morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Marble Stream campsite
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: clear sky

After the long day of hiking the day before, sleep was very sweet. In fact, even once I heard others in the camp stirring, I remained "in bed", half dozing for a bit. Before packing up my tent, I stayed to read a chapter of my mystery. Those boy scouts must have wondered about me, as I was last to leave, even after they did, at 7:45. But leave I did, about 5 minutes later, knowing that to start the day I would go across nearly level ground and a downhill for the first three miles, followed by an uphill climb for most of the rest of the day, ascending 3000 feet. Of course, there were a few sections of descent during the ascent, breaking up the climb, but also adding to it. It was pretty tough going. However, the air is still dry, though a few degrees warmer than preferred...sunny, with blue skies and the occasional breeze. Plus, after a few miles, I found myself back in the open woods, salad bowl green, and some of the day had yellow-brick-road underfoot. This took some of the sting out of the hard work. I stopped once for a short snack at Bryant shelter, easily the prettiest one I've seen on the Trail. I stopped later on to have lunch at another shelter, taking longer to sit down, enjoy the feeling of weightlessness without a pack, and reading another chapter of the book. Hey! Maybe the reading will work after all More climbing resumed, and finally I found myself atop the ridge, and another "space station" (see pic...not sure what it actually is) was there. Moving on, I descended through "the guillotine", a rock formation (see photo), and soon after that a couple of SOBO hikers came along, looking very happy, and announcing that just up ahead at the BRP pull-out, there was a big hiker feed, with cold drinks, food, lasagna, chili dogs, and more. Yay!!! It's Memorial Day weekend, and 3 women had put together the spread, 2 of them former thru hikers. They have this tradition to do trail magic each year at this time and place, for one of them it's her 10th year running. What a fantastic treat to find cold vegetable salads, fresh fruit, watermelon slices, homemade bread and butter, brownies and cookies, and also some take - away hiker snacks such as PB crackers and honeybuns. Thank you ladies!!!!! Because of this meal which for me happened around 4 to 4:30, I was able to easily tack on another few miles of hiking today, since I didn't have to cook or clean up once I arrived at camp. Not to mention the extra energy all that great food gave me  This hiker is happy tonight.
Date: 2015-05-25
From: Marble Stream campsite

To: Punch bowl Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I have noticed for several weeks now that on my third day after a town stop/zero I get to feeling rather sluggish, and today was no exception. Of course, it could also be that the "bit warmer than preferred" weather had changed to a distinctive "hot"...although still on the dry side of humid, thankfully. But it did mean more frequent stops both for rest and for water, especially after I had descended the ridge I stayed on last night, crossed the James River via footbridge, and started up the next beastly hill in the afternoon. The climb, when added to yesterday's, was extremely challenging, to say the least. I guess you could say this week's work is earning us the "ease" of the Shenandoahs next week. We did see some beautiful views atop the last peak(s), Big Rocky Row and Bluff Mountain, of distant hills and the James River far below us. I arrived rather early to the shelter today, with a bit of extra time to relax, preview future guidebook pages, chat with the other hikers, and swat bugs. Since there's a murky pond at this site, they are plentiful (the bugs, that is. Hikers have thinned out a bit), and they like me. I am very thankful for my tent, and its effective screens, for the respite from critters. Nice.Random bit for the day: if you ever walk the AT and wonder about the little holes, or perforated soil along both sides of the path, that is from the hiking poles. If you see clumps of young grass growing alongside the trail, where there is otherwise no grass growing (it IS the woods, after all), it is because of the perforations aerating the soil. Somehow the grass seed is introduced, and voila! Grass growing on the forest. Just in case you wondered.
Date: 2015-05-26
From: Punch bowl Shelter

