morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Green Corner Road, Standing Bear Farm Hostel 

To: Max Patch summit 
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: light rain

Today turned out to be a beautiful day for hiking. Standing Bear Farm Hostel was having a hiker feed at 5 pm with pork they had been smoking since yesterday, but I didn't want to lose a day, and left at 10 am. The objective today was to reach Max Patch summit, a bald (no trees, just grass) mountain top at 4,629 feet to see the sunset, assuming the weather cooperated. I was filtering water at a stream a half mile before Max Patch when a lightning storm broke out and I got drenched. I thought I'd have to camp short of Max Patch because I didn't want to cross a bald summit during lightning, but the storm blew away after 15 minutes. The views from Max Patch summit at 5 pm were totally awesome, a 360 view with a rainbow to the east and rain storms to the west. The winds at the summit must have been about 40 knots and I had to hold on to my hat to avoid it blowing off. Unfortunately as a hiker, you can't dwell too long and have to keep moving to stay warm. I'm adding an objective to my bucket list to return to Max Patch someday (there's a parking lot below the summit) to spend an afternoon and cloudless night.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Max Patch summit 

To: Deer Park Mountain shelter 
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Another great day for hiking. The AT after the Smokies is much less strenuous, allowing for longer milage than previously. In fact, I will need to average about 15 miles per day henceforth to make it to Damascus by 7 May. I struck trail magic again at Lemon Gap, bananas, tangerines, chocolate chip cookies, Pringles, and cokes hit the spot! Tonight I tented on the opposite side of the AT from the Deer Park Mountain shelter. I don't think this is where Deer Park gets their water from, because it is better!
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Deer Park Mountain shelter 

To: Hot Springs 
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up at 6:30 this morning to the sound of a smoke detector going off, or a bird in the woods with a high-pitched recurring beep-beep that sounded exactly like a smoke detector. I ate my pop-tarts, packed up the tent, and hiked 3.2 easy miles into Hot Springs for a nero (near zero) day. After checking in to the Laughing Heart Hostel, I wolfed down a 12 oz Hungry Hiker burger at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Then I soaked in a 104 degree hot tub at the Hot Springs Resort. You don't get many chances to pamper yourself on the AT! I had planned to zero here tomorrow, but Hot Springs is such a small town, I've done everything I need to do already. My ankle is feeling much better, having hiked with the ankle brace on for the past week, but still looks a little swollen. Chatted with Walnut and Om while in town.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Hot Springs 

To: Deep Gap 
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

Today was more perfect than the previous perfect day! Not a cloud in the sky but an occasional cirrus. And no mud on the trail either. It is so nice not to have to deal with mud! After a western omelet breakfast and visits to the post office and the outfitter, I left the hostel at 10:15 am as Hands and Gorp-Gobbler were coming into town. Crossing the French Broad River was a nice climb with several rock outcroppings overlooking Hot Springs. Today's climb was 2,300 feet with several ups and downs in between. I met Twister, another retiree, on the trail and chatted with him several times where we caught up with each other. Today's highlight was the Rich Mountain lookout tower. I overcame my fear of climbing fire towers, as this one was not that tall and you could enter the cabin at the top. The 360 view and beautiful weather provided incredible visibility. This was the 2nd best view on the AT so far, as I liked Max Patch best. My goal today was to get to Spring Mountain shelter, which I did at 5 pm. There I met Square Peg (also on trailjournals.com) and chatted with him briefly. Because there is a freeze warning tonight with temperatures to 31 or colder, I decided to move on another 2 miles to Deep Gap, 600 feet lower elevation than Spring Mountain shelter. Anytime a shelter has the word "mountain" in its name, it's going to be on a ridge and windy. I don't need the extra wind chill!
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Deep Gap 

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter 
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

A shout out to my Dewey Beach friends, gathering tonight to reminisce on our single life days back in the late 70's/early 80's, and catch up with everyone. I wish I could be there, as it's been so long since I've seen some of you. Have a mellonball shooter for me. It was cold last night, my joints were chilled. Another beautiful day today. Highlight was Big Firescald Knob, a challenging rock scramble going up and coming down from the knob. At the top was a fantastic 360 view of 100 miles. I spent an hour there soaking in the sun. Today I crossed the 300 mile mark on the AT, one-seventh of the AT. I'm in a shelter tonight, due to forecast of rain, with Square Peg, Co-ed, and Ghost, with Diehard tenting outside.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter 

