morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center/Bryson City
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Second zero day of the trip and the sun came back out to dry things out. So, the main priority and really only task I had today was to update the journal. Luckily, the library was open and had a lot of computers available...giddyup! One minor mistake on my part and one I hope to learn from...upload the pictures first! I even went to the drug store in town and downloaded all my pictures onto a CD so I could access them on the library computer and upload them to the journal...thinking ahead to start with anyway. Got to the library and decided to do some email...then started updating the written part of the journal. Well, no one was in the library or using the computers, so I could just keep checking my computer out every hour. Or course, right before I'm done with the written part of the journal, everybody and their brother comes in and wants to use a computer. So, rightfully so, they kicked me off! Now I have to carry this CD around with me until I get to Gatlinburg in a week. Pictures first! After that harrowing experience, I needed a beer. Red and my hotel guy told me to go to Mickey's for a beer to watch the Masters...said Across the Traxx was the other bar in town, but it was redneck. The laundry guy and the waitress at the Italian joint said the exact same thing...but opposite! It's a very, very small town in the hills of NC with only two bars, people! Anyway, I didn't really care, but I was closer to Across the Traxx so I went there...fun bar! Great selection of beer, Masters and Braves on TV, and a mean burger and onion rings...just what I needed to calm my nerves after that library debacle. Oh, and strawberry shortcake for dessert...ummm...ummm...good. Last, but not least, a quick comment for anyone who may want to send a care package at some point: please send it so it will arrive a few days before I say I'm going to get there. The schedule I sent out was pretty hi-level and more of a guideline...I'm already one day ahead and will be two days ahead by the time I get to Gatlinburg. Also, please use this journal as a guide to where I'm at even though I only update it once a week...no way I'll get ahead or behind more than one day in a week. Another key is to send the packages at least priority mail...that way if I miss them the PO will forward them at no charge. JJ...thanks for my first care package...I really appreciate it! Sorry I was not able to pick it up in Bryson City, but I did get it forwarded to Hot Springs. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center/Bryson City

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail again! Well, first I needed to get to the trail...that's right...another opportunity to hitch. Today was a cool morning around freezing, but clear, blue skies and a forecast of low 70's. Thought it would be easier to hitch a ride in these conditions...and I had an inside source. Met a river guide at the bar the night before and she said she had 3 guides that would be taking this exact road up to the NOC before 8:30. So, I got out to the road about 8...got picked up in about 10 minutes. It wasn't one of the guides though...it was Crazy Sally. She got me up there, but what a ride! She had one bad life story after another and kept forgetting to look at the road while she was talking...liked to look me in the eyes. Also kept forgetting where she was taking me...kept having to ask me about every 3 minutes. Anyway, we finally got there and was just going to had her my credit card and tell her to go have some fun with it, for goodness sakes. I did give her $10 and she was the happiest woman alive. I also broke down and finally bought some trekking poles at the NOC outfitter. Probably spent too much for them at this place, but most everyone on the trail has them and swears they cut down the stress on the knees. Today should have been a pretty tough day as there was a lot of climbing to do: starting with a 3,000 ft climb over the first 6 miles and then a quick down of 400 ft and quick rise of 800 ft over the final two miles. It really didn't seem that bad...not sure if it was the new poles, the zero day, or the cooler weather...or a combo of all of them. Ended up camping by a water source with two other couples: Troll & Hopper and Yuri & Nissa. Also met John and Just Lisa on the tral today...nice couple. Hitting the sack early tonight...hiker midnight is when the sun goes down...about 8:30 right now. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

