morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-11-12
From: Stealth Camping North of Shelvey Creek Shelter 

To: Bland, Virginia 
Miles today: 5.6

This morning was a quick and easy hike on great trail to the town of Bland. The last half mile was on road, and I was able to hitch a ride from the parking lot of a senior center where the trail continued back into the woods. The area was deserted, and it took 25 minutes for two vehicles to go by when Stanley picked me up and drove me four miles to the Big Walker Hotel. He mentioned that the town is so small that there are no stoplights. Stanley also said this time of year they normally only see day hikers coming through and that I must be awfully brave hiking in this cold weather to Georgia.  This was repeated to me several times by everyone I met during my overnight stay in Bland, and Itried not to let it get into my head too much.I did not expect too much out of the hotel in Bland but was pleasantly surprised that it exceeded my expectations. The price was very fair and my room was large, spacious, comfortable and very clean. The staff which also did the housecleaning were very accommodating and friendly.  It sits on top of a hill with a convenience store and Dairy Queen. The Dollar General and Subway were within five minutes walking distance.  Stately is here as well doing another slackpack. He shared chips and salsa and a beer with me and then we went to Dairy Queen for dinner. He only has two more weeks of finishing areas he missed so I most likely will not be seeing him again. Tao, Frog and Toad are here as well.Today is considered a NERO, not a ZERO because I hiked some miles but it was a great day of rest for me.  Bland was good to me, and now I can add Bland, Virginia to the growing list of small towns I have had the pleasure of experiencing. My camera has been repaired by the Geek Squad and is being shipped to a Best Buy in Florida where my Mom will pick up and ship to me. Great news! I have really missed my camera but have enjoyed carrying less weight.
Date: 2015-11-13
From: Bland, Virginia 

To: Jenkins Shelter 
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

I stayed in my hotel room until 10:30 this morning to make use of the WIFI and made arrangements with Toad and Frog to have their shuttle driver pick me up in front of Dollar General on the way to the trailhead. DG sure was a popular place. Everybody seemed to know everybody in the store, and I learned that some people still write checks for purchases. I stood out with my big pack in my shopping cart, and I was asked many times if I knew it was going to get down in the low twenties tonight with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Yes, I know.It was noon before I got on the trail, so I planned to do 8 miles and camp near a stream. It was windy and cold, but the sun was out and as long as I kept moving I felt good. I took shorter breaks and took my gloves on and off throughout the day. I am now wearing a wool base layer over my short sleeve shirt while hiking with my rain jacket over it. My jacket offers protection from the wind as well as warmth.The trail was good today with lots of ups and downs. Towards the end of the day the trail got nice and wide and went in and out of green and lush Mountain Laurel tunnels. I reached the campsite which was beautiful but wasn't ready to stop so I decided to push for the shelter. While I hiked I watched the sun sink behind the mountains through the bare trees, and was in awe of the explosion of colors in front of me. The air was cool and crisp and the leaves kicked up under my feet in a hypnotic rustling sound. I don't like night hiking, but I knew it was good terrain and the thought of sleeping in a shelter on this cold night motivated me. It was dark but I didn't need my headlamp until I got to Laurel Creek right before the shelter. At this point I wandered around aimlessly for 15 minutes until I found the shelter. Another minute and I was going to give up and set up my tent. I arrived at 6:30 and Tao, Frog and Toad were nestled in their sleeping bags almost asleep. I was very quiet and set up my nest and snacked on cheese and crackers for dinner. It is very cold but was a very good day! The night hiking in these frigid temperatures was unexpectedly enjoyable and empowering for me.
Date: 2015-11-14
From: Jenkins Shelter 

