morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-06-01
From: 4 Pines Hostel

To: Daleville 
Miles today: 25.8

Hey everyone,     First thing this morning was soak in the tub and try to take away the soreness of my 25 mile day yesterday. I¢m trying to push beyond my limits of before and build up endurance and every time I have to feel the pain. To all my friends who have heard me say this: I love pain! Lol, not really though.      The hike was mostly on top of a ridge, up and down, up and down. It looks semi flat from below but I assure you it¢s not. They have an occasional rock scramble thrown in the mix too. Mcafee Knob was the highlight of the hike. I¢ve wanted to see this place as I¢ve seen lots of pics of it and finally got there, so awesome! Next up was Tinkers Cliffs and while there a thunderstorm went through 2 mountain ranges over was pretty awesome to watch. Finally got into town around 8 pm and got a room and it¢s a zero mileage day for me. Let the body heal a bit.    The hiker I took food along for made it into town, it was a big mileage day for them. I talked  to them later, they had a bit of m&ms and some other snack after their last meal at lunch. Makes it pretty rough going 6-8 hrs with no food to keep you going. I bought pizza and we had pizza last night, yep late last night.     They¢re having trail days next town over and are shuttling hikers back and forth today, so I might swing over and get my pants fixed and shoes fixed up too.     Now I have to figure out how far to next resupply and get my food ready to head out tomorrow. I also need to find more food to eat as I just had breakfast and am hungry once again. It¢s amazing how much food you can shovel in and in 2 hrs you¢re looking for more. Reminds me when I was in my teens with a bottomless pit.     Oh hey wanted to fill you in on my stay at Niday Shelter the other night. 4 of us stayed there in the shelter due to potential rain and everybody hates packing up a wet tent and carrying the extra weight and also means you have to stop for an hr to dry it out. Anyway back to the shelter story, I woke up around 1:30 and I thought to myself something isn¢t right and was laying there and trying to figure it out, then it hit me, geez I didn¢t hear a single mouse so far. Usually if there¢s mice there¢s no snakes or vice versa. Now I got a bit concerned but not a thing I can do. A lil bit later I hear this soft thud like a small rope falling to the floor. Now I just freeze and listen and can¢t hear anything, finally I fall asleep again. Well 2 days laterone of the guys was reading comments on that shelter and apparently there is a rattlesnake living under the floor of the shelter, oops! Gots to be more careful. Every time you sit on a rock or log you check the surroundings just to be safe.     Well that¢s the news from the AT today. Just a lil side note: it¢s amazing how keen your smell gets out here. You can usually smell a dayhiker before you see him if the winds I right direction and also bears, they smell like wet dogs. Until next time cya ltr.
Date: 2018-06-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone, I took a zero day to let my muscles rest after a big day. They did complain when I got to motel. I sat down for a bit and wanted to shower. I actually had to crawl to bathroom. After showering and stretching for awhile it all came alive again. I ordered pizza and went called another hiker and shared the pizza.      I did a resupply, ate a lot of food chatted with a bunch of hikers, went to a coffee shop and met more hikers. In the evening got invited to Paul Bunyan's and Sparks room to hang and for couple hours with other hikers.     I stayed at Howard Johnson for first night and 2nd night at super 8 and shared a room with Nick. Well that took care of my Saturday. Cyall ltr.
Date: 2018-06-03
From: Daleville 

To: Wilson Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 11.2

Hi everyone from the AT!     Got a late start this morning from Daleville and as usual it was a drag all day. Hate zero mileage days but it did rain almost all day and muscles did need some rest and healing. I added whey to my diet again for muscle recovery and gain again. I get days that I feel powerful and can power up 2-3 mile long hills without taking a break. But lately just don't feel the same power as I did before. Trying to figure out what I changed in my diet.     Did 11.2 miles and said that's it I'm gonna set up my tent and crawl in and get an early start in the morning. I'm tenting at Wilson Creek Shelter. It's a whole new bunch of people again and my other group is 7 miles ahead. There is a brother and sister team out here hiking. He's just retired and she sold her house. His name is Buddha and she is Buddha Pest. Lol! Well that's all gonna turn in and sleep.
Date: 2018-06-04
From: Wilson Creek Shelter 

