morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Today was resupply day at a gas station by the trail. They didn't have the kind of meal we usually eat for dinner so we got quick oats and corn syrup instead. That should last us a few days. Another thru-hiker named Neon Mountain even gave us a bottle of honey that will go with it (thank you!). He's travelling super light and basically has no food. I suspect he doesn't even have a tent, his pack is so small (maybe 15 lbs?). He says he eats a lot in towns and restaurants and just starves while on the trail. The next 60 miles have nothing so he has a few snacks. He's planning to do it in 2 days; it's going to take us a solid 4 days. It's now slowly starting to look like spring. We saw a groundhog, a pair of grouse and many squirrels and birds. The trees are also finally showing some pale green leaves.We travelled across some farmlands today. The sky and plains were beautiful and we could see some more farmlands in the distance when we were not actually walking through them. We found a few bones on the ground in various sections of the trail that seemed to belong to cattle (multiples ribs and a hip bone). We also saw a pack of live cows right on the trail! They just stared at us. As we walked around them, they continued staring in that direction, even if we weren't there anymore. They then all ran away and stared at us some more from a distance.While we were climbing our last hill of the day, we crossed a southbound hiker who gave us coke bottles and chocolate bars (thank you!). He asked us to share them with those who were going to be at the shelter (and we did). Everyone was happy.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today it rained. It was a good test of that "F*ck it" philosophy discussed by Axon yesterday. We woke up to rain, hiked in the rain, relaxed in the shelter waiting for the rain to stop (it didn't), then went to bed listening to the rain, receiving the occasional drop through the "rainproof" tent cover.We got up somewhat late today, hoping the rain would let up. We hiked surprisingly fast, reaching the shelter 15 miles away before 1:30. I think the rain pushed us to move on rather than take it slow and enjoy the scenery. We stopped briefly under a bridge, like trolls, and got some water while eating snacks. We saw a crawfish in the river. Later on we passed an area where there had been some forest fires; the burnt smell still lingered.When we got to the shelter it stopped raining. I thought it was done for the day so we didn't set up the tent immediately. Grave mistake. It started again after a few minutes, so we eventually set it up under the rain. Then we had to go get water from the very distant source, at the end of a very steep side trail.At least we will be in a dry place tomorrow (hopefully), with clean and dry clothes and a full stomach.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We planned a long day today, right after a rather large resupply (trying to reach Daleville in one resupply), once again ignoring Voltron's advice. To be fair, it was an all or nothing, either super short or super long, without any water for a 10-mile stretch between the two shelters.It was a beautiful day, very hot and sunny. I got a new sunburn on my neck, because I didn't apply any sunscreen... We had a very nice view over a wide valley at the first shelter. Even the privy gave a nice view (it was basically a toilet seat standing by itself, without any walls).Other than that, it was simply a long day, without too many ups or downs. It took a while to reach the shelter and we were very tired. Only Not Yet stayed there with us; everyone else pushed on to reach "The Captain's Place" a mile after, someone's backyard where hikers can put up their tent.In the evening, there was a single cloud in the sky. It happened to be right above us, the sky was blue everywhere else and, of course, it rained on us. -Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: few clouds

Day 47Today's summary: RAIN.We woke up early in hopes of hiking a few miles before the rain, which had been predicted in the weather forecast, started up. Rain yet again. Sure enough, around 4.5 miles into the hike, the anticipated rain began falling. Hard. It rained all day with varying degrees of intensity. The sky, at times, lightened up, filling us with hope as we watched the heavy rain subside and gradually thin out to become a light drizzle. Alas, dark clouds were immediatly blown over our heads to unleash torrents of rain.The terrain was ridiculous today (to match the weather, I'm sure). The Trail was poorly maintained as if the maintainers had not yet had a chance to do any Spring cleaning. Fallen trees, rotting logs and overgrown plants - the Trail was an obstacle course. Of course, there were rocks too, slippery and sharp rocks, but the rocks were found in numerous yet isolated clusters. It appeared as if some lonely giant, from a distant time, roamed around the land collecting these huge rocks, although to the giant the rocks would be like pebbles. The giant had a plan for the rocks, a project which required many, many of them. For some reason, the giant abandonned his project and scattered the rocks in large, strung out piles, forgetting them. The day was cold and wet - miserable. I felt physically and emotionally numb, as if detached from the physical world. I ignored the goosebumps tingling on my exposed limbs and the wrinkling of my feet encased in sodden boots. My mind was trapped in a foggy haze; the only functional portions of my brain were those governing motor functions and vision, as keenly watching my footing took up all my concentration.The rain is horrible when you realize that you have nowhere to go. Tents and shelters will protect you from the elements to a certain extent though it still doesn't guarantee that you will be dry and comfortable. Not like home. It is a sad and forlorn feeling to know that you have nowhere to go.Around 20 minutes before arriving at the shelter, there was a brief reprise from the rain. Unfortunatly, it started up again immediatly as we arrived. The shelter was overcrowded, forcing us to set up our tent under the rain. Once the tent was set up, we didn't want to leave. We ate energy bars, Pop Tarts and candy in our tent which we absolutely never do, but at this point, if a bear does come in looking for food, I would give it to him - the poor thing has been in the horrible, cold rain and neglecting it would be an act of animal cruelty.I'm not sure what the plans are for tomorrow although I know there will be rain. The shelters are awkwardly spaced out, the next one being at ~12 mi followed by a second one at ~22 mi. There are no campsites (or water sourcesl) in between.What a shit day. Drops of water are currently dripping into the tent. -Axon
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

