morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-21
From: The Inn at Long Trail 

To: Chateauguay Rd.
Miles today: 12.0

I woke up at the Inn feeling refreshed both physically and mentally. Then a great breakfast of French toast and it was time to hit the trail again. I left with Bella, a hiker I met at the Inn last night. I expected to meet up with the other hiker I met there, Colin, but didn't. I expect he stayed a while longer at the Inn and is back a few miles at the shelter. Probably see him tomorrow.Bella and I walked through a state park, round a pond and up Quimby Mtn. It was a bit of a climb (1300 ft in a half mile), but easier than I expected. There were few rocks and few roots and only a couple of places that were tough to navigate. On the way down we had to use a ladder in one spot. First time I have seen that. We were looking to go a few miles further, but stopped by a road and stream for the night. I suspect she could have made the extra distance, but was kind enough to go at my pace. Guess I still have some work to do on my conditioning...
Date: 2013-07-22
From: Chateauguay Rd.

To: Secret location
Miles today: 13.0

Today was another fantastic day. I learned something today and had a lot of fun. I learned that there are a lot of ex-military folks hiking the trail this year. First, there is a sponsored "Wounded Warrior" walk where the ATC and many companies like REI and Under Armor are sponsoring a group of disabled vets that are thru hiking this year.   That's pretty much all I know about that, so you will have to google it to learn more.Anyway, I hiked with 3 ex military folks today. Bella, it turns out, was part of the command team on some major ships; like this woman used to command battleships! Little Rock, a guy I met about a week ago, was a seabee, and the third guy (forgot his name) was a marine. After talking with them, listening to them, eating ice cream and drinking Gatorade with them today, I have come to the following realization. I absolutely, totally respect and admire the men and women who serve in our armed forces. These people are both mentally and physically strong, self sufficient and self motivated. Though they don't talk about it, I can feel that they have experienced and perhaps continue to experience things that probably would have turned me into a broken shell of a man. As for the politicians who send these brave men and women into harms way, well I better not go there ...Today was also a lot of fun. After about 3 miles this morning I got to the Lookout Farm lookout. It is a nice cabin very near the trail that the owners allow hikers to use. The views were amazing! After another 6 miles, just around lunch time, we made it to a road with a farm stand in view of the trail (On the Edge farm stand). Well, we all stopped for a couple of hours and gorged ourselves on Coke, coffee, Gatorade, cheese, crackers, pie, blueberries, peaches, apples and ICE CREAM. It was a great way to spend some time with some great people. The only problem is that it was hard to hike again and so I didn't hike as many miles as I had planned. Oh well, it was a fantastic day and the miles will still be there tomorrow.
Date: 2013-07-23
From: Secret location

To: Thistle hill Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today was a complete bust. There had been no forecast of rain, so I camped out with Colin last night. Well, it started raining at about 1:00 AM and it didn't stop. Early in the morning I decided to wait out the rain, but by about 11:15 I got too antsy and decided to hike. The process of packing up got me, the tent, and a whole lot of other stuff wet. About a half a mile down the trail I come across a stream that was by now overflowing. I had to ford it. Once I got across I sat down and took off my boots and socks. I poured out the water from my boots and squeezed the socks as dry as I could in the rain. Needless to say, my feet were now as wet as the rest of me. I walked on. As I approached the next shelter the rain stopped, but I really didn't want to do the 10 wet miles to the next shelter. So I stopped. Backpackers will always run into rain, so you deal with it. But that doesn't mean we like it. In fact, I don't know any hiker that likes the rain; quite the opposite.
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Thistle hill Shelter

