morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-08-26
From: Rod Hollow shelter

To: Jim and Molly Denton shelter
Miles today: 18.6

Mostly the trail was flat today.  I was enjoying the lack of roots and rocks.  I also was enjoying listening to the Acadian Flycatchers.  They sound like a cross between a mouse hiccup and sneeze.  I got a giggle out of Virginia ¢moose duds¢.  They were really hickory nuts that reminded me of moose scat I. Maine.I left camp at 7am, took 2 brief breaks in the morning and still had completed 12.8 miles by noon!  I took about an hour break at Manassas Gap shelter and still got to camp by 3!I met some section SOBO hikers: Wiseman and Carol who are going from Harpers Ferry to GA and Clingman who started in GA, got injured and is restarting going south. He was already a mess, having lots of bruises from falling.  I hope he doesn¢t hurt himself too bad again
Date: 2019-08-27
From: Jim and Molly Denton shelter

To: Compton Springs stealth site
Miles today: 11.9

I left camp at 7. It was an easy 5 mile walk to US522.  I did scare a bear in that section.I hitched a ride into Front Royal.  I thought I was going to ShopNSave but Paul told me it had closed.  He brought me to Martins grocery which was much better.  The folks there were super nice and gave me a room to leave my pack and then use to organize my resupply.I was looking around for a restaurant or some such.  I stopped in a tobacco store to ask where was a good place to get breakfast.  I was given 2 options.  When I got back outside, the woman who was a customer told me the Front Royal Diner was the best food for the money and the portions were big.  So off I went.  She was right!  I had a great breakfast and charged my devices.At breakfast a pair of women about my age sat at the table next to mine.  They had a million questions about my hike.  Of course they claimed that they could never do such a thing.After eating, I wakes back to the highway and hitched back to the trailhead.  The woman who gave me a ride told me about the zoological center that the trail passes by.  I guess they keep exotic animals there for zoos.Back on the trail, I waked about a mile and a half and there was trail magic!  A 4H group had left a cooler with oranges, orange juice and fruit cups.  I had juice and a fruit cup.  My pack was already super heavy so I did not carry an orange, as much as I wanted one!A few miles later I entered Shenandoah Park and got my registration tag. The registration area was just a kiosk in the woods.At Compton Peak I dropped my pack and took a side trail to an unusual geologic formation.  Lava has crystallized into hexagonal columns.  Looking up at the Rock was like looking at a giant honeycomb!  It was definitely worth the extra steps to see it.I found the stealth camping spot that I was planning on. It¢s nice and flat!  There is a stream just south of it so I have water.  And there are good trees to hang my food so bears can¢t get it!  Perfect.
Date: 2019-08-28
From: Compton Springs stealth site

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I got to the first ¢view¢ but I was in a cloud.  I called Jim to check In And as we were talking, the clouds lifted and I could see out into Virginia.I got to Elkwallow Wayside at 12:30.  There are several of these store/deli shops in the park.  I got a soda and a banana and went to eat lunch at a picnic table. (I passed up the veggie burger because I had to get some food out of my pack!)As I was eating, a storm rolled in.  I moved all my stuff to undercover in a breezeway like area.  I already had my phone charging there.  As it turned out, a ranger showed up to give a talk about black bears.  There were just about half a dozen of us at the talk.  The ranger did a great job.  I learned how to tell the age of cubs (by size and ear size) and how to tell males from females (by snout and ear shape).  She clarified for me that the cubs I saw in MA were born in 2018.  The ones I saw in VT were born this year.I left the wayside at 2:30 and hiked the next 7.7 miles is 3 hours.At the hut I met SOBOs Fruitloop and Foot Loose.  We had a great time chatting.  These guys would be fun to hike with but they are going 25-30 miles a day .... out of my league!I had a mini disaster today.  I had been listening to podcasts in the afternoon to make the miles fly by easier (I haven¢t done a lot of that on this trip so it was unusual).  I had my phone in my shirt pocket rather than my skirt pocket.  When I went to get water at the spring, I leaned over and my phone took a dive in.  So far it seems to be working.  I put it in a bag of oatmeal for tonight.  Fingers crossed it continues to work!
Date: 2019-08-29
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Franklin Cliffs stealth site
Miles today: 17.0

