morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-08-28
From: Cornellus Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Monday, Got cold last night and woke up to 40 degrees: too cold to cook breakfast, pressed on to lay down some miles before Hurricane Harvey's outer bands hit, which are to start tonight. Started the long climb up apple orchard Mtn and met Sauce SOBO who camped alone at Black Rock overlook. Checkout the picture of this view: it's spectacular. Climbed over the mountain passed th FAA radar dome, passed thru the "guillotine" (check photo)  then stopped at Thunder Hill Shelter to cook a late breakfast after the grueling climb up Thunder.  Passed more SOBOs and stopped for lunch on Highcock Knob. Got sidetracked at Big Cove stalking a deer. The wildlife are surprisingly natural and I am able to get very close to them. Pushed for miles and arrived at Matts Creek Shelter at dusk to find a whole camp of students from Washington and Lee doing an Appalachian adventure. They gave me the shelter even with the forecast of the approaching storm. It hit on schedule and they joined me in the morning to ride out the heavy part of the rain.
Date: 2017-08-29
From: Matts Creek Shelter 

To: Punch Bowl Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Plan for today was to sleep late, which I did and it was heavenly listening to the rain while cozy in the sack and sore all over from the day before. Left at 11 after the rain became light and hiked to the James River with the longest pedestrian only bridge on the AT.  Very Cool. Was planning to catch a ride into Glasgow to reprovision and shower but when I got across to Highway 501, there was no phone signal and in vain I tried to hitch a ride but no one seemed interested in picking up a wet hiker in the rain so, I continued on the trail and haleluia left some Coors at Johns Hollow Shelter where I had a late lunch with a beer, put on dry socks and pressed onward. Also, packed one of those nice treats to have with dinner.  The late start and the fiasco trying to get into Glasgow really put me behind and it was a very long 8mile uphill walk to the next shelter with no water in between and, I was really looking forward to a break.  With the cool air I made great time and was flying down the hills listening to the radio on my iPod nano and somehow while changing stations managed to slip and catch one foot behind the other and go flying landing on my face and knees... so much for texting while hiking. Fortunately, nothing broke. I was on Big Rocky Row hill and one of the rocks twisted my glasses into a pretzel sticking the nose pad into my nose. Two raccoon eyes, split lip, bloody nose was all the damage. Picked some rock pieces out of my knees and spit out dirt for a few miles and actually didn't feel that bad. It all cleared up by the next day..lesson learned. Arrived at dusk at Punch Bowl Shelter to meet two gentlemen: Simon from Germany SOBO who just finished the PCT and is flying on the AT and Jackson, a local who just started and this is his second day with his dog. It was late and no good branches were visible in the dark so we figured the dog would keep the bears away and went to sleep. Pretty much no phone or internet signals in the Wilderness shelters so .... no journal or photos.  I'll try to catch up as I can.
Date: 2017-08-30
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

August 30th! A year ago today Nailgun, the only one of us three musketeers to complete the trail, conquered Katahdin! Just an awesome accomplishment!  Ahh yes, made it to Buena Vista just before the skies opened up again! Didn't sleep well last night and was cold plus all my breakfast meals were used up. Had a lousy meal of mashed potatoes and coffee. Everything was sore and i got a small blister from walking in wet socks. With my sights on Highway 60 and a break I headed out for a relatively quick 11 miles then, at about 1p I discovered a "must return to" delightful valley and stream with the coolest swimming holes and falls - Brown Mountain Creek.  Place had been inhabited by freed slaves until the 1920s when it was turned over to the Park Service. I had a ..nice Lasagne lunch and nap then hiked up the mountain to Highway 60 to hitch a ride into town. At the crossing I met Rock Spider from Israel who was waiting for a shuttle, which he shared with me. The lady provided sodas and wouldn't take any money ... there are so many nice people on this trail! Plan was to hit the trail and Robin pick me up Saturday so a can add another 30 or so miles but Harvey giving us the one two and it will pour rain Friday and Saturday. I booked a shuttle to day hike tomorrow and come back to Buena Vista then reposition North and continue. I'll upload pics probably this weekend.
Date: 2017-08-31
From: Salt Log Gap

