morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Laurel Creek campsite

To: Dismal Falls
Miles today: 28.1

The rain let up for a little bit, just long enough to break down camp, before it resumed its task of keeping everything wet. It rained most of the day, but it was a cold, light rain that didn't soak you to the bone. I only needed to put on the rain pants for a brief time today.The trail was easy. I thought about how much fun it would be to ditch Mr. Maroon and run today's trails with running gear. The inclines were easy as the trail followed the side of the mountain, and then lazily crossed over the top of the ridge to the other side. It went in and out of the huge Appalachian folds, but somehow kept it easy. The surface was smooth single track with a thick layer of soft, moist, dead leaves and pine needles. I want to run this particular section someday.I headed out before Haha and Roan were even out of their tent this morning. I stopped on top of the ridge to upload my journal and make a few phone calls, then here comes Haha at a slow, shuffling jog being towed by Roan. I was impressed by how fast they broke camp and caught up to me. We bounced back and forth on the trail, along with Hercules and Raiph for twenty miles. Haha and Roan must have stopped somewhere because I never saw them again. Hercules and I decided to make a half mile side trip to Trent's Grocery to buy our dinner.Trent's is one of those tiny little rural gas stations that sells anything from pickled eggs to gun safes. I had a double cheese burger, a coke, a bag of candy, and a Little Debbie apple pie for the first round. The next purchase was a pizza roll, a big Mississippi ice cream sandwich, a Sprite, and another tastykake. It must have seemed strange to non-hikers watching me and Hercules sit outside the gas station comparing our purchases calorie to weight ratio. I love just chilling outside those little gas stations and watching the blue collar locals stopping in for 12 packs of Bud Light, cigarettes, sandwiches, and snacks.Finally I left, telling Hercules that I plan to camp at Dismal Falls which is 2-3 miles further. His ankle was bothering him a little, so he said he might not make it that far tonight. I literally camped about 150' away from these beautiful falls. I should have plenty of white noise tonight.I passes another 100 mile milestone today. I usually leave a dollar bill with my trail name and trailjournals website and how many miles I hiked on the AT. I try to place it at an inconspicuous location close to the milestone for someone to find, or to molder away into oblivion. I talked to two people so far that found one, they both put them back again. Why do I do it? I don't know, I guess it's just a game I play out here in the woods for entertainment.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Dismal Falls

