morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Campsite at Spivey Gap
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A big day I didn't plan on taking. Planned on going 24 and staying at a shelter but changed my plan halfway through the day. Got a good night's sleep, probably the best sleep yet on trail. Ate oatmeal and pop tarts and hit the trail at about 8 am. felt tired and out of gas after not eating enough yesterday. Tried to keep the food intake up today and eventually felt better. Lots of uphill all day. Seemed like I was climbing all day. Met two hikers from Jackson, WY who are moving almost as fast as me. Climbed over Big Bald and decided to hike with them a while. They did 21 miles today but their destination pushed me to 30. More than planned but I feel pretty good. Nice views all day, especially from Big Bald. Going to take a shorter day tomorrow - maybe 20 miles, and swing into Erwin, TN for a real lunch maybe pizza. Feeling exhausted but good. Under the tarp for only the second night. Looked a bit like rain, but cleared up and is really nice now. Warm and sunny all day. It's nice having people to hike with. Over 15% done and still feeling good.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Campsite at Spivey Gap

To: Curly Maple Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Shortest day yet but a nice rest and I am still on track to reach Damascus on time. Didn't sleep well last night. Really heavy dew that dampened everything and I had moisture on all of my gear. Had a large black and yellow centipede crawl under my tarp, that kind of freaked me out. Felt good in the morning, not sore at all after yesterday's big mileage. Water pump broke this morning, real pain in the butt. Hopefully I can get it fixed when I get to Damascus, but I bought some Aqua Mira at the outfitter to get me through. Did the 11 miles to Erwin, TN by noon. Borrowed bikes from the outfitter and rode into town with the two guys I hiked and camped with yesterday. Ate my fill at a pizza buffet. I can eat some serious food now. Got some extra lunch food to get me through until my next full resupply. It's good knowing I have extra food. Talked to my folks and Hannah while we waited for Mike and Hampton's package to arrive at the outfitter. Left town feeling full and happy and only did a few miles to the shelter and relaxed with a light dinner and fire. It's nice hiking with these guys, they move at about the same pace and have similar mental states and are easy to talk to. Back to big miles tomorrow.
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Curly Maple Shelter

To: Clyde Smith
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Not the big day I originally planned but tough enough to satiate my need for a challenge. Originally wanted to do 27 today over Roan High Knob, but the hills were more than I anticipated. Up and down steep climbs all day with no respite wore me out. Mike and Hampton, my hiking partners of late, felt the same way and we called it a day early. Some nice views and beautiful weather today. The pizza buffet did a number on my stomach this morning so it was a little slow getting started. Had a song by Wilco stuck in my head all day and Mike loaned me his iPod when we got to the shelter to listen to some music and help get it out. Didn't work, but it was really nice to listen to music, that is something I really miss being out here. He also made some great recommendations so I have some new stuff to check out when I get off the trail. At the shelter with 2 other people, one a section hiker from Indianapolis and the other a thru-hiker by the name of Traveler. Traveler is a drifter and weird guy. Has an alcohol problem and was thrown out of the last hostel for getting rowdy. Interesting the people you meet out here. Tired but feeling pretty good. Hopefully a bigger day tomorrow.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Clyde Smith

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 30.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Another big mile day. Got up early and saw a nice sunrise. Waited for Mike and Hampton but they were too slow getting out of bed so I left them around 7:30 am. Climbed Roan High Knob, long climb with no view up top. Stopped in at the shelter, highest on the AT. It's a cool shelter, an old fire warden's cabin with an attic and a nice window. Nice hike down Roan then headed up into the balds. The balds are big grassy fields across the top of round topped mountains. Big climbs and really windy, but an awesome view. You could see the trail winding its way for miles off into the distance across the top. It was a really cool landscape, but I don't think the pictures I took will do it justice. After the balds it was a long wooded hike in to the shelter. It was a long day and I was into camp by 7 pm. I am getting stronger and 30 miles isn't as difficult now. This was probably the prettiest day of hiking yet. It was about 65 degrees and sunny and great views. Hampton and Mike were going to try and make it this far and pull in after dark, but I doubt they will. But I guess I will see. Feeling tired but good after such a nice day. Missing people back home a bunch. That's probably the toughest part about being out here. The miles are easy, but with so much time to think you really realize how important the people you care about are.
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Watauga lake shelter
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: broken clouds