To: Salt Log Gap
Miles today: 8.5

With bands and remnants of Hurricane Harvey changing the end of week plans, I procured a shuttle with Aubrey Taylor who with his wife Shirley shuttled Bill Bryson before he wrote his book. Shirley thought he was really stinky! These volunteer drivers work for the love of the trail accepting only tips.  Since I was returning to the hotel, I slacked back from Salt Log Gap back to Highway 60. It was foggy to start and everything is sore: feet, legs, back and both arms so it was nice to hike with a light pack. Weather cleared nicely and there were a few other hikers. I hiked along the Tar Jacket ridge with spectacular views in all directions. The Apple trees line the ridge bursting with ripe apples. I'm surprised the bears don't go after them. I met Intrepid SOBO from Vermont planning to press on in the rain and Trooper and Faith NOBO also not deterred by Harvey. I took a mile side trip to Cow Camp Shelter for water and lunch then climbed Bald Knob. This is a long 3,000 foot slog from Hwy 60 and nice to slack pack.  I now have climbed every mountain on this chain from Georgia to Northern Virginia and looking back it teaches something about life: if you just worry about one step at a time it is amazing how far you can go if you keep going forward. I'm coming up on a thousand miles next week! Tomorrow Robin picks me up to relocate North and  I'll pick up where I got off in Cornwall, Connecticut and continue north hopefully completing half of this trail over the next two weeks. It really takes about 10 days to recondition every time you leave and get back to the trail. The trail off Bald Knob passed through a mile and a half field of five foot tall yellow flowers with so many bees that the noise was deafening! Millions and millions of bees everywhere. For those allergic to bee stings it would probably be terrifying as you brush through for well over a mile.  Bees didn't seem to mind. I reached the bottom and was trying to hitch a ride back to Buena Vista when approached by Phil Landry, a fellow section hiker from Ohio, who gave me a lift to the motel.  Three days rest ...
Date: 2017-09-04
From: MM 1476.9 Dawn Hill Road

To: MM 1487.8 Stealth Camp
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

We are dodging the aftermath of hurricane Harvey and left the trail in Virginia and picked up where I previously stopped last year with Moondog. Plan is to hike north for the next two weeks and try to make it to Vermont. Moondog lives in Pittsfield MA and we plan to do part of Massachusetts together.  Hopefully next Spring we can finish the trail together.  Today was a good day but my pack is heavy and the trail is quite rocky.  Didn't make the miles I had planned.  The days are shorter up here and I had a late start. The campground behind me didn't have water and there were a lot of student campers so I pressed on. It started getting dark so I stealth camped along the trail and will have to hike some in the morning before breakfast when I have water.  I hiked part of the day with a couple out for the weeekend who wanted to know all about the AT. Nate is a former Marine, now prison guard and a good fisherman. He had his rod, reel, and a bunch of fish from the Housatonic.  Connecticut does allow camp fires so he hiked into town and bought a stove in the middle of the trip! We shared some fish at lunch and then I pressed on.  I notice my pace is slowly increasing. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get in some miles before more rain. The crickets are calling so until tomorrow, good night.
Date: 2017-09-05
From: MM1487.8

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke up to thunder and rain at 4a and slipped out and grabbed the food bag.  The rain let up and held off until about 6p.  Seemed like a good day to hike into Falls for bacon and eggs. Went into town and all was closed resting from Labor Day.  Hiked out to a park at the Falls and made coffee and oatmeal. Shoulders real sore so I took more Advil and took a break followed by the long climb up Mt Prospect.  Of course being the AT that followed with a descent to Salisbury and another climb up Lions Head. The skies opened and it poured just as I started the climb. I managed to keep my feet dry by waiting under cover until the initial deluge passed. Just made it to Riga Shelter when the rain came down hard and did so all night. Some really big mice in this shelter and one woke me at four am trying to chew my tent. Phone signals have been good on CT. Trail is unremarkable, rocky, and mildbup and down except the hard mountains at each end. Lots of people and little wildlife! Meeting more hikers SOBO; almost none NOBO and some from VA flip flopped and are SOBO. In Falls a young French student "Ice" "it's not what you think, I was putting ice in my shoes to cool my feet" Another young man Fuego would start a campfire to drive away the bugs as long as it wasn't raining!
Date: 2017-09-06
From: Riga Shelter

