morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-06
From: Trimpi Shelter 

To: VA 16 (Marion, VA)
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Despite rain overnight and being surrounded by tents, had a restful night. Ate a cold breakfast with caffeinenated   crystal light. On way by 7:50am. In lower 40s and breezy  A few periods of rain. Mostly overcast all day with a few patches of sun, Was dressed for it. Was thinking, up the trail when it gets hot, I'll wish for these kind of days. I'm layered up yet I was passed by a hiker in short sleeve shirt and shorts!! Youth! Got to destination, VA 16 road crossing. Was lucky enough to get a ride into town from a family supporting another thruhiker. (Turns out hiker was a UM grad - Go Blue!), Evan - no trail name yet. Checked into Ttavel Inn - old style drive up to door type. Nothing fancy but solidly built so no noise from adjacent rooms- nice! Laundry then gear airing and cleaning. Nearby Mexican restaurant so had a great meal. The chips and a salsa were a great filler. Beer too! :-). Later visited with Chopsticks staying in Inn too. He had gourged on Arbys earlier and now had a large pizza being delivered. Nice kid!
Date: 2017-05-07
From: VA 16 (Marion, VA)

To: VA 16 ( Marion, VA)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Nice bed, nice sleep except for a brief wake up with train rolling through town in the night. Up at usual 6am and the shower was nice. No free breakfast at hotel so went across street to Shell gas station mini mart. Had all essential breakfast items especially a big coffee. Used morning to finish washing and drying gear and journaling. (Thx to all of you for your readership. Keeps me motivated!) Since there was a Catholic Church nearby and it was Sunday I made my way uptown to the 11:30 service. A cozy 80-100 worshipper capacity. 25 in attendance today. Really international. A priest from Uganda as well as a Spanish priest that says Mass at 1:30pm in Spanish. I offered a prayer of the faithful for " All AT hikers, including me, to be safe and appreciate the beauty of nature". Interested questions from some parishioners after Mass. Nearby was a Walgreens, Walmart and Ingles supermarket. All easy resupply amongst those.  Afternoon was spent packing, enjoying a cool but beautiful sunny afternoon and reflecting on what an amazing, but challenging, adventure this has been. Also enjoyed a call from my wife for catch-up before I go back out.
Date: 2017-05-08
From: VA 16 ( Marion, VA)

To: Davis Hollow Campsite
Miles today: 13.5

After a great night's sleep, a shave and a shower, I slipped across the street for a Shell Travelmart  breakfast. My lucky day - new delivery of  Krispy  Kreme pastry products-Raspberry filled for me! And lots of coffee. Later Jim, the town volunteer shuttle guy, delivered me to the trailhead and I was off at 7:45am. A local hiker couple complained of 39 degree weather but I thought it great. Took off windjacket to enjoy sun, breezes and no sweating up the hills. Later got word that Trail Magic was set up at an old school -part of Settlers Museum. These church folks do it every day in Apr and May. Drinks, snacks, hikers needs like chapstick.  Amazing. The pics show these people who really enjoy this ministry and each other. Heartwarming! Met CubsWin (dad-yeah 108 yrs of waiting says it all!) and son 7 Beers- (drank that many at one Trail Magic). Nice guys- he Retired Army Airborne. Hiked on through meadows and pastures with lots of cows.  Settled in early at tentsite with a beautiful spring. Toe looking good, shoulder a bit sore. Great day for hiking!
Date: 2017-05-09
From: Davis Hollow Campsite

To: Lick Creek Campsite
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

Rain rolled in overnight. Decided to do everything in tent before packup. Heated water with tent fly up to avoid getting fumes in tent and also to avoid melting fly. It worked. Also figured out how to pack all except fly to stay dry as possible as long as possible. It worked. Ended up being a long rainy day. Hiked through more cow pastures and meadows. Quite pretty. Kept dry with rainpants, boonie hat and wind/rain jacket. Finally saw rhododendrons blooming after walking through them for 500 miles. One last major uphill at end of day, in the rain. Ugh! After 10 hrs of non-stop hiking made it into the campsite and set up tent and filtered water in the pouring rain. Boiled water under the open fly and enjoyed a hot backpacker meal in the tent rather than the pouring rain. That and a change to dry clothes and all was well. Pretty proud of long day in tough elements . A good one!!
Date: 2017-05-10
From: Lick Creek Campsite

