morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-30
From: Laurel Creek 

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Crazy BritWhat a great day for hiking!  Started off Cold, have a problem with Stumpy in the cold it takes ages to warm up even with a mitten and a liner glove.Feet are doing good at the moment, going to have to get a new pair soon as we have passed thru the 600 mile marker today, shoulder hurts a bit but will be sending home my winter clothes in a couple of days so that will help with my weight.Anyway back to my hike. For the last two days we have been hiking along a ridge line so you get lots of ups and downs, not long ups just after you have been going down or on a semi flat, it¢s hard to get the climbing muscles going. But any pain is taken away by the fantastic views you get all the time looking down into the valleys, with all the little farms and houses with the white and red colored roofs.David and I had a great breakfast at the Lucky Mountain Outpost, awesome place I had double biscuits and gravy. David had biscuit bacon and Egg, both were awesome also had great coffee.Might sound strange to you but this was washed down with a Pepsi for the Sugar to climb the hills.We are now at a shelter called Jenny Knob it¢s a pretty cool place, there are quite a few people here.Just heard that there is a forest fire up ahead, it¢s up in the 700 mile area we won¢t be there until the end of the week so hope it¢s out when we get there.Just going to make my dinner and make a Hot Chocolate drink now going to Face time Janice and the little Man Wyatt.Goodnight18.8. Miles44.921. StepsStepsAnyone can walk on the  Only got 1587.8 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-01
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Crazy BritWe were up and moving on to the trail by 6:15 am, the trail builders were kind to us today plenty of Switchbacks to get us going good. It had really long flat places we were making great time in fact it was 9:25 am that we stopped into Trent¢s Grocery, what a place great food I had a bacon and egg biscuit with a large coffee, really good food and really good prices, Dave had a beef burger and fries.We hung around had another coffee, no hurry today had a Mountain Dew for the energy to climb the mountains.We had to walk at least half a mile to get back to the trail, of course it was a climb out not to bad tho.We were looking out for a sign for the Dismal falls waterfall, we found it and walked down to have a look, Dave wanted to soak his feet, this place is awesome, beautiful water falls.Dave was in heaven soaking his feet in the freezing cold water.No good for me it effects my arthritis, makes it hard to walk after.We are back on the trail again my pack is heavy today as I picked up a 32 oz Beer to have with my dinner tonight.Hiking was just ups and downs really nice walking grades a lot of nice long walks thro the mountain Laurel, giving us lots of shade as it¢s getting hotter every day.Plus the leaves are gradually coming out but not enough for shade. We got to the shelter at Wapiti Shelter put up our tents, it¢s really hot we decide to have a snooze in the shelter but one of the other campers was noisy as hell. So we went down to the stream put our beer and Pepsi in the stream to cool, bathed our feet and started to have dinner. Wow that Cold Beer is great only problems are it weighs 2 lbs, but you know what it was worth it.Going into Woods Hole Hostel Tomorrow a cool 7.5 Miles, David has been raving over this place for weeks now, so will see what happens.Any way I have no internet today, so hoping for some tomorrow.Goodnight all14.5 Miles38.945 StepsFloors Anyone can walk on the flat Only got 1573.3 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-02
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.2

