morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-10-16
From: VA Route 623

To: VA 42
Miles today: 17.8

I slept in this morning not waking up until 6:20am. It was so dark and quiet and cozy. Got up and had and a delicious omelette with lots of veggies in it. Jessica took me back to the trail at 9am. It is so cold this morning I had to stop and put long pants on and my down jacket and gloves! About 11am I took off the jacket and was going pee and was caught by Mudflap! First time getting caught. My backpack was in the way of the view so I was able to see him and yelled for him to stop. He had quickly turned around. He is a thru SOBO hiker. He stayed at the shelter with Mrs. Joy and said it rained for several hours last night. Everything is very slick. Got to Chestnut Knob Shelter at 1:30pm and made some warm mashed potatoes and a coffee to warm up. Thought about staying but it is just too early to stop for the day. I hiked on still bundled up and about 4 pm I could take my outer layers off. The sun came out and it was beautiful. I called Mack at Appalachian Dream Hiker Hostel while up on the ridge at 5:30pm. I had 4.3 miles to go and he would pick me up at 7:30pm. Got to Knot Maul Branch Shelter and Mudflap was there for the night. I told him I was going to the hostel. He had read in the log book about the hostel so he packed up to go down the mountain. I got down to the parking lot at 7:15 and Mack was waiting. We waited 10 minutes or so and Mudflap arrived. The hostel is a sweet place indeed. Mack made us homemade vegetable soup and chile and pimento cheese sandwiches. I was so stuffed I turned down the apple pie for dessert. I will have it in the morning, trust me. There is a frost warning tonight and it is suppose to get down to 34 degrees. I love the cold but I have to say I am happy to be inside. I know I will sleep well tonight.
Date: 2017-10-17
From: VA 42

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

Mack made us a wonderful breakfast and the piece of apple pie. He said a prayer before we ate and asked God to bless the food, gave thanks, and prayed for our safety! He took us back to the trail at 9am. Hiked pretty fast through pastures for the first 3 miles or so. Going up a hill I met Thunderbolt. Thank you for reading my journal. And if you're reading it now the movie was Always! Remembered it as soon as I walked up the hill. Then I talked briefly with Bushwacker who is out for 10 days. The weather is perfect today. Still a little chilly but there is just a little wind so it's not as chilly. Past the sign for the 1/4 Way Point. I say it is the 3/4th Way Point! I got down to Interstate 81 at 3pm and went to The Barn for a cheeseburger and fries. I got a surprise while in the restaurant. A trucker I briefly talked to paid for my food! Wow. Thank you to him. I don't have a name. That was trail magic! I stayed there until 4:15 pm and then hiked out. The trucker was still out there in his truck and I am guessing he may have wanted me to go by and say thank but I was a little bit uncomfortable that he was still around. I hiked on quickly and went another 5 miles before I thought about finding a camp site. I made it to Chatfield Shelter by 6pm. I had looked hard for a stealth spot but could not find anything. As I got closer to the shelter I heard a funny voice singing. It was a man named Chipmunk. He has his little tent set up on the far side inside the shelter. He didn't talk much, just hello and told me his name and asked me mine and went to bed. I sat my tent up by the fire pit in front of the shelter. Found a tree to hang my food bag and washed my feet in the creek, it's cold but not as cold as last night. I am in my long John's and have a hand warmer in my pocket though. Feel like I will sleep well, warm and cozy.
Date: 2017-10-18
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Stealth 1663.8
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Chipmunk was still in his tent when I left this morning about 7:45am. Went up the 4000' elevation Glade Mountain first thing. It is beautiful today. Forgot to mention that I stayed warm and cozy all night. It is chilly again this morning but still less than yesterday. I called for the transit and they will be at Mount Rogers Visitor Center at 2 pm to take me to Marion. When I stopped I noticed I lost my coffee cup. So sad this is. It was one of my most loved and used items. I got to the center at 11:30am. What to do while I wait? A sponge bath and wash clothes of course. Chipmunk showed up. He was using the wall phone to try to make a dental cleaning in Marion. Hmmm. He is a character. He couldn't get an appointment last minute so he went to the Partnership Shelter for the night. He is only hiking to Damascus. I'm sure his 6 teeth can wait. His words, not mine. The man at the center told me about Jim who does shuttles. I called him and he showed up about 1pm. He was wonderful. His son Spark did the AT in 2014. Took me to Walmart and waited for me, I forgot a water so I ran in Ingles real quick, then Subway, and back to the trail by 2:15pm! Thank you so much for your patience Jim! I was hiking by 3pm. Before I got back on trail Shoo Bear showed up. He had just been in Marion. He is hiking with a girl named Silly Spilly and a guy named Tenacious D. They hiked on before me. I hiked about 6 more miles found a stealth spot and set up camp. I ate the other half of my foot long Subway Black Forest ham sandwich and hung my food bag. It's quiet tonight. Still cold but just right for me. Goodnight!
Date: 2017-10-19
From: Stealth 1663.8

