morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-09-30
From: Humpback Rock picnic area

To: Tye River stealth site
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

I packed up in the dark as usual and used my headlamp for 2 trips to the bathroom I was most thankful for. Still having issues from the rear but it seems to be better today. I've switched to having soup for dinner. I can manage it well and it's also hydrating. When it was light enough we set out and the terrain was rocky most of the morning. More foot torture to remind me of Pennsylvania which seems so long ago. We met up with River who was hiking nobo on a slack pack and it was great to see her! She told me Wind Eagle was ahead and might camp at Tye River tonight. We climbed 3 Ridges Mountain in the George Washington National Forest after stopping at the Maupin Field shelter so I could use the privy. Again there are a ton of day hikers out here and I'm afraid to get caught in the middle of business in the woods. We were disappointed with the lack of view because we were socked in by clouds again reminding me of Pennsylvania. On the south side of the mountain we stopped at Harper's Creek shelter for water and proceeded to hike looking for a stealth site which we located next to the Tye River about 2 miles further. Wind Eagle (WE) was there in her hammock! It was nice to see her and we chatted briefly before I set up camp, ate dinner and rolled into my tent for the night hoping the river would sing me to sleep. It was a looooong day.
Date: 2018-10-01
From: Tye River stealth site

To: USFS 246 stealth site
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep as well as I thought I would. I seemed to wake up every hour or 2 despite the cadence of the river. I was restless for a couple of hours and finally returned to sleep. At 6 I packed up my tent and had a hot ginger tea and protein bar then made 2 trips into the woods for a cathole. When that was all over I filled up my water and daylight allowed us to hike out. WE followed behind us shortly after. The Priest was a 4.5 mile climb to the summit and while it's graded and switchbacked it took me over 5 hours to reach the top. I rested every mile and Eddyman waited for me at the summit. It seamed like we climbed all day but it was more of a constant up and down. Toward the end of the climbing Eddyman took my food bag ro help me out. We stopped at a shelter for a short break and grabbed our last water for the night at Piney River where there were supposed to be some tent sites. Unfortunately there were none and the area was overgrown with vines and exuded a creapy vibe. We hiked on to the next noted site which was down hill from the trail and marginal. We pressed another half mile out of my already spent body to a forest service road where just to the East we spotted a grassy area that upon closer inspection let to some established sites with room for several tents. Eddyman took the first clearing and I walked in back a little to a nice spot for myself with a log to sit on. It was after 6pm already so we set up camp, made dinner and I crawled into my tent hoping for a better night's sleep. But I had restless legs and feet and a slight headache. I took 2 Advil and split the liter of water I had left into 2 bottles adding electrolytes to one and saving the other for tomorrow morning. It will have to get me thru the first 3.3 miles of hiking before we come to another water source.
Date: 2018-10-04
From: Punchbowl overlook

To: James River bridge
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

I successfully climbed down from my bunk a couple of times during the night and around 4:45 am to start the dreaded #2 purging. At 11:30pm I got up and ate 1/2 of the ham and cheese sub I'd bought earlier from Scottos. There were hikers in the living room watching TV and they were extremely quiet. I hadn't realized anyone else was awake. We were leaving for the trail at 7:30 so at 6:30 I dressed and grabbed a bowl of Cheerios. The first 2 miles was a climb up Bluff Mt which was steep in sections and I took my time, counting to 100 and stopping as needed. At the top Eddyman was waiting and WE had just left. I spent only a few minutes there looking at the plaque in memory of little Ottie Cline Powell who was found deceased at that spot in the 1890's after wandering away from the schoolhouse 7 miles from there. He was 4yrs 11 months old. It was sad to read and imagine what he went through. There was report of a resident Copperhead in the base of the concrete steps, remnants of an old fire tower but he wasn't out this morning. We hiked on and I felt good knowing this was the last real climbing today. We enjoyed some nice views from the Cliffs where we found WE lounged on the grass and also from Fuller's rock. It was hot and humid but the clear skies were wonderful. We stopped at Salt Log gap for lunch and at Johns Hollow shelter for water and the privy and the 3 of us then hiked out to the James River bridge. We had to apply insect repellent in the parking lot while we waited for Frog or there would have been nothing left of us for him to pick up. I haven't encountered so many mosquitos on this trip as I have here in this section of Virginia. Back at the hostel we dropped our stuff off and Frog gave us a ride to Scottos where we ate and ordered sandwiches for tomorrow and froze in the AC because we were still wet from hiking. Frog returned us to the hostel and it was quiet until about 8pm when River arrived followed by some party hikers. I'm so happy to see River! By 10pm it was quiet again but I wasn't able to sleep. It came intermittently just as it has the past several nights and I climbed up and down the bunks once again. At 2 am I returned to the bunk after a trip to the bathroom only to run right back down to vomit after taking a couple of sips of water. I'm so thirsty and dry. I have some new decisions to make. My health must come first. This flair up is not going to go away if I don't change what I'm doing right now. I need to do the things that helped me thru this in the past. It's a difficult disease because I look healthy outside yet inside an absolute war is raging.
Date: 2018-10-05
From: James River bridge

