morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-02-08
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I have been on the trail exactly one month. Soon the transition of the trail feeling real and home surreal, rather than the other way around, will be complete. My trail plan is to stay put until Thursday to let the snow and wind go by and then start moving again on Thursday. However, I need to get into the Greasy Creek Hostel on Saturday night, when the temperature at even the lower elevations here in Erwin is forecasted to be 4 degrees! So, I will be doing a lot of nurturing tomorrow and Wednesday while waiting to start again on Thursday. Flash52 and I split the room here last night at the Super 8, but he has gone his separate way tonight to a nice B&B. It's unlikely we'll hike together because of our much different pacing. His story is inspiring and I think he will be on trail journals soon. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-09
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is an excellent weather zero day because it's a dark, snowy, cold, and windy day here in Erwin, TN at 1750 feet. There is much more of everything at higher elevation. I am still at the Super 8. It's clean. I have a refrigerator and microwave and I can walk to everywhere I need to go, so I am all set. The snow is forecasted to taper off tomorrow. I am not going to fret about the weather. Right now in a serendipity way the weather may actually be my friend because the weather's timing has taken me off the trail, which is providing time for me to rest my right knee just when I need to rest it the most. Tomorrow I will start doing trail-calculus and adjusting plans as a consequence of all new trail conditions once again. But the three main weather options are: move through whatever snow is at higher elevation, wait for warm weather to reduce the snow depth at higher elevation, or bypass to lower elevation in order to continue hiking and return later. The first weather option uses an assumption that the trail's trace can even be seen. The second option uses an assumption that warm weather will come my way soon. Anyway, it's all part of the fun of winter hiking. Or, maybe get a job in Erwin shoveling snow for a few days? Tonight I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-02-11
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

After reminding myself that the essence of what I am actually doing is an extended vacation, I have finalized a revised trail plan: on Friday, I will shuttle forty-five miles around the 5,000 and 6,000 foot higher elevations to a hostel and restart NOBO at Elk Park, NC on Sunday with 3,000 foot elevations. I will return to complete the forty-five miles later, probably when I do my SOBO mini flip flop through the Smokies in the Spring. By restarting on Sunday at Elk Park, I will have provided my right knee with seven uninterrupted days of rest and avoided immediately stressing my knee by post-holing in deeper snow at higher elevation. Also, Sunday is the last day of the cold snap we are having. I think this revised trail plan is an error on the side of prudence, which is my preferred error, especially in winter. My key task is to stay on the winter's trail but not try to defeat it. I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-02-12
From: Erwin, TN

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today I car shuttled around the 5,000 and 6,000 foot elevations between Erwin, TN and the town of Roan Mountain, TN. I am in the rustic but charming Mountain Harbour Hostel tonight, which is within a short walking distance of the AT. The caretaker, Country Gold, is pampering me by keeping the wood stove going. I will spend tonight and tomorrow night here and start hiking on Sunday morning. The wind and frigid temperatures should have passed through by then. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-14
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Mountaineer Shelter, TN
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After an incredible breakfast at the Mountain Harbour B&B and hostel, I started hiking the snow covered trail at 10:00 a.m. The AT has followed the TN and NC border for many miles, but today the trail headed northwest and I left North Carolina behind. I won't see NC again until I return in the Spring to do the high elevations I shuttled around because of weather. It worked out that today was a short day because I arrived at the shelter just as a heavy snow started. The forecast is for another weather event through Monday night, but this time it may be a mix of everything, to include the worse case: freezing rain. Ice on rhododendrons makes them nearly impenetrable. Tomorrow when I see what's happened during the night I will decide to hike or sit tight until the storm passes. I am in a modern, large, comfortable shelter that is well protected from wind and blowing snow; additionally, I am only twenty miles from resupply in Hampton, TN, so I have options. My right knee appreciated the short day too. It's not 100%, but it got me here. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-15
From: Mountaineer Shelter, TN

To: Moreland Gap Shelter, TN
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It stopped snowing this morning at 6:30 a.m., the temperatures were moderating, and there was no wind, so I decided to hike to the next shelter, rather than wait for a better weather forecast. Lucky for me the afternoon forecast for rain and freezing rain didn't happen. Just after I arrived this afternoon at Moreland Gap Shelter the wind picked up, which always makes my sleeping bag seem cozier. Right now the wind is roaring over the back of the shelter rattling the sheet metal roof. This shelter is actually extra stout, being made by the U.S. Forest Service with cinder blocks. It looks like heck, but it's rugged. I haven't seen anyone on the trail in two days. Everyone is busy hiking their own hike and adjusting for weather and terrain, so us NOBOs are spread out on the trail more than we were a few weeks ago. I am thinking that the last of the SOBOs may have passed me by now. Thank you to everyone who has signed my guestbook. I like to return emails, but I need to wait until I am in town when I can plug my IPhone into an outlet. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-16
From: Moreland Gap Shelter, TN

