morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-11
From: Jenkins Shelter 

To: Helveys Mill Shelter 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

As difficult as yesterday was, today was equally delightful. The weather was perfect for fast hiking, though I could have done without the partially frozen water bottles in the morning. The terrain was just about rock free and much of the day¢s elevation changes were gradual. I woke later than usual to Peewee dropping off my food bag and didn¢t hit the trail until a lazy 8:30. While I was taking down my hammock, one of the guys tenting near me asked me if I knew about Brushy Mountain Outpost, a small store/deli right on the trail about 10 miles up. They make burgers, fries, and BLTs and have some basic hiker resupply stuff. At 2:00 I showed up and enjoyed a bacon cheeseburger, fries, root beer, and a double scoop of peach ice cream. Much better than a pouch of tuna in a tortilla. I shared a table with Squeeze and Sawdust.I needed to do some re-planning after I learned from Joan that she¢s sent a box to Woods Hole Hostel, 11 trail miles south of Pearisburg. I think I¢ve come up with a way to stay there one night, then hike into town and spend a night at a hostel there. My stinky clothes and body need a washing.Big day tomorrow. 18 miles. I hope they¢re not all difficult miles.
Date: 2018-04-12
From: Helveys Mill Shelter 

To: Dismal Falls campsite 
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

I¢m a jackrabbit in the morning and a slow poke in the afternoon. I felt really strong out of the gate and averaged a little over 2.5 mph over my first 3 hours. I¢m getting stronger and can power up the hills and have developed a technique for going faster on the downhills by adopting a bent knee Groucho Marx shuffle. But I need to build up my stamina. It was an 18 mile day and I was pretty worn out by the time I reached Dismal Falls. There¢s no shelter here, but lots of water and a few nice camp sites. I¢m listening to the falls as I write. Lunch came early as I stopped at around 11:00 at Jenny Knob Shelter. There I met a young hiker named Gandolf who¢s from Lancaster County, PA. I asked him if he knew Mt Gretna. Not only did he know about it, his family used to swim at the lake there.Growing up, my family used to visit our cousins there each summer. An old Chattaqua town, the village is filled with these wonderful old cottages and the lake had some pretty wild man-toys to play on. A super high diving platform, a high dive, an adult-worthy slide and a trapeze up on a high platform that would make any insurance salesman cringe. In fact Gandolf¢s father lost a tooth when the trapeze bar collided with his face. As a boy it was a measure of courage each year to see how high I could swing before launching myself into the air. Gamdolf¢s brother is an architect and took part in building an elaborate model of Mt Gretna out of Gingerbread. I must Google that one. My uncle, Jack Bitner, was the town historian.I¢ll be staying at Woods Hole Hostel tomorrow night after a 13.4 mile hike. I¢m looking forward to it as it¢s the first ever AT hostel and the main building is a log cabin made of chestnut. The eastern woodlands were dominated by American Chestnut trees before a blight killed them all. They were huge and magnificent. What a shame they¢re gone.
Date: 2018-04-13
From: Dismal Falls campsite 

To: Woods Hole Hostel 
Miles today: 13.4

A beautiful day. I got up at 5:00 and after a full morning of chores including coffee and oatmeal along with a side trip to do what bears do, I was back to the AT hiking north at 6:45. I really enjoyed my private little campsite including a strange sound I kept hearing. It sounded like a bell or small gong. Not a natural sound to my ears, but it must have been. There were no humans near me.This is a really nice hostel. Neville, the granddaughter of the founder, put together a nice dinner of soup, salad and homemade pizza. I pitted the olives and, of course, was the chief dishwasher. Dinner was preceded by a group circle with each in turn offering what they¢re grateful for. I was grateful that after more than a month on the trail I had yet to take a fall. I¢m looking forward to breakfast with their home roasted coffee. I¢ve taken a private room in the main house as the bunk room has only one upper bunk available. Shower and laundry? Done.Tomorrow I hike into Pearisburg where I plan on taking a zero.
Date: 2018-04-14
From: Woods Hole Hostel 

