morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Black Bear Hostel, Hampton TN
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 13th: Made the 6 mile hike to Black Bear Resort in Hampton, TN. Talk about one stop shopping. They carry everything for re-supply including microwaveable food items, including Philly Cheese Steaks (surprisingly good) and a decent selection of cold beer. Rented a small cabin for the night which located on a river with decent sized rapids. The cabin is immaculate and I look forward to a deep sleep before hitting the trail early tomorrow. Trying to calorie up to day to build up my fat reserves. Since hitting the trail on March 4th I have lost 33 lbs. Initially I thought I was carrying too much food because I always had some left over when I would go to re-supply but talking to some of the more experienced hikers I now realize that I haven't been eating enough. The math is simple. On an average day, a thru-hiker will burn in the neighborhood of 6000 calories but due to limitations on the pack weight it is difficult to carry more than 2000 per day. The secret, I am told, is to pig out on the fattiest nastiest food you can find whenever you hit a trail town and eat as much as you can. Fat is the high octane fuel your body needs when burning mega calories so even though it is contrary to healthy eating, I plan on binge eating for the rest of the day. Oh the sacrifices I must endure for a healthier hiker lifestyle.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Black Bear Hostel, Hampton TN

To: Bog......
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: overcast clouds

April 14th: Hiked from Dennis Cove Rd to a bog for a total of 21.3 miles. 437.8 total, 1748.1 to go. Had a relaxing stay at the Black Bear Resort. After 4 1/2 days on the trail it was good rest and clean up but I was the only hiker staying at the hostel which in a way made me even more antsy to hit the trail. And the trail did not disappoint. I am quickly running out of superlatives so let me just say WOW! Today's hike just blew me away. First 3 miles followed a raging river that was just awesome. There were wild rock formations and at one point the trail was actually cut into the rock. Only about 3 feet wide, rock face on the right, raging river on the left. Sounds more dangerous than it was but it was really cool. The highlight was Laurel Falls which were spectacular. I stood mesmerized at the bottom of the falls when a day hiker showed up and we struck up a conversation. He did the AT in 2000 and he got me pumped with his stories of lasting friendships from his time on the trail. His trail name is Crocodile Dundee and like me, he got his name from the hat he was wearing. Today he is 75 and still does a portion of the trail each year with 3 of the friends he made back in 2000....impressive. The rest of the hike consisted of crossing over an earthen dam, and following a man made lake which seemed to go on forever. The water was so high in places that 3 times I had to take off my boots and wade through knee deep water. Also came across a big black snake sunning himself in the middle of the trail. Someone had to give....yeah, it was me. Finished the hike with a ridge trail that had great views and a cooling wind. Covered some serious ground (for me) today and my right shin is really sore. May have to let up on the gas tomorrow.
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Abington Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0

April 16th: Sounds get amplified out here at night but last night as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a loud sound in the distance like barking dogs. As the sound got louder I could tell that it was coming my way at a pretty good clip and that it wasn't barking dogs. Now I'm no naturalist but it sounded like a large animal in distress or the sound you hear on nature shows of elk during mating season defending turf. Anyway, I'm laying in my tent thinking whatever it is I hope it sees me. I didn't hear any branches snapping which made me think whatever it is must be running down a path. As the animal got closer the sound it was making got really loud. I couldn't tell how close it came to my tent as it passed by but just as quickly as it came up, it disappeared into the night and within a few minutes, the sound it was making faded away. If there are any hunters or woodsmen out there who could clue me in, I would love to know what it was.April 16th: Made the short 10 mile hike to Damascus, VA, the quintessential hiker town. Often considered the quarter mark for the AT, (though only 21% of the miles) Damascus is yet another super friendly hiker town and has become famous for it's annual Trail Days when each May, the town of just over 1000 swells to over 40,000 when past and present hikers converge on the town for 3 days of revelry and fun. This year's event will take place on May 17-19. I will be long gone by then but get this. I met a guy at the Laughing Heart Hostel in Hot Springs who will be driving down from PA to attend this years event. He gave me his number and told me if I want to go to give him a call and he will swing by and pick me up on the trail and deliver me back after the event. Pretty sure I will take a pass but that is pretty much how things work in the hiker community. Got into town around 11:00 and got my laundry and shopping done early so I could kick back and relax. Won't tell you what I had for lunch but suffice to say it was in excess of 2500 calories and 100% unhealthy. Definitely staying all day tomorrow. My leg is really bothering me today and I need the time to recover. 466.6 miles completed, 1719.3 to go. Oh almost forgot. Hit another milestone today when I hit the VA boarder. I have hiked virtually alone for the past 3 days but as serendipity would have it, Timber, Little Engine and Ambassador, 3 of my hiking buddies, caught up to me just as I was crossing the line and snapped a pic of me at the boarder sign. Nothing to get too excited about reaching VA, however, there are more miles on the VA AT than the total miles it took to get here from Springer Mt in GA. In other words, I'll be here a while.
Date: 2013-04-17
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

