morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-27
From: 4.5 miles north of Punchbowl Shelter, VA

To: 2.5 miles north of Cow Camp Gap Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Easter to all! Tonight I am tenting between shelters at a place called Hog Camp Gap, not to be confused with Cow Camp Gap, which is one animal gap to the south. Anyway, Hog Camp is actually a beautiful meadow and hogs are nowhere to be seen. This is my third night with T-Dog and Willow. (T-Dog is the man and Willow is his dog.) Tomorrow night will be the last night sharing camp with them, as T-Dog and Willow are section hikers and headed home to NY State on Tuesday morning. Today in the woods I passed what was once a community to freed slaves. All that remains of the community are stone foundations, chimneys, and fences and a U.S. Forest Service interpretive sign explaining who once lived there. The Forest Service bought their land in 1922. Today was totally fogged in all day long, but I could tell I was missing some beautiful views of Virginia, given the number of day hikers out braving the damp weather. I think I am in the trail section known as the Virginia Roller Coaster because the trail has been long climbs with equally long descents for the past few days. It's raining on my tent roof tonight, but I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-03-28
From: 2.5 miles north of Cow Camp Gap Shelter, VA

To: The Priest Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Last night was rainy, foggy, and windy, which made my tent extra cozy. Once the tent was set up, there was nothing else to do but get in it and out of the weather. Today it was cold, dry, and sunny, which made it a perfect hiking day, and we were spared more roller coaster terrain until tomorrow. T-Dog and Willow hiked out to their car this afternoon and left for home, rather than leaving in the morning. A family of five plus a friend arrived at the shelter tonight excited to be sleeping in their tents tonight, which worked out because I was looking forward to a night on the shelter deck. I will return all the emails sent to me when I get to town in a few days and can recharge my phone. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-29
From: The Priest Shelter, VA

To: Maupin Field Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a perfect early spring day with cool crisp air and sunny skies all day; perfect hiking weather. I had many vistas of beautiful Virginia valleys today, which looked serene and peaceful from above. I met a section hiker named Roundabout early this morning and we hiked to the same destination tonight, although we didn't hike in tandem because our pacing was different, but we arrived at our destination within thirty minutes of one another anyway. Roundabout is getting ready for a April start to an AT flip flop through-hike from Harper's Ferry north and then Harper's Ferry south. I am a little short on battery power, so I haven't been returning emails, but I will when I get into a trail town in a couple of days. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-30
From: Maupin Field Shelter, VA

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was another weather-perfect hiking day, but the next two days are forecasted to rain, which will work out for me since I am going into Waynesboro, VA tomorrow and will zero there the following day. Roundabout and I hiked our separate hikes today but linked up here at the shelter in the late afternoon. I tented last night and tonight because I thought the nice weather would have brought out many section hikers and filled the shelters, but I saw just one section hiker last night. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-31
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA

To: 4.1 miles north of Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I decided to get my haircut for the first time since last year, so I walked into a corner barber shop in downtown Waynesboro, VA, in my usual oblivious way that can make Mr. McGoo seem anal, only to realize that I mistakenly walked into a tattoo and body piercing parlor, rather than a barber shop. Anyway, I went with a small liwp twing but skipped the tattoo and the haircut. It's amazing that I haven't followed a blue blazed trail to Kansas or wherever. It was a busy day eating and doing errands at the outfitter, post office and laundromat. I even got some gear repaired at a shoe repair shop. At the post office, I got my AT Passport stamped, picked up replacement size 14 Keens that were sent from home, and picked up a box of goodies sent by trail angel Winkle from Georgia. It was very thoughtful and kind of Winkle to take the time and effort to mail the goodies to me. Winkle was one of the very first persons I met on the AT way back in January. Tomorrow is a zero day for me, the first since Pearisburg, VA 227 miles ago. I get bonus points for this zero because it is forecasted to rain tomorrow. In any case, 227 miles is on the edge of not healthy for me because of weight loss, which seems to be my only vexing problem, although less weight is a problem my feet love having. Going in and out of towns in a single day for resupply is fun and good for staying on the trail, but it doesn't give me time to eat everything while there. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-01
From: 4.1 miles north of Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA

To: 4.1 miles north of Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I had a busy zero day today. I went to the post office again, but this time to mail things home, rather than picking things up. I re-treated my shoes, clothing, and pack with permethrin to help repel ticks, and I seam sealed the forward part of my Keens to make them more waterproof in all day rains. I should have taken a nap in the afternoon today, but I visited Waynesboro's historical museum instead, which was very well done. Tonight I went food shopping for the next five trail days. Tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. a trail angel will shuttle me to the trail and I will immediately enter the Shenandoah National Park. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-02
From: 4.1 miles north of Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA

