morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-09-27
From: Pine Swamp Shelter 

To: VA 634 in Pearisburg then to the Holiday Motor Lod
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 106 9/27/15From Pine Swamp Branch Shelter to VA 634 in Pearisburg then to the Holiday Motor Lodge for the night for 19.9 miles plus a free .8 into townIt didn't appear to have rained during the night but the morning was a different story as it started to rain when I woke up. I thought I was going to head out early but decided to give the rain a chance to ease up. The rain hadn't let up by 7:30 but I decided I need to go to get the miles in and to get warmed up as I had my wet clothes back on. The rain was light and not too bad until about noon prior to a series of fields south of Symms Gap. It was then that the clouds opened up and it started pouring out. The worst part about it was that my Seal Skin socks started filling up with water again. It got even worse when I went through the fields as the trail was not mowed and the wet grass and flowers hung over the trail soaking my already a wet socks. By the time I got outbid the fields I had to stop to empty my boots as they appeared weigh 5 lbs each. As it poured I sat next to a tree and either wrung or poured over 3 cups of water from each boot/sock. It was at this point that the Michigan girl passed me that day. It was at about this point that I almost broke and just started crying. But I knew I had to go on so I got my boots back on and the rain eased up to a light mist. I did see the girl and her family about 5 miles before I wrapped up my day. I made to Pearisburg and checked out the two hotels the Plaza had the clear room but it was a smoking room so I went to the Motor Lodge. I realized as I walked in that my mother and I had stayed here when BLT and I moved to NC and we were moving our possessions. I recognized the place by the mural on the pool side. This place was not nice but sufficed. It was a few steps above the Doyle but not much. I dried stuff off and stayed up late to watch the weather. Not a good outlook, one day of clouds and then 5 more of rain Arrrrgh.
Date: 2015-09-28
From: VA 634 in Pearisburg then to the Holiday Motor Lod

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

Day 107 9/28/15From Holiday Motor Lodge to VA 634 in Pearisburg then to Woods Hole Hostel for 10.7 miles plus a free .8 out of town and free .5 down to the hostelI went to breakfast at DQ in the morning went to Food Lion and then to the Post Office to pick up my packages. I brought the packages back to the room, resupplied and packed to boxes, one to go home, and a drop box. Before I headed back to the Post Office I noted just how disgusting my room was. In the bed I killed a black big that resembled a flea but I wasn't exactly sure. Then as I looked to see if I dropped anything under the bed I saw a bottle of lube gel and some other objects that I didn't take the time to explore. I dropped my packages at the Post Office then climbed back up the hill for .8 miles before getting back on the trail. On the first climb of the day I met two section hikers from CT. One of the hikers worked at Millstone and new Chris Bergman so I asked him to say hello. I even let him take a picture to ask Bergman if he could recognize me. During the day it only rained lightly but it was constant. My shin splint was causing my foot to swell. I saw the guys a couple more times and left them at the Docs Knob Shelter. I tried to convince them to go to Woods Hole Hostel but they weren't biting so I went the extra on my own. When I got to the hostel I was the only hiker there. The owners Nevelle and Michael were there along with a house guest Sarah. We had a very nice family style meal that night and I went to bed to the sound of the rain poring down. I got up every two hours in the night to go to the bathroom and because I was worried about what I was going to do nthe following day.
Date: 2015-09-29
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Woods Hole Hostel 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 108 9/29/15Zeroed at Woods Hole Hostel When I got up it was pouring out and I just didn't feel up to walking in a torrential down pour. I looked at the weather online and saw that it was going to get worse as the day progressed so I called it a zero. I can't sit still so during the day I helped can potatoes and move goats to their new pasture, I even took a nap. I have to admit that my foot (shin splint) did not like the sitting around as my whole foot swelled up. My hosts Neville and Michael were very nice and so was Sarah there helper.
Date: 2015-09-30
From: Woods Hole Hostel 

