morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-11
From: Neel's Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

Long day today, feet are burning and I am exhausted. Covered good ground today.Left first out of the hostel, but still a bit later - 8 or 8:30. First hiked up Levelland Mountain, then Cowrock Mountain, then mostly flat from there. Steven is feeling better on the flats and uphills (mostly), but descents give his knee problems. We may be slow, but we hike longer than most everyone on the trail and eventually end up doing more mileage. These long days are killer though, and we are planning some shorter mileage days into town in the future.Saw fewer people today, I guess weekend hikers are home and this area is not as popular as Springer.We lunched at Low Gap, where most of the people we left with at the hostel seemed to be staying. I wanted to continue, however, as a long day tomorrow would leave us with a short hike into Hiawassee. Luckily, the last 7 miles were relatively flat.This was our first night staying near a shelter, before we had always camped wherever we decided to end around 6. For tonight, however, I was too tired to deal with a hammock and I wanted to see what shelters were like. We managed to get space at Blue Mountain, where we ended. The GATC had set up a tarp to cover the front to keep out the wind (as this shelter rests on a peak near the top of the mtn) and it was much appreciated. We also used our sawyer filter today (fantastic), and I finally had alcohol to use my stove, which worked wonderfully. On the downside, we ran out of toilet paper. With at least another day and a short one after till we got to town, we'll see what happens. You eat a lot out here, so you tend to have to poop a lot...Met Backtrack, an older airline pilot who is taking time off to the trail, (or maybe he retired? At the end of the day you are so tired, unless I write it down I can't remember). Also two couples at the shelter. Good conversation was had, and I think we will shelter more often.
Date: 2015-03-12
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up early at 6:15 and started as the sun rose. At some point I need to start adding pictures to these entries, I got a good one of Goose looking majestic as he brushed his teeth in front of the sunrise.Lots of mountains today. Finished Blue mtn, went down to Unicoi gap (where somebody had left orange cake and caramel chews, so had that for second breakfast), then up rocky mountain, then up tray mtn. We meant to eat on top of Tray at the shelter, there, but accidentally took the AT instead of the shelter trail. After a bit we saw a white blaze, but it was too late and we didn't feel like going back.Was clear today, so had some beautiful views, especially on top of Tray. We don't have a normal map, only one that shows the height of the terrain, but we can still occasionally pick out landmarks of where we've been and where we're going. I think we correctly picked out Blood mtn and woody lake behind us.Arrived at Deep Gap shelter. Has a second floor loft and a front porch, even a picnic table. And the privy has a roof, privies w/o roofs are pretty awful, especiall in the rain. Met Seven, a fellow that has been hiking the trail for years. He thru-hiked once, and now just bounces around during hiking season. Apparently there is a huge culture of people who just live around or on the trail almost all year.
Date: 2015-03-13
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Hiawassee Budget Inn
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up early at quarter to six, needed to do the 3.6 miles to Dicks Creek Gap to catch the 9am shuttle to the Budget Inn, and we had one last mountain to walk over. Left at 6:30, and hurried through the dark, rain, and wind, with one headlamp between us and the trail moving along the edge of a dropoff in most places. Getting goose his own lamp is a priority.Made it to the gap at 8 and decided to try hitching as we didn't want to wait the hour. Folks are used to hikers hitching down here and its apparently quite common. We waved down the first people to pass by, a smaller pickup. He flew by us, slammed on the brakes about 200 feet down the road sliding to a stop, threw it in reverse and tires squealing backed up to us. The driver was a man, probably about 150 years old with a beard a foot long, his wife in the passenger seat perhaps a few years younger with a yorkie in her lap. They were heading to Hiawassee too, what luck! Goose and I hopped in the back among the scattered feed corn and cigarette packages and he whipped around turns on the 11 miles to town.Pulled into a Hardees and we had breakfast, along with about half the older population of Hiawassee. We got to the Budget Inn just before the real shuttle, and managed to score a larger room with a kitchenette, armoire, etc. We don't care about any of those things, but its more room to hang wet clothes and gear from.There was a smaller outfitter in Hiawassee, Goose picked up a band for his knee. It had been getting slowly better, but at the last shelter Seven told us to look for something for "jumper's knee", apparently its a common injury on the trail. As I'm writing this journal several days later, I can tell you the band has helped quite a bit.After resupplying at Ingles we went to Daniel's Steak House, recommended on a tip from another hiker due to their buffet. No steak on the buffet, but decent enough food. While we were there, we asked the waitress about the lake. Driving in we noticed it was extremely low, you could see 10-20 feet of extra shoreline. She replied matter of factly that they drained it every fall for power. Considering its likely a man-made lake anyway I guess they can drain it if they feel like it, but we still think its crazy.
Date: 2015-03-14
From: Hiawassee Budget Inn

