morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Pond Flats campsite mile 422

To: Campsite at Mile 438.3
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

We headed out from our tent site after eating breakfast and doing the dishes. After around three miles we arrived at Watauga Lake and Dam. We walked for about a half a mile on the road up to the woods and continued climbing for a bit it was cool to see the lake for such a long time. It seemed to go on forever, but the view was incredible because the leaves on the trees are not out yet up high so we could see for miles. We headed past Vandeventer shelter to mile 438.3 to camp. We met Silent Knight there, and a couple traveling with their dog. Moose stopped by for a bit and he decided to keep hiking on into Damascus, which was almost 30 miles away! Tom bought some of his food, because he really needs to get more calories.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Campsite at Mile 438.3

To: Abingdon Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We got out of camp on Mooses Honeybuns for breakfast. We got to Iron Mountain Shelter and ate oatmeal and peanut butter for another breakfast.   It was already almost 70 degrees and another beautiful day was predicted. We passed by a gravestone for Nick Grindstaff with an inscription of " lived alone suffered alone died alone". Kind of sad but somebody went to quite an effort to build the monument to him. We were almost to the road intersection, when we came across a treasure chest in the woods! It was a big orange box full of medical supplies, soda and every Little Debbie treat you could imagine. We were with Flipper, and were commenting on how we would never eat this food in our regular lives, but how AWESOME it tasted to us after hiking for a month. We got to the intersection of the road about 600 yards later to find a couple setting up more trail magic in the parking lot!!   It was our lucky day. Tom was in heaven!!! More soda cookies, candy bars, and I enjoyed a bag of pretzels.   We visited for awhile, loaded up our packs with sugar for the road, and headed back out on the trail, we were trying to put on lots of miles today. We hiked through a pasture and back into the woods, by the time we reached Double Springs Shelter, I was flying on a sugar high like I have never felt before!!! Tom stopped to change his socks, and I headed down the trail and called Laura and she booked my ticket to fly home to Alaska for me. Believe it or not, we hit More Trail Magic in about two hours! Thankfully this was water and crackers, not sugar. It gave us our last boost to hike the last two hours to Abingdon Shelter. There were about ten tents pitched there that night so we had lots of company. Two white tail deer came out to say hello just before sundown.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damascus Virginia
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up about 5:30am to the sound of tents being taken down, and lots of whispering campers. We decided we might as well hit the trail too. We only had about 10 miles to hike today into Damascus. We got on the trail by 7am, another beautiful sunny day!! We crossed into Virginia, and left Tennessee behind. We really liked Tennessee, the trails were good and the people were friendly. We were able to get a room at The Hikers Inn, and decided to take a zero day here, the friendliest town on the trail. Mariposa, a young girl hiking the trail, had her parents come to stay with her here, and they treated all of us hikers to a wonderful homemade taco/tamale feast!!!! They were so generous to feed so many, and we are so glad to have met them!!!   I have to say it is an adjustment sleeping in a bed after tenting for so long.   I enjoyed a long hot wonderful shower, and the Inn provided Tom and I with hospital scrubs to wear while they did our laundry. We enjoyed walking around town in our scrubs and crocs.   We see lots of hikers in town, and it is always fun to catch up after not seeing them for so long.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Damascus Virginia

To: Damascus Virgina
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We took our second zero day in Damascus. We walked to the grocery store, and got some food. It was good to have some fresh produce and berries!! We relaxed at the Inn, and visited with some people, went shopping, and got the boxes from home! THANKS TESSA!! I got my 35 degree sleeping bag and some different hiking boots, and some clothes that fit. Not to mention, all of our food for the next week. It was good to relax and we were able to FaceTime with Emily and Hadley!
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Damascus

