morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Had a great nights sleep on a real mattress - a treat for hikers - then four fluffy blueberry pancakes for breakfast before going to worship at the First United Methodist 11 am service. This is a small country church with 40-50 in attendance, including Journeyman and Milepost (a lady thru-hiker from Knoxville) and Milepost's parents who were going to provide Trail Magic this evening in the church parking lot. Although there were big climbs today, the perfect weather allowed me to hike quite a few miles. Surprisingly, because a bridge wash-out required a rerouting of the trail, part of todays hike was on the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail, a nice level walk with no rocks or roots. However, at one point, due to confusing signs, I found myself walking south! Tonight, I set up tent at the Lost Mountain shelter. There are four college student section hikers from Long Island in the shelter and two other tents for a special-ed. teacher from Charleston, South Carolina and her uncle who is from my old stomping ground of Akron, Ohio. We recalled and shared many memories before turning in for the night. The highlight of my day was getting the opportunity to attend a worship service - not always possible while on the AT.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Lost Mountain shelter

To: Thomas Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Today, I gained 2200' from where I started to where I finished. I left camp at 8:30 am on a pleasant day, climbed to 5000' and came out of the woods to an open bald at Buzzard Rock. Wow! What a change. Very strong winds. Although it didn't rain, I think I was walking in the clouds because the water droplets felt like bebe pellets. I saw someone who had camped on the bald struggle to take down her tent. I was afraid she would get blown away. I stopped at a most amazing spring to get water, It was a 1-2 inch pvc pipe that had such pressure that the water gushed out 5 or 6 feet. But it sure tasted good. There are nine of us staying at the Thomas Knob shelter, four who I was with the previous evening, three I had hiked with earlier, and one gentleman who had started from Damascus without a back pack, sleeping bag or food and he is trying to walk to Maine. We helped him out as best we could. Today, I met my first ridge runner, a volunteer or paid individual who walks 40-50 mile sections of the AT once or twice a week to ensure the trail is maintained, the privies are clean etc., supporting hikers. It is hard and time-consuming work, not easy, and we probably don't recognize the ridge runner's work as much as we should.
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Thomas Knob shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: haze

It was a night of hard rain and wind, but my hike began today with mild weather. However, by the time I reached the Grayson Highlands where herds of wild ponies graze and roam, heavy rain had started to fall and there were no ponies to enjoy. At the first shelter, I removed my raingear, for prolonged wearing combined with strenuous physical effort can result in moisture build-up inside the gear. I came out of the woods to an open bald. The rain turned to sleet and then to snow, but after about two miles the trail went back into the woods and I put my raingear on again. I had planned to stay at the Hurricane Mountain shelter, but it was full, so I backtracked to a campground. On the way, I met another hiker (Silent Knight) and he decided to pitch his tent with me. I am toasty and warm in my sleeping bag, but the tent is covered in snow.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Hurricane Mountain shelter

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

I was awake by 6 am and found the tent completely covered in ice. The temperature was around 20 degrees so I tried to pack as much as I could while remaining in my sleeping bag and then packed that last. The hike today was fairly easy, with no major climbs. The sun came out, temperatures rose, and with the early start I covered 20 miles. I started my hike with Silent Knight, but eventually his young legs allowed him to go ahead. However, we've met up tonight at the Partnership shelter. There are about a dozen hikers here. It has good security and lies only about 150 yards from the highway, and best of all has a phone so we could order and have pizza delivered from Marion to the shelter.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Partnership shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up at the break of dawn. It was cold, although not as cold as it had been. Although the hike today was short, there were lots of rocks - small and pointed, large as in "huge boulders." I ran into the same ridge runner I'd met previously. I use a SPOT device so friends can follow my footprint along the AT, but he told me he uses his SPOT device to report emergencies when his radio or cell phone don't work. It was a fairly uneventful day and I arrived at my destination at the first of four places where the AT intersects with Interstate 81. I'm staying at the Hiker Motel and had a real treat. My daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren had been visiting Lala in Knoxville, and because the motel is convenient to their journey home, we were able to meet up and spend time together. I had dinner at the Barn Restaurant and met a hiker from the United Kingdom who is completing what I might call the final jewel in his Triple Crown. He has already hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trails. What an accomplishment!. He mentioned that the AT is very different from the other two because it is a very social trail with a strong sense of community. The other two trails have less infrastructure (e.g. towns on the trail and signposts) so there is less support, more solitude and a need to carry more supplies. A water source is also harder to come by. I'm looking forward to attending an Easter service this wekend at a Methodist Church.
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Atkins, VA

