morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Trail Surprise

To: Cuba
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Lazyyyy morning. We didnt get going till 11! 4 of us roll out to hit our 500 mile mark! We start with a beautiful canyon climb! Then it is all down hill into town. Sand everywhere until we hit pavement. 7 miles road walking. Always hard on the feet. We make it!! 500!! Man that went by fast. The next 500 is sure to be an adventure too. Sunbwar and friends made a huge hamburger dinner and pie!
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Cuba

To: Post Holing Cuba
Miles today: 15.4

Our friends left as more arrived. Darwin and Snuggles! Let's get some real hiking in today. 15 miles up and over a mountain. Easy, fun, thrilling. Well we started off all fun and games. It took about an hour and 45 minutes to change. Every foot of elevation gain brought snow. Soon it was over waist deep the entire time! And loose. Post holing for miles while we trudged on. At some point we should have considered our circumstances, but we waited till everyone was wet and frozen. The votes poured in! It was time to turn around. Conditions unknown, snow field as far as the eye could see, snow storm blowing in on top of us...   The trail Gods are vicious today. Down the mountain we moved. With ease and speed that only food and drink can compell out of us. Uncle Sparky at the road for the rescue. Tomorrow we venture out for sbow gear.
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Post Holing Cuba

To: San Pedro Peaks
Miles today: 15.3

. Today the whole crew is out. Darwin, Snuggles, Cowgirl, ans of course Me. We chose back country over road walk. A quick 16 mile scenic section. Uncle Sparky drops us and we head out. Sunny , a little up, some down. Nice path, freah air, birds chirping. 8 miles of up to do, so we start climbing. The trees are changing and the terrain is getting rougher. Patches of snow, mud, ice. Soon it fades away to a trail of snow. No tracks, just us. Nice and crispy. Well that changes shortly. Waist deep and post holing. We hope it stops. It only gets worse as we climb. At some point we should have turned around. Nope, we summit. Fighting for every inch. Finally we realize its late, very late. We decide to turn around and headk back. The miles of post holing had sapped our time, strength, and energy. We trudge down the mountain. Exhausted we make it to the road and get picked up by Uncle Sparky. We go home, but poor Darwin and Snuggles have to drive for an hour. Glad they came out. Great friends.
Date: 2016-04-12
From: San Pedro Peaks

To: Albuquerque
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Second Zero! Going down to Albuquerque to get some new gear. Snowshoes!! Nothing like a little road trip to relax. Thanks to Darwin and the great people at Sports Systems for the help and the gear! We are now ready to conquer the world. We pick up Cowgirls friend and all of us head put for delicious New Mexican foods. So tasty. We hangout for awhile but eventually we have to return to the trail. See you guys out there!
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Albuquerque

To: Puerco River
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: few clouds

Ok mountain, time to be conquered. We head up the road and find the gate to the trailhead is open. Fantastic! Uncle Sparky drops us and we take off. We get about 45 minutes in before the snowshoes get strapped on. Climbing and climbing. A winter wonderland up here. The crunch of the snow under foot. But things start to turn...   The sky is an ominous shade of dark grey, soon expelling a near white out storm. They trail disappears underneath the deep snow. Soon we hit drifts over chest deep. Swallowing us whole, snowshoes included. Forward progress. Left foot, right foot. Repeat. Finally I make it to the meadow, I see Cowgirl in the distance. What is she doing? Snow Angels? Weird, but ok. I trudge over, only as i get closer i can tell somethings wrong. Her and the barky have broken through the ice over the river! They are struggling to get out as it keeps breaking away. The raging river threatening to pull them both down. I make my approach only to find it is breaking away 20 feet before i can get to them. Precious time ticking away as they slowly fight their way to stable ice. Finally they emerge. Now we are racing the clock to fight off hypothermia. Cowgirl still wants to push for the summit. The entire river is impassable. I pull up the map and make a route adjustment. Cross country we go. Snow drifts, side hill walk, and finally the top! Most dangerous day yet! Instead of returning, we continue right over. The third time we have gone this route. We know it well. Uncle Sparky picks us up at the usual spot. Tired, alive, and victorious!
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Puerco River

