morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-24
From: White Top Mountain

To: Damascus
Miles today: 21.6

SoBo slack packed from White Top Mountain Road back to Damascus(21.6 miles). Gypsy Jack shuttled me to the mountain top and even loaned me a day pack. He's a very nice guy and a previous thru hiker. I got the opportunity to walk some of the VA Creeper Trail today since a bridge washout had resulted in a detour to the Creeper. The hike was pretty tough. I kept thinking that it would get easier down along the river but those were some big mountains with lots of switchbacks.Got back to town, had a shower and dinner and was dead to the world. The people at the Old Mill Inn are great. I highly recommend staying there. It's well worth the money.
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Damascus

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Another typical day on the trail; lots of ups and downs, water and mud, rocks and roots, and a cold wind. The sunshine was hot later and I missed the afternoon thunder showers. It was a great day. The Grayson Highlands are beautiful and Mount Rogers is awesome. Had a tremendous amount of rock-hopping coming off of Mt. Rogers. Rosemary dropped me off this morning around 9:00 on White Top Mountain. As usual, I hated to see her go, not knowing when we would have an opportunity to get together again. Hiked most of the day with No Name and Homeward Bound. I love these guys. They are such a hoot!When I arrived here at the shelter, Whisper was already here. She and The Mailman had an AT wedding and she asked me to give her away. She was the very first person I met on the AT that morning at Springer Mt. It was a nice wedding. No Name spoke and did a great job. Zepher, the girl who did the ceremony, did a great job also. That was the first time I had ever given anyone away and I was very proud.I had no trouble today getting through Fat Man's Squeeze. I'm still trying to fatten up. Rosemary brought me some dried dates and different protein bars. Something gave me terrible gas. Good thing we were in 15 mph winds.
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Wise Shelter

To: USFS Hurricane Creek Campground, Dickey Gap
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Broke camp late today at 9:15. Kinda cool this morning and I hated to crawl out of my warm sleeping bag. Saw Mama Goose today. Hadn't seen her since that first night at Hawk Mountain Shelter. She is going to be in a parade tomorrow for the veterans. I met the campground host here at Hurricane Creek as I was checking in. He introduced me to two families who were camped next to me. One family was from Norris, TN and the other was from somewhere near Atlanta. They invited me to have supper with them. They were cooking a pork roast which they said would be ready in about an hour. As I was waiting and resting in my tent, the campground host pulled up in his golf cart. He had brought me a plate with a freshly caught trout, potato salad, a coke and a bottle of water. He said he wanted me to have it for dinner. What a nice man. Trail magic at its best! He also explained to me what fish cheeks were. They're the meat on the side of the fish's head and he proceeded to show me how to get to them. I can now say that I have eaten fish cheeks.After I ate, I went over to the other families' site for my second dinner. They had a feast fit for a king; corn on the cob, a delicious salad, fried green tomatoes, baked potato, and pork roast. What wonderful, generous people! Each family had young children who were so well-mannered and a pleasure to be around. I really hated to leave them after having such a good time. As if the dinner wasn't enough, they packed a lunch of a pork sandwich, an orange, a baked potato and salad for me to eat on the trail. Thanks to those special people. What a blessing!
Date: 2013-05-27
From: USFS Hurricane Creek Campground, Dickey Gap

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Broke camp a little before 8:00 this morning. Sure hated to say goodbye to my new-found friends. The children had drawn pictures for me to take. They were so special and I asked them to mail them to my house so that I could keep them. Everyone was so kind and generous. I really enjoyed my stay at the campground. If you guys are reading my journal, thank you so much! I ate well on the trail today, my wonderful lunch from last night's leftovers.Saw Kicket and Cliff Diver here at the shelter. Good to see them again. No Name and Homeward Bound are also camped here. For dinner, we ordered pizza from the Forest Visitor Center. I ordered a medium pizza, two bottles of Coke and a garden salad. The pizza and salad were huge and the Cokes were each two-liter, something I hadn't expected. I drank half of one bottle and shared the other one with No Name and HB. Plan to eat the salad for breakfast.Still thinking about how nice it was at Hurrican Creek. I hope everyone there is having a great time. I can't thank them enough for some great memories of kindness along the trail. The Partnership Shelter is the nicest one I've seen on the trail so far. It has lots of cold water, a privey and a shower. I still camped in my tent.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA 
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Pretty good hike today. Had a couple of steep but short mountains. Broke camp early but hung out at the Forest Service office until about 9:00 before I finally decided to hit the trail rather than go into town to resupply.A young kid asked me today if hiking everyday was fun. Of course, I answered "yes" but, actually, I had to think about it. Hiking everyday is really NOT fun. Somedays the trail is difficult, the weather is awful, your body hurts all over, and you feel like you just can't make it. But always at the end of each day, you realize that, no matter what, the day has been rewarding. That's what keeps me going.Decided to stop early and stay at the Relax Inn in Atkins to get a hot shower and a bed that I don't have to blow up. Ate at the Barn Restaurant. Had hamburger steak, corn, peas, pinto beans and sweet tea. Going to shower and rest tonight. Looks like four days until the next town. Need to check my food supply.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Atkins, VA 

