morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Deep Gap

To: Between Little Laurel & Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

We left our campsite at Deep Gap headed for Little Laurel Shelter with the threat of a thunderstorm looming over us. Cabo has this windup weather radio that made it sound like we were getting ready to die but so far all it had done was spit and sputter.Unknowingly we crossed the road that was our bailout point and headed up the mountain. A couple of times Cabo quizzed me as to whether we had passed the bailout. Finally he looked at me and said he was going back to look for the Hostel but I did not want to give up the mile or so we had walked up hill so I told him I would meet him up the trail. He took off and I continued up the trail. I reached Little Laurel Shelter about the same time the real rain hit and was able to eat lunch in the dry then continue on after the rain let up. When I got to a place called Blackstack Cliffs I missed a switchback and continued straight on, thinking I was on the AT. I only went a little way before I realized it was not the right trail but it had become really rough. As I stood there contemplating how to get back up to the trail the shelf I was standing on gave way and I tumbled about 15 feet down the mountain! After I collected my wits and looked the situation over I realized I was not going to be able to climb back up 15 feet of granite rock so I tried going left with no luck, the rock only got higher. I I tried going right but the Rhododendron was so thick I could not get through. I kept going down and right to get around the Rhododendron until I was at the bottom of the hollow and it was getting dark so I pitched my tent, cooked supper and attended to my various cuts and scratches (none serious) and went to sleep. on-on
Date: 2003-06-14
From: vandeventer shelter

To: abingdon gap shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

never went out last night. many clouds kept the moon's light intermittent, and what light made it through had a hard time making down throught the tree canopy to the trail. i ordinarily would've been the go-getter that does it anyway, but those reasons alongside the fact that it was a usual bedtime after a usual day's hiking miles- we just stayed at vandeventer. it wasn't really any kind of special day- except that every day just is special- the weather was foggy and the trail didn't really offer up views so it was a good 'thinking' day. the water source was a mean 1/2 mile downhill from vandeventer so we didn't feel like doing it twice, and it screwed up the meal schedule. ate lunch for breakfast, had dinner at 2:30, and that's it. tomorrow i have one last breakfast and then walk 10 miles to finally make landfall in and plunder damascus! staying at abingdon gap shelter after a 23 mile day, cheeseburger's tenting here because of bugs, lost dog and vast horizon are here as well, they tent because of mice. we all head to town in the morning, and dream of food!
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Between Little Laurel & Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

This morning was clear as a bell and when I looked up the mountain I could see a fire tower that I knew was on the AT so I headed that way, a 4000 ft climb. As luck would have it the rhododendron barred my direction of travel and I took a different path back up and through a less dense jungle to arrive at the ATin a much shorter time than if I had made it to the fire tower! When I got back to the AT I continued on and discovered where I made my wrong turn in the rain and fog. It was a switchback that was not marked with a double blaze signifying a turn! I continued on over the cliffs to Jerry Cabin Shelter, my intended destination on the 19th. on-on
Date: 2003-06-15
From: abingdon gap shelter

To: damascus
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

today's basically a town day. the 10 miles with slight downhill into damascus endt up being an easy 3 1/2 hour cruise, even though i was intending to take my time at 2 mph. i first patronized the side track cafe for a couple of one dollar beers and a 16 inch pizza. called my father- convenient i was near a phone to call him on father's day- and met up lost dog, vast horizon, and cheeseburger at sicily's for another lunch of a strombolli. blah, blah, blah, i could go on about all the food i'm consuming. tomorrow is to be a zero day. i personally am not that fond of zero days as i have a tough time doing nothing. i'll have to try to fill time by going over my food/gear and spend some time on the internet at the library. right now most of the people at this 'dave's place' bunkhouse is on the front porch socializing and a cd by 'the who' plays. not sure what i'd like to do as i've never found myself to be an entertainer of many people or even to be one who enjoys mingling. i'm more of a one-on-one person or maybe up to 4 people. the thought came up to write about what i think while i walk. i don't really feel at this point in the journey i'm thinking any new or mind-enlightening thoughts. maybe that will come, maybe it won't. so far, i seem to switch here and there between musical lyrics playing in my head, paying attention to the natural world around me, and thoughts about what i'd like to do exactly with the near future years, something i've been doing for long before this trip. if someone knows exactly how far into the trip i'm supposed to be revelating new thoughts, i hope they clue me in! though i don't necessarily need to be enlightened or come home with different perspectives on life- i'm pretty satisfied with my ideals the way i left. the purpose of my trip is not that, but more to simply better myself by experiencing some more of what else is out there besides eastern massachusetts. to feed my child's side with adventure and exploration and to return home with a sense of both having accomplished what i intended when i set out and to have a genuinely good time doing so.
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

