morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Erwin Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

The hostel grounds were full of hikers once again last night. Most hikers wanting to do the entire AT in a year generally start between March 1 and April 15 from Springer Mountain, so we are in the midst of that bubble of folks. New nomenclature: slack pack. This is when someone gets a lift to a point in the trail and then hikes to another point without carrying the full pack. Generally a person will have a small day pack or belt pack, thus generating the expression 'slack pack'. After lugging around a full backpack for a month, this feels heavenly. Today I engaged in slack packing when a shuttle took me and nine other hikers from this hostel to Iron Mountain Gap 20 miles away. We then hiked back here to the hostel (averaging better than 3 mph up and down mountains), carrying only the lightest of gear. Tomorrow I will catch the shuttle again and return to that gap with my full pack, and continue north. That's one way of slack packing, and I enjoyed it and got in some big miles plus a shower and bunk upon return. Who says all hiking has to be hard core??Today the hike is dedicated to Mary Lee. ML has faithfully worked on staff with me most of my time in Sarnia, and she probably knows my quirks as well as anyone. That can be good, and that can be bad... You'll have to ask her which.Hiking back south meant I was swimming against the stream of all the NOBOs, so I had maybe four dozen of them pass me in the opposite direction. It ended up being an opportunity to have reunions with some hikers I haven't seen in a while. It was good to see Doublecheck, Sundog (with whom I had dinner last night at Pizza Hut), Socks and her wunderdog Doobie, and Fiber One whom I haven't seen in a week or more. The weather was beautiful for a hike though quite a bit warmer under 2000' in the vicinity of the hostel as opposed to very pleasantly cool air up high on Unaka Mountain at 5200'.The trail passed over another bald today: Beauty Spot. And indeed it was beautiful because of the great views under a bracing, delightfully cool breeze. Views are one of the best rewards for struggling up to the top of mountains. Unaka Mountain, on the other hand, was quite a bit higher than Beauty Spot and had to be mastered today, but there was no view. Boo!Tomorrow a cool front is to arrive late in the day bringing the potential of severe thunderstorms. I have to pass over 6,200' Roan Mountain during the day, so hopefully I can manage that before threatening weather arrives. My goal is Roan Mountain Shelter which is the highest one on the AT. Could be some interesting entertainment tomorrow night!
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

After three nights in a cozy bunk with warm showers it was time to escape the siren song of the hostel. So ten of us hikers plus a dog caught the 7:30 shuttle to Iron Mountain Gap, some to slack pack south like I did yesterday, the rest to continue north with full packs. And carrying five days of food meant the pack was indeed full.I hiked today for Ryan Young. He's one of a handful of persons in my circles of acquaintances who would actually like to be out here with me. Appreciate you, Hoser!Today's chief obstacle was getting to the top of Roan Mountain (6,200'). That involved a 2 1/2 mile slog rising 2,100' coming at the end of the day. On top of Roan are the remnants of a foundation of a 19th century resort hotel. People would take a narrow-gage railroad to Carver Gap and then a 12-mile carriage ride pulled by horses the rest of the way up in order to come stay there. The Tennessee/North Carolina state line ran through the center of the dining room, and Tennessee was a wet state while North Carolina was dry, thus allowing alcoholic beverages in one half of the room. Cost for a room in the 1880s: $1 per day.At 6,200' this shelter is the highest on the AT. It's very windy (all evergreen trees up here) and quite a bit chillier than Erwin at 1,800'. We're to have strong thunderstorms tonight with the arrival of a cold front. This shelter is completely closed in and has a loft. Too bad there's no fireplace because we could use it, assuming we could find dry wood to burn.
Date: 2011-04-28
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 15.2

