morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-02-18
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

I'm back in Franklin with a sore left knee. My knee had bothered a couple of times previous days, but was mostly painful at night. I can't sleep on my left side with my painful hip and knee.Last night my knee was sore during the night (I started thinking I might need a thicker sleeping pad) but in the morning it felt fine and the trail -- other than one sharp climb up Mt. Albert -- was easy.I had 10 miles in by 12:30, but then on a gradual downhill my knee became painful on almost every step. On the flats and uphills it was fine. I took a few longer breaks, did some reading, and the pain came and went.I reached Winding Stair Gap and debated going into town, but decided I could push and wait to rest and get a brace for my knee until I got to Wildcat's (at Fontana) in four days.A few hundred yards uphill I decided to listen to my body and gingerly hiked back down. After hitching for a few minutes, Ron Haven pulled up. He was there to pick up Jonathan (Virgina Slims) who was just behind me and had called on his cell phone.Jonathan had a knee brace that he was not using and insisted I take. It is large and sturdy and if it doesn't help my knee nothing will.So I'm hiking out today with Virginia Slims and a couple -- Chris and Jenny -- who were here in town after taking a zero yesterday.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of nights I've spent in Franklin on my two AT hikes: 4* Steps to the top of the Mt. Albert fire tower: 56 (it is closed at the top).* Days it took me to read Grishom's "The Innocent Man": 2* Number of injuries, sicknesses I've been fighting since the start of trail: 3 (left hip, left knee, sinusitis? - my lymph nodes are still swollen in my mouth and my jaw is occasionally sore even though nothing else seems to be bothering me.) Other than that I feel good. : )
Date: 2008-02-19
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: half-mile before Tellico Gap
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I might be an idiot.I told myself that since my knee was hurting yesterday that I would do a shorter day today with lots of breaks even if my knee felt better with the knee brace I got from Virginia Slim.Well my knee was feeling better and so after a 9 a.m. start I cruised past my designated 16-mile cutoff point at 4:30 p.m. An hour later my knee started hurting again. I was on a ridge and it took me a mile longer to find a decent place to camp.It will be interesting to see how the knee feels in the morning. I might have to take a couple days off the trail to rest it since apparently I will have trouble keeping to a cut-off point. I'm 36 miles from Wildcat's where I could probably take at least one zero. I'm supposed to call him from the NOC tomorrow but I'm not certain if I will be to Fontana by Thursday night (two 18 miles days which normally wouldn't be too bad) or Friday morning (probably smarter with my knee).I have no idea when or how I originally hurt the knee, probably just one of the times sliding on mud and wet leaves. It hasn't swollen up and only hurts on downhills and apparently when fatigued at the end of a day.It was cold with some snow flurries and a brisk wind today. The snow was just enough to cover the trail with a thin white layer and the water in my bottles iced over at the top while I was hiking.* * *Skit's bits:* Balds gone over or near the top of today: 8 (Rocky Bald, Black Bald, Tellico Bald, Copper Ridge Bald, Burningtown Bald, Wayah Bald, Wine Spring Bald and Siler Bald - many are no longer really balds.)* Number of days I carried a 14 ounce bag of dark chocolate m&ms before opening it today: 8* What Virginia Slim was doing the last I saw him on the trail: Talking to his grandson on his cell phone (Virginia Slim and I got a ride up to the trailhead at 8:30, Chris and Jenny were going to leave later).* Great stories told by former professional wrestler and current trail angel Ron Haven: Too many to recount you'll have to visit him yourself : )Shelters I had lunch at that are not in my guidebook: Wayah Bald Shelter (built last fall with the pieces flown in it is a little over a half mile north of Wayah Bald).
Date: 2008-02-20
From: half-mile before Tellico Gap

