morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-05-31
From: Gravel Springs hut

To: Front Royal Va
Miles today: 13.4

So everyone woke up really grumpy today.Because it was still raining.Trail was a river and muddy skating rink.I thought it was kind of fun sliding around in it.   Not much of a view day but Annie had a really pretty deer walk almost right to her.It was cool to watch.The forest always looks really beautiful to me in the thick fog so it was a nice day.  Everyone¢s stuff was completely soaked so Annie ,Numb and I decided to get a room in Front Royal to dry out.I really wanted to keep hiking but knew I would rather hang out with these guys.Annie stuck out her thumb and got us a ride quick with a very cool older guy who told us he used to hitch all over the country in the 60s and 70s and saw all kinds of cool things.He had some great stories to tell us.  Oh ,forgot this part.Earlier in the day Annie was hiking alone and came up behind the college kids that were in the shelter with all of us the night before.They didn¢t here her and were complaining about us thru hikers,Said we were rude,stinky,dirty,and how could anyone live like us.She got pissed and told them maybe they are better suited for a fluffy hotel if they can¢t handle it.They said but that wouldn¢t be the wilderness.She said a Shenandoah Shelter isn¢t either.Its luxury.Try walking 900 miles and do what we do.She called them whiney asses and shut them up.Annie is awesome!Stuck up for her hiking family.Love that!   So...back to Front Royal.Sherlock and his girlfriend Snickerbear and 44 were also there.We all had a great lunch and stayed at the Super 8.After a quick resupply Numb got a text from Chad the Dad who we haven¢t seen in over a month I think.He stopped by our room and we had a great time catching up.  Chad the Dad,Numb,Annie ,and I all went to a great craft beer place called pavement for dinner.Many laughs and a great time.Its so great meeting all of these people out here.Chad the Dad is a great guy and always fun,Annie is wise beyond her young age and has good advice.Have met so many people out here that actually care what you have to say and want to help on and off the trail.Just total strangers day hiking or whatever.  After all the fun had to get back and dry everything out again.Mostly successful with it all except my phone.But it survived.The sun will shine again someday,I really believe it!   I just remember laughing a lot with Numb last night,then a big blank.Passed out maybe?
Date: 2018-06-01
From: Front Royal Va

To: Rod Hollow shelter 
Miles today: 23.6

Slept in a little for once and hit the trail a little later than usual  This is going to be a different kind of journal.Trail was mostly flat and easy and sunny today with no real views so I fell deep into what I call my hiking trance.Thinking deeply about things I need to do and fix to be a happier and better person for everybody around me .So many things going on in my life that I need to come up with a solution for to make everyone happy.All this time is a huge gift to be able to do this if I do it right.This trail is not only beautiful but also a healer for me.I really think today I figured out some things I need to change to make everyone happy.  Ended up at Rod Hollow shelter It is pouring again.A big bear came through but I missed this one.Chad the Dad said it¢s the biggest one he¢s ever seen.  One last thing:Today is my 22nd wedding anniversary.Thank you Beth for all the years and letting me live out this dream while you take care of everything in the real world.You are the most selfless person I will ever know and I just want and have always wanted you to be happy.To just make you happy.You deserve it and hope someday you can be TOTALLY happy.It kills me when you aren¢t and I know I am the cause of it.You deserve the best   Sorry to everyone about all this.Deep thinking today .This trail really takes you there if you let it
Date: 2018-06-02
From: Rod Hollow shelter 

To: BlackburnAT center
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: mist

