morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Allen Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

Awoke refreshed & felt rested after 2 nights at the Inn. Pete, the innkeeper, prepared a huge hiker breakfast for me this morning including a 5 egg omlet, fried potatoes, bacon, and fruit. It was too much. I had about 4 1/2 egg omelet and all the rest. Still, a huge amount of food. I finally got-packed and out the door around 9:30. Donna walked with me down to the Main St in town which is the AT. At the edge of town, we said good-bye and I crossed the French Broad River Bridge leaving town. We had a great time and I hated to see it end. Hopefully, we will get together again when I get to Damascus, VA. The hike today was mostly uphill as I ascended from the river valley up to Spring Mountain shelter, a rise of 2000ft over 11 miles, a long gentle climb. After reaching the shelter, where I took a break, the trail descended about 1000ft to Allen Gap where it crosses NC Rt 208. As I approached the gap looking for a place to pitch (set up the tent), I saw a van with 2 people sitting in chairs. This, I now know, normally means "trail magic" so I hurried down the hill to the road. There, two previous thru hikers were waiting to pick up some section hikers and, in the interim, were passing out drinks, etc to passing hikers. I had a ice cold coke and a bottle of water while chatting with them for a while. I hiked another 1/4 mile up the hill to a nice, secluded patch in a pine grove. This is home for the night.Good day today... Actually warmer than I would have liked. Can't believe I'm saying that after the week in the Smokys :-)
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Allen Gap

To: Campsite at Mile 305
Miles today: 18.5

Today was a little cooler, but still quite warm for early April. I'm glad I bought insect repellent at the outfitter in Hot Springs. The timing was perfect as the gnats and mosquitos are out....and hungry.The day started with a 6 mile climb from 2200ft to 4700ft right from the start. The grade was gradual so it wasn't bad- just long. I stopped at the Little Laurel shelter for morning break. At the same time, three men and 6 young boys aged 8 -12 showed up to make their breakfast. Things immediately became rather noisy there, but I enjoyed chatting with the dads. They are out for about 4 days planning to hike to Spivey Gap.Leaving the shelter the trail remained along the ridgeline with a few view points to the valley. There were also a number of rock scrambles at the peaks. They were fun for a while, but very tiring. I stopped for lunch at the Jerry Cabin shelter. It was empty. Matter of fact, I was alone almost all afternoon passing only 2 hikers. Today was a big mileage day for me over difficult terrain which really wore me out. I'm exhausted tonight so I will be in bed by 9.... Which is in about 5 minutes :-)I think I will go for a lighter day tomorrow. It's calling for showers tomorrow which should cool things a bit.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Campsite at Mile 305

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

The rains came. It poured the entire day. It started about an hour after I broke camp, which was a good thing. It was a very long day and this will be a short evening. I'm camped at Low Gap, I think. I was trying to get here, but it was raining so hard, getting darker, and few landmarks or signs so I'm not totally sure.I quickly pitched as I was soaked and cold....very cold. I was starting to worry about hypothermia so I quickly got the tent up, jumped in, and changed into dry clothes.Now for some bum news. I bought a new 'waterproof" compression stuff sack for my sleeping bag in Hot Springs. As I was packing to leave I threw away the garbage bag liner I'd been using......no need for that with my new "waterproof" stuff sack.   Well, you can guess. It's not waterproof and my sleeping bag is wet! Well, it's not soaked- It's damp with some wet areas, but I'm still a little angry about the whole thing. Down sleeping bags are great when dry, but not efficient when damp or wet. So, I'm struggling to stay warm in this thing tonight with temps in the low 30's. I think I'll get another trash can liner in Erwin:-)For now, I'm a little displeased with my new Sea to Summit Compression sack with "Event" waterproof fabric.... It's not waterproof and I'm wet.As for other stuff, today marks 4 weeks on the trail. Seems quite a while ago I left Springer in the pouring rain. A lot has happened since then and, despite the few problems, I'm loving it.Today was just a reminder of those first few rain soaked days.Note from Kim: Now that I have received some pictures, I have posted them with their corresponding journal entry. Please check them out! Enjoy! --And thanks for following my pops on his crazy walk in the woods.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Low Gap

