morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-27
From: spence field shelter

To: mt collins shelter
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 21Spence field shelter to Mt Collins shelter 19.52016 total miles 202.8   I'm sitting in the shelter knocking out my journal entry as I wait my turn at the cooking area. Hiking today was long and hard! I'm pretty spent and look forward to to short 5 mile hike in morning and the day and night in Gatlinburg. Despite the tough hiking it was another great day! 5 minutes out I saw a full grown male boar dart across the trail in front of me. Impressive specimen! Huge head, neck and upper body with little legs and butt. I continued on to "The" rocky top mountain, one the song is based on. Got a nice early morning pic there. Saw three deer at next shelter that seemed to have no fear of people. Clingman's dome was next. The highest point on the AT! The forest hiking up to it and down from it was a pine forest and seemed from another age. Really cool. Clingman's itself gave a 360 degree view that was quite impressive. That's it. Gonna eat, music, bed! Legs held up really well, I think my trail legs have finally arrived!Living Proof
Date: 2016-04-28
From: mt collins shelter

To: newfound gap
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Everyone in the shelter was up early Ready to get into town! It was a quick 4.5 mile hike to newfound gap and we arrived at the same time as the Sevierville baptist church that was doing their last day of trail magic. Mountain Dew code red, yup! 40 minutes later same church's shuttle arrived, also last day. I'm staying the Grand Prix hotel, which for a thru hiker is acceptable, but recommend it to normal human. It was a strange phenomenon at clingman' dome, I actually felt like the one of the animals the tourists came to see! I got many strange looks. Mind you, I'm too the point where I can't smell myself anymore, which is a blessing, but that could have had something to do with it. From my perspective, they all looked like a bunch of fat, materialistic robots! I felt bad for them. They were so close to something so beautiful, but where just taking a peak for afar on a dome or in a car. As far as Gatlinburg, disneyworld without the rides! I find it disgusting and can't wait to get out of here. They are really taking advantage of the 10.5 million people who "visit" the smokies each year. Chores done, pretty much packed up, gonna have a early breakfast and hitch a ride back up to newfound gap in am.   First day in town in a week, while getting clean was nice, least enjoyable day in a long while!Living Proof
Date: 2016-04-29
From: newfound gap

To: cosby knob shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 23Newfound gap to Cosby Knob gap 22.0Total 2016 miles 229.9      Had breakfast in Gatlinburg then hitched a ride up to newfound gap. I was on the trail by 8:30. Today was my favorite hike so far, all along a narrow ridge line around 6200 feet. The views were plentiful and landscape looked more like Sierra nevada's than what you traditionally think of with the AT. I'll be out of the smokies tomorrow I've really enjoyed them. I saw another bear today. Peculiar fellow. He was walking down the trail right towards me, then jumped 10 yards off the trail. We both kept walking out opposite directions and exchanged a glance as we passed. After he passed me he hopped right back on the trail and continued sobo. Turns out this bear is a problem because he no longer fears humans and he will probably be put down. Too bad, he was a beautiful animal. 22 miles was extending myself today, but with rough weather expected Sunday, I needed to make miles at some point. Better today than in thunder showers. Shelter is freaking packed!! I think I've caught the end of the bubble! I'm tenting very close to the privy :/ absolutely every piece of real estate was gone. Real shit luck. Oh well, in my tent, feet aching, listening to tunes. Bear activity has been very high in this area, so really I'm not disturbed in my sleep!! Oh yes, I did one young lady who getting quite trail famous! Her name is Special K and she is attempting to be the youngest person to ever solo hike the AT at the age of 14!! She looks every bit of 12 and her mom meets her at resupply points with their camper, but she is the real deal. I must say it was odd having a very young looking girl sitting around the campfire with most everyone was using cannabis. That is an undeniable part of the AT experience though, whether you partake or not. I'll plead the fifth on this one Living Proof
Date: 2016-04-30
From: cosby knob shelter

