morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-21
From: Hot Springs

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

3/21/16Well I didn't get to Asheville til after 11PM. I hate paying for a hotel that late knowing I have to be at the car rental place at 7:30. But it is what it is so I got a few hours of sleep...slept good. Got the car turned in and my ride to Hot Springs should be there at 8 AM. So it doesn't come and it doesn't come so I try calling the business. No answer...they don't open til 9. So I try at five til 9, still no answer. At 9 they answer and it seems there was a mix up. They had a 8 AM cancel and then I called and they penciled me in the book. Someone thought I was the original cancel and they took it out of the book. So they came to pick me up but it's a 45 min drive so they didn't get there til close to 10. I really didn't let it bother me...that's just life on the trail...roll with what curves come your way. Then til we got back to Hot Springs it was close to 11. I bought some gators(they cover the tops of your shoes so dirt doesn't get in the top) at the outfitter that I had also scheduled the ride with. Since they were so late they didn't charge me for the ride to Hot Springs. I tried to split the bill for the ride and they refused. So thank you Bluff Mountain Outfitters. I start hiking about 11, the trail is right outside the outfitters door, this is the first time I've really hiked by myself. It's good to get out there.   After getting out of town there is an uphill but after that it is up and down with nothing too steep. After about couple of hours I realized I had slack packed. This is a term people use when they hike without their backpack. Sometimes the trail will go around a town, people will get picked up and go to a hotel. The next day they will leave their big pack at the hotel get a ride to where they were the day before hike around the town...get picked up and go back to the hotel they were at the night before. They can do this a few days at someplaces. I always said I was going to carry my backpack the whole way. However when I found my ride outside the outfitter the prior Thursday I did not have my backpack...we drove back about 500 yards to get it. So I am now a slack packer. Since I got a late start I was going to just hike eleven miles, but while I was home I diched some gear, traded my hiking boots for trail runner shoes and I was making good time. I made to the first shelter (11 miles) by three and decided to press on another 8.6 miles to the next shelter. Everything went well and I got to camp by six. Tired and ready to eat and sleep. Oh yeah...I have the folks at worked convinced I'm a healthy eater. From 3pm Sunday til 3 pm Monday I ate nothing but girl scout cookies and scotcharoos. For those that don't know the ingredients are rice crispies, caro syrup, sugar, chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Now that my pack is lighter I can start eating my trail food.
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter (1 mile past)
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: clear sky

3/22/16After a long day yesterday I slept well, it was cold, in the twentys. I actually finished yesterdays journal entry this morning because I was ready to go to sleep last night. Today started on a pretty steep uphill. When you are doing it, it doesn't seem like a good thing but it does get you ready to hike for the day. Since I finished my journal entry I didn't get started until 8:45. Goal was to hike 22 miles today. One area we had to climb some big rocks and hike a ridge line. Snow was still on the ground and had to be careful at some spots. The ridge line had a few spots that had spectacular views. One side had mountain views and the other was more flat lands. I ran into Wonka...she started hiking Feb 29 and has been making good time. I think i will probably see a lot of her because we have made similar distances in same time frame..she was also at the same shelter last night. She is in her early 20s and got the name because she likes candy and she likes to sing. We had a short conversation on the rigeline and I seen her when I stopped at a shelter for lunch. Later I met Clause....he is from Austria and had his Siberian huskey along. We get some pretty steep trails but not as long as we had previously so I am making good time. I hiked the last few miles with Patch, he was at the same shelter last night also. He, like me, turns 50 later this year. He gets his name because an ash from a camp fire burned a hole in his jacket and he used duct tape to patch it. He wanted to hike past the shelter I planned to stop at and throw a tent up because last night the guy next to him snored so loud that he got no sleep. So I asked to tag along and so I got a little over 22 miles in today. It will still be a while before I catch Marathon because he was putting these kind of miles in at this area also. I think he is about 60 miles ahead of me.
Date: 2016-03-23
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter (1 mile past)

