morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-09-26
From: Stealth on Bluff Mountain Mile 1396

To: US 501 mile 1404.9
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

Today is my 100th hiking day! Wooohooo! It's a big milestone. I will reach over 1400 AT miles. Go me. So, 1700 miles with the Benton Mackaye combined. Wow. I might treat myself to a Zero day tomorrow. Or maybe even a slackpack day. Also I have done 229 miles in Two weeks. I usually take a zero about every 200 miles or so. Or if it's bad rain! Haha. Tomorrow is suppose to get to 90. I don't want to hike in that. Isn't it Fall? I need it to cool off please. So I woke up at 5:30 and got on trail at 7:20am. I slept great last night. I forgot to mention the little marker up here for Little Ottis Cline Powell. He was the 4 year old who wandered off from a school and they found his body up here back on April 5, 1891. So sad. I hiked fast down the mountain. Got to US 501 at 11:15 and met JD, my driver to the Hostel. He is also a flip flop hiker who started in Harpers Ferry in April. He has been here a few days helping out at the Hostel. There was a man named Bob who lived next door and helped out here at the Hostel. He was on his way to the trail Saturday to pick up some hikers and went off the road flipping his car and was killed going down a cliff. Very sad news and I was hesitant to write about it but it is such a part of the journey. JD had stepped up and volunteered to stay here and help out for a week! The hiker community is amazing. So I got my great shower and when I was finished JD warmed up some leftover food that Donna, Bob's wife, had brought over. She said it helped her to stay busy. Later on we went to dinner. After dinner JD went to pick up a hiker. It was Red Beard! We all talked for a while and at 9pm I had to go to bed. I am tired. I have an entire bunk room to myself!
Date: 2017-09-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Taking the well deserved but more needed zero day today. I got up at 6 and Red Beard and JD were up drinking coffee. I made a breakfast sandwich and then went on the shuttle car ride taking another Just Dave hiker down to Catawba. On the way back we stopped at Walmart in Roanoke and I got my resupply. When I got back to the Hostel I was just plain lazy and watched a couple of movies. Detour and Ishmael stopped in and picked up some mail packages and got back on the trail. JD went and picked up Mrs. Joy at the trailhead and we all had dinner at the hostel. Had heard about her from others. She is doing just what I have done. Did the whole trail in sections but this year started in Harpers, went to Katahdin and back to Harpers to go to Springer to be a thru hiker. I had a very refreshing zero day and am ready to go back to the woods. Hoping for cooler weather.
Date: 2017-09-28
From: US 501 mile 1404.9

To: Stealth 1425.5
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Very good sleep at Stanimals Hostel last night. I was up at 6am. Coffee, breakfast and JD took me and Mrs Joy to the 501 parking and we were on trail at 8am. We hiked across the James River Footbridge together and then I hiked on. She said she wanted to dawdle. It was a long steady ascent up the first mountain. I got to Marble Spring and went the 300' off trail and found the lovely source of water. Took a lunch break there. Got back to the trail and met Red Beard doing his NOBO slack pack. Then I went up more mountains. Just beautiful today but not a lot of big views. Apple Orchard Mountain was my favorite today. I met a lady named Tree hiking with her cousin Pillow Talk and they told me there was a crazy lady at Cornelius Shelter and that they had called the Blue Ridge Park Rangers about her. When the rangers showed up at the shelter they left so they don't know if she is still at the shelter or not. I got water before the shelter so I could just go up the mountain and stealth. I met Detour and Ishmael at the water source and got water and went on my way. I had to clear out a spot on top of the mountain tonight. As I was setting up they passed by without even seeing me. I made stroganoff and had Oreo's and brushed my teeth and hung the food bag. The hiking was lovely today. There was a really nice breeze all day. I did big miles but it doesn't feel like it. I hope to say that in the morning. Goodnight.
Date: 2017-09-29
From: Stealth 1425.5