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

We got up and it was raining, so we headed to the post office to mail packages back home and one to Wisconsin. We decided to hike out of town and left around 10:30am. It was raining still, but it was a nice walk to the other end of Damascus where we headed into the woods again. One thing we have learned is that when you are heading into town, your packs are usually pretty empty because you are planning to resupply, and it is always downhill into town. When you leave town it is Always uphill, and our packs are full and heavy. Needless to say, it is always slow going when you leave the comforts of town.   We hiked about 4 miles uphill of course when we ran into two guys who were on their first day of hiking. The leopard and his nephew John. We leap frogged with them for awhile, the trail skirted the Virginia Creeper Trail for a long time. It is a super nice bike trail that is very popular in the area. After awhile the rain turned to SNOW. We hiked to the shelter and pitched our tent inside the shelter, because we were the only ones there. The Leopard and John showed up, and they pitched their tent. It was a cold windy night, but we stayed dry and warm, we had ALL of our clothes on all night long.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Whitetop Mountain Road Campsite 
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up to a cold bright morning. Stuffed a Little Debbie Peanut Butter Cream Cookie in our mouths and headed down the trail. There was still snow on the ground, but not much. We got to Lost Mountain Shelter and ate lunch. Napoleon showed up while we were eating so we visited with him. Soon Runaway and Grasshopper showed up from the north, slack packing 20 miles back to Damascus. We headed out back down the trail and I slipped on a muddy downhill. Tom was way ahead of me and came back to help me up after he heard my cries for help.   If I had been thinking I could have just taken off my pack, but for some reason that never occurred to me. We climbed up Buzzard Rock at 5080 feet, and then found a nice campsite a little past it. As we were settling in, a group of about eleven people set up camp next to us. It was a guided group of teenage girls and their chaperones on a wilderness survival experience. It was refreshing to see them practicing their new found skills. It was one of the girls birthday, so they baked her a cake in a makeshift oven, and celebrated. They lulled us to sleep with their songs at night. I was able to hike up the hill to call home and talk to Tessa, and we called and visited with MK also.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Whitetop Mountain Road Campsite 

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We were awake in our tent, freezing, when the camp counselor let loose with a howling sound! YIKES!! We headed down the trail not long after that. We hiked through the beautiful Grayson Highlands. It was a pretty day, and there were a lot of people out hiking the trails. We hit the 500 mile mark about three in the afternoon. We hiked over many big rocks and Tom strained his ankle. We saw several ponies, one came quite close, it was a beautiful copper color. Rhododendron Gap was frozen and looked pretty sad. We got to the Scales which is a livestock corrall with a very nice rest room in the corner. We got to old orchard and pitched our tent under some nice trees
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: campsite at mile 524.8
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

We headed out at around 8 am. We got passed by all of the young legs as we were climbing up the first climb, good thing cause that gave them enough time to hitch to town to get beer. By the time we got to the highway they were all resting in the grass and offered us a beer. We visited and drank for an hour and then headed down( up) the trail. We ran into some cattle a bit later. Naila, Legs' dog ran up to them and it was pretty funny to see the reaction of the cows to the dog and vice versa. We walked over a stile and down the hill to a tent set up in the woods with trail magic. I drank a soda, Tom had snacks and a drink too. A hiker had left their cellphone behind, and Legs decided to take it to the visitors center at Mt Rogers. We hiked to camp and met Journeyman, Red , and Lewis. It turned out that it was Journeyman's phone that was left, and Legs showed up not too far behind us with it.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: campsite at mile 524.8

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: moderate rain

We got up early in anticipation of a shower at Partnership Shelter about 6 miles away. We got there in record time only to find the shower was not in operation yet!!   There was a guy there who I thought I recognized from way back in Georgia, Lowgear. It turned out it was him, he had gotten injured and had to take 5 days off the trail. We walked to the visitor center and it was closed, and the 50 cent shuttle also wasn't running on the weekend. I got a little nervous about our next box then which was being sent to The Barn. I called them and they said they would be open on Sunday, and that our box was there. Hooray!!! Now we decide to try to hitch to town for a shower and laundry. A few cars pass us by, and then one pulls up from town, and let's two hikers out. It was Chef and Shybear. We asked if he was going to town, and he said he was and that we could ride with him. He takes right to the laundromat, and tells us of a place we can shower. It is another 7 miles past the laundry, so we decide to just wash up in the bathroom.   Laundry is done and we need lunch, so KFC buffet it is. Tom ate 4 platefuls. Then we headed back out of town. We got a ride from a nice couple. We got back on the trail by 3 and hiked to Chatfield Shelter and pitched the tent by a nice stream.
Date: 2014-04-20
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: mile 549.0
Miles today: 10.8

