morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 9.3

In a sea of grey and green, this red-tinged beauty stood out to guide me.I finished up the remaining 9.3 miles from Saunders Shelter back into Damascus this morning, and met Alison at the Old Mill. Neither of us had eaten so we grabbed a table beside the river and its short falls over an old dam. We caught up as I inhaled a big lunch and looked forward to doing more of the same at dinner. We plan on doing some trail chores together over the next two days and just enjoying each other's company. We don't plan to see each other again until I have successfully made it to Harper's Ferry, over 500 miles and five weeks away. I will relish my time with her in Damascus. Alison leaves on Friday afternoon, and Fritz and Brian arrive Friday evening. I hope they're ready!(Note: I hiked the 9.3 miles into Damascus southbound.)
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Damascus

To: Campsite at Mile 487.4
Miles today: 1.5

I had a wonderful two-day visit with Alison in Damascus. It was just the nicest time, and the most difficult part of hiking the AT has been saying good-bye to her. Fritz and Brian arrived a few hours later, and we shuttled up to Mile 486, where the AT crosses US 58, and headed north on the trail. Since it was already after 5:00 pm, we hiked 1.5 miles to a pine-needled campsite and set up. Water was a pain to get, but with two trips down a ravine, we were all topped off. Fritz, Brian and I built a campfire of which we were justifiably proud, and enjoyed settling in to our pristine surroundings. The air was still, the temperature perfect, and rain, which felt imminent a few times, held off.   Truly a perfect way to start off our time together. Tomorrow, we are set to climb, first Whitetop and then Mt. Rogers, both over 5,000 feet. For today's photo, here is my Zpacks Altaplex tent, loaded with my gear, typical of how I sleep each night.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Campsite at Mile 487.4

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: fog

For our first day of hiking, we were presented with a wonderful day weather-wise....for seven hours. Fritz and Brian kept up a good pace as we climbed from 3,700 feet to 5,400 feet over the course of the day. We had no trouble finding water, and enjoyed lunch on the flank of Whitetop Mountan, overlooking a picturesque valley. After lunch, we had our first encounter with the wild ponies of Mt. Rogers. Clearly comfortable with humans, they stepped right up, hoping for food of some sort, which, not surprisingly, we did not offer. Disappointed, one pony decided to slobber all over my hiking pole, while another kept nudging Fritz and me. There were several young ones among the crowd of about ten ponies, and they were utterly cute. After arriving at Thomas Knob Shelter, just below the summit of Mt. Rogers, we explored a number of breathtaking campsites and settled on one about a quarter mile beyond the shelter. It was a nice patch of grass, overlooking a stupendous vista of layered mountain ranges, forming a view that demanded one's attention. After we pitched our tents, we were paid a visit by the grounds crew that maintained a number of the grassy tent sites: the ponies. Again, without any fear or bashfulness, they started helping themselves to the grass surrounding our two tents, and kept eating until the rain hit. We had been in camp for about an hour, long enough to pitch tents, unload out packs, complete water chores and watch the ponies. Then, at 4:00, the forecasted thunderstorms finally hit. When you're on a ridge at 5,400 feet and the lightning and thunder starts, it's quite a show: scary for some, at least nerve-wracking for most. With the sky often illuminated by brilliant bursts, and the thunder rumbling and echoing through the multitude of mountains, we were fortunate in our tents, riding out nature's show. The rain was relentless, coming in heavier and heavier sheets. The wind ratcheted up, the grass became quickly saturated and large puddles formed all around our tents. Had Noah a website, he could have sold a number of arks. After a good hour, the thunderstorms finally relented and we emerged quickly for dinner, thinking another round of storms was possible. All in all, we were quite happy that our six-hour hike today was dry, and that the storms hit after we were pitched and prepared. Tomorrow, we may not be so lucky, as rain and thunderstorms are forecasted for much of the day. If they are anything like those that hit this afternoon, it might get interesting, as we are hiking the high ridge that forms the Grayson Highlands, one of the "do not miss" experiences in Virginia. This has been Fritz's first real backpacking experience, and the mountain vistas, ponies and thunderstorms have thus far made it a memorable one. I just hope that tomorrow is not a complete wash-out.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: moderate rain

