morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-10
From: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: sunny and warmingAfternoon Weather: sunny, then getting colder (25 as I write) Breakfast: doughnut, muffin, biscuit, gravy, egg, and, oh yeah, a bagel. Hey, I'm carb-loading for the rest of the smokies.Lunch: clif bar and ritz bitsDinner: Mtn. House Chicken and Noodle (yum) Trail Description: Surprisingly easy today, and my time reflects that. The snow was starting to melt so the snow part of the hiking was easier. However, even though the map showed a lot of "flat" parts, it seemed mostly uphill. In fact, every bit of the Smokies, in the snow, feels like uphill (even when actually going downhill).People: Stevensons, AuggieAnimals: none, although there is a bear warning sign on my shelter so who knows?!?Money: 0Complaints: noneThoughts: The Stevensons rock. They picked me up this morning and took me out to the park. It turned out that the road was closed due to ice, so I waited at the visitors center until it opened. Mike told me to call him when the road opened back up, and he would come back to the visitors center and take me up. What a town angel! I waited about an hour and a half and got to watch the Smokies movie and wander around the museum. Pretty cool. It turns out that Mike restores antique furniture, and builds copies of old pieces (I think he said 1850 and older). We talked all the way up about woodworking...I shared my limited knowledge of guitar building and we basically chatted wood up to the gap. Again, pretty cool.It's gonna be another cold night...one more night tomorrow at Cosby Knob then I am outta here!
Date: 2005-03-11
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap (Mountain Momma's)
Miles today: 20.9

Morning Weather: clear and coldAfternoon Weather: started snowing at noon and never stopped Breakfast: oatmeal Lunch: balance bar, walnuts, ritz bits Dinner: cheeseburger and fries (made in an iron skillet) Misc. Food: second lunch same as first Trail Description: Lots of downhill finally! Snow had melted enough yesterday that I could walk fairly easily.People: Nice ridgerunner who told me about the weather and suggested that I hike all the way out.Animals: dogs at Mtn. Momma'sMoney: 22Complaints: noneThoughts: Today was my longest day in the worst weather I've ever hiked in. I am VERY glad to be out of the Smokies, although Mtn. Momma's is a little sketchy. The people are real nice, but don't confuse this place with a motel...no heat in the rooms, plywoood bunkhouses, cigarette smoke everywhere, pictures of Dolly Parton scattered in with religious sayings on whiteboards...weird. Oh well, I _did_ walk twenty miles to stay here. Did I say I was glad to be out of the Smokies?!?
Date: 2005-03-12
From: Davenport Gap (Mountain Momma's)

