morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Well. I thought I had ten miles to go but it was really 12.1. It took me 5 hours to walk 6 miles and you know I just didn't have anything else to give the trail today. Everyone I have been hiking with went the distance but I just couldnt see hiking another 4 hours and getting into camp late. I mean I guess I could have but I just didn't want to A big storm blew in last night around 1am and the winds howled, chasing each other around the mountain. Rain poured down, the wind tried to let it into my tent but the old girl held up. It went on at full strength for a little over an hour, there was no use sleeping. I saw another mouse climbing on my tent last night. He saw that I was awake and he ran down the other side. I packed up in the rain this morning and hiked all day in the wet cold fog. I was evidently hiking so slow a slug was able to hitch a ride, I dont know how long I walked with him slugged on the sleeve of my rain jacket. A bird flew out of the grass on the side of the trail today and scared the bejesus out of me. I was intently keeping an eye out for baby bears in the fog... She flew off a tiny nest of 4 perfect eggs. I would have liked to take a picture but I knew I was making her uncomfortable just being there. I was so cold now I had to get in my sleeping bag, its not even 7oclock. So cold I can see my breath and so wet. So far the smokies have been a huge pain in the ass. Poorly spaced shelters, too many rules, no privies. Most shelters have "toilet areas" where people dont even bury their waste. Its disgusting. You would think the most visited national park would take a more responsible approach to waste. Disgusting. There are so many people here tonight, it practically looks like bonnaroo with all the tents. I am really hoping I stay warm enough tonight. I may try to shuttle into Gatlinburg a day early or I may just eat cliff bars and trail mix for the day of food im missing. I am not eating enough i know that im not. I never have an appetite. Im getting further and further behind where I thought Id be. I'm beginning to get frustrated with my pace. Everyone is pulling longer and longer miles and I am just still struggling. I want to do more. I just cant Tomorrow and tuesday are supposed to be sunny for good views on clingmans dome. I guess I'll get there when i get there. I like to be in range of service for these lonely cold nights so I can read your messages and be lifted up. Guess you can't have everything
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

I hardly slept last night. It was so so cold. Someone said it was 37 at 7am. Brrr. I laid in my sleeping bag until the sun warmed up my tent. Late start today. Nice easy miles, back to my regular 1.5 an hour. Cold all day though. I could see my breath. Hiking uphill in three layers and a wool hat says a lot about the temperature. I found an extra dinner in the bottom of my bag so i think I'll go on past clingmans to Gatlinburg. Even though I have been mad at gsmnp the park does have spring beauties which coat everything like snow and they are beautiful. I also noticed yesterday hundreds of little grasshoppers hoping around. They were so intense the side of the trail sounded like a rain shower. I also saw the coolest bug yet. He was blue and shiny almost blue green and he was a big ant, huge, with 6 big legs and a long tapered tail. Cool. Supposed to be colder tonight then yesterday so I am wearing everything trying to stay warm.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Gatlinburg 

To: Gatlinburg 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night I thought about all of the people, at home and on the trail, who have supported me, rooted for me, cheered me on and given me their love. My friends at home, my friends on trail - thank you I couldn't do it without you. I am always so happy to hear from you guys out there in the trail journals universe, keep sending your comments and well wishes they are very, very, warmly welcomed I am happy that you are in the least entertained. I had to set an alarm to make sure I didn't miss 11am checkout. Its not the early to bed part I struggle with its the early to rise part. I dare say I was too comfortable to sleep very well last night. I woke up and went down to take advantage of free continental breakfast. I hemmed and hawed all morning about whether to stay or go. I sat in the disarray of all my gear and just smelled the stench leaching from my hiking clothes. Decision made. Stay and hit the laundry mat before heading back out. Beside the stench, my knee and blisters didn't mind the idea of a day off. Gatlinburg has a perfect trolley that took me exactly where i needed to go. Once I realized my color trolley had passed me by I pressed my hotel trashbin bag of dirty clothes to my chest and ran like a braless wonder. When i caught the trolley I thanked the driver for stopping and she said "I always stop for hikers". How did she know?! Was it my stylish outfit of marmot rain pants and jacket? My bag of dirty smartwool? My buzz cut? What She took me in and made sure I got off at the right stop The front desk lady at my hotel told me to stop into an eatery behind the laundromat and while I was waiting for the return trolley I remembered. Thank goodness I did. Yum! I have been craving fresh and delicious veggies. Double yum. I packed up the chaos in the room and then took myself out for a nice Italian dinner, I even got dessert.Something about southern hospitality Its brought out my very best manners. Hopefully getting back to the trail tomorrow works out ok. I have new insoles and new rash free (hopefully) boys underwears compliments of my keeper Mary Ann to try out. I cant wait to get back into the mountains, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Gatlinburg 

