morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Last night, the wind gathered momentum, suggesting a change of weather. By morning, humidity had moved in, and, for the first time in ten days, it seemed that it might rain.Instead, the wind died down, and the humidity joined with the increasing heat to provide another day of challenging conditions. I began the day thinking I would hike 16.5 miles from Rice Field Shelter to Bailey Gap Shelter. As I moved along, I started to rethink that. If I could get a little farther along than 16.5, then the 21 miles that I had planned for the next day would be reduced to something more manageable. In somewhat of a repeat from yesterday, I started out hiking on a ridge, but then steeply descended when the trail dove to follow a river for a bit. Not only was it hotter at the lower elevation, but, this being the AT, it meant another big climb back up. But this wasn't any ordinary "big climb". First, the climb back up came at the end of a long, hot and humid day. Second, it felt like it might have been the sharpest ascent of my entire trek. As I put my head down and focused on making sure my feet continued to move, I missed the side trail below Bailey Gap Shelter that led to the water source. By the time I backtracked and filled up on water, thunder had started to rumble, and, around 4:00 pm, I abandoned any ideas of going beyond 16.5 miles. I headed up to the shelter to sit inside, waiting to see if the thunder would actually lead to rain. I didn't have to wait long. The skies opened, and I stayed put, quite happy to sleep in the shelter, where I was high and dry while it rained on and off all night.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: mist

With water continuing to be somewhat scarce in this part of Virginia, I continue to favor staying at shelters, where a good water source is typically present. Shelters also have the added attractions of picnic tables for preparing and eating meals, privies,and the company of other hikers. Finally, if rain does appear imminent, I have the option of sleeping in the shelter, although I try to stay in my tent as much as possible. Based on the location of the next set of shelters, I prepared myself for a 21 mile hike. If I succeeded at making it that far, then I would have very manageable hikes of 16, 17 and 15 miles the next three days to arrive in Daleville, VA, on Sunday, where I planned to take my next zero on Monday. So, 21 it was for today. The only issue, I saw right away, was that the 21 miles contained not just one, but two major climbs, the first before lunch, and the second to end the day. After last night's rain, the trail and all its surrounding vegetation was soaked in the morning, and my hiking shoes soon followed suit. The day started out incredibly foggy, which was nice for no other reason than it kept the temperatures cool. As the morning progressed, one could literally feel it drying out, and, although the day was again hot, it was considerably less humid than the past two days. It is amazing to witness how one's expectations affect, positively or negatively, one's hiking. Knowing that I wanted to complete 21 miles, I put in 13.4 miles before a late lunch, and felt great doing it. On some occasions, it's all I can do to crank out 14 or 15 miles by day'send, but here I was at 13.4 miles before lunch....and all because I had set the intention of 21 miles today. The climb before lunch was as tough as billed, and when I removed my pack, shoes and socks to enjoy peanut butter on tortillas, I was happy to be off my feet. But, my rest was short-lived, as I still had 7.6 miles to go, and another very strenuous climb to end the day. As the afternoon progressed, the trail took me through Virginia farms, pastures and fields, putting me in a good mood to tackle the end-of-day climb that looked quite imposing in The AT Guide. When I pulled into Sarver Hollow Shelter at 6:15 pm, I was happy, but spent. I had been hiking since 7:15 am, an eleven-hour day on the trail, the longest all trek for me both in time and miles walked. My reward? The next three days look somewhat more easy terrain-wise than the past three, and the distances each day are shorter.
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Pickled Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I had begun to think that Virginia was a two-act play, opening with farms, pastures and fields, and closing with tree-lined ridge after tree-lined ridge, with their steep climbs and descents. Today, though, the state had a little bit more in store for me. I started off the day by hiking the three-mile ridge crest of Sinking Creek Mountain. The eastern edge of the mountain's ridge was exposed ledge running for much of the three miles, and trees had no chance of taking root. Thus, the views east and southeast over the valley and to the next ridge and beyond were open and spectacular. It felt like I was above treeline, even though the ridge never exceeded 3,400 feet in elevation. The large expanses of ledge were sloped at a severe angle, and it took utter faith that my hiking shoes would maintain a grip to negotiate some of the steeper parts. I had a very tough time choosing the photo for today's post, as I could have selected any one of half a dozen. The next surprise in store for me came as I was climbing Brush Mountain, where Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier in World War II, died in 1971 when his plane crashed near the summit. Widely scattered rain and thunderstorms had visited Virginia over the past two days, stopping our streak of good weather at nine days. Most had come at night, and, at least where I was, it never really got bad. Well, that was about to change. Still short of the summit as I climbed Brush Mountain, the skies let loose. This wasn't a thunderstorm, but an old fashioned deluge. It lasted for perhaps 15 minutes, and I chose to stop hiking and wait it out under my umbrella. When it had sufficiently slowed, I resumed my climb to the summit, looking forward to visiting the Audie Murphy monument maintained at the top. Upon arriving there, I put my pack down, opened my food bag for a snack, and ambled over to the engraved stone. I read the first line when, without the warning of thunder or lightning, the heavens began to dispense water at a rate that boggled the mind. As quickly as I could, I closed my pack and engaged my umbrella, hoping to stay somewhat dry. Since I was now on the summit ridge, there was no place to go for protection. Much like on Sinking Creek Mountain, the AT ran for a few miles along the crest, and, unlike the previous downpour, this one lasted at least thirty minutes. The trail was quickly turned into a torrent, and I felt badly for the few hikers around me who, lacking umbrellas, looked wholly unhappy as the rain kept coming. As I lie in my tent tonight at Pickled Branch Shelter, the sun is setting and blue skies abound. Today's 16.1 miles had more than enough excitement for me. Let's hope that Virginia has rained itself out for at least tonight.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Pickled Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Virginia had indeed rained itself out yesterday, just in time to offer me ideal weather today in which to visit a couple of AT landmarks. In the morning, I summited Cove Mountain to arrive at Dragon's Tooth, a stone outcropping that juts up from the peak. To gain the top of the monolith, one must employ a few inventive moves to maneuver up opposing walls of stone. It took me a few starts to finally figure out an approach that would work. The view from the top was expansive and worth every effort. To get to, and down from, Dragon's Tooth, took longer than I expected, as the slabs of rock found at the top also blessed the trail in various places. Rock-hopping for great stretches, the going was slow and one had to be quite deliberate to avoid slips and falls. By 11:30 am, I had made just seven miles, and still had ten more to go for the day. I stopped at a local grocery at a crossroads to pick up a few supplies and eat an early lunch. When I got back on the trail at 12:30, I had my work cut out for me. I wanted to make it to McAfee's Knob, supposedly the most photographed spot on the AT, by 5:00, and I wasn't sure if the trail was going to be as demanding as it was on the way to Dragon's Tooth. So, into high gear I went. Thankfully, the AT up to McAfee's was considerably kinder than I had anticipated, and I cruised right along. I passed the parking lot that day hikers use to access McAfee's, and, on this Saturday of Father's Day weekend, it was packed. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got to the top. Fortunately, I arrived at the summit just about 5:00, and much of the crowd had thinned out, on their way back down to their cars. McAfee's Knob, a rock shelf that cantilevers out over a great valley, was stunning. I didn't have to wait long to get my chance to sit for a rather iconic AT photo (above). I hung around for a good 30 minutes, enjoying the views, the sun, and the rock ledges. Tomorrow, the trail takes me to Tinker Cliffs, more remote and less visited than either Dragon's Tooth or McAfee's Knob. From there, I head into Daleville, VA, where I will zero on Monday.
Date: 2016-06-19
From: Campbell Shelter

