morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-09
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Even with only one zero day, after four nights in Erwin, I am getting a bit stir crazy, developing townitis, ready to hit the trail again despite the weather. Many hikers were forced off the trail yesterday and the day before in the vicinity of Roan Mountain, evacuated by local hostel owners who willingly came to the rescue, telling stories of wading through thigh-high snow with drifts waist-deep and at places up to chest level. The past two nights hit record-breaking low temperatures in Erwin, meaning it was brutal in the mountains at 15 degrees colder. But it was time to go, hopeful that today's weather conditions would be much improved, ready to put Roan Mountain behind us. Even after slack packing the last 19 miles, my fully-loaded pack didn't feel too bad today, in fact, again carrying my pack, headed north, following the white blazes, it all felt right, and none too soon. Still, with the amount of snow on the trail, with or without a pack, I worked hard, probably one of my most exhausting days yet. I didn't realize how much additional energy is required to walk through snow, luckily no longer up to my thighs or waist, but at some places, still up to my knees, and at most places higher than my boots, frozen solid by the end of the day. The trail is definitely beautiful covered with snow, but it also becomes tricky, at places icy, at others slushy, but everywhere slippery. Constantly pulling my trekking poles out of deep snow gave me more of an upper body workout as well. With all this additional effort, the miles took longer than usual, the last two completed after sunset, me sliding around on the trail, careful not to fall during my final miles when my legs felt like jello, my headlamp illuminating the path before me. I was so glad when I arrived to the shelter, actually a big red barn, too tired to get water I instead melted snow to make my dinner. Tonight is going to be another cold one. If I felt a bit like a wimp, questioning my strength and fortitude after slack packing, my hard-core, bad-ass quotient is once again raised a few notches after today.
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Thru-hikers live by the mantra "hike your own hike," meaning do what is best for you as an individual in order to be successful in your hike. Each person out here has to define that for him- or herself, what is right for someone else may not be right for me and vice versa. Nor should I stand in judgement of another hiker's decisions, as long as he or she is hiking with integrity, with respect for nature and other hikers. Don't apply your standards - trust me, I'm grappling with enough of my own - to my hike, and I, in turn, will offer the same courtesy. As many hikers as I encounter each day are as many ways to successfully complete a thru-hike, and no two hikers will do it just the same. I may have a distinct way of packing my belongings, another a certain preference for trail food, a third chooses water filtration over chemical treatment, and the list goes on. No two hikers will move at exactly the same rate, due to varying stride lengths, pack weight, need for breaks, and a host of other factors. Because the AT is at times as much a social experience as it is about the trail, it is easy to get caught up in what others are doing. The thru-hiker who makes it all the way to Maine must be hiking for him- or herself, following what works best for the individual, and not necessarily the crowd. The bottom line is that at this point in our journey, we all made it to the same place, so despite our differences we all must be doing something right. This debate will continue in future installments, including the most hotly contested issues of lightweight gear, purist hiking, and resupply options. Even as we debate these issues, we as thru-hikers have more in common, more that unites than separates. And there is one issue upon which we all agree: the splendor of the trail, ever-changing, always inspiring, with breath-taking views around every turn. We share our struggles, for when it rains on one of us, all other hikers get just as wet. The uphill that's tough for me is also difficult for the hikers coming after and those who went before. The vista that makes me stare and gasp will elicit the same response from other hikers who love the trail as much as do I, and this is a bond which will never be broken, despite how much we disagree about the little things, our love and respect for the trail are all that matter.
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel, Hampton, TN
Miles today: 15.6

After spending the night at what could be the most fabulous shelter on the trail, I had to meet the man who made it happen, another trail legend himself, Bob Peoples. Known as one of the best trail maintainers along the way, he organized about 130 thru-hikers to build, rumored in a day, a two-story shelter with a loft and covered cooking area, backwoods wash basin, campfire circle, trail to pristine water source, and no mice...yet. The Mountaineer Shelter was so luxurious I was almost tempted to pay for my stay! Unfortunately, Bob was out of town when I visited his Kincora Hostel, another of the trail's bests, but I hope to meet this legendary man in the near future to express my thanks and appreciation in person.I hope my fellow hikers and faithful readers realize that the trail would not be the place it is without legions of support, that although I am out doing the miles I am neither the star nor the main figure, that behind every successful thru-hiker is a team of encouragement making the thru-hike possible. I am not doing this alone, far from it. It is so important to recognize individuals like Miss Janet and Bob Peoples for they are the trail just as much as any of us hiking it. They are not getting rich off of what they do, actually probably offer their services in the red - imagine the electric bills for upteem loads of laundry each day, plus hot showers for dirty hikers, not to mention shuttling hikers all over creation, and the list goes on. I know the suggested donation, or price for services, which sadly I have seen many thru-hikers take advantage of and somehow forget to pay, in no way cover the cost of the services offered, and we are in no way entitled to such services along the way. I will forever be grateful to people like Bob and Miss Janet for their tireless efforts, inspiring thru-hikers to continue onwards, sharing our hopes and dreams with all those who make it possible. Let's remember to show our appreciation.
