morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-22
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Past Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: broken clouds

I had a good nights sleep and got an early start. Although I have had trouble kicking this cold, today seemed like the first that the legs seemed to be coming into their own. I was able to maintain consistent climbing uphill without stopping. The only worry today was the sun. It was partly cloudy most of the morning and part of the afternoon. This made for great hiking until a little after hitting Max Patch. I got a few great pictures but do not believe they do it justice. I think a video would have been perfect but I have not tried that option yet. I missed this opportunity but won't miss any in the future. I spent some time enjoying the views but the sun was starting to show full strength. I started to move for lower ground to hide among the Rhododendron. It was great to hike undercover or partial shade for a while. I was starting to loose some of my energy by the time I got to the Walnut Mtn climb. The heat was slowing me greatly but I finally got there. They are working on the shelter and it presently has no roof. I really didn't have a problem staying but found what looked like a campsite not far on lower ground. I got water and found a nice camping spot maybe 1/2 mile past shelter. It was already late so I set up camp, made dinner and sacked out for the night. Tomorrow I should make Hot Springs in the early afternoon.
Date: 2011-03-23
From: Past Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

I was up around 6:00 anxious to get the tent down and get going to town. I hardly need my fleece liner since it already feels like summer. Another good reason to get going early. I started out right around 7:00 in shorts and a t-shirt. The only big climb I had today was 1000' over 1.5 miles up Bluff Mountain. Luckily this is the first thing I have to do today before the sun gets up. I was on top in less than an hour and began the 2000' drop over the next 3 miles. There are many leaves on the trail so you have to be careful of the hidden rocks and roots. It was getting hot already and I was drinking more than normal. The trail went over a little bump and I was in Garenflo Gap, the last gap before Hot Springs. The bump out of the Gap was minor only going up a few hundred feet but the sun was now out full blast making it feel like 4 or 5 pm. In reality it was only about 10:30 but this is the hottest this year so far. After this it was all downhill except for one final bump right after the turnoff for the Dear Park Shelter. These last 6 miles went pretty quickly and I was in Hot Springs around 12:30. I checked into the Alpine Motel, dropped my equipment in the room and went next door to the library to do some updating before they closed at 2:00. It was then time for a shower, washing clothes, reviewing equipment, shopping for food and finally eating dinner around 5:00. I hurried back to the hotel to beat the rain that is on it's way. I am tired but ready to go if I decide to tomorrow. I think I might just take a day off. My cough is getting a little better the last day or two. I think the rest might do it best but we will see later.
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Tanyard Gap
Miles today: 5.9

I started off early since I woke and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to do a short slackpack to at least get a few miles in and releave my guilt about taking a zero. Now it is only a nero. I ate breakfast and headed off up the long hill to Lover's Leap. Naturally coming out of town you go up and in this case about 1000' over 1 mile. That was the big climb and it would have been beautiful if it had not been for the great winds and cloudy skies. Last night the thunderstorms tore across this area dropping great amounts of water. Luckily the winds took most of that water out of the trees for today. However, the temps went from in the high 70's yesterday to around 40 this morning and water did not disappear from the trail. The winds and cold made me cold all morning. I just about ran up the trail and the only views were obliterated by the clouds. I have seen the sun once but it is just a nasty day. It only took about 2.5 hours and I was back at the motel thanks to a quick hitchhike back. I took a long hot shower and am just beginning to warm up. I am going to spend some time in the library to bring all journals up to date and get some other pics uploaded.
Date: 2011-03-25
From: Tanyard Gap

To: Hemlock Hollow Farm
Miles today: 10.3

I started the day with a nice breakfast at the Smokie Mountain Dinner. I made arrangements with Dan from Bluff Mountain Outfitter for a 7:30 shuttle back to Tanyard Gap. If I had checked it out earlier I could have shuttle up there yesterday and walked back to town missing some of the climbing. This is well worth the $5.00 and it gave me an early start. You start a 1400' climb over the first 2.5 miles up Rich Mtn which was consistent but not a killer. The weather was around 40 deg with very cloudy skies. It didn't even pay to do up to the firetower. I sweated some on the climb and started to feel cold once I was at the top. You come down 700' rather quickly over the next 1/2 miles but then climb that same 700 over the next 2.5 miles to the Spring Mountain Shelter. I still has my gloves on and was just getting warm when I got there. I took a short break to talk to 2 other hikers, Yoyo and Steady. It only took about 5 minutes to start getting cold again. I started down the 3+ miles descent into Allen Gap. The sun finally poked through the clouds and it warmed enough to take the gloves off. I still had my fleece liner on. Usually this is off within a short time but not today. This section has a lot of old growth forest that is just beautiful to walk through. I was doing a lot of coughing and just didn't feel myself. About 1.5 miles past Allen Gap there is a turnout for the Hemlock Hollow Hostel. I decided to go there for the night. It took a hot shower and a long time with extra clothes to finally feel warm. Hemlock Hollow has a restaurant so I had a nice catfish dinner.I really wasn't in the mood too cook anyway.Overall my hiking felt good early but I just lost my zip quickly. I still have a cold and today for some reason it just pulled me down. I am only 2 miles behind where I probably would have stopped so I guess I'll have to make that up tomorrow. I'm hitting the sack early in hopes of getting an early start. It is supposed to rain and I hear there is a crowd coming up behind so I would like to get a minimum of 12 miles in. We will see tomorrow.
Date: 2011-03-26
From: Hemlock Hollow Farm

