morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Black Bear Resort

To: Wibur Dam Road
Miles today: 12.7

Really late start this morning. I think we left the cabin at 9:30 and we were not in a hurry on the trail. Seen the best waterfall yet (Laurel falls) not a very long drop but wide. There was several white blazes that had been cut out of the trees, apparently the locals don't like thru hikers. After the waterfall there was cool place where you hike on a shelf of the bluff next to the river, pretty treacherous, not the place you want to fall. I seen pockie take fall on the rocks just befoe it.  Then we climbed up about 3700 feet, trail marked much better I assume because the locals don't come up that far,  and went back down to Watauga lake. There was a lot of people swimming, picnicking and enjoying the beautiful day.  We then seemed to walk all the way around the lake. Seems we have been walking in circles the last few days. Eventually walked over the dam and found a tent site next to a road. Baby scrooge Showed up a little later so the three of us are tenting. Looks like rain again tomorrow but I'm thankful for the two days we've had without it. I took a swig of white lightning today from a TN local, the fist time I have tasted the stuff. The last couple of nights have been cold but I was in a hostel, it's supposed to be a warmer tonight, I'm hopping anyway. I haven't tented in 5 nights now. I'm knocking on the Virginia door now, should be there in 2-3 days.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Wibur Dam Road

To: A Roadbed 
Miles today: 15.6

Broke camp at 7:30 and was off to a good start. We did 9.5 miles before noon, so better than two miles an hour.  Had what I thought was a small climb (1300 feet) but Eveready was exasted and thought he may be sick so I slowed the pace down a bit. We missed a spring and had to stretch our water supply longer than we would have liked to and then we had to drop down a steep trail for water. We had to have it but eveready was not happy about it. He decided TN was not a state he liked and I had to agree with him. TN has been my least favorite state yet. No outhouses, sparsely blazed to begin with even without the fools chopping off the bark to hide the blazes. There is a 100% chance of rain tommorow so this is our last no weather day. Most of the day was ridge walking fairly flat for what we've been doing.
Date: 2012-05-13
From: A Roadbed 

To: Abingdom Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles came easy today up on the ridge. Not much happened, we raced to get miles in before it rained and we made it. Never got wet even though it was raining by 2:00 we were set up up by then. When went down low gap (not much of gap) there was trail magic waiting for us. Beans and cornbread and sweat tea, that tea was the best drink I've had on the trail. My buddy had a energy robbing beer but I  passed, I don't drink on the job. Wish I had one now but it'll have to wait until tomorrow. I've never camped this early before but all my gear and me is dry excluding my tent. It's dry on the inside at the moment, sure hope it stays that way. I've been laying in this tent for six hours now. I didn't have the strength to make it in to town and even if I did I would have arrived  late, so I decided to stay dry today and get wet with an easy day into town tomorrow. Hope to get there before noon and hope I can get a room and hope....  Hoping For a lot actually. Time for sleep, I can't believe I haven't fallen asleep yet not even a little catnap.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Abingdom Gap Shelter

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Wrote a long journal entry today and it didn't post. Piss me off and I don't feel like typing it again. Basically said I'm happy,  more than not and my journal does not express that, I'll try to do better. Picture today I was soaked to the bone, my clothes are to big, I've lost 20lbs and we were trying to keep my phone from getting wet. Sucks all that I wrote was lost maybe I will feel like doing it again some day but I doubt it.
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Damascus VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

I was barely creeping along leaving town this morning. Took 30 minutes to walk a 1/4 mile, it was hard to leave. The lazy side was battling with free spirt, ultimately free spirt won and I sped up the mountain. The first climb was gravy and then it leveled out for a good piece. The second climb zapped out my energy for a while but I caught my second wind and felt strong again. The roddeguns are really blooming up here with pink flowers, I like them much better now that it's not just green tunnel. Went right thru a tunnel arched with those flowers today, felt like I was at a wedding or something. Walked across a bridge maybe .3 tenths of mile. Looks like an old rail bridge but a boardwalk has been added the whole length. A rabbit run infront of me and stood there looking at me five feet away, was able to get my camera out and take a few pics, it was still staring at me as I walked off. There was an 80% chance of rain but it has not happen yet, hoping it don't tonight. Loving Virginia soil, had a lot of spongy places (not wet or mud) it's like walking on lush carpet.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite (below Thomas Knob)
Miles today: 12.4