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

Morning Weather: Sunny and warmish (45)Afternoon Weather: Sunny and warmer (55)Breakfast: Croissant with egg, cheese, bacon, OJ at Mtn. Momma's Lunch: Balance bars Dinner: Lipton with chicken Misc. Food: coffee by Matt at the shelter Trail Description: Went over I-40(!), then a long uphill over Snowbird Mtn and back down to the shelter People: Will and Amy, Matt and Jay, dayhikers, including several 70+ aged couples hikers on Snowbird...I hope I'm that tough at that age Animals: dogs and catsMoney: 8 (breakfast and groceries)Complaints: Mtn. Momma's lacks the value that some hiker guides place on it. Is that politic enough? A better plan is to skip it and/or stay at Davenport Gap Shelter. However, I needed the hot shower and am glad it was there.Thoughts: The weather is finally nice!!! It should remain so for the next few days. I'm going to take it slightly easy into Hot Springs, then push harder into Erwin. I'm enjoying my new hiker buddies, but I hope that Feather, Heidi, Jack and Jill, Wazoo, etc. are OK in the Smokies.
Date: 2005-03-13
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: sunny and warm (but windy on Max Patch) Afternoon Weather: sunny and warm (showers in the evening) Breakfast: oatmeal Lunch: bars and bars and bars Dinner: 1st dinner mashed potatoes and stuffing, 2nd dinner Lipton side and tuna Trail Description: Long climb over Max Patch. Max Patch rocked! A totally bald mountain top that has 360-degree views of the surronding countryside, including great views of the Smokies. After Max Patch, sort of uninteresting up and down.People: Jay and Mat, Will and Amy, misc day-hikers Animals: I saw my first owl!!! Today at noon an owl flew from a tree that was on the AT to a tree 20 yds away. He was eye-level with me. He landed on a branch, cranked his head around 160 degrees to watch me, and then flew away after a minute. He looked like my cat Sadie...fat bottom and big blink-blink eyes. Awesome! Money: 0Complaints: Long day equals sore body.Thoughts: Today was a "challenge" day to get ready for more 20-mile days. I'm very pleased that I'm handling the long days well.One indulgence I allowed myself today was to listen to music while hiking the final ten miles. Kind of weird, but it was fun. One song I heard was "I'm Sick of Love" by Dylan that begins: I'm walkin' through streets that are dead Walkin', walkin' with you in my head My feet are so tired, my brain is so wired And the clouds are weepin'Now, I heard this at the end of the hike where a) the trees were dead, b) I was probably thinking about Amy, c) it was the end of day, so my feet were definitely tired, and d) it was starting to rain. How cool is that?!?Other cool and appropriate songs were "Rain Please Go Away" and "A Living Prayer" from Alison Krauss and Union Station's latest CD, "Lonely Runs Both Ways." Check them out if you haven't heard them!
Date: 2005-03-14
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Date: 3/14Starting Time: 8:40Starting Location: Deer Park Mtn ShelterEnding Time: 10:00Ending Location: Hot Springs, NCMiles: 3.2Morning Weather: foggy and wet (t-storms overnight)Afternoon Weather: overcast and 45Breakfast: Smoky Mtn Diner - Two egg omelet with sausage and cheese, awesome biscuits and gravyLunch: Smoky Mtn Diner again - fried chicken dinner and homemade blackberry pie(yum!)Dinner: oranges and apples (Paddler's Pub was closed)Trail Description: Easy up and downPeople: Will and Amy, Duke spring breakerAnimals: noneMoney: 0 (thanks mom!)Complaints: none, since I can't really complain about an overfull bellyThoughts: Glad to be taking a day off and hanging out with mom.
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Date: 3/15Starting Time: 10:30Starting Location: Hot SpringsEnding Time: 2:45Ending Location: Spring Mtn ShelterMiles: 11Morning Weather: cloudy but niceAfternoon Weather: sameBreakfast: same as yesterday (yummy Smoky Mtn Diner)Lunch: gorp and barsDinner: weird African grain (loke pasta) called quinoa with tomato soupTrail Description: pretty much up out of Hot Springs. Nice section in the beginning that went along the French Broad River.People: Will and AmyAnimals: noneMoney: 0Complaints: noneThoughts: Hanging out with mom was great...we chatted and chatted. Yesterday we drove out to a point where the AT crossed the highway. We drove less than ten minutes. Today it took me two hours fifteen minutes to hike to the same point. Now, the AT swung away and back toward the road, which partially explains it, but it's still a huge difference. I think there is a lesson in there regarding patience, maybe some perseverence, and being grateful for every inch you gain in this life.Other misc. facts:1)My blisters are pretty much gone and have been replaced by huge brick-like callouses.2)My knee is much better (thanks Doctah Funk)3)My pace is right around 2 1/3 miles per hour, although today I beat that average pretty well.
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Spring Mtn. Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: snow

Date: 3/16Starting Time: 9:00Starting Location: Spring Mtn ShelterEnding Time: 4:40Ending Location: Jerry Cabin ShelterMiles: 15.4Morning Weather: miserable fog with dripping skyAfternoon Weather: more miserable fog, add hail, add colder temps...just a yucky dayBreakfast: Carnation Instant B-fastLunch: Trail Magic!!! We were taken into Fal(pronounced "fall" and is an acronym for "free at last") and Hercules' (both '99 thruhikers) home, given chili, ice cream cake with macaroon cookie crust, cheetos, coke, tea, bread. All was wonderful!Dinner: Lipton with chickenTrail Description: Easy down in the morning. The afternoon got tough once we crossed 4000 ft. Snow reappeared on the trail (I hate snow) and then there was an exposed ridge section that was extremely rocky. I slipped going down one of the rock stairways and freaked out...I could have really hurt myself. But, it worked out. I ended the day with everything I had on soaking wet, so I'll see if I can get any of it dried out.People: Will and Amy, Fal and Hercules, misc spring breakersAnimals: Heidi the dog at Fal'sMoney: 0Complaints: cold and wetThoughts: My fall freaked me out. The funny thing was at the time I was thinking about Mike Back, my former band director and percussion instructor, and now friend. I was thinking about funny things he had said or done in the past, and how I was going to go to lunch with him when I got back. I had just recalled one of his favorite phrases, "Pick 'em up and do it again," when I slipped and fell. Oh well, so much for doing it again. Thanks, Mike.Time to get warm.
Date: 2005-03-17
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light snow

