morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-13
From: Unaka mountain

To: Roan High Knob shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

weeeeellll, (you and I both know) its all downhill from here (I wish). Tonight I have claimed the highest tent site at Roan High Knob shelter, the highest shelter on the AT. So for the night, I am the highest shelter camper on the AT (that's kinda freaking awesome!) Today we did a 21 miler but it was fairly easy terrain wise which was nice and we were treated to some spectacular views and a second night in a spruce Forest (I feel like I'm hiking in NE, except for the lack of rocks and roots in the trail). Speaking of last night...      So this morning we woke to a totally still world at the summit of Unaka. And the first thing I noted when I woke up was that I smelled smoke (did I leave the oven on?) I thought the Canadians a quarter mile down the trail had started morning cook fire until I realized the wind was coming from a different direction. The first few miles of hiking were very hazy and all you could smell was wood smoke. I passed four wheel drive and he said he didn't smell anything.       We ran into a kind gentleman doing a little trail magic about 5 miles in and we asked him if he knew about the smoke. He said someone three counties over had started a fire, but it wasn't headed our way unless there was a dramatic wind change and it couldn't be contained (10% as of this morning). He said if they caught the arsonist they should "take a hot iron to his balls". Which, I thought was a fitting punishment considering the damage wildfires cause. Don't get me wrong, we should be burning our forests to allow for healthy regeneration, but in a controlled and safer fashion.      Anyways, that's my rant. it's a short day tomorrow so I'll catch up on my camp chores tomorrow (yay). P.S tortillas with coconut mixed peanut butter and dates with Oreos crumbled in is a delicious second lunch.
Date: 2017-04-14
From: Roan High Knob shelter

To: Wilder Mine Campsite
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

To paraphrase Boromir, captain of Gondor, "this isn't a mine, it's a campsite". I believe he said that about Moria. Tonight we are staying at Wilder Mine Campsite (a series of abandoned pit mines) just outside of Elk Park, NC. I spent the night in Elk Park last year on my trip down at a friend's parents very luxurious home and met Emma the hound's cousin, Buddy. I'm 95% sure I saw the house from the summit of hump mountain today. Pretty cool.      We had a lot of meadow waking today and I totally understand why Slim Pilgrim ( in his infinite sagacity) recommend the wide-brimmed hat prior to the folliage and for the meadow waking. Very important not to burn out here!       We also finished with North Carolina today. We crossed the border for the last time! We are only about a mile from the border currently but we are in Tennessee! Three more days and then Virginia!       Garbahnzo and i are hitching into either EP, NC or Roan mountain, TN tomorrow to resupply and eat then keep moving on.       Camp life tonight was good! We are with some of the Brits ( wild thing, tea bag, big style) and some other groups (patch, salty, monarch), scout, and more.       I managed to get a blister on the ball of my foot (how?). Oh well it'll heal soon.      I miss you guys! I think about how amazing this past month (almost) has been and how I'd love to share it with you all! I think about you all (yes, all of you, even you Emma and Ammo) constantly!       Closing musing: I don't care what you say about people from the south, those who I live near the AT are the most selfless, kind and caring people I've ever met.
Date: 2017-04-15
From: Wilder Mine Campsite

To: Mountaineer shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

woke up with a cat in the camp. A very soft and social lady who loved all the hikers and their leftover tuna sachets (yes, I gave her some). It was the oddest but also coolest way to start a day.      Today was a resupply day in Roan Mountain, TN. Garbahnzo and I got a hitch into town almost instantly and we had breakfast at Bob's Dairyland. We then resupplied our food bags and walked to Eric and Laura's? Cafe, where I got second breakfast (it was only $5.27 for sausage, eggs, home fries, biscuit, and coffee!) And made use of their excellent WiFi and power outlets. We then hitched back to the trail and saw 4 wheel drive who said his leg was feeling better today.          Garbahnzo and I then hiked 9 miles to mountaineer shelter and called it a day. I've got a blister on the bottom of my foot (how?) And on my pinky toe and Alex's leg is recovering from a strain so 9 was good.       We saw our first sacks of news today for the first time in a month.... Kinda [read: very] concerning. So we decided to go back into the woods.      22 miler tomorrow? and we get to meet Bob Peoples, the famous trail worker and hostel owner!
Date: 2017-04-16
From: Mountaineer shelter