Woke up late and it was good to get some sleep, I sleep better out here than I do in town. When I woke up eveready told me he was moving on to get off the trail, days ago he said he would get off when we got to Damascus but couldn't do it. By the time I packed up he changed his mind again and decided to stay with me until we get to the next town. Tonight he thinks he may stay on, I don't know what he is going to do and he certainly don't. After discusing it with him I went out to take care of my mornig business and he saw a bear run thru camp. I didn't see the bear but, talk about getting caught with your pants down.  We hiked slower than usual today because I didn't plan many miles so I could start the scenic Virginia Grayson Highlands tomorrow morning where I will take my time. Within a mile from camp I was walking in ranch along side cattle, beautiful country but the darn cows took the allusions of remoteness from the hike. When we made the summit of Buzzard Rock next to Whitetop mountain, appropriately four buzzards was circling it. We took a long break and enjoyed the views and the warming sun, sheltered from the wind by car sized boulders. When we reached the gap between Whitetop MT and MT Rogers we found trail magic. I had a bag of veggies with ranch dressing and a ice cold soda that hit the spot. The only thing better than finding a cooler with iced drinks in it, is finding one veggies in it. I've had very few vegetables on the trail. We are tenting very near to Grayson highlands just down from the summit of MT Rogers, at 5,729 ft it's the highest mountain in Virginia. Wild ponies are grazing thru the camp as I write this, I counted 7 of them, we're sure to see more tomorrow.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Campsite (below Thomas Knob)

To: Fox Creek
Miles today: 12.5

Fabulous day. Watched the sun rise over the hills. The Grayson highlands was my favorite part of the AT so far. It was so nice to get out of the green tunnel for awhile. Wilde ponies abound in wide open spaces. The evergreens are a wonderful change in scenery. the natural features of the landscap were breathtaking at times. The grade was easy on the old wornout body which was an absolute plus.    The wise shelter has two privies, I love Virginia. Eveready managed to get in front of me again and chased me all day while I was behind him. At one of the foot bridges there was a cottonmouth that matched the color of the wood perfectly and was moving toward me, it was to far down to jump so we played chicken. I won when it slithered off into the cold water. Met many would be nobos headed south for trail days, they were shuttled up ahead to walk south back to Damascus. Penyahda was hiking, and ask if I wanted veggies and ranch dressing, she is the same trail angel that left the magic the day before and it was just as good too. I can hear thunder outside my tent now, hopping it doesn't come this way but not as bad as eveready, he is raising a big fuss over there in his tent. We are next to a road again and a couple of cyclist have joined us, they only have bivies for shelters so I know they are praying it don't rain.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Fox Creek

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 16.2

The storm hit about 9 o'clock last night and passed around midnight. How someone could sleep in the thunder I'll never know but my partner snored right through it. I got up at 6am and dried my tent as best I could and then stopped at noon to let the sun dry it out completely. This was another of the many green tunnel days. There was a 1/4 mile section in a pasture and the rest of the time was walking in the shadow of trees. Because of the rain runoff all the water sources were disgustingly dingy and stained. Finally found good water at Trimpi shelter. It was so good I drink 2 liters and carried 3 more with me. I believe I was fairly dehydrated because when I stopped to relieve myself a bumblebee flew into my stream and it knocked it smooth out. After a minute or so it danced around on the ground and regained it's composure and buzzed into the air only to bounce off a tree, poor thing will be amotionly scared for life. Snug and dry in my tent and there is no thunder in the distance, fingers crossed. I smell bad, really bad, looking forward to a shower. I'm tired, really tired and ready for a short day. Good place for a joke. A day hiker, a section hiker and a thru hiker was thrown in a pigsty. The day hiker jumped out as fast as he was dropped in and the section hiker was close behind him with the pig right on his heels. The thru hiker confused at all the commotion thought it a good place to take a break.
Date: 2012-05-19
From: Stealth Camp

To: Partnership Shelter 
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

Did you say pizza? I've been hearing that for three days, Partnership shelter has a phone and you call the pizza delivery guy, they all said. I hiked like a man possessed today. I could think of little else but a larg savory meat lovers pizza with long strings of mouthwatering pressed curds of molded milk. At arrival, the phone was there as promised, but the sarcastic voice at the other end of the line was "we don't deliver until 4 o'clock " it was 11:30, four and a half hours before I could have the long awaited pizza. My hiking partner decided it was time to get off the trail for family resons, but I think he was just hungry. Disappointed and starving for pizza, I hitched in to town with him and had mexican food again, but I did have pizza later. The green tunnel today was at least decorated with flowers today, but a green tunnel none the less. No views from the top of some monumental mountain which is always good and bad, I didn't have to climb 2,000 ft but that means I didn't get to look down 2,000 ft. It could have been worse, sometimes I climb 2,000 ft and I'm still engulfed by the canopy of the uppermost continuous branches of the green tunnel. I'm nearing 1/4 of the entire trail. It's colossal, there is no other word to describe it. With out a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. People tell me I have already walked more than the average American does in a decade.
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Partnership Shelter 