It was really cold this morning. We "slept in" until 5:20, but we had to get up to arrive early enough in Daleville. We had so many things to do: shower (always first), laundry, eat at Bojangle's, buy new boots for Axon (hers have been falling apart for a while), buy groceries and update the journal, all after hiking for 15 miles.The weather was excellent, we could see the sunrise over a valley and a few ridges. Those ridges get a little bit greener everyday. We went over Tinker Cliffs, a half-mile stretch of narrow passage along a vertical drop on our left. It gave us a superb view, but the wind was blowing very strongly and made the passage a bit dangerous (we can't keep our balance properly with those backpacks...). It inspired another haiku:Wind against the cliffsThe black bird gliding upwardThe tall trees swayingOther than that, it was a long day of walking along a rocky ridge, with the occasional light shower sprinkling on us. We arrived, exhausted, around 3:00 PM. Our motel is really nice and cheap, and we considered staying there two night, to actually be able to rest. Then we realized that for the past four days, we have been getting up before sunrise and finishing our day at or after sunset, without any time to relax. We will take a zero here.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Daleville

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rest day in Daleville!We had so much to do yesterday and we were so tired, so today is a great day. We ate too much food and I wrote long novels (see previous entries). I have never really enjoyed writing; my only writing experience has been within an academic setting, writing lab reports and essays. Boring things. Maintaining a journal was a chore at first and it was difficult to coherently put into words what we were experiencing. Now it has become much easier, even enjoyable.We bought new shoes and socks as well as a replacement Z-seat. I got trail runners - I figured that I might try them out. If I don't like them, I only have to wait until Waynesboro, VA which is 130 miles away. My boots were great though. They have endured over 1,200 of Trail (as I had got them for our section hike in 2013) and they survived the Montr©al winter. Yes, the side panels are crumbling away and the soles are slowly peeling off but I can't complain. Thank you, boots.Today's zero was necessary. During our section hike, I remember seeing other hikers bust out 20+ mile per day only to be forced to take a couple of rest days, during which we would catch up to them. I prefered our moderate but consistent, steady pace. However, these past few days, we have not been following our Snail way. We are reminded that thru-hiking is taxing on the body, as evidenced by an increasing number of hikers who are growing dependant on ibuprofen to make it through the day. Injured IT bands and aching knees seem to be the common complaint.I am a bit saddened as many of our friends have left this morning. I don't know when we will catch up. It could be never. To use a mathematical metaphor, we are like two lines crossing through an infinite plane, meeting at a single point in space and then continuing on, never crossing paths again; a melancolic tale. The Trail really is like a family. At times, I do miss the solitude, and, especially, the anonimity of the city. Strangers pass you by, ignorant of your life's story. You are merely part of the decor, another blurred face in the crowd, barely human. I love that feeling of being unoticed, unimportant. However, here on the AT, I like it that people know my name (well, my trail name anyway). It becomes hard to have your friends leave you. I feel constantly torn between doing my own thing and falling into the competitive atmosphere in order to keep up with people. Some days I'm glad I was able to ignore any external pressure and be independant, striving to achieve what is right for me at that moment. Not today though.- Axon
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We started at 8:00 this morning. The terrain was relatively easy: nothing too steep, very little rocks. It was perfect to try out our new trail runners. The verdict is positive; they are comfortable, light and didn't give us any blisters. However, the hike was made difficult by our heavy, full packs and by the usual civilization withdrawal we suffer when leaving town.The upside of leaving Daleville is that 2 miles into the hike we reached the third of the whole Trail! Only 1460 miles left.The trail passed through wide fields and was again blocked by a few cows. This time they had their calves with them (Axon loved them). We had to go around them, but they got scared and ran away.Later on the trail joined with the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are going to criss-cross each other for the next 200 miles or so. (Basically, if you want nice views and easy terrain you can simply walk on the road instead of the trail.)- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

