morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-04
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

Yes, I am OUT of Erwin! I woke up at 4 this morning and couldn¢t get back to sleep because I was so excited to get out of town. Finally got up about 5:30 and was ready to go by 6:30¢¦had to wait until 7:30 for my taxi though as I needed to get up to Iron Mountain Gap where I slackpacked to on Sunday. Good ol¢ boy from TN was my driver¢¦good guy¢¦reminded me a lot of my buddy, Batson, after he¢s had a few too many and the accent becomes a bit more pronounced. Weather was gorgeous today¢¦started out at about 50 and ended up around 75-80¢¦sunny all day. Did I tell you yet how heavy my pack feels? For goodness sakes, did the owner of the Super 8 put the bike I was borrowing the past few days in here? Hadn¢t put it on in 3 days and the last day I had it on, there was no food or water in it, so very light. Lots of climbing today, but not a lot of good views due to the tree line. Gained about 1,200 feet over the first 7 miles up to Little Rock Knob¢¦nice gradual uphill to warm up. The first 2 miles my pack felt like it was filled with lead, then I got right back into it and didn¢t really fell it after that. We lost about 900 feet over the next couple of miles and then we had the big climb of the day: 2,200 feet in a little over 2 miles up Roan Mountain. Phew¢¦that was pretty tough! Roan Mountain is the last mountain on the AT over 6,000 feet until we get to NH (Mount Washington). Got to the shelter around 4¢¦contemplated moving on a few more miles just to reduce tomorrow¢s 16 mile day (want to get to a hostel tomorrow that is supposed to have a killer breakfast). Logos and Earthling were at the shelter when I arrived and they were going to keep moving. I finally decided I was too tired to continue and decided to stay put. This shelter, Roan High Knob Shelter, is actually the highest on the AT at 6,275. Probably going to get a bit chilly tonight. This is the first shelter I¢ve stayed at that actually has all 4 walls¢¦even a door for goodness sakes! Quite a few people here at the shelter tonight, but it is a group of new people and I didn¢t get a lot of names tonight¢¦I¢ll work on the names and get back to you. Hope to get an early start tomorrow, so I can get to the hostel and enjoy some of the amenities. Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Elk Park, NC (Mountain Harbor B&B/Hostel)

To: Campsite by stream
Miles today: 11.6

Wow, what a breakfast at Mountain Harbor! It was a feeding frenzy with hikers stuffing themselves left and right...I couldn't move! Mary gets up at 4:30 to start breakfast...it was a little bit of everything...awesome! Everyone was a bit slow after breakfast...including me. Things started well with that breakfast, but things went south after that...I think just from eating too much. Beautiful day, but pretty hot (85). Finally got out of MH around 10:30-11:00 with Logos and Earthling. Logos lost his bandana as we started up the hill...evidently I must have walked right over it because I was right behind him...sorry. He went back to see if he could find it (he did), but I kept going. Then I ran into Gray Wanderer whod had left quite a bit earlier than us...he was going South coming back at us! I convinced him he was somehow going the wrong way and we were about to go on when Earthling, Logos, and Easy caught up to us...Easy had been going South as well, but I didn't know him when we passed...luckily Earthling and Logos knew him and turned him around too. We all kind of broke up after that, but said we'd all meet up at the waterfall in a few miles. Slow hiking, but finally made it to the waterfall...awesome! Big, fun waterfall! Easy was there and Earthling/Logos showed up a bit later...picture op time. You could climb about halfway up the falls and great some great pics from below or actually get in the waterfall at that point...I did both...the water was super cold, but refreshing! Had lunch at the waterfall and then promptly started heading SOUTH! Made it about 3/4 of a mile UPHILL before I ran into someone who asked me if I was going to Springer Mountain, GA...dammit! So I turned around and made it to the next shelter by around 4pm...what a long day to only go 9 miles! I couldn't just do 9 miles. Logos/Earthling said they were going to go another 3 miles to a stream right at the 400 mile mark, so I said I would meet them there. I picked up Gray Wanderer at the shelter and we trudged our way to the stream. Logos/Earthling found a good spot for camping and had picked up Easy on their way. Set up camp and ate dinner with everyone...nice night. Glad to have this day over with...just no energy today even after that great breakfast...what a struggle. The sound of the creek is quickly putting me to sleep...cheers.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Campsite by stream

