morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-24
From: NOC

To: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)
Miles today: 70.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Updated by Sean:Hey guys,So I was forced to an early update but I'll start from Fontana Dam. That shelter was awesome. I must have hikes 15+ miles to get to this place and there was 25 or so hikers staying there. It was a long rainy cold day but I arrived to trail magic (hot dogs, homemade greasy fries, coffee, kool aid, banana nut pancakes for breakfast). I decided to take a zero at the shelter to rest and fatten up. The last day in Fontana I went through the hiker box, grabbed some extra ramen and other goods and was on my way to the Smokies on Saturday. The Fontana bridge was closed and fenced off where the AT went through but instead of doing the detour, I jumped the fence and pushed on across the construction site on the Dam.Entering the Smokies was a pain in the ass, it was ALL up hill. I met back up with the German (Mozart) and the retired Army guy (Lonestar or Lone Ranger). I started day one with them and decided to try to push 17 miles to the third shelter. Well, about 8 miles into the day my stomach really started to hurt bad. I had an upset feeling the whole way and experienced acid reflex/ throwing up on the mountain. I only made it 14 the first day and decided to stop. The second day I felt like hell and knew something was wrong. I hurt too bad to start early and after viciously shitting all over the mountain, I called it a day at Russell Field shelter. That whole day I couldn't eat at all, I tried eating dinner but I couldn't so I went right to sleep. My stomach was in so much pain I couldn't even move. The third day I did another light day and the feeling didn't leave. I was hiking with my buddy, Prospector, and when we stopped at a shelter for lunch, I felt the explosiveness. I ran for the woods and unfortunately didn't make it, I officially shit my pants 20+ miles away from civilization. At this point the Smokies have sucked. I changed into my rain pants ( guess I shouldn't send them home yet) and hiked 2 more miles to a shelter that had a privy. At this point my hiker friends think I have NuroVirus so I was forced to tent alone in the rain. Today I woke up early and hiked over Clingmans dome (highest elevation on trail) and even did the side trail to the top but realized the camera was dead so hiked on toward Newfound Gap. I feel better and think the physical hiking helped me loose most the illness but because I have crappy pants, I hitch hiked into Gatlinsburg and grabbed a room. Haha this last three days has been hell but I'm having a good time laughing about it right now. I plan on feeling much better tomorrow and getting back to the trail to continue on towards Hot Springs.Best part about all this, I made it to the motel early enough to watch Fast Money on CNBC haha. Next on my agenda is to check the March Madness stuff and then find a Buffett so I can eat salad for 2 hours than load up on nasty carbs to help fatten up. My hotel phone will not dial out to home. I'll be around all night though so email me if ya want. I may try and find a pay phone also if anyone wants to chat.Hercules is Keeping it Real
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Erwin, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 126.1

(Posted by his brother Justin, for Hercules)Hey guys, It's been an eventful hike since leaving Uncle Johnny's. My one month on the trail was that day at the hostel which was sort of cool. The hike out of Erwin was really easy, even though everyone told me it would be tough. Rise left real early to beat the rain on the 18 mile day to the shelter. I sat around and it turned out to be my scariest day of wet hiking. It poured all day and I was running across balds hunched down praying out loud that the lightning within a mile wouldn't take my life. It was incredibly scary. Rise and I also decided we would hike a long day and stay at Roan Mountain shelter. That is the highest shelter in elevation on the entire trail. On the ninth it was Rise's birthday. That day we decide to push our first 25 mile day and break the 400 mile marker. We ate Jane Bald for lunch and Hump Mountain as a tasty snack (by the way, I was not tricked by the false top and STUPID fence on Hump Mountain. I took it like a man this time). That 25 miler we had more lightning, and then to top it off I stepped on a brown snake that scared the living shit out of me. After the 25 miler we rested with an easy 10 miler the next day. Now on Saturday Rise woke up early and cruised out, before I could tell him I was on a mission to find a TV with the Masters. I hiked 0.6 miles off trail to Black Bear Resort but they had no TV. I continued over Laural Falls and found Disciple (hiker I have been with) at a one mile side trail to Hampton, TN. We decided we would find the TV together and headed to the Braemer Castle Hostel. No TVs anywhere so we hitched 8 miles to Elizabeth Town to a Lone Star steak house to watch Saturday golf. It was so awesome (and Speith was winning) that we took a zero on Sunday to go watch the Masters all day. The time I had in Hampton/Elizabeth Town was the best time I have ever had on the trail. We push out of town on Monday and hike 18-19 to a shelter. Tuesday I pushed another 20 miles in the rain (lost my pack cover in that storm) [editor's note: another hiker showed up with his pack cover just as he was purchasing a new one... the trail provides...] so I could camp 7 miles outside of Damascus. I woke up today in pouring down rain, took my tent down, everything I own is wet, and I hear Rise left Damascus this morning so I am a day behind him. I am going to resupply and If my package from Colby and Alex is here, I will probably head back to the trail. If not I will hang around town for the night and leave tomorrow. I also may sync up with Justin B. (family friend) later so if that happens I may stick around anyways. I'm loving every second of this trip, miss everyone, still living in my own dreams out here.-HerculesNote: Actual mileage to date is 469.1, for some reason this journal is not reflecting it correctly...
Date: 2015-05-24
From: US 33/ Swift Run GAP- SNP