To: North
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I experienced some personal trail magic. Last night when I went to use my inhaler and medication for asthma and allergies, I realized I had lost them. Since it would take a few days to replace them, I was in quite a panic. But this morning, with no resolution, I stopped at the Barn Restaurant around 7 am for breakfast. I saw another hiker and invited him to join me. When it was time to hit the trail, I made an offhand comment, "I'll see what I can lose today." Not unnaturally, he asked me if I had lost something and I told him about losing my medications. To my surprise, he suggested I check the hiker box, for a hiker called "Fats" had reported finding a zip-lock bag about 10 miles up the trail. He had brought it to the Barn Restaurant last evening and placed it in the hiker box. When I looked in the box, there was my medication. What a beginning to the day! I had hiked today's section of the trail two years ago, except I was headed south. As I walked today, I remembered what a difficult hike that had been. It was cold and rainy and by the time I was about a mile from my destination, I was exhausted. To make matters worse, the last mile was through open pasture with no protection from the wind and rain. Then I saw two people coming up the trail. It was a friend who had promised to pick me up, and his nephew. His nephew said, "Let me carry your pack" The pack was heavy and wet, but I was tired and cold. I will never forget that act of kindness. Today, I saw my first wildlife on this hike - a deer grazing about 30 feet off the trail. It was nice to be able to get that close to wild life and to share the environment without either of us being afraid of the other. Tonight, I had some trouble finding a level, dry place to camp, but finally found a small space, set up my tent, and slept like a baby.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: North

To: somewhere near Jenkin's shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I continued my climb of the mountain I had reached yesterday. There is an unusual shelter at the top of the mountain (5,400') - a stone building with a door that is big enough for eight hikers. By the time I reached it, there was only one hiker in it, but he told me that last night there were nine hikers there, and they were all international. The lone American had arrived too late to get in and had to pitch his tent. Going down the mountain brought back memories of two years ago when I hiked that stretch in February in cold temperatures and deep and drifting snow. Today, with no snow, I realized how steep and rocky this trail is and was amazed that I was able to negotiate it in those adverse conditions two years ago. I caught up and passed five of the international hikers and headed for Jenkins shelter, the last shelter before the road crossing where the Appalachian Trail Ministry greats hikers and takes them to a church for breakfast each Monday morning. I wanted to see the posting in Jenkins shelter that informs hikers about this trail magic, particularly as I'd arranged to meet Alan, the chairperson of this Appalachian outreach ministry. He met me as planned and I had a great visit with Alan, his wife, and grandchildren.
Date: 2014-04-20
From: somewhere near Jenkin's shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I began the day worshiping with pastor Alan and his wife, first at New Hope Methodist church and then at the second of his charges, Pinegrove United Methodist. I spoke to each of the congregations about my hike and mission and received wonderful feedback and support. After lunch at Alan's home, Alan and I hiked northward together for about seven miles. I'm glad to report that I'm now back on the schedule I'd developed prior to starting my 2014 hike. We met two of the German hikers and another hiker called Hawk on the trail. It was a beautiful, warm day, with lots of fresh blooms signaling that Spring is really here. I'm back at Alan's home for another night in a real bed, and am looking forward to my first experience of the Appalachian Trail ministry breakfast tomorrow morning.
Date: 2014-04-21
From: Bland, VA

