morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 1.0

Been sitting in shelter listening to rain and reading The Hobbit waiting for Fancy to show up. Finished The Hobbit finally. Knee feels ok, so I walked to next shelter to make sure Fancy didn't somehow pass me. Nice lazy day so far, met Hatchet and Trail Mix at shelter. They're Sobo's who are finishing something they started a while ago and had quit. They're back on and close to finishing. Trail Mix hikes with her cat Meow! The cat just sits in the top of her pack and hunts mice at night. They said they named her Meow because the cat never does and someone's got to do it lol.Fancy showed up and we decided to nero because it's freezing and raining. Theme for the day is reunion.
Date: 2012-04-23
To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 17.8

Snow today! Craziness, it's cold as crap, snow is accumulating, we're over 3,000 ft, and all I have is shorts. Excellent. McCafee's Knob was AWESOME. So weird to see this famous landmark where everyone hangs their feet off of and see it in person! Not gonna lie, was really scared to go to the edge to hang legs off for a picture because it was still snowing and like 20 mph wind gusts. But it was definitely worth it. Moved fast today so I would stay warm and it worked all the way into Daleville/Troutville. Went to Goodwill and bought Fancy some ridiculous short shorts for him and I got some moccasins to wear in camp! So comfy... On the Little Caesar's (craving... check) to get a Hot-N-Ready for each of us. Took our pizzas over to the Kroger and the manager let us eat in their breakroom because it was still chilly outside. Resupplied in Kroger and headed to Troutville. Hatchet and Trail Mix told us that the Fire Station there gives hikers free showers and laundry. We figured we might could get a bed too so we headed over there and found the station empty... Well we waited for an hour and 45 minutes even called the fire chief and he didn't know where they were. Then a lady pulled up and she otld us that the guys were in some class and would be back within 15 minutes. SO 10 minutes later a guy pulled up and let us in. He offered us to stay in one of the bunk rooms because it was 10:30 pm at this point. All worked out and the wait was worth it. An amazing shower and clean clothes and an ACTUAL bed to sleep in. Really awesome. Theme for the day is generosity.
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Troutville, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.3

Short day but didn't get started till 2:30 pm becasue we went to Cracker Barrel! I got Mama's Pancake Breakfast with 3 pancakes (craving... check), 2 eggs, bacon, and toast. Both me and Fancy are hurting with shin splints so we decided that we're gonna limp 20 miles to Buchanan over 2 days and zero 2 days to be sure we heal up. Haley (Fancy's wife) is meeting him there. Shins felt better by end of day but stiffened up a lot once in camp. Theme for the day is pancakes.
Date: 2012-04-25
To: Buchanan, VA
Miles today: 12.3

Easy hiking today. Fancy's hurting and going slow but I feel excellent. Shin doesn't hurt too bad when I'm actually hiking, just when I rest. So I've mostly just been walking without stopping. Lots of nice views off of road crossings today.Not too hard of a hitch into Buchanan, VA (about 30 minutes). And went directly to the Burger King. Waited there for Haley to show up. In the meantime there was a 14 year old kid that came up to us asking if we were hiking the AT. He was asking us all these questions and said he was gonna do it after graduating high school. It was kinda cool to feel like I was some kids hero for a second lol. So Haley showed up and they're gonna go car camp then get a motel back in Troutville and I'm gonna sleep under this bridge. Yeah... Theme for the day is hobo.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Buchanan, VA

To: Buchanan, VA
Miles today: 0.0

First of 2 zeros. Rained last night and water seeped under bridge and I almost got soaked. Luckily I layed down my tarp so that just got wet. Cooked breakfast and headed to library. Caught up on trail journals and then went searching for Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship. Library didn't havev it for sale but I found it in an antique book store. Talked with store owner for 1/2 an hour about all the cool rare books he'd found in these random places all over the world. Headed over to a diner and got a Carolina burger (meat, slaw, tomato, lettuce, chili, ketchup, mayo, and onions!), lot 'o' fries and a water. Had nothing to do so I went back to library and decided to modify my pack a little. I cut half of the mesh pocket off that I had sewed on and then proceeded to sew on a daisy chain on either side of where that used to be. Then I took some 550 cord and laced it up so I can now hold my tarp and rain jacket much easier. Nailed it. Called Fancy who's staying back in Troutville with Haley and asked for a ride there. Gonna sleep in his car tonight. Theme for the day is laziness.
Date: 2012-04-27
From: Buchanan, VA