I really need to do something about getting my day started earlier. I usually wake up around 6, but don't really start doing anything until 7...and I can't seem to leave camp before 9. C'mon! Sun's up by 7:30 right now and I love hiking in the morning when it's cool and everything is waking up. Not sure what my problem is, but I'm going to work on it the next couple of months . Anyway, got up around 7 today and hit the trail around 9:15. Just a side note for Mr. Daily: all the shelters in GA actually had privies (outhouses) with toilet seats, NC not so much...first cathole today as I couldn't "walk it off". Another gorgeous day...morning was cool, but nice...probably around 75 and sunny. Regular GA/NC day...on the roller coaster. One major climb about mid-morning, but otherwise not too bad. Went back and forth on the trail with Juri & Nissa in the morning and then caught up with John & Just Lisa right before lunch. Ended up hiking with them the rest of the afternoon...nice couple and made the afternoon fly by. Got to the shelter about 4:30 and said good-bye to John & Just Lisa until tomorrow at Fontana Dam as they wanted to go a few more miles. Before they left though, Yuri & Nissa showed up and we all chatted a while...they had been trying to run into each other for the last day or so. So, tonight at the shelter we have Yuri, Nissa, Moose, Tetherball, Biscuit, Cody, and random old guy who smells really, really, really, bad...and he's sleeping right next to me! Now, I know I don't smell fresh as a daisy and he might even be saying the same thing about me, but c'mon! And of course he had to be different and set up his bag so his feet are down by my head. They are not in his bag yet as I'm writing this...   Anyway, short day tomorrow (7 miles) as we get into Fontana Dam and I'll probably stay at the shelter...also known as the Fontana Hilton on the trail because it is the one of the very few shelters that actually has showers. Short day because I need to re-supply and shower before we hit the Smoky Mountains right on the other side of the dam. Dying to know who won the Masters, but today is the first day I can't get a signal on my phone. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Nice night of sleep in a real bed...definitely better than the shelter and worth the $60. Caught the shuttle back to the marina with Yuri, Nissa, Gingersnap, and ???...got started around 9:30. Long day today...lots of uphill...again gaining about 3,000 ft in 6-7 miles, some flat, going down about 800 ft and back up 1,000 ft over a couple miles to get to the shelter. Cool morning, but got hot after noon...75/80. It was about a mile walk from the marina to the actual Dam...on the other other side begins the Smokies. You can even see a fire tower on top of Shuckstack Mountain where I plan to have a late lunch...can't believe I'll make it that far before lunch...looks very far away...and high! Pretty uneventful hike up to Shuckstack...all uphill and a lot of heavy breathing. The fire tower on top is not part of the AT (there is a short .2 mile trail that leads up to it from the AT), so I dropped my pack to make the short climb up to it. Great views...pretty rickety old fire tower though. Also had the remnants of what must have been a small cabin for whoever was doing the fire watching...cool stone chimney. On the way back down, Yuri was coming up. He asked me if I saw the bear message in the dirt at the bottom of the trail...evidently there had been a bear in the area around 11...it was now 1:30. He said my pack was still there and Nissa was down at the bottom looking after their packs. Never really crossed my mind when I left my pack, but we had been hearing stories of bears taking people's packs. I get down to Nissa and there is a message in the dirt right next to my pack...not sure how I missed it! Anyway, hiked a bit more to a campground/water source and had lunch with Yuri/Nissa. The afternoon was basically long and hot and I got into the shelter around 5:30. Lots of people here as you HAVE to stay in the designated shelters/campsites in the Smokies: Yuri, Nissa, Biscuit, Cody, Charlie, Gingersnap, ???, and few others...can't seem to remember Gingersnap's husband/boyfriend's name...something "man". Might be a long, restless night in the shelter with this many people. Actually, who am I kidding...I usually sleep through most of it. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

OK, probably getting sick of hearing this, but I'm not...beautiful and sunny today. I was wrong...not a great night's sleep...there were about 14 of us in the shelter: too many people moving around, snoring, etc. and I didn't get to sleep before all that started happening...that is the key for me. Got on the trail around 9...nothing new there. Today is supposed to be a lot easier than yesterday...more roller coaster than just mainly straight up. Made really good time before lunch at 2 although there seemed to be a lot of discrepencies between the mileage in my guidebook and the signs on the trail, so didn't know which one to go with. Actually took the uphill portions fairly quickly today...not as many short stops during the climb like early on in the trip...just powered through them. Actually may be slower on the downhills as they are kind of tough on my left knee. The new poles are really a big help on both the uphills and downhills. Right before lunch, I climbed Rocky Top. I believe it is the one from the song, but it is hard to tell if we are in NC or TN as we keep crossing back and forth over the border...maybe if I had one of those map thingys. After lunch was a bit weird...only had 4 miles to go, so I should get into camp by 4. Anyway, the guidebook and signs on the trail still did not match up at all, so it was difficult to figure out where I was or how far I had to go. I went into one gap and thought I had 1 mile to go...yippee! Well, I went over another hill and expected to see the shelter. What did I see? A downhill to another gap! So, evidently, I was off a gap and still had another mile to go...dammit! After all that, it was only 4 miles to the shelter because I did get in around 4. Another shelter located on top of a mountain, so you have a decent climb (600-1,000 ft) right at the end of the day. Nice the Smokies want the shelters to have a nice view, but I'm getting tired of these climbs at the end of the day! Probably abot 16-18 of us in the shelter tonight including: Yuri, Nissa, Scavenger, Bobkat, Biscuit, Cody, Zoe, Tebow, and others. Had a nice fire tonight with everyone...thanks for getting it started, Biscuit! Hopefully a better night's sleep tonight...long day tomorrow as we go 14-15 miles and ascend/descend the highest point on the AT, Clingman's Dome, tomorrow. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Another gorgeous day...we are getting so lucky with the weather...knock on wood. Going to be a long day as we're doing 14 miles with the highest point on the AT (Clingman's Dome-6,643 ft) at about the 10 mile mark. Got started a little earlier today...8:30...nice job, Buzz! The plan was to get a lot of miles in in the morning and have a late lunch on top of Clingmans. Did good time before noon...weather was cool, but sunny and we were finally hiking in what I would call a forest. There were a lot of evergreens and we were walking in shade a lot of the day...before this we were mainly walking in forests of birch/maple/etc. so none of them had leaves yet. Didn't have sunscreen the first few days...that layer of skin was unnecessary anyway as it all finished peeling off a couple of days ago. The last 2.5 miles up Clingmans was tough after noon! My book doesn't show the elevation change, but I'm guessing 1,500-2,000 ft over that stretch. What I'm trying to say is straight up (ok, maybe not, but pretty steep)! They have an observation deck where you get incredible 360 views. They also had the skyline outlines with the mountain names like the fire tower on Wesser Bald...always nice to see where you've been and where you are headed. Had lunch with Yuri and Nissa at the Dome and then we had about 4 miles to our shelter. Unfortunately, my knee had been bothering me a bit yesterday and was really acting up today...at lot of swelling in the back and some pain in the front. Not bad going uphill, but didn't want to bend a lot going downhill. Anyway, the 4 miles left were downhill...good fun! Bascially followed Yuri and Nissa after lunch...Nissa was setting a good pace. Ran into some patches of snow and a lot of trees blown down over the trail on the way down...made it tricky in spots. Couldn't believe there was still patches of snow as hot as it has been. Got to the shelter around 5...long day, but great views. Also didn't help that the shelter was .5 miles off the trail and the water source was another .2 miles from the shelter. Have another full shelter again tonight: Yuri, Nissa, Biscuit, Cody, Tebow, Scavenger, and quite a few others. Have about 5 miles to go in the morning to get to Newfound Gap where I'll hitch a ride into Gatlinburg for a zero day on Saturday. Good timing as I think I need to ice the knee down a bit and rest it. Also, think second in command toe on the right foot is ready to give up on its toenail...thought it would come off with the duct tape today, but it's still hanging on. Think it will be better to take it off tomorrow when I'm in a more hygenic place...like a cheap motel in Gatlinburg. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Mount Collins Shelter