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: light rain

Today we passed into North Carolina, so one state down. Other than that everything else sucked. I don't seem to feel rested after sleeping in town, so I was grumpy all day. Added to that it was intensely foggy so you couldn't see anything, rainy and cold all day. It was raining the past 5 days or so, so the trail was a mudpit. And NC is pretty much 1000 feet higher than Georgia, so it was miserable climbs all day. Sun is promised for tomorrow.
Date: 2015-03-15
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: few clouds

We meant to do 16 or so miles today and get into Franklin tomorrow, but we made excellent time in the morning. Then somebody told me it was supposed to be 35 in the morning, and I decided I'd much rather wake up inside.The sun rose over Standing Indian Mtn and lit up the few remaining clouds a bright glowing neon orange. Those clouds slowly disappeared for the rest of the day.There were a few mtns today, but (besides Albert) the climbs weren't bad and quite a bit was reasonably flat (although our definition of flat is becoming more lenient). No fog meant we had beautiful views all day.The climb up Albert was great. For the first part the trail is on a cliff, with a steep drop down. Rocks, trees, and the occasional walkway break up the trail making this part interesting. The last half mile is some Old Rag level stuff - straight up rocks and roots, putting your poles aside and pulling your self up over obstacles. On top you have fantastic views of the valley, and a fire tower there allows for 360 degree views of the countryside.After that the hike is mostly along ridgelines. We got to the gap at 6, and called for a shuttle. The owner's two sons picked us up. There were quite a few hikers in town, but we were so exhausted we just had dinner and passed out.
Date: 2015-03-16
From: Franklin NC

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Taking our first zero of the trip in Franklin NC at Ron Haven's Budget Inn. He also owned the budget inn in Hiawassee. In fact, I believe Ron Haven owns just about everything in Franklin.We didn't have too much to take care of today, just some things from the outfitters, resupply (1-1.5 days to NOC), and then send some stuff home to Keegan that we didn't need anymore. I replaced some older compression bags with lighter ones, and sent the hammock/underquilt back home determined to try a lighter way to sleep using just a tarp and a bivy sack.We got up at 7ish because a nearby Baptist church has a pancakes and bacon breakfast for hikers to celebrate the completion of the first 100 miles (Franklin is at 110 approx). We stuffed ourselves of full of both while sending home letters. The church takes your picture and prints it out there, and provides envelopes, stationary, and stamps, and will mail a letter to whomever. Pretty awesome.I had wanted to find some pants at one of the two outfitters in town as some nights it gets pretty cold, and I just have athletic shorts and woolen long underwear. Didn't find any pants I liked though. Goose has Columbia pants that zip off into shorts, and while he likes them I don't like the restrictiveness. I like to be able to move my legs up and down and pants just interfere with that, except for the long underwear which is stretchy. So hopefully it won't get too cold, or maybe i'll just hide in my sleeping bag instead of sitting around camp.Resupplied at wally-world, but didn't get a chance to mail the box of extra stuff back home. Odd how we were up at 7, only had 3 things to do in town, and still managed to only accomplish 2.
Date: 2015-03-17
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Cold Springs Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

