morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Elk Park, NC

To: Mile 418 in TN
Miles today: 131.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At Mile 418, finally finished NC and in TN with 50 miles to reach Damascus, VA. I joined a group Slack Packing yesterday, 26 miles!..long day, 9 to 6:30 pm. Slack Pack is when they move your big pack forward and you travel with a day pack, sounds easy but doing 26 mountain miles was tough. At Black Bear Hostel & last nite we all sat on porch eating & drinking & eating...pizza, ice cream, beer, coke, chocolate milk, cheeseburger..you can eat so much hiking & still be hungry, I have lost most of any extra weight I had when I started this journey. All hikers here are psyched, for AT thru hikers, Damascus. VA represents a big goal along the AT & means a lot to us crazy walkers. I am making it a zero, rest day, due to heavy rain day today at 100%, sharing a cabin tonight with another veteran, Bloomer who is a great guy, very funny, by sharing the cabin it is only 2 dollars more than the hostel bed I had last nite.As I write this on their computer, I can hear the stream rushing by & yesterday, the trail followed a beautiful river for quite a while, had good mountain views most of the day yesterday. I will arrive in Damascus on Thursday & take 2 zero, rest days, to enjoy what is supposed to be one of the better trail towns on the AT. Have had a few falls with a good cut knee that is healing & yesterday, tripped on a log & danced on the edge of what would have been a long fall of the trail & thankfully caught myself, the trail "allows" us to walk it & at anytime can stop anyone short, I saw one hiker who did a face plant & put a good hole above & below his eye, very lucky it missed his eye, he had to leave the trail so it definitely is a "one footstep in front of the other" as well as some luck to make it all these miles. People I am meeting, continue to be best part of this trip. Madhatter
Date: 2015-05-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 92.0
Weather: scattered clouds

At mile 634.9, Pearisburg, VA.Last night, stayed at Woods Hole Hostel, best one on AT. Recommend it for any hiket, great place, food, shower, couple who run it are amazing. They have a whirlpool, sauna, and massage and best homemade bread and smoothies. Virginia trails overall have been good for making miles, long ridgelines. Folks in VA have had great trail magic for us hiking.
Date: 2015-05-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 68.0
Weather: clear sky

At mile 702, Four Pines Hostel, random place but good stop. Slept in barn on plywood shelfs, with half dozen other hikers. Also about about a dozen in 3 bay garage, was able to shower and get shuttle to local store for pizza and soda, YUM. One of the guys here has hiked AT, 3 times, twice in 3 months, said his best was 3rd hike when he took 6 months and stopped moreplaces, made friends vs rushing the miles. Seeing a lot of folks drop off due to injuries, most common is feet and bad shin splints, lots of KT tape. My feet are sore and time to replace shoes as they are coming a part. Most shoes last about 500 miles so 702 is good. Headed to famous McAfee Knob today, it juts out and is one of most photographed spots on AT.
Date: 2015-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At mile 727, Daleville, VA for zero rest day, resupply and new hiking shoes, mine are splitting apart. Had first Bear visit at dinner tell while camped at Brickell Gap mile 715, Bear watched and ran when I clapped then came back to wakeE up as it ran by, another one came by to explore about 30 yards away, scary night. Then a long black racer made a couple of us hikers jump as it sat on trail and did not want toove, had to hike around it. The Bear encounter was wild and glad all food was hung up on a Bear line from a tree. Will be glad to get up into VT aND away from poisonous snskes, spiders. Picture attached is a beautiful sunrise this am on the Black Bear pathway!
Date: 2015-05-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At Punch bowl Shelter at mile 795 on AT.Nice hiking weather today and no snakes!Saw rabbit in am and a deer was walking up the trail towards a hiker in front of me, funny it had head down, then realized a person was there and took off but pretty close. Yesterday was interesting, stayed in a shelter in Glasgow, VA that had shower and electricity, a small town of 1100 but ver hiker friendly. Less hikers on the trail as so many have dropped out, makes it easier to find tent sites.
Date: 2015-05-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 55.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At mile 861, Waynesboro,Virginia, resting for 2 days to prepare for push through Shenandoah National Park and on to Harper's Ferry to sign in the ceremonial half way point of Appalachian Trail around June 9th, plus or minus depending on trails, weather and my body holding up. Good trail town, lots of friendly folks, one hiker has a truck parked here and let's any of us use it to run errands in. Perfect weather is over and back to pattern of afternoon Thunderstorms.
Date: 2015-05-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

