morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-31
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Happy Easter everyone!Today I am taking a Zero day - a day when you hike zero miles, aka a day off! Enjoy the picture of Sunshine (that is her trail name and she was a ray of sunshine). She had a table full of Easter trail magic at the Gap yesterday.I hope you all had a wonderful day!Peace and love out!Also wanted to add - Hoop was to meet us today with some trail resupply and Easter dinner. I called him around noon and he hadn't left Asheville yet. Now mind you, it is a two-hour drive so I wondering just when he would get here. He finally showed up later that afternoon with a wonderful surprise - Socks and his dad, Rickie! We had a wonderful dinner at a buffet in Hiawassee. Nice day!
Date: 2013-04-01
From: Hiawassee

To: Muskrat Creek
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

...uh...so I'm not really hiking the Appalachian Trail. I'm really in Argentina...April Fools!!! HahaUpdate more later. Very foggy .morning.Goodbye Georgia; Hello North Carolina.One state down and only 13 to go. We had an immediate change of weather once we hit the NC line - very windy and cold. Tonights low is to be 20 degrees. My sleeping bag is only rated to 20 degrees so I put on socks, my down jacket and snuggled up. I was able to sleep fairly well. You learn something new every day out here and today was no exception. I left this morning with a very heavy pack - too heavy - and I struggled all day. My feet hurt, my back hurt, I pulled a muscle in my leg. I was trying to pack food for 4 days (with some town goodies thrown in) and it was just too much. Lesson learned.I am now tented next to ODAT (one day at a time). He taught me how to bearbag the PCT way (throwing your food up in a tree so the bears can't get it). We have been bearbagging everynight but, honestly, I don't think the bears are a threat. There are so many people around and the weather is so lousy. They are snug in their dens is my guess.
Date: 2013-04-02
From: Muskrat Creek

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Today was a much better day on the AT. Funny how things can change like that - I suppose it is why they all say never quit on a bad day.After my good nights rest, I took a couple of aspirins and started out very tentatively. I usually start this way to warm up my muscles. The leg did well and no return of the previous day's pain. The first part of the hike was level and that also fits into my preferred way of warming up.Before we had left for the day, I assigned ODAT the assignment of coming up with my trail name. I saw him at a break spot about an hour later and he said 'how's it going crazy lady'. I said 'oh, is that my name then - crazy lady?' Every one laughed and said no - couldn't be because everyone out here is crazy. The next time I saw him about 2 hours later, I asked if he had come up with a name and he said he had - Little SAS. Steady and slow, Little because of my height challenges (I'm a shorty). I liked it so Little SAS I am. I am still getting used to it but others are starting to call me that so it is beginning to catch.There are two shelters at this location - one is very old and the only thing I saw of it was a flat roof. It must be a cavern if it is an actual structure other than a tenting pad. The other is a new shelter - very nice but the cooking table is high! I cooked my meal on a bench. There are a lot of people tenting here tonight - boyscouts, a hiking club out of Atlanta (I'm kinda around them) and the usual section and thru-hikers. It looks like tent city all spread out over the forest.We had a late night rescue. One of the hikers hurt his knee and apparently had surgery, was told to stay off it 12 weeks but decided to come back after only 3. He was in much pain and when I saw him, said that he just couldn't do it anymore. He called 911 and asked the trail rangers to come get him. Now mind you, we are in the back country 4 miles from a road. It took the rangers 2 hours to hike in the dead of night with a gurney contraption and then they still had to haul him back out. There is a ton of pain pills in the collective hiker community. Why he couldn't have just taken some, slept in the shelter and had the rescue in the daylight I just don't know. Hmmmph!I also met Tortoise today. Finally a hiker my age. She has been through all this bad weather, starting about a week before me. I told her that I was going to Aquone Hostel Thursday night and she made arrangements to do so too. It looks like rain in the forecast so a hostel sounds most inviting.
Date: 2013-04-05
From: Wayah Rd. - Aquone Hostel

