morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Since neither one of us had slept in for a while, we took it easy this morning and got a late start getting out of town. Of course with the storm coming, this meant that we either we're going to hike in the rain or stop early. We opted to stop a little early, and only do a bit over 11 miles today so that we could be comfortably in the tent before the front passed and dumped a bunch of rain on us.The trail was amazingly nice today and the hiking was fast, so those miles were over in 4 hours, leaving us with almost too much free time on our hands for the afternoon.We enjoyed a large lunch and then hung our food to wait out the storm.The rain came down in buckets and lasted about an hour. We then spent the very windy evening resting and enjoying dinner.
Date: 2017-05-02
From: Wilson Creek shelter

To: Cornelius Creek shelter
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: few clouds

Today was an epic day all the way around. We covered a personal best distance with a lot of climbing. Caboose was a hiking machine today and I spent the day just trying to keep up. We had tremendous views as we skirted the Blue Ridge Parkway off and on throughout the day.After hiking only 11.2 miles yesterday to avoid the weather, we knew a big day was called for. It was capped off with a long climb at the end and we arrived at the shelter before 5pm.Due to a lack of good tent sites, we opted for the shelter. Caboose got everything set up while I cooked dinner. We ate quickly and dove into our bags...It was a good day, but very tiring.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Cornelius Creek shelter

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

After a night of fighting mice in the shelter, we managed to get out a little before 8 o'clock and headed for the trailhead at the James River Footbridge. The plan was to go into Glasgow and resupply, then stay at the shelter in town.We had a very nice day on the trail, and the weather was amazing. The day was filled with great views and once we got down to the river we hiked along it for about a mile, which was very different from anything we had experienced thus far. The shuttle driver arrived and we got to Stanimal's hostel which was too nice to pass up. So, we gave up our original plans for the town shelter.Once we were showered and had our laundry done we went into town, resupplied, and then enjoyed a nice dinner at the local Italian restaurant.It was a good day!
Date: 2017-05-04
From: James River Bridge

To: Punch Bowl Overlook
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We were quite a bit later getting started this morning than we planned on. Our ride ran into some issues and was late picking us up. As a result, we didn't start hiking until after 10 o'clock, and were immediately faced with a very difficult climb.Once we got over the climb and enjoyed the well-earned views, we picked up our pace trying to beat the weather to a destination providing some shelter. On the way to the punch bowl shelter we decided to push on another mile and get picked up at the punch bowl Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a shuttle into town.We were picked up by Gary Serra, who was a very helpful local shuttle provider. He dropped us off at the Buena Vista Motel on the edge of town.While the motel was considerably nicer than a night in the shelter would have been, Caboose and I have stayed in far nicer spots.In the end none of that really mattered since we managed to get some cold beer and hot pizza while enjoying a couple of movies on HBO in the room.When we weren't watching TV the sound of rain on the roof was quite loud and later we discovered that nearly three inches of rain had fallen overnight.It was good to sleep in a warm bed on a night like that.
Date: 2017-05-05
From: Punch Bowl Overlook

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: moderate rain

We got a somewhat later start than usual after getting a shuttle back to the trailhead. By the time we were hiking it was almost 9:30.The weather report had said zero chance of rain for the rest of the day. But, that turned out to be a lie as the weather reports often do. We hide in a torrential downpour for nearly an hour and a half. Between the rain that had occurred overnight, and the hard rain throughout the morning, even small creeks were raging torrents.In addition, there were some fairly hairy river crossings, one of which had Caboose in the fast moving river up to her caboose. We spent the better part of the day hiking in a small river anyway, since the trail had turned into a tributary of the larger streams. It seems like the local trail maintainers don't know about water dams...Between the rain and the higher winds that occurred last night, they were many very large trees freshly fallen across the trail. The maintenance crews are going to have their work cut out for them in the coming days.Eventually in the late afternoon we crossed some beautiful balds, then dropping down into Hog Camp Gap where we found a nice tent spot to relax for the evening.It was tough hiking, but a good day on the trail!
Date: 2017-05-06
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Tye River
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

