morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Licklog Gap, NC

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter, NC
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

One long day of hiking. Circuit Rider and Sherlock were gone by 7am. Very quiet breaking camp. I didn't hit the trail until about 11am. Met AWOL at Tellico Gap. At Wesser Bald the weather was nice and the view from the fire tower/platform was super. The picture is of Lobster Boy leaning over the railing. Dark Helmet made it a few minutes later. The Wesser Bald Shelter was full so I figured I'd find a camp site on the way down to the N.O.C. Nope! It is one intense drop from 4115' down to 2300' and 4.9 miles of trail. Much closer to rock climbing than hiking. Very slow going. The rain had looked like it was done and at 8pm it was just getting dark when I got to the Rufus Morgan Shelter. Debated pushing on in the dark because there were 4 people in the shelter and 2 were already in their bags and I really didn't want to bug them but I was beat. Matt, Jessie, Smoke and Mutt were nice to make room for me because 15 min later it thunder stormed like crazy for the next 2 or 3 hours. If I would have done anything else I would have gotten soaked. It was really loud because the shelter roof slopes right down at the back and the rain was hammering the steel roof. That is only the 2nd shelter I've stayed in and both times it was because I hiked too late to find a good spot to camp. Live and learn. Turns out the N.O.C. was filled up so if I would have pushed on I would have been wet and out of luck.N.O.C. is the Nantahala Outdoor Center. A very cool place for white water rafting, mountain biking and are very good to hikers. Gotta go back there after the hike to play.
Date: 2005-04-08
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter, GA

To: Locust Cove Gap, NC
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

4-8-05The .7 miles to the N.O.C. did take a little longer than I thought it would. Visited the fine facilities and then started up the hill. It is rough getting down to the N.O.C. and it is tough getting out! The climb lasts for about 6 miles. Killer. Was about to the top and was getting water at a spring when Circuit Rider and Sherlock passed. Then got water again at Sassafras Gap Shelter. A lot of people were passing through and also staying there. Another killer climb up to Cheoah Bald. Thrifty and Bootleg were setting up camp there. Another awesome site but it was starting to rain again and I didn't want to worry about lightning way up there so hiked down to Locust Cove Gap. Circuit Rider, Sherlock, Tank, Willow, Last Minute, Freeheel and Motoring were already set up there. Found a flat spot where the water runs off and got lucky there was no more rain. There were 3 first time thru hikers and 5 previous thru hikers there. It is interesting to here what the "old timers" have to say. It sprinkled a bit more and everyone went to bed early.
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Locust Cove Gap, NC

To: Stecoah Gap, NC
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: broken clouds

Poor Freeheel. Went to visit behind the bushes and got scared half to death by two turkey hunters. She said they just stood still and stared at her. She stared back and they didn't leave so she booked back around to the tents. The hunters walked through camp saying something about not thinking anybody else would be up that early. Kind of a strange start to the day.Trail Magic!!! The best so far. Hopeful '03 celebrates his birthday each year by putting on a feast for the current thru hikers. It was at Stecoah Gap and it was GREAT! That was where I was meeting my resupply so it gave me an excuse to hang out until my ride showed up two and a half hours later. The weather was warm and sunny and it was a super time. Got to talk to Ox for a while. I think he did it in '93 if I remember it right. And he is also on the cover of the ATC Databook. I met someone Famous! Good fun!A Girl with a full truck (the in-laws and all my resupply stuff) showed up and got to meet some of the people I've been hiking with. Then took me to civilization and more good food and a fun little motel (called Tuskeegee Motel) that I stayed at last fall with my father in law when we were out Harley riding in the mountains. We drove to Fontana Dam to check it out and pick up a back country permit. The leaves are really coming out in the valleys and it was beautiful.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Stecoah Gap, NC