To: Tellico Gap
Miles today: 13.5

After some thought, I decided to stay at Aquone another day-thus allowing an opportunity to slack pack. Slack packing is when you take a day pack with essentials such as water, snacks and travel light. The big pack stays back at the hostel. It helps your body from getting too run down.What had been covered in ice yesterday was now dripping and a beautiful day was shaping up. What a difference a day makes!The first big attraction was the stone tower at Wayah Bald. On a clear day, you can see back to Georgia and forward to the Smokies. Today was fogged in but as time went by, it lifted enough to see the valley below.Most of the younger hikers have formed little traveling parties ( older hikers tend to hike solo) and I met the most delightful little group on Way ah. 2 guys Lt. Cuckoobird and Long Gone and 2 girls K2 Summit and Radagasta. They were all friendly and full of fun. Radagasta likes to sing and I call her the trail Siren. I was following along her and K2 Summit, not paying attention to where we were going, and we all took the wrong way! First time that has happened. We all just laughed and got back on track.Everyone had stories to share of where they were during The Ice Storm of 2013. Some were in tents, some in shelters, others safe in town. All made it through safe to my knowledge. What rough weather we've had this hiking season!It is a tough descent into Tellico Gap I felt I was back in Georgia-but I made it back safe to the hostel. Only one other hiker with me tonight, named Strider (young man from Vt). He likes cooking shows so we watched that channel on cable all night. Hikers LOVE food!
Date: 2013-04-06
From: Tellico Gap

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 7.9

I said goodbye to Maggie and Wiggy today. They are the nicest people. Wiggy thru-hiked in 2010 and he knows just how to take care of hikers.It was a fast and easy hike to the NOC, although the descents were pretty steep. I had to finally get on my butt and slide down some boulders. With my short legs, there was no other way to go about it.When you emerge from the woods, you are right at the NOC. There was an event going on with vendors, music, free thru-hiker dinner. It was a bit surreal after being in the peace and quiet of the woods.Socks and Hoop drove over from Asheville, along with Rhonda and Brandon ( very nice young couple). Brandon has a real teepee that Ican't wait to see some day.We had the free chili dogs (can't believe I ate all that!) and a Green Man brew while listening to a little bluegrass music. I am in the bunkhouse but there is free camping on the other side of the railroad tracks (really!) so that is where the kids are setting up. They had a nice fire going when I left them. Hiker midnight and bedtime comes early for this girl.Tomorrow is a looonnnggg climb out of the NOC-over 3000 feet. Then on to Fontana Dam and the Smokies. Keep your thoughts on good weather.
Date: 2013-04-07
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike of 6.9 miles was all uphill. The climb out of the NOC is legendary. Most people say this is the hardest of all. I was lucky I had a Sherpa. Sock's carried my pack for the 3+ miles we were able to hike together before she (and Hoop) had to turn back.The remaining miles went steady and slow, true to form. Sassafras Gap shelter faces the 'holler' below, affording an excellent view, but the wind rushes up the hill right into the shelter. Someone had put up plastic and a tarp to keep out the wind. It did help a bit.We had a fun crowd at the shelter Dreamer, the Germans(Cookie and Wolfgang), Sanka, Lumberjohn, and another tenter whose name I didn't catch (sorry). I decided I would sleep in the shelter instead of setting up my tent. It lets you get an early start.Around dark, a hiker showed up who also wanted to stay in the shelter. He looked a bit familiar...and then it hit me. It was the guy who had to be rescued off the mountain at Carter Gap! And he was back out.! He said he goes by the trail name Wounded Knee now. He was telling us about seeing a bear just after leaving the NOC. First bear sighting to my knowledge......so about midnight that night (remember we are all in bed and asleep by 9) someone screams 'bear!!!' We are all instantly awake - even the two campers up on the hill - about 6 people screaming 'go away bear!'. I was NOT one of them. It was all started by an active imagination of 'you know who' (hint initials W K). He was up and out of camp first thing the next morning.Sheesh!
Date: 2013-04-08
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Personal best for the miles today! Yep, you read that right Little SAS walked 15 big ones today!Out here you are either walking up or down -there are very few level paths. Today had two big climbs. One was spoken of in hush terms 'Jacob's Ladder', supposedly an exceptional bad-ass mountain. It was tough but to be honest didn't seem much different than Georgia peaks. Dreamer wanted to know where the ladders were. She said she walked it going backwards. I could just see her doing that - she is so funny!I made it to the shelter around 5, very tired but content with my day. Familiar faces are here, Odat, Max, and Dreamer, along with new ones. Pink Panther is a 9 year old hiking with her mother Doobie and father Borders. She is a very bright girl - what a life experience she is having!Also Morris the Cat, Stupid (journals on TJ and is anything but stupid), Two Trees, Slim Jim. Where do they come up with these names!I leap frogged with Sanka all day. It was fun to hike with him and we were both proud of our miles. He had mentioned how sometimes a quick nap can be so renewing, but I was still surprised to come up on him stretched out beside the trail catching a few zzz's. Might have to try that one someday.
Date: 2013-04-09
From: Cable Gap shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: broken clouds