Another marathon day and probably my best hiking day, physically, yet. Got out at 7:30 after a pop tart and bagel breakfast. Left Hampton and Mike at the shelter. They pulled in late last night, maybe 10 pm and didn't feel like getting moving. Hopefully I will see them Sunday in Damascus. Had a fast hike the first 17 miles or so. The terrain is a little easier here. Hiked along a river for several miles, which was a nice change of pace. Saw Laurel Falls, which is a pretty big and very beautiful waterfall just off the trail. The next several miles were very steep and a pretty tough climb. I hit the highway feeling exhausted and was excited for some food in town. Hitch hiked in with no problem and settled in at McDonald's for a feast. Ate a Joe Thompson and a double cheeseburger and had 2 strawberry milkshakes. Got to plug my phone in and talk to my folks and Hannah. It always feels really good talking to them and makes the isolation out here a bit easier. It's tough because I hike alone for 10-12 hours a day, camp and get some good conversation and meet good people, then move on in the morning and I am 10-15 miles ahead of anyone I've met. But it's nice talking to the people I love back home. 24 days until my folks come and 29 until Hannah is here. Even though I will have to slow down I am really looking forward to it. I got back to the road about 5 pm and only had 1.7 miles to my shelter for the night - easy miles. Met Glow Worm at the shelter, he hike in '06 and is doing a tune up hike for the PCT out west. It was a great day, almost 80 degrees and sunny. I keep getting sunburned. Hannah said that Houghton was getting a foot of snow. I kind of miss that but it's nice here. Besides, it looks like rain here and rumor has it it may snow. the trail is supposed to be pretty easy from here to Damascus, so hopefully it will be nice walking. I am excited to get there Sunday, it's supposed to be the best hiker town on the trail. Feeling good after some long but fast miles and good talks with my loved ones. I am getting stronger and this is becoming more routine.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Watauga lake shelter

To: The Place Hostel, Damascus, VA
Miles today: 40.1
Weather: broken clouds

An absolutely huge day: 40 miles! originally I intended on breaking this into 2 days, a 29 and an 11, but talking to Glow Worm last night got me excited for a big day and I decided to go for the whole thing. Got up early at 6 am when the alarms of the other folks in the shelter went off. Was on the trail by 6:45 just as the sun was coming up. The terrain was easier by far, all ridges and few climbs and made for easy, fast walking. I met another hiker about 1 pm who was also trying to get into Damascus. We hiked together for a few miles. his name is Capt. Jack and he used to be a pro motocross racer until an accident. Some kid headed southbound told us about some trail magic at the next road. Apparently there was free food. The two of us doubled our already fast pace and covered 3.5 miles in about 45 minutes, but, just my luck, no food. A huge disappointment. After that I finished the day alone, leaving Capt. Jack behind. It was a pretty easy 15 miles into town and I was in by 7 pm. Got to the hostel, which is just a house run by the methodist church, and stashed my gear. The hostel is awesome, $4 and totally maintained by the hikers. Just wooden bunks but it's really cool. Ate dinner at the Italian restaurant in town. Good food, a bit pricey, but it's so nice to be full. I hiked through 2 controlled fires in the past several days. It is strange walking with no underbrush and nothing but burnt leaves on the forest floor, a bit like a wasteland. I walked through the fire of the first one and it was burning in the woods all around me. After dinner I came back and showered and immediately got into bed. I am really tired and sore and my feet hurt badly. I am excited for a zero day tomorrow. I can resupply and do laundry and get well fed. My only complaint is there is no cell phone service in town. I really want to talk to people back home and can't. I have definitely taken the ability to talk to people whenever I choose for granted and it is tough not having it. I am finally going to read some of the book of coyote stories Annie gave me. I have been carrying it for almost 500 miles and never read any. I am feeling pretty lonely being in town by myself, but feeling good that I did such a big day today and have done over 450 miles so far.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: The Place Hostel, Damascus, VA