The thunderstorms that hit at 4:00 pm yesterday proved to be just the beginning, but the night sky toyed with me a bit first. When I threw open my tent doors at 1:00 am for a bathroom break, I was greeted by an overhead canvas full of stars. It was magnificent, and very unexpected. The Little Dipper stood out, and it seemed that every other star was helping to light the heavens. Maybe the rain had moved out....Nice thought. At 4:00 am, the skies opened up again, matching the magnitude of the previous afternoon's storm. Fortunately, the rain stopped long enough between 6:30 and 8:00 am that we were able to pack up camp and eat without getting soaked. For the rest of the day, though, we hiked in and out of rain. When it stopped long enough, the sun would peak out and heat things up. Or the wind would kick up. Or it would soon rain harder. The impact was that I never seemed to have the right outerwear on, and I spent the day changing layers. Brian and Fritz seemed less affected than me, especially Fritz, who settled on his hiking garb early on and wore it throughout the day. As we entered Grayson Highlands State Park, I passed a tree which had a "500" etched into its white blaze. That caused a small celebration and photograph, and I'm glad that Brian and Fritz were there to share my latest AT milestone. We shortly thereafter hiked to the top of a significant outcropping to better take in our surroundings. The sun was valiantly trying to break through, but the clouds refused to yield. Still, a small number of the sun's rays did manage to hit the distant mountaintops and the effect was wonderful. It was short-lived, however, as fog quickly drifted down from Mt. Rogers to completely close in the highlands. As we approached the Old Orchard Shelter to finish our day's hiking, the rain finally stopped, and we had three dry hours to pitch out tents, do our water and bear-bagging chores, and relax a bit. We also helped a group from Ohio to start a campfire, which we enjoyed before and during dinner. Just as we finished cleaning up from our meal, showers returned and we withdrew to our tents for the night. With all this rain, I couldn't help but wonder when Fritz and Brian were going to be ready to call off our hiking adventure. In fact, I silently began to think what I would do to get us picked up early, as I hadn't had any cell service since we started climbing on Friday evening. But, in the midst of yet another downpour, they both quickly dismissed any idea of abandoning our trip, and in fact said they were happy to be experiencing the full spectrum of backpacking. I must hand it to both Brian and Fritz: hiking and camping in the rain is demanding and sometimes demoralizing, but they plowed right through as if sunshine ruled the sky instead of rain clouds. Tomorrow is our final day together, and I will miss their company. I'm quite thankful that they made the rather significant effort of coming to share a few days of my thru-hike with me.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Mile 526
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Fritz and I went to graduate school together, meeting there twenty-nine years ago. He was already married to Maura, and I soon met Alison when she enrolled in the class behind us. After graduation, Fritz and Maura chose to live in Rochester, NY, and Alison and I moved to the Corning, NY, area, just 90 minutes from Rochester. With our respective children sharing the same ages, we often made the trip to visit them. Over the ensuing years, we have remained quite close, recently spending holidays together. Growing older with friends you cherish, and sharing with them your turn on this planet....there is simply nothing like it. Alison and I are so fortunate. I had met Brian, a very close friend of Fritz's from Rochester, long ago on one of our visits there, but hadn't seen him in some time. When he and Fritz pulled into Damascus from the airport, it was as if no time had passed. I enjoyed Brian's company all weekend long.This morning, we made quick work of the 9.3 miles to Dickey Gap, where a van picked them up to shuttle them back to their rental car in Damascus. From there, they headed to the airport to fly out. Thankfully, the sun was out for our last day together. I hiked on in the afternoon, adding another 7.7 miles to the day. Having said good-bye to Alison in Damascus on Friday, and now having seen off Fritz and Brian at Dickey Gap, I was suddenly, plainly alone. I now inhabit one world -- the world of hiking solo -- and am on the fringe of another -- the life that Alison and I have built with family and friends. Going from one to the other and back is hard -- harder than simply missing the one I have temporarily left behind. I will not have any more visitors on the trail until I am almost out of Virginia. For the next 500 miles, I am hiking solo.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Mile 526

