morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-02
From: NOC

To: locust gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 14 2 mayWhat a hike. What a climb. Today was the toughest day yet. Hiked to 5000 feet over 7 miles. Yep it is tiring, slow and steady gets you there. Then downhill to locust cove and we are now camping with 2 other tents. Sitting around a good fire before going to sleepLeslie feeling better and I am just hungry, hungry, hungry. The biltong we got from the South African shop was really tasty As we were going to sleep we heard the leaves rustle, out I jumped to confront the bear only to find two deer just outside our tent. Now mr owl is hooting and Leslie is going to sleepMegan your nougat helped us up the hill today thanks 11 miles walked today
Date: 2013-05-03
From: locust gap

To: cable gap shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 15 3 mayTonight we spent our first night in a shelter. 6 people lying on a wooden floor with just enough room to turnaround if you do it carefully. We doing this because a storm is coming and we don't want to pack away a wet tent The nice thing is you don't have to out up or take down your tent. The downside is it is like sleeping on one big bed. Fun You may have noticed that our mileage has dropped to around 12 miles a day. That is because the ups have become long climbs and the downs are just as long. Today we climbed for three hours then Did some ridge walking which is a series of ups and downs and finished with a long downhill This is slow going Today we walked 12 miles and are spending the night at the cable creek shelter
Date: 2013-05-04
From: cable gap shelter

To: fontana
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 16 4 may Fontana dam. Another iconic spot on the trail. We arrived at the visitors centre and there is a phone on the wall where you dial 0 And a shuttle comes to pick you up and takes you to the village. A hotel a re supply store and a cafe for foodAt last I could order a chocolate milkshake mmmmm. We are sharing a room with bob and Liz ( only on the trail do you share a hotel room with almost strangers) but you become friends really quickly. We had the best lunch ever lots of good some good beer and lots of laughs
Date: 2013-05-06
From: fontana

To: mollies ridge shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 18 6 may The smokies. I am lying in a shelter with 14 other people packed in like sardines. Tonight will be funWe walked across Fontana dam wall. That was awesome The walk today was tough. Uphill all the way. It was three o clock before we arrived and it is freezing. Everybody in their sleeping bags trying to keep warm Sam who was waking 10 minutes behind us saw a bear and her 2 cubs. Oh well tommorow. Fontana dam to mollies ridge11,5 miles
Date: 2013-05-07
From: mollies ridge shelter

To: siler bald shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 19 7 may Boy it was cold last night. We learnt that the less clothes you have on , the warmer you get in your sleeping bag. So after getting undressed it warmed up considerably Today we walked 18 miles and have moved ahead of the group we were walking with. Saw a wild turkey thought of food Saw the mountains thought of good. Supper tonight was mashed potatoes for 4 and bobotjie for 2 not a scrap left Balds are becoming more and more common. A bald is a tall mountain with grass on top no trees. Today we had lunch on a bald Today walked from mollies ridge to siller bald 18,6 miles Tommorow highest point on the trail cling mans dome
Date: 2013-05-08
From: siler bald shelter

To: Gattlingberg
Miles today: 0.0

Day 20 8 mayClingmans dome day. Yes today we passed the 200 mile mark. Can you believe that. Pity it was cold and rainy with a heavy mist. Clingmans dome is the highest point on the AT at 6600 feet. Then it was a 7 mile walk to the gap and   Hitching a ride into Gatlingberg. We got a lift from a young man and his girlfriend in an old pick up truck. Leslie though that we maybe be taken back into hb woods were the the banjo were playing. They delivered us to the outfitters just around the corner from the hotel. It only cost 30 dollars a night for both of us. It has a bed and a warm shower, we don't need more than that Had a great super with sam, paul bob and Liz. Tommorow we will start walking againToday we walked from sillers bald shelter to newfound gap. 12 milesThe terrain was awful. Steep ups and steep downs. Because of the rain we walked in mud/ water the whole day
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Gattlingberg