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

Steady rain overnight including thunderstorms. Luckily woke to calm skies, cool and humid. Packed up all the wet stuff including tent and clothes from yesterday - me not like-y! :-/ and on way by 7:30am. First challenge was a fast flowing, from overnight rains, creek with no bridge or stepping stones. Hmmm! Took scenic route around to avoid wet feet. Did scary balancing act over several logs, tricky with a heavy backpack on. Only got one shoe a bit wet. Hiked a long, 3 mile gradual grade meadow. Later passed a group of Mennonite men and boys from DE in for a wedding. Offered me a Snickers bar. Mennonite Magic! :-) . Part of day was over and across ridges-Ridge Running. It was deceiving on the guide. Looked gentle, but was up and down and VERY Ricky. Youza! Finally made the Shelter after 11hr 30 min of non-stop hiking. Longest day yet. Hustled to set up tent, filter water and eat before dark. Made it-barely. What a day! Prettiest sight was the Pink Lady's Slipper in pic! Back to back 16 mile days. Crankin'  them out!
Date: 2017-05-11
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: US 52 (Bland, VA)
Miles today: 11.3

Slept soundly but probably not long enough. No rain except when I was packing up tent. 5 minute downpour-dang! Will have to air out later. Said goodbye to CubsWin and 7Beers. Exchanged phone  numbers. Hope to meet up in upcoming zero day for a beer. Spits of rain on and off but generally sunny and breezy. Gentle grades, made good time. At trailhead and pickup by hostel proprietor by 4pm. I had been callling all week to ensure a private room rather than a multi-person bunk room.  No credit cars , so no deposits possible. My badgering worked! On way to hostel, which is 10 miles out of town, we stopped for whatever food we needed for cooking our own dinner. A 10 min shoppping spree! I came up with grilled beef tenderloin, baked potato, tossed salad and fig newtons for dessert. Yum! Homecooked! Loved the shave and shower, as always!   I then experienced hostel living for the first time here in the trail. Kinda like the 60s commune living. Was even offered a toke of, well, you know! No thanks! Mix of young and old. Different, but fun to share trail stories! In bed by 10 but others talking until midnight. Thin walls.. Not a lot of sleep.
Date: 2017-05-12
From: US 52 (Bland, VA)

To: Lickskillet Hollow, VA 608 (Bland, VA)
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: moderate rain

I chose this hostel, Zero Days Inn Hostel, because they offered slackpacking, This is where you leave your heavy, full pack behind and they give you a day pack to hike with minimums-water, rain gear, first aid, snacks, At the end of the day you return to the place you were the night before. I'm doing this for three days, the last day of which I end up in the next biggest town. The hostel proprietor, who is shuttling me on and off the trail, will deliver my full pack to the hotel I've reserved on that last day of slackpacking. This is a way of adding miles without the full stress of a backpack. First time today and I loved it! Although it was rainy much of the day, I could enjoy the miles a bit more. I also hit the 600 mile mark. Good feeling. On the way back to hostel I had him stop by the grocery store again and got  ingredients for a grilled pork chop, rice and tossed green salad dinner. Filled me up, and homecooked! The hostel bantering, phone fidgeting and talk among the younger hikers is interesting! The true hostel experience- but from a private room! More slackpacking tomorrow!
Date: 2017-05-13
From: Lickskillet Hollow, VA 608 (Bland, VA)

To: Sugar Run Rd
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: light rain

Started day on trail at 7:40am after second night in hostel. Jeremy shuttled me out to start point trailhead for another day of slackpacking and was going to look at agreed extraction point - a dirt road at 13.1miles.Received a txt an hour into day to learn that road was blocked. Next point- 20+ miles. Go for it! It was a nice sunny, breezy day. Finally called Jeremy for the one hour notice at 4:55pm. I hiked hard, tough at the last over rocky treadway. Arrived at meeting spot at 5:54pm, Jeremy arrived two minutes later. It was like a precision Navy Seal extraction from a hot zone, everything but the guns blazing! By 7:45pm was shaved, showered and beef tenderloins were on the grill and I had a beer in hand. A 20.5 mile day. Amazing how circumstances help expand your envelope. Proud of my effort and really didn't feel too bad!
Date: 2017-05-14
From: Sugar Run Rd

