morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-02-02
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 14.8

(in excited, but hushed voice) "Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is almost the moment. Shortly we expect Second Stage to emerge from her den, I mean, shelter, and then we know what kind of weather to expect for the next 6 weeks." As usual I woke before dawn. Since I was hoping to make it all the way to Deer Park Shelter I wanted to make an early start. As when I fell asleep last night, there were just a few drips if water falling from the trees onto the shelter roof this morning. I squirmed out of my sleeping bag and prepared to face the day."This is it, folks! I can see movement now within the shelter. I see her! Her hair is touseled and messy. She blinks bearily at the sky and rubs her eyes, but with the heavy fog in the air she doesn't see her shadow. An early spring! Get out there and hike!"After eating breakfast and packing up I headed out. The rain had indeed stopped, but the fog blocked any views. Visibility was very limited along the trail. The run down to Lemon Gap was very easy. Then the climb began. The fog started to burn off, but the day was still very gray and gloomy. By the time I got to the top of Walnut Mountain there was a quick peek of sunlight, and then the clouds closed back in. It was up and up Big Butt which seemed to go on and on. I took a short break at the top and then wound down and down the mountainside. The day was still gray, but I caught some glimpses of the valley below.By the time I got to Garenflo Gap the clouds had rolled back, and the sun was warming things up. I paused again to eat a snack and to shed my rain gear. By now I was getting tired, and my feet were screaming at me to stop. I thought about how much I was looking forward getting to Hot Springs and having a couple of days off my feet. I had also begun to crave a big bacon and egg breakfast and had been thinking about it all day.The sun was low by the time I got to the turnoff for Deer Park Shelter, which was well off the Trail. I hurried on, anxious to get in and settled. Too late I remembered that 2-Cups had warned me that the water source was back across the Trail. So i retraced my steps and then down the other side of the ridge to collect water for the night and the next morning. When I got back to the shelter I found that it was trashed - Coke and beer bottles, wrappers, clothes, etc. I could only imagine the shelter mice I'd have for company.So, I ended up tarping away from the shelter, but I was happy to use the bear cables near by. The sun had long set by the time I'd had dinner and set up the tarp. The moon, however, was bright overhead. Even under the tarp it was fairly bright. When I got up a couple of hours later to "tend to business" I could clearly see my shadow in the bright moonlight.
Date: 2012-02-03
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Dreams of a hot, made-to-order breakfast got me moving before daylight. I had coffee and a light breakfast to make sure I'd make it to town while I packed up. I left some clean - well, not as disgustingly smelly clothes - and some baby wipes accessible for when I got to the Smoky Mountain Diner. I figured I wouldn't be clean, but at least I wouldn't be quite so filthy.I also took a spare trash bag and loaded up some of the trash from in and around the shelter and tied it to the outside of my pack. It didn't smell much better than I did. That bag was definitely going into the first trashcan I spotted!The walk down out of the woods was uneventful. I reached the sidewalk leading to town and followed the special AT symbols set in the concrete. After a few blocks I reached my first town destination. Breakfast!On one of the porches of the restaurant, I changed into clean socks and my Crocs, leaving my pack discretely tucked away on the porch, carrying in my clean(er) clothes and wipes. Once I'd ordered coffee I headed for the restroom to clean up a bit. Several cups of coffee and many calories later I waddled away. At a nearby gas station I spotted a trashcan. I was carrying the shelter trash and my smelly socks and boots in identical bags. I paused to make sure I discarded the right bag. Then I paused even longer to wonder if I had based the choice on smell if the answer might not be clear as to which would be the right bag to throw away.The next step was to find some place to stay for a few days while my body recovered some from all the hiking. I had a nice stay at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn before, but something in the old house gave my allergies fits so I decided to try my luck at the Alpine Court Motel. Basic and has seen better days but my room was very clean.My pack seemed to explode as I took everything out to make sure it was dry. Soon the tarp was hung up, the sleeping bag open and fluffed, and all the dirty clothes gathered. Time for the laundromat a few bocks away. Some of the clothes were so dirty that I ran them through a full wash then simply added the not-so-dirty clothes and more detergent and ran the whole business again.While the clothes dried I went over to the outfitters to pick up a few things. They said I was the first thru hiker of 2012 to come through Hot Springs that they knew of.I stopped off at the motel to drop off the clean clothes and headed for my next stop - the spa with the namesake hot springs. There I luxuriated for an hour in hot, slightly sulphur-smelling water hoping to help relieve the pain in my knees and feet. It sure helped relax me.On my way back to the motel I noticed signs for a chili dinner to benefit The Learning Center. Sounded like a worthy cause and the dinner sounded great, so I wound up there later. Fire Pit, whom I had met by Max Patch was also there; his dog, Little Girl, was tied up outside. A live band played for entertainment, and bingo would follow, but I was tired so I went back and settled in for the night.
Date: 2012-02-04
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Second Stage, hiker. A woman barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild her. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic woman. Second Stage will be that woman. Better than she was before. Better...stronger...faster.It was time for my 270 mile tuneup. Before I even started the hike I had planned that if I made it as far as Hot Springs I would stay at least 2 days and take advantage of the spa here. So after my soak in the hot tub on Friday I scheduled another soak and a massage, hoping to help the feet, knees, and legs heal and be ready to take more abuse.Accordingly I spent Saturday and Sunday mostly lazing, moving only in search of more food. The hiker hungries have hit.I stopped in at Bluff Mountain Outfitters on Saturday on the way back from dinner at Iron Horse Station. They helped me choose new orthotics for my boots that might improve some of the foot issues - the Berry Superfeet insert. The additional cushioning might help with the pounding the balls of my feet have been taking. While I was at the outfitters they told me I was the first NOBO thru hiker they'd seen this year.On Sunday I had breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner and then hung around in my room. When it was getting close to my hot tub appointment time I headed down the street. Just as I was about to cross the bridge I noticed a woman on a cell phone staring at me. I assumed my oversized orange Crocs had gotten her attention, but then she hailed me. "Are you Second Stage?" she asked.   It was Stick Chick, a section hiker out for the weekend. She'd been following my journal and was hoping to run into me. I had to hurry on to my appointment, but we arranged to meet for a late lunch at Irom Horse Station when I was finished with the body work. After a soak in the hot tub and a wonderful massage I was feeling very mellow and relaxed. Some of the knots and tension in me legs were much better. I could have just stayed there on the table, not moving, for the rest of the afternoon, but Stick Chick was waiting. I pulled myself together and walked the couple of blocks back.Stick Chick and I had a pleasant meal together and discussed hiking and our dreams and our families. We noted many similairities between us. I hope she gets to do a thru hike someday. Then it was time for her to head home. I picked up a few provisions for watching the Superbowl and walked back to my room.I dozed off and on during the game but managed to see most of it. I was still so relaxed from the massage that I was asleep as soon as I turned the TV off. A deep, restful sleep.
Date: 2012-02-06
From: Hot Springs

