morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-27
From: Franklin, NC

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day13: Still in Franklin, NC spending good time with wife. For the past seven years for three or four weeks during peak "thru hiker season " the First Baptist Church of Franklin, NC provides a pancake breakfast every morning to thru hikers at the church. How wonderful is that? This morning I had my breakfast at the church (see photo to the left). I had a heap of homemade apple butter atop my pancakes (see photo to the left). The preacher (Mr Brown) and his wife canned the apple butter. My wife joined me for breakfast. Pastor Brown spoke a couple of minutes about keeping one's eye on the goal and he read a passage from the Epistle to the Hebrews from the Bible. What a wonderful morning. I look forward to tomorrow to get back to walking. I've been still long enough. 100 percent chance of rain tomorrow and Saturday. The woods have their own beauty in the rain. One fellow told me that if I wasn't willing to walk the Appalachian Trail in the rain I just as well go back home. I believe I will walk in the rain the next couple of days. No place I would rather be than right here.
Date: 2014-03-28
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Day 14: Wife dropped me at Winding Stair Gap outside Franklin, NC where I stopped two days ago during the snow event. I am beginning to get my sea legs. Today I walked 15.8 miles in the rain. Even though it is peak thru hiker season I only saw one other thru hiker walking today. Where is everyone at? Maybe they stayed in out of the rain. Tenting alone near Cold Spring Shelter. Nowhere I would rather be.
Date: 2014-03-29
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: light rain

Day 15: It pretty much rained all night. I had to break down my tent and pack my gear in a pouring rain. I was soaked from the get go. I walked until early afternoon in the rain. As I was walking I looked down the hill off the trail and saw Wesser Bald Shelter. I stood and looked at the shelter for awhile in the rain. It lured me in. My intention was to walk another 5 miles but I decided then and there that I was just flat out tired of being wet. I had the shelter to myself for an hour or so. I cooked a hot meal and made a cup of coffee. It just felt good to be in out of the rain. A Father, son,and two friends of the son who were out for a day hike stopped at the shelter and visited for awhile. As the afternoon wore on a thu hiker from Australia showed up to spend the night. Before dark six other thru hikers and a dog had shown up to spend the night at the shelter. After a lot of comparing our hiking experiences to date, cooking, and drying off then we crammed side by side onto the shelter platform and called it a day as the rain continued to fall on the tin roof of the shelter. Right here is where I am at.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), US 19&74

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 16: (You can view my Day 15 journal entry by clicking on the Previous tab above) As I tried to sleep and endure an endlessly long night crammed into my corner of Wesser Bald Shelter I kept feeling what felt like a cold mist hitting my face (that is whenever I dared to poke my face out of my sleeping bag, which wasn't very often because it kept getting colder and colder thru the night). When daylight came I realized that what was hitting my face had been snow being blown into the shelter by the wind. The ground was white with snow, my water bottles were frozen, my boots were frozen, and my bootlaces were frozen (which made tying my boots a challenge). I made it out of the shelter and walked a short 5.9 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) where I am currently in a small room in a large cabin. The views were spectacular this morning as I walked down from Wesser Bald because the sun (I had almost forgotten there was a sun) was bright and the snow was in the trees on all the mountain tops. I could see all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains. I stopped at the NOC because I really needed to stop and dry my stuff out again (for the fourth or fifth time since I began this walk). I feel like I may be about due a good weather break eventually. I also feel that I am progressing a little slower northward than I need to be. But, the advice I got from several former thru hikers was to not try and make big mileage at the beginning of my walk. I believe that when I get thru the Smokies I will begin to increase my average miles per day. My health and morale are good. I have already seen a lot of people quit their hike for various reasons. Fontana Dam by mid week and then into the Smokies late next week. I will get there. Right here is where I am
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Cheoah Bald

