morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-28
From: Campsite past Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

Sharp, icy cold woke us up this morning. Snow had accumulated on the tent, maybe around 2 inches. The long bare trees stood out against the white scenery and the whole forest seemed dormant; beautiful, but in a more subtle way.My boots were frozen solid (see picture). It was as if I were trying to fit my feet in an iron cast. We ate frozen Clif bars as I took a few minutes to forcefully and® painfully stomp my feet into my icy boots. The first few minutes of the day's hike were atrocious as my rigid fingers and toes were rendered useless from the cold; intense pain throbbed throughout my extremities to the point that I was almost in tears. After ten-ish minutes, I could feel my body heating up and my circulation reestablishing in my fingers and toes which led me to experience a foreign emotion: a profound sense of relief, that everything was going to be alright. Of couse, I know that we are not attempting to climb Mount Everest where dead bodies are scattered throughout the moutain's peaks. However, the AT is no walk in the park either and certain dangers are present, like the threat of frostbite.The day was cold; we estimated it must have been around 0C/32F. Thankfully, the sun was shining all day and what a difference that made. I can understand why early civilizations revered the sun and delegated any deity whose essence or power was drawn from the sun to the highest ranks. The sun is at the center of the Universe, especially for AT hikers.The degree of snowfall depended on which fascade of the mountain we were hiking on. If we crossed into the "dark side" of the mountain, we had a thick layer of snow to hike through while other areas were spared of any ice or snow. A significant landmark was Big Bald, another bare summit (~5,500' of elevation). The winds were blizzard-like and the small shrubs were encased in thick ice, making the whole section comparable to the Arctic tundra.There is a neat story related to this particular bald. From 1802 to 1834 the Bald was inhabited by a man named David Greer who had decided to flee the civilized world after being turned down by a woman. Strange ideas sprung into his imagination and he declared himself sovereign of the mountain and killed a man who had trespassed. The hermit was eventually murdered himself.This does not bode well - does the AT drive you to madness? Most would agree that thru-hikers are afflicted with a certain degree of insanity. I guess time will tell.We made it to the shelter, ate as fast as we could and hid in our tent. It has never been so cold that night: below 20F/-10C. We were forced to bundle up in the same sleeping bag (a big hiker burrito, perfect for a hungry bear). Notwistanding the unconfortable sleeping arrangement, I did fall asleep.During the night the wind blew the ice covered tree branches which produced soft chiming sounds, an icy melody. The sky was clear and the moonlight reflected off the white snow, casting a diffuse glow.- Axon
Date: 2015-03-29
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

It's normally difficult to get out of our sleeping bag in the morning when it's cold and completely dark, but this morning was the most difficult so far. Our precious body heat had melted about one cup of the ice bottle we kept in the sleeping bag, so that was all we had to drink. Our shoes were even more frozen than yesterday, even though we kept them in the tent with us.Once we started walking, we witnessed another amazing sunrise (through our sufferings). The sun first touched the top of the trees and started melting the ice on them. The icicles were crackling, making a strange melody as they fell all around us. It felt great when we could finally see the sun itself, which started to warm us and the blocks of ice we had for feet (in the meantime, Axon got a big new blister from those frozen shoes).The landscape was very interesting in the morning, alternating between frosted mountainsides and ones that had completely melted when touched by the sun. Getting water was a bit of a problem since our bottles were mostly occupied with ice that refused to melt.We arrived relatively early in Erwin (for such a distance) and had time to do all our errands, including walking another mile to a Subway, before crashing.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-03-30
From: Erwin

To: Campsite past Beauty Spot Gap
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

We had a late start this morning and took full advantage of the all-you-can-eat breakfast included with our stay. Fresh Ground was set up 7 miles out of Erwin and fed us with an endless supply of hot dogs and fries.The weather was perfect and slightly warmer than yesterday. We did a shorter distance because of the late start and because we bought to much food as usual (my pack was over 47 lbs when I weighed it at Fresh Ground's). We were the only ones to stay at the campsite; it feels good to have some actually quiet time.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Campsite past Beauty Spot Gap