To: Pond Flats campsite
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

Happy Easter! I hope the Easter Hound gave many plentiful eggs and ham for you (I like to replace common holiday critters with a hound: Christmas hound, Easter Hound, Cupid hound, 'merica hound, etc.).       We had some lovely waking today in the morning but our second day of high humidity. The salt stains on my shirt could be transferred to canvas and sold at an art auction for some serious money I reckon.       We hiked 16 miles and popped into Kincora hostel and met Bob Peoples? very quickly, had some lunch, then finished the hike for the day. We hiked down into Laurel falls which was amazing and took the AT that went right next to the river! We then climbed up to pond flats (a stupidly unnecessary hill) and made camp there. Looks like we've?got some free showers (I.e rain) coming over the next few days. That's fine by me though, means that the leaves will be out soon!That's all for now!
Date: 2017-04-17
From: Pond Flats campsite

To: 2-3 miles past iron mountain shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: few clouds

Today was pretty uneventful. Woke up, packed up camp, hiked, ate, and got to iron mountain shelter at 4:30. Due to tomorrow being a high mileage? day (24) we decided? to make sun while the hay was shining and do a few more miles to make tomorrow only a 21-ish mile day.   Met a lot of hikers I'd only seen in the trail and shelter logs until now so that was cool. Leaving TN tomorrow and into Virginia!!!
Date: 2017-04-19
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A nearo turned zero in Damascus! I'm staying at the place again tonight and will push out in the morning. Garbahnzo pushed ahead this morning to get some miles in before he meets up with Nick for a double zero on the 23rd and 24th. We will meet up at Jenni Knob Shelter on the night of the 26th and our small tramily will be reunited!       We ate at Mojo's this morning for breakfast and it was delicious! I then made some calls while waiting on my laundry at crazy larry's hostel and sipped on a delicious Moat Mountain IPA that Nick was nice enough to send to Alex in a care package and which Garbahnzo was nice enough to share one of his two cans with me. He's a good man that Garbahnzo.    I went to the public library (my current abode) and was about to sit down to type these up when a woman working here mentioned they were showing Hidden Figures in the next room for free and everyone was invited to join. I'd been meaning to see the film for a while so I decided to watch it. Good film if you haven't seen it!      But, now I am here and I've just ordered my tarp to meet me at Pearisburg, VA. So, theres that! I'll probably just hang out tonight and rest up for tomorrow. Thats all for now!
Date: 2017-04-20
From: Damascus, VA

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

Damascus was fun but it's time for me to move on down the trail. I left this morning after having a nice breakfast at Mojo again and saw Chernobyl and Breakfast there and are with them. I heard that the Broken Fiddle hostel was pretty rowdy last night, I'm very glad I didn't stay there. Anyways I walked out of town and met up with Catch Up about two miles out of Damascus. We hiked together for a few miles until the rain really started coming down. I pulled ahead as he slows down in the rain. I got to Saunders Shelter at about 12:30 but was still running on my breakfast energy and it was still raining steadily so I figured I'd keep going to the next shelter (6.5 miles my ass). I rolled in there around 2:45 and had a quick lunch and made use of the privy (because we're in Virginia now and unlike Tennessee, there are actually privys at the shelters) then kept moving. The rain had cleared by this point and I had excellent views from Buzzards Knob (the worst climb in the Grayson Highlands and maybe my new worst climb of the trip... Maybe it's still Kelly Knob though...). I Then got to my planned tent site for the night. It was only 1700 and everyone there was pretty stoned (its 4/20 after all) so I decided to push another few miles to Elk Garden and was surprised to see Flat Tire in camp! We were the only two here and it was nice to chat with him. He majored in conservation bio so it was fun to talk about that.       Tomorrow I officially go through the Grayson Highlands state park, see wild ponies, go through fat man squeeze rock tunnel, and skirt Virginia's highest peak. Not bad! Let's hope the rain holds off until the afternoon.
Date: 2017-04-21
From: Elk Garden