To: 5.4 miles south of Blackrock Hut, VA
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Trail angel Charles, from Waynesboro, picked me up at 7:30 a.m. this morning and we went to breakfast before he dropped me off at the AT. His help this morning was a big break for me. The Park Service allows tenting between huts in the Shenandoah National Park, so here I am camping between huts. Notice that shelters are called huts in the Park, but are otherwise the same as shelters. I met one SOBO flipflop, thru-hiker today who is traveling from Harper's Ferry south to Springer Mountain and then flipping to Katahdin, ME to Harper's Ferry. I met five day-hikers today. The wind is really blowing hard tonight. All my tent pegs are being held down with rocks and I rolled two logs in front of my tent to break the wind. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-03
From: 5.4 miles south of Blackrock Hut, VA

To: 1.8 miles south of Pinefield Hut, VA
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

I am tenting between shelters again tonight, as it seems I can't get synchronized with the shelter spacing here in the Shenandoah National Park, which is fine, although I need to be certain to lug water to my tenting location for cooking dinner and then breakfast the next day. Today I made a tactical blunder and passed a water source that I needed for most of my day's hiking. I was a little discouraged about hiking without water when a car pulled along side of me as I passed through a Skyline Drive scenic overlook parking lot and a woman in the car asked if I needed water. A trail angel! I received water, fruit, cheese, and peanuts and I arrived at my tent site late this afternoon in very good shape because of their generosity. Trail angels Bob and Leona are visiting the USA from Sydney, Australia, and we talked for almost an hour, which was trail magic in itself. I also received a tiny Koala Bear keepsake to hang on my pack. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: 1.8 miles south of Pinefield Hut, VA

To: 6 miles north of Hightop Hut, VA
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Tonight I am tenting once again between shelters, except tonight I'm close to a water source, which is a luxury when between shelters. I was spared the rain that was forecast for this afternoon and it seems the crazy night winds of the last two nights may subside tonight, although I am ready for it with big rocks over my tent pegs. Without the wind howling, I may not be able to sleep tonight. The trail has been very smooth for two days now and I have been doing a lot of full-stride hiking, which feels like flying, even with a pack. A funny thing happened tonight: while hosting aloft my bear bag, the entire tree fell over. (Note to self: don't use dead trees to bear bag.) Not all of the Shenandoah Park's campground and concessions are open yet for the season, but Big Meadows Wayside and Campground is open, and I'm headed there tomorrow to eat everything. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: 6 miles north of Hightop Hut, VA

To: Big Meadows Campground, VA
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: few clouds

Today was a cold but sunny day with crisp dry air; perfect for hiking. I met two flip flop thru hikers today just starting north from Virginia to Maine and then flip flopping from Virginia to Georgia. They told me about some tents that were wrecked two nights ago in the big wind we had. All that it takes to wreck an ultralight backpacking tent is to lose one tent peg in a big wind and the entire tent structure loses its balance and strength. I feasted at Big Meadows Wayside this afternoon and then hiked to the Big Meadows Campground, where I am tenting tonight. This is a busy place in the summer, but there are just a half dozen RV's spread out here tonight. The elevation in the Shenandoah National Park is just high enough that nothing is in bloom yet except for some bushes. No flowers are out yet. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Big Meadows Campground, VA

To: 1.4 miles south of Pass Mountain Hut, VA
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

The temperatures moderated today from previous days, and I hiked in my lightest layer most of the afternoon. The trail provided spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley, and I thought of the military history that played out in the strategic valley during the Civil War. Along the way today I stopped at the Skyland Restaurant, which is one-tenth mile off the AT in the Shenandoah National Park, for a huge breakfast, which really energized my afternoon hiking. Tonight Alison from the Open Arms Hostel in Luray shuttled me ten miles from the trail to her hostel, which is also her home. I will resupply in Luray and tomorrow I will meet some friends here from home who are on an RV road trip, but are detouring to see me. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: 1.4 miles south of Pass Mountain Hut, VA

To: 1.4 miles south of Pass Hut Shelter, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I took a break from hiking to meet some old friends from high school days in Connecticut who detoured from their RV road trip to visit me. We cooked some steaks for dinner at their KOA Campsite here in Luray, VA and I was given an assortment of trail goodies. It was great to see them and be reminded of life other than an AT through hike, which can be life consuming if you let it be so. I resupplied in Luray with just two days of food and will pick up five days of resupply in Front Royal, VA and then head north again. Last night I shared the hostel with Midnight Strider and CP, who I met at Big Meadows Wayside the day before. They are a hiking team and are my age and were good company at dinner last night and breakfast this morning. They left for the trail in the early afternoon today after receiving a mail drop here at the hostel. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-08
From: 1.4 miles south of Pass Hut Shelter, VA