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 17.8

In the movie, Field of Dreams, Burt Lancaster's character, Dr. Archibald Graham, says, "That's what I wish for. Chance to squint at a sky so blue that it hurts your eyes just to look at it." I got my chance today outside Atkins, VA. After all the rain of the past few days, a cold front came through, bringing with it fall-like breezes. The high today in the hills never broke 70, probably welcome at this time of year in southern Virginia. As I approached Atkins, the AT moved through an area of farms, where the fields had yet to be hayed. The rather ample breeze had the grasses swaying in a most pleasant way, and the blue sky and white clouds deserved to be on a Vermont postcard, accompanied by a red barn and autumn-colored trees. In fact, the sky was so blue that it commanded you to lay on your back in the grass and take in its depth. And the clouds were so white that "white" just didn't seem to be nearly descriptive enough. This was quintessential American countryside. Leaves on the breeze showing their undersides, high grasses flanking country paths, big, broad trees standing sentry, rolling landscape holding dells and hills. It was perfect.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today, I got a late start but still was able to complete a bunch of miles to arrive at Knot Maul Branch Shelter. . There was a little mix-up at the post office with my food resupply box, and it took me a bit of time to straighten it out. But, I really didn't mind, since the quality of service that I have thus far received from the USPS has been exemplary.   From Hiawassee to Fontana Dam, Hot Springs, Damascus and Marion, my interactions with postal employees have been a highlight of my AT trek. The problem with my resupply box this morning was the first and only USPS hiccup that I've had all trip, and everyone is allowed one mulligan in my book. In this case, no harm was done by my temporarily waylaid package, although it did delay my departure from Atkins until 10:30 am. In a way, it was fortuitous, since it caused me to hike until almost 6:00 pm, and the late afternoon proved to be just incredibly beautiful, both in its weather and the terrain through which I hiked. It was cool and crisp all day long, probably not getting out of the 60s. The breeze was again a cooling factor, and yesterday's blue sky and white clouds decided to stay with me a second day. The trail again wove its way through pastures and old fields, allowing me another opportunity to revel in the countryside surroundings. At the bottom of one particularly beautiful pasture, Lumbermack, a local land owner and thru-hiker (2006), had pulled his pick-up off the road and was treating hikers to soda from the cooler in the truck bed (photo).Tonight, the forecast calls for temperatures in the high 40s, as this little cold front hangs around for another day. While in Damascus, I bought myself a new 55 degree sleeping bag for the summer, and sent my 20 degree bag home. Thus far, the new bag has been a home run, and I'm sleeping like a baby. Tonight, though, would have presented problems for it, if I didn't have my silk liner, long underwear and down jacket (if needed) to sleep in. With all these weapons in my sleeping arsenal, I'll be warm and comfortable.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