It will be a short entry today - nothing much happened other than it rained and it was pretty cold, only slightly above freezing. We slept in the shelter last night as it wasn't full, for once (there weren't any tenting spots either). There was Sputnik, Sunshine and Giuseppe, who has already thru-hiked twice and may even attempt a "yo-yo" hike, that is, going northbound then heading back down southbound. Everyone was super quiet; it was a nice night. We had intended to get up early as the forecast had predicted rain from 11 AM onwards and we wanted to beat the rain. Well, when we woke up around 5:30 AM, it was already raining.The terrain was luckily quite easy, very well maintained and graded. The forest was damp and chilly but the rain seemed to have vivified the forest's colors. The young leaves were a shade of pale, yellowish green and contrasted against the dark brown hue of the trees and ground. Many flowers were in bloom, which is quite lovely. You spend so much time staring at the ground trying to avoid rocks and roots, that sometimes you forget you are surrounded by mountains; having a colorful, diverse variety of flowers to look at is a nice change.Other than that, there was rain. We stayed in the shelter again tonight with Giuseppe, the Diabolical Duo and a couple of section hikers, Shawn and Troy. I guess we are currently between bubbles because there has rarely been so few people at the shelters. Shawn, miraculously, managed to get a nice fire started notwithstanding the fine mist and damp fog. It was nice!- Axon
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Stealth camp near a stream
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

We woke up relatively early. The grassy patch on which we had set up the tent seemed nice and cushiony at first but it grew damp with the morning dew, wetting quite a bit of our gear. We went to the gas station for a bite to eat for breakfast and set out towards the road, our thumb sticking out.I dislike hitching, especially when we need to leave town. Luckily, we have, thus far, taken advantage of many shuttle services offered to hikers. Last time we had to hitch out back to the trail head had been in Gatlinburg, TN. We waited 45 minutes, although many people had stopped to ask about our desired destination which was usually too far for them (or in the wrong direction altogether). However, we did have many drivers stop and yell out:"Well, we WOULD have picked you up, but we don't have room!", to which I would hesitantly reply:"Ooh...o-okay. Well, t-thanks anyway...?" I know these people meant well, but WHY? I get so hopeful when I see a car pull over, and I excitedly unbuckle my pack belt and rush over, only to be let down: " Someone else will pick you up, the Trail will provide!" Anyway, we were not having much luck getting out of Glasgow as most people, with it being a Monday morning, were heading out to work. We met Not Yet at the road and tried for a few more minutes when a car sporting a liscence plate that read "OZ HIKER" pulled up beside us. Score!The driver was an Australian born AT hiker. He had set out to complete the AT but had to get off the Trail to get married to his girlfriend, who he happened to have met on the Trail. Cute story, no?It was cool and perfectly sunny today. There was a big climb in the beginning, Bluff Mountain (3372'). We stopped at Punchbowl Shelter for lunch; what a strange name. Cruise Control and Sunshine were there as well. The morning hike was alright, but as the day dragged on, my energy waned. I put my Ipod on, but I didn't feel like listening to anything. It was long and boring.The AWOL guide listed a campsite around 15 miles away from the road we had arrived to from Glasgow. It would have been a perfect stopping point, but there was NO campsite. Tired and irritated, we hiked on until we found a good stealth camping spot, right next to a strong, flowing stream. At least we didn't have to go far for water. It was a quiet night.- Axon
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Stealth camp near a stream

