morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-12
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

I had a hard time leaving the hostel today. The morning started with 3 cups of the best coffee I've had since I've been on the trail (organic fair trade columbian coffee) and the afternoon was spent hanging out on the porch and listening to Driftwood and some others play the guitar and sing. I finally tore myself away from the hostel around 1:00 p.m. and headed into Pearisburg. It rained on me pretty hard, but started to clear up just as I got to town. The local motel owner let me keep my pack in a spare room while I hiked into town to resupply. I didn't leave town until 6:30 and ended up doing my first night hike to get to the shelter around 10. The shelter was full, so I had to set up my hammock, but at least I didn't have to do it in the rain.
Date: 2011-06-13
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: "The Captain's" Place
Miles today: 13.7

I actually got a little cold in my hammock last night, but I'm not complaining. The current cold front is a welcome change to the blistering heat of the last week. It was a cold and foggy morning, so everyone slept in. I met Natti Bird Dog, Foon, and Red Sox this morning and didn't start hiking until 11. The terrain was really easy today and I was planning on putting in a few more miles, but everyone else was staying at "The Captain's" and once I got there, I decided that it was a place worth taking a shorter day for. The Captain is one of those famous trail angels and he not only lets hikers camp in his yard, but he keeps a fridge on his porch full of free drinks. He lives across the river from the trail and has made a trolley system to get hikers and their packs across the river; it was pretty amazing. I set my hammock up by the river and enjoyed hanging out with my new friends.
Date: 2011-06-14
To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 29.7
Weather: broken clouds

I had a nice hike today, but to be honest I didn't take time to stop and smell the roses. I planned on doing 24 miles, but when I got the the shelter trail at 7:30, it was .4 miles off the trail and didn't have water, so I decided to press on to the next shelter. The terrain looked easy on the topo profile, but it was really rocky and hard to keep a steady pace on. I was rushed and a little stressed all day because I'm trying to get as far as possible because my parents and Dylan are coming up for Father's Day weekend and I want to take a couple of zero days with them. I was so rushed today, that I finally made myself stop at the top of the mountain and eat dinner while watching the sun set. I hiked the last 3 miles in the dark and got to the shelter around 9:30. I'm all alone in the shelter and am thoroughly exhausted after an almost 30 mile day. It's nice to know that I can hike 30 miles if I need to, but I really enjoy hiking more when I can take it a little slower and not worry about making it to my destination.
Date: 2011-06-19
From: Catawba, VA

To: Tinker Cliffs
Miles today: 9.4

After spending an awesome weekend with my parents and Dylan at the Peaks of Otter campground, it was time to hit the trail again. Mom dropped us off at the trail head, and we hiked up to McAffee knob. This is probably one of the most famous overlooks on the trail because there is a protruding rock that is perfect for posing panoramic pictures. Dylan's legs held up well, but we still only planned 10 miles for the day. We were going to push farther, but about a mile from our destination we came across Tinker Cliffs. It is about a .5 mile section that follows the edge of a cliff with a beautiful view back to McAffee Knob and across the valley. We decided to camp here and watch the sun set. I set up my tent and Dylan set up his hammock. After sunset, we went to bed....About 1:00 a.m. I was wakened by a headlamp shining on my tent. Dylan whispers, "Chill, are you awake?"Me: Yea, what's up?Dylan: The wind out here is crazy, I had to take my tarp down... I'm thinking   about hiking to the next shelter...Me: Man, that sucks...Dylan: How much room you got in there?Realizing what he was actually asking, I was reluctant to allow Dylan to squeeze into my 1 man tent with me, but what kind of friend could let him pack up and hike another mile at 1 in the morning? Me: I mean... I guess we can make it work. With that, Dylan crawled into my tiny tent and we both tried without success to sleep through the night.
Date: 2011-06-28
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro, VA