I am more sore this morning from my bumps and bruises than I was yesterday, I think the adrenalin from all the excitement of my ordeal kept me from feeling the effects. I don't know, I just know that today I felt like I had been run over with a semi! I passed up the next shelter and continued on to the Hogback Ridge shelter to try and get back on schedule which made my mileage for the day at 14.7 and my At miles at 315. I had hoped to complete 300 miles on the 19th as it was my 1st full months anniversary on the trail, but my little detour held it to 296.8. Oh we'll there is plenty of time.
Date: 2003-06-16
From: damascus

To: damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

i've always known i'm a big fan of eating. maybe that's one of the lessons i'm to learn on this journey; just how much i like to eat. i mean, there are other things i enjoy, like hiking-skiing-skydiving-sailing, but if you ask me which i would be, i'd have to say that i fall under the "live to eat" classification. had a big breakfast, snacked all day, pork chops, pint of ben and jerry's, egg rolls, cantaloupe, half gallon of moose tracks ice cream, i feel like this was a very constructive day. i did zero miles towards my summer's trek, but i do feel this is important to load up on the crapola that without which i lose weight on the trail, both for salivary satisfaction and weight-control concerns. so, that's my day, besides the two-hour internet session at the library, and the two hours spent organizing food/gear. i'm considering going in the morning over to the side track cafe to try a break at their pancake record. after all i've eaten today, i'll have to wait and see how hungry i feel in the morning.
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

A lot of climbing today! It seems the uphills go on forever and the downhill feel like a Zip Line, it seems that no sooner do you crest one hill that you are climbing right back up with very little respite. Today's highest peak was 5516 to the top of a mountain that was not named on my guide. Tough, tough climb.Met back up with Cabo this afternoon, he was waiting at the shelter when I got here. Someone told him what happened and that I was on the way. He had taken a backward slack pack (north to south hike without a pack) and had missed me when I took my detour. Tomorrow it's back on schedule, still a little banged up but eager to continue my hike.On-On
Date: 2003-06-17
From: damascus

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

I walked supposedly about 16 miles from Damascus to this here Lost Mountain Shelter. It didn't seem to me, though, to be that far. Perhaps I'm just getting efficient at this such that walking the miles goes by easier and in less time. There's a trail that goes through Damascus called the Virginia Creeper Trail. I suppose it's one of those rails to trails things as it is now a bicycle trail and seems to have formerly been a railroad bed. The AT followed this for about a mile or so, and that included a neat bridge with old school wooden trestles. Staying at this shelter tonight is a bunch of scouts & scouters from Raleigh. Quite a pleasant group, and I begin to notice how most non-thru's question and talk about weight and efficient gear, while in this world of thru-hiking us thru's quit that after about the first week and find other conversation topics like the day's hike, food, tomorrow's destination, and food. Mule, Cheeseburger, Lost Dog, and Vast Horizon came by and ate dinner, but they aren't shelter people and all decided to walk on 1 12 more miles to a campsite with (they hoped) fewer campers. I'm going to probably shelter-camp for a while because of the weather system going on this week. I already ate a whole pack of hot dogs in front of the scouts, but I'm full enough not to open any Tostitos and salsa. Good- because I'm too selfish to share them with this many people, bad- because I have to carry them tomorrow. -applejack-
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