Date: 2007-04-13
From: campsite before Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 28.9
Weather: clear sky

The great majority of the people I meet out here are kind to one another, considerate of others' needs and feelings, supportive of individual and collective goals, just all-around good souls. I have often remarked that I find myself in fine company. However, I am disturbed by comments written in some of the shelter registers, the primary means of communication along the trail, through which hikers share their feelings, whereabouts, thoughts on the trail and terrain. I enjoy reading what others have to say...for the most part. But when their comments are sexist or negative in nature, I would rather not view them at all. If you don't have anything nice to say... Most of the sexist remarks I try to overlook, attribute them to ignorance and lack of understanding of the female psyche, that Mars-Venus debate, what have you. But I could no longer bite my tongue after reading what I considered to be one too many derogatory remarks about females. A certain hiker, who shall remain nameless, wrote about two pages bemoaning the difficulty of the terrain, lack of privies, abundance of rocks, whatever else he could possibly complain about in Tennessee, ending with "if the trail in Tennessee were a female, I would slap her silly," or something along those lines. Then the wrath of Snack Break filled the next page. I don't remember my exact words, but I do recall being fired up, ready to battle for all the women on the trail, prepared to counter the slander against my gender. As a strong woman, mentally and physically, I am sick of the sexist, chauvinistic crap I encounter in trail registers. I walk just as many miles each day with a pack just as heavy as the males around me. Whoever thinks it OK to slap a woman better hope to never run into me. It is time to stop the derogatory comments against women. In the next shelter register, I added two additional points to consider. 1) Women complete the trail at a higher percentage than their male counterparts. It's true. Research the statistics. 2) Ever notice who does more of the whining, complaining, crying, and sniveling in the trail registers? Men or women? (This may not be obvious to you at home, but to us on the trail, it's clear. Take a wild guess.) I definitely don't want to start any gender-based competition, male-bashing feminism, or unfair and biased comparisons between men and women on the trail.   I certainly don't want to alienate the men who have so far been supportive of me and my goals. I just want to be treated with respect as an equal, while letting others know that derogatory comments are not funny, not appreciated, and not tolerated. I guess my rants had some positive results. Only in part due to the easy rolling flat-ish terrain, big miles today were fueled by my emotions. While males won't touch the subject, females coming behind me on the trail have thanked me for my words. Plus, I feel much better knowing I stand up for what and who I believe in.
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Welcome to Damascus, reportedly the friendliest town on the trail. Time to resupply and rest my weary body. Not much to report, except some fine times with other hikers at the local establishments. Many thanks to Hellbender's parents for inviting about 25 of us into their home for some hiker camaraderie.
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Most of my journal entries thus far have been philosophical, debating difficult topics, pondering the meaning of life on the AT. Walking for hours each day certainly gives one lots of time to think. This week, I take a step back from the heavy stuff to give you just the facts of how I'm surviving out here. Today's topic...where I sleep. On cold nights like tonight, I am cozy inside my Eureka Backcountry one-person tent, which adds a few degrees of warmth while offering protection from the wind. Inside my 3' X 8' portable home is enough room for my sleeping pad and bag, with space for clothing and personal items along the side and at the ends. I do not bring my pack, boots, trekking poles, food bag, or kitchen items inside my tent, but keep them outside at night. My tent is heavier than most, weighing in at about 4 pounds, but it's quite comfortable and therefore I'm loathe to give it up, not while it's still cold anyways. Setting up and taking down a tent each evening and morning takes additional time and effort, so I don't do it every day, but it's definitely my preferred place to sleep on the tail. I sleep better, more soundly, and for more hours in my tent than anywhere else. Shelters offer another option, spaced on average every 8 miles the length of the AT. The quality varies greatly, but almost all are three-sided open structures with wooden sleeping platforms, holding anywhere from 6 to 20 hikers, the nicest ones with covered cooking areas and no mice. Disadvantages of the shelters: wooden floors are harder than the ground, someone is almost guaranteed to snore (and fart and belch), the wind whips right through them, the smell of that many hikers in such a small space can be overwhelming to the senses. Still, on some nights, like when rain is in the forecast, when I can't be bothered to put up my tent, or when I want the company of other hikers, I prefer to sleep in shelters. Because the AT passes through or close to many great trail towns along the way, I have also slept in hostels and occasionally hotels probably an equal number of nights, especially with the recent onslaught of snow and cold weather. Plus, every 4 to 5 days I need to shower. Hostels vary in quality and comfort, prices range from $4 to $20 a night, some offer laundry and breakfast included. Overall, I have been pleased with my hostel experience; many, including the Blueberry Patch, Miss Janet's and Kincora are talked about the length of the trail. I hope to stay at, and have scheduled into my itinerary, the rest of the best as I head north, for these places are truly part of the trail experience as well.