To: US60
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

To scratch, or not to scratch, that is the question...Until now I have mostly resisted the urge, leaving the itchy bites on my legs and arms alone. It's the overnight hours, when my concentration is no longer on making it up the next hill, or to the next stopping point, that they seem to vex the most. The jury is still out on that one, I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, I can report that the humidity is returning to the Trail, along with unsettled weather. That, coupled with the heat, makes the steep climbs of this section especially taxing. Which is why I opted to get off today (after hiking mostly level or downhill for 11 miles, and also passing the 800 mile mark!) at one o'clock to visit the Three Springs Hostel. Marcia picked me up at a road crossing and brought me to the then - quiet refuge, where I had first dibs on the shower and laundry facilities. Since Oma had consented to my rather early arrival, I offered to help her get some of the domestic chores accomplished, which seemed a treat to me after being outside my home for nearly two months. I hung wet clothes on the line to dry, scrubbed potatoes for baking (we are having them loaded with a whole array of fillings, for supper, which is included with the stay), and chopped a few vegetables. There are 7 hikers staying the night, both section and thru-hikers. We are all hungry, and will make short work of the fresh food that's just now being spread on the counter for the taking. Let's eat!!!
Date: 2015-05-27
From: US60

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 28.2
Weather: broken clouds

As Oma fixed breakfast this morning at the hostel, hikers scrambled to "take care of business" in the form of emails, journal posts, and checking the weather, etc. On their phones, since wifi was only available from 6 to 8am. I was glad I had pre-written my entries so that I could get them online in the allotted time and stay up to date.I don't know if it was all the great food we ate at Three Springs, or being clean and dry (as opposed to dirty, damp and sticky), or the 3 cups of coffee I had at breakfast, or the slightly cooler air, or the motivation to catch up to new trail friends Lavender and Count, or having the big hill of the day first thing in the morning (as opposed to the mid afternoon, as it has been lately), or perhaps all of the above...but I had my best day of hiking in days, maybe weeks, today. I had dreaded the first steep climb so much that I had put it off a day. In fact, I found it to be quite a bit easier than I'd thought. In fact, I hiked 20 miles very happily today, in my cruising groove I thought I'd lost. The Trail was mostly soft, easy salad bowl ridge-walking, with mostly short ups and downs. Part of it was rolling grassy bald. Many sections of wildflower forest. Others carpeted with fern. All just simply beautiful. I even made an unplanned stop at Spy Rock (I thought we were climbing it, so I did, along with a family of day hikers....and the 360 degree views were great!). I had planned to quit at 20 miles, at the Priest shelter. But I arrived a bit before 4, still feeling good. I discovered it was another gnat - infested camp, with a trickle of water spring (makes it hard to bandana wash), so decided to leave. That meant a huge downhill, a river crossing on another neat suspension bridge, and another 1000-foot climb before quitting for the day...and my longest mileage yet. I arrived just before 7, which is late...camp chores take time: fetching and filtering water, tent set-up and unloading. Cooking, eating, and cleaning up supper, "bathing", changing, hanging food bag, setting up bedding (blowing up air mattress and pillow daily), making note of stopping point on guide, previewing tomorrow's hike, and more. Hence, I am awake way past "hiker midnight" tonight, which is 8pm. Yawn. Guess I'll turn in now.
Date: 2015-05-30
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, Va

To: Waynesboro, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was a bit sad not to find a local coffee shop in the downtown Waynesboro area, but then I stumbled across this cute little spot, as I was walking up the street to do errands. On closer inspection, I found that the place serves mochas, lattes, frappes, the works. Only problem was they close at 2pm on Saturdays. It was then 2:30. Rats! Instead, I went a few blocks further to a local ice Cream spot for a raspberry cone. But I'm posting the photo for my nephew, Micah, as a random thought, just as I posted the Penelope store photo last week in Daleville. There's not much else to report today, except for random bits, since you already know about my zeros. Let's see...I finished the mystery book: Jackie was the killer. I bought a summer novel at CVS, haven't started it yet, so not sure if the extra weight is worthwhile. Mailed home a box of gear I think I can live without to make up for the book, and maybe a bit of extra food (I really, really don't want to run short on food again anytime soon). I enjoyed a "Lomu" burger in town this afternoon at Heritage. It, and the hand cut fries, were fabulous. I forgot to mention , but will add now, another trail term I made up the other day...if you are hiking, and step forward onto a small stick, or pebble, or stone, and it rolls backward, causing your foot to slide back with it, that's called a "Footsie Roll". The biggest excitement of the day was talking with my elder daughter about the half marathon she ran this morning, beating her own PR and killing the course, 2nd place age group, kudos to my kiddo, WOW! Also, planning on a visit with her next weekend as she drives to the Hatteras Shore through Virginia...there may be BBQ involved, and donuts, but surely hugs and smiles as I clap eyes on family for the first time in over 2 months! Hitting that Trail in the morning. Shenandoahs here I come.
Date: 2015-05-31
From: Waynesboro, Va