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So the rain didn't hold off until the afternoon...   I woke up to a heavy downpour at 4 am. Luckily it slowed by 6 and flat tire and I got our stuff together huddled under the privy overhang.   By 7 it had stopped and I headed up into the Grayson Highlands. It was very foggy and I couldn't see much until all of a sudden three ponies materialized out of the fog. That was cool. I came over a knoll at one point and a big bull and a steer were hanging out in the trail. There is nothing more awkward then running into a large cattle in a treeless landscape. Luckily I sidestepped around the guy and no limbs were lost.    The rocks in the highlands were the closest to new England hiking I'd seen in 500 miles (I crossed over the 500 mile marker today!) It was slippery and it pissed rain on and off all day but the heavy rain never really came. However they're calling for 2-5 inches of rain over the next 48 hours. So we're probably getting soggy. But, Monday is looking clear so there's that.      I'm staying at the first shelter I've been in since the smokies. I figured the drier I can keep the sleeping gear the better. I'm staying with several very nice section hikers and we are listening to the thunder roll in. We will see how it goes! Stay dry.
Date: 2017-04-22
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up to a beautiful orange sunrise this morning and no rain! Last night as soon as we turned off our headlamps it started coming down in buckets. I managed to get about 15 miles in before it started raining and 17 miles in before it started downpouring. It tapered off by the time I got to Partnership shelter. A very nice shelter next to the Mt. Rogers visitors center. The crowd tonight is rather rowdy and many of them zeroed here and shuttled into town today and bought a bunch of booze so tonight will probably be an earplugs kind of night. But, I've got a dry place to sleep and my stuff is mostly dry so I can't complain.       I saw two deer (O. virginianus) today and two yesterday. Both instances they were not skiddish at all. It was cool to just walk past deer who were browsing. I also saw two male Cardinals today and the leaves are popping out as well. Spring I think is finally in full swing here in Virginia.       Im short a dinner due to my poor planning for my resupply (I need to wait until Monday to get into Atkins, VA to get to the post office) so myself and two other hikers ordered pizza delivery to the visitors center and had it delivered there as the shelter is only a quarter of a mile away. It worked well as I got a bunch of food after a cold day in the rain. So, full bellied and mostly dry, I'm ready for the rain to come down tonight. Short day tomorrow (12) and there is a buffet at the end of it! Hopefully we don't get 3 inches of rain like they're predicting!
Date: 2017-04-23
From: Partnership shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Today was hands down the most miserable hiking I think I've ever had. Low 40's, and steady rain coming down. It's hypothermia weather today. By five miles in I'd lost fine and gross motor functions in my hands. I had to put on a base layer and eat some food. By 12 miles I reached Atkins and two other hikers and I decided to get a hotel room. Everyone is ducking for cover today.       We got the buffet at the barn today, not bad but could have had a bigger selection. But, in a warm dry room tonight, hoping the rain pours itself out tonight. That's all for now
Date: 2017-04-25
From: Atkins, VA

To: Chestnut knob Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: moderate rain

Headed out at 0800 with Day Tripper and Flat Tire this morning. lots of the stream.s had receded a lot luckily but the trail was still pretty slick. At mile 10 I tried crossing a bridge that was totally under a raging river. I had to backtrack a mile and a half and get my feet soaked in cold rushing water but it happens I guess.   I crossed the official 1/4 marker today which was very cool! I also hiked for a bit with Multi-tool who worked as a ski patroller and is from Thorton, NH which was fun to talk about NH while hiking in VA!    Garbahnzo and I were reunited today at Chestnut Knob shelter. It's good to have a familiar face hiking with you again!      Looks like the last sprinkles are clearing tonight and then it looks like good weather and good walking for the next few days!       That's all for now!
Date: 2017-04-26
From: Chestnut knob Shelter