To: Buchanon, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Last zero but I already feel great. Shins are definitely healing up fast. Got a free continental breakfast at Fancy's hotel and then just chilled in their room. Haley and Fancy have introduced me to the tv show Arrested Development. It may or may not be the funniest thing I've seen on a screen in a while. If you have not seen it, go to a place that has internet, log into Netflix, and watch every single episode. Stop reading this, go right now. I've been watching episode after episode and quickly throught the first season. Fancy went to buy shoes and I went to buy Taco Bell!!! (Check) Got a chicken quesadilla, 2 soft tacos, a coke, a 20 packets of fire sauce (heaven on earth). Excited to go hiking tomorrow. Theme for the day is Arrested Development.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Buchanon, VA

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: moderate rain

First day back and bad T-Storms of course. Day started nice but an hour in and it was raining, cold, and super windy. Luckily all the shelters today are close to eachother so we are just kind of literally running from one to another.Weather cleared upand I reached Bryant Ridge Shelter (one of the coolest yet) and I thought I smelled smoke about a mile away. I thought I was hallucinating bc everything was soaked, but sure enough there was Hawk Eye and a group of other Thru's stoking a fire! So nice to get to warm up and dry out socks. Took about a 2 hour break and still have about 3 1/2 hours of hiking left.Great views at Black Rock and easy hike after 2 monster climbs. Rolled into shelter 8:21 pm and it's still light. Oh yeah... Fancy's gonna have to tarp bc shelter is full but it's whatever. We started today hypothermic and ended sweating. Theme for the day is crazy weather.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: The trail

To: Jonh's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Easy day! Decided to go shorter today so we could stay in a shelter. Stormed really hard last night but clear skies today thank God. Day ended by skirting a river, crossing it, then skirting it again. Made for great views and easy trail. Amazing views early in day too! We were up in elevation and below us were a sea of clouds with peaks poking through as far as you could see. Felt like I was at 25,000 ft or something. Feeling super strong today and was going about 4 mph for 3/4 of the day. Theme for the day is flat trail.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: Trail

To: Lexington, VA
Miles today: 20.1

Great day! Couple climbs, but ain't no thang. Very similar to yesterday, the elevation maps look almost identical for yesterday and today. Badger from Damascus finally caught us last night, glad bc he's a really cool guy. Saw again right before our climb to get into town. Now this climb, everyone has been referring to as "The Big Climb." So naturally, me and Fancy decided we were gonna try and do it as fast as possible. We went over 2 miles in about 30 minutes. Not bad, and we were rewarded with some sweet trail magic at the top with cokes and candy! Got to Lexington with an interesting hitch. As a joke Fancy thumbed for this guy in a 2 seater Miata. Of course the guy was kind of a hiker and pulled over. ANYONE else besides us couldn't have fit their packs in the trunk and then squeezed two people in one seat for 14 miles. The numbness was overwhleming... Once in town (and able to feel our legs again) we headed over to the outfitter bc I need a new Platypus Water Bottle. After that a little birdie told us there was a chinese buffet in town. Alas the stars were not in line and the buffet was closed on Mondays... today. So I dried my tears and settled on getting a Large Pepperoni pizza from the Hut. Walked to Kroger and washed that down with a 1.5 quart box of Oreo 100th Anniversary ice cream bc well, YOLO. While resuppling, a dude named Emmitt asked us if we needed a place to stay and he offered to let us tarp in his yard. It was getting late and not wanting to deal with a long hitch accepted his offer. Theme for the day is heart break (no buffet).
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Lexington, VA