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Today was supposed to rain all day. There was a light mist with fog in the morning, then the sun broke out at noon. That's the kind of rainy day I like, which made hiking 15 miles enjoyable. I passed a few grave sites, including David and William Shelton, North Carolinians who joined the Union army during the Civil War, and were ambushed and killed when they returned home. I'm tenting tonight at Hogback Ridge Shelter as the shelter (capacity of 6) was full when I arrived at 6 pm. I caught up there with M&M, Clover, Owl, Cold Potato, Kiwi, Food Truck and Square Peg.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter 

To: Bald Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Today completes my first full month on the AT. It had to happen sooner or later, but today was a miserable, cold, rainy, foggy, muddy, miserable day. First, I got to Sam's Gap too early for the trail magic that everyone behind me got. I could have really used those calories. Then, the climb out of Sam's Gap went on and on for eight miles. Cruelty of cruelties, the climb would crest and go down hill slightly, only to climb again, usually steeper than before. There is no avoiding being thoroughly wet when it rains continuously. Your only choice is to keep moving to avoid hypothermia. When I finally got to the summit of Big Bald, it was totally socked in with fog such that you had to look for the posts with white blazes to find your way. Big Bald Mountain threw everything it had at me, including a rock scramble near the top. Damn you Big Bald, you tried to beat me, but I beat you. I stopped at the first shelter I came to at 2 pm, and am staying here for the night. It's supposed to be freezing temperatures again tonight. I hope to do 17 miles into Erwin tomorrow as I only have a half day of food left.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Bald Mountain Shelter 

To: Erwin, TN - Uncle Johnny's Hostel 
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

It must have been very cold last night, as I was warm but not sweating in my fully zipped 15 degree bag. I could see my breath for the first hour of hiking and had to wear my gloves, but the birds were singing, the woodpeckers were pecking, and the sun was breaking through the cumulus clouds. I was on a mission to make up lost time from yesterday and to get to Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin, TN, a total drop in elevation of more than 3,200 feet, but with lots of climbs in between. I arrived in Erwin with no food in my bag, having eaten two energy bars and some peanuts today, which is all I had left. Thank you Lyla for your letter. I haven't seen a bear yet, but others have. It's hard to get a photo of a bear on the AT as they are frightened of humans and run away at the sight or sound of us. I went to dinner tonight at a Mexican restaurant with Stretch, Ghosthiker and Ghosthiker's husband.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Erwin, TN - Uncle Johnny's Hostel 

To: Stealth camp site 2 miles before Indian Grave Gap 
Miles today: 6.5

The Appalachian Trail is very peaceful. Nature is inherently peaceful. The people you meet on the AT, whether thru-hikers, day hikers, or town folks, are always friendly and welcoming. Several sites along the AT were built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corp when the concept existed that you had to work to receive a government handout. Now its called entitlements, where people fell entitled to other people's money and property. This is a corrosive attitude that permits people to riot in Baltimore. On the AT, we get no bad news until we get to a trail town and look at the TV. Reports link professional anarchists to both Baltimore and Furguson riots. Everone knows that federal spending, where 40 cents of every dollar spent is borrowed, is unsustainable. Federal entitlement programs are growing rapidly and neither political party has the willpower to solve the problem. Eventually, unsustainable spending will lead to financial collapse with accompanying social unrest, and potentially political collapse, which is the ultimate aim of the anarchists. I fear that Baltimore and Furguson riots are only the tip of the iceberg. It was cold again last night, but I was comfy in a private cabin at Uncle Johnny's Hostel, which was only $15 more than a bunk room with 20 other people. Folks tenting there told me their tents and sleeping bags were all wet due to condensation because of the low temperatures and proximity to the river. I checked out at 11 and took the noon shuttle to Pizza Plus, which was all you can eat for $8. And I ate all I could! I ate with Green Man and an older hiking couple, Two Bad Dogs. I hit the trail at 2:30, hiking 6.5 miles to a stealth camp site on a ridge watching the sunset, a world away from Baltimore.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Stealth camp site 2 miles before Indian Grave Gap 

