morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-21
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Did a good 9 miles today with GipcGirl, Blaze, Terry, and Darvey To Wallace Gap. Blaze and Terry decided not to go to town here, and pushed on the trail towards the NOC. The rest of us hitched into town and got a room at Haven's Budget Inn. Place is kind of dingy, but hot showers and a bed, so can't complain too much. Resupplied to get to the NOC at Outdoor 76 outfitter, small place but good selections, ant the 10% discount for thru hikers was nice too. The Hiker box at the motel is full of good stuff, but nothing I need (Granite Gear compression sack, and Outdoor Research compression sack, anyone?) Had dinner at the steakhouse behind the motel after walking a mile to find out that the Japanese place is closed for two weeks. Ate way too much food and filled the corners with Yuengling, my favorite beer that you can't get anywhere but the eastern seaboard. Breakfast this morning was an all you can eat affair put on by a local Baptist Church, they even came with a van to pick us up at 7:15 this morning and brought us back to the hotel. Apparently they do this every day (except Sunday) between last week and mid-April. Good folk. Doing a quick load of laundry, then catching the late shuttle back to the trail. Three days to the NOC, then three days to Fontana Dam, then into the Smokies!
Date: 2011-03-22
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Wasn't planning on putting on a big day today, but the big feed that the Baptist church in Franklin put on this morning was key. Pancakes, bacon, banana bread, coffee and OJ, and a free shuttle from and back to the motel, and a picture mailed home free of charge. Those were some good folk. Today was some decent climbs, a total of over 3000' climbed in 14.2 miles. Took in a fantastic sunset at Wayah Bald, took many pictures. The shelter was full when I got down, but I was expecting that coming in so late. Pitched the tent off the trail by the shelter and snoozed.   I had originally planned on doing about 11 miles, but concern over the forecast made me decide to push over the bald and down to a lower altitude (still pretty high at 4729', but not up where I planned to stop at 5354'). Sounds like some storms might be coming in. I think I developed a healthy phobia of lightning after getting stuck INSIDE a fast moving storm at about 7000' feet on an exposed ridge in AZ last October, and the death of a day hiker that was struck on the AT on Max Patch Bald last year doesn't help.
Date: 2011-03-23
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

After an extremely windy night last night, I got moving earlier than usual this morning, walking by about 8:30. With the Nantahala Outdoor Center coming up, it took some critical thinking to decide where to stop. There were two shelters within range of Wayah; Wesser and A. Rufus Morgan shelters. I wanted to hit a shelter because I had no doubt that storms were on the way. I figured that more of the people would push harder and hit the ARM shelter to get into the NOC early, so I decided on a short day to Wesser. I passed a good dozen people today, including a big group section hiking that said they were going to Wesser. With them behind me, I pushed hard and rolled into there at about 1:00 and the shelter was empty; glad my prediction was right. The big group turned out to be a church youth group, and they pitched tents up from the shelter. 'Tar, RainGear, Darvey and another gentleman whose name I forget shared the shelter with me. We got settled in and had an early dinner (hiker box mac & cheese with tuna pouch and olive oil, dinner of champions). The winds continued to build, and the rains came just before dusk. It never rained for more than 10 minutes at a time, but it seemed as if the clouds took a half hour to build up a surplus of water, then tried to see how fast they could dump it on us. Very glad of the shelter and not having to tent in the deluge. Never saw any lightning, but heard a couple good rumbles of thunder.Not sure If I'm going to take another short day tomorrow and stay at the NOC, it depends of my feet I think. I've started to develop heel pain after 6-7 miles of hiking that I think is related to my SuperFeet insoles. It looked like the edge of the insole is digging into the side of my heel. I took some time today to use RainGear's oversized boar spear of a knife that he's carrying to trim the insole down at lunch, I'll see if that helps tomorrow.
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: clear sky

   Got another early start out of the shelter today, 8:30 again. 3000' descent into the NOC took not long at all, and with a nearly empty food bag and empty water bottles, my pack was crazy light on my back and I made good time arriving about noon. Had lunch at the restaurant, then opened the mail drop box that Jen sent with three days of food to get me to Fontana Dam. HOLY CRAP. I think there was about a week of food instead of three days. I sorted my food and sent a bunch ahead in the same box to another drop up the road. I decided to stay at the NOC tonight, not because of my feet which felt fine today, but because it is supposed to be back in the 20's tonight and whether or not I stop here, it will still be 3 days to Fontana. So a warm room, a six-pack of Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale, shower, and laundry instead of a cold tent. Sitting down in the NOC office now to write this up.   Because of continued cold weather and the forecast of rain for the next, oh seven days or so as I climb into the Smokies I bought a pair of rain pants at the outfitter. I planned on just getting a rain wrap (basically a waterproof skirt), but they didn't have any of those and I ended up getting a pair of Sierra Designs ultralight rain pants. Pretty light at about 7.5 ounces and packs real small. I will probably end up sending them home after the Smokies, but I think I'll be glad of them until then. Gonna go, now, that beer is calling my name (and a shower, and laundry for the first time since the Blueberry Patch).