To: VA634 Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Quiet night in hostel, only me and another hiker in bunk room. It was Bartender, a wonderful young woman from San Francisco, CA. We had chatted the evening before during our dinners. Enhanced my perception of young hikers! Her trail name- an earlier bet with others that whoever fell first would buy rounds in next town. She fell several times! We chatted again during breakfast and coffee before Jeremy shuttled me back up the long, 30 min gravel road drive to the point I was extracted the previous evening. I was slackpacking again. He took my full pack on to the next town and dropped it at the hotel. All part of the fee. Another beautiful day for hiking. Sunny, breezy and temps in 60s. Rolled into the Plaza Motel at 2:15pm. The motel lady did my laundry and had it back to me in an hour! Got cleaned up before a Mexican dinner out with CubsWin, 7Beers and a visiting friend. Really honored to be included. Fun dinner followed by a trip to nearby Dairy Queen for Blizzards! People interaction today-part of the magic of this journey!
Date: 2017-05-15
From: VA634 Pearisburg, VA

To: VA634 Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

The toe. Been talking about it a lot. Turns out it!s a show stopper, for now! I'm off the Trail and going home tomorrow.  Two weeks ago in Damascus, VA I had the toe treated in a clinic. Was given antibiotics. Those ran out today, toe still red, so visited local clinic since I was taking a zero day in town. The practitioner there sent me directly to hospital ER. After tests and X-rays doc at hospital determined I needed to let toe heal. Apparently it's a skin ulcer that left unattended and repeatedly aggravated (hiking) could lead to bone infection. Not good! Healing time? Maybe 2-4 weeks? Will get podiatrist care back home and assess what is the next   step for me and the AT Adventure. Everything happens for a reason. That reason and the future path for me will be made clear in the coming weeks. Thank you all for your readership. Will update as the professionals help me with the healing process. Thank you for your prayers!
Date: 2017-05-16
From: VA634 Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA / Grand Rapids, MI
Miles today: 0.0

Last post had me headed back to Michigan with a distressed toe. With an immediate podiatrist appt upon arrival back home, he diagnosed the problem as a hammertoe (picture a shepherd's hook shape).This caused tip of toe to have max contact with bottom of shoe to a point it wore a concave ulcer in skin practically to the bone. Yuck! Never knew I had that condition! He bandaged and a week later cut the tendon on bottom of toe to straighten it out. This allows calloused bottom of toe to properly contact shoe bottom. A subsequent follow-up showed that ulcer was healing nicely, toe straightened and I'm cleared for a June 15th restart. Also addressing sore left shoulder (a leftover from Apr 4th fall) with an ortho visit and now physical therapy. Think I can lick that as well. Cautious optimism! I know, too much info, but many have asked. Current plan is to return to Pearisburg, VA (where I left trail earlier for home) and continue hiking north for a couple of weeks until I come off to attend a long standing commitment to a family reunion. After that I plan to gap out a section of AT (approx. Mile 800 to Mile 1360) and join Swiss friends in NY, another long standing commitment. From there plan to hike north with them for a week then onward to Mt Katahdin, ME. Hiking the gapped out portion of Trail remains to be seen. Complete this year or next? Unknown - stay tuned.
Date: 2017-06-14
From: Pearisburg, VA / Grand Rapids, MI

To: VA634 Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Whew! Back in Pearisburg, VA again after leaving a little over 4 weeks ago with an infected toe. Things happen for a reason.While resting toe(not hiking 15 mi/day!), I was able to help wife plant spring flowers, open up cottage and do yard clean there, visit grandsons & family for 11 days in Va Beach and catch up with homeown friends and family. Nice respite! And ... toe pronounced fit by podiatrist. Shoulder, after some physical therapy, feeling better. My flight into Roanoke and shuttle ride back to Plaza Motel very smooth. Weather warm but I think heatwave is passed. Still planning on early morning departure to beat heat and afternoon thunderstorm pop ups.Will need to knock dust off and pace myself to get back in groove but mentally ready to go. Onward!
Date: 2017-06-15
From: VA634 Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite 
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