Up at the crack of dawn! Today is shower day!Today's hike was a short 6+ miler to Fontana Dam jumping off point for the Smokies. I've been to this National Park but never in the back country. I'm excited to see it.Everyone was pushing to get here today. You can almost feel a collective push, with the exception of Dreamer. She is meeting her husband here in a couple of days and so has time to kill. I'll be losing her company and will miss her.This year thru-hikers have to have a permit to hike in the Smokies ($20) and once you check in, you have 8 days to get through the 70 + miles. My schedule puts me through in 6 days which is about average. Also, you have to stay in a shelter unless full, in which case you have to tent nearby. Many rules but they don't want a bunch of yahoos running around these woods.There was word of strong bear activity at the first shelter Mollies Ridge. Yikes! Going to be fun when I have to take a privy run in the middle of the night.I'm currently being pampered in this nice lodge. We get a hikers rate that is sometimes hard to pass up. Mostly it is us older wiser hikers that take advantage Dinner was spent in the company of Odat, Sky pilot, and Max. Max has been around me from the start but is leaving to go back to the 'real' world after the Smokies. He was just doing a long section so it was planned but still always sad to see someone leave the community.Signing off - I'm off on a wild bear hunt!
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Hello patient readers! I survived the Smokies and was not eaten by a bear! In fact, I was quite smitten and would have stayed longer if it wasn't so darn cold. There are still parts of the trail covered in ice! And the day I hiked to Cling man's Dome, there were snow flakes in the air. It's been a wild ride and I can't wait to tell you all about it...but it will have to wait until tomorrow when I'm in Hot Springs w/ WiFi. Stay tuned.Today's challenge was a very long uphill climb into the Smokies. Highlights included an IndianMarker tree at the first spring, the old fire tower shuckstack (very rickety) and views galore. I'm doing the path in six days-no resupply-so the pack was heavy. The pace matched-steady and slow.The woods are beautiful up here. Birds are singing, wildflowers are blooming. Tennessee is so close, I can spit on it.
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thunderstorms are forecast for tonight so everyone is trying to get into a shelter. Once full, the overflow crowd has to tent. I walked in at 4:00 PM and, of course, the shelter was full- some had been there since noon! So the Hubba tent had her first big thunderstorm test. She kept me dry.Today's hike had gorgeous views at Rocky Top. I'm strong in the morning so all is well if the big climbs come early. I lag so much in the afternoon. Cookie, my German friend says the same so it may be an age thing.I thought I had my first bear sighting but it turned out to be a flock of wild turkeys (boo - still looking for those elusive bears!). I do see and hear plenty of birds. Sometimes I try to imitate their calls. Juncos will walk on the trail in front of you - little hiking companions. I spent time at a spring in a restful glen this afternoon just watching them bathe. So peaceful out here. It is most refreshing.I included a picture of Shuckstack tower for all to see, although I actually climbed it yesterday. It is a leftover from the old fire tower stations of last century. There was a chimney of the cabin where the fire watchers would stay - often being out alone for weeks (maybe months) at a time. The tower was so rickety and swayed as you climbed it, but what views! Magnificent!
Date: 2013-04-12
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Double Spring Gap shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Well after last night's storms and with a soaked tent, I decided to do a short day. I got to the next shelter relatively early (1 PM) and decided to spread everything out so it could dry. You have a short window in which to do this at the high elevations because once late afternoon comes on it gets very cold. There was a ridge runner at this shelter - first one I've met. Ridge runners are employed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to monitor and assist with heavily used portions of the trail. Billy, this ridgerunner, thru hiked previously and is a wealth of knowledge on all things AT. He is employed 8 months out of the year and spends his workdays walking the trails. He played a practical joke on me the following day - I ran into him descending from Clingman's Dome and he immediately says 'why are you going to wrong way?'. Well, I had left him that morning at this shelter and had to actually stop and think whether I was going the wrong way! He was so out of context popping up on the trail 6 miles from where I had left him! I know the look on my face must have been comical. Turns out, he had left a car at Clingman's and so was able to drive ahead. (I didn't feel so bad when I learned he also did this to a couple of other hikers and they were just as gullible) I'm here with Kelsey, Nick, Don (Kelsey's father and a Maritimer - very interesting guy), along with others.Tomorrow I plan to get up early and do the climb to Clingman's Dome. This is the highest peak on the entire AT - 6000 + feet (not sure of the exact elevation).
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Double Spring Gap shelter

