morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

After the big day yesterday, I decided to take it easy today and stop 3 miles short of Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the A.T. Better if I do the difficult climbs at the beginning rather than at the end of the day. If I get up early enough, I¢ll hike by headlamp and be on top of Clingman¢s for the sunrise tomorrow morning.Crossed over Silers Bald today with a perfect view of Clingman¢s. Trail had areas that were muddy and snow covered but only in a few spots.There¢s two deer that keep walking around the perimeter of camp. Lively discussion with the shelter mates (11 of us) about how we¢d catch, kill and cook one. The idea of venison steaks is making everyone¢s mouths water, but no one¢s willing to do the kill.Lodestone and Itrod were here. Also met Beefstick and Sherlock. Sherlock is from the midlands in England. He¢s going into Gatlinburg tomorrow. On behalf of all Americans, I apologized in advance for its tourist tacky atmosphere. And to make things really fun, Johnnie Walker is here tonight too.
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Did not get up early enough to make it to Clingman¢s for the sunrise. Two people left about 4:30 am to do that but as I was to find out, they didn¢t make it either.The trail progressively climbed higher and higher. My breathing became more labored and the snow became deeper, 36¢ in places. The going was painfully slow. It took me 3 hours to go the 3 miles to Clingman¢s.Once there, I climbed the observation tower and had a 360 degree view of the Smokey Mountains. What a sight! Here I am on the highest mountain and can see the folds and creases of every shade of blue mountain dancing off into the distance. In this world made small by fast transportation and communication, the vastness and sheer size of this mountain range sings to my very soul.At times I feel like I¢m making such slow progress but then I look at a distant mountain that I limbed yesterday, an even more distant one that I was on two days ago, and there shimmering in the haze of distance is the one I conquered only three days ago. One¢s sense of distance is totally rearranged when one is walking.Many thru-hikers have chosen to skip the Smokey Mountains now and come back to them later. Now I know why. The hike down Clingman¢s, and then up Collins was a slip and slide at best and a crash and burn at worst. Hiking poles were almost useless as they would just go down deep into the snow most of the time. You never knew when your next step on top of snow would result in a crotch deep post hole that would take several minutes to extricate yourself from or a sudden side slip that would send you careening uncontrolled down the trail trying to stay upright and not hit a tree or slide off the side of a mountain. Other places were ankle deep ice water from the snow melt and no other path to take so got my feet soaking wet for the first time this trip.I fell 17 times, most just slips and sit-downs. Two of them were serious but I somehow came away unscathed. One fall, however, made me cry. It was a simple sideways slip but then I lost my footing with my other foot, poles were both useless and I fell sideways into a stream of snow melt with my one arm pinned under me by my hiking pole I had to unclip my backpack with my free hand and take it off in order to extricate myself from the water.I sat in the snow at the side of the stream and cried. This is so hard! Only lost it for a minute or two but then determination won out and I slogged on.It took 6 hours to hike 6.3 miles today. I¢m really anxious to start clocking some serious miles but until I get below 5,000 feet, I¢m going to have to deal with this snow so it will be probably 3-4 more days before I get down to lower elevations.Made it to the next shelter, got water, had a hot cup of tea and a bischotti (thank you Glynis) and a hot dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes and broccoli, changed into my dry sleeping clothes and am in my sleeping bag writing this, toasty warm and happy in spite of the tough day.7:30 pm ¢ half hour past hiker midnight ¢ goodnight all.
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Had about a two mile slog thru the snow before getting onto the south side of the mountain, met Take This Bread and Erin Fuller, AKA On The Loose. Felt so good to hit dry trail and stretch the legs in a fast-paced walk.Ran into trail magic on the trail just before hitting Newfound Gap by two ¢09 female hikers and their mom. Had an apple, two cheese rounds and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Really tasted good.Got pointed at by a holiday weekend tourist as if I was the tourist attraction. They said, ¢Look! There¢s another one walking the AT.¢Hiked up 1,000 feet to the next shelter. Clear trail for 2 miles but then hit snow again. Fell 11 times today, nothing serious. Will be so glad to get out of the snow but that won¢t happen for another 3 days. Hoping to do 12 miles tomorrow but it all depends on the snow.Met Swift, a 2009 thru-hiker and also caught up to Q-Tip, Trinket, Slackimus Maximus, and the tall blond basketball guy, Hightower.
Date: 2010-04-04
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