To: -----
Miles today: 0.0

It is good to take a zero day. Had breakfast at a strange little fast food place. Nice rocking chairs out front. Can't remember the name of the place but it was something like Smoky Mountain Restaurant and Creamery. Then went to look at some of the last virgin forest in the East. (Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest with 3,000 acres of virgin forest.) Really big trees. Nice two mile loop through the forest. Then drove down the Cherohala Skyway. It¢s a scenic road between Robbinsville, North Carolina and Tellico Plains, Tennessee. This highway climbs to more than 5,000 feet in elevation.Had lunch of fried chicken all you can eat. Did laundry. And then cut south down through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Drove up to Clingmans Dome and hiked up to that. It was really quite clear and the view was great. Saw the sunset from up there. Probably won't be that nice when I hike through! It is really up there. Kind of scary thinking about hiking up to it on foot.Everyone was hungry and we figured we were out of luck so late on a Sunday night. But just south of the park we found a Ponderosa buffet that was still open and we closed that place down. Mmmmm! Should have gotten that second bowl of ice cream but we were the only customers left. Oh well.Was up past midnight sorting out gear. It was a really good long day.
Date: 2005-04-12
From: Unnamed Rocky Summit, NC

To: Birch Spring Tent Site, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 10.3

Dave got up at the break of day and got an early start. He was very quite at breaking camp. Don't know how they do it. I was on the trail by 8:45am. Early for me. It was dry breaking camp but then it started to rain on and off. For being able to see the dam it took a long time to get to it. I was just about to the info board and reading a sign when Cup came screaming and hollering down the trail and passed me and jumped down the stairs. Yelling he was the first hiker to make it there this morning. Hated to tell him Dave was sitting on a bench around the corner. With Elf.... Cup is a hoot! There were restrooms there at the marina and a Coke machine that only gave out Sprite. 3 different people tried 3 different buttons. All Sprite. Go figure. A bunch of people caught the shuttle to Fontana. Hiked the mile to the Fontana Hilton Shelter. That's what it is called. Big sign on the wall. Nice huge shelter. Some gear was there but no people. Cooked up some lunch while the rain held off. Been carrying those corn noodles for weeks. They were terrible. Like glue. The alfredo sauce almost made them edible. I did eat it all. Carried it this far I'm going to eat it darn it!Some guys came back to the shelter. One guy decided to head back to the town because of the rain. The other guy asked me if I smoked pot. Um, NO! Interesting first question... For some people that seems to be what the trail is all about. Shelter-palooza.Had dropped off the permit at the marina so was good to cross the dam to the Smoky Mtn Park.Oh, did hear that the Crazy Dead Hunter finally stumbled past the last shelter. Told them he had drank a 12 pack and that was why he had been passed out on the trail all day. And he had another 12 pack waiting for him at home. Talk about giving hunters a bad name. Drink a 12 pack and pass out on the AT with a shotgun. Brilliant!Made it over the dam around 1pm and started my Smoky Mtn National Park adventure! And so far it has been all uphill. In the rain. Made it to the tent sites and was whooped. Dave had passed me and was getting water there. The rain stopped and got the tent set up and had supper. And the sun even came out a bit. Just been sitting in the tent with my boots off catching up on the journal. It is 8:30pm and getting dark so time for bed. Sounds like I have a neighbor camping here with me. Gotta go out any ways so might as well take a look.
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Birch Spring Tent Site, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Spence Field Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Broke camp in a lull in the rain. Wet tent but nicer than packing up in a rainstorm. Said hi to the other guy who camped there and then he was gone. It rained most of the day. Was about froze when I got to Mollies Ridge Shelter. Ate lunch and was really cold then. Nice shelter. Newly remodeled. Found out later 4 horses and 3 people with the horses stayed there. Unfortunately they trashed the place. It hailed during the night and the horses broke the hitching post loose. The horses ended up in the shelter. What a mess. They did more damage than all the hikers in a year or more could do. The riders were just in way over their heads. Too bad.Just about ran to the next shelter to warm up. Was very happy when the feeling came back in my fingers.Was a bit slower getting to Spence Field Shelter. Dave was there along with Bravo, Mud Hen and Marrell. Spelled like the mushroom whatever that spelling is. Marrell got a great fire going in the fireplace. Not bad at all!
Date: 2005-04-14
From: Spence Field Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Silers Bald Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Cold morning. But the sun came out. Sun is good. Clouds came and went. Good hiking.Stopped at Derrick Knob Shelter for lunch. The AT Three was there. Naked Sun, York and then Ox. York is down with Kiyosaki getting into the real estate thing. Good talking to him.Cracker showed up and set up his tent. Nice grassy field. We figured maybe we would set up tents at the next shelter even though you are not supposed to unless the shelter is full.At Silers Bald Shelter there was a Ridge Runner, a Volunteer and a Ranger with an AR15 rifle with a heavy silenced barrel. No tents for us. The Ranger was hunting wild hogs. He said they were not native and the can really tear up the land. I think they got over a hundred this year already.So, everyone behaved themselves and went to bed early for the most part. A couple kids talked while everyone else was trying to sleep. Darn kids. Dug out my ear plugs. Oh that is where it is at. Didn't even hear the people getting up in the morning. Nice!
Date: 2005-04-15
From: Silers Bald Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Mt. Collins Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