To: Ash Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

We woke up early this morning as we had a long day planned. The sun was rising as we left the campground; the days are getting noticeably longer which is nice as it extends our daily hiking period.The first climb of the day was Unaka Mountain (elev. 5,180'). Unaka is a Cherokee word which translates to "white" in English, a fitting name as a thin layer of hardened, icy snow subbornly remained in the shadows of the red spruce trees growing on the mountain. The terrain following Unaka Mountain trailed through steep hills. Up and down. At one point we saw a wild turkey bolt away in a panic. While its feathers were reflecting iridescent colors in the sunlight, I could not help but laugh as we stood there watching the turkey scramble up the hill, its tiny head supported by its tiny neck bobbing away, until it ran over the hill and out of sight. The turkey's escape lasted several awkward seconds. What a silly bird! We made good time this morning and decided to put on our music to keep ourselves motivated through the fatigue and weariness which typically hits you in the late afternoon. Otherwise, I would have had to endure Shrugs' cover of Ginette Reno's interpretation of "Un peu plus haut, un peu plus loin" (written by Jean-Pierre Ferland). For those who don't know, Ginette Reno is Qu©bec's...biggest singing sensation.The final climb of the day was Roan Mountain (6,212').The next time we will encounter similar elevation levels will be in New Hampshire. I was anticipating an excrutiating long ascent but, for some reason, it went well. Shrugs laughed at my pessimistic reflexes.The leaves on the Trail were rustling gently. Upon closer examination, there were small, black crickets jumping about. They seemed to have suddenly spawned there. The crickets were so small and fast, like tiny dark teleporting dots.We did not make it to the top yet, opting instead for a campsite situated 2 miles from the summit, as we had hiked 20 miles at that point and didn't feel a need to push on.Hopefully we will have a nice view of the sunrise in the morning.- Axon
Date: 2015-04-01
From: Ash Gap

To: Doll Flats
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

We got up super early today. Shrugs had put the alarm clock but I was in a deep slumber and could not be roused (I did eventually wake up when Shrugs started moving about in the tent....as it was still dark, I did not understant what he was doing and was getting quite annoyed!)We climbed the remaining portion of Roan Mountain as the sun was rising. It was quite beautiful: the amber glow gradually merging with and finally overtaking the deep blue of the fading night. We made excellent time for the climb. The descent however was another story. The path leading down was like a frozen river. It took some time to navigate down the steep, thick ice.After, we crossed five balds, the biggest being Hump Mountain. The Trail would skirt around then suddenly rise up, almost vertically, to reach the bald's summit. The climbs were quite challenging. Shrugs would tell me that Roan Mountain, for example, was a much more vertical and, all things considered, difficult climb. Still, those rolling hills are my weakness. I believe the issue is a psychological one: when I see the Trail rising up towards the sky, my willpower dissipate and my energy levels plummet. Don't look down they say; well, don't look up in my case!That being said, those balds offered some of the best views - full, far-reaching, panoramic views.Another note: it's been quite warm and sunny these past few days. Great, EXCEPT, many insects are out. Some have bitten me.The heat has also exacerbated any chafing or rashes I had developped. My inner thighs for example are red and irritated, the skin seems calloused. IT BEGINS. This is when I realize that I am truly....urban in nature.To end on a positive note: we hiked to Doll Flats to camp for the night which is right beside the NC border. This means we will be leaving NC for good tomorrow! It feels good. Ever since we have entered the Smokies we have been skirting along the NC/TN border, oscillating between both states. This was a frustrating situation to be in since, as a thru-hiker we want to move northbound and mark off as efficiently as possible the 14 states we need to hike through. Tomorrow we will be in Tennessee!- Axon
Date: 2015-04-02
From: Doll Flats

To: Campground past Hardcore Cascades
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The night was long. The wind had suddenly picked up during the night and was blowing fiercely. The wind's howl was deep as if it were caused by a great roar that originated from the bellows of the earth. A cry to herald the approach of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I feared the tent would be ripped from the ground and fly off into oblivion. Needless to say, I did not sleep well.Last evening had been pleasant though as we had met up with many hikers that we had not seen for a good while, many of whom we had been following since the early days of our journey. There was the "Rhodes Island Express", a trio of guys from RI named Frodo, Chef and Cruise. There was also Bright Side and Sweet Blood as well as a few others we had been recently hiking with like Stretch and Not Yet. It was nice to catch up.We got up very early as we had a big day planned - nearly 20 miles. We were the first to get up and left before 6:30 AM. I enjoy hiking early in the morning because the air is cool and quiet and I feel more energetic. The mountains were speckled with small, yellow lights, emanating from remote houses or resorts; stars, in greater numbers that I have ever seen, illuminated the sky. Starting early is also necessary to extend our hiking period as much as possible when planning such long days.The aforementionned hikers are all strong and competitive. Notwithstanding our improved speed (around 2 mph), these hikers still leave us in the dust. We end up doing the same daily milages, but, as I was saying to Not Yet, I always half expect the other hikers to greet us when we finally roll in the shelter with something like "Oh hey, you guys made it! Yeah, we just finished reading 'War and Peace'. It was nice."Again, we do hike all the same miles, at our own (snail) pace, but I feel like an average student who, somewhat accidently, ended up in the advanced calculus class with all the mathematical geniuses. Struggling to grasp the basis of the course material while the others breeze through it, yet still managing to pass. I suppose there is a lesson here: it's very easy to get sucked in the hyper-competitive atmosphere. It's fair to be aware of others' performance although you should only be concerned with your own affairs.Anyway, today was long and uneventful. The terrain was quite even, mildly slanted at most. While this was a welcome change from the difficult, erratic elevation changes found in the stretch from Hot Springs to Erwin and beyond, there was nothing exciting today. Tall trees and dead leaves. Tunnels of green rhododendron plants. Yup. Rain began to fall.- Axon
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Campground past Hardcore Cascades