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Another frigid morning with frozen clothes. Brrr... it was bone-chilling cold on the mountain this morning with a biting wind. My pants, jacket, socks, boots, ...everything was frozen. Since I'll be in Erwin tomorrow, I decided to skip the frozen clothes and put on my dry clothes. With fresh memories of the Smokys and the frozen underwear, I just didn't want to put on iced pants and shirt again. Fortunately, the weather warmed nicely and it turned out to be a very pleasant day. I took a nice break in the sun this afternoon laying everything out to dry. The tent, sleeping bag, and clothes are dry. Life is good again.Today's hike took me over an area called Big Bald at 5500ft and Little Bald at 5100ft. It was windy and a little chilly, but the views were awesome. I'm glad I was there on a clear day. This evening I am staying at the No Business Knob Shelter with Uncle J Bird, Fish, Scout, Young One, and two section hikers called Switchback and Nodog. Switchback and Nodog are sectioning the entire trail going about 100 to 150 miles a year. Switchback says he'll be 80 when finished at the rate they're going :-)I offered to help shuttle them when they get to VA so I hope to see them again in a few years.Tomorrow, I will be taking a short 6 mile walk into Erwin, TN for re-supply, shower, and hopefully a big pizza!
Date: 2010-04-10
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Everyone was up early this morning and breaking camp quickly in order to get to town as early as possible. Today is Saturday so several folks needed to get to the post office before closing at noon. It was cool this morning, but clear, and the sun soon warmed things nicely. The hike to Erwin was an easy trek as we left the ridgeline and began descending toward the Nolichucky River. About 3 miles from town I got a first look at the town and the Nolichucky Gorge. Over the last few miles there were several more viewpoints of the town and surrounding areas. Similar to the walk into Hot Springs, I enjoyed the walk coming down the mountain and seeing the town with the river, the highways, and all the activity. At the base of the mountain the trail crossed the road and turned to follow the bridge across the river. Directly across the road from the river sits Uncle Johnny's Hostel- my accommodations for the evening. It's a small place with a hostel for about 12 to 15 people, 4 or 5 one room cabins, and tent space "wherever there's grass" according to Uncle Johnny. So for $8 I found tent space and $4 I did my laundry..... not a bad deal. I've stayed here once before in '98 while hiking with Long Distance Man during his thru hike.Free town shuttles are included in the fee so I went to lunch at a local AYCE pizza shop. RA, Scruffy, several others, and I had all you can eat pizza and soft drinks for less than $8. It is amazing how much pizza and salad 8 or 9 hikers can eat in one sitting. We has used plates stacked a foot high on the tables and we kept going back for more. I am intrigued by the seemingly never ending focus on food one develops when hiking. We totally gorged on pizza for lunch. Yet, an hour later I was thinking about dinner.I had a very relaxing afternoon with a short walk, a quick load of laundry, and a short nap.This evening I went shopping for re-supply for the next 5 days. I usually carry too much food, so I'm trying to lighten the load on this next section. I plan to get to Dennis Cove (about 70 miles) before supplying again. Based on recent mileage, I think 5 days provision should be more than enough. If not, it means I'm hiking too slow or eating too fast :-)I had an enjoyable dinner tonight with Maketime, a thru hiker from Oregon. He and his wife started southbound from Maine last summer and made it to Massachusetts. Then his wife was called back to her job so they had to quit the hike. Maketime is now hiking north to the point they stopped last fall. We had a great conversation and he offered great insight into the trail in Maine, the AMC huts, etc.Tonight is clear and cool which should bring a great night's sleep in the tent. Tomorrow, I will climb back up the mountains to Beauty Spot, a high bald about 10-12 miles north on the trail.Heading toward Virginia..... Should make Damascus in about 10 days.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

