morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Bald Mt Shelter

To: Erwin, Uncle Johnnie's
Miles today: 16.4

Put my wet cold clothes on and got going at 7 a.m. Hiking warmed me up until early afternoon when the rain stopped. Mostly down trail, numbing my toes and straining my knees. Uncle Johnnie's could be cleaner and quieter but the showers and shuttles all work well. Dvds being watched and hockey game on. It will be tough to get an early start, may wait for breakfast trip to town, but that shoots half the day.
Date: 2012-04-19
From: Erwin uncle johnnies

To: Little Bald Knob
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had to quietly extricate myself from the bunkhouse at 6:30. Set off on a gloomy day on good trail all day. A few long flat climbs over Beauty Spot, which is a nice Southern grassy bald, and Unaka Mt, which is piney like NH. I went until six PM and camped on this Rocky promentory with vast vistas.
Date: 2012-04-20
From: Little Bald Knob

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Long day to get here over Roan Mt. They rerouted the trail going up Roan with many new switchbacks that made the trail easier but longer. A welcome change, and they did a great job, even going by an excellent spring. Leap-frogged with many people including Nitrus, Day Star, and TP. Saw a family of people picking ramps, which are a wild garlic. Here with all old timers--Master Splinter, Hillbilly and Scavenger. In shelter because of possible rain.
Date: 2012-04-21
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 11.7

Early start, cold, and away we go up the beautiful climbs of Little and Big Hump Mountains. Another set of grassy balds. This is where there were African cattle in 2000. Some rocky but mostly nice trail. I had an accident. I tripped slabbing down the mountain and fell over the edge. It was steep, and luckily I came to rest against a skinny tree about six feet down between my head and shoulder. I was head first but no damage accept a scrape on my leg. I kept saying, "Lucky boy am I." The hostel is first-rate but crowded. Here with Caona Sam, Idaho Sherpa, Tp, Miles, Roadside, and more. The B&B breakfast is early. We are all a bit worried about the forecast of cold, rain, and even snow!
Date: 2012-04-22
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Vango/Abby Memorial Hostel
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain all day and cold. My rain gear is not working well. Stopped here at 4:30 just to get out of the rain. We had a great B&B breakfast this morning. This hostel is more spartan. But has the computer and sort of heat. May be indoors tomorrow too.
Date: 2012-04-23
From: Vango Abby Hostel

To: Black Bear Hostel
Miles today: 11.5

Great to have a heated cabin. Awoke to ice all over. Cold and a drizzle of snow pellets. The day started off cold and windy, and it snowed until two or so. Normally this is great trail but covered in snow it was a slippery slow day. Got to this crowded place and ended up with a cabin of my own so far. They may add a few late-comers, but I have the bedroom, and anybody else gets a mattress on the floor. Cold but a little gas heater. More cold days and rain ahead.
Date: 2012-04-24
From: Black Bear Hostel

To: Vandervender Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: broken clouds

Very cold windy day right from the start. Great views of Watauga Lake. Guys at this crowded shelter thought it would "be awesome" to do the 32 miles directly into Damascus. LOL. Cold windy night. Got trail magic at Watauga Lake from a kid from Arlington, MA. Hard boiled eggs, grilled meat, donuts.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Vandervender Shelter

To: Past Muddy Spring
Miles today: 20.7

7 AM start in cold and rain. I used a different shirt under my packa and it still got wet but didn't feel so bad. I think the wind shirt with the packa is a bad combination, but a regular hiking, wicking shirt is ok. Either way I have yet to find any rain gear that actually keeps you dry. So the packa is as good as any. In fact better because it is so light. It is difficult not to have a jacket that you an use separately. Luckily the afternoon finished in the sun so it made the miles zip by. Really ideal trail to this little quiet campsite. Got trail magic from some Baptists in the form of a bear box with soda, etc. The box had cutouts of the cross on all sides. Later more trail magic from Sipsy, soda and trail snacks, and chips. Met Rael, a five timer from Peabody MA, Cowtail from RI, Longskirt, Niko, Mac, and Snap. This is my last night in Tennessee.
Date: 2012-04-26
From: Past Muddy Spring