To: Stealth Site
Miles today: 16.7

Hello,    Well what a wonderful day it was, as the thunderstorm blew out all the humidity. Got some great pics today of moss along the trail and flowers.   The trail was really nice with it running alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway and back and forth over it to lookout points. I had to dry out tent a bit this morn and didn't break camp till 8. I still did 16.7 miles with my hangups along the lookouts, plus a 30 min snooze along the lookout. Was hoping somebody would take pity on a stinky old hiker and bring him a cheeseburger and fries with coke or chocolate shake.     I did talk to a couple from Roanoke, Va who had stopped Dan & Cat I believe were their names.     Stopped at Mountain Cove Shelter for supper. Buddha (brother)and Buddha Pest (sister) and Psyche were there. The Buddha's are kinda funny with a dry sense of humor. After dinner he read the poem 'IF' and it was pretty good with a lot of truth to it. I'll find out who wrote it. Thought he said Rudyard Kipling. Anyway let's see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2018-06-05
From: Stealth Site

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 19.0

Hello from the AT, Hiked 19 miles from stealth camp to another stealth camp.    Lots of ups today, just thought they would never end. As usual what goes up must also go down. Most of the forenoon was going up.     I saw in a shelter journal yesterday that Commander, Ozzie and Wonder Woman were there so I thought they would catch me eating lunch but didn't happen. I left a note for him. I almost missed them as I was ready to leave a hiker came in from the parking lot and said they were out there, of course I had to go and visit. Ozzie offered carrots which I gladly accepted, thanks Ozzie. Commander took my inflatable to see if he could repair a slow leak . I've been blowing it up several times during the night. Hopefully he can find it.       Need to hike 10 miles in morning to trailhead so I can resupply in Glasgow tomorrow. The town has a pavilion that you can tent and shower so that's the plan. That's all for today.
Date: 2018-06-06
From: Stealth Camp

To: John's Hollow Shelter 
Miles today: 12.0

Hi y'all,   Hiked 12 miles to Johns Hollow Shelter plus hitchhiked into town of Glasgow for resupply. Got some great food at Scottos at a decent price too.    Fells kind of weird hitchhiking, but is amazing how many hikers got into town and back out to the trail this afternoon. My friend Paul Bunyan and I got going the wrong way to the trailhead lol, he turned around and dropped us off almost at the place where he picked us up. Well I just walked across the road and here comes a car I stuck out my thumb and this woman stops says hop in and we were in business.     We did cross the James river today on a footbridge . Pretty amazing to see.     Well the next stop is 80 miles up the trail to Waynesboro for next resupply. We have been getting reports of some rattlesnakes along the section. Well that's it for today.
Date: 2018-06-07
From: John's Hollow Shelter 

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 18.3

Hello from the AT     We had another beautiful day. Perfect hiking weather.    Started the day off with a 7 mile climb which pretty well took all of the energy out of me for the rest of the day. Then we hit some nice flat areas and then down hill we went. Had some awesome views at the top.      Well I had an unpleasant thing happen to me as I was getting dinner ready tonite. I lighted my gas burner and it lit up for about 30 seconds and it went kaput. Aiyiyi, now what, I was a bit hangry and needed food now. I checked the canister in town with the float method where you put water in a sink and float container and wherever the water line is, is where the fuel level should be. It showed 1/3 left and I was happy with that, about 3-4 days left. I guess I now know how much the metal weighs. Basically 1/3-1/4 of can. But all the above still didn't satisfy my hunger so my rice can be hydrated in cold as well as hot, just takes a bit longer. Yep it works and I added my idohoan potatoes to the mix, stirred it up and had a cold dinner. Not as bad as I thought it would be. So now I'll be looking forward to cold oatmeal for breakfast, cold rice and potato's for dinner next 3 days. I'm so excited for this new experience. Oh well live and learn. The life of a hiker. Well let's see what happens as the saying is out here, the trail provides and it usually does.
Date: 2018-06-08
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter 

