morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-07
From: hot springs, nc-elmers sunnybank inn

To: rich mountain fire tower
Miles today: 8.0

up early to take advantage of the homecooked breakfast here at elmers, had waffles and granola. Got some chores done-laundry and email- and just kind of lounged around hot springs all day. Hot springs is an awesome trail town, the trail actually goes directly through downtown and it has everything a hiker needs.Got back on the trail at 5pm planning to make it just a few miles. the climb out of hot springs was pretty taxing especially after drinking a few beers and eating a couple of sandwiches, today was real hot too. Also, while walking out of hot springs with my heal blister dressed with the usual bandaid and duct tape, I realized it still was not getting any better. I was getting very frustrated and finally caved in and refused to go any further. So I kicked off both my shoes and started cutting away at the heal with the scissors on my knife. I cut away both plastic heal inserts that come standard in new balance and sewed them up with the string I use to hang my food bag at night. Not surprisingly it worked extremely well and I felt like a genius. The plastic heal insert was the problem the whole time, without them there is nothing to aggravate my blister; the shoes look a little haggard but they work very well in spite of the surgery. Would like to mention that the past two days, hiking out of the smokies and into hot springs and the surrounding area has been my favorite stretch of trail so far.Camping under rich mountain fire tower, its suppose to rain tommorow.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: rich mountain fire tower

To: jerry cabin shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

Rain held off until 11am today then it didn't quit all day. It was considerably colder today as well. There were also several tree blowdowns across the trail, and I fell on my ass three times going over, around, and under them. I cussed the trail a lot today and was soaking wet and cold for most of the hike. Still managed to make it around 18 miles today, tenting in the cold rain tonight, suppose to be nicer tommorow.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: jerry cabin shelter

To: camping north of sams gap
Miles today: 17.8

Got going real late today as it was a cold but clear morning. Tried to let some of my clothes dry off while I waited, everything is wet. Stared hiking around 11am and made it to sams gap around 5:30pm; sams gap is where the trail goes under Interstate 26, right at the tn nc border. Some nice hiking today, terrain is getting milder now that we are north of the smokies.Got a ride from some day hikers who took me to a nearby market so I could do a quick resupply, planning to make it to erwin tommorow night. Camping on a ridge just north of sams gap, its cold and windy but atleast its not raining.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: camping north of sams gap

To: erwin, tn
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: clear sky

Made great mileage today and felt fine considering. My sewed up shoes have held up surprisingly well and my heal blister is getting much better, it hasn't given me trouble since I removed the plastic insert from these shoes.   Went over Big bald mountain today, views from the top were awesome. Got to Erwin, TN around 6:30 and stopped at Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky hostel to see if there was vacancy; there was none so I am staying at the holiday inn express a couple miles away.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: erwin, tn

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 6.7

Got a late start and a late finish. Still trying to figure out what is going on with my maildrop that was suppose to be in hot springs a few days ago, but was not, so I had it bounced forward to uncle johnnys hostel; it's not here. Slept in this morning and destroyed the continental breakfast at the holiday inn, the list of things I ate is too long, so I won't bother writing them. Waited around in the Holiday Inn lobby for my shuttle, which was coming from Uncle Johnny's Hostel to go back to the trail at 3; was able to catch a few holes of the final round of the masters, made me want to play golf. Once the shuttle arrived I asked the driver James, who works for Uncle Johnny's, to take me to a grocery store so I could do a re-supply, picked up some more of the usual: pre-cooked bacon, pepperoni, tortillas, packs of tuna etc...Got back in the shuttle and asked if we could swing by a fast food restaurant SONIC, "no problem". I offered to pay for his meal rather then pay them the five bucks it cost for the shuttle, "good deal". This is when things got strange. At sonic, you order in the parking lot through a microphone just like you do at a drive-thru, but here they bring you the food in the parking lot. Well I guess the young lady taking orders that day was relatively new, or the microphone wasn't working well because she was having trouble taking our order. I could tell James was not the patient type, but I did not expect what was about to happen. After the third or fourth time telling the girl our order, James got out of the van and started throwing a fit, yelling and screaming he stomped towards the kitchen where they take orders, but was met out front by the manager who was equally as startled as I. Needless to say, it was very uncomfortable and I didn't know whether to try and diffuse the situation, or run for my life; I did neither and just calmly waited. Well, our orders were taken and soon after delivered to the van. So there I sat, eating cheeseburgers in the parking lot with the same guy who I thought was about to commit a violent crime over a botched order. Thankfully though, I made it safely back to Uncle Johnny's Hostel where you get back on the AT.Started hiking at five and didn't quit until eight, camping on a ridge with a great view of the sunset. Erwin was alright I guess, and it's funny now to look back on the days events, but I could have done without the cheeseburgers.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: stealth camp