To: Greasy Gap Friendly Hostel 
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was full of highlights. First, there was trail magic at Indian Grave Gap by a man doing this as a personal outreach ministry. I had a banana, two cups of coffee, an orange, and two slices of banana bread. Second, there was an incredible 360 view at the top of Beauty Spot where I could see the Smokies in the distant horizon. Third, there was trail magic again at Iron Mountain Gap by Rob Bird, a well known trail angle from Dalton, Mass who retired and moved to Tennessee. I had three Twinkees and a root beer. Fourth, the weather prediction of rain in the afternoon never materialized and the sun broke out at 4 pm. As such, I kept on hiking for 17.8 miles until 6:30 pm. Fifth, I am at the Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel, which I had not planned to stay at, but is a legend on the AT. Connie runs the hostel herself in her rural rustic (literally) home with a bunkhouse in a shed. Connie ran me to the local sub/pizza shop, which is window service only, in a "very" small town. But I got a great 16 inch pizza for $10 and I ate it all except 3 pieces, which I gave to another hiker.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Greasy Gap Friendly Hostel 

To: Stan Murray Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel appears inside and out to be backward by modern standards (this is Appalachia after all), but Connie runs the place according to Kosher standards and there are cleanliness standards we have to comply with. The basics are provided for a $10 bunk, and it's part of the AT experience. These folks are here to help the hikers, so it's good to give them some business. 1,000 and 2,000 foot climbs up and over mountains is a daily routine, one not worth mentioning so often. I now have "Hiker Legs" which allow me to motor up hills without huffing and puffing or stopping every few hundred feet like I did a month ago. Today I climbed 1,000 feet up and down Little Rock Knob, then came a 2,100 foot climb over 5 miles up Roan Mountain, 6,194 ft elevation. Three miles into it, hail started coming down. I put on my rain coat and backpack cover, but the hail stopped soon after. Five minutes later, I took off my rain coat and then Thor began rumbling. I turned around and nasty grey clouds were coming my way. So I charged up Roan Mountain as fast as I could, hoping to get to the shelter at the summit before the rain hit. I made it up Roan Mountain in 2-1/2 hours, thanks to my "Hiker Legs". At 2 pm, I made my lunch at Roan High Knob Shelter, the highest and coldest shelter on the AT, but it was so cold I had to use my gloves. I would have stayed here for the night if it was raining, but the sun came out and I decided to get to a lower elevation for the night. After two miles and 700 feet downhill, the next challenge was three mountain balds between 5,800 and 5,900 feet elevation. As I looked back, the storm clouds were catching up to me. On the back side of the middle bald, Jane Bald, I got slammed with a hail storm. I had to keep pushing to the nearest shelter, still over two miles away. By the time I got to Stan Murray Shelter at 6 pm, I was freezing, changed into my camp clothes, ate a meal and got into my sleeping bag. Soon thereafter, four guys came in to the shelter, including Burnsides and McFly (from Germany).
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Stan Murray Shelter 

To: US 19E, Mountain Harbour Hostel 
Miles today: 11.1

It's May Day, but I could have used a rescue this morning. On the AT, I usually get up at 7 am, but it was so cold, I got up a 8 pm to pee and it was still hailing out - sideways! I quickly got back in the sleeping bag and didn't get up to 9 am, listening for the wind to die down. Last night was brutally cold. I wore my thermoball jacket over my long-sleeve wool camp shirt, and gloves inside my 15 degree sleeping bag. But I could still feel the biting cold in my feet and knees. I quickly threw on my hiking clothes, still cold and wet from yesterday, and started hiking without eating breakfast. After a descent of 400 feet, there were Little Hump Mountain and Hump Mountain (the bigger one) to climb. Both mountains had some snow from last night, but the trees and tall grass had icicles sticking out sideways due to the high winds. The wind was so strong, I had to hold on to my hat and the winds almost knocked me over a few times. Most of the day was clouded over with pea soup thick fog and I couldn't see more than 50 feet. My eyeglasses also fogged up and the water froze on one side. I had to keep moving to avoid hypothermia. Needless to say, today was a major challenge, but as we say, it's part of the AT experience. Coming down from Hump Mountain, by the time the elevation dropped to 4,600 feet, then I was toasty warm from hiking all morning as I passed the sign noting that I was leaving North Carolina for the last time on the AT. I descended all the way down to 2,895 feet and am enjoying the warm comforts of the Mountain Harbour Hostel tonight. Got a trail magic ride to the hostel from the trailhead from a day hiker I met approaching US 19E. Staying in the loft of the bunkhouse with Ice-fire and Square Peg.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: US 19E, Mountain Harbour Hostel 