To: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 12.8

Slept ok last night, but had a few interruptions. First, early on, I woke up to the sound of sniffing next to my head. Evidently, some varmit was checking me out outside my tent...not exactly sure what...maybe a raccoon or something like that. Anyway, I startled it away when I woke up and started moving around. Second, I didn't put my rainfly on my tent as it was supposed to be a clear night...and it was. But, for some reason, early in the morning, large drops of water started falling from the trees...I guess dew...I've never experienced this before. A few hit me directly in the face through my mesh roof...decided it was time to get up. Got out of camp around 8 and it was a very warm morning and a hot day (87). A lot of medium ups and downs today, but the main goal was to get to the Kincora Hostel early enough to get a bunk and make the dinner shuttle. Kincora is a mainstay on the trail and is run by Bob Peoples (another mainstay on the trail, a great guy, and a hike friend). After such a lethargic day yesterday, I'm determined to have a much better day today. I thought Easy had said the next shelter was about 5 miles up the trail, so I thought that would be a good place for my first break of the morning. I'm feeling good and think I am crusing along, but 2 1/2 hours later, I'm not at the shelter yet...I must be going a lot slower than I thought! So, I speed up and get to the shelter shortly thereafter. Come to find out the shelter was almost 7 miles from our campsite...I was cruising. So, I knocked out the other 6 miles and was at the hostel at 1:30...great time and I didn't have to hike in the hottest part of the day. Also plenty of bunks to choose from and got my shower/laundry done before the crowds showed up...excellent. Lots of people coming through the hostel tonight...most people stop here because it's right off the trail and you get everything (bunk, shower, laundry, kitchen facilities, shuttle to town, etc.) for the low, low price fo $4. That's right...$4! Everyone going to town for dinner/re-supply jumps in Bob's converted pickup/people hauling vehicle and off we go. Not many food options, but Arbys sounds good to m. Many roast beef sandwiches later, we're back at the hostel chillin' with full bellies. Lots of people here: Pop from PA, Logos, Earthling, Father, Noah, Trashman, Timber, Laidback, Rider, Stir Fry, Restless Legs, G Hippy, Zen Dog, and many others. Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow...not too cold this morning...maybe high 40s/low 50s...must be because we're by the lake. A little chilly during the day when you stopped hiking, but otherwise a perfect sunny, breezy 65. Not a lot to see and, thus, write about today. Most of the walk today was small roller coasters on an incline as we climbed Iron Mountain (2,000 feet of elevation change)...not too bad as I made pretty good time. Unfortunately, most of the walk was on a wide ridge line and the trees on either side prevented any great views. I thought we would get a great look back at the lake when we got to the top, but some trees were still in the way...I need to have control over where all these nature things are placed. AT Troll was slackpacking South today, so I ran into him...hadn't seen him in a while, so we caught up a bit. Evidently, he'd been sick and now Bismark was sick, but they would both make it into Damascus for Trail Days. Got to the shelter around 3:30...needed to decide if 14 was enough for the day or try to get some more in. Getting more miles in wasn't necessarily going to help me because it would still take me 1+ days to get into Damascus...it would just change what meal I'd get when I arrived: breakfast or lunch. To nip this major problem in the bud, I'll just stay here tonight and order breakfast for my meal no matter what time I arrive in Damascus. What a problem solver I am! Only Stir Fry and Restless Legs at the shelter with me tonight. A few others stopped by to rest or eat, but decided to move on. Stir Fry gave both me and RL a freezed dried Mountain House meal for dinner as he had extra: I got chicken and mashed potatoes...very yummy. I might have to get me some of these freezed dried meals...better than I remember them being. Thanks again, Stir Fry! Pretty cold tonight, so in the bags early. Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Wow...a bit chilly this morning...maybe close to freezing. The shelter was at about 4K feet, so it was cold and windy...bbbrrrr! It did eventually get up to about 70 today, but still a bit chilly when the sun went behind the clouds. Today was again small roller coasters, but this time it was mainly a downhill grade...made great time. Again, not much to really see today as the trees on each side of the ridge obscured our view, but it was a great day for hiking...perfect weather once you got going. About 5 miles in, there was some trail magic left over from the weekend. Sodas were still ice cold in the cooler, so I enjoyed a Dr. Pepper...sugar hit and refreshing...very nice! Restless Legs also caught up to me there and then we basically hiked the rest of the day together. He set a great pace and I just tried to keep up...we made it to our shelter before 3...great time. Nice job, RL! We briefly contemplated going all the way into Damascus (another 10 miles downhill or 3 hours), but decided it may be tough to get into the hostels or hotels due to Trail Days, so decided to stay put. Dinner again was on Stir Fry...he packed a lot of food and his section hike is over tomorrow, so he was trying to use it all up...beef stroganof pasta side. I've had fun getting to know Stir Fry and hopefully we'll meet up for a beer or two in Damascus before he takes off. Also had some ramps Jay Bird picked along the trail and shared with us tonight. Ramps grow wild in the woods and they are like a small onion...taste good raw and good for adding some flavor to your meals. Looking forward to seeing the Fellas...Sheri and her parents, Jerry and Pat. Jerry and Pat are camping with some of their friends in Maggie Valley, NC about 2 hours from Damascus and offered to pick me up and take me back to their campsite for a zero day on Thursday. Did I tell you Jerry is a great cook? Looking forward to that as well...mmmm...mmmm...good. Sheri's coming in on Thursday as well and then joining in on some of the Trail Days festivities over the weekend. Good friends and good food coming my way...excellent! Suppose to rain tonight and tomorrow...we'll see. Lots of people at the shelter tonight...everyone queing up for Damascus: Stir Fry, Restless Legs, Zen Dog, Pop from PA, Hiker Bill, Chicken Feathers, Hook, Jay Bird, Skywalker, Sugar Ray, and a few others. Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: light rain