To: The Place Hostel, Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My first rest day. Felt pretty good and well deserved after yesterday's 40 miles. Still woke up at 6:30 am, guess it's just a habit that you get used to. Resupplied at the Dollar General and grocery store. It cost me way more than I expected, but I got a lot more food than I have been. Should help fuel the big miles. Did my laundry and cleaned some gear then went to make some phone calls. There is a guy who keeps a phone on his porch for hikers to use. So, for a small donation, I got to call some folks back in Houghton and talk to my parents and Hannah for quite a while. It was really nice since I wasn't expecting to be able to talk to them at all. It's amazing the small things that happen out here that make such big differences in your day. You really learn to appreciate things. I got my water filter fixed at the outfitter, no questions asked, which was awesome and a big load off. Also bought some new insoles for my shoes as the old ones were flat from the first 460 miles. They say they need a few days to break in, so we'll see how they work. I ate well all day, including some fresh food, which was a nice change from trail food. Met back up with Mike and Hampton which was nice. They are taking a zero at a friend's lake house tomorrow and I may join them depending on how I feel when I wake up. I'm a little leery of 2 zeros in a row, but I like hiking with them and it sounds pretty relaxing. I am excited about getting a package in the morning. Weather report is calling for 5 to 7 inches of snow and -5 degree temperatures up high tomorrow, so it's another reason to rest another day. Feeling good after a lazy day, but I got a lot accomplished. My feet are sore, partly from big miles and part from the new insoles. We'll see what morning brings.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: The Place Hostel, Damascus, VA

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

A nice zero day. Two in a row seemed excessive, but this was really what I needed. Didn't have much to get accomplished today so I could actually relax. Slept in to a whopping 8 am. I just can't seem to sleep late now, if the sun is up, I am up. I showered and cleaned some gear. Showers are such a luxury these days. They really seem to make you feel good. Went down and met Mike and Hampton at their hostel and we went to breakfast. Ate a huge amount of pancakes, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, got really full and felt pretty good. Sat around for a few hours and read a National Geographic. Went to an all you can eat pizza buffet for lunch and ate until I felt sick. The weather sucked all day; rain, snow, sleet, and hail. It was about 35 degrees and windy. A perfect day for a zero. Hung out at the outfitter for a while while Hampton got some gear repaired. Sat around The Place until Hampton's college friend picked us up and took us to his lake house. he bought us steaks and ribs and corn on the cob. It was amazing. The house is really cool and it was a great evening. Sleeping on the couch in front of the fire.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

Last night was awesome. I slept so well in front of the fire. Got up this morning and sat on the front porch talking to Hannah and eating the dried mango she sent. It was great. Talked to my parents and started coordinating their and Hannah's trips. It is getting pretty close (19 days) and it seems like it will work out well. I am getting pretty excited. It was nice using my phone with the new battery and not plugged in. It seemed like such a luxury that I took for granted. When Mike and Hampton got up we had pancakes and packed our gear up. My pack is so heavy with all that food. I think I have too much. Got a ride back to the trail with Hampton's friend's mom around noon. Ate lunch at the Italian place and stopped in at the outfitter. I impulse bought a 300 mL Ti mug. It seemed worth it though. I wanted to use it tonight, but forgot to get tea. We hit the trail about 3 pm and made the 16 miles pretty easy. It was pretty hiking, some nice rhododendron and creeks. It is tough leaving town, especially after 2 rest days and one of them being just amazing. Leaving the comforts and easy life of town and going back to walking all day, every day is tough. But it's one of those things - you don't make it to Maine if you don't leave town. It was really good weather all day, 65 degrees and sun, but it is getting cold now. It's supposed to freeze tonight. It's better being back on the trail. I just want to keep moving north, I get too comfortable resting and it's too hard to restart. Felt good hiking though, muscles were well rested and no joint pain. Feet were sore, but that is just adjusting to the new insoles and should get better. I'm glad to be back out here and feel good. Can't wait for my folks to get here.
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Lost Mt. Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

