morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-09-16
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

What a day! I left the shelter this morning in light rain and it was a little cool. Climbing the 800 ft to the Peak of Peru Mtn.(3429ft)went pretty fast. By the time I got to the top I was getting hot so I stopped to take a layer off. I stopped at what was probably a nice vista but today I look out into gray nothing, very low visibility this morning. Right after I stopped I saw another hiker that I had met in Maine. We only talked for a few minutes and he was off. Up and down a few more peaks and finally to the top of Bromley Mountain. This is a ski area and on top of the mountain there is a warming hut that they keep unlocked all year for people to use to get out of the elements. The weather on top of the mountain was terrible. Windy, cold and close to no visibility. A thermometer outside the hut read 45 degrees. I ducked inside for some lunch, happy to have the shelter. Inside there was a couple out for a day hike and the hiker I had seen earlier in the day. We all chatted for a while, the couple was really curious about long distance hiking. The day hikers left and my fellow Southbounder left shortly after that. I used the time to eat lunch and call home. Outside I see a younger couple, looks like they are out for a short walk. Grossly unprepared, shorts and cotton sweat shirts. They came over to the shelter but were hesitant to come in. They stood under the overhang for few minutes. I decided to open the door to let them in. Felt funny to be welcoming someone into a space that is not mine. They did not realize they could come inside, although they were happy to get out of the weather.The last climb came after crossing Route 11 that leads to the town of Manchester Center. I briefly thought about hitching into town for some sort of treat but decided against it. The weather had cleared up for the first time in the day, maybe tomorrow will be nice. I stopped at Spruce Peak Shelter for the night. The shelter was a four walled cabin with bunks and a small wood stove. A couple guys that are hiking the Long Trail were already there and had a fire going. It felt nice and toasty but a little cramped for me. I searched around for a spot to my tent but no luck. I could either push on down the trail or stay at the shelter. I decided to stay...It ended up being a full shelter. 7 of us. Two of us hiking the AT the others were hiking the LT. Two of the LT hikers were from New Zealand. I enjoyed talking with them and ended up seeing them on and off for the next few days.
Date: 2013-09-17
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Story Spring Tentsite
Miles today: 18.2

Another cold morning! The coldest so far. I started walking with more layers than I have needed before on this hike. I quickly needed to lose a layer but left more on than I had been used to. I made it to the top of Stratton Mountain in good time. The cold weather does a good job of making me keep up my pace. At the top of the mountain I saw the couple from New Zealand. They stopped to have a snack and were looking up at the fire tower. As I took off my pack and was getting ready climb the tower, I asked if they were going up. He made a comment about already seeing the view on Youtube, ok whatever. The view up top was amazing! Clear blue skies with sharply contrasting white clouds. The contrast makes the clouds look electric. A few minutes later up comes the guy from New Zealand. He looked nervous and admitted to being a little scared of heights. He took a quick look around to say he had done it and cautiously climbed down. I suspected he may have been afraid of heights when we were talking before. Good for him, it was a high tower.I stopped at Story Spring shelter and decided to stay there instead of pushing on to the next shelter. I wanted to try to make 20 miles today, but I had enough. Soon the same Southbound hikers who were at Spruce Peak last night stopped as well. I found a nice out of the way spot to set up my tent. The shelter was a little rough for me. There was also a group of guys there that seemed like they might be up late.
Date: 2013-09-18
From: Story Spring Tentsite

To: Melville Nauheim Tentsite
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to much warmer temperatures today. I was out and walking by 7. More of the same rolling mountains with fairly easy terrain.I stopped at the Melville Nauheim shelter for the night. I have gotten into the habit of really searching around the shelter areas for the best campsites. I hate to set up my tent only to find a better spot a little later. I lucked out! There was a faint trail leading through some thick brush behind the shelter. I walked down the trail and found some great spots. Very secluded and quiet just like I like it. I sat for awhile before setting up my tent. I may have sat in the same spot for 20 minutes or so, not moving much. I heard some rustling noise coming from the brush about 50 feet away. Out darts a rabbit, who is on a direct course for me. Is this a killer bunny? How will I explain getting mauled by a rabbit. I slapped my foot down and made myself seen and the rabbit changed course at the last second. Kamikase rabbit? I was sitting there long enough that he didn't know I was there. Not sure what kind of rabbit it was, didn't look like a regular cotton tail back home. Well, since that disaster was diverted I decided to set up camp, eat dinner and go to bed.
Date: 2013-09-19
From: Melville Nauheim Tentsite

