morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter 

To: Flint Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 6.8

I woke up so late this morning I tried to make pancakes in my jetboil for the first time. Well... it uh didn't go so well immediately after putting the batter in it burned to the bottom. I had it turned down so low that the stove kept going out. About half way through I remembered I had some olive oil in my bag, I think that would have helped. Alot. Ill try that next time. Anyway after the first pancake burned all over I just put the rest of it in there and stirred it around. It made sort of like a cake batter and I just scraped it out as best as I could and dumped some syrup on the globs. Surprisingly it was not bad! Way better than a cliff bar. It took me a while to scrape the stuff out of the pot even after soaking it. After I scraped it, only thing to do was drink it so I guess I benefitted from all the nutrition in the end anyhow. Nice easy miles today. I sorted of screwed myself by doing short miles yesterday because I was left with short miles today. Same old story, next shelter is too far, parking lots at 3 and 4 miles, big mountain after. Oh well. Ill have to get to Maine tomorrow Today the bugs were practically gone! Dont ask me I don't know where they went but golly I was so glad to see them go. I swear it was like they had been called off or something. Beautiful sunshine, cool breeze, hardly any bugs, short flat miles, why it was like I was on vacation today! I really enjoyed hiking today. Seems like its been awhile since I thought that. My feet are really hurting today. I was trying to figure out why they were hurting so much. I talked to other people and they said the same. Must have been the rocks yesterday. I made some tea before dinner and sat in the sunshine by the stream just breathing and sipping and stretching. Now that is what I thought Id be doing out here. Its cooling off again tonight, I am really really going to try to get going early tomorrow Seems like everyone is making travel arrangements to get to trail days. I guess Ill have the trail to myself for a couple days. Part of the reason I gravitate around the shelters are the amenities. A girl gets used to the conveniences Privy, bear hang cables, and there is always water at the shelters. The other part is that there are people. Im just not ready to camp by myself, especially near parking lots. There will be days to push it but today is not that day. Even the time I stealth camped I picked my spot and then looked over across the trail and there was a tarp setup (turned out to be my buddy Saint). Anyway. What I mean to say is that I'm going to have to face that eventually. The bubbles (pockets of thru hikers) have broken up, I heard today that 45% of this year's thru hikers are already off trail. Less and less people. For now I'm enjoying the company while it lasts. I probably could have made it 6 more miles to a campsite but I just didn't want to I am staying tonight with a bunch of section hikers not even thru hikers. Sometimes I feel like I am the last person on the trail trying to get to Maine. Slow poke
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Flint Mountain Shelter 

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The section hikers last night were such jerks. I would have been better off hiking in the road by myself. Thats not true I'm just being bratty. This isn't a bar cowboys. Woke up before 8 AND got on the trail before 9. I had to skip my coffee to make that happen. Still didn't put up miles hahaha. That big climb took a lot out of me. My choices for today were 8.8 or about 15 to Low Gap. I picked 8.8 of course I took a look at the miles left to Erwin, an 8.8 and two 10s sounds ok doesn't it? I have just enough food. Its a good thing I had those two extra dinners. The climb today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be it was just long. Seemed to go on forever. The bugs were back today, evidently they enjoyed their day off. Thankfully they were swarming me the entire way up the mountain, it's a good motivator to try and walk out of them. I got to the shelter early around 4pm. I ate dinner and now i'm in my tent. That bag of mountain house pad thai I ate two days ago is wreaking havoc on my poor stomach. I'm thinking that whenever my body decides to start doing big days will be just fine with me There is a possibility that I'll do a 13 and a 14 and get into Erwin on Saturday instead of Sunday. We will see.
Date: 2015-05-15
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter 

