morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-10-04
From: 1492.5 stealth 

To: 1513.8 stealth
Miles today: 21.3

Many miles today. Slow rise and yet we are hiking away from the campsite by 7:15. About a mile down the way by a very nice overlook we stop for breakfast. We eat all three meals today, spending a half hour to 45 minutes on each one. And finish hiking around 8:30. A night hike through pastures and past one of the biggest trees on the AT. It was a pleasant day and tomorrow we hope for the same kind of miles. Really feeling strong and capable now. Especially since we are just pushing on through. Days off kind of seem to hurt more than help sometimes. Keeping yourself constantly in the pain is the only way to keep it from hurting more.
Date: 2017-10-05
From: 1513.8 stealth

To: Big Stony Creek Road
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We were shooting for double twenties. My leg gave out around mile 17 today. Since I switched my insoles, my leg has been figuring out how to work properly. On the downhill sometimes it overworks the tendon that I believe is working my lower leg. Stress from downhill and extreme ups and downs seem to give me trouble. When we first started the flop the first day was really bad with this. Then after the double zero we took it did the same thing. With all the climbing over the last two days and the many, many feet of downhill, yeah, at mile 17.5, it was done. I was reduced to a hobble and was using my trekking rods as a crutch. For a mile and a half we went on. But we got 40 miles in two days. I'll get my revenge. By the time I got to camp, it was ok. I could walk fine. Any up and down would cause it to flare up again but I'm going to sleep now. Izzy and I had a rough day. This isn't easy. Just past 1500 miles and I feel like I'm falling apart. I came out here to find a better person in myself. I think I'm tougher, stronger, more durable and probably other things. But I'm not sure if I'm a better person. I don't know how that happens. How we get so lost in ourselves and unable to find the things we need or want again. I feel like one day, a long time ago, I went into a basement and got lost. I think I came out here to get a little less lost. That hasn't happened. I think the only thing to change or that will change will be the rest of my life and what I do with it. That may be the only power we really have and even that power does not belong to us all. I'm going to keep seeking this out. This better person thing. I've got a month and a half or so and many more miles. 700 miles is very far. I do like this tent site though. Nice camp and I found a little passage in the back that led to another site and a secret little tucked away spot. Maybe that's what I need to find in my heart. A little tucked away spot that I can keep clean. And sacred. Maybe that's what I need.
Date: 2017-10-06
From: Big Stony Creek Road

To: 1551 stealth
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It is pointless to push against the ocean if you are caught in it. It makes no sense to try and overcome a wave. Find a center. Follow it. See it through. Experience is everything. There may be no truth. The hardest battle is yourself. Love those near you. Never give up. Some lessons I'm learning now. Met up with Baby Wipes and Rambo for hiking. My leg hurt most of today a lot. But now I have a knee brace for tomorrow. Hoping it works again. Will be great to take it easy a couple days.
Date: 2017-10-07
From: 1551 stealth

To: Stealth just past Angel's Rest
Miles today: 6.5

Baby Wipes let me use his knee brace and I threw that thing on last night before bed. It was terrific. This morning I was walking around with a little pain but as I continued to move the pain went away. Felt like I had my old legs back. Tomorrow we will do about 9 miles so that's another easy Nero. This has been so great. But did learn something today. With mail drops, head to town, eat, get your food and sort it, find an establishment to take a shower and do laundry and then head out and camp. Saves you a night of paying for something. Definitely great to spend some time in town and relax. Don't ever stop doing that. But this is a great alternative to save some dough. Neo called it Nero- in/ Nero- out. Up just past Angel's Rest Rock. Can't wait to see this angel statue over the spring tomorrow. Getting water in the rain. Gonna give these two a guided tour of a ridge in a thunderstorm. Hope for the best. I can hear the winds.
Date: 2017-10-08
From: Stealth just past Angel's Rest

