morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Marina
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke in my bungalow this morning to 41 degrees and a forecast for more rain. The 14-mile hike to Fontana Dam looked easy: an early, steep climb up Jacob's Ladder, but then some minor climbs and a long downhill to the dam, authorized in 1941 to supply hydroelectric power to the war effort. Donna, my bungalow's owner, took me back out to the trailhead and said good-bye. She was a bright ray on yet another overcast day. By 10:30, the rain had started in earnest, and temperatures didn't climb out of the forties for the remainder of the day. Now, given the weather the last five days, and the issues I've been having with my pack, you might be thinking that the last journal entry of my trek must be right around the corner. Sure, I made one bad decision (sending my heavy bag ahead), the weather since Georgia has been a better fit for the Scots than the North Carolinians, and my pack has been a bit of a drag. But despite this confluence of issues, I continue to have the time of my life. Besides, adversity is good. It makes the mundane meaningful. (When I saw my $20 a night bungalow, I just about wet myself I was so excited!)I chose my gear wisely for this trip. In the rain and cold today, I had on the finest of AT couture: long underwear under a pair of running shorts, my hiking shirt, a fleece, a windshirt, gloves and hat. With my trekking umbrella fully deployed, I was dry and warm. Okay, but, how, you ask, was your new pack, Blue Man? The short answer: better. I think the move to 18 inches helped, and I more frequently adjusted the shoulder straps so that I wasn't in one position for too long. I also noticed that what remained of the pain moved around the middle of my back a bit, discounting one theory I had -- that I had an out-of-place rib that a chiropractor could take care of. In the end, I had my best day on the trail. My back pain subsided considerably, I loved hiking in the coolness and rain, I arrived in one piece at Fontana Dam after fourteen days and 165 miles of challenging hiking, AND I have two zeroes in front of me to rest up, fix some gear, and eat plenty of non-dehydrated food. Today, I hiked with 20 pounds in my pack, as my food bag was completely empty by day's end. Once at Fontana, I picked up both my food resupply box from Alison, and retrieved my heavy sleeping bag. Thus, when I hit the trail again, I will be carrying 30 pounds, a 50% increase from today. Will my back hurt? We'll see. On Sunday, I start the seventy miles of trail through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited of the country's national park system and home to the AT's highest elevations. And receiver of snow last night. This six-day Smokies segment will provide a great test for my new pack. At its completion, I will be able to render a verdict of success or failure. Stay tuned.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Fontana Village

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Today I took my second zero at Fontana Dam. I am totally itchy to get back on the trail, but the two-day rest did my body good. I've packed quite a few meals in during my stay, repaired some gear, and generally rested. The weather for the Smokies looks quite nice for the next three days, so I'm looking forward to the climb up tomorrow. Following on yesterday's water discussion (which I admit may have been a little too hiker-nerdy for most), I thought I'd talk about food tonight. On average, a thru-hiker burns between 4,000 and 6,000 calories a day. There simply is no easy way to carry enough food with you to fully replenish what you burn. So, a thru-hiker generally is calorie-deficient while hiking, and then arrives in trail towns, ready to eat, eat and do more eating. My goal is to eat 3,500 calories a day on the trail, while carrying about 2 pounds of food a day. For a five-day supply, then, I'll be carrying a little more than 10 pounds of food. When that is combined with two liters of water (4.4 pounds), and my fully-loaded pack of gear at 15 pounds, I will carry at most a 30 pound pack, and that will be whittled down to 20 pounds as I consume the food. While others do carry heavier packs, one improves their chances of finishing all 2,189 miles by carrying as little weight as possible, and 30 pounds is considered a good target weight. Doing the math, if I want to consume 3,500 calories