morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-20
From: Stealth campsite 

To: Next Shelter 
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up pretty early and hiked in to Pearisburg yesterday. We collected our bump box (personal items only needed in town that we mail to ourselves) from the post office and resupply box (Amazon Mountain House freeze dried dinners) from the Motel so we're good for food for the next 100 miles. We hiked 102 miles in the last seven days, our best mileage yet. The mountains in Virginia are not as tall as NC/TN, but they are very rocky. Unfortunately, my legs and feet are paying for it. I've been waking up two or three times a night with leg aches so we've decided to take a zero today and rest. I bought new inserts for my shoes so I hope they help cushion my feet. Photo is of yesterday mornings view from our campsite.
Date: 2017-05-21
From: Holiday Lodge, Pearisburg 

To: Laurel Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: thunderstorm

We arranged a slack pack (small book bag for water and essentials only) today with Don Raines to help make up some miles because of our zero yesterday. Our feet are still tired after almost 22 miles but our legs, knees and backs are in better shape than if we were carrying our full packs. We'll get a shuttle ride back to where we stopped and start hiking to Troutsville, the next big trail town. The weather has turned for the worst. Thunderstorms yesterday and rain and mist today made for a gloomy hike. Sapphire spotted another deer which stuck around long enough for me to get a photo. She was quite calm and relaxed.
Date: 2017-05-27
From: Laurel Creek Shelter 

To: Zero 
Miles today: 71.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sorry, but we haven't had cell service since we left Pearisburg. We're doing big miles as we've heard we would in Virginia. Common wisdom is that hikers have their trail legs now. That probably is true because the hiking certainly has not been easier yet we are averaging 100 miles in 6 to 7 days now. Much more than before. The problem is I'm not young so my knees and ankles are taking a hit. So we're taking the Memorial Day Weekend off to rest and because we're close we'll visit the National D-Day Memorial tomorrow. A few days ago we climbed to the site of Audie Murphy's crash site memorial. Older folks may know his story but if you don't it's worth a google search. My father was also in the 3rd Division and was in the same battle, a ridge away when Audie earned the Medal of Honor. This is beautiful country we're hiking in but the weather has been bad so we're happy to be dry. Check out the photos I've uploaded, one shows a rattlesnake ready to strike that sapphire noticed in the nick of time, just as Bigfoot placed his big foot on the log we were sitting on. It was only a foot from his foot.
Date: 2017-05-30
From: Howard Johnson Express

To: Wilson Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We're rested up. I won't say fully because walking around town yesterday as we resupplied was an adventure. My right knee felt like it was moving in three directions at once, it wasn't thank goodness but it did feel  odd. Sapphire's hips and ankles bothered her. We enjoyed our time off; we ate a ton, visited the D-Day memorial and an art museum, watched a renovated 1940's steam train cruise by, checked out the open market, and took in a couple of movies but it's time to get back in the saddle. I've noticed that the first day back hiking after taking a zero or two is energizing and exciting. Our next big town is Waynesboro, 140 some odd miles away( about 10 days). We'll pass by some smaller towns on the way but we'll probably not take any zeros in them, just pick up our bump box (resupplies we mail ourselves) from the post office and move on. We're hoping the rocks subside as they're the cause of most our pain. We may not have cell service until Waynesboro but will post if we do. We appreciate all the comments on the sign in page, Thank you all.
Date: 2017-05-30
From: Howard Johnson Express

To: Middle Creek campground 
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

I figured out the problem with my legs today. It was the terrain. Lately, when we're in town and eating at a restaurant, the table appears to me to slope down. Sapphire swears it's not, so I'll test with some round object to see if it rolls, it doesn't. I think it's because my mind gets used to sleeping on uneven ground and it makes adjustments. So when we're in town it's trying to compensate.. that's my theory and I'm sticking by it. So today we were hiking and I noticed that there weren't any flat areas, the trail sloped in all directions but level and I was having no problem with my knee or hip; so my theory is I couldn't walk straight yesterday because the terrain was too level..
Date: 2017-06-02
From: Glasgow town park