Everyone was up early this morning...I guess excited to get into town...or beat the rain. No rain last night, but some pretty threatening clouds this morning. Can we beat the rain into town? RL and I actually left camp at 7:15...a new record for me and something I hope I can continue into the summer months. RL set a fast pace and I again just tried to keep up. It was good though because we were moving...did 3 miles/hour...good even with all the downhill. Spit some rain in the beginning and looked like it was really going to come down...dark clouds coming our way. We already had our rain jackets on, so stopped to put our rain pants on as well. Of couse, right after that, it stopped raining. About 6 miles into the hike this morning, we entered the Mount Rogers National Forest...also considered the TN/Virginia state line...good-bye TN! 3 states down, 11 to go! The sun started peeking out, so it was time to take off the rain gear. Of course...no, you sillies, it didn't start to rain again, we were fine. Got into town around 10:30...the trail runs right down the main street of Damascus. It is a town of about 1,000-1,500 people, so I'm really interested to see what it looks like in a couple of days when 10,000+ people descend upon it. Thought there would be more hikers in town already, but it was pretty quiet on the streets when we arrived. RL, Stir Fry, and I all got bunks at the hostel the Methodist Church runs...great old house which they filled up with bunks in almost every room...excellent. And the donation price is right...$5/night. Stopped by the PO to pick up my bounce box and a care package from my buddy, Scooter. Good tasting protein bars...muscles here I come! Thanks, Scoots! Then went down to Quincy's for a burger and a couple of beers with RL and Stir Fry and then headed off to do some laundry. Checked out the internet at the library and then noticed a large hiker crowd gathering across the street...a B&B was hosting a free BBQ for hikers...burgers, beans, potato salad (excellent), and sodas...very nice. Then headed down to Quincy's again for a few more beers with Stir Fry and RL...lots of other hikes as well now. Not many places besides Quincy's and a place called Dot's to have a beer, so you might hear those names a few times in the next couple of days. While at Quincy's, RL and I also secured a ride up to Mount Rogers with Nickel so we could do a 23 mile slackpack tomorrow...ok, I'm slackpacking...RL is carrying his pack. This way we actually get to come down Mount Rogers instead of going up it, so we should be able to make some decent time. Suppose to rain tomorrow, but be warm...we'll see. Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Damascus

