morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Spring Rock Gap

To: Tray Mountain shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Really long day of hiking but I learned a lesson, slow and steady is the way to go. Sun stays up long enough that I don't have to bust my butt all day. Ran into a few interesting people today, saw wild boar scrapings, and the best moment of my hike so far occurred today. I am getting ready to pass a guy going downhill, so I start talking to him. He doesn't make any indication that he heard me, so I got closer and finally made a loud "BOOP" sound. All of the sudden he turns around and fires back words and SCREAMS? Turns out he was listening to the i-pod. Anyhow, climbed alot of mountains today, not many good veiws and am now chillen in front of the fire with the last remaining light. Bunch of guys at the shelter, all with interesting stories. Met one guy who was stationed in Heidelberg the same time I lived there. Getting tired, still trying to kick this cold and having alot of trouble eating all my food. Gotta eat more. Going to sleep.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Tray Mountain shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

Finally got a semi-good night of sleep. Groundpounder gave me some sudafed and today I'm feeling much better. Got an early start and am taking lunch at 11:00. Still away site to go today but my hunger is finally kicking in. Gonna cross into North Carolina in about 9 miles and go over a couple of 4000+ mountains on the way to my stop point tonight. Not many people on the trail in the morning. I find it be very peaceful being on the trail alone and needing to rely on your next step. Saw plenty of wild boar markings on the sides of the trail. Goundpounder actually came across one yesterday and had to scare it off. Doing a more relaxed pace and still putting some serious miles in today is definately the way to go.Just got in at the shelter and now it's raining hard. Today was my furthest day so far. I'm pretty exhausted but feeling good. Finally kicked the cold. It's pouring out right now. I am sure glad I made it before the rain. Gonna get to bed, beat and dirty. Aphex H.M. (hypermile)
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 27.1
Weather: scattered clouds

In after a long day. Very little people on the trail today and finally ran into two nice people on the way to the same shelter. A couple by the name of Giesel and T.T. are staying in here, very nice and appreciated conversation after a couple days of silence. Had enough time to take a bath in the stream with my peppermint soap. I now feel like a million bux. Even had enough time to wash my clothes and now everything I'm wearing smells like peppermint. It's a nice smell/feeling. Making lots of friends on the trail. Pleasant feelinbg and is always cool to hear everyone's interesting stories. Time for bed. Gotta pick up food for tomorrow and maybe satisfy my craving for KETCHUP, HOT DOGS, CHIPOLTE, COMBOS, CHEETOS and all kinds of food that I don't prepare myself.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: N.O.C. Hostel
Miles today: 25.0

Got an early start today and busted butt to make it for my first resupply. Tons of ups and downs today, plenty above 5,000 feet. Got most of my miles in today before lunch when my ankle flexes started to hurt. Very long descents started to make my feet hot and my knees bulge. Add that to the fact that at the bottom is food, resupply and a mattress to sleep in for the evening. Got here, made my calls, packed up all my excellent packages and had dinner with 8+ people. Good meal and stories to go around, three huge cups of coke and sweet potato fries. Met up with more people after dinner and chatted. Finally took a hot shower and washed my clothes HOSTEL STYLE, waited for them to dry. Supposed to rain tomorrow for a bit. Going to be a long ascent back up in the mountains plus it will be raining in the morning. Gotta make up a few miles sometime this week. All this food is sitting pretty heavy in my stomach but I plan on getting a good nights sleep. It's gonna be tough going outta here tomorrow. Aphex S.F. (Super Full)
Date: 2008-05-11
From: N.O.C. Hostel

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: light rain

Tough to leave the comfort of an actual mattress and the day that followed was something to not leave the mattress for. The wind was howling all day, clouds looked ominous and seconds away from dumping rain and the trees were ready to come down on me any minute. Never has the trail looked so perilous than today. The last six miles were the worst!!! Coming down the mountain to get to Fertana Dam was dark, cold and extremely windy. Finally made it to the shelter and there was plenty of gear here but no people. Very strange and eerie way to make a shelter, a very nice shelter at that. It had heated bathrooms and running water outside that doesn¢t need filtered. Bunch of guys finally got in, two of which ¢Crutch¢ and ¢Colonel Mustard¢, are a couple of trail guys spreading trail magic. They brought in lemon meringue pie, at which I had a quarter! Another guy came in along with this renouned Brit on the trail who carries a crichet bat and asks interesting riddles. We are all working on it now. {A dead man with a broken matchstick in hand is lying in a room with five hooks. How did he die?} Should be a cold one tonight. Tired and still nursing the ankle, hopefully it will be better by tomorrow.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: broken clouds

