morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-26
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We slept well during the night. Cool enough for good sleep and the shelter was full with 5 folks but not crowded. I headed out about 8:30 am and soon crossed the Watauga Dam. It seems like I hiked a long way looking out to my right and seeing Watauga Lake. Finally the trail turned away from it. At 1 pm I hiked into Vandeventer Shelter. I had covered seven miles. The southbound couple from New York that were in the shelter with me last night had said they had covered 14 miles yesterday and it wasn¢t too tough. I stopped for lunch and decided I could cover another seven miles today. The afternoon had some nice hiking and the second leg of seven miles was much easier than the first seven. I met a couple who asked me if I knew of any water supply. They had run out and were hurting for water. I was almost out myself and that sounded bad for me for future water. It started sprinkling and I put on my rain jacket and continued. The couple told me they had seen a mother black bear and her two cubs near Hwy 91. The only bears they had seen on the trail. At 432.8 my guide book shows water 1,000 ft to the right. It was more like 100 ft. and a great supply of water coming out of a pipe. I loaded up. Apparently the couple had missed that supply because when I saw them they were only about 2 miles from the spot having passed it by.After loading up with water, the rain started coming down. I covered up everything and continued hiking. Soon I arrived at Iron Mountain Shelter about 5:30 pm. 14 miles covered and I felt really good. It makes quite a difference when the trail flattens out instead of the ups and downs. Tomorrow I should head for a friend¢s cabin in Shady Valley and get a shower and warm up. In two days I had covered 25 miles and was ready for a short break. I had discovered that my Pocketmail was broken. The screen was half brown and there were large cracks running from the top to the bottom of the screen. I determined that I had broken it in my fall or it broke in the 20degree weather the night it snowed. I had enjoyed using it and will miss it. When I return home I will see if Pocketmail can repair or replace it. I was almost out of Tennessee.
Date: 2005-04-27
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: TN 91
Miles today: 4.1

Up and out on the trail by 8 a.m. The trail had gotten easier and was mainly flat but going through some low swampy areas with lots of mud. Just before coming out of the woods on Hwy 91 Double Healer caught up with me and we chatted for a short while and had a Snickers bar. Every now and then there were rain sprinkles. It was cloudy and about freezing. I hit the pavement on 91 and started hiking toward Shady Valley, TN to spend the night in a friend¢s cabin. It started raining pretty much and I had on my rain gear. Finally a SUV approached and I stuck my thumb up. I was very fortunate. A couple from Elizabethtown on a fishing vacation stopped and offered me a ride. They were the type folks you like to have pick you up. They took me right to the door of the cabin.   It was raining and about 35 degrees when I got there. I was ready for the wood burning stove and a hot shower. I slept well that night and got a ride to Bristol, TN the next day and then a long bus ride to Memphis. Another leg of the hike was over. I shall return!
Date: 2005-02-09
To: trail names
Miles today: 0.0

I talked to my son last night. By the way I attempted to thru hike in 97 and quit after a month. I had my mother and my son aka sunpig with me. My son named us molasses and pond water, never did care for the names. So he asked me why I didn't keep my old name, said hotflash sounded like someone who would really hike fast. So to clarify my trail name, hotflash is what I have all day long, or rather hot flashes. My son sunpig hiked in 2003 and 2004 and told me he couldn't call home much because there were hardly any phones. I am going to prove him wrong and find telephones nearby to call my family all the time to let them know I am safe. Well I was going to put my gear in today but maybe next entry. so long for now. 39 days to go!!!
Date: 2005-02-24
To: gear list
Miles today: 0.0