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Well, I was on the trail the entire month of April. Sweet. Weather threatened to urn bad but only sprinkled for a bit. Mostly hikie alone today, Fancy's heel is bothering him. Really hard to get a hitch out of town but a guy named Reese finally picked us up and after kind of an adventure to find our trailhead we were back to the wilderness. Got hiking about 11:30 am. Somehow I got to shelter at 7:30 pm an hour before dark. At the end of the day was a climb called "The Priest" and I walked all over him. It was really well graded so it was easy climbing. Met two section hikers tonight from Amsterdam who were quite funny and very interested in what we were doing. They had read A Walk in the Woods and wanted an "American experience" haha. Also met another Thru named Maverick. He's only 18 years old and the only other person younger than me I've met so far. He's hiked like 200 miles in Crocs as well. Theme for the day is new friends.
Date: 2012-05-02
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Laurel Springs Gap
Miles today: 21.0

Difficult 3rd day in a row over 20 miles and feeling it. HUGE climbs today! Woke up kinda late and therefore had to hike a 2,500 ft climb in the hottest part of the day. Feet are starting to get tore up some. The heat is super draining, probably drank a gallon of water today. Literally, and still thirsty. Great views of Waynesboro today though. Great valley with hawks flying all over the place. We could actually see the ski resort that Momma booked a cabin (later we would be able to see the mountain we had climbed from the balcony). Me and Fancy are tarping tonight and staying up for sunset bc we're on a cliff kind of. Sunset was amazing and the stars are bright. Found out I have 3G here and proceeded to watch an episode of Arrested Development (AD) on my phone =] Fast hikers have been catching up to us lately and it's so weird bc EVERYONE seems to know who I am not and no one's heard of Fancy haha. He doesn't really sign registers though. I gues it's all my entries and drawings I leave in the shelter registers is why everyone know's my name. I's super weird to hear someone say, "Oh! You're Tarzan?! I've been hearing about you a lot." Anyways, theme for the day is never ending climbs.
Date: 2012-05-03
From: Laurel Springs Gap

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: few clouds

Basically all downhill into Waynesboro, VA. Hiking super fast all day but took a huge break at first shelter to wait for Fancy. There was a beautiful waterfall by this shelter with a pool and everything but unfortunately it wasn't hot yet. Rolled into town with a quick hitch and IMMEDIATELY went to Ming Garden Asian Buffet! Now I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the greatest Asian Buffet I've ever been to. It had a sushi bar, hibachi you could pick your own meat and veggies, and a huge selection o everything else. Free ice cream too of course. All for only 7$!Once sufficiently stuffed we waddled to the library to wait for my sister Kimberly. Watched some AD and journaled. Condo is awesome! Colt my nephew is huge and it's great to see almost the whole family (cough! carrie...). Thanks again everyone for making that awful drive. Theme for the day is family.
Date: 2012-05-04
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy 2 month anniversary, trail! Zero feels lovely, Kimberly made pancakes and delicious eggs. Went for a walk around the resort with Fancy, Colt, and Kim. Found a shuffle board, bocce court, horse shoe pits, ad cornhole boards. Unfortunately none of the actual gaming paraphernalia could be obtained. Yeah paraphernalia... Basically just lazy and eating ALL day. Momma made perfect steaks for dinner! That's the first steak in like 4 months for me. Fancy was thoroughly stoked to stay with us and eat our food as well. Decided to do a slackpack style hike tomorrow. That basically means we hike with light packs (no food) and mom will meet us at the end of our hike that day and take us back to the condo. Theme for the day is ZERO!
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Waynesboro, va

To: Waynesboro, VA 
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

Very easy 21 miles today. Trail follows Skyline Rd most of day and we had great views whenever we would cross the road. A little rainy but we entered Shenandoah National Park (SNP). Maybe we'll finally see a bear... It was great hiking knowing we had a bed and a great meal to go to (thanks family!). Blackrock was a cool way to end the day. It reminded me of Pikes Peak in CO with all the rocks at the summit. Really good view. But that was the end of the day and momma picked us up and we drove back. She had made chicken wrapped in bacon, cheesy potatoes, strawberries and bananas, and asparagus! Sad to leave... But we must go north. Theme for the day is, "It's like butta!"
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Waynesboro, VA 

To: Saddleback Mt. 
Miles today: 24.9

First day back on trail and it's always hard especially when you have to leave the family. Thank you all for making that drive! It was nice to see y'all. Anyways me and Fancy have decided to make a mad dash for 1,000 miles and Harper's Ferry. We're gonna average about 2 miles a day for about 125 miles. Bet we'll catch up to a lot o old friends and make some new ones. Crossed 900 miles tonight! Had to work for it too. Really feeling the miles. Theme for day is, "Just two dudes... hanging out... shirtless."
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Saddleback Mt. 