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was just an amazing day. Perfect weather, black flies but just a mild nuisance, great views, just all around amazing. I got a late start today of course The water trail at the last shelter was a million miles long (awol said 0.2) and it took some time to get that going. I had oatmeal and coffee. Yum. I was also fraternizing with another group of thru hikers camped by the water trail. Needless to say it was 11:45 by the time everything was packed up and I put my pack on. I hiked on and off today with a guy, it was kinda nice. We talked about sports and betting and cards. Its so funny how I completely forgot about that side of me I enjoyed his company all day and I think I even hiked a bit faster. It rained for a bit around 3oclock but it was enjoyable. A wise wise man once told me that there is no such thing as bad weather there is only bad planning. and now. I have lived enough in the outdoors to agree I put my rain skirt (trash bag) and jacket on and it was great anyhow. We got to go over Big Bald today, it was just beautiful Great 360 views. I spent some time just enjoying the sun and views, the rain stopped just in time. I set up my tent even though rain is in the forecast because I just so enjoy great sleep in my tent. The wind is kicking up out there and I am snug like a bug in here. Its so funny I think that i still get scared of noises outside my tent 6 weeks of sleeping in a tent you would think I would be used to it all by now I had some gas left in my engine today to push for those extra miles but the bald was just so beautiful 16.5 left to Erwin. Im thinking about doing it tomorrow I better get to bed
Date: 2015-05-16
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 10.6

Well. Today was eventful... up before 8 on the trail before 10. I had alot of jobs to do. Got water, scrubbed my new patches of poison ivy, bandaged my heels, ate breakfast frittata, made coffee The two guys in the shelter were gone when I woke up. I walked for a while drinking my coffee just taking it easy. I figured if I could get to the shelter by 4 id push for erwin I was thinking this morning that I had not seen any snakes lately and thought its kinda like with the bears, you cant really worry about them until they are there and then you can react but if you just worry all the time its paralyzing. So not too long after I saw some scat on the trail. Around high rocks, 4 miles in, I heard some loud crashing in the woods but couldn't see anything. As I was climbing up I heard that noise like when a rock is not in place and it rocks back and forth. I figured something with some weight was walking around. I didnt ever see anything. When I was climbing down I practically stepped on a snake. He slithered out of the way and stuck his tounge out a couple times. At two oclock it rained for a bit and around 3 it rained a bit more. The trail was definately not a walk in the woods today. When it started to rain a little harder I put my jacket and skirt on and as soon as I did it stopped raining. I told the skies they better make it worth my while getting my rain gear on and as soon as I did it down poured It rained for about a half an hour more and then cleared up. About a mile and a half from the shelter I saw a small pile of diarrhea right in the middle of the trail. Weird. Then a little while later another. A little while after that I heard loud crashing in the bottom of the ravine and I figured it was definitely a bear with a stomach bug. As I was walking I was scanning and then I saw this face staring back at me. It was some kinda hound dog. I said get! Get outta here! And turned around on the trail and kept hiking. Not too long after I looked behind me and there he was. He put his head down and wagged his tail, he was all bones I pulled peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, a lara bar, a pro bar and some trail mix and gave him it all. He was so weak he could barely walk. I hear all the time about hunting dogs who chase something down and then get lost out here This dog is in bad shape, with 6 miles to town i figured i should walk him to the shelter and then down into town and see if anyone can help. I talked some guys into feeding him their spam Hes laying half in half out in the entrance to my tent so I have everything unzipped and its just started to rain. His poor tummy is growling and rumbling and jesus this dog is farting in my tent! I can barely breathe! I don't know what tomorrow will bring but Id hate to keep him from dying in the woods only to have him be euthanized in town. Man. I wasn't sure what to do..poor thing. I need a prayer. Seriously I hope he stops farting. And I hope the rain doesn't come in. Atleast hes not alone in the dark in the rain in the ravine.
Date: 2015-05-17
From: No Business Knob Shelter 