To: Damascus
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

Started in the cold and then severe thunderstorm, but the easy trail into Damascus went by quickly. When I got to town at noon, the rain stopped. Had a burger and giant beer at Quincy's then checked in at the Lazy Fox B&B. Very nice place. Ginny is very helpful in this Victorian house. Internet here too.Got my laundry done and planned my purchases at the outfitter, food store, etc.Planning a zero tomorrow with the idea of doing nothing but B&B breakfast and then second breakfast, lunch, dinner, and walk out on Saturday perhaps taking a dinner sandwich from Subway after a full breakfast at a diner.
Date: 2012-04-28
From: Damascus

To: Piped Spring
Miles today: 21.5

A1 B&B breakfast and then on the trail at 8:30, stopped at 6:00. Perfect day for hiking, and that was matched by perfect trail all day. Camped here with Clogg. We have terrific views of four mountain ranges on Whitetop Mt. It is a bit windy.
Date: 2012-04-29
From: Piped Spring

To: Hurricane Camp trail junction
Miles today: 25.9

Very early start because being high up it gets light early. Really fine trail all day. Many wild ponies in Grayson Highlands including a nursing newborn. Met F100, Swamprat, and Woman(?). All grown ups. Yay. Nice trail all day. My new gravity filter worked well and is easy to use. Nice warm night so far. No AT&T signal again. I thought it would work better in Virginia.
Date: 2012-04-30
From: Hurricane Camp trail junction

To: Glade Mountain
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: clear sky

Just heard the thunder this late afternoon. Got the tent up and dinner cooked with just a bit of rain while I ate. Hot day. Mostly nice but some rocky painful trail at the end of the day after Partnership Shelter. Just stopped to use the info center washroom really. But listened to some career stoner enthrall the youngsters with his exploits as a pot farmer in California. These entrepreneurs set up housekeeping at road access shelters to do business. It seems that the herd has thinned out since Damascus.
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Glade Mountain

To: Atkins, Rest Inn
Miles today: 6.1

A day walk in for breakfast. Then shower, laundry, and hanging out for the afternoon. This motel is very third world but I think in better shape than my last visit of ten years ago. No shower curtain or vacuuming. But it is ok. In the morning I head for for Pearisburg.
Date: 2012-05-02
From: Atkins, Rest Inn

To: Lynn Camp Mountain
Miles today: 16.2

A really nice day all around. Restaurant breakfast with lots of coffee. 7:30 start. Walked through meadows and farms. Met Peter and Dos. Peter I had last seen in the Smokies. Fun guy. Hiked with them most of the afternoon. Soaked My hot feet in the Holstein River. Got to dank shelter and met April Showers. She has more hiking miles than I do but was feeling ill. I have her my tums. Short thunderstorm. PB&J and soda trail magic. Camped up here with April Showers to get out of the heat.
Date: 2012-05-03
From: Lynn Camp Mountain

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A tough rocky day. Rolled my ankle too. A real grind to get here though I started three miles ahead of 2002. Many people went to the Lutheran church hostel. I passed it up unnecessarily to keep pace for Waynesboro. I hope that wasn't a mistake. I'm doing this like a thruhike until Judy comes.
Date: 2012-05-04
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Brushy Mountain
Miles today: 22.1

What a nice day! Cloud cover kept it cool but humid. Eventually the humidity faded as the sun shone the rest of the day. Wonderful walking mostly on trail over old woods roads, really easy going. My feet are much better due to the rock-free trail. I trashed my liner socks with the holes--I think they were a part of the problem. Now less foot friction. Great tentsite on ridge, farms way down in the valley. Still quite warm but nice breeze up here. At ten pm I heard crunch crunch around my tent, walking slowly in the leaves. Five deer came into my camp. Their noisy walking woke me up. I shined my light on them and saw their eyes glowing. I made noise so they would go away and let me sleep.
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Brushy Mountain