Today was probably one of the harder days on trail that we have had since the Smokies many many weeks ago. Shortly after getting out of the tent and starting to hike around 7:30 in the morning, it began to rain again. In addition to the rain, we had 15 to 30 mile an hour winds and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s. This was weather like we hadn't seen for over a month or more. It was especially difficult given that we had sent all of our cold-weather gear home in Pearisburg.For most of the day when we weren't hiking in very rocky terrain we were hiking in what amounted to a creek since the trail was filled with three inches of flowing water after all of the rain. Our feet were wet and our attitudes were fairly sour to match.After all of that, as we finally got down to the Tye River, we heard someone holler at us as we crossed the bridge. When I looked back, there was Stix walking out of the woods. We hadn't seen him in weeks and thought that he was so far ahead we would probably never see him again.He told us that Hobo would be getting off the trail the next day due to an unexpected employment opportunity. Furthermore, he explained that they had beer and would be getting some food later. That was all it took to convince us to stay.So, we ended the day short after 19 miles and spent the night by the river with good friends. We were especially surprised to see MGD again, which made for an even better evening.The day ended much better than it started...
Date: 2017-05-07
From: Tye River

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Molasses picked up Caboose, Stix, and I at the Tye River trailhead. We thought it would be a good idea for Caboose to rest her leg for a few days and since we were going to zero in Waynesboro anyway, we're just going to take it early.We all went into Charlottesville and spent the day at the some of the local dining establishments eating like kings and queens.It's truly amazing how something we take for granted in our day-to-day lives can become so special when you've been in the woods for a few months.The hospitality and love shown to us by Molasses and Rachel has gone a long way toward making this a much more enjoyable experience. Especially given that the weather has been difficult for the majority of the last 10 weeks.It is good to have friends!
Date: 2017-05-08
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This was a planned zero-day in Charlottesville to rest cabooses Achilles and to enjoy some more of the wonderful dining the Charlottesville has to offer.We had a good time at Rachel's place with Molasses, Speedy, Stix, and the rest of us.
Date: 2017-05-09
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Caboose is still limping a little bit, so we decided to go ahead and take another zero. Given that our mileage has really picked up while hiking, we don't feel it will be too big an issue to make up these days and still make Katahdin by mid to late August.
Date: 2017-05-10
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, things took an interesting turn today. Unfortunately, not for the better. My stomach had been feeling rather queasy the last couple of days but I thought it was just too much town food. Then, I woke up at 1 a.m. this morning and had to run to the bathroom. I wasn't able to get more than a few minutes away from the bathroom all day and had zero energy. Looks like I either drink some contaminated water, or I've contracted a virus.In other news, Caboose says her achilles is starting to feel better. As soon as I'm 100% we're going to hit the trail running.Yet another unplanned a zero-day
Date: 2017-05-13
From: Tye River

To: Maupin Field shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: moderate rain

After 6 days of not hiking and dealing with major intestinal issues, I expected today to be harder than it should have been. I was not surprised when that proved to be true.Tha climb up Three Ridges was rocky, long, and steep at times. A week ago we would have powered over, but today the mountain made us earn every mile. Molasses discovered some issues with his foot, which caused him obvious pain. He toughed it out and eventually we were over the climb and down to the shelter.We located Stix, set up camp, and enjoyed dinner around the fire. I wasn't able to eat much since my stomach was still not right yet. Hopefully, tomorrow is better. With bigger miles planned I'm going to have to start eating more again.
Date: 2017-05-14
From: Maupin Field shelter