Bacon and pancakes again this morning. Gotta love AYCE before hitting the trail.Took the 11am shuttle back to the trail as Goose and I needed to mail back our box - about 8lbs of stuff.Ran into some trail magic today before Tellico Gap - RC Cola and moon pies. Enjoyed the soda, but moon pies are just too dry for me.Went up Wayah Bald where there was a stone lookout tower, some good views there. A shelter was just down the other side, but some section hikers had set up hammocks in the shelter, turning a shelter for 8 or so into a shelter for 3. Didn't feel like staying there anyway, and continued to Cold Springs with Lemon and Burger. We'd met them last night at Mulligan's, a bar in Franklin. Burger got his name because he likes burgers, and he pointed out a 16oz burger on the menu that we promptly ordered - delicious. The two are brother/sister hiking the trail which is quite admirable.
Date: 2015-03-18
From: Cold Springs Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.7

A short day today, but all downhill which is murder for Goose's knees. They've started getting worse again, but now its both knees.Tried using my Sansa while hiking for the first time today. I just use one earphone in while hiking so that I can still hear around me. I don't want to seclude myself from the wilderness, but at the same time hiking everyday can get real boring, especially if its foggy or if the hiking just isn't all that interesting. I have several audiobooks and the device can pick up FM radio, although the latter only if you're lucky, and in my experience, you can generally only get about 6 stations well and they are all country.We got to the NOC at 2. The plan was to either stay or keep going to the next shelter and make it a long day, but Goose's knee pain meant we were staying. The NOC the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and has a lodge and cabins, with hiking, biking, and rafting. A river goes right through the compound, and they have a course set up on it. Not too many tourists were around this time of year, but there was a group of new guides training while we were there.Another fellow arrived the same time we did - Sean. He was at the shelter last night as well. We got two beds in the hostel/bunkhouses and were placed in the same room as him. Cool guy, he's from northern NC or southern VA, I can't quite remember, but he's done a lot of hiking in that area and also runs, so we bonded. We met several other folks in NOC, including some new ones we met at the Budget Inn in Franklin. Town days are nice because hikers bunch up, and its like meeting family again. Out in the wilderness its easy to miss people if you are staying in different shelters or whatever, but in town you can catch up with folks you possibly haven't seen in a day or more.Calling for rain tomorrow, and we have a long hike out of NOC. Will be interesting.
Date: 2015-03-19
From: NOC

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Steep climb out of NOC today, and raining, foggy, and cold for pretty much all of it. I started without my gloves, and by the time we got to Sassafras Gap shelter for lunch halfway into the day, my hands were unable to work the buckles on my pack or open the slim jim packages I had for lunch. The rain stopped for a bit, then started up again just as I began to get dry for the last few miles, which includes 'Jacob's ladder', a 0.6 mile section with a 600 ft ascent. No switchbacks, just straight up a mountain. It was so muddy and steep I didn't think my sandals would make it to the top, I was certain I would just slide right back to the bottom, but somehow made it to the shelter.We yo-yo'd with Sean throughout the day and he echoed our sentiments. I was not near him, but apparently he let each rock know just how he felt about the day, and many interesting curses were used.Had my first premade freeze-dried backpacking meal. Mac 'N Cheese with peas or something. Not bad, but I need to add more water next time. I can't measure unfortunately, my pot has no markings for quantity, but this was a bit crunchy. But it was hot and good enough after a day of hiking.
Date: 2015-03-20
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