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 1.6

A short uneventful walk to Route 9 that goes into the town of Bennington. It's five miles into town and I didn't have any luck getting a ride. The road was nice to walk on, with a nice wide shoulder. I walked the five miles pretty fast. It's amazing how fast I can walk on level ground/footing. I stopped at a convenience store for a drink and a snack. I noticed my shoe is falling apart again. Not sure what to do about it... There is a town nearby with an EMS store but that it is going to take all day. In the town of Bennington there is a Super Shoes so I head there instead. I was able to get an inexpensive pair of trail runners and tossed my old shoes. I walked around town for what felt like forever. I tried going to a hotel that had a cheap hiker rate listed in the guide book but the door was locked. Too bad it looked like a nice place and was near the grocery store and some fast food restaurants. Oh well, there were other choices.
Date: 2013-09-21
From: Bennington, VT

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

I was up early and ready to get back on the trail. I felt like I had good momentum before taking a day off and I hoped I would fall back into it once on the trail. So I was at the diner for breakfast by 6:15. Ate my breakfast at the "bar" with a few other people. Old men. They must do this every Saturday because they were funny and had a cool, laid back easy banter. They asked me what brought me to town. So I told them about my hike. They thought it sounded nuts and didn't try to hide that fact. But they agreed that life is too short and we have to be happy and that happiness is different for everybody. One guy asked how I was getting back to the trail, I told him I was going to hitch. He said, ah nobody will pick you up in this town and offered me a ride. I went back to my room around the corner, grabbed my bag and met back at the diner. The ride made a big difference. The trail started out with a short steep climb. Maybe one of the steepest in VT? After the climb, the trail was nice, weaving through rolling mountains and past ponds and marshes. The winds were blowing hard all day and the trees were losing a lot of leaves. It feels like fall more and more everyday. I stopped early, around 4, the next place that had a shelter was ten miles away. I didn't feel like pushing myself. The weather was calling for heavy rains and the skies were starting to get dark. First shelter to myself, nice treat!
Date: 2013-09-22
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Passed into another state early this morning...MA! No rain this morning but the skies are dark and it is pretty cool. Easy trails with no real climbs and easy terrain. The biggest climb was Mt. Greylock at 3491 ft, the highest elevation on the AT in MA. The climb kept my body temp up even though the temps were getting lower and the winds were picking up. By the time I got to the top, it was down right cold. There was a monument at the top, looked neat, but I had to keep moving or put on some more clothes. I had on my running shorts, long-sleeved shirt and fleece beanie. The visitors of the monument were all decked out in full winter coats, hats...the works. I got some strange looks. Jealous of my short-shorts I'm sure! It was a fast walk from Mt. Greylock to the shelter. There was one guy in the shelter who was out for a few days hiking North. He was very cold and didn't talk much. He was in his sleeping bag early trying to get warm. A few twenty-something hipsters came in to the shelter as I was making my dinner. Nice kids out for a few nights from Brooklyn. They prepared a meal like I have never seen at a shelter before. They had all sort of goodies and shared a banana and some figs with me. They lectured about not eating meat, as they ate their soy-based beef stuff. Blah, blah. Different strokes for different folks. We all chatted for a little bit and then called it a day by 8pm. Hiker midnight.
Date: 2013-09-23
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Up out and out early. Walking just before 7. The trail went into or near a small town called Cheshire. It's weird walking down a residential street looking for white blazes. The trail was easy to follow and was only on the road for a little over a mile. Then a steady climb out of the town to Crystal Mountain. Then the trail descended into another town, Dalton, MA. I stopped at a store and bought some snacks and some food to last me until Thursday. It is always nice eating something different then what is in your food bag. I had tasty cakes, chips and a soda. To hell with eating healthy! It will be odd to have to eat normal when I go home. At this point, I can eat whatever I want and not worry about it. Two or three candy bars a day isn't unusual. A short climb out of town put me back into the woods. Really nice. I got to the shelter after a short walk down a side trail. There was a guy and his dad there who were going North to Cheshire. We chatted a bit, but they seemed to want to keep to themselves. Fine by me. Then, an older gentleman came in full of stories and BS. Nice guy to talk to who was very knowledgable about the trail. I picked his brain a little about the upcoming trail and he got the same information from me about the trail he would be walking. What got my attention was that he mentioned the shelter I was planning on going to the next day was a cabin run by the AMC and they made pancakes for hikers in the morning! Oh yeah! Love them pancakes!
Date: 2013-09-24
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Long day for me, almost 18 miles. The terrain was easy and there were not any real climbs. Through the day I got conflicting information about pancakes at the shelter. This was on my mind all day. I got to the trailhead that lead to the shelter by 6pm or so. I stood there for a moment contemplating the half mile walk to the shelter. Worth it for pancakes in the morning, otherwise not so much. I hoped for the best and made my way to the shelter. Do I smell pancakes? Hunger is a funny thing. I was happy to see there was a caretaker and sure enough there would be pancakes in the morning!!! There was only one other hiker there, but I didn't really talk to him for long. I was tired and hungry. Chatted to the caretaker for a few minutes, explaining that I wanted to sleep in my tent that night after sleeping in shelters the last three nights. She pointed me in the right direction and said breakfast was at 7. I found a nice spot to set up my tent and then made dinner. I must have been hungry because it tasted really good. Mac and cheese with salmon and veggies. All rehydrated and served in a ziplock bag. Who needs presentation?
Date: 2013-09-25
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Mt. Wilcox Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

