morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-10-02
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

I was so out of it all day. I got an early start, but just kept taking breaks and couldn't get happy. These rocks are getting to me so bad. I'm just going to take it easy. I don't have the mental effort to hike on these rocks and do big miles. There are four other thru-hikers, a LASHer, and two locals out for a few days at this shelter. I think this is the most fellow backpackers I've seen in one place for a while. There is a fire. These are good, restorative things.
Date: 2017-10-03
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Peter Mt Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

The first seven or eight miles today were easy. The trail went through an area that had people living there 100 years ago- no structures left, but I could still see occasional foundations, and the trail was evenly graded if still very rocky.Everybody wound up at this shelter together. Mumbles, Big Boss, Housekeeping, and Jupiter were talking about doing another six or seven miles, but this shelter is really nice. It's a good thing to have people to hang out with.Most places I have been through on this hike, I could see myself coming back to. I see no reason why I would ever come back to this part of Pennsylvania. Maybe a day hike near Palmerton. The rest is just not fun. I'm looking forward to the better trail that I know is ahead.
Date: 2017-10-04
From: Peter Mt Shelter

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Itwas nice to take a shorter day today. I saw signs warning of penalties for graffiti on rocks. Pennsylvania is the first state where such signs have been necessary. The signs do not appear to be having a significant deterrent effect.This is a state of graffiti, broken glass, stink bugs, rocks, and rude day hikers. There may also be the lovely hemlocks around Rausch Gap, nice locals, and some cool snakes, but I won't miss Pennsylvania.I'm splitting a room at the Doyle tonight with Mama Duck. I have just now, after 8 PM, learned that the light in our room doesn't turn on. Overall, this place is not as bad as NOBOs made it out to be. It's clear that it was a beautiful, fancy place 100 years ago. Original woodwork, loads of architectural details. A lot of the town is like that- past faded glory into full-on decrepitude. It's sad.
Date: 2017-10-05
From: The Doyle

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept in today, mailed home some maps, and had breakfast at the restaurant across from the Doyle. Their pancakes were massive, and it was way more good than I could finish. I was tempted to stay in town and hang out with some of my fellow thru-hikers who were taking the day off, but I'm trying to take fewer zero days and they'll catch up sometime later anyway. It's just me and Mama Duck at the shelter tonight.I had to go up two hills today. That's the first time in a while. The rocks really have started to get better, though, and the trail went through some fields with hay bales.The biggest news today: water is falling from the sky. It got very dark after I got to the shelter, and then water started literally falling from the sky. This is strange. This hasn't happened in a month or so. There is even occasional thunder! Rain is much needed and kind of a welcome change.
Date: 2017-10-06
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was flat and easy. I spent a while in town and still got to the shelter a little after 5. It felt good.The outfitters in Boiling Springs unfortunately didn't have the insoles I need, so I'll just deal with blisters on my right heel for a while more...
Date: 2017-10-07
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Ironmasters Mansion hostel
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The rocks came back with a vengeance today. I guess they're better than before, and I only tripped once or twice a mile. There are still plenty of little sharp rocks that hide under fallen leaves to stab my feet, though.Early on today, the trail went through a cool boulder field. I actually really like navigating over and around boulders. There were some stretches with lovely pine trees, too, plus a cool deli not far off the trail which had good fries. Overall, it was a really nice day, my feet just hurt so bad by the end of it that I couldn't properly appreciate how pretty Pine Grove Furnace State Park was.I put my old insole (which I'd been carrying in case the superfeet didn't work out) back in my right boot because I am sick of the superfeet one giving me heel blisters. I didn't feel too unbalanced with a different insole in each boot- I still need the superfeet one in my left for arch support, a little is better than nothing. I think new insoles and new boots would make my feet feel better, I just need to figure out where I should get them sent to.
Date: 2017-10-08
From: Ironmasters Mansion hostel

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail was easy and varied today. It was a great day. The rain held off until I got to the shelter, so it was just grey and windy.An area near the halfway point had been part of a prescribed burn recently, and it was still smoldering. It was cool to walk through the smoke. Then the trail went through a thick grove of pine and spruce. Such a lovely day after the monotony of northern PA.As of right now I'm the only thru hiker at this shelter, but more might come in later. There are a bunch of section hikers here, though, and they're nice people.I've been trying to figure out how much food I need to get to Harper's Ferry, and I have no idea. Hiker brain is setting in, bad- I don't have the attention span to figure it out. It'll work out, though. There are lots of towns, and I still might near-0 tomorrow.
Date: 2017-10-09
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Trail of Hope Hostel
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: moderate rain

Today was incredibly relaxing, I woke up in a downpour, had breakfast at a leisurely pace, and walked in the rain to the road. I showered, did laundry, got groceries, and hung out with Lily and Jupiter. It was a great day off.
Date: 2017-10-10
From: Trail of Hope Hostel

