morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-11-01
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hitching out of Glasgow took over 20 minutes this morning- the longest I've had to wait yet. The guy who eventually picked me up has lived in Glasgow all his life, so I asked him about the huge dinosaur statue in the middle of town with no signing or context whatsoever. Apparently, a local who runs some sort of dinosaur-related attraction near the zoo put it there as a joke.It was cloudy all day today, which gave the woods a nice ambiance. The view from an overlook a mile and a half before the shelter was amazing.I just got back from the privy to find a small, cute, grey mouse checking out my stuff. It was terrified of me and my headlamp. It can hang out as long as it doesn't poop on or chew up any of my stuff- my food is in the Bear box.I can hear an owl.I haven't seen any southbounders since Waynesboro.
Date: 2017-11-02
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up this morning to find that the mouse (or mice) had chewed holes in my favorite bandana. I swore loudly in the hopes that the mouse would hear what I thought of it. The bandana is still useable, at least.I passed through the Guillotine today, which was nice because there had been a real dearth of dramatically-named landmarks since New York.There is a section hiker here who is great to talk to. Before I ran into him, I had not seen any people in over 24 hours.
Date: 2017-11-03
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night. It was just too warm. I hiked the first ten miles or so really well, and then the tiredness hit me. It was really hard to keep pushing forward the rest of the day, but it was worth it. I have a second 20-mile day under my belt, tomorrow is short, and this shelter is in a great location. It's perched right up on a peak, and I can see the lights of what I assume is Troutville or Daleville in the valley.
Date: 2017-11-05
From: Daleville, VA

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: mist

I got a late start and was planning on stopping at the first shelter, but there was a dude there that I didn't get a great feeling about, so I kept going even though it would mean night hiking. It was so foggy visibility was only about 10 feet anyway. I passed by Tinker Cliffs and saw the inside of a cloud up close. Shortly after the main outcropping, though, the clouds split open up ahead. It was not enough to see the valley, but there was a separation between the low, rolling clouds and the high, puffy clouds with blue sky in the middle. Hiking farther for the day was such a good thing, if only for that moment of beauty. The sun even shined through briefly- an incredible respite in a grey, damp, rainy day.It gets dark so early now! I hiked the last mile and a half in the dark, which was tricky with the dense fog. I couldn't keep my headlamp on my head or the fog would just reflect the light back into my eyes, so I held it in my hand. Might as well have been a flashlight. I might have missed the turn for the shelter if I hadn't smelled woodsmoke and seen a small campfire and several headlamps. After many days alone, it was great to find some fellow southbounders at the shelter- Jupiter (plus his dad and uncle, visiting for the weekend), and Calvin and Hobbes (dog.) It is still wet and visibility is so poor I struggled to find water or the privy, but this day turned out so well and was a great way to get out of the funk I've been slipping into.
Date: 2017-11-06
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

When I woke up this morning, the fog had cleared and the colors of sunrise were visible on the horizon. I packed up and made it to the top of McAfee Knob while the sun was still filtering through the clouds. It was absolutely stunning. Views going on and on with valleys still full of clouds.
Date: 2017-11-07
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Four Pines
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Tpday was cold and damp again, so four of us slackpacked over Dragon's Tooth. No views whatsoever, just burning through some miles. The rocks coming down from the tooth (we slacked NOBO) were pretty cool, some of the most interesting terrain to walk on since the north. I'm getting a bit sick of walking in dense fog all day. That has happened a lot recently. It makes everything look sort of the same, and while it makes for a nice atmosphere for a while it has really gotten old. Especially when there are views so much of the time with the leaves down, thick fog really wastes it.
Date: 2017-11-08
From: Four Pines

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

More fog today, which is a shame because there were some great exposed rock ledges that probably had great views when there wasn't a cloud in the way. The fog made for a great atmosphere when the trail passed a series of very large, old, moss-covered cairns. I think that tomorrow won't have fog, which is great.
Date: 2017-11-09
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

This shelter is technically closed. There are allegedly many standing dead trees due to gypsy moths. I got here at dark, but as far as I can tell there are some live standing trees and a whole lot of trees down and cut into pieces. I think I'll be fine.Plus, this shelter has a register that shows people stay here all the time. The last shelter, four miles ago, did not have a register, which is unfortunate because I really wanted to express what I thought of the previous 8 or so miles of trail. On the way up the mountain, the trail followed a water path, deeply cut into the ground, full of rocks, steep, and an absolute mess. Once on the ridgeline, the trail was extremely rocky, and with the wet leaves and wet rocks I spent several hours swearing loudly.It might not have been so bad if it hadn't been wet and foggy all day again. It never really rained, which is good, or that trail would have been a river, but it misted and visibility was extremely low. I was tempted to stop at the last shelter, but I really want to get to Pearisburg tomorrow because it's supposed to be really cold tomorrow night, and that's where I ordered a sleeping bag liner and new long underwear to.I made it here, though, with Calvin and Hobbes, and I even put in the effort after dinner to get a fire going in the shelter's (indoor) fireplace. It was a challenge with almost everything being wet (although Calvin found some great dry vines hanging on the shelter) but with persistence and burning lots of toilet paper as a fire starter it made my day a lot better. It's not throwing off a ton of heat, and my hands are really grimy after handling lots of wet wood, but it makes me happy.I can see lots of stars now if I go outside- that means it will be a cold night, but hopefully sunny tomorrow.
Date: 2017-11-10
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: scattered clouds

