morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Day Fifty Two - Vandeventer Shelter to Double Springs Shelter We woke up early and packed up as quietly as we could. We knew it was supposed to rain all day so we weren't upset to leave in the rain. It wasn't that bad at first but we needed to stop (I had to dig out my mitts because my fingers were frozen and Hobo went to get us water). Big mistake! We both froze as soon as we stopped hiking and I honestly wished there was a road nearby so we could just go to some hotel and crank the heat. Once we started hiking again I got over it, we had made plans to get to the next shelter and put our dry clothes on an get into our sleeping bags just to warm up for a bit but by the time we got to the shelter we decided to just eat a hot meal instead. While we were there Rocky and Crash stopped by for lunch too. It was a nice break but soon it was time to suck it up and start hiking again. It's amazing how many excuses one can make when it's raining out! I'm glad we moved on though and soon the rain stopped for a bit and if we weren't soaked it would have been a perfect afternoon. At one point we came over a little hill in the woods and were surprised by trail magic! Richard from Nelson Chapel Baptist Church was there refilling coolers with pop and high calorie snacks! I can't believe how much that coke and chocolate wafers cheered me up! We both walked away thankful with big, silly smiles on our faces. Then we crossed a road and a couple in a car stopped to ask if we were okay or if we needed to make a call or anything. I think that was our chance to escape the trail but we had been cheered by the trail magic and were ready to hike on. Next the trail went through a farmers field, the trail was immaculate and looked like it had been groomed recently. Bob Peoples had told Hobo about this stretch of trail, it is handicapped accessible and doesn't look like the rest of the trail at all (but I liked it)! We approached a field of cows and Melkie had to bark at them, minutes later we were all in the field with the cows. The trail goes right through the cow pen. It was hilarious because Melkie had made the cows all angry and they were all lined up staring at us and then once we were in with them they continued to follow us to the other end of the field. Melkie gave one last bark as we left and then one of the cows gave one last moo. I wish I knew what they were really saying, it was funny. We kept on walking up and down over smaller hills and then finally started going up for our last mountain of the day. When we got to the shelter Hobo looked at me and said "should we continue on?" I couldn't believe it! If it wasn't 5pm and I wasn't totally soaked I definitely would have wanted to go another eight miles and get closer to Damascus but not tonight. Tonight I just wanted to get dry and warm as fast as I could. We set up in the shelter quickly and I am already in bed, it's only 6pm. Good night!Trouble"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end." Ursula K Le Guin
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Fifty Three - Double Springs Shelter to Damascus We woke up with a mission today! It's a town day today so we were ready to go bright and early with a spring in our step. We came to an old shelter that looked like it would only sleep three and stopped to take a picture and then shortly after found the new shelter and stopped for lunch. I ate as much as I could so that my pack would be as light as possible. After lunch the race was on for the Virginia border! Hobo found a side trail that was a great mile marker for how close we were. We came down one hill and I saw what I thought was the last Tennessee mountain looming in front of me (it wasn't huge it was just in my way to get to town). We powered up that mountain not even stopping for air, I was getting excited. We came down that hill and there was another one in front of me. Another unplanned climb! Did that one too! Finally we started coming down and I could see a sign in the distance! It was the state line, we did it! We have walked to Virginia! Three states down, eleven more to go! After the excitement of making it this far we zoomed down the hills to Damascus and found ourselves yet again in a town where everyone knew our names. I can't believe how many hikers are here, people who I thought were long ahead of me have been hanging out here for days. Well we aren't getting sucked in, we are planning on leaving tomorrow by lunchtime. Hobo bought Melkie a bone and we went to The Blue Blaze to eat. I have missed real food so much! After dinner and countless conversations with other hikers that I didn't expect to catch again we walked across town to Crazy Larry's and started doing chores. First up laundry and hanging all of our wet items. Next showers! Finally getting caught up on all of our journals and pictures. I still have to resupply food in the morning and go to the outfitter to buy new shoes (my shoes have blowouts in the sides and its amazing that I don't have blisters).Trouble"Women who behave rarely make history." I can't remember who said it but it's true.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Fifty Four - DamascusI got sucked in to the town vortex but I have an excuse! As we were sitting around the breakfast table at Crazy Larry's Hobo says to me "Do you want to hear something that will make you jealous?The rest of these guys are leaving in thirty minutes to do a twenty mile slackpack." I knew immediately that I wanted in on it. I looked over at Hobo and said twenty miles without a back pack think about it! Within minutes we had decided to do it! Dave our shuttle arrived at 8am to take us for a forty five minute ride up to Whitetop Mountain. That's where our hike began in the clouds on top of a mountain. It was such a nice hike starting out with a down and not having a backpack weighing me down. It seemed more peaceful than usual and the birds singing seemed more enjoyable today. At times it was hard to wipe a silly smile off my face. We stopped and talked to everyone we met and as we hiked it turned into a gorgeous sunny day!I am so fortunate to be out here in this stunningly beautiful place day after day. I love Virginia. I always thought it was beautiful with its narrow windy roads but on the trail it is even better. I think it's one of those places that you just need to come see for yourself! At one point the Appalachian Trail joins with the Virginia Creeper Trail, it was for less than a mile but that mile was the flattest section of the AT that I have done so far and included a really cool bridge crossing. Hobo was hilarious! He took his bandana and tied it to the end of his trekking poles and carried it like a real hobo would down the flat trail, it was another picture moment. As the day wore on I started getting tired especially when going up. I felt like we were going up for hours even though it was gentle and I didn't have a pack on I just wanted it to end. We joked that it was the longest mile ever but finally we came to the top and started going down, things were looking up. Those last few miles (even though they were down) were pretty hard and it was a relief to rejoin the Virginia Creeper Trail again for the last half mile into town. It's funny how exhausted I felt and yet within minutes of sitting down how excited I was that we had done twenty miles! I instantly felt great again! We had done it and now we only have twelve miles to go to reach the five hundred mark! As we returned "home" to Crazy Larry's we were greeted with the awesome news that Larry had food waiting for us! Breakfast is included with our stay but he went out of his way to make us a nice meal. Thank you Larry!Confessions of a thruhiker:"I cut my spam up into little pieces to put in my pasta side but then accidentally spilled it all on the ground. You bet I picked up each and every piece and put it in my food."Trouble"The AT. The most fun you'll ever have.... Interrupted by long walks in the woods." Red Beard 08
Date: 2013-05-03
From: campsite passed Wise Shelter