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 109 9/30/15From Woods Hole Hostel to Jenny Knob Shelter for 21.7 miles plus a free .5 up from the hostelWell it wasn't raining hard and I felt I couldn't take a zero so I set off after breakfast. I said my good byes and hiked back up to the trail. It was drizzling but not bad. The goal was to make it to Jenny's Knob shelter so I had to push a little. At about 9:30 I was walking through a foggy wet woods when I was startled by the call of a Barred Owl only 100 feet away. The call was load but at that point I knew it was going to be an ok day. It's fun I have associated different things with the different bird calls. As I hear the Pileated Woodpecker each day I think he is laughing at me as I stumble down the trail. The Barred Owl is like my token bird watching over me so I feel safe when I hear the owl. The Crow/Raven is like the bird waiting for me to quit. I feel like it's waiting almost mocking me and I tell it not today mr crow not today. Well I guess my mind wanders with all the time on my hands. I also spend time tracking people in front of me mainly because I don't see many people each day. Today I was watching footPrints in the mud wondering how far this person was ahead of me. The odd thing about the tracks I would only see one hiking pole mark and it was bigger than normal. I added a name to the tracks when I stopped at Wapiti Shelter and saw that Twig had stopped there today. I kept chugging and passed 4 section hikers enroute to Jenny but no sign of Twig. I had passed a road that went to a general store because I didn't think I had enough time to go to the store and get to the shelter before dark. I got to the shelter just after 6 and set my tent up inside. I changed into dry close and started dinner when Twig walked in. He had gone to the store for food and to wash his clothes. He seemed like a nice guy pushing for springer doing 20s a day. He was an electrician from Minnesota. The next day were both going to push for the Jenkins Shelter but it would be 25 miles, my longest yet, so we both decided to get up early.
Date: 2015-10-02
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter 

To: US 11 Atkins VA and then to the Comfort Inn
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Day 111 10/02/15From Chestnut Knob Shelter to US 11 Atkins VA and then to the Comfort Inn for 23.8.I had slept in as I thought I was going to hunker down in this shelter. I called BLT and she said the rain was not going to start until 6 pm so I packed up quick and was headed out by 8:30. The wind was blowing hard at the top of the knob and it was misting lightly but once I got down the weather got better until about 2:30 when it started raining while I was at the top of Walker Mtn. The rain didn't matter because I knew I would be in a hotel by the end of the day. During the day I took a pic of a mask I made from a huge leaf. The thing covered my whole melon even this narlly beard. I also took a pic of a sign stating I only had a quarter of the trail left. I think the mileage was messed up but I was still happy to have 3/4s done. I made it to Rte 11 and started walking to the Comfort Inn. As usual I had a tough time hitching even as I got rained on but finally a guy doing air conditioning repairs picked me up and brought me to the hotel, score. I made it to the vital by 6:15. Warm shower and dinner at a diner next door capped the night.
Date: 2015-10-03
From: US 11 Atkins VA and then to the Comfort Inn

To: Comfort Inn Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 112 10/03/15Zeroed in the rain at the Comfort Inn in Atkins.Resupplied at Family Dollar, did wash, and updated blog. During the day Twig called at about noon. He said I had made the smart choice because he had been out in the rain and was freezing. I offered to let him stay in my room but he went to a trail angel's house. Bummed that I am not making progress but happy to be out of the rain.
Date: 2015-10-04
From: Comfort Inn Atkins VA

To: Comfort Inn Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 113 10/04/15Zeroed in the rain again at the Comfort Inn in AtkinsIt was still raining and cold so I opted to sit tight. I will make my move early tomorrow morning. Today I finished updating blog packing my pack and planning trip. Hope to be in Damascus on Thursday and in TN on Friday. Hope Twig is sitting tight, it would be nice to see him tomorrow.
Date: 2015-10-05
From: Comfort Inn Atkins VA

