morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-02
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, North Carolina
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 5:15am, on the trail at 7. Morning temps around 50 with fog and a little rain, later mid 60s and cloudy.Started the day with a 2+ mile climb over Bluff Mtn., then and 11 mile, 3000' descent into Hot Springs. Wound up staying at the Alpine Court Motel, a place that looks like it is straight out of the 1950s...which probably explains the shower. No effort at water conservation here. It was like taking a shower from a fire hose. It was wonderful. Kinda like getting a massage at the same time. Later that evening there was a knock at my door and there stood Cool Lenses (formerly Not So Swift) with a mason jar of purple colored moonshine. He offered me some, but I passed.
Date: 2009-04-03
From: Hot Springs, North Carolina

To: One mile past the Rich Mtn. fire tower
Miles today: 10.4

Up at 8am. Cloudy in the morning with sprinkles and temps around 50. Later partly cloudy with highs in the mid 60s.Spent the morning cooling my heels in town waiting for a 2-day, Priority USPS package from home to get into the post office. It didn't show. I left instructions to forward it to Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin, TN. Earlier I had run into Brickyard who was leaving. He said he was going as far as the Rich Mountain fire tower. I was on the trail at 2pm and hooked up with him at 7pm.
Date: 2009-04-04
From: One mile past the Rich Mtn. fire tower

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: few clouds

Up at 6:30am, on the tail at 8. It was partly cloudy all day with lows that morning around 40 and highs in the upper 60s.The highlight for the day came after about 6 miles when I got to Allen Gap. There was a sign promising Trail Magic just down the road a bit. The location was this beautiful house on top of the hill overlooking the road. You are met at the door by Hercules (name derives from the military transport plane) and his wife, FAL (Free At Last). They were successful thruhikers and had been inviting other thruhikers into their home for the past 5 years. After being directed to leave your boots and pack on the porch and shown where the bathroom was so you could wash your hands you were placed at this large kitchen table while FAL made fresh Belgian waffles. I was handed a sheet with a list of drink options....I chose lemonade. Hercules made me a fresh pitcher. After the waffle we were each offered a meat stew and then desert. Several had the banana split, I had the chocolate fudge sundae....with sprinkles. With all of that Trail Magic in me I was able to do another 11+ miles, which included some very tough rock climbing for several miles. I arrived at the Jerry Cabin shelter at 7:30pm.
Date: 2009-04-05
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 8. Was near 50 and clear in the morning, mostly clear with a high near 70 in the afternoon.It was a very nice night in the hammock with no tarp. Lots of stars. But the main topic of conversation is the weather. The forecast is for rain and/or snow beginning sometime tomorrow. And I am still going to be 27 miles from Erwin, TN tonight. I will have to make some big decisions tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-06
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Erwin, Tennessee
Miles today: 27.0

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 8. Temps were in the 40s all day.The weather we were all worried about has arrived. There was some light rain overnight and continuing this morning. I walked 3.6 miles to Sam's Gap (Interstate 26). At that point I had to make a decision. There was a semi weighing station nearby and I could just walk over there and catch a ride with a trucker to Erwin. Or I could just press on another 16+ miles to the No Business Knob shelter and do the last 6+ miles into Erwin tomorrow. I decided to go for the 20 mile day and headed out for the NBK shelter. Stopped at another shelter about 10 miles further on for lunch. While there the snow began to fall. I also heard on the radio that the Winter Storm Watch was now a Winter Storm Warning with 3 to 6 inches of snow predicted above 2500' elevation. I was up near 5000' when I heard this. Going over one large bald there were already drifts beginning to form. When I rolled into the NBK shelter at 6:30pm it was pretty full.   Temps had fallen into the low 30s, the snow was still falling, I was tired and very wet. But I had one thing going for me....I was warm. I was so warm that one of the folks in the shelter got out his camera to take a picture of the steam coming off my body. Since I was still warm I made the decision to keep going into Erwin. I would be the last person coming out of the mountains. One of the things that helped to keep me going was my radio. I had found a decent classic rock station with the unfortunate call letters of WQUT. I say unfortunate because they kept promoing the station as "Q..U..T". My fried brain kept hearing it as "Q..U..I..T". I plodded on into the dark with my headlamp lighting up the trail. I arrived in Erwin at 9:30pm. When I got to Uncle Johnny's Hostel I found them full. They did have my package from Hot Springs. They also were gracious enough to give me a ride over a mile down the road to the Holiday Inn-Express. As I walked into the lobby I ran into Loon (one of the Divas) who had been picked up back at Sam's Gap by her father. I also ran into the Tag Team (Tagless and Tags Along) who I had met at the pizza party at the Hiker Hostel way back on March 2nd. I checked in and sat with them watching the MSU/UNC game while sipping some beer. Then it was up to my room to collapse.
Date: 2009-04-07
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: Erwin, Tennessee
Miles today: 0.0