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Trail Angel Sandy arrived at the motel this morning at 8:30, as promised, to drive me back to the trailhead. She, along with a whole list of volunteers, makes it easier for hikers to get around while visiting Waynesboro. She took a few photos, and also gave me a baggie of trail magic: fun sized candy bars to get me started up the Trail today. Thanks, Sandy, you made my day! It wasn't long before I was signing a permit to hike through Shenandoah National Park at a self-serve kiosk, and I was on my way. The day was quite warm, and the air heavy and thick. In places, it was permeated with the scent of wild roses. I came across a doe and her fawn, who stopped to watch me a moment. I passed over a grassy peak full of communications towers, where the tractor seats were planted (see pics). At one point, I heard thunder, then it started to sprinkle...but the trees absorbed most of that, and I stayed dry. I came to a crossing of Skyline Drive, and found Count & Lavender taking a snack/rest break. They finished, and we walked together for a while. It thundered again, and this time it was for real: the rains came, in buckets, and for a good long time. I opted not to don my rain jacket, and was soon soaked through, then cooled off, then a bit too cool. But the rain did stop, and the sun peeked through again. We stopped at a parking lot for a break, and to dry out a bit, then walked the rest of the way to the "hut", as they are called in SNP. I chose not to tent tonight, as the weather still seems iffy, and I don't want to start the week with a soggy Agnes. I'm sharing the hut with Fly Boy and Trudge. We're hoping the mice are in a quiet mood tonight.
Date: 2015-06-01
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: moderate rain

We went to bed listening to a whipporwill last night, and awoke to one (5am...sooner than even a hiker wants to wake up) this morning. I always thought mourning doves were tiresome with their cooing, but just take my word for it: a whipporwill puts a mourning dove to shame in comparison. During the night it rained, so I was glad to have chosen the "hut" (shelter) to sleep in. Surprisingly, it was a good night's sleep, too, and much easier to pack up for the day. The hiking started at 7:30 and ended at 5:30...it was a long, tiring day, with quite a few medium sized ups and downs. Because of the warm, humid weather, they seemed tougher than they probably were. One advantage in the SNP is that there are side trails to campground stores occasionally, and also Waysides, where you can sit in a restaurant and eat food, look around a souvenir shop, and use an indoor restroom, complete with running water and flush toilets. Today, Lavender and Count and I made use of one at lunchtime, and enjoyed the amenities greatly, even though we had to hike a half mile off the Trail each way to do so. Shortly before that break, we saw a doe and her fawn. Shortly after the break we saw a mama bear and her 3 cubs. A black snake and an orange newt later on rounded out the wildlife encounters for the day. We arrived at the "Hut" site to find many people already here, with most of the tent spots already occupied. We settled on a few up the hill a ways, gathered water at the spring down quite a ways, washed up as best we could, had a quick supper and then into tents. I am currently regretting that I didn't go 2 for 2 with the "hut" accommodations: as I write this post into my memos it is pouring out. It will neither be a quick nor easy pack - up in the morning...High point today was passing the 900 mile mark.
Date: 2015-06-02
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadow Lodge
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

