morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-05-17
To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Met Tent Cents at 0630 at the trailhead, and began a beautiful morning walking through the Cherokee National Forest along Laurel Falls and a river (see additional pictures from 17 May). By noon I had arrived at Watauga Lake. Initially, I had planned to eat lunch at the shelter near the lake, but after hearing and reading multiple reports of bear activity near the shelter, decided to walk past the shelter. I ran into Colton, "Dad", along the trail near the shelter, and we ate lunch together on the Watauga Lake Dam. Just after lunch I met a guy named "Badger", who was hiking south telling all hikers about a trail magic location he had set up about a mile past the dam. I arrived a few minutes later to find several large McDonald's bags on the hood of a white, Chevy Cruise, with a sign indicating that we should help ourselves. Dad had arived before me, and was just finishing his second lunch of cheeseburgers, hashbrowns, breakfast burritos, powerade, and coke. What a fantastic trail magic! Met "Chairman" and his girlfriend, Crystal, at the trail magic location. Hiked on, and was again caught in a late afternoon rain storm just before arriving at the shelter. Ran into "TBD" at the shelter, as well as a father/son team from Texas SOBO section hiking.
Date: 2018-05-18
To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Awoke early and hiked with Tent Cents today. Our goal today was to get as close as possible to Damascus, VA before ending the hike for the day. We walked in the rain most of the morning. We stopped for second breakfast at the Iron Mountain Shelter, where we met "Grey Ghost" (Maine) and his son, Brian (Colorado). Grey Ghost is thru-hiking the AT, and his son is section hiking with him for the next week or so. We stopped again at the Double Springs Gap Shelter for lunch and to dry out. We arrived at the Abingdon Shelter, just 10 miles outside Damascus, just before sunset. Tent Cents and I had the shelter to ourselves, as most folks either pushed on to Damascus, or caught a ride into Trail Days. It poured rain all night, and although the rain was super loud on the tin roof, the shelter was warm and dry.
Date: 2018-05-19
To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Crossed the Tennesee-Virginia border about three miles before entering Damascus. Arrived in town for Trail Days about 0930. Tent Cents and I made our way through town, and over to the One Way Ministries building for a pancake breakfast, and feasted on about dozen pancakes and three cups of coffee each. So delicious! then we walked around tent city and the vendor booths that were set up around town. All the major trail gear vendors were on-hand helping with repairs/warranty replacements/new purchases of shoes, packs, hammocks, tents, etc. Ran into: Short Mile, Mademoiselle, and others in town. Met Tent Cents old running buddy, Bob, in town, who agreed to drive us wherever we needed to go that day. Damascus hostels, hotels, B&Bs, and most tenting areas were booked up, so we decided to book a hotel and get our resupply in nearby Abingdon, VA, about 15 miles west of Damascus. Abingdon is a quaint southern town with quite a few antebellum houses in its downtown area. We cleaned up, ate a great meal at the Peppermill Restaurant, resupplied at WalMart, and got a good night's sleep. A nice break from the trail.
Date: 2018-05-20
To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

Up early, checked out, and back in Damascus before 8 am. We picked up the trail in downtown Damascus where we left off the day before. Bob hiked with us through town and about 4 miles north of Damascus before turning around to head back to town; unfortunately, he had to return to work the following day. We met lots of new folks along the trail today, as a large number of the hikers on the trail out of Damascus today had started the trail days ahead of us, and we caught up with them cruising through Damascus.We experienced some Trail Magic at Feathercamp Branch, hosted by Rocket and Rockette, a husband and wife team that thru-hiked the AT last year, and were in Damascus for Trail Days to catch up with old friends, and spread some good will along the trail. Met "Doc", "Great Dane" (from Denmark). Enjoyed the scenery: rhododendrons in bloom, and walked along the Virginia Creeper Trail today where the AT and the Creeper Trail intersect.
Date: 2018-05-21
To: Campsite (mile 507)
Miles today: 20.9