Up at 6:30am to partake of the free breakfast buffet. I was moving very slowly after the huge miles I put on yesterday. After the buffet I went back upstairs and crashed for an hour or so. Later took my laudry down to the laundry room and had a little more of the buffet before they shut it down. Loon's father had gone back to Sam's Gap this morning and picked up the rest of the Divas. Also ran into L-Train and B Andy, who I had been a day or so behind since Hiawassee. It has been snowing off and on down here at 1700' elevation all day, but the ground is too warm for any accumulation. This is not the case up in the mountains. The 4 Divas who came out this morning reported thigh-high drifts up on one of the balds. I also just ran into Postman, who tried to leave town for the next shelter which is about 4 miles out. He got up there, but then doubled back to a road and hitched back to town because of the snow.The forecast for tomorrow is the snow ending in the early morning hours with temps falling into the low 20s. Temps are supposed to moderate almost immediately with lows in the 40s and highs in the 50s and 60s the rest of the week.I will be heading out tomorrow morning.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: Curly Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 7:30am. After the complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn I caught a ride to the Post Office, then caught another ride to Uncle Johnny's Hostel. Hung around for a bit then went out to lunch with Brickyard, Cascade, Pogo, Miss Muster and Catchup, Phoenix and Crispy. Finally back on the trail at 2:15pm. Weather was clear all day with a high in the mid 60s. Arrived at Curly Maple Gap Shelter at 4:15pm. Met Mudflap, Critter and Railroad. They were cooking hot dogs and had plenty for all. Mudflap is doing the AT for the second time, Critter and Railroad are just on the trail getting into shape before going out west to hike the Pacific Coast Trail.
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Curly Maple Gap Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 8. Lows were in the mid 40s, highs in the mid 60s with mostly clear skies all day.Just as most of us were getting ready to leave J-Bird came into camp. He had left Uncle Johnny's in Erwin very early. J-Bird is a couple of years older than me and looks like one of those guys you see in the health ads with the "Before" and "After" photos. He would be the "After". The trail was one big mess all day with muck, snow and slush as temps rose. The big climb of the day was Unaka Mountain. The pine trees at the top were dropping huge clumps of snow as I passed through.I did not push it very hard and got to Cheery Gap Shelter at around 4pm. There was already a bunch of people there, most from the group at the previous shelter. And it was there that I found out what had happened to J-Bird. Somewhere on Unaka Mountain 3 miles from the next shelter one of the fittest men I have ever met slipped, fell awkwardly and tore up his left knee. He could not walk forward, only shuffle sideways. Even at that he fell at least once more. It was at this point that Pogo and Cascade found him with Mudflap, Railroad and Critter coming up a bit later. Pogo helped J-Bird down Unaka Mtn. while the rest shuttled gear to the shelter. A section hiker they met got out to a spot where his cellphone worked and called for help. A few hours later 3 ATVs came roaring up the trail carrying 2 EMTs and several volunteers. It was very sad to see J-Bird go. It was also very sobering to see a guy like him get hurt. It shows what can happen to anyone on the trail.
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: moderate rain