To: Tanyard Gap
Miles today: 5.9

It was a lovely day when I woke up. I didn't feel vigorous enough to pack up and leave Hot Springs, so I decided to compromise - a slackpack to Tanyard Gap. That would give the feet another day off from heavy duty. I took a few essentials and headed out. Over the tracks and across the bridge. A sharp right and a hike along the French Broad River for a ways. I recognized Fire Pit's tent set up near the river, but didn't see any signs of him or Little Girl about. From there the Trail led up and up to Lovers' Leap and the view below. Without a loaded pack it was a pleasant walk. Then it was on up the rest of the way to the ridge. On such a beautiful day with not many miles to walk I dillied and dallied, stopping to enjoy the sights and sounds of the day. Other than looking back across the river to Hot Springs there I didn't see wide vistas or stunning views, but the woods were pleasant. All too soon I was dropping down into Tanyard Gap. I crossed the overpass and around to the main road. I tried hitching for several minutes but had no luck. I decided to start walking. I passed a truck that had been sitting a while right at the gap. Just as I got in front of it, the truck started to pull out, heading down to Hot Springs. I waved and then jerked my thumb in the direction of town. The driver rolled down the window, and I said I was just headed back to Hot Springs. He told me to hop in, and so I got my first ride in an 18-wheeler. He dropped me off in town. It wasn't a big hiking day, but I took a few miles off the next stretch without causing too much stress to my healing feet, so I was content. Tomorrow I'd get back to serious hiking. It's a long way to Maine, and the break in Hot Springs had left me feeling more rested and ready to continue.
Date: 2012-02-07
From: Tanyard Gap

