morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-06
From: pearisburg, va

To: the captains backyard
Miles today: 20.1

tought climb out of pearisburg this morning, it makes it harder with a full pack though. Ate lunch at rice field shelter where the trail follows the va-wv statelines, so officially i've walked in five states now. Easy walking today except for that first climb, once you get up on a ridge here, you stay there for miles and the terrain remains relatively flat. descended peters mountain this afternoon and ended at "the captains". The captain lives right off the trail across a small creek. He lets hikers camp in his backyard and offers free drinks to those willing to make the trip across the creek on the zip line. I got there around 7pm and the captain was there to greet me at the other end of the zip line. I set up camp and had atleast 2 mountain dews and all two leftover beers that some other hikers had left in his fridge from the night before-the captain doesn't drink. the captain has hiked almost all of the trail in the south, and knows much about the trail around these parts especially. I talked the trail with him for a couple hours then called it a night, heading to laurel creek shelter tommorow then to catawba for a meal at the homeplace on sunday.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: the captains backyard

To: laurel creek shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

a couple tough climbs today up to bailey gap then later on in the day up to kelly's knob. The high temps have been in the 80's all week, and i seem to have some serious chaffing on my lower back where my pack rubs; it made the hike today painful at times and uncomfortable throughout.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: laurel creek shelter

To: pickle branch shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: few clouds

good mileage today due to an early start time for me. I woke up to either thunder or the scream of fighter jets this morning at 5:45am. Initially i thought it was definetely fighter jets, but when i spoke to a couple hikers later this morning, they said they heard thunder-who knows. This morning I walked by the largest oak tree in the south on the AT, supposedly 18' around and estimated to be over 300 years old, it was gigantic. Also, stopped by the Audie Murphy monument, who was the most decorated soldier of WWII, he's not from virginia, texas actually, but he died close by in a plane crash so this is where they have memorialized him. On to the Homeplace in Catawba tommorow; other hikers have been talking up the Homeplace for days now, it is an all you can eat family style country cookin restaurant, count me in.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: pickle branch shelter

To: pig farm campsite
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

Climbed up Dragon's tooth this morning, which was real nice and on into catawba to eat at the Homeplace in early afternoon, also called mom to wish here a happy mothers day. Stuffed myself with fried chicken, country ham, roast beef, green beans, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, pinto beans, biscuits with apple butter, and to top it all off two bowls of peach cobber. The Homeplace was everything it was cracked out to be, very good meal. Took a couple hours to digest, then hitched to the catawba grocery to get food for tonight and tommorow, going into daleville tommorow to do laundy and shower at the howard johnson. Almost forgot to mention Mcafee knob which was the highlight of the day, hiked up it at the end of the day after my hitch back to the trail, and got some day hikers to take a picture of me with my legs hanging of the edge; real nice views from up there as well.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: daleville us220

To: tenting north of boblets gap shelter
Miles today: 18.7

Left Daleville around 10am and it rained pretty much all day, hiked with upgrade and cornpatch most of the day, and also with red wing and little dipper-two younger girls from london- later in the afternoon before we got to boblets gap shelter. Got to the shelter and it was packed, also no flat tent sites around the shelter since it is tucked into the side of a mountain. After a short break at the shelter, continued hiking north for a few minutes and found a nice place to set up the tarptent just off the trail. Heard the weather the rest of this week is suppose to be poor; chance of rain everyday. Still enjoying the hike, looking forward to next monday when I'm scheduled to arrive in Waynesboro where Sarah will pick me up, i'll be done with Springer-Front Royal since I already did Shenandoah natl. park a couple weeks ago.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: tenting north of boblets gap shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