okay, couldn't figure out how to add to gear list so I will just put gear in journal. backpack-granite gear vapor trails-2lbs, western mountianeering ultralite bag-1lb 4oz, silk liner-4oz, thermarest zlite-11oz, tent henry shires squall-1lb 14oz, ground cloth-8oz. Total 5lb 14oz Clothes, packed 2pairs smartwool socks, silk long johns, micro fleese top and bottoms, undergarments, hat, gloves, camp towel, red ledge rain jacket and pants, couldn't turn these down for the low price of $9.00 each, crocs. Total wt. 3lb.11oz Kitchen set up, snowpeak titanium pot, spork, homemade cozy, pepsi can stove, wind screen. Total wt.9oz First aid and toiletry, 1lb 11oz. Office, data book, journal, stamps, headlamp 14oz. Extras-Camera, and I don't know what else I will add, 5lbs. Total-15lbs 27 oz. Just add water and food, about 2lbs for water daily and between 3 to 4 days of food 6 to 8 lbs that keeps me at about 25 lbs or less. Well 24 more days left. see ya on the trail
Date: 2005-02-24
To: gear list
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, this is my third attempt at putting a gear list in, First one I couldn't figure out how to put under the gear list so I decided to put it in my journal. Well somehow I lost that one so this will be very quick. backpack,granite gear vapor trails 2lbs, sleeping bag, western mountianeering ultralite 1lb 9oz, mat thermarest zlite 11oz, silk liner 4oz, ground cloth 8oz. Total 5lbs 14oz. clothes packed 3lbs 11oz, kitchen 9oz, journal, data book stamps, headlamp, and paper stuff 14 oz, 1st aid and toiletries 1lb 10oz. Add 5lbs for camera and anything i missed. total 15lbs 16oz. Add 2lb for water daily and 2lbs of food a day for 3 to 4 days, and I shoul be right about 25lbs. See ya on the trail
Date: 2005-03-11
To: countdown begins, ten
Miles today: 0.0

Ten more days left, I have been using a treadclimber for the last few months, I go two miles a day while watching the honorable judge judy mulian. So if any one is in need of a trailside lawyer I think I qualify. I have been keeping up with the weather hoping it doesn't get to cold in the beginning of my hike. Let me acclimate for a few weeks and then I can handle it. well work is awaiting me again so off I go. Happy trails to all
Date: 2005-03-17
To: big trouble
Miles today: 0.0

Ok, here's the problem. I had asked my brother for help in updating my gear list and and photos. I of course had to give him my user name and password and so begins the trouble. Now he is putting in the wrong gear, putting in his baby picture and making it sound like I'm a lush. If these are the tricks he is playing on me now, what will he do while I am out there hiking. nine...eight...seven...
Date: 2005-03-18
To: six...five...four...
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all, just wanted to say a few thanks, to my family for all their support, to Hugh Van Veen my boss who allowed me to take some time off work, to my co-workers who put up with my constant trail talk and for just putting up with me in general and for throwing me a great party once I leave and, the members at the E.G.Y.C. for with out them I wouldn't have a job.                  Tonight I plan on repacking my bag and going to the P.O. to weigh it to make sure I don't exceed my 25lb.weight limit. Then I need to finish up getting ready and I will leave tomarrow for springer. See ya on the trail               Ps thanks everyone at work for the cake and walmart card. The cake was excellent(thanks chef Peach) and the walmart card will come in very handy. Do they sell scotch at walmart? thanks again
Date: 2005-03-21
To: three, two, one, blast off
Miles today: 0.0

We left on 3/19, took the greyhound and now I know why I haven't rode in over thirty years. Anyway nothing to bad happened. We got gainesville and Leigh from the hiker hostel picked us up, they really have a nice place here. We had a little camp fire in their pit last night and roasted some marshmellows. well today is the day. I'll check in, in a few days Happy trails everyone and thanks for signing my guest book Hotflash
Date: 2005-03-21
From: springer mountain