To: Pond Flats
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up an hour later than yesterday; it's quite nice when it's light enough outside that we don't have to use our headlamps to get ready. The morning was hot and humid.We reached the Black Bear Resort relatively early, to resupply and have lunch. We had pizza, cheeseburgers and ice cream. That microwaved cheeseburger tasted so good! Surprisingly, 10 minutes after we were done eating I was hungry again.After lunch we passed the Laurel Falls, the first really pleasant sight of the Tennessee-only stretch so far. We followed the river for a while in a narrow gorge before starting the big climb to our campsite. It was supposed to be a "bitch of a climb" according to a southbound hiker we saw but it was actually manageable (Axon didn't even complain about it).- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Pond Flats

To: Random Campsite
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

There had been warnings of thunder showers yesterday. It had been a hot and muggy day with brief bursts of rain sporadically hitting us. We made it to the top of Pond Flats ("Come along, Ponds!") and had just settled in when the thunder showers came. They lasted for a good portion of the night. Flashes of blinding light tore through the darkness and startled me. The thunder's crash echoed through the valley until it faded to a deep rumble that I swear I could feel vibrate through the tent. Of course, torrential rains. I wondered if it were possible to have anymore rain; the sky accepted my challenge and poured an ocean onto our tent.Still, everything remained (relatively) dry. Great success! Many hikers had, upon hearing the forecast, taken refuge in a nearby town called Hampton, TN. Shrugs said that at some point, you cannot run away from the weather. I'm glad we didn't.Today was more of the same hills and wavy Trail we have experienced in TN thus far. We descended Pond Flats and skirted a lake for a while where we saw Canada geese honking about (fellow Canadians!) I felt a bit uneasy because the Trail seemed to pass right through private property - we were in people's backyards (which must be annoying for the owners to have smelly, unsightly hikers going through...I mean those lake-side abodes are probably not cheap!)The day was sunny and very cool (maybe in the 40s).We met a southbound section hiker who, after we told him our names, said: "Oh, from Canada, right?". I was slightly suprised (did we exude Canadian-ess? Maple syrup-scented sweat?) until he explained that he had seen our Trail journal. So Mom, take note! I will never be this famous again.On the topic of section hikers, Shrugs had forgotten to mention this yesterday: a section hiker, who was almost done with her hike, gave us all her leftover snacks! Free food is great. That lady was rad; she told us she was section hiking and that she was "63 and f-ing awesome!" Amen, yo.Tomorrow will be another big day. We are pushing hard to get to Damascus ASAP for a much needed rest. I am tired.Final note: as of today, over one month into this journey and we have completed 20% of the AT! I plan on writing a small summary of our hike's evolution during the first month in a few days.- Axon
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Random Campsite

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

The full moon was beautiful last night. The temperature went below freezing but we were still able to make an early start.A few miles into the day we came upon a strange big orange box. It contained granola bars, cold drinks and ziploc bags containing a set of differently colored jelly beans. The jelly beans bags each contained "The Jelly Bean Poem", which goes like this:RED is for the blood He gaveGREEN is for the grass He madeYELLOW is for His sun so brightORANGE is for the edge of nightBLACK is for the sins we've madeWHITE is for the grace He gavePURPLE is for His hours of sorrowPINK is for our new tomorrowA bag of jelly beans colorful and sweetIs a prayer, is a promise, is a TRAIL HIKERS treat(By the way, the bags had a jelly bean of each color)Axon was a bit worried because her favorite flavor is the black one. In any case, thanks to the church group who brought this for everyone!The hike was otherwise uneventful. We saw farmlands in the distance. There was an abandoned shelter that seemed just large enough for two people (someone carved "The Love Shack" on the wall).We are getting up early tomorrow because we can't wait to get to Damascus and to spend a zero there.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Damascus, VA