To: A stealth site 2 miles south of Trimpi Shelter 
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 114 10/05/15From the Comfort Inn to US 11 Atkins VA and then to a stealth site 2 miles south of Trimpi Shelter for 23 miles.The day started off drizzling and over cast. I hitched a ride and a guy looking like kid rock picked me up and brought me to the trailhead. He was a nice guy, he said he was a builder and he had moved from FL now he lives in the mountains. I was on the trail by 8 dealing with wet plant, swollen rivers, and drizzle. I had to wait until about noon until the sun broke through but when it did it was a site for sore eyes. I saw in a log book that Twig had headed out yesterday and was now a day ahead of I will probably never catch up to him, he's a man with a mission. I did see 3 north bound section hikers during the day. I stopped a the Rogers Mtn National Park visitors center around noon but they were with out power so there was not much I could do in building. On my climb up to Trimpi I saw a dead box turtle in a field and thought BLT would love this bio fact but even though the carreon beetles were hard at work it still had way too much meat on it and I didn't need to make myself stink more. BLT said later that it is illegal to possess wood turtle bio facts. I made it to the shelter by 5:30 but decided to go further so that I could get phone reception. As I was typing this entry I heard two Barred Owls calling each other
Date: 2015-10-06
From: A stealth site 2 miles south of Trimpi Shelter 

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day 115 10/06/15From a stealth site 2 miles south of Trimpi Shelter to Thomas Knob Shelter for 22.4 miles.I started the day at the crack of dawn and headed down the mountain. I passed through several mountain laurel tunnels, about getting sick of those, they are wet and dark. I think o need more sun. I also took some pics of a few water falls as the water is running nice now. I eventually made it to the highlands which first view just seemed like scrub prairie bit in Grayson it got much more picturesque. I saw cattle grazing at first but no ponies but then saw a herd of about 5 in the distance. From the stories i thought they would be everywhere. I finally made it to Grayson Highlands which was beautiful. Grass like green lawns with big rock out croppings. I also passed right by a group of 7 ponies just hanging out grazing. As I made it to the shelter I also passed some long horn steers. An older couple was very nervous about them and camped on the other side of the fence. I went just past the shelter as if was packed and set up my tent in the field. This I found out the next morning was a big mistake because the few was so heavy it was like I had bee in a down pour. The sunset that night was magnificent, see pics. I went to sleep right away because I was headed out early pushing to do 27 into Damascus.
Date: 2015-10-07
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Damascus and Crazy Larry's Hoste
Miles today: 27.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 116 10/07/15From Thomas Knob Shelter to Damascus and Crazy Larry's Hostel for 27.1 miles.I started the day in the dark at 5 so I could get on the trail by 6. The first part of the trail was a bit rocky as I made my way off the knob but as day light broke I found myself in a nice beach tree forest. I went by a few campsites and even passed a guy with his headlamp on going the opposite direction. I told him I was headed to Damascus and he told me to stay at Crazy Larry's. He said it was cheap, was clean, and had a nice shower. He convinced me. He also told me if I saw a guy with a dog to tell him he was ok, he said his trail name was dress casual. Just before I hit the roadway I was on a small bald I took a picture of the sunrise. It was then that I noticed a guy camped on the bald and his German Shepard came running to me. I asked him if he knew dress casual and he said yes. I told him he was ok but he started hiking because his hammock broke. I continued the day over a couple of ups and downs. I saw several people on the trail as it was the week before Columbus Day weekend. At one shelter I met a section hiker base jumper who gave me information about the Smokey Mountains and airports in the area because BLT said she was coming to visit over Columbus Day weekend, I think she was having a bad day. The trail spent another day walking through several rhododendron tunnels but as it neared Damascus it followed a bike trail called the Virginia Creeper trail. I think this would be a fun trail to try out, hey Pep. The trail is only 35 miles long but they bring to the top of a mountain and you ride along a river back into Damascus. As I entered Damascus there Larry's was right on the road as you enter town. Larry was more than nice and helpful. His place was clean and it had an awesome shower. I cleaned up then went to a diner in town to eat. I worked on my blog a bit and then went to bed. I had to get up early, go to the PO and get some resupply. During my last stop for water today I noticed a salamander taking a bath in my water source, see pic.
Date: 2015-10-08
From: Damascus and Crazy Larry's Hoste