To: Mile 606
Miles today: 18.4

I got the chance this morning to see what a difference a small but dedicated team can make in the life of AT hikers. The Appalachian Trail outreach group picked up hikers at a gravel road and drove them to the New Hope Union Church for breakfast. This small group served 11 hikers all they wanted to eat (one plate, two plates or even three plates) with love, concern, and interest. All the food is prepared off-site and brought in; the cleanup taken back home. Someone brought out a guitar and one of the hikers played for us. What a great memory. This is the group of volunteers who more than 10 years ago launched the program out of which the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy Program (this year I am the chaplain) has grown. Today's walk started at Bland and because it was ridge walking I completed a lot of miles. My walk was mainly solo, but I did meet the lady hiker I've met periodically, the first time way back at the Blueberry Patch in Georgia. About 14 miles into the hike I caught up with two hikers - a local hiker doing a section walk and a German thru-hiker I'd met earlier. He was struggling for he had turned an ankle. He had spent some time by a gravel road hoping a car would come by, but this is a remote area and no help arrived. I asked him what he planned to do and he said he would try to get to where I was going (about another 4-5 miles. I asked him, if I could get him help, would he like to go back to the gravel road. He was delighted. So I called pastor Alan and he picked up my German friend and took him for treatment. It was a blessing for both of us to find a way to assist him. Today was a nice warm day, almost like summer. In contrast to the recent cold, damp weather, I was able to take layers of clothes off me. When I finished my hike, pastor Alan met me and I'll spend a third and last evening at his home before I try to reach the Roanoke area by the weekend.
Date: 2014-04-22
From: Mile 606

To: Wood's Hole Hostel
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The forecast for today was rain all day with thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thankfully I experienced only a few sprinkles. The walk today was mostly level. I had to go through rhododendron thickets or tunnels where I could look ahead and literally see light at the end of the tunnel. I had a climb of about 1500' towards the end of the day before arriving at the Wood's Hole Hostel. This hostel was built in 1880 by Stoney Holiday. Tilley and Ray Wood bought the property in 1942 and opened the bunkhouse to hikers in 1986. I stayed here two years ago. The hostel is managed by Neville and Michael. Tilley and Ray Wood are Neville's grandparents. It was nice to meet Neville again. He made a great meal that included fresh vegetables. I believe we have 18 hikers in residence tonight.
Date: 2014-04-23
From: Wood's Hole Hostel

To: Mile 639.7
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Neville and Michael, who run the Wood's Hole Hostel, went all out for breakfast - cheese grits, fruit, bread, and home-made apple butter. There were 16 of us for breakfast and Neville got us to stand in a circle, hold hands, and say one thing we are thankful for, before a moment of silence and the meal. What a spirit of thanksgiving. Due to the fellowship, I had a relatively late start (9:30 am). I walked the half-mile back to the trail. It was a little bit cold, but a really pleasant day for hiking. A friend from Virginia Tech, David, drove from Pearisburg and joined me for part of the hike. We had beautiful views from the Angels Rest Overlook. We stopped for lunch, had a Dairy Queen blizzard, and I thoroughly enjoyed renewing our friendship. I then crossed the 460 bridge and climbed about 1500'. Pipeline construction necessitated some rerouting. It was a little bit confusing, but I found my way to a shelter on top of the ridge. There were already 10 college students there from Canada, so I continued on to a campsite next to the trail. I pitched my tent, got water, and had dinner. Finding a reliable water source is becoming increasingly challenging. There are two other campers here from Austin, Texas and, as I snuggle in my sleeping bag, I can hear some others coming down the trail.
Date: 2014-04-24
From: Mile 639.7