To: groundhog creek shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 24Cosby knob shelter to Groundhog Creek shelter 17.62016 total miles 247.5   Up and on the trail by 7 this morning for a quick 9 mile trek mostly downhill to Davenport gap, where I was met by some trail magic!! Ham sandwich, couple mountain dews, and kit Katz later I was feeling very refreshed. I met two older woman who explained they are driving the AT and hiking 5 miles in each state. Realist, yet their enthusiasm was contiguous and they hunted me down couple miles later as I went under I-40. They gave me some snacks, topped off my water and asked how to find my trail journal. Next was a long uphill climb up snowbird mt. to grassy bald. Nice 360 views. I have 26 miles to Hot Springs, which I'll do over the next two days giving my body a bit of a break after some bigger days of late. In shelter tonight, expecting some heavy rains.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-01
From: groundhog creek shelter

To: Garenflo Gap
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 25Groundhog creek shelter to Garenflo gap 19.62016 total miles 267.1   Shelter nightmare 2016! Ok, so rain was expected last night and I have had a couple positive experiences in shelters in the Smokies. Took my chances last night at groundhog shelter. First sign of trouble was that shelter platform was bowed to the middle. Second was the guy that rolled in and out his stuff neighboring mine. Three warning signs I missed. First, he was unable to keep his ass crack contained in his shorts! Second, he said he was a hot sleeper. Lastly, I actually asked if he was a snorer and he deferred to this 70 year old guy who answered "no", but there was no conviction behind it.   The mayhem began around midnight as the snoring began. The bow in the plywood would have me fighting gravity all night from sliding his direction. I had to pee around 2, I found my head lamp and when I put on the red light all I saw was a back full of black hair!! I recognized that was the first time on my journey that I wished I was home next to my wife, instead of this pseudo gorilla! Guess he does sleep hot as he had apparently stripped down. My fight against gravity was now one of life or death. I questioned whether it was worth pitching my tent or hiking in the middle of thunderstorms? I decided against it. He was fighting gravity as well, however instead of gently sliding back to his spot, it felt like a walrus was convulsing against the plywood shaking the entire shelter. This sick game would continue for hours, as I was able to steal a few hours here and there. I was awake around 5am after a powerful and vivid dream involving my late mother in law. We were at a hospital and she gave me a big hug and wouldn't let go for some time. I thought she about to tell me something when I woke up. I hoped it wasn't an omen that someone was not well or maybe she just came to comfort me through my terrible night. As I lay there contemplating my dream my now mortal enemy topped himself by farting so powerfully I thought he blown his sleeping bag off or shit himself! I was done. I got my headlamp and starting packing up. The rest of the day would be far less eventful, thank God! Only real highlight today was Max patch, which is a bald with outstanding 360 degree views! I almost got caught in a T-storm at the end of the day, but managed to get my tent up in time. Short 6.6 into Hot springs in the morning for a nero. Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Garenflo Gap

To: Hot springs
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: broken clouds

2016 total miles 270.7   Nice quick hike into town this morning as I was looking forward to a nice breakfast. Checked into Laughing heart hostel semi private room for 25$. Nice place would recommend it. On to outfitter to pick up a two season bag, then to PO to send my 20 degree bag home. So excited for new bag! Packs down to nothing and I won't be waking up at night damp with sweat. Went to bar/restaurant down the road, iron creek bar? Had a bacon cheeseburger and 4 5 hop Sierra Nevada's. Cool place, grateful dead vibe going on. Massive storm rolled thru while I was there! Raining sideways, hail. It was insane, I was so glad I was hiking or even in my tent. Everything would have been wet! Had a few drinks with a couple guys I camped with my night from hell, they said they didn't sleep either. We meet a young guy that we were weary of at first, turned out he suffered a TBI at age 4 after being ejected from a car. We all learned a lesson to not judge someone till you really get to know them. In bed at hostel all by myself in my semi private room. I'm going to sleep well tonight !!Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Hot springs