We got on the trail before 9 am. To get to the Barn for their Sunday Buffet. We stopped at the Lindamood School and got a few things out of their hiker box, Weirman's ankle has been hurting so he scored some toe Warmers and tape. We got to The Barn right at 11 when the buffet started. We enjoyed a tasty Easter meal.   We had about a dozen other hikers there, and we sorted through our food on the lawn. We visited with Squrrel, Listen, Iceparty, and Wies. We took some pictures and headed down the trail. I remembered that Tessa had said something about Emily maybe sending a box, so I called her and she said that she had sent one and it was there. Weirman put down his pack and walked back to get it. Luckily we were only a half mile down the trail. He returned with two bags of cookies!! Sassafras and Hyperbole were just ahead of him, so they got in on some Easter goodies. We hiked on to the campsite, and Journeyman was there. Since I didn't a shower in town, I was able to take my first creek bath. It was heavenly!! As I returned to camp, Moneymaker had arrived! He had gotten in on the last batch of homemade cookies I had, and I gave him a hard time about being able to smell them out. We all enjoyed the rest of them. They were delicious!   Thank you Hadley Kyle and Emily !!
Date: 2014-04-21
From: mile 549.0

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Man oh man this was a LONG DAY. We knew it was going to be a lots of climbing, but it was hot on top of being strenuous. We climbed lots of fence stiles, and there was a lot of water. Weirman was dealing with his ankle injury, so we stopped several times so he could soak it and rest. The last 4.4 miles were all uphill, and seemed to go on forever. When we saw the shelter, it was such a relief. It was a "beautiful" sight. It was a rock structure, with four walls, and a door!! Moneymaker and Turtle were there, and we enjoyed a great dinner. Journeyman showed up next, and he wasn't feeling very well. A few more hikers showed up later, so we had a full house. The last two hikers that showed up were sick. It was an interesting night listening to all of the coughing, snoring, and sneezing. We decided as nice as it was to be in a warm dry shelter, it was probably better to pitch the tent and try to stay healthy. We had internet available at the shelter, and someone found out that a hiker had died that day in a shelter.
Date: 2014-04-22
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Campsite
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: few clouds

We had to hike down the hill in the morning to get water. It was calling for rain, and it started about 11 am. Weirman's foot was doing better today, so we had a good hike. The terrain seems to be getting easier, or my trail legs have finally arrived. We were tempted to go to the campsite just off the trail. There were signs in the woods to call for a shuttle at the bottom of the hill. We decided because we wanted to get going early the next morning, to camp on the trail. Journeyman showed up not long after us. Then True Brit, the guy who runs the campsite showed up to try to talk us into going to the camp, but we were all settled in and ready to hit the hay. We were able to find out the hiker who died was a 59 year old man from Washington who was southbound with his brother. They think he may have had a heart attack.
Date: 2014-04-23
From: Laurel Creek Campsite

To: campsite at mile 600.5
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

We got on the trail early to try to get some miles behind us. The terrain looked pretty flat, so we thought we could make it to 20 miles finally. We hiked for about 7 miles, and then came to a road and walked over an overpass on the highway. After we got over it, we weren't sure which way to go, we always seem to lose our way in civilization!! Tom headed up a gravel road, and didn't see any white blazes, so he turned around and we continued down the road, where we started to see blazes   Hooray!! We walked til we found a nice little creek and made up some food. Gee and redwood showed up not long after us, so we visited and ate with them. Gee is pretty sick, but he keeps on hiking. We figured there wasn't much water down the trail, so we got lots and hit the trail. We went for 8 miles before there was water or any markers of any kind on the trail. It was fast walking, but we didn't have any idea where we were. We found a nice campsite at mile 600.5 and camped with a young girl from Wisconsin, Val. It was a good feeling to have made two milestones in one day.   Feet were tired, but were able to soak them in the stream at night
Date: 2014-04-24
From: campsite at mile 600.5

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

We had heard about a grocery store not too far off the trail, and Weirman wanted some food so we decided we would check it out. We came to a great suspension bridge, and made it to the road to Trent's Grocery. It was an interesting place, they had everything from food, to fishing tackle, to laminate flooring. They had a grill so we ordered burgers. Weirman ordered two and could have eaten two more. He tried to get a sub sandwich for the road, but they were out of bread so he settled for a couple of bananas and some little Debbie peanut butter sandwiches. We called Tessa and were entertained with Kales jabbering in the background. The skies were clearing up, so we got back on the trail to head to Dismal Falls. I had been looking forward to it for days. By the time we got there it was really warm, so we both jumped in the water, just long enough to get the blood pumping. We enjoyed a long stay there and relaxed in the sun with a section hiker from New Jersey, Iiwii. When we got back on the trail, we were rejuvenated and ready to roll. The next six miles flew by, and we reached the shelter in record time. Man, it is so much easier to hike on flat terrain and an almost empty pack. We pitched the tent and were visiting with the other hikers when I heard a guy come up the trail and yell my name!   It was Elusive!! We hadn't seen him in over a month!! He truly lives up to his trail name. He said he had been trying to catch us for weeks, and knew we weren't very far ahead of him from our shelter entries. It was really great to see him again. We caught up on all of our adventures, and headed off to sleep.
Date: 2014-04-25
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: moderate rain