To: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: few clouds

Short day today as I go into Newfound Gap and from there Gatlinburg. Unfortunately had to say good-bye to my hiking pals for the last few days, Yuri and Nissa. Nissa is starting a new job and her walk ends at the end of the Smokies in a few days. Yuri may be back on the trail in a couple of weeks, so we may meet up again...nice hiking with you guys! Nice cool morning for hiking and a sunny afternoon. Got started around 8:30. The morning went quick as most of it was downhill...a few climbs just to keep it interesting. Knee was bothering me a bit, but Nissa had given me a neoprene brace she had used earlier on the trail and it helped give me some support. Got to Newfound Gap around 11 and into town by 12. A nice older couple from Toronto gave me a ride into town and even gave me some oranges when I got out...nice! Stayed at the Grand Prix motel...very hiker friendly as they have good rates, a laundry area, and are very friendly and helpful. Gatlinburg is probably just like you heard or have seen...very touristy. Kind of a weird town to find in the Smokies...lots of t-shirt shops, mini-golf courses, Ripley's museum, etc. Also, Dollywood is very close and on the trolley line (basically a bus they paint to make look like a trolley). Great to have a trolley though as the town is a bit spread out and it makes getting to restaurants/stores easier...usually have to walk a lot in these towns to get all your chores done, so this is very nice. Couldn't pass up Flapjacks on my way by to my hotel, so went in and had second breakfast...berry pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuit, and a side of ham....ummmm ummmm good. Checked in and saw a few other hikers like Bobkat, Zoe, Scavenger, Maple, Brian, Troll, Hopper, and a few others throughout my stay. Did a few chores like showering, cleaning my gear and laundry...always great to have clean clothes...and a clean body. Funny how I don't look in a mirror all week...got in and looked at my hair...sticking up all over the place...it's growing! OK, not by leaps and bounds, but it's actually sticking up somewhat. Iced my knee and watched some HBO...not sure, kind of fell asleep for awhile. Made a bunch of calls and did a few emails/texts. Updated the journal and even got some pictures up...haven't had time to put any descriptions on them yet, but hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow. Also want to get some of Todd's pics up from the beginning of the trip...he's a lot better at taking pics than me and he has some good ones. Went to dinner at a sports bar and watched the Braves kick the Rockies...nice to see a game. Came home, iced the knee again, and watched some more TV...can't get enough of it! Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg

