morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Erwin, TN

To: Elk Park, NC
Miles today: 17.0

Decided to go to Erwin to take advantage of the restaurants, motels and to resupply instead of staying at Bald Mountain Shelter. Hit the all you can eat buffet at KFC. Went back for second and third helpings. Stayed at the Super 8 in town. Need to get supplies in Erwin for the next 78 miles of the trail. Not sure what I will do tomorrow. Retirement is tough.
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Indian Grove Gap

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 17.0

Killer climb to get here. Got down to 22 degrees. Slept in the bunk house - no heat. Like sleeping in my garage at home. Just the bare necessities here. No home cooking, mainly Boca burgers. Not able to resupply. Helped cover apple trees with tarps to save them from overnight frost.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Roan Mountain Shelter

To: Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

My hiking buddy ran into 3 of her friends on the trail that were day hiking together. They said they would give us a ride to town if we could make it to a certain point on the trail. It was an incentive to keep us going 17 miles. No hotels in Roan Mountain, TN so we ended up pitching our tents by a football field in town. Had a great pizza last night cooked in a wood fired oven. Great breakfast in the morning with about a dozen cups of coffee. Next stop is Kincora.
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: Vango and Abby's Hostel
Miles today: 12.0

Started from Roan Mountain at 11:30 am. It was a pretty easy hike in cool weather. Nice waterfalls. Was able to shower at night. It was the first time I showered since Erwin....oh my. Stayed in the old bunkhouse for $3. The camping sites had too many tree roots. Some of the roots were as big as firehoses.
Date: 2012-04-15
From: Vango and Abby's Hostel

To: Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Got pictures of Laurel Falls which I'll post later. It was warm today, in the 80's. Wasn't prepared for such a warm day and didn't bring enough water. So towards the end of the day I started drinking out of a stream. Skipped water purification because I was so thirsty. It didn't kill me....
Date: 2012-04-16
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 2.0

It was 2 miles to get to Hampton from Laurel Fork Shelter. I am staying at Braemar Castle Hostel. It used to be part of a logging operation. I'm taking a break to do laundry, kick back a little and celebrate my birthday. I ate at a restaurant this morning. The staff said they only took cash. I asked them if they'd take a travelers' cheque. They said no. Two locals overheard the conversation and offered to buy me breakfast. I told them I could pay...really, it's just that I didn't have the cash. One of them bought it for me. The locals have been nice wherever I go in the South.I'm heading toward Dasmascus, VA next. I heard about Trail Days and wish it was going on when I get there. But it looks like I'll be a few weeks too soon. Use the link below for details. http://www.traildays.us/
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Spring before Vandeventer shelter

To: Shady Valley, TN
Miles today: 13.0

Rained until 4 pm today (I'm soaked). Treated a hiker "Step" at a shelter who was starting to get hypothermia. She had NO raingear. Had sent it all home to make her pack lighter. A couple of us had her strip off her wet clothes, bundled her into her sleeping bag and had her drink hot fluids and eat hot food. I'm staying in a cabin in Shady Valley, TN, warming up and drying everything out!
Date: 2012-04-19
From: Shady Valley, TN

To: tent site north of Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Late start this morning but all my gear is dry! Sun shown today. Nice to see after all the rain the last couple days. Got to the tent site with only one person here, now there are lots of tents in a small place! The Virginia border is only a mile or so away.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: tent site north of Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I am in Virginia, state #4. I got into Damascus this morning and went and had breakfast at a cafe. Bought new hiking boots - lighter weight ones. From what I have been told, the trail is not as rugged on the feet for a while. I'm shipping my leather boots home and will have them shipped to Pennsylvania where I will need them again. The weather forecast calls for 80% chance of rain tomorrow so I am planning on a zero day, relaxing and resupplying for the next 78 miles. I went with some other hikers to a goat farm where we were treated to lasagna. Excellent dinner! The kids were pretty darn cute! The AT hiking community is amazing, their friendliness and helpfulness is so appreciated.
Date: 2012-04-21
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Spent my zero day checking out Damascus in my new boots. Am getting my feet adjusted to them: So far so good. I really like this town. It definitely supports the hiking and bicycling community. There are rails to trails all around as well as the AT and shops catering to both. I resupplied with food - I'm still burnt out on oatmeal for breakfast and substituted grits. True Southern food! I'll be heading out on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2012-04-23
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: light snow

