morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-04
From: Dragons Tooth 

To: Campbell Shelter- Pig Farm Campsite
Miles today: 12.8

First of all I want to thank everyone for their concern when I do not update for a few days. Some days I don¢t have signal, and I¢m still working on battery conservation. Seaneen and I think we have a plan. When I have no signal, and I have to update her via garmin satellite transmission as to my status and safety, she will update my location and mileage with a note saying I¢m safe and the post is coming.I did not sleep very well last night. I was sticky and out of water, which means pretty much out of food too. I set an alarm to see the sunrise but I was up prior to that. I got dressed and climbed Dragons Tooth to see an incredible sunrise. The hike down was steep and probably one of the most technical so far. The views were very nice. I walked the 3.5 miles to the grocery store where I had breakfast, charged my phone, and resupplied. I stayed there way too long and I talked to Ahh Kash, locals, and other hikers for a while. Back on the trail I washed my underwear in the creek and hung them on the outside of my pack to dry. I walked through several meadows eary today which I like. There are so many butterflies in this area, and so many different types. The day was warming up and I took many breaks and chatted with many hikers. At one of the road crossings I saw a short bus converted to a camper and I stopped to check it out. It was Odie, he publishes the Hiker Yearbook. He was doing trail magic. I had two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts and stocked up on water. I stopped at the next two shelters and snacked. I made it to McAfee knob for some photos around 5pm, later than I wanted. The next shelter was 1 mile, and the one after was 6. Another 3 hours of hiking would have been hiking until 8pm. I didn¢t have it in me and you are not supposed to stealth camp in this area. So I pitched a tent at Pig Farm Campsite/Campbell Shelter. There was a deer hanging out about 10 feet from me eating while I was setting up my tent. I didn¢t even notice her at first. She finally got spooked and ran off. She was back in camp later. I met Roadrunner, and I saw Hiccups, Sherpa, Flying Fish, and Skitch both Japanese Hikers. Skitch speaks english, Flying Fish not so much. I will have a couple longer hikes the next two days before Seaneen arrives on Thursday but, that¢s ok because she can always pick me up a few miles south of the planned meet up, if necessary. Wildlife update: many squirrels and deer in camp.
Date: 2019-06-06
From: Daleville - Super 8

To: HarveyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Knob Overlook - Wattstull Motel
Miles today: 16.1

I woke well rested and in a hotel bed. I made it to the lobby for breakfast and had a hotel waffle and some cereal.  There are many hikers in the hotel and Ahh Kash joined me for a while. I also met Tadpole an Puma. I got back on the trail at 814. My original plan was to hike to Bearwallow gap, 20 miles.  I knew I would be in touch with Seaneen throughout the day and we would coordinate a pickup location as she was driving in from home. Looking at the AWOL and Guthooks the day didn¢t look too bad after the initial accent out of town.  I saw a hiker I had not seen since before Hot Springs, Mountain Sage.  He is an older guy with long hair and many tattoos. He hikes with no shirt on and makes really good mile.  I was happy to see him and we exchanged pleasantries.  I made good time up the initial hill, and stopped at the first shelter to take a break and eat a little.  Someone had left a note that there was a rattlesnake in the area.  I have not seen a rattlesnake yet. After the shelter and initial climb I thought the trail was going to level off with small ups and downs.  I was wrong it leveled off but with 500 ft ups and downs. On the way to the next shelter I saw several hikers taking a break. I noticed one of the hikers was carrying a hardback book. It was about 2.5 inches thick.  I commented on it and he says he makes it through a book pretty quick, and normally doesn¢t carry a hardback but he found this one at a hostel and liked it. I saw a deer while getting water prior to the 2nd shelter.  I stopped at shelter #2 and took a break and ate a little more food.  I touched base with Seaneen and it was decided I would meet her at Harvey¢s Knob overlooks 4.1 miles and approximately 2 hours away.  Seaneen was 2.5 hours away but I did not have enough time to make it further. On my way to Harvey¢s I saw the Ravens.  I had noticed in some of the shelter books that I was close behind them.  It was good to see them and I chatted with them for about 15 minutes. They are doing well and staying healthy.  They celebrated the daughter¢s birthday in Daleville.  I continued on and made it to Harvey¢s Knob at 4 pm.  Seaneen and Luci arrived just after 5 pm. While waiting I chatted with a guy and his son.  They were from Indiana, he had a boilermakers shirt on.  He is bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway, and his son is doing support for him. Another bicyclist stopped and asked if I could take his picture with the mountains in the background.  He is also bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway and is doing approximately 100 miles a day. We made it to the hotel quick.  Seaneen said I stink.  I don't think I stink, at least not that bad.  I had showered the night before and had washed all of my clothes.  FYI, you don¢t wear deodorant or cologne on the trail, it¢s useless. I showered and washed my clothes at the motel, we went to dinner, and then we both crashed as we were exhausted. Wildlife update: One deer.
Date: 2019-06-08
From: Sunset Field