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: few clouds

I didn't journal today so this is my perspective from today (05/01). I was up before the alarm. Since I packed up most everything the night before I figured I had time for a quick shower Continental breakfast and out I went. I headed down to the NOC, I thought Id gather some hikers for some hitching advice The NOC was closed. I did the next best thing and headed to the grand prix motel. Immediately I ran into a crowd of hikers. I asked around about a shuttle and that was a no go. Thankfully hashtag swept me up drove me right to the top of the dome. When we were walking down from the dome it dawned on me that I ran into hashtag weeks before on the way down into the Nantahala Outdoor Center, he briefly ran by me in a down pour. Weird how the trail works things out. When we got to the dome Rainman and Jedi were there, I hadnt seen Jedi since the first week! I got back onto the trail around 12:30. I got to the first shelter and the next shelter was 7 away so guessed Id stay there. For the first time I didnt know a single person in the shelter. A little while later the skies opened up and dumped out buckets of hail!!! What the heck. It sleeted and hailed and rained all night. I slept in the shelter gratefully. Not a single snore all night. It was freezing.
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

When I woke up this morning and looked out everything was covered in snow! I was glad to be in the shelter. Early start today but freezing cold. I walked along until a guy came running up and said "there you are we are waiting for you!" I thought he had the wrong girl. He said Ive got trail magic at the gap and the guys said that you were behind them. He said he was taking a guy into Gatlinburg but didnt want to pack up until I got there. How incredible! I had the best mayonnaise, lettuce, and cheese on wheat ever. Yodels, chippies, an orange, a soda pop , and peanut butter cookies. There were a ton of people there and everyone wanted to talk and wish me well. One lady even asked if she could take my picture. It was a quick three more miles to the shelter. I could probably have done three more miles or maybe even five more but not 8 more. All new people in the shelter, im enjoying meeting so many new people. I'm going to try and make my biggest day ever tomorrow, 12.6. All of my trail friends are days ahead of me now because of my nero/zero/nero. Hopefully I'll see those guys again.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-corner Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

I slept in the shelter again so I was in for an early start atleast. I hate sleeping in the shelters. Charlies Bunion was about a mile from the shelter I got there in no time. Beautiful views from there. so lucky. The weather was perfect. Two rowdy Australian guys showed up with day packs and said in a thick australian accent "is this it, is this Maine?!? They were so funny. These guys had a big loaf of real bakery bread. Real baked bread. They offered me some and gave me half of a tomato!!! Best day ever. I told myself if I got to the first shelter by 3:30 Id push on to the second shelter. Then at 4:00. I got to the shelter at 4:15. I decided to go anyway and made great time! My biggest day yet. I even set up my tent because the shelter was mostly full. Awesome. I had a great night sleep for the first time in a while. I felt great coming into the shelter. Dare I say my trail legs are finally here?
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Tri-corner Knob Shelter 

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: few clouds

Waking up in my tent was lovely. I did get out of my tent before 8am!!! That a girl. I had breakfast and my new fancy pour over coffee which by the way is worth any price and weight I sat in the sunshine and listened to the stream and drank coffee until the last of the hikers set out. My choices today were 7.7 or 14.8. You win again smokey mountains. I took my time packing up. Washed my tights. Brushed my teeth even eh eh? Nice easy miles today. I did walk by a guy who was not even 15 feet off the trail pooping. I said hey how are you doing before my brain figured out he was pooping. I hope that man had severe intestinal distress, otherwise, gross find a better spot. I came to some acceptance today about my hike. I get to see all of the new bugs and flowers, I walk carefully and make sure I don't squish any bugs or trample any flowers with my sticks. I break up insect fights. I search for the perfect rock each time I pass a cairn and put it up there. When I pass by a snail shell I always pick it up and see if anyone is inside. I make pathways for pooling water. I pick up trash. When I hike through mud that is flat on both sides with a ridge in the middle I walk with one foot in front of the other like a tightrope and squish it back down. That's how I hike. I don't hike for big miles. I don't hike for speed. Thats just how it is. When I get there Ill get there. And I came to this acceptance today. I got to the shelter early and Im just relaxing. I maybe could have made it another 7 miles to the next shelter but it would have been close. I did some yoga!!! There are really two categories of needs out here:Must haves-Water Food ShelterNice to haves-Teeth brushingStretchingVitamins YogaWet One ingWarm BeveragesI was thinking today while I was hiking about the days when it took me all day to hike 8 miles. Today hiking and coffee and laundry and yoga and journaling before dinner. Working in some nice to haves, just look at me go
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel 
Miles today: 10.7