To: Little Laurel shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Day 27Hot springs to Little laurel shelter 19.62016 total miles 293.3   So I have been having crazy dreams out here. Last night the state of ct was trying to get me to come back to work and I was running late for my shift. I was trying to call Scott Russell to let him know was running late, but couldn't get through and thought I was going to a no call/ no show first day back. Luckily just a dream!    I was up and out the door at laughing heart hostel by 6:45 am and hit smoky mt. Diner for quick breakfast. I made the walk through town and began ascending my first mountain by 7:40. The first half of the day was tough! All ups, some downs and seemingly nothing flat. A cold rain started around 10:30, I forgoed my raincoat and by the time I reached the first shelter at 12:20, I was very cold and all my muscles were tight and not firing as usual. Shelter was totally full of people who didn't want to hike wet?!? Good luck making it to Maine, maybe they thought they were hiking the Arizona trail. It's becoming apparent that this is going to be a very damp experience. Between rain and sweat, periods of dryness are few and far between.   During the morning, I trudged along asking the trail for a few hours of sun and some flat land the 2nd half of the day? Sure enough it obliged I warmed up and began moving better and made good time to my final destination. The damage from the wildfires was evident the first 11 miles of my hike today. Much of the trail was right in the middle of it. I could see why they had to close the trail. I'm in my new two season bag in my tent and it's 7:10 pm. Listen to music for an hour and then bed. I do my best hiking in the a.m., so early to bed early to rise. I've decided 20 mile days are good number for me at this point, gonna keep it close to that till Virginia and then may bump my daily mileage closer to 25. See how body feels. Not sure if I mentioned it last night, but down from 189 to 180 already.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-04
From: Little Laurel shelter

To: Hiker's paradise
Miles today: 16.1

Day 28Little laurel shelter to Hiker's paradise 16.1Total 2016 miles 309.4   It was a cold night last night, but my two season held up well. I was on the trail at 6:40 am. It was a cold morning and temps remained in the forties till noon. The cold weather really chilled me and I couldn't get my muscles loose. The sun finally came out and reached my second shelter around 1pm. I was dismayed to hear snow was in the forecast for tonight! The survivability rating on my bag is 27 degrees, so closer than than I'd like to cut it. I made my way to Hikers paradise, a startup hostel to use their wifi and get accurate forecast. Even more to my dismay, tomorrow is a high of 35 and rain all day! Can you say hypothermia? I was tempted to be a tough guy, but there is tough and there is stupid. Staying here tonight and zeroing here tomorrow. Those conditions will be dangerous and while I embrace the grind of the trail, there is a line to be drawn. Hopefully forecast is totally wrong.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Hiker's paradise

To: Hiker's paradise
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Took a zero today at Hiker Paradise. I was up early and rechecked the weather forecast, hoping to get out and hike. The forecast remained very sketchy with high temperatures in the mid-high 30s and rain predicted for most of the day. I wasn't feeling like fighting hypothermia all day so I just called it a day and decided to avoid the elements and give my body the extra rest. I plan on getting out early tomorrow and dealing with continued rain, but slightly warmer temps. The hikers that came into today said last night was very cold and they dealt with sleet most of the morning. I felt reassured by decision to stay last night and today. Plan on pushing through the rest of Tenn. in next 7-8 days in attempt to make trail days in Damascus, which is largest thru hiker gathering on earth!! Should be quite a scene. We've had rain for days now and it remains in the forecast for the next week. On a sad note, a well known hiker, Baltimore jack, who thru hiked the trail 9 times and remained very active in the hiking community died yesterday morning at age 57. I met him in Franklin NC just a couple weeks ago as he was managing Ron Haven's new hiker hostel. Living ProofOh yeah! Happy Cinco de Mayo! No tequila or any alcohol here , just rain! Enjoy yourselves!
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Hiker's paradise

To: No business Knob
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: light rain

