morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-24
From: Watauga Lake

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Renee dropped me off at Watauga Lake and I resumed my hike north. First, I had to pass through a four mile section that has been closed due to bear activity. They actually had signs posted that stated "do not linger in this zone". Sheesh! I made it through without seeing any bears (maybe it was my singing). There were great views into Shady Valley. I met up with some friends and made it to the shelter.
Date: 2016-04-29
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

It was a tough day with a big climb up the flanks of White Top Mountain, but the scenery was stunning. After White Top came Grayson Highlands with its otherworldly terrain (and ponies!). Beautiful clear weather provided incredible views that made the rocky terrain easy. Also today, at Massie Gap, I passed the 500 mile mark! Whoop, whoop!!
Date: 2016-04-30
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

I have been hiking with a new friend, Moondog, a retired engineer from Massachusetts. We put in a long day to reach Trimpi shelter before the rain hit and just barely made it. The evening before we saw a strange sight - an elf! Turns out it was a cool former thru hiker (Math Rage), who was part of a group providing some wonderful trail magic three miles away. We enjoyed a great breakfast there (with the elf) the next morning. Great people!!
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Marion, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.4

It was a fairly easy day as we hiked into Atkins. The weather had been threatening storms all day, so a bunch of us (Buckles, Dirty Deeds, Moondog, Squid, and more) decided to hole up in a hotel to sit out the coming storm. The next morning we would head out into whatever weather nature would give us.
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The spring rains have come to the mountains with on and off downpours. The rhododendron have started to bloom adding a splash of color to a gray day. I had an epic butt splat in the mud, covering my backside and pack with gooey mud. I think I said a bad word. A few miles on it came to a stream, where I was able to clean up some. Wet is better than mud.
Date: 2016-05-04
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: few clouds

Another long day as I passed Chestnut Knob Shelter to continue on a rocky trail to Jenkins Shelter. In between rain showers the clouds parted enough to give beautiful views down into Burkes Garden. Even with all the rain there were few water sources up high, so it was a rough thirsty day. It was a relief to reach the shelter see some familiar faces and pitch my tent.
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: moderate rain

Five miles into today's hike, I came to a road crossing where there were some people giving out some Trail Magic. Not long ago a young hiker named J-Bird completed his thru hike. Shortly after he returned home he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. His family (Dave and Deanna Werner), along with friends have travelled from Pennsylvania to help hikers to honor J-Birds memory. They provided food, warm drinks, and warm smiles. I know J-Bird was smiling too. Magic indeed.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Bland, VA

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The A. T. from Bland started by going over an overpass above Interstate 77. I have passed under this bridge a thousand times, so it was interesting to walk over it. The rhododendrons are starting to bloom, splashing the woods with bright color. The trail had a lot of long flat sections, so I was able to trudge on and on to accumulate a new personal best on distance.
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today was rather short, but because of the rainy weather, I decided to join some other hikers and do the 1/2 mile side trip to Woods Hole Hostel. It turned out to be a great place. In the morning they served a super hiker breakfast to power us back up the trail.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The weather has been on and off wet for days now and staying dry is difficult. However, the springs are all running nicely, so filling up on water is easy. The trail passed through the outskirts of Pearisburg with a short road walk across a bridge. It is always a strange feeling to come out of the woods and walk alongside high speed traffic. Rice Field shelter was a nice place to end the day with good views looking down the valley to the town I passed earlier. I met up with a couple of hikers I haven't seen in a while (One Step and Two Step) and also met the Professor who provided some funny stories wile we cooked and ate supper.
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: VA Route 42
Miles today: 17.1

There was a real loud storm last night that woke everyone in the shelter, but we stayed relatively dry. The morning clouds cleared off to give a rain-free day to cover some rocky and hilly ground to get to Route 42. From there I hitched a ride into Blacksburg, where my son Lucas picked me up to head home for the Trail Days Festival in Damascus. I expect there to be a record crowd of hikers there this year.
Date: 2016-05-14
From: VA Route 42

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

On Saturday, I had the opportunity and joy to participate in the Trail Days festival as a thru-hiker. It was very cool to walk in the parade with the other 2016 hikers. The traditional water battle with the crowd (and especially my family) was outrageous fun. Since, I am home during this time, I have done some gear repair and changed to summer clothing and sleeping bag. My pack is a bit lighter now. Still working on the excessive weight loss problem. I am carrying plenty of extra food, especially high density protein food like tuna. Also in my pack is protein powder, which I drink at the end of each day. My weight started at 185 pounds and is now 158. I hope to be able to get back into the 165 range. We'll see. On Tuesday Renee and I are heading back north to the trail together. She is going to hike with me for about 50 miles. Should be FUN. Additional Note: A special Thanks to everyone who has posted in my guestbook. There is no easy reply system on this site and I haven't had time to communicate individually, but I read every post and really appreciate the support and encouragement.
Date: 2016-05-29
From: Damascus, VA