Crazy BritWhat a great day, we were up at 6:15 and on the trail to Woods Hole Hostel, this is one of the oldest hostels on the trail.We had a hell of a climb out from our campsite at Jenny¢s Knob, but as Dave say¢s just keep on putting one foot in front of the other, and you will get there.The birds were all out singing the dawn chorus, we have the Woodpeckers going hammer and tongs, either that or it¢s the Good old boys out testing their AR15¢s.We got to a great viewing point above Woods Hole you could just make out the house and gardens on the valley floor below.The views are staggering you can see for miles, our destination was still 3.4 miles away, a hang glider would have been perfect ¢Steve Coan eat your heart out¢.As we started to descend into the valley we heard a truck on a gravel road, soon a Forest Ranger told us that in about an hour they were going to start a controlled Burn so we should be out on to the road by then. I said to him I bloody well hope so!!!!!.As we approached the road there were fire crews all over the place the trail had been closed at both ends, we were the last ones out.We walked down to Woods Hole. What a place log homes and barns all converted for Hikers, they grow there own vegetables, they make their own bread and cheese, our accommodation is great we have a private room $30 per person, which is a great price.They also make smoothies with there own milk and ice cream, heaven, there are a few young hikers working around the place doing odd jobs they are working for keep. They get free food and accommodation, a great deal. Me I have finished working any way it¢s good sitting back drinking a smoothie watching them work, it¢s my time now.The smoke from the controlled burn is now rolling down thru the valley, hope they get this right, we will see the results tomorrow.The big fire further up the trail has now been contained so we are told we should be going thru that area next week.Now it¢s time for another smoothie as there is no beer so must go and sit in my rocking chair and watch the youngsters work.Have a great day7.2 miles19.185 Steps100 FloorsAny one can walk on the Flat¢ not when they are drinking a Ltd of Smoothie.Only got. 1556.1 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-03
From: Woods hole

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 12.1

Crazy BritWell what a stay we had at Woods Hole, this place is a Hikers heaven, Neville and Mike run this place with a couple of helpers.They do laundry, make you great Smoothies and Breakfast and Dinner everyone helps out and before dinner Neville gets everyone out on the grass in a circle, we all introduce ourselves and what we are thankful for.It was really cool, dinner was awesome.We had a great breakfast helped clean up then we had a bonus, Heart Burn and Butter Knife we going to Zero in town they said they could take our packs so we could Slack pack, what really cool people.So with onlyday packs on we set out it¢s a half mile walk up to the Trail Head and we pass a whole load of fire fighters who are conducting a prescribed burn lucky for us it was where we had come thru yesterday.It¢s so good wearing a day pack you can hardly feel it on your back. We were doing real good miles and coming around a corner we bump into one of David¢s friends from his Hike in 2016, big hugs they have become good friends. She was helping a friend of her¢s get to Springer Mountain he is a SOBO.At this time up comes Champ, he is a professional Musician and plays in Atlanta and all over the world, he was also a Professional Cyclist, wow he started to lead us, but we held on his average is 3 miles an hour ours is normally 2.4 , the difference is really noticeable, yes hard.We went out to some great view points and before you know it we are in Pearisburg we had started at 10:30 and finished at 2:00 I think this was our fastest time, we were talking all the time Champ was so interesting.We entered the town with one goal Dairy Queen. We had shakes, burgers fries and ice cream tasted so good! Just up the road is our hotel, we unpack, send winter cloths back, have a snooze then shopping for four days food we are going to be heaven for a few days before we eat some of this weight. It¢s time for dinner there is a Mexican Restaurant across the road, good food, good beer.Head to hotel sort out our food, pack our bags early start tomorrowGoodnight 12.1 miles 27.522. StepsFloors. Any one can walk on the flatOnly got 1.555.5 miles to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-04
From: Pearisburg 

To: Stoney Creek valley
Miles today: 20.7

Crazy BritWhat a strange day, the four of us all met outside our Motel and headed off to Hardee¢s for breakfast. Time is 5:15 am, our shuttle driver is going to take us to the Trailhead.Biscuit, bacon, egg and cheese with a large coffee, great start to the day. Our driver is on time we load our packs and we are off, the guy charges us $5.00 for all four people crazy we give him a good tip.It¢s all down hill to the New River Bridge, we leave Pearisburg and start to climb I think we climbed all day it got hotter and hotter as the day progressed, I know I drank five lots of water. I have an additive that you squirt in the bottle it replaces Electrolytes and vitamin B, tastes reall good I have lemonade flavor and it actually tastes like lemonade.It was a hard day, never seemed to end we had some really long climbs, water was an issue and we had to filter twice to stay hydrated.We have ended up at Stoney Creek valley. It¢s a car park with some grass to pitch our tents.Of course as we started to put up our tents it started to Rain. It is now really raining and forecasted to do so all night, Great!!!!!!We had to cook our dinners in the tent vestibules, not ideal I had Knorrs, rated bloody awful good job I had a back up.Anyway going to go to bed and rest been a hard day my back is sore.Love to you all Iam tired Goodnight20.7. Miles55.189. Steps220 steps.Anyone can walk on the flatOnly got 1534.8 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 12.4