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: few clouds

My sleeping pad has a leak at the stem where I blow it up. I noticed this when I was at the last Hostel but the next night it stayed aired up. Last night I had to air it up twice. The ground is so cold and hard on my hip and I'm s side sleeper. I did manage to sleep from 8 pm until 7:15 am this morning though. I woke up cold and had to make coffee even though I don't have much water. Hoping there is water in about a mile. Found great stream in 0.3 miles. Washed my dirty camp towel in the ice cold Stream and my hands were frozen for about an hour. Passed Comer Creek Falls. Did 10 miles by 2 pm and sat down right on the trail for a tuna wrap and the some chocolate with peanut butter. When I hiked on it was a long, long, long ascent up Iron Mountain at 4240' elevation. Guthooks puts the elevation at 4351'. This was my tough climb of the day. I got to the road and the parking lot and had lots of great memories with Dave and Gracie hiking up to Old Orchard Shelter last Saturday with me. I got to the shelter at 6 pm and found Gracie's note she wrote in journal. Sweet. Got water, found a tent spot, cooked dinner and hung my food bag. There are other tenters out here tonight. Didn't talk to anyone though. They are kind of far away. I am looking forward to Grayson Highlands tomorrow. Nighty night.
Date: 2017-10-20
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Stealth 1699.1
Miles today: 18.5

Lousy, lousy, lousy sleep last night. I had to air up the mattress several times and I had a stuffed up nose and had to mouth breathe and I had several weird dreams. On the brighter side, the weather is perfect. Cool and no rain. I got up at 10 til 6 and it is still dark but I want to be hiking at first light. Made burritos and coffee. My collapsible cup replacement is just not so great. I will get a real coffee cup in Damascus. I switched Honey Buns for Maple Buns! They are delicious. Packed up and on trail at 7:20am. I got to the Scales, a horse corral, and found Shoo Bear, Silly Spilly, and Tenacious D there. They camped there overnight. There were 3 ponies in the corral and a camping trailer and an SUV in there also. I hiked on and ShooBear ran up the mountain to catch me. He was huffing and puffing. I wanted him to go on so I paused a while. There are lots of wild ponies up here on the Highlands and I still have several miles to go before Grayson Highlands. I hiked about a mile with Silly Spilly and Tenacious D and when we got to the first Rocks in Grayson Highlands I kept going and they stopped at the rocks. There are tons of people here. I wanted to get out of this tourist area today. South of Grayson is some of the most breathtaking scenery on the entire AT. I got to Thomas Knob Shelter and Mudflap had left a beer in there. I am going to say yes, I drank it. I need the carbs! I hiked down and saw the trail sign to Grindstone Recreational Area where Dave had the trailer. Then I hiked down to Elk Garden parking area and took a short break. Found a trail magic garbage can. Hiked up Whitetop Mountain. Gorgeous! Just gorgeous up here. Found a super sweet campsite near the super awesome piped spring way up above 5000' elevation. Sat up my tent and watched an amazing sunset. Made hot chocolate and chicken and rice for dinner. Going to sleep with my food tonight. There are no trees way up here. I feel okay about it. I don't like the road that is so close by. It is a gravel road and people were up here sunset watching and taking pictures. There are a few others up here camping. Two guys up from me invited me to their fire but my feet were warm in my sleeping bag already and I didn't want to get out. Had an absolutely great day despite not having good sleep last night. I will sleep well tonight. My tent is on grass.
Date: 2017-10-21
From: Stealth 1699.1