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 8. Temps in the 50s with lots of rain.After only about 90 minutes on the trail I got to Iron Mtn. Gap and met trail angel Mango. He did the AT in 2006 and was handing out snacks and sodas. Just after I arrived the rain began to fall heavily. Pogo and Cascade came by, had some snacks and then got back on the trail. Mudflap, Critter and Railroad also came by. Critter and Railroad were pretty much done with the trail and were trying to find a way to the Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel. The more they talked about it (as the rain came down) the more appealing it became. Since there was no one else coming up behind us on the trail Mango offered us a ride to the hostel. We accepted. Once there we were greeted by our host, Cece. We were all warm and dry when Pogo and Cascade came down from the trail. Needless to say they were surprised to see us already there. I also met Chuckles and Knuckles for the first time (more on them later).That evening Cece drove us into town to one of the best Chinese AYCE buffets I have ever experienced. And it was on the way back to the hostel that I saw my first animals bigger than squirrel...several deer beside the road. The irony that after over a month on the trail I would see them from the back of an '85 Ford Bronco was not lost on me.
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Up at 7am, on the trail at 10am. Temps in the lo 40s in the morning, mid 50s in the afternoon and fog almost all day.And now it is time to relate the story of Cece's neighbor. For several years the guy living next to the Greasy Gap Friendly Hostel has been doing everything in his power to get her to shut the hostel down. One of his usual tactics (which he did the morning I was there) is to get up very early, say 5am, and start banging a crowbar on a piece of steel while yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he drives his riding lawnmower to the end of his driveway, which is about 40 feet from the bunkhouse and leaves it running for hours. He has taken the time to remove the muffler. There are no noise ordinences preventing him from doing this. There also from time to time are signs that mysteriously appear on the trail telling the hikers that the hostel is closed, "...due to sickness." These have all been done many times. But the night I was there a new incident occurred. There is a stream that runs through the property which supplys the water for the hostel. During the night someone (I wonder who) dumped manure into her cistern. It was discovered that morning when the water coming out of the taps turned an ugly brown. Flushing and judicious use of bleach cleaned up the problem. The sheriff's office was called. That's all I know as I got back on the trail at 10am. While hiking I ran into Chuckles and Knuckles. Both are Eagle Scouts. Chuckles got his name early on the trail when he was laughing in his sleep and woke everyone sharing the shelter with him. When I asked Knuckles how he got his name he originally said he got it for breaking up a bar fight. He later admitted he got it playing one of those card games where you try to be the first to slap the cards on the table. When he was the first to slap the cards and everyone else came down on his hand he screamed, "OW, MY KNUCKLES!" And thus a trail name was born. I walked with these two for about half-an-hour as we traded stories about summer camp staffs. That was all the longer I could keep up with them.The weather forecast was for clearing skies early in the afternoon but it didn't clear up until I got to the top of Roan Mountain and the shelter at around 6pm. The trail going up Roan Mountain was snow, slush and running water. The shelter is actually an old fire warden building with four walls and a door. This shelter at 6285 feet elevation is the highest on the entire AT. I chose to sleep in the attic of the building as it was supposed to be very cold the next morning. There was only one other hiker there...I think his name was Serial.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 15.2

Up at 7am, on the trail at 8:45. Morning temps in the upper 20s, afternoon temps in the mid 60s with clear skies all day.Woke up to everything frozen...water bottles, boots, damp clothes, etc. The slush on the trail was now frozen solid and very slippery coming down off the mountain. But even with the cold start this turned out to be one of the best hiking days so far. There were several balds and mountains to conquer today, the biggest being Hump Mountain. And I am finally beginning to see a lot more greenery. I have to make the most of this day as the forecast is for rain each of the next five days. When I got to the Apple House Shelter I decided not to put up my hammock as I wanted to start out dry in the morning.
Date: 2009-04-13
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hiker Hostel)
Miles today: 25.9