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 10.4

On the way back to my room yesterday I had stopped at the outfitters and arranged for a 9:30 shuttle back up to Tanyard Gap. That fit the outfitter's schedule and would give me time to get to the post office so I could send some excess gear home. Eventually a nice lady, Ruth, drove me up to the gap. I looked for a geocache on the way up out of Tanyard Gap but didn't have any luck. This new phone just doesn't seem to work as well as I had thought it would - more limited reception than I had had with my Blackberry before, and I seem to miss more caches than I find. After a few days of not carrying my pack it seemed exceptionally heavy, even after having sent a few things home. I was tempted to stop and unpack and repack everything just to make sure a few rocks hadn't found their way in. The climb up Rich Mountain seemed to take forever. I had hoped that the rest in Hot Springs would refresh me and that I would have gotten my "trail legs." Unfortunately, that was not the case. It seems like it should happen sometime soon... I paused briefly at Spring Mountain Shelter for a snack and then headed down to Deep Gap and on to Allen Gap. Just after I crossed the road at Allen Gap I met another hiker coming down southbound. He has the trailname of Lasher. He was hiking Harpers Ferry to Springer. We chatted for maybe 20 minutes and exchanged news of trail conditions and people on the trail that we had met. I mentioned that I was headed to Hemlock Hollow to pick up a maildrop and planned to spend the night there. He told me that the folks that run it are very nice. We went our separate ways, and I hurried on. The directions I had were a little on the vague side, and the sun was sinking fast. I was looking for Log Cabin Road, which wasn't marked on my map. I tried to estimate the distance based on time and speed, but I wasn't sure how fast I was walking. I passed on the first road I came to which the Trail only came close to and didn't actually cross. I took a left on the next road and hoped for the best. I walked for what seemed more than the listed .6 miles and still didn't see any sign of the hostel. I almost turned back, but luckily I didn't. It was getting dark when I knocked on the door of the house. The owners were surprised to see me, but made me welcome, turning on the heat in one of the cabins and making sure the washhouse was ready. I settled in and made myself some dinner. The cabin was quite cold to begin with but warmed up before long. I was rather tired but happy to be out walking again. I slept well in my cozy cabin as the nearby stream burbled and chuckled.
Date: 2012-02-09
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night the shelter had been a bit warmer than the outside temperature, but by morning the fire had gone out and the temperature inside was about the same as outside. The Cleaner stayed snug in his sleeping bag while I got ready to head out. It is almost 15 miles to go to Hogback Ridge Shelter, so I wanted an early start. The Cleaner's weather radio had a forecast that made it sound like the weekend around Erwin would be pretty rough with snow, high winds and very cold temperatures. He suggested that I get off the Trail at Sams Gap and wait out the storm in town; he said Big Bald would get even worse weather than down in Erwin. That sounded like good advice to me. I couldn't see fighting bad weather all weekend to come down to town and rest on a lovely day. My phone has not been working as well as I had hoped, so I also planned to get to Johnson City somehow to get some help from Verizon. I said goodbye to The Cleaner and crunched my way through the snow up and over Big Butt and then down to Flint Mountain Shelter. By then the sun had come out and the day was fine. I was feeling a bit cold and tired, so I stopped and made myself some hot soup for lunch. That perked me up just fine. I was getting water near the shelter when a maintainer Lord Willing came along, southbound. He said he was going to do some work on the Trail and work his way back north. We chatted briefly then I headed on. After an easy run down to Devil Fork Gap I crossed the road and started up a 1500 foot climb up to Lick Rock. The Trail crossed back and forth across a steam as it wound its way up the mountain. The stream formed a nice cascade at one point. A pleasant walk as well as a good workout. In the late afternoon I tried to contact a couple of trail angels that Sherpa Dave and Goldberry had told me about. The Erwin-based angels, Jackie and Tom, had offered to help me, and I was hoping for a pickup in the morning from Sams Gap. I found a spot to get a call out and left a message and sent an email to see if they could help. As it often is, it was nearly sunset by the time I reached the shelter. No one else was there. I ran my foodbag up the bear cables and set off in search of water. The blue-blazed water trail led down and down and around. The water was a long way away. I collected as much as I thought I would need for tonight and the morning so as to not have to make a second trip. The stars were shining clearly by the time I made it back to the shelter to start the rest of the camp chores, and well past hiker midnight by the time I crawled into my sleeping bag. In the still of the night I could hear big trucks on I-26 whining their way up to the gap even though I would still have 2 miles to hike in the morning before I would reach the interstate.
Date: 2012-02-10
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 2.4