To: Road Walk Cuba
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

Easy day. Road walk from the trail head to our 500 mark. All down hill! Nothing great to report. We took the dog. He was terribly behaved as usual. Super tired after the last couple of days though. There is a house on top of the hill that looks like a castle. Wish we could get closer. Id knock on the door and ask for a tour. Back in town we finish and load up to go back to camp and relax.
Date: 2016-04-16
From: Zero Day 3

To: Sweet Thang
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

We have added one to the team. Sweet Thang....Uncle Sparkys girlfriend. She will be joining us for a couple days. So we set off. Enjoying the scenery, only a few mild up and downs. Really an enjoyable day. Birds, sun, plenty of water. Till we come down the final decent. Snow! Yes still snowing here! Now racing the storm! Thunderheads looming just behind us. Walking down the dirt road making time. Whats that sound?? Car. Uncle Sparky! We ride in luxury to ghost ranch and get all cleaned up and fed. There is cake and ice creambto celebrate Sweet Thangs birthday. Just after we settle down, the rain comes, then hail for a couple hours, then snow.
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Zero Day 3

To: Ghost Ranch
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Good Morning! It rained last night, then hail, then snow. Snow everywhere. Cold. And of course, the road is a mess. More snow as soon as we start. Ahhh good times. It's a short hike today. Easy easy. Right down the roadMusic in, legs in gear. We cruise right to Uncle Sparky. A quick dry off and we go to visit the museum at Ghost Ranch. Dinosaurs and such. After that a quick nap and soon a stwak dinner. What a way to end the day.
Date: 2016-04-18
From: Ghost Ranch

To: Ghost Ranch North
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: clear sky

Today we head back into the wild. Sweet Thang will walk with us until we lose the road access. An early ish start and we are all off. We pass bye a big , but closed ranger station. They should atleast open it to be run ny volunteers. Just after is our first swinging bridge. Oh the pup doesnt like it one bit.A little coaxing and he walks across. Up to ghost ranch, across the property and into the canyon. Naturally we climb put of the canyon. Always fun. Soon it starts to snow. It feels like christmas out here. The trail turns into a serious of old forest roads. They are covered in clay mud. Walking becomes trudging. Each shoe becoming heavier and heavier with every step. Slipping and sliding in the mud. We may not be graceful, but no one fell down. We walk through the worsening storm till dark Camping on top of a hill near some scrub trees. Its bitter cold and the wind just whips at your face. The snow already several inches deep.
Date: 2016-04-19
From: Ghost Ranch North

To: Canjilon
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up this morning to find 2 feet of snow had dropped last night. This is going to be a challenging day. I dig my way out of my tarp and pack up. Its still snowing out here. We try the shoes first but the powder is too fresh and loose. Just sinking in them and then they ice up so it's like walking with weights. Back to just walking through it. Progress is painstakingly slow. 1 mph or less slow. The snow storm getting worse. Mentally im done. I didnt come out herw to winter thru hike. I tell Cowgirl its time to bail. We need to wait out winter. I know this is not what she wants to hear, but its true. For me anyways. This is everything i hate about hiking. We find an exit and bail. We follow a service path down to a road and walk out. Uncle Sparky meets on the road and takes us back to basecamp. We decide to try and finish New Mexico, but it will be almost all detour, alternate, and road walk.
Date: 2016-04-20
From: Canjilon

To: HWY 64
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Well hello there. I hope you are enjoyimg the trip so far. We now have less than 100 miles left in NM! Ok, back to the walking. So we planned a route to get to Hwy 64. It incorporates some road walking, back roads, and cross country. Looked great on the map. Down the mountain we sailed. A crisp 32° outside and the aun shining. We hit our first turn and bam! Road gone. Walking through creeks and muddy cow pastures. Real mud, ankle deep suck the shoes right off your feet mud. Then a bit of highway walking to ease up a bit. Down the county roads into no mans land. The ground has water and slush. Miles and miles of slush mud. Sooo cold, eventually your feet go numd and its like trudging on a pair of sticks. Fighting for every step. Exhausting. We cross some streams. The banks so steep you can just slide down them as if you are skiing. Naturally, I almost biff it immediately. Then we climb three ridges. One step forward, half a step back. For hours...slow going and exhausting! Eventually we peak out! Wooo! Now we cruise on in to the hwy. We text Uncle Sparky for pick up and walk to stay warm and get a few more miles in. I see why they say hitching is hard on this one. No cars. Two passed us in ovee an hour and only one going the right way.
Date: 2016-04-21
From: HWY 64

