morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-03
From: Atkins VA

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: moderate rain

Late start today. Left Relax Inn at 11:30. Didn¢t get the early departure i wanted. But no problem, having a late breakfast at the Barn and Blue Line walks by. He stayed at the motel also. Decent place $45 a nite. Right off the trail and whatever that highway is. Really had the best day of hiking. I cant explain why, my pack was heavy because of the resupply. It was a climb out and up. It was just a nice day. Watching birds. Cows. Got in the zone today just dreaming about my next project.  Next thing i know, im looking at the shelter. I camped about a mile below it, north of it obviously. Another hiker was there, said he just did VT. Said it was a mess. I cant help but notice the animal life around me. Washing my cookpot in the creek, the young trout, crawdads everywhere. And baby fish. All w their little piece of territory. Do I hear fireworks? Way off¢¦..
Date: 2017-07-04
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was rough. It was hot and no breeze. The climb up to Chestnut Knob was 2100¢ over 5 miles. It was not fun. My stomach was bothering me. I was swarmed all morning by flies and gnats, and must have broke about 100 cobwebs with my face. Oh yeah, near blowout rite on the trail. It was meadow for like 2 miles. Nowhere to go. As soon as I got to the woods, i let it go. As soon as i got back on the trail, within 5 minutes about ten day hikers come by! That was close!! (It was an emergency) Saw a huge black snack. Prob 6¢. The biggest black snack i've ever seen. My stomach did feel better after awhile and was able to make some time.  Things outside of hiking are always going to be there. Stuff at home, unfinished business¢¦.. Made it to Jenkins Shelter tonite. Down by the creek (again) i'm amazed at the amount of life in the creek. I counted 5 salamanders, 3 crayfish. Key North is here (from Key West) Nice having someone to talk with. Last of the NOBOs. It is lonely back here.
Date: 2017-07-05
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Well i had a goal of 23 miles today, but the rain this morning kinda kept me in my tent a bit longer. I didn¢t mind. Did a short devotion while it was raining. It was cool. Started out at 9 am.  Made decent time, then hit HWY 52 around 2 pm. There was a store and they were open! Not in AWOL guidebook, but what a surprise! 2 chili dogs, fries, chocolate shake. Best lunch ever! Great cell signal too, cause its near new I-77? Camped last nite with Key North. His trail name has something to do with living in Key West, but traveling north? He¢s at a hostel tonite.  Foot trouble. He made good time to US 52 but now may be off the trail for awhile. I liked him, could have used a hiking partner. Oh well.
Date: 2017-07-06
From: Random campsite

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

For the life of me i cannot recall where i camped last nite. I remember Jenkins Shltr, but where i was at last nite¢¦ No idea, its all starting to blend. Start time was 7:40 this morning. I think. Made decent time to Trent¢s Grocery. Saw a black bear on the hill. That was cool. Kinda turned to look back at me. Saw some deer, fawn with spots. I¢m defntly not the fastest hiker. Average 2 mph when i am hiking. Zero when i¢m not. From 7:40 am to 8:40 pm 13 hrs, covered almost 22 miles. That¢s defntly 2 hrs of stops, water, the trip to Trent¢s grocery. Worth it. But at least i can say i can do the miles. Speed will come next. Made a 1300¢ climb over 3.4 miles to finish the day. That¢s how i know i¢m at least getting stronger (or crazy) Fourth nite w/o a shower. Got to a stream and sat down right in the middle of it. Probably a foot deep. Bathed off w ice cold H2O! Felt good! I was passing spot after spot to do that. Up on a ridge tonite. Windy!!
Date: 2017-07-07
From: Random campsite

To: Pearisburg VA-100
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

Start time 7:40 am. Stopped for something today, looked up, and a deer was staring rite at me. How many times have i probably blown by some wildlife while they stood watching? Made it to VA-100, Pearisburg Cemetery and one of the hosts from Angel¢s Rest Hostel picked me up.   Showered, laundry, all done by 6 pm easy. I was at the trail head by 4:20 pm. Still think i am not hiking fast enough. Is it a mental barrier? For dinner one of the hikers cooked chili, made salad, and another made a cake. Felt like a cat hanging around the porch until food was offered. It was. I ate. Then i did all the dishes and really helped them clean up the kitchen. My gratitude.
Date: 2017-07-08
From: Pearisburg VA-100