To: Winrock Camp
Miles today: 18.6

Our camp grew to nine people during the night while I was fast asleep. Although it was cold and chilly, I started the hike today in beautiful sunshine. The sun actually was so strong I had to put a bandana around my neck to avoid sunburn or becoming a red neck. I met few people going north today except for a couple of campers from last night. I met six section hikers going south including a lady from Connecticut who amazingly is within a few days of being the same age as me. She lives close to Sandy Hook school and shared her thoughts on the tragedy. I reached camp early so I decided to push on. It was a steep climb, so I took it slow to preserve energy. Tonight is unusual for I'm camping by myself by Winrock.
Date: 2014-04-25
From: Winrock Camp

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: light rain

I was awake before 5 am and on the trail in the dark by 6 am using my headlamp for the first time since setting out from Georgia. When the sun came up, it was in my eyes which made it difficult to see the terrain. The projected forecast was for rain and thunderstorms, but when I got to War Spur shelter it hadn't rained. I drew water and filtered it and decided to head to the next shelter about five miles further. I had a really steep climb and by the time I got to Laurel Creek shelter at noon, it had started to rain. I decided to have lunch, which was good, for the rain became heavy and there was thunder and lightning. I had a nap. By 3 pm the rain had stopped so I pressed on for the next shelter. Again it was a steep climb, but I reached Sarver Hollow shelter by late afternoon. It was a successful day dodging the rain. This shelter is half a mile off the trail, but I'm with the range runner I'd met in Georgia and a lady I'd met in Maine two years ago. AT hikers are a close-knit community.
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Mile 682.9
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

I was on the trail by 7 am. It was a short walk today, ridge walking for the first 5 miles, then 2-3 miles downhill to where I met pastor Alan. He took me down Interstate 81 to where I'd parked my car. I'm taking a couple of days away from the trail to rest. I'll be able to attend church on Sunday, have a doctor's appointment Monday, and return to the trail on Tuesday. I met two trail workers today, volunteers who repair the trail when trees or limbs fall across the trail. They were from the Roanoke Trail Club. We sure appreciate them for without their work there would not be the AT as we hikers know it today. I also met a lady walking her dogs and discovered that she was the mother of a hiker I'd met in Georgia. She told me her daughter was about three days behind me and she was planning a large cookout for her daughter when she arrived. Today, for the first time, I walked on major slabs of rock which was somewhat like walking on a sidewalk but at a 25 degree angle (see photograph)- quite a challenge at times.
Date: 2014-05-01
From: Mile 704.2

To: Lambert Meadows shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Back on the trail after four days away. This was longer than planned as I got some kind of bug during my visit home which put me in bed for 30 hours. I'm pretty much recovered and started today at route 311 with a 2010 thru hiker, Gramcracker. We started the day at Wytheville, Virginia with pastor Alan and his wife for breakfast. Then I met briefly with pastor Rick and his wife, Carol. The first four miles we climbed a section that gets a lot of use by day hikers because it leads to one of the most photographed spots on the AT, McAfee's Knob. Tradition has hikers sitting on the edge, dangling their feet above at least a hundred foot drop. I stayed a few feet back, envying those who were able to sit on the edge. We then walked along Tinker Cliffs with its magnificent views of the valley. We arrived at the Lambert Meadows shelter late afternoon and there were lots of other thru hikers.
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Lambert Meadows shelter

To: Howard Johnson
Miles today: 9.4

I awoke to the singing of birds and the sun creeping over the top of a hill. Overnight, the campsite had grown from 14 or so hikers to around 25. There was not much climbing today, so the hike was pleasant, much of it along a ridge. The wild flowers were beautiful. Grahamcracker gave me a personal botany lesson and she was delighted to see a yellow lady slipper for the first time. We reached Howard Johnson early afternoon. It is a friendly hotel for both hikers and construction workers and I discovered how much the latter like to party on Friday evenings. The hotel has a sign-up sheet by trail name that allows hikers to indicate whether they are willing to share a room. I renewed some acquaintances, made new connections, got my laundry done and visited a local outfitter to get some repairs to my gear. Of course, it was nice to have other than hiker food for dinner!
Date: 2014-05-03
From: Howard Johnson