I woke up just in time to see that I had missed the sunrise. the shelter had a premium sunrise viewing spot. Today I left the smokies. Thank the trail that the weather was beautiful the last three days. A quick 7 miles and I was waving goodbye to the smokies. Views were beautiful, the day was warm, and the wind was blowing gently. Couldn't have been better. I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted to stop and stay at the hostel but I made the morning miles so i figured I could at least check it out. I stopped at the last shelter in the smokies to get water and saw my very first snake! Now he was only about the size of a pencil and about 6 inches. He looked like a small slithering worm actually but I know he would like to be called a snake anyway. A little while later I ran into his older older brother who was right on the trail and he was six pencils big and as long as my forearm. Two bears in the first couple of miles into the smokies and two snakes in the last couple of miles. The trial approached an interstate, it sounded outrageous like a big roaring coliseum of horror. I dont think its that I haven't heard an interstate in a month I think it's more that I forgot all about what an interstate even sounds like. The hostel is awesome. The best kinda rustic, washboard laundry, everything is here. I am so glad I decided to stay. Besides, they have wifi and I know you guys were worried about me. Three more days into hot springs but that shower i took felt good anyway. The hostel has pillowcases!!! Awwww yeeeeeaaa.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't journal today so this is my perspective from today (05/07).I slept until 9:30 It is just so great to get such good sleep, I love my tent I didn't sleep very good at standing bear so I was catching up I hit the trail, the sun was beating down. The bugs, I guess they are gnats? Biting gnats?, anyway they were out in the millions. So many bugs in the eyes. Also in case you thought I was having too nice of a time I was reminded yesterday that I have seasonal allergies. Oh yes, I am totally allergic to spring. So Ive been working through that. I ran into a day hiker who asked me if I was having fun. I had to think about it for a second. I was lumbering uphill at my slowest deathmarch pace surrounded by my gnat cloud, my face a melting combination of sunblock, sweat, spiderwebs and snot. I smelled like a garbage bag of trash and body odor, like I hadn't bathed or laundered in two years let alone two days, my knee hurt and I was full of itchy welts I was sure was poison ivy. "No, Im not" I said. He said "well you going to quit?" I didn't need to think about that at all."No, Im not" I said. He said well good for you and went on his way. When I got to max patch all ambition for 13 miles left me. It was gorgeous and sunny and breezy. I laid in the grass for about an hour. When I got up I had a horrible headache and felt nauseous. I had drank the same amount I always do but I guess underestimated the heat and terrain and sun. The best I could do was squint and put one foot in front of the other and let the breeze carry me 2 miles down to the shelter. I ate and went to bed. I was asleep by 8pm.
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early 7:30 I packed up, made coffee, and was on the trail by 9 with my little cup of coffee in hand. I felt like morpheus and ponyboy walking and drinking coffee 14.8 seemed like a lofty goal but there was a lot of downhill so I figured I'd play it by ear. I made it up over walnut mountain and 5 miles before noon. Those 5 miles would not have been easy last night but they were pretty easy this morning The bugs were in full swing again today but the weather was nice, not as hot as yesterday. I drank plenty of water to avoid a repeat of yesterday. I climbed Bluff Mountain next, slow and steady. By 3 oclock I'd gone 9 miles with about 6 more to go to the shelter. It had been thundering for a bit and I was starting to wonder if it was all talk. The wind whipped up and it started to rain down flower petals, blowing from the trees. It was beautiful Then big fat raindrops fell and even though I was hot and sweaty I put on my rain jacket anyway because that's how hypothermia happens. A guy at breakfast said he'd run into two rattlesnakes the day before so I had been on high snake alert all day. When I saw the first lightning I abandoned the snake watch and carried my two little LLBean lightning rods down the mountain as quickly as I could without slipping and breaking my neck or twisting my ankle. I had to slam on the brakes for a giant orange salamander right in the middle of the trail, I was practically running when I saw him. He wasn't moving so I wondered if he was ok and so I petted him on the tail. Hehehe he was fine, he took off running and he looked so ridiculous, how does he get anywhere with all of that wiggling. Im still laughing thinking about him. I had been through some storms but had always been in my tent or a hostel. This one was the first I hiked through When the rain let up a little i resumed snake watch. I had been rubbing into my heel blisters pretty good so when it slowed to a drizzle I stopped and taped them up. I changed into dry shorts when the rain stopped so i only have a little rash. The instant the rain stopped the freaking bugs were back. Grrr. However. I got to the shelter around 7pm. That is winning folks, not getting struck by lightning, not breaking my neck, not getting bit by a rattlesnake, taping my blisters, changing my shorts, and eating up two mountains and almost 15 miles for my biggest day yet! My knee is less than pleased with today's work but I'm excited to saunter only three miles tomorrow into hot springs and enjoy two full days there.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge - Hot Springs