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 13.6

The young lady working nightshirt at the motel give me a ride back to the trail, bless her heart. I thought I would have to do a complicated hitch, or at least walk a couple of miles out of town to the hwy. All alone again, eveready has been right behind me step for step for more than a week now. Sometimes, if I stop to abruptly, he would run into my pack nearly bowling me over. It was almost 30 minutes before stone kicker come up behind me, he's about my age and a tool maker (machinist) like me. We hit it off like two drunks at a keg party. He carries a chair strapped to his pack, and you know I have to get me one now. We hiked in to the next town (Atkins) and strolled into the Barn, a restaurant on a Sunday serving chicken fried steak, gravy and all the fixings. A greasy spoon two days in a row is a pipe-dream out here. We eat so much we could only wallow three miles out of town where we promptly set up camp. A beautiful young blond called CV came in shortly after and is cowboying (no tent, sleeping bag only) here with us. Did i say I love Virginia?
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Stealth Camp

To: knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

First bear sighting this morning, only a fleeing glance thru the trees but it still counts. Also had a long look at a whitetail buck and three snakes, more than I seen all week. The bear was awesome even though it was already running ninety to nothing  before I seen it. It's raining So my tent is soaked again, be great fun to pack up in the morning. Hiked alone all day at a pretty good clip without seeing a soul. Came out of the trees a few times into beautiful meadows of Virginia farm land. Had to go around some cattle once that refused to move out the way. Walked right up to them and shooed the beast best I could but they wasn't budging, just looked at me like, this is my land, you go around. Couple of steep but short climbs, mostly fairly easy grade. Stopped at this shelter at 3:30 and waited on stone kicker but he never showed. Sit around the rest of the day talking with Sam who came in around five.  Eventually mud, cv, hambone and funnybone came in. I thought funny bones was a couple days behind me but he has caught me again. It's past hiker midnight and the guys in the shelter are making a lot of noise, bet funny bone is wishing he tented in the rain. Hope this storm moves out faster than the last one.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: VA 623
Miles today: 15.1

If there is a thunderstorm within 500 miles and I walk up on a ridge it will zone in over my head like a laser guided missile. This time I was hiking atop a five mile long ridge with enough technicals, slick rocks and roots to require five hours to traverse. It was a torrential down poor that lasted hours. Came upon a note on tree from a church group promising a dry place and hot meal. Called the number, guy comes to get us and takes us to his home. Unbelievable as it sounds, they want nothing in return. Amazing how kind they have been to us. The 4 of us, squeeze, rocky, Peter and me are warm and cozy here in Burkes Garden with trail angels Pete and June.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: VA 623

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Pete drove us back out to the trail head at ten after a wonderful breakfast. Today the trail went back up a ridge only this time on a shelf just below the top. The trail was as flat as I've seen for about 5 miles. It rained again naturally but it least it was a light rain with no thunderstorm, still got soaked but I was dry when I walked into camp. I walked within sight of the small town of Bland and it was tempting to go in and have a look around but I passed it by. After crossing I've I-77 the trail is not well maintained, there's one particular area where a tree has fallen over the path and it's difficult to get around. There is water here but it's six switchbacks down to it, man I hate that. It's ten miles tomorrow before the first water source and I'm out, still debaiting if I will go back down there or just go thirsty. Retread and Knoxville are here.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 606
Miles today: 16.3