A nice relaxed day. Still got in pretty good miles and just relaxed my way down the trail. Beautiful views all day long from White Top Mountain and on to Grayson highlands. Big open views and grassy topped mountains. Cool rock features and some of the coolest trail so far. Saw a bunch of wild ponies in the area. It's really cool, they just wander around and keep trees from invading the high country. I just stopped frequently and enjoyed the views. Made a few phone calls and felt good all day. Got in to the shelter around 7 pm and relaxed and ate a bunch. Met a few cool folks throughout the day and just felt good. Great weather and some of the best hiking so far.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day. Warm and sunny and the hiking was relatively easy. It is really nice that 25 miles is becoming a relaxed day. Got up around 6:45 am when the sun got too bright. Hampton and I packed up and left Mike sleeping when we left at about 8 am. Nice hiking in the morning, mild temperatures and some pretty cool waterfalls. We got to a road after 11 miles and had to hitch hike into town so Hampton could pick up his mail drop. Went into Troutdale, VA after walking about a mile and catching a ride the other 1.5 mi. Not much of a town, just a bank, post office, and restaurant. Stopped at the restaurant after getting his package and ate a bacon double cheeseburger. Town food is amazing. It's got everything you want. It's big, greasy, you don't have to cook it and it's not made by Lipton. Got a ride back to the trail with the owner of the restaurant just as Mike was getting to the road. We sat around in the sunshine for an hour and hit the trail around 2 pm. Stopped at the river and went swimming at 4 pm. It was hot, but the water is still so cold. Pulled into the shelter at 7 pm. It is huge, sleeps about 20, and there are lots of people here. You can get food delivered here because it's a forest service building so hikers tend to congregate here. Later in the season I guess you can get showers, but they aren't open yet. Ordered 2 large pizzas and 20 chicken wings and ate all of it with just the 3 of us. Could have eaten more too. Called home and got to bed about 9:30 pm. A late night, but felt good after such a nice day.
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Stealth Camp at North Fork of the Holsston River
Miles today: 22.4

Not the big mileage day I planned, but still covered some good ground. Got a late start after a leisurely morning at the shelter. Charged my phone, ate a big breakfast and talked to some people from home. Didn't hit the trail until 9 am. Had a pretty uneventful hike. The countryside is really pretty here all big grassy fields, pastures, and rolling hills. The hiking is easier as well with less big, pointless climbs. Made it 12 miles to Atkins, VA by 1:30 pm and decided to swing in for lunch. My appetite ran wild and I ate a club sandwich, a half pound cheeseburger and onion rings and I could have eaten more. Didn't get back on the trail until 3:30 pm but I got to talk to my mom and Hannah so it was nice. Tried making it 14 more miles, but we ran out of water and daylight so we bedded down 4 miles short of our goal. The campsite is a really nice grassy area next to the river. The weather is nice, but I put up the tarp just in case. It's really relaxing here and I had a really nice day. So far Virginia is treating me well. I had another Lipton dinner, but with some cheese and the spices Hannah sent it was really good and, while not stuffed, I am going to bed at least satisfied. 25% done, it's gone by fast, but it's still a long way to go. I am excited for my parents to get here, as that is almost half way. It will be nice to backpack with them, as I have never done it before. I finally feel like I am living the dream out here. Today was idyllic.
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Stealth Camp at North Fork of the Holsston River