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 17: Current location Cheoah Bald. What a beautiful day to walk. Now this is Spring. Perfect temperature for walking. Not many clouds in the sky. Gentle breeze. Indescribable views. At about 1pm, after walking only 7.9 miles north out of Nantahala Gorge, NC, I came to Cheoah Bald. 360 degree views of the old Appalachian Mountain chain. If you have been here on a clear day you know what I am talking about. I decided to camp here tonight. Why would I want to go any further today. Too nice a place to camp to pass up. Everybody else, except one other thru hiker, "Dog", passed on thru and headed for a camp area two miles down the trail where there is a water source. I will stop there tomorrow morning for water. I am not leaving Cheoah Bald tonight.   I keep posting new photos whenever I have cell phone service. Cell phone service may be a little sketchy the next week or so as I begin to walk thru the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a "counter" below the Guest Book tab. In a little over two weeks I have had over 10,000 views of my journal. I am really grateful that people are viewing my journal. It keeps me motivated to keep my journal current. Thanks to those who have viewed my Guest Book and left words of encouragement. Cheoah Bald is where I am at on a beautiful Spring evening. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Day18. Current location Cable Gap Shelter. Another really pleasant Spring day to walk. I am tenting at Cable Gap Shelter about five and a half miles from Fontana Dam, NC. There must be at least 20 other people camped in and around the shelter. One thru hiker is carrying a banjo and another is carrying a fiddle. They are playing music together over at the shelter. There is a large campfire going at the shelter. It is a nice evening to be out. I am tented about fifty yards from the shelter. I cooked macaroni and cheese with summer sausage for supper. Sound delicious? It is almost dark. Almost dark means that it is bedtime on the Appalachian Trail. Right here is where I am. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Current Location: Fontana Lodge

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: few clouds

(Day 17 and Day 18 journal entries updated today. Click on Previous tab above to view) Day 19: Short 5.5 mile walk to NC Hwy 28, Fontana,NC on another beautiful Spring morning. The Trillium is starting to bloom in the forest. I am staying the night at the Fontana Lodge doing some personal maintenance such as laundry in preparation to entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park tomorrow morning. I anticipate five and a half days of walking to get thru the park. On Sunday, April 6, I will meet my oldest son,Ben, at Newfound Gap in the park. He will walk with me two and one half days until I exit the northern boundary of the park on Wednesday morning, April 9. I am really looking forward to walking with Ben. The past couple of days I have been hiking and hanging out with thru hikers Al and Mike (they don't have trail names yet). They are neighbors from Springfield, VA and are both retired Colonels from the Army (I will try and get their photos ). They are pleasant company. We are having dinner tonight at the Fontana Lodge. Looks like I will get at least a couple of days of rain while walking thru the Smokies but it appears the temperatures will be mild. I am having the time of my life living this dream. I hope I can keep it going for awhile (health and life circumstances permitting). No place I would rather be right now than Right Here.
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine or bust
Miles today: 14.9

Day 20: Long steady pull out of Fontana,NC into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. After walking 14.9 miles I am tenting outside Russell Field Shelter. The shelter is jammed full of thru hikers. Maybe another 10 thru hikers tenting outside the shelter as well. I prefer my tent even though I am about too tired to set it up. I felt my age today. Pretty tired and I am going to sleep well tonight. It may rain tomorrow. Right here is where I am
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Top of Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Wet,14.5 mile slog in the mud to Silars Bald Shelter. The Appalachian Trail in the Smokey Mountains becomes a slick, black mud trough after a rain. Tough sledding. I only slipped and fell once. Wind swept balds. Sideways rain. Fog. One can see why the Scottish/Irish gravitated to the Appalachian Mountains. They must have felt right at home. It took hearty stout souls to settle in these mountains. Tomorrow I will walk up and over Clingman's Dome Mountain,which is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail. I am staying in my second shelter since starting. I succumbed to the shelter, despite my better judgement, because it is cool, rainy, windy, I am soaking wet, and I can't motivate myself to pitch my tent. There are 16 thru hikers staying the night in the shelter. I anticipate a long restless night. Health good. Morale good. Right here I am.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: Newfound Gap