To: About a mile past Helvey's Mill Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: clear sky

Today Garbahnzo and I took off from current knob shelter and enjoyed the clear morning sunshine! I tweaked my lcl slightly yesterday running down trail (stupid I know) and took it easy today with the pace. It feels better than it did this morning, so thats good! It turned out to be a hot day! The magical salt art reformed on my shirt and the sunscreen was broken out once more!   We ran into a sobo hiker who had a very happy chocolate lab with him. He asked if either of us had lost a dog. The happy lab had just found him and started hiking with him! Crazy stuff.   The terrain today was nice but not as nice as what we've got ahead into Pearisburg! I'm excited for the good walking.    Tonight is not supposed to rain so I'm living dangerously and I'm sleeping out under the stars in the screen house only. Very nice getting a cross breeze in here! But, only one more night and I'll be in my hammock by Friday?!    Think sunshine!
Date: 2017-04-27
From: About a mile past Helvey's Mill Shelter

To: Wapiti shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

we had excellent weather for hiking today! Strong breeze to keep the bugs off and some sun mixed with clouds was perfect paired with the super gentle terrain we had today. My knee (lcl, IT band, whatever it is) was a bit more sensitive today but I still got 23 miles in with no more than it being an intermittent mild annoyance.   When we reached the shelter as if on cue the afternoon line of t-storms rolled in. Garbahnzo and I cooked dinner planning on taking the hill just after the shelter and camping up top but the rain and light thunder paired with setting up in the dark and hanging a bear bag in the dark was enough to convince us 23 is fine for one day. I'll get up early and hustle into Pearisburg to make some calls and get to the P.O.   The shelter tonight had one other NOBO and two section hiker friend both of which brought there dogs!!! A most excellent way to end the day with a dog claiming your sleeping bag as it's own haha.    One of the section hikers (silver dodger) and her cute mutt Kona gave me some icy-hot to put on my knee. We will see if it works. They said it was amazing on their hurts so I hope it does the trick! New shoes tomorrow!!
Date: 2017-04-28
From: Wapiti shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Made it to Pearisburg and received my Christmas-like abundance of packages. A big thank you to Neil and Deb for the cookies, zucchini bread, and sunflower oatmeal bread, to MJ for the cookies, to z packs for the tarp (and to everyone who pitched in to defer the cost, to Catherine for the kangaroo jerky and snack bars, and to Apu for sending the hammock!     Today's walk was nice but it got super warm when we got down to  Pearisburg (but there's full folliage here so that's awesome)! Supposed to get up to 90 tomorrow down here and 83 up higher. It will be a slow walk up hill tomorrow.    My knee is still giving me some trouble but I iced it tonight and did an Epsom salt bath for my feet (yes, hikers are like the elderly) and it's feeling better. I bought some icy hot which has also been helping so we'll see how it fares over the next few days.     The hostel were staying at (angels rest) only opened in the past year but is super well run and is my favorite hostel thus far!  Would recommend it to  anyone on the trail (or just in the area).    Gonna cook up some farm fresh eggs tomorrow with some sauteed spinach and a bunch of toast and grilled zucchini bread!!!!
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: "Campsite"
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we took a nice leisurely morning in which I cooked up several farm fresh eggs and an entire bag of spinach, along with three pieces of sunflower oatmeal bread and another two pieces of zucchini bread. I shared the remainder with the hikers and staff at angels rest hostel (best I've been to so far!). They were very grateful!    We got dropped off at the trail head around one and due to the oppressive heat and my still tender leg, we took the climb out of town very slowly. We met a group of students from a local community college who were out doing a backpacking class. Kinda cool!     We actually walked through our first campsite location and didn't even notice! We ended up at one known only as "Campsite" on the AWOL book of lies. When Garbahnzo and I were cooking dinner, a white tailed deer ran through our camp. All I could hope was it didn't run into my new tarp! Luckily there was no such incident!    Windy up here tonight. Good chance to try the tarp out!
Date: 2017-04-30
From: "Campsite"