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Five weeks on the trail and I¢m feeling good. I was a bit worried about the big long descent into Pearisburg, but it turned out to be long, but not that steep. I made the 10.6 in 4 hours. Strangely today was the first time I got to actually hike with someone for more than a minute or two. Second Chance from Georgia and I hiked together for at least two hours and never stopped talking. We naturally hiked at the same pace. I really enjoyed it. Funny story. I had tried to talk to Joan last night from the hostel but couldn¢t so I called her from the trail this morning. I heard her pick up the call and just then Second Chance came up behind me and said hello a half second before Joan said hello. It was disorienting. I had to hold two simultaneous conversations.After the 1 mile walk into Pearisburg from the trail, we hit the Dairy Queen, now called DQ, for a 2:00 lunch and ice cream. Eventually Peewee and Helper showed up and the four of us walked to Plaza Motel. Trust me when I say this is not a Helmsley establishment. We had reserved the last two rooms. Dinner across the street at yet another Mexican restaurant. The evening ended with a bunch of hikers telling tales on the motel porch. I¢m growing hiker legs. My calves are something to behold. I was happy that nothing hurt on the long descent today. Not my knees or my feet. I did feel a burn in my braking muscles in front, just above my knees.Tomorrow is a zero for me. Lots of rain and a thunder storm is predicted. I¢ve got serious planning to do. My flip down to Springer Mountain in Georgia to hike the beginning 241.4 miles happens in just two weeks and so far I don¢t know how I¢ll do that. I also need to resupply and sew my pants button back on.
Date: 2018-04-15
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

It took a while for the rain and thunderstorm to come, but come they did. I¢m very happy not to have hiked and camped in this weather. Last night was miserable, lying sleepless in bed till nearly 3:30 with my stomach complaining and threatening to toss up the abuses I had thrown at it during the day. Cheeseburger, fries and a vanilla cone at 2:00, nachos, enchiladas and a margarita at 7:00, followed by a DQ Blizzard. I took a nap this afternoon to make up for the lack of sleep. I did some planning for the next couple of weeks to get me to April 28. If my hike goes according to plan I¢ll be in Buena Vista, VA at which point I¢ll look for a shuttle to take me to a car rental shop and drive to my son Nick¢s Home in Tucker, GA. I¢ll spend a day there and on Monday the 30th Nick will drive me to Springer Mountain where the AT begins. I¢ll hike the 241 miles I skipped. I¢ve enjoyed the company of Peewee, Second Chance and Helper these last few days. Arnie One-Mile and her husband drove us all to a family run restaurant for dinner and took us to Walmart to buy fuel. My plan calls for a 20 miler tomorrow. Nothing like jumping back in with both feet. I have a driver picking us up at 7:00.
Date: 2018-04-16
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: moderate rain

The forecast called for a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Instead it sleeted and snowed most of the day. It was quite windy as well. My hands never warmed up. Because of the huge rains the day before, the trail itself often became a little stream with occasional mini waterfalls and the many stream crossings were swollen with fast moving torrents of water. Peewee, Second Chance, Helper and I were driven to the trail head at 7:00 AM saving us a mile of uphill road walking. Early on I came to a stream crossing too wide to hop over and any rocks that might have offered a means for crossing were completely submerged. A quick dip began my wet feet for the day.It turned out to be a bad day to attempt a 20 miler. Late in the afternoon I began to look for someplace to hang my hammock but finding nothing I decided to plow through the 20 miles to the shelter. I had learned along the way that said shelter had been closed by the Forest Service due to an infestation of gypsy moths that had killed the trees near the shelter making them susceptible to falling on unsuspecting campers. The shelter itself, being made of stone, seemed safe enough. By the time I arrived there was only one skinny spot left. I got to sleep beside Honey and Moon who, you guessed it, were on their honeymoon. I slept miserably, shivering for the first hour or so and very uncomfortable. The best (read worst) part of the day came just a few tenths before the condemned shelter. Another stream crossing. This one was a whitewater affair maybe 15 feet across and roaring so loud you¢d have to scream to be heard. If a clearer head had prevailed I would have taken the time to remove my shoes and socks and put on my camp shoes. But I was tired, cranky and my shoes were already pretty wet so I just walked in. The rushing water was well over my ankles. I managed to prepare a hot meal before slipping in with the honeymooners. Lucky them.Oh, and 400 miles today.
Date: 2018-04-17
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 