The pancakes lived up to the hype. Nothing beats a breakfast on the trail that I don't need to cook. I left a donation at the shelter and was on my way. Man, was I moving slow. Maybe the extra pancakes were not such a great idea? Oh well, I survived. I also got a banana from the shelter, perfect... turning brown and just the way I like them. For the most part, the trail was easy. The biggest climb of the day was Baldy Mountain at 1905 ft. Pffft. There were two shelters listed about two miles apart. I decided to go to the second one. At that spot there were two shelters, one old ugly one and one nice one a little further down the side trail. The old shelter was really nasty and I wondered why they would keep it. It seemed like I would have the shelter to myself, always a nice treat. The shelter faced west and the sky was amazing. I made a small campfire, only the second one on my trip. I am usually too tired, but what the heck?!?
Date: 2013-09-26
From: Mt. Wilcox Shelter

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 11.5

Today I walk into town and met Pixie and ended the Northern leg of this trip. The idea of meeting up with her had me walking faster than the promise of pancakes the day before! We were to meet at 3pm, but I got there by 1. I hauled ass...called Pixie and came up with a plan to meet. I walked to a grocery store and got some food for a late lunch. We met in town at the Post Office. Yeah! It was so good to see her after almost 3 weeks.
Date: 2013-09-30
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Wilson Gap
Miles today: 12.5

Pixie dropped me off at the ATC building after we spent a few days together. Bittersweet. Nice to see my loving wife but having to say gooodbye again sucked. As I walked across the bridge on the highway I heard a horn honk. There she goes. See you soon baby... Short steep climb out of town and then the trail followed a ridge. What a huge difference from last week. The temp was 20-30 degrees higher, the terrain completely different and with stink bugs. I noticed the bugs at my first rest stop. Stink bugs were everywhere. I had never seen so many. They covered anything made of wood that was in the sun. They don't really bother you like a fly or mosquito but they are annoying. They just sort of fly into you like you are in their way. A quick flick and they are gone. After the mosquitoes in Maine, these bugs are only a minor nuisance. I passed the spot I had planned on camping too early, so I decided to continue on. Hiked for another few miles and found a nice spot on the South end of Wilson Gap.
Date: 2013-10-01
From: Wilson Gap

To: Morgan Mill Campsite
Miles today: 13.9

Uneventful hike today. I felt a little out of it. I can no longer expect clean easy water like I could for the last few months. Lesson learned from years of hiking in PA, don't pass up a good water source. That lesson was easy to forget in the North since there were so many good water sources. I drank enough to stay hydrated but could have used more. Plenty of food to eat. Cereal and a Carnation shake for breakfast. Dried fruit and nuts for morning snacks. Cheese, sourdough bread and Ramen noodles for lunch. Two candy bars as afternoon snacks. Chicken and rice dish for dinner. Pretty standard menu. Found a nice spot to camp and called it a day.
Date: 2013-10-03
From: Dicks Dome Shelter

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

Fun short hike today. Perfect hiking weather. Stopped early at the shelter to camp. Met a guy who works with and is friend with a guy I went to high school with. Small World... Stink bugs everywhere! The shelter was covered. It looked like the walls were alive. I couldn't/wouldn't stay inside. In the morning with the cooler temperatures the bugs all but disappear. They huddle up in one spot until it warms up. Weird creatures, aliens to this land.
Date: 2013-10-04
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Front Royal VA
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

I left my camp spot late today, knowing that I had a short day. As the sun got higher in the sky the Stink Bugs started coming back out. Yesterday the shelter was covered in them. There were so many it looked like the wall itself was moving. The bugs don't bother me too much just a nuisance.Nothing much to note about the hike, no major climbs pretty easy terrain. As I got closer to the town of Front Royal I saw a metal link fence that must have been 10 feet tall. I have seen fenced in areas in the woods before and didn't think much of it. Soon I came to the corner of the fenced in section and realized how big of an area this was. When I got to the road and started towards town I saw signs for the National Zoo. Not sure what they do here but that explains the fence. Not a domestic Jurassic Park as I began to suspect.I found a cheap place to stay and went to the grocery store for food. I have noticed things in the South are starting to seem less expensive.
Date: 2013-10-14
From: Front Royal VA