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

Woke up early and was the first out of camp at 7:30 am. Took a .1 mile side trail to see Charlie¢s Bunion which is a dramatic rock formation and follows a cliff-line on a very narrow path with almost sheer drops on the side. Only problem was that about a quarter mile of the trail was snow covered so it became very important to carefully place each footstep.Back on the AT, about 30% of the trail was snow covered with about 50% of that deep snow (over 3¢). Quite a few times I found myself on a 6¢ wide path of compacted snow that¢s still very deep on the side of a mountain with not too much to stop me if the snow didn¢t hold my weight. Very nerve wracking, but thrilling too. And the views! The northern-half of the Smokies is rugged and spectacular. Many times I was walking a 4¢ wide ridgeline with drop offs on both sides crossing over from one mountain to the next.Had three steep climbs today, two of them about 500¢ and one of them 1,000¢. Two of them over 6,000¢ elevation and I was able to climb all three non-stop. I think spending the last three days at this elevation acclimated me.Shelter is 12 full. Only one other woman in here and about 10 or so people tenting. It¢s 8:30 pm and almost everyone is asleep, so goodnight.
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had more snow to slog through this morning for a couple of hours, but finally got beneath it. The forest here is older, much more primitive. There are big old trees, and the forest is very dark sometimes not being able to discern anything further than 30 feet.Once out of the snow, the trail became easier to negotiate. Saw the devastation of a rock-slide or perhaps it had been an avalanche; everything in its path had been uprooted and sent tumbling down the mountainside. It was like a giant scar on the mountain.Saw the first blooming wild flowers - little white star-shaped blooms called spring beauty. Also saw the remains of a plane crash. Rather sobering seeing it strewn through the woods.Decided to do shorter miles today as my left knee is hurting a bit from all the slips and falls on the snow (only 1 fall today, a sit down in the snow) and also because with wet shoes and socks, my feet were very soft and too prone for blisters if I were to do big miles. So I pulled into the next shelter and dried out my shoes in the hot sun.People at the shelter included 3 high school kids and their very young looking coach. They¢re locals and are on the wrestling team. Q-Tip, Trinket and Swift are all tenting. I joined them for a while by their campfire before turning in and Swift read some of his poetry. His poems made me cry, made me smile and made me laugh out loud. He¢s very talented.Also here were Sherlock (from England), Donner, On The Loose (Erin Fuller), ITROD, Duffus, Red Hat and a few more.One bit of shelter humor as everyone was getting ready to turn in for the night at the shelter. One of the hikers was on the upper deck and two latecomers took the space below him. The upper deck hiker said if he slept on his stomach he peed the bed and if he slept on his back he snored. There was a big laugh from everyone when I told him we didn¢t want to know what happened if he slept on his side.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Green Corner Road (Standing Bear Hostel)

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh my, what a lazy day. Woke up late, fumbled around for my coffee, and had huge breakfast with Hightower. I had three eggs, 1/2 pound of bacon and two bagels. He had six eggs, four bagels and the other 1/2 pound of bacon. The hunger simply gnaws at you and even with the big breakfast I knew it was at bay for only a few short hours. I took another shower, fretted about taking a zero and finally about 10:30 am decided to get a move on.It¢s like my feet were caught in the quicksand of comfort and ease. Finally made it out at 11:00 am for a 4 mile climb out of the gap. Temps were in the mid to upper 80¢s so it was a long, sweaty climb. So much for the shower and clean clothes. We finally got a breeze near the top that was very cooling and also kept the irritating gnats at bay.To my surprise, the top of the mountain was a bald so Trinket and I just laid back in the grass and rested for about 90 minutes.He decided to stay, camp, and wait for his brother. I pushed on another 3 miles to the next shelter and decided to tent rather than deal with the bugs. The trees became perceptively older and bigger.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: moderate rain