No rain this morning, but heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. Made real good mileage despite the storms, but felt a little uneasy hiking under dark clouds with thunder and lightning close by. The rain subsided before I made the tough climb up Apple Orchard Mountain and onto the shelter, had great views from the top of Apple Orchard; Central Virginia is much more rugged than I had expected, the mountains here and the terrain has been difficult but the views have been spectacular. Tenting outside Thunder Hill shelter tonight, gonna go into glasgow and do some laundry as all my clothes have gotten wet despite being in a garbage bag, also seem to have lost my nalgene somewhere today so I need to pick up another gatorade bottle to hold water in.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Easy going early on today, did short mileage down to the James River foot bridge-longest on AT- and on to the road to Glasgow. Got a ride with fellow hiker moonpie, and his girlfriend and parents who brought plenty of snacks for thru-hikers. They dropped me off at Lew's laundromat in Glasgow where I washed clothes and re-supplied for my hike from here to Waynesboro. Weather today was shit, rain off and on all day and relatively cold. Got a hitch from Glasgow back to the trail with an old man who was drinking a beer while driving, seemed normal and sober enough so it didn't bother me. Hiked the short 2 miles to the shelter with two cold coors originals I bought in town; tenting outside the shelter after drinking both beers and talking with a group section hikers from north carolina.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: John's Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Shitty weather early on again today, and a really tough climb up Big Rocky Row this morning. Had a nice payoff though, saw a bear and hiked out of the cloud I seemed to have been in for the first 1000', the views at the top of Rocky Row looking down into the clouds made the surrounding mountains that were exposed look much bigger I thought, again it's worth saying that this part of Virginia is very rugged and the climbs have been tough. Hiked around Pedlar lake later on this afternoon which looked like a great bass fishing lake. I was tempted to jump in the lake because the clouds had moved out, but the water looked pretty cold and the temperature outside wasn't hot enough to justify a cold dip. Got the the shelter early and caught up with some fellow thru-hikers I hadn't seen since Watauga Lake Tennessee-Uncle Jaybird, Fish, Scout, and Jaybird's girlfriend. Jaybird had hiked to rte60 which was just 1.8 miles north of the shelter to meet with his girlfriend who came down from PA. She brought some burgers, beers , and vodka which made for a nice dinner at the shelter. Strong thunderstorms early this evening but still tented outside the shelter.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: the priest shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

Did the short 1.8 miles from Brown Mountain Creek Shelter to route 60 where I took a short break and made a couple of phone calls. A dog started to follow me from route 60 north onto the AT and I thought he would just follow for a couple hundred yards and turn back to wherever he came from, but sure enough this damn dog followed me 21 miles to the Priest Shelter.   He had a collar on so I called the owner from the top of the first really tough climb today at Bald Knob, no answer so I left a voicemail. Turned my phone off and hiked onto Cold Mountain which had a nice bald with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. I turned my phone on later this afternoon and had a voicemail from this dog "Snoopie's" owner. Apparently he follows hikers all the time, but this was the furthest he had gone so far. Accordingly, as my options to get off the trail and meet the owner were pretty bad considering i'd like to be in Waynesboro by monday and i would prefer not to do any backtracking, I decided I would meet them four miles ahead where the trail intersects route 56 at the tye river, north of the Priest where I am at now. It was nice to have a dog to hike with and it made me wish I had my dog porter with me, however I don't have any food to spare for this pooch so he's gotta go. I did slip him a few strips of bacon that I had leftover from last nights dinner, but he must have been starving considering todays terrain and relatively hot temperatures; the weather was beautiful, sunny with highs in the mid 70's. Tenting outside the shelter tonight with Snoopie, I hear thunder so it may rain again, great!
Date: 2010-05-16
From: the priest shelter