To: pecks shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 21 9 may Charlie's bunion day. A sunny day with a gentle breeze perfect walking weather After being dropped at the newfound gap it was avoid the tourist. I have never seen so many tourist in one place. It was amazing " you hiked from where and you going where". Oh look honey they are long distance hikers. Can I get your photograph. Oh you from Afrika. We have never met anyone from Africa before. After a few minutes we managed to move on and start walking. The smokies are amazingly large with fantastic vistas and awesome views. From Charlie's bunion the views of the mountains are breath taking We got here around 5. Now the shelter is full. There are 6 people camping and no more camping space and more people arriving. It is going to be fun because the next shelter Is 5 miles away (2 hours away) Walked from newfound gap to pecks corner 11 miles
Date: 2013-05-10
From: pecks shelter

To: cosby knob
Miles today: 0.0

Day 22 10 may Numbers just jumble your brain. 10 miles today or should we walk 15. But if we walk more today then we can take a day off. If we walk less then we have to walk more later but the terrain is tough and sometimes 13 miles is all you can manage. But we have to get to harpers ferry by the 28 June. So we have to decided to walk as far as we can everyday until the 5 June and then we will decide how to go from there So what does our day look like. Awake at 7 coffee and breakfast and we start walking at 8.15. Stop for a snack at 11 for 15 minutes and then lunch at 2 for half an hour and then normally into a shelter around 5 or 6 depending on where the shelter isSo today we took a short day just 13,7 mikes because the next shelter was another 7.5 miles away. Today we walked past a plane crash that happened 8 years ago. It was high up and you can still see the pieces. Today we walked from pecks shelter to Cosby knob 13 miles
Date: 2013-05-11
From: cosby knob

To: painter rivet 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 23 11 may Old farts don't rule 4 o clock this morning and all is quite in the shelter. 5 minutes later there is a rustling of bags, the sound of a stove being lit and someone making breakfast. I get up and try and talk to him but he can't hear me or the noise he is making because he is wearing earplugs. So I tap him on the shoulder and ask him to keep it down everyone is trying to sleep. At 5.30 my patience and everyone else's patience has run out and I ask him to stop cooking. He swears at me and bob and Matt tell him him he is an a....h..... There is a lot of backwards and forwards. The end result he packs up and leaves in a huff. His defense is that he can make a noise because we should all have earplugs. Today we left the smokies and can now camp wherever we like We have walked south to north over a mountain range in 5 days. That is totally awesome. No bears to be seen. By 7.30 we were packed and ready to go. And did we go. 12 miles (21 km) in 5 hours to standing bear farm where they sell pizza and beer. 3 hours later we reluctantly left the farm for a 2 mile hike up a mountain to painter river campsite. We are camped with the river running next to our tent. Another fantastic day o n the AT. Our bodies are still strong but our feet are sore. But that is just the way it is Cosby knob shelter to painter river campsite 13,5 miles
Date: 2013-05-12
From: painter river

To: walnut shelter 
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 24 12 may Started to climb at 8.30 and stopped climbing at 14.00 on top of max patch. A bald about the size if 10 big rugby fields with views all around. Sat down for lunch and a English man and his Irish partner stopped to talk to us. Just as they were leaving she asked if we wanted an apple each and an orange to share. Did we. Fresh fruit. It was fantastic. We have kept one spoke for breakfast. We are camped on top if a mountain in a freezing wind but are warm and snug in our bed. From our camp site to walnut mountain shelter was 18 miles.
Date: 2013-05-13
From: walnut shelter 

To: hot springs 
Miles today: 15.0

Day 25. 13 may 273 miles walked We froze last night. We got to walnut mountain shelter and it was in a very bad condition. Wind whistling through the walls. We decided to camp on top of the mountain. Supper was made and we were in our sleeping bags by 6.45. It was coldWoke up and packed up on the freezing wind but in high spirits because it was only 15 mikes to hot springs. Frustratingly the path zig zags down the mountain to the town. So you walk past the town then turn around and walk past the town the other way, then turn around and walk past the town again. All you want to do is get to the town and finish for the day. Made it by 2 pm. had the biggest burger on the menu, salad Bd a little of dr pepper   booked a cabin for 2 nights, unpacked, showered and did washing. Out to supper with a whole group of hikers and then early to bed Walnut shelter to hot springs 15 miles
Date: 2013-05-14
From: hot springs 