A rather mundane day if you compare it to the past week. Just more trudging up hills and down except that it was warmer today which called for more stops for water. Even with a leisure pace we still made it to the shelter in the middle of the afternoon. Hey,, I can't fall off a mountain every day to have something exciting to write about. On-On
Date: 2003-06-20
From: AT near I-81

To: trail
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: moderate rain

This was somewhat of a "working" feeling day that ended the way I'd like most days to end. I got up early and walked both ways 3 12 miles to Atkins Post Office to take care of business. Then I walked in the woods over 21 miles to keep putting in the miles towards catching up with my itinerary. Sprinkled in were miscellaneous scenic parts which were great. I originally intended to go another 1.8 miles to Chestnut Knob Shelter, but I got up here to this bluff and it's just fantastically beautiful. I was up here for the whole sunset, and walking up the sky with a pleasant amount of clouds and the view through the Virginia Mountains was one of those things I'd of had dreamed of when I planned this trip. My eyes began welling up a little. So I decided to skip the shelter and spread my stuff out under the stars here tonight. It should be pretty clear. It's not dusk yet but I see something in the sky that, by looking at my calendar's info, I think it could be Jupiter. I did pitch my tarp, though, so if it rains I can dive under it. The weather reports have been sounding pleasant for the upcoming days, that'll be nice since I plan to cover 57 miles tomorrow & Sunday. -applejack-
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Erwin, TN

To: Campsite
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

Left Erwin at 8:45 am in concert with Violet, Dixie Grits and Beerdra. The uphill climb was long and arduous with only a few downhills until we reached our campsite for the night, almost the full mileage was devoted to climbing. Violet and I decided to call it a day after 12.7 miles. The others continued on to another campsite 5 miles away and over the tallest mountain of the day at 5180 ft. Not something I was willing to tackle at the end of the day! Alas we will have it the first thing in the morning but if I feel as good in the morning as I did today it should be a snap (fingers crossed). Looking at the weather window it appears tomorrow will be clear and then Rain is forecast for the next three days so we are heading to a hostel at 366.3 miles, called the Greasy Creek Hostel, to get in the dry and see what kind of weather we get after that. Can't keep dodging weather forever but while its still cold I think it's the prudent thing. On-On
Date: 2003-06-21
From: trail

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 35.4
Weather: broken clouds

I wonder if I'm getting carpel tunnel syndrome, or maybe all of my backpack's weight on the shoulders is messing up nerves. I don't know exactly why my hands (mostly my left) seem to be getting queer on me. It's like, is this the garbage one shouldn't have to put up with until a much older age? Maybe I should seek a doctor in Pearisburg. Had a wonderful 1st day of summer. 35.4 miles of blue skies and Virginia mountainlines. I endt up waking up to light rain at 2:30 this morning and went under the tarp. Even if it weren't a cloudy start today trees would've prevented me from seeing the sunrise. I found that Superfoot and Q-tip were tented last night on another bluff about a mile up farther than I. Walking up to the top at the shelter I found Superfoot there and walked about 8 miles with him. He set me up to a nice 3 mph pace that I used after he slowed down to avoid blisters and I walked my miles today before dark. I'm at Jenny Knob Shelter with a southbounder called Homer. I pretty much just set up my stuff and cooked a meal and got ready for bed. Which I'll do now before my hand hurts more. -applejack-
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Campsite