To: Uncle Johnnys Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 6.5

Last night was miserable. I slept a total of 4 hours probably last night. At 4 the hound tried to mount me and I discovered he had pulled out my boot insoles and chewed on them. I was up at 6:30 and started to walk the hound down to erwin. It was slow going that poor hound was exhausted. About three miles in he just sat down and then took a nap in the middle of the trail. So i laid down too and covered us up with my ground cloth while he rested. My friend maryann was hard at work at home trying to find lost dog info. Finally when we got into Erwin I was told he was a hunting dog and I should have left him in the woods. That he was supposed to fend for himself and that he should be hungry so he could hunt better. I told them that was a bunch of bullshit and if it was someone's dog that he would have a collar. And that dog couldnt walk before we gave him all that food. They told me that someone brought him down already and hiked him back up yesterday. They told me they would find someone to hike him back up and I said um nope. I was told not to camp at the hostel with the dog. A wonderful woman offered him an extra leash, I had my bear hang cord around him. She also offered to put his story on white blaze and took down all of our info. So with a heavy heart I walked away from the amenities I had been waiting a week for intending to hang out with him across the way and wait for the shelter to open tomorrow (closed on Sundays). Just as I had packed up a car full of my closest trail friends show up in a rental they had gotten for trail days. I told them my plight and they made it their plight too. Good good people. Good friends. Lady Unicorn suggested that I contact the non emergency police to see about someone caring for the dog overnight and so I did. The woman I spoke with told me about non hour drop off kennels that were monitored by animal control. I asked if she could call them and let them know and she said she would. My friends helped me get him over to the shelter. I was sad but atleast he was safe. Then we went for mexican and did laundry and found a campground to stay the night. They have to drop the car off tomorrow so they are going to drop me off at the hostel tomorrow. Not only have I not seen these guys in forever but they showed up exactly at the right time to help me in the time of my greatest need. I missed them and love them so much and am so grateful for all of the help and support.
Date: 2015-05-18
From: Uncle Johnnys Nolichucky Hostel

To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: light rain

This morning when I got back to the hospital I was reunited with some more friends coming back from trail days. One had made the acquaintance of a local guy who worked closely with a rescue and the animal shelter. She said she would contact him on my buddy's behalf. Not a minute later he shows up to give someone a shuttle! I told him about my hound and he said he read all about it on white blaze and not to worry that nothing bad would happen to my hound. All of those events, the entire serendipitous string, all of it. Unbelievable. This trail. This magic. It is magic. Miraculous. I shed so many tears and was so unsure of those decisions and it was so heavy. All will be well. I relaxed in an adirondack chair and drank a diet pepsi and coffee. After the last two days I needed a break. Around 2:30 someone brought another "bear chasing hound" to the shelter. I put my pack on and in that minute was out of there and back on the trail. I am tired of people trying to explain to me that these starving dogs are turned loose in the woods because of "the culture". I can not wait to get into Virginia. The walk out of Erwin was tough. Full 40 pound pack up 4 miles, all up. I got to the shelter and set up my tent right before a downpour. Its still raining. I am soooo sleepy Im excited to get some good sleep and hit the trail tomorrow. Some beautiful parts of the trail are coming up
Date: 2015-05-19
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter 

To: Beauty Spot Gap
Miles today: 7.5

Last night I woke up at 11:00, something was walking around out side of my tent. I think. Whether there was something there or it was nothing fear makes it the same. I listened until I fell back asleep. Its a horrible feeling. Once all of that sets in you can barely hear what you are scared of over the pounding of your heart. I got up, ate a poptart, and got on the trail. After about 4 miles I came to Indian Grave Gap and BT was there with trail magic! BT had coffee and brownies and sweet tea. I so much enjoyed his company and his baked goods I sat for about an hour and a half. I also look for any diversion from hiking I finally got up out of the camp chair, it was brutal getting going again. Three and a half miles later I ran into Riff Raff at Beauty Spot, they were putting on a great trail magic spread I had two tomato and pickle sanwiches, chips, dr pepper, coleslaw and sangria!!! There were about 20 hikers there and I knew everyone The spot was beautiful indeed, it was too great of a time to leave. Besides. Riff Raff was cooking eggies in the morning for breakfast burritos There was an amazing sunset. I set up with a bunch of other hikers on top of the bald and then after I was all set up I had some more sangria The stars were beautiful. Some people did hike out drunk and in the dark. Not this girl thats the last thing I would ever do. I was sitting inside G Hippie's VW van with a blankie It was a good day. Double trail magic
Date: 2015-05-20
From: Beauty Spot Gap