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: light rain

A lot of climbing today. Woke up early when some cows invaded the pasture we were camped in. Stayed pretty dry under the tarp, but the really heavy dew left a little moisture on my bag and gear. Ate a big breakfast waiting for Mike and Hampton to get moving. hit the trail about 8:20 am and had an uneventful hike most of the day. Helped some people doing trail maintenance. We made the top of some mountain, I forget which, after 2000 feet of climbing just in time. We walked into the shelter just as the pouring rain and hail started. We waited out the storm and moved on. The shelter was nice, it actually had 4 walls and was a nice haven from the storm. The rest of the day was rolling hills with foggy views. didn't get so lucky at the end of the day and got poured on 20 minutes before I hit the shelter. I got soaked, but I think all my gear is dry. In the shelter for the night listening to the rain on the tin roof. I am sore, but feeling good to be out of the rain, it's pretty relaxing listening to it and I really appreciate being dry. Looks like a nice thunderstorm.
Date: 2008-04-20
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Big Walker Mt Motel, Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

End of my 4th week! And a hell of a day. Woke up to wet gear and more rain. Decided to try to wait out the rain and slept in. Rain stopped for a short while, but we didn't get out until 11 am. Felt pretty unmotivated after a few miles and the weather wasn't clearing. We decided to cut the day short and head into town for real food and showers. We were pretty slow over the 12 miles and had a hard time hitching into town, but we made it up the hill to the motel. Showers were great and it was nice to take a short day. Ate another meal at Dairy Queen and laid around watching TV and talking on the phone. TV is not really something I enjoyed before the trail, but now it is a nice luxury. Phoning home is still one of the nicest things out here, keeps me connected to life back home. Feeling much better after a pretty crappy day. Really nice being inside.
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Big Walker Mt Motel, Bland, VA

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up at 7 am and talked to Hannah while I waited for Mike and Hampton to get moving. Packed up and got out about 8 am. Ate at DQ and hitched back to the trail. Didn't actually get hiking until 10:30 am. The trail was pretty easy and the miles went fast, but it's hard moving after town days. Rained on and off all day and was pretty cold, 50 degrees maybe, but it was nice getting in some bigger miles. At the end of the day the sun broke through and the last of the day lit up the tops of the trees with a deep golden color and everything seemed very idyllic. Then we got to the shelter and it started pouring rain. I got wet cooking dinner, but was lucky enough to snag the last spot inside. Mike and Hampton are tenting. The people in with me have been out over two months and were watching TV on an iPod when we got here. Kind of annoying because they were pretty loud, but oh well. Into Pearisburg tomorrow. I am 2 days behind because of the second zero day in Damascus and yesterday's half day, but I am still feeling good and that's what's important.
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 16.6

Great day. Woke up and hit the trail pretty early, 8 am in the rain. The trail was pretty easy elevation wise, but it was really rocky which was tough in the rain as everything was slippery. The miles came easy though and we hit town about 2:15 pm. Checked into the motel and walked to the all you can eat Chinese buffet. I stuffed myself there, it's amazing how much you can eat. Hampton's mom came and we went back to the motel. I missed my package because the post office closed, but I will get it tomorrow morning. We relaxed around the motel and showered and did laundry for a while and talked to Hampton's mom. She is really nice and it was great meeting her. Called home and talked to my folks, brother, and Hannah. Got to talk to Sam, which was cool, but made me miss Houghton. Talking to the people I care about is something I definitely don't take for granted anymore, it is so nice. We went to dinner at a fairly fancy restaurant, but my clothes weren't done washing so I had to wear my rain gear and felt a bit out of place. The food was amazing. I had salmon and chocolate mousse for dessert. Hampton's mom was so nicefor taking us, I can't even say how much I appreciate it. We came back to the motel, I planned out my resupply for the morning and watched some TV. I made a few more calls and am in bed now at 10:30 pm. I never was much for the phone before I came down, but it has become so important to me to stay in touch with my family and friends. Back on the trail tomorrow for a long push until my folks get here in 11 days.