At mile 903 tonight at Hightower shelter.Bears are active, I saw one on first day in ShenandoahNationalPark and most hikers are seeing them. Deer are common and come very close to people in the park, no hunting so no fear. Beautiful National Park and campgrounds are well maintained.A few places have Waysides, small food cafe type places where you can get a meal by taking a side trail, nice treat.
Date: 2015-06-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 94.0
Weather: broken clouds

Mile 1023 in Harper's Ferry, signed in at Appalachian Trail Headquarters as number 500, through hiker for this year so far. These middle miles are tough mentally and many drop out along this part of journey but even if they do, a 1000 miles hiked is amazing accomplishment. Now to see if I can make the 1189.5 miles to Mt Katadhin. Have met so many good folks and have a few that will be friends for life.
Date: 2015-06-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 79.0
Weather: light rain

At mile 1102, made it past halfway point of Appalachian Trail and making it through Pennsylvania in next couple weeks. Hopefully will be through New Jersey, New York and into Connecticut by mid July. Staying in Iron Masters Mansion Hostel for the night, very nice old place with a porch overlooking the mountains. Watched some hikers do the halfway, half gallon ice cream challenge last night, was funny. Chose not to, went for cheeseburger instead. Was a 20 mile hike day to here.
Date: 2015-06-21
To: Life 
Miles today: 54.6

Due to disc herniation, ended AT hike at mile 1157. Earned over 2,200 in pledges for Center for Grieving Children. For all that pledged, please send your pledges (1157  amount pledged per mile) to: Center for Grieving Children, 555 Forest Avenue, Portland,Maine 04101please put a note on check, for Madhatter Appalachian Trail hike 2015. Many thanks for all who pledged and support, best to all still hiking, a great community along Appalachian Trail! Thankful to have made it over halfway and to meet so many good folks, new lifetime friends.
Date: 2015-04-17
To: BBQ
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in Kansas and preparing for my hike. I had a long list of "to-do" items to get done in preparation for being gone, and I'm slowly whittling them off. More than anything though, I needed a last flight. Before I spend a month walking at 2 miles per hour, I needed to stretch my wings one last time, enjoy the Kansas countryside, and go get some good BBQ. We have a great place in eastern Kansas with a BBQ restaurant right on the airport (K81 - Miami County Airport) called We-B-Smokin, and that seemed to be a perfect destination before a month of noodles and gorp on the Trail. I will relish that lunch for the next month!
Date: 2015-04-18
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

57, going on 18. Today was my birthday and it was mostly filled with prep for leaving for the AT- grocery shopping, banking, and finding all the gear that has gotten scattered in the last year. I have been walking with a partially loaded pack in the past few weeks getting the body used to the pack again, but it's amazing how all the last minute things you add contribute another 40 pounds to the pack. After everything was packed I was at 34 pounds without water; I'm certainly not an ultralighter. I've spent a lot of years upgrading an refining my kit, and I've struggled with going to the next level to lower my load. I have a Gregory Baltero Pack which is not the lightest but has been the most comfortable I can find. I've tried some of the ultralight packs, but they just weren't comfortable with 30+ pounds. I carry a stove, I know some people don't to save the weight, but I like a warm meal. I have a 20-deg Marmot Helium bag, maybe a higher temp bag would be lighter, but in snowed in the Smokies a couple of weeks ago. I use a 1 man tent, I think the bug protection is worth it over a lightweight tarp tent. My biggest single heavy item is food, 9.8 pounds for about 4.5 days. I always carry too much food, but I'll be able to refine that as I walk and see how often I can resupply.The nice thing about backpacking is nothing is right or wrong because you can change it as you go; you can ship stuff home you don't need, you can buy stuff along the way, you can leave stuff in a hiker box for others to use. With the miles comes refinement.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Davenport Gap