To: Moreland Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 18.4

What a difference a day makes. The photo at left is Hump Mountain, Little Hump Mountain, and Roan Mountain which I climbed over in the fog yesterday and could only see 50 feet. 20 trail miles and one day later, I'm looking back at an incredible view of where I was and wondering what the view from there is today. The difference between yesterday and today is stark, as today was sunny and warm. I took many pictures today (see pics), a wonderful AYCE breakfast, open ridge vistas, two waterfalls, reaching the 400 mile point on the AT, etc. I hiked a long distance today, arriving at my final destination at 7:30 pm. It was a great day.
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Moreland Gap Shelter 

To: Pond Flats campsite 
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a relaxing day, mostly downhill to Dennis Cove Road where Katie was providing trail magic. Next was Laurel Falls (see pics). I considered tenting next to the river, but it was only 2 pm and 7 miles. After I soaked my feet in the river, I decided to move on, climbing 1,700 feet and tenting at Pond Flats, which is a mountain top at 3,706 ft elevation, not a pond.
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Pond Flats campsite 

To: Vendeventer Shelter 
Miles today: 12.5

Today was my first successful attempt at solo hitchhiking. Having skipped the chance to resupply at Dennis Cove Road, it took 15 minutes to hitch a ride from US 321 into Hampton, TN where I resupplied at Brown's Grocery, who also runs a hostel. Since it was only 9:30 in the morning and it was a bright sunny day, I stuck my thumb out again and only took 5 minutes to catch a ride 2.6 miles back to the AT trailhead. Also because the forecast was for rain on Thursday, I committed to pushing on to arrive in Damascus on Wednesday instead. After chatting with some other thru-hikers at the sandy beach picnic area of Watauga Lake, the next four miles were closed to overnight camping due to bear activity. Of course, I never saw any bears, but I did see one deer (I see more deer at home). I was planning to recharge my cell phone at the Watauga Dam visitors center, but when I got to the Dam, I realized that the visitors center, unlike at Fontana, was at the opposite side of the lake on US 321. So I turned off my phone for the next three days except to take the occasional picture. I tented for the night behind the Vandeventer Shelter, which had a lovely view of Watauga Lake.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Vendeventer Shelter 

To: Locust Knob 
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

After 40 days in the wilderness of the AT, I believe we have reached the exodus of the cold weather. The sunrise at Vandeventer Shelter lit up my tent in the morning, providing a special view of Watauga Lake. Later, I came across the Nick Grindstaff monument, whose inscription read "Lived alone, suffered alone, died alone". The trail today did not vary in elevation by more than 500 feet, but lots of ups and downs along the way. I tented atop Locust Knob, where the sunset produced a red sky.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Locust Knob 

To: Damascus, VA 
Miles today: 17.2

For the past two days, the primary topic among thru-hikers has been about getting to Damascus; where we will eat and what we will be eating. It was a relatively quick 17.2 miles into Damascus. I had made a reservation at the Hiker's Inn hostel, which is really nice. I weighed myself on the scale at the hostel, and discovered that I've lost 18 pounds over the past 40 days on the AT. There was not much to note about the hike today, except that I left Tennessee and entered Virginia. Three states are now out of the way. I had a Burrito dinner tonight at Hey Joe's, were I met up again with Special Ed and Ice-fire, and met Chris from Australia. The long milage days are hard on the feet, but they seem to recover by the next morning. It feels good to have completed this much of the AT so far, hiking from Georgia to Virginia. I'm looking forward to four days off when Trail Widow Pam picks me up tomorrow for the drive to Amy's graduation on Saturday. I'll be back on the trail on Monday.
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Damascus, VA 