To: Devil's Fork Gap
Miles today: 18.8

Got up early and was ready to go by the time it was light. I was surprised it was not raining so time was of the essence to go as far as possible without getting too wet when and if it rains. Fred and Hattie Kinsey along with son Todd run the Hemlock Hollow Farm and do a great job of making you feel at home. I arranged a slack pack since I figured this would help me recover. I was dropped off at the trail at Devil's Fork Gap around 8:15 and began a mild 3 mile uphill. After a quick few hundred feet drop the trail climbed 1000' in the next mile. The trail then almost levels as it goes across Big Butt Mountain over the next 3.5 miles. It was very cloudy which kills all the views that would have been here yesterday. You then come down slowly into the Chestnut Log Gap near the Jerry Cabin Shelter. Although fairly level over next 3 miles it is all rock across Backstack Cliffs. It was very damp and seemed like it would rain any minute. Luckily it was fairly warm without much wind. Unfortunately there wasn't much to see along the way so I kept going. After climbing a few hundred feet to Camp Creek Bald it was all downhill over the next 4+ miles. I got back around 6:00 beating the major rain which finally hit around 7:00. I had another great dinner and then was off to bed to get some rest.
Date: 2011-03-27
From: Devil's Fork Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today wound up being one of the strangest days I have had yet. I had made arrangements to be shuttled to Erwin to meet up with a hiking buddy I hiked with previously. He was to hike a day or 2 with me into Erwin from wherever I left off. Well his plans got changed and he couldn't contact me since I didn't have my phone on due to little signal since before Hot Springs. He showed up about 5 minutes after I got to Erwin. He explained and I decided that I didn't want to waste a day so I needed to be dropped off at Devils Fork Gap, almost where I started this morning. He drove by Spivey Gap where I hid my pack off the trail and was dropped off at Devils Fork Gap around 1:00 with just a few things to get me where I wanted to go. It was cool and cloudy and I just wanted to get this done. I had no idea if I could go this far starting this late in the day. Without the normal weight of the pack I was able to move much quicker but I was still worried. The first 3 miles climb up 1700' went by quickly and I was moving well. After going down and then up 600' the trail went down another 700' into Sam's Gap by 4:30. I was feeling good but this is certainly not my normal pace so I was not sure how long I could keep it up. The trail basically climbed only 1500' over the next 6 miles but there were a few challenging areas and it was after 7:30 when I got to the top of Big Stamp. It was beginning to get dark as I began my trip down. It was quite when I went by the shelter after 8:15. I kept moving since I had to get to my pack tonight or be cold. I don't like night hiking because it is hard for me to see properly with my glasses. The terrain was not too bad but there were many leaves and some mild rocky areas. I was very careful going downhill and it took a lot of time until I finally got to the High Rocks area. It was a slow hard climb up but a fairly easy downhill from there to Spivey Gap. It was after 11:00 so I had to find a camping spot quickly. I crossed the road since there is usually a spot within a mile of most road crossings. I found one in a mile and set up camp. It was 11:45 and I was dead tired. I did a half-hearted bear bag away from my tent and hit the sack without eating. Food was the last thing on my mind. I was happy to be where I was but not with the circumstances that got me there. Most of this journal was written on 3/28 since I fell asleep trying to journal.
Date: 2011-03-28
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Sometime during the night it had snowed and was now raining. I packed up everything and got the tent down in record time. I grabbed a couple of snacks since I was hungry but didn't want to sit in the rain and eat. I got moving as it got light or light enough to see. It was mostly downhill with a few minor bumps the rest of the way into Erwin. It was a really cool day but the raincoat helped maintain my core temp. I wore my gloves and they are great until they get soaked. I was warm enough to keep going comfortably even though it was raining a lot heavier than expected. Actually the last time I checked the weather I didn't even see rain in the forecast for a day or two. That is normal for the mountains. They seem to make or create there own weather. The walk was uneventful and the only thing I was thinking about was getting to Uncle Johnny's Hostel for a nice hot shower and some dry clothes.
Date: 2011-03-29
From: Erwin TN