To: Tenting North of hump Mountain
Miles today: 25.7

Hiked from the priest shelter down the 3000' descent to rt56 and the tye river where I was due to deliver snoopie back to his owners. They were afew minutes late, but they picked up the dog around 9:45am but were not very happy to see him. Made me feel bad for the dog, because these folks must not really give a shit about there dog's well being; hopefully he's not a neglected or beaten, nice knowing you snoopie.   Did really good mileage today despite the tough terrain, the descents and ascents early on today amounted to over 6000'. Going down the priest was tough, and obviously going back up from the tye river at 970' up to three ridges mountain at 3870' was very strenuous. Big pay off from the top though, beautiful views of the river valley below and the priest immediately above. Made it just 9 or so miles south of waynesboro, considered night hiking and doing a 34 mile day to make it there tonight, but my phones dead and don't know if i'll be able to get a hold of sarah when I get to Rockfish gap, plus it looks like rain again, awesome!
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Tenting North of hump Mountain

To: Rockfish Gap-Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: moderate rain

Rained all night, i'm tired of rain, slept horribly too, maybe 4 hours. Got out of camp early and power hiked to Rockfish gap, it rained the whole time but I made it to the gap by around 10:30. Got there with Red Wing, Little Dipper, and P-nut. I borrowed P-nut's phone and called sarah to tell her of my arrival but she couldnt come to pick me up until five because of class. With hours to burn, I decided to go into Waynesboro with red wing, pnut and little dipper. We got to town and ate at one of the best chinese buffets ive ever been to, mings i think it was called. Sarah picked me up around 6pm. I am thrilled to be off the trail, out of the rain and here in Harrisonburg with my lady. The rain and tough hiking this past week took a lot out of me. I'll say it one more time, parts of Central Virginia especially the Priest, Big Rocky Row, Three Ridges, Bald Knob & Cold Mountain, were very tough parts of the trail, certainly up there as some of the toughest i've done on the entire AT so far. You hear a lot early on in the hike about how easy the terrain in Virginia is, but it's all bullshit if you ask me. With the exception of Shenandoah natl park and some other sections here and there, Virginia has been tough.Going ahead on thursday to start up where I left off in Front Royal a couple weeks ago, for now i'm going to enjoy a couple days off with sarah here in harrisonburg.
Date: 2010-05-21
From: us522, front royal

To: rod hollow shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: broken clouds

Sarah dropped me off at US522 outside of front royal, VA where I had left off after doing shenandoah natl. park a few weeks ago. Being so close to home here, I had my mom meet me at ashby gap, where rte 50 intersects with the trail. She's coming to camp for a night and to drop my dog porter off. I got on the trail around 9:30am and made it to ashby gap just before 6pm. Mom met me there about half an hour later and I was re-united with my pooch. We hiked the three miles from ashby gap to rod hollow shelter where we camped for the night.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: rod hollow shelter

To: snickers gap, rte 7
Miles today: 10.5

Woke up early, mom had to be back to the car at ashby gap to go to an outing with my sister, grandma, and aunts in VA beach. Hiked with Porter from the shelter to bears den hostel where I had originally planned on staying for the night. As I am suppose to have my dog for a couple weeks, I wanted to ease him into the routine of hiking 15-20 miles a day, so we did short mileage. At bears den hostel around noon, I decided to call my friend taylor to pick us up and go home for the night, rather than stay here and paying 25 bucks for a bunk. I live just 45 minutes from bears den, east on rte 7. Got picked up around 3 or 4, made it home, showered and went to dinner with taylor and brian. Today was gravy, porter seems to love his dog pack and had no trouble with the "roller coaster" as this stretch of the AT is called because of it's condensed ascents and descents; not very much elevation gain or loss though.
Date: 2010-05-24
From: snickers gap, rte 7

To: blackburn AT center
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Zeroed yesterday at home, planned on getting back on with the dog in the afternoon, but ended up drinking too much beer the night before at dinner, and after at a buddies house. Spent some quality time with mom, my sister and brother in law, and my niece lily; seems like she's finally warming up to me. Felt great to just kick it at home for a day, but I am getting anxious to get back on the trail.My sister lauren, dropped my dog porter and I back on the trail at around noon. We did a short 7 miles to the blackburn trail center where I decided to stay for the night. Again, I want to ease the dog into bigger mileage, but he seems to be in great shape and had plenty of energy-too much actually- when we stopped for the day. Ate a huge spaghetti dinner here at the hostel and met up with sonic, pnut, and nefis all of whom i havent seen for weeks. Going into harpers ferry tommorow.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: blackburn AT center