To: Paul Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Wow, who knew taking just 6 zero days and getting sick would leave me so detrained. I woke up sore and feeling weak. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day and Caboose didn't set too fast of a pace. Stix, Molasses, and I all commented on how cruddy we felt. I think we all appreciated the fact we weren't the only one suffering from the time off.After taking a break and enjoying an amazing lunch in the sun, we got moving again. Other than the endless rocks, it was good hiking today. We covered nearly 16 miles and given the rough trail, we weren't too slow.Tomorrow will be a big day again. Time to start making up for our days off...
Date: 2017-05-15
From: Paul Wolfe shelter

To: Blackrock hut
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: clear sky

What started out as an epic day took a bad turn by mid morning. Caboose led Stix, Molasses, and I over the 5 miles to Rockfish gap in record time.We were treated to bagels, pastry, and coffee by our trail angel Rachel.We enjoyed the treats and eventually said goodbye to Rachel before heading into Shenandoah. About 45 minutes later, Molasses felt his leg acting up again, reducing him to a fast limp. This forced a tough decision on his part.It was evident he was not ready for higher mileage, especially with rocky trail. We headed for the next gap and waited for Rachel to come pick Molasses up. It was an emotional time. Our friend was forced to get off the trail....For the rest of the day, Caboose flew down the trail and we made it to Blackrock Hut a little bit before 7 o'clock. It was good to make it that far.
Date: 2017-05-16
From: Blackrock hut

To: Hightop hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: clear sky

We were excited about a hot meal at the wayside, so we got an early start out of the shelter.Although yesterday was a tough day, we felt good and the miles flew by quickly. Caboose has been hiking very fast and we were averaging around 3.5 mph all morning. We saw many deer and some very large rabbits during the morning.We met Stix at the Loft Mountain camp store and quickly resupplied before heading on to the wayside for breakfast.By the time we got done eating, it was 11:30 and the temperature had climbed to uncomfortable levels.The afternoon heat and multiple climbs proved I was dehydrated from yesterday still. By 3pm we had to drop down to a ranger station for water while I rested in the shade.Eventually I felt better and we continued to the shelter. Shortly before arriving we were startled by a large bear as it ran up the hill about 20 feet away. It was a cool way to finish the day of hiking!
Date: 2017-05-17
From: Hightop hut

To: Lewis Mountain Campground
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Caboose and I got up early and we were on the trail trying to beat the heat by 6:20. It worked well for about 3 hours, then it really started heating up.By the time we got to Lewis Mountain Campground, both of us were feeling the almost 90 degrees heat. Just as we were crossing the trail I spotted a note advertising trail magic in the campground. Caboose has been a little bummed about how little trail magic we've come across, so we went down and enjoyed the food, drink, and fellowship.The magic was awesome and after eating we realized neither one of us wanted to get back out in the heat.So, we found ourselves pitching our tent and hanging out after a short day. Stix arrived shortly afterwards and with blisters on both feet, he was happy to throw his hammock up and avoid the heat as well.
Date: 2017-05-18
From: Lewis Mountain Campground

To: Pinnacle picnic grounds
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

After waiting for Molasses to come by so we could spend a little time with him this morning, we got a very late start. It was after 11:30 by the time we were hiking in the day had already grown very warm.We did stay hydrated and made it a point to be sensible about her hiking pace and manage to cover over 12 miles in the first 4 hours of the day. Then, the trail turned into a very rocky stretch off and on for about the next 9 miles.We did enjoy amazing views from multiple cliffs facing Luray, Virginia to the West.By the time we got to some picnic grounds which are normally off-limits to hikers for camping a thunderstorm rolled in. We quickly pitched our tent, dove in, and were pelted by hail for the next 15 minutes.After the storm passed we went ahead and cooked dinner. Then we decided to just leave the tent where it was since we were both pretty much exhausted. A 21 mile day in the heat was more than enough...We were treated to a beautiful sunset as we ate dinner, a great way to cap off a good day.
Date: 2017-05-19
From: Pinnacle picnic grounds

To: Gravel Springs hut
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: broken clouds