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: mist

Rain while packing up and rain most of the day off and on. Just keep walking without breaks because it's all wet. My rain gear failed again even as a pack cover but I have a bag liner and dry sacks too. The rain gear simply does not work. I will make due until Waynesboro. Ended up short of hoped campsite but near this nice hostel. Very good dinner. Not vegetarian as the book says. Ice cream too. A lot of section hikers like me, slack packers, and a few yellow blazers. Mostly adults. I slept on the porch instead of the bunk room. Just me and the peepers.
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Early start and not easy trail but six hours to town. The motel is quite fixed up. But the sign is so wilted it makes the place look abandoned. Nice dinner with Coger and Trashbag. The motel did my laundry, and I filled my food bag to overflowing. Will take a zero day to let my feet rest. Also strange rash on my back, and my belly button is very red. But I feel fine and could easily hike out in the morning but I'll wait a day. I hope it is not a bore. This room is their best. But the AC does not work well. They can switch me to another room but then I lose the HD TV. Modern civilized problem.
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Pearisburg

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice day in town. Trashbag and Codger, Two Step and Payman, Biscuits and Cowtail. Got all my errands done. Got a haircut--I look like I just started. I will definitely stop at Harpers Ferry which completes my third End-to-End. I have to adjust to not being a thruhiker. I have never intentionally been a section hiker before this. But it is hard to slow down because I rarely want to camp early. I also mailed all my cold-weather gear home. It feels chilly already.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

A 6 AM start and a 6 pm stop but did "only" 19 miles. I have no idea why it took so long to get here, other than the hard rocky trail and the torrential downpour rain storm. You think that was a problem? Much? I was totally soaked. I sent all my warm clothes home so luckily it is warm out. Still raining now. In with the Germans and two dudes with a quiet dog. Ukulele player. I'm on a top bunk way up too high. So I can't budge until morning.
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: moderate rain

Overcast, rain all day but stopped at day's end. Here with Blue Fox. He's an AV guy on a cruise ship. A lot cooler now. Me with zero warm clothes. But sunny day promised for tomorrow. Lots of rocky trail and rain but same spot as 2002.
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Laurel Creek

To: Past Audie Murphy Memorial
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Early start left others in their bags. Mishap. I slipped crossing a creek and landed wham on my back. Just scraped my leg. Got up and am ok. Rocky going on the ridges where in 2002 there were goats that licked your legs for salt. The trail mostly was nice hard pack. Some climbs. The partly cloudy day with sun coming through was a blessing. It was great to see the sun. and made me feel so much better. This campsite is on the high point of the mountain. I'll have sun late and early in the morning. It is quite cool. I am very alone--camped alone and saw no north-bound hikers today. Just a few short-term campers.
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Past Audie Murphy Memorial

To: John Springs Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Nice trail until Cove Mountain and then long climb to Dragons Tooth. The climb down was difficult going. I had a bad fall and landed upside down between two slabs of stone. No one came. It took me quite awhile to unwrap my pack and poles that were all wound around me. I was upside down so it was a while before I could think of a solution. I thought I was going to be 127 hours. Eventually I worked my hand out of my pole straps and shook off my pack. That made me unstuck. After appraising myself, I just had scrapes, so I sat at the next stream and recomBOBulated myself. I ate, rested, and moved on. I camped with a couple from Virginia, Anne and Blain, who gave a lot of good insight about resupply on the next leg. Their dogs were a bit barky.
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Boblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

Started in fog. The dripping from the trees after the huge rain is like rain again. But it is not. Overcast most of the day but the sun finally poked through. Expecting T-storms tonight. The long, long climb made it clear that this was as far as I could go. The big rain has swollen the creeks so much that crossing can be challenging. Once I had to go up stream to look for a better crossing and got stinging nettles on my legs. They sting like little bees. Here with Camel who has done a lot of miles like me, and Dropout from last night.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

