morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

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

Another beautiful day on the trail today. I hiked 12.9 miles today. The trails were pretty good and there was a lot of downhill, along with cool and clear weather, conditions that make for a nice hike, not to mention the scenery. When I arrived at the shelter, I saw a lot of familiar faces including Morris the Cat and Stupid (my favorite trail name), who I thought were way ahead of me. According to Stupid they spent a lot of time in Gatlinburg, at the hotel pool. I'm surprised I didn't see them since I was also there three days.I also saw Thistle, who has been hanging with me, G-man and Indie a little more lately since she is going at about our speed. Danger Dave, who I hiked with a good while today was there. Camel, Hammy and Story Time are new acquaintances from the Peck's Corner shelter or somewhere recent.When I arrived at the shelter, there was little room in the shelter and hardly any good places to pitch a tent. The shelter was set upon a big hill, or mountain as we generally call them. So I looked for any sign of level ground. Only, the only ground level enough was way down the hill, and no spots were near it, which gave me a lot if privacy I didn't really care for. Not that I worry about bears, but if they ever did attack, it would be the tent away from all others. I've seen too many episodes of Friday 13th to think it couldn't happen to me.I went up the hill and sat with Danger Dave, Thistle, G-man, Indie, and Story Time and Hammy, two hikers we'd met though I couldn't recall where. We built a fire and talked, and Knutt was on a roll. I can't remember the last time I put on a comedy show for the others. Indie and Hammy are real laughers, so the more they laughed the crazier I got. We had a really good time, one of the funnest nights yet. Everyone had the giggles, and Knutt brought the entertainment.
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Cosby Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel 
Miles today: 10.7

Today was a special day because I got to walk out of the Smoky Mountains. There are two barriers that weed out many hikers, Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains. I will have conquered both by tomorrow evening. All the hikers are ready to get out, not because of the park, but to get away from the Smoky Mountain rules that don't make sense, like the fee that only applies to thru hikers (which I've ranted about way too much already). The hike turned out to be a long, mostly downhill, which is fast, but not good on the knees or ankles, like my sore knee from early in GA, and my left ankle where I overextended my achilles. I'm also starting to feel blisters, not a good thing. I hiked out of the park and the first mile or so was spectacular, with a running river and tall rocks the size of houses.I continued to walk, looking for Standing Bear Hostel. Indie, G-man and I arrived at the same tine once we hooked up at the end of the hike. We arrived at the hostel and it's one of the coolest places I've ever seen. We are greeted by a very rough looking character named "Rocket", with a red, 6 inch beard and long red hair. He gives us a tour of the hostel and hands us an envelope we are to use to write down what we take and the price of each item from the unattended store. The whole system is based on trust. Take what you need, tell me what you took and then pay for it. The remarkable thing is that the system really works. We sat around a campfire where Rocket brought out a guitar. This young guy started playing and he was pretty good, so no one else would play. But we had entertainment, and we also had beer. I drank too much and had a good old time.I really dug the hostel and want to open my own one day. Imagine being able to just meet hikers and join them each year for a 12 week long hoedown. There was a kitchen with a microwave, a privy, horseshoes, a big fire pit, a store, showers, and an open bay bunk area. And at $15 a night, it's a bargain and caters solely to hikers. I finally know what I want to do when I grow up!
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Standing Bear Hostel 

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

After a fun night at the hostel, and a few too many beers, I woke up feeling like I had a few too many beers. Then after a couple of vitamin I (Ibuprophen) and a couple of cups of coffee, I was feeling fine again. I considered taking another zero (zero trail miles, or stay put for another day), but need to keep on task so I can finish this thing before Mt. Katahden closes on October 15th, if not earlier. So I hike out with the regular crew and we have our first hike completely outside of Smoky Mountain National Park since we started it more than a week ago. It's nice knowing we can camp anywhere on the trail again, not step in horse manure on the trail, and build a fire in other than designated fire rings strategically placed in inconvenient places. The Smokies were beautiful, but the park management seems to have something against thru hikers, making it as inconvenient and troublesome as possible to hike through. Indie hurt his back, so he is in a lot of pain. He attempted a thru hike in 2010 but had to stop because he hurt his knee. He's playing with his pain this time so he doesn't have a repeat. I see a lot of people on the trail who got off for one reason or another but they always think about it and come back later. Though he could have started where he left off he decided to start over to get in shape and do it all in the same year. I hope he's not hurt too bad so he can stay with us and finish this time. We hiked only 6.9 miles to the first shelter because we would have had to hike like 15 miles or something after partying otherwise. Groundhog Creek Shelter was pretty nice for camping in tents with a lot of fire rings and level spots to pitch a tent. The weather was supposed to be nice through the night with rain coming the afternoon of the following day, so most hikers chose to tent. There were only two hikers sleeping in the shelter. Another reason could be the threat of sickness. We have heard a lot about a stomach flu going around that is making people sick, which is being blamed on the shelters. For that reason, most people I know are still avoiding them whenever possible. That night we sat around the fire and joked around, with a lot of making fun of Knutt. Around the campfire were Me, G-man, Indie, Thistle, Stupid and Morris the Cat. We were also joined by Purple Pants, a guy who wears skin tight, purple, ridiculous looking pants. My reputation is really beginning to bloom as people start to get to know me. We were laughing about a picture of me that Stupid took where I was wearing big yellow sunglasses and a bright ladies blouse that I found in a hikers box. Nothing is out of bounds for Knutt.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