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Started today off with breakfast at the Barn Restaurant; eggs, bacon, toast, biscuits, and grits. Had a good day hiking. Got pretty hot around midday and had to drink lots of water. Missed the good trail magic today (hamburgers and hotdogs) but did get in later on some PB & Js and Coke that PackRat and someone else had put out. Met two section hikers today; Deer Stalker and Trail Granny. This is Deer Stalker's first backpack trip ever. My camp is set up and I'm ready for bed. I think that Stalker and Granny are going to roast some hotdogs without the buns. Tomorrow, like today, will be a tough hike. The first shelter is 9.1 and the second one is 19.1. There are very few campsites along the way.Just had two roasted hotdogs, thanks to Stalker and Granny. They were delicious!
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

The hike up Chestnut Ridge was tough; long, steep, hot, and humid. I had planned to go farther, but decided to rest my body for a spell and stay here. The humidity makes hiking tougher. I kept seeing water droplets drop off my hat brim and finally realized it was sweat from my head. Feels good to get the shoes off. I really smell like a hiker today. I plan to sleep without the rain fly tonight to allow some of the smell to escape!Spoke today with my good friend, Gene, from Oregon. It was so good to hear from him. My AT hike has postponed my plans to visit with him and his wife, Barb, this summer. Hopefully, Rosemary and I can see them sometime after my journey is finished.The bugs were bad again today. Luckily, most of them got washed away by sweat before they had a chance to bite.Looks like my options for tomorrow are 10 miles to the first shelter or 24 to the second. Don't think I'll do the 24 because of the heat. That means another night on the trail before I can resupply.Woof, woof
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Fort Bastian
Miles today: 14.8

Broke camp at 7:00 this morning. Was very cool and windy on top of the mountain but didn't take long to warm up. Was going to try for Bland but pulled up short to check out Fort Bastian. Called TruBrit to pick me and 3 other hikers up at VA 615.The Fort is very rustic but seems to have everything that hikers need, as far as a place to crash goes. There are several hikers here. You just find a place in the woods to pitch your tent and take a shovel to the woods for the bathroom. There's a common tarp tent area with a fire pit and chairs sitting around it. I feel like I'm in a 60's hippies commune. I think I'm the oldest person here. Admittedly, one of the original hippies from back in the day.Everyone, including myself, is ordering pizza and beer for supper.Woof, woof
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Fort Bastian

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It's 7:38 am and I'm packed and ready to go. A bunch of yahoos partying last night kept everyone awake until 4:30 am. Some people have no respect or consideration for others. Apparently, they think that they are the only people who matter. I have no use for that kind of person. If TruBrit wants to make a go of this place, he's going to have to set some basic rules.Didn't get dropped off at the trail until 11:30, but, at least, we got a good breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, and coffee before leaving. Hiked hard all day trying to make up some miles. The weather was muggy but not as bad as yesterday. I find I hike much better with a full stomach. I was trying to reach Jenny Knob before dark so I hiked until 7:50. I had about 45 minutes of daylight when I finally got there. Had enough time to eat and set up camp but didn't get to hang my bear bag. Headed for Trent's Grocery or possibly Nature Way tomorrow. Will see when I get there.Woof, woof
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

Crossed the 600-mile mark today! Stopped at Trent's Grocery for a burger, fries, and a quart of chocolate milk. Wanted to resupply but all I could find was some junk foods to get me into Pearisburg tomorrow. Started raining today about 11:00 and has been raining off and on all day. I hope it stops by morning. I hate to break camp in the rain, especially when I have 17 miles to cover.Considering a stop at Woods Hole but will see how things are when I get there. I saw TruBrit at Trent's Grocery. He had just yellow-blazed a truck load of the party group to Woods Hole. If they are still there when I get there, I'll just go on.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.2

