morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-12-15
From: Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel

To: Erwin, TN (Super 8 Motel)
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday dawned fine and pleasant so we headed off at 7:00 for Erwin. It was another up and down day but we¢re getting pretty used to them. There was a stiff cold breeze blowing but quite a lot of the trail was sheltered from it. Rain had been forecast but did not eventuate. We were fully prepared for it and worse and had our escape routes planned in case the storm arrived earlier than expected, but nothing happened and it turned out to be a good day for hiking. We met a couple as they had their lunch (in an open spot in the wind) and they were planning to stay at Cherry Creek Gap Shelter tonight, then Roan High Knob Shelter tomorrow. They weren¢t at all fazed at the thought of the storm and we wondered if we were unduly concerned. In fact he was taking his girlfriend on her first hike! I wonder how that worked out. Yesterday, while we had our lunch on top of Mt. Roan in a lovely spot in the sun, a runner came by and warned us about the impending storm. We took it very seriously and we are planning to sit it out in Erwin if it is as bad as they say. We are quite sure the weather here can be as dangerous as it is at home, though there are more escape routes here.So here we are at the Super 8 Motel. It is raining outside but is not particularly cold. I will be most disappointed if we don¢t get rain and snow tomorrow! After all, there has been a huge build up to this storm.View from Roan Mtn. ¢ Photo by Mr. Fred ¢ Fred DavisView from Roan Mtn ¢ Photo by Haiku - Andrew Breecher
Date: 2007-12-16
From: Mile 1835 ( 338 miles from Springer)

To: ZERO Day in Erwin 
Miles today: 0.0

There have been snow showers today but not enough to build up on the ground. Of course we do not know what is happening in the hills, but would expect some on the ground there. It is supposed to be a beautiful sunny day tomorrow though very cold, and we will be leaving for Hot Springs. That is, if the weather is as forecast!Today was mostly spent buying and packing food for food drops to Standing Bear Hostel and Fontana Dam. This will take us through to Franklin. It suddenly dawned on me as I was contemplating re-supply in Franklin that it will be our LAST TOWN RESUPPLY!! The end is in sight! Enough said for now.We hope to get to Newfound Gap by December 24. Lee has asked us to Christmas at his place in Asheville NC, and we are hoping we can make it to a place where he can pick us up. Of course anything can happen to stuff up our plans.The Super 8 has been a good place to stay. They do not currently have a laundry but the manager said it would be functional again by the end of the week. He also plans to replace the old slow computer that is available for guests. The rooms are quite large and in fact the building is brand new so very clean and nice. We had originally thought to stay at Uncle Johnny¢s. Miss Janet¢s is closed for now. But the thought of my own bathroom and being nearer to town meant Uncle Johnny missed out.We had mailed a few things to Erwin including Dave¢s new boots and a bunch of extra handwarmers. He¢s decided to stick with the old boots a bit longer so the new ones go on to Hot Springs. Handwarmers go to Standing Bear Hostel with the food drop. It is very complex, all this planning and posting. We¢ve been flat out all day. Our advantage is that we have now got all our food bought and repackaged (out of the commercial wrapping into plastic baggies) all the way through to Franklin, so will be able to avoid any of this work for about 2 weeks. Hooray! Dave¢s been ringing up people (Standing Bear, Fontana Lodge) to make sure they are open and that they carry fuel. We need cooking fuel obviously. We have only had to use petroleum ("gas") once but it was pretty unpleasant due to fumes etc and we are not keen to do it again although the stove works very well on it. All the news is good! They are all open and have fuel. And the weather forecast is for temperatures to be warming up again as the week goes on. None of this addresses the question of water . . . . We have a list of shelters in the Smokies that are supposed to have water and those that do not. There has been some rain and we have seen quite a lot of water along the trail, including some at roads put there by generous trail angels. There is also a bit of rain in the forecast.Got to go and pack for tomorrow. Three nights, four days means relatively heavy packs yet again. What a way to enter middle age!Beauty Spot - heading into Erwin - Photo by BOO-BOONear Irwin, TN ¢ Whistler - Ken Schoenike photo
Date: 2007-12-18
From: Spivey Gap, TN