To: Hawk Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1   Started at 9:00 am .9 miles to the summit of springer mtn. Did the usual pictures and started down. We got to stover creek shelter at 3 pm. The shelter was full and so we tented. We met alot of hikers today, first mad dog, and georiga who found snooks rain pants. Then also at the shelter was pirate,who I met in 97 and tim, libby, moon pie, billy goat, thunder,buffalo bob, jarrad and his dad and his dog kye, eagle eye, wade and mike, section hikers, and a lot more I can't remember. The day seemed pretty easy, I think it was just the excitement.
Date: 2005-03-22
From: hawk mountain shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 2   Started at 8:00 today, ran into al whose boots blew out. We hiked and everyone kept passing us. Snook is very fast and doesn't like to be passed I tried to go faster, but didn't want to hurt myself. We got to the shelter at 2:00. It started raining at 2:30. We ended up staying in the shelter with 14 in the shelter and one on the picnic table and 2 under the awning. Very cozy and a long rainy night. Also, everyone agreed on changing snooks trail name to mighty mouse.
Date: 2005-03-23
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Day 3   Today was a tough day. We started at 9:00 and tried to get to woods hole shelter but we were really slow, Finally stopped at Jarred gap at 6:00 pm and tented with another Hotflash, slowleak, thunder, and buffalo bob. A very cold and windy night. The next day I heard that 5 tornados touched down in no. ga.
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Jarrad gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 4 Went over Blood mtn. today. At first snook started complaining about not wanting to hike over it and wanting to go on the blue blaze. Then he just started charging the mtn., and once up there was in total awe. The trek down was a killer. We got to neels gap around 12:00 and got a cabin at goose creek, and just relaxed. I haven't been sleeping well and thought that with a nice soft bed I would but didn't.
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 5   Left neels gap around 9:00 had a really tough time. I think snook is getting bored. He enjoys hiking with the fast hikers but with me he complains. I think he wants to hang out with the big kids. We tried to make it to Low gap shelter and quit at sapling gap. Thunder and buffalo bob came by and were trying to make it to low gap. Libby came by and couldn't make up her mind whether to stay or go, decided to stay. Just then mad dog and tim and bond,gold bond showed up and stayed. We had a good night.
Date: 2005-03-26
From: Sapling gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 6   I slept better last night than most. I don't know whats wrong. We left this morning around 8:30 and got to low gap shelter around 11:00 had lunch there and filled our water. Met rehab and started on to blue mtn. shelter. Today was both easy and tough. We met two families from n.c. who were just trying out backpacking for the first time. I hope this trip didn't discourage them. Got to blue mtn shelter around 4:00. The shelter was full of ohio state students on spring break so the rest of us tented out. Snook decided that today is his last day. It had rained all night and was very windy.
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: unicoi gap
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: light rain

Day 7 Today was all down hill. Very cold and foggy, we picked a good time to get out of the mountains, I here that a very bad storm is coming thru. Once we were almost down to unicoi gap I had realized I had left my tent pole at the tent site. I just cannot go back up. I will have to order another one. At unicoi gap trail angle Bandsaw, left us a couple of coolers full of sodas and cadbury eggs, note pads, kleenex, etc. Thank-you bandsaw. Well I will be staying a few days in Helen, ga. at the Helendorf Inn. Great place and great people.
Date: 2005-03-30
From: helen

To: tray mnt shelter
Miles today: 5.5

Day 10 I never received my package from fed. express. I was suppose to be here by 12 noon yesterday. So I called and they traced it, and now I am still sitting here the next day waiting for it. I lost my ride to the trailhead. Next time when something absolutly,positively, gotta be there, I won't use fed ex. Anyways my rod arrived about 24 hrs late, and I finally got going, trail angle Mac Moore gave me a ride to the trailhead, a very scary ride,he is around 90 yrs old. I started out at 1:00 pm. It was hard to get going after 2 zero days. I met slaphappy and sweet 16. I stopped at tray mtn. shelter and tented out. It started pouring around 3am and went non stop till 1pm thursday.
Date: 2005-03-31
From: tray mnt shelter

To: deep gap shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: moderate rain

day 11 started hiking at 7:45 every thing is wet. It rained all night. I got to deep gap shelter around 1:30 and decided to stay to dry out my stuff. I picked the loft, it looked very clean and I figured if there were mice they would stay downstairs where all the stuff is. Well while I was laying out my things a very bold mouse started approaching me. I slept very well in my tent last night. It did rain again. I was going to go shelter to shelter during this bad weather just to keep my gear dry, but if i'm staying in my tent anyways the heck with it. Today while hiking I met strech, at the shelter I met Eastie, 2 section hikers, Maddie and summer, Mat and Jesse, and Doug. Every one is going into Hiawassee tomarrow. I can't to many zeros already
Date: 2005-04-01
From: deep gap shelter

To: campsite mile 73.2
Miles today: 10.1

Day 12 Last night at deep Gap, a couple of fellows from athens Ga on a trout fishing trip hiked up and fed us hikers beefaroni, mtn. dew and cookies, Thanks Ray and Aubrey. They didn't have any trout for us, they gave that away to a guy with cancer. I started hiking at 8:30 and quit right at 3:00. I could have gone farther but the Ga-NC border is 2 miles and I need to figure out my camera so I can shoot timed pictures. I'm alone tonight,it's a little bit scary. I won't let that happen again. Anyways tomarrow will be my first state down only 13 more to go.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: campsite mile 73.2