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Heard at the NOC that a lunar eclipse is expected at 7:30 p.m. Hope it is clear enough to see it. (It was, but a hill was in the way).The other big talk is about rain moving in this evening and lasting all day tomorrow. (I'm writing this at the restaurant at the NOC and am more aware than normal of my hiker stench.) Several hikers, including Mike, who I met this morning at the Wesser Bald Shelter, and Virginia Slim are planning on waiting out the rain here at the NOC.Instead of bemoaning my knee pain constantly I thought I would use the following chart to describe the current ability of my knees (mainly the left one).The Triple Crowner knee pain chart:1. Able to walk around during a town stop2. Able to hike PCT trail tread in southern California3. Able to hike Shenandoah4. Able to hike Oregon5. Able to do half-day descents into NOC/Tye River/Beldin, etc.6. Able to hike the Wind River Range7. Able to do the Glacier Peak Detour8. Able to climb Katahdin9. Able to hike snow-covered passes10. Able to do a Jonathan Lye-style alternate11-plus. Able to climb Triple Divide Peak like Matti UrlasRight now I am at about a 4.8. I survived the decent into the NOC, but not without a few painful moments.It was very cold and windy last night. My water was frozen solid at midnight when I woke up (I put in my sleeping bag to thaw it).Leaving the NOC it sure looked like thunderheads were building above Swim Bald. I donned all my rain gear, but the rain never came, the gear just made me sweat going uphill.At the shelter with me tonight are Gary and Bearfodder. I actually enjoyed the long climb up here (it didn't hurt my knee : ).* * *Skit's bits:* Refills I had of my coke at the NOC restaurant: 5 (the waitress kept filling it every time I got it even half empty).* Straight-line distance between Wesser Bald and Swim Bald: 6.2 miles* Distance on the AT: 12.5 miles.* Elevation difference between Wesser Bald and Swim Bald: 73 feet* Elevation change on AT: More than 6,000 feet (down to the NOC and back up).* Places I've stayed at on the AT in both 2004 and 08: 2 (Plumorchard Gap Shelter and Sassafras Gap Shelter)
Date: 2008-02-21
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I've never been in a hurry on a hike before. If I've felt like doing a long day I have, if I felt like taking a zero, I have. I have tended to just fall in with other people hiking my speed and usually hiking a similar schedule, but mostly I've just done what I felt like that day.This hike I've had the June 15 date (for starting the CDT) looming in the back of my head. Even though I told myself I wasn't going to worry about time and dates at the start of the hike I've found myself zipping past other hikers and not spending the time I could/should at places.Of course this has come painfully to my attention with my sore knee, which I need to give some time to heal. Despite some early pain on the downhill of Cheaoh Bald I was flying early today, thinking I would probably still end up easily doing the 22 miles to Fontana even though I had told Wildcat I would not arrive until Friday morning. A couple miles after the Brown Gap shelter my knee was in serious pain. Even walking on flat ground with the pack off hurt. I took a long break then inched my way the remaining four miles to this shelter. Going super slow much of the pain disappeared.If I give it the rest it needs I think my knee will be OK, it was just telling me to slow down and enjoy this hike like I have all the others.I am too goal-oriented, however, and know that if I have Katahdin as my finish point I will push to get there. So I am saying right now I am not going to Katahdin. Or at least thats not my main goal, I'm just going to hike.(Don't know if that means my 18-19 month hiking plan needs a name other than the Quadre)* * *Skit's bits:* The tree in front of the Cable Gap Shelter is signed by J.Lo* The open air privy at Brown Fork Gap might be OK when there are leaves on the trees, but right now you are visible for miles around while you take care of business. (The squirrels were chattering about me as I once again used my last bit of toilet paper before finishing a segment -- note to self, pack more toilet papers, it's not that heavy!)* The climb from Sweetwater Gap -- straight up 700 feet -- is the toughest on the trail in the south, IMO.
Date: 2008-02-22
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: moderate rain