A little bit of a late start but made a hot breakfast. Freeze dried eggs and bacon. Not to bad.Hiked with the MP3 player for the first time. Nice to hike with a soundtrack. The sun was out and it was clear. Beautiful. The hike up to Clingmans Dome was not bad. The trail follows a ridge and the views are great.Met Moon Pie and Mother. Mother is a guy. They were really nice. Had to climb up the outlook to see the views. Then 4 more miles to the shelter. Nice to have a easy day.At the shelter turnoff there was Drifter, Vogue, Pumpkin, Moon Pie and Mother. They pushed on. I had met Drifter at the start of the hike.At the shelter now. Someone got a good fire going. They say it is going to freeze hard tonight. It is cold now. Shannon, Puk and Cracker are here and a couple more just showed up. Still room for a few more.Someone said Hot Flash is getting off the trail. Saw her while hiking with my Mom in Law.Time to warm up my sleeping bag.
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Mt. Collins Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Newfound Gap, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

Earplugs Rule! I think I actually got to sleep last night before everyone else last night. And everyone got up early this morning. Not bad. Someone was boiling water on the bunk above me. Not too thrilled to see that. Got out from under that quick. He didn't spill it. Shelters are nuts.Got back to the trail about 40 minutes late. Hiked a ways and found wonderful trail magic. Thanks to the Brewers! I had been craving deviled eggs. And they had them. Yummy! It always lifts your spirit to find someone out looking after us hikers.It was a nice mostly downhill hike to Newfound Gap. My resupply Girl was waiting for me! Turns out we were both hoping we had the day right. I had moved it up a day at the last minute. We decided we would write it down in the future!Got a room at the Grand Prix Motel in Gatlinburg, TN. They really treat the hikers well. Internet computer and washing machine onsite. Very nice. They gave us a late checkout even so we could just walk to brunch. 5 egg omelet, loaded. That after the Shoneys buffet the day before. Wow. Eating good. Am down 20lb already after 28 days. Gonna have to slow that down. Hmmm. Guess I'm getting ahead of myself...Going to have to come back to Gatlinburg to do the tourist thing. What a town...Life is Good!Flying Brutus
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Newfound Gap, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Icewater Spring Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, started today's journal yesterday. So any ways, after the 5 egg omelet....Stopped by the Happy Hiker Outfitter. Super nice place. Got these tubes that look like big toothpaste tubes that you can fill with things like jam and peanut butter. Yum. Worked good for supper. Got out of the hotel at 2pm. Almost ran over Cup. Good to see him. Nice drive back to the gap. On the trail at 3pm. Short 3 miles to the shelter. It is packed. Over 20 people with more due in. I claimed the 2nd thru hiker spot so hopefully I shouldn't get bumped out. There are a bunch of Ridge Runners and maybe Rangers here. Tomorrow they are airlifting in a new outhouse. Technically it is a Composting Privy. And they are flying out the old one. If they really worked why would they have to fly out the old one? And why not add one at a Shelter that doesn't have one first? Things that make you wonder.There are a Bunch of tents set up. A regular city. I'm looking forward to getting out of the Smokys. Too many rules and people here.Great weather for a really short hike.
Date: 2005-04-17
To: Resupply Girl
Miles today: 0.0