To: Seeley Woodworth Shelter 
Miles today: 15.8

Hello all,    This evening the thunderstorms rolled in and I beat it to the Seeley Woodward Shelter before it hit. Yay still dry!     Hiked 15.8 miles from Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. The Brown Mountain Creek area is a narrow valley with a beautiful stream running through it. There were freed slaves living in the mile and quarter. They did sharecropping, if they had their on team of horses the landlords would take 25 percent and if they had no team and landlord supplied the team, it was 50 percent. I looked at the narrow valley and just wondered how they did it, it's all wooded now but must have been somewhat cleared at sometime.    Saw my first rattlesnake today. He was pretty docile. I think I could of picked him up with my barehands. No mom, I'm not gonna start that! Lol!!! I pushed him around a bit before he attacked my trekking pole. I just flipped him off the trail. Nothing big. Other than that nothing really exciting.    The exciting thing I'm looking forward to is by Thursday or Friday of next week being at niece Stephanie and Robby's place for 2-3 days. Eat real food, take naps, heal sore muscles. It's amazing even after I do 15 miles my legs and feet hurt. I'm also going to clean my sleeping bag, backpack and tent. Waterproof my tent fly. Steph and Robby live about 10 mins from the trail. Should be good times.    I finally got some feeling back in my middle toe yesterday. Think that the nerve damage is starting to heal. The other 2 toes feelings came back so gradually that I forgot about till yesterday. I'm not even sure how long ago that was. I'd have to go back and look.
Date: 2018-06-09
From: Seeley Woodworth Shelter 

To: 3 Ridges Tentsite 
Miles today: 17.5

Hi everyone,     Started off great this morning. Decent trails until we hit Priest Mountain then it was almost 4 miles down with 32 switchbacks, I counted them. I did have a treat when I got to the parking lot, TRAIL MAGIC! O what bliss. Just plain old cold bologna sandwiches with mustard and I dumped a lot of jelly on top. I ate 3 of them, plus coke and all kinds of snack cakes and chips. Then it started raining, lasting about an hour or so. I grabbed a sandwich and stuffed it in my pack and away I went. Also a pack of mini blueberry muffins for breakfast with my coffee. I'm excited for breakfast, can't wait!     I started the climb up the mountain and it is 6 miles to the top. At 2.5 miles there was a nice stream with 4 people filling up on water and I decided to fill up too. So I got it done and now I had to cross the stream on rocks. Now I've been doing this all the way from Georgia, 800 plus miles and never a mishap. Well, I started to cross and the next thing I knew I was sliding around on slick rock, not going so good so I did what normally happens when you start sliding, I ended up in the steam. Yep the people standing there were so shocked as was I but still on my feet but almost to my knees. I looked around and nobody said anything so I hiked out and up the hill and stopped to contemplate my soggy and squishy shoes. Here come the 4 people up the hill and I asked how did you like that show? Everybody burst out laughing!    I was near the shelter and a storm was coming so I waited it out and then climbed back up the mountain, 6 miles up to the top and now that's where I'm camped tonite.     I just got done with my bologna sandwich loaded up with mayo packets. I also had a half bag of knorr side noodles and half a bag of Idahoan potatoes. Feeling pretty good and time for bed.      Big shout out to the gentlemen doing the trail magic. Thanks!
Date: 2018-06-10
From: 3 Ridges Tentsite 

To: Paul Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 18.3

Hello once again,     My blueberry muffins were as I expected this morning with my coffee while watching the sunrise from my tent on the summit of the mountain. I kept falling asleep taking small naps till 7:15. It felt great. By 8 I finally got rolling. It was fairly decent hiking.     Couple of hours later I got to the road and there was trail magic supplied by Joel and Ann. I visited with them for at least an hr geez time has a way of slipping away now it's almost noon and I still have 10 miles to go.      Earlier in the day I talked with the ridge runner and he's looking for Pappy and couldn't find him. Pappy is 87 yrs old and he wants to be the oldest guy to hike the AT. When I got done with trail magic they asked me to sign in and when I did I looked thru the names and there was Pappys Now I'm outta there and in search of pappy. About 2-3 miles later I found him chatted a bit and got his picture. He was whistling when I left him lol.      Now with all laziness this morning and chattiness at lunchtime plus chatting with pappy cost me at the end of the day. I should have been in the shelter but no I got caught in a thunderstorm on top of humpback mountain and I hiked on in the rain. Yep you guessed it my shoes were soaked again. They were almost dry from yesterday's show, oh well that keeps life interesting.
Date: 2018-06-11
From: Paul Wolfe shelter

