morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Homeward Bound

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0

4/15/16Made it home and was able to get a Dr's appointment today. He reviewed Mondays hospital paperwork and examined my leg. I explained feeling I've had in my leg since being at the hospital and Dr feels pretty confident it is tendinitis and prescribed a steroid to reduce swelling and told me to continue use antibiotic that I was prescribed at hospital. I am to continue to rest leg and elevate with ice. When leg returns to normal he suggests a training hike before returning to the AT. I have been a runner for years and have remained relatively healthy. I've faced two injuries that have kept me down for extended periods. I didn't see this coming and thought I would hike straight to Maine. I figured there would be times of discomfort but I could push through them. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." My pride tells me I can do this but the truth is I need Christ's strength to complete this journey. Maybe he has other plans for me but for now I feel I am to return and continue this endeavor. I may have needed a check to remind me who is in control. Now I need the patients to rest and recover. I was disappointed to leave the trail but my spirit remains unbroken. I will return and I know I have been blessed so how can I be discouraged? God is good....life is good...may God bless you through this journey called life
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Home

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The leg is getting better but still has some swelling. I am feeling an improvement though. Best part of the day was going to the grocery and not buying Knor Pasta Sides or tuna. At 4 PM I have been off the trail a week, if this happens again I will know to stop and recover and not push it another three days. I am still in good spirits and can't wait to get back at it. I have tried to update journal and add quite a few photos.
Date: 2016-04-18
From: Home

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My leg is improving slowly. Pigeon Toe called to check on me. He was at Pearisburg the day I left to go to Woods Hole Hostel. He said he had seen two cubs and a mother bear the night prior and it made him uneasy. He is moving on and said his body is tired. Also told me an area coming up for me called the Dragons Tooth is pretty challenging.
Date: 2016-04-20
From: Home

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Kind of surprised it is taking this long to heal...thought I would be back after a week off. The swelling has gone down and the pain from extending my foot up and down has subsided but not completely gone. The area on my shin that I first notice being an issue is still tender. I'm thinking that must improve before I head back and have recurring problems with everything. So it's a wait and see game. Today is day 10 off the trail.
Date: 2016-04-25
From: Home

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0

I'm not feeling 100% yet but planning a test trail hike on Friday to see how the leg will hold up. If all goes well I plan to head back to the AT this weekend. My leg is still a little sensitive but I am feeling more and more confident everyday. I like to push myself and it is going to be hard not to when I get back out there, but will have to remember what i need to do to remain on the trail. It will be interesting to see how much of my trail legs I have lost also. I am sure a lot has changed since I left the trail to include spring moving in and the vegetation growth, wildlife becoming more active and more hikers will be on the trail as I have lost my early lead. There have been fires in the Shenandoah National Park and the AT has been closed in some areas. So the hikers have had to get shuttle rides around those areas. Most will be return at some point to insure they don't miss any part of the trail/blazes. There are different ways of hiking the trail but the so called "purists" will not skip an inch. Some people yellow blaze...that is when they take the road(yellow lines in road) to skip a tough or boring area. I would say the majority of hikers I have been with are purists. I still have a couple hundred miles to go before I get to the Shenandoah's so hopefully I will not have any issues. I'm getting stir crazy at home but I am still in good spirt ready to get back out there.
Date: 2016-04-28
From: Home

To: Home (entry)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

4/29/16My recovery is going well. I am still not 100% but still improving everyday. I have been going out walking the last five days doing a little more each day. Yesterday I threw the pack on and went about three miles. I have to admit I woke up a little sore today from being idle for so long. Today I am going to try six miles with the pack. Sometimes while walking I feel my shin is not quite right but other times I feel normal...it kinda comes and goes and that is the same when it is at rest. The plan now is to head back to Virginia tomorrow( Saturday) and start hiking Sunday. At times I feel like I should have already headed back and at other times I feel I should give it another week. The way my gradual build up has gone I think I'll be fine as long as I don't push it too quickly. I have heard from a couple of my fellow hikers this week. Marathon is doing well....he hit the halfway point. I think it was just a day or two over his two month mark. He's said he had some swelling in the shins and said he was going to slow down a bit...I don't know if I believe him...lol. The fires are still a problem in the Shenmonth's and they are saying the trail may be closed for three weeks. Marathon made it through before they closed it and caught up with Scorched Heels. Scorched Heels was a guy we met at the first hostel(before we started hiking), I tried to talk him into doing the 8.8 mile approach trail but he was having none of that and started at Springer Mt with the other guests. I also talked to Patch, he is doing fine and made it a couple of hundred miles past where I left off. He was telling me I have some technically challenging areas coming up and water sources are fewer and not always reliable. I guess the area around Dragon's Tooth is tough. You get to climb on rocks and you have to be careful because you have a 30 lbs pack trying to pull you backwards. Should be interesting(fun). Patch is going to have to bypass the fire area, he plans to get off trail and visit the DC area. When he returns he will come back and hit the section he missed. I talked to Spirit of 76 last week and she has slowed down a bit. She plans to finish in Sept or Oct and is not pushing as hard as the other folks I have been hiking with. Well next time I write I hopefully will have some miles under my belt. Its hard to believe I've only been hiking six weeks and down for three weeks.
Date: 2016-05-01
From: Home