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Almost two weeks ago I left Front Royal hiking South knowing that the Shenandoah National Park was closed. I had mixed reports from hikers coming North. Some had made it through the park without any issues, others were told to leave with 48 hours. Damn government shut down! So I left the hotel with an uncertain feeling. Hiked the 6 miles or so to the park border without seeing anybody. Usually a backpacker would stop atthe kiosk and fill out a backcountry camping permit. Since the park was closed there was no sense in registering, plus the permits had been removed. So I continued on... I ended up walking another few more miles and making camp off the trail, well out of sight. I woke up the next morning to a very dark sky with storm clouds looming. I packed up my tent and backpack and was able to eat a quick breakfast before the rain started. When it started it just unloaded! Glad I was packed up. Glad for good rain gear. I made it to the Gravel Springs shelter and stopped to get out of the rain. It was mid morning and I was seriously questioning what I was doing there. The park was closed. My feet and ankles were killing me. I had some sort of infection on my stomach (bug bite?) and I was going into a hundred mile section without many places to "bail out". So, I hung out for an hour or so thinking about what I should do... I decided to turn back and head to Front Royal again where I could have Pixie pick me up. I didn't know if I was getting off the trail for good or what I was doing but it felt weird backtracking to where town. Pixie picked me up late in the day and we were on our way home. In the back of my mind I knew I wanted to continue hiking but had not made a decision about it one way or the other. The infection on my stomach turned out to be no big deal, I was concerned it could be mrsa, it wasn't. My feet and ankles started feeling better after a few days, so I felt ready. The government decided to open back up so I was in business.Another ride back to Front Royal in VA. Pixie dropped me off early and I walked to the Gravel Springs Shelter. Beautiful day, sunny skies but a little cool until I got moving. It felt good to be back into the woods.
Date: 2013-10-15
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a cool night last night, not too cold but the cold weather is coming! By the end of the week the daytime highs will only be in the low fortys'. I was up and walking early and enjoying the easy footing of these trails. I stopped at the Hogback Overlook for a snack and to enjoy the view. In a few more miles I made it to the Elkwallow Wayside, a small tourist store and grill along the Skyline drive. I went inside and ordered some food. I just made it before they stopped serving breakfast, so I had an egg, sausage and cheese on a bagel. Along with a Coke and some Fritos and I was a happy camper! While I was sitting at the picnic table I was also able to charge my phone. Several people stopped to talk, all with questions about how, why and what was I doing. One lady asked to take my picture so she could say she saw an Appalachian Trail hiker... Odd but ok.I continued on with a full belly and a fully charged phone. Since it seemed like I would have few chances to charge the phone I decided to listen to some Podcasts while I walked. It's a nice change, and makes the miles pass quickly. I stopped at the Pass Mountain Shelter for the night. There are some campsites west of the shelter, where I set up. This was one of, if not the best tentsite I had on the entire trip. Level ground without roots and rocks.
Date: 2013-10-16
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

Up and on the trail early again. First climb came in about a mile after crossing US Rt 211. Easy enough climb, about 1100-1200 elevation change over 2 miles. There was a nice view at the top from Mary's Rock. The fall colors and rolling mountains of Virginia are beautiful. I stopped at the Pinnacles Picnic area and had lunch. It was getting colder and it was really windy on top of the mountains. I was able to find a spot protected from the wind so that's where I stopped. Typical hikers lunch; Ramen Noodles, couple slices of cheese and a small chunk of bread, and some candy. It seems like as soon as the temps drop my appetite increases quite a bit. It is the first time I really need some discipline to not eat more.The afternoon hike was nice with the nice views and trails. Nice views from Little Stony Man Cliffs. I decided to stop at the Skyland Resort and Restaurant for a snack. This looked like a nice place with a dining room and small bar. I got a big sticky bun and some hot tea. Even though it was a little cold I decided to sit outside and eat my snack. The tea felt good and the caffeine helped get though the afternoon. About 5 miles and I stopped at the Rock Spring Hut for the night. I decided to stay in the shelter since it was supposed to rain overnight. This was my first night in a somewhat full shelter. Not really my thing, I guess I prefer the privacy and solitude of my tent.
Date: 2013-10-17
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

The rain never really amounted to much last night, just a brief shower early in the morning. I should have stayed in my tent after all. I had an easy day ahead of me so I kept a pretty slow pace. I stopped at the Big Meadows Wayside for lunch. They had a small diner like restaurant inside and it felt good to get out of the cold. I had the lunch special; Chicken Pot Pie and a Garden Salad. Not bad, but this is NOT Lancaster County Chicken Pot Pie! I picked up a few snacks on the way out. I had found these doughnuts called Blueberry Uglies, they were 450 calories and delicious! It will be strange when I do go home and can't eat whatever I want. But with this cold weather I needed all the calories I could get. As I left it was very lightly snowing, just enough that you would see a few flakes. I stopped at Bearfence Mtn Hut and camped nearby. Again a little colder than last night, it feels like each night is getting a little colder.