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 11.4

I slept really good last night. My belly was full from dinner,and I was tired from my run. I did some calculations into the next week as Seaneen is going home Sunday and Rick is arriving Tuesday night. I had originally planned to meet Rick at mile 863 but, I am only going to make it to mile 824 by Tuesday night. We will be 40 miles, or just over two days from the Shenandoah¢s.  He and I will work it out. I went through my food supply and I am set for the next three days. I have to re-pack my backpack today as I emptied it and washed it.  It looks cleaner but still has a little odor to it. The plan for today was to wait out the rain; get 10 miles in; and relax before being dropped off at the trail tomorrow morning. Sunday¢s weather is supposed to be alright. Monday¢s weather is calling for rain all day.  We went to the Pink Cadillac diner for breakfast, a 50s Elvis themed diner. It was cute and the breakfast was good. Back at the motel I kept looking at the weather on two different apps. The forecast wasn¢t changing and it wasn¢t getting better.  I wanted to get the 10 miles in and do it downhill so I don¢t have to walk those 10 miles uphill tomorrow with a backpack on.  We set out and got to the drop off point.  It was pouring and I saw 5 hikers huddled under a sign pavilion.  They were waiting for a shuttle ride and we were not it.  I looked at the Guthook app and realized we were in the wrong spot, 18 miles from the pick up point. We were only supposed to be 11 something.  We drove to the correct drop off spot and I got out.  It was barely raining and I set out.  I saw Skitch, Ginger Bread, Sherpa, Hiccup, Mudflap, and I met Militant Buddhist.  I stopped at the second shelter and signed the book. I had just under three miles left and I knew the first of the last three was uphill. My legs felt good but I could tell I had run 12 yesterday.  The uphill was tough.  On the way down I saw a deer.  The deer was about 10 feet off the trail and it just looked at me as I jogged by. I made it in about 3 hours and 15 minutes.  We went back to the motel, I showered and we went to Ballast Point Brewery for dinner. Back at the motel Seaneen and I cut my hair.  It is the shortest it¢s been in a long time.  Seaneen is my true Trail Angel. She drove here from Illinois, and shuttled me to the trail head two days in a row so I could still get miles in while she was here. Wildlife update: deer and squirrels.
Date: 2019-06-09
From: Sunset Field 

