morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-10-20
From: Lexington

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was a turning point for my hike because the cold fall weather has finally arrived. I got dropped off on the trail with frost everywhere and temperatures in the thirties all day. It's also a different feeling for me because I have no more friends to visit along the way. The past two months have been easy for me because every few days I was able to visit friends and take days off. With almost 800 miles to go I have no planned stops and nobody to hike with. After hiking 25 miles I still felt great and wanted to keep going. Since spending four days in Lexington I am well rested and have great energy. However, I couldn't pass up the Bryant Ridge Shelter because... 1) I haven't stopped hiking before dark in a while. 2) It's much warmer in lower elevations. 3) I have never had a shelter all to myself. 4) There was lots of firewood. 5) The Bryant Ridge Shelter looked like the Star Trek Enterprise.
Date: 2008-10-21
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Keeping my bowel schedule on track, I walked to the privy first thing in the morning. There was frost all over it. It's a tough way to wake up in the morning. Late in the afternoon I came upon the Moore family who was out on the Blue Ridge Parkway having a family picnic. Three generations of amazing people enjoying the fall beauty on the mountains. They seemed very excited to meet a hiker and we spent at least an hour chatting about my adventures. They showered me with leftover food from the picnic including water, fruit, homemade bread, and love. The Moores were even kind enough to offer me a place in their home for the night. For some unknown reason, I declined their hospitality but have been second-guessing my decision since. This was the first trail magic I've had from strangers since the state of New York. Thanks friends!
Date: 2008-10-22
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Angel's Gap
Miles today: 16.3

Hiked through the truckstop town of Daleville today. Subway, Taco Bell, and Krogers supermarket all had a visit from my stomach. In the afternoon I started talking to a guy named Darryl Stoops. He's black, has an underbite, and is a fantastic dancer. The best thing about Darryl is he comes and goes whenever I want and he never disagrees with me. We're going to start a professional jumproping team when we get back in the real world.
Date: 2008-10-23
From: Angel's Gap

To: Lost Spectacles Gap
Miles today: 22.1

A dozen deer ran past the tent in the morning and woke me up. Looking outside it reminded me of Big Buck Hunter, the arcade game. Too bad I'm not packing heat.Since the beginning of the trail I have been told I had to eat at The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba, VA. The Homeplace offers a Southern homemade buffet served family style. It was an incredible meal. I was also able to share the meal with Lightning Rod and Songbird, two Sobos who I haven't seen since New Hampshire. The meal was possibly the greatest of my life. An endless supply of southern fried chicken, barbeque pulled pork, pinto beans, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, cinnamon apples, cole slaw, and peach cobbler for dessert. After dinner, we went another ten miles in the dark.
Date: 2008-10-24
From: Lost Spectacles Gap

To: Rocky Gap
Miles today: 30.5

There was something about the food at the Homeplace that gave me super energy today. The weather was cold and rainy all day and I missed a lot of views including on top of Dragon's Tooth. Later in the afternoon I hiked across the top of Sinking Creek Mountain in a driving rain. Normally this part of the trail wouldn't be difficult but it was on this day. It was a four mile fight on the ridge exposed to the harsh wind, rain, and cold. Perfect weather for hypothermia. I was so cold I tried keeping warm by running. However, every time I ran I slipped on the wet rocks and leaves. I had about a dozen hard falls in an hour. It reminded me a lot of Baldpate Mountain in Maine (7/24). I had the option to put on extra clothing, but I wanted dry clothes to sleep in for night. I hiked in the dark until my flashlight ran out of battery around midnight. I pitched my tent in the rain without any light.
Date: 2008-10-25
From: Rocky Gap

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 29.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 3am in a puddle of freezing water. I guess I didn't do a good job pitching my tent in the dark. There was no way I could sleep in the cold wet conditions. I packed up about 5am and started hiking again in the cold rain. It was all business today because I had to get to Pearisburg by 8pm for kickoff of the PSU game. I made it in plenty of time but am completely exhausted.
Date: 2008-10-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