To: Mama K
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

(Posted day 21 today. To view Day 21 select Previous tab above). Day 22: Current location: Grand Prix Motel, Gatlinburg, TN. Cold start to the day. Ice coated the trees. The sun came out bright and it was a crisp walk to Clingman's Dome where I had lunch below the observation tower. From Clingman's Dome it was an 8 mile walk to Newfound Gap, Hwy US 441. Great trail magic in the parking lot at Newfound Gap. A couple from Florida were providing Bologna sandwiches, chips, and other snacks. After the sandwich, I did something I haven't done since the early 70's, I hitchhiked to Gatlinburg. I got a ride from a nice young man from Knoxville who had been out for a day hike. After getting to Gatlinburg I checked into the thru hiker friendly ( translation: cheap) motel in Gatlinburg called The Grand Prix Motel. This motel probably saw it 's heyday awhile ago. But the owner of The Grand Prix loves thru hikers and it feels like a comfortable place to stay with fellow hikers. Sure beats a crowded shelter. Who cares if I had to borrow a screwdriver from the owner to turn on the hot water faucet in the shower. I wait here in Gatlinburg for the arrival of my son,Ben,who is going to hike the rest of the way thru the Smokies with me. I went over the 200 mile mark today. I got this walk below 2,000 miles to go. On the down hill pull. Right here at the Grand Prix Motel is where I am.
Date: 2014-04-06
From: Gatlinburg,TN

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 23: Waiting today for my son to arrive in Gatlinburg, TN to hike with me the remainder of the Smokies. We will head out tomorrow morning from Newfound Gap. He is in for a baptism. 100% chance of rain tomorrow. What else is new. We can't lay around waiting for fair weather. Time to get moving. I plan to be in Hot Springs, NC next Saturday to meet my Wife and my Brother for dinner. It's getting to where every time I get to a town I start to get anxious quicker and quicker to get back to walking. Strange feeling. Wonder if this is a feeling that will wear off? Right here in Gatlinburg,TN.
Date: 2014-04-07
From: Current Location: Tri-Corner Knob Gap

To: Mt Katahdin,Maine
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 24: Wet, windy, cool 15.6 mile grind from Newfound Gap to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. Sideways rain. Really gusty winds. Not much enjoyable about today's walk other than I got to make the walk with my older son Ben. Hated he had to endure the bad weather. Everything is once again wet. We arrived late in the day at Tri-Corner Knob Gap Shelter. The shelter was jammed full. There are really no good tent sites in the shelter area. My Son and I both set up our tents in the rain in the vicinity of the shelter. Neither one of us could find a level area to set up tents and we both will be fighting gravity tonight. We didn't waste any time ducking into our tents to get dry clothes on and to get warm in our sleeping bags. I don't believe I have ever known my Son to go to bed at 6:30pm. We are both pretty exhausted. I believe I will be happy to say good bye to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park tomorrow. I've been in the Park about as long as I want to be. I don't like being having to either stay in the shelters or tent near the shelters. The trail in the park is really beat down and is either a muddy ditch or a rocky stream bed. I am ready to get out of the Park boundaries and begin making my way toward Hot Springs,NC. Ready to make the Smokies another memory on this journey. Right here for now.
Date: 2014-04-08
From: Current Location: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

Day 25: Current Location Standing Bear Hostel, Hartford, TN. Say farewell, Wave goodbye to the Smokies. For the most part a cool, foggy,15.7 mile walk out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. My older Son walked with me the past two days. We walked 31.4 miles in two days to get out of the Smokies. Hope it wasn't too miserable for him? I have grown accustom to the wet weather over the last 3 weeks plus. Really wish the weather conditions could have been more enjoyable for my Son.   At about 6pm my Son dropped me off at The Standing Bear Farm Hostel, Hartford, TN where I am spending the night. I will begin heading for Hot Springs, NC tomorrow where I will see my wife and Brother on Saturday. Just so happens this coming weekend Hot Springs will host Trail Fest activities. Keep pushing northward day at a time. Right here I am.
Date: 2014-04-09
From: Current Location : Brown Gap