There ended up being about fifteen hikers in the shelter with no one wanting to tent due to the impending weather. All we got was heavy rain and wind, though this system killed over 300 people in the states around us. It was a little chilly getting going at that altitude, but winter is definitely past.The hike today was dedicated to Karen Berger. Newest member of the staff, and a creative teammate. I love the new initiatives spilling out from her.What a fabulous day for hiking. I began with my rain jacket on and needed it for two hours to keep warm. What with all the rain overnight the trail was a stream full of water making its way off the mountain. Because of the lingering cloudiness up around 6,000' where much of the morning was spent, there were no views from Round or Jane Balds. But did that ever change!Little Hump Mountain, Hump Mountain and the Roan Highlands ridge are all balds and the views were fabulous. The air was bracing and perfect for hiking, though if you sat for very long you would get very cold. Because of the balds, the trail could be seen stretching great distances a la the Pacific Crest Trail, but rare indeed for the AT which is generally called "the tunnel of trees". And there were five longhorn cattle grazing with mammoth horns, plopped right on the trail on the ridgeline. I took a wide path around them. I enjoyed a chat with Spoon (Jimmy) on top of Hump, and it turns out he's an army brat who lived at West Point a while and is a member of the Wesleyan church.Something else special was crossing the Yellow Mountain Gap over which the Overmountain Men of the Revolutionary War had come to participate in the battle at King's Mountain, a decisive victory for the American forces. A bit of history that intrigued me.Upon reaching highway U.S. 19E I came .3m to this hostel. Disappointed that the few bunks were already taken and the B&B rooms are $90 each and up, I decided to tarp in the meadow next to the barn for $5. Shower and laundry were great, and the dinner run into town should be good.I saw several Rufus-sided Towhees, a Chestnut-sided Warbler up very close, and a huge deer who was in no hurry to move away from the trail.
Date: 2011-04-29
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: clear sky

It was a most refreshing night of sleep under the tarp in the field by the hostel. After a big breakfast (2 bananas, 2 cheese danishes, a poptart and a pint of whole milk totaling about 1,500 calories -- all made possible because of a quick stop at a grocery store last night during the dinner run to town),I was headed up the highway at 7:30. I hiked for Rick Venne today. He's full of energy and I love his zeal for new people. What a good friend he is, even to the point of going to India with me.The temperatures were refreshingly cool with moderate breezes. There were two excellent waterfalls (Jones and Mountaineer) and numerous rivers and streams. I arrived here later than my usual endpoint consistent with the longer mileage.Lots of people have pulled in for the night: Team Pacecar (Seth, Martin, Phil, Mike), Bam, Stacks, Guinness and Ally (a dog), Bald Eagle, and John. They are a pleasant bunch.We left North Carolina for good today after 200 miles along the border. I saw a Blue Bunting for the first time in my life. A gorgeous bird!
Date: 2011-04-30
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

The hike today was given over to Barb Peterson. I love her generous spirit and her deep commitment to reaching out to people who are different from her.It was such a serendipitous day, so unexpected. The cool air made for such nice hiking the first couple of hours. The trail soon took us to a beautiful gorge of Pond Branch, then after a very rough and long down over rock steps to the Laurel Fork Falls. It was yet another spectacular waterfall along this stretch of trail.But then the reality of hiking set in: 1,800' gain over two miles to the top of Pond Mountain on a very warm, brightly sunny mid-day. One big haul for two hours! Part way up Bam passed me, then a young lady hiker named Snorkal. As I chatted with her, three slack packers came down the mountain and told us that if you called from Pond Flats at the top of the mountain, you could order pizza to be delivered at the picnic area at the bottom. Instantly Snorkal turned to me and asked if I wanted to split a large pizza with her (I had been her acquaintance for all of 5 minutes at that point -- see how relationships work on the AT)? Well, sure!! We finished the struggle to the top (more precisely, she flew up and I labored up), the call was made on her cell phone (she first had to call her boyfriend to look up the number for the pizza store), and off we went on the 3.2 miles down the mountain to Watauga Lake picnic area. My half of the large pizza and 2 Liters of pop was great! And we had a delightful talk all the way down as she's half Japanese with multiple trips to visit family in Tokyo, one of the few people I've encountered who actually can relate to my three years living there. After eating, it was two easy miles to this shelter.Hey, who said this hiking had to be all pain and misery! :-) Thanks, Snorkal! May you set the record you're seeking.
Date: 2011-05-01
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: clear sky