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: campsite past Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Here I go philosophical again... Some days, I have to remind myself of why I'm out here, and today was one of those days. Don't get me wrong - I'm still thrilled to be hiking the AT, and I definitely want to be on the trail, but after doing the same thing for over five weeks now, day after day, racking up miles, I need to remember what brought me here in the first place so I don't lose my focus and drive. The terrain is no longer tough, could be because I'm now in Virginia, more likely because my body is as strong as it's ever been, accustomed to hiking for 8 hours a day, the miles come easy now compared to a few weeks ago. Today was still a tough day, though in other ways. The trail, as remnants of the last snow melt away, was a slushy mess, my feel and pant legs soaked by the end of the day. From the motion of push and pull of my trekking poles in what snow remains, my bad shoulder, on which I had rotator cuff surgery one year ago, is feeling worse than usual. Many hikers, myself included, are recuperating from head colds that linger with the weather. We are ready for spring and warmer temperatures. The AT is a social trail, people always close by, but I didn't realize how much so. For the most part, I enjoy this aspect and honestly adore my trail buddies. But sometimes, it gets to be too much, especially when I am the only female in the midst of a bunch of guys. At these times, I long for some female companionship, without which I need to go off and spend a bit of private time alone for a while. This is something my male friends do not totally understand; it's nothing against them, but more a need of mine to maintain my sanity and focus. I remind myself that I knew of the discomforts when I signed on to hike from Georgia to Maine. I truly believe that the goal, the hike, and the people will more than compensate, probably a million times over, for any of the discomfort involved, that in the long run I will forget about the pain and remember only the joy, that the rough days will fade away and the glorious ones become even more so. I just have to remind myself every now and then.
Date: 2007-04-18
From: campsite past Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Today's topic of survival techniques is food, about which every thru-hiker spends hours thinking and dreaming each day. There is no way hikers can carry enough food to meet their daily 4000 to 6000 calorie needs, so while we eat as much as we can each day, we look forward to gorging ourselves on all kinds of delicacies once we hit towns. On the trail, my breakfast consists of normal breakfast foods, such as cereal or granola with powdered milk, oatmeal, pop tarts or fruit bars, with my daily dose of multi-vitamins and glucosamine. I try to snack as often as possible, hence my name, but at least every two hours to keep my energy level up. Snacks include granola bars - my favorites are Sweet and Salty; different varieties of gorp I prepared before I left - the best with Cheerios, cranberries, white chocolate chips, and cashews; dried fruit, crackers, and cookies - none of which I packed enough of. I've had the most trouble figuring out what to pack for lunches, but so far have relied on crackers with jelly, peanut butter, tuna, or cheese. I much prefer tortillas wrapped with various fillings, especially summer sausage and cheese, which I never would have expected before beginning this hike, but it's quite good. I didn't send myself enough lunch options in my resupply boxes so often have to buy a few additional items in towns. I've done much better with my evening meals. While I love to hike, what I truly enjoy most each day is eating dinner; thoughts of a hot meal before bed really help me push through the last remaining miles of the day. For a few weeks before the trail, I dehydrated and packaged about 30 different meals, all just add boiling water and presto! - 5 minutes later I'm eating a nutritionally decent, almost gourmet, usually delicious meal. My favorites are spaghetti with hamburger and sauce, Thai red curry, Indian lentils, stroganoff with beef and mushrooms, spinach with whole wheat pasta and white cheese sauce. Seriously, my dinners are so good I am thinking of marketing them after the trail. Who wouldn't want a trail food consultant named Snack Break?