After 4 weeks off the trail for toe recoup, finally back! Excited and a little apprehensive how all the body parts will function after layoff. Decided to get early start to beat heat and afternoon pop up storms. Out of door at 6:10am.  Temps in lower 70s and comfortable. Hiked 0.7 miles to trailhead at edge of town and on way again on AT. Felt good to be back! Gentle grades. Hiked across New River bridge. Parts of the New River in WV are very popular for whitewater rafting. Passed a huge industrial plant on river(Celanese) and then smelled not-from-nature chemical smells for the couple of miles the AT follows up the New River Valley. Was warned by shuttle driver the day before about lack of water along this stretch. Stopped mid-morning to "camel up" - filtering water right at the source into a drinking container and then drinking as much as possible as well as carrying away more. Chugged 2 liters! Met Midnight Rider. From CT. He sometimes hikes until 10:30 at night. Also cameled at noon and met Yukon. Big red beard, looks like a Yukon man.Served in Marine Corps, now wants to own a farm. From TN. Gentle grades, temps in lower 80s but with tree cover, no bad but did sweat. Stopped at targeted campsite at 1pm. Wanted to make it a shorter day to ease back into it all. Filtered water, set up tent, cooked early dinner and now relaxing in tent sending out very first blog from tent. Cell tower 0.5 miles away here on ridge separating VA and WV. Good signal. Very satisfied with day's effort!
Date: 2017-06-16
From: Campsite 

To: Campsite
Miles today: 12.4

Thunderstorms in the night but able to sleep with earplugs. Rain had stopped in morning so able to have a normal packout and on way by 7:30. Met a female hiker filling up her water at site.  Springs on ridge tops! God's gift to hikers! Her trail name- Triple A from D.C. She's apparently a Type A personality x 3! Overcast, muggy day in the 80's. Hiked through meadows in morning. In VA they go by more genteel name- meadows vs the rougher  sounding name further south-balds. At 11 heard a big rustle 20 yds up trail. I had startled something and my instincts were to freeze and see what developed. Good thing-saw the head and shoulders of a large bear pop up at 50 yds and stare at me. A little later at 20 yds a cub backed down a tree and scampered off into the woods, I waited, all clear! What a cool experience! Sorry, no pics. Later in afternoon hiked for 3 hrs in rain. Luckily rain stopped to set up tent easily in the dry. Did extract a tick from thigh. Cleaned and dressed. (Later found out it healed nicely-no prob). Great Knorr Creamy Chicken Rice dinner with added chicken chunks. Yum!! Moved into tent and changed into dry clothes. Nice!! Sore shoulders from  pack weight. Tingly toes.  Slow and steady today. Beautiful out here as always! 8.5 hour day.
Date: 2017-06-17
From: Campsite

To: Campsite 
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: moderate rain

After a pretty good night's sleep packed up the tent and then did the unthinkable-stored my dry clothes and put my wet ones back on. Wanted to save the dry ones for another time. New experience. Warm morning so no prob! Pretty strong odor.  Very oppressive morning conditions. Warm, very humid, no breeze. Dark under tree canopy, upgrades, sweat. Also lots of rocks. Flat, but rocky! About noon came across an aid station for a trail running event. Most runners done so they shared electrolyte, water and a banana. That and soon after meeting a nice young famy with three kids on an outing brought my spirits up. One of the young boys talked about seeing a snake and a deer. I praised them for family time getting their kids out in nature. They were curious about, and complimentary of, my hike. Better breezier afternoon with downgrades. However, got drenched the last half hr of day and had to wait out downpour to set up. It did and then the nearby creek called. Decided to strip down (nobody in campsite) and wash clothes and body. Nice! Put clothes back on wet and cooked dinner. Into tent by  6:45pm and changed into dry clothes. What a day!
Date: 2017-06-18
From: Campsite 

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: mist

Up at 5:45, went thru my morning  progressions and, once again, put wet clothes back on. Much more pleasant day. Pt cloudy, breezy, less humid. After 2.5 mile up had signal so made hotel reserv for down the line. Oh yeah, Happy Fathers Day. Got greetings from fan. Sweet! Hiked on and stopped at viewpoint and met Nugget from FL. Likes those little chocolate nugget treats. Great young man.  Cameled up with water- wisely. Entered a long open hot pasture hiking stretch. Nice soft treadway but lots of exposed hills. The Good News/Bad News , Part 2! Sunny, hot rest of day. Towards end of day was treated to a curious set of cairns along ridge . Apparently put there by early farmers. Some piles, some neat stacks. I think they were clearing land and ridding it of rocks. Got to shelter area, oh boy. Long 0.4 mi hike down. Nice site though . There with only one other hiker, Red (had red hair from Germany) who was in Shelter overnight. I tented. Chatty but fun to talk with. Warm and breezy so dried out all stuff, finally! Tough water source in thicket. Got enough water but ended up with flea or chigger bites- lots of ankle speckles! Cooked dinner with Red chatting at me and then shooed her away and got into tent at 8:45. Rather tough day . 9.5 hrs over some challenging stretches.
Date: 2017-06-19
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: VA 620 Trout Creek
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: broken clouds