To: Stealth camp at VA650
Miles today: 16.0

Day Fifty Six - Campsite past Wise Shelter to Stealth camp by roadIt rained through the night and was still raining when I packed up but guess what! I have no blisters! I thought for sure with how sore my feet were yesterday that I would wake up today with giant blisters. We started out slow walking through muddy streams and lots of rocks. Then we climbed a cloud covered bald in a crazy wind but ended up in a beautiful forest full of green that had giant boulders scattered among the trees. It stopped raining but it still took a rediculously long time to get to the first shelter (Old Orchard Shelter) where we stopped to get water and have lunch. After chatting with Backtrack, Tex, Tumbleweed and two really nice section hikers (Jennifer and Aaron) we continued on our way north. We didn't get very far before we heard a bunch of voices. Someone was offering beer to the hikers and everyone in front of us had congregated by the side of a road. While we were there Matthew rode up on his bicycle, he is doing the trans america trail (Virginia to Oregon). I hope you make it Matthew! He had a hundred pounds of gear attached to his bike and had already done over four hundred of the hardest miles of his trip. We crossed the road and started the big climb, at the top I realized how much easier it was than any of the mountains so far! Virginia is awesome! After the down we stopped near the next shelter for dinner (we didn't go to the shelter because it was an extra tenth of a mile and we were already tired). We really did still have miles to go before we sleep so we kept walking. We walked until I just wanted to lay down on the trail but we couldn't find a flat spot for Hobo's tent so we had to keep going. We ended up doing at least two extra miles until we found a spot for his tent (my hammock works anywhere there are trees, I really think he should get one). Most of my belonging are damp from the rain this morning so I am trying to air them out as long as possible before I get into the hammock. Even Melkie looks tired right now, I bet he can't wait to go to bed. We finally got into the hammock but it was hung too low so out we went and re hung the hammock. I did this three times and then crash the tree that I had hung from tipped over. Fortunately it got stuck on other trees and didn't land on me, obviously it had been slowly moving each time but I hadn't been paying attention. Hobo helped me rehang from two other trees in the dark and all was well once again. It serves me right for laughing earlier when I heard that someone fell out of their hammock. Good night world!Confessions of a thruhiker:"I have used hammocks for years and last night was the first time I fell out of one."Trouble"Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure."Found on Miss Janet's Bounce Box
Date: 2013-05-05
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Marion
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day Fifty Eight - Marion, VirginiaToday was a zero day I did absolutely nothing. I checked into a hotel had pizza delivered and had a long hot shower! Since there isn't much to report it will give me a chance tell you about someone I met.There have been people or stories that I have wanted to talk about but haven't wanted to invade anyone's privacy or feel like I am breaking their confidence but this story just has to be told. I met a guy in Damascus who says the trail has changed his life. He said that he spent time on the trail running from the law but that the longer he was on the trail, the more hikers he met who shared absolutely everything they had with him. It made hime realize that he was living life all wrong and had to turn himself in. He has totally changed his life and now he helps out whoever he can, whenever he can. He says that he knows most people are taking advantage of him but that he used to be just like that and that if he could change his life, then just maybe they can too. I'm glad I had the chance to meet him.Trouble"A man is as free as he chooses to make himself, never an atom freer." George MacDonald
Date: 2013-05-06
From: Marion