What a grand day. Because I dedicated the hike to Murray Stephenson, maybe he should get the credit! He has such a great heart to touch hurting people, a quality that I appreciate so much.It ended up being only Bald Eagle and me at the shelter overnight. Interesting how you can go from so few to so many hikers night to night. He being one year older and about equally tall and slender, we have much the same rate of hiking. So we were within a quarter mile of each other the entire day. It turned into the longest distance hiking day I've ever completed at 21.2 miles.Starting at the level of Watauga Lake, you know we'd have to go up (water does go to the lowest place possible, right?) Over the first nine miles we had three stiff ups which put us on top of Iron Mountain, a long ridgeline the trail followed for 15 miles. But it was very easy trail with minimal ups and downs other than some MUDS, a stretch the hikers call the Tennessee Turnpike leading all the way to Damascus VA because of the relative easiness.Things got great at the 18 mile point where the trail passes Tennessee highway 91 because I met a woman and her two kids (Jack and SamiJo) from Nelson Chapel Baptist Church setting out their daily trail magic. I enjoyed a Sprint and chocolate wafer cookies packet along with Bald Eagle as we had a long chat with them.We then set off for a mile's hike across a meadow with fabulous views in all four directions of beautiful Tennessee mountains and farm lands. In the sunny afternoon after having been in the woods most of the day, it was very special to see. There was a bench at the high point in the field inviting us to sit down, rest, and gaze all around. Sure glad it wasn't a rainy day! With the sugar from the pop and cookies plus a Vitamin I (ibuprophen) I had taken earlier, I easily finished this longest day of hiking strong.
Date: 2011-05-02
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus guest house
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

I must have been putting in good miles the past few days because most of the people at the shelter last night were new to me. The shelter itself had four other men all older than me. Others tenting were Bald Eagle, Twoper and Ponch, all people I've previously had contact with.The hike honored the wonderful folks at Nelson Chapel Baptist Church who go to a lot of trouble to have trail magic out every day for the many weeks that NOBOs are pouring through. Trail magic is music to a hiker's soul. What they've done is put a large latched, metal box attached to a tree near the road crossing (but out of sight of the road) along the trail. Hikers can open it and get the trail magic, sign the notebook kept inside, and then re-latch it to keep bears and raccoons out. A great system!Though the miles today were considerable, it was a straight-forward simple (mostly) walk following the ridgeline. The last four miles were mostly down to the trail town of Damascus VA, home of the biggest annual AT event called Trail Days which will be next week. Can you believe it? I had 18 miles done by 1:30 p.m.!Coming toward town down off the mountain I could hear for a very long while (nearly 45 minutes) this awful machine-like noise. Upon I arrival, I saw that it was a riding lawn mower cutting grass in a city park! My how my perspective on sounds has changed from all the silence and solitude of the forest. I soon found a home which offers rooms to hikers run by a woman named Suzie. First thing was to get a shower, the second was to take my clothes to the laundromat. I feel human again! With the warming temperatures, I'm sweating more and more (I went through four liters of water while hiking and a lot more after -- it's increasing all the time.)I heard the great news that Navy SEALs were able to eliminate Osama Bin Laden last night. Hats off to all you shipmates involved in that operation.
Date: 2011-05-03
From: Damascus guest house

To: Damascus guest house
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was a delightful day of no hiking. Pancakes and coffee for breakfast; pizza for lunch; fruit, vegetable salad and a sandwich for supper; and ice cream and popcorn to top off the day. And two showers! Is this living in luxury, or what?? And I've gotta pump in the calories to keep from becoming a bean-pole.I've gone to the public library to update this journal and send emails to important people in my life. These towns with their libraries and free internet service are awesome!One of the chores is to go to the post office and pick up the resupply box Lyn mailed to me. This is the last of seven for the hike. I also mailed home a few items I don't need anymore.Tomorrow it's off to Mount Rogers (highest point in Virginia) and the spectacular Grayson Highlands for the final eight-day hiking leg. I'll be meeting up with Laura at that point to enjoy a long weekend with her. This sabbatical is coming to a close much too quickly!
Date: 2011-05-04
From: Damaascus guest house