I packed and left Uncle Johnny's shortly before 9 this morning. It was another cool, clear morning. Despite the one day of rain earlier this week, the weather has been great.Dmax, one of the members of Trailplace who lives near Erwin, stopped by the hostel last night. We chatted for a while and he told me he would be doing some trail magic at the top of Beauty Spot tomorrow. Knowing that possibly lunch and cold sodas could be waiting served to motivate me to hussle up the trail this morning. The route today leaving the Nolichucky River is a long, gradual climb ascending about 3000ft in a little over 10 miles. With the cool temperatures this morning and the trail running along a rushing mountain sream, it was a very pleasant walk. I caught up with Maketime and Cob, so the "old guys" caravan to the top took off.I arrived around 2 pm to find DMax, Redbone (I hope I have this name correct), and Helen, his wife, all set up for trail magic. There was bratwurst, hot dogs, snacks, chips, fruit, pickles, and generally all good stuff. Oh, and cold sodas. It was quite a spread and the number of hikers continued to grow for the hour I was there. I thoroughly enjoyed everything, eating two or more of most things.As mentioned before, a hikers appetite seems to grow each day- food is becoming a really big deal. I grazed for an hour before pulling myself away to continue the trek for today. The route was nice leaving Beauty Spot and climbing Unaka Mountain. Unlike the wide open views at Beauty, Unaka is covered with a thick, lush, Pine forest. It was a very quiet, peaceful walk through the forest.After coming down Unaka Mountain, Cob, Maketime, and I arrived at the Cherry Gap Shelter where we all tenting tonight. RA Wizard, Scruffy, and the Sykes brothers were also at Beauty Spot enjoying the fare when I left. They haven't arrived at the shelter this evening so I'm assuming they camped along the way. Hopefully, we'll connect tomorrow.All told, a good day. And, great trail magic. Thanks again to Dmax, Redbone, and Helen.It was great.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

I got an early start to a really long day today... with the help of a few owls. After a great night's sleep, I was awakened to the sounds of owls. This wasn't one or two, but several in different locations. It wasn't the usual "hoo hoo" sound. It was different calls leading me to think it must the season for owls. That is, if there is a season for owls... I really don't know. The good news is that I was awake before 6am and on the trail before 8. The early start enabled me to cover 11 miles before noon making this a high mileage day.There were two mountains to cross today. The first, Little Rock Knob, is just under 5000 ft and provided some great views to the West. I had lunch with Maketime. Then, we descended to Hughes Gap before beginning the real climb of the day, Roan Mountain. Roan Mtn peaks at 6275 ft., the last peak I will see over 6000 ft until New England. The climb up Roan came late in the day which is never good. It totally exhausted me. At the summit, I stopped at the Roan High Knob shelter. It is the highest shelter on the AT. I stayed in this shelter in '98 while hiking with Long Distance Man. It was at this shelter I received my trail name (see About Trailname section for details).It was chilly on the mountain with quite a bit of snow remaining on the trail. We descended the mountain, then went over Jane Bald before coming down to the Stan Murray Shelter. We arrived just before 7pm... A long day.Today was a great hiking day and the weather was perfect. Twenty one miles is a lot for me and I am totally exhausted tonight. It is now 8:30pm and I'm already in the sleeping bag.Turning in early.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: Camp at Elk River
Miles today: 17.3

I was able to get packed and on the trail shortly after 8am this morning. Maketime and Cob were packed and out 30 minutes ahead of me, again. I don't know how they do it. Of course, I have coffee and something for breakfast which adds a little time, but I should be able to get going in less than 90 minutes. Still need to work on this. I'm not willing to give up my coffee and breakfast though :-)I've hiked with Cob and Maketime for the past few days. They start earlier, but I'm a little faster so we end up together around mid morning and lunch break.Today wasn't as strenuous as yesterday's hike over Roan Mtn. Today, we climbed two mountains in the morning, Hump and Big Hump. There were some great views and hopefully some great photos. This afternoon was easier and despite one wrong turn, it was a very nice walk. We stopped around 5pm so I'm not as tired as last night.I think hiking about 8 or 9 hours over 15-16 miles seems to be about right for me for the terrain we're covering now. I felt good today and wasn't rushed.Tonight, I'm camped along the banks of the Elk River. It is a beautiful spot and I'm enjoying the sound of the river rushing over the rocks.It's a nice, cool evening and should be perfect for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, I would like to make it to Kincora, a hostel at Dennis Cove, so I can re-supply for the trip on to Damascus, VA. If I can get there by 5 or 6pm, I should be able to shuttle to town from there and get all I need.It's about 18 miles so it could be a long day. We'll see.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Camp at Elk River