It was bitterly cold today- I need warmer gloves. The fog was back and didn't lift until I'd been hiking for a few hours, but when the sun came out it was incredible. I was briefly surprised by how bright and warm it was, and noticed a sharp temperature difference between sunlight and shade. The sun is amazing.
Date: 2017-11-13
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: light rain

New record for longest day! Ouch.I left the warm comfort of Woods Hole this morning and hiked in the cold rain. From a view a few miles into the day I could see that distant valleys were sunny, but everything close to me was grey with low clouds.The trail was easy, though, and I met some maintainers sanding graffiti off of Wapiti Shelter. I'm grateful for all they do.I made the one-mile round trip to Trent's Grocery to pick up some more snacks and eat french fries, then pressed on. I had to hike with my headlamp for the last mile or so. I hurt all over, but Calvin and Hobbes are here. I'm glad I pushed today.I got new gloves from the hiker box back in Pearisburg. They are pink and have hearts all over them, and they fit me perfectly and are very warm.
Date: 2017-11-14
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: 3 miles south of US 52
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I got moving really slowly this morning. I definitely felt yesterday's miles in my feet as I hiked. I stopped into a small store for a snack and made my way here- a viewpoint into the valley. It's a beautiful spot, and there is a really nice fire circle, so I made a fire to keep me warm while I made dinner.I sat by my fire, looked at the fading colors in the sky, and laughed out loud like a crazy person. I have less than 600 miles to go. I'm really doing this, and it's amazing.The stars are out now. It is quite cold. I need to try to wake up early tomorrow to get to Chestnut Knob- it's supposed to be windy and rainy tomorrow night.
Date: 2017-11-15
From: 3 miles south of US 52

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

I really need to buy a new notebook. I'm almost out of space in this one.I was pretty chilly last night, and woke up grumpy. I got a late start, and the trail was pretty rough on the ridgeline around "God's thumbprint," so I wound up night hiking the last mile and a half to get here. I'm so glad I did, though. Shortly after I arrived, the wind started howling and it started to rain, but this is a full building with a door, so I'm nice and warm- I can't even see my breath right now. Yeah, I'm still wearing all my clothes to sleep and shivered while making dinner, but this is what counts as warm now.
Date: 2017-11-16
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Near Reed Creek
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Stepping out of the shelter this morning to breathtaking views started the day off right. The next mile or so of trail stayed in grassy fields and I could see distant hills and valleys. The sun shined all day, and it was warm enough I hiked in a t-shirt and without gloves. It felt great.I'm trying something that other hikers have mentioned and put my emergency blanket in the bottom of my tent under my sleeping pad. I was expecting crinkling, but the extreme shinyness caught me off guard. My tent is a spaceship that shines like a disco ball when I have my headlamp on. I found a penny, heads up, in the leaves outside my tent.
Date: 2017-11-17
From: Near Reed Creek

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

New notebook! I bought it in Atkins along with way too much food and a really tacky fleece blanket. The blanket is Thanksgiving-themed, was on clearance, and I'm pretty sure I only bought it because I was cold at the time. It's like resupplying hungry but worse because I can't just eat it to make it go away.There was frost on the inside of my tent this morning. I need to figure out my condensation problem- it's never been this bad in the past. It was so damp in my tent last night it made me cold. I should also go ahead and get a new sleeping bag- this one doesn't work close to its rating anymore. All the down just slides to the sides leaving huge bare patches.Tomorrow night, it will rain. Sunday, it might not get above freezing and it will be windy. Keeping my fingers warm is my main concern- I love my new gloves, but wind could still go right through them. I think I will either wear my old socks over them as mittens or put away my trekking poles and hike with my hands in the pockets of my raincoat. I had Mexican for lunch at a place that was attached to a gas station. It was surprisingly good. I had beans and rice for dinner, too. If you are what you eat, I am a complete protein. And cheese.
Date: 2017-11-18
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I found out yesterday that Rip Van Winkle got off the trail. I found out today that Housekeeping got off the trail. It's starting to get lonely out here for real.I was in a funk today, partly because of that and partly because my pack was balanced all wrong with the new blanket and still having too much food. I didn't even make good progress on eating that food today- I wasn't that hungry, just tired. I made a nice fire in the fireplace here, since there was a ton of good wood in the area.The fleece blanket might fit poorly into my pack, but I did sleep well last night. It was very cozy.It's windy now, but the rain hasn't started yet. I sincerely hope this weather gets all rained out tonight so I don't have to hike in it tomorrow. High winds and temperatures in the 30s will be cold enough without rain.I'm just really tired and out of it. Ideally, tomorrow morning it won't be raining and I can hike up to snow-covered highlands. That would be pretty.The wind blows straight into this shelter. If it blows the rain in with it, I'll move to the other side, which gets slightly less wind but has larger gaps between the floorboards.
Date: 2017-11-19
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: light rain