To: War Spur Shelter 
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

I would like to report that today was lots better than yesterday. But I cannot. Though the day ended well, the morning hours were painfully reminiscent of the day before. I got off to a late start and within 30 minutes faced another impossible stream crossing. Impossible for me anyway. Three young hikers skillfully crossed by balancing on a few skinny logs laid across the stream. They all waited for my crossing offering helpful instructions and words of encouragement. I knew I would fail as soon as I discovered how slippery the logs were. Sure enough, two steps in and my feet slipped from under me and I went down on my butt with my pack providing a softish landing. I scooted the rest of the way after handing my poles to the helpful hikers. That¢s officially fall number one. The morning was cold and windy. Yesterday¢s socks were frozen and now my dry second pair were soaked. I had a long climb that kept me warm but again I was slowed by the frequent water hazards. I stopped for lunch at the first shelter which cheered me up. Spirit and Cinco were there. After lunch I saw I had cell service so I had a nice chat with Joan who filled me in on the big storm I¢d been living through. She had it too up in north Jersey. She also gave me words of encouragement which helped. The sun came out, the clouds cleared away and it warmed up. Though often slow going due to the rocks, the afternoon was dry and my shoes and socks were nearly dry by the time I pulled in at 5:45.I¢m very happy to be back in my hammock.
Date: 2018-04-18
From: War Spur Shelter 

To: Sarver Hollow Shy
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Nice warm weather all day. I walked through some beautiful meadows with rolling hills and cows grazing in picture perfect fashion. I came to Keffer Oak, the second largest oak tree on the AT, estimated at 300 years old. The largest is Dover Oak in NY state. Something to look forward to. Then came the longest, steepest clime I¢d yet to encounter. If you could have seen me you¢d think I was climbing Mt Everest, plodding along at a very slow pace and gaining a foot or less with each step. Looking up was always disheartening as I would see nothing but more of the same till the trail turned. It didn¢t help when young hikers would zip past me.But all tough challenges on the AT come to an end and I eventually made it to the shelter. I probably shouldn¢t mention that the shelter was 0.4 miles down a steep hill. I don¢t want to sound like a complainer. The shelter was actually very nice with a big front porch over a big picnic table and I had it all to myself. I cooked a hot meal, got into my comfy hammock, hade a nice conversation with Joan and was just about to call my buddy Steve when, as the last of the day¢s light was fading, along comes Tennessee with a friendly ¢Hi Farfar¢. I hadn¢t seen him in almost a week.
Date: 2018-04-19
From: Sarver Hollow Shy

To: Pickle Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

Though today¢s hike was 16 miles of mostly ridge walking and another big climb to get up there, I felt stronger than I have recently and happy to be out here. It was nearly two hours of climbing but mostly not as steep as yesterday. There were lots of switchbacks which helped. I kept myself well hydrated and I had a dumb tune on a loop in my head that was in tempo with my strides and I tried to keep the tempo steady even when the going got tough. The hike on the ridge of Sinking Creek Mountain was particularly memorable and challenging. It wasn¢t so much a trail as it was the rocky top of the mountain. The views to the valleys both east and west were spectacular. Some rock climbing was involved which on occasion had me on all fours. The traverse was fun but oh so slow. That and the long climb got me to the shelter at 6:30 after an eleven and a half hour day. By the time I set up camp, fed myself and hung my food bag it was 8:45.About four miles before the shelter while still high on the ridge I visited the Audie Murphy memorial just 100 feet off the trail. Audie was WW2¢s most decorated serviceman. He died in a plane crash near the site.The weather today was cold and windy. It stayed around 40 degrees and the howling wind made it feel much colder. Not a good day to be up on the ridge. I wish it would warm up. I may stop at Four Pines Hostel tomorrow. I could use an easy day and some cleaning up. And I¢m low on snacks. Either way I need to rethink next week¢s plan. I think it¢s too ambitious and I seem to be ever surprised by the challenges the trail presents.
Date: 2018-04-20
From: Pickle Branch Shelter 