To: Quality Inn Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

It has become apparent that there is no way I could possibly keep up with all of my journals, so I have decided to try and hit the highlights. Today, we took a zero day to prepare for our aqua blazing adventure. Aqua blazing is a relatively common path for thru-hikers to break the monotony of hiking and give our legs a break by canoeing a portion of the trail. So, for the next 5 or 6 days, we will be canoeing down the shenandoah river with a group of 9 people ( including ourselves). The trip is ninety some odd miles and will replace about a hundred miles of trail through the Shenandoah Valley (one of the most tourist-saturated section of the trail). Oatmeal (Dylan) and I met the group of aqua blazers: Lunchbox, Longtrail, Peepers, and Firetower (the coordinator/planner of the trip). A few of us went grocery shopping and we spit up to buy supplies for the trip. On the way to Wal-Mart, Firetower asked to stop at the liqour store. I was stayed in our shuttles truck, but after 15 minutes, I went in to see what was taking so long. To my surprise, I see Firetower and Lunchbox walking around the store with a cart full of liqour. In response to my baffled laughter, Firetower smiled and said, "Well, I just hate to under buy..." This became a famous quote for our week. We got our planning done, had an awesome BBQ lunch, Mexican dinner, and ended up at a local bar with Karaoke and cornhole tournaments.
Date: 2011-06-29
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro, VA

To: Random Pavillion
Miles today: 0.0

Somewhere in his planning process, Firetower found a trail angel that was willing to give us all a ride to the river where the outfitter was meeting us with the canoes. So, around 10, Janice picked us up from the hotel in Waynesboro, VA and drove us to the river landing in Port Republic. Janice wouldn't take any gas money for the trip, but just wished us good luck and drove off with a smile. Shortly after, our canoes arrived and we signed our liability forms, loaded the canoes, paired experienced paddlers with the beginners, and set of on our adventure. The map that the outfitter gave us were quite hard to follow, and after looking for our campsite for a while, we found a picnic shelter with running water and bathrooms. After brief inspection and some discussion, we decided that we could probably camp there without getting kicked out and unloaded the canoes. We fixed hamburgers for dinner and just as we were finishing up, and police car drove down the road, turned around and pulled up the the shelter. The smiles were wiped off of our faces with the thought of packing up the canoes and looking for a camp spot in the dark and we tried to look nonchalant as he rolled his window down and asked with an incredulous tone, " What are y'all doing?" Firetower calmly walked over and described our situation. Suprisingly, after letting us know we weren't supposed to be there, he gave us permission to stay, told us his name in case we were harassed by anyone, and told us to have a pleasant evening.
Date: 2011-06-30
From: Random Pavillion

To: Shenandoah Outfitters Landing
Miles today: 0.0

Most of today was spent in what soon was dubbed "the floatilla", where our four canoes and one kayak were connected, slowly floating with the current of the river. Sometime before lunch, the cartload of liqour was opened, and by the time lunch rolled around, most of our group was in a pretty good mood. Unfortunately, as can be expected with early drinking, the day got a little crazy. An iPhone was lost to the river, my canoe partner (Indy) passed out in the front of the canoe, leaving me to paddle alone, and our first portage of the trip lowered everyone's spirits to a terrible lack of motivation. We had to somehow get four canoes, a kayak, and all of their contents to a landing on the other side of a dam that was a solid half mile away. Fortunately, the owner of the landing came by with a canoe trailer and offered to shuttle us free of charge. By the time we unloaded on the downstream landing, it was 4:30 and the owner offered for us to camp on his property. So rather than floating down the river and trying to discern the landmarks and camping spots on our poorly composed maps, we stopped early for the day and camped at the landing. I think everyone agreed that our 22 mile day had turned into a 7 mile day due to the early drinking, and everyone committed to keeping the liqour cooler closed until tomorrow night so we could catch up on paddling.
Date: 2011-07-01
From: Shenandoah Outfitters Landing

