morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-13
From: damascus

To: the place hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ugh, I get to feeling so guilty for taking a day off from hiking but at least I can feel honest with myself to know that it's for the better in letting my body catch up. There will come a day when.... oh who am I fooling. My knees do need some recuperation but it feels good to see so many hikers I know and soak up some warm weather after all the freezing. Last night I ate pizza buffet and this morning had a huge breakfast. Then for lunch had enough to stuff me with a sandwich and onion rings but had to go and have a bunch of ice cream. Immediately after getting back to the hostel I worked on a brick of cheese and candy bars. Oh&hhh so full and yet so hungry.A guy just showed up at 10:00 pm after hiking 42 miles. His feet look like damaged goods and he smells like death warmed over, like me yesterday I guess.Spent a relaxing day with mombo, agua, mcgyver, and gramps.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: the place hostel

To: lost mountain shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

I always feel great when I come out of a town after a zero. I got a really early start after stopping at the coffee shop. We had 3 big mountains and with the cool day it was good hiking. Haven't had reception for 3 days so this entry is after the fact.I was going to write about the art of hammocking. My hammock is a bottom entry which then secures together with velcro. When it's cold you have to have either a under quilt or a pad to put in the hammock to lay on. My under quilt is rated at 15 degrees and works by keeping the air from moving under you and giving you cold butt syndrome. The quilt is 3 quarter length so if it's real cold I have to put my sit pad under my feet. My sleeping quilt has a toe box that fully encloses my feet and the rest of the quilt drapes over the top and you could tuck the edges around you. Though the top quilt is rated for 30 I've kept warm down to 15. Most hammocks are tied with a special knot to tree straps but I modified mine with Whoopi slings that I can quickly adjust tension and in the morning when my fingers are froze I just unhook and pack up the hammock. I've learned to make sure my foot and head connections to the trees are the same height or I slowly slide down or up during the night.
Date: 2016-04-16
From: Thomas know shelter

To: hurricane mountain shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Wow, cold up on that mountain in the morning but what a morning. The sun just came up and the wild ponies were everywhere. The Greyson highlands looks kind of like the desert in Wyoming and so so many rocks. There were a lot os visitors to the area to see the ponies and got a chance to talk to a lot of day hikers who can by now recognize us as thru hikers by our homeless look and stinkiness. There was a scale corral where the Virginia cowboys were bringing in the longhorns to weigh and count. A few thru hikers waited around to try and yogi (the term for mooching food off people which sounds kind of pathetic but hey, anything to cram 6000 calories down our throats and not have to carry it) and they succeeded in acquiring hotdogs for everyone in camp that night. It was funny to come up to the Mesa a wonder where the trail was so all you have to do is look around and see that big 100 foot pile of rocks was and you know that's where the trail will go.
Date: 2016-04-21
From: hurricane mountain shelter

To: helveys mill shelter
Miles today: 77.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally got a signal so many miles have passed. Tomorrow we will go over 600 miles and in 3 days will go into pearls burg to pick up another food drop which of course means another 10 pounds on my back. Yesterday was a full food pack and what a day. It was hot and dry so we could not find water anywhere. All the natural springs are dry and we had to go 23 miles to a shelter that had water. I arrived with only 1 inch of water in one of 3 bottles. To top it off we climbed a total of over 5000 feet including a tortuous 2500 foot behemoth and then hiked the ridge for 8 miles which means many 100 to 150 foot climbs and rocks.Today was only 13 miles to help my knees recover.
Date: 2016-04-22
From: helveys mill shelter

To: Jenny know shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to a gentle rain this morning which is only the second time in almost two months. All you can really do is just take off as many clothes as you can, put on the rain jacket and take off. Of course Murphys law kicked in and the gentle rain turned to hard but oh well.I'll be doing a couple days of easy miles so that I can be in town Monday for my next mail drop and that is the downfall of mailing a box to a post office that you are forced to be there within a window of time.A section hiker made a fire and we are all dried out for now with our hiking clothes for tomorrow and I will do another 14 miler. The lower miles will help my knees and give me a chance to get more food into me.Side note: Roan mountain that we hiked 3 weeks ago is on fire and the Shenandoah park that we were to hike through in 3 weeks are on fire. Supposedly trail angels are shuttling hikers around the park and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has ruled that our hikes will still be classified as 'THRU' hikes though we are forced to skip some miles.
Date: 2016-04-29
From: Jenny know shelter