To: Niday shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally, I am back and able to update this journal. I waited at home after Trail Days for my older son, Matt, to clear his schedule so he could join me on the trail for a few weeks. Renee shuttled us back to VA route 42 and we headed up the trail to Niday Shelter. Before reaching that destination, we passed on of the A.T. icons: The Keffer Oak, which is the largest oak tree on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

The weather in Virginia has turned to typical summertime stuff - hot, muggy, and sometimes rain. Even so, we still had great views from McAfee Knob. Sitting out on that rock also provided some nice breezes to cool us down. Matt has been hitting the hills like a thru-hiker veteran, but has started to get some blisters.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.4

There have been bear warnings and a shelter closure, which affected our hike today. We hit the trail and walked in stifling heat past Lamberts shelter (which was closed) and headed straight into Daleville and got into a Howard Johnsons Hotel. Time for shower, laundry, food and re-supply! Matt and I polished off a large pizza in about five minutes. NICE.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Matt tended his blisters and I tended my belly (meaning I ate lots of food) in Daleville. So, rested and fed, we headed out into a foggy morning and tried to make some miles. Bobblets Gap shelter was rather small and didn't have much in the way of camping space, so we waited out a thunderstorm there and then pushed on about 1/4 mile to tent in a flat spot beside the trail.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was interesting. We hiked over some rocky terrain and came to a road crossing, where we found out that a nearby diner would provide a free shuttle to their establishment. Matt, me and about 3 other hikers said YES PLEASE! There we had a wonderful burger and cool drinks. Good Stuff! After that, we were shuttled back to the trailhead, where we did a little swimming in the stream there just to knock some of the sweat and salt off our clothes (no, there was no skinny dipping, thank you). Nice way to cool off the day.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: moderate rain

There have been more signs noting bear troubles and shelter closures. This is not a bear problem, this is a people problem. Ignorant hikers leave food in fire pits or practice other bad habits that attract wildlife like raccoons or bears. This was very annoying today, since we had to hike thru closed areas (meaning no camping or even stopping to eat) to get to the next shelter. I was very tired and Matt's feet were hurting at the end of the day. However, we did get to camp next to a wonderful cool stream (great for cooling of aching feet) and met some nice hikers.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 2.0

Today was short as we crossed another A.T. icon - the James River Footbridge, which is the longest foot traffic only bridge on the trail. After that, we hitched into Glasgow where they have set up a free pavilion for hiker camping, complete with a hot shower. It's a very small town, but they have all the necessary hiker places, like a Dollar General for re-supply and a laundromat. The weather has cooled a little and hopefully that trend will continue.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Punchbowl shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

The weather has taken a cooling turn, which is great! After lots of climbing and crisp clear views, we arrived at Punchbowl shelter. There ended up being about 15 people there that night. One guy arrived late - a rather strange dude with a mohawk and carrying a lot of old style gear including a machette. He was not shy about telling everyone how to do things. There were also a lot of familiar faces and some good conversation before hitting the sack for a cool evening's sleep.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Punchbowl shelter

To: Lexington, VA
Miles today: 12.0

Today was absolutely beautiful hiking weather with cool temperatures and nice breezes. I passed 800 miles about 2 hours into the day. The hundred mile marks seem to be passing quickly now. Matt's feet are full of blisters so we got a shuttle from route 60 into Lexington, where there is an outfitter. He got a nice pair of trail runners to replace his heavy oversized boots. Hopefully, his blisters will heal fast now. A side note: Lexington is a really cool town with a lot of history. I plan to come back with Renee for a visit someday.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Lexington, VA