Slept well in my tent. Appreciated the privacy of being able to change my clothes other than in the privy or in the woods after dark. Also liked the privacy to read and journal and not have to worry about waking anyone else up with my tossing and turning.It started to rain 30 minutes out of camp so I stopped and put my rain gear on myself and the pack cover on my backpack.First, however, I washed my face with rainwater. I was still sticky with sweat from yesterday. It felt so good, off came the shirt and then the pants and showered in the rain. The contrast from dirty to clean; from heat to chill; from thirst to satiation - everything is contrast and balance out here.Crossed Max Patch which is a huge bald. A bald is a rounded mountaintop with no trees, just grass. It was raining and the mountain fog for which the Smokies were named was dancing in the breeze. Dramatic weather, dramatic landscape. Definitely a place I want to come back to post AT and have a picnic, fly a kite, take a nap, and watch the sun set. Got a space at the shelter and going to sleep early, as the temperature is dropping and my toasty sleeping bag is calling.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

Gorgeous cool day. First 5 miles were mostly flat and I felt like I was flying. Stopped for three lunches today and just let the miles roll by. It's so hard to estimate how far you've travelled because the terrain keeps changing and so does your pace. Fell two times today. Once on slippery mud by the shelter in the morning. The second time was while climbing over in extremely large tree that had blown down and was blocking the path. I lost my footing and slid about 10 feet down the hill on my butt.Stopped at the shelter just 3 miles outside of Hot Springs. Will go in first thing in the morning for breakfast (I have a bacon craving) and to pick up my mail drop before the post office closes at 10:30 am.Had my biggest mileage day so far, 15.6 miles. Also took my first Ibuprofin since I started the trail. Going into town the next day pushes one's feet.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 6:00 am and on the trail at 6:45. The beckoning call of town is like a magnetic pull. Saw two graves about 25' from the trail shortly after I left the shelter. One tombstone was so old the writing on it was indecipherable, the other one was buried in 1968. I wonder what the story is and why they were laid to rest there.Watched the sun come up over the mountains as I was hiking - always a joyful sight, and had a pleasant 3 mile hike down the mountain to town where a huge breakfast awaited me.Saw a lot of hikers that I've been seeing off and on for the past week or so: Hyway, Rafie (from Puerto Rico), Trinket, Brisket, Duffus, Chef and Pixie, On The Loose, Tornado (who I dropped off in Knoxville from Fontana), Cotton and Holy Smoke, Seminole's husband (who is running as ground crew as his wife hikes), and Friar Tuck and Tango.Friar Tuck had his backpack taken from next to his tent by a bear at a shelter I was at about 5 days ago. He had already hung his food on the bear cables but there may have been residual food odors on his pack that drew the bear. No one at that shelter slept very well that night. In the morning everyone in camp went searching for his pack but never found it. When I saw him in town today he had just replaced his missing gear at the outfitters.I stayed at Elmer Hall's Sunnybank Inn, a white Victorian house with character and a fascinating eclectic collection of antiques. Had a fantastic gourmet vegetarian dinner for $10 that was delicious.Got all my town chores done so will check out in the morning, have another great breakfast at the diner and hit the trail. I'm shooting to hit Erwin, TN in 6-7 days. It's about 68 miles from here. The timing always depends on the trail, the weather and the feet. But that's the plan.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Stealth Camp near Rich Mountain
Miles today: 8.0