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 18.0

A near perfect day.. Last night I fell asleep sometime after 9:30pm listening to the rushing waters of the Elk River. I don't think I moved until 6:30 am when I awoke to the same soothing sound. I was rested and ready to go so I fired up the coffee and started packing up. I was cranking right from the start and I was packed and out of camp in an hour.... A record for me. I was on the trail by 7:30..... Sticks swingin' and steppin' out!Today brought a combination of beautiful weather and gentle trail which was perfect. It was sunny with a nice, cool breeze. The profile for today's hike had only a thousand feet of elevation gain and ended with a net loss of a few hundred feet..... a stroll in the park.I walked with Cob most of the day today. We had 12 by 12 (12 miles by 12 noon) which is awesome! After lunch we had two small climbs, then a long downhill to Dennis Cove Rd. We ended up with 18 miles and arrived at 3:30 pm.Tonight, I'm staying at the Kincora Hostel a few miles east of Hampton, TN. The trail has now left North Carolina for the last time and is now headed north across the eastern tip of Tennesee toward Virginia. I hope to reach Damascus, VA sometime on Saturday.I'm staying at the hostel tonight with Cob, Maketime, Nefiss, Rambler, Twigs, Sideways D, Moonshine, Cricket, and Big Dipper... a great group of people.We've all been pigging out since the run to town this evening. Bob, the hostel owner, drove us in for re-supply, dinner, etc. so we're eating well tonight.I spoke with Donna this evening for the first time in a few days. All is well and she is planning to join me in Damascus Saturday evening and Sunday. I hope the weather is good so we can check out the area.And so, bedtime... after a near perfect day.I pray that you too have a day like the one I had today.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Dennis Cove

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was actually more difficult than I thought it would be. First off, I was a little tired this morning due to a lack of sleep.... a self inflicted wound. Without really thinking, I drank a 20 oz Dr Pepper at 8 o'clock last nigtht... dumb, dumb, dumb. I was awake well past 2 AM. Before starting the hike, I seldom drank sodas and never in the evening as caffine really messes with my sleep. Now that I'm hiking and my body is craving calories of any sort, I drink sodas whenever I'm near civilization. I don't drink the diet ones, I go for the real thing with 190 calories and lots of sugar. I'm not saying it's good for me, but it helps the calorie deficit. I can't eat enough fatty foods and ice cream to make up for what I'm burning while on the trail. It is a common problem among thru hikers. So, enough about that.... it's just that food occupies one's mind out here:-) Man, I'd love some ice cream.I left Kincora Hostel around 8:30 this morning after chatting a while with Bob Peoples, the owner. Bob is a true friend to the hikers and an avid volunteer and supporter of trail. He gives a lot of himself to the trail, and has done so for many years. It was a pleasure to meet him and chat with him for a wihile. I hiked with Cob this morning as we left Dennis Cove and hiked along the Laurel Fork River. Once we left the Laurel Fork Gorge we climbed to Pond Flats, then descended to the Shook Branch Recreation area along the Watauga Lake. Watauga is a TVA dam project in Northeast TN. It is a beautiful mountain lake streching 30 miles or so to the east. We had lunch at the recreation area enjoying the sun and warm afternoon. This afternoon we began a series of hills leading us to the top of a ridgeline we will be hiking for a few days. The hike this afternoon was high above Watauga Lake with a number of great views. The shelter we're camped at this eveining is situated high upon a bluff overlooking the lake and a large marina complex. We met up with Maketime at the shelter this eveining so it's just the three of us camped here tonight.A number of climbs coupled with the lack of sleep really wore me out today. Tomorrow, the forecast is for cooler temps and possible rain. I'm planning to go another 18 miles tomorrow setting me up for a Saturday arrival in Damascus, VA. The cooler temperatures would be nice. Heavy rain might mess this up a bit, we'll see
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