Early start. Rain began at 1000, just after some trail magic at a parking area near VA 600/ Elk Mountain Road sponsored by the "Frenchman", an artist originally from Quebec, who maintains a blog on thru-hiking. He took our picture to add to his book and drawings on thru-hikers. Rain began right after at about 10am. Entered Lewis Fork Wilderness and the Grayson Highlands. This area of the trail is gorgeous, despite the rain. Hiked with Tent Cent, and another thru-hiker named Cruise Control. The trail throughout most of the Grayson Highlands was a stream of water. Saw longhorn cattle grazing in the highlands as well as wild ponies owned by a non-profit organization, and used to graze in the highlands. Got an opportunity to pet one of the ponies, who must see hikers almost everyday; cool experience. Arrived at Wise Shelter for the night, but decided to push on to campsite about 3 miles north. Ran into Grey Ghost and his son Brian, and we hiked to the campsite.
Date: 2018-05-22
From: Campsite (mile 507)

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Awoke to a beautiful morning, and saw more ponies along the walk this morning. Stopped along the way at each shelter to leave a note for Tent Cents regarding my destination for the day - Trimpi Shelter. Received Trail Magic at Fox Creek along VA 603... Grey Beard and Ben Comfort from Durham, NC come out to this part of VA each year to camp for a week, and provide trail magic for AT hikers. Neither has hiked the entire AT, but have done their share of hiking in other places, and really enjoy the camaraderie of sharing stories with fellow hikers. Met lots of new thru-hikers today: Booster and Bright (NY), Lorax, (NH), Lineus and Chazmataz (IN), Hippity-Hop-Pop and No Intention(VA), and Dupont and Phoenix (CA). Upon arriving at The Trimpi Shelter, I met Liz and David (TX), a father/daughter team SOBO section hiking. Calves, Pidge, Tent Cent, Cruise Control, and 2/3rds arrive later at the shelter. Also met Tramp, his wife, and their two dogs, as well as Mouse and her dog, Isis. Was partly cloudy most of the day, and the rain finally began around 8pm, and rained throughout the night.
Date: 2018-05-23
To: Pat Jennnings (Mt Rodgers) Visitors Center
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: mist

Easy hiking and rolling hills to the visitor's center. Arrived at 10am, and relaxed at the center while awaiting pickup from my brother, Bill. Bill arrived around 1230 with trail magic and goodies for the hikers hanging out at the vistor's center. Bill and I drove about 2.5 hours to Rocky Mount to his house. My daughter's HS graduation tomorrow!
Date: 2018-05-27
To: Rocky Mount, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a wonderful 4-day visit with my daughter, Roz, my brother and his wife, my sister, nephew, and mom, who all came into town for Roz's high school graduation. Got to exchange some gear, rest, clean up, and help in my brother's garden. Great times spent with family! Thank you Bill and Cam for a great visit! Congratulations, again, Roz! So proud of you!
Date: 2018-05-28
From: Pat Jennnings (Mt Rodgers) Visitors Center

To: Campsite (mile 551.8)
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

My brother, Bill, drove me back to the My. Rodgers Visitor Center this morning; arrived about 1100. Ran into Tarzan and Whitey at the Visitors Center, who were coming off the trail to resupply. Started hiking about 1120. Met ¢Serotonin¢ at the Chatdoeld Shelter. Rained from 13-1500, making the trail super muddy through the pastures and fields. Reached the Lindamood School, a one room schoolhouse built in 1894, now part of the Settler¢s Museum. The owners allow hikers to use the school building as a shelter. The local Methodist church left goodies and drinks in the school from an early afternoon trail magic. Arrived at VA 683/US11/I-81 at 1615. The Barn Restaurant (see photo) is located about a block up the road from where the trail emerges. I stopped in for their famous ¢1 pound hiker burger¢. Great food and service. Back on the trail by 1730. Walked another few miles to the intersection of the AT and the Crawfish Trail to a campsite set back in the woods. Ran into Chairman and Crystal, both biologists from Brooklyn, thru-hiking. I hadn¢t seen them since Watagua Lake. Crashed about 2100. Good first day back on the trail.
Date: 2018-05-29
From: Campsite (mile 551.8)