To: Moondog's House
Miles today: 1.7
Weather: light rain

it poured rain all night and morning and the forecast is for the same all day. The climb up Bear, Race and Everett includes a tricky ford and waterfall climb and is not recommended in the rain so I called Moondog and we agreed it best to cancel the afternoon pickup and take the long steep Undermountain Trail to CT 41, which adds 1.9 mi each way, and get off the trail this morning. I had coffee and oatmeal and headed out. While eating in the shelter a hawk almost crashed into the shelter, spreading its wings frantically then grabbing a branch! See, photo above. Rain stopped as I hit the trail so maybe should press on except now I was thinking of Moondog and a bacon and egg lunch. I headed off the mountain and met Moondog at about 11:10 just after  he arrived and we were off to Pittsfield.
Date: 2017-09-07
From: Undermountain Trail

To: Jug End Road
Miles today: 11.4

After a great nights sleep and fresh everything Moondog drove me back to Undermountain trail to slackpackbthe trilogy of Bear Mountain, Mount Race and Mount Everett along with Sages Ravine that falls on the state border. Great weather with cool temps and clear skies. Passed two hikers that I hiked with in VA Uturn and Bill who informed me the rain last night was snow in the White Mountains.  This was a hard day of steep slippery climbs and descents and would have been extra bad yesterday.  I was tired and had a full pack.  My ribs were still sore and the light pack felt great.  I flew up the 1.9 miles of the Undermountain trail without stopping then the next 11.4 up and down on the AT. Passed our Princeton students in Sages Tavine....incredible swimming holes and nice Falls.  The entire hike was very rocky and slippery. Doing great until the late afternoon a thunderstorm hit. It was a rough descent to Jug End in a cold rain.  Moondog rescued me for a great barbecue dinner after a nice shower. Will continue slack packing tomorrow.
Date: 2017-09-08
From: MM1516.1 Jug End Rd

To: MM1534.9 Beartown Mountain Rd
Miles today: 18.8

Wohoo! Broke the 1,000 miles hiked mark! Slacked packed from Jug End thru farm field for about Five very nice flat trail, crossed the Housatonic again and climbed June then East Mountain. Really nice to not carry a full pack! A couple good ups let my legs start to talk. Feet got wet in the fields so I put on dry socks and pressed on.  Near the end of day Moondog hiked back a couple of miles toward me and we hiked together to the car.  With a side trip for water we creased 20 miles with 18.8 on the AT.
Date: 2017-09-09
From: Beartown Road

To: MM1555.0 County Road
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Great Weather! Cool temps like 46! Started out at 7:30 with a nice bacon and egg croissant. Hiked thru Tyringham, MA and it feels like England. Halfway up Mt Baldy I meet April aka Farmgirl with her son asking me about the bear that just ran by which i missed: I was too busy looking at my feet! Mt Baldy was in her family since the early 1700s until preserved in trust for the AT and future generations. This section of Mass is gorgeous with an abundance of wildlife and unspoilt scenery. Yesterday we saw a pack of coyotes. We've seen deer, bear, skunks, fox and according to April there are Moose at Knee Deep Pond.  Lower and upper Goose Pond are serene tranquil spots that are protected and preserved.  Felt strong today and good thing.  I committed to 20 Miles and much of the trail is simply boulders and roots. It was hard to speed up. After climbing Becket and Wailing mountains I was able to message Moondog that I was going slower than anticipated and thereafter had no phone signal. It was getting late so I pushed hard.  The trail in Mass is the best marked yet and dummy me missed a turn and walked a half mile before I noticed. Now it was starting to get dark and I had little clothing for the cold, no phone, and I was tired. It would be dangerous to try to cut thru the woods so I stayed on the trail and retraced my steps to the AT. I had to walk an additional mile putting today well over 21 miles. It was simply awesome to see Moondog and his van!!
Date: 2017-09-10
From: County Road MM 1555.0

To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Great weather for everything. This is a level wet boggy stretch that is also home to Moose and Bears. With no other hikers until almost noon I broke Spider webs constantly and today slowed down to take in the wildlife. Was upwind of a moose wanting no part of me as I tried to stalk it and spent 30 min at a big pond waiting for it to return. Security on the iPhone makes it a really crappy camera since any quick opportunity is missed: the pack of coyotes Friday, the bear yesterday and the moose today! Got some poor still shots showing just a bit of bear rear! Trail reminds one of Harry Potter: massive intertwined roots in dark boggy mud with endless mossy stones. Plan is to summit Greylock Tuesday climbing halfway tomorrow to the shelter then summit Tuesday concluding this phase of my AT adventure on the highest point in Massachusetts. Moondog has been an awesome total support system.  Look forward to hiking with him tomorrow.
Date: 2017-09-11
From: Dalton MM 1569.7