A fine hiking day over the Blue Ridge Parkway and eventually crossing the huge foot bridge over the James River. Weather fine and trail very nice. Me--not OK. My shirt is full of dried sweat and the salt is giving me "pack rash." The artificial fabric contributes to the problem. I'm drinking a lot but the sweat and evaporation is at maximum. I question also whether the last laundry had a rinse cycle. My upper arms and back are a red chaffed mess. Need a clothes wash. I washed at a stream with my bandana and put neosporin on everything. I'm here alone. I think a lot of the younger people went to "Trail Days" in Damascus.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Bald Knob
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail all day was in excellent shape. I met two maintainers from the Natural Bridge AT Hiking Club. That club does the best job on the trail at least from Springer to here. Trail Magic at Rt 60 and earlier from two 1980's hikers, Flash and Hot Flash. All that eating and socializing ate up some trail time so I didn't end until past 7:00 PM. Way up here the last two hours hunting for an adequate tent site but I finally found a nice one. After the hot humid shelter last night it's very cool up here. Glad to be in my warm bag.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Bald Knob

To: Dutch House B&B
Miles today: 13.5

Fast walk to Spy Rock Road and then a long gravelly road walk to the Fish Hatchery then confusing blue blazes and lost. I waved down a truck who took me to the local store and they called the B&B. This is a great place. Considering a slack pack tomorrow back to here.
Date: 2012-05-19
From: Dutch House B&B

To: Tye River
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

A lazy ten mile day hike to the Tye River and a ride back to Dutch Haus. Just hanging out for the afternoon. Hiked with Middlebury and Blue Fox. Good conversation the whole hike. Judy arrives Monday in Waynesboro and I have only thirty miles until she gets there so there is no point in getting there early with this place so nice.
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Tye River

To: Humpback Mt. Campsite
Miles today: 17.5

Really nice day hiking with Middlebury. High sunny campsite, but the clouds are forming. Judy will be in Waynesboro tomorrow but not until 8 pm so I have a lot of time to get chores done. Amazing connection: Middlbury knows Chris and Sadie in Louisville and she and her husband also bought a 2003 VW Eurovan, but they still have theirs. We got hotdogs and soda and oranges from Old Dominion Club. Thanks.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Humpback mt Campsite

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Rain in the night so had to pack up a wet tent. The trail was fine but for some reason it seemed like slow going. Pretty much though the rainy day turned nice and Rockfish Gap showed up on time. It took exactly the time I expected. Middlebury's ride was slow getting there, and he gave me a ride in too. This town is spread out and confusing so it took me until four to get my chores done. Then I just waited for Judy to show up. Now we're planning the day and hoping to get out of town after our PO chores and some food buys. Thundershowers for the next few days. Redsox finally even their record.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: Waynesboro

To: Just before Saw Mill Run Overlook
Miles today: 9.4

Got up about 6. Went to Weazies for breakfast, then to the minimart and supermarket. We reorganized our stuff, went to the post office and mailed stuff home, and got a ride from there to the trail from a nice trail angel named Betsy.   I met Middlebury and hiked with her for a while. I liked her pearls--simple but elegant trail attire. The day was warm and mostly sunny, and the trail was beautiful, smooth treadway with gradual ups and downs. Rhododendrons are in bloom. Bob saw a deer--his tenth--and I saw a large hawk or an owl. We rested in the famous tractor seats.   Now we're camped on the top of a rise--a nice spot with lots of rocks to sit on, a partial view of mountains in the distance, and rhododendrons all around. Before bed, I sat on a rock and sang gospel songs--very peaceful.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Just before Saw Mill Run Overlook