Not much rain today, but foggy for most of it. Got into Fontana - Sean is staying at the lodge, so we continued to the shelter with Ha-Ha - we met her in the last two shelters, she is going to umd for post-grad in behavioral something or another this fall. The shelter is called the Fontana Hilton - its a huge shelter fitting 20 or so people on the side of a hill overlooking the lake, along with a firepit and picnic tables also with a lakefront view. There are also camp sites along the lake and a set of bathrooms with showers. Not fancy, but running water and flushing toilets at a shelter is fancy as f*.Goose has decided to take the week off. His knees hurt too much, and he wants to see a doctor to see whats up. So I'll be hiking through the smokies solo. Depressing, but we'll see how it goes for the next week.We met Sean for dinner at the lodge (there is a resort here as well next to the lake. Mostly closed since its off-season, but a few things are open). Got back to the shelter at 6:30, and about 40 people were around the area. The shelter was too crowded and I needed some alone time to process today's events so I moved out of the shelter and set up my tarp and bivy up on the hillside. A bit too cloudy to see stars, but no rain so a great night to be outside.
Date: 2015-03-22
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Did not wake up for the sunrise (lack of a watch makes this difficult), so the sun had risen when I climbed to the top of Rocky Top. Its interesting finding landmarks from songs down here, we'd also crossed the Chattahoochee river in Georgia so now I know where that Alan Jackson song came from. Sunny day today so great views from up here. I'm used to the Shenandoah where there are good views, but its really of two parallel ridges with a valley in between for the most part. Up here in the smokies its mountains extending seemingly forever.Not too many people on the trail until I reached the shelter. Just before I got there I heard someone singing "O Brother Where Art Thou", which I recognized as Karaoke. I had not met him before, but had heard tales of a hiker who would sing as he hiked. He had strained his ankle, and so was slowly making his way to the shelter. When I got there I found Exodus, an older ironworker from Pittsburgh, Milkman, an older man from Iowa, and Ewalk. Ewalk moved on as he felt a 20 mile day in him, but I felt exhausted for some reason and decided to stop early.The privy had instructions for the handicapped, with images of a wheelchair bound stickperson utilizing the metal bar installed next to the toilet. Several of the next few privies had this. I don't know if this is some asinine regulation or somebody's idea of a joke.Karaoke had tons of energy, and demonstrated his javelin throwing with somebody's hiking stick while finding pieces of wood and smashing them against the shelter to break them down. These shelters in the smokies are huge, with two wide floors in the back fitting about 12-14 people, an open space in front of that behind a tarp that covers the front. There is a fireplace inside as well as a firepit outside, and the roof extends to cover a decent sized porch area with seats and tables.Quite a few section hikers showed up as the day went on. One group was from florida, and 2 of them were zoologists that work with fruitbats. I must mention this to Keegan.Today I crossed the less than 2k mark to Maine. Almost there!
Date: 2015-03-23
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 21.2

Started before dark and walked through the sunrise up to Clingman's Dome. This is the highest point on the AT, and a massive cement firetower stands on top. Was a reasonably clear day so had good views all around, and was able to pick out a couple of mtns I'd hiked in the last few days.From there went on to Newfound Gap. There's a giant memorial dedicated to the creation of the park, and apparently John D Rockefeller donated at least half the money to create the park. Quite a few people here, Gatlinburg is not far away and some thru-hikers get a ride here into town. I wanted to stay out for a few days, and besides I'd heard the city described as 'hill-billy vegas', so I wanted no part of it. Talked to quite a few people wanting to know about the AT and thru-hiking, and then continued on. Past Icewater shelter (had been told not to stay here due to the crowds of people passing through) and on to Charlie's Bunion, a rock formation jutting out from the side of a mountain. I only lingered for a bit as I had a long day planned. I wanted to get to Hot Springs by Friday, and needed to pick up some mileage over the normal 15 miles/day.Long final 6 miles to the shelter, but finally made it. The shelter is actually 0.5 mile down a side trail, which is a dumb place to put a shelter. Adds an extra mile to the journey, and thru-hikers are notorious for not wanting to add an extra inch to their hiking.A group of boyscouts here preparing for Philmont. Its a troop out of southern Indiana, and they do a smokies hike every year, the group splits up and one half hikes north while the other hikes south, they pass in the middle and exhange keys etc. The leader, Dillon, was a cool guy who'd been to Philmont in 1988, and so we talked for most of the evening about scouts and hiking. Longstride was there also, an older man from Nova Scotia.I turned in early, exhausted from the long day. Surprisingly not too much is sore besides the bottoms of my feet.
Date: 2015-03-24
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 23.8