To: Gravel Rd
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: clear sky

SLACKPACK DAY. Had my doubts. Wasn¢t sure if it would be worth it. It was supposed to be a zero day, but someone else wanted to do it, so the cost would half for the shuttle. I figured give it a try. Well, it was way worth it. Covering 22 miles in 8 12 hrs. All that on one liter of water and three oatmeal creme pies. My stomach was not feeling that great, so not much appetite the first half. I simply put my headphones on and started trucking. It was well worth the $20 shuttle and now i¢m back here for an extra nite. Way cool w me as this place is really nice.
Date: 2017-07-09
From: Gravel Rd

To: Angels Rest
Miles today: 0.0

Basically tried to chill all day. Did go to Wal Mart today. Bought a lightning cable and stamps, stationary. Not much else. Planned the next ten days. Called Jen. Then re-planned the next ten days¢¦.. There¢s a Hare Krishna Hindu monk (SOBO) here also. I asked a little about his religion. What a mess¢¦.. I should do better, try harder to understand more. Just had to many chores and other people to text and write than listen to that guy for another fifteen minutes. Went to lunch at that Chinese Buffett. It was gross, but a lady stopped by my table, asked if I was hiking and could she join me. We chatted. Uncomfortable. But she did pay for my lunch.
Date: 2017-07-10
From: Angels Rest

To: VA 42
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Not a huge mileage day but i¢ll take it! Gladly. Left the hostel shortly after 9 am. Start time 10 am, finished at VA 42 around 8:40 pm. Still need to hike faster, took it way too slow today. Met up w a few other hikers at the Laurel Creek Shelter, good guys, but decided to try for a couple more miles. Sorta wished i could have stayed but at the same time, i¢m thru hiking. My goal is completion by Oct 15. i¢m barely ahead by a day. Made it to the Hwy and for some reason i turned right. Had the crazy notion of camping behind this church. Luckily, no one has seen me, i¢m camped under their outside covered patio. Kinda hidden behind the church, layed out my air mattress on the concrete floor. VA is bueatiful, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, there¢s about a billion stars in the sky. Met a hiker named Glassman today. Hip replacement.
Date: 2017-07-11
From: VA 42

To: Pickle Branch
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked all day w/o seeing or talking to a single person. Really dehydrated today. The church did not have water and I had to go till 1:30 today (from 7:40 am) on 14 liter. So far ive had about seven liters since. One bathroom stop. I was really dehydrated, with that much intake I should have been forced to stop much more. At one spot the stream was just a trickle and a bunch of fingerling trout were in a pool, about the size of a goldfish pond. I fed some crackers to them and they loved it! I guess not much else to eat in that pool. Then the crawfish came out. Way cool. Other than that, it was another twelve hour day and twenty miles. All is good.
Date: 2017-07-12
From: Pickle Branch

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Certainly not a high mileage day but still really enjoyable. The climb down from Dragons Tooth (Rocky!) was really difficult and it was hot. It took me 4 hrs to cover 6.6 miles.  I made it to the hwy and then the gas station. I guess I ate too much, or the Gatorade was too cold and it shocked my stomach. Probably both. After eating I felt sick, like a Thanksgiving dinner sick. I went around to the side of the store, laid down by the propane exchange cylinder rack and passed out. I was there fr three hours. I started feeling better later. Got signal eventually while hiking. Was able to talk to Jen and hike at the same time. Cool. Passed some trail magic but all that was in it was three diet cokes.  Really? 0 calories. But when made it to hwy 311, a couple ladies (helping their husbands hike) hooked me up with cold H20¢s, some oranges, and an ice cold Coke. It was awesome. That was the best soda I ever had, there were ice crystals in it. It was awesome! I chatted with about different people there. Another long break. But who cares. I needed the fellowship and the rest. The miles will come. It was way cool. On the way to here I walked right into a mama bear with cub. That was wild.
Date: 2017-07-13
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: US 220 Daleville
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

