morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-19
From: Max Patch

To: 2 miles south of Deer Park Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

We stayed on Max Patch waiting out the fog until 2:30. This Mtn has prooved to be very time consuming. The view was worth it though and we got to dry all our stuff on the grassy bald. This was the first night that we night hiked. Funny coincidence on our section hike we night hiked this Mtn then too. Around 9:30 it was pitch black and we were still walking. We passed a road, right after the road was some powerlines. The powerlines were just a grassy strip with no trees in the woods. It was here that we seen our first bear. WE shined our headlamps down the strip and 20 ft down the strip a huge pair of eyes looked back at us. I was dying to know what the animal was so i walked within 15ft of it. The eyes looked confused and suddenly started walking toward me. So HighLife freaked and had me walk slowly back. It was nerving to know the bear was only a half a mile from where we ended up camping.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: 2 miles south of Deer Park Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs-Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We stayed at the Hostel and learned that Chuck Norris and Trigger, hiker names not real, were the caretakers. On my mom's thru-hike they were out there as well. Mom was friends with them. It was a great place to stay they even made homemade cookies for the hikers. We went into town and did laundry and we went to spaghetti dinner 5$. We made it to town just in time for their hiker festival.
Date: 2012-04-21
From: Hot Springs-Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Hot Springs-river campin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hiker bash wasnt to exciting, I cant wait for all the fun on trail days in Damascus. We did go to the Library and I thought I updated this journal then but their internet was lousy. We decicded to save money and just camp on the river by town. We picked out a great spot, only problem was...someone else was sharing our firepit spot. We thought it would be some old guy who wanted privacy. Turns out to be an 19 year old kid named Salamander. Cool Guy, ended up being a cool night.
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Hot Springs-river campin

To: Rich Mtn Fire Tower
Miles today: 8.0

HighLife made a cool setup with the tarps/ponchos. We slept inside the firetower, great view for a quick bit and then clouds rolled in. It was really windy like crazy windy. made it harder to enjoy but his tarp setup blocked most of the rain. In the middle of the night it started pouring rain and all our stuff got pretty wet. So we ran down the wet metal steps and quickly set up the tent in the pouring rain. Then we were dying of thirst, and we set out in search of water. we walked all over the top of that Mtn. We ended up settling for the gutter water that came off a radio tower next to the fire tower. It was only after that, that we discovered that close contact might cause radiation poisoning.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Rich Mtn Fire Tower

To: Log Cabin Dr
Miles today: 8.0

Ate a burger at the Hemlock Hollow, they were not very nice people. they were rude rigfht away with us. The locals at the hostel all look like they do METH, no teeth. We went .1 back up the trail and camped instead. Salamander was so mad we took a candybar from them. But we did meet a local named Randy whose originally from MI. he gave me and Salamander a bamboo hiking pole each and showed us around his place. His house is where the AT used to be, it got rerouted. He had all his teeth.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Log Cabin Dr

To: Log Cabin Dr
Miles today: -0.1

Randy told us about the cabin next to the trail that says no trespassing. He said the has been trying to sell it and hasnt been there in years. he said since its raining that we could camp on the porch and no one would know. So we went to the Hostle to steal Toilet Paper and fill up water and then went to check out the cabin. We discovered a window open and went inside.. We ended up going back to the campsite and packing up to move back to the cabin. There was a wood burner in there and we dryed our stuff. The odd thing was this whole time the hostels dog was with us. A red husky smaller than sky followed us and we debated on keeping him. his name was AT and he spent all day with us. but left eventually. Randy invited us over again and we found out he made Gavin stick many years ahgo and left it for a hiker. he said it was the first one to come back to him.
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Log Cabin Dr

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We left the cabin early so no one would see, but we turned the power on to charge our stuff. At the next shelter a guy named flint brought a bottle of Jerry's to Jerry's and we thought it ironic and did some shots. and made a fire. Salamander had too many shots.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Devil Fork Gap-Erwin
Miles today: 8.6