Short hike today to the hostel. We hiked with Elusive in the rain to the Hostel and arrived around 11 am. Elusive didn't stay at the hostel and got back on the trail to head to Pearisburg. We were greeted by Neville and StoneBear and shown our room. It was really nice, we got showered and took our laundry downstairs. We didn't have much food left, and were hoping our box from home would arrive later, so we thought we could get some food from the honor system fridge. Neville said that there were leftovers from last nights dinner and we joined her and a few others for that ...YUM. Mexican Lasagna! She said she was only going to be offering one massage so I jumped at the chance!   That girl has the best hands, it was BY FAR the best massage I have ever had!! We enjoyed meeting Goat, a young man working at the hostel farm. They have a beekeeping operation, and have livestock along with gardens galore. It was a very eclectic homey place that we throughly enjoyed staying at. Dinner was family style, salad, pizza, and homemade blackberry ice cream for dessert. We picked the right day to get off the trail, the thunderstorms were ferocious all afternoon
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Woods Hole Jostel

To: campsite at mile 635.9
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

After a great breakfast of fresh bread and leftover pizza, we headed back on the trail around 9:30. It was a beautiful sunny day, and our box had arrived yesterday, so our packs were heavy. The trail headed uphill right away so we were warmed up from the start. We were almost to Angels Rest, a big rock with a superb view of Pearisburg, when we met a guy sitting on a rock. He was so nice and told us all about the area and stayed with us until we got to town. He was with his friend who was kind enough to give us a ride into town so we could pick up a few MORE groceries because our packs weren't heavy enough already. Seriously we just needed a seasoning packet, some wraps, cheese, and rice. They were so kind to wait for us, and then they drove us over the bridge and dropped us off at the trail. BEST TRAIL MAGIC EVER! I hadn't had any cell phone service for days, and finally had service, so I caught up with messages and was able to talk with Emily and Laura. We also got to check in with Jim who is meeting us on Friday to join us for a week!!! We are looking forward to his arrival! We found a great campsite that over looks the town and enjoyed a warm night with another couple of hikers from Florida,
Date: 2014-04-27
From: campsite at mile 635.9

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We had found water the night before about a couple hundred yards back down the trail, and we headed up the hill in the morning planning to hike about 15 miles. it was a beautiful sunny day, and we reached the first shelter after about an hour,thinking there was water about a mile past it, we started watching for it too late, and had passed it.   We should have gone back, because it turned out there was no water for the next 12.6 miles.   I had a sharp pain in my left shoulder, and was not a happy hiker. The trail was the worst we had seen since we started, with downed trees all over the trail. It looked like a war zone, we even had to take off our packs, slide them under and crawl under after them because one tree was too big to climb over. I was getting scared when we still had over two miles to go, and only one gulp of hot water between the two of us. Weirman took off to find a stream, and I followed as fast as I could. When I got there, he had two liters ready, and I sat down and gulped a liter. We were about a half a mile from the shelter so we got there and pitched the tent. It was a beautiful spot near a stream so we were able to soak our sweaty feet and wash up. The forecast is for a few days of rain. May the Forest be with you
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

We had a great campsite and ate a nice warm breakfast and headed out planning to hike a long day The forecast was for some scattered showers so we were expecting to get wet. It started raining about an hour after we started. It was cool so great for the climbs we had to do. We didn't see too many hikers out, but we met 4 older guys section hiking for a week who we had fun sharing stories with. When they found out we were from Alaska, they told us they knew a guy who traveled up to Alaska on God's calling years ago. It turned out to be Jerry Prevo. Anyone from Alaska knows who that is. We ate dinner at War Spur Shelter and found Rabbit and A Guy on a Buffalo there. Rabbit is getting off of the trail tomorrow so we were glad to be able to see him one more time. We decided to push on to the next shelter six miles away. We got to the top of the last climb of the day and it started to rain. Then it started to POUR. We had about two miles to go to the shelter. And we were dodging drops and ground lightning almost running to the shelter.   We got there and found Rabbit, A guy on a buffalo, Moxie, and a guy we had never met, Daniel. They made room for us in the shelter, and we put on some dry clothes and climbed in our bags. Moxie serenaded us with his guitar and sang Here Comes The Sun and Let It Be   A good way to end the day