Day 30 Rectal laurel Rd. To No Business Knob 26.32016 total miles hiked 335.9   I hiked a marathon today. My longest day ever. I did this mainly to avoid sleeping at a high elevation, where my current sleep system would be tested by cold weather. The hike itself wasn't too bad. There was a ton of mud approaching and leaving Bald mountain, which had me slipping in all directions. It was actually kinda fun. I somehow managed to avoid falling in the mud. I saw a fox and bald mountain had snow on it!! It sleeted temporarily up on Bald mountain. Bald mountain had some amazing views. The last 4.8 miles of my marathon day were a challenge mentally. My body was on cruise control, but my mind was going to strange places those last few miles. I was talking to myself with a Mexican accent at one point, the rest is a blur as I write this. I finally reached my destination, set up camp, eat, in my tent and was asleep by 10pm as I didn't reach camp till 7:55 pm, making it a very late night.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-07
From: No business Knob

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 31No business knob shelter to campsite 18.5 miles2016 total miles hiked 354.4   After a long day yesterday and cold night last night I was in no rush to get up early today. Hit the trail for the 6.6 miles into Erwin TN., where I was met by Uncles Johnny hostel. There next shuttle wasn't till 12:30, so lounged around for a few hours before going into town for an AYCE pizza buffet and food resupply. I went a little over board on resupply and hiked out of Erwin with a very full food bag. I would have been happy to stay the night, but the push to Demascus for trail has began! I hiked up to the first shelter out of town and missing the recent cold weather. I was saturated with sweat after a steep climb out of town. It was only 4:15, and two younger female hikers inspired me to push 8 more miles to campground. It didn't look too daunting in the guidebook, but was more difficult than I had expected or hoped for. Pitched my tent and due to no couscous in Erwin I had a new dinner tonight! Shrimp ramen and peanut butter, it want that bad, but hikers tend to eat pretty much anything. Big miles all week this week, I may be staying in the highest shelter on the AT tomorrow night, Roan mt. Shelter, over 6100 feet up! 8:25, time for bed!Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Campsite

To: Roan mt shelter
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 32Campsite to Roan mt. Shelter 22.4Total miles hiked 2016 376.8   The day started with a big ascent up Unuka mt. and it's dense fir forests as I reached it's peak. The middle is a total blur as I write this day later. It ended with an ambitious climb up Roan mt. at which I stayed at the highest shelter on the AT. Thank God there was a legit shelter as at 6100 feet, my two season bag would have had me in a dangerous situation weather wise. Turns out there was a fancy hotel up there from the 1880's to 1914. The only thing left is a stone chimney, which is actually right on the trail!! I didn't take a picture, as after 20 miles my brain is running on fumes. Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Roan mt shelter

To: Mountaineer falls campsite
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 33 Roan mt. Shelter to campsite by mountaineer falls 25.0Total miles hiked 2016 401.8   The day started with good hygiene practices as I brushed my teeth and after about being done I realized there was no minty taste?!? Had I lost my sense of taste over night? Doubtful. I rechecked my hygiene bag and realized I had just brushed my teeth with antibiotic cream!! The taste would stay with me most of the dayOn the trail by 7am, with really dynamic views early in the day! Jane's bald gave views of little hump and hump mt.'s. Then a big climb up Hump mt. provided beautiful 360 degree views.   The other highlight of the day was Overmountain shelter, which is a converted barn and has an outstanding view of the valley outstretched before it. I was really bummed I couldn't stay there, but the push to Damascus continues. The rest of the day I was grinding out miles with no great rewards. Met cranberry from Switzerland who has done research on brain cancer it turned out and then Viking who previously lived in Woodstock ct. The day ended camped out with some alternative type hikers who were different to say the least. Tomorrow is another day. Passed the 400 mile mark today.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Mountaineer falls campsite

To: Braemer castle hostel Hampton TN
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 34Mountaineer falls campsite to Braemer castle hostel Hampton TN. 19.22016 total miles hiked 421.0   Up early after an interesting evening camping with a couple of guys that I'm unsure if they were thru hikers or just homeless? Nonetheless, guide book indicated a flat day en route to Hampton and boy was it! Made great time covering 19 miles in less than 7 hours. The highlights of the day we're seeing the backside of hump and little hump mountains that I hiked over yesterday and Laurel Falls, which was an impressive waterfall. I'm in Hampton TN at the moment and have about made myself sick eating an entire frozen pizza. Braemer castle hostel is very nice and affordable! I would highly recommend it. Clean clothes and shower were sorely overdo and real treat. Pressing on tomorrow, Damascus is starting to sound like a real zoo, so I might make a brief appearance and keep heading north well before the weekend is over! Crowds aren't really my thing. That's about it.Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-12
From: Riff Raff gathering