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: moderate rain

Bob had a hard time hanging our food bags last night but finally got them up right. In the morning, however, he couldn't get them down. Eventually, he wound up pulling them down and ripping both of our bags. He was sad, but it was better than losing all of our food, and I was able to repair my bag, and Bob switched his food and clothes bags, so all is well.   We set out about 6:15. The day started off humid and mild but got worse in the afternoon. We spent the morning walking through rhododendrons and laurels and the afternoon walking through thunderstorms and puddles.    Between Black Rock Gap and here, we met many hikers Bob knew including Nitrous Oxide, Cat Nap, and Middlebury. She had waited for us all afternoon yesterday at Calf Mt. Shelter and finally concluded that we had left the trail. Actually, we had gotten there at 2 but didn't go in because it was too early. I felt bad when I heard from lots of people that she had been worried about us.   When we got to Loft Mt. Camp Store, we took showers and dried our clothes and shoes in the dryers and ate lots of snacks and drank beer--all very luxurious. We are camping at the campground with Middlebury.   I am now watching the sunset and writing this outside the registration area, where there is electric light.   Saw a baby bear today (or maybe a baby deer, not sure)!
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Broke camp about 6:30. Saw 4 deer and 2 bunnies right away. Walked mainly through mist today but also some sun and no rain (so far).   Walking slowly up one steep hill, I noticed wild strawberries by the side of the trail. After that, I walked from strawberry to strawberry and didn't even notice the climb after that.   Staying at this nice shelter, partly to avoid another night of predicted thunderstorms. Here with us are Lime Green (named for the color of his shirt and shoes), Middlebury (named for her college), and many others--the shelter is full, and others are tenting here too.   I liked listening to the archetypal AT conversations. Lime Green insisted that to be a real thruhiker you had to pass every white blaze. Others vehemently disagreed and were personally offended. One said that Lime Green was making his hike illegitimate. There was also much discussion of how many miles it was to various places and the features of various stoves.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Hightop Hut

To: Top of Hazeltop Mountain
Miles today: 15.9

Got up at six. Bob was ready to go by 6:15, but it took me longer to pack and eat breakfast. He was impatient, so I encouraged him to start hiking, and he did. I caught up with him about 45 minutes later. After that, we decided to change our break time to one-hour rather than 50-minute intervals.    We stopped at South River Picnic Area, which had a water fountain/faucet and a bathroom. We got to Lewis Camp Store about 1:30. Got refreshments (beer and chips for Bob, ice cream and coke for me), resupplied for the next leg, and talked to some other hikers who were doing the same.   About 2:30, we set out to find a campsite and did, about 4, at the top of Hazeltop Mountain. As Bob predicted, we found a nice one here. But other hikers who arrived later, including Meat and Coffee to Go, found an even better one a little further down the trail, which I visited later on.   Dried our clothes in the sun and had some time to relax before and after dinner--nice.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: Top of Hazeltop Mountain

To: Just before Pinnacle Parking Area
Miles today: 16.6

Woke up before 6 to red sunrise. As soon as we got out of the tent, little midges started to bite us, so we quickly packed up and left without eating breakfast. I stopped a short way down the trail on a nice rock and age.    We walked 4 miles to Big Meadows and saw 9 (!) deer on the way. Deer are really tame here.    While we were waiting for the Wayside to open for breakfast, I hitched up to the Lodge to see if we could get a room for the night. At first, they said they had one room, but after checking on the computer, it turned out that that room had been filled earlier that morning--disappointing butnot surprising since it is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.   We went down to the campground and did laundry and took showers and were done with all of that by 11:230, a very productive morning.   We then hiked to Skyland. We thought we would be too early for dinner, but when we got there, they were having a barbeque outside with bratwurst, chips, beer, and blueberry cobbler--a great surprise. We sat out on the patio and ate and listed to a ranger talk about bears.   About 4:30, we set out to find a campsite. Unfortunately, it took until after 7, more than 3 miles, until we found a good one. It is high up, and we saw a nice sunset.
Date: 2012-05-27
From: Just before Pinnacle Parking Area

To: Just past Hogback Overlook
Miles today: 16.0

Up at 6. Short walk to picnic ground for breakfast, privy, water, ant trash--a very convenient start to the day. Then a pretty walk with views to Bird's Nest Shelter for a break. The people there were just getting going, so we had a head start on the day.    We stopped later at what used to be the Panorama Restaurant but is now just restrooms and a parking lot. Our best stop for the day was at the Elk Wallow Wayside, where we had cheeseburgers, coke, fries, and beer and sat outside at a picnic table.    After about an hour there, we took off to find a campsite. Right away, a medium-sized bear crossed the trail right in front of me! We hiked about two hours until we found a good campsite--in a field of ferns just past Hogback Overlook. Very windy tonight but no rain.