To: Johns Hollow Shelter 
Miles today: 19.2

This morning I woke to the alarm clock. We had to get moving early so Seaneen could get on the road. We packed, showered, and hit the gas station across the street. It was overcast, cool, and drizzling. We had a 1/2 hour drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to the drop off point. As we were driving up the Mtn. to the Pkwy. I said we will soon be in the clouds. Sure enough the last 10 miles was in the clouds/fog. Seaneen dropped me off, we said our goodbyes, and I got one more Luci kiss. I headed into the woods and Seaneen headed toward home. I had 10-12 hours of hiking and she driving. I started at 645. It was drizzling. When I got into the woods it started raining, then pouring, then pouring sideways. Then it would switch between these forms of rain for pretty much the rest of the day minus 2 hours. I stopped at the 1st shelter to put on another jacket and use the restroom. There were 4 hikers there. I set my bag on the edge of the shelter, in the only place there was room. The girl sitting closest gave me a look. Usually when I¢m in a shelter and I¢m warm and dry and a wet hiker comes in we all make room and tell them to come in and get warm and dry. The other three just kind of looked at me. I asked all of them where the privy was, I got one answer. I think it¢s over there but not sure. They had all obviously stayed there last night and not one of them could spare the time to tell me where the privy was? I bit my tongue on the way out. The walk and rain continued. I told myself I would stop and stay at the 2nd shelter. I was getting more wet and a little cool, not cold. I got to the second shelter and Flying Fish was there taking a break. He said he was going to Glasgow to the hostel. I looked at Guthooks, it was 2 miles, I told him I¢d walk with him. The thought of a hostel, and dry bed sounded good. As we left the fog lifted and it seemed to have stopped raining and got a little warmer. When we got to Glasgow I decided to do another two miles to the next shelter. We crossed the longest foot bridge on the AT. I continued on and just before the next shelter I met Onesimus, he travels along the trail and does trail magic. He is retired military, and a former through hiker. Today he was handing out Clif bars. He¢s been known to hand out Ice Cream bars. He said there was no one at the next shelter. I got there and hung all of my wet stuff in the shelter. I made myself some hot dinner and got into dry clothes. I was alone for about 1.5 hours then another hiker came in but he was setting up his tent. Today was miserable, I was not miserable but the day was. I keep reminding myself, I like hiking in the rain.  I did do big mileage today. Some recent milestones: I hit 700, should hit 800 tomorrow, and I hit the 1/3 way marker. Wildlife update: nothing today.
Date: 2019-06-10
From: Johns Hollow Shelter 

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

I had the shelter all to myself. I had most of my clothes hung on a clothes line from one side of the shelter to the other. I slept alright. It rained all night and is supposed to rain most of the day, if not all day today.I am not feeling hungry this morning because I have this problem. I get bored if I get settled in too early, I eat my snacks which I¢m supposed to eat over two or three days. I will eat something before heading out because I don¢t want to stop in the rain and eat and I need the energy. The day started with an hour and twenty minutes climb. I got to the top of Bluff Mtn. at 820. There wasn¢t any indication of rain on either weather app, but It was raining and I was in the clouds/fog until 1100. The fog finally broke and the rain stopped but it was still overcast. I saw 5-6 fluorescent orange salamanders today. I saw a young buck with fuzzy antlers, he just watched me. The sun almost broke out while on a clearing after Bluff Mtn. I talked to an old work colleague for a while. Mudflap caught up and passed me. I made it to the first shelter and had lunch. There was a guy there and talking to him, he¢s from Missouri and works on barges that travel the Illinois River near Morris. I filled up with water but it tasted bad. I kept the minimum I¢d need. After the first shelter I hit the 800 mile mark! I had another deer scare me, she was about 5 feet off trail and I didn¢t see her. She jumped and ran from me. Late in the hiking day I met a guy named Patriot68. He¢s 71 years old and is doing a SOBO from Harpers Ferry to Springer Mtn. He has a YouTube channel I¢m supposed to check out. I got to the shelter at 430. It¢s supposed to storm tonight so I set up in the shelter. I cleaned up and had dinner. The shelter is next to a stream. A guy named Labamba was there. A few others arrived: Kentucky, ADD and one other. There was 4 of us in the shelter, one in a hammock. Wildlife update: Salamanders, Deer-buck & doe, squirrels.
Date: 2019-06-11
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Spy Rock Road 824.8
Miles today: 18.1

I left the shelter at 641. I knew I had miles to do so I could be at the pickup point when my buddy Rick got here from Illinois. I also knew I had a big climb right out of bed, and no water source for 12 miles. I didn¢t finish the climb until 855 and I had more miles to do. I met a hiker named Somewhere, and I saw one of the Ravens. The son passed me then I passed said hi and I never saw the rest of the family. While taking a break at the shelter and looked at Guthooks. The road Rick was supposed to pick me up at was listed as a gated road. When I got to the road it was very rough, narrow, and steep. I had to walk a half mile to get to the road closed gate. The road was still pretty treacherous. I was thinking there was no way Rick was finding me up there. And, of course we had no cell service. I walked 2 miles down this road and found a hiker parking lot. Rick arrived 10 minutes later. We checked into to Montebello Country Store and Campground. The campground was empty. We cooked dinner and had a fire. I showered and did laundry. We had a couple beers and a little bourbon. Rick set up his big tent and we slept in there. Wildlife update: Nothing
Date: 2019-06-12
From: Spy Rock Road - 824.8