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Awoke at 0515 to light rain. On the trail by 0700. Stopped at the Quarter Way Inn for breakfast and water. The inn is a renovated 1910 farmhouse owned by by former thru-hikers, Tina and her husband, Brett. Met two thru-hikers, Chinook and Ranger Z, both retired Army, starting their hike for the day as I arrived. Tina was super welcoming, and allowed me to fix my standard trail breakfast, have some coffee, refill water, and relax for about an hour.  Met a group of three hikers, Tumble, Bambi, and No Name, from northern VA, who has stayed the night, and weee leisurely beginning their day. Hiked on to O¢Lystery Pavilion, where a Methodist church group, calling themselves the AT Outreach Ministry had set up trail magic of hamburgers, hot dogs, and other goodies. I set my tent out to dry while enjoying some great food. Met fellow hikers, E-Street (Philly), Itch and her husband Twitch (Hawaii), and Infinity and Fat Man Squeeze ( U.K.).  Reunited with Short Mile along the trail; hadn¢t seen him since Damascus. Stopped at the Chestnut Knob Shelter for the night; one of the only shelters with four walls and a door. A thick, misty fog rolled in about sunset, providing soothing white noise on the shelter roof. Great night¢s rest.
Date: 2018-05-30
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Campsite
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Left Chestnut Knob Ahelter early in fog and misty rain. Seemed like a very long walk this morning, and was low on water for about the first 8 miles. Finally was able to resupply wayer about a mile before Jenkins Shelter. Ate lunch at Jenkins shelter, and met Ange and Kurt, both retired/former military Army/Navy guys.  Also met: Professor, Stillwater, and Bubbles, a group of three young men thru-hiking who had also stopped for lunch. Pushed on to the Laurel Creek Campsite, where it was rumored that there would be some trail magic. Sure enough, our friends from the Methodist AT Outreach Ministry has set up another feast of grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, salad, drinks, and other goodies. Really nice folks! Set up camp, took a quick, cold bath in Laurel Creek, and rinsed clothes. Then, settled in around the campfire to relax with fellow hikers: Short Mile, E-Street, Stumper (Montreal, Canada), Walk it Off (Switzerland), and Nature Boy (SC). Crashed early.
Date: 2018-05-31
From: Laurel Creek Campsite

To: Lickskillet Hostel
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up early, ate breakfast, and was on the trail by 0615. Very pleasant rolling hills for the first 7 miles this morning to the Brushy Mtn. Outpost.  The Outpost is located near US52 and I-77, and is small store and grill owned by Todd Parker. I resupplied on water and TP, and decided to have a second breakfast of two delicious bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits and some coffee. Ate in a small outdoor picnic table seating area, and enjoyed the first real sunshine in a couple of days. Headed out about 1015 and paralleled and then crossed over I-77 to get back on the trail. The afternoon was a quick 13 mile walk along rolling hills until I crossed a small footbridge that put me on VA 608. I walked about half a mile up and over a hill to the Lickskillet Hostel. The Lickskillet Hostel is owned and operated by ¢Mongo¢, a former thru-hiker, and is located in a former Presbyterian Church built in 1911. It features and outdoor shower, but has all the modern amenities inside: WiFi, Netflix, and super comfy beds. Mongo is super dedicated to his guests, and took us down to the local Subway restaurant for a bite to eat. Really enjoyed learning about his purchase of the old church, his renovations, and his future plans for the Hostel. Great place to stay!
Date: 2018-06-25
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Appalachian Trail Conference HQ
Miles today: 20.5

Sunny day, but rocky, muddy trail into Harpers Ferry, WV. Crossed the Shenandoah River, and took the blue blaze to ATC HQ. Got my photo taken in front of the building (see pic). ATC HQ is the ceremonial halfway point on the AT for thru-hikers, even though the actual mid point is 50 miles north. Great to be here!!
Date: 2019-06-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

So it was great that I got to help Nancy run the Hike Inn during the second half of the NOBO bubble and the May surge of section hikers. It sure was was a beautiful late spring in the Smokies. I'm looking forward to heading back to the Hike Inn in October to help with the fall and SOBO season.In the meantime, though, I get to hike! Yippee!!  I'm now in Carlisle, PA, all ready to hop on the AT tomorrow morning. Getting here was a study in contrasts if ever there was one. My best friend ever, Tara, delivered me to the bus station In Zanesville, OH. Tara's amazing. Everyone should have a best friend like her.  Then I had what seems to be the usual -- inevitable? -- ordeal riding the bus to Harrisburg, PA. Ugh. Why doesn't someone open a new bus company which actually values its customers and treats them with respect? The market is there, and it would respond with glee. I don't get it.  But then, as if it were the reward for enduring yet another trial-by-public-carrier, I got to meet Trail Angel Mary of Duncannon, PA. She shuttled me from the bus station in Harrisburg to a motel in Carlisle. Aaahhh. Mary is a peach.  And tomorrow morning, I'll be walking. Life is good.
Date: 2019-06-10
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 18.9