To: ORC Campground
Miles today: 0.0

We got up early this morning and set off on a mission to make up our lost miles from yesterday. Drinking was kept to a minimum and we were able to cover a solid 25 miles even with a portage around our second dam. We ate lunch at the dam and found a huge patch of ripened raspberries. We looked for a camping spot for at least a hour and as the sun began to set, we saw a picnic shelter. Since it worked out so well last time, we decided to risk it and unloaded the canoes at the shelter and started to prepare for dinner. Just as we were beginning to cook, and man drove up on a gator and asked if we were guests. Firetower, the friendly, charismatic giant quickly responded, "We'd like to be". The man we very friendly, but informed us that we were on campground property and the sites were all reserved, and we would have to leave. We began to pack up and a lady pulled up on a golf cart and told us that she actually just had 2 cancellations and offered for us to stay. We sent Firetower to negotiate and he returned not only with two half-price sites, but a trailer for all of our gear to be transported to the campground. Yet again, our decision to trespass was rewarded with good fortune and royal treatment. As we were being shuttled into the primitive campground, we passed several groups hauling their gear in wheelbarrows because cars weren't allowed in the camping circle. So not only did we pay half price, but we were treated like kings and had all of our stuff shuttled to the sites in a vehicle. It turned out to be a great day.
Date: 2011-07-02
From: ORC Campground

To: El Salvador High School Reunion
Miles today: 0.0

The ORC staff shuttled us and our stuff back to the canoes and waved us off with friendly smiles. We had another great day on the river and were able to cover a reasonable number of miles. The river was rather shallow and we spent a lot of time scrapping across ledges of rock that spanned the entire 100yard width of the river. Once again, our poor river maps left us discouraged, looking for camping sites in a jungle of national forrest land. We were floating past a large group hispanics camping in a cow pasture when we decided to send Firetower to ask if we could crash their party. After a few minutes, he waved us over, and we met the leaders of the party and discovered that it was a high school reunion of El Salvadorians. They were all very friendly and as we were leaving to set up camp, they sent over a case of Corona as a welcoming gift. We cooked dinner, and just as I was thinking about going to bed, our new friends circled around a huge bonfire and started blaring music. Being their guests, we couldn't refuse when they asked us to dance and party with them. We had a great time and wound up going to bed late. Our fourth night on the river, and we have yet to camp in a designated area.
Date: 2011-07-03
From: El Salvador High School Reunion

To: Downriver Canoe Co.
Miles today: 0.0

The canoe trip has been a blast, but I think everyone in our group is about ready to get back on the trail. We are hikers... and we're much better at walking than paddling. We went through Compton Rapids today; the biggest one on our trip. It was a class II-III and it was a lot of fun, but we were all a little disappointed that nobody capsized. We put in a solid 20 miles today so that we could get into town for the 4th of July tomorrow. For the first time on our trip, we actually camped on national park land (like we were supposed to the entire time). A small river outfitter let us camp on their freshly mowed trailer parking lot and then gave us a ride into town so we could buy dinner.
Date: 2011-07-04
From: Downriver Canoe Co.

To: Scottish Inn Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We took our time paddling the last 12 miles of our journey. The river was shallow and slow moving, so we didn't make great time, but we were still finished by 1:00. We turned in our canoes and Neard's girlfriend gave us a ride into Front Royal. I called Lake Jackson to talk to my family. Today is the first 4th of July I can remember when I wasn't at the lake with my family. For the first time on the trail, I really wished I was somewhere else. We cleaned up and resupplied for the coming week on the trail, and Firetower convinced everyone to go to the local bar for dinner and a couple of drinks in celebration of the 4th. We played pool and watched the Macy's fireworks show. After the fireworks, we went back to the hotel and made it half way through Rocky IV before falling asleep. Back to the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2011-07-08
To: Haper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 12.3