To: Stanimals Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0

I've decided to take as many days off as needed to get this flare up under control so I can hike again. My tramily (WE and Eddyman) and River for a few days will continue hiking and slack packing. I'll move with the backpacks via shuttle so that we all stay together. When I'm able I'll resume hiking wherever we are and for the first couple of days we'll do short miles and I'll rest as much as needed. The section of trail I end up missing I will have to go back and hike before I'm done. I'm good with that and not stressing about it. It will happen and I'm confident that the trail will provide for me at that time. I'm happy with the arrangements because my tramily gets to hike and I don't feel stressed about slowing them down. For now my focus is on wellness. They headed out around 6:30 and I stayed behind. I rested a while and then after the party crowd left and Stanimal had made a visit, concerned about the condition of the house I helped get it cleaned in exchange for a nights stay. The hostel is rented out to a private group tonight so after Frog picked up River, WE and Eddyman he picked up me and the packs from the hostel in Glasgow and drove us up to Stanimals hostel in Waynesboro. It was an hour of driving and was all I could take. It was 7pm when we arrived and getting dark. I was so happy to be in Waynesboro and Stanimals hostel here is WAY nicer than the Glasgow location and much larger. I met Glen the caretaker and dropped my stuff off claiming a bed by the window that River pointed out to me and we all took off to eat. Eddyman, River and I went to Hardee's and I got a chicken sandwich. We then stopped at Cook Out next door and ordered milkshakes and ate back at the hostel together. WE had gone to Burger King and Rite Aid. After dinner River and I went to CVS so I could get ginger, probiotics, melatonin, lavender and peppermint. With everything in hand we went back to the hostel and crawled into bed bed just before 9. In the morning we'll leave around 6am and get my tramily back on trail. I'll get dropped off at the hostel if the guests are gone and Frog will complete some other shuttles before dropping me and the packs off at Middle Creek campground.
Date: 2018-10-06
From: Stanimals Waynesboro