To: Wood's Hole Hostel
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent the day with my two dudes. Walking. Talking. Enjoying being outside. It has been the greatest thing in the world to share this new passion with them. I know I need it. They need it too. It feels good to just do something. Physically. Simple accomplishments. Simple goals. You can see the result. You're either walking forward or you're not. To find ways to bring this back with me. Funny thing about thru hiking. The moment you finish and become a thruhiker hiker, you stop thru hiking.
Date: 2017-10-14
From: Campsite

To: Stealth Site near trail
Miles today: 14.8

Heard an eagle cry for the second time in my life today. Heard it a couple times. Saw eagles flying together. High above the earth. Massive birds. Caught me in a trance for a moment. The 15 miles today was hard work. Many ups and many downs. Hoping for a little relief soon but it seems that it is always up and down on the AT. That's just the way it is. Food at a restaurant tomorrow!!
Date: 2017-10-15
From: Hunting Camp Creek

To: Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tired. Weary. This trail is long. My knee held up today. Got into a rhythm and started thinking about small steps. Felt somewhat normal after almost 15 miles. Hope tomorrow is as good. We had fun today though. Enjoyed as much of the day as we could and I think as much of each other as we could.
Date: 2017-10-16
From: Campsite

To: Glade Mtn Road Parking Stealth
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a very long day. Couldn't sleep last night. The rain and wind storm kept me up till 2 or so. Keep worrying the tent would blow out. So windy. And rain for a while. Sometimes dumping. Finally fell asleep and then the cold woke me up. It's going to start getting cold now. I can feel it starting. But besides that, my leg is a mess. After 2 miles and beginning the descent for the day, it just started to fall apart. After 5 miles I was ready to quit for the day. So hard. Have to keep moving. Need to finish. But pain is pain. It is defeating. It is demoralizing. It steals from you the joy you should be having. All day. Pain. It would go away and then creep right back in. Well, finally made it to where we will sleep. Should get below freezing up here tonight. Time to test the sleep gear. At 3500 feet.
Date: 2017-10-17
From: Glade Mtn Road Parking Stealth

To: My Rogers National Rec HQ
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

Took it so slow today but finally was able to walk without much pain. None at all sometimes. Need to find a way to fix this and get better. Need to contact Ron and find out his opinion. Need to rest. So looking forward to at least a night off if not a zero. Getting back to 100 percent is what's important right now.
Date: 2017-10-18
From: Marion Hotel

To: Marion Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Stayed up so late last night watching tv, decided to take today off. I was hoping we would anyway. My knee feels broken and doesn't seem to get better. First day out of town is ok and then it's just painful after that. Starting to wonder if this is going to become a major ordeal. A small problem out here unattended becomes a big problem fast.
Date: 2017-10-19
From: My Rogers National Rec HQ

To: Campsite hidden off trail a ways
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Back on trail again. We took it slow and my leg feels pretty good. In the tent now. Hoping that tomorrow yields similar results. If I can just get it to feel alright for a few days then it will be better. Nice spot up here. Around 4,000 feet. Cool but not freezing yet. Pretty sure I'll be warm enough tonight. Kinda strange wondering if you're going to be warm enough every night when you go to sleep. Waking up early morning freezing is no fun.
Date: 2017-10-20
From: Campsite hidden off trail a ways

To: Brook and Tentsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

Started with a long descent today. Knee almost immediately in pain. Day ended with another descent. Ouch. Going to get to Damascus and rest. Maybe 3, 4 days. Thing needs some time to heal. Then hit it again. Took 12 hours to do these 10 miles today. As a thru hiker so far along, this is demoralizing by. I should be running downhill not slowly hobbling. It's bad. It's a hobble these days.
Date: 2017-10-21
From: Brook and Tentsite

To: Campsite near summit of Mt. Rogers
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

My leg hurt immediately today. Somehow I managed to crank out miles faster than yesterday. Not as much up. Slow and steady. Still had a brilliant day though. Grayson Highlands is so amazing. Pastures and forests and ponies. I was awestruck today. This is the place to go in Virginia. It will stay with you. Will definitely return. Hopefully with friends so we can share. And a knee that doesn't hurt madly.
Date: 2017-10-22
From: Campsite near summit of Mt. Rogers