I listened with dismay last night as the thunder rolled and the rain pelted my tent. And it rained. And it poured. And then some more. I awoke to rain again at 11. Then 1am, and I felt dampness on the tent. I saw mud splatters. I felt wetness on the floor. Then I saw a puddle. The tent site wasn't large enough, and was filled with rocks. I wasn't able to set the rain fly properly, and the water seeped between the footprint and tent bottom...a sure disaster. I packed it all up in a heavy plastic bag, sodden and muddy, and set off into the fog. The fog misted, and dripped, and "spit" on us all day. It was good for hiking, on that it kept me cool...although the humidity felt clammy and thick. The problem was not being able to spread out the gear...tent parts, sleeping bag and liner, and sleeping pad (which had virtually been my "floating island" of safety in the night) to air and dry out. I hiked again With Count and Lavender, who had discovered a salamander on the loose in their tent last night, along with the excess dampness. They were solving the wet gear problem by getting off the Trail partway through the day; Lavender has a cousin who lives nearby. They helped problem-solving with me and another hiker, Trudge, and we finally decided the best course was the Lodge, with its lost-in-time decor and high price tag, split two ways between Trudge and me....we were able to place reservations while stopped at the Lewis Camp Store earlier in the day for snacks. So the past few hours have meant showering, hand-washing, and trying to dry gear in the room via wall heater and open window-airing. Then a meal at the restaurant. And rotation of tent parts for a few more hours, way past hiker midnight (8pm), so that we can do it all over again tomorrow. The forecast is calling for rain...There's just something about the National Parks that equals rain, wet, and mud. The only critters happy with that are those little orange newts...7 today, plus one rabbit.
Date: 2015-06-03
From: Big Meadow Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

The Lodge ended up being a great solution overall...we left with dry gear, dry clothes, and especially, dry socks! It was a treat to use the Internet in the retro/rustic lounge this morning before heading out, and then a free cup of coffee at the front desk as I checked out. Sometimes it's these kinds of "little things" that count for a lot in a hiker's world. Then i went next door to the gift shop and bought an oversized oatmeal raisin cookie for $2 "for the road". Question: if a hiker takes a bite out if a large, expensive and delicious cookie while hiking, and a bite-sized piece breaks off and falls on the ground, does the hiker A) leave it there for the crittets to find and eat, B) pick it up and put it in a trash bag or can, C) pick it up, inspect for damage and then eat it? Do you honestly have to ask??? The weather today was ditto yesterday's...foggy, cloudy, misty, drippy. Occasionally it sprinkled, or the breeze would blow the wetness down from the leaves as if raining. It was a bit cooler and I nearly chose to change into long pants to hike, but didn't need to; once I strapped on my pack and started walking the temperature was just right. Remember the inside/outside the bowl illustration? Today's section of Trail was largely on the outside of the bowl, and involved a bit of rock-hopping. The advantage to the outside is normally that you get views of surrounding hills and the valleys down below. Since we've been hiking for days now inside the "green tunnel" ( woods, with few chances at views), this should have been a treat. From all accounts, it WOULD have been, had we been able to see anything besides fog. Alas, you can observe from today's photo, that we missed out. On the plus side, about 8 miles into the day, we came upon the turnoff for Skyland, and took advantage of the snack station outside the restaurant. I chose a roast beef/swiss sandwich on swirled rye bread, a bottle of orange juice, and an oversized espresso/nutella - filled glazed bun. Naturally, this was all vastly overpriced, as is everything in SNP, but hey, I didn't have to carry it, and it saves me a bit of resupply in a few days...so it was mostly worth it. The afternoon consisted of slogging along to the "hut" for the night. I arrived to find an already full house...the shelter is supposed to hold 8. Currently the occupancy stands at 14. Seven of those are a group of section hikers who call themselves the "glad grannies", or something like that. Hmm. I think there won't be much sleeping going on here tonight. If it wasn't still so soggy out, I'd be high-tailing it into my tent. This is life on the AT.
Date: 2015-06-04
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Va. 522 Front Royal, Mountain Home Cabbin
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: light rain

