morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-09-30
To: Bobblet's Gap shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

9/30Bobblet's Gap Shelter13.5 milesI slept soundly. Omega arrived after dark, and his presence set my mind at ease. I got up well before the sun came up, as the cold pre-dawn temperature and the fullness of my bladder conspired against me. I rolled up my pad and sleeping bag, but left the rest until after breakfast so I could bother Omega the least amount possible. We chatted about gear for a bit, then I wished him safe journey and headed south. It was cold enough to hike in my windbreaker. Gloves might have been nice. For the first mile before sunshine reached me, my hands and feet were a little numb. As soon as I hit sunshine (and a steeper incline) I removed the windbreaker and was comfortable. The day's hike included some pretty stunning views, including the Peaks of Otter. I stopped a few times to appreciate. At 5 I arrived at the shelter, got water, and started making a Knorr pasta side. It was horrible. Just after I finished it, a man with no backpack walked down to the shelter. The trail to the shelter is egregiously long, so I didn't suppose he got there by accident. He introduced himself as Fresh Ground and said that if we were willing to walk back up to the road he'd cook for us. Having just eaten, and being tired, it took me a bit to decide. But I figured I might as well. I've been very hungry the last couple of days - eating all my snacks and wishing I could have two sandwiches at lunch. I stowed my food bag in a tree and followed him up to an overlook. He cooked up thick bacon for bacon and tomato sandwiches with his mom's home grown tomatoes. I sliced up a potato and he deep fried it into French fries for me. He had soda and ice and all sorts of things. Two other hikers joined us. Being male, they managed to eat more. I was already super happy with my sandwich and fries and declined more. He invited us back for breakfast in the morning. I couldn't say no. He was so nice and his food was so good. Fresh Ground brimmed over with the sort of joy that I love. With or without food, I like that guy. The shelter I'm at tonight is a lot less impressive than my second dinner was, especially compared to the trail mansion I slept in last night. It'll do, but it's no surprise that it hadn't stuck in my memory from the last time I stayed here. This deep in a hollow and on the western side of the ridge, it will be dark here until late morning. It's just as well that I've been getting up in the dark. I could be down here half the day if I waited for light. I keep the remains of my watch draped over the edge of a gear pocket at night so I can check to see if it's close enough to morning to get up. I don't want to walk in the pitch dark with my sketchy headlamp, but I don't mind getting ready for the day by Braille.
Date: 2017-10-01
To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

10/1Fullhardt Knob Shelter13.5 milesI awoke in the dark, as usual now. Krakhead was packing up at the other end of the shelter. I started doing the same. When I got to my shoes, I was confused. I thought I had stuffed my gaiters down in the shoes, but they weren't there. My headlight was completely conked out. I waited for more daylight as I packed everything else. Finally I got up and started searching. One gaiter was on the ground in front of the shelter. One was on the ground behind the shelter. I was grateful that neither had made it into some critter's nest where I wouldn't find it. It was cold, so to start I wore my fleece top and my windbreaker, as well as my gloves and my buff. I walked back up to the parkway and greeted Fresh Ground. He made me three enormous and delicious banana pancakes. I was running out of room by the third. He also made coffee and gave me cokes at my request. Compass sat across from me and ate a grilled cheese sandwich. Fresh Ground is a pretty amazing human being. Camping out in the cold so you can feed hikers just because you enjoy it? That isn't something you find every day. He said that with getting well fed like this, we'd get an energy boost that would last at least a day. He was right, too. I strode away feeling like a superhero. Miles flew by. I stopped in at Wilson Creek Shelter to find dire messages about there being no water in the cistern at Fullhardt Knob, and no water along the way. I thought I might have to hike all the way to town. But there was in fact lots of water along the way as well as water in the cistern. People confuse me. I wasn't hungry at lunchtime so I rested a bit and then walked on. I grabbed two liters of water in case I needed it at the shelter. Walking with extra water wasn't extra fun. By the time I got to Fullhardt I was quite glad I didn't have to walk five more miles. It feels colder tonight. Another hiker has made a fire, which is nice. I'm starting to think I might want more warm gear than my heavier sleeping bag soon. A little fleece cap for daytime wear plus my down miniskirt sound really good right now. Maybe down booties as well. I'm looking forward to a short day into town tomorrow. I'll have to do some walking in town of course. But laundry and shower and restaurant food! And more food! And dessert! Man those sound good. That reminds me. Fresh Ground gave me a headlamp. I told him about mine, and he said he had one and he'd been waiting for someone to give it to. That's the sort of thing I'd do. In fact I gave away my spare light to Nalgene Ninja because his headlamp died. So instead of declining like I usually would, I gratefully accepted it. This time of year a headlamp really makes a difference.
Date: 2017-10-04
To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