To: stealth site .4 south of Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 117 10/08/15From Crazy Larry's Hostel in Damascus to a stealth site .4 south of Double Spring Shelter for 20 miles.I got up a packed my stuff and Larry made chocolate chip and butterscotch pancakes. I ate and said my good bye, Larry seemed like a nice guy who straightened himself out after having a checkered past. He said it was because he found God. I took his pic before I left, see pics. Anyway I was walking down Main Street Damascus by 7:50. It was a cute little town. I went to the Dollar General and bought some resupply and liquid bandage for the split on my hand. I then went to the post office to pick up a package Little C had sent. I realized at the end of the day that while packing stuff up at the post office I lost my spork. Once every thing was packed, except my spork, I made my way to the trail and started walking by 9. The trail wasn't bad during the day ups and downs but the path was mainly smooth. A few miles out of Damascus I passed a sign indicating that VA was finally done and I had entered. TN. I hadn't seen anyone by noon and then ran into a boyscouts troop and about 10 other people during the afternoon. I talked to most of them before moving on. I made it to the Double Spring Shelter but it was dark and dingy plus there was no phone reception so I moved on. I did see a hunting dog, Ellie, with multiple radio collars on before I left. Not sure what they hunt using the dogs if its raccoons or bear? I went about a half mile more until I got reception and I made a stealth spot. I hoped the weather holds out until 9 like it said it was going to so I can pack my stuff and be underway before it starts. As I was rushing to cook dinner before sunset I realized my spork was gone. I tossed everything but couldn't find it. It was getting dark so I decided to try once more in the morning and ate a dry dinner, consisting of awhile pack of fig newtons, 2 honey buns and 2 breakfast bars. Again it should be a good night as I was hearing the Barred Owls as I typed this entry. During the day I took a picture make BLT laugh. It was me with these things I see on the trail as eyebrows. It was a takeoff on a Seinfield episode where uncle Lei has made eyebrows. I also took a pic of what I thought was bear scat.
Date: 2015-10-09
From: stealth site .4 south of Double Spring Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Day 118 10/09/15From a stealth site .4 south of Double Spring Shelter to Vandeventer Shelter for 14 miles.During the night my air mattress deflated, I think I may have punctured it in the stealth sure I made. I also tossed my food bag again and located my spork in between the food bag and the trash bag liner I have in my food bag. I got everything packed in the dark and got underway before the rain fell. As I walked down the hill with my headlamp I got rained on twice in very short 2 minute showers but nothing bad. I checked the weather and it now said that it wasn't going to rain until later in the afternoon. As I passed a small road I spoke to a hunter who was parked with his truck full of dogs. He told me they were hunting bear. He said the dogs would locate the bear and then they would find the dogs and shoot the bear. It seemed like the dogs were doing all the work as the hunters sat in their trucks and just tracked the dogs. During the morning I passed a gentleman jogging on the trail and he informed me that there might be a passing shower. No sooner did he return back by me it rained on me again for a short time. A few miles from the shelter I passed an older gentleman Bob from Illinois and his daughter, her husband and two of there friends. They were making their way to the same shelter. I told them I was trying to beat the rain and would see them there. I made to the shelter by two and felt weird because I was done hiking for the day. I set myself up and Bob and friends showed up at about 3. They unpacked and I realized why they took so long. They had kinds of gear from stools to sit on to all kinds of food. Bob gave me some of his food he said to lighten his pack but I didn't ask questions. They made an awesome campfire and we hung around it until it finally started raining at 9. The only problem with the campfire was that the smoke blew right into the shelter and it got worse as the fire got rained on. It rained hard during the night and I flipped and flopped with my deflated mattress. I blew it up several times but it just kept losing air. During the day I had taken a picture of the sun rise, another pile of bear poop, and a picture of me with a unibrow to make BLT laugh.
Date: 2015-10-10
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Rd and then to Black Bear Resort 
Miles today: 17.0