When I checked my phone in the morning I found that Trail Angel Jackie had responded to yesterday's email and said to call and she could pick me up. I wasn't sure how early it would be ok to call, so I lingered at the shelter watching the dawn and puttering with my gear. Since I was heading into town I allowed myself an extra ration of coffee. Ahh, decadence. It was an easy 2 miles down to the gap where I called Jackie. Unfortunately, a medical issue had come up. Thankfully, things were under control, but it wasn't clear when she'd be able to pick me up. There was very little traffic at Sams Gap. I called Uncle Johnny's, hoping to arrange a shuttle, but all I got was an answering maching. I didn't know how long it might be before someone would get the message so I didn't leave one, figuring I could call back later. Eventually I got so cold waiting I started walking toward Erwin, still a long way away on foot, just to stay warm. I hadn't gone half a mile when a truck that had passed the other way more than an hour before stopped for me. The nice guy driving chatted with me and dropped off at the Holiday Inn Express. After I checked in I went right in and took a long hot shower, trying to warm up. It wasn't all *that* cold outside, but I'd been sitting still for too long at the gap. I let Doc Rockett [aka Second Stage Logistics] and Trail Angel Jackie know that I was in. Then it was time for laundry and a visit to the convenience store for some calories. Jackie contacted me to let me know that all was well and that she could take me to the Verizon Store in Johnson City tomorrow. I relaxed and journaled and caught up on some emails for a while, watched a little TV, ate pizza and a salad and then hit the sack. The Weather Channel had plenty of warnings about the weekend weather coming in. I wondered if we would actually be able to drive to Johnson City, as they were warning people not to travel if they didn't have to. But at least I would be warm and dry while waiting out the storm. And the convenience store, source of cheap calories, wasn't too far away. I wouldn't freeze or starve. Life is good.
Date: 2012-02-11
From: Sam's Gap