Today was a pretty easy hike, but we were running very low on food so our buddy sally suggested we hitch to a store and get some food. At first i was unsure but then when we got to the road at devil fork gap i was like lets do it and get more food. So there was this old guy who just got done doing a short hike with his granddaughters at devil fork gap and offered us a ride to the nearest country store that was like 7 miles away... he was a crazy driver, but he got us there he also warned us about the banjo music lol him being funny before he left us. this store was like a hangout for the old farts around there which weren't to used to smelly hikers, but they were nice there so anyway we got what we needed and started standing by the road waiting for a hitch... we stood there for a good 30 to 45 mins. and finally a really nice old fella offered us a ride. he was 85 and told us he wasn't gonna go fast which he wasn't lying he only went about 25 if that all the way back up to the trail. only red fury could talk to him through a microphone which was connected to his headphones he was wearing he was really nice he really enjoys people and hearing and telling stories we were very thankful. when we got back up to the trail he told us erwin was only 15 mins of driving the other direction which he wasn't gonna go that far a little out of his limits for an old fella he told us. so when he left we started hitchin towards erwin not even 10 mins and the first car that was coming stopped and picked us up. they were a nice couple the dude had done some section hikin before and they gave us a ride all the way to uncle johnny's hostel which there we met brother grim the dude who ran the place while johnny's a way he's a crazy funny dude but he did let us work for our stay. that night he hooked us up with a cabin full of movies and we got to take the dinner shuttle which took us to a mexican restaurant which was alright but later we got back and watched the patriot and went to bed. the end.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: Devil Fork Gap-Erwin

To: Uncle johnny's day 2
Miles today: 0.0

we woke up and took the mornin shuttle to huddle house which was amazing and perty cheap... afterwards brother grim put us to work I mowed and weed-whacked the place and Red Fury cleaned the cabins the bath house and did laundry and complained while i enjoyed the rest of the day lol i got off easy lol and that night was fun we enjoyed beer and the company of other hikers around the bonfire and we contacted everyone back home. oh and we also got switched to a better cabin because we were staying there another day.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: Uncle johnny's day 2

To: Uncle johnny's day 3
Miles today: 0.0

well last night we watched Braveheart yeah we had a Mel Gibson marathon... so anyway we woke up and went with salamander on the bikes to breakfest. when we got back from breakfest we went to work again cleaning and doing trash and more cleaning and so on... we started packin our stuff up about mid day to head out when we heard it was supposed to storm later grim slid us back the cabin key and said this ones on the house he appreciated our work we did for him. and then he let us use a couple rafting tubes to tube down the rapids on the river right by there it was pretty neat. at the end of the river we were supposed to walk back to the hostel with the tubes when famous ms. Janet picked us up and took us back. She's one awesome lady you will hear why later. so later it did storm and we just hung out in the cabin.
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Uncle johnny's day 3

To: Frozen Knob
Miles today: 6.0

oh i left out the bike accident from the night before... well anyways we were going to dinner on the bikes while it had stopped raining for a bit so the cement was still wet. so we were headin to town when all of a sudden me salamander and red fury were going around this quick turn on the bike path when i heard a crash behind me i turned around just in time to see salamander flippin over his bike handles after he had hit the fence he got up with some scrapes on his bar and picked up his bike to get back on it and the tire was all bent to shit. so Red Fury said she would take the bike back to the hostel with some dude that had his truck right there and she was gonna take the shuttle and meet me and sally in town which she did well yeah that raps up that story. so on the next mornin we woke up got all packed up and were tryin to call ms. Janet when suddenly her car appeared and Red Fury ran up to her car and asked her for a ride back and she said of course i can. so she took us back to the trail and we were off again still 40 miles short of erwin soon to be back there again seems how the trail goes right by the hostel but we didn't wanna miss any of it. so we got to this nice spot but there was no water there so Red Fury and Salamander went off to find some down the mountain which they did find some while i set up camp and made a fire like i always do. we had a pretty good night chillin there and we were lookin forward to the trail magic that was said to be set up 6 miles from where we were.
Date: 2012-05-01
To: More Goody Box Drop?
Miles today: 0.0

Here are some more addresses if anyone would like to send letters or goodies wink wink jk. anyways We are in Bland, VA right now. Sorry about not keeping up the journal, lol its hard without a computer. But I will add the addresses in order from top-nearest, bottom-farthest away. Today is 6/8 but you should have time to send to the nearest if you want.*remember if sending a box you must write "Hold for Hiker- Michelle Roberts/Gavin Zaremba" also if you do send something please call or text HighLife at 269-274-4826. also just leave a message saying which address you sent it to. Also it might be a good idea to write "ETA-7/20/2012" on all packages so they don't throw them out. Thanks all who help!4905 Catawba Valley Dr. Catawba, VA 24070Botetourt Commons, 28 Kingston Dr. Daleville, VA 240831164 Middle Creek Rd. Buchanan, VA 24066655 Fork Mountain Ln. Montebello, VA 24464P.O. Waynesboro, VA 22980304 Chester Gap Rd. Chester Gap, VA 22623P.O. Linden, VA 2264218393 Blue Ridge Mountain Rd. Bluemont, VA 20135P.O. Harpers Ferry, W.VA 25425
Date: 2012-05-02
From: Frozen Knob