To: 15 miles out
Miles today: 45.5
Weather: clear sky

Unlike most of the areas we've hiked through before, this part of the AT is near civilization constantly. Just when we think we're in the middle of nowhere a car speeds by on a hitherto unseen road, the Blue Ridge Parkway. We're spending the night in Glasgow's town park with many other thru hikers. Free showers, privy's, and close access to pizza, beer and supplies makes this a haven for us. The eyebombers (gnats that fly straight and and sometimes a circuitous route directly into your eyes- and definitely on purpose) have been particularly bothersome. I'll get to a point of severe frustration and start swinging my trekking poles over my head like a helicopter getting ready to take off. Unfortunately this technique has not been very effective. We'll need to send for our head nets. The photo is the James River footbridge that we crossed over today, longest on the AT. Next stop is Waynesboro in 5 days. Congrats to my son Garbud who sewed on TSgt recently.
Date: 2017-06-08
From: Humpback Mountain campsite 

To: Shenandoah National Park 
Miles today: 77.0

We haven't had cell service since Glasgow. We're in Waynesboro now and our bodies are aching. Good time for a day off to R&R. The hiking over the last few days has been some of the most tiring. We'll ascend 3000 to 5000 feet in the morning, only to descend the next day then do it all over again the following. We had some great trail magic though. We happened by a trail birthday and enjoyed a ton of good food including sandwiches, chips, cake and beer. Happily played the gazoo and sang the happy birthday song to a complete stranger. Then used our ringer sapphire to hitchhike 4 miles to the Crabtree Falls Campground. She has had amazing results so far, twice the first car by stopped, and twice the third car. This time the Tramily (Trail family) had tried to hitchhike with no luck and had given up so they were starting to walk the 4 miles to the campground. Sapphire and I were still at the birthday party and went out later to see if we could get a ride..third car by stopped, and in a beer fueled, celebratory mood we jumped, clapped and hollered for joy at our good luck. Homebuilder Aaron was on his way home from work and not one to pass on a good time, figured he'd help us out and go a mile out of his way. We mentioned that we had friends up ahead and he agreed to grab them too. We made a couple stops along the road to pick up the rest of the gang. Only after we were unpiling out of his truck bed did we notice the beer in his hand and that his words a tad slurred. Safely arrived at the cabins, Whip's visiting aunt and uncle from Texas brought us all Chipotle wraps for dinner and a bunch of other goodies. It was a banner day! Check the photos page for more photos.
Date: 2017-06-09
From: Quality Inn, Waynesboro VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We're heading back into the woods today. We'll be hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Natl Park for the next 100 miles. We hear it is very scenic and we also hear that we're guaranteed to see bear. Apparently we were close the other day. Catching up to Spudz after his biobreak he asked "did you see that Bear a half mile back? It was huge and it definitely wasn't scared of me." We hadn't but I had heard a grunt or some sound earlier. So now we will see Bear for the first time, could be today. Wish us luck tonight. :) Photo is of old town Waynesboro, est 1801 where we celebrated sapphire's birthday (a tad early) at the Greenleaf Grill -great Maryland crab cakes and delicious steak and earlier a movie at Zeus theatre.
Date: 2017-06-10
From: Loft Mountain campsite #29

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Mother nature gave sapphire a wonderful birthday present, her first bear sighting. We started out early- 6:30 am- to get a jump on the 20 mile day we had planned. We had only hiked a couple miles when the bear crossed in front of us. It was aware of us and acted predictably. Kept us in sight and parrelled our path about 30 yards away. I took a few photos and we continued on our way, never feeling threatened. We also saw our first buck and a couple more does today. Shenandoah is living up to its reputation of having abundant animal life. I turned my ankle again so we hitched a ride to the campground we were hiking to and set up our tent and unloaded everything but water. Then we hiked south for the last ten miles we had missed. Franklin and his lovely wife Elizabeth from Pennsylvania on vacation picked us up and gave us a ride back, stopping for dinner together at the Loft Mountain Wayside restaurant for cheeseburgers and their famous blackberry shakes before taking us back to the campground. Really nice folks we never would have met otherwise. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
Date: 2017-06-11
From: Loft Mountain Campground 