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 0.0

Jackie said she'd pick me up at the Holiday Inn Express and take me to the Verizon store in Johnson City so I could get my phone looked at. I worried about the weather with the cold and blowing snow, but she showed up right on time, and we set off. We talked all the way up, discussing sections of the Trail that we have hiked and compared notes on our experiences. She and Tom have done a significant portion of the southern part of the Trail, but not much in the north. Soon they hope to be lengthening the duration of their section hiking to so that each section covers an entire state. I hope they can get out soon. After a short wait at the Verizon store I was helped. I pulled out my list of complaints. Doc Rockett had mailed me my old Blackberry in case the new Samsung Stratosphere couldn't be fixed. I expected to have to give up the new phone and have to use the old one. That wouldn't be too bad, except that the keyboard isn't really that great for keying in whole journal entries. The main problem of connectivity turned out to be fixed easily. Evidently the phone was so insistent on finding a 4G network that it wouldn't make do with 3G, or sometimes even make simple phone calls. By changing a setting the phone would happily settle for 3G and work most of the time. That was really important. 4G may be great, but a phone that just doesn't connect with the outside world is next to useless. I was told that many of the other problems may have come with any apps I downloaded. I haven't put many on, but I guess that's possible. Pulling out the battery and then restarting the phone is supposedly the solution. I can live with that; I have a Windows computer at home, much to the chagrin of my husband and daughter. With my phone issues solved I felt much better, and now Jackie and I were free to do other things. We started by having lunch at the nearby Fuddruckers and talking and talking. I got to meet one of Jackie's friends who dropped by for a visit. We ended up by driving back to Erwin where I got a tour of the town. Jackie dropped me off back at the motel, and I went in and made some phone calls and got started on some journaling. By the evening the weather reports were looking much better. The wind advisory was due to expire by the morning. The snow would be stopping, and Sunday would be bright and sunny. Cold, with the wind chill factor forecast to be -14 up on Big Bald. I started to feel restless and wanted to hike but didn't want to camp in the extreme cold. I called Jackie and told her I liked her idea of slackpacking over Big Bald and then stay in Erwin again. If her offer to drive me to Sams Gap and pick me up at Spivey Gap was still open, I was game. She graciously agreed. I spent a little time organizing the gear I wanted to take. I sure didn't want to head out into the wilderness in those conditions without Plan B in mind. One never knows what can happen. I called the front desk to set up a wake up call, laid out my hiking clothes for the morning, and went to bed (a real bed!).
Date: 2012-02-13
From: Spivey Gap

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 11.2

Jackie picked me up and took me right up to Spivey Gap so I could start my last day of hiking before leaving Erwin. The day was much warmer and less windy than yesterday. It almost felt spring-like in comparison. The birds seemed to think so, too. Small flocks flitted among the trees. Plenty of tracks of birds and other animals were all over the snow, which was melting fast in the warmth of the day. Parts of the Trail that were in the sun were already clear of snow and the top layer of brown leaves on the ground were dry. The conditions can change so fast up here. It was an easy, uneventful walk in the woods to get back to Erwin. I didn't see anyone else on the Trail, and I took my time enjoying the balmy, relaxed feel of the day, especially in contrast to yesterday. The Trail wound its way down following the coves. I took a break at No Business Knob Shelter and sat basking in the sunshine before moving on. I found a geocache along the way and signed the log. Along Cliff Ridge I got nice views of the Nolichucky River below, took pictures, and listened to the trains down along the river. When I reached the road I stopped at Uncle Johnny's. The door was locked, but Grim answered my knock, sold me some alcohol for my stove, and had me sign their register. He said I was the first NOBO to come through Uncle Johnny's this year. We chatted for a bit, and then I walked on back to the motel, stopping at the nearby convenience store for some snacks and juice.
Date: 2012-02-14
From: Nolichucky River

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 0.0

It was a rainy day for Valentine's Day so Second Stage stayed in town and did chores, wrote journal entries (see the new entry for her walk from Newfound Gap to Tri Corner Shelter) and stayed warm and dry while she had the chance. She plans to head on north on Wednesday.Posted by Second Stage Logistics
Date: 2012-02-15
From: Nolichucky River

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

UPDATE: I got a photo from Second Stage of the Cherry Gap Shelter so I guess she did stay there.Second Stage did not report in where she was at the end of the day so I am guessing it was Cherry Gap Shelter. She emailed a picture from Unaka Mountain in the later afternoon so she made it that far for sure. I also got a full entry for her hike out of the Smokeys ending at I-40 so you may want to see that.Hope to hear more from her and details of this segment in a day or so. I also hope that she did not meet the source of the tracks in the picture.Posted by Second Stage Logistics