morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-15
From: JerryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Cabin Shelter 

To: Hogback ridge shelter 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Very strong winds all night long.Shelter was shaking a little.Not sure if my tent would have held up to it.No rain all night though.The stray cat woke all of us up at 6 am.That cat has the loudest meow I have ever heard.Some people got really pissed.I thought it was funny   Started hiking in a dark sky and high winds.Really strong winds!First mountain of the day was Big Butt.Funny name but really sweet.It has a nice pond on top and is all mowed down with some great views.Wish I could have stayed a while but was damn cold too! Another cool little side trail we went to was the Shelton gravesites.Two civil war soldiers.One of them was only 13 years old.There is a camping spot right next to the graves.Peaceful little spot.  After that rain.Rain and more rain all day long.Cold rain.We were totally due for a bad day.I didn¢t mind at all.The views are still really good.You see all kinds of weird bugs and creatures come out.And the contrasts of the trees and clouds and fog.Always really cool to see clouds come right at you up the mountain tops. We rushed to Hogback ridge shelter so we could get a spot.It only holds 6 so on crappy days they fill up quick and the younger hikers are faster than us.We scores a spot.One foot was there that¢s it.It is so good to know you have a dry spot for the night.The temp is supposed to drop to 25 tonight and it feels like it   Strawberry milkshake ,Grout,and Easy wind showed up later.Poor Easy Wind came in totally soaked.Everything in his pack was soaked too.He is having a really hard time staying warm because of the cold wind and rain.I have every layer on in my sleeping bag and am okay.   Was really happy to have a strong cell signal right from my bag.I was able to have a great night texting my wife all night.I love her so much.She is so supportive even though we miss each other terribly.  Tomorrow is calling for snow and ice all day with a hi of 20.Two days ago it was 70!So not sure what will happen.Stay tuned
Date: 2018-04-16
From: Hogback ridge shelter 

To: Sams Gap-Natures Inn hostel 
Miles today: 2.4
Weather: heavy intensity rain

very windy,cold,bitter,and wet night last night.Somehow I slept really good though.Todays weather turned even worse than was expected.Really cold,around 20 for the high.And snow and ice mix all day with strong winds.One foot was the first one up and said there was no way he was hiking all day in it.He had a great idea.There was a hostel just 2 miles away that would pick us up at the road.Comfortably Numb and I agreed right away.Would give us a chance to get a shower ,do laundry,dry everything out,and get some much needed beers.Sometimes I think you are just better off avoiding wether like that.Would be really easy to get hurt. The place was really cool.Owners very nice too.They have cabins and a bunkhouse without heat.They also have a small heated house with 3 bedrooms.We lucked out and got one.One foot got another room in the house.Glad he did,got to know him better.Just a really good guy.Retired prison guard living a big dram of his out here.  Pretty much all of our trail friends ended up at the same place but in the unheated rooms.I invited them all up and we had a really great little party at the house.Dirtbag Dave,Fuzzy Wuzzy,Cado,Barefoot,Samwise,and Moondrop were there.Really fun night these guys are great   Noticing I am eating everything in sight now.If I drop something on the ground I eat it.Cant get enough!And Everything tastes so good!!
Date: 2018-04-18
From: No Business Knob shelter 