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter, TN (311 miles to Springer)
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I wonder where the puppies are now. The men said they were considering hiking to Sam¢s Gap because it might be easier to get a ride from there. Sam¢s Gap is 13 miles from the campsite and (we found out) 1612 metres of climbing (1250m down). There was also quite a lot of snow, in places probably about a foot deep. There is no way those puppies would make it. We got away at 7:30am. It was -7o C, the coldest we'd had yet, so took a little longer than usual to get going. The tent fly had quite a bit of frozen condensation on it which had to be shaken off. We had not filled the water bottles the night before, instead we just revisited the stream so water freezing in the bottles was not a problem this time. I tried out the toe warmers and (pen is freezing) they work while you are not walking on them. Don¢t think I¢ll bother again. The handwarmers work pretty well in the boots (on top of your toes) and they are cheaper. It was a great day for hiking today with lots of sunshine and balds to cross. We had great views of the Smokey Mountains, our next big challenge. At lunchtime, we were looking for a nice spot in the sun and walked up a side trail for about 50 metres ¢ lo and behold, we found ourselves on a street lined with houses! It was Wolf Laurel Ski area. I tried a few doors, looking for water, but no one was home. We¢d found a tiny spring on the way down from Big Bald, but it took too long to collect water, so we¢d only got a litre.Internet home page of Wolf Laurel Ski AreaAt Sam¢s Gap, some kind person had left several bottles of water. We got what we could but a lot of it was frozen. We carried it 2 miles to Hogback Ridge Shelter where we currently are set up. There is water here but it is very difficult to collect and quite a distance down from the shelter. We were glad of the water cache at Sam¢s Gap, thanks to the person who left it there.This shelter is not too bad, having a reasonable overhang out front, but there is a gap between the floor and the walls which is just perfect for mice. The shelter is infested with them. A whole family of mice has been stalking me ever since we arrived but I¢ve foiled them now. Dinner is over and all food put away and hung on mouse-proof hangers. Did I mention we are not currently carrying Ur-sacks. They are pretty heavy and although they have been excellent value in the past, we thought we¢d have fewer problems now that it is colder. There have been a lot fewer mice, at least until we arrived here. Temps today were 7o C to -7o C.
Date: 2007-12-20
From: Little Laurel Shelter, NC 

To: Hot Springs, NC (mile 1903) Elmer's
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I mailed off the journal scribblings to Cathy in such a hurry that I'm not sure where I got to! We arrived in Hot springs in a huge rush as we wanted to get to the post office before it closed at 4:00pm. Climbing was 1030m and descending 1706m, so it was quite a big day. We had our big mail drop in Hot Springs and had been wondering if there was anything we needed out of it. There was - the Georgia maps. Dave's new boots were also there and we bounced them to Fontana Dam where we have already sent a food drop. The main box has now gone through to Tim in Atlanta (Tim has been receiving stuff from us all along the trail) so if there is anything we want out of it over the next three weeks it is too bad. The rest of our overnight stay in Hot Springs was the usual story - flat out and no time to relax. We stayed at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn which is a spectacular and historically significant large house built in 1840, full of antiques, polished wooden floors, dark wooden panelling and challenged plumbing. We had a lovely large room with four poster bed, fireplace and an assortment of chairs including the classic wooden rocking chair that everyone's grandmother had. I was sorry not to stay another day but we are hoping to make our rendezvous with Lee at Newfound Gap on 24 Dec. A disadvantage at Elmer¢s is no phone, laundry or internet - these are things we greatly prize. A laundromat is nearby but you tend to stay with your laundry instead of being able to spend laundry time more profitably. Dave does the laundry while I retire to bed. This is a very suitable arrangement which I highly recommend.Elmer¢s does meals including breakfast and dinner, but there were only four of us so we ate at the diner. I've never been a fried food eater but I've eaten more of it in the last 5 months that I would ever have believed. I had fried chicken livers, fried squash and French fries for dinner. Yum!We have met the first northbounder for the 2008 season staying at Elmer's. Elmer was nonplussed at us SOBOS (due to our timing) and gob-smacked at the NOBO. He said the hiking patterns were all changing from when he did the trail in the 70s. Personally, I would not like to be hiking north at present, but each to their taste! Maybe he is cold-blooded!Elmer photo by Jerryatric - Jerry LovedahlElmer working in his kitchen - photo by Mr. K - Joe Klinedinst Back porch at Elmer's - photo by Circadian - Mike Lockett
Date: 2007-12-22
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel, TN
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we left at 7:00am for Standing Bear Hostel, 14 miles away and mostly downhill. Not all though! Climbing was 1023 meters (down 1672m). We crossed Max Patch bald in the mist. Right on top there was a tree tied (I think) to a post, and with Christmas decorations on it which had mostly blown away in the wind, two tents obviously occupied, and a line of prayer flags blowing furiously in the wind. Nobody was up, unsurprisingly, so we shouted greetings and moved on. Clear summer view of Max Patch by Colonel Chaco We then crossed Snowbird Mountain, all tree-covered but pretty breezy anyway. From there it was easy downhill for the rest of the way to Standing Bear Farm. lovely trail by BOO-BOOOn the way down we met a couple climbing up who turned out to be Torque's parents coming to meet him. It transpired that, through Cathy, they had emailed us an invitation to their place for Christmas. Of course we are going to Lee and Linda's but it was yet another example of the kindness and generosity that we have received from people all along the way. Our thoughts on coming to do this trail were that we would be pretty much on our own without the support that locals enjoy from their family and friends. In fact it has not been like that at all. Everywhere we've been people have been anxious to do all they can to help us. We've received emails from complete strangers inviting us to call them when we arrive in their vicinity and they will do food drops, or anything else we need. We have not been able to take advantage of quite of lot of these as we have quite often been either through there already when we've read the email or there has been some other reason. And then there was Dale and his wonderful family who took us in for a traditional Thanksgiving, and Cathy who must have spent hours typing in my scrawled journal entries and finding photos to illustrate it. Also Sasquatch and his food parcels which provided some relief from the run of the mill supermarket fare which we are so sick of. This spirit of giving will be one of our abiding memories of the trail. So we met Torque's parents again back at Standing Bear where they'd parked their car, and saw Torque off the trail for a few days. Maybe we'll meet up with him again after Christmas.Standing Bear Farm is dedicated to the rustic experience but with modern conveniences like power to run appliances such as washing machines etc. We have the cabin which is much more to our liking than the bunk house. Curtis let us use his computer since the hikers' one went down after last week's freeze. The forecast for tomorrow, our first day in the Smokies, is for rain and a 25% chance of snow at higher altitudes. Hmmm! This could upset our plans. We will have to look at it tomorrow in light of our weather rock which we have left outside the door. It is just as easy for Lee to pick us up here as in Newfound Gap.Standing Bear Hostel
Date: 2007-12-23
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Brevard, NC (Lee's house)
Miles today: 0.0