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 3.0

Settling into my leather First Class seat (thank you Delta), I'm on my way to CLT where my brother and his girlfriend have offered to transport me to Davenport Gap trailhead. We meet up at passenger pickup and head for the mountains in the rain. At Davenport Gap I do quick repack to load in a few more last minute things, and then my brother presents me with a pack of chocolate chip cookies. Not just any chocolate chip cookies, but our late mother's special chocolate chip cookie recipe. One bite and I'm in heaven, they are fantastic!After a few pictures and hugs I head up the trail and it immediately feels like home. I left from Davenport Gap SOBO (southbound) in 2011 when I hiked the Smokies with my friend Indy. Now I'm NOBO (northbound) and headed for a few quick miles to Standing Bear Hostel. The rain has stopped, and walking through the new springtime growth the forest feels fresh and new. After crossing under I-40, the trail goes up the mountain and after 30 minutes I reach Standing Bear Hostel. Rather than camp out after only a short walk, I figured I would try the hostel, as well as wanting to see this legendary AT stop. The hostel is full, but they offer me a spot on the porch, and that is just perfect. The hostel offers hikers a place to stay, resupply, a kitchen, showers, and laundry faculties. The grounds are full of hikers, a group campfire is going, people are drying their stuff out, and just relaxing after a tough hike across the Smokies. Later that night it rains, and I'm glad I'm sleeping in the porch. The rain patters in the porch's tin roof and it's such a soothing sound to fall asleep to am snuggled up in my sleeping bag. Welcome to the AT once again.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Max Patch Summit
Miles today: 13.6

I slept well on the porch and woke up to the crows of the farm's rooster, Pretty Boy. Those of us sleeping on the porch decided that Pretty Boy needed some hens to keep him busy. I availed myself of the resupply hut again and had a microwave chicken biscuit for breakfast. So much for roughing it. While eating my breakfast, the sky turned orange and someone made the "Red sky in morning, sailor take warning" comment. Right on cue the first clap of thunder announced itself and a storm blew in.I sat on the porch and updated my trail journal, re-packed my pack, and watched the storm, while others decided whether to stay another day until the weather cleared. The hostel was hosting a huge 420 party that night, so that provided a powerful incentive for some to stay. The rain stopped and so I paid my bill and headed up the trail, and once again it was UP 2300 feet in 2 miles up Snowbird Mountain. On top of Snowbird I was greeted with the site of an FAA VORTAC station. I spent my career selling and installing Navaids like this so it was ironic to have one sitting on the AT.The rest of the day was more ups and downs; down 1200 feet to Deep Gap, up 1000 feet to Hawks Roost, down 500 feet into Brown Gap, and then finally a long pull up 2000 feet to Max Patch Summit. Max Patch is one of the famous Appalachian balds where no trees grow. Along the way the skies turned black, thunder sounded in the distance, the rain came, then the hail. I found a campsite in the trees below the summit and was planning on overnighting there, when the skies started clearing and so I decided to give the summit a try. The winds immediately increased as I got out of the trees and I'd estimate they were blowing 50-60 knots over the summit. It was difficult to walk but I continued up and over and found a few other campers on the leeward side. Also camped out at the top were Iron Jen and Muskrat, and Shane with his cocker spaniel Dudley. I set up my tent quickly, started my stove and cooked up a pot of freeze dried spaghetti. I ate my meal watching dusk fall and a thunderstorm in the distance. Hopefully the effort to make the summit will be rewarded with a beautiful sunrise in the morning.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Max Patch Summit