Our canoe trip was a blast, but it's good to be back on the trail again. It was nice to have a little break, but hiking is what we came out here to do, so it's nice to be walking again. We had a nice, cool day today and a relatively easy hike into Harper's Ferry. About half way through the day, we saw a sign posted by a trail angel at a road offering a free meal and place to stay. Since Harper's is a notoriously expensive, historical town, we called him up to see if he was available. He said he could pick us up when we got to town, and we hiked the rest of the way into the ATC office (the logistical half way point on the trail... woohoo!). We got picked up by the trail angel (Blue Moon) around 5:00 and he took us to his apartment in Charles Town, WV. When we got to his apartment he gave us his traditional thru-hiker welcome, a shot of jager. Although I'm not a jager fan, but i took the shot to be polite... just as Oatmeal and I were drinking it, I thought "there could be rufies in this thing..." but there weren't and Blue Moon ended up being a pretty nice guy. He made us dinner and Oameal fixed his VCR so we could watch Apollo 13 in honor of the last shuttle launch. Blue Moon was actually at all of the Apollo launched when he was in college. He and his buddies fabricated a news team and got press passes. They just pretented to interview people and got free tickets to the launches.
Date: 2011-07-21
From: 501 shelter

To: Reading, PA Russ & Wendy's
Miles today: 20.0

We woke up early today and started hiking around 6:30 so we could make it into Port Clinton before the post office closed. It was miserably hot (it actually tied the record at 102) and there was very little water on the trail. I turned my phone on when we got into town, and it beeped and displayed a message that it was overheating and had to shut down... I kid you not. We got into the post office 30 minutes before it closed and just sat in the AC talking to the post master for a while. There were 5 of us in the P.O. and the post master, Russ, offered to take us to his house for the night. We promptly accepted and his wife came to pick us up in her mini van. They took us to their house in Reading, PA picked up pizza for dinner. We pigged out, watched direct t.v. (600 channels? Really?), and crashed in their basement.
Date: 2011-07-22
From: Reading, PA Russ & Wendy's

To: Reading, PA Russ & Wendy's
Miles today: 0.0

We had planned on hiking out today, but it was supposed to be the hottest day ever and Russ offered for us to take a zero at his house. It was a general day of laziness and movie watching. Russ took the day off to hang out with us and drive us around town to resupply. We got lots of rest, and at the end of the day, Russ and Wendy took us to a Reading Phillies baseball game. They pretty much treated us like family. We sang the baseball songs and ate hotdogs and watched fireworks. Their daughter, Catie, worked the concession stand and got us free refills on soda. I couldn't have asked for a better zero day...
Date: 2011-02-08
To: Gainesville, FL
Miles today: 0.0

I have been living in a trailer with a dozen other people for the last nine months, now that number 13 has arrived there is no longer room for me. Fortunately my childhood friend has picked me up and I will stay with him until this weekend. In the meantime I will test out my tent and temperature rating on my bag. By the way, I haven¢t camped since I was a teenager, and am physically out of shape, so we will see how this goes. I have no smartphone or even a cell, so there may be times during the hike when weeks pass without update. If I cant make an update, I will send my journal to my friend to upload.
Date: 2011-02-12
To: Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area 
Miles today: 0.0

A few nights sleeping in a backyard and crash course in backpacking didn¢t quite prepare me for this. The campground where my friend brought us is abandoned and there was something roaming around the campsite all night. When I finally got up, it was 15 degrees and my toes seemed frozen.This morning we drove to Walasi-Yi where George gave my pack a shakedown, final weight with food and water is 34 pounds.
Date: 2011-02-13
From: Springer Mountain AT Trailhead

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

After a long, rough drive on forest roads that werent much more than cliff hanging mud and ice, we arrived at the Springer Mountain parking area. The one mile hike to the trailhead felt like it took all day, then back to the shelter where my pack got tossed to the ground, its time to sleep.
Date: 2011-02-19
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: clear sky

So I'm headed across the granite bald of Blood mountain, looking at the blazes on the rock, and something goes wrong. I missed the trail and was walking down the rockface. Suddenly I slipped on algae or something. Feet in air, backpack hits rock, body falls off the cliff... splaying out on solid ground my forward momentum stops. I assess the situation. There is blood running down my arm and my knee which feels broken, but the worst part is I¢m now what I think is referred to as "ledged-up". I had slid down the rock before going over the side, and have fallen at least 10 feet with no apparent way back up to the trail. I lay down for a while before beginning a treacherous hike down the mountainside using my hiking stick to support my injured leg. Hours later I hear people and stumble onto a blue blazed trail. They tell me that I am a mile off course, but direct me back to the AT. Finally arriving at Neels Gap, I resupply my food, buy an alcohol stove, and get a bunk in the hostel. After showering for the first time in a week, I relax. My knee is in much pain.
Date: 2011-02-24
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