Crazy BritA hard day started off making coffee in my tent because of the wet ground outside normally I make my coffee as I am packing up my pack and my tent, it¢s kind of cool I can get all my pack done and still have a half cup of coffee to sit and finish.Not today every thing is soaking wet so I have to pack it all inside the tent, then get my pack cover and lie it on the ground as I pack up my WET Tent, this is one of the worst things to do knowing that I have a wet tent to sleep in tonight.We have a terrible climb out this morning, it was really steep 1000 ft in Elevation in a half mile, over wet slippery muddy rocks, then the bonus was getting to the top our path was over rocks, roots and mud .Normally we do about 2 1/2 miles an hour we were down Trail about 1 mile per hour. We were so slow we decided to cut our day at the War Spur Shelter.About our decision time we heard thunder and down came the rain, soon the trail was a running stream of mud and water, we check the trail guide, another 3.5 miles to the shelter, Damn will this rain never stop.Eventually we get to the shelter it¢s a 6 person shelter and there are only 3 there, we are in luck, I get a space as does David, but he then chooses to put up his tent and camp, he has a different tent than mine so his material sheds water better than mine.Lots of hikers are now coming in hoping for a place, they have to camp out or move on, it¢s tough watching them put up wet tents.I have dinner bit better today two cups of hot chocolate.Time to write my journal and try to sleep we have two people snoring but the sound of it any way will do my best to sleep, Oh yes it¢s going to be wet tomorrow.Goodnight12.4 miles32.587. Steps122 floorsAnyone can walk on the flat. ¢ not if it¢s raining and muddy¢Only got 1522.4 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 12.2

Crazy BritIf Friday, Saturday were bad for climbing today has them beat, hard long climbs really takes the breath away, real strain on the legs.But before we get to today, what a night. We had arrived at the shelter and got two spots great, until Dave got a bit upset by one of the guys so he decides to go out and pitch his tent.This was between rain showers, then all hell broke loose, never been in a thunder storm like it, the guys were coming into the shelter, looking for spots but we were full.It was really hard watching them put up there wet tents, then cook food. I really felt for them but you know one day it will be you out there suffering.When we started out it was raining really hard, so we were all dressed up in our rain gear, the trail was running with water, with lots of thick gooey mud.The going was very slow especially the stream crossings, these have swollen a hell of a lot and are very trick and dangerous to cross.We have decided to stay at the Saver Hollow Shelter we can then have a easy day get in and out of the rain and dry our things out. It¢s about 3 miles north on the trail from the Keffer Oak this is the largest Oak Tree on the Trail. It measures over 18 feet around and is over 300 years old.From the Oak it was all up, good thing it stopped raining. We arrived at the shelter it was .4 miles off the trail but worth it, there was only one other person here perfect.We are all set up dried out had dinner and a hot chocolate time for bed. Well after all it¢s 7:30 and all good hikers should be settling down for bed.12.2 miles31.846. StepsFloors. Any one can walk on the flat ¢ but not if it¢s covered with sticky mud and waterOnly got 1510.2 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.1