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

The wind blew all night, and then all of a sudden stopped. It was still dark out and a peak out the door didn't reveal any lights or any stars. As morning came, the hoped for sunrise was not going to be realized, the mountain was shrouded in a deep fog. It was cold, not quite freezing, but cold enough that I needed my down jacket and gloves. I ate a trail mix bar and peaches for breakfast and packed up. Iron Jen and Muskrat were packing up as well and they headed down the mountain. Dudley the cocker spaniel popped out for a quick bathroom break and then headed back into his tent.I headed down the mountain and the trail gently descended into a valley of streams and rhododendrons tunnels. The day turned warm and sunny and it was easy to make mileage. Along the way I passed a day hiker that told me he left some coolers of Trail Magic at Lemon Gap. I quickened my pace with the promise of Trail Magic and got there with IceFire, Woody, Mr. Ambitious and Tortoise. We were rewarded with clementines, cookies, corn chips, and trail mix. Hikers are always grateful for trail magic!After Lemon Gap, there was a steep climb up Walnut Mountain and Bluff Mountain. After reaching Bluff Mountain there was a long 7.5 mile, 2000 foot descent to Deer Park Shelter. A long 16.6 mile day and reaching the shelter was a big relief. Lots of hikers were staying here because it was only 3.2 miles from Hot Springs, NC where we all planned on taking a day in town tomorrow. Talk around the campfire that night was full of plans for "real food", hot mineral baths, laundry, and real beds. I had only been out for three nights but was looking forward as much as these thru hikers, and looking for a dentist to replace a crown that had popped off. Around the campfire that night were Moonbow, Lightning Bug, Buttercup, Tots, Splash, Diehard, Old Eagle, Muskrat, Iron Jen, White Owl, and Nurse. As the fire died out we headed for our tents with plans to get an early start for town in the morning.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2

It felt like Christmas morning, everybody in camp woke up early and quickly packed up and headed down the mountain. The destination was Smoky Mountain Diner in Hot Springs and the 3.2 miles flew by. I walked with Nurse and got to learn a lot about ultralight backpacking. Nurse had come into camp late after a 33 mile day, and several of us were marveling at his lightweight gear. Nurse was a veteran long distance backpacker and endurance cyclist. We talked all the way down and he gave me a lot of good tips about how to lighten my load. We arrived at the diner to a hoard of hikers. With all the tables filled up we grabbed seats with hikers we knew and prepared to chow down. Despite being swamped, the waitresses were as sweet as can be and the food was quite good. It's a site to see a bunch of hungry thru hikers attack a hearty southern breakfast!After breakfast, we scattered looking for different places to stay for our Nearo (Near Zero) day. I found a room at a local hotel, others went to a local hostel, others at cabins in the Hot Springs resort, others choosing to camp out. Hikers got busy picking up packages, doing laundry, finding a place to get a shower, re-supplying for their next leg of their hike.It was also a chance to get access to wifi and contact friends and family. Unfortunately there is no AT&T or Verizon cellular service in Hot Springs, leaving a lot of frustrated hikers eager to reach out and touch someone. Hot Springs is a small town that gets a lot of business from AT hikers and they really roll out the welcome mat for the hikers. I had a crown come off on the trail and was desperate to find a dentist before heading back on the trail. I received help from a number of people in town to make arrangements for me to get to the nearest dentist, 20 miles away. They care a lot here.I had dinner with Nurse in the evening and we enjoyed pizzas as we shared more of our life stories. He has a good perspective on life and has made career changes to enable his hiking and biking pursuits.It's off to bed after checking email and updating trail journals. Tomorrow I'll be heading north again after my dentist appt.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Rich Mountain
Miles today: 8.3

Hot Springs is a hard town to leave. I woke up about 5 am, watched the news for awhile and then got ready to take a 7:30 am shuttle to Marshall to see the dentist. I got a few minutes of wifi at the library to check email before I met Matt, my shuttle driver, and got a ride to Marshall. The dentist was great and took care of my detached crown quickly. I highly recommend French Broad Family Dentistry if you need a dentist!I was back in Hot Springs by 9 and saw Nurse as he was leaving town. I repacked, shipped a few things home, picked up a roast beef sandwich for the trail and took off by 11:30. Right out of town I start switchbacks up to the top of Lover's Leap, saw a few day hikers, but no other AT hikers. Once at the top I found a sunny place for a rest and ate half my sandwich. I continue on and finally pass Tarzan, a thru hiker waiting for a couple of friends. It seems difficult to walk today, I feel out of sync, feeling the affects of getting back into the woods after a day in town.Another thru hiker, Diehard, passes me as I'm ascending Rich Mountain. He comments too that it was hard to leave Hot Springs. Once at the top of Rich Mountain, there is a great campsite just below the summit and I set up camp, eat my other half of sandwich, and then go up to the summit for sunset. Rusty and Diehard have decided to set up camp here too and are already up at the summit. At the top is a lookout tower, and a cell tower, but not an AT&T cell tower. I do have a cell signal finally so am able to catch up with email and make a phone call. Trees block some of the view toward the sunset, but it is beautiful nonetheless. The views of the mountains all around are magnificent! As the sun sets, an orange glow spreads along the horizon, the lights of Greenville, TN come on, and the stars come out. A cold wind blows and the temperature drops quickly but it's hard to leave the view from the tower. Venus and Jupiter are particularly spectacular, and the moon's waxing crescent spreads a soft glow across the ground as I reluctantly descend back to camp. Diehard and Rusty and back at camp staring at an unlit campfire. We spend a little time picking out constellations, and then head off into our tents. It's supposed to freeze tonight, so we prepare for a cold night.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Rich Mountain