Start time 9:30 am. Way late. I had signal this morning and was texting Jen. I knew i only had 18 to get to Daleville and i was gonna see McAfee Knob. I was in a good mood, Wednesday really kicked my butt. I didn¢t think much of it, but the other nite someone came running by my campsite. It was late, they were on the trail. Dude stopped to read sign and kept going. I don¢t know if this is connected, but i heard yesterday that someone fell out from heat exhaustion an EMS was called. I found out it was low blood sugar, the guy they picked up is one of the hikers i met yesterday. He¢s here at the hotel (Super 8). We talked, he told me he remembered talking to me at the HWY (where I drank that coke) but no memory of the next climb or the next hwy. His blood sugar level was 14. He¢s a cop who works 3rd shift, smokes, works third shift, and was out for a three day hike. Decent shape, and when i did see him he was ahead of his two friends. Sitting on the trail. But i remember he was looking pretty pale. I should have recognized his condition. Wednesday was hot, and water is getting scarce.  I did make it to McAfee Knob then Tinker Cliffs. Tinker Cliffs was way ool. Good campsites there. Walked parallel with a doe and her two fawns for awhile. As long as i was slow and quiet she didn¢t seem too alarmed. The fawns were a little skittish, ran like rabbits. Cute.  Spots. Doe was probably 150 lbs. Gorgeous. On my way down, i got near Lamberts Meadow shelter and saw a black bear. Another one. He went on and i slowed up to give it plenty of a head start.  I got down the hill and saw it again. Walking the trail in front of me. No hurry. Then it starts watching the woods, chilling out. It was watching another bear. She shows up with two cubs. Now im looking at two adults and two cubs. I eventually got off trail, went up the hill and around thru the woods back down to the trail. Basically doubling my distance between them. They saw me. Watched me the whole time. The sow sat beside a tree and her cubs climbed up. No real agitation on her part that i could tell. She was just kinda going to sit there and wait till both of us were out of the area.  Found my first attacked tick today. My thighs were chaffing, i was checking and saw a tiny, very tiny fleck of brown on my inner thigh. It was a tick. Made it to Daleville Hwy at 7 pm. Super 8 is super nice, and $59 a nite. Jen is up here visiting. So good to see her.
Date: 2017-07-14
From: US 220 Daleville

To: US 220 Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up early. But fell back asleep. We hit Krogers for a grocery resupply and the outfitter for some Aqua Mira, and another Lexan spoon. I also bought a Lexan fork, and another spoon. Wonderful day, time spent with Jen. Tired of eating w a knife or a stick. Gotta do a better job of hanging on to these. Got back ups now! Other than that, typical zero day stuff: laundry, hike planning, eating¢¦.Super 8 is a great hotel. Really pleased with it. Nice wearing deodorant and after shave too.
Date: 2017-07-15
From: US 220 Daleville

To: Harveys Knob
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: mist

Slackpack day. Jen took me up to one of the many BRP overlooks and dropped me off. Gt started around 11:30, pretty late, but i slept late this morning . Just so tired. Met a few new hikers, Ragnar and Two Trails, also ran into a couple familiar ones. Saw two more black bears today. Total is eleven. Three cubs and the rest adults. Stopped by a creek today for a snack. One of the trapped pools had a bunch of fingerling trout. All these pools do. Fed them some bits of pop tarts this time. They went at it like piranhas. Then the crawfish come out looking for theirs. It was cool. Really glad i slackpacked today and not just sit in the hotel room. As much as i could have sat all day. Im glad i didn¢t. Was able to to get my minimum average done plus .6 extra. Also, took a bad fall today, cant believe i did not break my wrist.
Date: 2017-07-16
From: Harveys Knob

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Defntly not getting easier, but still going and mostly injury here. Jen dropped me off at 10:30 this morning. Hiked till 8:40 pm. Its 10:15 now. Got really close to a deer today, maybe 20 feet. Seemed okay w my presence. Sorta. Need to get a game plan for some new shoes asap. Real happy w my progress today, esp w such a late start. Spent the whole day thinking about Jen, maybe the last time we¢ll visit?
Date: 2017-07-17
From: Random campsite

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 18.8

Another good day, but man are the bugs out. Its still hot and dry. Been carrying a lot of H2O. Ever since that day before Dragons Tooth, ive been really safe w my hydration. Camped on a ridge tonite. Can sorta see the James River down below. Cool.  Took a long lunch break today. Asked Jen to help me order some shoes. She did. So glad for that assist. I tried to buy from a local outfitter in Daleville first, but didn¢t have my size. Lanced a couple blisters last nite. Really alleviated some of my heel pain. Big spiders in the pit privy, no webs though. These guys did not have confidence issues. They were huge, all the same kind, had stripes. They looked like octopus. Read somewhere that spiders that do not form webs simply overpower the prey.
Date: 2017-07-18
From: Random campsite