10/4Four Pines Hostel10.3 milesIt got a little chilly last night but I was too dopey to use the gear I have to make myself warm. Instead I lay there awake. At least I got to see the dawn. And I felt like a million bucks when I got up. Seriously! A night in a motel = hot death. A cold night in a shelter = super girl. Go figure. I hotfooted it up to McAfee Knob. I had it to myself! Two guys showed up just long enough to take my picture for me and then they left. I lay down on the rock, enjoying the feel of the cool stone against my back while the sun warmed my face. Eventually I got up and sat on a rock looking out over the valley. I used the time to plan my next section so I would know how much food to buy. I walked on to Catawba Mtn Shelter. The water source was bone dry. Same at Johns Spring Shelter. I was starting to get nervous by the time I came down from the next ridge, but luckily Catawba Creek was flowing, if low. I found a few spots deep enough to dip from and filtered a much appreciated liter. In another couple of miles I turned off the trail to go to Four Pines Hostel. A trip to the local gas station/grocery later, I had dinner and food for five days. Add a shower and some electricity and I was good to go. I skipped laundry since my clothes were clean yesterday morning, but I did   wash my socks out in the sink. The dust has been terrible. The ground is hard and dry everywhere. It shows in my socks. Redbeard and Doodlebug were good company this evening. I got a text from JD- he's a bit behind. I was surprised to hear how many other hikers were nearby, however. As we all move down the trail, we go to the same places one after another and don't meet each other.
Date: 2017-10-05
To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

10/5Four Pines Hostel15.4 milesThe bed I slept in was super comfy for once. Unfortunately I woke up with a migraine. Stupid body. I ate my breakfast and debated taking medication. It makes me feel bad sometimes so I decided to see if caffeine would be enough today. I sat on my bed packing and feeling crappy. Doodlebug suggested I slackpack and come back to the hostel tonight. I didn't have to think very long before I decided to do it. Not carrying a backpack today sounded great. Doodlebug dropped me and Redbeard off around eight. My migraine was not gone.  But at least I wasn't carrying a heavy load. I moved slowly up the shoulder of Brush Mountain. When I got to the Audie Murphy Monument I declined to go see it, but I had a bad few minutes afterward as the trail I was on was unblazed for the better part of a mile. I was relieved when I finally saw a white blaze. My headache was getting worse as I started up Cove Mountain. As the afternoon progressed my energy level dropped. At the same time the terrain got more difficult, with plenty of rock scrambling along the ridge line. Despite my light load my speed dropped considerably. On my previous traverse I skipped the side trail to the Dragon's Tooth. I decided to go see it this time, as I don't know if I'll ever be this way again. It turns out that it's a big rock. It may have been oversold. The trail down the north side of the mountain was as sketchy as I remembered. I sat and scooted a bunch of times. I was super ready for the trail to go back to stuff you could just walk on. My head was throbbing by the time I got back to the hostel. Doodlebug saw me and told me he was worried because I took so long. Story of my life. He also asked me if I wanted to go to the Homeplace restaurant. It's sort of famous. Hiker famous anyway. But I was tired and I hurt and I did not want to sit my smelly self in a public place and make nice with strangers. Instead Doodlebug drove me to the Catawba grocery so I could get pizza. As soon as I had the pizza down I took my imitrex. Within a half hour or so my headache started to recede. Then Doodlebug showed up with Homeplace leftovers so I could try the food, which was super sweet. I basically ate an entire second dinner. It was decent. Not really much to write home about though. At the hostel tonight there are several men including Scratch, who I met at Campbell Shelter. He's a hoot.
Date: 2017-10-08
To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

10/8Rice Field Shelter16.5 milesThe sky was curiously light all night, even when it was raining. I kept waking up thinking it was time to get up. At 11, at 1, at 3. The weird thing is I was totally ready to get up. Finally at 6 I did get up and make breakfast. Somehow I was ready to go before it was light out. I fiddled around until I could see the ground well enough to walk. The predicted rain started slow and then fizzled out. I ditched my rain skirt and jacket early on and was able to walk all day in my shirtsleeves. I stopped four miles in at Pine Swamp Shelter, which had was closed to overnight use due to Gypsy Moth damage to trees in the area. I only saw one dead tree. Maybe the others already fell?The afternoon was a long ridge slog. I met two northbound section hikers and that was it. I was happy to find a spring with a little bit of water in it. When I got to my destination, I was resigned to another solo night, but Sloth arrived an hour later. He knew about horses and yoga and physical therapy so we had a lot to talk about. I'm glad of the company even if he didn't do yoga. With bad weather coming in, it's nice to have another person here. The part where he's really nice is a bonus.
Date: 2017-10-09
To: Angel's Rest Hiker Haven
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