To: hot springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 26 14 mayRest day in hot springsI now understand why God decreed we should rest. Today was a blessing. We slept late, ate left over supper for breakfast, then spent the morning drinking coffee and te supplying for our five day walk to Erwin. Then an hour long soak in the hot tubs if hot springs, supper and bed. Backpacks almost packed Decided to buy a water filter today as we are being warned that the trail now passed through lots of farmland and it would be wise to filter our water. So farceur have been lucky but don't want to push to hard Will have an easy start tommorow and walk 11 miles
Date: 2013-05-15
From: hot springs

To: spring shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 27 15 May We left hot springs today after a great breakfast. We even took a take away for lunch. Two Bergers and they tasted fantastic. It was hard to leave the town but once we started to walk it was fantastic. Good trail nice weather a perfect hiking day. Our first day that leslie felt she could wear shorts We are camped at spring gap shelter and were joined by 5 other hikers, we knew all if them so it was awesome to catch up and just spend the time waffling Walked from hot springs to spring shelter 11 miles
Date: 2013-05-16
From: spring shelter

To: flint mountain 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 28 16 mayA day to celebrate. Good things always come in threes There was a shop on the trial that sold coldrinks, chips, choclates and ice creams. They even had real chairs to sit on. So we sat and drank a coldrink and ate chips and ice cream at 9 in the morning. It was hard to leave. We are walking with 4 other hikers. Fat man walking, rooster, Beamer and poppins. We all walked 21,3 miles ( 35 km) in one day and passed the 300 mile ( 500 km) mark yesterday. We started at 8 and finished at 6.30 pm We are camped at mile 306The other 4 are off to trail days this weekend so we will probably not see them again. The trail is going to be quite this weekend The trail makes friends and two days later they move on and you find a new group to talk to. Fat man is hobbling on feet that are killing him but he won't give up. In a way that is the commitment on the trail. You don't stop until you can't anymore Today 25 mikes to a campsite with a stream   From spring mountain to flint mountain. 21,3
Date: 2013-05-17
From: flint mountain 

To: big bald 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 29 17 may big bald shelterSome days are diamonds done days are stones. Some days start as stones become diamonds and then go back to stones. Today was one of those days. Started off hard, with lots if climbing and we were tired from yesterday. Then after lunch we walked past our friends being picked up - trail magic. Chocolate brownies and fresh lemonade. Plus dome brownies to go. Then 7 more miles uphill with big thunderstorm all around and us walking across the tops of mountains. Once again we are grateful for Gods hand of protection Today we waked 18,9 miles.
Date: 2013-05-18
From: big bald 

To: irwin
Miles today: 10.5

DAy 30 18 mayWoke up in the rain, packed up in the rain and walked in the rain. We arrived at spivey gap just after 11. Wet and tired and cold. Please Lord we prayed it would be great to get a lift into town It was a quite road and after 20 minutes just as we were about to move on a Bakkie came past and stopped and gave us a lift to IrwinGod gears all our prayers We got to the super 8 hotel, cleaned up did all our washing. We also found an all you can eat KFC and we did just that. I am suffering from a cold and Leslie is covered in itchy bites. She is scratching worse than ruby Damascus is the venue for a three day festival called trail days. Yesterday a man list control of his car and drive through the parade, seriously injuring 5 and leaving 60 with minor injuries. Today we head out again into the rain and we plan to walk for 7 days to Damascus. Talk to you next Monday Still feeling strong and positive
Date: 2013-05-19
From: irwin

To: camp site beauty spot
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 31 19 mayWhat a storm, thunder, lightning ,hail and driving rain and we are climbing to the highest point of the mountain with no trees for cover. Then we have to cross a bald for 100 meters with thunder and lightning all around. Walk down for 1 mile, find a campsite and set up our tent in the rain. Two wet bedraggled hikers finally dry in our tent. The storm lasted for about 2 hours so we had hot chocolate to drink and made supper. As I write this the birds are singing and we are drying out. Aaah went to zip up our tent and broke the tent pole this trail is starting to take its toll It started out a sunny day with a gentle walk through a green green forest and lunch next to a stream in the sunshine. Oh well that's the way us hikers roll we are prepared for anything From Irwin to deep gap camping 12 miles
Date: 2013-05-20
From: camp site beauty spot