To: 1720.5 in Damascus
Miles today: 21.4

Sleep was a little better. Got up at 6 am. Spilled my boiling water on me and my tent and sleeping bag while making breakfast. Could have been worse and been food not just water. Watched a spectacular sunrise. On trail at 8am. Beautiful trail to Buzzard Rock. I feel like I just hiked and hiked and hiked today. Got on the Virginia Creeper and there were about a zillion people on bikes. Got hit by one kid and almost by 6 others. Nobody knows how to ride a bike. Hiked with Shoo Bear, Silly Spilly and Tenacious D for quite a while today. Went to the Virginia Creeper cafe but the line went all the way around the building. There was a church group selling hot dogs, cookies and drinks so I did that instead. Got to Damascus about 4pm. My feet are hot and super tired. I was going to go to the Hiker Hostel but when I walked in front of Hikers Inn I decided to stay there again to have peace and quiet away from hikers. Great decision. Showered and walked to Mt. Rogers Outfitters and bought a sleeping pad and pillow and then went and had great fish tacos at Hey Joe's. Lee took me to Food City so I could get some resupplies. I'm exhausted and going to bed by 8pm.
Date: 2017-10-22
From: 1720.5 in Damascus

To: Queens Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.   Philippians 4:4For some reason I was awake at 4:45 am. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. GO BACK TO SLEEP. Nope. Got up and organized food. Went and made the coffee. Went outside to see the town before daylight. I want to mention that I lost my toenail last night. Now I really am a 2000 Miler! Haha. Made myself a breakfast then walked to the outfitters that opened at 8am. Got some Point 6 socks to test on this last stretch and found my favorite lost item, my coffee cup! Checked out at The Hikers Inn with Lee. So very happy I stayed there. Went to Laurel Avenue Church of Christ at 11am. Went to Bobo McFarlands for lunch and was hiking uphill at 1pm. I only saw one person today and he was sitting down looking exhausted with a huge pack nearby. I got to Abington Gap Shelter at 5:30pm and went down the long 0.2 miles to get water. Wanting to hike a little farther I carried extra. It is very, very windy so I went down to McQueen Gap Road thinking I would have less wind but it just as bad. I hiked just a little more and found the cute old disused Queens Knob Shelter. It looks like it is leaning but is actually sturdy. There is a platform inside for maybe two people but I sure hope nobody shows up. It definitely blocks some wind and I don¢t have to worry about branches falling on my tent. I had tuna salad and pita chips for dinner then chocolate and peanut butter for dessert. It was difficult but I found a tree to hang the food bag. I dragged a bunch of huge old trees in front of the shelter to maybe help slow down the bears. I can see lots of city lights way off to the west of this shelter. I am not sure but I think it is Abingdon Virginia. Testing out my new Thermarest sleep pad and Sea to Summit pillow. Goodnight.
Date: 2017-10-23
From: Queens Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was sweet. I know it has only been one test night but the Thermarest Prolite Plus and Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow are pretty wonderful. No sounds like a paper bag crunching like so many hikers mattresses. I got up at 5:45am when I heard the very first sprinkle on the metal roof and ran out to get my food bag. Made burritos and coffee. So happy to have my GSI Outdoors coffee cup again. It is 7:30am as I write this and still super dark out there. Not cold but cool and lightly sprinkling. The sprinkling stopped and I hiked out at 9am knowing there is a terrible rain storm that is due to hit by 2 pm. It is not cold, nor raining. I am just in my shorts and T-shirt but I met a couple going north with winter clothing and full rain gear on. I got to Double Spring Shelter at 11:45am and met SOBO thru hiker Kobe and his cute little pit bull mix named Whiskey. She is scared of this storm with all the debris falling on the shelter. They hiked out not long after I arrived. I think he wants to go to Shady Valley TN to find a motel. I called Dave and as I was on the phone with him a huge dead tree fell right next to me. I actually screamed as I was getting out of the way. Dave heard the whole ordeal. That made my decision to stay here at this shelter after only hiking 6.8 miles. I made potatoes and got water down at the piped spring. The rain came down hard starting about 1:30pm and just kept getting worse. A man named Chilly came in about 3 pm just soaked. At 4 pm two ladies arrived. FStop who started at Snickers Gap in Virginia just south of Harpers Ferry and hiked North then went to Springer hiking North to where she started. She has a cute dog named Leif with her. The other lady is JillyGoat and is a teacher in Indiana hiking while school is out on fall break. At 6:15pm,TenaciousD, SillySpilly, and Shoo Bear arrived and wanted to stay in the shelter but it¢s a small one. They were all totally soaked. They went and sat up their tents. I made some chicken teriyaki for my first dinner and mac n cheese for my second. The shelter got quiet at 7:20pm. The rain has stopped for now but it has gotten colder. May try to get to Boots Off Hostel tomorrow. It¢s 23 miles. We¢ll see. Hope to sleep well. Tonight is the first time ever that I kept my food in my pack in the shelter. A little nervous about that.
Date: 2017-10-24
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: 1762.9 Shook Branch Road
Miles today: 23.6