a day and carry 2 pounds of food a day, then each ounce, on average, must provide about 110 calories (3,500 cal/32 oz = 110 cal/oz). As I mentioned earlier, Alison is sending me 5 days' worth of food each week, which I supplement with trail-bought food for the other two days of the week. Here's what she is sending me:Breakfast: Granola and powdered milkLunch: Peanut butter and tortillas, plus olive oilDinner: a collection of dehydrated meals, mostly from Alpine Aire, that provide about 600 calories per mealSnacks 1 and 3: Cliff BarsSnacks 2 and 4: Almonds, dried apricots and yoghurt-covered raisins This standard course of food will provide me with 3,500 calories. I then take four supplements to aid me in various ways: fish oil for joints, a probiotic for digestive health, electrolytes to replace minerals sweated out, and a whey powder to provide badly-needed protein and calories. Thus far, I have had to force myself to eat all that on a daily basis. To date, the "hiker hunger" that every thru-hiker suffers through -- when you are hungry all the time -- has not hit me yet. But it's only a matter of time. While I adore the granola breakfast and the Alpine Aire dinners, I can tell already that we'll have to get creative about lunch. Even with the 3,500 calories a day, I'm quite sure that I've already lost a number of pounds in just these two weeks. I hope to arrest any further slide, but know it will be a real challenge. I am just going to have to eat like I never have every chance I get in trail towns and when I come across trail magic. Onward to the Smokies!
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Mollie's Ridge Shelter

To: Mollie's Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So I waited. Figuring it was about a six-hour hike up from Fontana, I assumed I might see Dirty Girl as early as 2:00 pm, maybe even 1:00, since he might know I was waiting for him. I wanted to get in at least six miles, maybe even twelve, that day, so I wouldn't have to kill myself to get to Hot Springs on Sunday to meet Alison and Holly. While I waited, I thought through why the cellphone meant so much to me. Sure, not being able to take pictures of the Smokies would be a drag, but that wasn't it. Feeling out of touch without the ability to text? Definitely a bummer, but I could borrow a cellphone to text when needed and tell Alison I was fine. After a bit of thought, it became obvious. I have so enjoyed journaling, capturing my (mis)adventures, and then sharing it all with family and friends. I have been quite moved with the feedback I have received, and the number of people who are following me. Without the ability to journal and upload every day or two, I was being robbed of what has become a true pleasure, and I felt I was letting my readers down. With my feelings thus figured out, I went back to waiting. 1:00...2:00....3:00. I had decided that if he didn't appear by 4:00, I would have to spend a second night at Mollie's, and 4:00 came and went. Okay, maybe I can leave at 4:30 and make the next shelter comfortably. Where could he be? When 6:00 hit, I knew I had to make a decision. I decided I had to leave in the morning, phone in hand or not . I simply had to hike after traveling a total of 12 miles in four days. Hiking would be my medicine. I wrote out a message for Dirty Girl in the shelter's trail register, asking him to contact Alison to arrange, at some point, a hand-off of the phone. I then texted Alison and Holly on a borrowed phone that I was leaving in the morning and would be out of touch for the next eight days, but would see them in Hot Springs. I then tried to gird myself for hiking without my phone. Not an easy day. I climbed into my sleeping bag around 8:00, after the sun set. Everyone in the shelter was well aware of my predicament, and probably quite tired of my moping around. All of a sudden, a fellow thru-hiker announced a headlamp bounding down the trail toward the shelter. My hopes lifted, most likely dangerously, again. Unbelievably, it was Dirty Girl, and he had my phone. I hugged him, thanked him profusely and never bothered to ask why he left Fontana so late. He decided to night hike to the next shelter six miles away, and I considered going with him for a second, but ruled it out. I didn't need to take that risk. I had my phone, and something Alison would tell the children when they were young came to mind. "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better."