To: Big Meadows Campground 
Miles today: 14.1

We saw another bear a couple miles into our hike today. This time he didn't want to leave the comfort of the trail so we had to urge him on his way. You might be wondering how I know his gender and if we were close enough to identify it, the short answer is - almost. We walked around a bend and sapphire who was in the lead whispered "there's a bear ahead." I looked over her shoulder -which was a safer alternative than getting in front of her :) and indeed there was a full grown bear standing sideways on the trail kind of looking at us. He didn't move, just stood there. We looked at each other for some time before I cleared my throat, coughed a bit and requested said bear to move on, sapphire then started clacking her trekking poles together and with that he reluctantly began to move off the trail, only to turn towards us and parallel to the trail about 10 yards away. Later, when I had a moment to analyze the situation, I think we should have backed away and gone around on the opposite side of the trail but fortunately the bear did not take umbrage to our continuing on down the trail and we were safely on our way, with only occasionally glances to our rear to make sure we weren't being followed. After hearing so much about ticks I found one attached to my arm today. A guy we were talking to at a rest stop gave me tweezers with an attached magnifying glass that I used to remove the tiny - about a millimeter in diameter- attacker. I'm sure it wasn't on me more that a couple of hours so I should be fine. sapphire and I give each other tick checks almost every day now.
Date: 2017-06-12
From: Big Meadows Campground 

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: clear sky

Wow! this is the place to visit if you want to see wildlife. Way more than anywhere else we've hiked through. sapphire saw another bear today, it was close to me as I was gathering wood for the campfire but she had the angle. I never saw it or heard it. The campground security had been warned about it by a campsite next to us and showed up with air horns and walkie talkies. It ran off before they had a chance to use them. Deer are very plentiful, we must have seen a dozen, does, fawns and bucks. In fact there is a doe and fawn walking up to our campsite as I write this. Lots of chipmunks and squirrels. Even our first  turkey, a hen scratching in the leaves for whatever they eat. So that makes three bears in 3 days after not seeing one in almost 3 months..Rolled my ankle again today and hit the ground in agony.. I've done it to the left ankle 3 times in the last week, each time it really hurt. I'm looking forward to resting it over the Father's Day weekend with daughter Bell and her wonderful family.
Date: 2017-06-14
From: Big Meadows Campground, Shenandoah NP

To: Quantico, VA
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We're being picked up tomorrow and will spend the weekend with my daughter and her family. Our legs, feet and ankles need the rest and now that we're close to halfway through this grand journey it's perfect timing to get rested and rejuvenated for the second half. We'll finish up the Shenandoah NP upon our return on Monday and continue on to Harpers Ferry, WV and points north. Tonight we'll enjoy an evening at the historic Skyland Lodge.
Date: 2017-06-23
From: Gravel Springs Hut, Shenandoah NP, VA