To: Elk Garden Parking
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: broken clouds

Only made it 5 miles today. From the get go, I could tell it would be a rough day and then looking at the 2,000 plus foot descent, I just couldn't bring myself to destroy my leg for that much longer. I hiked another 40 miles from Marion and we had made it close enough to Damascus to warrant heading there and then working backwards to recover the miles we will skip now. I'd just had enough. It felt like every step was only damaging more the muscles and tendons that I need to recover. The injury part of this is no fun. I'd walked over 100 miles with a sprained or strained something and it's time to heal now. So a kind old man we met leaving the trail ended up driving us from the parking space. Time for town and a rest. Need to actually rest. 500 miles between me and this dream. I'm going to make it. Hope I can enjoy the rest of this though.
Date: 2017-10-23
From: The Lazy Fox

To: The Dancing Bear
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The night in town last night was to die for. Beautiful B and B with a cute 93 year old grandma and 11 year old granddaughter running the place. They were very nice. I laid in bed all night and took a bath. Today, we moved over to the Dancing Bear. Nice people here too. Trying to walk as little as possible. A hiker, Shadow, said to me yesterday, "A zero is a zero." Let that one resonate a while.
Date: 2017-10-31
From: Bear Tree Gap

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Today is even smoother. We hustle through the miles. Mostly up but the downs are ok too. Can feel my leg working out wherever is wrong with it. Still working it out though. We wear our masks while hiking and yell boo at a couple hikers. It's fun being goofy. Will probably take tomorrow off and then see what kind of plan we can put together for moving forward.
Date: 2017-11-02
From: McQueen Gap Road 

To: Double Spring Shelter 
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

I met a magician today. A spinal magician. We woke up. Excited for the day. Today, we head to the woods. Walking around feels pretty good. All the muscles that had been oh so tight even just a few days ago, they were much looser now and no real pain to speak of. I wasn't afraid to walk which sounds ridiculous but that's really how it had been. It was terrifying at times. To see any downhill was torturous. And there is plenty of downhill out here. Any way, its feeling better. Saunter over to the house for our final breakfast. So hello and goodbye to all the local hiker guys that seem to just live there. Fist bump with the guys that lives on their couch. And then Born Free shows up. Born Free is going to adjust us for free today. He drove here from perhaps an hour away and brought his mobile unit. He wanders over and then brings his table and briefcase over. Right in our cabin he sits me down and starts doing all sorts of chiropractic maneuvers and measurements. He's calmly talking the whole time. After looking me over he brings me to his table and I lay down. After a few more minutes, he pulls some kind of ninja move on me and releases something in my lower back that really felt like it needed to be released. Like I was blown away. Immediately, I knew this was better. He chopped me up a few more times in all kinds of places and then did the same for Izzy. It was amazing. We scooted off to the trail in his car. After a very nice ride, we were on the trail and moving along. It was bizarre to have all these adjustments and then just be hiking but I was so thankful. 7 days of rest. 4 days of just straight bed rest. 1 day slacking followed by two off days and then 2 more days of slacking followed by 1 off day. And then on the trail again with my backpacked. Now weighed. Turns out my base weight is 18.5 pounds. Fully loaded around 26. Izzy weighed in around 21 or 22 pounds. Both quite light.
Date: 2017-11-03
From: Double Spring Shelter 