Decided to forgo the climb back down for water, next water source like I said was ten miles away but what I didn't know was it was a poor spring and not clear but I drink it and enjoyed every drop. Hooked up with retriever midday and he talked me into going to Trent's Grocery with him. He said something like, they have a deli and it's only .5 from the trail, I'm like ok I'll go with you.I moved ahead of retriever a few hundred yards and was startled by a rattle snake in some rocks. I could pinpoint where the rattle was coming from and took four big steps back. Finally seen six inches or so of it's tail slithering under a flat rock three feet in front of me, it must have been just to my left when it rattled. After a few minutes I made way past where it had when into the rocks and waited on retriever to warn him. The grade was again not steep but a little harder than the previous day. I've been hiking the same ridge line for three days now and it dawned on me I was hiking a old roadbed. In many places it has eroded away but a few places you can plainly see the signs of a very old road. Most all the trees are relatively young meaning this whole area was clearcut years ago. It must have been an awesome site to see. Going up one fairly steep slope, there's a tree much older than the rest and it has huge rings or slots cut around the base, deformed some how. My guess was loggers used it to winch machinery up the hill and that's why it was spared. This notion comes from a hiker who has nothing to do but count trees all day and use his imagination, so admittedly it could be wrong. I couldn't help but wonder if we will ever clear that ridge again, sure it's protected now but for how long? I'm in my tent just to the side of the  grocery. There doesn't seem to be a town near by, only a small community. I'm next to a large creek or a small river and the flow of the warer over the rocks is soothing only a few feet away. For six bucks you get a shower, free laundry and a place to pitch your tent, you'd be hard pressed to find a better deal than that. The beer was good, the pizza was great but nothing but nothing is better than a cold Mountain Dew these days. Back to back hot meals, hot showers, clean clothes and sodas may have me spoiled. Oh, and it didn't rain, which is good, because I was beginning to think I had entered some Virginia rainforest I haven't heard of before.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: VA 606

To: Woods Hole Hostel 
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: light rain

Hiked out after breakfast with retread. I could not sleep for some reason, bet I only slept 4 hours. The trail parallels Dismmal creek off and on for 9 miles, I like walking next to a noisy creek, can't really say why but it relaxes me. We had one outstanding view from an unnamed rock, a bit hazy like usual but awesome none the less. Today I got my first lesson in identifying plants from retread, he knows most of the plants and trees out here. I've been passing by all thes plants and trees for weeks now, it's nice to be able to put a name with them now. I can now recognize, Sasafras (the bark of the root makes a tea), Galax (sometimes a big patch produces a foul odor an unknown phenomena), the diferents between poison ivy and poison oak, Blueberry's (no beeries yet), Virginia Creeper (commonly mistaken for poison Ivy), Squawroot (Indian women used for menstrual problems), Indian-pipe, Faulse Solmans Seal, Solomans Seal, Spotted Wintergreen, Mountain Laurel, Rattlesnake plantain Orchid, Lilly of the Valley, Jewelweed (supposedly will relieve poison Ivy rash) and Amercain Chestnut, (a tree that has been wiped out by blight). Made it to Woods Hole Hostel in good time. Woods Hole hostel and cabin is made with very old Amercain Chestnut and is said to be a must see. The couple running the hostel seem to be nice people and they prepare meals with organically grown vegtibles. I haven't stayed at many hostels to compare it by and I guess my expectations were a tad high but I wouldn't call it a must see. Nothing wrong with it other than pricy as hostels go but not my cup of a tea.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: Woods Hole Hostel 

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Left the hostel after a much better breakfast than dinner and again I could not sleep. I mostly lagged behind retread today, up until now he followed behind me. Another great view of the same valley as yesterday but from a different perspective. Johnnie walker hiked with us part of the day and he new some plants that retread didn't know. I seen honeysuckle vines for the first time on the trail today. Didn't need any help identifying those haha. Retread took a nasty fall on some slick rocks and hurt a already bum knee. We made it to Pearisburg alive but exhausted and it was a welcomed site. Stopped for a mountain dew, checked into a motel, took a shower and went to the nearest greasy spoon for a burger. Hopping I can sleep tonight.
Date: 2012-05-28
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Brach Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: broken clouds

Hitched a 3/4 mile ride out of town and back to the trail, yeah I'm lazy. Water still scarce up on these ridge lines, I should say there is "less" water than what I'm used to and i suppose its sufficient but I hate to go ten miles without water. I found the climb just out of town tough partly because of the heat at 1600 feet and I'm sure the day off had something to do with it. Had lunch at Rice Field Shelter and the views were spectacular down in the valley. From there it was much cooler at 3400 feet and also flat. We got confused when we past a sign for Allegheny trail, the AT guide only list the trail once and there are two signs. When we past the first we thought we were further along than we were and we came to a climb that was not on the profile. At first we were sure the book was screwed up and we talked pretty bad about the author. After coming to the second sign for the same trail we finally figured it all out. The problem was since we thought we had done more miles than we actually did we decided to take a long break rather than spend a lot of time at the shelter. When we realized our mistake it was too late, causing us to barely make it here befor dark. It's all good.