To: harpers ferry, wv
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

got to harpers ferry with porter and fellow hikers pnut, nefis, and sonic around 1230. Stopped by the ATC,appalachian trail conservancy headquarters, got pictures taken for the log book; I was #116 thru-hiker to arrive here from springer, numbers are apparently down this year because of the winter. Called "Bonzo" for a ride to his house where he lets hikers camp for free. Having the dog has been great, but he has an endless amount of energy and won't eat. Long story short, had my mom come to harpers ferry early this evening to pick up porter. Feel like I've failed my dog, I could tell he was really enjoying the hiking but with the ensuing heat and his refusal to eat, I decided it was better to have him picked up here-just an hour from home-rather than wait until I get further north.Camping here at bonzos after dinner with mom in harpers ferry. Sonic, beefstick and roughin it are also here. Bonzo was a real character, he thru-hiked a few years ago and has a tattoo of the AT and all the states that covers his entire back. The best way I can exlpain Bonzo is a country hippie, he loves budweiser and smokes weed out of a makeshift gravity bong made from a cooler and the top half of a two liter coke bottle. Only on the AT i guess...
Date: 2010-05-26
From: harpers ferry, wv

To: dahlgren backpacker campground
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather was hot today. Left Bonzo's and got back on the trail in harpers ferry at 9am. First few miles were flat as a pancake, hiked on the c&o canal next to the potomac river for a couple miles before ascending weaverton cliffs where I took a cool picture of the potomac river hundreds of feet below. Hiked with pnut and beefstick most of the day and made it to dahlgren campground where we ate dinner close by off the trail at the old south mountain inn; by far the best meal, quality wise, that I have had on the entire trail. Had prime rib, corn crab soup, and apple pie for desert. The meal was expensive, but I figure its my reward for making it this far. Pennsylvania tommorow.
Date: 2010-05-27
From: dahlgren backpacker campground

To: penmar county park
Miles today: 23.5

Hottest day on the trail today, must have been around 90 degrees and muggy. Easy terrain here in MD but rocky towards the end of the day coming off of high rocks. Earlier in the day had a nice view of the valley west of the trail from the original washington monument, and blackrock cliffs. Got to PenMar county park right at the md-pa border around 6:30. Ordered pizza and wings from a local pizza shop that delivers to the park, and now I'm illegally camping under an awning as it's dark and I'm full. Looks like thunder showers tonight, crossing the mason dixon line tommorow morning first thing.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: penmar county park

To: us30, caledonia state park
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Made a quick 18 miles from penmar park to caledonia state park in PA. A heck of a storm came through last night, and I'm glad I decided to crash underneath one of the awnings at the park and not in my tent somewhere close by off the AT. Terrain has really flattened out in MD and PA, miles came very easy today and the past couple days, despite the heat.Writing this from lake anna, va. Sarah picked me up last night from caledonia state park and we drove 3 hours to bumpass, VA -no kidding- where my friends have a house.   Decided yesterday to get off the trail for memorial day weekend with my girlfriend to visit friends and hangout on the lake. I have been spoiled lately with zeros and don't need the break, but I figured it wouldn't hurt. Plus, the further I get from VA, trips like this won't be possible, so I'm taking advantage of my proximity to home, family and friends while I have the chance to. Still enjoying every day on the trail and im thankful for everyday, life is good. Thanks again to Barb, Dave and Brian for inviting us down for the weekend!
Date: 2010-05-31
From: us30, caledonia state park

To: quarry gap shelters
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: broken clouds

Back on the trail for a short few miles after a long weekend at the lake. Thanks again to the Carr's for inviting Sarah and I down, always have a great time there. Did short miles today as I got back on the AT at aroud 730pm after about 4hrs of driving through traffic. Was great to see friends and lounger for a couple days, but now I feel like I need to cruise. AT halway point in terms of mileage is coming up tommorow, weather looks hot and muggy for the rest of the week.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: quarry gap shelters