Snow and wind all day with 2-3" of snow accumulating and drifting. The wind was so strong it was blowing pack covers off and I was almost blown over on White Top Mountain. I had to brace myself against the wind. While hiking really had to watch where I was stepping because I couldn't see the rocks. My feet were cold and I kept pushing on to keep warm. If I stopped, I got cold. Reached the shelter late. Because of all the snow, I didn't get to see any wild horses. Other people have written in the shelter journals about seeing the horses and their foals. Darn! I was really looking forward to seeing them!
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Dickey Gap, VA
Miles today: 10.2

It was still cold today, windy but no snow and partly sunny. The trail runs through cow pastures that have stiles you haved to hike through! I hiked into Troutdale and am staying in the Troutdale Baptist Church hostel. I tried hitchhiking but no one would pick me up so I hiked the 2.6 miles into town.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Dickey Gap, VA

To: VA 16 (Mt. Rogers Visitors Center)
Miles today: 14.9

On the trail at 9 am. Caught a ride back to the trail from town. Some sprinkles then partly sunny. It is warmer than the last few days. I'm still getting used to these new boots that are low cut. I have to adjust to not being able to have gumby ankles. I could have used my leather boots the last couple days for warmth! I was able to do some cruising broken up with a few climbs. At the Mt Rogers Visitors Center you can order pizza to be delivered...People staying at the Partnership Shelter come down here and do that. I caught a ride into Marion, VA and am staying at America's Best Valu Motel. AAAhhhh: hotel, GREAT Mexican food, 2 margueritas & relax!
Date: 2012-04-26
From: VA 16 (Mt. Rogers Visitors Center)

To: VA 16 (Mt. Rogers Visitors Center)
Miles today: 0.0

Saw the weather forecast, heard the thunder and lightning, saw the downpour and decided to stay in Marion, VA for another day. Did laundry, relaxed, ate Italian (not as good as the Mexican yesterday). Decided I didn't need to do much restocking for the next few days. It was nice to have a decent night's sleep last night. Definitely enjoying the beer out of Pennsylvania - oldest brewery in the U.S.
Date: 2012-04-27
From: VA 16 (Mt. Rogers Visitors Center)

To: Stealth camp
Miles today: 15.1

Back hiking. I get restless if I stay put for too long. Stopped at a gas station along the trail in Atkins, I had a hankering for a Classic Coke. Then walked to a diner for fish and hush puppies, and back for ice cream...full belly! Back on the trail, paused at the designated campsite and decided to keep going - no water source at the campsite. Hiked until dusk and stopped when I located water, set up camp and went to bed. Didn't want to hike with a headlamp so am stealth camping. Virginia definitely is different than the trail south of here. The trail goes through pastures and forest. We are up high but look down over farmland. Beautiful views but different, more rural.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Nondesignated tentsite

To: Stealth camp
Miles today: 14.8

Stealth camping again. Had the usual trail obstacles today (rocks, slippery tree roots) plus a new addition: Cow pies! Yes, we share the trail with cattle. How cool! Lots of stiles and pastures on this section of the trail. I don't know how people hiking with dogs do it. They must have to lift the dogs over the stiles.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: Stealth camp

To: VA 623
Miles today: 10.2

Lots of climbing and major rock croppings. HOT! 80ish and hard day. I calculated I was hiking 1.4 miles/hour. Even the young pups said it kicked their asses. Spent the evening with a Lutheran Church Ministry. They had left a note offering a meal and a bed for the night. 5 of us took them up on the offer, enough that they ended up taking us to KFC for the all you can eat buffet. Ron and Naomi put us up for the night. Very enjoyable evening.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: VA 623