To: Mile past war spur shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

the first night in the hammock after almost a year not being in it was rough, but not why you'd expect. The wind last night was so rough that my tarp (I didn't pitch it well enough last night) was pushing into my hammock and every time the wind blew ( and it was a windy night) I was shaken. But, we made it through.    19 miler today to a campsite just past war spur shelter. The walk today had awesome (though a little warm) weather. We also got a bit of trail magic from one of the angels rest hostel workers so that was cool.    We will see how round two goes with the hammock
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Mile past war spur shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

If April showers bring May flowers then what do May showers bring? Answer: rain. We had some crazy rain today (we "embraced the squish" as I like to call it). We had some ridge walking today on sloped wet rocks with 30+ mph winds and my shoes were not up to the challenge. I was cursing a blue streak across the blue ridge mountains. Luckily we missed one of the thunderstorms and got into Niday shelter to wait out the 15 minute storm this afternoon.     The second night in the hammock was better but I'm still figuring out pairing the hammock with this sleeping pad. The heat the past few night has not helped either but, we'll get there!    The knee is feeling better today but I don't think we're out of the woods yet (haha).     In the shelter tonight so I can get up and go in the morning to see the Audie Murphy monument and the dragons tooth. We saw the biggest oak on the southern AT (Keffer oak) today which was cool. That's all for now! The privies in VA are awesome.
Date: 2017-05-02
From: Niday Shelter

To: Johns Spring Shelter
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: clear sky

long day today! We hiked up to the dragons tooth, a large stone monolith which was also mile 700! I climbed to the top and was suddenly reminded of my fear of heights and had bald shoes... I'm safe though! Got my days worth of adrenaline in!    We also stopped into the Catawba grocery and grill (gas station) and a guy gave a bunch of us $20 for being thru hikers. Naturally we spent it on responsible stuff (ice cream and beer). A few other lads decided to try and pack out a 24 pack of PBRs for the last 6 miles. I took two. The thing with hiking is you metabolize everything so quick that you just burn through every. A beer hits you then is gone in 10 minutes.     We all decided to get up at 4 am for an early morning hike up to McAfee knob for the sunrise! We'll see how it goes!
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Johns Spring Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

Today we did in fact get up at 4:00 and we're on trail by 4:45 and up to McAfee knob by sunrise and it was one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen. We took pictures up there and got my legs dangling from the cliff (my daily dose of adrenaline). We then after eating breakfast up top and enjoying the early morning sun headed to tinker cliffs which were also awesome.     The last 10 miles into town were the most painful on my feet (and Garbahnzos) feet so far. But! New shoes in town were waiting for me! Good day.    Resupplied and getting ready to head out tomorrow!Walkamol©!"Ah yes, lets add some poison ivy to this..."
Date: 2017-05-04
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblet Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Waking up this morning was hard after our previous day's 4 am hike paired with staying up late to resupply and organize. The urge to zero was strong but good old Garbahnzo was my cattle prod and convinced me to hike out today. I'm glad I did as it was a good day for hiking and I made it to the shelter not 5 minutes before it started coming down. We're supposed to get a bunch of rain tonight but there's seven of us in a six person shelter all warm dry and fed so life is pretty good right now. We've got a long day tomorrow with lots of uphill so it's off to bed! Luckily I've got my new shoes to motivate me!
Date: 2017-05-05
From: Bobblet Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: heavy intensity rain

happy Cinco de mayo! The rain came down in buckets last night and by the morning our little shelter-side creek had turned into a raging stream! There was also a large amount of runoff coming down to the shelter! But we all stayed dry last night and that was the main goal.     We hiked on the AR today (Appalachian River) and had a long 23.5 miler today. We hiked with Mantis (from Worcester, MA) and got into camp late after our late 9:00 start. Some sobo section hikers showed up tonight as well. They really are an odd bunch to be sure.    We also passed the guillotine today (large Boulder wedged between two pieces of bedrock) which was cool I thought.    In the hammock tonight and it's supposed to get cold so we will see if I've figured out using this sleeping pad and hammock pairing!    That's all for now