As I've moved deeper into Virginia, the number of dependable water sources, either streams or springs, has decreased. There have been as many as ten miles between sources of running water recently. As one consequence, the distance between shelters has increased in places, since it only makes sense to locate them near confirmed sources of water. Last night, I stayed at Knot Maul Branch Shelter. If tonight I wanted to again pitch my tent adjacent to a shelter, then I would have to hike either ten miles to the next one, or twenty miles to the one beyond that. Camping in between was not an option: there was no available water.At this point on my trek, going only ten miles in a day doesn't sit well, unless there is a good reason. So, I chose to hike the twenty miles to Jenkins Shelter. This didn't seem like an outrageous decision: I had already done one "twenty" in the Smokies, and the elevation profile in The AT Guide looked quite manageable. I packed up quickly in the morning to get going, and was on the trail by 7:15. The evening cold had not yet lifted. For the morning, I faced a climb of 2,100 feet, but the grades were manageable, and the trail well-maintained, and I made decent time. I was climbing up to Chestnut Ridge, and was pleased to find that much of the early ridge was maintained as open meadow (photo). Still, the climb was long and I found myself quite tired as the trail finally crested. As the afternoon took over, that lovely trail I had been following turned into an obstacle course. Baseball-, softball-, and football-sized rocks littered the trail, many quite angular with unavoidable edges. At the same time, the ridge began to rise and fall with annoying regularity, increasing the difficulty of navigating the rock fields. This twenty mile hike quickly took on a demonic quality. Fortunately, blue skies and cool weather again prevailed, so at least the hiking conditions were favorable. But, as the afternoon dragged on, the trail's toll on my feet and legs became apparent and when I finally reached camp, I was exhausted both physically and mentally. Mother Theresa, Non-Stop and Gravy joined me that evening at the shelter, and we all agreed that that was one of the toughest stretches we had hiked yet. For the first time since beginning my trek, I couldn't keep my eyes open to write, and I went to bed without my journal entry complete.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

After my tiring twenty mile day yesterday, the trail and I cooperated to give me just what I needed: a relatively short hike, with, for the most part, easy terrain. For the day, I elected to hike 13.5 miles to Helveys Mill Shelter. Going any farther made no sense, as The AT Guide showed no water for the following ten miles, and besides, I was beat. I stayed in my sleeping bag a bit longer than usual, electing to break camp at 8:30 am instead of my normal 7:30. When I emerged from my tent, it was once again a bit chilly, and the morning weather was close to a carbon copy of the previous few days: cool, breezy, brilliant blue sky. The only change? Not a cloud to be seen. Relishing the somewhat abbreviated day, I made quick work of a few tough, but short, climbs, and moved along fairly well on the flatter parts. But, I took note that my legs did not bounce back completely from yesterday's long march. The trail again followed a tree-lined 3,000 foot ridge for most of the day, and, thankfully, the rocks that made yesterday's hike so difficult were not in evidence. I try, in today's photo, to show the ridge from the "inside". Note the trail in the middle, with both sides of the ridge dropping away, down hill. Tomorrow, I'll post a picture of how the ridge looks on the "outside", from across the valley. In the afternoon, the change I knew had to be coming soon, hit. The temperature rose dramatically, easily making it to the mid, if not high, eighties. Luckily being under forest cover, the impact was not huge, but it seems the days of sixties and seventies have probably left southern Virginia for the summer. Tonight's forecasted temperature is for the low sixties, about fifteen degrees warmer than last night's. There is a fabulous group of thru-hikers in camp tonight, and guitar-playing and story-telling broke out after everyone finished dinner. I have caught back up with the year's final wave of NoBos -- all in their twenties. Being in camp with such an enthusiastic crew makes for good fun.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Dismal Falls
Miles today: 18.3

Today, I again walked along the 3,000 foot ridge that dominated the hikes of the previous two days. In today's photo, I show such a ridge to give you an idea of how uniform it looks from the "outside". The temperatures today, following yesterday afternoon's lead, soared well into the eighties. When I did emerge from tree cover, the heat was approaching furnace-like. I quickly adjusted my thinking and gave thanks for that tree-protected ridge. And this heat isn't going anywhere; I believe the forecast calls for nineties on Tuesday. On the forest animal front, I saw another bear today. Now that I've come across these handsome creatures a number of times, they no longer completely surprise me, and I can take better note of them. Today's learning is just how quickly they accelerate. When the bear saw me and retreated, he went from standing still to a full bear-gallop in a second or two. Remember that old adage, "I don't need to outrun the bear, I only need to outrun you"? Trust me, there is no outrunning the bear. I also saw a doe and an impossibly small fawn just off the trail today. The youngster was doing his best to keep up with Mom and scurry to safety, but he was all legs and couldn't quite get the four going in the same direction at the same time. Precious. I ended the day at Dismal Falls, a decent-sized cascade that more importantly has a generous swimming hole at its base. The water was cold -- two quick dunks and I was gasping for air -- but it was a wonderful way to end a long and hot day of hiking.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Dismal Falls