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

I crawled into Daleville today, needle pegged on empty, running on one cylinder. When I awoke this morning, all seemed fine. I was excited to hike 15.4 miles to get to Daleville, where, in addition to staying tonight, I planned to zero on Monday. After I ate, I packed up camp, drank my normal liter of water, and headed out on the trail. Nothing told me to expect anything but a good day. Then, I stepped on the gas.....and got no response. It was as if I were lugging around two flat Michelins for legs. I tried eating my second Clif Bar that morning, then a third, and then my trail mix blend. No change. I moved on to drink more water, thinking dehydration perhaps. Again, no response. It was going to be a long day. Ultimately, my hiker legs never really came back all day, and the 15.4 miles felt twice that. This was truly the first day all trek that I couldn't get my legs to respond. The good news is that I'm convinced that I just emptied the proverbial tank well below the bottom set point over the past five days. Now that I'm here in Daleville, with a zero tomorrow, I have two dinners, two breakfasts, and one lunch at which to eat major amounts of food, plus all the snacking in between I can get in. I expect that will have a winning effect. While slogging along today, I indeed passed Tinker Cliffs, where I was all by myself save for two others. The cliffs offered a great view of the same valley that McAfee's did yesterday, only from a different vantage. I also passed high above Carvin Cove Reservoir (photo), serving, I believe, the city of Roanoke, VA. So far today, I have checked into a Howard Johnson's, done my laundry, showered, returned some Father's Day phone calls, and ate ridiculous amounts of food at my first Daleville dinner. I have a long list of chores to do tomorrow, in between stuffing away more food.
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