This morning as I was getting up I smelled myself in my sleeping bag and decided I needed a shower asap. The next shower was the hostel at Standing Bear Farm almost 24 miles away, so I resolved to another long day.The other thruhikers in the shelter got up and started before sunrise, so I followed suit. A few climbs at the start, but none bad and soon everything was downhill into Davenport Gap, the end of the AT in the smokies.As soon as you exit the smokies you walk under I-40, jarring you back to civilization. These major roads are interfering with my wilderness experience, and somebody should move them.Arrived at the hostel about 5. Standing Bear is a collection of haphazard buildings and the overall effect is really cool. There is your usual bunkhouse (this one had vinyl covered foam mattresses, much better than just wood flats), a few private one room cabins, a small kitchen building, small store, shower, etc. The place is decorated with maps, antiques, and old farm equipment. Two thru-hikers, Lumpy and Rocket, help out the owner and are the go-to's for guests. Rocket started his thru-hike in 2007, got to this hostel, and has never left.I laundered a few pieces of clothing (and took my much needed shower). They have an electric dryer, but the washing is two tubs, a washboard, and a ringer. It took me a while but my long underwear and underwear finally arrived at a state somewhere near clean.I had been running low on food to get to Hot Springs, but since I'd picked up the pace in the smokies and shaved off a day there, and was able to get a microwaveable pizza for dinner and bagels for breakfast, I didn't need much resupply here. Just some more ibuprofen, or Vitamin I as its known to hikers. Generally I feel fine, but my feet and ankles still get sore. My feet are still getting used to walking everyday and will get better in time. I think the weight of my pack is affecting my ankles. When I'm getting into town with little food (and a pack weight <30 lbs) they're fine, its the over 30 lb weight that causes them to ache. In Hot Springs I will continue to see what I can pare down in my pack to save some more weight.
Date: 2015-03-25
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Lemon Gap
Miles today: 18.5

Another thru-hiker, Chef, bought a packet of coffee and made a pot in the morning, so I bummed a cup and that complemented my 3 bagels and 1/2 lb of cream cheese quite well. Hot coffee would be nice on the trail, but I dislike heating water in the morning so it'll have to remain and off-trail enjoyment.Climbed back out of the gap and over Snowbird mtn and past the FAA tower on top. Some gorgeous views of the smokies behind me. Sometimes I find it in credible that (A) I've traveled internationally, yet have never seen these amazing views and (B) especially on top of this nothing mtn, the only people that will see this particular view will be AT hikers and folks working on that radar tower.Was able to get cell signal and talked to Keegan to finalize wknd plans in Hot Springs. I'll be getting in a day early now, so I can wash clothes, resupply, and do the boring town stuff so that I can just spend time with Keegan when she gets in.Also reached the top of Max Patch. Used to a tree-covered mtn, but was cleared for cattle. The name is a homophone for the original, Mack's Patch. The forest service (or whoever) regularly burns it to keep it a bald. Great views all around, including smoke from a controlled burn one ridge over.Went to the shelter just past the bald but continued. I had heard, from hikers and shelter registers, that Fresh Ground would be at Lemon Gap. Reached the gap and the tales were true. FG is a former attempted thru-hiker who enjoys the trail and the woods so much that he comes out every year, sets up a tent in a secluded location, and feeds hikers. He generally follows one of the early bubbles, the one that starts on March 1st, northward so that he sees the same group of hikers each time. He drives up to the trail, sets up a big tarp (the leap frog cafe), and serves pancakes in the morning, and hot dogs/home fries/soup/ravioli the rest of the day. Its amazing. I was going to continue another mile and a half to the shelter after having my fill of hot dogs, but he persuaded me to stay the night at the gap with promises of a breakfast skillet that he makes first thing in the morning. I just laid out my bag beneath his tarp. Bonafide set up his tent a ways up the road on a flat corner, Biscuit set up his fancy tarptent next to FG's, and Raphe stayed next to a stream a little ways back up the trail.