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Relax Inn - Atkins, VA
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: clear sky

Even with my delicious instant pre-packaged meals, the draw of fattening, greasy, not-made-by-me town food cannot be dismissed. Hikers have been known to walk extra miles at a much faster pace to get such food, as was the case with a group of about 10 of us today who rose early to get 11 miles in before lunch, 11 very quick and hungry, dreaming-of-pizza miles. by a little past noon we had placed our $150 order from the only shelter on the trail with a shower and pizza delivery service. Two hours, a truckload of pizza and too much beer later, we were back on the trail to complete the day's remaining miles, which we thought to be 7. But when the rain started coming down in torrents, the first time I've hiked in heavy rain so far this journey, we were already soaked by the next shelter, and so decided to push on to town, a hotel, and a place to dry off a further 4 miles down the trail. Wet and cold by the day's end, I was happy for a hot shower, dry clothing, and a real bed. Once settled, I called my brother to report on the day's activities and he asked me when I would be hiking again, thinking I took a day off, that it's impossible to do so much in a day and still hike. That's what is so enjoyable about the trail now. My body is conditioned enough that the day is no longer just about hiking, the miles interspersed with fun, friends, and most importantly, you know it, food.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Relax Inn - Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today should be designated "the most lazy way to hike the AT," for although our happy group of 10 continued to make our way north, it was with very little effort involved. During breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Biscuits, the parents of hiking buddy Biscuits, arrived and introduced themselves; little did we know then the extent these two would go to provide trail magic for the next few days. After breakfast the Biscuits-mobile, trail name Snow White, shuttled any and all stray hikers, picking up random ones at the side of the road, to the post office, grocery store, and back to the motel, where back packs and their contents littered the walkway and parking lot. From the boot of the van came tasty sandwiches, homemade cookies, and fruit for our lunches while the rest of the space was quickly filled with our back packs and trekking poles. Off we went with only water bottles and a few snacks, ultra lightweight hiking, to slack pack the next 12 miles, after which Mr. and Mrs. Biscuits would again meet us with our packs lined up in rows in the parking lot awaiting our arrival. Tim and Peggy also enjoy back packing, so decided to hike with us to the next shelter, then prepare dinner for us there. Word spread; as is custom with rumors of free food, thru-hikers then appear out of nowhere, each grabbing a bag to carry the remaining two miles to the shelter. My fanciest dinner on the trail included lemon halves with peppermint stick appetizers, fresh fruit and salad, meatball subs, three homemade desserts - all delicacies unheard of out here! Their generosity fed 17 hungry hikers, with not a morsel remaining. But wait, it's not over yet.
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek campsite
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

We might tease and make fun, give each other a hard time on the trail, maybe even drive one another a bit nuts, but when it comes right down to it, when push comes to shove, we care about and look out for our own. Those of you who are personally acquainted with me know of my long and painful history with ankle problems, with four screws and reconstructive surgery on my left one; five screws, a five-inch metal plate, and two surgeries post mountain bike breaks on the right. You may wonder if I have any difficulty hiking so many miles carrying a 40-pound pack each day. Nope, because my ankles are now steel-reinforced, with the additional benefit of being able to forecast bad weather. Just today I remarked how strong my ankles feel, that I am thinking of switching from my boots to sneakers soon. I should learn to keep my mouth shut and my ideas to myself. I bet you can imagine what happened next. Walking over rocky terrain, I landed hard on my left ankle which crunched and overturned. I thought, "just walk it off," but 10 miles later, at the end of the day, I was hurting. As I approached the campsite, my fellow thru-hikers came to my aid, without being asked, knowing I wasn't feeling well. One gave me an ACE bandage, another set up my tent, a third offered a seat and a place to prop my foot, another a bag of ice (thanks to a cooler of trail magic), one even put ketchup on a hot dog for me (again, trail magic). All were visibly concerned with my well-being. I was touched by their helpful actions when I most needed them. My current group includes the comedic Iron Chefs - Strider, Shaggy, and Broadway - who are now cooking closer to as the name implies; my hilarious British compatriots Fish and Chips; Biscuits who so willingly shared the Mr. and Mrs. with 10 parent-hungry hikers; I like you, but you're crazy, and that's probably why I like you so much Many Names; charming and clean Renaissance Man and my favorite trail dog silver lab Gojo; Hellbender, my female strength with the best pair of legs on the trail. They may not be my biological family of birth, but they are the one I've been given for this short period of time in my life, and I would choose them again in a heartbeat. I hope they know I love them dearly, although that doesn't mean I will ever stop the teasing, while I discreetly try to sneak in moments to show I care about them too.