The rain that had been predicted since Wednesday finally came.It rained a little overnight and then steadily increased this morning. By the time I reached Fontana Dam (going slowly down 1,700 feet on a bad knee, wet rocks and wet leaves) it was a steady, soaking rain.Walking toward the visitors center to call Wildcat I passed a car in the parking lot and out popped Wildcat, his wife Becky, son Bryan and Bryan's wife Lindsay. They had a huge bag full of food for a picnic, but since it was so wet we hopped back in the car and I munched on food out of the bag as we drove 49 very winding miles to Maryville (a 90-minute drive they had just finished making from the other way).I'm taking the rest of today off, a full zero tomorrow, and will probably be back on the trail in time to do an 11-mile day on Sunday. If this zero and a slow schedule through the Smokies doesn't help my knee I'll probably have to take a longer period of time off the trail to rest it.* * *Skit's bits:* Food/drink I've had at Wildcat's since noon: Coke, most of a bag of grapes, banana, ham and cheese sandwich, chips with guacamole, Guinness, Samuel Adams, 2 brats, German potato salad, cole slaw, 3 margaritas (Fridays are margarita night at the Emmersons'!), Little Debbie moon pie and oatmeal cake, clam chowder, a hot drink with rum and some German-honey liqour. And I'm sure I left something out.* The Little Tennessee River, which we followed for aways on the road, is one of the rivers One Gallon kayaked on his way across America in 2006 (first following the Lewis/Clark return trail then finishing a push all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Among the rivers he kayaked were the Columbia, Snake, Salmon, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Little Tennessee. He had at least 140 miles of portages, carrying his kayak and all his gear on each portage).
Date: 2008-02-23
From: Fontana Dam

To: Zero day at Wildcat's house
Miles today: 0.0

Thank you Bert and Becky Emmerson for an extraordinary stay!I was mostly lazy and took advantage of the Emmersons' extraordinary hospitality, but one of the highlights was going to the Little River Outfitter where Wildcat works part-time as a hiking guru. Wildcat kept introducing me as a "real backpacker." Several customers in the story asked how Wildcat's toes were (see his trail journal for more on that story). I wonder how many times he has gotten that question since December.
Date: 2008-02-24
From: Fontana Dam

To: near Doe Knob
Miles today: 7.0

Shhhh! Be very, very quiet. And turn out that light. I'm stealth camping tonight in a national park.I didn't want to stop hiking at Birch Spring today, but I got caught by darkness and rain less than two miles past the spring. So I'm camped by a tree just on the side of the trail. I doubt there are any rangers patrolling the backcountry this time of year and I'll make sure in the morning that you can't tell I camped here.My knee seemed to do OK (although I didn't go far and it was mostly uphill), but every time I felt the slightest tweak I would start wondering about it. My right knee could've been falling off and I wouldn't have noticed because I was so obsessed with my left knee. I took lots of breaks and hiked slow and will try to do the same throughout the Smokies.It's raining now. According to weather.com tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful at Fontana Dam, Tuesday it is supposed to rain (hopefully it stay just rain up high), and Wednesday it is supposed to be cold and windy with snow. So there will definitely be some snow while I go through the Smokies, it's just a question of how much. After tonight I will be staying in shelters. Actually the rain is trying to turn into snow right now. Stop it!I have a ton of food, which is good because I can take my time through the Smokies, but bad because my pack weighs a ton.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of showers taken while at Wildcat's house: 4.* Number of hikers I know that should be less than a day ahead of me: 4 (Virginia Slim, Chris and Jenny, and Bearfodder.)* Number of boxes with 4-ounce JJs pies I am carrying: 5 (cherry, apple, berry, peach and chocolate)* Book I am currently carrying to read on my many breaks and short days through the Smokies: Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose (its huge! and doesn't help my packweight, but it should take a while to read).* Times I have stealth camped in a national park: 3 (twice on the CDT in Yellowstone and tonight in the Smokies).
Date: 2008-02-25
From: near Doe Knob