To: Manassas Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 37.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It was so nice to take time off to rest our aching feet and it was wonderful staying with my daughter and her family. Sapphire and I really appreciated the welcome we received, the home cooked food (gained 7 lbs), the AC and the memory foam mattress (lovingly given up by my sweet granddaughter) that we slept on. My son in law even took us fishing. But alas we needed to get back on the trail and get this hike completed. So Bell dropped us off at Skyland, where she picked us up, and now we've completed the hike through Shenandoah NP and now we're in Front Royal, VA. This has been our first opportunity to journal because of a lack of cell service again. We're very much looking forward to hitting 1000 miles in two days and then Harpers Ferry, WV in a few more. What we're not looking forward to is the very tough and steep "Roller Coaster" mountains we'll be going up and down all day on to reach the 1000 mile mark. But it's all part of the AT package and another thing to accomplish. We're looking forward to completing Virginia and hiking on to a bunch of other states. WV, Maryland and Pennsylvania are up next. We're going strong even when we have bad days and barring a calamity we'll finish this challenge. The photo is a snapping turtle we saw on the trail today which was surprising because there wasn't any water nearby.
Date: 2017-06-24
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Rod Hollow Shelter 
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a great hike today. The sun was out, cool breezes blowing, and our attitudes were very positive. It helps when the terrain is about as good as it gets on the AT. The photo shows the wide and well maintained path that we love to hike on but rarely get. The path was mostly soft dirt with few rocks, and the grades were fairly gradual, we were in heaven. One last note on Shenandoah NP, it was beautiful but distracting because of the proximity of Skyline Drive and all the camp stores-that sold wine and beer :), restaurants, lodgings and campsites positioned along its length. We do better mentally when we're miles and miles from civilization. Easier for us to keep our focus.
Date: 2017-06-25
From: Manassas Gap Shelter 

To: Bears Den Hostel 
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Another banner day for your intrepid hikers. Lots of sun and cool breezes. Not a long day but we're well positioned to tackle the infamously difficult "Roller Coaster" mountains, 13 or so miles of one steep mountain after another, all rocky and no flats. It's Virginia's way to say goodbye :) We'll only be 3 miles away from leaving Virginia and entering West "By God" Virginia (not sure why WV folks say it like that but some do) after tomorrow's hike. About 3/4 way through today's hike we hitched a ride into Winchester VA to get more cash, eat burgers at Five Guys, and buy small backpacks so we can slack pack 20 miles to Harpers Ferry Tuesday. It was a fun adventure; a nice guy coming home from church service gave us a ride all the way to a Target store, about 13 miles from the trail, then we used Uber for the first time to get back to the trailhead. Uber hasn't been well represented in any of the smaller towns we passed through earlier so we're hoping either they or Lyft will be available in the future.
Date: 2017-06-26
From: Rod Hollow Shelter 

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 9.8

We reached a significant milestone during our hike today, 1000 miles hiked!! We are now getting real close to the half way mark in PA at mile 1095. The Roller Coaster lived up to its reputation; the cumulative impact of all the ascents and descents were definitely tiring and we perspired heavily but we handled it. I think the protein from the Five Guy burgers we ate yesterday provided the fuel we needed to reach our destination at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy owned Bears Den Lodge/Hostel. The place looks like a castle and built from stone, very nice. Unfortunately the weight we gained at Bell's has all been lost. So we're looking forward to pizza and ice cream later tonight.
Date: 2017-06-27
From: Bears Den Hostel 

To: Gathland State Park
Miles today: 19.6

Thanks everyone for sending us well wishes, we really appreciate them all.After having alot and I mean alot of bad weather we have been blessed lately with fantastic, almost perfect weather. It makes hiking so much more enjoyable. Our stay at Bears Den was relaxing. Built in the early 1900's and now owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, it was renovated by a fluid dynamisist (sp?) working as a volunteer for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club as a labor of love in the 1990's. Beautiful grounds and a warm and rustic interior. Highly recommend a stay if y'all are ever in the area but reserve the private room if you can. Our hike today was long and difficult; the trail if you can call it that was a string of rocks miles in length. Folks that know me may think I'm exaggerating but I'm not. Needless to say our feet are sore so we took some vitamin A (acetaminophen) and we're treating ourselves to a nice cabernet tonight. I'm sure they'll be fine for our hike tomorrow. Photo is Trail angel Vicki and her friend. Vicki took the day off to hike some of the Roller Coaster with her friend and then stopped by the hostel. After sharing a bunch of her fruit she and her pal generously took sapphire and me to dinner. Nothing tastes better than a free meatloaf dinner :) If you're wondering, yes we still ate pizza and ice cream for second dinner- hiker hunger.. check out the other photos I've added, select the three horizontal lines at the top right and scroll down to photos.
Date: 2017-06-28
From: Econo Lodge, Harpers Ferry 