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Late start this morning. After a great breakfast, courtesy of June, the minister's wife, got dropped off at the trail at 9:50. Another hot day. It was great when the sun went behind the clouds. I came into Bland for a little resupply and didn't find much. There is a Dairy Queen! I am stealth camping again. Waited until dusk to find a spot to pitch the tent near town!
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Bland, VA

To: close to VA 606
Miles today: 18.4

Breakfast at the DQ this morning! Weird. It has been a long day. Hiked until 6:45 and am stealth camping. Highlight of the day was a deer on the side of the trail. I called to it and it didn't even look up! As I walked by, it stayed there. I was so close I could hear it munching away. Closest I have ever been to a wild deer that was alive!
Date: 2012-05-03
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Late start (10:40). Breakfast was served at 8 AM. I just beat a storm into town - holed up on the porch of an abandoned house until it passed by. And it poured! Then followed (in order): 3 Dos Equis at the Mexican restaurant, check in at hotel, Chinese buffet!
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Rain, rain and more rain. Stopped at a shelter for lunch, another hiker came along and joined me. Pretty soon a few other hikers came along completely drenched. As the rain kept a-coming we decided to stay put for the rest of the day. Rain never let up.
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Started early: 6:40 AM. Had a late, late breakfast about 11:40! Pushed on to get in more mileage. Last 2 mile climb was a killer (oh well, what's new!) Virginia ain't flat! A group of us seem to be ending up at the same shelters... Frodo, Runner to name a couple.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: light rain

Second longest day on trail for me. Rained... I didn't want to set up the tent in the rain so kept going til I got to the shelter. Paid my respects at the Audi Murphy monument where the plane crashed. Murphy was the most decorated American soldier from WW II. Got into the shelter at 9:45 PM using headlamp. Did not like that! Saw my first copperhead stretched out across the trail lounging. Gave it a wide berth. Also went by the largest oak tree on the AT south. It's over 300 years old and over 18' around! Frodo and Pancake were at the shelter when I got there. The spiders in the shelter are HUGE! As big as mice.
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Va 624
Miles today: 6.6

Staying at Four Pines Hostel in Catawba. Had the worst descent of the hike today. Most technical downhill! It took me 4 1/2 hours to go 6.6 miles. Hostel owner is a RR bridge inspector. We had lots to talk about! Small world. Hostel (his garage) is full of hikers drying things out. My mileage the last several days has been all over the place!
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Before Tinker Cliffs

To: US 220 Daleville, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

The views from Tinker Cliffs are amazing, amazing, amazing! The Cliffs themselves - Geez! Wouldn't want to bring a dog on them. Got to Daleville and felt like I had been raped. The cost of hotel rooms went up 30% because of college graduations and Michele Obama and Mitt Romney in the area speaking at different graduations. I got one of the last rooms. Now no rooms and us hikers are freaking at the prices!
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: US 501 Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

Yaaaaay! Met my wife today. Had to ford a raging creek. Just shy of waist deep, scary. I went upstream a little ways and found a tree that I braced myself against as I crossed so I wouldn't be pushed downstream. Guess I didn't get wet enough yesterday & last night. Hitchhiked into Glasgow and met my wife at a restaurant. Drove into Lexington, VA. Ran into another graduation timeframe - VMI. Lots of full hotels.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: US 501 Glasgow, VA

To: US 501 Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero day in Lexington and surrounding area. Drove back down to Daleville and bought summer wt sleeping bag. Am going to send my down bag back home. Day hiked into Apple Orchard Falls but never found the falls - lots of cascades and runoffs tho! Read that rainfall averages over the last couple days were 3-4" in some areas and 7-9" in others. Lots of forest roads have washouts. Happy 3rd Anniversary!
Date: 2012-05-18
From: US 501 Glasgow, VA

To: VA 607
Miles today: 11.3

Slack pack hiked today with wife. She enjoyed the beautiful views. She got a taste of what I'm doing every day minus the backpack. Long uphills and long downhills. She was a huffin and puffin while I barely did any of that without the backpack on! Amazing how much easier it is to hike without 30+ pounds on your back! Kept trail frogging with "Dos" and "Connect 4".
Date: 2012-05-19
From: VA 607