It was just cold this morning getting out of the sleeping bag. Got up at 6am made breakfast and was on trail by 7:45am. The trail goes through a beautiful pasture and then there is a mile of handicapped accessible trail. It is very nice. It¢s very beautiful today but still very cold.  The kids, Shoo Bear, SillySpilly and Tenacious D passed me real early on. About 5 miles after leaving the shelter I came upon Uncle Nick Grindstaff¢s tombstone. Funny story about a hermit. I took a break when I got to Vandeventer Shelter. Beautiful view of Wataga Lake. My stomach has been bothering me today so I haven¢t eaten much. Went over the Dam and it seemed like forever before I finally got to the road where Boots Off Hostel is located. Made it there by 6 pm. Cute little bunkhouse but the shower is outside. I took a hot shower but still got cold drying off. Found some hiker loaner clothes to use and went to Hampton. Ride is provided with stay. Got a couple things at Dollar General and got a Subway sandwich. The hostel has nice mattresses on the bunks and a bottom fitted sheet but no top sheet just a thick wooly blanket so I am using my sleeping bag. In bed by 8:40 very tired.
Date: 2017-10-25
From: Stealth 1792.2 

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. It was also hard with a man snoring in here but I did get some sleep. I made myself stay in bed until 6:20am. I went and checked on my clothes and they were in the basket. Don¢t know if they got washed so I smelled them. Yuk. That is some stink. I told one of the workers they didn¢t get washed yet but he said they did. Jim was super awesome and washed them on the longer cycle for me. Again. But I say they hadn¢t been washed. There¢s no way. Had coffee and continental breakfast and waited on my clothes. Kickstand, has a prosthetic leg hence the name, finished his thru hike in 4 1/2 months this year! He gave me a ride down the long driveway and I was hiking by 10:40am. Cold but great hiking weather. It took me 1 1/2 hours to go 2.7 miles to the top of Pond Mountain. When I got up there I was just freezing. I am in my puffy down jacket and I have gloves but not winter gloves. I had to pull out hand warmers. My clothes smell is really bothering me. I know Jim meant well but he must have used the strongest laundry detergent out there and there was a dryer sheet in the basket. My eyes and nose are burning after I wiped them with my hanker-chef and I have a chemical headache. I am just way too sensitive to chemicals. Since I am so cold and I have to get the smell out of these clothes I am wussing out of hiking far today and heading to Black Bear Lodge! I met HyLo as she was slack packing 19 plus miles back to Boots Off Hostel. Shortly after, I arrived at the beautiful Laurel Falls and then climbed the steep stairs up the mountain. Nice flat section for at least a mile to Dennis Cove Road. Made it to Black Bear Lodge by 4 pm and got myself a little cabin. Hot shower, washed clothes, made a pizza and watched As Good As It Gets. SOBO married hikers, Preacher and Stretch arrived and are staying in the bunkroom. I¢m going to my cabin. 9pm bedtime.
Date: 2017-10-26
To: Stealth 1792.2 
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Stayed in bed until 6:20am then got up and made my own coffee. Got my breakfast biscuit I bought yesterday out of the freezer and heated it up. Packed up and walked the 0.6 back to the trail and was hiking at 8:15am. It is beautiful out here today. Going up a hill I ran straight into a fallen broken tree and cut my cheek close to my nose. It hurt a lot. I have got to remember to look up now and then. If I look up I trip, if I look down I run into fallen trees. I need more eyes. I went a long seven miles up a gentle ascent and got to Moreland Gap Shelter and had lunch at 11:15pm. Stretch arrived as I was just leaving. She ran down the hill to the shelter and I thought she was a trail runner. I didn¢t recognize her from last night. I hiked on and she caught up and passed about an hour later and again running. Saw a sign on a tree that said 406 miles to Springer! Right after that was the bench at the view of what I think is Hump Mountain. I was sitting on the bench when Preacher arrived. We talked some and he hiked on not wanting to be too far behind Stretch. It got warm and I hiked in just my shorts and T-shirt again today. So strange that I was so cold yesterday. Pretty views of several little falls today. Walked along Elk River for a while. I didn¢t go to Jones Falls this time. It was 5:30pm when I got to the sign and I wanted to get over the mountain before dark and find a campsite. I found a sweet water source and then a flat spot near it for my tent. I made potatoes and some Ramen noodles for dinner. Washed my feet in the creek. Not hanging my food. Just Rhododendron trees here. I will say a prayer again. 8:30 bedtime. Have some big mountains and balds tomorrow. Hope to sleep well.
Date: 2017-10-27
From: Stealth 1792.2 