About 5,000 feet up, windy and in an exposed shelter. Putting my gear to the test tonight. One ankle did well today with the help of pharmaceuticals but now the other one is going bad. Hopefully they will get better. Long climbs up here and very cold until about 2 p.m. Howling winds, ridge scrambles, and staying on the peaks just about all day. Climbing up and over Clingman¢s Dam tomorrow, the highest peak on the AT and on the East Coast. Feeling good on the trail once my injuries come to pass. Gonna get some sleep and try to warm up before the night. Also came upon a family of wild boar coming up in the Smokies. A big momma and two lil piggies.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up the latest I¢ve ever gotten up this morning and headed out around 9. Beautiful bright sunshiny day today. Finally the first descent day in the Smokies. Going up Clingman¢s dam was the smallest ascent thus far on the trail. Tons of people up here and still some snow in places. Coming back down was a relaxing descent through dense pine forests. Made it to Newfound Gap (border between TN and NC) to take a break and struck up a conversation with a local tour guide. By the end of the course, he was handing me four authentic Chattanooga, TN MOONPIES!!   Obviously, I ate them all pretty quick. Made my way in some nice lady¢s picture too after she found out I was a bonified through-hiker. Decided to stop early at Icewater Spring instead of pushing on. Ankles getting better but still a little swollen/stiff. Staying in another shelter with a group of guys who just finished Vet school, a professor and some college students (who are carrying his food) and two Wisconsin natives. Currently above 5,900 feet in this shelter, could possibly be another cold night. Last night turned out to be approximately 41 degrees which is about my limit with the gear I¢m currently packing.   Heading out of the Smokies tomorrow to Davenport Gap. Reports are coming in about more rain. Seems like the AT doesn¢t wanna make it easy for me. Also another phenomenon which has been going on for a bit is people asking if I am a day hiker. Time enough for a little foot surgery and then hunkering down for bed.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Last day in the Smokies, not entirely memorable because of the 6,000 foot elevations combined with high winds and rain. Made record time getting to the shelter today. Passed several people today, most not too sociable probably due to inclement weather. Out of my three days in the Smokies, one was a good hiking day. Still making good time on the trail. Onwards and Northwards.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 37.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Definitely made a huge mistake thinking that the distance from Davenport Gap to Hot Springs was only about 30 miles. Was easily doing three miles per hour the whole day and when I thought I was almost finished. I still had seven more miles to go. Turns out I did a 37+ mile day. Got to see a lot of NC, country wide and some interesting mountains that didn¢t have any trees on top. Made very good time up and down some pretty high elevations. Needless to say, I didn¢t get to Hot Springs till about 7:30 p.m. Had just enough time (and energy) to book a cheap room into the local motel and hit up dinner at the only restaurant here. Filling up on food and tons of soda! I finally stopped before dark today. Going to hit up my mail drop tomorrow morning and take the closest thing to a zero day as I can tomorrow. Maybe doing 10-20 miles tomorrow. All depends on how the knees/ankles/feet are feeling. Can¢t wait to see what I got in the mail!!
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Very short day today on account of a bum knee I got on my way down to Hot Springs. Spent a lovely evening in the Alpine Motel and took a shower and washed my clothes "hostel" style. Decided to take it easy today and put in 11 miles casually hiking. All the food I got from Sour Skittles to Pizza Combos! I even have some soft batch oatmeal cookies to change things up for breakfast. Now if only the weather would cooperate, things would be pretty nice. It has been cold and rainy all day and I'm now hunkered down in a decades old shelter with bold mice and no bear cables. Sharing the shelter with Satchel, a newly retired woman putting in pretty impressive miles per day. It is windy, we are at the top of another mountain and surrounded by fog so thick you can't even see 20 feet past yourself. On the brighter side, however, my casual pace today freed up some thinking time and I've come up with two new hiking philosophies. The first that came to me I like to call S.M.M.T. or same miles, more time. Basically to use up all available hiking hours with little waste. The second, of which I'm most fond of, I like to call D.BASS or Don't break a sweat silly, in which you hike at a good pace but take breaks or don't push it so hard while still getting to the same destination. I think a mixture of these two philosophies will help provide some therapy for my ankles and knees. Hopefully my ankles stop looking like a pregnant womans!!! I have a long day tomorrow in terms of mileage but I plan on making it easy mileage, plus it helps that these mountains aren't that high. Just gimme some good weather!!! Aphex D.L. (disabled list)
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 30.1
Weather: clear sky