To: Mile 350.2
Miles today: 12.6

Slept like a baby after yesterday¢s long day.Woke up to another warm and sunny morning.Didnt want to leave my sleeping bag but we had a lot to do today.  The day started with a long down towards Erwin.Got some really excellent views straight down to the wide and fast moving Nolichucky river.Great spot!Made it down to Uncle Johnny¢s hostel and most of our bubble was there.The hostel gives you a ride 3 miles into town so you can resupply.Cado,Fuzzy Wuzzy,Hiccups,Dimps,Barefoot,Comfortably Numb and I all went.I bought way too much food for the next 4 days until the next town.I really need to get better at this because it¢s all extra weight my body doesn¢t need to be carrying.Everything looks so good though because I am always hungry.We all hit up an all you can eat pizza place.Only $8.It was actually really good too.I had 3 plates of salads heaped and 3 plates of pizza heaped up.It was amazing!After this we were brought back to the hostel   At the hostel more people we knew showed up.Absolutely beautiful day.Pretty much all of them decided to stay at the hostel and relax by the Nolichucky river for a day.We seriously thought about it too but just took a day off at Natures Inn hostel 2 days before.Would have been so nice hanging out with all of them and having a few beers but we gotta get to Maine at some point!  So we left ,crossed over the big river,and started another long hike up out of another town.We had to cross a railroad track and seconds after a train came by.Conductor waved and blew his horn.It was really cool. The next few miles had us zigzagging across a stream with more small waterfalls..Really nice trail.It was around 75 degrees .Really thought about jumping in.Nice deep pools.Sure it¢s freezing cold though.  We took a break at Curley Gap shelter.Had a bite to eat even though I was still full from the pizza.Decided to just stealth camp at around mile 350.We were lucky because there was a great spot at 350.2.We are definitely doing bigger miles now and it feels great to be stronger.There will always be faster hikers.We are doing a great pace and enjoying it.  There are some really crazy sounding birds out tonight close by.Never heard anything like them.Loud too!
Date: 2018-04-19
From: Mile 350.2

To: Clyde Smith Shelter 
Miles today: 19.8

Had to get up late night to release myself in the cold.Relieve myself lol.Erwin emwas all lit up way down below between the mountains.Really cool sight.Pretty cold morning again with a little rain,high winds ,and cloudy.  We had some great beers for trail magic first thing this morning.To me it¢s a great way to start the day.  Some cool spots today were Beauty Spot clearing.Unaks mtn was like walking through a neon green forest.Up there ,there was a beautiful tribute to a young man named Max.It is a pine tree decorated as a Christmas tree all the time.    Followed lots of old farm roads up the mountains.The old fences are still there up Iron Mountain.Wish I could go back in time and see what it looked like back then when i was farmed.  Clyde Smith Shelter is where we ended a long day with Chads Dad from Texas.We have a nice little fire going away from the crowded shelter.Its pretty damn cold again tonight.In the 20s.I will be in my tent and bag early to try to stay warm.There are lots of new people I haven¢t met yet on the trail here tonight.To cold to be sociable.We are passing lots of hikers that started before us.Feels good!  Hope you are all warm in your cozy little houses.I am in for a cold one!
Date: 2018-04-20
From: Clyde Smith Shelter 

To: Overmountain Shelter 
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

so about 2:45 am I started hearing these crazysounds from my tent.Sounded like a dying animal/owl/coyote/Or maybe a lost hiker.It turned out to be a lost hiker.I heard all those crazy sounds then a scream at the end.I got my shoes on quick and went out to look.I saw a headlamp way far out in the distance.This poor girl got lost going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.I found her and brought her back to her tent .She was out of her mind scared and in shockShe told me she thought for sure she was going to end up as one of those people who don¢t get found for like 5 years..Glad I woke up to help her because nobody else did.Chads Dad woke up after and helped us find her tent.Sounds stupid but it could be so easy to get lost out here.It could have gone bad quick because it was really cold out.  Another really cold morning but really sunny.Everyone in the Shelter was asking about what happened with the girl in the woods  More early morning beer magic.I know it¢s wrong but I love beer in the morning.   Big climb of the day was Roan mtn At 6190 feet.Was rugged and icy.Lots of great lookouts on the way up.Summit was nice but trees in.Went to the shelter which is the highest on the AT.Its pretty beat.2 guys were doing transistor radios up there and talking to people in Colorado. The trail down Roan was very icy and took more time than I thought it would.Lots of day hikers were out.  Next up is Round Bald.Just Cant explain  how beautiful this place is .Another Barr summit 360 view.Roan mtn is Right in front of you and huge.And all the lower men¢s are just as nice.Had a long lunch there and enjoyed every minute.From Round Bald you can see Janes Bald to the  north.That was next for us.   The hike from Round to Janes Bald is all open and above 5200 feet.You can see exactly where the trail goes all the way to the top.Round is 5827 and Janes is 5808 feet.I keep saying everyday has better views.This day may never be beaten.Perfect sun and temps in the 50s.Just never imagined  a place like this existed.  After all of this great day we had a nice long and mellow down hike to Overmountain Shelter.This Shelter is an old barn with spectacular views south.It holds about 20 people inside.I decided to tent on the ridge leading to the barn because it¢s views are a little better and I love my tent.Also like poking my head out at night and seeing the amazing moon and stars.Its going to be another really cold clear night so stars should be great again!  Owls are already hooting.Nice fire going at the barn with all the usuals and many more.
Date: 2018-04-21
From: Overmountain Shelter 