While Daleville may not be the easiest town to walk in, it certainly has everything a hiker needs: a great barbecue restaurant, a hiker-friendly hotel, a fabulous outfitter, and a post office. I've not quite seen a smallish town so unfriendly to walking. No sidewalks, an interstate that splits the town, and everything somewhat spread out. Still, I've enjoyed my stay. I made three trips to Three Li'l Pigs, a barbecue restaurant, got great help at Outdoor Trails, the town's outfitter, and made it to and from the post office, quite a feat given the walking conditions. Tomorrow, I'm back on the trail, rested, fed and rejuvenated. I have nineteen days of hiking left in Virginia, and am ready to tackle all that is thrown at me. Today's photo is of Dragon's Tooth, atop Cove Mountain.
Date: 2016-06-21
From: Daleville

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

Despite the rain that starting falling at 5:00 this afternoon, I am the only person at the shelter tonight. It's been a steady, soaking rain for the past three hours, and normally that would have driven hikers here by now. I think it's a pretty good indication of just how few NoBos are still in my vicinity.   I do know at least ten are out there, having seen them in Daleville, but I also know that a number of those are starting to falter under Virginia's never ending length. I crossed from Tennessee into Virginia on May 31. Now June 21, I just today passed the halfway point in Virginia. I still have eighteen more days of hiking in the state, plus two more zeroes. I won't make it into West Virginia, the next state, until July 11th. I will have been in Virginia for six full weeks. Because the AT is so long (2,189 miles), hikers must find intermediate goals to help them feel like they are progressing. Many break the trail into 100-mile segments, or other increments, and celebrate each one finished. Most note as a milestone each time they move into a new state. The AT runs through fourteen states. Virginia has by far the most miles of trail, 555, about double that of the next state. In fact, one quarter of the entire AT is in Virginia. So, after moving through Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, hikers find themselves seemingly "stalled" in Old Dominion, as it takes so long to add the state's notch to their belts. There's even a hiker community name for it: the Virginia Blues. You can see and hear it in many. The enthusiasm is gone, replaced by tedium. There is more talk of getting off, or of taking a break, or even of aqua-blazing: instead of hiking certain miles, some choose to kayak those miles on Virginia's rivers.I am fortunate. I have not suffered from the extended time here. I think part of that comes with age and the knowledge that things take time and require effort and stick-to-it-tiveness. But, I, too, developed some interim goals to help manage my mental outlook in Virginia. I am now at Mile 746. At Mile 730, I completed one third of the AT. At Mile 743, I completed one half of Virginia. At Mile 768, I will be three-quarters of the way to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Eighteen more hiking days left before I arrive in Harper's Ferry. That seems like a manageable number, especially since I have fifty two under my belt as of today. It will be interesting to find out just how many thru-hikers I continue to see here in Virginia. At the end of the day, though, it won't matter much. I am closing in on finishing Virginia and the first 1,000 miles of the trail, and with that, I'll be moving onto Maine.
Date: 2016-06-22
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: few clouds

As my time in Virginia continues, I've taken to planning out my hiking schedule for an entire week, rather than for just two or three days. I now realize this is one of my ways of preventing an onset of the Virginia Blues. I learned long ago that if I have a plan, then I'm more settled and can deal more effectively with uncertainty, long time horizons and setbacks. Before my departure from Daleville, I mapped out, day by day, a hiking schedule that would get me to Waynesboro, VA, the southern gateway to Shenandoah National Park, and the site of my next zero. It's 134 miles from Daleville to Waynesboro, farther than I would normally plan between zeroes, but none of the small towns in between seemed to be a good candidate for a place to recharge. With the terrain looking a bit more easy (but still containing a few mountains over 4,000 feet), I saw that eight days of hiking made sense, putting me in Waynesboro on Tuesday, June 28th. I'd start out the week somewhat hard, back off in the middle, and finish with a couple of reasonable days. To break up the eight days a bit, I'd schedule the fifth night at a hostel that came highly recommended by some other hikers. So, in miles, the first four days laid out like this: 18.5, 18.4, 17.7, and 17.2. For Day 5, I planned just 13.1 miles to allow me to arrive early at the hostel, clean up and get things dried out, if necessary. Day 6 would be another "short" day of 14.3 miles, this time enabling me to leave a bit later than usual in the morning, so that I could enjoy the hostel's well-regarded breakfast. For the final two days, I'd end with hikes of 18.2 and 16.4 miles, respectively. Yesterday and today, the first two days of my Waynesboro plan, went off without a hitch, their 18 mile hikes uneventful. It ends up that the AT parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway in many places over the 100 miles north of Daleville, and it was strange to actually cross it a number of times. I took today's photo during one such crossing. The Parkway was built to allow passage between two national parks: Shenandoah, in Virginia, and Great Smoky Mountains, in North Carolina. At its northern end, the Parkway terminates when it hits Skyline Drive, the ridge road through Shenandoah National Park.When I arrived at Cornelius Creek Shelter today after the second 18-miler, I again was by myself...to start. In quick order, however, seven other hikers arrived to keep me company, a group of six, and one fellow hiking solo. I had met two members of the group of six in Damascus, but the solo hiker was new to me. With my back-to-back eighteens, I had caught up with them, and it's likely I'll see them again.
Date: 2016-06-23
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Matt's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: moderate rain