Resupply towns have a love/hate relationship with a thru-hiker. You love them for the town food, showers, clean clothes and new supply of trail food. You hate them because you always spend more money than you think you will, it's hard to not get sucked into the quicksand of town, and when you do leave, it's always uphill with a heavy pack.But I successfully left Hot Springs today and hit the trail. Had the unique experience of going over a highway overpass. It was almost hypnotic watching the vehicles speeding by below me. By contrast, things are much slower in the mountains. It was a jarring reminder of civilization. Walked by a pond that was spring fed but man-made by a concrete wall placed between two hillsides. It was very pleasant just sitting in the quiet, still sunlight with the reflection of the forest.Found a nice place to camp near the top of Rich Mountain about 3 miles short of the shelter and decided to stop for the night. My feet are hurting a bit and I simiply feel tired, so a stealth camp it will be.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Stealth Camp near Rich Mountain

To: Log Cabin Road
Miles today: 8.3

First night camping alone in the woods. Hung my food about 100 feet away just in case any bears came around. None did. I tried to stay awake until the sun set but couldn't do it. I was in snooze land by 7:30.Slept until 6:30, broke camp and decided to hike the 3.5 miles to the next shelter to have breakfast as I was out of water. Fortunately, found a water source about a mile up the trail so had drinking water. It was a hot morning with the usual mountains to climb. It took little over 2 hours to get there. Got more water at the shelter and had oatmeal with apples and cinnamon, orange juice and coffee.Yo-yoed on the trail with Hyway, Tin-Tin, Fredo and Krazy Karl.As I continued on, my heels started to hurt more and more. It's like the bottoms of my heels are bruised so each step is painful. Karl mentioned it might be an Achilles tendon problem. I've been compensating with my gait so now my knees, especially my left one is hurting too.Made the decision to hike to the Hemlock Hollow Hostel for the night, take some Ibuprofin, soak my knees and feet in the cool running stream right outside the bunkhouse and stay put for a day - so no hiking tomorrow.Going to curl up with a cup of tea and read a Robert Ludlam book that somehow I missed.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Log Cabin Road

To: Log Cabin Road
Miles today: 0.0

Still at Hemlock Hollow Hostel taking a zero. A day of leisure, reading, eating, visiting with hikers who stopped in for ice cream and a snack, read some more, ate some more, and stayed off my feet as much as possible. They feel much better for the effort.Will check out and get a free shuttle back to the trailhead about 8:00 am tomorrow morning.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Log Cabin Road

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Dreamed I was hiking all night and woke up exhausted. Then I got to do it for real. Long, long uphill but not too steep. Just kept on chugging, chugging up. Stopped for water at a really nice spring and a deer walked up not 20' from me to take a drink. They must not be hunted here. They seem to have no fear of people. As I was walking, I realized I didn't hear one bird singing. The forest was preternaturally quiet which was actually kind of spooky. Was there a big predator nearby? Was an earthquake imminent? Went for a few miles and finally heard some birdsong. The stretch of silence though, was noticeably odd. Took the trail up and over Firescald Ridge which was a superb rock scramble and rock climb and put me right on the spine of the mountain. It was difficult but the 360 degree views were awesome.Am tenting tonight. Met Menno, Mexico, Cheeseburger (from Germany) and Miller Time. Dickle (FKA Big Medicine) and Julie showed up too.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Stealth Camp on Lick Rock
Miles today: 12.0

First four miles today were a breeze. Mostly level, crossed a bald on Big Butt Mountain - love the name - it WAS big and well rounded. Four of us were gawking so much at the scenery we all missed a turn and didn't realize it for about a half mile. So we walked a mile we didn't have to and lost about a half hour of time. It was another gloriously sunny day so I can't complain too much.Crossed a couple stiles today and a couple of meadows. The landscape is slowly changing. The wildflowers are exploding. Some I recognize, most I don't but they are beautiful. We had a long uphill late in the day and I was too tired when I reached the top to make it to the next shelter. So I'm stealth camping and will have a beautiful view of the sunrise in the morning. Bear bag is hung, the sun has set, it's 8:00 pm and I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Good night.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Stealth Camp on Lick Rock