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The sound of the falls in the background was comforting and soothing last night but the sound of the rain on my tent this morning when I was getting ready to pack up was not. Breaking camp in the rain is a bad way to get the day started.It was cold, rainy, and muddy all day. I had some decent climbs, and the guide book indicated some good views but all I got to see was a hundred yards of fog. I didn't meet any other thru hikers as I made my way to Pearisburg, where I got a cheap room in a flea bag motel for the night.I didn't have a shower since I left Damascus, which was a week ago, so the first thing I did was take a long hot shower. Nothing seems to lift the spirits quite like a super hot shower on a cold day...well, a Dairy Queen dinner and a warm bed gets close though.I made a clothesline in my room with my paracord and hung my clothes up to dry after I put them through the washer, since they don't seem to think it's important to have dryers at this motel. Then I looked through my AWOL AT guide to plan my food supply for the next leg of the trip. I will make Troutville my next resupply town which is about a hundred miles from here. Ten pounds of food, which is as much as I really want to carry, takes me about a hundred miles.There are other Appalachian Trail guides that people use, but the AWOL guide is the most popular on the trail. When I started out, I saw quite a few hikers using apps that they downloaded on their phone as a guide. But that has changed, now almost everyone uses the old fashioned, but reliable, paper booklet as their information source. The batteries never die and you don't need a GPS signal for it to work. As you go through the book, the pages that are no longer needed can be torn out and thrown away to make it lighter. It works really well.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Dickenson Gap
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I did not set an alarm for this morning. I felt tired and weary yesterday, and decided that today would be easy. At 7:00 I got up and went to the Motel office and grabbed a cup of free coffee, then came back to the room to fold my laundry that was hanging from my makeshift clothesline. I took my dirty, soggy tent to the shower and gave both the tent and the fly a complete cleaning. Once I hung my tent out to dry I decided to walk to Hardee's for breakfast.I met Beaker, a section hiker, who got off the trail for breakfast. She was planning to do a thru hike, but due to a last minute school change she is only going to Harper's Ferry then moving to Seattle. After a leisurely breakfast I walked to Food Lion, where I purchased enough food for five days on the trail. After I returned to the motel, packed up for the trail, I decided to take one more shower before I head out. I was ready to head out an hour before I had to check out so I flopped on the bed and listened to my favorite podcast, The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. I didn't watch any tv (except for the few times I was at a bar or restaurant) or read any newspapers since I started the trail. Listening to the podcast gave me a little exposure to the "other" world again.I had the lunch buffet at Pizza Plus then bought a 16 oz. bottle of Pepsi for the trail. I carry a 32 oz. plastic water bottle (a freebie I got at a half marathon) and a plastic 16 oz. used soda bottle for my water storage. That seems to be plenty of water capacity so far. I could also carry some water in my 32 oz. squeeze bag for my filter if I really needed it. I have developed a full blown addiction to sodas since I am on the trail, and I hope I can kick the habit once this is over.I left town after lunch with a full pack, and started climbing into the mountains. Town stops remind me of a jumbo jet coming into an airport to refuel. You come down out of the mountains towards a town you can see in the distance. Down, down, down, back and forth on switch backs, just like a plane in a long slow descent. You land on the runway and taxi to a motel, where you get cleaned up, charge your on board batteries, and load up with fuel for the next leg of the trip. Then you taxi out to the runway and slowly start heading out of town, loaded down with fuel, powerful engines throbbing below you, then up, up, up you go in a wide sweeping circle until you get to cruising altitude, then it's off to the next airport.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Dickenson Gap

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: clear sky

Last evening at the last shelter I passed before camping I met a man called Grumpy. This morning the first hiker I met on the trail was called Happy. When I told Happy that Grumpy is just a few miles behind him on the trail, he said he never met him.Happy and I walked together for a few miles, then stopped to eat breakfast at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter which still had a warm fire from last night's guests. Happy is a retired school teacher from California, and was a pleasure to be with. We talked about history, politics, religion, and non-religion. He is knowledgeable on a lot of subjects and was a pleasant person to talk to. Even when we disagreed on some topics we were able to have an interesting discussion about it. It is rare to find a person who is more agreeable when disagreeing than Happy. He also hiked the entire PCT a few years ago.I wanted to go longer than Happy did today so we said our goodbyes around noon and I moved ahead. I soon met a lady called Smile, who is doing a thru hike going southbound. She started in Harpers Ferry and is going to Springer, then she will travel to Katahdin and go to Harpers Ferry. Instead of calling it a flip flop hike, she likes to call it a southbound end around. I hope to meet her again somewhere in the New England states.People do the Appalachian Trail in a variety of different ways. I am a bit of a purist, I want to do the entire trail from south to north, in order, with Mr. Maroon. When shelters have two paths leading to the shelter, an upper and a lower path, I will always go back out on the trail I came in on, so as not to miss any part of the trail. However, I will use shuttles or rides to town while some extreme purists won't even do that. Some hikers will use blue blazed trails that skirt around mountains instead of going over them, some will skip sections of the trail, some will canoe or raft on the river beside the trail, which is called aqua blazing. It really doesn't matter how you do it, each person makes up his own rules. HYOH is how to respond to anyone who questions your hiking method. (Hike Your Own Hike). If a person really doesn't want to hear about it and is trying to shut someone up, he may respond with HYOHH. (Hike Your Own Hike Homie)
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: light rain