I got a nice, early start and hit the trail by 6:30 am. It was a great day for a walk, coolish and drizzly. Initially, the terrain was fairly wonderful -- mostly flat and rock-free. Eventually I left the congeniality of the Cumberland Valley and hit a few steep, rocky hills. But nothing too bad.  I got into Duncannon about 4:00 pm and made my way to the Duncannon Assembly of God, where hikers are permitted to sleep in the basement. This is a great thing! I got a nice hot shower then went for pizza with Okie and Raider, two guys I met here. There are six of us here tonight, all guys. Besides those two and myself, Tripod, Child of Light and Adam are here. Great guys all 'round. We talked and laughed until hiker midnight. This is a wonderful place to be.
Date: 2019-06-11
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Campsite mm 1163.7
Miles today: 14.7

I got another early start today, after a delicious breakfast of cold leftover pizza. I walked through the streets of Duncannon then crossed both the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. These rivers are awesome. Pennsylvania sure is a beautiful place.It makes sense that after a river crossing the trail would head uphill, and that's exactly what happened. But Peter's Mountain is an elongated mountain that is not terribly high. So the climb up was modest, and once you reach the ridge you stay there for miles and miles. There are many gorgeous views from overlooks on both the north and south sides of the mountain. There are lots of side trails crossing the AT, and why not? It's a fine place for a hike.I leapfrogged Okie and Raider quite a few times today, wished Tripod well as he jetted off ahead, and am now camped solo at a most congenial spot at mm 1163.7. All is well.
Date: 2019-06-12
From: Campsite mm 1163.7

To: Campsite mm 1181.6
Miles today: 17.9

Today's hike was a study in contrasts. The weather was spectacular, and the green tunnel couldn't have been more congenial. Oh sure, there were a few rocks, but there were also a doe and spotted fawn, endless stretches of mountain laurel in glorious full bloom, and so many ferns it would take a lifetime to count them all. Plus, a beaver dam right on the trail!! How many times do you get to walk -- well, okay, wade -- right next to a beaver dam?But, and this is just a darn shame, most of the day I was treated to constant booming sounds coming from a nearby US Army fort. Loud booming sounds. Very loud. These two things do not belong together. I can't imagine Benton MacKaye feeling good about this. No one wants to go for a walk in the woods and not be able to hear any of the wonderfully peaceful sounds of the woods. I realize that we have to put our military installations somewhere -- but right next to our oldest and best National Scenic Trail? Can't we do better than this?
Date: 2019-06-13
From: Campsite mm 1181.6

To: Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 11.9

I looked at the forecast just before going to sleep last night. Not good news -- fairly heavy rain beginning at 2:00 am and continuing through most of the morning. Well, that's exactly what happened. I woke up several times to heavy rain on my tent, and I got to pack up in a steady downpour. Yippee!Luckily, I had a fairly short distance to hike today, just under twelve miles. The first six were wet indeed -- the trail was but a series of cascades -- but after that the rain subsided and things began to dry out. One thing is for sure -- you can cover some ground in the rain, because there's no dawdling at rest breaks, taking pictures, etc.I got a shuttle from Lance Carlin, a very nice man, and I'm holed up for the evening at a motel in Pine Grove, PA. My gear is drying out, and the forecast looks splendid for the next three days. I'm just about to call for a pizza. So, life is good.
Date: 2019-06-14
From: Pine Grove, PA

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

I could be a cranky hiker. The trail today was rocks, mud, rocks, mud, rocks, rocks, rocks, mud. I remember kinda hating this section in 2014. My memory of what the trail was then is rocks, rocks, rocks, rocks, rocks, etc. ad infinitum.But that memory isn't accurate. I think that in 2014 my feet were so banged up by the time I reached this section that I wasn't successful at enjoying it because I was in pain all the time. I've spoken with a few NOBO thru-hikers during the last few days, and almost all of them are cranky and out of sorts. The other hikers I've met are having a blast. I think that banged-up feet thing might be the difference.The mud was a bit tedious today, to be sure, and the rocks did hurt even my non-banged-up feet a bit, but you know what? This is a really great stretch of trail. Pennsylvania is flat out gorgeous! I have never, ever, seen so many ferns!! They go on and on and on, seemingly forever. And the blooming mountain laurel is just out of this world. I'm a big fan of this place, rocks, mud and all.It really makes a difference, not being in constant pain. I'm so glad I got to come back and hike this stretch of trail again. It's more fun this time. Thru-hiking is a great thing -- but so is section hiking.
Date: 2019-06-15
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Hamburg, via Port Clinton
Miles today: 9.3

