morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-17
From: Front Royal Terrapin Station Hostel

To: VA 55, Manassas Gap
Miles today: 12.5

Without a pack on, I could practically jog down the trail! I left my pack at the hostel and was dropped 13 miles north, and hiked back to the hostel with nothing but a rain jacket, snacks, and water. It was a nice break, easy, without taking a zero. However, today will be an unpleasant shock back to reality as, not only has my pack tripled in weight due to yesterday's resupply (there's a long stretch coming up), but also the rain has returned for several days.Much of today's hike skirted the fenced in property of the Smithsonian Biological Institute. This facility operates mostly for the purpose of veterinary and reproductive research on severely endangered species. Apparently they have very rare tree kangaroos, pandas, exotic birds and small wild cats. I spent the whole morning pretending i was on a safari, hoping to catch a glimpse of a panda or mini leopard, but no avail; all I found were a bunch of bees and a turtle. Instead i imagined a Jurassic park like situation within the fences, where science brings back never seen before species. Tomorrow we return to our starting point and continue north! It was nice sleeping indoors, but i actually kind of miss my tent!
Date: 2003-03-20
From: Blue Mountain

To: Tray Mountain
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

Tray Mountain Shelter 7.7 miles 56.2 total miles Started off as another cold windy rainy day with the weather gradually improving, becoming warmer and by evening we actually had blue sky in patches with a hint of a sunset. We all rushed out of the shelter and jumped up and down at the sight. This shelter was facing the wind so Leapyear strung up our tents across the front to block the wind, works great. We was nice and warm for another afternoon of laughter. Taught Spunky how to play dice, we modified the rules a bit and renamed it AT BONES.
Date: 2013-05-18
From: VA 55, Manassas Gap

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: moderate rain

Today I experienced my first trail magic!! I happened upon 3 young guys around my age with a grill, hot dogs and hamburgers, coolers full of sodas and beer, brownies, and candy. I had never seen anything like it- and it was all for us! What impressed me the most though was how excited they were to see us and serve us, it was so amazing. I almost couldn't believe that someone would want to go to all that trouble for others, just because. One of them had hiked the trail last year and said that he couldn't wait to pass it on, I was so touched. We hung out with them for much of the afternoon, making for another late arrival, but it was totally worth it Even the rain did no damage to my parade today. Though, i really do hope the weatherman is wrong again in his prediction of rain every day till Saturday! At this point my rainy days far outnumber my dry ones.
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Blueberry Patch

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

   Muskrat Shelter 11.6 miles 78.4 total miles    This report comes to you officially from the sunny state of North Carolina. Yea one state down, only thirteen to go. Today has been beautiful, just right for hikin. Started the day with Blueberry pancakes, sausage, and cheese biscuits. Thank You Gary and Lennie of the Blueberry Patch for a wonderful stay, your kindness was much appreciated. Late start on the trail but that was OK we made our planned miles. Georgia was not as hard as I was expecting, maybe because we was doing low mile days due to the weather. What I will remember mostly is walking for miles thru misty white fog, cold rain, and lots and lots of wind. Thankfully the weather has improved these last two days and I was able to get some pictures of the beautiful Georgia mountains. Today looking at the horizon was just breathtaking, as mountains upon mountains receded into a distant blue haze. I will also remember all the wonderful friendships I have made so far. Upon reaching the North Carolina border, I took the required pictures of the old gnarly tree in the center of the trail. Very cool old tree marking our passing of the state line. North Carolina was quick to welcome us with a climb. Warning to all that cometh behind, the climb out of Bly Gap is TOUGH. I'm still hiking with Spunky and Leapyear, we are having a great time together. Well tomorrow is another day of big climbs as we work our way towards the Smokies. Tonight I am feeling the effects of Bly Gap, it's vitamin time. Good night.
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Mi. 1011.5

