morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-22
From: Max's patch

To: Deer Park Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

I woke up at 2 am to watch the meteor shower. I couldn't see any of them for the 2 minutes I was outside. It was cold on the bald and I went back to bed. I also slept through the sunrise as well. Booga bear, Wizard, and Ann got up early to watch it. I already woke up once and wanted to sleep in. In the morning as I was making my usual oatmeal breakfast a couple gave me a box of trader Joe's peanut butter and chocolate candy. I shared some with Booga since it was way too much. We headed out around 10 pm and had a long day ahead of us. We were planning on doing a 16 mile day for a nero then a zero in Hot Springs.  The trail today looked pretty similar to sections in Georgia. The Smokies had spoiled us with its microclimate and unpredictable weather. We had a 1000 foot climb over a mile fallowed by another 1500 descent over 4 miles. Sadly we didn't run into any trail magic today even though it was still the weekend. My feet were falling apart. I started to get more blisters than before. I don't know if it's the mileage, sock liners, or the lack of washing them. I got a blister on my left heel and under my big toe on my right foot. Hopefully, my feet will toughen up more.We hoofed it 16 miles to the shelter. The shelter as was full but there was plenty of camping. I hung a bear line and setup my tent. It started getting late but a few hikers started fire. We said the ghosts at the graveyard in the area were going to come out and haunt us. It stated raining as we were huddled around the fire. I called it a night around 9 pm.I hear tapping of raindrops on my tent. I hope I don't get a river underneath my tent.
Date: 2018-04-23
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2

This morning as the wind was blowing we heard a large crack but no boom. A tree had fallen but it must have laid up against another tree. Booga bear, Ann, Wizard, and I packed our packs and headed into town. We were only 3 miles away.  The AT cuts right through the center of Hot Springs NC. There were AT symbols in the sidewalk. We ate at the Smoky Mountain Dinner. Out front you could see all the packs laid across the front porch. It was the first food establishment you come through after being on the trail for 4 days.  We drank at least a pitcher of coffee between us. I had the skillet breakfast which was featured on southern cooking magazine. It was pretty massive with home fries, sausage, peppers, eggs, and cheese. I couldn't finish it all. We tried getting a place to stay but all the lodges were booked up. The bubble had taken over everything. Also the local motel in town had closed for repairs.  We eventually found some bunk space at the laughing heart hostel. They had a huge line for laundry about 10 people ahead of us. We made the most of it by hanging out front and drinking beer. They had free salad too! My body had been craving vegetables for awhile. Jeans and Slayer showed up. Jeans got more heavy things to add to his pack from Amazon. Jeans talked about UK politics and all the varieties of tea.  We eventually put our clothes in the wash. The hostel had loaner clothes that we could wear while doing laundry. We found the most ridiculous clothes and headed to the local tavern in town. At the tavern was Miss Janet and Rocking Ronnie. A lot of hikers don't like Ronnie because of his sexist comments. I think his reputation has caught up with him on the trail. Most women have heard about him before even meeting him.We headed back to the hostel around 10 pm. I passed out on a warm sheetless bed.
Date: 2018-04-24
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I slept pretty well in the bunkhouse last night. I got used to the smell and didn't notice anymore. Gator had several empty Sprite cans on his top bunk. In the middle of the night he kicked them to the floor and everyone woke up. Booga bear and I hung out next to the coffee pot drinking several cups of coffee. It's like were in a twin peaks episode.  We headed to the Hillbilly Market and picked up vegetables, eggs, beans, and tortillas. We made breakfast tacos at the hostel. They were super delicious compared to all the trail and restaurant food we've been eating. We chilled at the hostel for half of the day not walking. Apache appeared just off the trail. His legs were covered in scabs and his shoes were falling apart. It seemed like he'd been doing some heavy miles. I heard a story that Apache had jumped out of a moving vehicle when their driver had made a joke about him jumping out.  We made reservations for the hot springs spa. They pump in natural hot spring water into hot tubs. Anne, Wizard, Booga Bear, and I asked a few people in the hostel if they wanted to join. We quickly had a crew of 7 people. We picked up beer and snacks along the way. When we got there they gave us our own private tub. It felt amazing to soak or aching muscles from all the hiking we've been doing. The tub time was only for an hour but we had finished a whole case of beer during that time. Eli and Alex were two vagabonds just hitching around the east coast. They were not thru hiking but did hike some of the trail.  After the tub soak we headed to the iron horse station for dinner. We saw Miss Janet there with a few other hikers. I devoured my hamburger and vegetables. We picked up more beer on the way back to the hostel. On the back porch at the hostel, Jeff the hostel manager put on some classic rock. He passed around a jar of moonshine for everyone to try. It was way stronger than the stuff in Gatlinburg.  We called it a night around midnight and I passed out from a long day of eating, drinking, and relaxing.
Date: 2018-04-25
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Rich Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 8.3