26 miles to go to get to Hot Springs N.C. I wanted to get there in 2 days but the shelters weren't spaced right. The plan was to go past the next shelter and find a camping space a little further on. The trail was difficult because of a very large climb up a couple of mountains, which always shortens the distance. I hiked mostly with Indie since we were both slowed, he with his back injury and me with blisters on both heels. I decided to wear my new trail runners which are basically tennis shoes I bought for warmer weather and town wear. I taped my feet as well to minimize the impact on my sore feet. We were going down the trail when I decided to try to get a signal on my phone, something we've all had trouble with since Fontana, NC. I was on the phone for about 3 seconds when I thought I heard Indie go into the woods, but I never heard him come out. Regardless, I moved forward on the trail under the assumption he'd moved on down the trail. But I couldn't catch up with Indie, who I knew was slowed down with his back, and he was also complaining about a pain in his side. The further I got down the trail, the more I wondered if something had happened to him. I saw Purple Pants, who I'd met at the last shelter, and asked him to tell Indie to stop and wait for me. I searched the woods around the area I last saw him but there was no sign of him, so I continued North on the trail. I caught up with Indie about a mile up the trail. Purple Pants had delivered my message so Indie waited for me and all was well. Apparently it was just me worrying unnecessarily, a habit of mine. I just didn't want to wait 8 miles to have to go back to look for him had he not showed up.
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

18.1 miles, my longest hike yet!   From the start I really had no intention of walking 18.1 miles into Hot Springs. My plan was to hike to the next shelter and then have a not too rough night, and then use the next morning to get into Hot Springs early. However after we got to the shelter, we thought about it and decided we could save an entire day by going straight into Hot Springs. We still had enough "get up and go" to finish the 3 miles or so from the shelter. The previous night it had rained all night so we were thinking about G-man and Indy who had left the night before to go a little further to the campground to be closer to Hot Springs. In the morning, Thistle and I started out to go by the site to see if they were still there. On the way, I was leading and we went up this huge hill. I asked her if we were supposed to be on a huge hill and she said she didn't remember it so we turned around and went back the other direction. Welcome to Knutts world, Thistle!!! Anyway, we got our bearings straight and went to the campsite and G-man and Indy were still there. We were both very shocked that they were there even though it was only about 9:30. G-Man likes to get going early but I guess because of the rain they stuck around a little longer and waited for us. So we all started down the trail together knowing that we had left Morris and Stupid behind. Once again they had talked about doing 20 miles, taking a night hike, getting up early, and all kinds of things like they always do. They've been talking like that since we met them and yet they've been with us the last five or six shelters! Once we got to Hot Springs, the first thing we saw was a hostel. We checked it out and saw that they offered a tent stay and shower for eight bucks, so we took it. It was a cheap place to stay until we could get a hotel secured for the next night. After hiking 18.1 miles we were pretty exhausted and didn't intend to go out. However we did go to the bar and had a good time with Kevin the guitar player who performed right in front of us. We also saw SomPeach, Hammy, Rambles and other hikers in Hot Springs. We saw familiar hikers everywhere.  After Indie and I got something to eat we came back to our camp site and zonked out for the night. G-Man got a hotel room and Thistle got a half room at the hostel where she was matched up with Purple Pants, which was not her decision or preference, but he turned out to be OK when he left pants off. This means he just wore other pants, or otherwise it would not be OK. Welcome to Hot Springs.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Zero Day One In Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It was time to take a zero day. We hadn't had one in about a week and a half so it was time. It's important to be able to rest, to get a shower and restock food in order to continue on the trail. Our hike the day before consisted of climbing two fairly large sized mountains and a really long distance downhill. Downhill can be even more treacherous than uphill because you are traveling faster and are more apt to turn an ankle or hurt a knee. It is a pretty hike, however, in the beginning of Spring. When everything starts to bloom it opens up to a new world of flowers and young plants, and occasional wildlife too.   Today several of us had mail drops to pick up including me but the most notable was Morris the Cat. He opened his package and there was a skullcap that said "Morris the Cat" that had little kitties all over it. His mother also sent one for Stupid with his trail name on it but he wouldn't wear his even for a minute. You would think someone who chose a name like Stupid would not be too embarrassed but he would not wear his. We were all disappointed. But I took a picture of Morris that will live in infamy.That night we went to get some food and a beer at a bar. The NFL draft was on and I was glued to the TV trying to figure out what was going on with the sound turned off.   Suddenly "I didn't feel so good" and decided to go back to the room. When I said that, Thistle accused me of just wanting to get back so I could watch the NFL draft.   Me? Why I would never... I'm so glad I got to see it though... even though I did seem to wrench my back.   I really wasn't faking that.   No, I wasn't faking the other either. Guilty as charged. Had I known I would have to miss the draft, maybe I wouldn't have decided to hike the AT at all. (Right!)So I had fun in Hot Springs but it was somewhat tainted by my unfortunate injury mishap. My back has done well so far, I believe, because it's getting stronger, I have less stress, and I'm not stuck to a chair at a desk in front of a computer all day every day. Honestly, I haven't felt this good in years, and I have bad days all the time. If I was well I wouldn't need doctors, so I'm sure I'll feel better soon.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Zero Day One In Hot Springs