To: Hughes Gap
Miles today: 22.6

Great day, got a relatively early start, 9am and did some good miles. I don't think I will ever get into the habit of breaking camp at sunrise like some folks do out here. Most days I get up around 8 and start hiking around 9, I would rather start a little later and end later, rather than start very early and end earlier. Hiked up to beauty spot as it's called, then on up Unaka mtn. which was very cool. At the top of Unaka there is no Vista or 360^ view, it is essentially a pine barren with nothing but trees. It sounds un-exciting but was actually real nice; the trail was kind of hard to follow, but the ground was soft as a sponge underneith all these pines which I can't identify. The terrain after Unaka was much gentler and I finally caught up with Bill and some others I had hiked with earlier on in the trip. We hiked onto Hughes gap which is at the foot of Roane Mountain. Had a really tough climb up little rock knob at the end of the day but took some great pictures from the rocks at the top.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Hughes Gap

To: US 19E
Miles today: 19.2

Tough climb up Roane mtn. early this morning-the last 6000' mountain until New Hampshire. Continued on down to Carvers gap and up Jane Bald which has spectacular views. I was here two years ago a couple days after halloween; came here to camp at Roane mtn. state park when I still was living in Knoxville. Roane itself doesnt have great views, its summit is covered mostly by trees, but the surrounding balds have some of the best views of the trip so far. Jane bald, little hump mountain, hump mountain all had excellent views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Hump mountain had an exceptionally good view of Grandfather mountain in North Carolina, at the foot of which hosts an annual scottish highland games during summer. Also, ate lunch next to the overmountain shelter which is a converted barn.Descended down to us hwy 19e where I made the short walk to Mountain Harbour Inn B&b and hostel. Tenting outside of the hostel tonight for a cheap rate. Hung out in the hostel and visited with fellow hikers, ate a homemade meal which Mary-the owner- offers for five bucks; the most food I have ever gotten for five bucks probably.
Date: 2010-04-14
From: US 19E

To: campsite
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

Re-supplied in the town of Roane Mountain Tennessee this morning. Got a ride into town from the owner of the hostel with some other hikers, stopped at the Dollar General which has a surprisingly good selection of hiker food; bags of tuna, chicken, tortillas etc. Got back on the trail at around 1pm, weather was real nice all day. Accidentally went off the trail and got a little turned around for about a half an hour today, no big deal. Hiked with Sonic most of the day and set up camp late right around dark. Onto Watauga lake tommorow.
Date: 2010-04-15
From: campsite

To: watauga lake shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

Saw my second bear of the trip today a few miles north of moreland gap shelter. It was about 100yds downhill from me and turned and ran once it heard me coming. I saw it only for a couple seconds but could tell it was fully grown and was very fast; when you hear they can run fast you never actually know how fast until you see them go, and they are unbelievably quick. Continued on to Laurel fork falls where I ate lunch and took some pictures; the falls were very nice, wanted to go in the water and would have if it had been a few degrees warmer.   There was an extremely tough climb after Laurel fork up Pond mountain, the trail then quickly descends down to shook branch recreation area where it follows the banks of watauga lake. I hitched into the town of hampton to pick up some food and ate four double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu at mcdonalds. Hiked uncomfortably with a full stomach onto watauga lake shelter and tented behind the shelter.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: watauga lake shelter