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

Last night after the high winds it rained, but this morning it snowed lightly, as if the weather is on six hour shifts or something. On my way today I stopped at the Kincora Hiking Hostel to meet Bob Peoples who owns the hostel. Bob is well known on the trail for his hostel and his trail maintenance work. Before I retired, Bob's son-in-law and I were coworkers for many years in Vermont. I arrived too early in the day to stay at Kincora, so after talking with Bob for a long time, I moved on. Today I did the rhododendron low crawl. When I was in Hot Springs, NC, I bought a ten foot piece of light rope to tie to my pack so that I could drag my pack behind me as I low crawled under weather laden rhododendrons, like a sapper going under the wire dragging his explosives behind him, just not as exciting. Tonight I am staying at the Braemar Castle Hostel, which is very clean and modern. I arrived late today because of my dilly-dallying. I will have to zero here to ensure I can eat enough restaurant food before returning to the trail. The whole point of a town day is to eat meat and vegetables and fresh fruit. And ice cream. And chocolate milk. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-17
From: Hampton, TN

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I zeroed in Hampton, TN in order to eat, which I did. I've had four well-spaced meals so far, and I will have one more in the morning before I get back on the trail. Hampton is nestled into mountains which were all snow covered today, so at least part of my day tomorrow will be snow-trekking. The people here are great and I feel at home in Hampton, Tennessee because of my hillbilly-royalty last name: McCoy. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-18
From: Hampton, TN

To: 2.5 miles N of Watauga Lake Shelter, TN
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: few clouds

As soon as I went up just a little in elevation this morning, I was immersed in a beautiful winter wonderland, with dry snow covering every piece of vegetation. But I think that may be the end of wonderland because temperatures are supposed to start rising for the next few days. Later in the day when I lost elevation the snow disappeared and it was a sunshiny spring-like day. The first shelter north of Hampton was too close to today's start point, so I am tenting between shelters in ideal weather tonight. I didn't see any hikers today, but I did come across a work party of a dozen volunteer trail maintainers from the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club. Bob Peoples, who I met at his hostel two days ago, was one of the volunteers. I am falling asleep listening to Norah Jones sing, "Come Away With Me," which tonight, sounds like an AT lullaby. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-19
From: 2.5 miles N of Watauga Lake Shelter, TN

To: Iron Mountain Shelter, TN
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Yesterday's late afternoon, low elevation, spring-like hike didn't last. After hiking less than one hour this morning, I was back into my gaiters and creepers and I stayed tricked-out for snow the entire day. At 3,000 feet and higher, the snow was much deeper than I expected it would be, even though I hiked at this elevation the previous week. My next town stop is almost twenty-seven miles from here, which is still too far for me to reach in two days, especially that I am back into deep snow travel and being optimistically cautious with my right knee. So I will do it in three days, which means I'll have some short days. I thought I might see some hikers today since it's the start of the weekend, but perhaps tomorrow. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-20
From: Iron Mountain Shelter, TN

To: Double Spring Shelter, TN
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

As planned, today was a very short day. It was either pull up here or hike another 8.3 miles to the next shelter, which I decided not to do, yet. The shelter spacing here is very close, which makes it difficult to get into a ten to twelve mile daily rhythm and stay in shelters. It's not good tenting weather right now because the snow on the ground is a slurry. I didn't see any hikers today, but I met two very nice women, Owl and Terry, from the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club. We were headed to the same shelter, but their purpose was to perform shelter maintenance. When we arrived at the shelter, we ate and chatted, and then they did their maintenance work and were gone. The trail today was in and out of slippery wet snow. I am about to start a long stretch of rain, which should melt the snow and make trail surface conditions more predictable until the next snow event. The fog is very dense and it's raining on my tin roof, but I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-21
From: Double Spring Shelter, TN

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter, TN
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Today was a perfectly rainy day. I have a notion that beautifully sunny, dry, and warm trail weather is earned by graciously accepting trail weather that is not. However, my level of graciousness today was likely assisted by my short mileage today. I didn't see anyone today, but it's so foggy that it's possible I may have passed someone without realizing it! Winter hiking provides spectacularly long views that summer foliage hiking doesn't provide, but the trade-off is more fog in winter. But dense fog always makes the trail seem cozy and personal. I absolutely cannot complain about the accuracy of NOAA weather forecasts; moreover, there hasn't been a night yet that I couldn't receive at least one NOAA transmitter. By comparison I can go days without internet weather forecasts, which makes me miss atweather.org. I am hiking into town tomorrow to eat. My comfort-zone on the trail before coming in for restaurant food and resupply is five days. Einstein just arrived! He is a 21 year old NOBO from Maryland that I met briefly when I stopped in at Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin, TN. The rain is driving hard on the shelter's tin roof, but I am safe, dry, and warm and there is company tonight.
Date: 2016-02-22
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0