To: Skyland Stables
Miles today: 23.2

Third plus 20 mile day and feeling it. Feet are getting tore up from all the wetness but in good spirits. Not too bad terrain today, just long. Got up way early thanks to Fancy (morning people, ugh). Tomorrow we get a town breakfast though! It's only .1 miles off trail. Saw Maverick a lot today. Mainly because me and Fancy like to hike super fast and break quite often. Here's a typical conversation with Mav:"You guy's breaking again?""Yep""Cool, see you in a sec.""Cool. Have a goo hike man.""You too."Staying the night by Skylabd stables. Kinda weird to hear all these horses rustling, keep thinking they're bears haha. There's a Coke machine here but it only takes change... Theme for the day is," So close, but so so far away..."
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Skyland Stables

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Shenandoah sucks. I've been wet for 3 days, haven't seen the sun in 4, all shelters are off trail, and there aren't even bears. Nothing but fog ALL the time in this valley. So ready for sun, dry feet, and, dry socks. Breakfast this morning was excellent however. I got a 3 egg omelette, hash browns, biscuit (with copious amounts of butter), and French toast. Spider, Mav, and The Dark Knight showed up too. The Dark Knight actually this nerdy guy but really funny. For some reason he'll randomly talk in Batman's voice. Small resupply at a gas station right off trail now we're tarping next to a shelter. Felt bad for Fancy bc there was a billion bugs so I suggested we lay inside my hammock under the tarp. Never slept so close to another man before but hey no bugs! Theme for the day is, "Bear's are a myth, they don't exist."
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 28.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Disgustingly long walk today. We wanted to do longer days towards the end of the Shenandoahs so we can Nero into Harper's Ferry but it hurts. Went over some tough climbs today and these wet shoes and socks are doing a number on my feet. FINALLY got out SNP! Took 3 1/2 days to 102.5 miles. Yeah. Didn't stay in 1 shelter either. Starte to rain really jar about 8 miles from our shelter. I stoppe a few miles early to tape up my feet while Famcy went on. Rain broke for about an hour and I went on. Luckily the trail was flat. Finally reached the shelter. It's pretty cool, called a geodesic dome. Over complicated, but cool nonetheless. Theme for the day is,"Good riddance Shenandoah!"
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Blackburn Hostel
Miles today: 26.2

Marathon man! Feeling much better today. Had a huge dinner and feeling strong. Had to do a 13.5 mile section called "The Roller Coaster!" today that kicked our butts but we managed. Fancy's beat but I feel good. We're staying at a "donation please" hostel tonight and pretty excited. Raced there by not taking a single break for 5 hours. Just ate on the go. Huge landmarks today! FINALLY left all 550 miles of Virginia and crossed 1,000 miles! Mentally I feel on top of the world. This crazy adventure really is possible... And it's going by fast... So when I reached the hostel the Caretaker Chris came out to meet me. I was the only one staying there as of yet. Then he asks me if I want a spaghetti dinner!!! I politely said, "No thank you." Yeah. Right. I was ecstatic and graciously accepted. Fancy showed up a hour later and we feasted. I ate 5 large plates of spaghetti and some bread. Those carbs are really nice after 6 +20 mile days. Theme for the day is, "Do I want a spaghetti dinner?!?!?!"
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Blackburn Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 12.6

HARPER'S FERRY! Can't believe I'm finally here. This is the psychological halfway point for the AT and I've envisioned myself going to that ATC building and having my picture taken for a while. It's all so surreal. Me and Fancy toon the picture together since we're a team and have endured all the same hardships together. It's really a special bond, I imagine it's similar to going to war. Everyday hurts but there's companionship too. One can't explain what it feels like to have walked from Georgia to West Virginia over 1,000 miles. Caught up with some old friends! The Atlanta brothers Karuna, Super beat, and Sankara, Rafiki, Hawk, and Plus 3. Met some new friends like Smiley who apparently has been trying to catch me and Fancy since the beginning. Said he'd been 1-3 days behind us since Georgia. Went to walk around this historic town and a cool cat from a wine shop asked us if we needed a ride into the bigger town. We did, he took me to a shoe store to buy some cheap sneaks so I can make pair at home last longer. Then it was to the kroger to get a 1.5 qrt of moose tracks! Finished that in 8 minutes between the two of us. Back in HF got a Philly cheese steak and fries. Gave 1/2 to Fancy for 1/2 of his bacon burger. Sleeping literally right next to Potomac River while Fancy stays with Haley. Lots of trains but it's cozy. Theme for the day is chasing dreams.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