To: Gravel Spring Hut, VA
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I was shuttled by trail angel Jim from the Open Arms Hostel in Luray, VA back to the AT. The hostel has only been in business for a few months so the owner Alison is still learning the business. Tonight I have the most company ever! There are five SOBO's and four NOBO's here at Gravel Spring Hut. Even though I am at a shelter, I set my tent up because my earlier morning start time would disturb sleeping hikers if I were in the shelter with them. It was good to get some down time yesterday with friends and catch up on the news. I got the highlights of the men's and women's basketball March-madness and some updates on the presidential campaigns. Evidently the press is still in a love-hate relationship with Donald Trump considering how he seems to effortlessly hog the media limelight. But the most bizarre thing about the presidential campaign is that during Bernie Sanders' long political career in my home state, he had wildly long bushy hair and I had short hair, but now I have the wildly long bushy thru-hiker hair and I see Bernie now has a short haircut. It seems we just can't get synchronized. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Gravel Spring Hut, VA

To: 2.9 miles north of Tom Floyd Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.7

This morning was a cold, windy, and snowy morning; just like winter. Tonight I am staying at the Mountain Home Hostel, just yards off the AT in Front Royal, VA. I feel fortunate that I am not outdoors tonight because it is so cold and blustery. After I arrived and showered, I was shuttled into town to eat and visit the supermarket to pickup a five day resupply, before going back out on the trail tomorrow morning. I exited the north end of the Shenandoah National Park today. I will miss the scenic overlooks and especially the wayside restaurants that were so accessable to the trail. The Park is definitely on my summertime bucket list. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-10
From: 2.3 miles north of Tom Floyd Shelter, VA

To: Dick's Dome Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

This morning I left Mountain Home Cabin Hostel in Front Royal, VA at 8:15 after breakfast. The owners, Scott and Lisa Jenkins, are renovating a large historic home built in the 1840's into a B&B and hostel, but in the meantime a cabin on the same property is serving as a hostel. The cozy cabin has a bathroom and shower and kitchen and four beds. Tonight at the shelter I met a group of eight women from York, PA who are section hiking the AT as a team. They are going home tomorrow, so I shamelessly yogied some food and tonight will be the first time I go to sleep on the trail without being the least bit hungry. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Dick's Dome Shelter, VA

To: Sam Moore Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Today I hiked part way through the roller coaster. I am certain I am in the roller coaster because I passed a sign that said, "Hiker Warning: You are entering the roller coaster. Enjoy the ride." It is a tiring stretch of trail because the trail profile is almost a perfect sin wave, with a zero net change in elevation in sixteen miles. But it's the frequency of the wave rather than the amplitude that makes it tiring, plus the trail uses more steps than switchbacks and it's boney, which prevents full stride hiking. Today started off a little rainy, but it cleared up by mid morning; however, I am in for a weather change tonight so my tent pegs are rocked-covered, just in case. I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Sam Moore Shelter, VA

To: David Lesser Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.2

Today started with very early morning rain but it stopped by 7 a.m., which was very similar to yesterday's weather pattern. It was another glorious weather-day for hiking: dry, cool, windless, and sunny, with plenty of water along the trail. I was off the famed roller coaster by noon and the trail immediately became smoother and faster. Along the way, I stopped in to see the Blackburn AT Center, which is owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It doesn't have showers, laundry, vending machines, toilets, or food, but it does have a rustic little four bed cottage with a wood stove, some tenting spots, an outside hose for water, and the last operating pay phone in America. I think the main building at the Center is like the ATC's meeting club house, but I am uncertain. While at the Center, I recharged my phone, got another stamp for my AT Passport, signed the logbook, scored two individual serving packages of oatmeal from the hiker box, and did two reiterations of my yoga practice on the sun soaked lawn. Tonight is the first time in weeks that I am alone at a shelter. It must be because it is mid-week. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: David Lesser Shelter, VA

To: Ed Garvey Shelter, MD
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Farewell Virginia. It's a good thing Virginia is such a beautiful state, because I was certainly there a long time. In the long views that winter provides, the trail in Virginia is like a five hundred mile long scenic overlook. Today, I also passed through West Virginia, which in the peculiarity of state boundaries, is only a three mile walk on the AT. While in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, I stopped at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters, which is the ceremonial halfway point on the AT. The actual halfway point is further north and moves from year to year as the trail is relocated for improvements. At the Headquarters I was photographed and catalogued for their hiker journal as NOBO # 19. I then went to the post office, lunch, and the outfitter store in Harper's Ferry before crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. Just a few miles into Maryland trail angel Vicki met me and treated me to a large deli-style roast beef sandwich, fruit, dessert, Gatorade, delicious homemade cookies, and trail snacks. After a short hike to a Potomac River overlook we said goodbye and went our separate ways. It was incredibly kind and gracious of Vicki to take the time to get trail magic to me and I couldn't say thank you enough. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Ed Garvey Shelter, MD