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

Heard a bit of light drizzle in the middle of the night but everything was dry in the morning. Broke camp and got hiking at 7:30 after watching a beautiful sunrise come up from behind Bald Mountain where I plan to be tonight. Met Cloudwalker on the trail. He's a Forest Ranger out west on the PCT. Nice guy.Went 3 miles and stopped at Hogback Ridge Shelter to get water and eat breakfast. Water was .2 miles away but was on a nicely switchbacked trail to the ravine. Privy overlooked the valley - so far, it's the privy with the best view.Hiked up, up, up for hours. Could see the mountain I was hiking to all day. It seemed impossible to walk that far or climb that high all in one day but bit by bit it got closer. Found a sweet spring coming right out of the mountain when I was about 500 feet from the top. Didn't even treat it, just drank right from the mountain. Cold, good sweet water. Must have drank a whole liter and filled my water bottles.Finally reached the bald and oh my! It was huge! And above 5,000 feet so we were the tallest mountain around. Very windy so all thought of camping on the bald was discareded as not being a smart thing to do, especially if the weather turned bad and we had lightning.There was a guy laying down in his tent reading at the top. He said he was taking a break and just enjoying the view and asked me about the water sources I had come across. Told him I found a few that weren't in my guidebook and didn't find one or two that were in there. Asked him to take a picture of me on top of the world and he did. His name was 501.We wished each other happy hiking and I moved on to the shelter where I stayed the night. Just before writing out this entry, I checked my guidebook to plan out tomorrow' hike. I carry the Thru-Hiker's Handbook. As I closed it I noticed the author's name--501. How cool was that?
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Very windy and fog this morning. Some rain early but stopped before I left at 9:30. Walked in the clouds for a couple of hours and then the sun came out but temps were cooler than they have been which is nice.Nothing too difficult today. Some very pretty streams with mini-waterfalls, moss-covered rocks and the ever present wildflowers.Found a spring coming right out of the mountain that I didn't feel needed treating. It was the best tasting water. I drank a liter right there. Sleeping in the shelter tonight and heading into Erwin tomorrow for bacon and all you can eat pizza.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 6.3

The magnetic pull of town does strange things to thru-hikers. Almost everyone got up before dawn and hit the trail. Otherwise, on chilly mornings, we¢d stay in our sleeping bags until 8:00 am or later.Even though I was one of the last to get out of my bag, I was on the trail and hiking by 8:45 am and was moving fast because I did the 6.3 miles in a little over 2 hours. Stayed at Uncle Johnny¢s Hostel and checked in on time to catch the lunch shuttle to town for all you can eat pizza and salad bar, to which I did serious damage. Stopped at the grocery store and picked up a big steak, mushrooms, baking potato, sour cream and sweet corn for dinner. Joined other hikers and grilled everyone¢s steaks.Got a private cabin, which worked out well because the ¢party¢ outside went on into the wee hours. I stayed up late watching videos but when I was done I could go straight to sleep. It was so noisy outside, tenting would have required earplugs.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Nolichucky River

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 0.0

My left knee was still hurting this morning, so I decided to take a zero day and hike no miles.Swift, Slackimus Maximus, Q-Tip and Trinket showed up. I had a good conversation with Swift about how frustrated I¢m getting with hiking slow, not having enough energy to do bigger miles, and knee hurting. He said it sounded like the knee problem is simple tendonitis, which is more of a soreness than an injury. Even though my muscles are significantly stronger, at my age it takes more time for the tendons and ligaments to strengthen. Swift said to be patient, rest the knee and don¢t push for big miles if I¢m hurting. He said I shouldn¢t even try to compete with the 20 year olds. He said to stick with it and I¢ll start to see noticeable improvement by week 8.Had some errands to run in town so used a bike from the hostel and biked the 11 miles round trip to and from town. Picked up a roast chicken for dinner and lots of snacks. Went back to my room and watched videos all evening. Met a hiker named Cotton a couple of weeks ago. Nice guy but my first impression was a bit negative. He got work for stay both days I was at Uncle Johnny¢s and Cotton was amazing. He had a really solid work ethic and was cordial and efficient. Lesson: Don¢t always trust first impressions.