To: Elk Garden (Damascus)
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Good night's sleep, but woke up a bit earlier than I wanted...people in the next room got up at 5:30 to head out and they weren't very considerate to the rest of us...it really bothers me when people do that in these hostels/shelters...you can tell when people are at least trying to be quiet and when they just don't care. Got up and enjoyed some blueberry pancakes and a cinnamon roll for breakfast...energy for the hike today. Nickel picked me, RL, and Sly up at 7:30 and we were hiking by 8:30. Actually, ran into Tour Guide who was camping where Nickel dropped us off, so caught up with him for a bit. Rain was in the forecast and it did rain a bit on and off in the morning, but cleared up in the afternoon and was pretty decent. Because we were going backwards (South), we started at Elk Garden (4,400 feet) and had a 3 mile/700 ft climb up to Whitetop Mountain. OK views, but a lot blocked by the trees. The next 14 miles were mostly downhills with a few medium climbs mixed in. The hike was really enjoyable for both RL and me up to this point...not bad weather, nice forest landscape, and good company. The last 6 miles were like a Bataan Death March...terrible! We couldn't tell how much farther we had to go as the signs on the trail and the info in the guide book didn't jive at all...were we 6 miles out or 3 miles out??? Both RL and I just wanted to be done with the hike and get back to Damascus in time to hit the free cookout that started at 4:30. We really struggled, especially the last 2 miles, but we made it back to Damascus at 5:15. At the beginning of the day, I thought we should get back between 5 and 5:30 if we did a good pace, so we were right on time and did a good pace...the last 6 miles just felt a lot longer. Also saw another pretty big black snake in the middle of a long bridge...not as big as the last one, but probably 3 feet long. Cookout was going strong...burgers were gone, but plenty of dogs, beans, and chips left...good stuff after a long day of hiking. Also started running into people getting into town...hikers don't pass up a free meal if they are in town! Ran into Bismark, Troll, Hopper, Chili, Pepper, Logos, Earthling, Skywalker, and a few others...good to see everyone is getting into town. Showered up and then me, RL, Stir Fry, and Pop from PA went down to check out Dot's for a few adult beverages. Ran into Nature's Own while there...hung out for a couple of pitchers and then everyone called it a night...except me. I thought I'd swing by Quincy's to see who I might run into. Ran into Logos and a few others, so had a few more beers and shot some pool. This is the first time on the trail I believe I may have been over-served...it's all Quincy's fault! Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Damascus