To: Apple Orchard Campsite
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I wanted to wake up in time to watch the sunrise. Not a chance. The breakfast burritos were delicious. Coffee and burritos and watermelon. So great. I hugged the riff raff goodbye. Those guys were just what I needed. What a great time Today was a tough hike. Up and over Unaka Mountain in the morning and then another four and a half after lunch. The trail had alot of sections with tall grass on both sides. You know whats in tall grass snakes and poison ivy. I hate tall grass. Im exhausted. I could barely make dinner. Roan Mountain tomorrow I heard the forcast is rain so I may zero and wait for good weather views My campsite is full of grasshoppers. My tent is under seige
Date: 2015-05-21
From: Apple Orchard Campsite

To: Ash Gap Campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

I woke up at 6:40. It was raining. It was raining when I woke up at 7:40 too. I laid in my sleeping bag for an hour or so. Finally I made a deal with the rain and told it if it was still raining at 9 I would get up and pack up in the rain. Well. It was still raining at 9 so I packed everything up in the tent and just as i was setting my pack outside with the rain cover on it stopped. Sassy rain. I rolled up my dripping tent and away I went. If there wasnt a rowdy bunch of loud mouthed jerk guys screaming at the top of their lungs all morning I think I may have been more inclined to stay in bed all day. Screaming jerks are a great motivator to get packed up and out of camp Today was a tough day. I don't remember when the last one was that was this tough. The morning was wet and chilly with fog everywhere. I got bit by a snail. Seriously. I saw a poor snail who was half crushed and so I picked him up to try and bend back part of his shell. I think I hurt him because the next thing i knew he had bit me on the thumb. I didn't even know snails had mouths that bit 5 miles to the first shelter. When I got there I made coffee and the breakfast frittata i had to skip this morning. I also had two packs of oatmeal. Whenever i skip breakfast I end up eating all my snacks before lunch I took a pretty long lunch break cooking and getting water and finding somewhere to go to the bathroom. I miss privies. Tennessee hates them for some reason. 6.3 miles all up this afternoon. Freezing wind howling around the mountain. A long tough climb at the end of a long day. I am camped about a mile before the top of Roan Mountain. Its probably freezing up there. Its freezing here at 5000 feet and the shelter is at about 6000. Thank goodness Im down here shivering in my bag. It was cold and wet and tough miles all day. There were a ton of little orange newts out today. I also saw two deer by the side of the trail. I got here around 7 and ate a quick dinner, I am so sleepy Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. Hopefully there are some good views and this weather moves out of here tonight.
Date: 2015-05-22
From: Ash Gap Campsite

To: Overmountain Shelter 
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

I was so freaking cold last night. I hardly slept at all. I had terrible dreams all night and woke up around 6 to the rain and fog. Back to sleep I went. I didn't get out of my sleeping bag until my tent had been dried off by the sun. Around 11 See there is a method to my maddness. By that time it was warm and dry. There was about 1000 feet of elevation to gain in the next mile and a half to the top of Roan so I had my head down and was climbing and climbing when there in the middle of the trail was a peacock!?! What the heck was a peacock doing at 6000 feet? I walked behind it for about a quarter of a mile. Unbelievable. Before going down the other side of Roan was a nice little parking area with flush toilets!!!! And sinks!!!! And a water fountain!!! And trashcans!!! Getting to throw away the garbage you have been carrying around for a week is a big deal. I put on my saloman rash er compression shorts and washed both of my hiking shorts in the sink. I laid them on a picnic table to dry and thought why with all of this potable water around I should make some coffee and have some soup. While I was resting there with my shorts on the table I met the nicest folks It has been so great meeting so many nice nice people from all over the country really. One of the gentlemen offered me a diet green tea citrus beverage. I was in heaven. Before they left they also bought my next dinner and were off before I could refuse. My afternoon could not have been any better, I hiked for the rest of the day with a tiny smile on my face The shelter was a red barn and there were a ton of people there. It sure is nice seeing so many familiar faces. The views after Roan were just amazing. Beautiful sunshine. All around great day. This is why I am hiking the AT. Today. Evidently my phone and my external battery are dead. Ill be hiking into a hostel tomorrow ahead of schedule to plug in. No worrying until you have not seen anything for at least a week
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Overmountain Shelter 