To: Catawba shelter
Miles today: 107.9
Weather: few clouds

It's been a long time since I've had a signal. We have been hiking through the edge of spring with the leaves popping out and the woods flowering. There has also been a lot more wildlife around with deer staring at us and squirrel And goohers, even lizards and salamanders. The water situation has been awful. Couple days ago had to hike 23 miles to find water and tonight used a pathetic spring that was more a drip than flow. A couple days ago we hiked to the top of a mount to camp where there were no trees and watched the most beautiful sunset and listened to the mocking birds. Talked to two ladies who have been hiking the trail for 16 years in sections and this year are doing the last 600 miles at one shot. Yesterday hiked 24 miles and one mountain was almost 2000 feet elevation climb. Brushy mountain has a memorial and flag for the place that Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier ever, died in a plane crash.Now I'm camped 2 miles from McAfee knob, the most photographed place on the AT and there are day hikers trying to climb that mountain with no experience and no water and the trail literally smells like perfume and bath soap, amazing what life has come to out here for us hikers.
Date: 2016-04-30
From: Catawba shelter

To: Daleburg, VA
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 5:30 after a horrible night of day hikers talking and laughing all night. US thru hikers of course are forced into this philosophy of hiker midnight which is 8pm and you either go to sleep or shut up. So started in complete fog and it works so much better to hike minimalist because your going to get wet anyway but I generated just enough heat to overcome the dripping trees and drizzle to stay dry. Had a problem with an unmarked area and hiked almost a mile at the bottom of tinker cliffs and kept going thinking I could hook up with the trail at some point but no, had to backtrack and later found out that many had that prob.The day total was 17.8 and saw many good sights, trail was pleasent if a bit rocky but decided to come all the way into Daleville to take a very much needed zero. My feet are sore or numb and can't feel the skin on my left thigh. Hikers foot kicking in for many people. Kind of a mix between neuropathy and pins and needles or total numb.
Date: 2016-05-01
From: Daleburg, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Once I stopped and closed my eyes, but the world kept moving around me as I stood there.I opened my eyes and discovered an adventure that I thought I could conquer, or at the least subdue.It was the trail that would endow the sweet bite of humility to strengthen, to teach, to help me hear what was truly within.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Daleville, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 134.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Been going up some amazing mountains with 3 ridges and the priest these last couple days. Haven't had service for a week and now sitting in Waynesboro,VA doing laundry and showering and ate at the famous Ming Gardens where we spent 3 hours eating till almost sick.Saw my first bear today though it was a cub but didn't see the mother so kept cruising to make town.Got caught in a rainstorm couple days back on top of a mountain and was so cold that I couldn't open the buckles on my backpack to get more clothes. Did an amazing feat of a fast 12 miles to stay alive and got to shelter on edge of hypothermia along with 3 other frozen hikers. Need to be thinking faster to be proactive in those situations.At mile 861 and did 20.1 miles today.
Date: 2016-05-13
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Byrds nest shelter
Miles today: 76.7
Weather: light rain

Another big section hiked without a signal so here's the rundown. Hiked out of Waynesboro and almost didn't because it was cold and raining but didn't want to get caught up in the town vortex that keeps people in the comfort of a warm bed and lots of food. So hiked 8.8 miles to first shelter and arrived dry but started wet in the morning. Second day hiked with Gary, a section hiker, and we pushed to the second shelter through the rain and fog, passing 900 miles for a total of 26 miles. Our first marathon day. Yesterday did 20 moles even though I told myself I would do easy day of 13, so so sore. Both my feet from the rocks and my back from all my food. I've been eating a couple pounds a day but kind of went crazy when I Resupply ed last time. Today was absolutely going to do only 11 and that equates to 21 miles of actual. Hiked for fourth day In fog and rain but sun came out and turned out being beautiful day with good views.Only a few more days to leave Virginia and will reach halfway point in a couple weeks.
Date: 2016-05-14
From: Byrds nest shelter