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I feel like a warning shot has been fired across my bow, and I better take heed. Including today's 13.1 miles that I hiked to arrive at Woods Hole Hostel, I have put in 136 miles since my last zero. I can certainly justify my decisions....scarce water made some long days necessary; I wanted to regain touch with the last wave of NoBos; I took advantage of the cool weather early in the week.However, the reality is that my body is telling me to get more rest and to slow down. I've lost the bounce in my step. My knees are beginning to send signals to me. I've been more tired than usual at the end of the day. And, most critically, I've had to work hard mentally to finish each day's mileage. The good news is that I have had a plan for my hike, and it absolutely allows time for recharging. Putting in an eighteen-mile day here or there is fine, especially if the terrain is accommodating, and Virginia is purported to be easier in sections. But, pretending I need to continue to put in big mileage at a time when it's getting hotter, is dangerous. I need to be a better student of my own plan, listen to my body, and slow down when called for, even if it means falling behind this NoBo wave. As much as I enjoy seeing familiar faces in camp at night, I cannot let that jeopardize the completion of my thru-hike. Message duly received. If I focus instead on 100-mile weeks through Virginia, each including a zero , then I'll be fine. Not waiting long to follow my own advice, on today's hike to Woods Hole, I consciously slowed down. Over the past week, I feel like I've been forcing my pace, instead of flowing with the terrain. In fact, I know I had increased my average speed while hiking this past week from 2 mph to 2.25 mph. Now, that may not sound like much, but to achieve that extra quarter-mile per hour, it takes effort -- effort that in the long run is self-defeating. My arrival at Woods Hole, a hostel with an emphasis on sustainable living through beekeeping, farming, organic gardening, yoga and massage therapy, could not have been better timed. Many have said it is a slice of heaven and should not be passed up. I pulled in at 2:30, took a shower, shaved, and had my laundry done. Tomorrow, I am zeroing here and already have a massage scheduled. I look forward to recharging my batteries during my stay.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tonight, I'm at 3,375 feet beside the Rice Field Shelter, up against the West Virginia/Virginia border. I'm atop a knob, with 270 degrees of views, and the setting sun is casting its final rays into my tent. A breeze is finally coming up, and it should be a perfect night for sleeping. The day, however, wasn't so perfect for hiking.I put in 18.0 miles from Woods Hole Hostel to the shelter. On the way, I climbed down 2,000 feet from one ridge into Pearisburg, VA, then climbed back up 1,700 feet to another ridge. Pearisburg, sitting in a river valley, was hotter than the blazes, and I hiked in and out without so much as turning my head to look around. It must have been 90 degrees when I passed through. The five-mile climb back up consumed the hottest part of the afternoon. Normally, tree cover would have provided a nice respite from the heat, but the trees on this particular ridge seemed to have recently fed an army of caterpillars and inchworms. With leaves half-eaten, the sun had a field day in baking the trail, and I was collateral damage. Still, I managed to trudge right along, and took advantage of a spring just below the shelter to enjoy a sponge bath. Had there been a breeze during the climb, it would have made for better hiking conditions, but there wasn't a breath of air. All in all, it was easily the hottest, and most sweaty, day on the trail yet. Tonight's sunset is a beautiful collection of subtle pinks and purples, and is the first one that I've seen from my tent. I'm glad I had the foresight to pitch facing west. The gentle breeze has picked up a little steam, making the long, hot day seem a hazy memory.