To: Stealth Site -Three Ridges - 840.1
Miles today: 15.3

We woke in the campsite and made breakfast of coffee and oatmeal. We watched the sun come up over the pond that had a light steam coming off of it. We packed light as we would be camping one night. Rick was going to drop me off; drive ahead; hike in to meet me; and then we would hike back toward the truck and stealth camp.I drove to the trail head. The road was a fun drive up. Remember yesterday I described it as treacherous. I had the truck in 4WD. Rick dropped me off and he had to back down the road a quarter mile to get turned around. At the top of my first climb was Spy Rock. It was a huge bald rock at the top of a mountain with 360 degree views. I then had to climb The Priest. I stopped at the shelter and I was reading the shelter journal. All entries started with: Forgive me father for I have sinned...Apparently you are supposed to confession your sins to the Priest-shelter book. I thanked god for the wonderful trail. Coming down from the priest was a 4 mile decent, it took a long time. I got to a road crossing and saw Skitch. An older couple gave me some grapes. I knew I had a huge climb ahead of me and I knew I had to meet Rick. The climb took 4 hours!!! About 3400 feet in 6.4 miles. It was relentless. I/we met Pistol, Sunny Side Up, Dog Treat, & Flash. They had been following my shelter journal entries and were wondering when they would catch me. A very nice group of young kids. Toward the end of the day we met Gossiper, who says it¢s a joke because she keeps to herself. She was feeling very tired, but she continued on. Says she is only eating about 800 calories a day! We found a nice stealth camp location and set up. I made my dinner and I got a camp fire going. We got a little rain after we called it a night. Wildlife update: Snake, woodpecker, squirrels
Date: 2019-06-13
From: Stealth Site -Three Ridges - 840.1

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter 858.7
Miles today: 18.6

We got rained on all night but, it was after we enjoyed the fire. It was still rainy/foggy/in the clouds when we woke up. We packed up and it cloudy-rained on us until we go the 4+ miles to the car. I drove down to the Devil¢s Backbone Brewery and we had awesome breakfast. We went to their campground and showered and reorganized. Rick dropped me off at the trailhead and then shuttled three hikers down to the brewery.I started hiking toward the shelter. I was about a mile in and lost in my thoughts. I heard something and looked up. There was a small (100 lbs???) bear 20 ft in front of me. he ran about 50 feet off the trail. I looked around for Mama but didn¢t see any other bears. I snapped a couple pictures and clapped some rocks together. He kind of sauntered a little further but wasn¢t really interested in me or moving more.I calmly walked past the area then picked up the pace. I was talking to Seaneen on speaker phone, and I glanced to my left quick because there was a stone wall in the middle of the woods. I tripped and fell hard front/right side first with no bracing and a big Ugggghhh!!! All of this while Seaneen was listening. No scrapes, no injuries.I then met a trail maintainer who said there was a crew working just ahead but I could get through. I told him about the rock in the middle of the path that just tripped me. He laughed. I thanked all of them for their work! The crew said the wall was from farmers in the 1700s to keep cattle in. It actually has a landmark status and they cannot use/move the rocks.I was at the top of one of the mountains before my long decent and it started raining. I did not have any rain gear as it wasn¢t supposed to rain, and I was only out here one night before we get back to the truck. I use a disposable rain poncho as a bag cover and waited under a tree. Good thing there wasn¢t lightning, just a few pieces of hail. The rain brought out the fluorescent orange newts. I saw 8-10 of them. I made it to the shelter an hour and five minutes faster than I originally planned. We set up out tents and let them dry out from last night. We made hiker meal dinners, and had no luck starting a fire. We made plans for the next four days as we are going to drop the truck up north and get shuttled south, then walk back to the truck. Wildlife update: Bear, Newts, Snail, Squirrels.
Date: 2019-06-14
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter 858.7