To: Ed Garvey Shelter 
Miles today: 15.0

Despite my every attempt to get an early start, I had such a leisurely morning that it wasn't until 830 that I started walking. I made one short detour to a mini mart for some breakfast (though the selection in my food sack was more diverse than their offerings, it was worth it for the luxury of a coffee and potable tap water). I hustled the next 7 miles into the anticipated Harpers Ferry and made it by 1230. I laughed so hard as I got passed by a few hikers making a seemingly mad dash towards the historical town, everyone was pretty exited! I checked in at he ATC and am officially the 21st registered alternative (flipflopping) thru hiker of the 2013 season! I ran into a bunch of friends, enjoyed a Greek lunch, and resisted the temptation to stay over in the adorable town by hiking out to the next shelter 7 miles down the way. I had anticipated an empty shelter since most hikers had opted to stay at a local hostel that night (embarrassing story: when asked by another hiker if I'd stay at the hostel too, i actually responded "nah, I just showered a few days ago, I'm good" what? Eeeeew) anyway, turned out I had the company of 25 others! That's not an exaggeration, we counted. There were several section hikers and a really neat school group from Ohio that I chatted with all evening. After three consecutive solo nights, I really enjoyed the company! They were a very gregarious and energetic group, but were also impressively knowledgeable in the ways of the outdoors (except the one kid who picked up and played with a copperhead). I also parted ways with the last remaining gentleman from our previous group, as he's taking a few days off. Hopefully we'll meet back up in PA! Lesson of the day: spiders ONLY build webs at face level, ick
Date: 2003-03-23
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Carter Gap Shelter 12.5 miles 90.9 total days Another wonderful hikin day, nice and sunny, took lots of pictures. Dined for lunch at the summit of Standing Indian Mountain at 5498 ft. The highest so far. You could see all the way to Blood Mt. in Ga. The view was just awesome. The climb up was not as bad as rumored, just nice and steady over several miles. Coming down, the trail wound thru Rodidendrum groves and past several streams with small waterfalls. Just pass one of the falls I saw my first snake of the hike, just a baby, I had to move it off the trail with my hikin stick so it wouldn't get stepped on. I was almost to camp when Rich came to meet me and announced he was my personal shepherd and carried my pack into camp for me. It felt like I was hikin on air without it. Camp tonight has been filled with jokes and laughter, we are turning into one big trail family. I am sharing the shelter with Spunky, Leapyear, Cindy, Rich and NS. Well it is getting dark, the food bags are hung so it is time to sleep. Good night
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Ed Garvey Shelter 

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: haze

I forgot to mention that I made it through West Virginia and into Maryland yesterday! I also reunited with a friend a few days ago from my first couple days of hiking- so good to see again! Now that my pace has improved we've been hiking together and it's really nice to have a familiar face and someone to look out for/ look out for you. So today was very eventful..to go into detail would take forever, the only thing i'll elaborate on is this: Today's trail passed through two fields where a battles in the civil war took place- the battle for Cramptons Gap and the battle for Fox's Gap. There were numerous plaques and monuments that explained the details of each battle and to honor fallen generals. It was difficult to imagine men charging each other through the fields that now looked so peaceful. I stopped to thank all those who had lost their lives fighting for what they believed in, and to contemplate how fortunate I am to not have experienced civil war, and how easily the course of history could have been different. Here's everything else: lunched at a beautiful shelter with a school group from Utah, saw original Washington monument, arrived at my destination way early to find a trail magic picnic (thanks Cribbage!), decided to push onto next shelter, saw many friends, raced a thunderstorm for 6 miles (lost by .25 of a mile! So close), reunited with gang, saw first (very very large) snake, yelled over thunder that literally shook the shelter, and played games. The end! Lesson of the day: singing out loud leaves your mouth very vulnerable to a whole host of flying and floating insects...much better to hum!
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Slider Bald 

To: Cold Spring 
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

Cold Spring Shelter   12.1 miles   122.6 total miles Today dawned cold and foggy, but by noon the sun was shinning. Took a nice long lunch at Wayah Bald soaking up the rays. Wayah Bald was awesome, from the stone firetower you could see for miles. Was able to trace the trail all the way back to Albert Mt. it seemed so far away. Just think I walked all that way in the past few days. My throat is feeling better and I'm getting some energy back, the uphills don't seem as long. So far my legs are holding out and my knee only hurts every once in a while. We are starting to see some signs of spring. The trees are budding out and I've seen some wild flowers. The shelter we are staying in tonight is the oldest so far, built by the CCC in 1933 before the entire AT was even completed. It still looks solid and I should get a good nights sleep. Met Yo-Yo tonight, he is destined to become a trail legend. He is a 6ft plus bald white boy that talks like a inner city black gangster, as in Yo brother. Tonight he packed in some frozen raspberries and cool whip for desert. Wrapped them up in his foam sleeping pad to stay cold and hiked 16 miles from Franklin just so we could eat right. Now that's some trail magic.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Tom's Run Shelter