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Strange dreams last night that I was hanging out with Prince William. Very strange. We were hunting. What does it mean? Maybe because I went to bed listening to the coyotes and the hoot owls. Oh , and Sasquatch. Anyway I was up before the sun and made coffee and burritos and packed up and was hiking at 7:30am. I have decided to always fill up my water bottles at all times because it has not rained yet this September except for an hour in Shenandoah when I was at the lodge. It is so dry up here. The trail is not difficult today but going up Fork Mountain was somewhat steep even though it is only 2027' elevation. More ups and downs today. The weather is great. Took another break on Little Cove Mountain. Not many people out today. I had passed by Detour and Ishmael early this morning before 8 am and have only seen two other people. A man named Jerry who talked a little too long and then a guy who only said hello after I did. He was also going south. I filled my water up at Bearwallow Gap and then when I got to Mills Gap Overlook I took advantage of the picnic table and trash can and made cheese potatoes and chicken and rice. It was already 6 pm and I thought I would hike until dark and not cook. It was just a little ways to Peaks of Otter Overlook where in 2015 it was raining all day and I couldn't see a thing. This year it is so sunny and clear. I only hiked 1.5 more miles to Bobblets Gap Shelter. It said 0.2 down the hill but I think it's twice that distance. I got down to the shelter and the guy who passed by real fast is here. His name is MIA and he is a SOBO thru hiker. I sat my tent up and he is the only one in the shelter. I had a snack and went to look for the pole or food box but there isn't either. I didn't have any luck finding a tree to hang my bag so, yup, it is staying with me in my tent. I will say a prayer about it for sure. In bed by 8:30pm.
Date: 2017-09-30
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: US 220
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally feels like Fall. It was in the high 40's overnight and this morning the wind chill is cold. Slept great. No bears! On trail at 7:30am. MIA was already gone. Saw a man trail running at 8am. The AT follows along the Blue Ridge Parkway for several miles. I didn't stop much today because I wanted to get to Daleville. I was up on one of the Ridges and called several hotels and they were all full. What is going on? I finally got a room at Motel 6 and she told me the Virginia Tech game was tonight. Ugh. I forgot but so happy I got something. I took my last break up at Fullhardt Shelter and then went the 5 miles to US 220. I walked to Kroger for my resupply but ate at Wendy's first. Then I walked the long 1.2 miles to Motel 6. I wish I knew about the Dollar General Marketplace across from the Motel. Got my shower and washed clothes. The police showed up here for something. I guess I'm on the shady side of town but my room is nice and clean so I'm not complaining. Going to bed by 9 and hope to go to church tomorrow.
Date: 2017-10-01
From: US 220

To: Lamberts Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! Is it really October? Time is flying. I slept amazingly well. Got up at 5:30am and went and put my clothes in the dryer and got coffee in the foyer. I got all of my things organized and just finished polishing my nails when Donna from the Dale Ridge Church of Christ called and said Bob would be picking me up. So wonderful. Church was a blessing and a lady named Lynn told me she would take me back to the trail after the luncheon. Home cooked food! I was on the trail by 1pm. There are quite a lot of people out here hiking up to the ridge line. The overlooks to Carvin Cove Resevoir are breathtaking. I wanted to get to Tinker Cliffs for sunset, and I could have, but there is a ban on stealth camping and I would have had to hike 4 miles in the dark with my headlamp. I decided Lambert Meadow was my destination tonight. I arrived about 5:30 and it is a great campsite with a picnic table and great water source. I made some cheesy potatoes and the little bear wanted some too. Oh no. He got about 10 feet to my tent before i noticed him. He was medium sized I think maybe 175 pounds is my guess. My first reaction was not to take a picture of him but to chase him off by banging my pot and lid. If I wasn't camping here I would have taken the picture. He looked so sad but he left. They really are cute but I sure hope he doesn't return. They have the large bear boxes here to put your food in. Very nice. It's a long johns kind of night and I even have socks on. I like it but it's hard getting out of the sleeping bag in the morning. It's only 7:40pm and I am going to bed. Hope to get up and hike the 2 miles in the dark to see sunrise at Tinker Cliffs. I think I will make coffee up there.
Date: 2017-10-02
From: Lamberts Meadow Campsite