Lots of rain again last night.The big bear didn¢t show back up.  Luckily rain stopped while I was packing up.Pabking up in the rain is no fun  The roller coaster,it was pretty tough I will admit.Just up and down steep hills over and over.Wasnt so bad though.Met a lot of day hikers who had questions so it passed by pretty quickly.Had some great fresh fruit trail magic in there too.   Hit 1000 miles today.A great feeling !Its been such a great journey and I am kind of glad there is still a long way to go.Really feel like I am meant to do this.Feels so right  Also left Virginia today.People talk about the  Virginia blues because it takes so long to get through it.Its almost 1/4 of the whole trail.I had no Virginia blues and really loved it.Beautiful place and met many new friends along the way  A really nice spot today was at Raven rocks.Stayed for a while and just wat he¢d clouds float by.  Shortly after that we were hammered  by a wicked thunderstorm.HEAVY downpour.Totally Soaked again.Its Just part of this trail,Cant get around it.Got to the end of the 13 miles of roller coaster and was pretty happy .We p to head down to Blackburn AT center.Heard they had free shelter.Didnt know what to expect.We got there expecting it to be full but only Jason was there.We were sipping  wet.Mary is the caretaker and she was sooo cool!There is a big log cabin that was built in early 1900s there that isn¢t for hikers.She said I could sleep on the huge wraparound porch.Numb and Jason decided to also.Really nice spot to stay    Chad the Dad showed up later.Super Cool Mary said she was willing to make us all dinner and we were so happy.Something she didn¢t have to do at all.The place just runs on donations.Made is spaghetti and beans and rice.Was delicious.More proof that Southerners and the south is where it¢s at!  Was nice to be under a roof because it just poured all night.I am glad I ended up here.Very peaceful night on a porch of a beautiful old cabin.Its pretty sweet
Date: 2018-06-03
From: BlackburnAT center

To: Harpers Ferry WV
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Very foggy morning.Woke up and didn¢t remember where I was for a minute.In a daze.Mary made coffee for everyone.I hate coffee but was nice of her  The night before Chad the Dad,Numb,Jason,and I all decided to just get to Harpers Ferry and dry out ...again.Trail was pretty easy but really flooded.We were trucking along so we could have some dry out time and get some beers.Got there pretty early and went to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy first stop.They take your picture there and it goes into their records.I was number 510 for this year to get to that point.  The 4 of us went to the QualityInn and got all of the showers and laundry done.Got a quick ride to the 7 eleven for beers and snacks. Chad the Dad and I really weren¢t into hanging out in the hotel so we went exploring a little.The Barn first for a few beers was fun.Menzos next for an amazing calzone.Was just ridiculously huge and soo tasty!Only ate half.Will finish it tomorrow for sure.Wanted to explore around town more but raining again.And pretty dead like a ghost town.  Went back to the room and had a lot of laughs with these guys.Friendships along this trail is pretty much my favorite part of it all now.
Date: 2018-06-04
From: Harpers Ferry WV

To: Dahlgren Backpack campground 
Miles today: 17.8

great deep sleep.Hard to get out of a real bed later.Great all you can eat breakfast.We destroyed the food.Jason is and eating machine.  Back on the trail.Nice sunny day.Trail takes you right through Harpers Ferry .Its a beautiful little town that reminds me so much of England.Old and beautiful.So much history Wish I could have stayed another day.  We were about to go over the Potomac river footbridge when someone told us the trail on the other side was impassable due to flooding.A really nice lady offered to give us a ride to the next northern trailhead so we could backtrack and only miss a minimal short section.It is allowed to miss sections due to weather or fires so it will still be a complete thru hike.We were able to go over the bridge to the flooded spot and see just how bad it was.No possible way we could have gotten through it without getting washed away to our deaths.Talked to a local guy on the bridge who said the water level is usually 3 feet.It was above 21 feet today!Just roaring carrying massive trees and debris with it.Really cool to watch.When we crossed the bridge we also passed into Maryland.Anoother state,Wooo Hooooo!!!!!  We made it to the next trailhead and backtracked 2.7 miles to get as close as we could to where the flooding was.We were really close and didn¢t miss much at all. Really nice sunny day.Feels amazing to have the sun on my face after so much rain.Feel like my skin is turning opaque like a frog from being in so much rain .  Really nice view today at Weverton cliffs.Puts you like right over the Potomac river and trains passing by.Great spot for sure  Was cool to run into Samwise,Dirtbag Dave,and Playboy today.Been a while and great to catch up.  Gathland  state park was a really great spot the trail takes you into.Lots of building remains and an empty tomb he made for himself to be buried in ,but it never happened because he died penniless in  NYC and couldn¢t afford to be brought back to his mansion and tomb.Met Bourbon Bob there.Cool thru hiker I am sure I will have a few with .  Trail is still super muddy but really beautiful today.We are all Hoping it will dry out this week because it destroys your feet when they are wet constantly.  Decided to stay at Dahlgren backpack campground tonight.Its free and in a nice spot.Bourbon Bob is next to me and Numb is a little ways off.Pretty crowded though.Really like stealth camping away from everything.Not allowed on Maryland though so I will just suck it up for a night.  Hope you all have a good night and everything is going well
Date: 2018-06-06
From: Waynesboro Pa