To: Pogo Memorial Campsite 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's hike was like being on vacation. We wanted to spend another night in town but didn't want to zero so we asked shuttle guy Mark "Strings" Crusic to take us 11 miles out of town and then we hiked back to Harpers Ferry. It was another gorgeous day. The hike was quick, easy, and very scenic. It ran along the tow path of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. In service from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's. Then we crossed the Potomac River on a B&O railroad bridge and toured historic Harpers Ferry. We ate lunch at the Potomac Grill, built around 1850 and was originally a medical building we were told. It had an active spring fed cistern feature in one wall. I've never seen anything like it. We then toured Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church built in 1833 by and for Irish immigrants building the C&O canal system. We walked the old cemetery and checked out the founding fathers mansion. This is another place worthy of a visit if you're in the area. Tons of civil war history here. Mark C will give us a ride back to Gathland State Park tomorrow morning and we'll continue hiking north. I've added additional photos if you're interested.
Date: 2017-06-29
From: Econo Lodge 

To: Waynesboro, PA
Miles today: 16.1

Shuttle guy Mark couldn't pick us up until 10:30 so we got off to leisurely start and thereby maximized our hotel stay. We didn't complain. We started hiking at 11:15 am from Gathland State Park and hiked 16 miles to Pogo memorial campsite in Maryland. It was hot and at times rocky. Two falls and two tweaked ankles put me (aquamann ) in a foul mood. It's the fist-sized, angular rocks hidden by shadows or leaves that always get me. More cussing and vitamin A and we were back hiking. But this time I didn't take my eyes off the trail for a second. Later, two nearby thru-hikers pointed out patches of wild blueberries and blackberries. We took time to sample the local fare and they were delicious. Sapphire was concerned that we weren't washing them first but I explained that the odds of a random bear or raccoon urinating on these particular berries were slim. Hours later we're both still feeling good so I guess I was right :) We'll hike out of Maryland and into Pennsylvania tomorrow and cross the Mason Dixon line to boot. We're exactly 2 weeks behind the schedule we made up prior to the hike but taking into consideration the week off we took recently we should be fine. Photo is of the original George Washington monument and predates the one in D.C. by 60 years.
Date: 2017-06-30
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite 

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 17.4

Whew!! if it wasn't for Dee Momi I'd be whining right now but instead I'll just say today was a tough one. Boulder fields that went on for miles and miles, straight up and down to boot. Maryland wanted to make sure we didn't forget her anytime soon and we won't. Real pretty countryside I think, I'd know for sure but my head was down constantly scanning for rocks. So much so that when another hiker-"Zen" passed us he asked if we saw the large bear with the radio collar about 10 minutes back. Of course we didn't, too busy saving our ankles. Good news is I didn't tweak my ankle today and sapphire handled everything like the champ she is. All that sweat and exertion payed off and we're now in Pennsylvania. Only eight more states to go! I added a few more photos btw.
Date: 2017-07-01
From: Cobblestone Inn

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: light rain

We took our time leaving Waynesboro, PA because we wanted to fill up on the free breakfast the motel was offering. It also had an indoor pool and sauna which we took full advantage of the evening before. So we got back on the trail around 11am. It wasn't too difficult of a hike until the skies opened up on us. A thunderstorm came through and stayed over us for a good 45 minutes drenching us completely. We finally got to the shelter and found 4 guys napping in both shelters. After a short while a couple of them in one of the shelters woke up and offered to move to the next shelter. We learned that they all are friends and college students doing a section of the AT. Later that night we recalled why we do not like staying in shelters. Thru hikers normally are asleep shortly after dark. Whereas some of the young guns doing sections over the weekend like to bring booze, play music, and stay up late (past 10 pm) talking loud and partying as these guys were. Throw in a nice looking young female hiker that arrived later and it gets even louder. After some gentle prodding from sapphire who couldn't sleep, I was tasked with asking them to quiet down which they did. We did get to sleep finally and vowed to stay in our tent from now on.