To: Boiling Springs, PA, 
Miles today: 22.4

My first over 20 mile day today was not at all intended, but despite the aches and pains (not just me, the seasoned hikers are hobbling as well) it has been one of my favorites so far. Yesterday's distance was prompted by the easy terrain and good company. Today's, however, were added as an afterthought. I understood that if I never push myself I'll never improve. The success was exhilarating! I wasn't even sure I could pull it off, but did, happily. At the end of the day yesterday we had hit the midpoint of the AT. Of course it didnt apply to me, but my peers had been hiking for 1093 miles- celebration was due! The traditional celebratory practice is the "half gallon challenge", during which hikers attempt to consume a half gallon of ice cream to monument the occasion. We didnt reach the location of said festivities until this morning, so it was ice cream for breakfast! As in 9 am. 2 of the guys were successful, the rest of us didnt attempt, but did enjoy ice cream in solidarity with the champs. This prefaced a long, hot day of hiking, during which we swam in a creek, did a little rock climbing and "rock mazes", hiked through a corn field, found a pizza shop, and inadvertently camped about 15 yards from a VERY active railroad. Little sleep will be had, as the train rolls by quite frequently and quite close, but it still manages to crack everyone up as it clatters by (though I'm sure the humor will be lost by dawn). I've laughed harder, hiked farther, sweated more, and hurt more than any other day on the trail so far, but it's been the greatest yet. Tomorrow we're takin it easy though! Lesson of the day: close the tent during a pizza run...it was like a gnat massacre afterwards!
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Cold Spring 

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Nantahala Outdoor Center 11.4 miles 134 total miles Once again I awoke to foggy skies that turned to bright blue by noon. I think this will be the pattern as we get closer to the Smokies. Today the trail continued over several southern balds then started a 7 mile downhill climb to the Nantahala river gorge. Tomorrow we have a 6 mile climb back out. At times the trail seamed to go straight down as we rock hopped our way along. I wonder if we will get to do the same in reverse? Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the Nantahala climb. Upon arriving we found our friends Rich and Cindy waiting for us. Cindy had injured her knee about a week ago and has found it increasingly difficult to hike. They had pulled off the trail for a few days so she could get it checked and decided to drive down to see us. What a nice surprise to see them waiting as we hiked out of the woods. They waited around until we ate supper {huge cheeseburgers and onion rings} then headed back to Franklin and their hotel. They are going to try to hike tomorrow if Cindy's knee is feeling OK, maybe we will run into each other.   There is a big kayak festival going on this weekend, tonight there was music and booths set up all over the place. Tomorrow they are having kayak races. It would be tempting to hang around and watch, it would be fun, but we have miles to make. Both Spunky and myself had boxes mailed here so our room is covered in gear and food as we figure out what we will need to go thru the Smokies. Well tomorrow is another day, good night.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Boiling Springs, PA, 

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

With every intention to sleep in, the sun rose hot and fast, forcing everyone out of their tents pretty early. But, being in no hurry, we sat around in the shade for awhile contemplating the next two days. After yesterday, it was agreed that today would be an easy 15 to the next shelter, with an even shorter 11 into town on Friday, to split a hotel room and bum around all afternoon. So, with plenty of daylight to burn, we washed some things in the Getty bathroom, charged phones, and ate another breakfast or two before setting off for the worlds sweatiest walk. It was a scorcher today! I forgot to mention yesterday- true to my name (which is indeed now officially Lost N Found, for obvious reasons), I left behind a very important item: my "wallet", the ziploc bag that holds my cards, ID, money, and most importantly, the current pages from my guidebook. This was discovered in panic a good 5 miles after we left the store, I really didnt want to go back! No more than 10 minutes later, Barking Spider and Stretch walked up the trail holding my bag! Mister Frodo had found it and gave it to them knowing they'd catch me first. A huge thanks to all, so far everything I've lost has found me again! Lesson of the day: a little tree cover makes all the difference...today's walk passed through several fields, and the temperature difference in the sun was astonishing!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

NOC   0 miles Awoke feeling ill, off trail, resting at NOC. It was hard watching Spunky and Leapyear hike on without me, but I need to take care of myself if I want to hike at all. Hopefully I will catch them in the Smokies.
Date: 2013-06-02
From: PA 325, Clarks Creek

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

Today was more or less uneventful, except the part where I almost stepped on a rattlesnake. I must have nearly stepped on his head because he was pissed. I heard a sudden commotion in the leaves beside my feet and when i looked down, saw a (very large) rattlesnake, coiled and poised to strike, rattling ferociously no more than 6 inches from my right foot. I got as far from it as I could, as fast as I could, but did so on very weak and shaky legs. Other than that, it was business as usual: wake, walk, eat, walk, sit, walk, and so one and so forth. It was also a pleasant evening at the shelter, with many stories and much laughter.Lesson of the day: watch where you're walking!
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

NOC   0 miles Has been snowing all day. Slept most of the day yesterday, feeling better. I wish I could kick this. I'm tired of feeling crudy. Tomorrow I'm out of here no matter how I feel or what the weather, too many zero days will not get me to Maine.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