To: Four Pines Hostel 
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After a visit to the world¢s worst privy this morning the day started beautifully. I had decided to make it a short day and hike 6.7 to Four Pines Hostel. I was looking forward to Dragon¢s Tooth along the way. It¢s a highlight of the trail offering great views. It¢s also known as a very challenging steep downhill boulder fest where one sometimes stares in disbelief. How will I get down this one?My own personal experience with Dragon¢s Tooth was disappointing to say the least. First I missed the sign for the 0.1 mile blue blaze trail up to the Tooth itself with the great views. Instead I proceeded down the AT and at one of the very steep rock piles I slipped and then tripped on my poles and fell face first into the rocks. I slid a bit after landing and jammed my right hand between two rocks with all my weight pressing on it. I was pretty shaken up. Immediate assessment was that everything was working. Just my hand felt beaten up. Lucky for me there were two day hikers heading up who saw me fall. They helped me get my pack off and sit me up. Mostly I felt scared and upset thinking about what could have happened like broken limbs or a broken head. Just after they left Tennessee came along and ushered me all the way to the hostel. He is a good man and friend and I really value the care he gave me as I could not use my right hand or pole to get me down the rest of the way.We arrived at Four Pines, which by the way is a three port garage converted with bunks, a kitchen and a shower that takes only voluntary donations, opened the door and there were my buddies Peewee, Second Chance and Helper with welcoming squeals of delight. It made me feel so much better. Then a call home to Joan helped me purge some tears. Falling on a steep rocky downhill has always been my greatest fear on the AT.The hostel offers a free ride to the Homeplace restaurant. They serve family style and all you can eat. Our table of four included Second Chance, Helper and The Dude, a nice young man from Arkansas taking a year off before starting college. Tomorrow I¢ll stay at the hostel and continue icing my hand. I feel like I can probably hike again the next day.
Date: 2018-04-21
From: Four Pines Hostel 

To: Four Pines Hostel 
Miles today: 0.0

My hand feels better after yesterday¢s fall down Dragon¢s Tooth. Still a bit swollen and bruised, but I feel ready to get hiking again tomorrow morning. I¢ve got a three day plan to Daleville, but honestly it¢s a baby plan born out of caution that I hope I can better. I¢ll be hiking with Second Chance and Helper and they¢re looking at a two day plan to get there. Daleville is the end point of the first part of my three part thru hike . If I get there in two days I¢ll be two days ahead of my original plan. I¢ll need to decide whether to hike two more days or head to Georgia two days early. It was a lazy day. I did finally manage to sew the button back on my pants. Dinner was back at Homeplace which I think was a mistake. I¢d rather have grabbed a burger at the local store. I¢ve loaded up on oatmeal and snacks. Peanut butter crackers are the best. So are Cheeze-its. Trail cravings. I hike to snack.Today¢s picture cracks me up. It¢s a sign at the Homeplace warning of uneven steps. I wish I had seen this atop Dragon¢s Tooth.
Date: 2018-04-22
From: Four Pines Hostel 

To: Campbell Shelter 
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Second Chance, Helper and I left Four Pines Hostel and were back on the AT at 7:50. The weather was perfect and the clime up to McAfee Knob was neither steep nor rocky. After stopping for lunch and water at the shelter just before, I arrived at McAfee Knob. I was so excited to be there. The two most iconic photos thru hikers are sure to capture of themselves are 1) perched atop the trail terminus sign on Mt Katahdin and 2) peering contemplatively into the valley while sitting at cliff¢s edge on McAfee Knob. I¢ve seen literally hundreds of them. To finally be there in person was truly thrilling. Second Chance took my photo and I took hers. After Helper arrived we had a local day hiker snap the three of us together. After spending a good half hour there we hiked down to the next shelter and called it a day. We had plenty of time and energy to hike farther but the next shelter was up and over Tinker Cliffs and we probably wouldn¢t have made it there till maybe 7:00. So we¢ve left ourselves with a 15.4 mile day tomorrow and rain is predicted after 10:00. We¢ll start hiking at 7:00 to try and get over the Cliffs before they get too slippery. I hope we¢ve made the right decision. Up at McAfee Knob I met another hiker who asked me my name. Turns out she¢s been following my journal. Always nice to hear that. I made reservations at a hotel in Daleville for tomorrow night. I will take a Lyft or Uber to Roanoke to rent a car for the ride to Nick¢s in Tucker, GA. He¢s free on Friday to drive me to Springer Mountain so I can get started on leg two of the hike on Saturday, April 28.
Date: 2018-04-23
From: Campbell Shelter 