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

One of the most magnificent days I have had on the trail.The morning broke cold and beautiful. Part of my tent was iced to the ground and I had to keep warming my hands as I packed up.The sun rose a brilliant orange with clear skies above the ridgeline and a heavy fog settling in the valleys. The hills of the ridgeline the AT followed stuck up out of the fog like the humps of the Loch Ness monster. The Shuckstack Firetower stood pinned atop one hump looking like a harpoon tossed by a giant into the monster which bore skeletal trees as fur.Little frozen drops of water hung from the tips of tree branches, suspended just before they could drop to the ground. As soon as the sun warmed up the droplets thawed and fell sounding like a steady rain in the forest despite clear, sunny skies.The afternoon was warm and sunny with great views. I took numerous breaks and ran into Virginia Slim again. Mike had a fire going at the shelter and it is a brilliant (cold) starry night with the lights of Gatlinburg visible below.I've had advice on my knee from various friends over the past week -- some with medical experience, some having experienced similar knee pain while backpacking. The best advice is probably to rest it, but the most unique advice I've received came from Pi. On the CDT in 2006 his knee was hurting and he randomly came upon a woman who said she was a Wiccan and gave him some lotion that helped his knee immediately. So he told me to keep an eye out for a good witch. The closest I've come so far is Wildcat, who gave me a bunch of his Glucosamine and Chondroitin pills that are supposed to help out joints. Other than some slight pain on a couple steep downhills my knee was OK today. So I will continue to move along slowly.As beautiful as today was it is hard to believe a winter storm warning has been issued for the area on Wednesday.* * *Skit's bits:We climbed up Rocky Top today. I wasn't sure if it was the one from the song (Mike says the song place is just made up) but I had the song going through my head all the way up. Problem is I know almost none of the words so I was going something like: Dah dah dah, dah, dah dah, Rocky Top, dah dah, dah-dah-dah, dah. Dah dah dah, dah, dah-dah, Rocky Top. Rocky Top, Tennessee.* Times Virginia Slim and I passed each other today: 5.* Amount of daylight I used to hike 15.5 miles: all of it, I was up at 7 and hiked until 6:30 p.m.* What both Mike and Virginia Slim said when I caught up to them: "I thought you were days ahead of me."* What Virgina Slim said when he saw me reading Undaunted Courage at Russell's Field: "You must have five pounds of books with you."
Date: 2008-02-26
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

A cold, wet and snowy day and a shelter full of 13 cold, wet hikers drying to stay warm.Around 4 a.m. thunderstorms rolled in with heavy rain, lightning and a low rumbling thunder that would last for several seconds vibrating the shelter. The vibrations felt kind of cool, like a faint massage, as I lay on my back listening to the rain hit the roof.I slept in until the rain died down then hit the trail around 8:30 while Virginia Slim and Mike were having breakfast.The rain turned to sleet then pellets of snow and the air got colder as I approached Clingman's Dome. Nobody was on the dome and the touted 360-degree views from the cement tower consisted of nothing but gray sheets of mist blowing past.Late in the day I saw two hikers heading south without packs and the shelter was crowded when I arrived with five other hikers drying out from the weather (seven more would arrive later). There are pine branches on the floor here lending a nice fragrance to the shelter.Tomorrow is supposed to be colder and snowier.* * *Skit's bits:* Items seen on the trail today: 3 gloves (1 pair and one by itself), a pair of prescription glasses, an unopened granola bar (I ate it).* Shelters I stayed at in 2004 and 2008: 3 (Plumorchard, Sassafras Gap and Mt. Collins).* Hikers in shelter: 9 (me, Virginia Slim, four from a wilderness medicine group -- Chris, Erica, Hadey, Nathan -- and three guys from Michigan here on spring break).* Things the wilderness medicine group said they were able to practice today: Hypothermia, frostbite, river crossings, and throwing a pack in a river (Erica was trying to throw it all the way across, but she didn't make it and splashed Chris in the process).* AT shelters not to stay in during a lightning storm: Double Spring Gap -- two hikers were killed by lightning in the shelter in 1980.* * *We have 13 in the shelter now. The other group of four in the wilderness group showed up well after dark singing We Are the Champions at 8:46 p.m. (the first two were here at 3:30, they came 15 miles).
Date: 2008-02-28
From: Green Corner Road