To: Hanover Inn, Hanover, NH
Miles today: 15.0

Chalk up another state! Vermont goes into the books as DONE! There was a lot of mud in Vermont, but overall it was a good state with great people. I got on the trail early today because I needed to go about 15 miles to make it to Hanover, NH. I did my first 10 x 12 (10 miles by noon) of this year's hike And made it to Hanover by 2:00 PMish. I am in a very nice hotel, my wet boots are drying, I have showered and have started eating. It doesn't get much better than this...I learned today that while I am no longer a thru hiker, I am a SLASHr. That stands for Super Long A$$ Section Hiker. Good to know that I fit into a category!
Date: 2013-01-13
To: Not my couch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Looking forward to putting in my two weeks in 52 days, I'm not counting or anything lol. It's really not all that bad, I'm just being dramatic because I'd rather be in the woods. Love my coworkers though! I'm slowly getting all my gear together, and no people, I won't be carrying a gun. I will however, be carrying a hammock! I'll be hanging the entire trip, it's the way to go! I feel like I still have so much left to do, and the time is flying by. I could list you the reasons why I'm doing this, but they're infinite, I mean try finding a reason NOT to do it. Who wouldn't want to take 5 or 6 months off, and walk across the country, right? Well, I can think of a few people, and they make up my immediate family. Still have lots of support though. I'll be starting on March 24th, with Kayla, my stepmom and Tanner, my brother (he's 17 and it's his springbreak.) I was going to do the whole approach trail thing, I thought it would be nice to hike to the trailhead. But, changed my mind when I saw someone say that no one really gives a shit if you do it, and it's a big pain in the ass. So, no thanks. Welllllll, the next time you see I've written in here it'll be trail time!!!!! I really wanted to add my favorite four letter word after "trail time!!!!!," but my mother will be reading this, and I value my life. However, I will be completely unreachable while hiking, so look forward to F bombs galore.
Date: 2013-02-23
To: 27 Days away!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Holy Hell! I've got two weeks left of work, two weeks off, then I'm on the trail! It feels so surreal, like I should still have another 9 months before I leave, it just flew by so quickly...thank god! Went ahead and got my bills set up to draft automatically while I'm gone, my new down jacket and baselayer come in the mail monday, just a few things left that I need to do. Including the garage sale that I'm going to have, ughh. I didn't like them as a child when my mom had them, and I'm guessing that I'm going to like it less as an adult (the preparation part, not the people buy my things for money part.) Hopefully, I can make a little spare change to help out with the finances I'm super excited, Kayla took a week of vacation and is coming, so is my brother, and Kayla's boyfriend Jason, and his two sons Zack and Eli are coming along for the first week as well! Should make for a fun first week. I still need to buy some hiking poles. I have some leki's, but they're more trekking, less hiking and I keep having issues with one of the poles. I'm torn between just buying really cheap ones, because hell they break anyway, or forking over about 100 bucks for the pacer poles, I could really benefit from them. I'll ask plenty of questions next Sunday, I'm going to have dinner with Paul and Barb, and Kayla and Jason. Paul and Barb completed their thruhike in 2011, their trailnames are Yak and Stitch!
Date: 2013-03-22
To: 3 Days Away!!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I'm three days away from the start of the AT! I am so looking forward to starting this new journey in my life! I've never attempted anything of this magnitude, but I'm excited to prove myself! I will be put through many circumstances that will be tough, but they will make me stronger. Hopefully, these trials and tribulations in the upcoming months will help reveal a clarity on my life's perspective. Don't get me wrong, I'm not just doing this for clarity. I will be using these 5 months of job-less life to soak it all in. I'll get to meet amazing people, go amazing places and see amazing things! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm going to do my best to take advantage of it.Good news! Just put all my gear in my pack, including money, credit cards, phone etc. I'm happy to report that I have my base pack weight at 16 lbs!!!!!!!! That's with all my cold weather gear too! This is without consumables (food, fuel and water.) Well, I'll be hitting the trail soon and will be updating as soon as I get a chance!
Date: 2013-04-09
To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday, April 9, 20134/9/13Well, I've made it to Franklin, NC! So far I've walked 109.8 miles. We left Hiawassee about four days ago. We missed the shuttle that morning twice, semi my fault. The second time I went to Starbucks because the shuttle guy said he would be back at noon, but he decided to come back early. Luckily, Sally & Joyce who shuttled me to Springer were able to swing by and grab us. Unluckily, I got to the trail and realized I'd left my hiking poles at the hotel! Sally was an angel and drove me back. By then I was hauling ass to catch up with the others, did it pretty fast though. Made it to North Carolina that day. Unbeknownst to Rich, Ali and I hid a beer in his pack so we could celebrate. The next day we hiked into a gap, and as I passed a day hiker he yelled there was trail magic at the gap!!!! A group of Thruhiker friends from '02 hold a cookout /camp out every year, beer and great food! Even chairs!!! We camped that night at the summit of Standing Indian Mt. We had great views of the sunset, best camp spot by far! Later that night we hear, "Heeeeelp!!!!!" coming from the forest. I'm laying in my hammock thinking shit my toothpaste is in here and someone's being eaten by a bear. Turns out a Boy Scout sleep walks and got lost. A dad at our campsite yelled to him and he followed his voice, and was safely tucked in his hammock later that night. The next day we all breaked at a shelter and spent an hour goofing around trying to kick a piece of string from the ceiling. Quite entertaining. We made it to Betty creek gap campsite that night. Not much of a creek, more like a muddy hole. We hiked in mallows and Hersey bars the whole crew enjoyed that night at our fire. Except for this really lame Dad who looked like he was torturing his son, so that he would never enjoy backpacking again. He was one of those control freaks that doesn't let there kid have a good time. We breaked at an awesome shelter the next day and met a great guy named Roadside that had thrued before. He met the dad and son as well, and didn't really have anything good to say about the dad either. We ended up staying at the next shelter that night, built in 1965! Had a great night, listened to some music and watched Vita light hand sanitizer on fire. It was mesmerizing. We all got up early the next morning and hiked a not so easy 3.8 to make it into Franklin! There's so much more to write, wish I could fit it all in without writing a novel! I'll be at Nantahala outdoor center on Friday night, then into the Smokies!
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Franklin, NC