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

After several hours of rain last night, things had gotten damp and chilly. I hiked out of the guesthouse to the edge of town to catch breakfast (pancakes and coffee). Then off on the hike I went around 8 a.m. into a rather dreary and threatening day. Goodbye cozy and dry room!The day's hike was dedicated to the members of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club who care for the trail from Damascus south. I admire the hard work of volunteers who make the AT experience possible. Thanks to you all!The trail was mild throughout and the weather very cool (about 50 degrees maximum). All the hikers who have already sent their winter gear home are going to have a rough night. It's a fine start to the last eight days of hiking.Around 5 p.m. we had ice pellets falling on us then switching to sprinkles of rain. I imagine the hikers ahead of us and another 1,000' in altitude are likely very cold tonight.
Date: 2011-05-05
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Eight of us in the shelter and five in tents last night -- all men -- on a very cold night. I wore everything I had including my hiking clothes which hadn't gotten wet yesterday from sweat because of the cool, cloudy day. It was exactly what was needed and I was just comfortable. Some of the other hikers included DooDah Man, No Problem, Bald Eagle, Ponch, Cubbie, and Chili and Pepper (a father-son combo who thru hiked last year.)The hike was given over to Dean Holtz today. A lot of zeal in that young man -- a bit of a Peter perhaps.It was hard to get out of the snuggly bag this morning due to the cold, but the bright sun helped and I was gone by 7:30. The day was full of long ups to get us on Mt Rogers (highest point in Virginia at 5,800') and on to the Grayson Hhighlands. On high the trees were coated with ice and there was snow on the ground in shaded spots all day -- on May 5th in southern Virginia!! But with crystal clear skies, it was beautiful. And the views were fabulous.While on the highlands, sure enough I encountered the feral ponies which roam that area. I saw seven of them, but they showed little interest in me. Probably because I didn't have any sugar cubes with me.The view was A+, the hiking weather A+, but the quality of the treadway was F-. It is very old and badly eroded, exposing rocks and roots to such a degree as to make things miserable. Worst of all was the 3-mile stretch in Grayson Highlands State Park because mobs of dayhikers use the AT to go to and from Mt Rogers. The area is exceptionally rocky with very thin soil, so it's going to be bad no matter what they do. But come on! Reroute the trail already!
Date: 2011-05-06
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale Baptist Church hostel
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Ended up last night with DooDah Man, Cubbie, Bald Eagle, Millhouse, Switchback and No Problem in and around the shelter. With the sky clearing it was colder than last night. Again I wore everything including hiking clothes and it was just enough.Hiked today for my two fellow Life Transformation Group members: Glenn and Graham. We have a good hour together each Friday a.m. And I'm daily reading my chapter of Matthew to keep up with you guys!It was a day for being flexible. Being so cold, it was hard getting out of the bag. I waited until the sun was well up and taking the edge off the chill. It was around 8:30 when I got underway, quite late for me. First thing I discovered was that the shelter I was aiming for was closed down this past year. Then I learned just as it started to shower that stormy weather was expected later in the day. These two pieces of info caused me to divert into Troutdale.Where the trail crossed the road a trail angel named Gary brought me into Troutdale so I could get to the hostel run by the Troutdale Baptist Church. Quite a town! About two dozen houses, a general store/restaurant/coffee shop, a post office, and two abandoned stores. And two Baptist churches!With the threat of bad weather, I booked it today. Sixteen miles with only one 10-minute pack-off break. My feet are tired, but isn't it great to be able to do it?This hostel is sweet. Two four-person bunk rooms; privy and water supply adjacent; and showers in the church building 50 yards away. All this and the facilities are available on a donation basis ($4 recommended donation). After my Mountain House dinner I'll walk to the restaurant for dessert.
Date: 2011-05-07
From: Troutdale Baptist Church hostel