To: Caledonia state park
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

Took us a while to find a ride back to the trail this morning but we eventually made it.Really nice sunny morning and cooler.  Walked a little ways down the trail and came to the Mason Dixon and Maryland Pennsylvania state line.Another state complete.Maryland was a great one with lots of history,really liked it.  Trail was pretty easy again today .Lots of nice open forest and ferns everywhere.Sometimes I just want to lay down in the thick ferns and sleep for a while.They look so inviting   Stopped at Chimney rocks for a late lunch.Really cool rock slabs and formations with a great view also.I set my hiking poles down and heard them sliding on the slabs.I loooked down and they were gone.They slid into a small crack ,just enough to fit and fell way down.I thought they were gone forever.Wouldnt be a big deal but I need them to set up my tent .Thats the only thing that holds it up.So I went exploring expecting to never see them again.Climbed down a bunch of slabs and saw them deep in a little narrow cave there is no way I could get into or even reach into.All kinds of water bottles and other things were there also that the slabs took from other people.I used Numbs hiking poles and luckily after about a half hour of trying fished my poles back.It was frustrating and not easy.Would get them almost all the way out and they would drop back down all the way.  Chadwick the Dad said there was a tavern we could hitch to to get a quick burger and beers.We got to the road and after about 3 cars hitched our ride.Had a great burger and Chad the Dad and I split 2 pitchers of great beer.Next step was trying to find a ride back to the trail.We went to the bar section and started talking to some locals.One group was fascinated with the whole thing and bought us a beer.Somehow started talking about music and hit it off with these nice people.Told them we were headed back out on the trail and they offered a ride back immediately.    Ended up atCaledonia state park.Tried to pay for a site but nobody was around .So we stealth camped a little in back of the sites.It is a beautiful night.First time I have seen a bright star filled sky in a while.And as always lots of laughs with these guys  Walking along in the bright sun today I was thinking how lucky I am to be doing all of this.I will never forget any of it and appreciate all the people I am meeting so much  ¢My shadow follows me underneath the big white sun.My shadow runs with me as we leave it all,leave it all,FAR BEHIND!!¢-Eddie Vedder
Date: 2018-06-07
From: Caledonia state park

To: Pine Grove furnace camping 
Miles today: 19.4

Slept like a baby in this nice cooler weather.Woke to the sounds of some snorting and grunting early.Think it was a deer that was mad we were camping in his spot maybe.Ee saw Cannonball and Wheat early who said they stealth camped also close by.   Trail was pretty easy again today with not many views .So a good day to do some thinking.Thought a lot about when I was a kid and my childhood.Things I haven¢t thought about in years.I had a different kind of childhood compared to most I know.Sometimes it¢s just a great feeling to me to know I even made it through.This trail gives you tons of time to work things out that bother you   Hiked on many long flat areas today.Old roads mostly.Had a long lunch at an ATC cabin that is only available for rent .Really great spot and cabin I would love to come back to someday.  We were planning on staying at Toms run shelter but arrived way earlier than we thought we would.Great spot,just too early to quit for the day.So we decided to push on to Pick me Grove furnace store and campground another 4 miles away.Shortlyafter we hit the AT sign that is the halfway point of the entire trail.It was a really great feeling!This trail is no joke and not easy,so I felt pretty proud.Also thought about how much I have seen and the great people along the first half.Really looking forward to whatever the next half brings.Really determined to finish now or die trying!  Arrived at the Pine Grove furnace store where Cannonballl,Wheat and some others were doing the half gallon challenge.This is a ritual where hikers eat a half gallon of ice cream in a certain time to celebrate half of the trail complete.I wanted to so bad bitI am hypoglycemic.If I ate half a gallon it would taste great ,but I would most likely pass out from my blood sugar dripping extremely low.Not worth it!  Numb ,Chad,and I walked to find a site.Found one .Chad and I decided to go back to the store and grab a burger.It was amazing and huge.While there we invited Cannonbal,Wheat ,and Rambo back to our site to stay.Also talked to a family that is hiking parts of the AT with their 5 little kids.I give them tons of credit.I can barely take care of myself on this trail.5 little ones would be tons of work.They all seemed really happy  Got back to the site and Wheat ,Cannonball,and Numb were there.Shortly after we hear,¢Oh your camping with these old  guys?¢zI looked down and it was Annie!Rambo invited her on his way back.It was fun catching up with her and it was once again a great fun time.Really glad they showed up.In the campsite you are only allowed 5 people,so Rambo and Annie set up later and were undetected.Another nice coool night with new and old friends.Hard to beat   Thought of this lyric today while deep thinking about my childhood  ¢Oh dear Dad,can you see me now?I am myself,like you somehow.I'll ride the wave where it takes me.I¢ll hold the pain.RELEASE ME!!!!!¢-Pearl Jam-
Date: 2018-06-08
From: Pine Grove furnace camping 