At four o'clock this morning, I was awoken by thunder and lightning. The forecast for the day wasn't great, but rain was not expected to hit until mid morning. For the next ninety minutes, I listened to the cracks and saw the flashes. Should I get up early and break camp, to avoid packing up in what felt like imminent rain?At 5:50 am, I stopped wondering and started packing. I had breakfast amidst the lightning and thunder, and hit the trail at 7:15, with still no rain. I had a 17.7 mile hike planned, climbing to the summit of Apple Orchard Mountain at 4,225 feet, and finishing at Matt's Creek Shelter, elevation 848 feet. A bunch of rain was not going to make the climb and the long descent any easier. At 8:30 am, the long-threatened rain finally arrived, accompanied by heavy winds. This was a big and blustery storm, reminding me of those long ago when so much rain would fall that the school athletic fields would flood, and we would run, leap and slide forever on our stomachs -- an old school Slip 'N Slide. The first bout of heavy rain ran from 8:30 to 10:30, with impressive strikes of thunder and lightning. The summit of Apple Orchard Mountain was an open field, and, as I started to cross the quarter-mile expanse, I felt very exposed. Fortunately, the lightning took a well-deserved break until I reentered the woods on the far side. When the heavy stuff stopped at 10:30, it remained dark, blustery and forboding, and the possibility of more rain hung over the day. Our respite from the storm was brief, and, by 11:00, it was pouring again. As I climbed down into a valley, bolts of lightning from all directions appeared to be in queue, each strike awaiting its appointed turn to flash. The accompanying thunder resounded in various pitches, and rumbled continuously. Mother Nature was starting to flex her muscles. By 1:00 pm, I wondered if the storm had run its course, as the skies were lifting and the rain slowing. But I was wrong -- I hadn't counted on the 2:00 matinee, which featured the heaviest downpours of the day. Despite the conditions, I kept up a credible pace throughout, as I did not want to be hiking too late into the afternoon. When I arrived at the shelter at 3:00, during the height of the 2:00 wave, I was happy to finally put a roof over my head. This was the first day in my two months on the trail where it rained from morning to evening. It's now 8:00 pm, and the storm shows no sign of abating. Thunder punctuates the steady din of rain on the shelter's roof. In my sleeping bag, I care not if it rains all night. I'd just prefer that it stops by morning.
Date: 2016-06-24
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Reservoir Road Campsite
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

AT hikers don't mind getting wet. In fact, it comes with the territory. It's the not getting dry part that is the bigger pain. Last night, it finally stopped raining around midnight. Everything that was exposed to yesterday's storm was soaked, especially shoes, socks, and hiking shirt and shorts. Fortunately, the stuff inside the pack (sleeping bag, camp clothes, down jacket) was bone dry. I awoke to cloudy skies, but no rain. Putting on wet hiking clothing is never a fun thing, but at least it was fairly warm. Setting out to hike, I followed the James River for a mile. Swollen with all of the recent rainfall, the river was muddy brown and debris-laden (photo).Today's hike, 17.2 miles' worth, didn't appear to be that onerous. Yes, there was a climb of 2,700 feet, only to immediately descend 2,400 feet, but, heck, this is the AT and that's just part of the game. If the weather would just cooperate and offer some sunshine, then much that was wet would have a chance to dry out on the hike, and the day might just be enjoyable. Wishful thinking. What I got instead was on and off rain showers from morning to mid-afternoon. There were a few tantalizing peeks of sun, but, for the most part, it was a frustrating day of staying wet. Around 3:00, the sun finally did come out and, when I arrived at my campsite around 4:30, I put everything out to dry. Camping alongside a creek at the bottom of my 2,300 foot descent, I soon watched the sun dive behind the trees, but even in just an hour's time, things went from soaked to wet, a definite improvement. In the end, it doesn't matter much this time around since I'm staying tomorrow night at a hostel, and will get my hiking clothes washed. Still, it'd be nice if the sun would make an appearance tomorrow and dry things out naturally. I am now camped at Mile 799.3, and tomorrow morning I will quickly hike past the 800 mile mark. With that, Harper's Ferry, at Mile 1,022, comes into clearer focus, and the prospect of my finishing the first one thousand miles of my journey finally seems real.