To: Middle Creek campground
Miles today: 0.0

I dosed myself twice with melatonin after not going to sleep after the first one. The bed was slanted so I felt like I was going to slide off. My sleep was interrupted first by other guests downstairs and then in and out of the room to the bathroom, myself included. At 4am I tossed my water again and at 5am I got up and dressed and went out to McDonald's for breakfast passing WE on her way back. Eddyman and River were still in bed when I left. When I returned after my pancakes I found Glen in the kitchen with pancakes on the griddle for us. Others indulged and I waited for the group to be ready. A bit after 6am we departed. Again the ride to Glasgow was all I could stomach. The guests were still at the hostel so Frog couldn't drop me there. I opted for the park instead seeing the covered pavilion and the nearby gas station with restroom. I was so exhausted I just wanted to sleep. Instead I listened to a book on my phone until a local man joined me in the pavilion and we talked for a while. Around 9:30 I put my backpack on and walked up to the hostel. They were still there so I sat at the picnic table at the business next door and listened to my book while watching for Frog. Around 10:30 I saw him and flagged him down. Another half hour ride with Frog to Middle Creek campground and I won't be subjected to his driving again. At the campground he helped unload the packs into our rented cabin and departed. The cabin hadn't been cleaned yet so I stayed in the air conditioned recreation room. No one else was there so I layed down on the sofa and slept until 1:38 when I awoke to find a text from WE needing a ride from the trailhead since no one here was answering the phone. I went into the office and spoke to the owner Susan. She said the phones are down and Verizon was working on it. She'd leave at 2 and go grab WE and Eddyman, but at 1:55 they hopped out of a white SUV. They'd gotten a ride from someone at the trailhead and I caught Susan just as she was leaving to let her know. We ordered burgers and hung out on the deck until 4pm and our cabin still hadn't been cleaned from last night's guests. I reminded Susan and someone went right over and took care of it. We dined on canned food from the camp store for dinner on the deck of our little cabin and went to bed around 7:30. I had to double dose myself on melatonin again and put the lavender on my pillow. I really need a good night's sleep.
Date: 2018-10-07
From: Middle Creek campground

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0

The bed was comfortable, the air conditioning just right and I had a great night of sleep. I awoke once around 11:30 and walked to the bathhouse wondering if I'd be able to get back to sleep after but I did. I slept until 6 and awoke feeling refreshed. At 7:30 we all walked down to the store where WE and Eddyman dropped their packs off so I wouldn't have to carry them down later. We waited for Susan who arrived at 8:10 and she drove them to the trailhead. When she came back she opened up the store and made me a breakfast of eggs, sausage, hash browns and homemade biscuit. I ate it all and it was the most I've eaten in one meal in weeks. I took a walk after that but the sun was hot and the fast rising temperature only made me feel ill. I retreated to the shade of the deck for a while and then sought out a shower. At 1pm my shuttle driver Pepper jack arrived. A very nice young man with a nice clean vehicle and good driving skills. I had no anxiety on the way to Daleville and we had great conversation about his recent completion of the trail ( just 6 weeks ago) and our slack packing and shuttle needs for the next few days. He dropped me off at the motel and help me bring the packs in. I checked into our room and layed down for a while. Susan had tucked a fresh homemade biscuit away on top of my pack for me earlier and I ate that in the room. When WE and Eddyman arrived back from their hike they showered and we walked down to the Three Pigs BBQ for dinner. I had just been drinking water and for some reason my belly was bloated and painful. I ate a cup of Brunswick stew and brought a baked potato and asparagus back to the room to eat later when I was feeling better. Just before 9 I brushed my teeth and dosed myself with melatonin and drifted peacefully off to sleep.
Date: 2018-10-10
From: VA route 311 