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent the morning with my wife before she dropped me off so I could continue the hike. It was harder leaving her this time than at Springer Mountain. Started hiking at 12:30. It was an easy day, made it to the shelter by 4:30. This used to be the Brown Mountain Community. Interesting history.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Greasy Spring Road

To: Spy Rock Rd
Miles today: 6.1

My goal was to get to the Dutch Haus B & B for the free lunch. I got here, enjoyed the atmosphere and people so much that I decided to stay the night. Great B & B, run by Earl, Lois and Hannah. Many other "gray hairs" staying here also, including a couple we ran into at the coffee shop in Dalesville when I was buying my summer sleeping bag.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Dripping Rock, BRP 9.6

To: US 250 Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Finished up the slack packing. Got in at a decent time here in Waynesboro and of course, after cleaning up, had to go eat at the all you can eat buffet. Excellent, excellent, excellent. I particularly appreciated the sign on the door telling hikers where we could get cleaned up before coming in to eat! Heading into the Shenandoah National Park tomorrow - with full pack.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: US 250 Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Back to hiking with a full pack. Entered the Shenandoah National Park. I'm still hiking with Trog, Old Goose and Dreamtime (my slack packing buddies). Very hot and humid day. Really saps the energy out of me. The ascents and descents haven't been too bad. As I was taking a break, happened to look over and see a rattlesnake. It was not happy to see me. It is Memorial Weekend and the hut (they are called huts, not shelters, in the park) is packed. We are within walking distance of Skyline Drive so everyone hikes in to the hut. The Samuel Adams that they brought in is teasing us thru hikers. Hope I can get some sleep tonight, it's noisy with all these people.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: few clouds

Shorter day than planned. Ran into a video crew who interviewed us. Then on to Loft Mtn Wayside to eat. A lot of the waysides on Skyline Dr. serve food - hamburgers, etc. After several beers starting in the morning, I wasn't going to make the 20+ miles planned for the day! Seeing 'Connect 4' and 'Dos' again.
Date: 2012-05-27
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Another 20 mile day. For the first time, I got a blister - this after 900 miles! Yes! I've gone over 900 miles!!!! Lots of people on the trail - day hikers, section hikers, thru hikers. It is Memorial Weekend. It is still hot and humid. Still affecting me. At the end of the day it looks like I've been walking in the rain, my clothes are so wet. Everyone has been seeing bears except me, lots of bears apparently. We all show each other pictures of bears and I show my rattlesnake. Moderate ups and downs but affecting me just as much as the extreme elevation changes, probably because of the heat and humidity.
Date: 2012-05-29
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Good hiking today. Stopped at Byrds Nest #3 Hut for a break. When I went around the hut to the open side, I surprised a bear sniffing around inside. I'm not sure who was more freaked, it or me! It took off running into the woods and I am happy to say I didn't need to wash my drawers. Yikes! Now I can say I saw my first bear on the trail and it was a little closer than I'm comfortable with.
Date: 2012-05-30
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Had an amazing experience on the trail today. I came upon a doe and her very young fawn ahead of me on the trail. The doe was very aware I was behind her but she didn't seem to mind. I must have followed them for at least a 1/4 of a mile! She would look back at me and then keep on going. The fawn was not very old either. What a cool experience! Made my day.
Date: 2012-06-01
From: Front Royal Hostel

To: Front Royal Hostel - Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Got shuttled into town today. This morning everyone at the hostel was glued to the weather channel trying to decide whether to hike or not. The weather did not look too favorable. I had already decided to take a zero day. Hung around town all day - coffee shop, read paper, checked things out, ate. Resupplied enough to get me to Harper's Ferry. This is a nice town. I enjoyed hanging out for a day. I'm out of Shenandoah National Park now, back to shelters not huts! I got my replacement boots from the outfitter in Damascus and shipped the other pair back to him. Hopefully these will last longer.
Date: 2012-06-02
From: Front Royal Hostel - Zero day