Long day, knee still bothering me a little and now that my left shin splint seems to be getting better, the right one goes and gets swollen. At least I know what kind of time for recovery it is. Put in alot of miles today and had enough sunlight to cook, eat, and get ready for bed. Short entry due to a long day. G'night! Aphex OUT!
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day, but also very inclement weather day. Went up and over Big Bald today, completely exposed to the elements with no coverage whatsoever. Rainstorm began shortly thereafter. Tried to wait it out in the nearest shelter but eventually went out in the poncho which ws surprisingly efective at (1) keeping me somewhat dry (2) keeping the wind off me and (3) keeping me somewhat warm. I may have looked like a blue blob monster from the planet CYANOS but at least I was dry, warm and out of the wind. Only did 21 miles today, got to the shelter and after eating, went to filter water (which was two miles away!) I guess the rain today was not enough because just when I start filtering, a thunderstorm/rain begins soaking me and the remainder of my dry clothes in one fell swoop. To say it has been a bad hiking day would be an understatement! But, that is part of being out here on the trail subjecting myself to the unpredictable elements and making due with what I got. AT LEAST it's not so cold that I can't even write, AND I got to eat a King Sized Snicker Bar for dessert. Currently staying in a shelter with three other guys, one of which is the first person I've seen twice on the trail. Long day tomorrow, time for bed. Aphex S.W. (soaking wet)
Date: 2008-05-19
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 31.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Long day but beautiful. Only unpleasant goings on today were putting on wet clothes and walking through a controlled burn section that got outta hand. Everything else about today was great. The trail was nice, went over some nice elevations. Finished off the rest of the beef jerky and almost ate an entire days ration of food. And to top it off, I got to the shelter and some nice people already had a fire going. My swankles (swollen ankles) are finally receding and my knee isn't so bad. All in all a good day. Gonna put the fire out and call it a day.
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Elk Park, N.C.
Miles today: 26.6

From the moment I woke up to the second I got off Big Hump Mountain, the wind was howling. The clouds were overcast this morning but decided to hold a crueler fate for me later. A few hours up and over Roan Mountain and onto Overmountain shelter, where the sun finally peaked out onto one of the most beautiful shelter/view scenes I've seen thus far on my trip North. I take a short break and head out for an eight mile stretch that seemingly covers nothing of note besides Little and Big Hump Mountains. I head out with the sun on my shoulders and go over Little Hump Mountain with no problem. Before I continue, I must remind anyone interested that both of these mountains are balds (meaning zero coverage whatsoever). I can see the top of Big Hump Mountain from 3/4 of a mile down and the entire trail leading up to it. About halfway up a "CRACK" of lightening turns my attention to the impending STORM OF DOOM that is on the next mountain away and heading seriously in my direction. I decide to race the storm to the top and hope there is some sort of tree coverage to escape the storm. Well, I am about 1/4 mile from the top, ascending the mountain faster than normal when I get the sensation that its raining but I'm not getting quite as wet as I should. I look down at the ground when I realize it is hail. The pellets began to pelt me left and right, all the while I'm getting drenched by rain. I run to a bush no bigger than a shrub to put on my poncho in 60 mph wind, which is not the easiest thing, and hike up, over and down the remainder of the mountain in a storm that should have been shown on the Weather Channel's Worst Hiking Weather Special. The rest of the climb down was muddy, wet, slippery and cold. Finally when I reach the bottom, the sun comes out to mock me. Onto Kincera Hostel for some much needed food and a roof over my head. After today, the weather can only get better. APHEX OUT!!!!!
Date: 2008-05-21
From: US 19E