My shelter companions¢ alarms went off at 5am.  Even though I was not hiking with them I decided to get up and get moving.  I left camp at 6:30 (about 30 min. behind them).  I took my time today.  I stopped at Byrd¢s Nest hut for water.  I was going to take a morning break there but there were 10 students from Washington Lee University there on a pre-orientation for incoming freshmen.  I chatted with them briefly and then left them to their breakfast and I walked down the way a bit to a sunny place to have a break.It was a sunny but super windy and cool day.  The trail up Mary¢s Rock and the Pinnacle were spectacular.  The trail hugs the side of the mountains so you have views out all along the way.  I stopped at the Pinnacles Picnic area for an extended break and sat in the sun.  I dried out my tent, shoes and socks.I had a nice conversation with a retired food engineer.  He had designed machines for the meat industry.  He was vegetarian because of it!  His so. Is the state ornithologist for RI (my home state).  It was a delightful conversation as the ravens and vultures soared overhead.I left the cliffs and only walked about 1.5 miles to Skyland Resort.  I had a huge lunch there and then headed to Rock Spring hut.  My intention was to stay there but there was another group of college students there so I got water and headed to a stealth site at Franklin Cliffs.About a mile from the cliffs I passed a trail maintainer. The stealth site was nice but it was not regulation 20yds from the trail.  I was worried that I¢d be asked to move. I fiddled around hanging my bear bag line and eating dinner.  I talked to a couple of day hikers. Finally I just set up the tent.  Then I went out on the rocks to watch the sunset.Just before the sun set, the trail dude showed up.  Bob and I had a really nice conversation.  He was also a retired engineer.  He left after the sun set.  He never saw my tent ... just asked if I was ¢back country camping¢. Phew!
Date: 2019-08-30
From: Franklin Cliffs stealth site

To: High Top hut
Miles today: 22.2

I left camp at 6:30. Saw my first deer by Big Meadows campground. I saw another later in the day.  The deer are super tame here.  They just stare at you and don¢t move.I seemed to move sow today.  I got to Lewis Mtn Campground (only 8 miles) by 11. I met 5k there.  He just graduated from high school and is doing a flip flop hike from somewhere in PA.  He was taking the long weekend off the trail with family.  Our conversation made me realize it was Labor Day weekend and is missed the whole summer at home.  It doesn¢t seem like I¢ve been on the trail that long!I really needed to make miles in the afternoon so I downloaded a bunch of RadioLab podcasts and had a podcast festival all the way to the hut.  I got there by 5:30.  Overall I made up for my slow miles in the morning by doing well in the afternoon.During the day I met a section hiker, Resolute, as I hiked up Baldface Mtn.  I saw him again at South River picnic area.  There was no water at the area as they had shut off all the spigots due to lack of water.  Resolute was ending his hike there so he gave me a couple of bottles of water.  Trail magic!  Not only did I use the water but I needed a new scoop for water at springs that are not piped.  So I could make one from one of these bottles.  I actually needed that scoop at the spring tonight!I almost stopped at the top of High Top Mtn because there was a good stealth spot and there was water in the spring.  I decided to go to the hut instead because there was already a tent set up there and I could see that a bear hang was going to be challenging because the trees were short.
Date: 2019-08-31
From: High Top hut

To: Black rock hut
Miles today: 21.4

These 20 mile days are killing my feet!  Tomorrow I¢ve decided to just go 13.Overall it was a pretty day in the woods with nice views on either side of the ridge. There are lots and lots of people on the trail due to it being a holiday weekend.  I resupplied at Loft Mtn store.  I meant to take a long lunch here but the sky started looking dark.  Originally I had seen a forecast of storms starting at 2:30.  I asked a woman there if she had an update as I had not service.  She told me they had pushed the storm prediction to 5:30.  I figured I could make the remaining 8.5 miles by The if I left at 1:30.  So off I went.In the afternoon I saw a young bear in a stream.  He was turning over rocks.  I assume he was looking for crayfish.  I had seen a crayfish when I had gotten water from the same stream just minutes before. The bear was not phased by me at all!I pushed hard and got to camp at 4:30!  But my feet definitely were abused by that.  I put some biofreeze on them that I¢ve been carrying since the beginning.  I¢ll also take some ibuprofen just before bed.I¢ve had great fun chatting with people from all over ( Germany, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia). I guess I don¢t have to worry about bears tonight!Oh...and I passed 1300 miles today!
Date: 2019-09-01
From: Black rock hut