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 18.3

I'm not sure what happened to our decision to go a bit slower, but we certainly haven't been following it. This is our fifth big day in a row and we have two others ahead, without a break. We are trying to reach Waynesboro by Friday when the post office is still open. We would like to send some of our Winter gear back home. Actually, we just want to send back our big and heavy sleeping bags and our heavy and useless rain ponchos. A lot of people sent their warm sleeping bags/clothes home in Daleville, but the past five night have been really cold, almost freezing.Anyway, it didn't take long this morning before we shed all our warm layers because it was going straight up. We climbed this big bald appropriately called Big Bald. Actually, it had trees all over it so the name may not be so accurate (it did have a small grassy peak right after though). After that it was just an seemingly unending series of small peaks. It was a long day.While we were eating lunch, Code Red passed by us. It was the first time we saw each other and the first thing she said was "Apparently you guys hate hiking!" That's because yesterday during lunch we mentioned we didn't particularly like hiking in itself. Cruise Control freaked out and now seems to be telling everyone we like to suffer.Today was long and we were tired, though, so we composed a haiku about hiking:Monotone and dullHiking is so laboriousWhy do we do this?Nothing to contradict Cruise Control I guess. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow, with its 20 miles and two huge climbs down and up.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we went to Walmart. It was the only time we went out of the motel room for the whole day. The 4-mile roundtrip was good exercise for Axon's ankle. For me too, actually. It was the longest I've walked in the past four days. After that I reached new depths of laziness. The only reason I would get up from my sprawled position on the bed was to walk the three steps to the fridge or to the bathroom. It's even getting tedious to take a shower everyday. I've never spent so much time in my life doing nothing; it's a great feeling!The swelling on Axon's ankle has reduced quite a bit. We'll see how it goes but we might go back on the Trail Tuesday morning.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Not much to add today. We walked to the outfitter and finally bought our summer sleeping bags ("Ocelot", by North Face). They are 40F bags and around half the size and weight of our winter bags. We also bought the original version of the Sawyer Squeeze filter. We have the "mini" version and I find that they clog up quite rapidly and filter slowly; their only-marginally smaller weight is not worth the extra time. We sent back our winter bags, our mid-weight fleece sweaters and our ponchos. I haven't used my poncho for many weeks as I get too hot wearing it; I prefer walking in the rain over getting drenched with sweat. In heavy rain, the lighter, more breathable material seem to lose their waterproof properties. Therefore, we are forgoing the raingear. We are however keeping some of our warm clothes (base layers, sweaters) in case it gets chilly.We went to the post office to send all that stuff back home. The box (including the weight of the box of course) was 13 lbs. That's quite a bit of weight! It cost around 62$ to send back to Canada.We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling. We will leave tomorrow!- Axon
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Back on the Trail today.We left Waynesboro rather late, around 9 AM. We planned to start out slow so we decided to aim for the first shelter, 7 miles away. It is so hard to leave civilization. It takes weeks to get accustomed to the unavoidable daily unpleasantries we encounter here on the Trail yet I only need 2 minutes to get sucked back into the comforts of modern-day life. Western civilization has dedicated, in the name of progress, an impressive proportion of its ingenuity and power to get us in control, AWAY from Nature... now, I ask, why am I purposely regressing?We walked towards the town's limits when a Trail angel named Steve pulled up and offered us a ride. So kind! He drove us to Rockfish Gap and we entered the Shenandoah National Park. The Shenandoahs are extremely popular among day and sections hikers, so I'm anticipating easy, well-maintained terrain. There is apparently an abundant amount of wildlife here too, including bears. More importantly, there are numerous campsites and waysides were food is readily available. Yay!The hike was unexciting, though thankfully the terrain was easy. It was really hot today, in the 80s, according to a few accounts. I am not used to such warm weather! The forest was quite noisy today - all the birds were attending a giant bird assembly where many heated debates were being held. A small brown bird with a black-stripped-white-tipped tail (I THINK) was rustling about in the bushes (nesting, maybe?) It made a huge racket and, many times, I was mistaken in believing that a larger animals was lurking behind the shrubs.My ankle held up with minimal pain. I was walking quite slowly as I was concentrated on my foot's position and how I distributed my weight over it. I tried to avoid any excessive weight on the outer side of my foot and I made sure to take small steps. It was extremely slow, tedious and quite tiring. I was discouraged. It was a long and boring day. Hopefully, I'll get back to my normal hiking pace soon.- Axon
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I stayed in bed for 12 hours last night, it felt very good. We walked a bit faster today, surrounded by the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves by rabbits and squirrels, the flutter of butterflies, the droning of bees and the buzzing of cars. The trail followed (and crossed) the Skyline Drive for the whole day. The only views we had were actually on the road.It was in general a very nice day, the hottest we've had so far. There wasn't any water between the two shelters (13 miles) so we carried some extra. It made for a very heavy pack, especially since we have too much food as usual. It should get better in the next few days, unless we eat too much at the waysides (which I'm looking forward to).- Shrugs