To: Elk river campsite
Miles today: 13.7

Woke up to do the usual 3am thing and the stars were amazing.Once again very cold and clear.Could see all the mountains under the stars.Beautiful!   First cold climbing this morning was up little Hump mtn.Great view back down to the barn where we started from.Looked so tiny.Another great sunny day.  Hump mtn comes into view,another gorgeous repeat of the day before.This area is amazing.Wide open climbing with views you can¢t believe.You can see the trail all the way winding to the top at 5567  feet.Another 360 view on another perfectly clear day.  Lind down hike to Doll Flats.Great view of farms way down below.This is also where you officially leave NC.NC was a great place of views and people I will never forget.Always feels like an accomplishment to get through another state,but I would love to come back to NC someday.  Another long downhile to where I met Odie.Odie does a hiker yearbook and told me how to get in it.Super nice guy  Arrived at US 19 E where we hit the best trail magic so far.Beer,soda,hot dogs,bacon cheeseburgers,eggs and bacon,fruit,and much more.What made it even better was that all of the people I have been hiking with kind of all showed up at the same time.Just a great time drinking and eating in the warm sun.Food and good weather mean so much more now.The trail angels went out of their way to make sure we were all happy and full.Once again I must say Southerners are thee nicest of all people ¢It was hard to leave this little piece of heaven bit we had to move on.  Very nice climb away and up from the magic road.A few miles in came to a nice open field with views back to all the big balls we climbed in the last 2 days.Feels great to see what you have done.After this lots of road crossings.All back gravel roads.  Next stop was the big 400 mile marker drawn in the dirt on the trail.Feeling good and loved everything so far and can¢t wait to see what¢s ahead.Its far exceeded all of my expectations so far. A little side trail takes you to Jones falls at mile400.Its a big beautiful one about 70 feet tall.Cads Dad,Comfortably Numb and I stayed for a while.  The 3 of us were walking next to the Elk river and decided to set up our tents there for the night.Planned on going farther but it was such a great spot couldn¢t resist.My tent is about 6feet away from the river and it¢s so peaceful and relaxing.There is a woodchuck across the river who has been giving me dirty looks though.I am not leaving this great spot for him.Soaked my aching feet in the cold water until they went numb.Helps tremendously.  Chads Dad is here with us again and we have another great little fire going.Tou meet some great people out here and he is one of them.  Been thinking today what I did to deserve this awesome trip I am living in.Dont feel like I deserve  it.It is a huge privilege to be out here everyday and I am hooked .I am extremely lucky to have a wife and kids that get how much this means to me.Thanls you guys,love you SOOOO much
Date: 2018-04-22
From: Elk river campsite