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: moderate rain

Today begins a two day climb over Mt Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts.  We needed to shuttle the Van to the end in North Adams. Moondog has two very good friends, Joe and Ron, who were biking the nearby 25 mile rail trail and they followed us to North Adams then back to Dalton with breakfast on the way. We climbed Crystal Mt from Dalton with nice ups and downs stopping at the Cobbles for great views of Greylock in the distance with Hoosic  River Valley and the town of Cheshire. The forest here is right out of Harry Potter with massive roots and rocks.  We descended into Cheshire to find the ice cream shop open. After a short walk across town we hit the trailhead to Greylock. Joe and Ron had left us a message on the trailhead board.  The climb begins with nice ups and a trail angel left some trail magic in the form of frozen Powerade drinks! We passed a couple SOBO from Lake Tahoe who were doing the trail for the third time! Towhee fell and broke her colllarbone and was back on the trail in two weeks! Her husband like myself fell and bruised/cracked a rib and spent a sleepless week on a level.  Seems we all need to really watch our steps! We met several other SOBOs who started in Maine in early July. We finally arrived at the Mark Noepel Shelter around 5:30. It was a long fairly hard up. The shelter is one of the best with a nice privy and bear box. It was now cold. We had dinner and hit the sack at 7p. We had no phone or internet at the shelter and the same all the way to the summit. Great Day!
Date: 2017-09-12
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Mm 1592.2 MA 2 Norh Adams
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning was warming nicely and we slept late, not leaving until 8. Thought this would be a short easy day with just a 3 mile climb and a long easy down. Wrong! This was a steady slow up. We were feeling tired but really enjoyed the summit.  We climbed the staircase in the memorial for a 260 degree view close to a hundred miles. We went to the Bascom Lodge: very neat and rustic with cozy fireplaces and period furnishings from early 20th century.  We started the long hike down to the van stopping briefly in Mt Williams for a break.  This turned out to be a very hard down, very hard and by the bottom both of us were beat! Lots of slippery roots rocks muddy bogs and knee busting steps. This puts me on the Vermont border for the next leg.  Massachusetts has been awesome: one of the prettiest sections with very hiker friendly towns.  They are also very neat and picturesque. The ponds, lakes, and cabins are Norman Rockwell. This was a great improvement over the Connecticut section and the trail facilities and markings first class. I really love the bear boxes and privies!  It's now time to get back to work and prepare for the next section.
Date: 2018-04-07
To: Buena Vista Virginia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Today Robin and Baldeagle drive to Buena Vista.  It is snowing today and tomorrow should be clear, cold, and sunny.  We have upgraded "Snowflake", our support vehicle to handle the forest roads.  Tomorrow, Aubry, my shuttle driver from last year, will shuttle us to the trail at Salt Log Gap, MM 814.6 where I left the trail last summer.  Forecast for next week looks promising with warmer temps and less rain.  We are provisioned for four cold days on the trail.  Baldeagle
Date: 2018-04-08
From: Salt Log Gap

To: Spy Rock Road
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

We woke to a clear cold 25 degrees and put on all our cold weather gear. We checked out of the Budget Inn and drove to Aubry Taylor¢s house where we left the car and he shuttled us to Salt Log Gap.  Since this was our first day back on the trail it was most important to me that Robin have a great experience. The trail here is a lovely gentle up and down for about eight miles with most off the ridge so there was little wind. We started with two guys ahead of us and only met one couple southbound.  The NOBO bubble is still way south so space in the shelters won¢t be a problem. We were on the trail at 9a and stopped at Seeley-Woodworth shelter for lunch. Not moving, the cold started to set in so we got moving quickly for Spy Rock Road to meet Audrey. It was an extra 1.1 hard rocky miles down Spy Rock Road off the trail to the parking lot that took almost an hour and I¢ll have to climb back on Tuesday the same steep rocky road back to the AT. More snow is in the forecast for tomorrow so I¢m going to take a zero with Robin in Lexington and  much nicer upgrade to a hotel with spa and pool.  The forecast for next week is much warmer weather so while I press on, Robin will return to Raleigh to rearrange her schedule to rejoin me for the hike through the Shenandoah Park for about 150 miles. With some luck Nailgun will be able to join us for a few miles in the park.
Date: 2018-04-09
From: Spy Rock Road