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

5/1/16I made it back today and got six miles in. Drove some yesterday and finished the trip today after a nice big breakfast at Bob Evans. I tried to take a comparison picture of the change in scenery in Pearisburg from three weeks ago until now but I don't think the pic turned out. I got started about 12:30 and hiked slow so I wouldn't make my leg worse. I did about six miles and didn't get to the shelter until after four. There was one guy(Woody) here and he is heading southbound. He started from Harpers Ferry the end of March and is going to go to Springer and then go to Maine and hike back to Harpers Ferry. He is known as a flip flopper and will do the whole trail just not starting on one end and finishing on the other. Harpers Ferry is known as the half way point but is about 70 miles south. The Appalachian Trail Headquarters is there and all thru hikers register and get their pictures taken and put on file. When we started the trail we registered and were given a number, but we will be assigned new numbers there. Two other hikers(Topo and Little Phoinex) came in later also heading south. One is a flip flopper and the other is a college student hiking until the end of May and going back to school in June. I asked if they had seen Strummy Stick and the college girl said yes and that he had been her music teacher in school. He taught school in Connecticut...small world. There was a good chance of rain but it held off. This evening they were gettting heavy storms north of us, we could see the lightening. The trail was mostly uphill and they have had a lot of rain so some of the trail was a stream. My leg seems to be holding up okay for now. To be honest my calves are pretty tight from taking two weeks off and then hiking last Thur and Fri.
Date: 2016-05-04
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hallow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2

5/4/16I have to say that was the best nights sleep I've had in a shelter. Nice and quiet and no mice activity to speak of. One guy started a fire so I hung around for a little while before starting out. I crossed some streams and then came to an area of forest that had burned recently. Not sure if it was a wild fire or a controlled burn. I hiked a little farther and seen there was a overlook off trail so I went to check it out. It wasn't much of an overlook because the trees were blooming but I sat and enjoyed the view. Then I headed to the next shelter for some lunch. While at the shelter it rained a little so I stayed a few extra minutes until it stopped. The trail still had some wet spots but it had dried up and we weren't walking in streams for the most parts. Some of the places we had to cross streams were still high and the rocks you needed to step on were under water but it was nothing like the crossing we had the day before. This afternoon we passed the biggest tree on the AT in the South. Keffer Oak, it is 18' around and over 300 years old. So I stopped and got a few pictures of that. I seen one oak fallen earlier in the day and wondered if I had missed it..lol. Went through a couple of pastures and they are always a nice change of pace. Got to the shelter and it was .4 miles off the trail and a pretty steep descent. I thought about heading on to the next shelter but it was a little more than I wanted to do so down to the shelter I went. I was the first there and wondered if anyone else would come down that far. A couple of guys from Ohio, the Columbus area came down and then three others showed up later. There is a bird that has made a nest in the shelter and keeps flying in and out as we move around. It is a really nice shelter with a big porch on the front. My leg is continue to improve and I test it more and more each day. The foot with the bug bite seems to be staying the same no better no worse. I have to say slowing down, this has been the best week of hiking I have had. My pastor told me this wasn't a race and I said I knew that but I am just starting to understand. It is still hard watching people pass me but not chasing those big miles is nice. I will now go off trail to see things where as when you are chasing miles I would pass them by. Not sure what will happen when my leg is 100%. Its a great day to be a hiker
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Sarver Hallow Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