To: NOC
Miles today: 13.0

4/11/13Left Franklin around 11 on Wednesday. We all got to the trail around 12, and decided to take it easy and do an eight mile day to a meadow on wine springs rd., gravel. It was a brutal eight miles for everyone. It was hot. I thought the Brits were going to keel over at any minute. Baby Steps, Vita, Crying Tiger, Irwin, Dimples and I have given ourselves a team name; it's Team One. We started off the day with a pleasant waterfall, then began a treacherous uphill climb. We breaked for lunch near a shelter sign, the shelter was too far away to break at, at .5 miles off trail. Right after our break we came across Silers Bald. Gorgeous views with an awful climb up. We sunbathed like Germans. After, we came across a stream and gave our feet a cool down, as well as the one beer we hiked in. From there, it all went to shit. We were all exhausted, dehydrated, and the mountain never stopped. Oh, and sunburned. Team One consists of 5 very pale individuals. We finally neared the end of the day, trying to discern whether or not we had already passed the meadow. We hadn't, damn. We later had a jolly good time laying in the meadow staring at our great view of the stars. We hiked out of camp around eight, and had to climb over several recently downed trees. The winds last night were pretty strong. The meadow turned out to be a good idea. We made it Wayah Bald tower this morning and had great views. We left early expecting rain all day but ended up not getting any. Until now. We're currently in Wesser Bald shelter 6 miles away from NOC. Getting pounded by rain, lightning, thunder and high winds. I'm in the shelter on a measly sit pad wide awake. None of us will be sleeping anytime soon. On a positive note I can check the radar, and Irwin throws up when he's nervous and he's sleeping next to Crying Tiger. Almost forgot, we had trail magic today at Cold Springs shelter after a brutal uphill, it was yetifood outfitters. They gave us snack bags! They're former thruhikers that are based out of Houston. Well, I'm going to sit here now and not sleep. If I don't post anything soon my body can be found at Wesser Bald Shelter.
Date: 2013-04-12
From: NOC