Day 119 10/10/15From Vandeventer Shelter to Dennis Cove Rd and then to Black Bear Resort for 17 miles and .4 free.I dragged my feet about getting started because it was still drizzling but eventually decided I need to move. I said good bye to my new friends and headed out. The drizzle wasn't bad and eventually stopped as I made my way down to the lake we could see from the shelter. Before I entered the 4 mile section that was closed to anything but hiking due to bear activity, I left a note for Bob my new friend from the shelter. The note said that if they didn't want to camp in the rain Black Bear Resort would shuttle them to their place and I would split a cabin with them. I left the note on a tree right next to the path. I continued around the lake to the dam that formed the lake. I took a few pictures of the layers of rock in the cliffs below the dam for BLT. The dam had cleared up to only overcast but they still predicted rain for the late afternoon. I also took a picture of the lake from the dam. At the opposite side of the dam was a small park where I used the restroom and ate lunch. From the park I had a considerable climb. Surprisingly I saw several people starting weekend hikes. As I came down the back side of the mountain the rain started early. It wasn't a down pour but it was enough to don my rain coat. Then as I neared black bear I passed several people visiting a waterfall I took a picture as the rain stopped. I then made my way to Black Bear where I rented a cabin, ate a bunch of food, did my wash, fixed my air mattress, and even watched a movie before heading of to bed
Date: 2015-10-11
From: Dennis Cove Rd and then to Black Bear Resort 

To: Rte 19E and to Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 120 10/11/15From Black Bear Resort to trail head on Dennis Cove Road then to Rte 19E and to Mountain Harbor Hostel for 24.7 miles and .3 free. I made the walk down the road to the trail head and started the day. After the first climb I found I had reception and I called BLT. BLT was at Mem&Peps for Sunday breakfast. It was nice talking to everyone but it made me a bit home sick. The day was a bit overcast but it would eventually clear. I took pictures as the day cleared and once it was cleared. It was nice walking with the fall smells. The fresh fallen leaves. At one point I took a picture of the sun coming through the trees because it looked so nice. I also saw a spikey mushroom that I took a picture of. I pushed to get to the top of a rise so I might have reception so I could call BLT. At the peak the reception was in an out so I told BLT I was going to push down the hill to get to Mountain Harbour hostel. This was one of the best decisions I made during the whole journey. I got to the hostel at 7:30 and got a shower and a clean bunk. I cooked some dinner and talked with Spice who was at the hostel because of a foot injury. The best part of the hostel was the all you can eat breakfast. The breakfast was out of this world.
Date: 2015-10-12
From: Rte 19E and to Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Roan Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 121 10/12/15From Mountain Harbor Hostel to Rte 19E trailhead then to Roan Knob Shelter for 16.5 miles.I got a late start because I was still eating after everyone else had left. I got packed quickly and got underway. Today was going to be a big day because there was a 3000 foot climb right in the beginning. It was the end of the Columbus Day weekend so I passed at least 50 people passing me going north. I passed kids from Clemson and from NC Charlotte plus all kinds of other hikers. I climbed to the top of a Hump Moumtain and a few other Balds and the views were spectacular. As I was going up Hump I counted 25 Wooly Bear catapillers in the path going through he fields. I made it over to Round Bald and Carvers Gap and there were many more day hikers. Once I crossed the road the crowds dwindled and I made my way to the shelter. I set up my tent as night was falling and it was getting dark. I didn't use the shelter because it was a little dark and dingy. Just before I cooked dinner Jay and Bret two guys fromPhilly showed up. They were motorcycle camping. They informed me that it might rain later that night so I moved my tent into the shelter with their assistance. Boy was I lucky they had arrived because later in the night it came down and then got really cold. My tent would have been very wet and there is nothing crappier then packing a wet tent.