Our little stealth campsite behind the bathrooms turned out to be a great choice. We had a nice breeze all night and the coat hooks on the door of the bathroom were perfect for hanging our food. Sometimes you just make do with what the trail provides.Caboose was already awake when I decided to start getting ready. We were extra quick this morning, so we had everything packed up and hot coffee made by 6:30.The trail was still rocky for most of the morning, and we both admitted our legs felt heavy. The 14 miles to the Elk Wallow Wayside seemed to take longer as a result of our fatigue, but we got there late in the morning. Caboose inhaled a chili cheeseburger and fries while I relished a delicious cheeseburger as well. Due to the oppressive heat, the cold Gatorade was almost the high point of the meal. After eating, we grabbed a ham and cheese foot long for dinner, along with some minor resupply items.As we left the wayside and started up the trail, we came around a corner and there sat Hummingbird! We hadn't seen him in over a month, so it was great to spend time chatting. Hopefully we'll see more of him in the coming weeks.The rest of the afternoon went by uneventfully and we were at the shelter by 3pm just as a large thunderstorm skirted the area. Thankfully, we avoided a repeat of yesterday's hard storm.I was so tired I ended up in my bag 2 hours before dark.
Date: 2017-05-20
From: Gravel Springs hut

To: Mountain Home Cabbin
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: broken clouds

After enjoying a humorous movie together in the tent we got a good night's sleep even with the thunder storm that rolled through. Caboose and I woke up early, and we were on trail shortly after 6:30 in the morning.There were a few rocky stretches throughout the morning but for the most part the trail was amazingly well graded and the views were nice. There was a low cloud layer over the valley, but we were above and it was beautiful to see the tops of the mountains projecting through the clouds.About seven miles into our hike we stopped at a small brook to get some water. While filtering the water, a mouse suddenly appeared swimming upstream about a foot away from where I was kneeling next to the bank. He then proceeded to climb out of the water, shake off, and run away. It was one of the stranger things I've ever seen on the trail and we both got a good laugh out of it.We ended up finishing the morning at Mountain Home Cabbin, which is a very nice hostel for weary hikers. It is an old property which was a plantation back in the late 1700s. The actual hostel itself has served many functions, including a Tri County Courthouse and slave quarters. The owner, Scott, thru hiked southbound in 2012 and genuinely understands the needs of hikers.We enjoyed a good evening together cooking on the grill and spending quality time with Stix, and Hummingbird, who stopped by to say hi on the way through.
Date: 2017-05-21
From: Mountain Home Cabbin

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 14.9

The bed at the hostel was almost too comfortable, I really didn't want to get up this morning. Unfortunately, Caboose was up off and on with a stomach ache most of the night. Thankfully, it seemed to feel better as the day went on.Molasses and Rachel arrived around 9:30 so he could get back on the trail with us. After hanging out with Stix and Rachel for a while, we said goodbye to the two of them and managed to get moving a little bit before 11 o'clock.The trail was noticably different today. No long climbs, but many 3-600' climbs with some steep pitches. I guess it's a taste of what we can expect tomorrow in the section known as the"Roller coaster".By early afternoon Molasses was dealing with foot pain again and he then twisted the bad ankle again on a loose rock. I could tell he was having a bad day by his quiet demeanor and slowing pace.Once we got to the shelter, it was a short time until we had all eaten and jumped in our bags, tired from the days hiking. We had hoped for a tent site, but there were no good locations available...a least the new shelter was super nice.
Date: 2017-05-22
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained off and on for most of the night, at times very hard. When I awoke at 5 a.m. it was still raining. The rain finally eased off around 8:30 and we lazily started packing up for a late departure.By the time we got hiking it was 9:30, but the weather was nice and the sun even peeked out occasionally throughout the day.It was somewhat frustrating hiki g since we were not able to make very good time all day long. It was relatively easy terrain, but the trail conditions were terrible. We spent almost the entire day hiking in mud and rocks which really slowed us down.Originally, the plan had been to go a little over 23 miles to Rod Hollow shelter. But, by the time late afternoon had come around, it was apparent we would not get there until late. So, we altered the plan and headed for the Bears Den hostel.After a day of hiking in mud, rocks, and the first 10 miles of the roller coaster, it was nice to get to the hostel around dinner time. We took advantage of the hiker special, got cleaned up, did our laundry, ate large quantities of pizza and ice cream, and relaxed.Molasses was especially glad to end the day, as his leg and ankle were really hurting by the time we finished up. Hopefully tomorrow he's feeling better.
Date: 2017-05-23
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: moderate rain