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

I had heard great things about the restaurant near the hostel. I headed there for breakfast only to find out that it is apparently closed on Tuesdays. I proceeded to the trail and had ramen for breakfast rather than the eggs, home fries, and milkshake feast I had been imagining.Then I found out that my headphones broke. Then my shoulder started hurting whenever I used my left trekking pole. Then I had to go off trail and dig catholes twice in two miles because sometimes my body hates me when I have my period. Then I got a bad headache.There is nowhere I would rather be and nothing I would rather be doing. My shoes are still soggy and flies buzzed around my ears all day.I love this.That was enough mishaps to stop early today, and I'm glad I did. I'm the only southbounder at this shelter, but there are two recently-sumitted northbounders here while they fill in a gap they had skipped earlier. Some locals stopped by with soda and cider. I found out Keen approved a warranty replacement for my boots. This has turned into a lovely day.
Date: 2017-10-11
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained pretty much all day long today. It's the first time in a long time I've had to hike and camp in the rain. Tomorrow will likely be similar.I crossed into Maryland today, and I was looking forward to being out of Pennsylvania. One of the first things the trail did was climb up a rockfield to an area where all the large rocks were covered in graffiti. Maryland is apparently the same as Pennsylvania.
Date: 2017-10-13
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: HI Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I hiked fast today, and got to the ATC Headquarters in time to catch a bus to Walmart to resupply. While there, I discovered that Subway now has a veggie patty. I got a 6 inch sub to see if I liked it, ate it, then ordered a footlong. After eating the footlong I still had an appetite. I think hiker hunger has set in.I got the bus back to the ATC Headquarters in time for the super nice woman who was volunteering there to give me a ride out to this hostel. It's kind of out of the way and inconvenient, but Greg had ordered my new insoles to here. I can only imagine how much more comfortable hiking will be tomorrow.
Date: 2017-10-14
From: HI Harper's Ferry

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: few clouds

I stayed up late watching The Office last night and slept in this morning. I was lucky enough to get a ride back to the ATC Headquarters around 10, which made my day way easier than if I'd had to hitch or walk. I got my picture officially taken and put in the binder, mailed home some maps, and hung around the ATC for a while eating my second breakfast and answering questions about thru-hiking.Around noon, I finally headed out of town and learned the gravity of the mistake I made yesterday: I resupplied before eating, and therefore bought a ton of food. I could feel on the way up the hill to Loudon Heights that my pack was the heaviest it has been in a long time. Oof.I made it up, though, met some cool local day hikers, and made good enough time that my mileage today is really good for just a half day. There were some really rocky bits of trail, and I wondered for a while if maybe the trail has always been ankle-twistingly, foot-stabbingly rocky and this IS what it's like when the rocks get better, but then the trail actually did get better in places, and I'm again optimistic about easier footpath in the future.I'm staying tonight in the little hiker cabin at the Blackburn AT Center. There are approximately 10,000 people at the Center and the nearby campsite. There are kids playing badminton in the dark with a light up shuttlecock. I have this little cabin to myself, though, and it is quite nice. If I weren't already happy, warm, and dry I could even get a fire going in the wood stove with the supply of dry firewood in here. Absolutely luxurious (even with shouting children outside.)
Date: 2017-10-15
From: Blackburn AT Center

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

I wasn't planning on a short day today, but this place is nice and I just wasn't really feeling it. I coordinated mail with my parents, and my new boots won't be in Luray until Friday, anyway, so it's okay for me to slow down a little. I really need those new boots.There were a ton of day hikers today, and most were either outwardly rude or just the passive rude that pretends they didn't hear when I said "hi" or "good morning". I fell really badly at one point (foot slipped- my treads are basically nonexistent) and shouted "Ow!" And six or seven day hikers looked at me and just kept walking, one of them around me, as I struggled to get back up and assess my scrapes. I know I smell, but I feel like it'd be normal in that situation to at least sympathetically say, "ouch" or "ooh, that must have hurt" rather than look like I'd ruined their day by falling down. I didn't even swear when I fell! Just "Ow!"I've been seeing lots of deer lately, and a stick bug crawled up my leg while I was taking a break today. That was pretty cool.
Date: 2017-10-16
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Whiskey Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