April 17th: Zero Day Pretty much rained all day here in Damascus. Normally a rainy day is a total downer but better to be wet in a trail town than on the trail. The fact that I was planning to take a zero day is just icing on the cake. I don't mind hiking in the rain but camping in the rain sucks and even though the accommodations at Dave's place are a little rough it is dry and dry is good. This morning I went to Cowboys, a combination Exxon station, convenience store restaurant, for breakfast. The food was really good and the blue berry pancakes were awesome. The owner Ken a.k.a. Cowboy sat with me for 2 hours telling all about the history of the town, Trail Days and all about his business which he started 26 years ago against the advice of everyone. It is pretty obvious that his mini empire is thriving and he pretty much has the market cornered for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who make their way through the town each year which includes Route 76, a huge multi state bike path located on the outskirts of town. Leg is feeling much better so I plan on moving on tomorrow morning. Looking to make Pearisburg, nearly 170 miles north by the 27th when I will meet up with jan for another weekend getaway. =:{>
Date: 2013-04-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: broken clouds

April 18th: Hiked 16.1 miles from Damascus to Lost Mt Shelter. Total miles hiked: 482.7, 1703.2 to go. Left Damascus early this morning. On my way out of town, I stopped at Mojoe's, an "upscale" coffee house on the outskirts of town. No lie, the coffee and food, not to mention the comfortable leather easy chairs, did make me a little sentimental for the creature comforts that I left behind but at the same time, the trail has a way of pulling me back in so off I went. Was actually a nice day for hiking. Despite the several climbs which are typical when you leave a trail town, the grades were gentle and the hiking relatively easy. Followed a mountain stream for the fist several miles before hitting higher elevations. My right leg, though better, was still a little sore so I took it easy taking several short breaks. Generally I don't sleep in the shelters but rain and thunder storms are forecast for tonight and tomorrow so Lost Mt Shelter it is.
Date: 2013-04-19
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

April 19th: Hiked 12.2 miles from Lost Mt Shelter to Thomas Knob Shelter. The foul weather held off last night which means I could have foregone the shelter and slept in my tent but if I had tented it would have poured so let's just say I took one for the team. Whenever rain is in the forest, people flock to the shelters and last night was no exception. There were 13 hikers at a shelter that sleeps 8. On the plus side, after spending the last 3 trail days mostly hiking alone I was able to hook up with a lot of friends I have made along the way. On the negative side, I never sleep well in shelters and last night was no exception. The rain held off until this morning but by early afternoon it was really coming down and by 2:00 it was an absolute downpour. Besides the rain, the winds picked up as the day wore on and at one point on a treeless bald, I had to put my shoulder down and literally push myself forward. When I finally made it to the first shelter 12 miles in, I decided to play it safe and hold up for the night. Another short mile day but the weather continues to be the deciding factor.
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Spring Past Dickey Gap
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