Caboose and I got a very early start so we could meet our wonderful daughter Maria and our three very cool grandsons in Harpers Ferry no later than 3:30.Molasses decided to stay back and catch a shuttle into Harpers Ferry as his leg was very sore when he awoke. We are hoping that he can turn this thing around soon.With caboose in the lead we flew through the remaining four miles of the roller coaster, the Devils Racecourse, and the next six to eight miles of very nice Trail. Define all four to five miles into Harpers Ferry was intermittently very Rocky so that slowed us down a bit, but we still got into town before 1:30 in the afternoon.It was a 20-mile day with a fair amount of climbing early on and we were happy to have it done in about seven hours, given the trail conditions.We went to the ATC office, and had our photos taken for the yearbook. We were hikers number 333 and 334 for the year.Afterward, one of the very kind volunteers who work at the ATC office gave us a ride to the motel so that we didn't have to walk any further. Shortly after we got cleaned up, Maria arrived with the boys. For the next five or six hours we enjoyed an amazing time with our family. It was so good to see them again, and so hard to see them go after a great afternoon together. A few tears were shed for sure.After that, it was a quick dinner and back to the hotel room when relaxing evening. The only real downside on the day was that I found two deer ticks on my lower leg. I feel confident that I got them soon enough that there won't be any issue. We are definitely starting to see an increase in tick related issues as things warm up and we get further north.
Date: 2017-05-24
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We enjoyed a nice relaxing zero day. After breakfast, Caboose and I went down town to see things while they were open and enjoy a good lunch with Molasses, Rachel, and Scoutmaster.After we got back to the hotel, I grabbed a badly needed 2 hour nap while Caboose went down to the restaurant with everyone. I finally woke up around 8 pm and joined the group before everyone called it a day. It was especially good to see Jam for a bit. We've missed him lately.It was a good day.
Date: 2017-05-25
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: light rain

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the hotel with molasses, Jam, and flat tire. After eating more food than anyone really has a right to eat, we headed out for the one-mile hike to catch the Harper's Ferry National Park bus down into Lower Town.Once we got down into town we crossed the river and entered Maryland, checking West Virginia off our list of states.The hike took us along the C&O Canal towpath for a while and then we turned and headed up away from the river.As the morning went on, it became more and more apparent that something was bothering Molasses. Eventually, I stopped and asked him if everything was okay and at that point he stated that he knew his hike was over. His leg had been bothering him badly all morning and he had reached the point where hiking was just no longer any fun.We hiked about a mile and a half up to a road crossing near a small State Park where he made arrangements to get picked up in Harpers Ferry by Rachel. It was a very emotional few minutes but eventually we had to say our goodbyes. We hiked on, while Molasses made his way out to the road to hitch a ride back to Harpers Ferry.The rest of the afternoon was spent in quiet contemplation thinking about our friend who had left the trail after so many hundreds of miles together.Eventually we reached the Dahlgren Backpack Campground where we quickly pitched the tent in preparation for the coming thunder storms that removing are away. We cooked a quick dinner ate and dove in the tent just as the storms arrived.The thunderstorm very quickly put me to sleep and we spent most of the next 12 hours in the tent, hiding from the weather.