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 12.5

Day 26: Right Here is still Right Here. Upright and headed north. Sorry about being lateposting Day 24 and Day 25 journal entries (you can view those journal entries by clicking on the Previous Tab above). Don't believe the AT&E commercials. They don't have the map covered. I have rarely had cell service the past three days. I spent last night in the bunkhouse at the Standing Bear Farm Hostel, Hartford, TN. I was really exhausted after walking 31.4 miles in two days to get out of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and I slept really well. The Standing Bear Farm Hostel is a comfortable place to stay. It has a good hot shower, a small store with all kinds of food, and a kitchen where you can cook. The hostel has a laundry area but doesn't have a washing machine. All washing is done on a scrub board. I tried my hand at washing my clothes on the scrub board. At about 10am, co-owner of the Hostel, Maria, shuttled me back to TN Hwy 32, Davenport Gap where I had stopped walking the day before. It was really a beautiful day for walking. I walked a leisurely 12.5 miles. A little over three weeks ago when I started walking from Springer Mtn GA I couldn't have imagined that I would think of a 12.5 mile walk as a leisurely walk. I guess I am growing more comfortable with just walking every day. I am tenting near Brown Gap where there are several other thru hikers tenting. Tomorrow I get to walk across the Max Patch Bald. I have heard it is beautiful. I had mashed potatoes with spam for supper. The owls are hooting at dusk. Time to go to sleep. Right here I am.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Old Road

To: Mt Katahdin, Maine
Miles today: 15.8

Day 27: Current Location: Old Road, mile 266.4. Beautiful, beautiful Spring Day. Perfect walking conditions. Reached the summit of Max Patch around 10:30am. Wow. Just wow. What a beautiful view of the mountains of Western North Carolina. I couldn't have had a better day to be on Max Patch. It was a cloudless 10th of April Spring morning. Today I walked 15.8 miles. I am tenting at a location identified in my trail guide as "Old Road". A Husband and Wife thru hiking together are tenting nearby. According to my trail guide I am 7.9 miles away from Hot Springs, NC. I will arrive in Hot Springs around noon tomorrow. From tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday Hot Springs hosts an event they call "Trail Fest". One of the Trail Fest activities,I am told, is an all you can eat spaghetti supper tomorrow night for thru hikers. I believe I can handle a couple of plates of spaghetti tomorrow night. I will get to see my Wife and Brother on Saturday. Really looking forward to this weekend. "Old Road" is where I am right now.
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Sunnybank Inn and Retreat, Hot Springs, NC

To: Trail Fest, Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 7.9

Day 28: Another Beautiful Spring day in Western North Carolina. Short, pleasant, 7.9 mile morning walk into Hot Springs, NC. Checked into Elmer's Sunnybank Inn and Retreat. Elmer Hall, owner Sunnybank, showed me around the house and put me in room Number Five. According to the information sheet placed on my bed: "The Sunnybank Inn dates back to 1840. In 1980, the Sunnybank Inn was placed in the National Register of Historic Places by the US Department of the Interior in recognition of it's role in American History, architecture, and culture." In 1976, Elmer thru hiked the Appalachian Trail. In 1978, Elmer bought the Sunnybank Inn. From 1978 until present Elmer has operated the Sunnybank Inn and has hosted many, many thru hikers. Every evening Elmer personally cooks a vegetarian meal and the Inn guests can choose to eat together in the dinning area. Elmer also cooks a breakfast meal and the guests once again can choose to eat together. Right now three cats are living on the porch outside the kitchen door and Elmer's dog, Carter, comes and goes in and out of the house as he pleases. The Sunnybank Inn is really a unique and comfortable place to stay. After settling into the Sunnybank, I went on Bridge Sreet (the Main Street that runs thru Hot Springs, which also happens to be the Appalachian Trail) where I did my laundry and saw lots of thru hikers in town whom I have met over the past four weeks. Tomorrow, Saturday, Hot Springs hosts an event they call Trail Fest which appears to be like a community street fair with games, a talent show, music, a cook off, duck race, etc. etc. Sometime tomorrow my Wife and Brother are coming to Hot Springs to visit with me. Good weather, good times, good food, good company. Right here is in Hot Springs, NC.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs,NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 29 couldn't have been any better. Simply a great Spring Day with my Wife, Brother, and the Trail Fest atmosphere. Tomorrow I head out on my 30th day of walking since starting from Springer Mountain Georgia. I have enjoyed the excitement of this thirty days as the days have unfolded. I have gone at a deliberately modest pace and enjoyed most every moment. The next thirty days, as I leave behind this wonderful beginning, I will become busier with the walk ahead and the task at hand. Health good. Attitude good. Never the thought of quitting. This evening I enjoy sitting outside in the refreshing mountain breeze in Hot Springs,NC.
Date: 2014-04-13
To: Mt K
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Started Day 30 with an all you can eat breakfast with my Wife at the Mountain Magnolia Inn, Hot Springs,NC. Simply wonderful. Said goodbye to my Wife and got started walking out of Hot Springs, NC at about. 9:20 am. It was hard to leave behind the great Friday afternoon and Saturday I had in Hot Springs. I walked away from Hot Springs almost feeling sad knowing that today was the end of the beginning. The first 30 days were a blur of objectives: get to Neels Gap, get to Hiawassee,Ga, get to Franklin,NC, get to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, get to Fontana, NC, get thru the Smokies, get to Hot Springs. Everything was quick, new and exciting. Now begins the second 30 days. The beginning is now over. I am tenting alone at Deep Gap, mile 286.7. Today, Sunday, was very warm. Somehow by Wednesday the temperatures are going to be in the 20 degree range. What a contrast. Winter just doesn't want to give way to Spring just yet. If all goes well I will walk into Erwin, TN sometime on Thursday (17 April).
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter area