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

It's cold this morning but didn't get below freezing. I let the sun warm my tent before getting out of my sleeping bag, and then get up and start a fire. I decide to take it slow this morning, eat a bigger breakfast to get more energy and finally depart about 10:30 am. I descend down into the valley and the walking is easy today, I have my rhythm back and it's perfect weather for walking today. There are few other hikers out and I have the trail to myself mostly. I stop at a shelter and have lunch. The afternoon goes well with gradual ups and downs for the most part. I meet up with Toasty and Tarzan at a spring and they decide to take an afternoon siesta.About 4 pm I cross a road and there is a building just down the road with a hand painted sign declaring "Mom's Store". Mom's is a dilapidated building now manned by her daughter, and she is trying to offer a small business during hiking season.   I get a chili dog and a Mountain Dew that really hits the spot. I meet Bambi and Hoosier who have also taken a break at Mom's.After Mom's we have a long 4.8 miles up to Little Laurel shelter. It's supposed to storm tonight so I grab a spot in the shelter. Also in the shelter are Bionic Woman, Zen, McFly, and Rusty. Tenting outside are Flap Jack, Tunes, Bambi and Hoosier, and several others. It rains that night, and I fall asleep to sounds of rain on the shelter's tin roof.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

I awake to more rain, and it had rained intermittently all night long. I pack up during a break in the rain, and take off as it starts raining again. I take off about 8 am in a slow steady rain. It's up immediately, 1000 feet up Camp Creek Bald, and into the clouds. The Bald is covered in fog and mist and visibility is down to a couple hundred feet. It's CAT III weather, with the tops of the trees ascending into the white void. Walking in the clouds, my view is reduced to the close environs of the trail, the views of the mountains in the distance are lost.Descending the bald into Jones Meadow I meet two identical twin thru hikers, Axis and Mundi. The trail profile looked fairly moderate but the reality was much harder. The trail had turned rocky and had continuous ups and down along a ridge. The trail split into two, the Exposed Ridge Trail, and an alternate bad weather bypass trail. The Exposed Ridge Trail was very rocky and strenuous, but yielded incredible views. A small detour to Whiterock Cliff yielded views of the valley below with swirling mist and clouds snaking through the valley. Wind pushed mist up the mountains and the scene changed by the second. When people ask you why you would ever want to walk the AT, this is why. Seeing the beauty of the valley and mountains and the play of the clouds and the mist between them is something you just have to experience. No picture can capture the beauty and awe of it.Continuing along the ridge trail it intermittently clears and clouds up, the sun trying to break through with wind pushing mist up and over the ridge. I finally get off the ridge and have lunch at Jerry's Cabin. Along the way I passed the 300 mile mark from Springer Mtn., the thru hikers have only 1880 miles to go!   It has been a long slow 6.8 miles this morning. At Jerry's Cabin shelter I meet up with Mushroom, Bambi and Hoosier, and Mr. Ambitious.The weather was now warm and sunny and my rain gear was gone. The trail ascends Big Butt Mountain and then down 1000 feet into Flint Gap. Another tough mile and I arrive at Flint Mountain shelter. At the shelter are Zen, Bambi and Hoosier, Mr. Ambitious, Tortoise, Finch, Flap Jack, and Bionic Woman. A campfire is going and Flap Jack is demonstrating his coffee making technique. Decisions are being made on where each of us will go tomorrow and the talk always turns to getting into Erwin, 36 miles away.