10/9 Angel's Rest Hiker Haven in Pearisburg7.8 milesBoy, did it rain vigorously. I don't know if we got the predicted 2-3", but we got a lot. Plenty of wind, too. Sloth got wet in his hammock and had to move into the shelter. I stayed cozy and dry. The shelter is built with walls that end a few feet below the ceiling in front and I wondered if any rain would blow in, but it didn't. I woke in the dark. I guess that's my thing now. I made a mocha with one of my donated hot chocolate mixes and drank it leaning against the shelter wall. Eventually I got packed up but I wasn't in a huge hurry. The walk to town was uneventful. It drizzled for about half an hour, then got very, very hot. My weather app said it was 104, but I'm reasonably certain that it was exaggerating. I guess other people called the hostel for a ride, but I didn't think of that so I walked. But it meant I was in front of the pizza buffet place right at lunchtime. Perfect! I ate a bunch of salad and pizza. I got a room at the hostel for two nights. I'm so ready for a day of rest. And with the warm weather I desperately needed a shower and clean clothing. If there's time I'll get a chiropractic adjustment as well. My thoracic spine was been kind of jammed up for a while. Other parts could use a little help but that's the biggie. I found blaze orange duck tape, vest, and ball cap at the Tractor Supply store. I now have a lot of square footage of blaze orange. The rest of my hike should be very bright, and hopefully will not involve bullets. Before visiting the grocery I got Mexican food and learned an important lesson: do not get the 32 oz beer. It's too heavy to lift in its giant glass mug. I had to use both hands. But the beer was tasty and the food was good. Tomorrow the Chinese buffet will be open and I will be well on my way to exhausting the culinary options of Pearisburg. I met two kindred spirits tonight - Sail and Magpie. Sadly they're going north and I'm going south. But I enjoyed spending the evening with them, and I should get to see Sail again. She's a physics and engineering person. You know, a nerd. Like me. She's my people.
Date: 2017-10-10
To: Angel's Rest Hiker Haven
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

10/10 Angel's Rest Hiker Haven0 milesIt was a good day. Resting, eating. More eating. Cooking, then eating. I mailed my forty degree bag home. I'm going to miss it for a sweaty week, but then the temperature should drop. Lordy, I hope so. I have my down skirt, my down booties, and absolutely no desire to put them on. Even my thin hiking pants and shirt feel stifling. The sheet I slept under last night felt like too much. I'm ready for it to feel like October. I ate some just okay Chinese buffet food for lunch, then stopped in at the Food Lion again. I just couldn't stomach the idea of restaurant food for dinner again. I bought myself a rotisserie chicken, garlic infused olive oil, and butternut squash cubes. Sail made fry bread while I roasted the squash. I found minced garlic in the fridge and made garlic bread with some of the sourdough boule I bought yesterday. The chicken wasn't what I had dreamed of, but the roasted squash and garlic bread were perfect. Pippa aka Doc Peppa gave me a most excellent chiropractic adjustment. It's already helped foot pain I was having since falling on wet rocks a couple of days ago. I'm not sure my back will feel great until I stop carrying a pack up and down mountains every day. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.
Date: 2017-10-12
To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

10/12Wapiti Shelter7.2 milesAfter ten solid hours of sleep, I felt like I could use four or five more. I got up anyway. Being the only person in the bunkhouse, I could get dressed without needing to conceal myself and without bothering anyone. I clambered down the steep stairs from the loft, grabbed a Dr Pepper from the fridge, and watched the sun rise. About seven fifteen I went and sat on the porch of the main house to wait for Neville. She let me in and I helped her make breakfast- melting butter and crushing garlic into it, browning sausage, mixing up some crepe batter. Michael picked Swiss chard out of their garden and Neville created an amazing breakfast out of all of it. I was glad to help and to have time to chat while we worked. With last year's yoga teacher training, I had more insight into some things. I was stunned to hear that she meditates for an hour every morning. I struggled to reach twenty minutes during my training. After breakfast I changed the sheets of the bed that I had used and did a couple of hostel chores. Then I was on my way. After eyeballing the sky, I stopped to put my new blaze orange pack cover on. Minutes later a hunter in full camo stepped out of the woods and I had a different reason to want that bright pack cover showing. I got a bit of a late start with the breakfast and all. I hadn't planned a long day, but after a few miles I decided to cut it even shorter. I felt tired and my guts still hurt, although they weren't doing anything spectacular. I got water at a spring and then stopped at Wapiti Shelter. As I sat wearily, I realized that my muscles and lymph nodes ached, and I was tired enough to sleep despite my morning caffeine. I inflated my mattress and lay down. It felt good to do so. I decided a short day would be a very good thing, indeed. I hope whatever virus is tormenting me is done with me quickly. I don't much like being on the trail when I'm sick. I want to curl up in my own bed with a dog or two. Lots of blankets, maybe some flannel, and a steady supply of hot beverages to drink. A sleeping bag and air mattress on a wooden floor really don't compare.
Date: 2017-10-13
To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