To: double springs shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

Had some great views back towards Watauga lake from the ridges above, hiking north. Made good progress today and am only a day away from my home state of Virginia. I've been looking forward to getting back into VA for weeks. Found out today from my Mom that my dog porter jumped off the third story deck of our beach house to run after a dog he saw on the beach. Amazingly he only sprained his foot, the sand and tall beach grass broke his fall very well, but that eliminates the prospect of me hiking with him for the next couple of weeks while he heals. Tenting outside double spring shelter, just 18.5 miles from Damascus, VA!
Date: 2010-04-17
From: double springs shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Into Virginia at last. Rained pretty much through the night lastnight, but quit early this morning and was cloudy and cool until around noon. Hike into VA was very easy, seemed like time flew by today. Got the the TN/VA border at around 4pm, was alone and gave out a huge shout of joy. Getting to Damascus is kind of like the psychological quarter of the way point. Staying at the Hikers Inn tonight. Suzanne, the owner here is doing my laundry and I'm off to Quincey's downtown to grab a burger and some beers with some other hikers. I can't tell you how great it feels to be here.
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: campsite
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

Dinner and beers at Quincey's restaurant last night was great, went back to the hostel and picked up a twelve pack and hung out until late talking with the other folks staying here. Got up late this morning and ate breakfast at cowboys restaurant connected to a gas station here in town; had biscuits and gravy and blueberry pancakes. Got to re-supply at the food city right outside of town, suzanne let me drive her car while she and another hiker-maketime- rode along. Also, highlight of the day, got to ride horses at this farm right outside of damascus. This guy Mitch, the farms owner who is thinking about buying the hikers inn, offered to let some of us hikers ride today and I was the only one who took him up on it. Haven't been on a horse in years, but felt comfortable once I got back on the saddle. Rode around for a little while and got some pictures.Didn't get back on the trail until 6:30pm today and hiked until 9pm after dark. Had to hike with my headlamp for the last half hour and set up the tarptent in the dark. Gonna be at mt. rogers tommorow, been looking forward to it for a while.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: campsite

To: campsite north of thomas knob shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

One of the best days of the trip so far, easy hiking early on, one tough climb up buzzard rock, but nothing to complain about. Great views of the surrounding mountains from the balds of whitetop mountain and parts of mount rogers. Did not make the .5 mile trip to the top of mount rogers which has nothing but trees at the top. Took some pictures near the top though, the forest service is doing a prescribed controlled burn and a lot of the grass and terrain right of the trail is charred black. I guess they do these burns frequently to control the growth on parts of the mountains up here that they want to keep bald and without vegetation. Saw the ponies of the grayson highlands for the first time today; saw a mother with its foal, very small ponies nothing like an actual horse. Tenting not far from thomas knob shelter, gonna make a fire and enjoy a large portion of chicken, rice, and bacon all wrapped in a tortilla, niice.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: campsite north of thomas knob shelter

To: tenting outside of trimpi shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: light rain

early last night right after I turned in, some fighter jets flew directly over mount rogers and it was the most badass thing I have ever heard in my life. There must have been two or three of them and they flew over a couple times one after the other. It was awesome to say the least, but it must have scared the hell out of the ponies up here; I guess they fly training missions over mount rogers frequently.The hike today was my favorite of the entire trip. I have said that a couple times and I may be a little biased being from Virginia, but hiking through Grayson highlands was handsdown the best of the AT so far. Took some great pictures and made great mileage today as well. Started raining late in the day today and its suppose to train through the night; tenting outside trimpi shelter tonight.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: tenting outside of trimpi shelter