Rain overnight. Not much, still dry in morning. On way up that darn hill and to AT at top by 7:30. Saw Nugget, who had camped at top of hill, and his new trail buddy, Gazelle. She is a trail runner (hence her name) from IN. Found out she walks in flip flops because her shoes gave out and her budget doesn't allow for new shoes. But can she hike fast, Wow! A variety of terrain along ridges, downhill then a big up and down. Variety of weather with afternoon thunderstorms, rain and then a cool breeze. In the afternoon at the top of the big Up was high point for me, literally and figuratively. The Audie Murphy Memorial. Most highly decorated serviceman in WWII. He died near that point in a plane crash in the mountains. Lots of memorabilia left. The term hero is overused these days. He, however, was a real American hero. His memoir "To Hell and Back", is now in my reading list. Finally made it downhill into destination, Trout Creek, at 6:15, 11 hrs of hiking. Was only one at campsite. Nice and quiet. Toes a bit sore but moleskin helping. A general tired but proud of day's effort. Day ended with sun coming through trees!
Date: 2017-06-20
From: VA 620 Trout Creek

To: VA 624
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Started today with high expectations of a long day. Felt good. Out at 7:40am. Sunny, breezy, fun hiking. Hit the 700 Mile mark.  Then... BOOM! Hit Cove Mountain and Dragon's Tooth. Hot sun, exposed rock, missed a turn and went a quarter mile down, wrong way. on very steep incline. Had to scramble back up and had a few choice four letter words for the trail folks and their markings! More almost-technical climbing with iron embedded handholds on rock faces. Yikes! Fell once and scraped right forearm and knee. Only one bandaid required. Was going to stop for resupply at VA 624 and continue on but decided to call it quits at 2:50pm after 7 hrs and only a bit over 7 miles. Luckily there was a hostel just up the road. A bit funky but turned out to be fun and a good place to rest and reassess. Nugget and Gazelle were there. Met DJ (Dirty  Jesus- good looking young man with a beard and long hair. Hikers are always a bit dirty. You get it!) Nice guy. Laid back. I shaved, showered (felt great after 6 days).  Hung out chatting with other hikers there, all but one younger.  Bummed beers from Nugget until I could pay him back after a later shuttle run to country store. Got on a later shuttle run for burger-big one, fries, beers and snacks. Commandeered a single bed in the corner. Fans in room kept it pleasant. Place not real clean but functional and what I needed at this point. Hand washed a few things and. with sun, had them dry by nightfall. Lights out at 11. Figuring out tomorrow's plan. Need 26 miles to make Troutville. VA hotel reservation.  Hmmm! What an interesting day!
Date: 2017-06-21
From: VA 624

To: US 220 Daleville/Troutville, VA
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: few clouds

Well, incredibly, had a good night's rest in the Four Pines hostel. Lots of white noise with fans going. Ate my breakfast purchased previous evening at convenience store and got organized and ready to hike. Overnight came up with a plan. I talked with proprietor, Joe, and asked him to shuttle me up the line to a side trail, the Andy Layne Trail, a 3 miler leading to the AT. He dropped me off at 9:30am and I was in my way. For those extra miles in between I've decided that I'll borrow from my "bank" of extra, off trail, wrong turn hiking miles. During day some fun parts, like dangling my feet over the edge of a 1,000' dropoff at The Ledges. Some challenging parts of ridge runnning in the warm sun. A few great views of of Roanoke and Carvin Cove Reservoir.  Could hear city and traffic noises for miles. Finally got into town and hiked along a busy road, through a highway construction zone and up hill to Holiday Inn Express. Walked through front door at 6pm really tired. A very nice place. Shaved and showered and went to closest place to eat- a Crackerbarrel. Great food and service. Finally cooled down in the middle of dinner. 8.5 hr day. Toes did well-moleskin working. Side of both feet swollen, hmmm. New one to watch. Shoulder doing well. Not bothersome. Hoping a night's rest and a zero day will help all parts. Called wife to report in. Ibuprofen down. Journaling then bed. Let's hear it for the Zero Day tomorrow. And... free breakfast!