Today was all about making it to Hamburg in time to watch my beloved Michigan Wolverines take on Texas Tech in game one of the College World Series. I made it to the first stop -- the AYCE Chinese buffet (of course) -- and the second stop -- Walmart for resupply -- before arriving at the motel just after game time. The Wolverines won! How about that? Go Blue!!Today was a great day for hiking and I'll probably pay for the short day by having to hike multiple days in a row in the rain. So be it. My alma mater hasn't been in the CWS since I was in law school. I've been a retired lawyer for five years. So, things are finally looking up! No way I was gonna miss it. Well, that is, unless I was somehow detained at the Chinese buffet. Priorities, you know.
Date: 2019-06-16
From: Hamburg, via Port Clinton

To: Campsite mm 1238.6
Miles today: 18.7

I started off today by walking around downtown Hamburg. Yesterday the only part of town I saw was plagued by corporate sameness, and I didn't wanna leave without finding the good stuff. I found it. Downtown Hamburg is as authentic as a town can get. Aaaaahhhh. That's much, much better.So then I headed back to the trail in Port Clinton via the same route I took into Hamburg yesterday -- the Schuylkill River Trail. This is a gem of a multi-use rail-to-trail. For fans of the board game Monopoly (and who isn't??), the actual Pennsylvania Railroad once ran along here. And the Reading Railroad ran nearby. Wish I could time travel for a day back to the heyday of those railroads.  As for today's hike, I walked past Pulpit Rock, the Pinnacle and Dan's Pulpit, all of which afforded magnificent views of the farm valleys below. Then I crossed paths with a six foot rattlesnake -- not a monster but certainly big enough to get your undivided attention. I met three other hikers whom I hope to get to know in the coming days -- Wing It, Sweetwater and The Colonel. I spent an hour or so walking with Wing It -- a 20-year-old engineering student at Mizzou. Really nice guy. It was a good day.
Date: 2019-06-17
From: Campsite mm 1238.6

To: Campsite mm 1254.2
Miles today: 15.6

Okay. Today wasn't the most fun day of hiking ever. The piles and piles of rocks were in their full glory. It rained most of the day, greasing up the rocks quite nicely. I tiptoed and took baby steps all day long. It was a slow, difficult day. The miles were tough ones.Without rain, there would have been great views from multiple spots, but it was socked in so I only took one picture all day, at Knife's Edge. As the name implies, this is a cool and fairly dangerous spot consisting of an elongated boulder field where you painstakingly make your way over, around and through the rocks. It would be a lousy place to lose your footing.I ran into Okie and Raider, whom I hadn't seen since soon after leaving Duncannon. It was good to see them again. I met Hiker Greg, and spent a good hour talking with him at a water stop. I hope to see him again. I'm camped solo at a spot which turns out to be directly under the approach path of a nearby airport. Didn't see that coming! But at the moment the rain has stopped, the birds are singing, and the sky has brightened a bit. So, all is well.
Date: 2019-06-18
From: Campsite mm 1254.2

To: Campsite mm 1270.4
Miles today: 16.2

I awoke several times during the night to the sound of steady rain on my tent. I packed up in the rain, started walking in the rain, and decided to divert into Palmerton for lunch and a break from the rain. I ate a delicious cheesesteak sandwich at Bert's Steakhouse. Being this close to Philadelphia has its benefits.I noticed the rain had stopped, so back to the trail I went. But before I made it halfway back, the rain returned. I walked the rest of the day in a steady rain. Then I set up my tent in the rain. It's stopped again, but the forecast calls for two more days of rain.Crash Davis was right: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains. I saw two turtles -- not terrapins, but turtles -- right on the trail today. Ain't no way that's gonna happen on a sunny day.Still, I really won't mind if tomorrow turns out to be a sunny day.