To: Waynesboro 
Miles today: 5.0

Hello,    It¢s gonna be a short version today. Hiked 5 miles from the Paul Wolfe Shelter in the rain and fog. When I got to the trailhead I was at a bit of loss what to do as I couldn¢t see anything. I hiked over interstate 64 on an overpass and then turned around and went back to a pull off with maps under a small roof and just as I took my pack off a pickup pulled up with 3 hikers. Wow it was Sunshine again. He has a way of turning up every time I¢m not sure which way to go. Last time was in Pearisburg where he steered me in the right direction. He asked if I needed shuttle into town n he said hop in its all yours, which I gratefully did. Shuttle driver dropped me off at laundromat. Yay clean again!    Well it¢s still raining and now I checked weather and calling for rain rest of day and throughout the night. Change of plans and off to the Quality Inn I went. I walked into the lobby and saw this woman there and really didn¢t pay any attention till she turned around, lo and behold it¢s Commander¢s wife and they¢re staying at the same motel. I told her not to say anything to him as I wanted to surprise him. Later in the afternoon I walked back into the lobby and yes there he is and Wonder Woman as well. Guess what, I got him in a picture sitting down, yes sitting down! I will be posting that as well, a picture is worth a thousand words. Lol!    The hiker hunger has struck, ive taken a new approach to protect my food. I don¢t hang my food bags as regularly as I once did because by 1:00 am I¢m so hungry I need a snack otherwise I wouldn¢t be able to sleep. I¢m not crawling out of my sleeping bag and wandering through the woods 50 yards to find my food bags for a midnite snack. If I don¢t eat I don¢t sleep! It¢s that simple. I¢ve tried to ignore it and that doesn¢t work. Now tomorrow I enter in the Shenandoah National Park and I will have to hang my bags, to many bears there. So not sure how to deal with my hiker hunger! Anyway let¢s see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2018-06-12
From: Waynesboro 

To: Stealth Site
Miles today: 11.5

Hello from Shenandoah National Park     Finally in the Shenandoah National Park. I started hiking at 12:30 and did 11.5 miles before I set up camp. Kinda feels and looks like rain and didn't want to wait to long. The first 11.5 miles of trail was amazingly flat compared to what we are used to.    No more sleeping with my food bag, to many bears in here. Last couple of weeks I have been keeping my food with me due to the hiker hunger strike at midnight. Not sure how I'm gonna handle that. I had a guy tell me today he keeps a couple of snacks in doubled up freezer bags. Guess it's worth a try.    I've got approximately 47 miles to Big Meadow wayside where Stephane and Robby will pick me up. Also at this wayside everybody is raving about there blackberry milkshake. I will let you know how good it really is.      Along the parkway they have these waysides that offer food and you don't have to carry as much in the backpack. I'm looking forward to participating in sampling the food.     Hey maybe I'll finally see more bears, just not up close though. Cyall tomorrow!
Date: 2018-06-13
To: Stealth site
Miles today: 20.5

Hello everyone,    Got an early start by 6 this morning. Hiked 20.5 miles and got camp set up on a summit.      Trail is definitely better and can make some headways. At 15-16 miles I ran out of energy around 3 pm. I had plans to hit a wayside that was .6 miles off the trail and a steep downhill at that. I was still a mile short when I decided to scratch that because what goes down must come back up. So I settled for Loft Mountain Camp Store 70 yards off the trail. They have basic camp supplies, food and beverages for their camp ground. I ended up eating 2 sandwiches, ice cream bar, 2 beverages, cheese, a bag of nachos and a milkshake. While I was recuperating Nurse d, double d, thumper and sawbones rolled in. We sat and visited for 2 hrs. Just as I was finishing the last of my food Wonder Woman and her husband RV pulled in with their camper. Lol I was sitting and eating again. At least Commander and Ozzie didn't see me. :/     The little gnats flying around your eyes are very irritating, especially when one dives into your eyes.     Some ppl are seeing bears on the trail, so far I haven't seen one. Po was telling me that last eve he came on a bear on the trail. He yelled and tried to chase it off and the bear decided nope and did a face off, so he had no choice but to retreat and the bear followed him for a bit. He went back a ways to a camp site, hung his food bag and didn't eat anything for supper as he was concerned about smells. Going to bed hungry would be tough. That's all for today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2018-06-14
From: Stealth site