I arrived in Damascus, Virginia today! It feels good to be in Virginia, which is fortunate because there are 535 trail miles in Virginia, the most of any state, so I will be here awhile. Nevertheless, I still feel blessed to be here, although more winter weather is coming. I am at the Woodchuck Hostel in Damascus, which is very nice. There are five young NOBO's here at the hostel that I met previously on the trail, so it's nice company. I went to dinner with Einstein tonight to an all we could eat pizza buffet. I will zero in Damascus to resupply and eat at least four more meals before going back out. My right knee is well now, but I will continue hiking modest mileage until March, which is just a week away! Actually, I don't even like to talk about my knee being healed for fear of jinxing it. But the week's rest and avoiding the high elevation deep snow north of Erwin on Roan Mountain seemed to set the conditions for my knee to heal. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight and I have company.
Date: 2016-02-23
From: Damascus, VA

To: Demascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Every two months I see an ophthalmologist. To keep me closer to the trail, my ophthalmologist at home made an appointment for me here in Virginia on 2 March. I will rent a car in Marion, VA on 1 March to travel to my appointment in Charlottesville, VA and then return to Marion on 3 March and the trail on 4 March. I will hike out of Damascus tomorrow and should have plenty of time to reach Marion and my rental car before leaving the trail for Charlottesville. I ate three good meals today and I will have breakfast here at the hostel before hitting the trail again in the morning. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-24
From: Demascus, VA

To: Saunders Shelter, VA
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light snow

I left the Woodchuck Hostel in Damascus this morning after breakfast and hiked in warm, windy weather, but it's cooling off now and it's forecasted to snow tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow's shelter choices are 6.3 or 18.7 miles from here. I will have to do 6.3. If it weren't forecasted to snow, I could tent between the shelters, but I am afraid to expose my little three season tent to a snow load. It's a great tent with high sides, but it has a fairly flat top that will load with snow. The rain is on my shelter's tin roof again, but soon it will turn to gentle snow. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-25
From: Saunders Shelter, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter, VA
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light snow

Today was a short winter's day of hiking, but the snowy, slate gray, low sky didn't lend to cell phone photography, so I don't have a journal photograph tonight. In the shelter tonight are Sundown, who completed a NOBO AT through hike in 2001, and also Bonnie and Clyde, who plan to get married on the summit of Katahdin when they finish their hike. I am happy to have so much company, especially since we're going over 5,000 feet tomorrow and we're not sure what the snow from last night and today may have left for depth and drifts at that elevation. In our favor is tomorrow's forecast of cloudy but dry weather with moderating temperatures and much less wind. Tomorrow will be a test for my right knee. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight with lots of company on a winter's night.
Date: 2016-02-26
From: Lost Mountain Shelter, VA

To: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 12.4

Today was a cold winter's hike, but I was fortunately surprised that the snow on the way up to Thomas Knob Shelter at 5,430 feet wasn't too bad. At least there wasn't any post-holing in very deep snow; however, today was a frozen water bottle kind of day, which is hard on the fingers. If gloves were removed to even unwrap a candy bar, it took the fingers thirty minutes to warm up again. On the way today, I passed a half mile side trail to Mt. Rogers, which is Virginia's highest peak at 5,729. It was in the clouds. Eight weekend hikers arrived at the shelter in the late afternoon. It's a good thing this shelter has a loft! We are all tucked in for a cold night, but tomorrow the sun is forecasted to come out. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-27
From: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

To: Old Orchard Shelter, VA
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was a wonderful winter's hike. I passed through Grayson Highlands State Park, but didn't see any wild ponies, which the park is famous for. It was very windy and cold so the ponies must have been taking shelter where ever wild ponies go to take shelter. The highland area is such interesting terrain. It's very open with rolling hills but all at high elevation. It's not above tree line, but it has that kind of look to it. Unfortunately my cell phone went from 48% charge to 0% between taking it out of my pocket, turning it on, and unlocking it. The cold and wind at elevation was just too much for its battery, so I didn't get photos of the highlands. I thought I was going to be alone in this shelter tonight, but then fifteen high school kids and three teachers from a boarding school in Durham, NC arrived! It's all very chaotic but a nice change of routine for me. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-02-28
From: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