To: VA 624
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

The bear never returned as far as I know. A hiker came in about 9 I think and cowboy camped. He was still there when I left this morning. It got down to about 40 degrees overnight and I had to hike out with my long pants and long sleeves with gloves on. I didn't hike in the dark to Tinker Cliffs but still made it up there very early for a gorgeous morning light view. I knew the Cliffs were on the east side anyway. Made it to McAfee Knob at 11 and took a nice long one hour lunch break. Karen and Ed from NM gave me some awesome cashews. Their daughters boyfriend is about to summit Katahdin. He was NOBO. As I hiked down, a 2016 thru hiker, LT. Dan, asked if I would like some Gatorade! Thank you, yes please. After that I hiked all the way to the road that leads to Four Pines Hostel. I was at the road and had just turned when someone honked. It was Donna, the Hostel owner. What great timing. I got a ride there. I wasn't there but a few minutes when all the hikers piled in a van to go to the grocery store. I jumped in. Got some sandwich fixings. Then when we got back we sat around eating and I finally took a shower. Sat up my tent up on the hill out back. What a great group here. Most are sectioning except for Compass and Crackhead who are both SOBO thru hikers. They had a big fire going outside but I am just tired. Going to bed by 9. Great day today.
Date: 2017-10-03
From: VA 624

To: Stealth mile 1497.4
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

There was no rain at all last night but my tent was soaked inside and out with condensation. I was dry but I sure had to squeegee it before sitting up. I went inside at about 6 and turned on the coffee. I lingered a long time here after I hung my tent on the line to dry. I enjoyed talking with Ironheart. His story is inspiring. Cherokee Rose showed up here this morning. She had a bag of pawpaws and said she was going to bake with them. They are all over the place along the trail. We cut one open to smell it. I don't know if I like it. I gathered my things and Doodle Bug took me to the trail at 11am. I hiked up the technical rocks to Dragons Tooth first thing. I was super careful because it is timber rattlesnake territory. It is very beautiful out here today. I hiked down to Trout Creek and got water. I filled up my big bag so I could stealth camp. I have taken way too many breaks today and I find myself daydreaming about seeing Dave and Gracie next week. Then I start planning and find my break was long. So after getting water I went 2 miles up the hill and set up camp about 6 pm. Today was only 10 miles but it's okay. Sometimes that just happens. I watched the sun set as I ate potatoes and ramen noodles and a leftover brownie from the Hostel. Hung my food bag and I am going to bed before 8 pm.
Date: 2017-10-04
From: Stealth mile 1497.4

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

Since I went to bed so early, I got up early. I made breakfast and got on trail about 6:20am and hiked with my headlamp. Got up to Audie Murphy Memorial about 7am. He was the most decorated WWII Veteran and died near this site in a plane crash in 1971. When I left there, I heard hound dogs. Several men were out hunting bears with several dogs. It was an awesome sight to see! They had tracked something and were going crazy. Then I ran into RedBeard doing a slackpack north. Got to Niday Shelter at 10:30 and had a second breakfast break. I passed the sign for the Eastern Continental Divide today. Also reached 1500 miles on the AT. Woo hoo! Some memories from 2015 are filling the day. Passing the old Keffer Oak tree where C.Shell, D.No, Just Dave, and I had sat up our tents to get out of the rain. Today is so hot and dry. We need rain. I got down to Sinking Creek and took a quick bath. Then hiked through pastures in the full hot sun with my umbrella for some shade. Then the last mile going up to the shelter is a Rhododendron forest. I arrived at Laurel Creek Shelter at 6pm and sat up my tent and ate dinner. Not another person here at this shelter tonight.
Date: 2017-10-05
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Stealth mile 1532
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Nobody showed up here last night. I woke up at 5 and made myself go back to sleep. Then when I looked at the time it was 6:48 am! I couldn't believe it. I slept almost 10 hours. I guess I needed that. Didn't even have to get up to pee. Took a break at 5 miles and after that the next 4 miles were literally uphill the entire way. Met a NOBO while going up. Aww it was Flip! I had met him way, way back at Rock n Sole Hostel. He had started in Harpers Ferry also but he went down to Springer to hike North back to Harpers Ferry. I got to Wind Rock and took another break at the view. I feel a bit sluggish today. Not sure why. As I was leaving Wind Rock view, Ishmael and Detour showed up. Haven't seen them for over a week. I hiked on and three men were hiking toward me. They moved to the side to let me pass and one of them said he knows me. Well, he knows me from Trail Journals. Again, it is so nice when this happens. I took a picture with him. His name is Dog Tags. Thanks for the info about the water. It seemed like the next two miles was all rocks and reminded me of parts of PA. It was rough going and I was exhausted. I past the shelter and went the 0.2 down the hill to get water. I carried extra so I could stealth camp. I went another half a mile and found a little spot for one tent under some rhododendron trees. Made potatoes and ramen for dinner and had a Little Debbie Honey Bun for dessert. Hung my food bag and in bed by 8:45pm.
Date: 2017-10-06
From: Stealth mile 1532