To: Marion
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day Fifty Nine - MarionAnother zero day for me! It's raining again today and I had to wait for Michael to get here anyway so another lazy day it is. It was after lunch before he got here and he was wiped out from all the driving so we just hung out in the hotel room for most of the day. We did take the dogs for a walk and stopped at a Chinese food buffet to get take out but other than that my day was spent hibernating.Trouble
Date: 2013-05-07
From: Marion

To: Marion
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day Sixty - Marion We woke up to pouring rain and decided to stay put another day. It did clear up a little in the afternoon so we drive out to Partnership shelter and walked a mile south just to take the dogs out for a walk and let Michael see a shelter. While we were out it started raining again, we came back to the hotel with two wet dogs. If I was on my own I would be out getting wet in the rain but I feel like its not fair to expect other people to want to hike when it's pouring rain out. It is going to put me way behind schedule but it does feel so good to take a few days off and just relax and all this town food is great! Trouble
Date: 2013-05-08
From: Marion

To: Atkins
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Day Sixty One - Marion to AtkinsThis morning we slack packed from the Partnership Shelter to Atkins. The weather still isn't good but at least we are staying in a warm,dry hotel room tonight. We tried to get on the Marion shuttle this morning but they didn't allow dogs on the bus. Temp (who was taking Michaels car to Atkins for us) drove us to Partnership Shelter and we were off. It was overcast but not raining and was an easy hike. Just as we were coming off of Glade Mountain it started to hail, we took cover under trees for the worst of it but continued on as soon as the hail backed off. Then it turned to rain and we got soaked! All the streams were full so full that the water was pouring over the stepping stones to get across and after a few crossings I didn't even bother trying to find the the highest stones my feet were soaked anyway. Soon the rain stopped and we stopped for a break. At one point we crossed giant power lines that made such a loud humming sound of electricity that we could hear them a quarter mile before we saw them. I felt bad for anyone who had to live near that! We came to an old schoolhouse (1894 to 1937) that was open for hikers to check out. The place was kept in immaculate condition, still had all of the old desks and an old wood stove in it. On the back wall there was a list of punishable behaviors and how many lashings each one was worth. Things have definitely changed! Later we crossed a train track and saw the bones from a deer and Melkie decided to go into a muddy marsh. I wasn't impressed. He was all muddy and stinky and we were almost to Atkins where I would have to try to get another hotel room with a muddy dog. I ended up leaving Michael on the trail with the dogs while I procured a room. While I was gone Hobo had heard a dog barking on the trail and went to see if it was us, he met Michael and when I got back we made plans to go out for dinner at the Barn where they serve a 16oz hiker burger. It was awesome! At the Barn Zen was there eating so we invited him to join us and after my giant burger he helped me finish off a giant brownie dessert. Zen ended up splitting a room with Hobo and they both came over to our room to hang out, eat more and watch old movies on tv. It ended up being a late night but worth it.Trouble
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Atkins

To: Marion
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day Sixty Two - Atkins to MarionNow I am going backwards! We woke up early and went back to the Barn for breakfast with Hobo. After breakfast we drove him eleven miles ahead to where he needed to get back on the trail. It was sad to see him go because I know it will take me a long time to catch up to him again. Back at the hotel we packed up, we had decided to zero again because the weather has been so crappy but wanted to go back to Marion where there was a grocery store and more choices of restaurants... Zen needed to get more fuel so we brought him with us. I got a room at Econolodge in Marion because they advertised a free hot breakfast but the room wasn't quite ready for us so I went for the ride back to Atkins to drop off Zen. I hope I can catch back up to Zen when I finally get back on the trail. We headed back to Marion to enjoy another day inside with hot water, flush toilets and television. Not quite living the dream but sometimes it can't be helped.Trouble
Date: 2013-05-11
From: Stealth campsite 