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

I like taking days off and I love Pizza Hut buffets. I finally broke down and trimmed my mustache today. It was getting stuck in my teeth every time I ate. I also got a shipment of beef jerkey from my Aunt Margaret. Four pounds of authentic cajun jerkey from Louisianna! Mmmmmm.
Date: 2008-10-27
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Kimberling Creek
Miles today: 29.4

Leaving Pearisburg I passed a former NOBO on the trail. I didn't catch his name but it didn't take me long to be annoyed. He started by asking me where my hiking poles were. Then came his lecture on how I would never finish without them. And how the terrain gets really steep and the leaves on the ground would make it too hard to complete the trail without poles. He told me where I could by hiking poles and what kind I should get. He told me the proper way to hike with hiking poles. I finally had to cut him off and tell him I'm too tough to hike with poles and I don't want to look like a sissy. Stupid NOBOs.
Date: 2008-10-28
From: Kimberling Creek

To: Davis Farm Campsite
Miles today: 33.0
Weather: light snow

Very windy day and many miles hiked. It even snowed today for the first time. A couple days ago Swing was driving through Bland, VA and hung a care package for me on a tree. I thought it might be a Halloween costume. Instead it was filled with snacks! Snickers, banana, fruit pies, and Redman! Thanks buddy. I'm starting to feel extremely introverted by myself and antsy about finishing. Thanksgiving sounds amazing right now.
Date: 2008-10-29
From: Davis Farm Campsite

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 29.9
Weather: clear sky

Another long day but wanted to stay at a hostel. The Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel is a brand new hostel in Atkins, VA run by former thru hiker Bunny and her husband Aqua. They've only been open a few weeks. Bunny sure knows how to cook. All you can eat homemade grub. About two minutes later I fell asleep on the couch.
Date: 2008-10-30
From: Atkins, VA

To: Fox Creek
Miles today: 23.1

A great breakfast this morning from Bunny. I got a great nights sleep but felt sluggish today, like a wet sponge. The weather warmed up a bit and I was able to hike in short sleeves. Not too much is happening on the trail these days. I'm only getting about five minutes of human contact per day. Most of my time is spent dreaming of Thanksgiving dinner and playing Zelda for the Nintendo 64.
Date: 2008-10-31
From: Fox Creek

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: clear sky

Today is Halloween. I don¢t have a costume and am mad at myself. My top three best Halloween costumes are the red power ranger, the purple teletubby, and the stay-puft marshmallow man. I hiked through the Grayson Highlands which are awesome. They are most famous for the wild ponies who hang on the trail. One of my favorite places so far. I really wanted to be in Damascus for Halloween night so I hitched ahead in the late afternoon. For the first time in weeks I was reunited with other SOBOs. This really boosted my morale. I had been chasing these guys for weeks. Earthworm, Grizz, Superman, Captain Ozzie (who I hadn¢t seen since Vermont), Godzilla (who I hadn¢t seen since Pennsylvania), and Chevrolegs. We celebrated the holiday at Dot¢s, the local watering hole. I ate pickled eggs for the first time.
Date: 2008-11-01
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Since leaving Lexington, I have been cold almost every night. My sleeping sac isn¢t getting the job done. Instead of buying a new one rated for a lower temperature, I just had my brother Paul send me his. I picked it up at the post office today so now I¢m rolling with a 30 degree and a 40 degree bag. The extra weight should be worth it. I slacked north along the AT and Virginia Creeper Trail today to make up my missed miles from yesterday. The Creeper Trail is mainly used as a bike trail and parallels the AT for about ten miles. Godzilla, Ozzie, Chevy, and I are staying at ¢The Place¢ which is a semi-famous hostel. What¢s strange about this hostel is that nobody is around to supervise. It is like an abandoned house with about 35 bunks, a couple bathrooms, and a kitchen. The door remains open at all times and there is a note by a box that asks for a suggested donation of $4. There is no heat in The Place and a stray cat with lumps on its butt that walks around. I think its name was even lump butt. Ozzie, Godzilla, Chevrolegs and I spent a lot of time in the parking lot tossing Frisbee.
Date: 2008-11-02
From: Damascus, VA