To: Cumbres Pass
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Alrighty. It has finally happened. CG and I are taking different routes. She will go trail and I will take the alt. We will both be south bounding, my route 10 miles shorter. So here we are getting dropped at Cumbres Pass. Just a couple miles inside of Colorado. The road is open, but there is six feet of snow. The top two powder. Practically impossible to move in. I wish her luck as we set off. Down the road i go. Wind whipping, sun shining though. Music playing, a pep in my step. Almost no cars are out here yet. Snow covered mountains as far as the eye can see. I get into high speed and move downhill. Cruising. A few good pics taken. Some deer playing in the road....smart fellas. Finally i roll into town. I head to the P.O. but its closed for lunch. I hang around and wait and pick it up. Then i brake for some tacos. Good call. Some weather passes through. Looks like its head for CG. Hope she is doing alright. Back to the road...forward progress to be made! Just outside of town Jose Chavez "Shorty" stops me and we chat. Great guy. Time to go! My feet are killing me. The new shoes i picked up are wrong in about every way possible. Forward i trudge on, slightly limping. Only an hour till Sparky picks me up. I make just past the ranger station. Thank goodness, i am sore. Back at the trailer warm, showered, and fed.
Date: 2016-04-22
From: Cumbres Pass

To: New Mex Complete
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Very excited! Last day of New Mexico!! And a short one at that. Uncle Sparky drops me off so I will be NoBo towards town. I have no service, so I tell him i'll make my own way in. Music and cruise mode Go! Its a quick 8.5 miles to the Ranger Station. Now i just need a hitch. Well.... Traffic is slim and no one wants to pick up a hobo. Even though i look fairly respectable. I just walk towards town. Finally a rancher gives me a ride to the outskirts. He has heard of us, i thought that was pretty great! I catch Uncle Sparky just as he is leaving Base Camp. He is going to retrieve CG. Apparently the snow is extremely tough.
Date: 2016-05-22
From: New Mex Complete

To: C&O
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Holy biscuits! Finally made it out here to Washington D.C. what a ride! Bus, plane, train, light rail, train. Im exhausted. Still have to get on the trail and walk. Man does it feel good. In the 50s and raining. I found a drynplace for the evening. Going to sleep. Began today on trail at 5:45pm.
Date: 2016-05-23
From: Trail Surprise

To: Edwards Ferry
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

Well an early morning start from my stealth camp. Music going time to walk. My feet are sore. My calves are sore. My mind is great. Cruising along enjoying some sunshine. Watching all the canal animals. Birds, turtles, squirrels, and.....Snakes. Over 30 of them! Ringnecks, rats, racers, and even a baby copperheard. All over the damn place.went by the museum but it was closed. One of these days itll be open. Had a long lunch with Ed. Great cyclist. Had amazing stories... A bike may be where im headed. Then a quick thunderstorm. Ahhh fun. Finally camp. But i have friends from the AT that live close by. Long Haul Trucker and Trail Bunny came out and took me to pizza and beer!! Cant beat that. Thanks guys!! Now to sleep. On the top of a picnic table. Lol. Home sweet home. Had my tarp at the ready. Which is good because it did eventually rain.
Date: 2016-05-24
From: Edwards Ferry