Date: 2011-03-25
From: NOC

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

Got a good night sleep at the NOC, two of the four bunks in the room were empty, and JimDog was the only other person in there who thankfully doesn't really snore. Had breakfast at the Rivers End Restaurant at the NOC with EnZed and Forest Gimp who had stayed at the shelter up the hill the night before.   Ended up eating two breakfasts while there in preperation for the big hill out of the NOC, back up the other 3000' side of the gap. Did a short 4 hour day to the Sassafrass Gap Shelter shy of Cheoah Bald, a good short day with sunny cool weather. Never really got tired or winded headed up after finding a really good pace to hike at. I had contemplated going over Cheoah and tenting somewhere on the other side, but because both of forecasted bad weather and my next box being at Fontana post office where if I pushed too fast in this stretch, I would arrive on Sunday and be forced to wait for the package, I decided to shelter instead. When I got a few thousand feet up, I started noticing snow melting in the shade that had apparantly fallen the night before. Glad I had decided to stay at the NOC.Stayed at the shelter with some of the "old guys" as well as EnZed, JimDog, Rain Gear and others. Forest Gimp wasn't with EnZed, and she said that right after I left, he got a phone call regarding a job offer that he had been expecting, but not until the end of August and he left right away to head back to Texas. Good for him, but a bummer for his hike!Met my first Southbound Thru-hiker today who sheltered with us; Little Engine. He started from Katahdin 8 1/2 months ago, but took a month and a half off the trail due to some wicked bad winter weather. He is (understandably) very excited, with only 140 miles left in his Thru.\Started raining, but from what I hear, the forecast is looking a little better than it was./
Date: 2011-03-26
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: moderate rain

Starte the day off with a quick climb to the top of Cheoah Bald, where the view is a breathtaking panorama of the mountains that I had just came thru last week.   Or at least that's what I hear. Had about 20 yards of visibility all day with heavy fog and occasional rain.   I did get some really nice views of low fog in the valleys when it cleared up high, but I didn't get any photos because when there is rain my camera is double bagged and in my pack instead of in my pocket. I did pull it one spot where the fog in the rhododendron tunnels was especially pretty, and got a shot of Rain Gear dressed to the 9's in his namesake gear.Got some fantastic trail magic going down into Stecoah Gap. Rain Gear had gotten ahead of my, and as I came down the switchbacks to the gap he saw me from below and yelled up to me "Hey Book! Pizza!" I yelled "What the hell did you just say?" He said "PIZZA!!" Double timed it to the gap where there was a picnic table with two pizza boxes and a couple cases of Coke, boxes of granola bars and some pudding cups. The pizza was cold, but the waxed boxes had kept the pizza dry, and we ate a bunch of stuff befoer continuing on. While we ate, one guy stopped and offered us a ride to town, and Shadow (AT '07 I believe) stopped to chat, and gave each of us some slim jims and granola bars. Good place. We didn't take the ride though because we had no reason to go to town.Did a decent long day today and I feel like I'm starting to get my 'trail legs', wasn't tired at all. Sheltered with EnZed, JimDog, RainGear and a couple of section hikers Barry and Jennifer. They apparantly brough too much food, and gave a bunch of food away to us. Score again! Short day tomorrow into Fontana, then pick up my package in the morning and on into the Smokies!
Date: 2011-03-27
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great day today oafter a raining and storming night. Barry and Jennifer kept giving food away, I swear I left that shelter with more food than I arrived with! Descended into Fontana with some good views, tried to shoot a couple but don't know how they'll turn out. The trail was pretty slick with some iffy footing, but made it all right. Sun came out as I rolled into the shelter in the afternoon which made for some nice views across the lake, however it didn't last very long before more cool and clouds came in. Caught a ride with Rain Gear to Fontana Village from White Lightning (AT '07) who was doing some magic at the shelter. Did a spot of laundry and hung out around the lodge lobby for a few hours before going to dinner at the Lodge's restaurant. AWOL's guidebook says that the place is expensive, but I found the prices quite reasonable expecially with the portion size and quality of the food. Since it was early in both the evening and season, there were only a few other people there, a couple having dinner and two bikers riding around for a few weeks. Gear and I got to talking about everything with them all, and it turned out that the couple were the owners of the entire resort and village! They bought us some drinks, and gave us a ride back to the shelter later on. Turns out they own the land adjacent to the trail at the marina and are developing it from the old swimming pool into a KOA RV park. We asked if they had considered putting in a hiker hostel there, and they said they hadn't but that they might look into it. Credit to Gear and I if they do! Got back to the shelter to find White Lightning cooking brats and hot dogs on a little grill, and had second dinner before going to bed.