To: Erwin TN (Uncle Johnnys Hostel)
Miles today: 26.9

3/23/16So I got a little way past the shelter last night. Today I would like to get 20 miles down the trail but Patch is thinking of getting to town and that would be 26 and I may join him. I have been checking the map and if I get to Erwin today... I would need 50 more miles to get to Elk Park NC by Sunday. Then I would zero Sunday for Easter and find a church to attend. The day started well, got going around eight. Around 10:30 I had a pretty good climb up to a bald(open area on a mountain) and was out of energy. I made it to the top and took a break around 11:00 to refuel. A couple of guys passed while i was eating. My energy level picked up and down the trail I went making pretty good time. I hit the 10 mile mark before noon and pressed on. Those two guys are the only people i seen until I caught Patch around 2:00 at a stream. He moved on and I got some water and ate a snack. I caught him again soon and we had some good conversation while hiking and time went pretty fast. We were at the shelter by four and decided to head for town which was a little over six miles ahead. I was feeling good and we had a lot of down hill ahead of us. Patch hikes without trecking poles and I never did until I started training for this trip. I really like them especially when I have a 30 lbs pack on my back. Up hill you can use them to help push upward, down hill you can put them in front of you at the steep places and slow your step downward. They help take pressure off your feet and knees and if you stumble they help to catch yourself. Its just smoother using them whichbis a good thing. I mentioned how I thought he would like them the previous day and he told me he never used them and he was a sceptical, thought they were just another thing for outfitters to sell. He did say a lot of people on the trail had commented on him not having them also. So we made it to Erwin, Uncle Johnnie's Hostel, by six. 26 miles in 10 hours...im very happy with that pace. The shuttle had left to take people to town to eat already but was going to pick them up at 7:15 so we could ride in pick up resupplies at that time. That gave me time to inventory my food bag and take a shower. We resupplied picked up some pizza and beer for dinner, for a hiker...life is good.. Uncle Johnnie's is also a small outfitter and when I was finishing my pizza out walks Patch with a brand new set of trecking poles. We broke him down...lol. On our way back from town, we had 14 people in the van so I didn't know who was in it. Turns out Big O and the two guys that gave me a ride to Asheville the prior Thursday were also staying at the hostel. They couldn't believe I caught them...and I was surprised. It was good catching up on how their week had been going. Most people here are going to all you can eat breakfast in the morning...think I'm going to skip that and get to hiking. Looking at 18 miles but a lot of up hills.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Erwin TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light snow

3/24/16Didn't get too early start today...everyone else was sleeping in so I wasn't going to bother everyone and didn't get up til about eight and got on the trail at nine. I finished yesterday downhill so today it was back up. After yesterday's 26 miles I thought 17 would be a snap, however I think your mindset is what makes you or breaks you. It really wasn't a bad day but I was ready to get to camp and was running low on water so it didn't seem to come fast enough. I made it in around 4:15 and was the first hiker in and six others came staggering in later. After about five miles, this morning, I came across a lady and she seemed to be doing okay but a little slow. About four hours later a guy was out looking for her. I think she turned the wrong direction when she got up this morning and wasn't where she was suppose to be. Some of the hikers that came in later helped to get her back to a road where she was picked up. I did run into a trail angel today... he gave me some lemonade and homemade bread and a chair to sit for a few minutes. It is always refreshing. It started raining this evening and it is pretty windy but the possible Tstorms never developed. This is the most wind I have slept in the tent so guess we will see what happens.
Date: 2016-03-25
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Sheltet
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

3/25/16Got some rain last night and wind...tent kept me dry and warm. I have been happy with all my gear so far on my trip. Didn't get moving too early...waited for the rain to stop. Headed out about 9:30, it was cool and cloudy. After a good climb up I stopped and chatted with a guy named Pigeon Toe. He was telling me how be brings eggs hard boils them and has precooked bacon he eats. He says people at the shelters just look when he starts eating. I think precooked bacon is going to be added to my shopping list. Stopped at a shelter about 12:30 for lunch and reconfigured my pack out of rain configuration. I have a cover that goes overy pack but it doesn't fit the way I normally pack it. Had some tuna on a tortillas and some chips and trail mix. Hiker Bumblebee stopped after I was there a while and had good conversation. She just graduated College...small school in NY and going for her graduate degree this fall. I hiked on...this afternoon was pretty much all up hill. Right before the climb I stopped to talk to Spirit of 76. She is originally from Germany and has been in the US for most of her life and resides in Louisiana. So up I went. I thought about trying to get 22 mes in today but after a couple thousand feet climb and not arriving until five I decided to stay at Roan Shelter. So as I am laying here in my tent I am hearing a commotion in the shelter....I assume Bumblebee and Dream On are battling the mice population...lol One month in I made it 377 miles, not bad considering 1) Started slow to build up trail legs, 2) Took three unexpected days off, 3) Short 29 day month.
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Roan High Knob Sheltet