Well, everyone is telling me I need to journal my adventures being the ¢support¢ for Flying Brutus. So this is a test entry.This weekend was a slice of heaven! Not only did I successfully find Brutus (batting 4/4 - Love the GPS!) but I got to sleep (the long uninterrupted type) Didn¢t get out of bed until after 11:00 on Sunday. This gave Brutus plenty of time to go through all the bounce box supplies and totally organize, reorganize and create a list of supplies for me to bring next time.Since he¢s been on the trail, between work and visiting him (driving to and from), I haven¢t had a down day. So I really needed the sleep and time to do nothing.The weekend was really fun (doing nothing) and as always, I can¢t wait until next time I see him.
Date: 2005-04-18
From: Icewater Spring Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: few clouds

Well, never did get to see the flying privy. Some people waited quite a while but the helicopter got there late. I think I saw it a few hours after I left. A big yellow one. Wasn't carrying anything. Oh well.A Ranger showed up in the morning at the shelter and was nice enough to have us check and make sure we still had our back country permits. What a nice fellow. I did ask him about why they were replacing the privy. Guess this one was too top heavy and it made it dangerous to move from side to side. Yep they have to shift them around to keep the composting going.So it is not like they were flying a full outhouse out. Just the superstructure. That's my story any ways.More sunny warm weather. Nice hiking. Met Beantown and Strider on the trail.Tri-Corner Knob Shelter was PACKED! Someone counted 26 people and there were people on the dirt floor sleeping in the morning. Unreal! The top bunk level was full so I got a corner lower spot. Whoever redid that shelter must have been really short. There was not much more than 2 feet clearance. I could barely get in and couldn't come close to sitting up. Very uncomfortable. And the bottom level was packed too. Earplugs in and it was a rough night.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter, Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

To: Campsite OUT of the Park, State Line Branch River
Miles today: 16.4

What an uncomfortable night. Got on the trail and had a good long day. Weather was great. One long climb up Mt. Cammerer. Ran into the first biting bugs of the hike for me. Little vamp drew blood. Not a mosquito but it took a chunk out of my leg and made it bleed. The bug died a quick death. Then a nice long gradual decent to Davenport Gap. It was wonderful. A very fast walk. Almost a jog. For an hour or more. What a way to rack up miles. Checked out the last shelter in the park and moved on out of the park. Good riddance to shelters!Hiked a mile or so into the regular National Forest and found a wonderful spot on a little island in the river. There is a fire pit and people have been camping here before. Nice to hear water on both sides. Nice big mosquitos down here in the valley too. It was something coming down the mountain to look around and see leaves on the trees and a lot of ground cover all with leaves. It is really spring down here. Gotta dig out the bug dope.... And I'm still loving having a real tent to keep the critters out.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Campsite OUT of the Park, State Line Branch River

To: Hawk's Roost, NC/TN Border
Miles today: 11.3

That was a really nice island campsite. Cup, Cricket and Spoon Man checked it out but decided there was not enough room. They camped about a quarter mile down the trail. Passed them in the morning. Got to the road bridge over the Pigeon River. A guy was taking water samples. He said there is a paper mill upstream. Used to be you could walk across the river on the foam he said. If you had poison ivy you took a dip in the river and it cured it. If your dog had the mange you tossed it in the river to fix it. Ah, the good old days.Visited the Standing Bear Hostel by accident. Was talking to Epic Flop and following a group of people when I realized I hadn't seen any blazes for a while. Oh well, looked like a nice place but I didn't need anything so I hiked back down to the trail.It is a long uphill out of there. Saw the FAA VOR Tower on the top of Snowbird Mtn. A lot of people were pushing on to Max Patch Bald to watch the sunset but my legs were done.Got the tent up at Hawk's Roost and since the coals were still hot in the pit I made a nice fire to keep the gnats away. Works wonders. As soon as the fire lit the bugs were gone. I'd like to think they all flew into the fire. Good riddance.It was sunny and really hot to be climbing mountains. Legs were still sore and tired from the long day yesterday. Might make it a short day tomorrow. Especially if the rain comes.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Hawk's Roost, NC/TN Border