To: Calico Rocks
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

Gooood morning! I have been exhausted. Woke up at 4 and hit snooze. Slept in till 9. Had everything set out drying, so still productive. My feet are amazingly sore. I thought my heels were cracked so i finally looked at them. Just blisters. So taped everything up. Im giving these sandals till Pittsburg. Im relearning how to walk in them. Its a whole different motion using different muscles. What a real pain im the legs. Onto the trail bright and sunny. Made it to Whites Ferry. Which is a real ferry. Had a burger and fries. Really hit the spot. I have to stop and stretch every hour. Legs are killing me. Back on it trying to make time. Just cruising and stretching. Limping mostly. Loving every step of this trail. I really should write a guide book for it. And i just might. Im headed to Harpers Ferry then off to see the wonderful Day Family. Talked to some more bikets today. Sounds like such a good way to do this. Also camped with some...hobos? They tried to say they were hiker bikers but.... None of their stories added up to scrutiny. Anywho..just camped outside of town and a short day tomorrow. Looking forward to the break.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Antietem
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well im headed back to the trail. Which means another adventure in Public Transit. I got dropped off early because i dont like keeping people up late. So 8pm. Bus comes at 240am. On and off dozing at the bus stop. Get to DC early. Ready to hit the train. Well turns out they only come in not out in the AM. Back to dozing. Catch the first afternoon train. Ahhh but it stops 15 miles short and i have to wait 2 hours for a bus. Bam! 5pm start. Only went 13 miles. Big camp ground by the road. Actually a few people here, but all are inside already. Going to sleep so well. Need to kill some pack weight. Going to be eating well and changing clothes in a couple days.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Craig
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

Met with Craig un Williamsport. Was going to take the boat on the canal but the water was too low. Chatted for a couple hours then had lunch. Ended up sitting in the diner for awhile. A massive storm blew through. Sent boulders and trees all over the path. Even for camp there were still branches falling.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: C&O Bike Hostel

To: Devils Alley
Miles today: 21.0

Well slept in and took another shower today. Awesome way to start the day off. Packed up and made it a full 1000 feet. Went to the city park and dropped my kit. Went across the street for a soda and a sandwhich. Charged everything, grabbed water and finally left at noon. Doing most the day on the Western Maryland Rail Trail. Nice smooth, dry, paved trail. Awesome! Or so i thought....till my feet began to ache and throbbbb. No benches or water or anything. Just a quick nice bike trail. Finally made it back to the C&O. Planned on a short day with drinks and stealth camping. Well the pubs closed so more miles. Got a full day in. Explored a town or two. Even took a short nap on a picnic table.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: C&O Bike Hostel

To: Potomac Forks
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up decently and got started. About an hour in the vicious rain storm hit. Fast and strong it was soon gone. Nothing like a free shower. The rest of day was very nice. I saw the most aggressive black snake ive ever run into. I should have caught him just to knock down that shitty attitude. I actually saw Forestry people today! Driving down the towpath. Hopefully clearing up fallen trees. A personal favorite. The Paw Paw Tunnel. Over 3000 feet long. Always a blast to cruise through. Busy this year. Must have ran into 30 people just doing the tunnel. Made it to camp early and met an interesting older couple from Deep South Virginia. They are something else.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Potomac Forks

To: Last CO Camp
Miles today: 16.0

Got cold last night. Dropped into the 40s. Slept in and dried the dew off. A short day ahead. Stopping before town to save a few bucks. Feet are still killing me. Ive decided to find real shoes. This is ridiculous. Walked 10 miles pretty quick. Then had to lay on a bench for almost an hour with crippling foot pain. Shoes are showing crazy wear. Emailed them this morning to see what they have to say. Finally made it to camp. Met a nicw mother son team and an older couple and one lone guy. We all had dinner and a fire together. Great. Played Eucher. Fun. Then some ukelale music. What a great day!
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Potomac Forks

To: Cumberland
Miles today: 15.0

Slept in and had breakfast with every one. Said goodbye and headed to town. Cruised. Supposed to be a short day but went look for shoes and walked aroundbthe museum. Looks like a festival of sorts starts tomorrow. I will probably zero till monday. I did walk down the GAP trail on my shoe search. All paved so far. Sounds like lots of stealthing. Oh good times. Stopped at Klines kitchen. Huge beer battered fish supper! Im happy. New shoes, new socks, fed... Just need drinks. Laundry tomorrow!
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Stealth Bluff

To: Stealth Table
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

Early start. Good. Walked a few miles into Frostburg. Met Jenn for lunch and boom already 2. Sucking at this. Well hit many tunnels and bridges today. I always try to playbmy harminica in the tunnels. Lots of great photos. Trying to get miles. Big thunderstorm tonight.   Update: pissing down rain. Lighting so close you can feel the charge. Thunder drowns out the train below me. Stealth camping a little covered table.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Stealth Table