Date: 2011-03-28
From: Fontana Hilton Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Ended up taking my first zero today, not because I wanted or planned to, but because of the wonderful postal service. Arrived early at the PO to pick up my drop box, but they said that it had not arrived (was sent priority mail and supposed to arrive on Saturday). The lady said that the truck comes at 11:30 and I could wait to see if my package was on the truck. I did end up waiting there, and come 11:30 still no package (along with two other people). Apparantly this is pretty normal for packages to take up to a week longer to arrive here for some reason. I debated weather or not to wait untilthe 11:30 truck the next day to see if it arrived, but decided I didn't want to lose another day and just told her to return to sender if/when it arrives. By the time I got groceries at the general store and got back to the shelter, it was 3:30 already andI decided just to spend the second night there instead of pushing on for a few hours in the afternoon. Bummer. trail food for dinner and no Magic. Guess I can't be that lucky every night!
Date: 2011-03-29
From: Fontana Hilton Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Got an early start today and crossed Fontana Dam into Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a 2000' climb to the ridgeline via Shuckstack Mountain, then just gentle ups and downs. climbed the crazy ricktey old tower on the top of Shuckstack and got some great photos. Good sunny day with mild weather, can hardly beat it. On the way up I came across two young deer just off the trail looking real skinny and browsing for what little green there is now.   They came within 10 feet of me on the trail, even though they obviously knew I was there. Must know that there is no hunting in the park, and even if there was they were too skinny to be worth shooting. Got some photos though. I felt yesterday like my pack was nice and light even with 6 days of food but today I could definitely feel the extra weight by the end of the day. Planning to bypass Gatlinburg and go straight for Standing Bear Hostel and resupply there 'till Hot Springs because I hear not too much good about Gatlinburg, expensive trail shuttles, lodging and food and a trashy tourist bonanza including the Ripley's believe it or not museum and show complex, and the massive Dollywood, Dolly Parton's white trash mecca. Doesn't sound like too much fun. Sounds like the next two days at least will be cold and rainy so crossing the highest point on the trail at Clingman's Dome will not be too much fun. Too bad. Rain seems like my biggest mental challenge, more because of cold rather than wet. At least the elevation profile looks like I should be able to make some good mileage days on the ridge for 4-5 days. I'm still ahead of where I thought I would be at this point by almost a week and still making up days, no no worries there, and even with the noticable extra weight in the pack I still passed several people today that are both thru and section hikers. Good shelter tonight, in with Currahee, Jerry Garcia (He's not dead, just hiking), Falling Turtle, Irish Charm, Trashcan, Earl Gray, and others. I noticed I was pretty hungry today even after finishng all my snacks for the day by about 3:00, so dinner was really good - Kraft Mac& Cheese with a packet of mango chipotle salmon and olive oil, and spices from my spice kit. i hate cooking and washing dishes in the cold and wet, but looks like I have enough no-cook meals to last me for a few days if it's nasty. In 3 days I will cross the 1/10th line for total mileage!
Date: 2011-03-30
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: moderate rain

Day 20 complete! Not a big milestone but seems like a number to celebrate, so there it is. Overnight thunderstorms gave way to a cool, damp, windy and foggy day. it never actually rained today, but the damp was so thick that I was soaked by day's end anyway. The trail footing was atrocious today, with the trail itself graded almost knee deep with a base of ankle deep mud. Do the trail maintainers not know that cutting the trail to a trough does not shed water well? That troughs, in fact, are designed to HOLD water? Pulled my right calf early in the day slogging through mud, but as long as I kept it warm and moving it's not too bad.Wanted to get to the shelter 1.7 miles past the one I stopped at, but I was fed up with the mud and had run out of snacks early again and was crazy hungry. I could have stopped and had dinner at this shelter then moved on, but with everything wet and temps in the 40s at best, stopping means changing to my dry evening set of clothes to prevent hypothermia and once I do that I'm done for the day. Putting cold wet clothes on in the morning is bad enough without having to do it at night too.   Still, real good miles though and once I had dinner in me I was more than happy with the day. Tonight was a Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef dinner with olive oil, and 1/3 of a summer sausage cut into it with a bag of Reeses Pieces for dessert. Damn these Mountain House meals are expensive, but the boil in bag is great because there are no dishes to do, just put the empty bag in my trash bag and suck all the residue off my spork. (Not exactly clean, but nobody but me is using it.)Decided today to go into Gatlinburg after all for a couple of reasons. First, the NOC outfitter in town now operates a free shuttle to and from the trail twice daily. Second, Art Gipsy and JimDog and I decided to split a room, making the price comparable to a hostel. Third, I think my "hiker hunger" has kicked in and I don't think I have enough combined food and snacks to get me all the way through the Smokies. Also, even if I go to town it will still be a 12 mile day and back out on the trail next morning, making it not even a nero day. Oh, and warm dry things. And beer. And beds.Hoping for clear weather over Clingman's Dome tomorrow, but not optomisitc. There will be many views to come so no worries.