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

I came into town yesterday with the intention of taking a zero and being on my way Wednesday. Well I checked the weather and it is supposed to be nice on Tuesday and rain Wed and Thur. Not a big fan of sitting still on a nice day and hiking in the rain, I arranged a shuttle to Indian Grave Gap to walk back to the hostel. I was dropped off a little after 10:30 and it was still cool but the sky was clearing nicely. After a slight climb out of the gap the trail leveled. The first mile was covered with many wet leaves which hid all the Rhododendron roots. It was very slippery but a very beautiful area. It is very early now but in another couple of months I'll bet this area gets a lot of traffic just to see all the Rhodos in bloom. The whole side of the mountain is covered in them. There roots do pose some challenges to hikers especially when wet. Much of the soil around them has eroded away on the trail so you are left with bare slippery roots that sometimes are at a 45 degree angle, making walking extremely difficult. However, after the first mile the trail started to dry out. There was a rocky section for half a mile and the trail just meandered along through the beautiful old growth forest. The footpath for the most part was very good and the day was perfect for hiking. It may have been the best hiking day I have had so far. The sun was out and just made this forest of giant pines, hardwoods and Rhodos glow. There was a great feeling of spring in the air. I was so happy I didn't sit around today and take a zero. I stopped a few times to just enjoy the day. After having my lunch at the newly rebuilt Curly Maple Gap Shelter, I moved on. The trail parallels a creek for a mile or so before coming into view of the Nolichucky River. There were a number of large pine down that had a section cut so that hikers could walk through. I tried counting rings on one tree and I was over 150 when I got tired of counting. It was just so great to walk on such a beautiful day in this great forest. Now I can take a zero (or two) without regrets.
Date: 2011-03-30
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a zero. I went on the breakfast shuttle at 9:00 to JD's Market in town. It is a small store attached to a gas station. I had eggs, hashbrown, toast and coffee for $3.50. You can't go wrong. I went back, went through my gear, packed everything and just relaxed. It was an uneventful day as more and more hikers came into the hostel. I realized that even though the weather is not food for tomorrow I can't sit here another day. I will be shuttled up to Indian Grave Gap at 7:30. Off to bed early after getting back from the ayce KFC for dinner.
Date: 2011-03-31
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Greasy Creek Friendly
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early and had everything ready before 7:30, when James shuttled me and 2 southbound section hikers up to Indian Grave Gap. I started hiking up the trail right at 8:00. It was so foggy you had trouble seeing 50 feet in front of you. The trail went up 1000 ' over the first 3 miles then leveled for 1.5 miles before another 1000' climb of Unaka Mtn. Once on top the spruce trees abound and the smell reminds you of Christmas. There was a slight breeze but nothing great and I was maintaining my temp with my light raincoat acting as a windbreak. Coming down the other side of the mountain the sun peaked out for a minute and was gone never to return today. I was still fairly warm but when I stopped at the Cherry Gap Shelter I started to cool quickly. I ate a quick lunch and was back on the trail. Only now I was cold and getting colder. I put on my gloves as I climbed Little Bald and then Iron Mountain. It began to sleet, slowly first, then as a mix that was pouring down. It took only a few minutes for the trail to be half covered with white. I was getting cold and more miserable as time went on. I had about 5 miles to the shelter where I could spend the night cold and damp, or 3 miles to the Greasy Creek Hostel. Not much of a choice. Unfortunately, I think every other hiker in the area had the same idea. There are 11 hikers here that will be sharing whatever space is available.
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Greasy Creek Friendly

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 24.0

It snowed in the area last night and looked pretty nasty out this morning. The trees were all covered in ice and snow with temps in the mid 20's. I and 7 hikers had arranged a shuttle to Carter Gap since the climb up Roan was going to be covered in ice and snow. When we got there there was a wind advisory of 25 -35 mph wind with 45 mph gusts. As the snow was blowing across the road, I decided that the conditions presented a real hazard and I was not willing to chance my hike on trying to hike these miles. I made a decision to bypass this section and go up to the Mountain Harbor Hostel. The weather is supposed to be cold for next few days so I can't justify sitting here waiting for the ice to melt. I will go north from here and see how the trail is tomorrow.
Date: 2011-04-02
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 24.9