To: Calf Mtn hut
Miles today: 13.0

I slept in this morning!  Got up at 6:30.  It felt good to get a really good nights sleep and not get up in the dark.  I slept great despite the strong thunderstorms that came through in the middle of the night.I had particular fun talking to a pair of women (Nosy and Chef).  We talked about backpacking, herbs, yoga, homesteading.  I didn¢t leave camp until 8!Most of the morning was hiking in a cloud so everything felt damp and there were no views. It finally cleared up midday and started to dry out.I got to camp at 3.  I should have been here sooner but the AT had a detour around some power line work that added an unofficial mile to my trip today.There is another hiker here.  No Service Curtis thru hiked in 1989.  Now he¢s doing some sections with his dog Micky.  Micky is not friendly at all.I did make a reservation at Stanimals hostel for tomorrow night.  It¢s definitely time for a shower, laundry and beer!
Date: 2019-09-02
From: Calf Mtn hut

To: Stanimals hostel, Waynesboro, VA 
Miles today: 7.7

I left camp about 7:15.  I saw 2 deer (1 at a time) right away.  A bit further down the trail I encountered a buck (with velvet antlers) right next to the trail.  He wasn¢t afraid of me at all and continued to eat vegetation as I talked to him.There were nice views from the top of Little Calf Mtn.  I also passed by an impressive array of communication towers on Bears Den Mtn.I arrived at Rockfish Gap about 11am. Cora (aka Stops A Lot) picked me up and brought me to the hostel.  I showered, did laundry and went shopping at a Walmart ¢Neighborhood Market¢.  I tried to get a restaurant meal at an Italian place (closed due to the holiday) and a Mexican place (closed for who knows what). So I ended up at Burger King and had an Impossible burger.  It was pretty good! I topped it off with a pint of Ben and Jerry¢s cherry garcia.
Date: 2019-09-03
From: Stanimals hostel, Waynesboro, VA 

To: Stealth site at mile 1345.6
Miles today: 17.3

Before I turned in last night a couple of SOBOs showed up at the hostel. Einstein has already hiked the AT and the PCT.  He is hiking the southern half of the AT again with the goal of completing it in 50 days.  Mushroom Man is super interested in edible mushrooms.  We compared notes about what we¢ve found on the trail so far.Taco Money and I caught the first shuttle this morning and were on the trail by 8am.  He¢s an odd duck.  He is also a flip flopper but out of Rockfish Gap.  He took a couple of weeks off between halves.  He clearly did not want to hike together or even make plans for the end of the day.  We ended up leapfrogging each other during the day.Early today I passed an old foundation and a very humble cemetery.  The markers in the cemetery were just flat rocks.  I doubt anything was ever written on them.  One had some faint lettering. Later in the day I met 2 older gentleman (Shug and Junkyard) hiking for the day.  They gave me a honey bun (my first on the trail even though they are super popular trail food)!  Shug¢s grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles were all born in that house!  The folks in the cemetery were also relatives.  I had noted a recent marker and he confirmed that they buried some ashes there recently.  As I was chatting, Taco Money arrived.  We continued on to the next shelter which had a sleeping hiker in it...even though it was 10am!.  I climbed Humpback Mtn where I got a view back to Bears Den Mtn ( with the communication towers on top).  All the springs/streams were running so I kept hiking with the idea of quitting about 4:30.  Of course the next spring I came to (at 4pm) was barely running.  It took me 1/2 hour to collect 3 liters of water.  I did find a nice stealth site at 5.  About an hour later Taco Money came cruising by.  He wouldn¢t have even noticed me if I hadn¢t called out to him!
Date: 2019-09-04
From: Stealth site at mile 1345.6

To: Tye River stealth site
Miles today: 12.5

Got out of camp at 7:15.  Right away I felt tired.  The trail was beautiful (both the forest and the views). Much of the day was waking on trails that hugged the side of the mountain. Some of the day was challenging ups and downs and rocks.  I was definitely mountain climbing again.Very few people on the trail today.  There was a hiker that passed my stealth site first thing this morning.  He had his head amp on because it was still dark.  I didn¢t pass another person until I saw a couple on Three Ridges Mtn.  I saw SOBO Buzz at Harpers Creek Shelter.  Then 3 more hikers in the afternoon.  That was it.  Very quiet on the trail.While I was at Harpers Creek Shelter, I decided I¢d only go as far as the Tye River.  I¢d save the almost 5 mile ascent of The Priest for tomorrow.  I was not up to that today.  In addition, it got hot and humid today which made hiking a chore.I passed 2 yellow jacket nests right on the trail today.  Thankfully someone had marked them so I could avoid them!I spent the afternoon in the river.  It was terrific to sit in a ¢whirlpool¢ and just relax.  Then I enjoyed reading.  It was a relaxing afternoon.
Date: 2019-09-05
From: Tye River stealth site