To: Unnamed campsite past US 58
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night we had dinner at Hey Joe's with Not Yet and Stretch (and the 20+ hikers that were there too). It was Stretch's last evening on the Trail before going back to Qu©bec so we said goodbye. It is a bit sad to see him go (especially for him). As he said, all the people hiking together form a big family. We all share the same experiences (good and bad), we all go through the same difficulties and that brings us closer together as can be expected when simply setting out for a trip spanning over several weeks (or months). Bon retour Stretch! a nous a fait plaisir de te rencontrer et de passer ces derni res semaines en ta compagnie! Hopefully we will see you again (in the White Mountains?)I know this has been said before, but while thru-hiking is an extremely personal experience, it is greatly shaped by the people we meet, that we see everyday, that we lose for a while only to find them back after days or weeks, by the community and by all those who give food and drink to hikers who are total strangers to them.Everyone (including me) says you have to "hike your own hike", yet almost no one actually does it. We all seem to let ourselves be influenced by what the others do, whether because we don't want to be left behind, or to seem weaker than others, because we are competitive (even if it is not a race), because we are afraid our average miles per day will get lower. Strangely enough, everyone seems to think that everyone else goes fast and finds it easier than them. We've had someone (Brighside) tell us "We saw you flying out of town!", while we actually did one of our shortest days, walked very slowly and generally found that day very demanding physically and mentally.I think getting rid of that worrying about what others do should be an important objective of this whole trip (at least for me). After all, I'm not doing it for anyone else and, from various conversations we've had with our fellow hikers, neither do they.Anyway, today was a somewhat weird hiking day. We had breakfast at the Dancing Bear, prepared by Melissa, the owner; it was delicious! We had a late(ish) start right after, at around 9:30. It was hot and humid, and we both felt exhausted. That was a bit strange since we just had a whole rest day. We considered staying at the first shelter we encountered, about 8 miles out of Damascus, but at 2 pm decided to go on, in case we felt better later (I know, that's not very logical...). The next shelter area was completely packed, with around 20-25 people, so we continued until we reached a campsite not too far, where we are completely alone. This is not the first time we have a pretty bad morning and early afternoon (which means we should do a shorter day), but end up going even farther than we planned.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Campsite near Big Wilson Creek

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: light rain

Last night I heard some scratching noises behind me. When I turned my head I saw a little mouse run by! We hadn't closed the tent's inner door because it was really hot and humid in the evening but I guess we will always close it from now on... I scared the mouse away and closed the flap, but I saw it again. I had just trapped it inside... together we managed to wake Axon, who helped me make sure the mouse actually went away.We had a mix of really dark clouds and blue sky above our heads in the morning. All of a sudden it started pouring, without any warning (if you ignore the fact that there was a mountain-size black wall of rain coming our way; in our defense the sun was shining on us the second before). Fortunately we arrived at Fresh Ground's a few minutes later and enjoyed his company (as well as his wonderful banana/walnut/chocolate pancakes and delicious mac and cheese) for the next hour and a half. Thank you for that!Nothing major/particularly interesting went on for the rest of the day. There wasn't any significant up or down or any view. It just showered once or twice for a few minutes at a time.Apparently you can order pizza at the next shelter. That is 10 miles ahead, right in time for lunch.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

We woke up and left as the first of the sun's rays were lightening up the Trail.We have lost a few people we know since leaving Damascus but, reversely, have met a few new faces. Because many people stay in town, people catch up and consequently, there is always a large bubble to leave town together. Many that we know pushed on to pass the bubble. We had not been speedy enough to catch up with them, although we did leave behind slower hikers which left us in between these two factions. The terrain was quite level and the hike went smoothly. The Trail at one point circled an enclosed pasture which held grazing cattle. A few of the cows slowly came up to the fence and stood there, immobile, silently judging us, I'm sure.We arrived at the Partnership shelter which, as the guide book explains, has working showers and the possibility to have pizza delivered (as there is a route and a visitor center right next to the shelter). Well, we arrived there at 11, ready for lunch, and saw that the showers were only available in "the warmer months" and that the pizza could only be delivered after 4:00 PM. No showers, no pizza...LAME.We ate lunch with Not Yet, Klaus and Long Horn, a southbounder who started in Harpers Ferry (our first southbounder!) We exchanged our list of favorite spots and advice for our upcoming challenges; apparently, the midly hilly and rocky terrain we have been experiencing is quite typical of Virginia. I guess we'll see.I enjoy hiking and having longer stretches of solitude, only meeting a few hikers a day rather than leap-frogging them all day. I feel more independant this way, less inclined to rely on what others are doing before planning the day's hike.We left the shelter and not 10 minutes later, I felt my phone vibrate signalling a received text message which meant we finally had reception. We had to stop for another break to take advantage of this cell reception oasis as we had been cut off for many days now. AT&T has not provided reliable service at all.Still, even with two extended breaks, we reached the shelter a bit passed 4:00 PM, not bad for a 16.5 mi day. We saw two deer today as well, which was nice.Tomorrow we will resupply in Atkins, Va and hopefully find some interesting treats (we need motivation after all)- Axon