morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-18
From: Camp below Bluff Mt

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The wind was howling last night. I slept intermittently with my tent wall slapping me in the face all night. Awoke to Juke box wrangling her rain fly back on at around 4 am. Head Chef was up pretty early and headed into hot springs before I got out of my tent. Girl Scout was just behind him and Juke box and I took our time getting packed up and on the trail. We caught up with Girl Scout shortly after we left and the morning turned warm quickly. It was just under 10 miles into town and it went by pretty quick. I was half jogging down the final mile of downhill trail when I arrived at the laughing heart hostel which was the first building on the outside of town. Chef was nowhere to be found but I suspected he had beelined to the nearest eatery. I checked in and threw my pack on a bunk in the back room and quickly hopped in the shower. The ladies rolled in a few minutes later and we walked fine to the smoky Mt diner. Lunch was fantastic (Philly, fries, cornbread salad and a plate of shared chicken tenders). T. rex showed up and joined us and mentioned that his inn had a set of tent stakes sitting in the hiker box. I closed out and walked over with him to grab them. The trail provides! Popped in to the outfitter for a few minutes and then over to creekside tavern for a few beers. The girls left to go shower back at the hostel and I stayed to have another with butterstuff, t Tex and thunderbird on the patio overlooking the French broad river. Eventually, I closed out and headed back to laughing heart but grabbed a milkshake from the hillbilly market on the way back. Chef was back at the hostel and I had been skipped on the laundry queue because I was instead drinking in town. Was able to combine a load with chef and after that was done, we all headed back to creekside for wings and more beer. I was totally stuffed but that didn¢t stop us from hitting up the dollar general to pick up some Cocoa Puffs and milk for a hostel snack just before they closed. Didn¢t stay up much longer after we got back since I slept like crap last night. We will zero tomorrow and continue to enjoy the luxuries of town life.
Date: 2018-04-19
From: Hot Springs-Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

There was some clamor in the bunkhouse last night as a few of our fellow hikers had gotten pretty lit out by the fire and one of them fell from his bunk in the middle of the night and was drunk walking/talking before he found his way back to bed. I still slept like the dead. I poured myself three bowls of cereal before we went for breakfast at the diner. I then took down a chicken fajita omelette, cinnamon apples, a biscuit and orange juice. When we went back to bluff mountain outfitter, I took the opportunity to weigh myself. The scale showed I was down 19 pounds. I didn¢t believe it and resolved to weigh in again at the scale in the hostel later. Head chef, Juke box, Girl Scout and I decided to partake in a soak at the hot springs spa and we ponied up for an hour long soak in a hot tub. The water was nice but I wished it was about ten degrees hotter. It still felt great to let the muscles marinate for a while. I picked up a care package from Laura and Jamie at the post office on the way back (new headlamp with a red light for less intrusive night usage) and of course another milkshake. We also grabbed some resupply meals from the dollar general. I decided to trim my beard and wound up doing a full shave which was traumatic for the rest of the group. Head chef had a set of clippers sent to him and he was kind enough to clean up my Mohawk back as well. We all threw on some loaner town clothes from the hostel and decided to hit creekside tavern once more for pizza and beer. We watched the bruins game and Girl Scout was letting loose with the full Minnesota accent. We wound up staying til nearly 11 before finally retiring. Oh, I verified my weight on the hostel scale again. Almost twenty pounds down inside the first month. Yikes. I should probably be trying to get more calories in on the trail and not just playing catch up in town. We will head back out tomorrow. Trail fest is taking place in hot springs over the next few days with a bunch of freebies for hikers but we can¢t stay idle here for multiple days so will have to miss out on that. Oh well.
Date: 2018-04-20
From: Hot Springs-Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Stealth camp at Mill Ridge
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