To: Tar Jacket Ridge stealth site
Miles today: 18.2

Last night there was a screech owl calling.  I heard it again this morning.  It¢s really hard getting up when it¢s still dark out.  The owl helped motivate me!I got on trail at 7:15, crossed the suspension bridge, and started the long slow climb up The Priest.  Thankfully there were lots of switchbacks.  Even so, my phone says I climbed 439 floors today!I stopped at the summit and again a short while later at the shelter where I read and contributed to the ¢confessional¢ (aka the shelter log).I continued on to Spy Rock.  Had lunch there, met a couple of day hikers and then climbed the rock (without my pack).  There was a great 360 degree view.I was already tired (and it had only been 8.5 miles), so I put my ear bud in and queued up some podcasts. I started to make some miles!  At Piney River North Fork I gathered 3.7 liters of water.  I managed 5 more miles to a stealth site on Tar Jacket Ridge.  I¢m half glad I¢m here.  It¢s a terrific view but the clouds are lowering and the wind is picking up.  It promises to be a damp evening.I did pass a couple of weird things today.  On my way up The Priest, close to the top, I saw a hunting dog with a radio collar on.  It was many miles before I saw what might be his owner¢s truck.  It was a pick up with a kennel and a Bunch of antennas on top.  There was no one in the truck though.The other weird thing was right past Piney River. There was a complete abandoned campsite.  It had a tent, sleeping pad and quilt, food (that had been scattered by critters), clothing, and a pot.  There was all kinds of stuff there that had weathered at least one rain storm.  It was creepy.  I was glad I wasn¢t camping there!
Date: 2019-09-06
From: Tar Jacket Ridge stealth site

To: Punchbowl Shelter 
Miles today: 18.5

As suspected, I was in a cloud all night.  It sort of rained though I think it was condensation on the tree leaves and the wind shook that water down onto the tent.  Because of the wind, I had to close the vestibule flaps.  I knew that would mean I¢d have condensation inside.  It was either be damp from rain or condensation.  Oh well.  The dawn was beautiful so it was worth it!  It was cold this morning.  The dampness and wind made for a chilly start... which made me hustle through morning chores!The hike over Cole Mtn was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I had views all around and the meadows allowed me to see the path of the trail.  It was similar to the feeling I had on Franconia ridge in NH.I stopped for lunch at the Brown Mtn Creek Shelter.  About 1.5 miles spanning either side of this shelter there has been a share cropping community. You can see lots of stone walls.  There are chimneys and parts of foundations and even an old spring box.  The ground is super rocky and gets steep a short ways from the creek. It is hard to imagine how the folks here eked out a living.  The forest service bought the land from the last inhabitants I. The 1920s.I saw no other hikers all day until I got to Punchbowl Shelter.  There I chatted with NOBO Jaws.  He¢s a retired firefighter from FL.  I¢m in my tent tonight.  I suspect it might get buggy because there is a stagnant pond by the shelter.I did get to the shelter early enough to hang all my damp gear and get it dried out.
Date: 2019-09-07
From: Punchbowl Shelter 

To: Stanimals hostel, Glasgow,VA
Miles today: 10.5

There was a bear and a raccoon in camp last night!  About 10:30 I heard Jaws¢ metal cup clatter to the ground.  I had been awake already so something may have woken me up before the cup. I shown my headlamp out of the tent but saw nothing.  My tent was a substantial distance from the shelter so I wasn¢t surprised.  I figured it was either a bear, raccoon or Jaws himself.This morning Jaws told me he saw the bear and after the bear got scared off, a raccoon visited. I was glad I was not in the shelter last night! The good news is that we both hung our food so neither animal got rewarded.I saw several hikers today (big change from yesterday).  It is Friday so the weekenders are out!When I got to the intersection of the trail and the off shoot to Johns Hollow Shelter, I called Stanimals hostel to get a shuttle.  They could got me in 45 minutes.  I hustled that 1.7 miles to the road and arrived with 10 minutes to spare.  Donna was already there to get me!I spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry, showering and resuppling.  I went to Scotto¢s for dinner (eggplant parmigiana) and a Devils Backbone Vienna Lager.  I had them make me a veggie and cheese sub to go (for lunch tomorrow).I passed 1400 miles today!
Date: 2019-09-08
From: Stanimals hostel, Glasgow,VA