To: muscrat creek shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: snow

Day 13 It had started raining around 4:00 pm and stopped around 6am. I would say that is a good thing but, then the temp. dropped the wind started howling and it was cold,freezing cold, the snow started and by the time I reached muscrat creek shelter I figured I had better stop because most of my stuff was very damp from the rains. I packed into the shelter with about nine others and was comfy until the snow started blowing in. Alot of us were worried because seven of us had down bags, anyways I ended up in farmer daves tent and almost froze that night. As far as people who are here, the only names I remember are farmer dave, peanut ribeye, three section hikers one named yard sale,a group of boy scouts, wanderer, and about 15 more I cant't think of. It was a long cold night.
Date: 2005-04-03
From: muscrat creek shelter

To: Franklin,N.C.
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

day 14 It was a long cold night. Left as soon a possible with slow leak and the other hotflash to deep gap. We took a side trail 3.7 miles to get to standing indian campground to call haven hiker hotel to pick us up. I had to wrap my feet in an emergency blanket cut in pieces so I could slip them in my frozen boots, and keep them warm. Ron picked us up right away, what a great town and great people in Franklin, N.C. Ron is a true hiker friend, Thanks Ron, now I need to wash my clothes and take a hot shower and thaw out.
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Franklin,N.C.

To: carter gap shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

day 16 started today at 10:00 finished at 5:30. The same as going into franklin the 3.7 kimsey creek trail does not count. So the 12.2 miles I did today is only worth 8.5 Anyways today I met insanely grateful, awol,spry ox, naked sun,pied piper, krog, strider and bravo. I tented out tonight.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: carter gap shelter

To: rock gap shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 17 Today I left around 8;30 finished at 4:00. Hit the 100 mile mark today hurrah! Only 2,074.9 miles to go. We got trail magic just before Mt Albert, Burritos, sodas, coffee. Thanks Barry and terry, Gatorade and Fishing Fred. Did a little rock scramble on mt albert, that was fun. So far all is good. Also met snowman and sparkplug, James and woodrose slept well in my tent.
Date: 2005-04-07
From: rock gap shelter

To: bartram trail campsite mm114.7
Miles today: 11.9

Same old stuff start at 9:00 finish at 5:30. Trail magicat winding strairs gap. Met steve and noonin. Tented out at campsite with other Hotflashand slowleak, The three mousekateers peanut, thirsty, and ribeye, and noonin came in later.
Date: 2005-04-08
From: bartram trail campsite mm114.7

To: wesser bald shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

Day 19 Today started out the same as usual, Slow leak,hot flash,noonin, the three mousekateers and I leapfrogged most of the day. Then I pulled a muscle coming into telico gap. I told hotflash and slow leak not to wait and just go on. In my haste to catch up to them I rushed down the gap and saw them climing a forrest service road, or so I thought. Anyways I follewed them to the top never looking for white blazes, footprints, or holes made from hiking sticks. At the atop of wesser bald 4630' I realize my mistake and came back down the to find the trail right next to the forrest service road. Had I known that I would have ended up the same place I wouldn't have come down and skipped those blazes. To make the story funnier Noonin who was named after ameilia earhart's (wrong spelling) navigator had went the right way and was at the fire tower taking a break when seeing the clouds rolling in decided to get to the shelter. He thought he saw white blazes to the right of the fire tower and followed the road. After a while he saw my footprints and hiking stick holes and figured he was going the right way till he reached the parking area in telico gap. What a day for mishaps
Date: 2005-04-09
From: wesser bald shelter

To: campsite 138.2
Miles today: 10.0

day 20 My feet have been bothering me. I have decided to get trail runners. I hiked down into the NOC and threw out my asolo boots and bought a pair of salomon trail runners. What a difference. Then I washed my clothes and took a 2.00 shower, what a waste of 2.00 I stunk just as bad a half hour after hiking as I did before coming into the noc but it sure did feel good. A lot of people staying here at noc, I can't I need to make up for my zero days,so I will hike on.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: campsite 138.2