Had another night of fine sleep, even the crappy hostel mattresses tend to be more comfortable than a sleeping pad on the ground. We heard from ibex and glow stick who had gotten into town late last night after they caught up from their Asheville detour. They told us to meet up at the post office before breakfast which was convenient as I had decided to send home some of my bulkier cold weather clothing (performance under layers top and bottom and a fleece top). I haven¢t used these really at all even in sub freezing temps and felt comfortable parting with them. I just hope I¢m not being preemptive. The crew then headed to the diner for one more meal before leaving town. Head chef, who had complained about a scratchy throat the last few days had grown increasingly quiet this morning and by the time we finished breakfast, I could tell he was feeling under the weather. We stopped by the library and smoothie shop on the way out of town and I floated the idea of staying in town one more night but camping instead of paying for the hostel. Chef seemed open to the idea but the ladies were eager to get back on the trail. I semi-reluctantly agreed that we shouldn¢t get sucked in to the town for another day so we crossed the bridge over the river and began the ascent out of Hot Springs. I stopped for a water break after a couple miles and when Juke box caught up she informed us that head chef had decided to set up his tent back at the river because he was feeling worse. He hopes to rest today and catch up with us in the next day or two. The four gals and I put in only about 4.5 miles before we came to a grassy meadow with some nice views and decided we were content to stop here for the night. I found a flat area a bit higher up that had some incredible views of the surrounding hills and we all decided to pitch our tents up there. I built a fire just down the hill while Juke and glow went to grab water for all of us and not long after we started our dinners, Peter Pan Squatch, johnny Appleseed and captain jack showed up and decided to join us. We enjoyed the best sunset yet on the trail from our high camp and all chatted around the fire and star gazed until it was time to turn in. Will push for some bigger miles tomorrow to make up for our lack of motivation today.
Date: 2018-04-21
From: Mill Ridge stealth camp

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

We planned to get some better mileage in today after slacking a bit yesterday and got a reasonably early start. The early morning was partly cloudy and we made pretty good time. After stopping for some cliff views around 1, the weather turned rainy and we hiked on in mixed rain for the rest a couple of hours. Things cleared up before we arrived at a road gap on the TN border where there was a little shop that sells sodas, chips, ice cream and other small snacks to hungry hikers. It was literally called ¢Mom and Pop¢s¢ and I can¢t think of a more perfect name. Pop (presumably) greeted us from a chair inside as we swung open the rusty old screen door and chatted us up as we made our selections. He runs this store during the day and a tavern up the road at night. Nice guy and we were ever appreciative of his little shop. I had some Doritos and an orange crush and sat out in his grass in the sun while the others rolled in. I also opted to grab an A&W for dinner that night and tossed in my backpack.We pushed another 5 miles up Laurel Mt. and the climb up to the shelter was a long mile to end the day. I opted for a tent site behind the shelter as the evening forecast looked good. My ramen and tuna with root beer was fantastic and I felt pretty wiped so climbed into my tent right after hiker midnight (basically when it¢s fully dark out). Will try for another 14-15 miles tomorrow.
Date: 2018-04-22
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mt Shelter 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

April 22:Today marks my one month trailiversary as it were. I can¢t believe I¢ve made it this far and I¢m still having a great time out here. I realize that I¢ve still got so much more to go but it doesn¢t feel out of my grasp and I¢m looking forward to the challenges and adventures ahead. We had another fine day on the trail and the hiking was mostly good. We decided to shoot for Flint Mt Shelter for tonight. Can¢t say anything too exceptional or remarkable about the day¢s hike. We made the shelter in good time and found it to be empty. Since there is a fair chance of rain tonight, 4 out of the 5 of us decided to sleep under the roof. Ibex and I made a fire after dinner and we chatted with Ditch and Ned who were solo thru hiking as well. Ditch had attempted the trail last year but failed due to a lack of funds and a girlfriend who refused to do more than 10 miles a day even after two months. Just before we turned in, Girl Scout reported seeing two mice in the shelter so I pulled out the peppermint oil and liberally applied some drops to my pad and clothing. Juke and ibex did the same and hopefully the little shits will leave us alone tonight. Planning almost 19 miles tomorrow and rain is in the forecast so good sleep would be nice.Ps: also hit the 300 mile mark today. Nice!
Date: 2018-04-23
From: Flint Mt Shelter