To: Mountain Katahdin
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

Making my way north. Today I crossed over 300 miles walked. Bracing for rain tomorrow, Tuesday, and cold on Wednesday morning. This Hot Springs,NC to Erwin, TN section is tougher than I anticipated. Tenting with multiple thru hikers in the vicinity of Jerry Cabin Shelter. "Tis well."
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Mars Hill, NC

To: MT KATAHDIN
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: moderate rain

(day 30 and day 31 can be viewed by clicking the Previous Tab above)Heard the pitter patter of rain on my cozy tent most of the night. Tough to get out of that sleeping bag. Day began rainy and foggy. Rain increased until the afternoon when the rain turned to snow and the temperature continued to drop. I slogged out 17.1 miles to Sam's Gap. When I got to Sam's Gap I met 1988 ( think I got the year right ) thru hiker "Sore Foot" who had come up from Asheville, NC to hand out candy to thru hikers. I asked Sore Foot if he might be going toward Mars Hill, NC. He said he was so I asked him for a ride. I decided to go dry out for the evening and to take a pass on the 20 degree temperatures expected tomorrow morning. I hopped in Sore Foot's car and his wife, Rose, immediately handed me a hot cup of tea. There are angels all around us in this world we just have to be able to see them. The longer I continue this walk the more angels I see. My Brother lives in Weaverville, NC. He is coming to pick me up for Supper and will be taking me back to Sam's Gap early in the morning so I can continue my walking Northward. What a wonderful journey.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin,TN
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

At 9:30am My Brother dropped me off at Sam's Gap. Highlight of the day : Big Bald which was ice covered in bright cloudless sunshine (<---Photo ). Tenting with Mobius, Gramps, Grams, and Machine at Spivey Gap, mile 330.8. I am 10.8 miles outside of Erwin, TN. I will walk into Erwin early tomorrow afternoon where I will spend the night. Still Right Here.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel, Erwin,TN

To: Roan Mtn, TN
Miles today: 10.7

(Posted Day 33. View Day 33 by clicking the Previous Tab above. Also posted some new photos) Arrived in Erwin, TN. Staying at Uncle Johnny's Hostel. Rode a bicycle to town, did laundry, went to Food Lion Grocery Store, and ate at an all you can eat buffet at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Heading out tomorrow morning. Next objective Roan Mountain, TN. I am done with North Carolina. Two states down (Georgia and North Carolina). Erwin,TN's 15 minutes of fame came September 13, 1916 when Erwin was the site of the execution of Mary the elephant. Mary the elephant had killed her handler in Kingsport, TN and because Erwin had a railway crane Mary's execution was held in the railway yard in Erwin. Mary was hung with a chain from the railway crane. According to Wikipedia, 2,500 people witnessed the execution, the first chain around Mary's neck broke, a larger chain was found, and it took 30 minutes before Mary was pronounced dead.