To: Mountain Harbour Hostile
Miles today: 16.3

3/26/16Got moving and on the trail by eight. We were camping at about 6200 ft in an evergreen forest and it was pretty cool. I was going to hit a few mountain balds so some good picture opportunities but the winds were picking up so it wasn't going to be as nice as yesterday afternoon. After the first bald I seen a hat and remembered Dream On wearing it yesterday so I picked it up. A little farther up trail I seen a water bottle(bladder) hangings on a post...wondered why and then noticed a tent not too far away. The wind was lowing pretty good at this point and I continued on. Checking out the water bottle diverted my attention andonI missed a turn and headed up another mountain. Great view but didn't see any blazes so I checked my guide and went back to another trail and headed on...well I didn't go back far enough and ended up 3/4 mile off course. I found some people tent camping and they told .e where I needed to go. I went back and the people that had the water bottle out were packed up and heading out. I spoke briefly and was on my way. Made it five mile mark not including the detour in about 2 1/2 hours which wasn't bad. Headed on to the next shelter...it is an old barn converted into a shelter with a great view. I checked it out and sat down for some lunch and someone said "hows your day Stripe" I looked and said "Dream On?" he said "yeah" I said I didn't recognize you without you hat. He said he lost it in the wind...then I walked over and presented it to him. He was very appreciative. Then I want to check out the privy (out house). It had three pieces of metal 3 1/2 feet high surrounding the pot. And the view in front of you was very scenic mountain view. Both the barn and the privy are legendary. Got to the top of another bald and thought it was down hill from there.....wrong ....still had a big mountain to climb...it was only 5600ft with a 600ft climb but it kinda takes the wind out of you when you think you are done and heading down. Finally made it up and I'd guess the winds were 40mph and gusting. Quite a few people out mostly day hiking and a lot had dogs too. The last six miles were downhill big rocks and tree roots were common at the top and the trail got easier the lower we got. Made to the Mountain Harbour Hostile about three. Did laundry and went into town for a burger and shake at Bobs Dairyland and Burgers. Quite the sandwich but hikers are always ready to eat. When I got back to hostile I was quite pleased to see Patch, Pigeon Toe, Spirit of 76 and Bumblebee. A couple of them made frozen pizzas and they smelled amazing. I restocked food for the days ahead. The hostile is pretty cool...it is a converted horse barn. Tomorrow they serve breakfast that is pretty amazing from what I hear.
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Mountain Harbour Hostile

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 8.8

3/27/16HAPPY EASTER!!! The Mountain Harbour Hostile/Bed and Breakfast was great. We had heard about the breakfast since Hot Springs and it didn't disappoint. They had pancakes, hashbrowns, fresh fruit, cherry danish, egg casserole, biscuits and gravy, ham, bacon, juice, coffee and apple pie to top it off. Everything was great. After breakfast I put my things together and started walking to find a church for Easter. Most started at eleven so I left at ten and found one down the road. I believe Don welcomed me, said he doesnt remember a thru hiker ever stopping by before... had me worried...lol. We chatted for 25 min talking about the trail and he had also been in the Air Force...radio man 50 years ago. Other than him it wasn't real welcoming, even though I had showered the night before and had clean clothes on. But at the end of the service they did announcements and said they had a guest from Ohio doing a thru hike. After the service people did make me feel quite welcome and wished me a safe trip. People told where they lived along the trail. A couple even gave me a ride back to the hostile. It is funny how we judge on appearance and I am no different, I just got to see the other side for once. I went in scruffy without the nicest clothes on and just felt out of place. It is funny how the people on the trail are so much more welcoming...lol I was thinking about not hiking today but I want to stay at least one night in Damascus VA and it is only seventy some miles away. The trail goes right downtown and is a great trail town to spend some time. Even though the Hostile owner said they were having a free dinner because of Easter and most things in town were closed I elected to hike to the next shelter nine miles away. Possible rain and tstorms in the forecast also with frost in the morning...guess we will see what happens. Passed a lot of thru hikers on the way up, Dream On, Mustard, Wonderful, Pace, and was surprised when I ran into Babbitt. Babitt was in Hot Springs before I left the trail for Ohio and I thought he was long gone. Got to the shelter and Spirit of 76, Bumblebee and Wonka were already there. But it was a nice shelter and a big shelter so room for everyone but I elected to stay in the tent.
Date: 2016-03-28
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

3/28/16Still getting lucky with the weather. It rained overnight and quit around 8:00 AM. and was a beautiful day. It didn't get as cold as they thought either. I changed shoes last week and back to battling blisters. We will see what happens but can get new shoes in a few days if these don't work out. They say your feet get wider after days of pounding the trail so we will see what happens. Had a good hike, I have tried slowing down a bit...I did 130 miles from last Monday to Sunday. At one point I passed a little bench beside the trail. It was one with the cast iron ends and wood slats. It was odd location for the type bench it was. Opposite side though was an amazing mountain view. I caught up with Pigeon Toe around two and I hiked with him until I got to the shelter...he was heading on to a nearby town for the night. We passed a lot of stream.s and rivers and waterfalls. He loves to fish and was missing his fishing pole. We passed a couple of guys who had got their limit for the day and were heading home. Right before the shelter there was a huge waterfall...we stopped for some pictures. Down the trail a little further there was a cliff and a small walkway between the river and the cliff...pretty awesome. Got to camp and not much space for a tent so stayed in the shelter tonight, joined by Babbitt, Lucky Duck, Bumble Bee and Wonka. Spirit of 76 and Patch did find a place for a tent. I need a place I can put tent stakes in the ground where theirs are self supported and dont need stakes.
Date: 2016-03-29
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