To: Damascus (Maggie Valley, NC)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Uuhhhggg...I don't feel so good this morning...I WAS over-served! Woke up in the middle of the night and the room was spinning a tad...that hasn't happened in a long time. Luckily, it went away pretty quickly and I could go back to sleep. Moving a bit slowly this morning, so I went down to the coffee shop for some hot chocolate, eggs, bacon, and french toast...very tasty. That made me a bit tired, so I went back to the hostel and took an hour nap...it was nice a quiet and I woke up like it was a new day...great nap. I wanted to get a few chores done before Jerry Fella picked me up at noon today, but due to my slow start, I was only able to squeeze in laundry, a fuel run, and re-packing. I ran into a few more people roaming around town this morning while waiting for Jerry...still can't believe how many people are supposed to show up in this little town in the next day or so. Jerry picked me up and we had a nice drive through the mountains to their campground...first time I had been in a car that long in almost 2 months...weird. Jerry was also nice enough to ice down a few beverages for me in case I got parched during the drive...I did. Got to the campground and Sheri and Pat were there along with family friends Earl, Betty Jo, Larry, Betty Jo and Larry's mother (can't remember her name at the moment, but it was her bday), Julie, and Julie's kids. It was a gorgeous day out, so we just sat outside and enjoyed it and the good company. Besides the good company and the chance to be Pat at euchre AGAIN, Jerry's cooking is worth traveling many miles for and, of course, he didn't disappoint. Dinner was grilled pork chops, creek fries, and corn; dessert was strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake, and carrot cake. I believe I went back for thirds or fourths on dinner (excellent pork chops) and had one of each of the desserts! Nice job, Jerry! And, Pat! We needed to relax after dinner, so Larry built a nice fire, so we sat around and enjoyed that. Then, while Sheri and I were on an ice run at the convenience store, Sheri came up with a great idea...s'mores. We've had quite a few good fires on the trail, but no one has ever pulled out s'more fixins...this will probably haunt me at every fire from now on. Anyway, we had lots of good s'mores and they really hit the spot because I don't think I ate enough at dinner. After all this, the night was slipping away, so I didn't get to beat Pat in euchre...my one regret of this little excursion. (Side note: If I can write this entire AT journal without leaving the comfort of my house in Atlanta, what's a few more white lies about my euchre prowess.) I'd also picked up a care package from my buddy, Marty, earlier in the day and finally had a chance to open it...he wins the award for most eclectic and original care package so far. I'm not sure you can get more variety in one care package...nice job, Marty, and thanks! Cheers.
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Elk Garden (Damascus)

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: light rain

Alright, time to hit the trail again. Three days without hiking, four days without the pack on...as I've experienced this before, I know my pack is going to feel like a ton of bricks. On the bright side, I also know after about 2 miles it goes back to "same ol', same ol'" and I really don't notice it. Got up around 7...slept great...cankles a bit smaller, but still there. Looked outside and it looked pretty nice...another forecast of rain that doesn't look like it will pan out...I hope. Packed up and got out of the hotel by 9. Forgot my biodegradeable soap was "borrowed" at the hostel, so Sheri ran to the store while I was packing up...teamwork in action. Nice drive through Damascus and up to Elk Garden...got there around 10. Ran into Restless Legs as he was getting dropped off, so we exchanged picture taking duty to get pics of our friends on the AT. Sheri actually hiked a bit of the AT with me to start...she skipped ahead of me taking video...I was struggling with my 800 lb pack. I've got to keep the zero days to just one at a time because they are killers when you combine them. Said good-bye to Sheri at the top of the bald and she filmed me going into the woods. Good to see you, Sheri, and thanks for everything! Well, as you can tell from my mileage, I didn't get much farther than Sheri filmed me. Only got about 4 miles into the hike before the skies opened. Sheri and I had been making fun of the rain forecasts all weekend because it never rained. Of course, I joked it would start as soon as I started hiking again. I was only about 2 hours off...how do you like that, funny man! Luckily, it was only sprinkling before I got to Thomas Knob shelter and I stopped for a break. Quite a few people were already at the shelter waiting out the rain. The next shelter was only 5 miles up the trail, so we thought there would be a break long enough where we could chance it, so we waited...and waited...and waited. It was actually a very good thunderstorm with lightning, thunder, and hard rain...you don't hike in lightning. People coming into the shelter late kept talking about a tree that must have just been hit by lightning as it had exploded all over the trail and none of us that were already there had seen anything like that on our way up. I declared if the rain/lightning didn't stop by 3, I was done for the day. It didn't stop by 3...it plain just didn't stop. It's supposed to rain some more tomorrow, but not thunderstorms, so I just need to get out and get wet tomorrow. About 14-16 people in the shelter tonight...good thing it is a large one with a loft: RL, Heartbeat, Graham Cracker, Chef Glen, More To Do, Raleigh, Scatters, etc. Also ran into Logan from Neels Gap who did my shakedown at the beginning of my walk...he was doing some hiking after Trail Days. Alright, let's pray for a break in the rain/lightning in the morning. I don't mind hiking in the rain...I just don't like starting in it. Cheers.