To: gravel springs hut
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Once again telling myself I would do an easy day but at 10 miles pulled into a shelter for lunch and needed to keep moving. As has been the case In the Shanandoahs it became foggy then dark and rained. Showed up at the next shelter so cold and was the last 3 people to get a spot out of the rain. Temp got down to 36 during the night. Will it ever be warm?
Date: 2016-05-16
From: gravel springs hut

To: dicks dome shelters 
Miles today: 28.7
Weather: clear sky

After a night in town which I received as a gift by Gary, a section hiker nearly 70 years old and quite a hiker. Well, I waited all morning for my food drop to show and moved on at 12:30 and still did 15 miles for the day. Finished the day soaked to the bone but a productive day. This evening got down to 38 degrees and wow, putting on wet socks and shirt in the morning when it's raining out, not fun. Lately each shelter seems to have a resident deer the wanders the area around the campers all night but I guess a good indicator that no bears are around. A couple of shelters have been shut down because a bear occasionally will figure out how to get to the food bags.
Date: 2016-05-17
From: dicks dome shelters 

To: Sam Moore shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

Rained all day but not hard. Prepped today by wearing more clothes and kept warmer for a bit. The trails just got worse as the day went on and soon we were covered from the waist down. Hiked with 'sparks' and did a lot of talking to pass the time. Did the first 4 hills of the roller coaster and each hill is only 300 to 400 feet but all rock and straight up and with the rain very slippery. Finally c@lled the day at 15 miles when the temp started dropping. Very cold and every time I had to leave the shelter had to put on wet shoes, ugh.After being in the woods for a couple of months it's amazing how sensitive we have become to smells of the forest. I can smell the flowers as I walk by and the smell of animals and of course a fellow thru hiker approaching from a thousand feet.
Date: 2016-05-18
From: Sam Moore shelter

To: Harper's ferry
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day after the rain. Sparks and I hiked out of camp at 7 and no rain but lots of residual mud. Finished up the roller coaster with its 7 remaining hills of doom and we, in our optimism, miscounted so while we were celebrating along came the last ,big monster and then the rocks. So so many rocks but eventually the trail calmed down so that when sparks and I departed I made the decision to fly into town which was 23 miles. Almost not the smartest move because we got here and couldn't find a place to stay. As Obi and I were ready to go another few miles to stealth camp we get a call from Walnut. We stayed at the hotel and ate, ate, ate. While hiking earlier we came across an older lady climbing a hill quite well and stopped to talk for a bit. I think she was in her 80's and trail name was trooper dot. She hikes every chance she gets and usually for small sections but her pack looked fully loaded. Trooper dot was so full of life and when we parted she says, "I sure wish I could thru hike with you all"
Date: 2016-05-20
From: Harper's ferry

To: rocky shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Left Harper's Ferry early and what beautiful city. Hiked for a while next to the old canal tow path and saw a lot of old canal locks and old structures from 150 or so years ago. Since I Resupplied thursday my pack felt like a hundred pounds and all day was miserable so I stayed at a shelter 16 miles in and I wasn't the only one since 20 other Co hikers showed up too. Started raining during the night and poured until 8. Big highlight is that we entered our sixth state which is Maryland.
Date: 2016-05-21
From: rocky shelter

To: raven rock shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

I never knew there was another wahington monument until researching the AT but there is. A very unimposing structure os about 30 feet on top of a hill and built by volunteer townspeople to honor George Washington. I was thrilled to finally see it. The day started just pouring and we all sat in our sleeping bags wondering if we were to brave the elements but at 8am it stopped and off we went. Drizzle all day but even without my rain jacket my body heat kept me dry. Sleeping at a 16 person shelter that is full and just got done eating a huge dinner. There are 3 boy scout troops out camping while it's raining and they don't look happy.
Date: 2016-05-22
From: raven rock shelter