To: Lexington VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am anxious to get down the road but sometimes it really pays to pause. Today is definitely one of those times. While I regroup the weather is rapidly improving and the rest of April promises warmer weather. This is a great time to move supplies up the trail in my ¢bounce¢ box.
Date: 2018-04-10
From: Spy Rock/Fish Hatcheries Road

To: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: clear sky

Finally! Back on the trail. Robin dropped me off at the fish hatchery for a 1.1 mile steep climb in snow! Isn¢t this Spring? I switched my boots for trail runners and they weren¢t made for ice.  Temps started out in the twenties, 24 at the top. Managed the rocky ups and downs to Priest Shelter, famous for the  Shelter logbook. Had to spend the lunch hour wading thru page after page of confessions! Very racy one¢s, I might add! Then, a very long down with nicely rising temps to Harper¢s Creek Shelter where I ran into my first true NOBO¢s. Camo, Youngblood, Bobcat. They left Springer in February and made it they the Smokies during the Indian Summer we had in March! Three out of four with Z-packs at about #20! I love my new Z-Pack. Thanks Matt. It fits perfectly!
Date: 2018-04-11
From: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Creek Shelter 

To: MM846
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Slept OK, takes a bit to get used to sleeping on the ground. Hard climb up three Ridges Mountain and only moving about half the speed of my fellow NOBOs: clearly don¢t have my hiker legs and ran out of day before making the planned campsite. Spent a lot of time enjoying the views. Stealth camped off the trail on a sloped spot.  The bears are real active and this is exactly what they posted to not do.  I did have good phone signal and hung my food bag, but it was still a long sleepless night slipping downhill!
Date: 2018-04-12
From: MM846.1

To: Paul Wolfe Shelter 
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

This was a long day: I started tired and had the long rocky climb up Humpback Mountain.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous and the views of Wintergreen breathtaking.  Snow on the slopes has pretty much all melted. The temperature rose from 40 in the morning to almost 80!  The long descent to the Paul Wolfe shelter was welcome and finally not rocky.  This may be the absolute nicest shelter on the trail with a waterfall in the front yard flowing into a basin and Creek.  The privy overlooks the water with the top half of the door cut off. It is odorless using lime. Powder instead of leaves. Check the photos. I had the whole place to myself: cooked a nice dinner and turned in early.
Date: 2018-04-13
From: Paul Wolfe Shelter 

To: Waynesboro 
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Ready for a break! Hiked to the entrance of the Shenandoah Park, picked up my backcountry pass and called Adam Stanley ¢Stanimal¢ who promptly picked me up for an awesome stay at his hostel. Washed clothes showered and ate a huge meal then filled in this log.  We leave at 7a tomorrow for the trail. Try to lay down some miles before the rain Sunday. Now for a double scoop of raspberry chocolate at Kline¢s dairy bar!
Date: 2018-04-14
From: Rockfish Gap

To: MM 882.6
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

Stanimals did an awesome job of shuttle and hostel: had me on the trail at 7a. Temperature went from cool to hot ...85 degrees! But with a breeze. Great views but this end of the park post fire is still black and brown; very parched.  The springs were almost totally dry.  Trail in the park is remarkably smooth and Robin will love it when she joins me.  Nice climb up little Calf Mountain and Met 3 year old Lyla who told me she carried her own pack!
Date: 2018-04-15
From: MM 882.6

To: Blackrock Hut 
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

Struck the tent after oatmeal and coffee. Temperature was dropping rapidly with a nasty line of storms approaching. Met ¢Wolfe¢ on the trail SOBO  who was second to tell me no water for 22 Miles! Trail angels finally appeared leaving a twelve pack of beer: some already took the water!  I pressed on to the Hut expecting to just do without water; however there was water! Just not obvious. Trail angel left a nice mattress and a book. Spent the day reading as other storm dodgers showed up. Weather turned violent by 5 p and very cold and windy, just above freezing. I put on everything I had and slept great!