To: james fry shelter
Miles today: 24.5

Nothing but flat today early on, seems like a common theme here in PA so far. The rocks have not been bad yet, but it feels unseasonably hot for early June. About halfway through today, after the actual mileage halfway point for the entire trail, at pine grove furnace state park I attempeted the half gallon challenge as its called. One half gallon of the ice cream of your choice, eaten in one sitting. I finished in about 25 minutes, felt sick, then napped for a half hour. Hiked another seven miles to James fry shelter. Duncannon in two days hopefully.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: james fry shelter

To: darlington shelter
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: broken clouds

Long and hot day today. Got an average start, 8am, and made it to boiling springs, PA with traveler, about halfway to darlington shelter, around 1pm. In boiling springs, i ordered an italian hoagie and a chef salad; very nice. The Appalachian trail conservancy has a regional office here in downtown boiling springs and they welcome hikers, I napped in their lobby for about an hour after lunch before leaving around 4pm for darlington shelter. Hiked north to darlington shelter until 9:30pm, hiked in the dark for an hour with a headlamp, and made it their exhausted and sweating like a faucet as it was still hot and humid. Popop -bill- an old friend that i havent seen since damascus, va just happened to be sheltered here as well. We talked for a minute then I ate dinner and called it a night, onto duncannon tommorow.
Date: 2010-06-03
From: darlington shelter

To: duncannon, pa 
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

Exhausted after yesterdays long day, left around 8am today with bill -popop-, onto duncannon just 11 miles away. Again, not much doin here in PA other than trees and rocks; rocks not as bad so far as expected but suppose to get worse north of duncannon. Hike into duncannon was quick and easy, got to the doyle around 1pm and promptly ordered a beer. Looks like a dive bar, and is also a hotel, we'll see how it is.
Date: 2010-06-05
From: peters mountain 

To: rausch gap shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tenting tonight, hiked today with moonpie for a while, terrain still is very easy but the rocks have gotten a little worse. Right shin has become a part to complain about, but that's it. Might be getting off for the night with a family friend for the night from Lancaster,PA-the Hellars.
Date: 2010-06-06
From: rausch gap shelter

To: rte 501
Miles today: 17.5

writing this from the hellars computer room. PA is still easy in terms of terrain, but rocky. Randy Hellar, my dads college roomate from sheperd college picked me from 501 and took me back here to their house in lancaster, pa. gonna enjoy a shower, bed, laundry, and re-supply her in lancaster, be back on tommorow.
Date: 2010-06-07
From: rte 501

To: eagles nest shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail at around 3pm today, slept well at the Hellar's crib in Lancaster, then woke to do laundry around 8am. Big mistake this morning, I tossed my pants in the laundry without checking the pockets and washed my camera, needless to say it's broken; talked to my mom, who is the queen of returning things, and she sounded mildly confident about getting some sort of warranty credit for it, despite it being my fault completely, we'll see. Today on the way back to the trail we drove through the heart of amish country in lancaster, pa. I admire their lifestyle and their seemingly unwielding commitment to tradition, much respect for what they do in the midst of modern society. The trail today was relatively boring though, as has been much of Pennsylvania. There are not as many vistas here, nor is there much challenging terrain so far.
Date: 2010-06-08
From: eagles nest shelter

To: eckville shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: broken clouds

Good mileage today along with a town stop through port clinton and hamburg. Was suppose to pick up my new sneakers, which had been mailed by sarah to the outfitter in port clinton, but come to find out, the outfitter has been out of business since december of '09. Going to have to wait a few more days for the new shoes now, having sarah ship them to unionville, ny about a week ahead of here right off the trail.had an extremely cold shower at the eckville shelter tonight, which also has running water and a toilet that flushes, all things to get excited about if you ask me!