To: 4 pines hostel route 624
Miles today: 6.0

I had a restless and broken night of sleep and got up at 6:30 so I could be downstairs to have breakfast with everyone and say goodbye to River who is flying home for a week to attend some weddings. After breakfast I returned to our room to make sure my day pack and backpack were ready for the day ahead. Pepper Jack picked us up after shuttling River to the airport. We were at the trailhead and hiking shortly after 8:30. It's my fist hike in 6 days. I felt pretty good and was happy to be out there. It rained all day which wasn't a pleasure but the hike itself was easy. At one point I did have to stop and eat a mini muffin that Eddyman packed out from breakfast because I was feeling ill. We arrived at the 4 pines hostel soaked from head to toe and with our feet squishing in our boots. I was happy to see Insect, Craig and Skittles there. We chose our bunks and started the process of getting dry. Without heat and towels this was a chore we couldn't quite manage. Exhausted I layed on my bunk and took an hour nap with dry clothes on, my sleeping tank top and boxers. The hostel is in a 3 bay garage. There are 14 sturdy bunks with comfortable mattresses and no linens. There's no dryer. There are no towels and no loaner clothes. It's a donation based hostel located on a small farm with chickens and guinea hens running around and we're provided farm fresh eggs. There is a refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker and toaster oven set up on the work benches that skirt the back and side walls. There are plenty of power strips for charging electronics and several sofas and a table for dining. It was very quiet. After my nap Craig, Insect, Eddyman and WE used the van provided to go to the corner store for dinner and brought me back a cheeseburger and fries and a Root beer. I ate half and saved the rest for later. Later came and I did eat almost all of the leftover. There are 2 cats that come and go thru a cat door. Sylvester and Buddy. I think Buddy rolls in chicken shit because he stinks badly but he's taken a shine to Craig and sits next to him all evening. Sylvester is petite and loving. He climbed up on my bunk for a while and I enjoyed his company. When I crawled into bed for the night he came for a visit again but didn't stay. I didn't sleep well at all being in and out of the bathroom all night and Sylvester jumping on and off my bunk. I had changed my acupuncture appointment to 11:45 tomorrow so that I can be back before WE's wife arrives to pick us all up. We'll take the day off because of the rain and Pepper Jack will shuttle me to my appointment though I'll have to meet him at the store. When he dropped our packs off today the hostel owner Joe was very grumpy and told him he doesn't allow other shuttle drivers on his property. There's no way I want to shuttle with Joe. I'm very comfortable with Pepper Jack and I don't want any additional anxiety right now.
Date: 2018-10-12
To: Richmond
Miles today: 0.0

Just before 5am Eddyman knocked on my door. The hallway was dark and he was going to the airport to see if he could get a flight home. His was cancelled too but not rebooked. I'm staying here I explained and I'll fly out tomorrow. I'd already looked at my options and the best one was to just leave tomorrow morning. At 5:30 I grabbed my headlamp and wandered down the hall and the 4 flights of stairs in search of a bagel. There were none out. I returned to my bed for more rest and at 8am was successful in the pursuit. I enjoyed the bagel in the lobby while the hotel manager had a meeting with the housekeeping staff to discuss what can and should be done in the dark. She was headed out to assess nearby damage because Virginia power couldn't give her an ETA on restoration. I waited in my room until 10am and then started calling hotels to see who did have power and a room. I scored one at Candlewood suites and booked it with early check-in. I departed the Holiday inn Express and with my backpack on walked the busy road .6 to my new home away for the night. I'm not in a trail town so the looks were quite different from what I'm used to. I'm certain for that walk I was homeless to everyone that passed by and not an AT hiker. I was well greeted at Candlewood suites, checked in and arranged my shuttle for 5:15am tomorrow for the airport. I settled in and relaxed most of the day getting my laundry done and food delivered from Panera that would last me all day. Mac and cheese and tomato soup. Delicious. I bought an ice cream sandwich from the little convenience store on site and my whole day was complete. I just have to wait now. And I'm anxious to get home and be in my own bed and wrapped up in my husband's loving arms. Home is healing.
Date: 2018-10-13
From: Richmond

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

I woke to the alarm at 4:15 showered and was in the lobby just after 5am. My shuttle driver was there to greet me and I was inside the airport getting checked in by 5:30. I bundled and tied down the straps on my pack as best I could and sent it off in checked baggage. I headed to my gate and once I located it I backtracked to Carabu Coffee for a raisin bagel with cream cheese. It was dry and chewy, like a potential choking hazard terrible. I ate some and threw the rest away and drank my apple juice. We boarded the plane heading to Charlotte NC where I'd have an hour to make a connection. I had some ginger ale in flight and stowed the cookie for Brian later. It was a quick up and down landing on time. In Charlotte I changed terminals and once again when I located my gate I backtracked to Einstein bagels for an actually edible raisin bagel with cream cheese. It was delicious and I ate just over half in flight. Some anxiety set in so I plugged my ears with the orange earbuds connected to my MP3 player and listened to country music with the other side of it plugged into the charging block I also had in my day pack carry-on. It was a good distraction and when we arrived at Manchester I made my way to the restroom first. As soon as I arrived at baggage claim I saw my backpack going around and scurried to grab it before it disappeared beyond the wall. I texted Brian in the cell phone lot and within 2 minutes he was in front of me with outstretched arms. It was wonderfully comforting to be enveloped in them and we went straight home. The knots in my stomach started melting away on the drive. At home I rested and hydrated and he made me small bits of food that appealed to me. We talked about tomorrow being Sunday and homemade soup and bread. We found ourselves at the grocery store picking up the necessary ingredients and looking forward to the next day together. Back on the sofa I settled in with a blanket watching the Red Sox game before drifting off to sleep and waking up just before midnight to watch the last inning. Snuggled into our bed a few minutes later I dowsed my pillow with lavender and prayed for a restful night and healing. So thankful to be here safe, warm and loved.
Date: 2018-11-13
From: Hurricane Gap