April 20th: Hiked 22.7 miles from Thomas Knob Shelter to the spring past Dickey Gap. Total miles hiked: 517.6, 1668.3 to go. Because of the weather, for the 2nd time in as many nights, the shelter was loaded beyond capacity. The Thomas Knob Shelter, located just below the summit of Rogers Mt, the highest point in VA, is one of the nicer ones I have stayed at and has a second floor loft which is accessed by a ladder through a cutout in the ceiling. The 2nd floor, where I slept, has the advantage of being enclosed on 4 sides which is a big plus on a cold windy night but it was still very cold and very drafty. For the 1st time since the Smokies, I had to sleep with my wool hat and when the wind gusts hit the pitched metal roof which was only a couple of feet above my head, it would make a loud booming noise which sounded like it was being ripped off the structure. At 7p.m. the temp in the loft was 44degrees. At 7:00 this morning the temp in the loft was a frigid 14 degrees which probably explains why my boots and water were frozen solid. We all had a good laugh when in the early morning hours as everyone was laying in their sleeping bags not wanting to move, dreading the cold and watching their breath floating skyward, Lady Grey broke the silence by exclaiming aloud "Yup, living the dream"! April 20th go figure. Aside from the cold temps and howling winds, I still hit the trail early and what a hike. I keep thinking the views can't get any better but the trail from the north side of Mt Rogers through Grayson Highlands was my favorite so far. The landscape combined with 360 mountain views was beyond description and the pics I took don't even begin to revel the true beauty of the place. The main attraction that Grayson Highlands is famous for is its wild ponies. I have heard stories that they roam the trails and have no fear of people and sometimes several will approach a hiker at the same time. Perhaps it was the cold but I only saw 2 ponies the entire 3 mile stretch but it was still pretty cool. By 10:00 the winds died down and the temps warmed up nicely at the lower elevations. Still I hiked in my winter jacket the entire day. Tomorrow I have a short 13 mile hike to the Mt Rogers Visitors Center where I will hitch a ride into Marion to resupply for my 100 mile 5-6 day hike to Pearisburg, VA.
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Spring Past Dickey Gap

To: Marion VA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

April 21st: Hiked 13 miles to the Mt Rogers Visiter Center. Beautiful day for hiking, on the cool side with lots of sunshine. Early on I came across a deer off to the side of the trail. I see a lot of deer out here but usually their backside as they are running away. This deer just stood there like he wanted to be friends. Hopefully he will develop a healthy fear of humans before next hunting season. Shortly after I came across some trail magic from the Valley View Baptist Church Youth Group. They had a help yourself cooler with cold drinks and another box with snack food. I helped myself to the perfect junk food combination of root beer and salt and vinegar potato chips. Usually junk food in the morning is a no go for me but on the trail real world rules don't always apply. Junk food out here is pretty much accepted 24/7. Reached the Mt Rogers Visiter Center around 1:00, hitched a ride into the town of Marion, VA and booked myself a room at the Travelers Inn. Got picked up by a real nice guy named Rusty Miller. On his way home from an EMT seminar, Rusty, who was still looking at a 6 hour drive to his home in WV drove in circles trying to find the motel. I kept telling him to just drop me off on the main road but he wouldn't hear of it and 15 minutes after hitting the town we found the Inn. During the ride, Rusty told me thru-hiking the AT is one of his dreams and he wanted to know all about my adventure. Before getting out of the car we exchanged contact information and the next morning I received an email from Rusty apologizing for not bringing me out for lunch. Only on the AT!Once I checked in, I hand washed my clothes, took a hot shower and ran my errands early which included: Micky D's, Walmart, Subway and Ingles Supermarket. For dinner I met Mud Mouth, Yard Sale, Long Haul and Lady Grey at a local Mexican restaurant for laughs and calories. Looking for a good night sleep before hitting the trail tomorrow afternoon for an easy 10-15 mile hike
Date: 2013-04-22
From: Marion VA