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Oh my gosh - it was cold last night! We woke to a world of frost! I was the first out to start the climb to Clingman's Dome and it was a world transformed! The entire hike was above 5000 ft. and the trees were encased in ice. It was beautiful!Again, the Juncos were my only companions and they flitted in front of me as I made my way up the mountain. The wind picked up the higher I got so by the time I made it to the viewing tower at the very top, it was quite cold. I snapped a photo, called Don to let him know I was still alive and was ready to head on down. Rocky and Crasher (young couple that met on the PCT and are now doing the AT together - Rocky already did it before) came up just then and Crasher asked if I wanted her to take my picture. I had already shut the phone down so declined but did take a picture of the two of them. The views were again outstanding all day long. I love the trails in the Smokies. They are easy on the hiker (not too steep up or down) and provide the most fantastic views. Pity the poor tourist that only goes to Gatlinburg to get their taste of this National Park. Newfound Gap - 7 miles down the trail - has a parking area for day hikers. This was the site of some trail magic by Mountain Mama and her former thru-hiker husband (so sorry but I forget his name). They have been providing for the hikers this entire season and are amazing. Each Saturday and Sunday they have been handing out sandwiches, chips, brownies, sodas, etc. plus also shuttling hikers into town. I opted not to go into Gatlinburg (no thank you, ma'am) but had the best cheese sandwich (the meat was gone) with mustard. You really appreciate a change of pace in the food department after a couple of weeks.Tonight at the camp I couldn't take my dirty clothes and hair any longer so did an improvised trailside laundry and hair wash. Try washing your hair with cold spring water at 5000 feet - gives a whole new meaning to 'brain freeze'!
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 18.4