To: cody gap
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 21 Left campsite around 8;00 met footloose&fancy free, mama bear and her 3 cubs, fire dog, shannon and his son puc. Stopped at cody gap for the night. gg and slip and slide came in a little later. Had a very good night sleep. Tomarrow Fontana dam. By the way Shannon found the tent pole I had lost at blue mtn. shelter and carried it out. Now I have two tent poles I have to carry. Thank you shannon for holding on to it.
Date: 2005-04-11
From: cody gap

To: fontana hilton
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 22 Left at 8:00 and rushed to fontana village. picked up mail drop, and went to the fontana hilton. Took a shower at the visitor center washed my clothes in the shower. I slept in the shelter tonight, no mice. With me tonight is pied piper, spry, thrifty, firedog, mateo and tom, tomarrow the smokies.
Date: 2005-04-12
From: fontana hilton

To: mollie ridge shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Today was rainy and very cold, Hiked to mollie ridge shelter and was bone cold. I needed to stop and get something hot to eat. A few other hikers hiked on wanderer slip and slide and gg. One thing, tank and willow, Ironfoot, and I stayed. We also had 3 horse rider who stayed and 2 section hikers. What a miserable day.
Date: 2005-04-13
From: mollie ridge shelter

To: derrick knob shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

Day 24 Very cold and rainy again. did not see any views, not even on rocky top just fog. Got to the shelter, same group of thru-hikers, and Jarred and Andy showed up. Then Moses, the section hiker came in later soaked and frozen, I gave him some hot water for some hot chocolate to warm up a bit. Another cold night.
Date: 2005-04-15
From: mt. collins shelter

To: Ice water spring shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 26 A very bad day. I was planning to go to pecks corner shelter and got lost for 5 hrs. I had to back track to the last shelter. I lost a lot of mileage. I met section hikers Wayne and Janet going to Mt. laconte and saw alot of old friends and new. The full house crowd, pb&j, south paw, nipmuk, and zeno.
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Ice water spring shelter

To: tri corner knob shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

day27 did well today started at 8;15 arrived at 2:45. Alot at the shelter today. the groups I mentioned at the last shelter, a scot named reggie, a german named reino we call him rhino, section hiker mark, and trampas whose father gave mightymouse and I a ride on easter day at unicoi gap to helen. Rhino kept the fire going all night in the shelter, a rather large fire. Tonight the mtns were very smokie thanks to him.
Date: 2005-04-17
From: tri corner knob shelter

To: standing bear farm
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Rushed all the way, made 18 miles in 9hrs. I'm so glad to be out of the smokies. I'm here at standing bear farm, a lot of people here, Lost Baggage, HiVie and his dog, Bravo, Bulldog, History, Rigortortoise, Merrel and Rhino. We had a big bonfire and I tried to stay on the computer but still cold from the Smokies.
Date: 2005-04-18
From: standing bear farm

To: GroundHog Creek
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: few clouds

Left around 12:30, made it to Groundhog Creek at 5:30, tough climb.Trampas, Rhino and onya, Reggie the Scot, now known as Varmint and a section hiker, Preacher. Had a good fire and a good night sleep tenting.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: GroundHog Creek

To: Roaring Forks
Miles today: 11.4

Today I went to Max Patch, it was like something out of sound of music, I asked Trampas to take my picture, but I had a picture of a Rabbit and forgot to turn off my camera and ran my battery down, so no picture, slept in shelter, going back to the tent.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Roaring Forks

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

I was planning to go to the last shelter tonight and go into Hot Springs tomorrow, but figured why not go in this evening, get a tent site and get a good hot shower and be smelling nice for almost a full day instead of just an hour. Got into town and Rigortortis asked if I wanted to split a cabin with him and birdhouse Bob, so I did, I have my own loft and I'm smelling nice and fresh and full. Tomorrow off to Erwin. Met a couple from Greenville Tennessee, hopeful thruhikers.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Hot Springs

To: spring mountain shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

It was a long climb today, I was going to just write in my journal a little and relax a bit around 630pm, but just passed out. Missed a thunderstorm, I guess I was tired, tented out.Met Papa bear who knew Sunpig from last year.Just wanted to say how the scents are wonderful, wild flower, pine, fresh clean dirt, ramp.