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 7. Morning temps in the upper 40s, afternoon temps in the upper 50s. It rained a bit before I got up, but was only cloudy all day. The rain that was forecast didn't happen.The terrain was relatively flat and there was not a lot of interesting or new scenery so I concentrated on getting some serious miles. I did spook four deer and several grouse. When I got to the Moreland Gap Shelter I had dinner and did some thinking about going on another 6 miles or so to the Kincora Hiker Hostel which is run by Bob Peoples. Bob's reputation is second to none on the AT when it comes to treating hikers. He provides everything except food for a suggested donation of $4.00/night. This includes a warm bed, shower and laundry. And he makes at least one trip a day to town for those that need resupply. I decided to make a run for the hostel for a zero-day and to beat the approaching bad weather I was hearing about. I arrived at 8:30pm. Already there doing a zero-day were Brickyard, Phoenix, Crispy, Chuckles and Knuckles among others.
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hiker Hostel)

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Slept in because I was taking a zero-day. Temps were in the mid 40s in the morning and mid 50s in the afternoon with rain and scattered thunderstorms all day.A very restful day at the Kincora Hiker Hostel. Everyone else that stayed the night left in the morning. Later in the day arrivals included Firepit, Mudflap, One Stick, Mr. Green Tea, Cascade and her younger brother.
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hiker Hostel)

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 7:45. Lows in the upper 40s, highs in the mid 50s with overcast all day.Day started out with a big climb...1700 feet over 2 miles, then a similar descent. The rest of the day the trail was fairly flat with only small ascents and descents. The highlight was crossing the Watauga Dam. Everyone is talking about how many days it will take to get to Damascus, VA. It is 52 miles from the Kincora Hiker Hostel to Damascus. Most are planning on three days. Chuckles and Knuckles planned to do 10 miles out of Kincora, then 42(!) to Damascus. Ah, youth. Arrived at Vandeventner at 4:45pm. Shared the shelter with Mudflap and Firepit. Big day planned for tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-16
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 7:30. Overnight low around 40 with fog that cleared in a few hours. Afternoon highs in the mid 60s.A beautiful day on the trail. Clear skies, a cool breeze. I did not break any land speed records today as I dawdled taking pics and just resting enjoying the day. I arrived at the Abingdon Shelter at 7pm. 22.7 miles in 11.5 hours is a pretty slow pace.
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