Shortly after I woke up this morning, it began to snow. It didn't stick to much, but once I started hiking and gaining elevation I reached places that were cold enough for some accumulation. The snow was beautiful on the rhododendron leaves. Cold winds picked up, too, though. All day long I had to keep moving or be quite cold, but I was rewarded with beautiful snowy scenery.I almost stopped for the day at Old Orchard Shelter, but the register was full of horror stories about the local mice so I decided to push on. I'm glad I did- although the Highlands were windy enough that walking was occasionally a struggle, ice and snow on the open grassy fields was a great sight. I even made good enough time that I got to the shelter before dark!At times today I would wonder if I was crazy, or ask myself what on earth I was doing, but it was a great day. I like snow. I just need some waterproof mittens to keep my fingers warmer.Also: thank you to everyone who has written in the guest book! It makes me smile to know that there are people out there rooting for me. Don't worry too much if I don't update for a while- I only update when I'm in town, and I never update all the way to the present, so just assume I haven't stayed anywhere with wifi for a while. :-)
Date: 2017-11-20
From: Wise Shelter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

I got a really late start this morning. I was cold, didn't want to get up, and putting on frozen-solid boots was much harder than I had expected.I had trouble staying positive today, despite the absolutely gorgeous scenery in snow and ice. I think I've been pushing just a little too hard for a little too long, but it'll be okay. Damascus tomorrow.I crunched through lots of snow and ice today- if the sun hadn't been out it would have been pretty unpleasant. The sun was out, though, and my pictures will never do today justice. I miss Greg.
Date: 2017-11-23
From: Hot Springs for Thanksgiving

To: Hot Springs for Thanksgiving
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Happy Thanksgiving! I helped mash potatoes. There was so much food and there were so many good people. It was nice to see a bunch of people I hadn't in a while. In the evening I just sat around a campfire at the hostel with a bunch of other hikers. It was really chill. This is what I needed.
Date: 2017-11-24
From: Hot Springs for Thanksgiving

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I was going to hike on today, but didn't get back to Damascus until after 1 (many thanks to Happy Feet for the ride!) and I still wanted to check the outfitters for a warmer sleeping bag and mail some things, and Jupiter had to mail some things, and we ran into Big Boss and Mumbles...They're planning on finishing on the 18th, and Jupiter keeps saying I should come with them. I'm going to try, at least at first, to keep up with them. It'll be hard, but it's good to have friends around.
Date: 2017-11-25
From: Damascus, VA

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

I was worried I'd feel really sore after three days off, but after the first half mile I felt just fine. The trail was really nice coming out of Damascus- well-graded and smooth. I made good time getting here. There was lots of walking along the ridgeline with views through the trees.Now I'm at the shelter with Mumbles, Big Boss, Jupiter, Wild Child, and the Family. Lots of SOBOs in one place is nice.
Date: 2017-11-26
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Boots Off Hostel
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: broken clouds

It's much easier to get an early start with other hikers around. I was on the trail just before seven and got to watch the sun come up as I hiked. The early start let me pull off this new longest day by around 6 PM, too, with only a minimum of night hiking.It was a cold but beautiful day, and the trail just followed the ridgeline, with views to either side through the trees all day. I made it here to a warm bed. The miles just flew by and the sunset colors were beautiful with the moon already up over Watauga Lake.My feet hurt, I am completely exhausted, and I love this. Definitely making tomorrow a shorter day, though.
Date: 2017-11-27
From: Boots Off Hostel

To: Boots Off Hostel 
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

... or today could be not that much shorter. That's an option, too. The others did a crazy long slackpack, but I was able to be dropped off at a more reasonable distance so I went for it. We all got a late start- I didn't start hiking until 10.It worked out, though- the gorge and waterfalls were beautiful. Pond mountain was pointless and I now understand why multiple people have recommended skipping it. It is a three mile up and three mile down of 1700 feet with no views and loose rocky terrain on the south side to avoid approximately one mile of roadwalk. It is not pleasant.I ate two footlong subs for dinner. That is an appropriate amount of food.Wild Child mentioned V8 this morning, and now it is all I can think about. I need to pick some up next town.
Date: 2017-11-28
From: Boots Off Hostel 