To: Wytheville, VA 
Miles today: 0.0

No hiking today, just walking to Moe Joe's for breakfast, Bobos for lunch, and Dee's Barber Shop for a haircut. I hung out at the Hiker's Inn Hostel until Trail Widow Pam picked me up at 3 pm. We gave a ride to Chris who needed to get to the Greyhound bus depot in Marion. At the hotel in Wytheville, I tried on the pants I had packed in March to wear this weekend for Amy's graduation. They literally fell down to my ankles.
Date: 2015-05-08
From: Wytheville, VA 

To: Newport News, VA 
Miles today: 0.0

We drove today to Newport News for Amy's graduation tomorrow. At this junction in time, I'm switching to some summer gear and a new pair of trail runners. My first pair of La Sportiva Ultra Raptors have 470 official AT trail miles, plus probably another 20 miles off trail in the past 41 days. I could probably get another 100 miles out of them, so I'm saving them for a future time. I can't say enough about the Ultra Raptors, which have excellent traction on wet and dry rocks. The size runs small, so the size I wear is a full size more than my dress shoes. I also put Superfeet blue insoles in them in Hot Springs. With silk sock liners under my REI half-crew hiking socks, I haven't had a blister. The primary gear changes are a down quilt replacing my 15 degree bag, replacing my hiking shirt and camp shirt with lighter weight shirts, sending home the gloves and a collapsible cup I never used. To date, I never carried more than one liter of water and am sending home the collapsible Platypus I never used. While I'll need to carry more than one liter of water during the summer, my 2 liter Evernew dirty water bag can be my extra water container, then I'll filter it when I need it.
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Damascus, VA 

To: Lost Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

We had a more-than-you-can-eat breakfast at the Lazy Fox Inn B&B. After saying goodbyes, I headed north into the woods. I'm retreading old ground, as I previously section hiked north of Damascus to southern PA. Many parts of the trail are familiar. I met Gunner on the trail, and saw Mellow and Slouch again, who I first saw in the Smokies. I arrived at Lost Mountain Shelter at 5:45 pm. No sooner had I set up my tent, then thunderstorms began and continued for more than two hours. At 8 pm I had a chance to make dinner, and finished eating in the dark. This entry was made on 5/14 since there is no cell service north of Damascus until Marion, even with Verizon.
Date: 2015-05-12
From: Lost Mountain Shelter 

To: Wise Shelter 
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Highlights today are that I reached the 500 mile milestone on the AT, and saw and touched the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park. It was very windy today, nearly knocking me over several times in the open exposed areas. I met Smile and Airlock on the trail, and met again with Co-ed and Tucson. After four days off last weekend, I thought I would be in a new hiker bubble, but I'm seeing a combination of new and familiar thru-hikers. Tonight I tented in a nice grassy area near Wise Shelter. At 8:15 pm, several military jets did a low altitude flyover. One was especially low and loud.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Wise Shelter 

To: Trimpi Shelter 
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

I met a bunch of thru-hikers today, Rainbow (who graduates this weekend from Lynchburg University in Environmental Science), Yoda, Waldo, Putt-Putt, Tumble, Runs With Beer, Clean Shaven, and Bee-stinger. More ponies again today. Tonight I tented at the Trimpi Shelter, where there were probably 15 tents and hamocks set up. It turned really cold in the middle of the night.
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Trimpi Shelter 

To: Stealth camp site beyond VA 622
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My knees were hurting today after a 19 mile day yesterday. I hiked the first 9.9 miles today to Mt Rogers Visitors Center by 12:15 pm, where pizza can be ordered with delivery from Marion, VA. Several thru-hikers had already placed an order when I arrived, so I was in on the second order with several others. I ordered a large cheese steak pizza and a side salad. Airlock offered me a slice of her pizza from the first delivery. Before our order arrived, Tortoise, a previous AT hiker from Maine, arrived with trail magic of soda, beer, fruit, and baked pastries and fudge. When our order arrived, my side salad was big, and I shared my large pizza with three other hikers, including a young couple from Switzerland. Another guy showed up with soda and beer to offer. The ladies who run the visitors center had their own pot luck, and they bought out a tray of watermelon for us. More people drove up offering rides to Marion, or back to Damascus for Trail Days. Overall, it was a good time hanging out and eating for three hours at the visitors center. Later I pushed on another two miles to tent on a ridge.