I got on the trail this morning shortly after 7:00. It was clear but not as cold as the last few mornings. Cold enough that I wore the down jacket to get started, but it soon came off, along with the pant legs.I didn't have to go far before I got to Keffer Oak, the largest oak tree on the AT south of the Mason Dixon line. The tree is over 300 years old. When I think of the age of old trees and mountains it is hard to grasp how much has happened since their existance. 300 years ago this country was in its infancy. The Appalachian ridges are 480 million years old, I can't even begin to imagine all the things that took place in these hills over that time. I feel fortunate that I can share a place in time with these ancients, even though it is only a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of things.The trail is rocky and rugged again the last few days. The climbs and the descents are taking a toll on my feet. I took a longer break over lunch, and even took a short nap, but the feet and ankles still ache tonight. I think it's just a part of the price you pay to do a thru hike, and it's a price I'll gladly pay for this experience. There will be days and times when I would rather not be out here, but today is not the day and now is not that time. It was gorgeous out here!I am eagerly looking forward to seeing Dragon's Tooth and McAfee Knob tomorrow.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Pickle Branch Shelter 

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 23.0

Last night is was only me, Bostrich, and a section hiker who stayed at Pickle Branch Shelter. To change it up a bit, I decided to make breakfast at the shelter before I left. I got on the trail around 7:30 and Bostrich was right behind me. We began to climb as soon as we left the shelter, and it didn't go long before we got to see some breathtaking views. We meandered around huge boulders on the edge of the mountain and each view seemed to be better than the last. I sat down on a nice sunny rock outcrop and worked on uploading my journal while Bostrich moved on.When I got close to Dragon's Tooth I missed the side trail that led to the stone monolith. The trail on this section was literally on rock ledges and big boulders. Some places there was metal bars in the rock face to help with climbing up and down. I left Mr. Maroon beside the trail and went back, found the side trail, looked in wonder at the huge upended slab of sedimentary rock that jutted into the sky about 30 feet or so. It boggles the mind when thinking about the force it took to create the formation. Someday that entire slab of rock will tumble into the valley below.I told Bostrich that I am going to stop at the gas station/general store that is just off the trail when I get to the bottom of the mountain. He decided to keep going to McAfee Knob. I had half a pizza, a chicken salad sandwich, two Coca Colas, an ice cream cone, a bag of chocolate covered raisins, a bag of peanuts, and a Milky Way. I was ready to take on Catawba Mountain.I caught up to Bostrich again as he came out of a shelter where he had stopped to take a break, and we headed up the mountain together. The views from McAfee Knob were incredible. We spent at least an hour up there. McAfee Knob is the most photographed spot on the entire AT, and I can understand why.We finally left the Knob and headed for Lamberts Meadow Shelter, which was about 6 miles away. It was starting to look a bit like rain in the distance and Bostrich went out ahead. After I went a few miles I heard a distant rumble of thunder. I didn't like it because we still had to go up over Tinker Cliffs before we got to the shelter. With 3 miles till the shelter it started to rain off and on, and I started running on the flat and the downhill sections. The rumblings of the storm didn't seem to be getting much closer, so I decided to keep going up and over the cliffs. When I finally got to the top it started raining a bit more, and I hustled the half mile across the top and started down towards the shelter. I did a slow run down the hill for the last mile till the shelter, and got there just as it started really coming down. Four guys were already here, but Bostrich was not. He must have taken shelter somewhere before we headed up to the cliffs. I waited till the rain let up then set up my tent beside the burbling creek. What a fan-freaking-tastic day!
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 9.4