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Mollie's Ridge Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally hiking again, I took out my frustrations of the last 48 hours on the trail. With Alison arriving in Hot Springs on Sunday, I needed to hike 96 miles in six days to meet her, an average of 16 miles a day. All hikers, when traveling within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, are required to stay in shelters when there is room. This helps to limit the disturbance caused by tents. Each shelter typically holds between 12 and 16 people, and when you plan your day's hike, you must take into account not only the terrain and water sources, but also the location of the shelters. My 96-mile hike would necessitate two 19-mile days, two 16- and two 13-milers. I figured it would be best to get one of the 19s out of the way while I was fresh. I started hiking at 7:00 am, and the day was perfect. There was a stiff breeze blowing, and I was quite comfortable in a hiking shirt and light shell. With such ideal conditions, I ripped off twelve miles in the morning. Before lunch, I came across an extremely large wild turkey on the trail who paid me little mind. He finally moved off, allowing me to pass quite close by. By the afternoon, I was straddling the North Carolina/Tennessee border, as the ridge I was hiking forms the border between the two states. At times, I was in Tennessee, at others North Carolina. I imagine I had a foot in each at times, too. Thus, I've now hiked in three of the fourteen states that host the AT. About mid-afternoon, as I approached a crest in the trail, I flushed an animal down in the woods off the trail, and I caught a glimpse of my first bear. He scurried farther downhill, and I was able just to see his Winnie the Pooh rump. As I finished my 19 miles, I arrived at Double Spring Gap Shelter, and was pleasantly surprised. The water source was close by and free-flowing, the privy was relatively new and quite clean, and I was joined at the shelter by Pastor Trace and his band of five Auburn students. We had shared Mollie's Ridge Shelter on my first night there, and I really enjoyed their company. Throughout the day, my views of the Smokies seemed to be cursed. Since none of the mountains in North Carolina or Tennessee, despite some exceeding 6,000 feet, are above treeline, unfettered views are hard to come by. In addition, there seems to be a perpetual mist or haze that covers the ridges, and I understand this is where the Smokies got their name. Even though brilliant blue skies and alpine summits were missing, the mountains stretched forever, putting off a regal aire, and making me glad to be there.
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: few clouds

At 6:00 am, the skies opened and a set of thunderstorms passed through the mountains. I was thrilled to be in the shelter. As I started to hike, I quickly passed above 5,500 feet on my way to Clingmans Dome, at 6,667 feet, the highest point on the AT. With the early morning's rain still fresh in the air, it was quite misty. And, for the first time since I began the AT, I moved into a coniferous forest. Replete with mosses, the forest floor reminded me so much of Maine. This was quite a change from the forests and woods that I had encountered to date. The smells were familiar, with balsam hanging in the air, and the trail took on a flavor that I hadn't seen. When I got to Clingmans Dome, the tower that adorns the summit was fog-encrusted, and the views non-existent. I quickly headed down as rain started in. Lasting only an hour, the showers had little impact on me beneath my trekking umbrella. At some point in the afternoon, I passed the 200-mile mark for the hike, meaning that I had less than 2,000 more to go. Hmmmmm. In the afternoon, I hiked from Newfound Gap up to Icewater Spring Shelter, gaining over 1,000 of elevation in the process. The sun had come out, the trail gracefully hugged the ridge, and a fresh breeze was blowing. Still among fir and spruce, the trail was intoxicating. It was, to me, the best stretch of hiking I had done on the AT. Tonight, I'm staying with quite a crowd at Icewater Spring Shelter. Sitting at 5,935 feet, the shelter offers incredible views of the surrounding Smokies. The sun was out when I arrived, and the gathering of hikers was out enjoying the warm rays. The setting was idyllic, a lovely way to end yet another great day of hiking.