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

Our little hiking trio made it to Tinker Cliffs early enough. The views down to the valley and the mountains beyond were magnificent. It was the final stop of our ¢Virginia triple crown¢: Dragon¢s Tooth (an epic fail), McAfee Knob (all that I¢d hoped it would be), and Tinker Cliffs (a very pleasant surprise). It was an interesting day of hiking. We had our share of climbs, but much of the day was downhill. Fortunately my knees held up. Second Chance, Helper and I were joined at dinner by Camo. We ate at a renowned BBQ joint here called Three Little Pigs. The food was outstanding with free banana pudding for hikers.Today ends the first leg of my three part thru hike. Tomorrow I¢ll catch a Lyft to Roanoke where I¢ll rent a car to drive to Nick¢s place in Tucker, GA. I¢ll spend Wednesday and Thursday with them and on Friday Nick will drive me to the start of the AT at Springer Mountain. I¢ll then start the second leg of my hike on Saturday from there to where I started part one at Standing Bear Hostel just north of the Smokies.I¢m sad to leave my friends Second Chance and Helper tomorrow. They¢ll be hiking on to Maine. I¢ll get to meet a whole new set of friends down in Georgia.
Date: 2018-04-24
From: Daleville, VA

To: Nick & ChristinaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

There were many hikers at HoJo¢s breakfast room including Peewee who I was not expecting. She had to wait for a replacement phone. As a popular vloger, it¢s her tool of the trade. We pulled together a few tables and ate waffles, Fruit Loops, donuts and coffee. Shortly before 9:00 I called for a Lyft to the Hertz station at Roanoke airport and shared goodbye hugs with Second Chance and Helper. I will surely miss those fine ladies as they hike on to Maine and I jump back to Springer. I¢d love to take Joan to Dahlonega, GA to visit them. Maybe next year we¢ll take a road trip to see the grandkids and stop there along the way. Maybe stay at Mountain Harbor and Woods Hole B&Bs on the way down. It was a long 7 hour drive but so nice being here in Tucker with Nick¢s family. Baby Ace is 11 weeks old and doing really well. Bash is 7 and has a great sense of humor. I love that boy.I¢ve started a list of to-dos for the next two days. Looks like Friday the whole family may be making the trip to Amicalola for my Springer start. Maybe have dinner in Dahlonega. I¢ll start hiking on Saturday. No, I won¢t be doing the approach trail.
Date: 2018-04-25
From: Nick & ChristinaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs home

To: Nick & ChristinaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Nice to be here. Nick and I went to the post office where I mailed home a box of cold weather items like down mittens and booties. We stopped at REI where I bought new convertible hiking pants, fuel, water supplements and Permethrin spray for my clothing to keep nasty ticks at bay. I planned out to Franklin, NC. There are more chores left undone for tomorrow. I had fun going to pick up Bash after school and later playing sword and shield with him. In short order I had no arms or legs but I valiantly fought on. We ate a simple dinner of pulled chicken drenched in bbq sauce, cole slaw and baked beans. Tomorrow night I get to hear Nick perform.Many thanks to all you who¢ve signed my guest book here on trailjournals. I love hearing from you.
Date: 2018-04-26
From: Nick & ChristinaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs home

To: Nick & ChristinaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Rest & ResupplyAfter assessing my food needs to my next resupply point which will be at Mountain Crossing at Neel Gap and seeing what food I had left, I made a list and hit up the local Kroger. As usual I came home with more than needed and loaded up with my favorite snacks. Mountain Crossing is the first resupply spot on the trail. At mile 31, it¢s a full service outfitter known for helping greenhorn hikers by conducting pack shakedowns after which literally tons of unnecessary gear gets shipped home each year. It¢s also the spot where some hikers call it quits.I called my eye doctor back home to have him call in a prescription for Cipro eye drops. I explained that I thought I¢d acquired an eye infection but he thinks it was more likely irritation from wearing my contact too long without giving my eye a rest. I wear only one contact to correct for distance. The naked eye I use for reading and inspecting for ticks.Nick performed at The W Atlanta Midtown along with his drummer and bass player. I went to hear him and had a fun time. Tomorrow it¢s back to the trail at Springer Mountain.