To: Dahlgren Campground
Miles today: 133.7

Pat hiked from Harper's Ferry to Dahlgren Campsite / US 40 on May 24 to meet his twin brother Matt, Dad, and friends Hailey and Thomas for his birthday. Based on the pictures, it looked like everyone had a good time. He plans to put in as many miles as possible between May 24 and June 6 before he comes off the trail for a week for mom's wedding.
Date: 2015-05-31
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 25.7

Updated by Sean:Pat called Matt around 12:00 PM on Sunday May 31 saying he was about 15 miles outside of Duncannon and would be there in 5 hours if anyone wanted to pick him up. Our Mom was getting married next week and I told him I could give him a ride back to Duncannon and would hike for a few days with him. With some negotiating, Matt was on his way. Pat enjoyed pizza and a beer a the Doyle while waiting for Matt to arrive.
Date: 2015-06-11
From: Northern VA

To: Harrisburg, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Updated by Sean:After 11 days off the trail it was ready for Pat to get back out there. The plan was to stay with Sean's friend Nate in Harrisburg, PA and then Sean, Pat, and Matt would hike until Monday or Tuesday together at which point Sean and Matt would drive back to normal life. We departed NOVA at 8:30 PM (2 hours late but Matt had Garden work to do) and arrived in downtown Harrisburg, PA around 11:30 PM. Curiosity got the best of us and 2.5 hours later we were heading back from the local watering hole with Nate. We had a great time but we would soon learn that we would be paying for it as our 6:00 AM wake up call would come early.
Date: 2015-06-12
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Peter's Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.9

Updated by Sean:6:00 AM came early. In fact, it came so early and fast that we missed it. I woke up to Pat saying it was already 6:45 and we had an hour + ride to meet our shuttle in Port Clinton, PA. We were out the door in less than 5 minutes.We met Trail Angel Mary (highly recommended as a shuttle in this area) right at 8:00 AM (on time) and dropped a car in Port Clinton, PA. Port Clinton is 70 miles North of Duncannon and Matt and I had no more than 5 days to get there. Matt also had to be back in NOVA no later than 3:00 on Tuesday for a concert. We knew it would be a long shot but this was the most convenient location (safest) to drop our car. Off to Duncannon we went arriving around 9:00 AM.Now we may have had 1 or 2 too many drinks the night prior but Pat and Matt are no strangers to farting around. By the time we had coffee, breakfast at Goodies, more coffee, Matt walked to get water bottles, Pat ate a few more snacks, Matt had a smoke or two, Matt drank some of said water, and Pat adjusted his pack it was after 12:00. We passed the Doyle on our way out of town at 12:30 and we were off for a memorable hike.The day's hike went well and was pretty uneventuful minus some rain here and there. We stopped at Clark's Ferry Shelter mid day for a snack and met an odd fella. He was a nice guy but we all expressed how we would not want to stay solo in the shelter with him. The terrain was rocky (ankle breakers not boulders) but we made it the 11 miles to Peter's Mountain Shelter around 6:00. The water at Peter's Mountain Shelter is way the hell down 300 rock steps which was a great way to end the first day out. Pat, Matt, and I retreated to our tents after dinner around 8:00 just before a Thunderstorm came through camp. The skies opened up we all survived the torrential downpour in our tents.
Date: 2015-06-13
From: Peter's Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Shelter (Campsite)
Miles today: 18.0

