's possible.EnZed and Hi-5 are here, as well as a group of hikers that I was almost a week behind not too long ago. Also, Peregrine and Comanche are apparently in town too.Took the dinner shuttle to Mexican food with Rocket, Spaceman and JB to get some giant servings of tasty meat and beer, then resupply at Dollar General. Going to take the breakfast shuttle in the morning, then a 12 mile day to a campsite, and a 12 mile day to Greasy Creek Friendly (a hostel) to pick up a drop box from home.
Date: 2011-04-12
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Unaka Mountain campsite
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Well, things actually went how I planned them today; sort of. I got all packed up and took the breakfast shuttle into town to JD's place, a gas station convenience store with a tiny diner counter in the back that serves huge portions for dirt cheap prices. I got a massive biscuits and sausage gravy platter for less that $2.00 that I couldn't finish it was so big. Also, I was the only person on the breakfast shuttle, so I ate breakfast alone. Oh well.Hit trail at 10:40, hoping to do a 16.4 mile day to a shelter. Storms came through last night and the rain continued today. Wouldn't have been too bad, but the wind in the mountains picked up through the day, and the temperature dropped. Crossed an exposed bald named "Beauty Spot" in early afternoon... The biggest goddamn misnomer of a place I've ever f@#king heard. I'm sure it had nice views sometime, but with 0 visibility, 40 mph straight-line winds blowing sleet sideways across the bald it was miserable. I managed to hike another half mile before I realized that I needed to stop because of not only how cold and wet I was, but the realization that I had another 1000' of elevation to climb and descend over Unaka Mountain before reaching the shelter, and if it was sleeting here, it was probably a blizzard on the mountain. The actual designated campsite was full of a college group huddled under tarps, and I really didn't want to camp there anyhow, because it was on the windward side of the ridge. I managed to find a somewhat level spot a little further up on the leeward side, and pitched tent. The process of setting up camp and changing clothes in a storm like that is a lengthy, multi-stage process necessary to keep my warm clothes and the inside of the tent dry. With numb fingers, it becomes quite a challenge.   I did it though, and hunkered down for the night, actually warm and dry. The sleet continues, and is actually accumulating now. Made the right choice in not going further.   So I still did the 12 miles I planned yesterday, just not the 16+ I thought about this morning.
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The early start I hoped for didn't happen, woke up at 6:30 in the unheated bunkhouse to find it too cold to get up (not that I need much excuse to stay in the bag longer), so I slept for another hour. Went into the main house from the bunkhouse, where CeeCee offered to make me a free breakfast. Usually she charges for prepared meals and has a selection of other foods to buy, but maybe she still is apologizing for making me wait. I almost said no because I needed to start eating the food that I was still carrying, which I knew was too much, but couldn't pass up a hot meal of eggs, toast with jelly and tea. Headed up towards the trail at 8:35, got on the trail at 8:50. (The hostel is 0.6 miles down a forest road from the trail. Also it's downhill nearly 400'.) The weight of a freshly resupplied bag was heavy on my shoulders and back through the day, which consisted of a large amount of climbing, about 3800' including going over Roan High Knob, which has the highest shelter on the trail at the top at 6285'. I did get a rhythm going while walking though, and the day passed fairly easily. Overmountain Shelter is one of the largest shelters on the trail, as it is a converted barn that says it sleeps 20, but in reality could sleep 40. There were relatively few thru hikers there though, just Grandpa, Downhill and his friend, an another I can't remember. There was a family that has been doing section hikes for years, and has made it from Springer to here that was there as well, but relatively empty house. Grandpa is a trip to hike with. If there is a "right way" to backpack, Grandpa does it all "wrong". In his 60s I'd guess, he hikes with an old school backpack in jeans and a cotton sweatshirt, with no tent and a child's sleeping bag that comes up to about his belly button. He cooks dinners of rice and salad dressing every night in an old tin can in the campfire, because he doesn't have a stove. He hikes slow, but does consistent big days by hiking from early morning to a shelter, usually arrived after dark. He takes frequent breaks, but only so he can smoke. But you know what, he's out here hiking every day and having a good time, and that's more than can be said for most people in the world, and even on the trail. I bet he's the only one of us that finishes.18 mile day on the menu for tomorrow, with rain supposed to arrive in the afternoon or evening, so another try at an early morning and fast day. Rain supposed to be all day Saturday, but should make Kincora Hostel that afternoon to get warm and dry.
Date: 2011-04-16
From: Vango & Abby's Memorial Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 12.6

Rain started last night and continued through most of the AM, but looking at radar online it looks like it will be gone by noon, so everything is packed up and planning on a late start with a fast hike. Don't much care for hiking in the rain, and have managed to avoid it for most of the trip so far, might as well keep it up. I do have a deadline to get there though. The Aqua Mira I ordered is going to Brown's Grocery in the town of Hampton, but the hostel is just off the trail. The store closes at 6:00, and is closed on Sunday (tomorrow). Sooo... I need to do at least 2.5 mph to get there with hopefully enough time to find a ride to town. That isn't a hard speed to do, but I didn't know if I would be sore after the big day yesterday.My legs were quite tired but luckily I was able to hike with The Colonel, Sky and Stretch for the day. We made it to the road just before 5:00, and were at the hostel just after. Unfortunately, a guy came out and said that the town shuttle just left with everyone to go and shop and get dinner. I though "crap, now I have to zero just for the Aqua Mira," but the guy said that "Well, I can take you." he gave us a ride to town where I got my package at 5:30, then went to the Mexican Restaurant for dinner. Turned out that most of the people I'd been meeting or staying with on the trail for the last several days were at the hostel too that night. Ended up having a really fun night hanging out before finally going to bed. Things working out!