To: rocky Mountain shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Entered another state today, Pennsylvania and left the south with Maryland behind us. Another drizzly day but still didn't have to wear the rain gear until last mile and now it's raining whole sitting in the shelter. Passed the mason Dixon line and in another day should reach the actual halfway point. It will be interesting to see how much ore quickly we can roll up the miles now that I have trail legs. Climbed a mountain today of 1100 feet and doesn't even seem worthy of mention with how quickly it went by.Caught up to the bubble in front of us and don't know anyone but the three I hiked with today, mombo and woods. Somehow lost the other 8 from previous bubble but I'm sure the rain disused many from doing big miles today. The trail was awful with ankle deep mud and slippery. Lots of rocks also and when the lichen on them gets wet it's like stepping on ice.
Date: 2016-05-23
From: rocky Mountain shelter

To: Tom's run shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: light rain

I had a great day today, so much so that I was going to blow by this shelter and go for 31 miles but was reminded by my wife that the post office is closed Monday for picking up the mail drop. While talking to her a thunderstorm hit and swamped the trails so took it easy and stayed with 19 miles. We went past the official halfway marker, which changes every year, at mile 1095 miles. I walked right by it for 20 feet and did a double take to check.I was so hungry today that I kept eating all day and now my food bag is light already but I'm running out of food. I've been seeing huge dog paw prints on the mud all week and today caught up to 'three burgers' and his monster white dog that we call polar bear but actual name is vosh.Socks are dry for a change and looks like we might keep dry for a couple days.
Date: 2016-05-24
From: Tom's run shelter

To: Alec Kennedy shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Felt really off today, not sure why but I was just dragging all day. After 4 miles I stopped where hikers do the half gallon ice cream challenge but I opted for the 4 egg wrap with tomatoes and cheese. From there it just went down hill but weather was good and drank 5 liters of water so wasn't too bad. For supper had lentil quinoa soup and a pound of trail mix and protein bar and the rest of a brick of cheese.Went over 1100 miles today and in 2 days will start the gruesome rocks of Pennsylvania.
Date: 2016-05-25
From: Alec Kennedy shelter

To: Darlington shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

No camping from the top of the ridge on one side of Cumberland valley to top of the ridge on the other side so we hiked down and walked on the trail through fields and narrow strip of woods for 1i miles and then back up the mountain to this shelter. Very hot day which we are not used to so drank 6 liters of water and still parched. Met up with a lot of hikers that I had been chasing for hundreds of miles including one guy that I hadn't seen for 2 months.It's interesting how many kids hiking think that eating enough food is all about the calories. They will eat to s of garbage like honey buns, over 500 calories and call it good but actually eat nothing with nutrition and their bodies constantly break down with illness or injury. All my dinners are dehydrated meals with a good mix of proteins, vitamins, and fats. My only sweet foods I eat for quick energy would be Snickers or Energy bars but a lot of my mid day food is my trail mix with 4 types of nuts and 8 dehydrated fruits or I'll just spoon out a bunch of peanut butter.
Date: 2016-05-26
From: Darlington shelter

To: Clarks ferry shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked to Duncannon town today and on the way started to experience the rocks of Pennsylvania in a very big way. Had a food drop to pick up and also some new shoes which was a huge relief. Both packages were at the historic Doyle Motel and as seedy as the motel is, it's a thru hiker tradition to stop for food and it was very good, especially since it was paid for by a couple of section hikers that I hiked with for a couple of days. Then I hiked across the susquehanna river and up a horrific 1000 footer with huge rocks and when on top followed 2 miles of ridge that was all rock hopping. Thanks for new shoes.The black flies are out in force and aim themselves for the eyes but just have to put up with it till I get my insect repellent next mail drop. Also making things interesting is the cutter worms eating all the trees so that the trail is littered with leaf particles and of course the constant dropping from the trees of the worms onto my head and shirt all day.Very hot today, maybe 90 and humid so not feeling so good right now.
Date: 2016-05-27
From: Clarks ferry shelter