We were all up and on the trail early this morning. I was hiking by 7:30 AM which is a first for me. My early start was in large part due to the fact there is no convenient water source for this shelter which meant no coffee for me this morning... bummer. This is not good. However, without the coffee and the extra time I normally spend enjoying my morning brew, I was able to get going quickly. Tomorrow, I plan to enjoy coffee again... it's worth the extra time :-) It was a cooler, breezy day today which was nice. Fortunately, no rain so it was another great day. The route today didn't include any major features or great vistas. It was a series of shorter climbs over knobs, then repeatedly dipping into a gap to start again. Just a walk in the woods. Wildlife is still not frequently seen. I saw a deer today, only my second one in over 450 miles on the trail. I'm very surprised by this. Tonight Cob, Maketime, and I are camped at Double Spring Gap about 13 miles from Damascus. The profile for the section tomorrow looks rather tame so I should be getting into town by early afternoon. I'm really looking forward to a quiet break and a zero day on Sunday. The past week or so has included quite a number of high mileage days so the rest will be good.
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

After nearly a week of dry weather the rains came last night and continued on through this morning. Despite having to pack up in the rain I managed to get my morning coffee (I told you I would) and I was on the trail by 8am. I'm getting better at this :-) Today's hike was rather easy as the trail went over a few mild uphills, then began a series of dips and a long descent into Damascus. I made great time and entered Virginia at 11:30am after 9 1/2 miles. It seems the pace quickens when approaching town and all that food. I was excited to be spending a "zero" tomorrow with Donna and I'm looking forward to a relaxing day. Shortly before noon the rain clouds disappeared and the sun began to shine. In the first rays of sunshine, I realized I was walking in Spring. The woods were suddenly greener and the trees were budding, with some in full leaf. For many, this is old news. For those hiking above 3000 ft, it still looks like Winter and the trees have not begun to bud. I noticed the Bradford Pear trees and Maples were starting to bud when I was in Erwin last weekend. The grass was green and Spring was upon us. Two days later, I was back in Winter.. Today, I had the same sensation all over again. Earl Schaffer, the first person to thru hike the AT in 1948 titled his book, Walking With Spring . He wrote about starting in the south and heading north in the early Spring. The walk North coupled with the extensive elevation change extended the season through the mid-Atlantic portion of the trip. This is another wonderful aspect of the Northbound hike. (I'm not to suggest it is the best or only way to do it.) Spring is my favorite season and I'm thrilled I can extend the experience this year. Now, where was I?Oh, after entering Virginia I continued another 4 miles down the mountain entering Damascus around 1pm. Like Hot Springs, NC, the trail goes right through the town past several hiker hostels, inns, etc. Damascus is a very hiker friendly town with restaurants, re-supply, and a few great outfitters. Donna arrived shortly after lunch and we checked into the Dancing Bear Inn where we will staying tonight and tomorrow. We spent the afternoon taking care of some equipment issues (water filtration repairs and new hiking boots). We had dinner with Maketime, Cob, and Riverdog at Quincys, a local pizza restaurant. Great day. All is well.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

A very relaxing "zero". It was a very nice day here in Damascus. Donna and I had an enjoyable day exploring the area and being short term "tourists". We drove northeast to the trailhead for Mt. Rogers, then southwest to the town of Abington, VA. The brief tour convinced us we should come back for an extended visit as there is a lot to see and do. Abington is a beautiful town with a lot of history and culture and the Creeper Trail is on our list of upcoming bicycle trips. Fortunately, I did not have a lot to do today, the exception being laundry, so it was nice to have a slow day. Tomorrow, I will continue north out of town and begin climbing again. Over the next few days I will climb 3000 ft to the Mt. Rogers area and on to the Virginia Highlands. It feels good to be back in Virginia and I'm looking forward to the walk across this great state. The Appalachian Trail in Virginia covers nearly 550 miles, a quarter of the entire trail. It is the favorite of many.... it is home to me. A special place.