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 10.6

It was below freezing last night, and the outside of my sleeping bag felt crunchy and ice cold. I had to keep my head completely covered and sealed up inside my silk liner and down bag the entire night. If I tried to peek my head through for even an instant it felt like I was being hit with an arctic blast.  The blast of cold air was incredible when I had to step outside in the middle of the night, but even more incredible was the clear sky and the oh, so many shiny stars that blinked at me while I stood and stared upward taking in the stillness and magic of this night. It took me about an hour to warm up again after I got resituated in my bag, but those moments under the stars were remarkable. I fired up my stove from my sleeping bag upon awakening to steep hot green tea and enjoyed the comfort and warmth as I watched the sun rise and make a grand appearance from behind the mountains. What an awesome way to welcome a new day. The air was crisp and cold but the sun was shining as I climbed downhill through thick layers of leaves in assorted shades of brown. Looking at the profile in AWOL'S guide I assumed the 11 miles to the next shelter would be an easy walk. It was not. The guide books do not tell you anything about the rocks or terrain.  Today was very rocky and called for careful footing to prevent spraining an ankle or worse. My poles saved me many times again. I went over Garden Mountain which had some impressive rock outcroppings. The rocks that make perfect seats with a backpack on are my favorite. As luck would have it the wind picked up as I walked along ridegelines and sunset was near. The shelter which is made of concrete block was fully enclosed with a door so I was determined to make it there even if I had to hike in the dark. Temperatures would be below freezing again tonight.  I made it just at dark and again saw a beautiful sunset while walking. The shelter was in a big grassy clearing with mountain views on the east and west. The sky was streaked with orange and yellow hues with dark trees silhouetted against the sky with a sliver of a moon high above. It was picture perfect and the shelter was my castle for the evening.  It was very cold and I was the only hiker tonight. The door kept out the loud whipping wind and I was so thankful to be here. I did not know how high up I was until I saw the sign on the door telling me the elevation is 4409 feet. The nights have been spectacular lately and tonight was no exception. It is supposed to warm up tomorrow. Life is good.
Date: 2015-11-15
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter 

To: Knot Maul Shelter 
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early to watch the sunrise the second morning in a row.  I feel so lucky to stand in this green, grassy meadow in front of the shelter and see the sunset last night and the sunrise this morning. So awesome!  I set out in a great mood and high spirits then immediately walked through more rolling meadows on a ridgeline with spectacular views on both sides. I was so moved that I stopped and spent some time trying to absorb it all and reflect on how much this journey has meant to me. When I turned my phone on to take pictures and saw the date I realized that yesterday was my six month anniversary of this adventure. Starting out I was sure I would have completed the entire trail within this timeline and be anxious to return to my normal life. Instead, I still have 565 miles to get to Springer Mountain and about 250 miles to finish Maine and couldn't be happier and am still thrilled to see what each day brings. I have always been a goal oriented planner, and it has served me well, but at this juncture in my life the trail has taught me that the best plans are those that are open to change. I thought the destination, in this case Kathadin, was the most important goal for me, but I have found it really is the journey, not the destination.  Another life lesson the trail has taught me.Lunch was at Lick Creek surrounded by mountain laurel and a creek with great swimming holes. I was so hungry I fired up my stove and made dehydrated hummus with wheat thins, hot tea and pasta with dehydrated zucchini, squash, onions, tomatoe and okra. For dessert I had dehydrated sweet potatoe bark. I rounded a bend in the trail in mid afternoon and the next shelter was in front of me, so I stopped to have a snack but ended up calling it a day and am staying the night. My plan was to stealth camp a few miles from here, but the thought of not having to set up a tent tonight and getting to shelter before dark was too appealing. After going back and forth about feeling "guilty" for this luxury I remembered there are no rules and did what I wanted. As I was setting up my nest in the corner of the empty shelter another hiker arrived for the evening. I had met Mover at Four Pines Hostel, and it was nice to have company. Mover has been hiking for two years and so he has some interesting stories. We talked for awhile and then I settled down with my cous cous and dehydrated vegetables and read some more of Bill Bryson's book that I'm carrying around, The Lost Continent. It is about visiting small towns in America in which I have a growing interest. I love his writing style, and he never fails to make me laugh. I've read A Walk in The Woods several times but have not seen the movie. Thank you for the outpouring of support and emails while following along on my adventure. Happy Trails to everyone!
Date: 2015-11-16
From: Knot Maul Shelter 