To: Tanyard Gap
Miles today: 3.4

What a difference a day makes! Lee made us pancakes for breakfast (I was delighted to have real maple syrup!) and after cleanup brought us out to Hurricane Gap to finish the hike from yesterday. We decided last night to move the camper up to Elizabethton TN a day early since it was still raining and our hike would only take an hour and a half. Lee waited for us at the parking area at Tanyard Gap and we hopped in. The hike was short and sweet a walk in the misty clouds with dripping trees. Not a true test of WE's new rain gear. Back at the camper we both showered and had lunch. I left my watch on top of the plastic bin of dry towels next to the toilet and I realized it while I was eating my sandwich intending to grab it after. But after lunch we packed up the camper to move it and during the festivities WE accidentally flushed my watch down into the black water tank. Mind you, it's a $35 watch so I wasn't distraught over it but just the same an attempt to retrieve it was valiantly made by WE who had already drained and flushed the tank with gray water. So she and Lee together worked for 20 minutes flushing more water into the tank from inside while WE watched outside for it to appear. All the while I'm pondering the idea of ever being able to wear this thing again. It was amazing how much poop was still in the tank after the initial empty and flush. I was relieved when their efforts produced no watch! May it live forever in the depths of the black water tank! I don't know what I would have done if they had recovered it!We hooked up and drove to our next campsite stopping for groceries along the way since we didn't know yet what would be offered close to our new home. We arrived at a pull thru site in a mostly permanently rented campground on the Watuga River and set up close to the bathhouse and laundry both sparkling clean and modern. I walked the dogs while they set up the camper. WE cooked some chicken breasts outside on the George Forman grill while Lee and I fixed the sides inside. Lee is a vegetarian and no meat is cooked inside the camper but the little grill is quick and efficient. I've been borrowing WE's Crocks to wear around since I didn't bring my camp shoes with me. To my surprise they're actually quite comfortable. We're about 2 miles to Walmart and a host of other stores and conveniences so after dinner Lee drove me to the shoe store and Walmart. I scored a pair of Crocks and a new watch exactly like my old one. Same color and everything, (minus the poop!) and I don't need a lesson on how to work or set it. Score!Tomorrow we've got a long drive to the trail head so it's a 5am wake up and a 13.5 mile hike over 5,000' in elevation. It's rest time.
Date: 2018-11-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We slept in today getting up after 8am. Lee made hash browns and eggs for breakfast and then I went to the laundry room at the campground and did a load of our hiking clothes. It took 3 cycles in the dryer to get the load dry. A ridiculously long time. It was after lunch when I returned to the camper so I made a sandwich and then we played a card game at which I lost. We then went to the movies in Johnson City and saw the Grinch. It was pretty good and the popcorn was great! On the way home we stopped at Walmart for a few groceries. The refrigerator is small so we shop frequently. We got a cooked rotisserie chicken and had it with a kale salad. It was a nice relaxing yet rainy day off. Tomorrow is a 19.5 mile day and we'll be leaving early so I made my sandwich for lunch and placed it in the fridge. Otherwise my bag is ready and we're expecting snow in the mountains. Brian worked to get his plow on and ready. I feel badly that I won't be there to shovel all the walkways and fire escapes for him. He's been so supportive of my journey. I hope one day I can do for him what he's done for me.