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

The hostel was...unique. Owned by a sweet little lady that tried to accommodate everyone and her religion at the same time. Her Sabbath began in the evening and runs through Saturday so we ordered pizza and beer then set up the coffee pot so that all we had to do in the morning is flip a switch. The lady told us she would not be able to cook breakfast for us but we were welcome to heat up sausage biscuits in the morning for breakfast.Very few people here tonight considering that we are supposed to get rain. Cabo showed up late in the afternoon from his slack pack and when Mrs. Cabo showed up we had beers all around plus brownies and rice crispy treats fortified with trail mix...yumm. On-On
Date: 2003-06-22
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: AT
Miles today: 28.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, my hands aren't being problematic right now, but my left ankle took a beating today. I walked this morning at 3 mph, switching back to my preferred 2 mph in the afternoon. I realize I enjoy everything so much more at 2 mph. I'm nearly caught up to my weeks goal of catching up 2 of the 3 days I was behind schedule. So I am happy that this 28 12 mile day should be my longest for a while. I originally planned to sleep on Angel's Rest, an overlook on the descent to Pearisburg, but I walked past it thinking it would be more of an outcropping of ledge and I'm not walking back uphill. I have just once again blocked the trail, this time with my shelter/self parallel to the trail. I hope no one comes along and falls on me! Tomorrow morning I look forward to breakfast and lunch in town, and a phone call to razz my co-worker Vinny, whom I haven't talked to in 6 12 weeks. Something I haven't mentioned to journal is how many deer I've seen. There are so many I just don't think to mention them. Probably saw about two dozen today. -applejack-
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: light rain

After coffee and sausage biscuits, Violet and I set off at 8:15 from Greasy Creek for the Overmountain Shelter 16.6 miles away. We went ahead and donned our rain gear because it was threatening rain but I stopped on the way back to the trail and pulled off all my cloths and just wore my rain suit. I was still hot in my suit but at least my hiking cloths would stay dry. Roan mountain was the big climb of the day, all the way up to 6194 feet elevation. We delayed lunch until 2 pm after reaching the Roan shelter because we wanted to eat in the dry, and I was starving. After a quick lunch we set off again, in the rain, for Overmountain. The trip down took half the time as going up.The rest of the afternoon was pretty uneventful because we were walking in clouds and fog all afternoon. Once it got pretty light and I thought we were going to walk above the clouds but no such luck, the rain moved back in and we were walking in thick fog once again.Arrived here at 6 pm to a jam packed shelter. This is an old barn that can hold at least 40 people and I believe there ARE that many people here tonight. It's gonna be a madhouse here in the morning when everyone is getting breakfast and packing up!Don't know what tomorrow will be like except that its supposed to rain all day, hopefully we can get a room somewhere and dry out. On-On
Date: 2003-06-23
From: AT

To: pine swamp shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well, I pretty much got the mail drop accomplished- just not exactly as planned. I overshot the road by like, 2 miles, because I read the map wrong, so I had to walk 3 miles to town instead of 1. As I was organizing things in the Laundromat the owner came in doing things and we conversed and she offered me a ride back to where I left the trail, which I gratefully accepted. So that helped to cancel my error by saving time afterward. Just before I left Pearisburg to walk on, I stopped into a Chinese food joint that had on its window ¢$4.95 lunch buffet AYCE¢. This ended up being a bit of a mistake as I went through 3 full plates of food and it was all great China food- it endt up making me sooo thirsty and which thirst I could not sate because there was no room in my stomach! I was in tough shape all afternoon. On my walk into town I Met another thru hiker named Jollies, and we both endt up staying at Pine Swamp Shelter tonight. His hiking friend, Boots, just left the trail after injuries and Jollies talks of catching up to his schedule. He seems to be a particularly strict fellow, as I¢ve hears before I met him, as he walks to a strict schedule, does 3mph normally, gets up at 5:15, and he¢s already in bed as of 8:15 or so. I may stay at the same shelter as he tomorrow but I¢m sure he¢ll outhike me after that. I really need to back down to 20 mile days soon as my feet are getting sore and I don¢t really believe in hiking fast, Today¢s miles were pushing it since I put in 3 hours in town as well. Well, at least the weather forecast looks nice for a few days. ¢applejack-
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: U.S. 19E, Roan Mountain B&B
Miles today: 9.2