To: Davis Path Campsite 
Miles today: 11.1

Last night was so much warmer, and I had a great rest. Knots came by the shelter around 9am and had already put in several miles. I was fascinated because both him and Mover have dreadlocks down to their waists. He asked if we wanted any food because he had gotten too much in Bland and was hoping to lighten his pack. We each took a box of animal crackers off his hands. I ate the entire box today and half of Mover's tonight at camp. Lately I've been eating enough for three hungry hikers.The trail went up Brushy Mountain and then went down to a private pavilion with a tumbling creek and trash can.  Mover was there and we both saw a sign from a woman who was offering to pick up hikers in Atkins and let them spend the night in her house. I took her phone number and left her a message. We would be in Atkins in the morning where I have a resupply to pick up at The Barn Restaurant which is right on the trail. I mixed up two salmon packs with mayonnaise for lunch and was able to dispose of all my garbage and camel up with water. There was a big grassy sunlit area so after Mover moved on I practiced yoga and meditation for an hour or so. It was so good for my body and soul. The trail then meandered through meadows and farmland. Every time I walk through a meadow I get excited as if it's my first meadow, and I feel like I should be dancing or singing. I saw farmers on their tractors in big open fields and silos next to impressive looking farm houses and tried to imagine life as a farmer in southern Virginia. It was hard for me to imagine living this lifestyle which is so labor intensive but fruitful. There were many wide streams which the cattle drank from, and the trail was on an easement through private land. Eventually the trail entered the forest again and went up another mountain and then down again with leaves on the trail so thick they reached my knees. I was pushing these big piles of leaves from the wind down the trail with my legs. I was looking for Davis Path campsite which has a privy and is right on the trail.  It had just turned dark and then I saw a fire that Mover had made which guided me to the spot. He let me know there was no water, but there was a picnic table, privy and fire pit. We both assumed there would be water since it was listed as a camp site. I should never assume. He shared what little water he had, and I was out so I couldn't cook dinner. The only food I had left is dehydrated which needs water. It's a good thing I ate so many animal crackers today. Thank you Knots!This hot fire was a perfect end to a great day even without dinner and water. The small rural town of Atkins awaits me in the morning with a short three mile walk.
Date: 2015-11-19
From: Atkins, Virginia 

To: Partnership Shelter 
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained hard last night as scheduled but cleared up nicely this morning. The rain made for a wet and sometimes slippery trail today, but on the bright side the sun was shining. There were many stream crossings that I had no choice but to walk through and get my shoes and socks wet. The rain filled the creeks and streams and the water gushed over the rocks. The trail went beside the Settlers Museum and Lindamood School which was built in 1894 and closed in 1937. I took some time to go inside and signed the log book for hikers. It is great to see see this history along the trail and get a peek into the lives of early settlers. Next I climbed up to Glade Mountain and saw Gonzo, Huckleberry and Buddha zoom by me.  We were all heading to the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center to order pizza for a pizza party at the Partnership Shelter tonight.  The two story shelter is only one tenth of a mile from the Center and is awesome. Even the privy is warm and inviting and gets a big thumbs up. We waited for everyone to arrive before placing an order since Pizza Perfect in Marion has a minimum $50 delivery order. We then went to the shelter and claimed our spots and walked back to the Visitor's Center and waited for the delivery driver. The party included Shepherd, Cheese Burglar, Nap Time, Soy Nuts, Mover, Gonzo, Huckleberry and myself.  We thoroughly enjoyed this feast and were all in our sleeping bags by 6:30pm in an effort to keep warm. Gonzo and Huckleberry left to hike another 19 miles in the dark just so they could have more time to spend with the ponies tomorrow in the Grayson Highlands. They were planning to entertain each other with scary stories. Not my idea of fun but they looked happy.Today was a wonderful day, and it was enjoyable to have a full house at the shelter tonight.  As I lay in my sleeping bag I am gazing in wonder at the bright and starry night through the bare trees. What an amazing view before I fall asleep!
Date: 2015-11-20
From: Partnership Shelter 

To: Troutdale, Virginia 
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Everyone was up at 5:30 this morning despite the bitter cold. I started hiking at 7:15 after watching brilliant orange and yellow streaks paint the horizon. My hands were painfully sore from the cold even with my fleece gloves on. I noticed my left arm and hand were colder than my right which facing the side of the trail that was following a stream. I found this interesting. I saw Shepherd who had stripped down to shorts and wasn't wearing gloves. This was unbelievable to me as I was so cold. She hikes about twice as fast as me so maybe she is generating twice as much heat as me. I went over more fence stiles and saw cattle grazing in open rolling fields. My feet were sore, but I didn't feel tired until I saw John and his dog Abby out for a day hike, and he told me I looked like a tired thru-hiker. Suddenly I realized I was very tired. We talked for a bit and he gave me some crackers and chocolate which I was grateful for. I had just eaten a big lunch but still had room for his snacks. John warned me that tomorrow night the temperature was going to drop into the teens or low twenties with possible snow flurries. He also said it has been unseasonably warm in Virginia this year and that it usually snows by Halloween.  This will be the first snowfall of the year. He asked if I had winter gear. I have been wearing my winter gear for a couple months now and have used my down bag and liner all summer and was still cold some nights.I have two packages to pick up tomorrow morning at the Troutdale post office which is 2.5 miles off the trail. I am staying at the Troutdale Baptist Church hiker hostel tonight which is next to the post office. Mover was at the road when I arrived so we hitched a ride together. It took a long time to get a ride and it was almost dark and very cold. I am still not comfortable with hitchhiking and thankfully have only had to do it alone once. The man who picked us up was looking for his father who is missing and was passing out flyers. He still made time in his anguish to pick up two cold and dirty hikers. I hope his father is found safely soon.I am so thankful to Pastor Ken and his wife for keeping this donation based hostel behind the church open for hikers still on the trail. They normally close November 15 because they have to turn the water off to keep the pipes from freezing. I called in advance and he said he would keep it open for a few more days. There are two rooms with four bunks in each room and a heater and microwave.  They also have a hot shower for hikers to use in the back of the church which felt wonderful and is so appreciated. I am so thankful to this congregation and Pastor for providing these hospitable services for hikers and cyclists. It is freezing outside but I have found a warm safe haven.
Date: 2015-11-21
From: Troutdale, Virginia 