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Up and at em today, Im excited for real food. Almost all of the miles we hiked today were over balds. Really really incredible views. The sun was shining bright and it was chilly and windy. Many of my body parts, especially my leggies, are burned to a crisp due to the deception. I made it to the hostel in no time. Lots of snakes today, everyone was warming up in the sun today I guess. A group of us found a ride into town from a very generous section hiker and we went to Bobs Dairy Land for dinner. Thank you again and again to the kind folks from yesterday for dinner, I had a veggie burger, fries, a salad, a milkshake, some hush puppies, and some fried mushrooms. Yum. Im camped here (a tent spot was 10 and a bunk was 25 ) next to a creek thats being drowned out by the sound of traffic I did get a shower though and I am charging up and I did get to eat I found out my phone had taken 30 pictures of the inside of my bag and who knows what else it did so thats where my battery went. I heard the breakfast here was to die for and so I bought it as well. I have all of my food in my tent. I hope the mice don't come a knocking. I usually throw a bear hang every night but tonight im at a hostel even though im in a tent and Im just too tired Everyone send me their best wishes in hopes that mice dont chew into my tent. My whole body hurts. Everything. I am closing in on damascus and that makes me happy.
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Mountain Harbour boasts the best breakfast on the appalachian trail. They delivered big time. It was the best breakfast I have ever had. Lifetime. I will never have a breakfast again like this breakfast. I wish i would have taken a picture. It was like beauty and the beast. It was like thanksgiving but breakfast. I could go on and on and describe in detail the things that were there. Oh my god. I am in awe and disbelief that such a breakfast even exists. If you are ever anywhere near Roan Mountain, Tennessee this is a must. A life changer. Go. Incredible I thought about staying another night just to have the breakfast again. The B&B was beautiful. Go and see. Honest. Anyway. I slept terribly. I had my tent on a weird slant and the traffic next to the tenting area made it impossible to sleep. I also never sleep well with food in my tent. Overall the hostel was lovely. There were goats! And horses and showers And the breakfast, good golly the breakfast. I was sitting on a rocking chair on the lovely front porch of the B&B, in the shade, drinking delicious coffee. I knew I had to take down my tent and pack up. It is becoming more and more difficult for me to leave comfort. If I am homesick, I do miss my puppy babies very very much, but if I am homesick it is for comfort. There are very few times on the trail that i find myself to be really comfortable. I miss pillows and pillowcases and sheets and beds. I miss washcloths and flushing toilets and long hot showers. I miss couches and blankets and coffee. I miss naps. I miss comfort. Still, I packed up and hit the trail. The miles today were not that tough but all of my aches and pains made it difficult to enjoy. My knees are killing me. My left hurts more but they both hurt everyday. My right groin has been hurting like I am pulling it? My left heel hurts everytime I step on it, I guess I must have bruised it on all of the rocks yesterday. My feet hurt to stand on them, my butt hurts when I sit on it and my hips hurt. I am looking forward to my zero day coming up. There were some really nice waterfalls today and I crossed over the 400 mile mark I am camped with a big crowd next to a creek, this time no traffic. I do have a big angle again though, honest to god the same crowd that took all of the flat spots at the hostel beat us here and took all the flat spots again. I hiked with three ladies today I am hoping to do 15 tomorrow into the hostel. We shall see, I am in need of some good sleep.