To: Stealth Site - Little Calf Mtn. 870.1
Miles today: 11.4

I woke up in the night and was afraid to look at the clock because I knew it was not time to get up. It was 1230 and it looked as though someone was shining a light at my tent. I watched as maybe someone was setting up a tent. I finally opened my tent and looked. It was the moon it was so bright and the sky was so clear it was casting shadows. We got up and I hiked north to Rockfish Gap. I saw a family cemetery that had flagstones to mark the graves. I later saw an old fireplace/chimney. Rick hiked south to the truck and drove to rockfish.We went into town and put laundry in. We went across the street and had breakfast while the laundry was going. We also hit the Dollar General, Post Office, Kroger, Liquor store, and Outfitters. I bought new shoes, pair number four. We then headed for Swift Run Gap. We arranged to leave the car there and get shuttled back to Rockfish Gap by Stanimal (¢04 through hiker). On the way up we saw a bear standing on the wall/guard rail. We both did a double take. It was surreal. Stanimal picked us up and shuttled us back. I learned alot about running a hostel.Back on trial we had 7.7 to get to the shelter. I looked at Guthooks and there was no water in that 7.7 miles. We had water but not much. About 4 miles in I made an executive decision, we were stopping at Little Calf Mtn. We needed, and had enough, water for dinner and maybe coffee in the morning. If we needed water for breakfast we¢d hike the 1.5 to the shelter and eat breakfast there. At the first road crossing I Yogi¢d some water and we met some Ultra Marathon runners-they had just finished 40 miles!!! We pressed on and arrived at Little Calf Mountain, It¢s a Mtn . bald that was recently mowed. Yes!, this was the spot. We set up camp and made dinner.A deer kept grazing close to camp, then she¢d run away and come grazing back. I gathered firewood and hung the bear bags. The sunset was nice and I am looking forward to the sunrise.Several hikers passed us headed to the shelter. Just as it got dark a guy walked up, named Big Red, He¢s tall with red hair. He¢s part of the MN Hikings, three guys from MN that are hiking the trail together: Big Red, The Count, & BC. I¢ve been seeing their entries in the shelter logs and I¢ve finally met them. We stayed up a little later than normal talking and enjoying the fire and constellations.Wildlife update: Squirrels, Bear on a wall, deer.
Date: 2019-06-15
From: Stealth Site - Little Calf Mtn. 870.1

To: Blackrock Hut - 884.4
Miles today: 14.3

The moon was really bright again last night. The moon limited the number of stars that were visible but It was a pretty sky. The sunrise was nice. We made scrambled eggs for breakfast as I had hiked in 10 eggs. We had a little longer day today than we had planned because we stopped short yesterday. The trail is without water between shelters so we got cameled at the first shelter and met the other two MN. Hikers: Wizard and cheese curd. Wizard does look like a wizard, Cheese Curd does not look like cheese or a curd.At every road crossing and parking lot today there are hikers spread out relaxing, sleeping, or eating. We are in the Shenandoah¢s now and similar to the Smokies they force you in and around shelters and discourage stealth camping. We stopped at a parking lot for a break and I got anxious. I was pacing the parking lot and Ginger Bread¢s friend, Storm, saw me. I chatted with her for a while. Rick Yellow Blazed a few and I kept hiking. I re-met Rick a bit later and we hiked the last .7 in to the shelter. About .1 miles in a bear ran from aside the trail, it was probably 5 feet from me. This afternoon was hot and dry. We made it to the shelter and re hydrated. It was early so we chilled out. Rick played Bocci and I just chatted. We had dinner on our own time and gathered firewood. The crowd here is nice: Slim, the MN Hikers, and others. I went to bed early in the shelter and was journaling and planning. The fire was going nice and everyone was chatting. A guy walked in and was setting up in the shelter, he looked familiar but I couldn¢t place him. He looked at me and said, Viking? I recognized his voice. It was Memorial! I have not seen him since Hot Springs. I got up and gave him a hug, it was good to catch up with him. The Ravens stopped by for dinner. It was a good night at the shelter.  When 900pm hit everyone got silent. Hiker midnight. Wildlife update: Closer encounter with a bear.