3/29/16The shelter was up above the river so we could hear it and the water rushing through the rocks all night. I need some more food and there was a one mile trail to get into Hampton and Patch agreed to go in with me so he could get some breakfast. It was a pretty easy trail into town and after we got to the road we had to walk an additional mile to the restaurant. It was just a local place and I ordered eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy and a side order of hash browns. Patch ordered two breakfasts, eggs, toast and bacon and the second meal was pancake plate. He had the right idea and after hiking a few weeks you find you can just eat and eat and eat..there is really no filling up. They estimate you eat between 4000 and 6000 calories a day so you are burning calories and you can't eat enough. I have noticed my hair has hardly grown in a month and fingernails which I normally cut once a week I've cut about a month after I started. So anyway I should have ordered the pancakes too. After breakfast we stopped at the drug store so I could pick up some Allegra, my allergies have started bothering me. Then stopped by the store to get some energy/candy bars to get me between meals. Then it was back to the trail...we didn't get there until eleven. Sad part is if we would have gone a couple of miles down tbe road we would have been back on the trail and would have bypassed a six mile(seven with trail back) 1800 ft mountain climb up and then right back down. No cheating on this trip though...I am going to pass every white blaze on the trail. So after that .mountain we crossed that road again and came to a beach area. It was a very nice day sunny and sixties. We stopped and had lunch at a picnic table and section hiker Sherlock joined us. That detour to the store and inning that mountain took more time than anticipated. It was already 2 pm and we had nine miles to go yet and the terrain was mostly uphill. So we pressed on and went around one end of the Lake Watauga and crossed a dam. After that it was pretty straight up for a ways and then leveled off some. We ran into Pigeon Toe...he is always running into a sweet deal. He went to a hostel the night before for $15 and a lady did his laundry for him for free. Hosts are usually $20-$25 and $5 for laundry. The night before that he was at a hostel and paid nothing but for the food and pop he drank.and the owner played the piano while he ate. He is a good ole boy from KY, used to work in the coal mines, outdoorsman and just a good guy. So after chatting with him we moved climbing up and overlooking the lake. It is a good size lake...we walk up and beside it all afternoon. We past Spirit 76 and finally made it to the shelter by 6:30. After dinner and got tent set up and watched the darkness set into the scenic mountains opposite of the sunset. It was a good day to be a hiker
Date: 2016-03-30
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

3/30/16Well the wind picked up overnight and it was a pretty windy day. Still in the tree line it wasn't bad most of the time...sometimes on mountains or in the gaps we were unshielded from it. My allergies are kinda bad so wasn't feeling the greatest getting started but pushed through it. I caught up with Pigeon Toe around eleven and had lunch then hiked with him a couple of hours. After we had split up I ran into a guy getting into a red like cage. It seems someone leaves it out and trail magic inside it. There was soda, water, granola bars, snack cakes and first aid supplies. I got a water, granola bar and star crunch and sat down and talked to another thru hiker, Mustard Seed(not to be confused with Mustard He was hiking and also trying to raise money to start a big brother/big sister program at Fontana Dam. While he was hiking another charity organization had a hiker that had to leave the trail and asked him to carry their GPS so they could continue their fund raiser and track his progress, he agreed. They are going to meet him in Damascus VA and get him a room and some food. I left there and came out of the woods crossed a road and went through a gate into a pasture. A change in terrain is always nice. I crossed a few fences and there are ladders for me to climb over and eventually I ended up back in the woods. I was going to another shelter for my second lunch and caught up with Patch, Spirit of 76 and Bumblebee. They were getting ready to leave and I ate and chatted with a section hiker staying there for the night. I was leaving and he stopped me because I left my pocket knife...I am grateful. Knock on wood but I haven't lost anything yet. I met Sherlock and we had a short conversation and he took a break and I kept going. Made it to shelter just before six. Patch, 76 and Bumblebee wanted to put in a few more miles so they could eat brunch in Damascus in the morning but I elected to stay and camp. We were protected by the wind where the shelter was and I had hiked almost 23 miles for the day. All of us an to have a zero mileage day on Friday so if I get in a little later that is fine with me. Damascus is a trail town...the AT goes down the side walk and it is a pretty popular place to stop. Oh yeah...went over the 440 mile mark today....over 20% done