To: Pearis Cemetery Parking 1554.5
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Very long and kind of a boring day. Don't have very much to say but water is hard to find. Shared a small spring with the yellow jackets also looking for water. I decided to go the distance to Pearisburg so I could have tomorrow off. I am super worn out. Or I should say my feet are. Didn't see another thru hiker only a couple of day hikers. Got to the Pearisburg Cemetery Parking and Chris from the Hostel picked me up. Stopped at Pizza Plus and picked up the pizza I had ordered while up on a mountain. Awww great little place this Angels Rest Hikers Haven. Shower and sleep!
Date: 2017-10-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zeroing today. I was thinking about a slackpack but the ride to the trailhead is too expensive. Hostels will charge by the mile to take you to a location so you can hike with minimal things in your pack leaving your stuff at the Hostel. It would cost me $37.50 to hike 11 miles. Just not worth it. My feet need the rest anyway. Hikers I met here at the Hostel are Finn the Human, and his brother Thor, Magpie with her dog Zinga, Sail, who started on the Pinhoti Trail, What a Load, John, and Shiner. I ate my leftover pizza for breakfast and walked to Food Lion. Red Beard arrived at the Hostel today and will be in the trailers other bedroom. I forgot to mention the room I am in is in a mobile home. It's very cute. I baked a lemon cake here in the kitchen. Yum! Chris and What A Load went to pick up some hikers and on the way dropped me and Red Beard off at Walmart. I connected with a man named Doug, and his wife Laurene. I had met him the day before on the trail and we talked about Lyme Disease. I was so happy I got to meet her too here at Walmart. We talked a lot about it. I hope you two keep in touch with me. It was so nice talking to you. Back at the hostel I made some dinner and shared it with RedBeard. It is suppose to rain for the next four days or so but I will be hiking out in it tomorrow. We need the rain even if it is no fun to hike in. Can't wait until Tuesday. Going to bed about 9:30pm. I feel well rested.
Date: 2017-10-08
From: Pearis Cemetery Parking 1554.5

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Was up at 5 am. Coffee, breakfast, and a shower. It is barely sprinkling. Heading out at 8 am. On the trail and just very light rain but beautiful puffy white low hanging clouds. First climb was up to Angels Rest and the view was amazing. I was up on the ridge line most of the morning. Met Tornado who will be finished when he gets to Roanoke area! It must feel good. I got to Sugar Run Gap about 2 pm and almost thought about going to Woods Hole Hostel but made myself continue on. There still wasn't any rain but the views were now socked in with the low clouds and fog. I passed two men and then saw Detour. It is his dad and brother out hiking with him and Ishmael for a few days. There are a lot of section hikers out hiking north. I met a man with a Vizsla named Little Ann. Cute dog. I arrived at Wapiti Shelter at 6 pm and there is nobody here. It is suppose to rain all night beginning about 8 pm. The wind is picking up. I ate pizza for dinner and a tortilla with peanut butter for dessert. Was still hungry and had some Belvita breakfast cookies also. I got a great picture after watching a big fat frog eat an inchworm! Yum. He looked happy. Hung my food bag but double bagged it in my Zpacks food bags knowing it will be hanging in rain all night. I have never had food in my bag get wet. I've never slept in a shelter alone. I feel more vulnerable in the shelter then I do my tent for some odd reason. I hope I sleep okay. Going to bed at 8pm.
Date: 2017-10-09
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: moderate rain