To: Zero Day Two in Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Everyone's attention was on the weather. When we saw that that there was a 90% chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday we decided to take another zero and were considering the next day as well. We filled the morning by watching science-fiction about a shark with two heads that sunk an island. Thistle loves that stuff, complete and especially with the bad acting. I have to admit it was funny to me as well and we all had a good time with it.   Later on Lin, G-man's wife, came up to see him again from Savannah. Since she had a truck they asked if Thistle, Indie and I would like to take a ride and we decided that was a great idea. So we climbed into the truck and took a ride down the road. We checked out all the houses and cabins and the river and mountains and it was kind of nice seeing a little more of the area. We also saw several turkeys and an eagle that had a fish for dinner. It was an awesome animal sighting. We stopped at the Tennessee line and got out of the truck just so the smokers could smoke a cigarette. To our amusement right across street were some hikers. It was Lucky from Ireland, Dutchie from Holland and another hiker who I don't recall his name. We talked to them for a while and returned to our hotel. It was good to see those guys again. On the way back through town we saw Stupid and Morris the Cat sitting at the bar on the back porch.   We all laughed because the last time we saw them they were leaving town...yesterday. When we got back, we said goodbye to G-man and went to get some dinner and a beer at the local saloon. The bar was crowded and hopping the night before, but pretty dead on a Saturday night.   I got a barbecue sandwich with Thistle and we headed back. On the way back, I think I saw the biggest bug I've ever seen. It was about 5 inches long and moved a little like a crawfish. I took pictures to share because it was something to see. It pretty much rained all day so it was a good choice not to hike today. I know I can't always avoid rain on this hike. But after being dry in a hotel somewhere and a line of thunderstorms comes through, it's difficult to get out in in it not to mention dangerous. I'm not the only hiker who doesn't like to hike in a thunderstorm. I think it applies to most hikers.. Knowing that and seeing the hikers coming in wet we decided early to go ahead and get the hotel for Sunday as well. Otherwise, we would be taking a gamble of not getting a hotel at all. One more night in a cheap hotel room, on a mattress, out of the weather. One more shower to go until Erwin, TN, with six days on the trail to get there.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Zero Day Two in Hot Springs