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

We ended up with nine at the hostel, two of whom (Lumiere and Ruffles) tented outside (only eight bunks), including Capt Kirk (formerly James), the two Texas kids (Goldilocks and Forrest) and their mom, and a wierd guy named Jay who shared the bunkroom with Capt Kirk and me. Around 1 a.m. Jay got up and engaged in Tai Chi for an hour in the dark, making the bunkroom shake at times. I turned over and went right back to sleep (thanks largely to my earplugs), but he first scared Capt Kirk by appearing to hover over him in the dark and then annoyed him by continuing with the Tai Chi.Who else? I had to dedicate this day's hike to the wonderful people at Troutdale Baptist Church who make that excellent hostel available. The shower was wonderful, and the room and bunk were spotless. Thanks folks!I hoofed it back to Jerry's restaurant for a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and coffee. Gary then carted me back to Dickey Gap for the walk north. Along the way I enjoyed seeing Brown Threshers, a flock of Goldfinches, and Bluebirds. It was a very enjoyable walk in pleasant temperatures.This shelter is a legend on the trail. It has a warm water solar shower (which I availed myself of), water from a faucet that you don't have to treat, and the possibility of pizza delivery from town. The shelter is 200 yards from the Mt Rogers Recreation Area's visitors center where you can place the call and get the delivery. Seven of us hikers all called in together (I got a medium pizza and a 20-ounce pop). Wahoo!! Living large!Staying tonight include John (now Humpty Dumpty because of all his injuries), Spot, and Raisins (so named because he began at Springer with six pounds of raisins -- also four pounds of walnuts!)
Date: 2011-05-08
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Davis Path tent site
Miles today: 14.1

Hikers kept rolling in to that most popular shelter last night because of the pizza delivery and hot shower. Perhaps two dozen when all said and done. Others included: Ruffles (her love of ruffled chips), Lumiere (burns candles each evening), wierd Jay (right next to me... and up before daylight doing his thing), Alien (a Google computer engineer from Ireland), Capt Kirk, Mule (another German who began with a huge pack), Hopper and dog Ben, and Comfortably Numb.The hike went to Tammee Rivera and her grade 4/5 kids at Hillside School on Kettle Point Reserve. You guys have taught me a lot!It rained for several hours overnight and was drizzling and foggy when I left at 7:30. I hiked 11 miles to the I-81 interchange at Atkins. The forest is so quiet: I first could hear the I-81 traffic two hours before getting there. Before getting into town the trail crosses over a set of railroad tracks, and I had to wait for a NS freight train to go past before I could cross. Oh the hazards of hiking! Upon arrival at the I-81 interchange outside Atkins I went to The Barn Restaurant for their Sunday AYCE buffet which included unlimited beverages for $7.99. An awesome deal! I spent two hours eating first with Comfortably Numb and then with Capt Kirk and LOTAT (Lost On The Appalachian Trail).By 1:30 p.m. the fog was gone and a lovely cool sunny afternoon had arrived. It was an easy and beautiful walk over pastureland to this former shelter site which still has the shleter floor, picnic table and privy. Lumiere and Ruffles stopped by for a break, and we had a nice chat. My tarp is set up on the shelter platform for the night.
Date: 2011-05-09
From: Davis Path tent site

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

It was a delightful night all alone at the tent site. I built a fire which kept things pleasant for several hours. Various owls were talking to one another. Morning dawned crystal clear and cool. Fabulous!About nine miles into the hike I rounded a corner in the trail and -- lo and behold -- two ice chests!! Would they be empty? Or could there possibly be trail magic in them? All the previous times I've encountered ice chests this hike like this they've been empty. But not this time! Dr Peppers on ice in one chest, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and an assortment of snack foods in the other. Zowie! Did I ever enjoy myself!With this experience I decided to dedicate the day's hike to the many trail angels who go to a lot of trouble to give back to the trail community through acts of kindness.Such a nice day for hiking in the sunny, cool dry air with light breezes. We had a sizeable pasture to negotiate which had maybe 50 cattle and calves in it, producing numerous fresh and wet cow pies. Step carefully, Traffic Director!It's a low mileage day for me because the schedule allows it. So a number of hikers have passed me as I sat here at this shelter during the afternoon: Humpty Dumpty, WIP (Work In Progress), Mule and Shiver (German couple), Lumiere, Ruffles, Bald Eagle, No Problem, H-Cubed, and Millhouse. DooDah Man has dropped off the trail.