In the morning the weather rock was wet, in fact running with water indicating it was currently raining and quite hard too! This was confirmed by the sound of the rain on the tin roof of the porch and the fact that the trip to the outhouse required an umbrella. Our resolve to climb 2000 meters to Tri-Corner Shelter completely dissolved and we implemented Plan B. Dave reckons he can use a couple of days of complete rest due to a sense of basic tiredness, and we have the time, so we will call off the climb for today and call Lee from here. I am a little disappointed having been on a roll, but commonsense has prevailed and there is no point taking even a small risk that snow in the Smokies would prevent us making our rendezvous with Lee at Newfound Gap. The extra week we have been hoarding is for just this purpose. The outlook for the next few days, as far as we can see, is fine and with warm temperatures, so the prospects look good even after a couple of days off. This will be the first time we have had more than 1 day off since being on the trail.Curtis, who runs Standing Bear Farm hostel, told us he gets almost all the NOBOs who make it this far on the trail. His place is the best example we've seen yet of rustic charm. The buildings are all built of many-times-over recycled planks, or roughsawn or not-sawn logs with very little interior finishing. I suppose it is the contrast with the modern mass-produced boxy structure most people live in that is the appeal of these rustic places we've seen so many of. The DIY culture is alive and well in the USA. Recent law changes by Big Sister and her government in New Zealand have left the serious DIYer wondering if they are allowed to do more than superficial work on a structure and I am glad to see that Uncle Sam is more laissez-faire. Rustic kitchenRustic bathroomPhoto by Blissful - L. BlissCabin photo by Officer Taco - Ben Reuschel
Date: 2007-12-24
From: Brevard, NC (Lee's house)

To: Brevard, NC (Lee & Linda's)
Miles today: 0.0

We are at Lee and Linda's in Brevard, North Carolina. They have a very nice house in a gated community with four lakes and beautiful bushed surroundings with hiking trails and an eighteen hole golf course. Lee did some of his training for the trail going up and down these hills. We did a bit of shopping yesterday to enable Dave and myself to wear something other than the clothes we've been wearing on the trail for 5 months! It was wonderful to get out of those clothes. I wondered if I should get new underwear. Mine is full of holes. What if I get in an accident and have to be taken into hospital? What would they think? Lee's mother, Jean, and one of his sons, James, are here as well so it is a full house. We are collectively trying to make a New Zealand-style pavlova (meringue dessert) which not one of us has tried to do before. Dave has the best idea, I haven't a clue, having never liked pavlova, and the others have never eaten one let alone made one. Linda got a recipe from the internet. To our horror it is Australian in origin. It is another example of Australians trying to steal New Zealand icons like Phar Lap (race horse) and pavlova.The pavlova
Date: 2007-12-25
From: Brevard, NC (Lee's house)

To: Brevard, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Christmas Day was wonderful! Lee made dinner while the rest of us supervised, made suggestions and offered to do taste tests. The pavlova was pronounced a success, even by me, generally a non-pavlova eater. For just a short time we were able to forget about the rigours of the trail and take a complete and re-invigorating break.
Date: 2007-12-26
From: Brevard, NC (Lee & Linda's)