Updated by Sean:We were up and on the trail by 7:30. We made sure everyone had enough water to make it to the next water source without having to walk back down to the spring at the shelter. Our planned destination for the day was Rausch Shelter, 18 miles away.Sean left camp first knowing Pat and Matt would quickly catch up. In ~6.0 miles there was a spring with a short walk off trail. Sean waited at the trail junction to let Pat and Matt know that there was a road .7 miles ahead that would also have water (Pat lost this page to his guidebook). After waiting 15 minutes, Sean pushed on to the road crossing hoping Pat and Matt would do the same. Trail magic was provided by an nice women at the road crossing. After 30 minutes Pat and Matt arrived having taken a break at the actual spring. They both enjoyed gatorade and some carrots.The afternoon flew by and around 3:00 we had hiked 14 miles and were at a spring 4 miles south of the shelter. We took a much needed long break here to air out our feet and goof around for a bit. Everyone watered up and had some snacks as we relaxed listening to some good tunes. After about an hour, we decided to make the final 4 mile push to the destination for the night. We arrived at Rausch Campsite (.1 before the shelter) around 5:30. The campsite is located along a large creek and had plenty of space for our tents. There were two others staying at the campsite tonight. We cooked dinner and relaxed until 9:00 when we all headed to our separate tents for the night. We believe it rained that night but nothing like last night.
Date: 2015-06-14
From: Rausch Shelter (Campsite)

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Updated by Sean:The plan for today was to hike 18 miles to the 501 Shelter where we could get Pizza Delivered. We were up around 5:30 AM and quickly packed up our tents after a bite to eat and coffee. We left camp earlier this morning as we knew we had a long hot day ahead of us and we were on the trail by 6:30 AM. Within a few hours the three of us were at a river crossing where we had prearranged breakfast and lots of water as the trail is dry until we reach William Penn Shelter in ~8 miles (estimated without map). Matt decided to borrow Sean's portable phone charger as he wanted to listen to his environmental podcasts so Pat and Matt spent an additional 30 minutes at the water source. After cameling up we made the climb under interstate 81 out of Sawarta Gap. Now this climb was not the biggest climb we have done (certainly not the biggest for Pat) but with the close to 100 degree weather, it put a whooping on everyone. Pat and Matt arrived ~30 minutes after Sean to find him struggling to keep his eyes open. A power nap was in store. Additional thru hikers arrived and after about an hour of break we were ready for the next 6 miles on the ridge. This next 6 miles was waterless, rocky, and in the direct sun. An appetite for an ass kicking for us weekend warriors. We arrived at William Penn Shelter with the plan to water up, eat and relax a bit, and then push the next 4 miles to the 501 shelter. After an hour, it was apparent that the additional miles might not be happening tonight. I (Sean) was really struggling due to the lack of water and the in ability to eat. With the pending monstrous storms that were moving in and the arrival of additional friendly hikers, Pat and Matt agreed that staying here for the night was a good idea. By the end of the night we had ~10 hikers staying in the shelter to escape the storm.
Date: 2015-06-15
From: William Penn Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Updated by Sean:We got a decent start this morning and were leaving the shelter by 7:30. The water source at William Penn Shelter is across the AT from the shelter. As the storms approached last night, we decided we would conserve water last night and fill up in the AM. After an hour of filling water, making coffee, and eating breakfast, we were on the trail by 9:00 AM.The original plan was to hike 18 miles today, 9 miles tomorrow morning, and hope to make it back to the car on Tuesday in order to get Matt home to NOVA by 2:00 PM for a concert at Wolftrap. As we hiked this morning, it became apparent that this may have been a bit of an unrealistic goal. Matt and I had a great time getting Pat back out on the trail but decided trying to make the concert would turn this hike into a death march. We were out here on vacation after all. That said, we decided our best plan of action was to get off the trail at the 501 Shelter with Pat and take him to resupply and get a certainly earned town meal. We caught a shuttle from the 501 Shelter to Port Clinton and headed to the local Pizza Hut for lunch. After filling our bellies, we drove Pat for an (unsuccessful) resupply at Cabelas. Pat had no luck finding replacement trekking pole tips and would have to continue with the PA rocks without tips. After stopping at 5 or 6 gas stations we found Pat some Heet for his stove and dropped him back off at the 501 Shelter where he pulled a Nero waiting out the storms.The three of us had a great time on the trail. It was good to catch up with Pat and as always among the Brennan Brothers, the shenanigans were endless. Thanks for letting Matt and I join on this adventure of yours and good luck in the 2nd half.
Date: 2015-06-16
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7