Crazy BritWhat a day first things first, during the morning I called Janice, only to find out that my Good Friend Pat Roberts had lost his fight with that Bloody Cancer. I have a few friends fighting this disease at the moment, please give them the strength to beat it.My thoughts and prayers go out to Kyle his wife, and all his family and friends his passing will effect.Our day started at 5:30am we had another big climbing day ahead of us, we have been climbing for the past three days.Today was a long climb but an added incentive was at the top, the Audie Murphy Monument, he was the most decorated American Soldier of World War 2.He was also a great Actor. My dad took me to see one of his films over 60 years ago at the Belgrade Cinema on Mutley Plane Plymouth UKl.People leave all sorts of Memorabilia on the site, I scratched a little message on a stone from Dave and myself.It is set in a woodland glade on the crest of Brush Mountain a beautiful spot, we had heard a fast moving jet scream over the mountain just before we got there, kind of cool.It was here that I learned of Pats Death, so bloody sad, never enjoyed a long retirement.We had another big climb up to our campsite near the Pickle Branch Shelter, just as we put up our tents it started to rain again. Hope it¢s not like a couple of nights ago.We went down to the stream and filtered a couple of liters of water enough for dinner and coffee and breakfast in the morning.Tomorrow we go over the Dragon Tooth, they are Stone Monoliths, and in the wet will be very slippery we want to get there as the sun is rising so we need an even earlier start.Tomorrow we will go thru the 700 Mile mark and tomorrow night we will be in a Hostel where we can shower and wash our clothes. Two days after that we will be in Daleville VA where we will have a day off and a great big steak dinner and maybe a beer or two.Goodnight from a very sad Colin and it¢s started raining agai.16.1. Miles41.307. StepsFloors. Anyone can walk on the flat Only got 1494.1 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.5

Crazy BritWell an interesting day on the Trail we left the Four Pines Hostel at 6:10 am we were soon on the trail, as always it¢s climb, climb, we are aiming for McAfee Knob.It is one hell of a climb up to the top, but the view is Spectacular. It actually takes your breath away, you can never get the view with a camera.From here it was down to a ridge, where it was up down, up down, we are now headed to the Tinker Cliffs. One hell of a long climb, really takes it out of you. We eventually got up to the Cliffs, this again is another Spectacular view. The country side up here looks so lush, it¢s great to see the little farms and homes all set out in the fields below us.It¢s really going well at the moment and tomorrow we are heading into Daleville Va we are staying in a hotel and we will have a zero day there.I have a new pair of boots coming tomorrow, just in time as these are beginning to fall apart after 700 miles non stop hiking getting wet every day, the soles are still good but the uppers are done for.We are going to get New Darn tuff socks there as these are going hard only washing them once a week!!!!!!.We have got a great campsite here, we are just below the Lambert¢s Meadow Shelter, in fact we are in the Lambert Meadow Campsite, we have a picnic table and a large Metal Bear proof Box. There are only four tents here at the moment. Just had Mark from Ohio over for a chat, nice to spend time with different people, it¢s a great world out there.We only have just over 9 miles to do tomorrow so we should be done just before lunch. It will be nice to have a hot shower and some good town food, it would be great to have all different foods on the trail but when you have to carry it all it rather cuts your options down a bit.The bugs are beginning to bite so bug spray will be on the shopping list tomorrow in Daleville.Time to go to bedWill say goodnight17.5. Miles45.842. Steps282 StepsAnyone can walk on the flatOnly got 1470.8 miles to go to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.2

Crazy BritWell our campsite in Lambert¢s Meadow was the best place we have camped at, just about a half mile from the Lambert Shelter.This site is in a valley it has a picnic table, water about 20 ft away even bear boxes. Apparently, bears have been pretty active here.We left camp at 6:00 am and of course started uphill, it was a perfect hike up along the ridge leading to Daleville, we had some great views of a huge reservoir looked beautiful in the early morning.It¢s great with the fragrances of pine trees and wild honeysuckle, birds are singing it¢s really good to be breathing fresh air. Oh and a big point we have to collect our water from Streams and Springs, the taste is so different from town water it is a good thing when you run out of town water and go to really fresh water.We collect our water in a plastic bag onto this is fitted a water filter you compress the bag and fresh water comes out into our bottles.Sorry I digress from our hike. We keep going up and up, we stop for a snack at a huge great Monolith rock I climb up to half way but decide not to try any further, thank goodness.Today is one of our best hiking days, we are soon looking down at our destination. Now at last we are heading down at perfect trail not to many rocks, we pass a few day hikers coming up the trail.Eventually we pop out on to US 220 it¢s quite a shock cars, trucks whizzing by just a few feet away. We head to our Hotel HO JOs, book in, shower and head to eat at Bojangles for Chicken, then to Kroger¢s to check it out and buy some snacks, beer and wine, down to the coffee shop for a Expresso milk shake Awesome. Check out the Outdoor Trail store, busy day. Have a great dinner, time to watch TV and bed 9.2 Miles27.555. Steps85 FloorsAnyone can walk on the flat ¢ but not when your sat watching TV with a coffeeOnly got. 1461.7 miles to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-11
From: Daleville