To: Cosby Knob Shelter - Great Smoky Mtns.
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, we are back on the trail again, refreshed if not rejuvenated, and ready to go. This morning in Brevard at Lee and Linda's place there were two inches of snow, and the sky was grey and forbidding. It did not appear to be a good day to enter the Smokies. We dithered for a while, looking at the internet and the weather channel and finally decided if we didn't go now we would not get through the Smokies. So Lee took us to Davenport Gap and lo! when we arrived it was a blue-dome day! And it remained so with not a breath of wind until we arrived at Cosby Knob Shelter at about 3:00 p.m. There were 1381 meters of climbing (315m down), and we were able to keep up about 2 1/2 mile per hour, pretty good for us when going uphill. The shelter is large by comparison with the usual, but it needs to be. There are 12 people staying in the shelter and 2 in a nearby tent. This is a popular place. The trail was very attractive on the way up and we had some pretty good views. An advantage of winter travel is that the trees do not obstruct the views. You are not walking in a green tunnel but have plenty of opportunities to see out over the surrounding countryside. There are arrangements here for hanging all food and food-related gear out of the reach of bears. They are pretty active in the Smokies. All of our food is now hung up on a cable that suspends it 15 feet above the ground between two trees. There is a good water source here but there are supposed to be problems further south in the Smokies. We are trying to plan around what we have been told about water availability but we are hoping to meet people coming north who have firsthand information.Cosby Knob Shelter - by Easy Strider - Brian Lynch
Date: 2007-12-27
From: Cosby Knob Shelter, Smokies

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today is the 5-month anniversary of our starting the trail. It seems a long time ago.I am not sure where this weather is coming from but it is another blue-dome day with wonderful views on all sides. The trail runs along a high narrow ridge with steep forested drops down each side. It is really quite spectacular. Obviously, you need good weather to really appreciate it. There are a lot of rhododendrons and mountain laurel, also a lot of evergreen trees - fir and spruce I think. Unfortunately, a lot of the fir are dying but I don't know why. Bear cables outside Tricorner Knob ShelterDead trees: acid rain? woolly adelgid The views are great, being from vantage points much higher than the surrounding countryside. We crossed over the second highest point in the park today, at 6360 feet. Climbing was 1594 meters (1267m down) and the temperature ranged from 4-14 degrees C, but at lunchtime when we found a lovely sunny spot it soared to 28 degrees! I can see why the Smokies are such a popular place to hike.Icewater Spring Shelter is full tonight. There are no other women here and last night there was only 1. Where are they? I have not thought of hiking as a mostly male pastime. There are 15 of us here and the shelter is quite large enough to allow us a bit of elbow room each. It is a clear night with stars but we know the forecast is for rain tomorrow. We did 21 miles today and took about 9 hours. There was a bit of ice here and there on the trail but not enough for us to get out our YakTracs. We could see where there had been snow because the ferns and grass were flattened but there was no other sign of it.
Date: 2007-12-28
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: snow

I couldn't write the journal until today (30 Dec) as I was just too sick to do it. This is what happened ... I am now temporarily crippled due to an ankle sprain and off the trail. We were coming over Clingman's Dome in the rain. The trail was a bit slippery in places due to a lot of running water and a bit of mud but I have been in these conditions a lot and never thought anything about it. Anyway the next thing I knew, I was on the ground with my left foot twisted up behind me and having the most awful pain. I had to sit for a while in the rain and mud, which I didn't even feel, while I got my bearings again. I decided there were no bones broken and managed to get back on my feet. We were 2.6 miles from the nearest shelter, just on the other side of Clingman's Dome - the highest point on the whole trail. We knew there was no shelter at Clingman's and that there would not be any cars driving up the road to Clingman's parking lot due to the rain (found out later the road is closed at this time of year) so the only thing to do was get to the shelter. It took a while but we made it.Cingmans Dome, elevation 6643 feet, highest point on the AT - photo Aprilshowers - April Meyer Thunderstorms were just beginning when we arrived and we knew the rain was going to get much heavier. All in all, it was more rain all rolled into one than we'd seen on the whole of the rest of the trip and reminded us of home. I was pretty much a mess due to having not been able to hold my umbrella or do the other things one does to survive a heavy rain. I was soaked and cold. Luckily, we had a stock of handwarmers and lots of clean dry clothes so I got in my sleeping bag and it wasn't long till I was warm again. Dave made hot chocolate and we tried to decide what the next move should be. Double Spring Gap Shelter is pretty basic. It has mesh netting in front as bear proofing and the floor is lower than the surrounding ground so we had a large pool of water in front of the sleeping bench. The roof leaks and it was lucky we found part of the bench that was reasonably dry. People had emptied the fireplace ashes onto the floor, possibly in an effort to build it up a bit, so anything you put down got covered in black ash. We have a large groundsheet so were able to avoid most of this dirt. It was a depressing place, or maybe that was due to the situation we were in.We knew we had to evacuate. Double Spring Gap Shelter by Jack and the Beanstalk (Jack)- Dick Gase