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 18.0

Got some rain today on my up Bluff Mtn, 2700¢ climb. I¢m camped back down below tonite. Made decent miles considering the climb this morning and when i left out of Punchbowl shelter at 5:30, i went the wrong way! Covered 1.3 miles SOBO before i realized it. I could tell after a half hour i should have been descending more, and the sun was on my right for too long. Anyway lost an hour and 2.6 miles of progress today. Ran into Birdsong right here at this camping area. Walked right by her tent. Saw her without shirt. No clue then she hollered out. Later we chatted a second.  I think lately my days are 8 am to 8 pm. I basically walk for 12 hrs a day. Take breaks when I can. Very long day. Steady.  Dern moth in the tent! Ha ha!
Date: 2017-07-19
From: Random campsite

To: Random campsite
Miles today: 18.0

Decent start time this morning. 8 am. Kinda took my time getting ready. Made some carnation instant breakfast w powdered milk. Not great. About 9:30 or so, was going by some huge pond or lake, it had a dam, so some kind of reservoir? The water looked so good. I got close enough to the water and scrambled downhill to the edge. Jumped in and swam for about ten minutes, maybe longer. There was a trail that led down, but didn¢t notice till i was already at the water. It was so nice to soak, float, and kinda rinse off all the trail grime. Pulled a 3000¢ climb today. Partways up, trail magic by Frenchman, way cool. Ate half a melon, and a powerade. He had ice cold beer too, but i passed¢¦.maybe next time. Just marvel at the natural world around me. Lots of bugs. Really mesmerized by the construction of a cobweb. Took a lot breaks today. Ive got to get out of this mileage or else mindstate. Its ruining this trip.
Date: 2017-07-20
From: Random campsite

To: Harpers Creek
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

Start time 7:30 this morning. Made it to Spy Rock rd by 9:40. I think. Whatever it was i made good time and had my shoes, soda, and a lunch before it was 11:00. Met a couple today, the Koether¢s. They had an off grid cabin, very nice, they use it on the weekends. Mrs Koether gave me a ride back up to the trail, but let me tour their cabin. Chill for about an hour or so. It was a nice visit. They are long time trail enthusiasts. It is so hot in this tent right now, just sweating. The trip to Montebello took about 4 hrs, made it here by 9pm. My legs and body are actually starting to feel good, like I can handle the miles. (It was about 2 12 miles to Montebello, 34 from the Koether¢s) On the way here, i stopped to check my phone, my location. It was quiet, i could hear footsteps in the woods (Rhododendron) behind me. Then i saw a black bear working his way thru. Good timing? Is that #12?
Date: 2017-07-21
From: Harpers Creek

To: US 250 
Miles today: 27.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Start time 7:15, finished, made it to Rockfish Gap, Hwy 250 at 10pm. Saw another black bear in the woods. Then i watched that thing climb a tree, then walk out on a branch. It was not a cub, this was a full size bear. Walking out on a branch like a squirrel. Had no idea they still climbed like that at that age, or size. Pulling a 15 hr day was rough. But i was after a hot shower, pizza, soda¢¦.. It had been since Saturday nite and the stretch between Daleville and Waynesboro has some 2500 to 3000 foot climbs each day, so about 4 days of that , i was done. After these past six days, i was ready for a break. Right before i started my last few hours i passed a note on a rock. Black Rattler  It was nice to spend the next three hours wondering if rattlesnakes hunt at nite.  I've already passed two dead ones, killed by hikers. Never understood that. Nite hiking was not enjoyable, i worried about my dimming headlamp the whole time. Couple times i turned my lamp off, and all i can say is if anything were to happen i would have had to stop right there. Sleep in the trail. That would have been rough. Bugs everywhere. Spiders everywhere. Spiders running into other spiders¢¦¢¦.Made it to the Inn at Afton. It does look abandoned. But its not. Granted they only rent 8 of the 150 rooms. And some areas a flashlite is needed to access. Like the vending. $40 a nite. I thought it was perfect. But it really does look abandoned. Never been so glad to get somewhere. Ordered a large meat lovers and drank two sprites. What an incredible last stretch and today. Wow.
Date: 2017-07-22
From: US 250 