To: Apple Orchard Mtn stealth site
Miles today: 16.0

Our shuttle left at 7:30 so we were on the trail at 8.  Footloose, Ahab, Taco Money and I crossed the footbridge across the James River.  It is the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT!  It was very picturesque.  There was a fly fisherman in a flat bottom boat in the middle of the river...an image like a painting.The trail followed the river for about a mile. In that stretch, ripe pawpaws were falling out of the trees!  I picked up a big one, peeled it and ate it.  If my pack wasn¢t so heavy with a full resupply, I would have gathered a few more!I stopped at Marble spring for water.  The springs are pretty small right now.  I managed to scoop a liter out.  There was a cute salamander in the spring.  I hope it stays wet enough for the little guy.I did not stop at Harrison spring because Genius (our shuttle driver) told us there would be water at Thunder Hill Shelter.  I got there at 3pm and found NO water!  There were instructions on where to go to get water but it was about 0.7 miles away.  Because it was south of the shelter, I decided I¢d keep walking south and only go out of my way 0.4 miles (which is really 0.8 miles walking there and back).  At least I was successful in getting water!  I filled up 3.7 liters and kept walking south.Of course the trail went up up up.  On the way I passed a rock structure called the guillotine.  There is a boulder caught between 2 giant rocks.  If it fell when you walked under, you¢d get clobbered!I found a stealth campsite on the top of Apple Orchard Mtn.  Thankfully it was in the shade.  There is a weather radar antenna up here that looks like a giant soccer ball.Overall I did not see the boys much today.  Footloose took off right away and I never saw him again.  Taco Money and Ahab keeps frogged me several times during the day.  Ahab just passed me again wondering about water...The good news is that going an extra 1.2 miles today (compared to plan), means I have a shorter hike tomorrow!
Date: 2019-09-09
To: Cove Mtn shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Today was pretty miserable.  I woke up to abdomen cramps and thought I had a diverticulitis attack.  All morning I had wet farts...not fun at all.  I used the privy at both Cornelius creek and Bryant ridge shelters.  At least there was no diarrhea.  I just felt wiped out.I saw Ahab at Cornelius creek shelter about 9am.  He was just getting up!  He said Taco Money had stayed there last night as well,I lunched at Bryant ridge shelter.  I was really tempted to stay there.  It¢s a huge, 2-story Shelter with a porch/deck area. Two retired guys showed up.  They are out for 4 days.  One was from Long Beach, CA.  He had just retired from Northrop.  I told him I almost moved there to work for the same company!I decided to hike on.  Got to Jennings Creek and seriously thought about staying.  There are lots of nice tenting sites there.  I actually was feeling better in the gut so I loaded up with water and pushed on another 3.3 miles (1/2 of it uphill) to this shelter.  I knew there would be no water here.I got here about 4:45.  I started at 7:20.  It was a slow day!  A lot of the day was descending Apple Orchard Mtn.  Down is always slow for me because it is hard on my feet and ankles.I scared a raccoon today.  It shimmied up a tree and stared me down!  I also passed a humongous pile of bear scat (perhaps a whole gallon!).  It looked like mostly apple peels and seeds.  Interesting because I haven¢t seen any apple trees close to here.  (The mountain is named because the oak trees look like apple trees due to the way the wind and weather shape and space them).  Anyway, I wouldn¢t want to run into the bear that did that!I am feeling better now...so maybe the Scotto food didn¢t sit well with me.  Hope I feel better in the morning!
Date: 2019-09-10
From: Cove Mtn shelter

To: Fullhardt knob shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

I slept until 6:25!  Late! I did sleep great last night and when I woke there was a whippoorwill calling.  I hustled through camp chores and was walking by 7:20.  I slept in the shelter so I saved time not having to pack up the tent.I feel a lot better today! Yay!  And the miles just flew by. I paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway for much of the day.  There were lots of views and overlooks. I lunches at Taylor¢s Mtn Overlook.  In the afternoon I listened to podcasts (revisionist history and radiolab).  I was at the shelter before 4:30.  Much better pace than yesterday!There are 3 guys here that are NOBO for a few days. I set up my tent.