Broke camp around 8:00 this morning. It's still sprinkling but not enough to wet everything.Had a steep climb first thing out of camp and could tell I hadn't eaten well. I'm realizing that if you don't eat well, your body won't work well. It started raining so I decided to stop at Woods Hole Hostel. I'm really glad I did. It's a great place. My shared room in the main house is very nice. Luckily, the yahoos from Fort Bastian were in the bunkhouse but yellow-blazed on up to Pearisburg. I guess the AT is easy if you can ride all the way.I could hardly wait for supper tonight and it was a feast. This is the most wonderful place! They have all sorts of animals around here -- chickens, dogs, cats, ducks, goats. Plants of all kinds, edible and ornamental.I shared a room with Ian and Kitty, a couple from South Africa. Very nice people.What a peaceful place to rest for a while.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 10.4

SoBo slack from Pearisburg back to Woods Hole Hostel today.This hostel is so amazing that I can tell already it will be hard to leave. Neville and Michael, the owners, are such gracious hosts. Neville is an amazing cook and she makes bread everyday. The foods that they serve are homegrown by them or by the local Amish community. Wonderful salads straight from the garden and eggs from their own chickens. A far cry from the junk food that has comprised a lot of my meals along the trail.Hiked today with Ian and Kitty, the couple from South Africa that I roomed with last night. Doggie Momma (Rosemary) drove up today to stay for a few days. I'm so glad that she came up here. Tomorrow, we plan to go into Blacksburg to the outfitters. Ian and Kitty need to buy a new tent and I'm going to break down and purchase a stove (like I need another one). I have enough spare gear now to start my own outfitters store. I've decided that I'm going to have to start cooking and eating better if I plan to get to Maine. I'm losing too much weight to keep my energy level up.Doggie Momma brought a handful of mail which included the drawings that the Spurling family had drawn for me. Thanks so much to both Carolines, Katherine, Jackson, Maclean and to everyone else I met at Hurricane Creek Campground. That day was so special and one of my very best since I've been on the trail.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

A zero day at Woods Hole to resupply.Drove the car to Blacksburg to Backcountry Outfitters. I purchased a JetBoil stove (heavier but quick to boil water). Now I have about four alcohol stoves and two gas stoves. Ian and Kitty bought a new tent and are hopeful they'll get a credit for their old tent that broke.We went to Our Daily Bread, a great bakery and cafe in Blacksburg, where Ian treated us to coffee and pastries. Talking to them about their country was so interesting. I"m thankful that we met them and were able to spend a little time with them. After dropping them off at their hotel in Pearisburg, we returned to Woods Hole for another night.Hardtack showed up here at Woods Hole at the supper table. It was good to meet back up with him again. We had another fabulous dinner. We plan to leave tomorrow but, as I said before, Woods Hole is not a place that's easily left. Neville and Michael are so warm and make you feel like a part of their family. We've had a special time here and made some wonderful memories and friends.A word of warning: If you sit on the front porch, be careful of chickens sitting on the rafters above your head. Thank goodness, the chicken's aim was off by about a foot. So thankful that cows can't fly! For AT hikers, Woods Hole is a must stop.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

A zero day at Woods Hole to resupply.Drove the car to Blacksburg to Backcountry Outfitters. I purchased a JetBoil stove (heavier but quick to boil water). Now I have about four alcohol stoves and two gas stoves. Ian and Kitty bought a new tent and are hopeful they'll get a credit for their old tent that broke.We went to Our Daily Bread, a great bakery and cafe in Blacksburg, where Ian treated us to coffee and pastries. Talking to them about their country was so interesting. I"m thankful that we met them and were about to spend a little time with them. After dropping them off at their hotel in Pearisburg, we returned to Woods Hole for another night.Hardtack showed up here at Woods Hole at the supper table. It was good to meet back up with him again. We had another fabulous dinner. We plan to leave tomorrow but, as I said before, Woods Hole is not a place that's easily left. Neville and Michael are so warm and make you feel like a part of their family. We've had a special time here and made some wonderful memories and friends.A word of warning: If you sit on the front porch, be careful of chickens sitting on the rafters above your head. Thank goodness, the chicken's aim was off by about a foot. So thankful that cows can't fly! For AT hikers, Woods Hole is a must stop.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Mountain Lake Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

Said goodbye to everyone at Woods Hole this morning and headed for the Mountain Lake Lodge. Although I had intended to hit the trail again today, the weather quickly changed my mind. The hostel was full of hikers who had piled in to get out of the weather. The rain, which had started during the night, continued all day. Rosemary and I checked into the Mountain Lake and then drove into Blacksburg for lunch at Our Daily Bread. Tonight, we'll celebrate our 28th anniversary in the lodge's restaurant. Mountain Lake is a beautiful old lodge with cabins all around. The outside scenes of the movie "Dirty Dancing" were filmed here. It's a complete turnaround from Woods Hole; no chickens, ducks, goats, cows, or pigs. A great relaxing place to take a zero. It's a gray day with a heavy fog that has completely enveloped the mountains. The rain continues.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Pearisburg