Zeros are nice. Trains are loud. Woke up and went back to ATC center to snag breakfast from the hiker box. Found some apple sauce! I was like 15 days behind in Trail Journals. Sorry everyone. So I spent 2 hours doing that. Best part of the day came when I went or lunch to a pizza place called Mena's. I got literally the best calzone and pizza I've ever had. Authentic NY style! Charged phone and called a few people. Just kinda hung around HF rest of day then Fancy and Haley came to town and we walked a bit. They left an hour later and I went to get dinner. Some guy had given me a coupon earlier that day for a restaurant and it turns out they served Gyros there! Finally... Decided to treat myself today since I'm halfway. I went to a hostel called The Teahorse. It's nice but I'm the only hiker besides two older people not thru hiking. $32 unfortunately but I got laundry and a couple showers. She also cooks a waffle breakfast in the mornings! Theme for the day is, "I feel like spending money."
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 31.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Mother's Day! Well, first day out of HF I decided I would at least attempt the Maryland Challenge (try to walk all 40+ miles of Maryland in 24 hours). I only got 31 miles. Only. Feet hurt too bad, and we didn't leave HF till 11:00 am lol. Got to shelter at 9:30 pm amd made some Mac n cheese, watched an episode of AD, then finally hit the hay. Maryland is so flat! The trail is a little rocky but I can scream through it anyways. Nice weather today thank god. Fancy's hip was killig him from the start of the day so I decided to just hike till I was tired. Passed by the Washington Monument today. Not THE monument, just a memorial to his life. Sleep is good... Theme for the day is, "Maryland... You win. Today."
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up this morning, always nice to wake up. Get ok, but decided I'm inns Nero o rest and let Fancy catch up. Slept in till 9:00 am and met a guy named Gedi. He was sleeping in too. Turns out he ran into some picnicers who gave him some KFC and he had some left over. I got to eat 2 KFC breasts for breakfast! So amazing. Supplemented that with some left over waffle from the hostel breakfast and a poptart. Feet hurt on hike to Raven Rock but shelter is nice. Resting and so bored, met a Chicago native named Pollack and I think he's convinced me and Fancy to stay at Doyle's in Duncannon. It's a hiker friendly hotel over a hundred years old. Great cell and Internet service. Rained ALL day, not hard but enough to make it annoying. Theme for the day is talking in a Chicago accent.
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelters
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: light rain

Woke up late. Fancy left without me. Easy hike to Waynesboro, PA and I got a lucky hitch to Walmart. Resupplied and waited for Applebee's to open so I could use this gift card momma gave me. So I got a bacon cheeseburger, fries, amd molten lava cake with ice cream! Thanks momma! Didn't have a need for a 7$ gift card so the waitress got a nice tip of $7 to start her day right =] Got another luck hitch bcd to trail from a cool hippie chick named Cheyenne. Miles felt ok besides pinky toes. At least shelter tonight is awesome. Theme for day is, "I'm Alex Hitchings. Period."
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Hunter's Run Gap
Miles today: 26.5

Happy Birthday momma! Well today was awful and great. Awful in the sense that I had worst pain I'd had the whole trip today. For some reason my feet got shredded. Blisters and hot spots galore. I was limping and legs for hurt for 13 miles. And home of the half gallon challenge was closed till Memorial day! NOOOOOO! Great day also though bc weather was excellent and we crossed the official halfway point for the whole trail today! So I found Fancy waiting for me at a general store off trail so we could buy a 1.5 qt of ice cream. I got chocolate chip cookie dough and finished it in about 40 minutes. Not Half gallon challenge worthy but good nonetheless. Pain felt better by end of day. Might be getting shin splints again ugh. Theme for the day is, "Livin' on a Prayer'l