To: Troutdale, Virginia 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I walked to the post office this morning and picked up some more delicious treats from Kim and Leo and my repaired camera. It feels like Christmas! Thank you everyone!  It is below freezing and I can barely keep warm, so in the interest of safety and warmth I am staying here another night. Troutdale is so small that it only has a church, post office and bank. It also has no cell service, but it has people with big open hearts and amazing hospitality. I believe this is the tiniest town I have visited so far and am so grateful it is here. We stood by the road and stuck out our thumbs to get a ride four miles down the road to Fox's General Store in Grant where they have wifi and some great cooking. I chose a small table right in front of the fireplace to warm up and had myself a barbecue pork sandwich. This little store sells a little bit of everything and is the kind of place that I didn't know still existed until this hike. It was a great place to people watch as well. Everyone talked about how cold it is and expressed surprise that we are still hiking.  After a few hours one of the employees kindly drove us back to the hostel.  I am having a difficult time keeping warm even with this small heater and bundled up in my sleeping bag. Not a good sign. The wind is creating a racket outside and the sky is dark with not a single star to be seen this evening.
Date: 2015-11-22
From: Troutdale, Virginia 

To: Troutdale, Virginia 
Miles today: 0.0

I saw snow flurries last night everytime I had to go outside to pee. They were still floating from the sky at 6:30 this morning when the thermometer on the porch said it was 17 degrees.  Brrrr! The pastor's wife came by this morning with egg sandwiches for us and told us it was going to be even colder tommorrow morning and that we were welcome to stay longer. That was all I needed to hear to stay another night.It never got higher than 28 degrees all day, and I could not get warm enough inside the hostel. I have never been in temperatures this cold my entire life. I went to the church services this morning which was nice. I could count on two hands the number of people there. Everyone came up to talk to us and was so welcoming. The store was closed today so I did a lot of yoga and meditation and listened to yoga pod casts and music.The pastor's wife came by this evening and brought us a plate of lasagna.  So delicious and generous.  It is supposed to be even colder tommorrow evening now so I may consider staying another night.  I will not make it to Damascus for Thanksgiving now because of these unplanned days here. I'm kind of bummed because I was really looking forward to a festive turkey dinner with all the fixings. A lot of hikers are getting rides to Hot Springs for Miss Janet's Thanksgiving dinner. Really missing my family and friends this time of year. I have so much to be thankful for.
Date: 2015-11-23
From: Troutdale, Virginia 

To: Troutdale, Virginia 
Miles today: 0.0

I am staying here another day and night because of the cold. I don't feel very good about it but at this point another day is not going to make a big difference. There were snow flurries again last night which is pretty to watch but kind of underscores what I might be in for the next 482 miles.I spent the day at Fox's General Store again and a public computer center nearby. We tried to hitch a ride with no luck and my toes and fingers were numb so we walked to the post office where I could warm up and found a ride with Sara who works at the General Store. I ordered a breakfast biscuit with egg and cheese that was so good I had to get another one. We walked to the computer center which was very warm and had use of the computers and a landline phone. I kept busy all day. Betsy who works there offered to drive us back to the hostel at 6:00 when she got off work. Perfect! When I told her I was going back to Fox's General Store to eat she told me Sarah's pecan pie was really good. It was delicious, and I surprised Betsy by bringing her back a slice. II am having doubts about my ability to hike and camp in these extreme conditions because of my low tolerance for the cold. I am especially worried about camping in the Smokeys this time of year. What if it gets down to 10 degrees or less. I don't want to turn into a Mermaid ice sculpture on this adventure of a lifetime. Tomorrow is supposed to be about 10 degrees warmer and I have 50 miles to get to Damascus to figure things out. I am really looking forward to Grayson Highlands in a couple days where the wild ponies roam near the trail.