I saw a bear today. I had taken off my pack, set it against a rock, and walked a little ways off trail to pee. As I am squatting, I see two little round ears stick up over a log past my pack... and then the whole bear comes into view. It's really small- maybe not full grown? And it has clearly noticed my pack. I am squatting, with my pants around my ankles, as far away from my pack as the bear is. Thankfully the bear ran off once I stood up and yelled "Oy!" In the scariest voice I could manage. If that bear had been more acclimated to humans and therefore not scared of a shouting pantsless human, I could have lost my pack. The bear wasn't big enough to carry the whole thing off, but what if he was still a cub and mom was nearby? I decided to have snack elsewhere, just in case.Today had the most elevation change in a really long time, and I'm really proud of how I pushed through and did as many miles as I did anyway. I even got to the shelter before dark! There are two shelters here- the old Dick's Dome Shelter, where a now-SOBO flip flop with an awesome dog is staying, and the brand new Whiskey Hollow Shelter, where I'm staying. It's a beautiful building.
Date: 2017-10-17
From: Whiskey Hollow Shelter

To: Mountain Home Cabbin
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was just not my day. I overslept and didn't get to the trail until 9:30. My feet hurt. The day I get my new boots can't come soon enough.I made it here, though, and ate a bunch of junk food. I'm clean and warm.I've been stressing about the coming cold weather and making sure I finish in a reasonable time. Worrying about it doesn't help, though. I just have to do it.
Date: 2017-10-18
From: Mountain Home Cabbin

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

I'm in mountains again! Looking to the side through the trees I can see sky and mountains and valleys. There were a bunch of views by the time I got over the last mountain of the day.I am also definitely in Shenandoah. Jupiter pointed out a buck a short way from the shelter, then I spotted a bear cub maybe 30 feet down the hill. It took four people yelling and throwing rocks to drive it off, and we never saw the mom. The buck was barely scared and later came within about 20 feet of the shelter and drank from the spring. It was a very handsome young deer.This is a great place, and I get new boots tomorrow!
Date: 2017-10-19
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Open Arms Hostel
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

I'm taking a zero tomorrow. I've been planning on it. I like this planning zeroes thing so I can look forward to them rather than just letting it happen.Shenandoah continues to be beautiful, and I discovered the magic of waysides today. French fries a tenth of a mile off the trail? Yes please. It's like New York again, except more tourists.I might try for a 20 mile day soon.I saw three bears today.My new boots are visibly taller than my old ones because my old treads/soles are so worn down. Walking will feel so much better soon.
Date: 2017-10-20
From: Open Arms Hostel

To: Open Arms Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I slept in today, made some phone calls, washed my cookpot and water bottles, got more aqua mira, got a new headlamp brighter and better than my old one, and most importantly washed my sleeping bag at the laundromat. The down was really clumpy and not lofting well, and after spending a looooong time drying it on low, breaking up clumps, then drying it a while longer, it seems much better. I'm hoping it will be warmer now. I was really cold at Whiskey Hollow the other night, and it was only 40 degrees.My pack is going to feel so heavy tomorrow- I still have a bunch of food from resupplying while hungry at Harper's Ferry, plus there was food in the box with my boots, plus I picked up a few other things to eat. Add that to a full fuel bottle and new aqua mira, and I know already that the first uphill tomorrow is going to hurt. I might even have to eat two dinners tomorrow night to lighten the load. Woe is me.
Date: 2017-10-21
From: Open Arms Hostel

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

I've finally put the pieces together and figured out that I always hike poorly after a day off. That's okay, though. I needed it.I just took a ton of breaks today. I got frustrated that I had to stop so often at first to get my new boots tightened on the way I wanted them.There were so, so, so many people today. Even more than in the Whites. It was really getting to me- so many people, lots of them taking up the whole trail or otherwise inconsiderate. I counted 40 people in half a mile, and that was during a slow patch.It worked out, though. As it got later in the afternoon there were fewer people, and the ones I met were nicer. I had a nice chat with some women from Cleveland who took a picture with me. There were views from the trail out through the trees.There are tons of Boy Scouts here, as well as a bunch of weekenders. I ate two dinners because I have way too much food, and then the Scouts gave me some apple cobbler! I am not hungry right now! This wound up being a pretty great day after all!
Date: 2017-10-22
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: 2 miles south of Pocosin Cabin
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I wasn't feeling great today, but I pushed through.The shelters here are spaced really awkwardly, so I'm camping in just a random spot a little ways off the trail. It's way less convenient than a shelter, since I have to pitch my tent and hang a bear bag, but my shelter options were either about 12 miles (way too short) or about 24 miles (way too long), so I have to just find my own site. It works, though, and I got everything squared away before dark.
Date: 2017-10-23
From: 2 miles south of Pocosin Cabin