To: clyde smith shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 32 20 may Woke up to a sunny day and as usual we walked straight up a mountain (Unaka mountain). The top was covered in spruce trees like walking through the enchanted forest. Lunch was in a beautiful meadow and then down to the clyde smith shelter. A beautiful evening with the owls. Just another day on the trail Camp site north of beuty bald to Clyde smith shelter 15 miles
Date: 2013-05-21
From: clyde smith shelter

To: overmountain shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 33 22 may Roan mountain. The last 6000 foot mountain to climb before harpers ferry. They forgot to tell us about little rock knob 800 feet if straight up mountain climbing do you could get a view from the top. Then down again and 4500 feet up to the top if roan mountain. We are becoming real good mountain goats. No views and no visitors to get food from so down we went. Lunch was on top of a bald and there we ran into Vaughn. ( half life) Down to the over mountain shelter ( an old converted barn painted red) in glorious sunlight, laid out our sleeping bags and then watched the thunder storm roll in. For more than three hours the lighting flashed across the sky and the thunder boomed across the valley. It was a awesome show of power.
Date: 2013-05-22
From: overmountain shelter

To: black bear resort 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 34 22 may Another crazy day in the trail. First over little hump 4500 feet and then hump 5240 feet then we go down and we cross the main road to Roan. A big sign says to mountain harbour hostel famous for its breakfast. We are planning to stay except it is full. So we decide to shuttle to kinkora hostel. A landmark on the trail. An old hostel with bunks. Not quite what were looking for. Down the road was black bear resort and for 40 dollars we got a cabin all to ourselves much better After much talking we have decided to shuttle to Damascus and do some slack packing to make up the miles. Slack packing is taking a day pack and being shuttled to a point on the trail and then you walk back to the town Right now it is raining again and the weather forecast is rain and more rain. Over mountain shelter to Rian road 10 miles.
Date: 2013-05-23
From: black bear resort 

To: damascus 
Miles today: 45.0

Day 35 23 may A shuttle to Damascus gets us 40 miles down the trail and an opportunity to fix all our equipment. So we will be 40 ish miles short of 1000 if we don't make it up at the end. We will see how it goesWe booked in at Dave's place a hiker hostel. Two beds in one room that's all we need. The beds are wooden slats with a sleeping mat on top. Luxury when you have been in the woods Equipment The tent pole has been fixedI have new shoes and they work yippee We bought new sleeping mats Leslie got new top and shorts So all in all a good shopping trip Found a great coffee shop in town and had to indulge a few cups. After a supper of pulled pork. A speciality of the area leslie lost her supper. She is still feeling a bit greenNoisy night last night quited down around 11We are now in Damascus
Date: 2013-05-24
From: damascus 

To: skack pack 
Miles today: 15.0

Day 36 24 may A slack pack day. We wanted to walk across the Tennessee Virginia border. So we took a shuttle 15 miles back to Low gap and then walked back to Damascus. We were dropped in the cold and mist. Interesting how vulnerable we felt without our backpacks that have our tent and sleeping bags and stove - all required for our survival in the wet and the cold It took us 6 hours to walk the 15 miles back. No time to sit and enjoy lunch. To wet and cold got to keep moving to stay warm By the time we got back the sun was shining and it was a fantastic day. A great supper and then peter (gronk) invited us for drinks Trail magic moonflower and sly fox paid for our first round. It was great to have s glass of wine again. Looking forward to two days if rest. We are aware that we have to make it harpers ferry. It is going to be close
Date: 2013-05-25
From: skack pack 

To: damascus weekend 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 37 25 mayWhat an awesome day. We packed up and then shipped our parcels to pearisberg. Dave and Deanne fetched us and we went to the house they had hired for the weekend. Lunch and an afternoon sleep was had. Then off to re supply for Monday and a braai - yes a braai with boerewors and lamb chops for supper. (There were vegetables and a salad to) just fantastic. Lying in a bed with pillows and a real mattress   Feeling awfully grand No miles walked today and there will be no miles walked tommorow
Date: 2013-05-28
From: wise shelter 