To: Zero Day Three in Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a steady rain all day long. It was miserable. The rain started in the morning before I woke up and kept raining all day without stopping. But I wasn't going to let that get me down. This was the day to hit the Hot Springs. I went to the hot springs for one hour of hot tub for $15. When I arrived, I was escorted to hot tub number 15. It was cordoned off by a wooden fence so nobody could see inside making it okay to be naked. The backdrop was a river and the mountains and it was really cool being able to take a hot tub bath in my birthday suit in such a majestic background.   Although it was nice to sit in hot bubbling water with the mountains and river in the background, it was basically a hot tub. It still felt great on my aching back. I really needed it. Once my hour was up, someone knocked on the door and my water slowly drained out of the hot tub. I've been in hot tubs before but it's a little different because the water is so hard and full of minerals. It comes from natural hot springs out of the mountains so it's supposedly not just a hot bath. The hard water seems to be more relaxing than regular water from home plumbing. Though it may be the power of suggestion making us believe that so they can charge us $15 per hour.   I guess that's why everyone pays for it, yet I have never seen any evidence of natural hot springs.   Anyway, I really needed the hot bubbling water on my aching back so it was worth every penny.   Afterward we all got together and went through the stores checking out the town. I got some delicious coffee ice cream where there are many different flavors including bacon flavored ice cream which I unfortunately didn't get before leaving town. If nothing else it would've been good for my journal. We got some dinner and came back to the hotel to prepare our backpacks for the next hike. After being off the trail for three days, it would be difficult to get back out to climb the mountains but we were set on it. We enjoyed ourselves in Hot Springs but again it's time to get back to hiking. We looked at our maps and decided we would do 11+ miles tomorrow, 11+ miles the next day and even the next. We figured we had to average about 11.3 miles per day to get Damascus by May 15. We just have to stay on task which is not always easy. Resting is so much easier.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Zero Day Three in Hot Springs

To: Rich Mountain Camping Area
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We were determined to leave this morning weather or no weather, so the plan was to hike 11+ miles to get to Damascus by May 15th. We saw Thor and Happy-Grumpy on the trail, which was special because all other times I saw them was in towns and I had asked Thor why that was so. They left me in a blaze as they are stronger hikers than I had imagined. The hike out of Hot Springs was beautiful, as we passed all kinds of overlooks including Lovers Leap, which was quite steep.   The hike was another difficult climb as we ascended Rich Mountain after climbing out of Hot Springs.   After 8+ miles my two hiking partners, who aren't the best influence on me, wanted to camp once we found this nice camping area. Normally I would've pushed further, but my back was still a bit sore, so I caved. We made camp there, 3 miles short of our goal, which I vowed we would make up the next day. After making camp we debated on going to the tower on top of Rich Mountain and eventually decided to hike the 500 feet to see it. It turned out to be a good decision because we were each offered a cold Sierra Nevada IPA beer by a visitor who came by car on the road nearby. Nothing tastes better than an unexpected beer in the middle of the woods. We went back to our camp and made a nice fire, had some laughs and went to bed, ready to hike 14 miles to make up for the 3 we were short today. Three miles more shouldn't be too difficult to make up, but it would be our second highest total. We were stoked to get 'er done. Motivation is the key.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Rich Mountain Camping Area

To: Zero Day at Rich Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

As we awoke and were breaking camp, I jokingly said, "Why don't we just take a zero?" I took one look at my two partners and knew I just made a tactical error.   I could see that they thought it was a GREAT idea. My back was a little queezy still, so again I relented, stating "We don't have to do anything", coupled with "We are the worst hikers ever." Truth be told, we had never taken a zero in the woods, which I wanted to do, and we had a great camp. The night before I found my bottle of Tequila I'd misplaced in my backpack a couple of weeks ago. Since Indie rarely drinks, Thistle and I drank the Tequila and got a mini buzz for the second day in a row. I have to admit taking a zero was a good decision because it was spontaneous fun we wouldn't have otherwise had. Having fun is what this is about, and that's what we did. We built a fire and took it easy all day with no cares in the world other than making up what is now 14 miles. We are more determined than ever to get to Damascus, but have become what we kid about with Stupid and Morris the Cat, never doing what they say. By now they should be way past us, so we have no right to make fun of anyone anymore.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Zero Day at Rich Mountain

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

After taking a zero in the woods, we felt good and rested, and motivated to make up the 14 miles. The way I figure it, we can make that up by increasing our average by only .1 miles per day, not too difficult by any means, but we really have to stay on task. The night before, a mother-daughter team, The Bard and Jimbo, camped at our camp site but didn't really talk to us. We saw them all along the trail, however, and got to know them a little.   Again, the trail offered plenty of mountainous terrain to hike in, so the hike wasn't easy. When we arrived at Little Laurel Shelter, Thistle and I searched for wood, where it was a little picked over, but we found plenty to make a fire and we cooked dinner. I stole her wood and asked her why she didn't get any wood. I got some pretty entertaining looks about that. We all put our tents up behind the shelter near the trail where we had some flat terrain. Once again Strider pulls up, indicating to us that we were behind schedule. Later, Thistle told me another hiker was going to the privy, which was wide open with little cover, and he was 10 feet away from her, peeing in front of her like she wasn't there. It was an entertaining story, but not an entertaining experience for her. Modesty on the trail is sometimes hard to come by since all hikers have to go in the woods. It explains a lot about animal behavior.