To: Campsite by river past Lemon Gap, NC/TN Border
Miles today: 10.0

Nice camp site last night. No water there so didn't have much breakfast. Hiked a half mile to Brown gap to get water and what did I find? Ox and Pat were setting up Major Trail Magic! Eggs and sausage and OJ and strawberries and more. Helped them set up a bit and then feasted. Life is good! It was good to see them again.Got to hike up Max Patch Bald. It is a huge grassy mountain top. Beautiful. Then it thundered so I got down quick.It was sunny and cloudy and thundering all day. Only one little sprinkle got me. A very nice day.Got to within 14 miles of Hot Springs, NC so might get an early start and see if I can make it there tomorrow. Saturday is TrailFest and that could make for an interesting zero day.Got another nice campsite by a river. It would be nice if the rain holds off. In a few days they are calling for more snow in the higher elevations. Here we go again...
Date: 2005-04-22
From: Campsite by river past Lemon Gap, NC/TN Border

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Another nice camp site last night. Ten minutes before I was planning on getting up some noisy hikers came by. Oh well. They must have gotten a really early start. Got on the trail before 9am and hiked until noon before the thunder rolled in and it got nasty. I was just finishing lunch in Garenflo Gap. Rain with wind. Warm enough that you sweat in the raincoat and just enough rain so you don't want to take it off. So 3 hours of hiking in that. Passed the gravestones next to the AT. One looked hand carved and was for a lady who died around 1940 and it said something like "Absent but not Dead". Kinda spooky. Then around 1966 the husbands stone looked modern and said something like "Gone but not Forgotten". Wish I could have gotten pictures but it was raining. Got really lucky then and missed the hail. Started seeing marble sized ice chunks piled all along the trail. It missed me but people in town said it really stung when it hit them.Made really good time and got into town around 3pm. The hike through town doesn't take long and got a campsite for two nights at the Hot Springs Resort Campground. $5 a night, can't beat it, with real facilities and showers. Blotter and Gozer set up tents there too and we had a picnic table. Turns out they were the noisy hikers from the morning. Go figure... Found out the train tracks about 500 feet away are very well used. Sounds like the train is coming straight for your tent. And there is a rooster that cuts loose at 4am. Slept with earplugs both nights.I was about out of food so it was really nice to get restaurant food for supper. All the hotels, both of them, were full for TrailFest but the town wasn't that crowded.A good long day.
Date: 2005-04-23
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It rained a good bit last night. Finally went into town around 10am for breakfast. Cracker told me that they were giving away free socks if you registered for TrailFest. Got 2 pairs of really nice wool socks from Columbia. Thanks to them for donating them. Spent 2 hours at the restaurant getting breakfast. They were packed. Went back in the rain to town and listened to some live music in a tent they had set up. Got cold so kept walking. A lady had a few tables set up with books and cookies and stuff for sale to benefit the Library. Decided to pass up the rice crispy treats and spent my quarter on 2 books. The weather was cold and rainy so spent most of the rest of the day in the tent reading, sleeping or out by the fire. Had supper at the camp store. That might not have been a good idea. Can't say for sure with everything else I ate. Seemed good at the time. Chicken tender salad... Oh well. Can't win them all.They were calling for snow and it felt like it so went to bed kinda early. Not a very nice day for a TrailFest...
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs and Asheville, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, got to wake up to snow again. Not a lot but it stuck. Went to the camp store for breakfast but they were cleaning the fryer. Hmmm, makes you wonder. So had trail mix and a 7Up. Not bad in the snow. About froze my fingers off breaking camp. Even with gloves on. Hiked back through town to our resupply meeting place. My Resupply Girl was 2 minutes early. 5 for 5 for the GPS. Gotta love it. She brought the 2 dogs so had a full car going to the Super 8 in Asheville, NC. They are pet friendly and it was nice to spent time in a hotel! McD's for lunch and burgers for the dogs. Applebee's for supper. Mmmmm. 4 good hours of sleep and then thought I was gonna die. Got bad food somewhere. So it was really nice to be in a warm hotel!Any day my Resupply Girl finds me is a good day!