The Mountain Harbor Hostel is a very nice place with all the creature comforts including a wood stove. It was a great night to be inside. I could here the thunder booming for a couple of hours that seemed to bring more snow and ice than rain. I was up at 6:00, ate breakfast and just waited for it to get light. It was definitely overcast and foggy but not raining. It felt like it was above freezing so I was happy when I left at 7:20. I hiked the .3 miles back to the trail where you begin a 1000' climb over the next 2 miles. It felt a lot cooler as I got to the top. The sky still looked like it could rain any minute. Over the next 4 miles the trail drops about 1200' to the Elk River. On the way down the winds began to blow and some of the fog moved aside. At one point the sun showed for a few seconds and immediately lifted my spirits. I had planned on going 18 miles to the Moreland Gap Shelter but wanted to keep my options open. The walk along the river was very nice and really gave hope that the weather was clearing. A few miles later I got to the Mountaineer Shelter for lunch around 11:15. It was cool but as I started back on up the hill it was getting windier and colder. After about a mile some heavy clouds moved in and it started snowing. Not the normal type flakes but little balls that were the size of 50 flakes but they floated down like flakes. I was so glad that it was not rain. That lasted about 15 minutes then it half cleared. The same process continued a few more times over the next hour. I was starting to worry what might be coming down next. The wind finally started to blow most of the clouds out and the sun made it's appearance. It was still cool but the sun was such a moral booster. I was moving well but getting a little tired when I got to Moreland Gap Shelter around 4:00. I dropped the pack and had a snack while I decided what to do. I had already hiked 18+ miles today but it was so cold at this shelter with the wind blowing straight in that it only took 2 minutes for me to decide to go on to Kincora Hostel. It is another 6+ miles but I will be warm. After stopping at the shelter I had my gloves, winter wool hat and fleece on and was still cold for at least 1/2 hour of making the final few climbs before descending. It was a tiring walk but I finally got to the hostel around 7:00. I was greeted with a big bowl of pasta which was just perfect timing. I let my food settle a few minutes, got a shower and was in bed by 9:30. It seemed that this morning was so long ago. I was happy that the weather had cleared, that I had hiked almost 25 miles and that this day is done.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Watauga Lake 
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

I was up around 7:00 but didn't get up until 7:30 when Lala offered me a breakfast burrito while still in bed. He was getting ready to hike, but like me, loves breakfast. The scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese on a tortillas was great. I had to get up now. I was dressed and ready to head out on this beautiful day. Bob dropped off hikers around 10:00 to do the slack pack back to the hostel and took the rest shopping while he ran errands. The hike is around 9 miles and has only one major climb over Pond Flats. You could see the other mountains still coated with snow. As the trail comes down it winds around the river until it comes near the Laurel Falls. It was still a little on the cool side but in another month people will be swimming here. It is a great spot when all the laurel and Rhodos bloom to adorn the falls. It is a quick walk and allows plenty of time for other chores. I got a shower, washed clothes, rested and had pizza for dinner. A great day all around.
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Watauga Lake 

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

I was up at 6:00 to have breakfast prior to leaving at 7:00. Bob Peoples offered myself and another hiker a ride back to the Watauga Lake area prior to his normal run since he had some shuttles to do this morning. We got back to the trail around 7:30 and it was the first morning that there was no precipitation and the sky was clear with the sun coming up in the last week. It was a beautiful trip around the lake and it began it's climb to the Watauga Dam which is just an earthen dam in a nice setting. After crossing the dam you begin to climb and the air became very warm. I was hiking in shorts and a t-shirt from around 9:00. This is a first so I lathered on the sunblock knowing that today was getting to be one of those burning type days. The terrain was what some hikers were calling "flat". After hiking in the full sun all morning, I was feeling extremely warm and running low on energy as I got to the Vandeventer Shelter. I had already drank 1 liter of water and picked up 1.5 at the previous spring 2 miles prior to the shelter. I ate lunch in the cool shade of the shelter, drank another .5 liter of water and left for the Iron Mountain Shelter. The afternoon was nothing but one up and down followed by another. The sun was just tearing me up but I finally got to the shelter around 3:00 after packing in 4 liters of water from the source .3 mile before. I have done nothing but drink since getting to the shelter but feel great. I made good time but felt slow all day only because of the excess sun. I can't wait until the trees start getting leaves. Getting in early allowed me to relax, clean up and have dinner before the storm hit around 6:30. Another day with some form of rain only this time after my hiking hours. It is supposed to cool off tonight. I knew this mid 70's was too much too quickly. The thunder and lightening are now giving quite a show. Enjoying the cover of a shelter.