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up in the woods for the first time in a while today. I almost forgot what it was like. It was nice. Rolled out of the sleeping bag around 7:30. Made a nice little oatmeal breakfast and then prepped for the day's hike. Upon first movements it seems my leg is not as limber as yesterday but it doesn't hurt the way it used to either. We're moving at a more normal pace. The fog is so thick you can barely see 10 feet in front of you. It stays like this most of the day. After hiking for a while, we come across a dog on the trail. No owner. Covered in orange collars so it's a hunting dog. It's sitting mid trail and staring at us. Nervously. We start to approach and it growls. Well, this ain't fun. I start to move off trail and go around and he backs up the trail with me. So Izzy and I get together. He takes off and we start to follow, moving in the direction we were going. But he stops eventually and starts moving towards us. We yell at him to stop and he does. Then we both move off trail and eventually he passes by us. Oh. That's what he wanted. Once he's passed us he rushes off trail and dives towards whatever he's doing. Noted. This happens a couple times throughout the day but the dogs are nicer. The first one was just a weirdo. So we turn a new corner and stay in a shelter today. There is us and a hunting dog staying here. She's sleeping under the shelter and we sleep in it. Supposed to rain so no wet tent tomorrow. Yay!
Date: 2017-11-04
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Boots off Hostel
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

So we woke today with a dog still living under the shelter. I guess first off, our first shelter stay was not bad. No bugs. No mice. No wet tent in the morning. But back to the dog. So, when I got the food bags, she got excited. I had to sit in the shelter to keep her from rubbing on my legs too much. She was a cute dog but my, does she smell. After breakfast and just before heading out, Izzy gave her a bunch of beef jerkey. We called the numbers on her tags and let people know where she was camping out. Then we set off. After hiking a minute and stopping to adjust a strap or something, there comes the hound behind us. Looks like we'll have a partner for the day. At that point, we realized we needed to guide her home. The next five hours were hilarious. The two of us walking and randomly calling out to this dog who would just randomly stop and go check out whatever. Eventually, she got the MO and kept a steady pace. After 9 miles, a few calls and many texts, Chloe (our dog friend) was reunited with her owners. After all the wonderful things people have done for us, it felt great to give back some of the magic. Plus we had a hiking partner for the day.
Date: 2017-11-05
From: FS 293

To: Boots Off Hostel
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: broken clouds

So the big story of today (besides my knee being much better) was the rattlesnake that fell between Izzy and I on trail. Yup. I walked past it and it slithered. I stopped ahead of it and Izzy was behind. She had heard something, so I peered around and that was when I saw the colors and knew. Also, it was twilight. So we could hardly see and our headlamps did nothing. It wasn't dark enough. So we're on this trail and the snake is between us kinda hanging onto this bank on the trail. Then it falls to the ground and we hear nothing. So now there's a snake on trail between us buried under leaves and it has poisonous venom to take us out. We both freaked. I tried elongating my trekking rod to fish it out and see if I could get it to move and part of my trekking rod falls off. It was a nightmare. So we sit there. Waiting. Both freaking a little. Izzy grabs a big old branch and throws it over the snake to get it to move. When it doesn't, she runs and jumps over the area. Nothing happens. We walk outta there. End of day.
Date: 2017-11-07
From: Doe River Hiker Hostel

To: Doe River Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So there was supposed to be a thunderstorm rolling through and up next is Roan Mt, one of the most beautiful spots on the AT. So we think for a few and decide to rest and avoid the rain. Well, the rain never came but we went for a cool mountain bike ride. Roan tomorrow.
Date: 2017-11-10
From: Unaka Mt

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up to a frozen tent, frozen bear bags, frozen stuff. First night this cold. Cold is scary. You're relying on your gear to keep you warm and it's rather unnerving to fall asleep and hope you don't wake up too many times in the night. Or wake up freezing and have to leave. When you move, you warm up. So hiking isn't too scary. If I have all my warm layers on and start hiking, I start sweating in about 10 minutes. Especially uphill. Sweating in 3. So we wake up. Grab everything. Throw it all in our packs and we escape that summit. We get outta there and after two miles find a decent place for some breakfast. But the wind. These ridges are so small and with most of the leaves now gone, that wind is cold. So eventually the wind encourages us to continue hiking. Keep moving. Met a flip-flopper on the way into town heading the other direction. Have some good convos with him about the trail. At this point, I think hikers are doing two things. Trying to figure out what it means and also how much we all need to finish. Neo's headspace makes more sense now. Uncle Johnny's seems to be a pretty chill place. Glad to be here and not sleeping in the 20 degree night we are supposed to have.
Date: 2017-11-11
From: Sam's Gap