Well, for the first time, water got in my food bag. It wasn't real bad and the only thing that was affected was my Stevia packs. It rained very hard all night. So very thankful I was in this shelter. I had it all to myself all night so I took up all the space and slept at the back sideways because the rain mist was coming in at the front. I made the mistake of hanging my down jacket on a hook. It took in a lot of moisture. I ate pizza and had coffee and took my time getting on the trail. I got out at 8:30am. No rain just high humidity and water falling off trees. I skipped going the 0.3 miles one way to Dismal Falls. I have a great memory of going there with Just Dave in 2015. Instead I went the 0.5 miles one way to Trent's Grocery. I arrived at 12:30 and met Albert the store owners dad who told me about the murders of the two hikers over 30 years ago at Wapiti Shelter. Any connection to my strange uncomfortable feelings I had there last night? It was creepy. I had a big cheeseburger and fries and a fried cherry pie and hiked on at 2pm. I got to Jenny Knob Shelter about 6 pm. Two guys who I met at Four Pines were here. I think their names are Jose and Kelly. Also here is Sherry, a firefighter from Orlando area out hiking for a week. They all put their backpacks with their food on top of the shelter. I've never seen that before. The roof is low in the back and I think a bear can get up it. I ate some pizza and donuts and hung my food bag. This was the highest branch I have ever been able to throw a rock bag over. It did take three times but go me. I am sleeping in the shelter with the others. Hope it's quiet.
Date: 2017-10-10
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: US Route 52
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up just before 6am and tried to be quiet while I made coffee. So excited to see Dave and Gracie today. Got on trail at 8am. No rain this morning! I have 11 miles to get to Bland. Took a long break at the halfway point or so and Kelly and Jose caught up to me. Talked with Kelly until they got to their destination shelter for the day and I hiked on. I arrived at US 52 at 3 pm and found a restaurant! Yay. Called Dave to let him know where I am and got a burger and fries and a Mountain Dew. He got a bit lost and finally found me about 5:00 pm. So I will be off trail for a few days hanging out at Grindstone Recreational Area near Grayson Highlands. Plan is to take my granddaughter on the AT for two nights. We'll see if it works out. Stay tuned.
Date: 2017-10-15
From: US Route 52

To: VA Route 623
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Had an absolutely great 4 days off the trail with Gracie and Dave. Thank you so much to my wonderful neighbor and friend, Vickie, for the wonderful tasty care package. The muffins were my favorite. I ate them all! Dave brought me back to Bland and I was hiking by 10 am. Plans didn't work out for Gracie to hike a couple of days but we did some day hikes in Grayson Highlands. Had a lot of fun. Now I have some catching up to do. I hiked pretty fast for the first 6 miles or so. I got to Jenkins Shelter about 3 pm and found Mrs. Joy there. She was thinking about staying there due to big rain coming tonight. I ate a late lunch and decided to hike on. It seemed like I was going uphill most of the day. It wasn't too hot today but I needed a lot of water. I was going to camp tonight but there is just no water. The streams and springs are completely dry. There are some beautiful places to camp but since there is no water I called Saint Luke's Hostel. And of course, the big chance of rain being 100 percent. Hostel owner Mark picked me up and I could see the Hostel on the ride down the mountain. It is amazing. It is an old farmhouse over 100 years old on 100 plus acres. I have a room in the house to myself. No other hikers are here. Had an amazing dinner of lamb, roast pork, sweet potatoes, little white potatoes, green beans and rice! Watched Vinyl with Mark and Jessica, a girl who works here, and went to my room to read. Bed by 9pm.