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up today with the leg a little stiff, but still feeling better than it had. Gipsy is moving on on the trail today, so Jim and I decided to move across the street to the Grand Prix motel, as they are the usual hiker stop and have lower rates (but no Jacuzzi). JimDog is zeroing today too, not because he's hurt, but because the guitar that he bough in Franklin and is carrying with him is. The constant high humidity he believes has caused the glue holding the bridge down to fail, and the bridge is pulling up. You'd think an aerospace engineer would have better sense than to carry a guitar, but who can tell such things. I've run into many hikers in town today, about 2/3 of the hotel is full, and the desk says that it is all hikers. Tyler came into town today, whom I haven't seen since Franklin. He is now "Hot Sauce". Currahee and Jerry Garcia rolled in about 5:00 too, but plan their own zero tomorrow to rest up. Apparantly the temps last night got into the low 20s up top, and everything was frozen. That means water bottles are all solid, hydration bladders are bricks, and the countless streams and trickles rinning down the trail were frozen solid making for some hairy footing. Currahee's wife picked those cats up and brought them here, where she presented me with homemade brownies and coconut three layer bars. Magic! I had forgot to mention that they were in Fontana as well, and his wife brought some bars there too. I realize that I'm forgetting to write more than I'm actually writing, so I can't really describe the complete atmosphere on and surrounding the trail, but it is an awesome community. Looks like about 10-20 of us are going to figure out somewhere to go for dinner tonight and go as a big stinky group. Party Time!
Date: 2011-04-02
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was probably the best day of hiking so far. Caught the 10:00 shuttle from the NOC outfitter with Catfish, Matlock and Owen back up to Newfound Gap trailhead. Mid 40's in town but below freezing up top with 1-2" of snow on the ground and 30-40 mph winds out of the west, but despite the conditions, and in fact partially because of them, the day was beautiful. Windblown moisture had accumulated on the west side of all the trees as ice, and the clear cold air made visibility near unlimited to the horizon. the view from "Charlie's Bunion" was great, and I took more photos today that any other day so far I believe. My calf felt about 70% better today, and while it still bothered me I think the lower mile days planned in the near future will give it enough rest to heal up while hiking.This morning Currahee was in the lobby and said that his wife had been reading my journal, and we walked over to his room where she gave me even more brownies and 7 layer bars. Magic!The day went pretty fast with no major climbing and only just over 10 miles of hiking. Made it to the shelter on the early side with only a few people there. Glad I got there when I did, because the shelter was packed by 7:00 with about 16 people and some pitching tents around. The shelters in the Smokies are stone and mortar and have fireplaces built into them, and a hiker named Moonshine had built a fire when we arrived. I don't think that the fire really warmed the place up, but the sight and sound of the fire was psychologically warming.Plan on doing about 13.3 miles tomorrow (including the 0.5 miles of spur trail from the shelter) then 10.5 down to Standing Bear Hostel to ride out the forecasted storm.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Another beautiful day of hiking today after an 'early' 8:15 start. Still snow cover in the morning above about 3800', but warmer and calmer made most of that mud by days end. The climbs were minor, and I averaged 3 mph while hiking, but too several good breaks including an hour long siesta with a Ridge Runner and another hiker on a saddle with good views and full sun. Overall so far on the trip, my average mileage is 9.5 mi/day including the zero days, and 10.4 without them. I built 14 zero days into my 'schedule', so I can take 12 more before I actually start counting them towards my average if I want. Either way, I'm well above where I though I might be by now.The calf was a little more sore at days end today, but better than where it was a few days ago. A downhill 10.5 miles tomorrow should do it some good too. I'm definitely getting stronger hiking wise, I notice getting much less tired on climbs that when I started.On a celebratory note, today I officially crossed the 1/10th mileage mark for the whole trail, 218.1 miles! Continuing in states 2 and 3 for the next 3-4 weeks to Virginia, then 550 miles or so to the next state, WV. VA is a big state to cross, the most miles of any state. I haven't officially finished state #2, as the trail itself follows the NC/TN border, and depending on what side of the trail the shelter is on I can sleep in NC one night, and TN the next, then back to NC. I should be done with NC in about 1-2 weeks though, then through TN.