To: Spy Rock campsite
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Matt and I spent the evening in Lexington after getting him some trail runners at a local outfitter. In the morning we got a shuttle back to the trail and started the hiking day with a long climb. The weather remains cool and springlike, but a significant heatwave is coming later in the week. For now the hiking is very enjoyable in the crisp air. We ended the day on a mountaintop glade next to a formation called Spy Rock. After setting up camp, we climbed up the rock, which rises slightly above treetop level giving a 360 degree panorama. There we sat in silence with other hikers to watch the most beautiful sunset of the hike so far. Later, Matt and I went back in the dark to check out the stars and distant lights of civilization. Simply stunning!
Date: 2015-11-06
To: "Take Half the Clothes and Twice the Money"
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Even spending 5 months in the woods isn't enough to avoid spending money. It costs money to thru-hike and quite a bit of it. So first things first, I've been putting together a rough, preliminary budget for some time now based on my research.As an engineer, I naturally tend to look at the worst case scenarios so my budget is admittedly very, very conservative. Here are my assumptions:-I am estimating that it will take me 160 days (just over 5 months) to hike the trail. -I am estimating I will make 30 trail town stops (including zero days) during the hike. -I am allocating 3 months to decompression, or integration back into society (basically until I can get another job). I do not believe it will take even half that time, but again, I'm trying to prepare for the worst case scenario. -5 months of hiking and 3 months of decompression amounts to 8 months total.I am very grateful to my parents who have insisted paying for the transportation expenses to Georgia and back home from Maine since they would like to join me at both terminuses. My trail expenses will include food, supplies, lodging, restaurant food, miscellaneous items like laundry, and bounce box / mail drops. These estimates total $3670. I have allocated $500 to replacement gear, though I'm not really sure how much of this I will actually need to use. That brings the trail total to $4170, which isn't that bad. Off Trail expenses are easily the largest portion of the cost based on my estimates. A personal investment, health insurance and car insurance are a whopping $5989. Decompression costs can also be considered Off Trail expenses and I have estimated $700 a month for three months based on my spending patterns the past 6 months (without the cost of rent). I am leaving myself with $1000 for an emergency fund just in case anything unexpected happens that will sideline me for a week or more. Obviously, I hope this isn't touched throughout the hike or after, for that matter. My conservative estimate for the entire 8 months including all the expenses that I can think of totals to $13259. I do not expect to use anywhere near that much, but it will be in the bank come March 24, 2016.I have read that a thru-hike costs, on average, between $5000 and $7000. At a conservative estimate of $4170 (trail costs), I am looking pretty good. Then again, that assumes I have any idea what I am talking about. So, this budget will be continually revisited in the time until my hike, but at least I have a baseline. In the end, it's just important to have more than enough money in the bank to ensure I can finish the hike. "Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive". - Van Wilder
Date: 2015-11-10
To: Resignation Woes
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am submitting my resignation on February 22 and I am absolutely dreading the confrontation with my managers. I work for a small, relatively close-knit company and I am 95% sure that neither of them will be very happy nor approve of my decision. I am 1,000% sure that my Irish boss overseas will disapprove. He is a very intense man with a personality to match his tolerance at the pub. I feel incredibly guilty even though I know I shouldn¢t. I am offering four weeks notice in lieu of the standard two weeks in an effort to help my company adjust, but I am afraid it will be a very uncomfortable month. Then again, there is always the possibility that they will refuse my four weeks. If that¢s the case, then I¢m looking at two horribly boring and empty weeks to kill before my start date. It¢s a gamble, but one I¢m willing to take to assuage my unnecessary feelings of guilt and help my colleagues with the transition. Don¢t get me wrong, I don¢t hate my job. It¢s actually a great job and I really like the people I work with. The money never mattered as much to me as the learning experience work provided and how work improved me as an overall person. Even though I am still challenged at work, I simply desire a change and I¢m not sure how else to put it. Call me crazy, but I¢m looking forward to not having a job and facing the challenge of having to figure things out (not to mention the challenge of nearly 2,200 miles of up and down). I think it will make me a better person in the end. I¢m quitting my good job and hiking the Appalachian Trail. It reminds me of the time I went skydiving where a large poster was tacked to the wall that said: ¢What¢s the worst that could happen?...Just shut-up and jump¢. If anyone reading this has had any experience or advice on this matter, I would love to hear about it in the Guest Book.
Date: 2015-11-16
To: Backpacker Campsite #2
Miles today: 0.0