It rained almost the entire night, but by morning it tapered off to a drizzle. My tent is wet and very muddy, it will be good to get to town and get everything cleaned up.Tortuga and I leapfrogged each other a few times as we walked the easy ridge line toward Daleville, and the school bus size bounders that the trail goes by on the ridge continued to impress me. As we approached town, the traffic from Interstate 81 was audible for miles before we finally dropped down from the ridge to the edge of the highway. I checked into a Howard Johnson Hotel that was within a tenth of a mile or so off the trail. It was just before noon, but I was able to get into a room right away.After a long hot shower, I ate lunch at Three Lil Pigs Bar-B-Q with Bostrich. We discussed the comforts of town, and couldn't come to a conclusion about which is more enjoyable, the long hot showers or the unlimited food supply.I took a long nap in the afternoon, then did my grocery shopping and laundry. I was feeling just a bit off on the stomach, so I just got an egg salad sandwich and a beer for the evening. I cleaned up my tent and hung all my stuff out to dry, so that I have a dry and light pack full of gear when I head out of town.I went to bed and was not feeling well. It did not go long till I had to rush to the bathroom and chuck up all those precious calories I consumed today. A short while later I got rid of everything out the other end. I did this a few more time and came to the conclusion that tomorrow will have to be a ZERO day. At least this happened in town where there are bathrooms to clean up in and unlimited supplies of toilet paper.Norovirus has been an ongoing problem on the trail with hikers, and it certainly seems likely that this is what I have.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Daleville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Last night was a bit hellish, my stomach was bent on getting rid of its contents in whatever way it could. I rushed to the bathroom a dozen times or so, and didn't get any sleep. Whenever I tried drinking something to replace my fluids, it came back up within 30 minutes.I tentatively tried sipping on a Sprite and eating a few crackers around 9:00 this morning. That seemed to work, so I had a few more. I went to the front office, explained my situation to the lady, and asked to book my room for another night. I went back to my room, took a shower, and crawled into bed. I stayed holed up in my room all day till about 6:00, when I went out to get a grilled chicken sandwich and some mac and cheese. That seemed to agree with me, so now I hope I can move on in the morning.
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Daleville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to take my time this morning to get breakfast and get my things packed. After a leisurely shower I did the continental breakfast here at the hotel, but I just wasn't hungry. I forced myself to eat some toast and eggs. I returned to my room and decided that it was a bad idea to head back out on the trail without an appetite in this weakened state. Not being hungry was completely foreign to me on this adventure until now.I got my room for another night and spent the day resting, sleeping, and researching norovirus. Norovirus has a clever way to spread from person to person, it forces its host to vomit and crap violently, thus increasing its chances to move to another host. Carl Zimmer wrote an informative blog about norovirus in 2013. If you want to know more, just google Carl Zimmer and norovirus.
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Daleville

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning I got up late and had the free continental breakfast that the HoJo offered, still not having my mind made up about whether or not to head out today. I felt ok, but I just wasn't very hungry. I met Blue Toes, whom I hadn't seen since Damascus. I chatted with him, but tried to keep to myself a bit more than usual, to minimize the risk of spreading any nasty virus.When I finally decided that I felt well enough to tackle the trail it was 9:00. By the time I got checked out and was on the trail it was after 10:00. The day was warm and sunny, and the trail was easy. I started slow and took lots of breaks. I still wasn't hungry but I wasn't feeling bad. I made a sandwich for late lunch and it tasted good. By the time I stopped for the evening I was hungry again. I warmed up a pasta side and it was delicious! I think the norovirus episode is behind me.The trail met up with the Blue Ridge Parkway, and crossed it a few times today. Most of the afternoon I was within hearing distance of the BRP. Even this evening, where Green Tortuga and I are camping, we can hear the occasional vehicle travel the parkway.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: few clouds