10/13Jenny Knob Shelter14.5 milesMy short day to Wapiti was looking pretty fortuitous when it started raining last night. Achilles and I hung out in the shelter watching the glow from the fire die. I curled up to sleep and Achilles decamped to his hammock nearby so I had the shelter to myself. I slept long and hard, waking in the dark to make coffee before the sun came up. Achilles was still snoozing when I left. I stopped to adjust my right shoe before I left. It felt like it was squeezing my first metatarsal. Of course the shoe hadn't changed. My bones were out of alignment. I massaged my foot and wiggled it around until something popped. It wasn't perfect, but it was better. The morning was over mostly level ground, so it was easy and pleasant walking. I walked very carefully on the many footbridges. In 2010 I wiped out pretty hard on one of them. Wet today from rain and leaves, they were quite slick. I treated them like ice, trying to center my weight over each foot. I did slip stepping off one, but luckily my weight was already on the other foot. I ran into Silly Spilly, Tenacious D, and Shoo Bear at Dismal Creek. I quickly lost sight of them on the curving trail and didn't see them again. I was pleased to find myself feeling much better after my afternoon off. My guts weren't hurting and I had more energy. I expect to be back to 100% tomorrow. Unfortunately that's 100% of a middle aged, fairly decrepit woman rather than a 20 year old athlete, but it's way better than what I was yesterday. I skipped Trent's Grocery as I was already carrying plenty of food. I sat on a rock to eat some lunch at the foot of a bridge. Achilles caught up and joined me to eat. I filtered the water I had been carrying for miles. It's still dry out here. There is water available but it's wise to carry more with me than I really enjoy. The recent rain has surely helped, though. I can find nice clear, freely flowing water to drink rather than the silty puddles I was finding before. My right foot started hurting more at the end of the day. I arrived at Jenny Knob and took my shoe off with a hiss. Comparing it to my other foot, a bone appears to be sticking out a little at the top of my arch. I haven't the foggiest idea how to put it back in its correct place. No amount of massage, wiggling, or golf ball rolling has helped. It hurts enough when I first put weight on it that I end up hopping on the other foot. But if I hobble around for a bit the pain dies down. I guess there's more hobbling in my future. I've said it before and I'll say it again: my body is stupid.
Date: 2017-10-14
To: Big Walker Motel
Miles today: 11.9

10/14Big Walker Motel11.9 milesI had a pretty crappy night of sleep. It seemed like everything hurt. I woke a little late (but still in the dark) and moodily made coffee. I leaned up against a wooden post in the shelter while I drank my coffee in the dark. Today Achilles got up earlier so he was awake while I was there. He used the privy first, for which I was grateful. The metal seat was cold enough at the end of a warm day. I hadn't been looking forward to sitting on it after a night of chill. A warm toilet seat could be considered a little creepy sometimes, but given the icy option it made me happy. Sloping side hill trail helped my foot some. It forced me to walk in a funky position that seemed like it rearranged my foot a little. You can still see bone and probably some inflammation bulging out, but it doesn't hurt as much. I googled reducing a cuneiform bone without any helpful result. Thick morning fog gave way to blue skies and fluffy white clouds. The hiking was approximately 1,000 small hills in sequence. It was a tiring day. I never really get in a groove on this kind of sawtooth day. It helped that I had motivation- French fries. A new restaurant has opened right at the trailhead outside Bland. Passing hikers told me they had French fries there today, and also that it was an easy hitch into town. Unfortunately the place closes early on Saturday, so no fries for me. Also barely any cars passed in my direction. I tried calling a hostel listed in AWOL. No answer. I left a message, waited, then gave up on them. I called the motel and asked about a ride there. They said to call Bubba. Bubba the shuttler was on time. $10 for 4 miles is cheaper than a cab I guess. I'll probably call him in the morning to get back there. The lady at the front desk said she'd do my laundry for $10. That seemed excessive. Before addressing cleanliness issues I went to the DQ/gas station/convenience store across the street for dinner. I've eaten there at least three times and it's been mediocre every time. I didn't finish my meal. I found enough food to get me to Atkins at the convenience store so I didn't have to walk to the farther away Dollar General. I didn't find any drink mix though. I'm going to be hurting for electrolytes by Atkins. Upon returning to the motel I decided to wash my clothes in the sink. I'm pruney but there is an excellent chance I'll smell better tomorrow.