To: Bald Mt Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

The peppermint oil was effective and was not bothered by the mice last night. There were a couple quick rain showers but slept soundly and awoke to partly cloudy skies with the promise of rain falling early and often today. Girl Scout informed us that her persistent foot pain was enough to pull her off the trail today and she planned to stop at the first hostel in about 3 miles and get a shuttle to Erwin to rest up. We quickly made it to the laurel hostel and grabbed some snacks on the outdoor patio while the heaviest predicted rain of the day passed. After an hour, we said our goodbyes to Girl Scout and headed back out in light rain. The climb was significant from that point for about the next 3 miles and when I reached the next high point, I checked my gps to find out that we still had another 13 miles to go. Ugh. I buckled down to make it another 3 miles to the next shelter for a lunch break. The rain was lightly falling when I pulled off to eat at the Hogback Ridge Shelter and waited for the others to catch up. When Juke and ibex arrived, we determined that we would in fact push to our intended destination so that we could pull another long day tomorrow to make it into Erwin. The afternoon hike was a struggle that culminated in a climb over the top of Big Bald Mt. I was hating life walking up further and further into a rain cloud. I did spot some big white tailed deer about a mile below the summit but I was in no mood to stop and appreciate nature. I pressed onward and the push over the summit was inside an immensely windy rain cloud. Fog and high winds all around me, I pressed up and over the frustratingly endless final stretch of the bald. For there, only one mile remained to the shelter but it was seemingly endless. I was crushed to find a totally full campsite when I arrived and only one spot left in the shelter. I huddled behind the structure with Jet pack and he informed me that wind gusts were expected to reach upwards of 70 mph tonight. Great. I opted to pitch my tent directly behind the shelter with the hope that it would provide some break from the wind. Juke grabbed the last shelter spot when she arrived and ibex and glow stick tented right next to me. None of us had the energy or inclination to do anything other than dive into our tents and burrow down. I made hot chocolate in my vestibule and scarfed the rest of my beef jerky and a coke I had packed out from the hostel earlier. Poor mans dinner indeed. We made a plan to get out early and race down the mountain to uncle Johnny¢s hostel in Erwin where everyone had decided we could take a well earned zero the following day. We made our 18.9 miles today and will hit almost 17 tomorrow. A day off will be really nice. Despite everything, laid down tonight feeling grateful. This is still a hell of a good time and every day a new adventure. But big bald mountain can eat shit.
Date: 2018-04-25
From: Erwin TN

To: Uncle JohnnyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Everyone woke up hungover except me and I felt like a bit of an ass popping the prosecco for mimosas as early as I did, but hey, zero day. Juke felt especially rough and barely moved off the couch as we all made breakfast. Had cheesy eggs, avocado toast, trix, and bacon. Fantastic. Our main priority for the day was laundry but the washer/dryer at the hostel was closed to hikers because their septic can¢t handle the volume of wash they have been experiencing. The next option in town was a coin op laundromat that had closed a couple days ago due to a dryer fire. We finally got one of the shuttle drivers to take us out past the last exit in town to another laundromat that was open. I piled in with glow stick, Girl Scout and another hiker named Brian with all of our collective clothes to go out there. We got our wash going and then popped next door to the local diner to eat lunch and wait. I had a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on it as well as an iced tea and a cherry milk shake. Grand total: $6.99. Amazing. Finished laundry and called Doug the shuttle man to scoop us up and go back to the hostel. Juke was still hurting and we wondered if it was something other than just a hangover. She opted to join us on the 5 o clock shuttle but when she decided to skip the margaritas and simply go straight to Walmart we knew something wasn¢t right. Glow stick and I threw down a pitcher of Margs and we all did a quick resupply shop and I grabbed another sixer for the evening before heading back. We had borrowed a vcr from another cabin and watched movies (Tommy Boy and Wet Hot American Summer)while organizing our things to get back on the trail tomorrow. I also read through Appalachian Trials, a book that ibex had that I¢d intended to read before I left but never got a chance to. It¢s basically about the mental and emotional rigor of the trail and what you need to know in order to make it through. Takeaways: 1) The VA blues are bullshit and self inflicted. VA is no better or worse than any other state, it¢s just longer (will find out in about a week). 2) Lyme Disease is terrifying and a legitimate threat to thru hikers. I¢ll have to start examining my nether regions like a chimpanzee in a couple weeks to avoid being felled by a tick. 3) The White Mts in New Hampshire are gonna take my lunch money and have me crying for my mother. Prepare to be humbled-in 3 months. 4)  I still have the wherewithal to do this. One day at a time. Juke has been wretching all day and thinks she may have gotten food poisoning from her shrimp fajitas last night. We all hope she recovers quickly and that it is only food poisoning. If she has norovirus, we could all be in for trouble as we¢ve shared close quarters a lot recently. Chef is also apparently going to be arriving here tomorrow morning and we will probably just miss him if he decides to stay overnight. Hopefully he will burn extra miles this week and get caught up.
Date: 2018-04-26
From: Uncle JohnnyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs, Erwin TN