First time since Neels that I have seen someone with a phone that works. He let me make a call to report in, nice guy. My alcohol stove works alright when there is no wind, but still have been unable to actually boil water. I keep seeing other thru-hikers leave the trail. It seems strange that people plan for years to walk the AT only to quit within the first two weeks, to me it is pretty much a stress free, walk, eat, sleep.
Date: 2011-02-25
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 3.5

At the Blueberry Patch Hostel, great place, food, shower, phone. the other thru-hikers are in town for beer and hamburgers, no one understands that my situation is a little different, so I can't just spend cash whenever I want. They look at my pack with weeks of food and think I'm crazy, but I can only resupply when its cheap, so getting groceries at a the 7-11 or an outfitter won't do. Will be back on the trail to Plumborchard gap shelter tomorrow, and if all goes well, I will be at Fontana Dam in 10 days. My plan is to try and keep up with the group of hikers I'm with now, but their packs are light and they do many miles, we shall see. Will try to report in from the NOC.
Date: 2011-02-27
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: broken clouds

Got rained on all day today, everything is wet, but I'm setting up my tent anyway. I have decided that I will only sleep in shelters if there is no alternative. I can only deal with all night snoring, rodents, and late night conversations for so long. I have to admit, it is funny hearing people scream like little girls when a mouse scurries across their face.
Date: 2011-03-03
From: Wine Spring

To: backtracked to Franklin
Miles today: 13.0

Keep in mind, the miles listed are just estimates, only accurate on days I dont get lost. Somehow we got on another trail and walked for miles. We weren't sure where we were and came across a forest road. We walked until near dusk and a couple picked us up. Said we were about 15 miles from the mearest trailhead so they offered us a ride to town. We split a hotel and will make it back to the trail in the morning.
Date: 2011-03-05
From: N.O.C.

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

So we get this ride here this morning, and we actually get here just around the same time we had estimated we would have been here had we not gotten lost at all...shortly after we get here, some ppl we had met before, Deleware Dave, Kelly, and Sandra(known as the Girl with the 4 Dogs)...arrive after us, and they are all like "we passed you a few days ago, how did you get past us to here? we didnt even see you pass us!!"....lol...awesome...Running low on food, I guess I didn't get as much as I thought. Still 4 days from resupply before smokies.
Date: 2011-03-09
From: Walker Gap

To: "Fontana Hilton"
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

So I've been without food for 24 hours before finally resupplying in Fontana Dam, too expensive. I only have the bear essentials, I better make it through the Smokeys quick, well at least I have some fat left just in case. If my plan works I will be at the Standing Bear hostel to get maildrops in 7 days and Hot Springs PO 3 days later. If anyone has some snickers, ramen or something edible laying around you can send it to me and I will be forever your friend. Will try to update when I get there, assuming I can keep from becoming bear or pig food in the national park.
Date: 2011-03-13
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: scattered clouds

another short day today...first of all i woke up to this unexpected time change which threw me off...walking in this snow and ice has become slush and very difficult to walk in with these shoes i have......pretty much wet and frozen now..my feet are in lots of pain....guess i cant complain since i haven't gotten any blisters yet, though!!!! lol...
Date: 2011-03-16
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

made it up to Clingman's Dome (3m) in about 1.5 hrs ....made it to the very top (without my pack, lol) got pix .....will upload and update soon....walked to Newfound Gap...officially ran out of food by Newfound Gap. Hitched into Gatlinburg and bought peanut butter and ramen, started walking back to trail, finally was picked up at 11:00 pm by two girls from CA. They dropped off back at Newfound Gap and I night hiked Icewater Spring Shelter, for my first night hike....arrived around 1 am....