I spent this past weekend hiking and camping near the Delaware Water Gap where the AT ends in Pennsylvania and starts in New Jersey. I hiked north along the AT to Sunfish Pond and then backtracked until I arrived at Backpacker Campsite #2. It's really just a few swaths of grass at the edge of a steep mountainside overlooking the Delaware River, but it was absolutely beautiful. Take a look at that sunset in the entry photo! I was shocked at the number of people there - about 100 fellow hikers. Though I did my hiking alone, my buddy Reid arrived after sunset and hiked at least a mile in the dark to join me at the campsite. On a cold, very windy night (20-30 mph), it was tough to stay warm while hanging out in camp. The small amount of whiskey I brought helped a little, but the reinforcement Reid brought in the bottle of apple cider brandy was excellent. The tent held up really well in the wind considering the last time I used it, I woke up at 3 in the morning with the tent collapsed on top of me. I think that was my fault though. It was the first trial with my (potentially) final gear list. My pack had a winter base weight of about 19.5 lbs which isn't bad. The next morning, Reid and I heated some coffee and got started hiking South at the crack of dawn. We hiked up Mt. Tammany overlooking the Delaware River. The sunrise shining off the river combined with the silence of a cold morning never seems to get old. Then a couple heading down the mountain broke the silence with the sound of bells. When they walked past, I saw the guy had tied three bells to his pack! I'd rather jump off the mountain than hike with bells ringing every time I moved.
Date: 2015-11-25
To: Appalachian Trials - Mental Prep
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I am currently about halfway through reading "Appalachian Trials" by Zach Davis. It's an excellent book and it is very apparent that Zach is the man so I definitely recommend it. Zach suggests spending some time defining why I want to thru-hike the AT by addressing the three topics below. I already started to define why I wanted to hike, but Zach's layout forces me to take a more in depth look. I will be writing these reasons down and taking them with me so I can remind myself why I'm hiking when (not if) I want to quit, which seems inevitable from everything I've read. So here goes...I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail because:¢¢ I can and I want to¢¢ I want to wake up and watch the sunrise every morning¢¢        I want to be outdoors and far away from a computer screen¢¢        I want to push myself to the edge, face pain and true adversity and know that I stayed positive and willed myself to overcome it¢¢        I want to understand myself better ¢¢        I want to learn to live simply¢¢        I want to further develop my self-confidence and independence¢¢        I want to meet new people and share with them the experience of a lifetime ¢¢        I want to get in touch with simplicity and what really matters in life¢¢        I want to overcome conformity and be less ordinary ¢¢ I want to really feel alive¢¢        I want to see a moose in person¢¢        I want to attend as many all-you-can-eat pizza places as possible When I successfully thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, I will:¢¢        Have accomplished the goal of a lifetime ¢¢        Have increased my level of self-confidence and independence¢¢        Know that there is no task or obstacle that I cannot achieve or overcome¢¢        Have a true appreciation for the simple things in life ¢¢        Have learned to live simply¢¢        Have proved that I am ready for the next challenge¢¢        Have learned to think and have patience (especially when it comes to making decisions)¢¢        Have figured out what I want to do when my thru-hike is overIf I give up on the Appalachian Trail, I will: ¢¢        Have constant, haunting feelings of shame and regret¢¢        Have let myself, the charity, and all those people that helped me prepare for my trip down¢¢        Have quit my job for nothing¢¢        Have lost a large measure of my self-confidence¢¢        Want to give it another shot in the future (so why not just complete it now?)
Date: 2016-01-18
To: Hip Issues
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I have a tendency to get hurt. Not seriously hurt, but I generally bounce around from injury to injury like a pinball. That's why I regretfully decided to skip two adult hockey seasons in the months leading up to my thru-hike. In spite of my cautious decision, I noticed my right hip cracking pretty loudly while exercising about a month ago. There was no pain, but it definitely didn't feel right. An MRI (I swear those machines remind me of the robot in that horrible Lost in Space movie) revealed that I, in fact, have a labral tear - a whopping TWO MONTHS before starting my hike. Further research only made the outlook more grim: labral tears never heal on their own, but require surgery that most surgeons apparently would prefer not to do unless it's absolutely necessary. Physical therapy may help the situation, though. I have a follow-up appointment with a specialist next week to determine a path forward and I can only imagine his reaction when I tell him I still intend to hike almost 2200 miles. Absolutely none of my plans have changed, but this is undeniably a bummer.
Date: 2016-02-22
To: The Deed is Done
Miles today: 0.0

I never would have believed it myself, but resigning my job was literally a million times harder than the interview. Holy shit. I mean HOLY SHIT. Like imagine that scene in Animal House where the gun filled with blanks kills the horse and Pluto is freaking out - that kind of holy shit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POQ3qUy92ik. I can usually mask when I'm nervous pretty well, but all bets were off today - I was sweating, visibly shaking (I think), and my cheeks must have been lit up like a freaking Christmas tree. But it's done! Contrary to my previous beliefs, both of my managers took the news of an AT thru-hike unbelievably well. Both seemed genuinely happy for me and agreed that now is a great time in my life for such an experience. I believe I was very visibly relieved during the meeting. I'll definitely miss my fellow employees and the relationships I fostered in the last three and a half years. I will most definitely stay in touch with them. To follow up on a previous post, the labral tear in my hip is of no consequence. The specialist took a look at my MRI as I explained about my upcoming trip and he didn't bat an eye. It was like I was describing a hang nail. Basically, he said don't worry about it as long as you remain asymptomatic. I will be going to physical therapy twice a week until I leave which is definitely helping my lower body prepare for the trip. In the meantime, my excitement is sky high at the moment - people that know me would say giddy. The flight is booked, the lodge at Amicalola Falls is booked and everything else is completely ready. 33 days...It just got interesting!