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

Slept so well! Up at 6:15, on trail 7:40. Got to 19e about 9:30 and thought about Strider and his dog Lola, and Naps. Stayed at the B&B in 2015 with them. I forgot what Hump Mountain was like. Going SOBO I am going up over 5 miles to 5559¢ elevation. Needed more breaks than I planned. Met a man with his Vizsla pup, Charlotte, going up the mountain. Got to Doll Flats and hiked in and out of NC several times today. Hump is in NC and Little Hump is TN. I made 1800 AT miles just before Hump Mountain. Got up to the top at 1pm and took a 30 minute lunch break. Tuna wrap, chocolate and peanut butter! Lots of people hiking North passing by. Got to Little Hump and just kept going. Passed Overmountain Shelter, a converted barn, at 3 pm. When I got to Stan Murray Shelter someone had left some unopened packages of Ramen and one chicken and rice Mountain House 2.5 serving size. Trail magic. I took the Mountain House. I got over Jane Bald and then up to Round Bald. Tons of people. Very very windy and very very cold all of the sudden. I met Teri and Tim up there and talked with them for a bit. Thank you for taking my picture Teri. I got to cold to linger and hurried down the mountain. I got to Carvers Gap about 5:45pm and was hoping to camp but there was a huge No Camping sign. So I got water at a spring and hiked up to Roan High Knob Shelter. It is the highest shelter on the entire AT at 6249¢ according to Guthooks. Hiked in the dark with my headlamp. I felt like I was going up to Mt. LeConte I the Smokies. I got up here by 7pm and there are tons of people. The shelter has mice nest¢s everywhere. There are 4 people inside the shelter and several tents. I found a little tent spot and sat up. It¢s cold but not freezing. It smells so great up here. I love the balsam tree smell. I made chicken teriyaki and some potatoes and went to sit by the big fire but the wind is crazy and blowing sparks all over my jacket so I went back to my tent to eat. There is no picnic table at this shelter. I am happy I made it all the way up here now I only have 11 miles to get down to Greasy Creek Friendly before the rain hits. Taking Sunday off. Two over 20 Mile Days in a row, I know I will sleep well.
Date: 2017-10-28
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

The wind has been not stop and cold all night. Temp this am showed 42 but the wind chill I¢m sure much colder. It is going to rain this afternoon and this time tomorrow will be 24 degrees up here. Glad I won¢t be here. I slept warm and very well. I sleep in long johns and change into my hiking clothes while I¢m still inside my sleep bag. Got up at 6am and made breakfast. As I was leaving I met Mary Poppins who I believe I met when I was heading north. When I told him my name ha said he met a Ghostwalker going north and got her name due to her big poncho and looking like a ghost in the clouds. Hmmm? I think it was me. I got on trail by 8am. Was down at Hughes Gap by 10:40am and going up the last little hump of the day, Little Rock Knob. So far no rain. There were just light sprinkles when I first left the shelter. Mary Poppins and Rare passed me as I was going the knob. It got cold again as I went up and I had to put my down on. Then on the other side I got hot again. All day long, hot, cold, hot, cold. Then the sprinkles started again. I just used my umbrella. Arrived at Greasy Creek Gap at 1:15pm and went the 0.6 miles down to Greasy Creek Friendly. It¢s a long walk down but I liked staying there in 2015 so I went again. Arrived by 1:30pn. I like Connie and I also wanted to be inside because there will freezing rain all weekend. Mary Poppins,Rare, and another hiker named Mooskie are here. I took a shower and had a hamburger. Watched a movie and soaked my feet in epsom salt. Connie took a the others to pick up their orders at the grill but I am tired of overeating. I had a small salad and bought a Ben and Jerry¢s pistachio ice cream and only ate some of it. There is a leak in the room by my bed and a bucket to catch the water. It will bother me all night. It has rained hard for hours and has gotten colder. Tomorrow will be even colder. So happy to be in even with the leak. Bed for me at 8pm. Goodnight.