Yes, you read that right! Little SAS did a 18 mile day! Just goes to show what the promise of a shower can do! Coming out of the Smokies is all downhill so it helped with the mileage - although don't get the idea that it is an easy walk in the park. Going downhill is just as hard out here as going uphill. The transformation as you descended was amazing! Spring flowers started to blanket the hills as the elevation lowered and the weather became warmer. While we were up in the Smokies, it seems that the real Spring had arrived in North Carolina. I was kinda taking the day hour by hour as to whether I would stay at the last shelter - Davenport Gap - but when I arrived by 3, I knew that I would push on for the shower at Standing Bear Farm hostel. I did stop by the shelter to check for mushrooms but the season is delayed - you can tell by the progress of the spring plants, such as Mayapples and Trilliums. I met the most delightful woman at Davenport Gap - Lucky Lucy. She is 75 years old and doing a section hike in the Smokies from the South end of the park (just before Davenport Gap) to Newfound Gap - maybe 60 or so miles. As a section hiker, you have to list where you will be each night and must stick to the schedule, so she was where she was to be that night and just hanging out - a bit worried that she might be the only person there. I reassured her as the day passed, other hikers would be staying with her. The shelter was the old style, with a chain link fence in the front. It used to be that the hikers would be behind the fence and the bears would come to check them out. Word is that people would feed them through the fence - idiots! I ran into Why Not, B-line, and S'rocket today - very nice group. Why Not is my age (actually 2 weeks older) and has hiked the PCT and CDT. When she finishes the AT, she will have done the Triple Crown of hiking. What a feat! She has a ZPack (very light pack) and carries a baseweight of 11 pounds. We have much to learn from these seasoned hikers - any packweight gets to be a drag as days go by.So I did make it to the eclectic land of Standing Bear Farm hostel. I don't know how to describe it other than a cross between a hippie commune and hiker hostel. Fun, laid back place. I ran into Cookie and Wolfgang again - which made me very happy. i had lost them when I did my short day to dry out. I am staying in a 6 bed cabin (in the loft) with them and another couple. We are above a brook and the soft sounds of trickling water lured me to sleep. A long day but so satisfying. I almost walked the length to Columbus from my little house in Fairfield County. Who needs cars?
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Max Patch Road
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

I dreaded the start of this day a bit - we have one heck of a mountain to climb today. Snowbird Mt. is about 4000 feet rise in elevation, 4 miles of straight up - but you do what you have to do and take it one step at a time. I am getting better on the climbs and can do about the first two miles without stopping (albeit at a steady, slow pace). The last 2 1/2 miles kicked my butt! But, surprise at the top, some type of radar tower is up there (see photo). Who would have thunk! I call it the alien installation - it was buzzing! It was very hot today and water was at a premium so I tried to stock up every chance I had. A slackpacker going South warned that there was no water between Max Patch and Snowbird so I was a little worried, although the guidebook did show sources along the way. Fortunately, I met up with Cookie and Wolfgang at Brown Gap. They had formerly hiked this section (in fact, they hiked all the way up to VA) and remembered a stream a bit off the trail. Whew, water crisis averted! I wanted to see Max Patch today and so planned on going just beyond to camp. So the way was over numerous ups and downs - very hard physically and psychologically at the end of a long, hot day. I was following behind Cookie and Wolfgang, liking the pace the latter sets - steady and slow, just my style. They decided to take a short break and I forged ahead. About a half mile further, I smelled campfire smoke. About a mile further, you come to a long descent to Max Patch road and I could see a camper at the end. Hmmm...must be a family out for a little camping. No.. wait! There are thru-hikers sitting down there in front of the camper. Could it be? Yes, TRAIL MAGIC! Former thru-hiker, Onesimus, (2003 and 2005) follows the hiker caravan as they move North, providing trail magic along the way. Today's treat was big baked potatoes and grilled chicken thighs. It's a funny thing how a day can go from crap to wonderful in just a moment out here. With full bellies, four of us decided to camp next to Onesimus (in the shadow of Max Patch) and hike up tomorrow. We do have rain called for tonight so I hope that it doesn't prevent us from hiking up tomorrow. It is verboten to hike on Max Patch if there is lightening - you will be struck!Life is good!