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: broken clouds

Long day. A mile longer than we were told. Started around 7:15 and finished by 5:45. One of our faster days and we even took probably an hour and 15 minutes to chill. We were cruising. The view from Big Bald was one of the most beautiful. I almost cried. After hiking 1900 miles (almost), it's so crazy to still be moved. In a day or two, we'll cross both the 1900 mile marker and have less than 300 miles to go. Love this but also ready to finish. It's a long trail. Also met a nobo hiker who was set up for trail magic. He gave Izzy a blanket while she was sitting. Gave us burgers, snacks, soda. It was amazing. So thankful. So blessed.Also also, we slacked north today. Burning miles.
Date: 2017-11-13
From: Sam's Gap

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

Finally time to leave Uncle Johnny's. Shuttle back to the trail where we say good bye to Chris, the driver. He was a very cool dude who told us about how we might see Bigfoot. Apparently a family of them lived in a cave nearby and the sheriff had a photo with one in it. We weren't crushing ourselves or pushing too much today. We just hiked and enjoyed it. We found a shelter at long last and made the decision to not put up our tent. We set ourselves up. Made dinner and in comes the Lizard King after dark. We enjoy some convo and then eventually, as the cold sets in, he turns to head to set up his hammock and we decide to go to sleep.
Date: 2017-11-14
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: clear sky

Nice breakfast times with the Lizard King. Turns out he's from Mass as well. At this point, all the hikers are making amends with the fact that this is coming to an end. As the cold starts to bite, we are all ready. Uncertain. This has become our life. It's what we do. For it to just end, seems unreal. But it must. Another long day of hiking and some hours into the night and we end up at the same shelter as Lizard King. Time to bundle up. The sun is gone.
Date: 2017-11-15
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: The Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

The cold wakes us up now. About 4, I get the first ripple. Check the phone. It's 4 am. Then it happens on the hour till 6 rolls around and I give up. Collect our things and make breakfast. The mice were busy last night. Real busy. Scuttering all around. The hike into town seems to take forever but towards the end we push on thinking of nothing but food. Obsessed with the idea of breakfast. Breakfast is great and the hostel is pretty rad. Resupply and a nice dinner make for two happy hikers. Today is also the day we meet Snowman.
Date: 2017-11-16
From: The Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Tentsite mile 1925.6
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Late start. Had to walk back and forth to town twice for various reasons. One being a pass for the Smokies. Leave town late. Short miles. Decent campsite with a trail magic fire set up. Sleep. Tent angled to deflect wind. Works wonders.
Date: 2017-11-18
From: 1939.7 Trail Magic Shelter

To: Standing Bear
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Apple shows up after Sturgeon takes off. He's a retired IBM engineer and an Amazon guy. We chat for like 3 hours about all things. Hiking. Politics. The cold. Eventually we must leave and we hike on in to the hostel. The wind is shredding the mountain sides. The power of the Smokies is obvious. Soon. We will witness this.
Date: 2017-11-21
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We were hiking in 25 degree weather today. It was cold. The wind would pick up and it was just ripping through you. Feeling good about dealing with it all. When you take a break, it's not for long. The cold sets in. It comes quick. Woke up at 5 am today to get a start on the day. So funny that it took so long for us to be real hikers.
Date: 2017-11-22
To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: light rain

Highest point of the AT today. Covered in fog. No view. Awesome. The first part of the Smokies was really beautiful. Lots of views. The second half here is pain. Up and down. Lots of elevation changes. Stop going up. Go right down. Then vice versus. Still a wild place. Certainly commands the attention it deserves. The way the wind howls here. You can feel the power these mountains hold. Much respect.
Date: 2016-07-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The hardest decision of my life so far has been made. I will sell my house. I will let all my responsibilities go. I will be 100% selfish, 100% irresponsible. I will totally and completely focus on saving myself. I will start my soul journey in March of 2017. I will hike from Georgia to Maine.