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Headed home to NY for the weekend.Numbs Leah and my wife Beth planned on coming to Pa and staying the weekend with us down here.We all decided it would make more sense to just go home for that time.I am really excited to spend some time with my family and friends.It will be really strange to be away from this amazing trail though  Have Chad the Dad a ride into town and back so he could resupply before we left.Happy to help him.Said goodbye to Annie who is also taking the weekend off.Hope to meet up with them all again.Just great people
Date: 2018-06-12
From: Home

To: Backpackers campsite near RR tracks
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ugggghhh.Really hung over from last nights fun.Luckily Leah is driving us back to Pa or I would never make it.I shall sleep until we get there  Arrived back at Pine Grove furnace around 10am.Savage was there and came over and said hi.I asked her how trail days was and she said she had to pretty much babysit another hiker who was out of his mind all weekend.Good to see her though   Gorgeous day to start back at it.Pretty mellow day on trail with not a lot of climbing or views.Another good day of just thinking.Thinking about everything.Getting better at losing myself in thought.Its pretty wild what happens.  A memorable part of the trail today was a section called the rock maze.Trail takes you through all of these gigantic boulders for quite a ways.Purposely takes you in between them all which wasn¢t easy but fun.And nice and cool in the spaces between.  Next through some cornfields which felt great to be in the bright sun.Amd just to see the beautiful  farms in every direction.  Ended up at a backpacking campground made for us .It is right next to some RR tracks.Boiling Springs was really close off the trail so Numb and I decided to check it out and go to the pub for a quick few.Its a really nice little town.Feels like going back in time the way it¢s set up.Talked to some nice locals on the way who asked us all about the trail.Pub was a great old building.1836 I think.Had a good time.Granbed a six pa k for the road/trail.  All new hikers here tonight I haven¢t met yet.Talked to some who were really cool to talk to.Also a mother and daughter from Wisconsin who were super nice and glad I met.  It was strange being in a really crowded campsite so I took a walk into the cornfield and just looked at the stars for a while.Was a really pretty night.   Did I mention the train tracks?A train comes through every hour blowing it¢s horn.We we¢re all just laughing about it.Ghetto campsite for sure. Hope everyone is doing and feeling great out in reality.Its going to be a big adjustment for me to come back to it now
Date: 2018-06-13
From: Backpackers campsite near RR tracks