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 24.0

Two words "CRUISE CONTROL". The section betweeen one hostel and the next was the easiest section to date. Rolling hills and very flat terrain over 24 miles.   The forest and surrounding area was a blur. I left promptly at 8 and got into Kincera at 3:30. Nothing of note through this section other than passing a few people I later met at the Kincera hostel. Got to stay and definately recommend anyone to stay there. Very chill environment for hikers of all backgrounds plus hot water and plenty of food. Got a ride into town and ate at Arby's. Five roast beef sandwiches, the largest Doctor Pepper ever and a huge basket of curly fries, and a strawberry milk shake all in my stomach. Was feeling pretty good....PLUS... I got the most junk food in my maildrop packages. It is like Christmas every week when I get to open so many goodies and this time in front of a drooling hiker crowd. Got to shower, had a full belly and traded stories with a few cool cats. Learned some new lingo too, for instance....BROWN BLAZE - Going #2 on trail. P.U.D. - Pointless up and down. I've even made some up myself like SWANKLER (swollen ankles) and HALLUCISHELTER (when it is the end of the day and you keep thinking you see the shelter). Tomorrow could potentially be a long day so it is time to sleep. (Basically the best sleep I'll get on the trail).
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 31.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Long and beautiful hiking day. The sun was on my shoulders the entire time and a gentle breeze kept me cool. Saw a cool waterfall outside the hostel and made a wicked climb up Pond Mountain. After that it was rolling hills and high mileage. Ran into a few people who stayed at the hostel and met some more people. Blew by a lake/dam. Walked the ridgeline of Ira Mountain and hit the shelter at 4:30. Decided to push on a little further and hit up Damascus a little early. My pace has gotten to the point where if you tell me what time it is, I can tell you how far I have come. Feet/ankles/knees holding up well. Groshing on all kinds of junmki food and beginnning to think I'm gonna come home fatter than I left!!!!! Gonna get into Damascus tomorrow nad finally get my feet into some new socks. One can only switch socks so many times before holes develop on both sides. Calling it early tonight. Should be another easy day tomorrow.....PLUS I am crossing into Virginia!! That means I am almost halfway home everybody!!!!!
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Short day. Was going to be a long day through Damascus but the allure of a town, hot meal (not prepared by me) and a hot shower were all to enticing for me to leave so quickly. Also, like Christmas, mail drop days are always full of surprises! This time round, I believe, I got enough junk food to feed an army. Luckily, and quite coincidentally, I got enough food to last me through my next mail drop and onto the next, plus I will be stopping in at a shelter with a pay phone that many people order pizza from. So I believe I will be set for the next 6-7 days. As for the hiking, I think I have found my groove. Once I start goin, I don't stop unless I need water or the shelter appears. The hike down into Damascus was literally rolling hills the entire time. The weather is finally turning hotter for us northbounders and that only gives me more time. Going Ultralight has many advantages, one being that you dont really get tired, just run outta light. I've been covering some crazy miles and now know that I can do it. The hard part is to soak the experience in while also concentrating where your next few stops will be. I've already seen the AT big three (wild turkey, wild boar, black bear) but also want to take in more of my surroundings. It won't be long at this rate before I rejoin the concrete jungle, and I feel like I need an overdose of the outdoors before heading indoors in front of a desk. I haven't mentioned the bear yet only because I saw it on my way in today. It was a lil bear who was playing down the hill. He heard me moving along and took off a ways, not very gracefully I might add. I'm currently sitting outside a hostel listening to a folk singer and his guitar. Going to turn in soon. The next few days are going to be long and I found out from some southbounders that I'm catching the northbound "pack." This may post some shelter logistical problems because I like to get in late, but now I need to stake a spot before it gets full. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it. So its Friday night in Damascus and the only things open at this hour are two hostels and an auction house. This town doesn't even have a stop light just to help everyone picture what these trail towns are like. OK, enough ramblings, so I'll leave with this last tid bit for my "hikers dictionary" Tandana - Tan lines from wearing bandana in the sun.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Damascus, VA

To: Thomas Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up later than usual today (around 8:30) and didn't head out from Damascus until 9 a.m. Was planning on a long day but with such a late start, I wasn't sure. Turns out the early part of the day was pretty flat and I made good time to Lost Mountain Shelter (about halfway) and decided to push on to Thomas Knob Shelter. Alot of up today to the shelter, up and over White Top Mountain and almost over Mount Rogers. Not much exciting stuff happened today until I got the shelter. Turns out the guy I've been trying to catch (Magellan) is staying here as well. He is a fellow ultralighter, so I got to trade some cool gear choices with him. Tried something new today for a break, put two drink flavor packets into a single serving of water and boy, did it have some "ZING". My food situation is getting better, and I find myself gorging a little more than usual. Tomorrow I'm trying to hit up Partnership Shelter, also known as Pizza Shelter because there is a payphone there. Only thing is its 35 miles away. I've done longer but with so much food its kind of weighing me down. I'm gonna try to hit it tomorrow anyway. I do have to say I'm eating like a king out here with my Mustard Pretzel, Salt-n-Vinegar, Veggie Wheat Thin Crisps, Sour Cream-n-Onion, Cheetos, Cheesy food combination. I'm pretty sure I won't be wasting away anytime soon. So don't worry (mother). Also, I forgot to mention that a few days ago, I'm hiking along when all of the sudden, I came across a slip of paper in the middle of the trail that reads "Rattlesnake in Trail, 30 feet ahead". So of course, I slow down to a snails pace and am ultra vigilant in checking out the trail. Turns out I didn't see a snake and began wondering what was worse, seeing a rattlesnake on the trail or learning that there could be a rattlesnake on the trail!!! Well time for bed, long day tomorrow, I'm out!!!