To: Stealth camped on river
Miles today: 21.4

Woke up to a slightly warmer morning.Slept like a baby by the river  Going to keep this one short.Comfortably Numb,Chads Dad and I did 21.4 miles today.It was cloudy but nice .Trail was like a roller coaster all day with ups and downs.Not many views but still really pretty.  Best part of the day for views was Laurel falls and the trail to them.Very rugged with lots of huge stone steps leading up and then way down to the falls.Falls were very tall and powerful.I was standing pretty far away and could feel the wind and mist coming off.Felt really good.  We found a great camping spot on the river down from the falls after a very long day.My feet and ankles are tortured but are batter after soaking them in the ice cold river again.We are on a little side trail away from the AT camping.A local went by and said there is a store a mile away.We had no idea we were so close.So I hiked down to the road and hitched into Hampton to get us some beers.Nice old guy brought me to the store and back.He also took me on a 30 minute detour and showed me all around town and where he lives,and where he grew up,and where his parents greet up,and more.O was starting to freak out a little because I had a mole to walk back to the guys and it was getting dark.And I was thinking he wanted to keep me.Turned out he was just a super nice guy and he brought me back.Wouldnt take any $ for gas even though he drove me all over.Just said I should keep it because I will need it for the trailWhy are Southerners  so much nicer than back home?????  On the hike back in I met up with Dimps,a girl we have been hiking with.She is fast but kept me company until I met back up with the guys.  Another fun night drinking beers in a tent down by the river.
Date: 2018-04-23
From: Stealth camped on river

To: Blackbeard hostel
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

Light rain and high winds during the night.Heard a huge tree crack and fall down close by.Other than that slept like a baby soothed by the sounds of the river right next to me. We decided to stay at Black bear hostel today to get a shower and small resupply.So we knew it was going to be an easy day.Just had to get over Pond mtn.On the way up Pond mtn we ran into Balioo.We met him in Hiawassee early on in this trip.So weird how you run into people you haven¢t seen in a long time.  So Chads Dad,Comfortably Numb and I split a cabin at Blackbeard hostel.Really nice clean place .Chads Dad and I like to drink and we did.It was another great day.The owners brought us to a Mexican restaurant that was out of this world.Laces and her boyfriend joined us.They are super sweet kids who are going to get married after they finish the trail.This was the first time I have felt really full in a long time.  Great night back in our cabin and it was raining so it felt even better to not be in a tent tonight.  You never know where you will end up and who you will meet on this trail.That is my favorite part!
Date: 2018-04-24
From: Black bear hostel

To: Iron mountain shelter 
Miles today: 15.9

Woke up a little hurting because of too much fun again last night.Always  feel better after hiking a few hours.  Started hiking around 8am.Hiked next to the beautiful Watagua Lake for a long time .Its a man made lake.Had a greenish tiny to it.Not sure why but it looks cool . Great views down to it as we started climbing.Reminded me of Lake George in the Adirondacks.  Started raining pretty good just as we reachef Vandeveeter Shelter for lunch.Stayed for a little bit and had to move on to stay warm .  Got very soaked but it was pretty warm so don¢t mind much .Arrived at Iron Mountain Shelter and it was packed.Good news was that most of the hikers were moving on.So I scored a spot in the shelter tonight.I don¢t like shelters but it is supposed to storm tonight with hail.  As I am writing this there is a mouse already eyeing all of us up.This is why I hate shelters.They walk all over you at night and aren¢t afraid.  In the shelter with me tonight are Comfortably Numb,Roadkill,Hawkeye and a few others who just rolled in.Roadkill played an awesome little concert for us on his Cherokee flute.Sounded so good in this environment. I am off to sleep and battle with the mice all night
Date: 2018-04-25
From: Iron mountain shelter 