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiking in snow is slow going.I trudged just over 7 miles in just under five hours, arriving cold and a bit wet (from snow brushing off low-hanging branches). Crawled into my bag and tried to warm up.It was a beautiful sunny afternoon walking through a winter wonderland of snow-covered trees, but it is cold now and it was hard hiking. My left knee feels it (although in a different place than before -- it feels sore inside the knee now.)This morning I got a ride up to just north of Davenport Gap by Curtis Owen from Standing Bear Farm. When he arrived he asked if I was the infamous Skittles. I wasn't sure (there is another well-known Skittles). He said a person named Just Jim had been at his place the day before and said something about Skittles being a triple crowner. I don't think I know Just Jim, but I don't think the other Skittles has done the triple crown so I'm still not sure if I am the "infamous" Skittles.I could probably write more, but it's cold and I need to warm my fingers.* * *Skit's bits:* Miles of AT I skipped today: 33.7 (if I get the rest of the AT done I'll have to come back and do that section, which is a great hike)* Inches of snow Mt. Leconte in the northern Smokies got yesterday: 20* Estimated low temp last night at Newfound Gap by the worker at The Happy Hiker outfitter: Between 0 and 10 (it was 18 at her house).* Graffitti written in big black letters on the back of the shelter: Who is John Galt? Yo Momma.
Date: 2008-02-29
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

There are dark, ominous skies all around, but so far only a little snow is falling. Back toward the Smokies it looks like they could be getting nasty weather again.* * *An hour later it is near whiteout conditions with a strong wind blowing snow horizontally. My footprints to this shelter are already covered up and if this snow lasts long like this it will quickly accumulate. Could be interesting getting out of here tomorrow. The wind blows directly into the far corner of this shelter and some snow is accumulating there, small flurries occasionally are whipped around to this side of the shelter. If the wind changes direction I will have to figure out how to block it. There is a black plastic sheet, hanging tattered to one side, but it doesn't stretch across and there is no handy nail to hang it to. Also it makes a terrible racket.I slept very little last night as it was bitterly cold. I woke up once and put on an extra layer of clothes, then later I got out my tarp and wrapped it around my sleeping bag to help keep heat from escaping.Tonight I'm in a shelter 1,400 feet higher than last night, but it's cloudy and feels like it might be a lot warmer.My knee is a little sore again today, from plowing through all the snow.I've got about 13 more miles to get to Hot Springs tomorrow.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of people seen sledding on Max Patch: 3 (2 dogs also running around)* Year the shelter I am staying in was built: 1938 (last night's shelter was built in 1939).* Name carved into shelter: D. Larson '73 (I don't think it is from my sister Dawn, though, as she would've been 3 years old then).
Date: 2008-03-01
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

After the initial front blew through last night it warmed up and rained off and on through the night. I'm pretty sure more snow melted overnight than it did during the day yesterday.A little after 10 p.m. I awoke to a bunch of headlights coming down the hill to the shelter. It was a pack of seven scouts. I think they were hoping the shelter was empty. They were cordial and asked if I needed anything, but I was only half awake and futilely attempted conversation as I pulled together all my gear that had been covering half the shelter then fell back asleep. I tried to be quiet when I left this morning and I don't know that anyone noticed me leave.After encountering some deep thigh-high drifts atop Bluff Mountain (and attempting to make a snowman) I hiked down out of the snow. By 2,500 feet it was almost all gone and the sun was out bright and warm. I had to stop just about every mile to take of another layer of clothing. Good thing the trail wasn't any longer or I would've hiked into town naked.I arrived at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn (a marvelous old Victorian inn that hikers can stay at) and talked to Elmer for awhile. He was surprised to hear there was that much snow up higher.The paper says the Newfound Gap road was closed again Friday evening due to "heavy, wet snow." So I'm sure the northern ridges are still buried with tons of snow.The guys at the outfitters said the Canadians had been through about three days ago. (The three guys are going by the names The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, reminds me a bit of the Nomadic Wandering All-Stars on the PCT).* * *Skit's bits:* You can tell laundromats that are used to dealing with hikers. They have signs like the one in Hot Springs which says: Please keep clothing on while doing laundry. A towel is NOT acceptable.* My wet shoes stink (but at least my socks are now clean).* Item taken from the hiker box at the Sunnybank: A full fuel canister.* Items left: My partial fuel canister and ziplock bags leftover from the full box I bought.* The North Carolina liscense plates say "First in Flight." For some reason when I see that all I can think is "I always heard the French were first in flight."* * *"If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again -- if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man, then you are ready for a walk."Henry David Thoreau from the essay "Walking"