Updated by Sean:Pat hiked some good miles today to try to get to town before what seems like the now daily thunderstorms. He hiked with the WV boys we met at William Penn Shelter and after 23.7 miles he made it to town. Time to start putting in some thru hiker miles.
Date: 2015-06-25
From: Port Clinton

To: Delaware Water Gap (NJ)
Miles today: 76.3

Updated by Sean:Pat made it to Delaware Water Gap 6/25/2015 ( I believe). While I do not know exactly how each day was spent, I have stayed in touch with Pat and here are some highlights from the past week. Dates are based on when the pictures were received:- 6/21/2015 He slackpacked (No overnight pack)in the Leigh Gap area on Father's Day-6/23/2015- He "ran" 7 miles with Scott Jurek. Scott Jurek is attempting to break the Supported Record for Fastest AT Hike. The current record is 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes, an average of 47 miles (76 km) a day, set on July 31, 2011 by Jennifer Pfarr Davis. Scott Jurek is an unbelievable runner (and an awesome guy per Pat) and has a great shot a breaking the record.-6/23/2015- Spent mid day at Kunkeltown pub with the WV boys and then went with a trail angel to Camel Beach Waterpark.-6/25/2015- Made it to Delaware Water Gap.
Date: 2015-06-24
From: NYC

To: Trail and ten mile river shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Jumped off the train, mailed some stuff up the trail, hitched a ride up to the trail and am off. I feel pretty good, it's good to be back. The sounds, sights and smell of home are refreshing. I saw plenty of fauna, chipmunks, squirrels, heard some Pileated Woodpeckers (woody woodpecker) and some humming birds. Passes the shelter I stayed last year and continued to Ten Mile River shelter.
Date: 2015-06-27
From: Pine Swamp Brook shelter

To: Salisbury 
Miles today: 15.0

Trying to beat the rain. Supposed to be a big rain storm coming. Stayed at Vanessa's house. Hot shower, ahh.So met "just jim". Wow what a character. I believe in hike your own hike, but this guy is unprepared. External frame pack. Rambo knife. Camp type cook stove. He is trying though. From him and others heard about his tossing of gear like saw, axe, rain gear, etc because his pack is so heavy. His gear got wet somewhere down the trail, he got turned around somewhere and was going south when he wanted north. Funny
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Salisbury 

Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Taking a zero day. Heal the muscles and joints.barely could stand up this morning, from doing 10-15 mile stints. I'm ahead by 2.5 days so I am good. Need to bounce my resupply box from Salisbury to Dalton, Mass. Try to get some pictures in if the Library opens.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: None

To: Hemlocks Shelter
Miles today: 14.0

Time to get going. I am headed to a really beautiful place on the AT. The Brassy Brook shelter is located down side of a waterfall coming down the mountain and right nearby is a spring that gushes a HUGE amount of water, maybe some where about 1000 gpm. Then on to Sages Ravine. A beautiful river walk with sings and trees and birds and..... well I could go on and on. It's only 5 miles away so I might bypass the shelter and camp at the ravine. We'll see.   On a personal note, I think the rest did me good. I still feel sore behind the knees, the calves and bottoms of my feet. But I can deal with that. If the scale is correct in the house here, I have list 17 lbs. already. Emaciated, when I get done. ;~) Sent some emails out to link to the pictures. Hope you-all (said with a southern twang) got them. I'll send more later.    I used the library to post my pictures, the computer they let me use had 4 virus scanners running on it. Only one please! What a mess. I was able to shutdown 3 to get the computer useable. I overheard one of the librarians tell a newby that the computer guru will be in tomorrow and can teach him something. If this person is in charge of the software, pffffft.... but I digress.So I continued on past Sages Ravine and camped the night at the Hemlock Shelter. What is called "Trail Magic" was here. A "Trail Angel" stopped bu and gave out Ice Cream, beer and gin collins. Is that unreal or what. Whats more Some one left water at the parking area to fill up on and when filling my platapus I found a 10 dollar bill. What the hey?
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Hemlocks Shelter