The day is warm and sunny, probably as warm as it has been since I started from Springer Mountain. I notice that everything is really green, the trees have filled out and the underbrush is getting thick. The birds, bees, and butterflies are really active. Everything seems so alive. Oh yes, the mosquitos, the gnats, and the flies...they are also very alive. The biting things seem to be out in force the last few days.This morning just before lunch I was walking down the trail a little behind another hiker when I heard a buzzing off to my left. Mr. Rattles was lying a few feet off the trail among the dead leaves and greeted me in his own way. I extended my hiking pole and said my hello, then we each went on our merry way.I stretched out inside a shelter after my lunch and took a short snooze before I started the last 10 miles of the day. When I left the shelter the sun was shining brightly and the sweat started rolling off my face. I had 3000 feet of climbing to do and it was really wearing me down. When I finally came to the shelter to camp, I was completely exhausted. I don't remember feeling this tired at the end of the day since I started the trail. A lot of the people who are staying here, also did the same amount of mileage, and they seemed to agree that this was one of the toughest days on the trail. I think the heat is the big factor, we just haven't gotten acclimated yet.Climbing thousands of feet in elevation is like going backwards in the season. Up here the tree barely have any leaves yet, the flowers aren't blooming yet, and the underbrush is bare. Very different from where I came from at lunchtime.
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: US 60
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: few clouds

Last night I heard the loudest screaming of spring peepers I have ever heard in my life. There were times when it would have been difficult to have a conversation with another person. The shelter is right by a small pond, and the area was teeming with life.I got up early and was on the trail by 6:45. I just wanted to get to US 60 in good time so that I had most of the afternoon to get into Buena Vista, VA, which is over 9 miles from the trail. I stopped a few times for a snack, but was able to make the short walk in good time. When I got to the road there was already three hikers at the trailhead. Bostrich was one of them, and he asked if I'm going to town. When I acknowledged that I am, he said he already has a ride for the three of them and said I can go along if I want to. It worked out perfectly, and 45 minutes later I was checked into a cheap Motel room with the rest of the day to do laundry, clean my gear, resupply, and eat.I passed my 800 mile mark today, and placed my trademark on a small tree about 20 feet from the trail.
Date: 2015-05-08
From: US 60

To: VA 56
Miles today: 25.5

Clifford, Happy, and I had the same shuttle driver scheduled to take us out to the trailhead that we had yesterday. So at 7:15 Gary, the shuttle driver, pulled up to our rooms and within 30 minutes we were hiking. $15.00 per trip to get from town to the trailhead. We split that three ways, so it was a great deal.The weather was perfect for hiking; partly sunny with a light breeze. Warm enough that we were dripping sweat by the time we finished our initial 2000 foot climb, but dry enough that we cooled down and dried out quick as we walked the beautiful ridgelines. We crossed a few balds and went by some gorgeous flowering white trees. The woods seemed to be exploding in blossoms.We met a young couple who had an 8 month old girl along in a special backpack attachment. They were in the second week of a six week backpacking trip and it looked like they were having a great time.As we were beginning the last descent of the day we spotted a note that was taped to a tree warning us of a rattlesnake at the next corner. I took the lead and was super careful and going slow, Happy was right behind me looking around, and Clifford was bringing up the rear. When we got to the corner Clifford took his pole and raked it through the dry leaves right behind Happy, and yelled "look out!" Happy jumped forward and to the side so fast and so violently that it seemed as if he was going to fall off the trail. We stopped and laughed hysterically for a while at Happy's expense.My friend Leroy and Ray came down to do a day hike with me tomorrow, so they walked part of the way up the mountain to meet me. When we got to the parking area at the bottom Happy asked Leroy if he would take him to the campground store which was a few miles away. Happy and Clifford didn't have cash so they were hoping they take credit cards. When Happy and Leroy came back, Happy rolled down the window and told Clifford that they didn't take credit cards. Poor Clifford was crestfallen at the news. That meant that they would have the same old backpack food for dinner. Then with a big old grin, Happy reached down in the car and pulled out a huge bag of goodies that he purchased at the store and said, "gotcha back for scaring me". What goes around comes around in this community.I put my stuff in Leroy' car, then we went to a campground and rented a cabin for the night. We showered and got cleaned up then drove to Wild Wolf Brewery for a burger and a beer. Any day that ends with a hot shower is a good day on the trail.