To: Damascus
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

2016 total miles 467.5After an evening of t storms and some hiker near my tent wretching up everything he drank all night, I was more than ready to hike this morning. The day started walking through a pasture with a bunch of cows and it was one of the few highlights of my day. No vistas or anything interesting that was photo worthy. I did run into some awesome trail Magic provided by a thru hiker from 1989. He provided pulled park sandwiches, lemonade and chips. It was a huge physical and mental boost at around the 12 mile mark.   The terrain was very moderate and after yesterday's huge mileage I was need of easy hiking. Day was still struggle at times, I think my legs are just really fatigued and need a zero. I've been pushing really hard. Oh yeah, I'm in Virginia!! Damascus to be exact, for trail daze weekend. I'm zeroing tomorrow as my legs really need a rest, rumor is free massages in town in the morning. I'll be finding that for sure!! I've chosen to avoid famous tent city as some other hikers told me not to set up on baseball field because kids on psychodelics will run over your tent. I would surely pummel some young hiker on drugs if they woke me up in such a manner. So I'm tenting at woof chuck hostel to avoid the choas. Rest is far more important to me than the party seen. Gonna see the sights as the festival begins in earnest tomorrow. Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-13
From: Damascus

To: damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I zeroed in Damascus today to take in trail daze scene, but more importantly give my legs a rest.   There were many vendors down in the park, but it was first one I visited that was most special to me. It was the authors tent, where a collection of authors who have written about the trail had tables. I passed 4 or 5, unaware of who they were or what they had written. Then came a table with a little old man sitting there. It was Gene Espy!! I have read enough AT history over the last few years to know I was about to meet an AT legend. Gene was the second person to thru hike the trail, seven years after the first, Earl Shaffer did it in 1948. He agreed to take picture with me and asked how my hike was going. Compared to Gene, the rest of the vendors were eh! I ran up to food city to resupply and ran into Raidon, who I met on last years hike! He completed his hike last year and said he heard about my injury. Hiking community is a very small world. After resupply I ran numerous other hikers who I haven't seen in weeks. It nice to see familiar faces, even though I may not see them again this hike. I've decided to hike out of Damascus tomorrow as there will be a huge bubble of hikers leaving Sunday and Monday. I'm not the large bubble type. Look forward to seeing what Virginia has to offer!Living Proof
Date: 2016-05-14
From: damascus

To: lost mountain shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 38Damascus to Lost mountain shelter 16.32016 total miles 484.8 So I followed through with my plan to leave Damascus this morning. Hot shower, hot breakfast at woodchuck hostel, packed up and hit the road. I must report I'm currently 0-1 in cornhole in 2016 as woodchuck owner "woodchuck" took me down with damp bags 21-14. The hike relatively easy today, which isn't usually the case coming out of a town. There weren't many photographic wonders today, just a lot of green as spring has fully sprung. I did see a grouse, I think? Little smaller than a chicken brown and white right off the trail, it ran down an embankment before I could get a picture of it. Supposed to dip into the 30's tonight, so I'm wearing pretty much all my winter clothing in my 45 degree bag. Met an older section hiker zag foot at first shelter today who had tried thru hike but failed and now sections, as he makes a bit further north every time out. Shelter is pretty barren tonight as most hikers within 100 miles of Damascus are still in Damascus for trail daze. Looking forward to Grayson highland state park tomorrow and the wild ponies that reside there. I was told not to stand behind them because they kick and don't scratch their head because they bite...we'll see. 24 miler on deck for tomorrow, so hitting the hay and its 7:45. 500 mile mark tomorrow!Living Proof