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Kind of muggy night, but uneventful. Hiked out after breakfast and the trail was a river today. Stopped at South Egremont to pick up my resupply package at the Post Odffice and later hitched into Great Barrington ton to replace my broken hiking pole I broke when I slipped on a wet rock. I was hiking around in circles until I got my new poles. Stopped by the local grocery store and got some sushi and a nice guy gave three of us a ride back to the trail.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Shakers Campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It took forever to get to Tom Leonard shelter because of the ups and downs, So I was sleeping soundly when a 5:15 AM the world ended. Well It sounded like it. There was a major Lightening storm that lasted about and hour and a half. Tom Leonard sits in a cove at the top of the mountain and the lightening was hitting up on the ridge about 500 feet away. It was intense. So I made it to the Shakers Campsite where there is just a stone wall left from an old Shaker village. Lots of mosquitoes, so it was an early night inside my bug net. There was a rumor that a bear was checking out the bear box where hikers keep their food, so that added to the excitement for the night.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Shakers Campsite

To: Upper Goosepond shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

On the way to Upper Goosepond shelter. If you know the trail, you will know the caretaker for the shelter makes pancakes for the hikers in the morning. Cant wait. Lots of carbs. Need them too, my pants are falling off. I need a scale to see how much weight I have lost so far. Had to cross a big swamp today and a cowfield. Reminds me of Home. The shelter is an old two story cabin from a long time ago with a old kitchen, fireplace and 16 bunks upstairs. Had a great view of Goosepond. Lots of humming birds in the feeders the caretakers fill all the time. A good day.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Upper Goosepond shelter

To: Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: moderate rain

So YES, We had pancakes. And coffee. Great start. I Needed to get to Dalton to pickup my next resupply. The Post office will be closed tomorrow because of the July 4th holiday. A nice retired lady gave me a ride. She said she has been walking to loose weight and for her health and has lost 30 pounds so far. I don't know what time frame but one can see the benefits of walking. I had a discussion with a gut about evolution vs creation. He said there was plenty of evidence of the link between ape to bipedal to man. Actually there is none. Any that had any credible evidence have all been admitted as a hoax. In any case how can one take a pinky finger and the left half of a jaw bone and call it part man. Note this recent quote from forbes;The scientists said the jawbone¢s owner walked on two legs in an arid environment, but they¢re less sure about what it ate and whether it used stone tools, questions they intend to investigate on future expeditions to East Africa.That's absurd. How do you figure all that? Look around. Cant not one see this was all created for us to enjoy? Antway the conversation turned to the younger generation is only taught evolution and that is all most believe. How sad.Anyway, because of July 4th the Motels were all full. Where I stayed last year , the lady said I can stay in the lounge and take a shower in one of the rooms. Nice of her, being the proprietor and all.Moving on.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Mark Knobel Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Did 17 hard miles today Stopped at Bascom Lodge on top of Mt Greylock and ordered pancakes and eggs for breakfast ( second Breakfast). Arrived at the shelter at 6:30 Pm. Wow a hard day bolder hopping and mud. A lot of people at the shelter tonight. Glad I use a hammock out in the trees.
Date: 2015-07-07
From: Melvile Nauhaim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Started out for Goddard Shelter today. At the top of the mountain in a pine forest. Was makeing good miles today and got here by 11:00am. had lunch and continued on the Kid gore shelter. It was 1:30 so I decided to continue on the Story Spring. It has a great spring water an up on a ridge. Wow another 17 miles.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Green Mountain House

To: Govenor Clement Shelter
Miles today: 39.2
Weather: light rain

Refreshed and showered, ready to go. Even some laundry done. I dont know if I mentioned but there were some bear tracks on the way out of the woods yesterday. Had a lot of long downhills today, bad for the knees, but done. Really a great day. Actually saw a porcupine today. Slow slumbering creature. No worries he has, you cant grab him.