To: Abington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Ozzie, Godzilla, Chevy, and I had an afternoon start out of Damascus and only went ten miles. It feels great to be with other people now and to take it easy. We made the biggest fire so far on the AT that was roaring for a good five hours.
Date: 2008-11-03
From: Abington Gap Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: scattered clouds

The highlight of the day was visiting the Nick Grindstaff monument. Nick Grindstaff is Tennessee¢s most famous hermit. He lived in the hills of Iron Mountain for more then 40 years until his death. God Bless you Mr. Grindstaff. God Bless. The four of us took our time today playing Frisbee in the open fields. Tennessee has been awesome so far. Great views and easy terrain. I saw the best sunset of the trip so far, maybe the best of my life. Every single color of the rainbow was seen throughout the sky and I finally know where the phrase Purple Mountains Majesty came from. God Bless you Tennessee. God Bless.
Date: 2008-11-04
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 8.6

The water situation has been bad lately. Most water sources are dried up and are many many miles apart. My thirst was the worst it has been all trip. The four of us took a detour down to Watauga Dam to get water. We ended up bushwhacking our way and climbing up the side of the dam to get back to the trail. We stopped at the Shook Branch Recreation Area a few miles later and tossed the disc again. This was the nicest day we¢ve seen in weeks and will probably be the last nice day we see while we¢re out here. We spent about four hours there until the sun began to go down. As our luck would have it, a day hiker came down the path to say hello. His name was Mas. Ironically enough, Mas just finished his NOBO thru hike a few weeks ago. Mas and I recognized each other because we had both spent the night together in the Green Mountain House in Manchester Center, VT. It¢s a small world on the trail. Mas gave us a ride to the Kincora Hostel up the road. Later in the evening we played trivial pursuit and had a pull-up competition on the rafters of the porch. I surprised myself with 15 pull-ups, probably because I only weigh 64 pounds right now.
Date: 2008-11-05
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Merkin Campsite
Miles today: 18.9

Ozzie, Chev, Godzilla, and I did a short slack pack this morning over the Pond Flats and continued past the Kincora hostel. We made our own campsite on a stream. Most of the leaves are off the trees by now and the ground is covered in acorns. This makes it difficult to walk sometimes and slipping is very common. I have had a craving for pizza lately, bigger than usual so this morning I bought a pizza kit for dinner. The pizza kit was obviously not made for campers but I made it work in my stove. It was more like eating raw dough mixed with melted cheese and sauce in a big lump. It didn¢t look appetizing but was the best meal I¢ve had in a while.
Date: 2008-11-06
From: Campsite

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: clear sky

Late in the day I went ahead of my hiking buddies to make sure I made it to Erwin in time for Saturday kickoff. I hiked up Hump Mountain which was another one of those never-ending climbs. Hump Mountain is another one of my favorites. It boasts a large grassy bald on top with 360 degree views in all directions. I was startled at the top when I picked up my head and saw bulls, cows, horses, and ponies all around me. They're very friendly animals.
Date: 2008-11-07
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: clear sky