The night in the Overmountain shelter was anything but comfortable. There were winds buffeting the barn that would make it shake and shudder, then add that to 27 bodies (I counted) tossing and turning, snoring and getting up to go to the toilet and a tarp that was tied over a huge opening that flapped all night and you can imagine what it was like. With a promise of a room at the Roan Mountain B&B we packed up and headed out at 8:15. Fog and rain was with us all morning and the bald mountains we hiked over had zero visibility. Perhaps my most miserable day on the trail outside of the day I hiked out of Neel Gap! The water ran so deep on the trail I finally quit trying to dodge it and waded right through it. My shoes and socks were waterlogged anyway. Tomorrow is supposed to be clearer so we will be back on the trail again in the morning. On-On
Date: 2003-06-29
From: ? Shelter

To: Brown Mtn Creek
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Sun 29 June 2003   ? Shelter to Brown Mtn Creek   33 miles Whew! my feet are a bit sore. 33 miles today, walked with Little Bear the first 12.5. His feet were aching so he rested more at lunch while I went on. While I was cooking I met four other thru-hikers that planned to stay at Punchbowl Shelter were Little Bear is tonight; Cruiser & Reason and Turtle & Magic Rat. I went on another 8 miles to end up one mile shy of Brown Mtn. Creek Shelter. I got to the footbridge over Brown Mtn Creek and decided to stop here and tarp it. It¢s been great weather today, and there are very few bugs here but I used the bug net anyway. The views are starting to get better; less haze. I saw one of these tourist-explaining things today that blames summer haze on pollution. Since I¢ve done so many miles today I only have 53+ to do between tomorrow and Tuesday, and then I plan a 5-mile walk out of the woods Wednesday morning and then into Waynesboro. I not only would like to be there at that time for mileage, but I only have enough food for that long as well!   -applejack-
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Campsite above Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 2.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I have started waking up with the first birds that announced the morning, so I lay there at 6 am thinking about breakfast and coffee til it got light enough to get out and start packing up. I was on the trail at 7 am, walking slow, waiting for Violet to catch up. She did and we beat it the 2.3 miles to the center of town and the Blue Blaze Cafe in less than an hour. The thought of hot food (that someone else prepares) is a strong motivator. We ran into a big group of kids that we have been hiking around and had breakfast with them. It was like having a meal with family, lol. Peaches, as usual, kept up a running commentary on whatever subject came up. Sriracha has injured her ankle and has to take some time off. Blimy and Tex were harassing Elf because he was trying to eat a record number of pancakes and Sky Pilot was quietly devouring a huge plate of eggs, home fries and toast. It was good to see everyone and its interesting that, no matter the pace, we all usually wind up in the same place. After breakfast we picked up our mail (thanks Chrissy) at the Post Office and checked in at the B&B, cleaned up and took clothes to the laundromat since the B&B did not offer that service. It's not hard to spot thru-hikers in town, they are usually wearing some version of their rain gear because their hiking clothes and everything else is in the laundry. Resupply is next on the agenda then food, food and more food... Tomorrow will be a zero day so don't be surprised if I don't have a journal entry. A break from trying to think of something to write about will be welcome too. on-on
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Hay Rock Ridge

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Mon 30 June 2003   Hay Rock Ridge to Harper¢s Creek Shelter   31.1 miles The last day of another month of June; of which I¢ll be rationed only so many Junes in my lifetime. I¢m pretty pleased with myself today, walked a productive 31.1 miles to put myself a day ahead of my schedule and now¢s the time to relax it down to 20 mile days. Overcast and hazy was the weather most of the day- it threatened rain at about 5 with random big raindrops falling but no rain. Walked with a pleasant fellow named bear Magnet for a couple hours until he hit road to spend tonight in a hostel. Dinner was at a super-buggy shelter at the Priest Mtn with some weekenders and some college kids doing research work. All of whom seemed overwhelmed when I described the mileage I walk. Sleeping at Harper¢s Creek Shelter tonight, first time in a shelter alone. It¢ll be nice to be able to wake to my alarm and cook with the zip stove inside the shelter if I want without bothering anyone!   -applejack-