To: Duncannon Pa
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Even through the loud trains all night I am feeling pretty refreshed this morning.Its raining too,just doesn¢t bother me anymore   Today¢s hike was just farm field after farm field.It was cool to be in the open for such a long time.Saw lots of deer and a baby skunk.Skunk was determined to spray me but was so little not even sure he was able to yet.  Crossed more roads today than any other day.And trail was super flat but had that super slippery mud that slows you down big time.  Was another great and not so great day of thinking about things.A great friend I met out here is helping me figure some things out and I appreciate it so much.There are still great people who really care.  Numb and I were making some good miles and decided to push all the way to Duncannon Pa.On the way Hawk rock had an outstanding view of Duncannon and mountains surrounding it.Lookout has a huge drop off down into the forest.Sat on the edge and soaked it in.Love sitting on the edge of things like that.Gives you a great rush  Walk down from Hawk rocks was really steep and rocky.And mosquitoes must know this spot because we were attacked by them big time.Made us hike faster though so that¢s good I guess. Trail takes you right into Duncannon.We are staying at the Doyle hotel.Its a rundown old hotel the awesome owners are keeping open to give us thru hikers a cheap place to stay.Its a lot of work and they are such nice people.Really happy my package arrived here today.Its my 3rd set of trail runners.Feet were killing today so it¢s a big deal to me Went to another local pub with Numb for dinner.Was really good.Talked to a few more nice locals.One thing I am bummed about is there is no more southern accents anymore here in Pa.Not gonna lie ,I really like southern accents for some reason. Really beat tonight after 26 miles.Just want to curl up and die until morning.Hope you all have a good night !
Date: 2018-06-14
From: Duncannon Pa

To: Stealth camp by a spring 
Miles today: 17.4

Doyle hotel gave me a great night of sleep.Old place,had lots of creaking during the night.Was fun to sleep in such an old place.  Really beautiful morning .Trail takes you right through Duncannon streets for quite a way before hitting the trail.  Trail today was really flat but getting more rugged.Found myself watching every step on jagged rocks  most of the day.Just glad they aren¢t wet because they get very slippery.Its is really nice and sunny today with a great cool breeze.  Almost arrived at Kinter view and a dayhiker said¢Look out there¢s a rattlesnake down on the ledges.You might not want to go down there ¢ I got all excited and thanked him and told him I couldn¢t wait to go see them.He looked at me like I had 3 heads.I will never pass up a chance to see something like that.Numb and I walked down and saw it.Pretty fat I climbed a lower ledge to get a picture of it.I put my hand on a rock and looked over and there was rattlesnake #2.A little young 1.So I backed out of there slowly because I was pretty close.Did get some great pics of him.Went back up to see #1 snake and Numb noticed another really big one right by # 1snake under a tree.I was able to get some good close up pics from above and close.Really cool to watch them just lay in the sun.    We were both pretty beat from yesterday so decided to stealth camp by a little spring.Was a really peaceful spot.A young Canadian section hiker was there with us.A fun night listening to her tell us of all her travels.She is young but really has been everywhere.  Very nice spot I am at .Nice little cool breeze and SO quiet.    Good night all
Date: 2018-06-15
From: Stealth camp by a spring 

To: Stealth on ridge
Miles today: 18.8

wonderful night of sleep.Felt the best I have in weeks this morning.No pain and ready to make some miles.  Today was pretty much a no view day.We have entered the green tunnel with pretty much nothing to see but trees and leaves and very little sky.Its still really nice hiking but just different.  Had lunch by a really nice stream and the Canadian hiker from last night was there.The night before we were talking about trail food and she said she had never tried Spam ever.So I gave her a piece to sampleShe said she was really sorpised it was so good.Shes right.Spam does taste amazing and like magic after you have been on the trail for a while!  Arrived at a beaver dam that flooded the trail in hot wetness for about 100 yards.No way around it,it was a big long,hard mess.I tried to make it across on sticks and logss that were in this section.Almost made it when one of my long stiff shoes slipped tightly into a wet and warm slit in between logs.It went in the tight hole and I had a hard time getting it out.Had to move it deeply up and down in that tight slit before it was pulled out with a wet sucking noise.And it was dripping all over the tight slit and logs Was so relieved after it came out!   Numb and I were going to hitch into Lickdale to get a burger and beers but had no luck hitching today so just kept on hiking.Pennsylvanians aren¢t as friendly so far compared to south of here in my opinion.  Found a seeet little camp spot for tonight.Really quiet again but there is definitely something big walking around close by..Hoping it¢s a bear. Hope life is going great for you all