To: Unaka Mt Road camp
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Juke was in and out of the bathroom all night and she won¢t get out today. Her plan is to get a room at Mt Inn and Suites and push liquid and try to recover. Chef showed up at 10am and we fed him the rest of our fresh cinnamon rolls and unloaded the remaining snacks that we are unable/unwilling to carry out. He is gonna post up at the Super 8 closer to town for the night and get back out tomorrow. Girl Scout is also gonna rest her foot at least one more day and possibly get back out tomorrow or Saturday. That means it¢s just me, glow stick and ibex heading back out today. With heavy rain forecasted for the afternoon and evening, I was really tempted to stay back once more but felt compelled to start making miles again. The three of us decided to shoot for 8-10 miles and see where we landed to camp. The unfortunate part is that there is a shelter at 4.5 miles and then not another for 16. Neither seemed plausible given our 11:30 departure so we resigned to the fact that we¢d be camping wet. The climb out of town was pretty demanding and as soon as we left the first shelter after 1pm, the rain came. It was persistent and I knew we would all be drenched by the end of the day. I also took my first real digger of the trek when I slipped on a wet root, totally lost footing and landed right knee first on a flat rock in the trail. I stood up and gingerly put weight back on the leg until I determined nothing was broken and then started hobbling forward. Luckily, the pain didn¢t persist and I was able to keep trudging. The three of us convened at the top of a rise and hid under some trees to formulate a plan. Originally, we had thought to camp up high on a bald called Beauty Spot. Given the soaking rain, we thought better of it and decided we would seek something with a bit more tree cover. The winds were at least predicted to stay low but the rain would keep coming. As we summited Beauty Spot it dawned on me that tonight was the first night of the nfl draft. I could¢ve been dry, splitting the cost of a super 8 with head chef and drinking beer in bed watching the draft. I really hated myself now. We eventually found a reasonable spot just below the bald with a piped spring nearby and decided to call it good. I had to pitch my tent twice after determining the first spot was totally slanted. I was soaked to the bone and glad to get in my dry camp clothes and hunker down. I ate the deli sandwich I¢d packed out from Walmart and made hot chocolate under my vestibule then ate hot tamales for dessert. At least the wind is low tonight but everything else about today has been shyte.
Date: 2018-04-29
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel-Roan Mt TN
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

The wind did indeed whip last night and temps dropped down to the mid 20s. I slept warmly enough but kept waking up to the wall of my tent slamming against my face. It was bitterly cold and still windy this morning as I got my things together and out of camp. On my way up the first rise, I noticed a sign that described a revolutionary war battle that took place on this site. Cool. The hiking was decent this morning, lots of mud and standing water on the trail and the false summits going up Hump Mt were frustrating but all in all good. The sun is still shining and the weather forecast is similar this week until we hopefully get into Damascus.I made the road gap and walked the .3 miles to the hostel where I checked in and grabbed an iced coffee from the fridge and waited outside on the picnic table for the girls. Just as ibex showed up, a section hiker who was leaving sat down some cold beers for us to have. I delayed in taking a shower or doing laundry while I drank outside in the sun. What are Sundays for anyway? Eventually I took care of the menial tasks and also grabbed a bbq chicken sandwich and chili dog from the food truck out front. Fantastic. Later we shuttled over to the Ingles for a minor resupply (granola for breakfast, I can¢t do any more pop tarts for a while) and also was able to pick up a six pack of beer. We drank and ate again outside and our Finnish friends, alma and snickers rolled in. They joined us for a couple drinks and then a couple more and before we knew it, it was past our bedtime. This has probably been my favorite hostel so far. Right on the creek, really great food and the coolest people. Apparently they knock it out of the park with breakfast so I¢m excited to find out for myself in the morning.
Date: 2018-04-30
From: Mt Harbor Hostel

To: Stealth camp mile 411
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

The breakfast at Mt Harbor Hostel did not disappoint. They rolled out ten courses including biscuits with sausage gravy, blueberry pancakes, hash brown casserole and raspberry cream cheese pastry. It was heaven and way more than I could eat but I tried my damndest. The three of us got back on the trail just before 10 and had a goal of around 15 miles today. The terrain was easy and the sun was out, couldn¢t have been happier to be back on the trail. Passed through some high meadows and dropped back into the woods before arriving at Jones Falls. A truly impressive cascade that started probably 150 feet higher in the woods before spilling down with impressive force. We stopped for a snack break there and also took a couple photos to mark mile 400! We agreed to press up to Mountaineer Falls before breaking again and the next five miles flew by. Part of the section dropped down to the river and we ambled along with it for a mile or so before climbing back into the trees. We stopped again briefly to dip our feet in the water beneath mountaineer Falls which were probably only half as high but still cool as the trail passes right underneath them. Feeling strong, we decided we had enough energy to push another 8+ miles up to a campsite that would save us some climbing early tomorrow while still allowing us creek access for water. I zoned out to some music and was the first to arrive. Shortly after, ibex and glow stick rolled in and we set up and got dinner going. Shortly after we¢d eaten, Tab showed up which was surprising considering he wasn¢t really feeling energetic when we passed him earlier this morning. He found a place to sling his hammock and we called it a fairly early night. We will pop in to Hampton, TN tomorrow because ibex has a package there and we will of course take the opportunity to gorge on town food.