To: 1.5 out of Sams Gap
Miles today: 7.0

We made it to the trail Magic. We turned today into a race. So Salamander, HighLife, and I were running across and down the mountain to the huge tables of food. Ofcourse HighLife won, but that is only cuz I filled up his water before, and Salamander and I had to stop to get some. But we all won in the end, there were burgers,hotdogs, baked beans, chips, potatoe salad, casorole, pop, fruit, snacks for the trail, & ICE CREAM! We were so full that we stopped at the 1st campsite and made a fire & found our own secret water again. Its surprizing how many springs we pass just a couple hundred FT off trail that aren't even in the book.
Date: 2012-05-03
From: 1.5 out of Sams Gap

To: Before spivey Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another fire is nice, we will be back in Erwin tomorrow. I can't wait to eat at Huddle House again their waffles are as good as Nana's. HighLife mixed tomatoe soup with chicken Ramen and extra chunky peanut butter. It was horrible..blaaa. I puked in my mouth a bit. He refused to eat it eventually.
Date: 2012-05-04
From: Before spivey Gap

To: Uncle johnny's day 4
Miles today: 13.5

We all got up pretty early to hike to town. HighLife I have learned is a extreme purists, I'm proud of him. Salamander and I stopped at spivey gap for 30 mins waiting for Bear Boots to get a ride in. He was gonna take our packs to Johnnys so we could slap-pack in. HighLife wants to carry his pack, he thinks its cheating. We did 10 miles in 3 hours, thats pretty good, we were running most of it trying to catch HighLife. We finally did 1 mile from town. When we got there we paid to camp, I'm not doing all that work again. Apprently that night Ms. Janet was throwing a pizza party for people in town and showing pics of the trail. She is a pretty great lady. After we stuffed our faces with pizza & pop we bought food at walgreens to last us till our box. HighLife surprized me and bought stuff to make chicken alfredo like he makes at home. Ms. Janet gave us a ride back & took our pic. When got to our tent we tried to go to bed but a lot of people kept us up till 2am being stupid drunk.
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Uncle johnny's day 4

To: Under The Bridge-Erwin
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Cinco De Mayo! rained today. Salamander bought some beer & we partied a little. Funny thing is he bought really crappy beer. It was called BEER 30! What Time Is It?!? BEER 30! We didnt want to tent again so we went and checked out what the bridge over the river was like. Nice and flat and sandy, we camped there. Best part was...No rain!
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Under The Bridge-Erwin

To: Curly Maple Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was so hot & humid that we decided to sleep untill dark. But we also didnt want to get sucked into the town vortex anymore so we hiked at least a mile out to a campsite to chill. We planned on hiking all night but decided hiking in the dark sucks. I lost my headlamp at Handy Randy's house so I'm very thankful for my survival radio with built in flash light, thanks Heather! The only night time animal we seen was a rabbit next to the trail. HighLife threw his knife at it, but missed. No rabbit stew for dinner, I guess we are stuck with Ramen.
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Curly Maple Shelter

To: Beauty Spot 
Miles today: 9.0

It has been pouring pretty much all day. We got to Beauty Spot and there were warnings about locals everywhere. One sign said they were gonna close down the road up there. We figured it was only because they were driving stuff up the mountain and doing doughnuts all over it. A man named David was happy to have extra company to camp by him. We are also near Roan Mtn. A town known for hating hikers. Early in the night a grey truck drove by recklously to the top of the Mtn. Shortly after we heard something like a gunshot. An hour later a big black truck drove by very slowly like it was looking for something, by that time our fire was merely coals and the truck couldn't see us. The truck drove by after that too still moving slowly. This truck was eery but we just went to bed and hoped it'd didnt feel like messing with hikers.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Beauty Spot

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 13.4

It was so hot and humid we were all drenched in sweat. We reached cherry Gap shelter right before a bad rain storm and tried to wait it out. 2 guys came in shortly after that and were acting very shakin up. They told us that they were camped just a little bit down the Rd from us and the big black truck did stop. The guy in the truck was high on oxicodine and drunk and held them up at gun pt. we was driving slow trying to find people. we were very lucky last night. Its a crazy story and I'm not gonna write the whole thing but, just know the good guys won. That was the only area of the trail that is known for having crazy locals that hate AT Hikers, and we aren't there anymore. So no worries. But definitely some crazy shit happened there.
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: moderate rain