To: Outflow Camp
Miles today: 43.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Another day. Lot of hiking. Met a few cyclists i have been keeping up with. Thats always a refreshung feeling. Rocking a solid pace today. Feeling it at the end of the day. Ran into a litter of skunks. Talk about heart pumping! Made it in around dark thirty to the campground. Nothing like a warm shower. And got the tarp up just as it started to rain.
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Stealth Table

To: Connelsville
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: light rain

Early start. Some peanutbutter and jelly to get me going. Cruising to Ohiopyle to grab lunch. Ran into a Chiver there! Awesome! The bartendress is a hiking fan and bought me lunch! What a great day. Left and stopped on the bridge to watch people rafting. Looks fantastic. Pace is slower...coming down with tendinitis in my right foot. Met some more cyclists ive seen. Always good talking. Made it into free camping huts in town. Goood night.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Connelsville

To: Clear Creek
Miles today: 26.2

Another long day. Didnt feel any easier. Didnt wake up with any motivatiin. Really need some zeros. A couple more days. Slept in, which was nice, but it was a scorcher! Sweating something fierce. Still having terrible pains in my thighs. Acid build up? Dehydration? Mineral imbalance? All possibilities ill be looking into. Ran into some nice people. I say greetings to all the cuclists. After hours on their return trip they stop to ask where im going. Canada! I declare, then a chat follows. Im out of my cards to hand out. Have more in my resupply. Good night all.
Date: 2016-06-19
From: Clear Creek

To: Amusement Park
Miles today: 33.0
Weather: clear sky

Semi early start. Just doing miles. Whatever gets done today i dont have to do tomorrow. Saw a sulpher acid water fall. Fantastic! Had a lot of interaction with people today! Lots of talking. A great couple before the waterfall and a couple on a bridge then some cyclists. And of course perso of the day Yale. The trail monitor. Saved me with where to camp. I enjoyed my scenic river walk this morning and then the trail meandered through small towns and then a city. And it seems its just city till the end. Didnt expect that. Always something new. Im excites to finish, eat some steak and shrimp, shower, and do laundry. Also upload the beautiful pictures ive been storing up. Going tonsleeep. Trying to be up before the sun and be done by noon.
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Amusement Park

To: GAP Finished
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

Up fairly early. Sleep wasnt restful. Too excited to finish! Hit the trail and going. A couple problems im having. A nerve issue in my left quad which causes burning sensations. Awesome! And tendinitis in my right foot. Damn old age. Anyways just walking. Point State Park on my mind. Talked to some cyclists on the way in. Saw some nice graffiti and grabbed photos. As well as some intresting architecture. Walked through the city and finally got to the end! Record set! 137hours 55 minutes! Glad to be done. Now to celebrate! I want Applebees...nooe. Bbq will do...walk there..closed. Well heres a bar so that will do. Drinks and food. Checked into the hotel and got laundry done. Bought crown and ordered pizza. Tomorrow i meet my good friend Dad in port clinton. After my 8 hour bus ride. Excited. Ended up not sleeping and binge watching Criminal Minds. Ps left all mu teny stakes behind.
Date: 2016-06-28
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Walnutport
Miles today: 25.0

What a day. Day 2 no food. Decides to go to town and grab some. The roxks were hard on the feet today. Also...no water.   Thank fully its overcast. Big storm but i made it in before it dropped. New spandex! That other pair was killing my undercarriage.
Date: 2016-06-29
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 23.2

Up early. Did a little bouldering to get up the climb. Carried 4 liters of water because i am not a fan of walking an extra 1.2 miles for it. Ridiculousness. Lots of smaller sharp rocks. I like the boulders better. Made it in and out of wind gap with a full water supply without having to go to town. Awesome. Camped just before the road. Going to be anice easy day tomorrow and then meeting friends the day after. Very excited!!
Date: 2016-06-30
From: Wind Gap

To: DWG
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

Short day today. Full of water. Life is good. The rocks were tricky today. But nothing stops you from delicious town food. And what a feast there was! The church put on a hiker feed with what....thats right ladies and gentlemen, fried chicken! As well as sides, hot dogs, salads, desserts, home made ice cream! All this after i had a cheese steak the size of a child! And a steomboli to go! Plus meeting some wonderful friends tomorrow. Charged everything and took a hot shower with a clean towel. Rinsed my shirt....it needed it.