To: atkins, va
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: light rain

Gotta do some miles to make it to bland, va by friday where sarah is picking me up. Gonna take saturday and sunday off this weekend, then doing a flip flop so I can attend one of my best friends -taylor's- bachelor party's next friday in Atlantic city. Getting off in bland this friday then going to get back on the trail monday at the southern end of shenandoah natl. park where ill hike until next friday and hopefully get off at front royal; still need to work out some details but I thought up this plan all day today. Hiked through a cattle farm today and enjoyed the gentle terrain. Got to atkins at 6 and am staying at the rundown relax inn; still nice to have a bed and do laundry though.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: atkins, va

To: tenting outside chestnut knob shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Gentle terrain through Virginia farmland today. Between this shelter and the last, there was a fire that had to have been close to a mile or two away from the trail, don't know if it was a wildfire or a prescribed burn like the ones in grayson highlands. Hiked with a bandana over my face for about a mile. Got to the shelter late and am tenting out front. Took a nice picture on the way up chesnut ridge of the fire below at sunset.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: tenting outside chestnut knob shelter

To: ended at us52/21 bland, va
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

got to bland and waited for sarah at the big walker motel until 10pm. Drove back to James Madison University and her apartment where i'll be for the rest of the weekend. Getting back on the trail monday at the southern end up shenandoah natl. park, gonna do a flip flop like I explained before.Very happy to be here in harrisonburg with sarah, real nice to see her finally, got back here late 1am, thanks sars, love you.
Date: 2010-04-26
From: rockfish gap, waynesboro, va

To: blackrock hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had an awesome weekend with sarah in harrisonburg, saw a movie saturday night -oceans- and got some much needed relaxation time. Finally got a new pair of shoes this morning, got a pair of brooks cascadias from the Sole Source in Harrisonburg; owner is a previous thru-hiker and was very helpful, he offered to mail me a new pair on the trail once these get worn out.Got on the trail late around 1pm and walked for seven hours straight until right after 8pm, fastest i've done 20 miles for the trip. Also, around 7 I saw a bear with two very young cubs that were walking on the trail 50yds ahead of me, once she heard me they quickly ran off, it was very cool.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: blackrock hut

To: hightop hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Saw two more bears today, another mother with a yearling cub. They didn't seem too afraid of me and didn't bother running off like all the others have. The terrain here in Shenandoah national park is the easiest of the trip so far, good thing because I have to make an average of atleast 20 miles a day to make it to front royal, va by friday so I can be at my friends bachelor party. Last nights shelter stay was awful, I woke up at 1:30am and heard something in the shelter, I shined a light towards it and it was the biggest rat i've ever seen, reminds me why I rarley stay in them. The thought of the rat kept me up so I decided to pitch my tarptent at 1:30 in the morning, slept ok once I got in the tent, wouldn't have been able to get back to sleep had I stayed in the shelter.
Date: 2010-04-28
From: hightop hut

To: spitler knoll parking area off skyline drive
Miles today: 23.3

Since harrisonburg is less than an hour away, Sarah picked me up off of skyline drive and took me back to jmu with her for the night, so nice to be here again. The AT in shenandoah natl. park -SNP- pretty much runs parallel to skyline drive, it crosses skyline drive a countless number of times as well. All said, it only took her an hour to get here but would have taken much less time if it weren't for the 35mph speed limit on skyline. Nice hike today, weather was bitterly cold alst night and this morning though, it must have been in the mid twenties. Despite my run in with the rat a couple nights ago, I sheltered at hightop hut last night. As far as I know, I seem to be the only northbound thru-hiker in the park right now. Have seen several section hikers though, met some folks yesterday hiking south until may 15th from hattiesburg mississippi, it still amazes me how far some people travel just to hike the AT. Just had chipotle and am ready for bed, sarah's taking me back to where she picked me up early tommorow morning, shes got class at 9:30AM.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: spitler knoll parking area off skyline drive