Date: 3/17Starting Time: 9:40Starting Location: Jerry Cabin ShelterEnding Time: 5:40Ending Location: Hogback Ridge ShelterMiles: 14.7Morning Weather: snow and coldAfternoon Weather: snow and coldBreakfast: bars and gorpLunch: bars and gorpDinner: Mtn. HouseMisc. Food: bar and gorp Trail Description: Lots of up. Snow at all elevations.People: Will and AmyAnimals: Mouse in shelter that I swatted off my pack with a broom at 3:00 am, TONS of turkey tracksMoney: 0Complaints: My arch-nemesis the snow is back!Thoughts: Happy St. Patrick's Day! I really missed hanging out with Amy tonight...we do the Irish thing pretty well. It's cold...
Date: 2005-03-18
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

Date: 3/18Starting Time: 8:15Starting Location: Hogback Ridge ShelterEnding Time: 7:10Ending Location: No Business Knob ShelterMiles: 20.6Morning Weather: sunny but coldAfternoon Weather: sunny and low 40'sBreakfast: Grits, CIBLunch: bars and gorpDinner: Lipton with Chicken, PotatoesTrail Description: 9 miles of up over Big Bald. 11 easy and downhill to shelter. Saw a real pretty and clear creek in the last 5 miles.People: Will and Amy, two weekenders from OhioAnimals: Skunk(!) at shelter while we were eating dinnerMoney: 0Complaints: Weekenders are on a bender Thoughts: The last two days I've experimented with climbing the hills very slowly so as to avoid sweating. It makes the day much longer, but I'm ending up dry which is the main goal. Wet and cold do not mix, so not sweating seems smart to me. I'm going ridiculously slow up the hills, then normal on the flats, then "cruising" down the hills. Cruising is a Ray Jardine (wrote "Beyond Backpacking") term for semi-jogging downhill. You basically squat lower, lean back slightly, and let gravity take over. It's fun and gives me something new to do...
Date: 2005-03-19
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting Time: 7:00Starting Location: No Business Knob ShelterEnding Time: 9:10Ending Location: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)Miles: 6.3Morning Weather: cloudy but warmish (45)Afternoon Weather: sameBreakfast: bb (balance bar, for those confused by my shorthand) Lunch: Pizza Plus buffet Dinner:Erwin Burrito Co. (bland as the day is long) Misc. Food: Girl Scout Cookies from Amy!!!Trail Description: Down and just "in the way" of getting to Amy. People: Will and Amy, my Amy. Amy (of Will and Amy) accepted her trailname of "Catapult," which was what she did to a mouse when it ran across her head in the middle of the night. She sat bolt upright, and that mouse went a-flying.Animals: Cat at Uncle Johnny's HostelMoney: too muchComplaints: noneThoughts: I was soooo happy to see Amy and to get in town. We had pushed some miles so I was ready for a hotel shower and bed. On the down side, the Deacs lost to West Virginia tonight. I could have told any of the basketball analysts 6 months ago that their predictions of Wake going to the Final Four were ridiculous. Wake is not and has never been a "tournament team." But i was glad to be able to watch them all the same. Go Deacs!!!
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting Time: 7:15Starting Location: Chery Gap ShelterEnding Time: 7:40Ending Location: Overmountain ShelterMiles: 21.7Morning Weather: sunnyAfternoon Weather: sunny, perhaps the warmest day so far (55 deg) Breakfast: cinnamon toast crunch bar (thanks Will) and GSC Samoas Lunch: bars and gorp Dinner: Lipton and tuna Trail Description: Hard. Going up over Roan was slow and hard due to tons of snow. Coming down the back of Roan was great since it is a cross country ski run...I flew down. The balds after Roan were frustrating because I was already tired (and 15 miles into the day) when I had to start going up and down again. I hiked until well after dark into Overmountain Shelter, and I'm glad I did since Stan Murray Shelter was a complete dump. I lost Will and Amy though, so that is a bummer.People: Will and Amy. misc day hikers, Millsaps Outdoor Club (6 hikers) Animals: none, but a couple reported seeing a mountain lion on Round Bald right before I went up there alone.Money: 0Complaints: Long and hard day...wait, I can't complain about that! Thoughts: The Jardine "slow up the hills" method ticked me off today. We were at Ash Gap when we thought we would be done climbing Roan completely. The drill sergeant in me came out and I busted up Roan and left Will and Amy. They are probably at Stan Murray, and they probably got there as I pulled into Overmountain. The slow pace was forcing us into night hiking when we didn't need to. Somewhere during the climb I came up with "I get paid by the mile, not by the hour" as a justification for being frustrated.Overmountain, by the way, is a converted barn that is in a beautiful location. Overmountain refers to the "Overmountain Men" who went to fight the British at King's Mtn. in the Revolutionary War. That group of soldiers came right through this pass. Pretty cool.
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: US19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)
Miles today: 8.7