To: trimpi 
Miles today: 20.0

Day 41What a fantastic days walk. 20 miles and some trail magic. We started by walking through a field of cows and wild ponies with an amazing view of the mountains and valleys. Then tea at 11 in a field of flowers. A downhill walk to a road where we met some section hikers who gave us energy bars and bagels. Lunch at the top of a mountain and then downhill to the shelter Just another fantastic day on the trail. We have been walking by ourselves for the last few days but tonight we coed with some friendly section hikers and brian and Kendall who are going to Maine. Tommorow we go to town
Date: 2013-05-29
From: trimpi 

To: partnershop
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 42 30 may 5 weeks today. Our day started with seeing a rabbit, then a stall by the valley baptist church giving away choclate bars and water and bread and and and ....So hard to take just one Then a turkey and s deer. Today we discovered that down sometimes means up. Today was meant to be a down day but there was lots of uphill11 miles before lunch. Leslie sure can walk fast when she wants to get to town   A nice hitch hike into town Trimpi shelter to mount Rodgers visitors centre 11 miles
Date: 2013-05-30
From: partnershop

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 42 30 may 5 weeks today. Our day started with seeing a rabbit, then a stall by the valley baptist church giving away choclate bars and water and bread and and and ....So hard to take just one Then a turkey and s deer. Today we discovered that down sometimes means up. Today was meant to be a down day but there was lots of uphill11 miles before lunch. Leslie sure can walk fast when she wants to get to town   A nice hitch hike into town Trimpi shelter to mount Rodgers visitors centre 11 miles Mexican supper with fly bye ( fellow South African from Somerset west)
Date: 2013-05-31
To: crayfish camp site
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 43 crayfish camp site mile 548What an Interesting day. First the good news a shuttle took us back to the mount Rodgers info centre Great weather a fantastic walk and we saw a deer and a rattlesnake.After lunch we walked out of the forest into the most beautiful meadow with a bridge and fantastic flowers. Thru the meadow and on the other side if the road was a convenience store. 1 bag of caramilised popcorn, I large triple choclate snicker bar, 1 large ice cream and a 500 ml iced coffee. What a treat Leslie had ice cream choclate milkshake and shared the popcorn.Then came the bad a long hard climb up little bush mountain and the longest three miles we have hiked so far. It just never seemed to end. Camp site is full. 80% young people with a sprinkling if oldies. Us oldies in bed kids sitting around the fire.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: crayfish camp site

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 44 chestnut knob shelter mile 565Today leslie and I saw a bear we had been walking for about an hour when the bear ran across the trail. Leslie saw it I did not. Luckily the trail did a switchback and we saw the black bear about 300 meters away. Yea our first bear Today we had a fantastic walk in the morning, tea next to a stream, a chance to cool our feet before a big climb and lunch on a grassy patch. When we arrived for lunch a caravan was parked in the parking lot. The lady called Leslie over and told her about a cooler full of coldrinks just up the trail. It was empty. On the way back their dog but leslie and they felt do bad they have us a Pepsi each. Trail magic sometimes has to be earned. This afternoon was just one big climb from 2 pm to 5 pm. Also the shelter gas no water do we had to carry an extra 5 liters of water the last mile. Piper is here playing his guitar and MATHEW I guy we last saw in hot springs has just walked in   The other hiker came in saying he has   Just seen a rattle snake and a mountain lion. Well now we have to add mountain lion to our list We passed the 550 mile (910km) mark today   Harpers ferry here we come   We are averaging 18 miles a day and took our last test day a week ago. Feet are still sore every night but we are strong At 10.35 last night with everybody asleep, the door of the shelter bangs open and in walks freak with 2 pizzas and 6 coldrinks   Amazing trail magic. He stayed untill 12 He walked 1,2 miles up a hill to bring strangers some pizzas. Awesome
Date: 2013-06-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Day 45 2 June mile 580 laurel creek Rain and wind. We planned to do 25 miles for the day but it took us 5,3 hours to do 10 miles. It was up and down the whole morning So that made 24 impossible for the day The afternoon was much better, the rain slowed down and the trail leveled out. Just as we were getting close to the road we saw a sign from true Brit Camp for free big fire free breakfast in the morning free shuttle. So we are now sitting around a fire with 10 other hikers ( mainly ex service men doing the warrior hike) talking rubbish Today we hiked 15 miles.