To: Mile 742.6
Miles today: 18.6

Had a free breakfast at the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, although I could only handle oatmeal and skipped the eggs and waffles etc. due to last evening's meal. I got away around 9 am after saying goodbye to a lot of the hikers I've been with for a few weeks e.g. a young lady from Germany and another from Australia. The first challenge was to get across Route 220, a four lane highway that leads into Roanoke. It was good to get back into the woods. We went under Interstate 81 for the second time on this trip and won't cross it again until we are in Pennsylvania. We had a gradual 3-4 mile climb to the ridge top and took advantage to restock our water supply as often as possible for sources are scarce. We passed by two shelters. Two of my lady hiker friends from Ohio were at the second shelter. But we decided to hike on. We crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway two or three times and met a couple from Roanoke who were providing Trail Magic for their first time. We enjoyed a sandwich, chips and cookies. The couple are people of strong faith, so we circled and had a word of prayer before heading on. The third shelter was about 400 yards down a steep trail. Thinking about having to climb back up in the morning, Grahamcracker and I decided to find a suitable stopping site, pitch our tents, eat and get a good nights rest.
Date: 2014-05-04
From: Mile 742.6

To: mile 760.9
Miles today: 18.3

I was awake before the sun came up, had breakfast, and hit the trail by 7 am. We had arranged to meet the 2013 Trail Chaplain, Josh, and his fianc©, Jen, about 11 miles up the trail around 1 pm. However, because of our early start, we arrived at the meeting point around 11:15 am. We thought we would have a long wait, but Josh and Jen had decided to provide Trail Magic for thru-hikers and they arrived within 5 minutes of our arrival so they could set up the charcoal grill and provide hamburgers, hot dogs, salad and drinks. Around 12 other hikers joined us for lunch. What a nice time we had. Josh and Jen are scheduled to marry in about a months time. They will head to Maine for their honeymoon, and so appropriately hike on the AT! After lunch, we had a 3500' climb. We met a young man with the trail name Indiana who has the goal of completing the AT, then doing the Pacific Crest Trail - all in six months. The really neat thing is that he has his gear down to about 6 pounds, almost like a normal day hiker in terms of size and weight. We got to the shelter late and pitched our tents. It was a great day with good friends.
Date: 2014-05-05
From: mile 760.9

To: Matts Creek shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we tried to out-walk projected thunderstorms, so we broke camp around 6:30 am. We got to within six miles of our destination before the skies darkened. We got to within 20 minutes of our shelter when the skies opened up with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. So we arrived at Matts Creek Shelter early and soaked. On our hike, I had another botany lesson from Gramcracker. Our viewing opportunities today just exploded with literally fields of trillium growing wild near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our shelter is only 835' so we are in a bowl surrounded on all sides by mountains. We had a good dinner and met some new friends, a southbound section hiker from York, Pennsylvania; a northbound section hiker from Connecticut; and a thru hiker called Moxy who carries his guitar with him along the trail.
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Matts Creek shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek shelter
Miles today: 23.01
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a large crew last night, six in the shelter and about eight in tents. Our first miles were along the James River and we crossed the largest foot bridge on the AT, aptly named The Foot Bridge. It is about 400 yards long and after crossing it we sucked a lot of air as we climbed 2900' to Bluff Mountain. It was a good place to have lunch with wonderful views of the valley. There is also a memorial to a little four-year-old boy, who in 1890 went out to get firewood but never returned. His body was found five months later on Bluff Mountain. It brought home to me how difficult life was 120 years ago. Just before our camp stop at the Brown Mountain Creek shelter, we came to an area which freed slaves called home - the Brown Mountain Community. It is a tough area, mountainous with rock walls, the rocks probably removed in trying to clear the land for farming. We arrived at the shelter in late afternoon and met a father and daughter from Newport who were on a week long adventure going south. From the previous night, we also renewed acquaintance with Grasshopper and Popo.