Starting Time: 8:40Starting Location: Overmountain ShelterEnding Time: 12:00Ending Location: US19E (MountainHarbour Hostel)Miles: 8.7Morning Weather: Windy and semi-coldAfternoon Weather: Rainy (but I'm inside!) Breakfast: CIB x 2 Lunch: bars and gorp Dinner: A veritable bucket of beef stew with mashed potatoes, biscuits with butter and strawberry jam, apple pie...all for 5$!!!!Misc. Food: Oreos in hostelTrail Description: Up and over some pretty balds at first. Wind was whipping up there where there are no trees...easily 35 mph. Downhill after that to US19.People: 6 hikers from Millsaps College Outdoor Adventure Club (very cool guys), Foggy Bottom who was a thruhiker from last year, Ed the trail maintainer (who let me paint a white blaze!!!) Animals: noneMoney: 22 for hostel and gargantuan dinner Complaints: none, it's raining and cold outside and I'm not in it. Thoughts: The Mountain Harbour is unbelievable. It is a full-fledged B&B for "normal" people, but has a room over the barn for hikers. The room has been renovated and is very nice. There are two beds, a futon, and a cot. There is a wood stove and several space heaters. There is a fridge, coffee maker, stove/oven, and microwave. The room is over a working barn that has horses and goats in it. The horses keep coming out and kicking each other....very cute. The dinner, as I mentioned above, was huge. It was also TOTALLY AWESOME! I love it here...same money as Mountain Momma's, but a completely different side of the value and luxury equation.On a different note, I got to paint a brand new white blaze today! We met a trail maintainer and he let me and Foggy Bottom paint new blazes. It was really something special. For one month I have been following, searching for, and even praying for (in the Smokies) these trail markers. It felt really good to create one of these beacons for other hikers.
Date: 2005-03-23
From: US19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)

To: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 23.8

Starting Time: 9:00Starting Location: US19E (Mountain Harbour Hostel)Ending Time: 6:00Ending Location: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel)Miles: 23.8Morning Weather: fineAfternoon Weather: Rainy (scattered hail and thunder) Breakfast: Oatmeal Lunch:Bar and Gorp Dinner: Pizza (lots of it) Trail Description: Beautiful in the morning...walked tractor roads and livestock fields for a while. Later was constant up and downs until Moreland Gap shelter, where trail turned down into Dennis Cove.People: Apple Pie, Tumbleweed, Bob and Pat Peoples (rock!)Animals: Bloodhound (Shadrach) and cats at KincoraMoney: 9 for pizzaComplaints: long day...feet hurtThoughts: Two hostels in two days, how luxurious! Bob and Pat Peoples, who run Kincora, are awesome. Bob has a story for everything and hung out with us for two hours or so.We all went down to Pizza Plus and ordered way too much pizza.
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel)