To: Trimpi Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: few clouds

Today was a glorious day of hiking in lower elevation, warm temperature, sunshine, cloudless blue sky, and an almost snowless, fast trail. My shoes were bone dry and I was wearing a pair of clean dry socks, and after 10 a.m., I was wearing just one layer. It's almost 7 p.m. now and the temperature hasn't cooled much yet. Everything seems so easy in warmer weather, especially for the hands, which take a beating in constant colder temperatures. I am alone tonight, which is quite the contrast from last night's high schoolers at Old Orchard Shelter, but it was fun to see them hiking and camping. I had a day hiker take my photo today. What a difference two days of weather can make! When traversing the Mount Rogers Highlands and then the Grayson Highlands two days ago, I was wearing everything I had. Today I was dressed for summer, almost. Tonight I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-02-29
From: Trimpi Shelter, VA

To: Partnership Shelter (6 mi. E of Marion, VA)
Miles today: 10.0

Today was another perfect hiking day with abundant sunshine and warm weather and a snowless trail. Tonight I am in a motel in Marion, VA. Trail angel Jim Sparks gave me a ride into Marion from Partnership Shelter. I will travel by rental car to Charlottesville, VA tomorrow in order to be at my appointment on Wednesday, 2 March. I will return to Marion on 3 March and start hiking north from Partnership Shelter on 4 March. The logistics of getting off and back on the trail as efficiently as possible seems to be working out. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-01
From: Marion, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am feeling very humble that today is March 1st and I am on the waning winter's trail. When envisioning my hike, I didn't really care about my trail location on March 1st; rather, I cared about being on the trail at all, and what shape my attitude and body would be in after almost two months of winter hiking. Winter is not yet over, but the snow storms yet to come in March won't have the same long, lingering snow depth and cold temperatures that storms in January and February had, but I am not sending my winter gear home just yet. Today I picked up my rental car in Marion, VA and drove almost four hours to Charlottesville, VA so that I can be at my appointment tomorrow. If a person must spend four hours on an interstate, I81 in southwestern Virginia is the place to do it. It's a beautiful countryside to pass through. I included a gear photo today. Today I replaced the worn or missing studs on my creepers, which I love because these creepers are really good at ice and snow; whereas, most creepers are good at just ice. The trade off is weight, as with all backpacking trade offs. I wore these creepers at work in winter for many years before retiring from an electric utility in Vermont. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-02
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I puttered around before having a taxi take me to my appointment and another taxi bring me back to my hotel here in Charlottesville. The appointment was lengthy but routine, and I now have two more months of hiking before the next appointment. Tomorrow I will drive my rental car back to Marion, VA and then have the rental car company drop me off on the AT in the late afternoon, which they agreed to do when I picked up the car. I have been making estimates of when and where to exchange my cold weather gear for my warmer weather gear. Sending the bulky winter gear home will free-up pack space for more food, so that I can eat more when hiking or travel further between resupply places. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-03
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I traveled back to Marion from my appointment in Charlottesville, bought food for the next section, stopped at the new outfitter in Marion called the Main Street Outfitter, went to the post office, ate, returned the rental car, and then got a six mile ride out of Marion by the rental car company back to the trail. I am now tucked into Partnership Shelter for the night and will start hiking north in the morning from here. Snow is forecasted for tonight, but the temperature isn't plunging, so that will make life easier during morning fuss time and transition to the trail. Just after I arrived at Partnership Shelter, a young through hiker named Jaywalker passed by on his way to Marion. Also, when at the Main Street Outfitter, I found out that Bonnie & Clyde were in Marion. This afternoon, I bought a lighter weight air mattress at the outfitter and then I mailed my heavy Exped 9, down-insulated air mattress home. My down-insulated air mattress was the secret weapon for January and February winter travel, but it's too well insulated and warm now. My new Eureka air mattress has a built-in hand pump, just like my down-filled air mattress has, which is very cool. I am keeping my zero degree sleeping bag for awhile longer. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-03-04
From: Partnership Selter, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.2

The two shelter choices today north of Partnership Shelter were at 6.7 miles and the next at a staggering 25.6 miles. Luckily the town of Atkins, VA is between the two, so here I am. Atkins is a mini trail town in that a motel, two restaurants, and two convenience stores are within two hundred feet of the trail. All of these are clustered around an Interstate 81 exit. I am staying at the motel tonight, which is a relic from the 1950's, but is suiting my purpose just fine. There are six other thru hikers at the motel tonight: Bonnie & Clyde, Peaches, Gronk, Jaywalker, and Zbear. I had dinner with Peaches, who is a twenty-one year old SOBO from Dallas, TX. Today was a gray late winter's hike, but still a gaiters and creepers and hat and gloves day on the trail. But soon the weather will change and bring different trail challenges. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.