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

Started out doing a little scenic tour before I got on the right trail! Today was National Trails Day. A 2011 thru hike trail angel "Sweet Tea" and neighbors provided lunch. Very enjoyable! Low keyed hike today. The weather this morning was great for hiking - cooler temps. This evening I have my summer weight down jacket on and will probably sleep with it on.
Date: 2012-06-03
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

Long day. Before I started the roller coaster I stopped for lunch and prayed I wouldn't puke once I got on the roller coaster. Ended up stopping sooner than planned. Encounter with a fawn. It was on the side of the trail and didn't even move. Took pictures.
Date: 2012-06-04
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Nero day. Got to the hostel at 8:50 am. Breakfast in town and walked around town. Chatted with KitKat who was able to give me good information about the trail ahead; when to get my winter gear sent to me, etc. I'm still in the roller coaster.
Date: 2012-06-05
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Finished roller coaster. Trail is rocky but not steep. At 8:45 this morning I hit the 1000 mile mark - woohoo! Had to call my wife to celebrate. Lunch at Keys Gap. Onward to Harpers Ferry. Wasn't planning on getting here today but just got going and ended up here. Arrived after the ATC closed so will have to stop there when they open in the morning to register, find out what number thru hiker I am, and get my picture taken. This is the psychological halfway point on the trail. Staying at Teahorse Hostel. Nice hostel. Surprise!: LeeBob, Skunkape, Big Orange (the Australian) and Dakota Dan are here. Dos may still be in town but she moved to some other place after the first night.
Date: 2012-06-06
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Woo-hoo! I am #367 at the ATC! Got there before they opened this morning. Once they opened, had my picture taken, got registered (again, #367), hung around picking their brains, looking at the hiker books.. Decided I better go eat (great barbecue), then thought ice cream sounded mighty good so had some of that. Next thing I knew it was 2 pm and I needed to hit the trail. So had a short day. Am getting around a whole different group of people now, tho Swiss is here at the shelter.
Date: 2012-06-07
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: few clouds

Rocky hike today. Have to watch where I'm walking all the time. Don't want to turn/twist/sprain/break anything. Civil War Memorials are interesting. As I hiked by Hagerstown (miles off in the distance) I yelled hello to the wife's relatives. Stopped at Pine Knob Shelter to wait out a rainstorm, took a nap. Was told there was another system coming through so I decided to stay here for the night. Some really close lightning hits - pretty scary up this high. Need to resupply tomorrow. Ate my last freeze dried dinner and it was a doozy - Wild West Chili! WhooEeee! I may be paying for it later.
Date: 2012-06-08
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

At the new shelter - 2 stories. Awesome. The 1/2 mile hike to get water sucks. Hitchhiked into Smithsburg so I could resupply. I was down to emergency food. Had Chinese for lunch. Spent more time there than I should have but got back on the trail and to the shelter in good time. Been hiking with Saunter. He's hiking the north half of the trail after doing the south half last year. Lots of rocks but I must be adapting because I'm not doing near the gumby moves I have been doing the last couple days.
Date: 2012-06-09
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Rocky Mountain Shelters
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

Crossed into Pennsylvania today. Also crossed the Mason/Dixon line. Still lots of rocks and hot. Drank lots of water. For the first time, when I stopped to refill water, drank a liter straight. Want to stay hydrated. Had a 1900 foot climb that had me going. Got to shelters and they were full of boy scouts. Hmmm, that's not supposed to happen! Ended up cowboy camping (throw down pad and sleeping bag under the stars). I'm slathered in bug stuff. Mosquitoes are becoming pesky.
Date: 2012-06-10
From: Rocky Mountain Shelters

To: Fayettville, PA
Miles today: 3.0

Mosquitoes were relentless last night. Need to go back to sleeping in the tent. Hiked into town for breakfast and decided to stay and do laundry - I really needed to do laundry! My body was also telling me I needed to take a break, so nero day it is. 90+ degree day, the air conditioning in the hotel felt good! This town is spread out. To get anywhere is quite a hike.