My phone and camera ran out of battery first thing in the morning. I ran out of food at lunch time. I still had thirty miles to the next town of Erwin and wanted to make it today. There is a Little Caesar¢s in Erwin and the Hot ¢n Ready pizza deal is the only thing on my mind. Some time in the late afternoon it started raining. I made the hard decision to call it a short day and stay dry in a shelter rather then go another 16 in the rain. I¢m starving.
Date: 2008-11-08
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up early because it¢s game day today. Must get to Erwin before kickoff. First stop in town was the grocery store. I hadn't eaten in a day and hiked over thirty miles. Cream cheese, chef boyardee, and eggnog. Mmmmmm. Unfortunately PSU crapped the bed today and ruined their undefeated season and chance at a National title. I got a room at the Holiday Inn Express and split it with Ozzie and Chevrolegs when they caught up later in the day. Slot Machine and Stretch also showed up in the evening. They had taken a week off at home waiting for us to catch up. I haven¢t seen Stretch and Slot since New Hampshire. Good guys. Stretch¢s dad stayed the night as well and treated us to wings, pizza, and beer. The hot tub was sweet too.
Date: 2008-11-09
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We all started the morning by turning on the TV and were instantly drawn to the movie 27 Dresses on HBO. 27 Dresses is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. It is the perfect definition of a chick flick. And here we are, five manly mountain men huddled around the television hanging on every moment of the plot. Captain Ozzie even cried at one point. As bad as it was, we could not turn our eyes away or change the channel. After it ended and the tears dried, we all felt emotionally satisfied and stayed at the hotel another night.
Date: 2008-11-10
From: Erwin, TN

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My brother Paul aka ¢General Zod¢ had a long weekend from work and decided to meet me in Erwin Tennessee for another night on the trail. Since the logistics of continuing South for a night and getting him back to his car the next day were too complicated, we decided to drive back to Roan Mountain for the night. Roan was one of my favorite areas and a good place to bring Zod for the day. We spent the afternoon hiking around the grassy balds soaking in the views. We stayed at the famous Roan Mountain Shelter which is the highest shelter on the Appalachian Trail at 6200 feet elevation. It is known for its cold temperature. Tonight was no exception. The temperature was in the teens with a constant 20 mph wind making the windchill near zero. Zod and I built an extremely large fire just to keep warm and burned an entire Christmas tree. Certainly the coldest night I have experienced yet. And to top it off, mice infested the shelter more than normal and woke us up on multiple occasions. Thanks for the day off Paul (sarcastic).
Date: 2008-11-11
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 26.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I finally moved past Erwin after a couple days off. The cold weather continues and it rained most of the afternoon. There is rain/snow on the forecast every day for the next week. Slot Machine and I hiked ahead of the others. We still want to finish the trail by Thanksgiving. We left Ozzie, Chevy, and Stretch behind.
Date: 2008-11-12
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up to find a cache of acorns in my shoe. Some sort of rodent had been collecting them all night and storing them in my left shoe which was less then a foot from my head. I wish I had set a trap to catch it for breakfast. Slot and I hiked past a few hunters today out with about a dozen coon dogs. A couple of the hunting dogs followed Slot and I for a few miles up Big Butt Mountain. Every fifteen minutes or so the hunters would catch up on their ATVs to check up. I guess this is what they do in Tennessee. I saw one of the dogs take a dump. When Slot and I got to the top of Big Butt there were a bunch of black ghetto gangstas dancing to the Thong Song by Cisco. Well¢¦ at least I daydreamed about it for about two hours.
Date: 2008-11-13
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to rain again. Slot Machine and I came upon an amazing offer of trail magic about 100 meters off the trail at Allen Gap, NC. Hercules and FAL host meals for hikers several times a week at their home. I had actually randomly met these two months earlier in Pennsylvania and had been looking forward to this stop for some time. They are very generous and very kind people. They spoiled Slot and I with waffles, barbeque pulled pork, coleslaw, three bean salad, potato salad, and the best banana split I have ever had in my life. Slot Machine and I made it to Hot Springs for the night and stayed at the Sunnybank Inn, an old Victorian and historic house. Hot Springs is one of my favorite trail towns so far because it¢s small, cheap, and has everything you need. The Smokey Mountain Diner across the street from Sunnybank is delicious!
Date: 2008-11-14
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Elmer, the owner of the Sunnybank Inn started our day off with an all you can eat organic breakfast. Very delicious and healthy. We had an easy day out of town and actually left at a decent time for a change. The rain held off today despite a bad forcast. The gray skies have been following us for a few days and rumor has it a big storm is coming.
Date: 2008-11-15
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: light rain