To: Pine Knob Shelter, MD
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: light rain

Today was another beautiful weather day, and the forecast is good through the weekend! Along the way today I stopped in at Dalhgren Backback Campground operated by the Maryland Park Service. Incredibly the campground is on the AT and has lawn tent sites, fire rings, picnic tables, indoor toilets, sinks with mirrors, and best of all, hot showers, and everything is free! There hasn't been anyplace like this campground so far on the AT, so I took a shower and shaved and then got back on the trail all in forty minutes. This morning I met a young SOBO through hiking veteran. We talked for an hour and fifteen minutes. The youngest veterans can have a difficult time re-adjusting because they don't have much to re-adjust to on returning. Their life experience has been child, high school kid, soldier, veteran. It's easier to come back and re-adjust if there was a pre-war life with spouse, kids, home, and career. Anyway, I am in need of resupply soon. Perhaps the day after tomorrow. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Pine Knob Shelter, MD

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

Today was yet another glorious weather day for hiking. Because it's a fair weather weekend, many people are out and there are seven tents set up around the shelter tonight, but it's nice to have a social experience around a campfire after a long winter on the trail. Tomorrow I am going into town to resupply and coming back out without staying overnight in town. The weather is just too nice to be in town. I like to respond to everyone's emails, but I may have to wait until I do an overnight stay in town so that I can plug my phone into a wall outlet. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-16
From: Raven Rock Shelter, MD

To: Tumbling Run Shelter, PA
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

Farewell Maryland! West Virginia and Maryland went by quickly but Pennsylvania is 230 trail miles, so I will be here more than a few days. Early this morning I was in Pennsylvania only a few hundred feet when I was surprised by a trail angel named Iceman from Lancaster, PA who offered to shuttle me into Waynesboro, PA to eat and resupply and return me to the trail. Not only that, but after getting back to the trail, he slacked packed me eight miles! It was a real treat to slack pack when my pack was at its heaviest just after resupply. I was expecting the shelter tonight to be well-used on a warm and dry weekend, but there are only two other people here tonight. This shelter site actually has a pair of shelters side by side labeled snoring and non-snoring. I am in my tent, as usual. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Tumbling Run Shelter, PA

To: 1.2 miles south of Birch Run Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.5

I am tenting between shelters tonight. Fortunately I found a tent site near a water source, which means I didn't need to lug water here for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. I am hiking just in front of Spring. The AT in northern Virginia had a few wild flowers blooming, but the AT in Pennsylvania is still in winter dormant. The forests I am passing through are exceedingly dry right now and rain isn't in the near term forecast. I met a little boy and his grandmother on the trail today, and while we were hiker chatting, the boy unexpectedly gave me two of his peanut butter cookies. It seemed such a heart felt gesture so I couldn't refuse them. I must look like a mess. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-18
From: 1.2 miles south of Birch Run Shelter, PA

To: James Fry Shelter, PA
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was a near summer-like day of hiking, but without leaves on the trees, cool shade was hard to come by. I passed Pine Grove Furnace State Park, but it's two concessions and AT Museum were closed today as it is still early in the season. The trail is still very smooth, but I am aware that it will change in a few days. I promise not to snivel too much in my journal about the glacial-poo the trail traverses in Pennsylvania. Tomorrow the trail passes through Boiling Springs, PA and I will use that opportunity to shower, eat restaurant food three times, and do laundry, which is at a critical state. I would like to be in Boiling Springs by noonish and then stay the night, but not zero. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-04-19
From: James Fry Shelter, PA

To: 2.9 miles north of Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am in Bubbles, PA for the night (Boiling Springs, PA.) It is a beautiful warm spring evening in Boiling Springs, which is a village of tidy homes and businesses and home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Mid-Atlantic Office, where I got another stamp for my AT Passport. I am staying off-season at the Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse, which is a throw-back to the way people used to vacation. There are cabins, lodges, and dinning rooms spread about what looks like an old country estate that has a big front lawn dotted with stately trees and a tree-lined driveway. My lodge is also the home of the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum, which has artifact displays behind glass and a large meeting room. I got my hiker tasks done this afternoon: five day resupply, two restaurant meals, laundry, and lots of chocolate milk and ice cream. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.