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thursday, April 11, 20134/11/13Left Franklin around 11 on Wednesday. We all got to the trail around 12, and decided to take it easy and do an eight mile day to a meadow on wine springs rd., gravel. It was a brutal eight miles for everyone. It was hot. I thought the Brits were going to keel over at any minute. Baby Steps, Vita, Crying Tiger, Irwin, Dimples and I have given ourselves a team name; it's Team One. We started off the day with a pleasant waterfall, then began a treacherous uphill climb. We breaked for lunch near a shelter sign, the shelter was too far away to break at, at .5 miles off trail. Right after our break we came across Silers Bald. Gorgeous views with an awful climb up. We sunbathed like Germans. After, we came across a stream and gave our feet a cool down, as well as the one beer we hiked in. From there, it all went to shit. We were all exhausted, dehydrated, and the mountain never stopped. Oh, and sunburned. Team One consists of 5 very pale individuals. We finally neared the end of the day, trying to discern whether or not we had already passed the meadow. We hadn't, damn. We later had a jolly good time laying in the meadow staring at our great view of the stars. We hiked out of camp around eight, and had to climb over several recently downed trees. The winds last night were pretty strong. The meadow turned out to be a good idea. We made it Wayah Bald tower this morning and had great views. We left early expecting rain all day but ended up not getting any. Until now. We're currently in Wesser Bald shelter 6 miles away from NOC. Getting pounded by rain, lightning, thunder and high winds. I'm in the shelter on a measly sit pad wide awake. None of us will be sleeping anytime soon. On a positive note I can check the radar, and Irwin throws up when he's nervous and he's sleeping next to Crying Tiger. Almost forgot, we had trail magic today at Cold Springs shelter after a brutal uphill, it was yetifood outfitters. They gave us snack bags! They're former thruhikers that are based out of Houston. Well, I'm going to sit here now and not sleep. If I don't post anything soon my body can be found at Wesser Bald Shelter.
Date: 2013-05-20
From: Hampton, TN