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

April 22nd: Hiked 7 miles from the Mt Rogers Visitor Center to Chatfield Shelter. Today was a short day with no heavy lifting. Caught a shuttle from Marion to the trailhead at 11:00 and didn't really get started until noon. Really not much to say. It was a lazy day in which I hiked slow and took a lot of breaks. Will need to pick up the pace to make the Woods Hole Hostel on Saturday where I will be meeting Jan for 2 and a half days of total relaxation and fun. The Woods Hole Hostel is a can't miss resort on the AT described as "a slice of heaven" with organic farming, bee keeping, free yoga classes and message therapy. Jan was able to book one of the two inside rooms for 3 nights. Already counting down the hours. Can't wait!
Date: 2013-04-23
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Knot Maul
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

April 23rd: Hiked 18.4 miles from Chatfield Shelter to Knot Maul. Total miles hiked : 556.1, 1629.8 to go. Today was a picture perfect day for hiking. Bright sunshine, blue skies and temps in the low 60's. Really enjoyed the trail today as well. Spent a good part of the morning and late afternoon hiking through farmland and wide open fields, always a favorite of mine. Around 10:00, I hit the small trail town of Atkins. I was looking forward to a stop at The Barn, a restaurant famous for its one pound hiker burger. Unfortunately for me they only had their breakfast menu going so I had to settle for the hiker breakfast which basically had everything. Towards the end of the day I came across some trail magic, compliments of Lumbermack an older gentleman who completed the hike back in 2006. It took him 21 months to finish due to a couple of injuries that took him off the trail but he persevered and attained his goal. Originally from NC Lumbermack bought a small farm here in Southern VA to be closer to the trail. He told me the trail has a way of calling you back. Real nice guy, He told me he likes to minister to the hikers and offer fellowship and support. Rain and thunder storms on the docket for tomorrow. Hopefully it will hold off until I'm packed up and on my way.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: Knot Maul

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

April 24th: Hiked 19.1 miles from Knot Maul to Jenkins Shelter. Today was a good day. Sunny and bright with pleasant temps early on. Hiked a good part of the day with Flip, a new hiker buddy who has been pulling 30 mile days. Chances are he will be moving out of my sphere shortly. Afternoon turned cloudy, followed by light rain and thunder. The highlight of my day was a close encounter with a rabid raccoon. Came across him towards the end of the day. He was in the middle of the trail making a high pitched squeal and not giving an inch. I backed away slowly giving it a wide berth before taking a wide detour around the trail. When I got to the shelter the raccoon was the main topic of conversation. Turns out he had attacked Balderdash, a section hiker just an hour earlier. Balderdash was getting water when he looked up and saw the raccoon coming at him down an embankment. before he knew it the raccoon was airborne and heading right for him. Fortunately he was able to deflect it with his trekker pole before picking up a stick and hitting it over the head. A couple of hours later, Oz and Jacob showed up with a similar tale of woe. They too has to fight off the raccoon after being attacked right on the trail. Much later on in the night at around 10:30, Who's Asking made it to the Shelter. Out of water, he was forced to hike into the night. He told us at about 10:00 his headlamp picked up a raccoon standing in the middle of the trail. Thinking Kodak moment he reached into his jacket for his camera. With almost no time to react, the rabid raccoon rushed him. Like Balderdash and the others he had to defend himself with his poles before the raccoon finally retreated into the woods. He then had to spend the next 20 minutes searching for his pole tip that had flown off during the attack. So much for rattle snakes and black bears. Tomorrow I will be hitting Fresh Ground who is 5 miles up the trail doing his trail magic. Should be a good day. Just 45 miles to Woods Hole Hostel =:0
Date: 2013-04-25
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: clear sky