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day Sixty Four - Campsite at quarter point to Knot Maul Branch ShelterMy alarm went off at 3:45 am this morning. Melkie lifted his head and went back to sleep. I got up and packed up quicker than Aquaman and Lady and waited while they finished packing up. I liked hiking into the morning I just wished that I wasn't so tired. The ups seemed easier but my depth perception was a bit off and I had to really pay attention to where I was stepping. Melkie was obviously tired too because I spotted a deer before him and Melkie didn't clue in until after the deer was out of sight. By 7:30 I was so tired that I stopped and fell asleep on a bed of pine needles. I woke up when Standup passed by and again when I heard a sound in the woods and saw another deer taking off. I finally got motivated enough to start climbing and painstakingly made it to a campsite in the woods that had trail magic. It was a beautiful hike but again I just wasn't into it. There were several fences to climb over and one was way too high for Melkie so we had to go down a steep ravine to get under the fence and then climb back up- not fun. The trail magic was awesome though and made up for the rough morning. I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and had a can of pop that Lumberjack Mack (06 thruhiker) left for us. While I was there he arrived with a resupply for the coolers. He said that he makes about a thousand sandwiches per season for us hikers, thank you Lumberjack Mack! Standup was here and decided to stay, I decided to at least have another nap here before I continued on and everyone else was either doing eleven more miles or two to the next shelter. I slept for over an hour and decided to try for the shelter before the rain started again. I made it in time to get a spot in the shelter but I hung my hammock anyway because it is so much more comfortable. I just had time to get set up, eat, hang my pack and get into my hammock when the rain started. I hope my tarp holds up, I sent the extra big one back with Michael. It's still really warm out an still way too early to sleep but at least I am staying dry. Good night world!Confessions of a thruhiker: "Back when it was freezing and there was snow, I woke up to frozen shoes so I peed on them to warm them up." Eewwww!TroubleI had come to realize that I didn't have any feelings towards the AT trail that weren't confused and contradictory. I was weary of the trail, but still strangely in its thrall; found its endless slog tedious but irresistible; grew tired of the boundless woods but admired their boundless ness; enjoyed the escape from civilization and ached for its comforts. I wanted to quit and to do this forever, sleep in a bed and in a tent, see what was over the next hill and never see a hill again. All of this at once, every moment, on the trail or off.' Bill Bryson A Walk in the Woods
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Day Sixty Five - Knot Maul Branch I stayed at the shelter today with Salsa, Bluegrass and Bella the dog and later Standup joined us. I know that I can't afford to keep taking zeros like this but I really needed it today and it was raining on and off all day (still raining right now). I need to get my game back! I think I psyched myself into thinking that the first part was going to be harder than the rest but the truth is that it isn't getting any easier. I thought that if I could just make it long enough to get used to it everything would be okay but I adapted easily to trail life and yes the mountains were hard but I knew I was out of shape. I'm thirty pounds lighter now but the ups are still hard. On the trail there is a saying "embrace the suck," there has got to be a better way! Everyday I hear of more people quitting and at first I was thinking how can you make it this far and then quit but maybe they were expecting it to get easier too. Tomorrow I am going to power up those mountains as if they are all downs and try to psyche myself into this again. I did have a nice relaxing day here today and now the shelter is full with a bunch of new friends and there are tents surrounding my hammock. There is a section hiker here that thruhiked last year and is hiking to Damascus for trail days. He has a really cool AT tattoo on his leg.Confessions of a thruhiker:"I dry my socks the same way I roast wieners over a fire. It works."Trouble"Grant yourself a moment of peace, and you will understand how foolishly you have scurried around." Chinese proverb
Date: 2013-05-13
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: few clouds

Day Sixty Six - (19.1) Knot Maul Shelter to Jenkins ShelterI woke up in a better mood this morning and packed up and left in good time. I did power up the mountains better but I've come to the conclusion that I need to hike with someone. It's easier to distract yourself climbing up a mountain if you are with someone. I even thought of trying to listen to music up the hills today but I didn't want to stop to take my earphones out of my pack. I stopped at Chestnut Knob Shelter for lunch and a nap. It was a cool shelter, it used to be a ranger station and had four walls and a door. There were bunk style platforms and a picnic table inside. While I was there I met Crazy Horse, he is a southbounder and is at mile 1620. I wish I was that far! This afternoon was an awesome hike but it went on forever. I walked along a ridge with tons of ups and downs. I was in the woods but the edge of the ridge was a rocky cliff and looking out you could see the farms down below. It became really rocky though and I had to watch each step. The hill down to the shelter was crazy long and I actually thought I had passed it somehow. I finally made it here and there is a sign about an aggressive bear and bear crap not far from where I hung my hammock. I'm not going to hang my food from my hammock tonight!Confessions of a thruhiker:"I was having digestive problems and had to stop quickly several times. I ended up hiking though a cow pasture and had nowhere to hide so I did my business in a cow field with all the cows watching me. After I walked away the cows all went to check out what I left for them." He told this story way better, we were all in tears laughing.Trouble"In this life we are all just walking up the mountain and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet whichever we choose we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago singing made a whole lot more sense."