To: Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge - Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

This morning I packed up and left intending on staying at the historic Elmer's Sunnybank Inn. I had breakfast, a huge delicious omelette, and then went over to check in. We were offered the grand tour. As soon as I walked into the house I got the feeling that the space was very crowded with a nervous anxious oppressive energy. The house was an old Victorian which had been in use as some type of boarding house since 1818 or something like that. I grabbed onto the wooden handrail up the giant staircase and immediately withdrew my hand. It was just too much, overwhelming. I couldn't catch my breath. All my hairs were standing up and by the time I was shown to my room I knew I couldn't stay. I apologized for blowing the reservation and got the heck out of there. Truly I guess I am opening up or I don't know what but I felt like I was standing in a room full of people and all of the energy that had built up over all of those years was blowing on my tiny ship like a hurricane. I hurried back to the Laughing Heart Hostel. Completely the opposite feel here. This feel is like a cool reflecting pool. Much better I sent some things home, a fleece, fleece tights, my gloves. I weighed my pack at the outfitter, 35.5 with 7 days and a liter of water. Hows that?!?! I weighed myself there too. Lost 25lbs so far. I feel much the same but I guess the numbers don't lie. I bought a hat at the dollar general to protect my head and nose There was some permethrin laying around so I sprayed that baby down and laid her in the shade. Can't beat a three dollar bug off hat. I laid in the hammock out back and ate strawberries with PacMan. I'm working up to a nap. Zero days are the best. The high today is 89. Guess I should hit the trail early tomorrow morning
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge - Hot Springs

To: Camp Site near Rich Mountain 
Miles today: 8.3

I got up and out of the hostel early But then I figured I should grab an extra fuel can at the outfitter and then I figured I should grab an egg and cheese sandwich on the way out of town and a cup of coffee. The climb up out of town was brutal. Hot sweaty day with alot of climbing. I stopped for water and set down my bag and looked down and saw a snake coiled up there just staring at me. Yick. A little while later I was walking and another snake practically flew through the air 20 feet off the trail. Double yick. He was big. And fast. I think he may have been a grey rat snake. I tried to look up what kinda snakes they were but I couldn't be sure. I like them and all being animals but I sure am scared of them. I drank water all day but still felt dehydrated. The dehydrated headache is the worst. It takes all motivation out of you. By 4:30 I still had 3 miles to go to the shelter. I had been so hot all day and had been so sweaty all day and there were so many bugs that I just setup my tent at this campsite. I figured I could get em tomorrow. Maybe Ill get up early and beat the heat. Snakes and heat and bugs. Blagh.
Date: 2015-05-12
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter 
Miles today: 6.8

I woke up at 6:25! Finally, perfect! I have been wanting to wake up then. I was so snuggled and cozy and it was raining so I went back to sleep. I woke up again around 9 and was still in full avoidance mode. I did not want to hike today. At all. I laid in my tent for a good long while considering the possibilities of just staying in my tent all day. I went out and got my food bag and thought about it some more. I only had a couple days of food and a ton of miles to go so I figured I should get to getting. There were some section hikers who had left a ton of extra food at the shelter so I picked up an extra dinner and then really really thought about leaving my tent up and staying. In the end I put on my cold wet hiking clothes and packed up my wet tent and started walking. There was a section today about a mile and a half of intense climbing and rock scrambles...pretty fun actually the trail reminded me of the set from legends of the hidden temple. Just something different is good. I was pretty impressed with how good of shape im in, your girl is killing it. Short miles today, I probably could have went on but hey I get to a certain point in the day when I cant pick one more bug out of my eye or sweep one more bug off my face or blow one more bug off my arm and I start looking to get in my tent. Also, my feets are killing me. Now I am hiding from the bugs in my tent with a full belly at 7:30. Im also very sleepy. My sleeping bag smells like the juice that would run out of a snack bar trashcan thats been baking in the sun. I can barely stand the smell inside my tent. Still, I've been looking forward to getting back in bed all day Sometimes just getting your boots on and walking any kinda miles at all is winning. Im going to try and make some kinda miles over the next couple of days to try and catch up with my friends while they are playing at trail days. Wish me luck I do have to eventually make miles to get to Maine. 300 miles down Atleast Im a little less miserable then I have been. Onward!!!