April 25th; Hiked 23.8 miles from Jenkins Shelter to Jenny Knob Shelter. 599 miles hiked, 1586.9 to go. Today was a really good day. Cool morning but sunny and bright. Hit Fresh Ground by 9:30. Now called The Fresh Ground Leapfrog Cafe, this traveling trail magic cafe now sports a gas grill (in addition to a camp stove) real plates and silverware and wash buckets and strainers to clean and dry the dishes. When I showed up with Flip, Goat and Tommy Hawk, Fresh Ground already had barbecue chicken on the grill and bacon on the griddle. Stayed there talking, eating and laughing for about an hour. In that time I had 2 pieces of chicken, a hot dog, scrambled eggs, bacon, potato wedges, 2 banana pancakes, fresh fruit, 2 cups of coffee, 2 cups of fruit punch and several bite size candy bars. Aside from the awesome food, being around Fresh Ground always makes for an enjoyable day. Just a great guy with a really big heart. The trail today was really nice with gentle grades which made for easy hiking. At one point I found myself hiking parallel to I-77, a major highway in VA. Rather than feeling squeezed, it struck me as pretty awesome how the AT coexists in perfect harmony with the busy world that surrounds it. Here we are in the woods feeling totally detached from the hustle and bustle and just outside a relatively narrow parameter is the infrastructure that gives tens of millions unfettered access to the tranquility and beauty that lies within. The AT is a special place indeed. Just 2 more days and a little over 21 miles before I get to spend a long weekend at Woods Hole Hostel with Jan. Can't wait.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

April 26th: Hiked 14.2 miles from Jenny Knob Shelter to Wapiti Shelter. 613.2 miles hiked. 1572.7 to go. Today I was low on both energy and motivation. Maybe it was the 40+ miles I did over the past 2 days or maybe it was I knew today would be a low mileage day but I just couldn't get it going. Finally, around 2:00 I came across a running mountain stream a short distance off the trail. It had a small white sandy beach and was bathed in sunlight so I threw down my pack and kicked off my boots.....total attitude adjustment. I stayed about an hour taking it all in. Warm sun on my back, cool water running over my sore feet. Was tempted to pitch my tent but I have places to go and people to see. Hiked on to Wapiti Shelter where I met up with TommyHawk and Goat. Just 7 short miles to Woods Hole Hostel where I will be spending a weekend with Jan for the second time since hitting the trail. This adventure just keeps getting better.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.0

April 27th-28th: Hiked the 7 short miles into Woods Hole Hostel to begin 3 days of rest and relaxation with Jan. this place is absolutely beautiful. A self sustained farm with chickens, goats, pigs and a full assortment of barnyard critters. Run by Neville and her husband Michael, Woods Hole has this wonderful vibe that transforms you to days gone by when life was less complicated and time moved slowly. Woods Hole offers mult services geared towards hikers including gourmet meals, yoga and messages. I arrived a few hours before Jan and treated myself to the 90 minute full body message. Neville, a true renaissance woman, is also a certified message therapist. Never had a message in my life-90 minutes of pure bliss. Laid down the Tin Man and emerged a short hour and half later the Scare Crow. Jan arrived around 4:00, the highlight of my day and around 5:00 we drove into Eggleston for a really nice meal at the Palisades Restaurant. The food was outstanding including a corn and oyster chowder and a couple of local IPAs. Fresh Ground, who was also staying at Woods Hole joined us as an added bonus. I was thrilled Jan had a chance to meet him and delighted to be able to return the favor (in some small measure) for all the times he has fed me on the trail. We got back to Woods Hole around 7:00 and Jan had the opportunity to meet a lot of my hiker friends who were arriving at days end. The next morning, Jan performed some of her own trail magic by shuttling 5 of the hikers into Walmart for resupply and when she returned treated herself with an hour long message session. In the afternoon we took a short hike through the pasture past the cows, goats and pigs and up a steep hill behind the property. On the way back we got a good laugh when a baby goat climbed under an enclosure and began following us down the dirt road. Returned him three times, each time bringing him further out into the pasture but sure enough he would crawl under the enclosure and chase us bleating down the road. Finally just tucked the little guy under my arm and carried him back to the house where he hung out in the yard with the chickens begging for food and working the crowd.. Overall, a lazy afternoon. Rain in the forecast which aways means a full house at the local hostels and motels. Had a really good dinner at Woods Hole with 18 fellow hikers. Green salad from the garden, stir fry with peanut sauce and homemade bread topped off with blueberry ice cream for desert. Another really good day off the trail.