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

Starting Time: 8:15Starting Location: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel) Ending Time: 4:00 Ending Location: Vandeventer ShelterMiles: 17.5Morning Weather: cloudy and dampAfternoon Weather: cloudy but sun came out around 4 Breakfast: CIB x 2 Lunch:bars and gorp Dinner: Tuna, Mtn. House, and Idahoan Taters Trail Description: Ponds Mountain Wilderness was awesome! It is totally worth coming back and hiking again, including a stay at Kincora (which was great). Laurel Falls was beautiful and I had it all to myself. The climb over the Pond Flats was tough, as was part of the climb up to Vandeventer. Watauga Lake was OK, but too many signs of stupid white trash behavior ruined it (beer boxes and cans littered all over, Jesus graffiti, etc.) People: Apple Pie, Tumbleweed (both are zeroing at Kincora today) Animals: hawks and crows Money: 20 hostel donation Complaints: none Thoughts: Today was great. I'm on my own and probably will be for the next few days. It feels good to have some time to myself to just hike my own hike.Kincora really was cool, not the Mountain Harbour kind of cool (i.e. nice place) but in the way that Kincora is part of the history of the trail and that everybody, including Earl Schaffer, stops there. I plan to go back.Lastly, I used my tent for the first time today! Well, not the whole tent, and not outside...I set up my tent in "fast fly" mode (footprint, fly and poles only) in the shelter. The wind is blowing straight into the shelter at a decent clip, so I figure this should do some good to keep the wind off me.Lastly, the shelter had a huge log cabin-style fire set up and ready to light. Since I was all alone, I lit that puppy and burned everything I could. The wind whipped the fire to a nice hot blaze, so I began burning trash that was around the shelter. Anyway, everybody has a little pyromaniac in them.
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Vandeventer Shelter

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

Starting Time: 7:50Starting Location: Vandeventer ShelterEnding Time: 5:40Ending Location: Abingdon Gap Shelter (tent)Miles: 22.7Morning Weather: patchy clouds, very scattered showers Afternoon Weather: Sunny and hot!Breakfast: Cheese Grits (not too good)Lunch: Bars and gorpDinner: Mtn House and Lipton and tunaTrail Description: It was supposed to be an easy day, and I suppose it was, but I'm pretty worn out from all the miles this week, making today not so easy.People: Forest Service officer (I will explain at a later date when it is safe to talk), two WFU grads Chess ('55) and Jeff ('79), father and son from Michigan (the son had a pedometer that read 12,000 steps the last time I talked to him), misc weekenders at shelter, and AMY(!!!) at shelter Animals: none Money: 0 Complaints: Rain, please go away, Leave me alone, come another day Thoughts: Amy just pulled the ultimate cool surprise. She took the day off of work, came to Damascus early, and hiked to the shelter and surprised me there! Talk about cool! The shelter was pretty much full, so we set up the tent (first time tenting for me on the hike). Light rain has been off and on all evening, so we'll see if it gets worse (and if the tent will handle it. As far as the forest service officers, there's drama a-brewing, but I can't reveal the story just yet.
Date: 2005-03-26
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus (Montgomery Homestead B&B)
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting Time: 7:10Starting Location:Abingdon Gap ShelterEnding Time:10:30Ending Location:Damascus (Montgomery Homestead B&B)Miles: 10Morning Weather:patchy cloudsAfternoon Weather:Sunny and hot with clouds coming in laterBreakfast:Balance BarsLunch:Breakfast #1 at In The Country - 2 Eggs, Bacon, Grits, Hashbrowns (best I've ever had), Cooked Apples, Biscuits, Gravy, OJ = YUMDinner: Full rack of Apple Butter Ribs at The Olde MillTrail Description: Easy flat section in the beginning, then downhill into DamascusPeople: AmyAnimals:none Money: 7 for breakfast, 60 for B&BComplaints: None, how can you complain when you eat a breakfast like that?!?Thoughts: We had a great time in Damascus. First of all, Mt. Rogers Outfitters is awesome. We bought a few items of gear for Amy's upcoming section hike of NH and ME. We also talked with Tom about my Montrail shoes...they have split in the fabric upper on the inside of the ball of my foot. He's calling Montrail tomorrow to see if I can get replacement shoes. What service!Secondly, my parents and aunt and uncle came over and we had dinner at The Olde Mill, which is a nice-ish restaurant in Damascus. They had these killer apple butter smoked (or something) ribs. They were fall-off-the-bone tender. I had a full rack, which was an obscene amount, and no problem finishing them off. It was good seeing family, and all went home nice and full.
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Damascus (Montgomery Homestead B&B)

To: Atlanta (Zero)
Miles today: 0.0

I have decided to move my zeroes up a week and 250 miles south to Atlanta. At first, I was going to zero after Atkins, VA at my grandparents' house. However, I miss my cats and my guitar and my house too much, plus I'm tired as all heck and want the days off now. I figure I'm hiking my own hike, or, um, zeroing my own zero.I'll be back in Damascus on Wednesday to continue northward...