What a surprise, I actually did sleep most of the night in the "hut", glad to be dry and snug. Awake at 6am, I heard rain falling on the roof. It rained on and off, ALL DAY, mostly ON. And that's really all there is to say about it: it rained, I hiked, a very long way. Well, there was the one bright spot: Elkwallow Wayside, where I fueled up with a cheddar, bacon, egg muffin sandwich, and coffee and orange juice. As an afterthought, I picked up a packaged apple ugly and a packaged sweet potato loaf, which came in handy later on, since it was RAINING too much to stop and make a tuna wrap. So I ate packaged fat and sugar while I walked instead. With a handful of gummy bears and trail mix thrown in for good measure. The last few miles of SNP were hiked down a dirt road, which was basically like a hiker version of super expressway. Once I left the park, though, it was like a different world: steep, rocky downhill for a ways, then another 400 foot unnamed, no views hill to end my marathon day. What a relief to arrive at the hostel, which is located in a historic outbuilding (one of seven on the property) that used to be a log cabin. It's now a cozy brick, with 2 beds and kitchen downstairs, 4 beds and bath upstairs. I ate a WHOLE PIZZA ($4, out of the hostel freezer and into the oven, what a deal!),and slept on REAL SHEETS and had a REAL PILLOW. While I slept, my drenched trail runners were drying on their electric boot dryer. It was all so ideal I decided to stay for a zero tomorrow Oh! And a big happy birthday to my daughter, Melody. Love ya!
Date: 2015-06-05
From: Va. 522 Front Royal, Mountain Home Cabbin

To: Va. 522 Front Royal, Mountain Home Cabbin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

In contrast to yesterday, today seems to be everything happy. I slept in late at the hostel, then Lisa made me breakfast of pancakes, fruit, juice and coffee. After that I was given a personal tour of the main house on the property, a 7000 square-foot historic home which she and her husband Scott are renovating into what will be a B&B (I told her I'm coming back for a stay once it's ready!) in a few years...wow! It will be quite a destination! She dropped me off in Front Royal around lunchtime, and I took advantage of that in one of the downtown, local restaurants, where I had a catfish poboy and fries, delicious. I browsed through the antiques and specialty stores for a while, then "parked" in a local coffee shop to work on my journaling. While sipping on a frappe I received a text from my sister, saying that she and her family were on the highway nearby, and after a few more messages, we realized just how close to Front Royal they actually were, and spontaneously arranged a visit!!! What a great surprise to see family today while taking my zero...thanks Dordal family for making the little detour Now the sun is shining...no, really, the SUN came out a while ago, I am having an iced drink, my laundry is finished, and all I need to do now is a bit of resupply to help get me to Harper's Ferry. So much to be thankful for
Date: 2015-06-07
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It's rather late and I'm very tired, so I may add to this post at another time, but for now it's going to be short and sweet. Today's hike started with a pair of Aleve tablets making their way into my system: Lightning (a hiker, not electric sky activity) suggested I try that instead of Advil for my very sore foot, and then gave me some. I'm not sure if they helped or not, but I think perhaps they took the edge off during the first part of the day...enough that when we were stopped for lunch at the Bears Den hiker hostel later on, I traded him 2 mayo packs for a few more, to tide me over until I can buy some for myself. Anyhow, there's a section of Trail called the "roller coaster" (see pic of sign) with lots of curves and ups and downs...it took up most of the day because of the abundance of rocks in the Trail, which makes the miles slower. We passed the 1000 mile mark, HOORAY!!! and took photos there. The rest of the afternoon and early evening were easier and flatter, just seemed long. One critter spotting: a lizard with a long blue tail (see pic). I'm in a shelter again tonight because it's supposed to rain...and I believe it because there's quite a wind blowing some kind of front in. The shelter itself is clean and new and lovely, with a front deck and built-in benches...very nice. Though the water is a nice spring it is WAYYYYY down the hillside which added more than another half mile to the day. I'm gonna try and get some sleep now