Date: 2016-05-12
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke at 4:30 am to a group of hikers preparing for a pre-dawn departure, and to the sound of thunder. Wanting to hike 19.8 miles to Cosby Knob Shelter, I was hoping for some decent weather. Rain was not what I had in mind. The thunder continued for the next hour, but when dawn finally broke, we were greeted with a lovely sunrise. Any hint of rain was long gone. I was hiking by 7:10 am, and shortly stopped at a dramatic outcropping named Charlie's Bunion. The view over the mountains was stupendous, and, with the sun newly risen, it was as clear as I had seen it in the Smokies. The day was off to a wonderful start. Wearing just a short sleeve shirt, (blue, of course), I began hiking along the North Carolina/Tennessee border. For the next fifteen miles, I walked this delicious ridge, in places only four feet wide before dropping off sharply on both sides to each of the two states. The sun stayed with me all morning, and I enjoyed one of the finest stretches of hiking I have ever had. The ridge rolled along between 5,300 and 6,300 feet, presenting views on one side of North Carolina, and on the other of Tennessee. Gently gaining and losing elevation, the trail's moderate slope made for comfortable hiking. After posting twelve miles before lunch, I noticed a darkening sky, and the weather took a significant turn. By 2:00, the wind had come up and it started to rain. For the remainder of the day, my trekking umbrella was deployed and water fell harmlessly about me. Upon arriving at Cosby Knob Shelter, Chloe, the ridge runner employed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, greeted me and asked if I'd like one of the last spots in the shelter that night. With rain still haunting the late afternoon, I enthusiastically accepted. While I still prefer to be in my tent, the shelter was looking better and better as the rain increased in intensity. As I sat down to a dinner of Chicken Gumbo, the sky let loose with one last deluge, and I couldn't have been happier than to be under the shelter's protection.
Date: 2016-05-15
From: Catpen Gap

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 11.7

As I came down off the trail Sunday into Hot Springs, NC, Alison, Holly and Katie were there at the trailhead to surprise me. We had arranged to meet in town, but they patiently waited for my arrival at trail's end instead. Needless to say, it was a wonderful greeting. We plan to spend some time in Asheville, visit the Biltmore, soak in the Hot Springs mineral baths, and take every opportunity to eat. It will be a wonderful two zeroes. I'll be back at it on the trail on Wednesday. I took all of Saturday's post to talk about Trail Angels and trail magic, and didn't say anything about Max Patch (photo). So, let me say a few words here. Max Patch, a "bald" in North Carolina that I crossed over Saturday right after my trail magic experience with Flounder, Hoot and Captain Pants, was incredibly beautiful. A bald is simply a mountain that, in its past, had its summit cleared, typically for grazing but perhaps for other agricultural purposes. Most of the balds have since reforested, with small areas sometimes kept open. But Max Patch (a homophone for the original name "Mack's Patch") has been maintained as a true bald, with grass covering its entire summit. It is a stunning sight, with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The portion of the AT down off of Max Patch and all the way into Hot Springs is no less beautiful, and I imagine a visit to Max Patch makes an absolutely gorgeous day hike. As for Sunday's hike, it started after an incredibly cold night, easily in the mid-thirties at my campsite at 4,100 feet. I know it wasn't colder only because my water didn't freeze. The wind was blowing a bit when I woke up, and I put on almost every piece of clothing I had. By the time I had walked the 11.7 miles into Hot Springs, it had warmed into the 60s in town, but the forest remained cool all the way down the trail. The hike was easy, and I felt like a horse turned home....anxious to get to Hot Springs and see my family. The town of Hot Springs is just the best! Love it! We will be enjoying ourselves here, as it reminds us of Rangeley, Maine, an AT trail town near and dear to all of our hearts.
Date: 2016-05-17
From: Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I spent two wonderful days with Alison, Holly and Katie in Hot Springs. It's been so nice to have them here, despite the need to do a whole bunch of trail chores. It was a long trip for them, and I so appreciate the effort they have made to come see ol' Blue on the trail. Thanks so much, Fam. I love you all!!!For those of you who would like to ask questions, or just leave me an encouraging thought or comment, you have that ability through the Guest Book. On the left side of my journal's webpage, among the blue tabs, you'll see Guest Book, and beneath that the options to View or Sign. View allows you to read the comments and questions people have left for me; Sign redirects you to a form that offers you the chance to ask a question or leave a comment. Please do so....I am happy to answer all questions!! If you do use the Guest Book, PLEASE enter your email address, or I can't respond to you. Hoot Al, my hydration tube is made by Evernew, and I found it on Amazon. The product code may be EBY271.Note: After 274 miles, the trail has determined that the hiker formerly known as Blue Man will continue simply as "Blue".