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

I walked slowly today and really enjoyed it. It was sunny and warm, and the trail passed through lots of beautiful areas. Jones Falls were spectacular, and the day ended with some wide open fields.I'm really aware of temperature differences these days. There's a distinct difference between air temperature in an area that has gotten lots of sun, an area that the sun only just hit, and the places in hollows, near cold rivers and full of rhododendron, that I've started to doubt ever get good sunlight. I hiked in a t-shirt today, but had to be sure to take breaks in the sun because those deep, shaded hollows were still very cold- at least one still had frost, and I don't know if it even got below freezing last night, and even if it did I was passing by well after noon! It's an incredible moment to come around a corner on the trail, still in the shade, and feel a warm breeze, maybe even with a hint of woodsmoke, and know that that area was either recently in the sun or the area ahead is still warm and bright.I got some news today that wasn't so good. I am almost definitely not going to push really hard to keep up with my friends- that takes mental effort that I won't have to spare for a little while. I was already thinking about slowing down to really enjoy this rather than just fly through it. I don't have a personal rush to finish by Christmas- it's just me and Greg, so Christmas can be any day. It'll work out.
Date: 2017-11-29
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I didn't sleep much at all last night, mostly due to the aforementioned bad news being on my mind. I hitched into town this morning to mail my old sleeping bag (I got a new, warmer one which should work much better than lugging around this fleece blanket), have breakfast, and resupply, then decided to take the day off to get my head together. It means I'll lose my friends that are ahead, but that's okay.I had a lot of great interactions with people today- the guy I hitched a ride into town with was awesome (his daughter is marrying a thru-hiker!) and gave me fig newtons and a banana, the young woman at the post office was really helpful and we had a great conversation about Maine, the woman I hitched a ride back here with told me about her son who is a photographer working on hiking the highest point in all fifty states, and I chatted about hiking  for a while with the guy running the hostel. Between talking with a bunch of great human beings and spending the day relaxing and snuggling with two fantastic cats, I'm feeling a lot better. The rain tomorrow should hold off until the evening, too.
Date: 2017-11-30
From: Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

Today was one of the most spectacular days of hiking in a long time- Hump Mountain was an incredible grassy bald with views in all directions, and from there the trail just dipped in and out of the trees and onto more grassy balds. Who cares that the trail up Little Hump was a muddy slip'n'slide like I haven't seen since Maine? It was totally worth it.I didn't stop into Overmountain Shelter since I knew it was supposed to rain this evening and I wanted to get here before that. I'll check it out when I come back here again. I will come back here again. This area is incredible.It did start to drizzle a little as I left the last bald, but that coincided with the trail entering dense evergreen forest like I was in Maine again, so I didn't even get too wet!The major negative today is that I somehow left my smart water bottle at the hostel, and so my only water vessel is my nalgene. I can cope, it's just inconvenient to only have one liter of water capacity.I have not eaten instant mashed potatoes on this trip because I've eaten them on previous trips and do not enjoy shoveling mush into my face for sustenance. The store in Roan Mountain didn't have Knorr sides, though, which are my go-to dinner, so I picked up an Idahoan cheddar broccoli potato soup, figuring it might be better than just potatoes. It called for FOUR cups of water, which, due to my current water bottle situation, meant I carried my cookpot down to the spring and tried really hard not to spill it on the way back up. This soup is amazing and totally worth it. It is also just such a great feeling to be eating hot soup in a building with four walls and a door and listening to the wind and rain outside.I got battery-powered Christmas lights when I was in Hot Springs for Thanksgiving, and they hang on my pack. I turn them on in the evenings, and they are making this shelter just that much more cheerful and festive.I am in the highest shelter on the AT, at ~6200 feet, eating delicious, hearty soup and looking at Christmas lights, secure and warm from the nasty weather outside. There might be mice here, but I'm sure it will all work out.AFTER FINISHING DINNER: That soup was really filling, too. I am not hungry. That's crazy. I hope I can find it again.
Date: 2017-12-01
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Rob Bird's from Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

When I was in Hot Springs for Thanksgiving, a trail angel named Rob Bird who used to have a hostel up in Massachusetts gave me his phone number and told me to call him when I got close to Erwin, and that I could shower, do laundry, and slackpack from his place. This is some of the most incredible hospitality I have encountered. Rob is a fascinating person and a friend to hikers.As far as the hiking goes, I loved the forests on top of the mountain, and the site of the old Cloudland Hotel was pretty cool. I'm glad to have my ramen for breakfast again- I hadn't been able to find vegetarian ramen for ages.