Poured all day, Late start trying to wait out a really bad storm. I thought I'd get to update the journal online but her internet is worse than dial up. Thats okay, we had a Lord of the Rings marothon, waiting out the down pour. Bill the next door neighbor is a real character. We are still near Roan Mnt, so people still suck. Lucky there are people like connie around to take in hikers. But Bill is the guy right next to her and hates hikers with a passion. We got on his ATV at 5am and revved it around next to the bunk house. vroom vroom. He is crazzy! Then at exact half hour intervals he drive his lawn mower around and rev the engine over and over. He even took the hood off it, to make it louder. And if all this doesnt work he bangs on it and yells. Then he fires off some rounds. The man is a paronoid schizophernic. We got a surprize box from Michelle Powers at the hostel though and that made us feel better. Good people do exist after all. Chicken noodle soup was the bomb, but we cant carry cans. It made a great dinner at the hostel though. It made HighLife extra happy because he also got saltine crackers in the box and made the soup just like he used to have it at home. Thanks Mom & Dad for the phone and even more food!
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: OverMountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

It threatened rain all day but never showed. After we hiked roan Mtn the clouds broke up. Roan Mtn was really beautiful though. OverMtn Shelter is just an old big barn that trail maintaners fixed up for hikers. It is in a very pretty spot. Huge balds are all over these Mtns. We tented because it made the view even better, and we made some hot chocolate and watched the sunset.
Date: 2012-05-11
From: OverMountain Shelter

To: Elk Park
Miles today: 9.0

Sun woke us up. 1 week from Trail Days! We dried our stuff till noon. did only 9 miles today. Once we got to 19E we seen a sign for free black lab puppies and almost called. We also seen a sign for a steak house thats just down the rd. Excellent & reasonably priced. Salamander ended up getting a free meal, we are learning a lot from him. But we paid 25 dollars salad bar and 2 huge steaks each. I could only eat one, but the second made for a great breakfast. Apprently the Health Department has been out on the trail doing interviews for the big Hiker Virus going around, not sure how HighLife and I never got it but thank god cuz it sounds terrible.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Kincora

To: Kincora
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Poured rain all day, why is it always raining. I've got a sore throat today, hope its not the hiker virus catching up with me. Guinea Pig is here go figure, I haven't seen him in 2 years. He is thru-hiking again. A big group of college kids stopped in to interview us hikers. They are a great bunch of kids. They are hiking 100 miles. It was funny to watch them, they love Oliver. I think its cuz he is british but the girls are all googly eyed at him. HighLife were joking around and mocking them and oliver noticed and had trouble keeping a straight face as well as he talked to them. lolol. Bob took us to town and I got him an Orange Cream Shake, thanks for the advice momma.
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Kincora

To: Shook Branch Pavillion
Miles today: 10.0

Got there late with Sam, Oliver, Love Machine, Sheep, and Salamander. Sam and I hitched in to get little ceasars. because apprently no one will deliver unless you are some big class ordering (which we did try that card, lol Oliver sounds teacher like, lol). But 2 girls hitch easy. Eventually a couple pulled in to the parking lot and a girl asked if anyone wanted a dog. We all came to look at the sad, shivering, small dog sitting in the car. Its been storming all night and the poor thing was all wet. HighLife asked if they checked the neighbors and they said "no, but I rescue dogs and I've taken in 3 dogs already and if I take in any more my dad will kick me out." HighLife said he would take her and check around in the morning. I wasn't happy at first, but she has turned out to be an amazing hiker dog. She was very scared the first 2 days we had her but once she opened up she turned out to get greater and greater. We aren't sure we have the money but, she is ours now. HighLife checked all the houses in the area and all he got was "nope never seen her before, but people drop their dogs off there all the time. So we now have a dog! Her name is FAWN Any help with dog food in goody boxes is greatly appreciated. 4lbs or smaller. She is a rescue dog and only likes me and HighLife, but she needs no leash and we take care of her well. wish us Luck with her.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Shook Branch Pavillion

To: Turkeypen gap
Miles today: 14.0

Well we kept her leashed all day, we weren't sure if she'd take off on us. She still looks freaked out but she stopped shaking. HighLife went to all of the house on the street and no one recognizes her, so we left a description and our number and decided to take her to Damascus,VA maybe at traildays we can find her a home? But as we started I watched her hike, she is a natural she jumped logs, walked tiny bridges, climbed boulders, went over cow fences...well under them, she doesn't go killer style on other people or dogs. She's very chill and growing on me, Maybe I am ok with keeping her. We are guessing she is about 6. We left that town in the dust and she didn't even look worried. Once she starts walking her limp even goes away. HighLife named her Fawn today, She really kinda looks like a baby deer. We let her off the leash at camp. She was very happy just chilling with us. She never ran off, Okay I'm thinking she is a rare dog now and a definite keeper. This dog is awesome!