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: moderate rain

It was tough leaving Doggie Momma this morning. We had a great time at the Mountain Lake and at Woods Hole. Probably will not meet up again until Harpers Ferry. Today was not one of my better days -- Doggie Momma left, my hike out of town was the pits and the weather was awful. After I had hiked up some steep hills and over terrible rocks, the trail dropped me off on the same road that I had just left about a quarter of a mile farther up. I could look down the road and see the spot where the trail had taken me into the woods. That was disheartening, especially with a heavier pack (new stove and fresh supply of food). Then, I had one hellacious mountain to climb in the pouring rain. I seriously considered calling Doggie Momma to come back and get me.When I finally got to the shelter, the dense fog made it impossible to see anything. The rain showed no signs of letting up so I slept inside the shelter to get out of the wet and cold. It was, of course, packed but dry.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: The Captain's Place
Miles today: 13.7

Today was a much better day. Left the shelter before 8:00 and hit a wet, muddy trail. The wet grass and brush along the trail soaked my shoes and pants legs. Turned out to be a beautiful day and a good hike. Saw two snakes today; one garter and one unknown but both were harmless. Decided to stop at The Captain's Place and camp. Arrived at 5:00 in time to try out my new JetBoil stove. My food bag with my new supply of food to cook weighs about 30 pounds, or at least it feels like it does. I cooked a rice dish which I ate with a cup of coffee and a bagel with banana chips for dessert. It was much better than my old diet of Power Bars.The Captains Place is nice. Hikers camp in the owner's yard. He has a zipline across the creek that hikers use to get to the camp. What a trip that was crossing the creek on a zipline. Should have filmed it. The captain, who is a former thru hiker himself, really helps out the hikers at no charge. Even has Cokes in the fridge.Feels like another cool night. Have my breakfast ready for tomorrow along with my snacks and supper for tomorrow night. Trying to lighten my food bag. Reminds me of the day I left Hurricane Creek with that two-pound baked potato and two ears of corn on the cob. Sure was good, though!
Date: 2013-06-09
From: The Captain's Place

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Left The Captain's Place before 8:00 this morning and used the zipline to cross back over the creek. Today was a beautiful day to hike. The climbs up these Virginia mountains can be pretty steep.Have had a problem with my knee today. Kept hoping the pain would go away but it in now 6:40 and it's still bothering me. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. Going to hit the "I" vitamins hard tomorrow.Love my new JetBoil stove. It heats water in a heartbeat. Supper was Spanish rice, coffee, jerky and dried bananas for dessert. I've found that I really enjoy the cooking and eating hot foods, even though it does take more time.It is now pouring rain. Hope it stops soon. I hate having to break camp in the rain. Met back up with Special K and Holister today. They are camped here near me. Plan to do the 8.2 miles to Newport tomorrow and then re-evaluate the knee. Maybe, tomorrow will be better.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: War Spur Shelter

To: VA 630
Miles today: 9.1

Monday 7:30. Still pouring rain. I think it rained all night. I'm dry but Special K's tent failed and she is soaked. I have been there and know how that is. They are hiking to the next town to dry out. Had breakfast of bagels and peanut butter and will cook later if the rain stops.Dixie Grits was at the shelter and invited all of us to his house in Blacksburg to dry out. I hit the trail shortly before 9:00 in a light drizzle. At about 1:00, the sky opened up. I have heard of a toad strangler but this was the first time I had experienced one. I actually saw a toad on the trail (I promise this is the truth) and I think he was headed for higher ground. I was soaked. The thunder and lightning was a bit scary, especially since I was carrying two lightning rods in my hands.Dixie Grits was waiting at the highway (VA 630) when I got there. He had two other hikers and his son with him. Didn't know where Hollister, Special K, and Easy Rider were but we headed out for his house in town. He dropped us off and went back to wait for the others. They never showed up so at 5:00 he came home. His son took us to Buffalo Wild Wings for supper and also gave us a tour of VA Tech.There are nine hikers here for the night. We all did laundry. Dixie Grits is a true trail angel. Also had trail magic today. Super Dave (?) left a cooler on the trail with peaches, Little Debbies, and soda. Thanks Super Dave! Will be heading out tomorrow. Had a bit of a problem with the knee today but was able to continue walking. Will see how it goes tomorrow.