These "17 year cicadas" have been the subject of much debate, speculation, and rumor here on the trail. Some have denied their existence, others fear their arrival. I'm here to tell you: they are real. Their arrival was announced by the presence of thousands of small holes in the ground. I didn't know what had caused this until I learned that this species of cicadas live dormant underground and emerge every 17 years. Sounds like a a horror movie, and has actually been the inspiration for a movie plot among some friends and I (still in the works, but I will let you know when it's done). The sound that these numerous, and rather large, critters emit is nothing short of alien; a sort of high pitched whining noise that resembles a distant siren, droning and whirring night and day, reaching sometimes surprising decibel levels. We now have competitions to see how many are stuck on the tents in the morning, as well as ideas as to what to do with the shells (ranging from building with, eating, and exporting). Should be an interesting and noisy two weeks!I also had another wonderful trail magic experience, this time from my father! He set up and a road crossing with sandwiches, pasta salad, fresh fruit, baked goods, beer, and water. And comfy chairs! It was one of the best displays of trail magic many had seen, and he made a lot of hikers very very happy! Thank you, and well done papa !!!
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Locust Cove Gap 10.5 miles 144.5 total miles Left NOC bright and early. There was just a dusting of snow and the sun was shinning brightly. I actually felt like hikin today. The climb out was not that hard, just nice and steady 4500 feet over 6 miles, it became steeper towards the top but no big vertical climbs or rock hops. That was good because everything was covered in snow, 4-5 inches by the top. It was like walking thru a fairy land of white. Was at the shelter by noon and didn't feel like stopping so on I hiked. Cheoah Bald was awesome, you could see for miles. It would be great to camp at sometime, but too cold and exposed tonight. It goes on my list of places to come back to. Towards the top, it is well worth the climb. Continued on until I reached a nice little gap with a spring and tent spots, thought about hikin on but knew the next shelter was too far so decided to stay. I'm here with Bill and Barry and several others. It should be cold tonight in the mid to low 20s. Right now I'm bundled up in my sleeping bag to stay warm. I glad I waited one more day at NOC this is roughing it enough for me.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: 501 shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Everyone has been wondering where these notorious PA rocks have been, as the first half of the state has not been too bad. Well, we found them! And they are everything people have said they are. But instead of complaining about the effects (bruised feet, rolled ankles, tripping, slow miles) I have classified them for the viewers at home into the following categories:The "marbles": small, loose rocks that roll around under foot, providing no traction or stability The "shards of glass": sharp pointy rocks that jut out of the ground and into your feet (I swear it is someone's job to go out and sharpen these regularly) The "imports" or "foreign exchange students": these rocks are not in the ground, nor do they match the surrounding ones, but sit around looking awkward. Someone put them there.The "breaching whales": large, rounded rocks that appear to be, well, breaching out of the ground the way a whale does in water. (Also prompted the exclamation "feels like walking on a manatee" )And the "invisible rocks": the ones you never see, or think you've cleared, but trip you every time In stark contrast to the terrain today was probably the most beautiful hiking weather I've enjoyed so far: cool, sunny, clear no humidity, it was gorgeous! Even the rocks couldn't bring me down today ( even though they very nearly did in the literal sense several times)
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The climb out of Palmerton had been, according to one guidebook, the "most technical climb south of New Hampshire", turned out to actually be quite fun! We were very fortunate to done it after the rain had stopped, as it had made the knifes edge look like child's play, complete with hand over hand rock climbing. However the next morning brought the rains again, and so we hustled into the town of Delaware Water Gap which housed a church hostel for a donation. Like the jailhouse, about 20+ hikers took shelter for the night, many of the same faces from the last town. It was a fun reunion! As it poured the next day, nearly all the hikers chose to take a zero day in town and stay another night at the hostel. We all enjoyed breakfast at the local diner and then took the bus to the mall which housed a movie theater. After wandering around, we took in the new Star Trek movie and Now You See Me, both of which were great! It was a fantastic way to spend a rainy day with 15 fellow hikers and friends, which felt both surreal and natural all at the same time! It was strange to be in such a busy, commercial place, however we were all there together and it made sense somehow. Being my first and only zero day on the trail so far, it was a much needed break and rest, and was rejuvenating and a lot of fun!
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

God, the miles seem long today. I don't think I even made 1 mile per hour. I don't know if I'm hiking so slow because my pack is so heavy, because I'm worried about Stephanie or because of the PUD's {pointless up and downs}. Probably a combo of all three. It didn't help that the day was foggy and gray. No view off of Rocky Top today. The trail actually went across several balds that would have had great views had the weather been better. I imagine we will have rain by morning.