To: range view cabin
Miles today: 24.1

Sarah dropped me off at 8:30 this morning and I made some good miles. My new shoes are great-brooks cascadias-and my body feels very well. It has been nice these past couple weeks not waking up in pain, must have gotten my trail legs as they call them out here. Saw another bear today, this time very close, maybe 20-25ft off the trail, standing on all fours on a log. This bear didn't budge once it saw me, I actually made eye contact with it but at no point did I feel threatened. It was pretty intense for a second or two when I first came upon it, then it just kind of stared at me with a familiar look that said "i've seen hundreds of you before", very cool to see one so close, but I would have preferred if it would have jogged off rather than just staring at me as I walked by.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: range view cabin

To: front royal, va then home to fairfax
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Tented outside of this old cabin thats right of the trail last night. Woke up early this morning to two deer right outside my tent maybe 20 ft away; wildlife here is not hunted in the park and see humans all the time, I guess thats why the deer and even the bears here seem so tame. Saw two more bears today on the hike out of the park and down to hwy. 522 and front royal. Got to the road at around 3pm and it took about ten minutes to get a hitch into front royal. My friends fiance christina, is coming to pick me up since my folks are out of town, as well as my sister, brother in law and most of my friends who are at the bachelor party in atlantic city. Front Royal is an hour outside my hometown of fairfax, va so christina was nice enough to take time out of her day to come get me, can't thank her enough. Very excited to get home to see my dog Porter for the first time since I started my hike. Driving to atlantic city, nj tommorow night, then my sister is driving me back to the trail in front royal on monday.
Date: 2010-05-03
From: us52/21 bland, va

To: helvey's mill shelter
Miles today: 2.3
Weather: light rain

Slight change in plan today. Once my sister came to pick me up at 9am to take me back to front royal, va where i got off friday, she told me my parents were due to arrive at dulles just a couple hours later at 11am. So i decided to wait since i had not seen them for weeks. Well they were surprised to see me as they got home, and my mom offered to take me back to bland where i got off two fridays ago to see sarah. This worked out better for the both of us, because they had planned on picking me up somewhere in pennsylvania this weekend, then taking me back down to bland to finish up between there and rockfish gap (waynesboro, va). So my mom and I drove from fairfax and arrived where i had left off here around 6:15pm. I only got a couple miles in and luckily there was a shelter just 2.3 miles north.It was nice to see my friends at the bachelor party this weekend, and my sister, niece and parents today; i also got to hang with my dog porter who i wish i could take with me but is still out of commision due to his recent injury. Gonna try and make it to rockfish gap by tuesday the 18th, need to average 18mi. a day.
Date: 2010-05-04
From: helvey's mill shelter

To: wapiti shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

Made really good mileage today. The trail for the first 10 or so miles north of helvey's mill shelter was very easy. About mid-day at va606, there was a grocery store just .4mi west of the trail which was rumored to have great food and places to camp for those who wanted. I decided to check it out and ended up staying for two hours. Ate a chicken sandwich with fries and a salad, and two pints of chocolate milk. A full stomach and hiking, especially when the temperature is in the 80's is not a good mixture, so i found some shade and a nice grassy area behind the store and napped for an hour. got back on the trail around 4 and made it to wapiti shelter by dark. took another detour today and saw the dismal falls, very nice, and worth the .3 walk off the trail. it's good to be in virginia.
Date: 2010-05-05
From: wapiti shelter

To: pearisburg, va
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

hiked into pearisburg, va today. staying at the plaza motel, ate at la barranca mexican restaurant in celebration of cinco de mayo; had my fill of pollo con crema y tres o quattro dos equis tambien. had one moderately tough climb up sugar run mountain this morning, but nothing to complain about, found my first tick imbedded on my lower abdomen this afternoon though, looks like it had been there for just a couple hours so nothing to worry about-life is good.