To: Stanimals
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Finally crashed around twelve last nite. Then woke at 6 am. Took the leftover pizza down to the office, and re-heated a couple pizzas. Bought a coke from the vending machine. Spoke with Jen for about 2 hrs. Called Stanimals around 10:30. He came by and got me. Chilling at his place now. Doing chores. Went to Wal Mart today. Bought some new shorts and a new shirt. Just felt like it. Got new shoes last week and my shorts an esp my shirt just reek. After awhile synthetics just hold odor. But wouldn¢t cotton, if you wore it everyday? Cotton would probably not last that long anyway. Really didn¢t do much planning today. Watched DVDs, did listen to one sermon from my home church. Cleaned my pack straps, shoulder and hip belt. Really tried to chill. My knee is a little sore. Glad to rest. Stanimals is a cool hostel. Good group here tonite. I think i fit in. Except the 9, 10 people are all part of smaller groups. Im the only solo hiker. But saw two familiar faces, Chief (not the old one) and Mug.
Date: 2017-07-23
From: Stanimals

To: Stanimals
Miles today: 0.0

Got a lot done today. Wrote some letters, went to the local outfitters, got a fuel cell, some new tips for my ski poles. Texted and talked with Jen a lot today. One of the chicks passed away.  Sad. Wrote some letters, went over my itinerary for the next 8,9 days. I¢m taking it easy. I¢ve got 8 ¢ 20 mile days planned or 9 ¢ 18 mile days (average) to get thru the Shenandoah¢s. Learned a lot Friday, hiking 27 miles. Not doing that again. I¢m glad that i was not hurt doing that. The past two days of rest has been wonderful. Never thought i¢d need two zero days. But i did. Last week was rough. Walked 12 mile today to Kroger. Like it was nothing. (It was)
Date: 2017-07-24
From: US 250 

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: moderate rain

Back in the woods. Very short day. But i got here and after 7 miles i have not passed one campsite at all. There is not much tenting away from the shelters. At least not what i saw today. So i stopped here. Texas Dreamer, Osprey G (Bruno) and Nickel are here from Stanimals. I¢ll be honest, loved the short day. It was the first one i¢ve taken in 870 miles. Been really nice. Like camping. It¢s been really pleasant. I¢m gonna try for a 20 tomorrow and land at that campground. I feel very confident in doing so. Hope my knee holds up!  Left Stanimals around 10 am. Hit the trail at 11. Really enjoyed my stay there.
Date: 2017-07-25
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: few clouds

Start time 8:15, didn¢t sleep well last nite. Not sure why?   Maybe low miles? Wasn¢t tired. Saw 5 black bears today. Covered almost twenty by 6 pm if not earlier, so i think the terrain is a little easier thru this park. Not much for H20. Had a headache the second half of the day. Probably dehydration. Made it to Loft Mtn campground. I chose to stay here and just pay $15 for a campsite. They are nice. Bear boxes, picnic tables, tent pads, nice sunset on this side of the park too. The shower was $1.75 but oh so nice! I was not feeling the hike today at all. Getting here, and to the campstore really changed my mood a lot. And i think someone left some unopened food in the bearbox! Got a charge from Zack and Allie this evening. My camping neighbors.
Date: 2017-07-26
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I guess they are called ¢Huts¢ in SNP? Made it here by 4:00 pm but got scared about leaving and not finding a place to tent. Great pace for 15 miles, considering my 9:15 start time. The neighbors camped next to me, Zack and Allie made coffee and we chatted awhile. It was so nice. Jen sent me some swimsuit pics and next thing I know im crushing the next 15 miles like it was nothing. Very inspiring. Glad I stopped at Loft Mtn. Another hiker here, Bounce, made a comment about saying prayers tonite. I made the comment actually, he started to agree, but then made it clear that he would not be saying prayers. Yet these atheists are the first ones to take money or food from a stranger in town. Hes been listening to Neil De Grasse Tyson on stereo all day¢¦¢¦ Another hiker, Jon, retired teacher, twenty questions when I walked up. Glad I was not smart with him, especially since I decided to stay here. Zack and Allie gave me a mountain house meal to take with me. I got their address. They were so nice. He will probably hike the AT one day. I hope he does. From Cleveland.  Good sleep tonite. Need to pull a 20 tomorrow¢¦..