5/5/16It was a petty noisey night in the shelter with five of us but it was dry and I didn't have to pack up a wet tent. People seem to be tossing and turning all night and some of the mattresses are noisy when they move a d then there was the zippers on the sleeping bags going up and down so they could get comfortable. I climbed the .4 mile up hill to get back to the trail. It rained last night but stopped before I started to hike. That didn't last long though and it rained most of the day. At one point I accidentally went off trail onto another trail. There was a big tree down and I had to climb over it ....when I got to the other side I hit some mud and fell backward but was able to catch myself with my hands behind me. Then I looked for blazes and couldnt find any so back over the tree i went. I found the trail and I was on big rock faces...with the rain it made it very treacherous. That went on for a while but finally made it back to a easier trail. I was doing 16 miles today the longest since I've been back on the trail...I would do shorter miles but the only other shelter was only six miles from where I started. I stopped at the shelter six miles away for an early lunch. I had 10 miles after that but there was not a good place to stop in the rain. It was chilly this morning but it seemed more comfortable in the afternoon. I passed Audie Murphy Monument on top of Brush Mt. He was the most decorated soldier in WWII and his he was killed in a plane crash at this site. Made it camp about 3:30. The last couple of shelters have been off trail close to half a mile so it has added a mile to my day. Some shelters are right on the trail and I have seen them over a mile off trail. Even with the rain....its a good day to be a hiker.
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

5/6/16Good nights sleep. I am with early risers...one hiker got up at 6 and the others were soon to follow. I made it up and was on the trail a little after 7. Headed to Dragons tooth...the hardest part in Virginia. It was defiantly challenging, climbing on large rocks and if you fall its going to hurt bad. It wasn't a large section like we will see when we get to the northern part of the AT. I made it through and at the next road had a choice to go to a Four Pines Hostel or go resupply and get a burger and head on. I was back and forth all day. So I get to the road and decide to resupply and press on. I'm glad I did...after an OJ, chocolate milk and a cheese burger my body was feeling replenished and I really felt good. I was planning on stopping right before McAfee Knob(most photographed spot on AT) but I got to the shelter and decided to press on...stop at McAfee Knob and go another half mile to the next shelter. It all went well..there was one guy up there that took my picture and I beat the Saturday crowd. It is a stone that hangs out over the rock wall below it. This and Dragons Tooth but held spectacular views of Virginia. So I headed a half mile to Cambel Shelter and six others are already there. They have good news...lol. The people that stayed the night before hung bear bags and the bears came and figured out how to get them and ripped them open. Then went to the picnic table that sets directly in front of the shelter. So they decide they are going to keep their bars in the shelter and keep a fire going to persuade the bears to stay away. I figured the bears and mice were working g together and the mice would be a big issue. So we kept the food bags in the shelter and actually there was a cat around and we had no bear or mice issues. Some of these folks were at another campsite weeks earlier and the bears tore up a tent that was unoccupied. There are a wide range of people out here....there was a guy from Germany(Spike), a guy from Israel and a girl from Scotland(Trooper). Also there were Two Socks and Speilburg.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville (Motel 6)
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

5/7/16So last night was a pretty restful night. The early riser got to me because I was up and the first one out at seven. I am planning on staying in the town if Daleville and I like getting to town early for a longer down time. I on the waynto town I passed Tinkerbell Cliffs. The trail is on the edge of the cliff for about a half mile...once again magnificent views...it was pretty cool. I stopped at the next shelter for a quick lunch and one guy was heading out. I wasn't too far from him when I noticed what I thought was a Hershey Crunch wrapper but turned out to be a credit card. So a short while later I caught him and yelled his first name and sure enough it was his. I made it to town by 1:30 and agent and had some BBQ at Three lkl Pigs BBQ. It was a very nice place and three other hikers joined me . I was stuffed when one guy asked about the complementary banana pudding for thru hikers. She came back with huge bowls of fresh made pudding with vanilla cookies surrounding the outside of the bowl and whipped cream on top. It was very good and I'm not a big fan of vanilla pudding. I got a room for the night and hung out and watched TV so I could rest the body. I am really felling good and hiking about the same speed I was before the leg swelled up. Started the week with a 6 mile and three twelve mile days and hitting 15s and 16s the last three days.
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Daleville (Motel 6)

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

5/8/16After a good nights rest, I finished my pizza, that I had for dinner, for breakfast along with a banana, OJ and chocolate milk. I checked out around 1030 and being Sunday decided to go to church. If you remember my last church experience on Easter...this one was completely different. I was welcomed when I got there and numerous people introduced themselves and ask questions of how the trip was going. It was a small church and the people seemed to enjoy each others company. I even got a bag of home made cookies. After church I went to Kroger's and stocked up on food for the next week. I'm trying something new for breakfast...carnation essentials breakfast milk. The only problem is you need milk. So I bought powdered milk...hopefully this works out because I have a ten day supply of the breakfast mix. I stopped at a Chicken place and got a sandwich before heading out of town. I was going to do a short day to give my body an little more recovery time. I did six miles uphill and stopled at thhe shelter. Spike was there NAD bad a fire going. Soon Two Socks, Trooper, Hesh showess up and later three others. It was a good day and tomorrow it is either 13 miles or 20 miles....I will see what I feel like after 13.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