Date: 2016-05-18
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Climbing out of Hot Springs with a heavy pack and a heavier heart makes for a tough, tough day. I contemplated not posting an entry tonight, but decided that's just not right: my journey deserves to be accurately captured. So, here goes...Our stay in Hot Springs was just the best. Great vibe, very friendly folks and everything you could hope for in a small town. After a wonderful night and big breakfast at Mountain Magnolia Inn (highly recommended!), I had to say good-bye to Alison, Holly and Katie. It was very difficult. I so enjoyed seeing them and didn't want to leave. At 9:30 am, Alison walked me to the edge of town to see me off. I'm not sure when I'll see her again....but it can't be soon enough. The trail out of Hot Springs presented me with a decent climb of 2,200 feet. Since I picked up a food resupply box in town, I was hiking with my pack at its heaviest, a common affliction when climbing out of a trail town. To add insult to injury, the hills immediately outside Hot Springs through which the AT passes had suffered major forest fires just weeks ago, and I hiked all day among the charred results. So, to sum it all up, it wasn't my finest day on the trail, but I did complete the eleven miles that I had planned to hike. Just after I finished pitching my tent, a storm passed through and I was happy to duck inside and stay dry. The campsite and shelter tonight are quite full, with many familiar faces. That does take some of the sting out of the day. I did have the pleasure of seeing a young woman, AJ, on the trail today. She was in my SOLO Wilderness First Aid course that I took in Foxboro in mid-April. I knew she and her boyfriend, Colin, planned to leave Springer Mountain on April 29th, one week after me, and I wondered if I would see them. They are hiking up to Damascus, Virginia. As I readied for bed, I realized that I left my toothbrush behind at the Inn, a somewhat fitting end to the day. Today was difficult. Tomorrow will be better.
Date: 2016-05-19
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

The rain that started yesterday afternoon when I reached camp continued on through the night. Just about dawn, it stopped, so I was able to break camp with relative ease. As I hiked through the day, it again rained on and off and I broke out my umbrella several different times. More so than the intermittent rain, though, the fog defined the day, lending an eerie feeling to the landscape. I camped at 3,538 feet last night, and the trail today first took me down to 2,223 feet, and then up to 4,750 feet. My mood in the early morning matched the trail's descent, as I kept returning in my mind to Hot Springs and Alison, Holly and Katie, rather than enjoying the hiking at hand. As the morning progressed, however, and I started the climb back up out of the gap, I seemed to respond positively to the ascent. Sadness, sitting jockey since I left Hot Springs, loosened her rein and my gaze lifted from my feet and instead set on the trail up ahead. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, I began to shift my attention from what I left behind in Hot Springs...love, familiarity, companionship...to consider what lay ahead as the trail moved through Erwin and Hampton and Damascus.About mid-afternoon, I began to hike a ridge that featured Big Firescald Knob (photo). This is a new section of the AT, as volunteers of the Carolina Mountain Club recently finished constructing a trail over Big Firescald. Previously, the AT has skirted the summit. The new trail is something to behold, hugging the rocky and exposed ridge. Unfortunately, the aforementioned fog eliminated any chance of a view, but I still had fun wending my way through tight spaces and jumping from rocky step to rocky step. As I pulled into Jerry's Cabin Shelter at day's end, I passed the 300 mile mark for my AT journey. Yes, a long way to go, but I choose to think of how far I've already come.At bedtime, it is again raining, with more forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As an oft-heard AT saying goes, "No Rain, No Maine."