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up in a cloud this morning. My tent was soaked from the cloud dripping off the trees when the wind blew. I was nice and dry, but my tent was heavy today.I was in the cloud all day, except a few of the lower bits in the valleys. I made really good time, but didn't quite get to the shelter before I got caught in a rain shower. I got to the shelter around 3:45, though, and had plenty of time to dry off as best I could and make myself some hot chicolate to have with dinner. I made good time today, especially considering the elevation gain and weather. Tomorrow is going to have to be a shorter day because of how the shelters are spaced, and the area after the next one is closed to camping because of bears.
Date: 2017-10-24
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Black rock Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Took a shorter day today because of awkward Hut spacing. I made the best of it, though, and spent a while at the Loft Mountain Camp Store eating Doritos and drying out my tent in the sun. Sunshine is a wonderful change from yesterday's weather.There were incredible views today, but I found myself not taking many pictures. All my pictures wind up looking the same, regardless of how it feels to actually be on top of a mountain or a rock ledge. Black Rocks was amazing, maybe my favorite in a long time. The leaves in the valley are turning orange and red and the view went on and on.
Date: 2017-10-25
From: Black rock Hut

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.8

Wow. Today was absolutely my longest day yet. It felt good, though. It was a great day. The last few miles of trail were absolutely horrible: rocky, steep, lots of pointless ups and downs. It was a real surprise after how great the trail was in the rest of Shenandoah.I hiked my longest day yet, ate a ton of food at a Chinese buffet, got groceries, showered, did laundry, and arranged slackpacking tomorrow. Wow. I might be getting good at this whole hiking thing.
Date: 2017-10-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: few clouds

I slackpacked northbound today! It meant I got to go down a mountain rather than up it, which was great. I think this might be my second-longest day, and immediately after the longest one! I hurt all over like I haven't in a while. I feel good, though. I can do this.We stopped at Panera on the way back from the trail because bread is magical and amazing and delicious.
Date: 2017-10-27
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Harper Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

I was planning on going farther today, but I had a rough morning and then the views were so amazing I had to stop for a long time at each. The terrain was steep and rocky, which was actually really nice, but when I got to this shelter I figured I had earned a short day after the last few.This shelter has an amazing river running in front of it that reminds me of Maine. It has pools so deep I could swim if it was warmer out.There was a bunch of firewood that was easy to gather here, too, so I was able to get a nice fire going. There is a nice couple from D.C. here that gave me some of their coconut beans and rice mountain house. There are two guys from nearby who helped cut up more firewood.This was a good day to stop early.
Date: 2017-10-28
From: Harper Creek Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I was moving slowly today, but I hauled myself ~3000 feet up the Priest, confessed my sins in the register there, and got here well before dark. This morning was sunny, but as the day went on the clouds got darker and the wind picked up in a major way. I was chilly when I got here, and the wind blows straight into the shelter. I've got my stuff set up on the side where there is a bit less of a draft and the rain later is less likely to blow in.And it will rain, and it will be very cold tomorrow. Tomorrow night the rain will stop, but it will get to the 30s even in the valley- my destination. Whenever people ask if I'm worried about the cold and snow, I tell them I'm not worried about snow. I'm worried about the day it is 40 degrees and raining- tomorrow is that day, with 20 mile an hour winds. I know I can handle this, and if I'm really miserable there are motels in Buena Vista. I'm still nervous, though, but a little excited. This is a challenge to overcome. It very well may be uncomfortable, but that's okay. I will ask for my top base layer and warm hat to be mailed soon, and I'll pick up some new long underwear for camp so I can hike in my current ones in the future.For now, I am the only one in the shelter. I made myself hot chocolate (I'm a bad vegetarian and got the kind with mini marshmallows) and I'm listening to the Avett Brothers because Jupiter wrote the lyrics to "I and Love and You" in the register and now it's stuck in my head. I'm not a huge Avett Brothers fan, but their song "Sanguine" popped up on Pandora for me years ago and it was exactly what I needed at the time.The wind may be cold, but the swaying of the trees in the twilight is beautiful.
Date: 2017-10-29
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

I covered 15.8 miles in six and a half hours today! I only stopped once to shove food in my face because it was too cold to stop more than that. I was lucky, though, in that it mostly didn't rain that hard and the wind only came from certain directions so sometimes I wasn't even dealing with that. In the early afternoon, on the peaks, the sun even tried to come through and actually warmed the air in those places.It did get colder as the day went on, though. I was going downhill, off of the ridgeline, and still getting colder.  By the time I got to the shelter, my fingers were starting to get uncooperative, but I was able to change into dry clothes and warm up pretty easily. Then I ate a bunch of food to make up for hardly having eaten during the day.There's only one other hiker here, a woman called Sail who is headed north and doing the whole IAT. She had gathered walnuts during the day and shared them with me and we chatted. It's nice to have another long-distance hiker for company after being on my own for a few days.I've been listening to the audiobook of Dune and really enjoying it.
Date: 2017-10-30
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

I only saw one person today after I said goodbye to Sail.There were tons of blowdowns and branches on the trail today after the wind the last few days. It seemed like all the leaves had fallen at once, too, and settled into deep drifts like snow so it felt like I was wading. At one point, the leaves in trail were up to mid-calf!Virginia is beautiful.