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Tough day walking after the scare of heat exhaustion the night before. I asked every hiker I passed today for electrolytes and last night found salt packets so slowly pulled myself out of the stupor and did 13 miles. Exasperating though especially because lost a whole day of nutrition and I bet I lost another couple pounds. Was thinking of staying at the first shelter after 7 miles but a strange dude was living there and the water was .3 miles down 300 steps and I wasn't going to leave my backpack alone with this guy. So I went another 6 miles and met up with mombo and woods to stealth camp by a spring.
Date: 2016-05-28
From: stealth camp

To: mile 1191
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Feeling a bit better after the heat stress but wanted to take it more easy today so mombo and I hiked together. Talking a bit more to take my mind off the unbelievable hunger that I can't satisfy and my very first blister from these new shoes. A bit disappointed that after this far I have to contend with sore feet but oh well. Mombo is much better than I with Taking breaks so by noon it was 90+ degrees and we stopped at a midpoint shelter and napped and drank and continued. The humidity was atrocious and I knew I needed more electrolytes so I started asking every hiker I met for electrolytes and found enough to get by. We stopped for the day at a campsite with good water to drink and bathe and soon there were 12 thru hikers camped there. The only downfall was the road was 100 feet away and we heard trucks go by all night. Didn't bother hanging our bear bags with our food too high because I'm sure the traffic noise scares them into the hills but of course the mice are still everywhere.
Date: 2016-05-29
From: mile 1191

To: 501 shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke to amazing humidity. Everything is sticky and wet but wanted to hike in the cool so started ahead of mombo and woods. Right away had to go up a 900 foot hill and sweat out all the water I had worked so hard to gain back. Every step of the hike to the first shelter was painful and slow. Took a long break in the shade when mombo showed and we hiked 4 miles to the 501 shelter where we were going to have pizza delivered (yes, that close to civilization) and stopped. Most of the others were going to hike on but the longer they stayed and the more we ate they decided to stay here and I was just feeling awful anyway so I was glad we stayed.Tomorrow the plan is ambitious with 24 miles to port clinton but it is supposed to rain a lot and with the rocks being like ice when wet probably will pull up short 4 miles from town.
Date: 2016-05-30
From: 501 shelter

To: port clinton
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

Each day the rocks of PA get more extreme and tomorrow they will kick in full force as we climb out of town. We were going to stay at a stealth camp 5 miles before town that had the last water source but found it was down a cliff. I'm still not fully recovered from heat stress so out of desperation I hiked all the way to town which makes a 24 mile day and we are staying at the town Pavillion for free. We arrived at the same time as some trail angels that brought us gatorade and cherries, apples, oranges, beer, hot dogs, hamburgers. It's crazy how perfect the timing was considering we haven't been to a town for a week.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: port clinton

To: Eckhart shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I needed to do some Resupply in at Walmart and couldn't get a hitch to the next town so had to walk the 2 miles with my pack. Actually got my stuff done quickly and wanted to go to cabelas and someone offered me a rude to where ever I wanted to go so I bypassed dunking donuts and cabelas and had him drive me back to the trail so I didn't have to walk again. Stopped in at the barbershop and had a haircut and beard trim by the mad barber who proceeded to cut my beard all off, ugh there goes my wild mountain man look. Was going to hike to the first shelter at 7 miles but missed the sign so another 9 miles I went. No sooner did I show up when a hiker showed up with 5 pizzas for everyone.The rocks are getting worse and causing my blisters to scream at me but hopefully will heal up soon.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Eckhart shelter

To: baked oven knob
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: mist

What can I say, rocks but to the left and right of the trail nothing. Frustrating but that how it is. Stopped at the worst condition shelter, built in 1939 and full of wasps and garbage everywhere. Woke up in the middle of the night with something big and furry under my arm and when the other hiker woke up and turned on his light it was a big porcupine that I slowly shooed off. It wasn't happy and cluck ed and churttled as it wandered off.