Up at 6am, on the trail at 7:30. Although there were frost warnings in the area the overnight low only got down to about 40, and the afternoon high was in the upper 60s. Sunny all day.Crossed over into Virginia at mid-morning. Arrived in Damascus at 11:30am. Hit one of the outfitters for a package Mary had sent and also picked up some supplies. Decided to really pamper myself and put in for two nights at Augusta's Bed & Breakfast. They offer a huge breakfast, beer and/or wine at 4:30 every afternoon, cable TV, laundry and, best of all, unlimited internet access.After a shower and a change of clothes I walked down to Dot's. It's one of the better known libation stations on the AT. Had a burger and a beer with Brickyard, Firepit and Mudflap. And I met Dot. I will be taking a zero-day here tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Up at 7am. Fed huge breakfast by our hosts at 8pm. Later in the morning they gave me a ride to the grocery store for resupply. I will be carrying enough food for 7 days when I leave tomorrow. Spent the afternoon lazing around the B&B, strolling through town, watching television, updating this journal, etc. One of the things I have to make a decision on is whether to double-back to Damascus in mid-May to participate in Trail Days. Trail Days is the biggest trail celebration there is. Thru-hikers, section hikers and people just looking for a weekend long party fill this town up. Also all of the major hiking equipment vendors are here and very knowledgeble hikers do presentations. It is tempting but it will take the major portion of a week out of my AT hiking venture. Getting from wherever I am back to here and then back north again shouldn't be a real problem as there are hikers from all up and down the east coast who will shuttle current hikers in and out of town for Trail Days...or so I've been led to believe. The other option is to come next year after I've finished...assuming I do finish. Then I can walk in the Hiker Parade behind the big 2009 sign with all the others who complete it this year.I have about 3 weeks to decide. Stay tuned.
Date: 2009-04-19
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6am to pack. Breakfast with Terry and Sissy Kammer at the Augusta B&B, then on the trail at 9:15am. It was overcast all day with lows in the lower 50s and highs in the lower 60s. There were some sprinkles in the afternoon.\Just a "get out of town" type of day, not a lot of scenery. Arrived at the shelter at 3:15 and for the second time was able to hang my hammock IN the shelter. Firepit and Phoenix showed up a bit later to share the shelter.
Date: 2009-04-20
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Up at 6am, on trail at 7:45. Overnight lows in the lo 50s, highs in the lo 60s. Like yesterday cloudy all day with some late rain.Last night there were two torrential downpours...one around midnite and the other at 3am. But I had the best of both worlds: I was in my hammock and the hammock was in the shelter so I didn't have to deal with a soggy tarp or damp gear in the morning. Did a lazy 12.2 miles today to set myself up to cross the Grayson Highlands in the morning and see the wild ponies...more on them tomorrow.Arrived at the shelter at 3:30pm. About 30 minutes later a monstrous squall rolled through. I was very fortunate to be high and dry.
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: moderate rain

Up at 6:15am, on the trail at 7:45. Temps just above freezing when I woke up, got up to the mid 50s later in the day.Right after I got on the trail I was nailed by tiny little ice balls with fog on the way to Grayson Highlands. This was just the beginning of a very wierd weather day. There was ice balls, snow, wind, sunshine, snow and sunshine at the same time, it just kept cycling and I was constantly stopping and putting on or taking off my rain gear.While in the Grayson Highlands I saw three of the wild ponies that live up there. There are supposed to be dozens. They are constantly grazing and helping to keep the balds bald. With the weather being a bit nasty I think most were hiding in the trees and staying out of the wind.Today I experienced my 2nd "Air Show". Two military jets came roaring out of nowhere very low practicing flying between the hills. And that night at the shelter they were out again in the dark flying lower than the elevation of our shelter. All we could see were little red lights zipping noisily through the valley.
Date: 2009-04-22
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

Up at 6:16am, on the trail at 7:45. Lows in the mid 30s with highs in the mid 50s. Partly cloudy all day...and windy.Not sure I want to know what the windchill was when I got going this morning but it was cold. I spent most of the day hiking with two layers which is unusual for me. Got me to thinking about a wintery Saturday morning back when I was doing mornings at a radio station (WMFG) in Hibbing in the early 80s. We had one of those weather stations mounted above the console that displayed the current temp and windspeed. And if you pushed a button it would display the windchill temp. All I remember about that morning was that when the temp was 30 below zero and the winds got to 30 MPH the windchill was a minus 100. That same morning (while on the air) I penned a little song about the weather that I actually had the nerve to sing on the air. So with apologies to one Robert Zimmerman here's how it went:How many times must your car refuse to start before you call for a jump.How many times must your furnace fail to heat before you freeze your big rump.Yes and how many times must your gooses make the scene before they become one big bump. (goosebumps, get it?)The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind...chill.The answer is blowing in the windchill.Arrived at the Partnership shelter in the late afternoon. It was without a doubt the swankiest shelter I have seen so far. It had running water, an outdoor sink and a shower. Nearby is the Mt. Rogers NRA HQ with a free outside phone. And on that phone you can order pizza delivery. It is considered a tradition for folks who stay at this shelter to do that and who am I to break with tradition.I have been averaging over 16 miles per day for the past 4 days and my feet are complaining. Tomorrow....a shorter day.