To: Damascus 
Miles today: 25.9

Lots of rain last night but no mouse problems.  Everyday we don¢t really make a plan of where we will end up.It was supposed to rain all day so we made a plan to get into Damascus so we could get a hostel for the night.25 miles away though.  It turned out to be a good plan.The terrain was somewhat easier all day.Lots if super slick mud did slow me down though.Pretty much liked through thick fog all day.  We came across Moondrop,Samwise,and Dirtbag Dave at a sign.They said welcome to Virginia!Another state complete!Tennessee was a great place ,really glad I got to see it.Those guys were all pushing on to Damascus too.They are staying at a church for a $7 donation.Was a great feeling to make it into Damascus.Really cool little hiker town We found a room at The Broken Fiddle hostel.Nice little place.Balloo is here so we all walked up to another all you can eat pizza place.Was amazing.Ate so much and had some great laughs.     Pretty shot after 25.9miles today.Feet hurting but that¢s probably normal.Supposed to rain all day tomorrow again.Thinking about staying here another night.Day to day you never know what will happen though!
Date: 2018-04-26
From: Damascus 

To: Saunders shelter 
Miles today: 9.7

Woke up to clear blue skies which was not supposed to happen.Checked the weather and rain again for the afternoon.We were going to stay another day in Damascus but decided we better push on because my wife and Comfortably Numbs girl are coming to visit us Friday afternoon until Monday morning.I really liked Damascus but that would be too long away from the trail  The trail goes right through Damascus so we had a nice walk out of town.Saw Chad the Dad,Moondrop,Playboy,Dirtbag Dave and Samwise all leaving too.  Most of the trail today parallels the Virginia Creeper trail.Its absolutely gorgeous.Follows a fast moving river.Hoping I can talk Beth into riding bikes down the Virginia Creeper trail when she visits this weekend.Looks really cool.We also plan on taking them to see the ponies at Greyson highlands while they are here.Cannot wait to see my Bethie.This is the longest we have ever been away from each other ever.Leah and her are driving 11 hours to see us.So happy!  Made it to Saunders shelter around 2 and it started raining.I took a nice long nap in my tent to the sound of the rain.Extremely peaceful.Still raining lightly now late at night.After the really cold rain and snow we have had this rain doesn¢t bother me at all anymore.  I think the shelter is full.I don¢t even know who is here tonight because I don¢t want to leave my nice warm tent.Really looking forward to seeing my wife tomorrow although I think it¢s going to be weird not hiking for 2 whole days.  Hope all is well in the real world.You all need to come to this world,it¢s much better!
Date: 2018-04-27
From: Saunders shelter 

To: US 58 to Abington
Miles today: 7.6

Had lots more rain during the night.Everything in my pack is pretty wet even though it was covered.So much dampness in the air.None of it bothers me because today I will see my Bethie!  Pretty easy trail lead to a beautiful pond with really nice camping spots.So many cool spots to camp on this trail.  Trail followed the beautiful Va Creeper trail.Its absolutely gorgeous.Old train tracks made into a bike trail alongside a fast flowing river.Crossed Luther Hassinger bridge which is an old railroad bridge.Constructed out of massive wooden beams high above the river.Amazing construction.I think it will be standing for a long,long time to come.  Took a quick break at Lost mountain shelter for lunch.We had time to kill because Beth and Leah left NY at 3am and wouldn¢t be arriving to pick us up until at least 1pm.Finished the short hiking day at US58zWas cold and hard to keep warm when you stop moving.I took a mile walk to try to get cell service to try to call Beth and see where they were.No service anywhere.Some really nice people stopped and asked if we wanted a ride into town or any help.  Sandals and Ninja Snail came out of the woods and definitely needed a ride into town.Ninja Snail was really sick.I told her it sounded like bronchitis.She was really not wanting to leave the trail.Sandals and I convinced her to.They got a ride within minutes.Hope she gets better.They are a really nice young couple The sun came out and I fell asleep under a road sign.Woke up and it was 3 pm and the girls hadn¢t shown up yet.This got us a little worried so I walked up the road to the nearest house to see if I could make a call.When I turned a corner I saw Beth¢s car parked about 1/4 miles from where we were.GPS sent them there but they had only been there for about 5 minutes.Beth jumped out and gave me a big hug and kiss.It was so amazing to see her!We had a great night eating everything in sight ,drinking and loving