Rain today as expected. Slot Machine and I hiked over Max Patch which was supposed to have some great views. It seemed like a great mountain to enjoy but visibility was limited to about 50 feet and the rain and cold kept us moving to stay warm. We made it to the entrance of the infamous Smoky Mountains with huge snowstorm moving in. Slot made arrangements to flip flop past the Smokies and wait for the storm to clear before he entered the dangerously high elevations. I on the other hand was looking for one last great challenge and adventure before finishing the trail. Against the advice of Slot Machine, the townspeople, and even the park rangers, I started the climb in the freezing rain. The roads in the park closed because of the weather and I was on my own again. At about 3500 feet the snow began accumulating. I made it to the Cosby Knob just as it got dark and tried to dry out as best as possible. A few inches had already fallen. I fell asleep very cold watching the snow accumulate outside.
Date: 2008-11-16
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was easily the second hardest day on the trail (see 8/27). I had a dream last night that I made homemade skis out of branches and rope and skied down the mountain out of the Smokies. I wish that dream was a reality. There was about a foot of snow on the ground which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. However, it was the coldest day yet and very windy. The problem with the snow was it was extremely slick walking uphill and I had to change my stride a little. My calves and hammies got an incredible workout and I haven't felt burning like that the entire hike. The terrain in the Smokies is very easy as most national parks are. No steep climbs and wide walking trails, however, snow made it stupid. The only easy thing about today was going downhill where I could basically run and slide. The weather was so cold that my camera wouldn't turn on most of the day. But that was fine because it was too cold to stop. I didn't see another set of footprints in the snow until about 15 miles in. My goal was to make it to Newfound Gap and hitch into Gatlinburg. I made it to the road just before dark and was lucky to get a ride down to town almost immediately. I think they felt bad for me because I was completely exhausted and freezing cold. I got a cheap room at the Grand Prix Motel where my bed was in the shape of a racecar. For dinner I got the 10 piece family dinner from KFC across the street. Ten pieces of chicken, two large sides, and four biscuits. I've never eaten so much food in my life but probably burned 10,000 calories today.
Date: 2008-11-17
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I had to take a day off today and find a dentist for an emergency visit. I have been dealing with intense pain for the past week. The dentist gave me painkillers! I also received two care packages from special lady friends. One from Lotus a northbounder I met in NH. The other from the lovely Cernuto sisters. Gatlinburg is a unique town. Completely built for tourists. The main strip is about a mile long of Ripley's attractions, mazes, photo booths, and playlands. It reminded me of Niagara Falls without the casinos. I found an arcade named Fannie Farkle's and got the high score on Ms. PacMan. I am one of the best Ms. PacMan players in the world.
Date: 2008-11-18
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 29.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The snow has melted and compacted a lot in the past day. I'm glad I took yesterday off. I ran into a pack of wild hogs today. They were much more intimidating than bear. There were about a dozen of them ranging in size from 50 pounds to 500 pounds. The shelters in the Smokies are extremely nice. Lots of room and built in fireplaces under the roof.
Date: 2008-11-19
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 33.1
Weather: clear sky

The snow has now turned into ice and I find myself slipping a lot. It was another huge mileage day as I think I am ready to go home. I left the Smoky Mountains today and hiked past Fontana Dam. Thanksgiving is a week away. I'm putting the pedal to the metal.
Date: 2008-11-20
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 28.3

A pretty uneventful day although very peaceful. I am enjoying the Southern mountains especially since all the leaves are off the trees. I get nonstop views on every mountain and the climbs aren't bad at all. I past a couple of section hikers headed the other way and they mentioned a can't-miss trail angel opportunity up ahead. I made it to Wayah gap where a gentleman by the name of Apple was set up with a circus tent filled with love. His tent has enough room for twenty people, a wood burning stove, hot drinks, and even electricity. He's been set up for about two weeks giving cold hikers refuge. I was lucky because tonight is his last night out. He said he does this every year mainly during the Spring for the Nobos. Apple is a pretty cool guy. Thanks a ton buddy.