To: Damacus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Monday, May 20, 20135/20/13 Hampton, TN to Damascus, VAFinally got to the laundromat to charge my phone so I could post before I got back on the trail. I've been in Damascus since late Wednesday night. We got a ride from the black bear hostel people back to the trail in Hampton on Tuesday morning ish. We ended up meeting some cool people there, they gave us burgers they made. We hung out with Mammoth and played catchphrase all night, then went back to the bunk room and played who can kick the ceiling fan cord. Irwin won that game. We only hiked an easy 8 miles or so to this campsite about a mile and a half from the Vander-something shelter. Someone had gotten sick at the hostel with norovirus apparently, and we were all waiting to see who would come down with it. We found a pretty sweet camp spot and enjoyed our last night out in the backcountry with the Brits. We planned on waking up the next day at 5am and were all out of camp by 6am. By two o'clock we had covered 20 miles!!! Then we left Low Gap to hike 5 miles to the next shelter where we had to get water because it was the only source until Damascus which was about another   10 from the shelter. When we left the gap it was so hot. There was more uphill then I thought there would be. We finally got to the shelter around 5 I think and had to get water, it was almost half a mile round trip down a super steep ravine. Bugs were awful as well, I wish ppl could see me when I'm slapping my arms through the air hot and having a spaz attack. We left the shelter and were so tired and had done 25 miles already. We were going to camp at this campsite about 1.8 before Damascus. For some reason I had the easiest time with the last 5 miles or so. I got to the campsite and the Brits had decided to just walk the extra into town and it was 8:20 pm at this point. I half ran down into town with my headlamp on trying to figure out where to go when behold the Brits are at the bathrooms in the park! They had just got there. They'd been at least an hour ahead of us all day but we'd sped up at the end and were able to catch up! We grabbed some food while all moaning about our feet then set up camp at The place, a hiker hostel, in the dark. Then it was Trail Days and we had tons of fun! We met awesome people who thrued last year that were camped next to us, got to hang out with them a lot. I got to hang by the giant bonfire at camp riffraff and watch half naked ppl dance around the fire to drums. The Brits left us this morning. Sad to see them go, we will probably need some cheering up for the next few days. Hope they make it back to England alright, and hopefully we'll get to see them next year when we plan on visiting! Well I'm getting on the trail now in the rain. Did I mention its rained every day now for about two weeks? Next time you think about how you wish it wasn't raining so you could sit at the pool, think about how much it would suck to live outside haha.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Damacus, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday, June 1, 20136/1/13 Damascus, VA to Pearisburg, VAJust wanted update. I'm fine and have just found no motivation to type lately. Beer is just so much better than being productive. To sum it all up, I left Damascus and walked to Pearisburg. I saw ponies at Mt. Rogers and have new shoes that annihilate my pinky toes. However, I've only fallen once since I got them. It's been bloody hot out, and haven't hung my bear bag since Hampton. I've also been on the receiving end of a nasty spider bite. On a positive note I am actually enjoying myself, we had a waterfall party at Dismal Falls and I've met some pretty cool people recently. I still miss Crying Tiger and Irwin a lot. I have to eat all my food now that my human garbage disposal is gone. Well, I promise to write more next time but will make up for my lack of words with photos on this post. I took around 60 photos of ponies but will spare you and only put a few of them.
Date: 2013-07-14
From: Daleville, VA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday, July 14, 2013Duncannon, PA 07/14/13Finally leaving out of duncannon pa today! I gave my knee a few days rest staying at the Doyle for the hiker feed that trail angel Mary put on. It was great to get to see everyone in town and hang out. My left knee has been giving me some issues since the Shenandoah's. It seems to only really bother me once going down hill, but once it starts to hurt it doesn't matter which way I'm going. So I've had to slow down a bit, which isn't good because I need to finish the trail before one of my best friends weddings that I'm in. In Texas. On September 21st. Sigh. So, I'm going to try and just deal with the pain I guess and just hike. I've been hiking with Smiley and Gypsy (border collie) now for a few weeks. As well as Baby Steps! Baby Steps just got off the other day to head back to Minnesota. I'm gonna miss her so much! She's been with me since about Day 3! I'm proud of you Baby Steps you rock! The Shenandoah's were pretty nice. You got to eat meals at waysides all the time and they also sold beer and wine there! All of the trail were marked with these stupid concrete posts though. You had to get about an inch from them to read the engraved metal bad with trail names on it. I got off in the park to hang at Mailmans house for a day or two, his family was so awesome and extremely warm and welcoming! I got to see my first bear here, in total I saw three bears, a turkey and almost stepped on a snake. There weren't any views until after halfway through the park. My knee started bothering me on a slack pack into Front Royal. Mailmans parents, Margaret and Doug graciously took me in one more time. Ever since knee still bothers me. I visited DC for two nights! Thank you Yinz and Doc Spice!!! Made it to Harpers Ferry and had a great camp spot on the river. Then Smiley's friend he thru'd with in '11, Phishnets, came in from PA and drove us to get beer to celebrate for the Fourth! We played Polish Horseshoes all day, it involves hiking poles stuck in the ground with beer cans on top, you then use a frisbee to knock off said beer can of opposing team. Points are kept kind of like Cornhole or Washers. Smiley, Babysteps and I all got our phones stolen out of the Gathland State Park bathrooms while they were charging. We think we knew who took them, but the park police couldn't really do anything. Finally have a new phone though! I got to swim at Caledonia State Park, there was an awesome hiker feed there too! Then ate ice cream at Pine Grove State Furnace at the halfway point. Went to Boiling Springs and stayed at the Allenberry Playhouse (awesome place!) I've been night hiking quite a bit since its so hot. It gives my knee a rest too, and we break at the hottest part of the day. We made it Duncannon and the Doyle only to realize there was a big hiker feed and we've been here since haha. We are leaving finally! I get to see my mom and grandmother in 6 days!