To: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Aaahhhh...a zero day...very nice. And guess what? It's cloudy and rainy today...good timing! It did get nice after noon, but I love the fact that it rained on my zero day and the forecast for the next 7 days looks nice and rain free. Didn't do a lot today. Thought about going to Dollywood, but it's a 45 minute trolley ride each way and I didn't really feel like spending that much time on it. I did have to go to the store and re-supply food for the next round of hiking...that took longer than I thought as the store was on the other side of town, so it ended up taking about 2 hours with all the trolley changes/stops. Did some more journaling/emails/calls...didn't get to the pictures yet...maybe after dinner. Also iced down the knee a few times today...feeling a little better and the swelling is down...we'll see how it feels when I start hiking again tomorrow. The toenail finally gave up the ghost today as well. Well, I did have to help it a bit. Funny thing was, the bottom of the toenail was completely unattached, but the top had somehow become "glued" to the top of the toe...basically the top of the blister. Anyway, looks and feels pretty good...I think I gave it enough time to dry up and heal over. Well, I'm off to dinner...thinking steak tonight, but not sure what everyone else might be up for. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Alright, back on the trail again. One last comment about yesterday as I wrote the journal entry on-line before dinner: finally got rid of the Crocs that have been bugging the crap out of me the whole trip! They just didn't fit right and were slippery inside when they got wet...hated them even though they are very light and everyone on the trail has them. Screw that...I need something I'm comfortable in when the boots come off at night...bougt a cheap pair of Tevas and wore them the rest of the night...love them!. All the shuttles were booked until 4pm today, so I threw down 3 Krispy Kreme donuts and a banana for good measure and headed down to the road to Newfound Gap to hitch a ride (15 miles). Nice sunny day, but a cold morning...about 35 going up to 65. Took about 20 minutes and then Paul picked me up. He was heading back to Charlotte after doing a section hike with some buddies. Nice guy...gave me some good tips ont he terrain to come...Thanks, Paul! Finally got started around 10. Easy hike today...small roller coaster with some excellent ridge walking. The ridge was about 15 feet wide and you could see off either side forever...the valley to the right and the Smokies to the left...awesome views (my pics won't do it justice...when I post them). Also went out to Charlie's Bunion...basically a rock slide created some cool rock formations to climb on and get a great view of the valley. Overall, a great, short day! Good thing, the left knee wasn't cooperating today...not on the downhill or the uphill. With my many years in Finance/Accounting, my diagnosis is two fold: I have the same problem I started with in the back of my knee which I think I can deal with by getting another cortizone shot in the next week or so. I also have a new problem on the front of my left knee which I think is more of a patella thing which some people warned me about. For those of you without the years of schooling and experience I have in Finance/Accounting, kneecap is the layman's term for patella. Hopefully, the neoprene knee brace Nissa gave me helps with that...I would hope to see some improvement in that soon...cross my fingers. Lots of people at the shelter tonight as a lot of people were zeroing in Gatlinburg and the next shelter is 6 miles down the trail: Smiley, Entertainer, Tourguide, Bobkat, Scavenger, Chili, Pepper, Bobaloo, Hans, others. Had a nice fire inside the shelter tonight...most of the shelter in the Smokies have had fireplaces built in for the winter time and it's pretty cold tonight. Not enough places in the shelter tonight, so a lot of people are cowboy camping...just a sleeping pad and bag on the ground...glad I got here early. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

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

Great night's sleep...didn't want to get out of the bag though...low 30's this morning. Good hiking weather, but a bit cold...cloudy most of the day with a high of 65. Got out about 8:30 today...the cold helped a bit. Little confused when I left this morning...couldn't tell which way to go. When I get in each night, I usually tell myself which way I need to go when I leave the shelter...I believe I did this, but it all seems to run together now. Sun is usually on your right when you leave as we are going North...unfortunately, the trail was directly into the sun or at your back when I left this morning. The compass, of course, said the trail went either E or W...not very helpful. Anyway, for the next 2 miles I kept looking for a clue to see if I was going the right way...everything looks the same! Also scared because Pepper told the story last night how him and Chili did a 6 mile zero day...went 3 miles the wrong way and then back to their original camping spot in the a cold, wet rain. I finally got to a fallen tree across the trail that I knew I hadn't crossed the day before...phew! Had lunch at a shelter about 1/2 way through the walk today and finally saw some wildlife...a deer. OK, not that exciting, but everyone else seems to have seen all kinds of wildlife and all I've seen is some hawks and a salamander (the hawks are pretty cool though when they are riding thermals and you are at the top of a mountain and they are just 15 feet away from you at eye level). So, a deer is a big deal to me now even though I saw more deer driving into work at the CheckFree campus every morning. So far, OTHER people have seen: bears, deer, wild boars, and turkeys. Got to the shelter around 4:30...cold night again. Nice section hiker already collected a ton of wood earlier in the day for a fire, so now he has a roaring fire going in the shelter. Less people tonight as some pushed on to the next shelter: Bobkat, Scavenger, Smiley, Entertainer, Gibbitz, Leonidas, Tour Guide, Chili, Pepper, Hans, Bobaloo, etc. Cheers.