5/9/16During the night I got up to go to the bathroom/tree and I heard something behind me. I turned with my headlight on to see a big doe about 50 ft away. She seen the light and ran off a little ways. She returned and woke the guy up next to me...he was thinking bear but I told him what I'd seen. It seems bears seem to be on everyone's minds these days. Had a restful night other than that. Got up and hit the trail around 7:30. Was looking at doing 13.5 or 20 miles today seeing how the first 13 went. I made it 6 miles and stopped at the shelter for a quick snack. Went through the log book and seen names of people i hiked with before my injury sidelined me. Scorched Heels, Wonka, Patch, Pigeon Toe, Goal Digger, Strummeystick. All are two weeks ahead of me or more but I do seem to be catching some but it will be a while. I went a little farther down the trail and a deer ran off into the woods. A little later I seen either a snake or a lizard slide into some leaves after I startled it. I made it to the next shelter by 12:30 and was feeling good. I met a guy from NC mnamed Who DAT and a couple of ladies from Germany walked in. I asked what their trail names were and they said they were only here for two weeks and did t have trail names. I filled up all my water bottles because there was only one place to get water in the next ten miles and it was not a reliable source. The trail was pretty kind today no huge uphills and a pretty easy grade. We kept crossing over the Blueridge Parkway that is near the trail in this area but it has been temporarily closed so didn't have to worry about traffic but there were a several places rivht ocf it for great views. Made it into camp a little after four a d was joined by the NOBO hikers from the night before. A hiker named Stone joined us a little later. I'm feeling good and my leg doesn't bother me while I am hiking. When I try to extend or pull my foot up to extremes I can still tell it is not quite right. My knees bother me a little on steep downhills but when I slow down they feel okay. Otherwise all is going well.
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

5/10/16So I have been staying in the shelters but last night I went back to the tent. I woke up and heard some big animal moving....a deer I hope. But it moved on and I went back to sleep. Had a light rain most of the night. I didn't get up too early and the rain had stopped...much easier to pack up tent when its not raining. Was on the trail about 8:30. Today was going to be a lot of uphills. Looking at 17 miles and over 5000 ft in elevation gain. Did the first 6 miles and stopped at the shelter for lunch. Bombadili and his wife was there along with four other hikers i had spent the night with. It was a unique shelter and it slept 20 people. Reading the log it seemed it was a good stop for lunch and few people spent the night. The next section was going to be twice the uphill we just did in last 5 miles. Being prepared is half the battle...I made good time and was at the next shelter in just over two hours. We had a little over six miles left for the day. However there was a 200 ft high waterfall about three miles from camp but it was a 1.1 miles hike off trail. I was planning on going and mentioned it to some of the others. Being a 17 mille day already I didn't know if anyone would hike it. Four of us ended up going down...Hish, Trooper, Two Socks and I. It was a hike straight down. Two socks was the first down and by the time the rest of us arrived, he was down to his shorts enjoying the cool water coming off the rocks above. Trooper joined him and I took my shoes off and went wading. We took a few pics...right after my pic I hit a slick rock and down I went on my tail bone. Two Socks was looking around like where did I go. I got up and walked it off. I headed out first and figured the rest would catch up. As I got back to the AT I could hear thunder in the background. I had just under thee miles to go and was hoping to make it before the storm got too close. I was heading up hill and had to cross an open area on top of the mountain. Not real excited about that in a thunderstorm. As I climbed the storm got closer. When I got to the clearing I ran across to get back to cover as quick as I could. There was a round FAA antenna on top and I looked over at it and seen it was in the clouds. So I thought great....a thunderstorm and I am hanging out in the clouds. So I made it back into the treeline and started heading down. I passed the gauntlet.,.a famous spot on the trail where there are two huge rocks 40 ft high and get closer as they come to the ground. A smaller rock is wedged between them held up only by the narrowing distance that separate them. The AT goes right between the two huge rocks. I took a quick picture and headed to camp and arrived safely. The other folks that went to the falls arrived soon after. I'm in the tent again tonight and very tired. Hopefully a good nights rest is in my future . My tail bone felt good until I went to sit down and I found its a little sensitive but not too bad. This is the busiest shelter I have see with probably at least 15 people.