To: South river picnic area
Miles today: 17.0

Good morning,    Finally made it to niece Steph and her husband Robby¢s house for the night. Just sprawled out on the sofa while posting the journal. Feels good but also a bit guilty being off the trail and all my hiker friends doing the hike.    I hiked 17 miles to South River picnic area and waited there for them to pick me up.    Along the way I almost stepped on a little rattlesnake which was laying partially on the trail. My foot was within 8 inches of it when I saw it and did a hasty step back, scared the crap out of me geez! I instantly took my trekking pole and flipped it off the trail, before I got a picture. Shucks! I¢ll probaly see more especially with the hot weather moving in. A little bit more down the trail I saw a northern ringneck snake, they¢re small snakes, black with a yellow band just behind its head. I wanted a picture of it and decided it wasn¢t holding still and pose for one. Maybe next time.     I arrived at the picnic area and laid down for a rest till they arrived and when they did, Robby came in from behind and scared me as Stephanie did a video, lol. It was a good one.     What makes a good hiker? Well a good hiker is when they get in the vicinity of food is to strike up a conversation with the people and have them offer you food without you asking for it directly. Usually starts out with general conversation and then you steer it in the direction of food with comments like, it¢s amazing how the hiker hunger works or wow, that looks or smells great or say something guess I¢ll go and have my daily ration of rice and Idahoan potatoes. There are some who are really good at that. I just feel a bit to guilty to take to the next level after General conversation.    Well it¢s time to do laundry and wash my backpack and sleeping bag. I¢ll be hanging out here till Sunday afternoon eating real food and sleeping in a real bed, which by the way was a bit tough on the first night as I¢m used to sleeping in a cooler environment, I kept waking up soaked in sweat. Finally at 2:00 am I just got up and took a lil walk to keep my sore muscles from stiffening up. Ok time to do my chores. Cya ltr.
Date: 2018-06-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

hi from Harrisonburg,     I¢m still staying with my niece Steph and Robby. Feels good resting sore muscles, eating real food. Still trying to adjust to a real bed, wake up a lot during the night.     Last night Robby¢s mom came over for dinner and we had big 2¢ steaks. Oh my we¢re they delish. Also she gave me a haircut which felt pretty awesome when she was done. That was the first one since first of April sometime.     The plan today is to go to church with them for the first service and come home then they are heading back to help with the second service. They will be dropping me off this evening on the trail again and I will be meeting 3 other hikers to hike with them for 2-3 days. Then I¢ll start doing bigger miles again to Harpers Ferry, WV which is halfway. I¢m planning on pushing north thru Harpers Ferry for a 2-3 days, then coming back in to get the Amtrak to come home for several days. It will be good to see everyone again and get caught up with everything.      It¢s really going to be a mental game now with hiking next 500 miles as it¢s a pretty boring hike from what I hear. After that there is approximately 500 miles in Maine and 100 miles thru the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Thinking about flip flopping and doing Maine and New Hampshire then filling in rest this fall when leaves are changing, maybe a week at a time. It should be easier access to the trail by Amtrak. My trail legs are important to maintain and am hoping by taking a week or 2 off n then back on for a week will give me greater endurance with resting muscles in between. We will see how it¢ll work out.
Date: 2018-06-18
From: Stealth Site

To: Big Meadows Campgrounds
Miles today: 7.8

Hello all,    Hiked to Big Meadows Campgrounds got a tenting site. Then this eve all my hiker friends started showing up. Now there's about 20 of us here in a camp site. Havin good times.     Kinda feel bad doing only low mileage. But the chafing due to the hot weather. It was the worst I've ever had. We will see what happens tomorrow.