To: Bobbiets Shelter
Miles today: 18.5

Crazy BritYesterday was a zero day so we just went to the coffee shop, then to Kroger¢s for shopping, couple of beers had a sleep then across the road for a Mexican dinner.Had dinner with the young group that we have been on the trail with for a couple of weeks. One of them Helix has just heard that day that he has got into Med School, great news.So today started off with breakfast at the hotel, then just a short walk up the road and we are back into the woods, you can hear the noise from the towns for a awful long time.But the good news is it gradually fades away to peace and quiet.It¢s just after 6:30 and the temperature is gradually climbing the reports say it¢s going to be up in the 90 degrees. Which is really bad news for us carrying a full pack and we have to carry more water as we are now stopping every 1 1/2 hours for a drink, it¢s a tough one today.We are so lucky that at last we have some leaf cover for without that it would be tough on us .The trail is not to bad today no big ugly climbs, just lots of switch backs, we actually came out on to the Blue Ridge Parkway then the trail ran alongside the road for some length of time. This is one of my favorite roads with really great views, we were told there was trail magic at one of the viewing points, we are excited maybe they have a cold Coke?????Of course we get to the spot, Damn no car or truck, no coke we are deflated. So it¢s on to are Shelter it¢s 1/4 mile of the trail. We want to camp in our tents, but no tent spaces so we are in the shelter.Time to do my journal and have a coffee, that done its time to cook my dinner. The damn flies are out in force going after every ones food. Oh well suppose I will have to suffer the flies..Will be at a hostel tomorrow night, should be interesting.Got to go cook 18.5 miles49.061 StepsFloors. Anyone can walk on on the flat. Only got 1443.2. Miles to Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-05-12
From: Bobbiets Shelter 

To: Middle creek campground
Miles today: 10.7

Crazy BritWe¢ll I finished my journal yesterday saying that sleeping in the shelter would be interesting, it did not fail.We were the second and third to get there so we set out our sleep pads to secure our spots.Soon a couple more people arrive we all start to cook our dinners there is now one spot open and in comes a lady hiker, her name is Blue Jay she sets up by David.As we begin to drift off to our beds she asks if any body snores. I look at David, well he does a bit! She announces she snores and we have been warned.I got awaken by David we want to get on the trail early to beat the heat, had a bit of a fitful sleep as always in a shelter, love my tent, like Dan Caruso says it¢s kind of weird waking up to a strangers face a few inches from mine.When we got back on the trail David tells me that he hardly slept, for Blue Jay, snoring in his ear, OH Pay Back is so sweet!!!!!Today¢s hiking was just mainly following the Blue Ridge Parkway for a number of miles, not many big ups or downs, just HOT as HELL.We only have 10 plus miles to do and they are soon done, we are stopping every 1 1/2 hours to eat and drink, have to keep hydrated. Once again the views are amazing, thank goodness the leaves are out and protecting us from most of the sun.We are never happy with the weather, now it¢s to hot, tomorrow it is going to be raining, can¢t win.Just had a Bacon Cheese Burger and a Vanila Milkshake, had a quick snooze, now it¢s time for a beer. Try to watch the golf, damn no TV reception wanted to see Tiger Woods big come back.We are going to be Slack Packing tomorrow so that will help get these miles done in the rain. We will be doing just over 19 miles so should be a good day.Going to order my dinner, have a beer on our porch get gear ready for tomorrow¢s challenge.10.7 miles25.178 Steps66 FloorsAnyone can walk on the flatOnly got 1433.5 miles to go to Mt Katahdin