I ended waking up several times last night to use the restroom. I should stop drinking so much the day before I need to head out on the trail again. It also affects my sleep. We got up around 8 am. I stuffed my pack with 5 days of food since the next resupply will be in Erwin Tennessee about 65 miles away. The pack was pretty heavy with all that food. Booga bear cooked up the rest of the vegetables and we devoured more breakfast tacos. They were still better than the restaurant food we had been eating.  We stopped at the outfitters to refuel then hit the trail. The trail fallowed the river for a little while out of Hot Springs. Then it was a steep climb up out of the valley. On the way up we ran into Two Crows, Last Spot, Ann, and Wizard. Two Crows and Last Spot had packed out 6 beers each. That was way too much weight. They ended up drinking 4 of them right on the ascent. We kept trudging up the mountain. There was scattered rain today. It seemed like every time we put on our rain gear the rain stopped. When we removed our gear the rain started again. We couldn't win! Booga, Wizard, and I bought rain skirts at the outfitters. They kept our legs from sweating too much and our pants dry. It was funny that all the men got skirts. Ann had rain pants. We met Amazonian and Francis on the trail. Amazonian got her name because she was tall.  We finally made it to the campsite around 5 pm. We only did 7 miles but my feet started hurting because of all the food weight. Near the campsite there was an old fire tower. We didn't go up it because the steps were falling apart. At the site, we saw Dragon, Yelp, and Scissors. They had a fire already going. They started grilling sausages on the fire. It made my beef stroganoff dehydrated meal look sad. Luckily someone couldn't finish their sausage and I gladly ate it. Yelp got his tail name when a soldier with a rifle snuck near his tent earlier on. It was lightning and he only saw the silhouette outside his tent and let out a Yelp! The trail fallows an army training facility in some areas. He told us that he slept with a gaterade bottle to relieve himself inside his tent. He never did like leaving his tent to use the bathroom. Scissors talked about Rocking Ronnie and how he made derogatory comments about her one night while she was laying in her tent. He approached her in the tavern in Hot Springs and she told him to never speak to her again. We're trying to get his name changed to Rotten Ronnie. I hope it catches on.While I was hanging out in the middle of the woods, my sister in Houston gave birth to Sofia. I'm officially an uncle now. I'll be changing my trail name from "Ya" to "Uncle Ya"!
Date: 2018-04-26
From: Rich Mountain Campsite

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night I got up at 3 am to take a leak. I heard someone pouring water into a bottle in their tent. I think it was Yelp relieving himself. He's got a point with his gaterade bottle.  In the morning I ate a large breakfast to try to cut down on the weight. I had peanut butter on tortilla as well as oatmeal. Theresa made the oatmeal from scratch. It had chocolate and dried raspberries. It was super filling and tasty. Surprisingly most of the people were still in their tents around 8:30. I'm used to an empty landscape when I wake up. This crew is more of my style. We headed out shortly after.We stopped at the first shelter to eat some more grub and filter water. An older woman showed up with a Shiba Inu but with a dark coloring that I hadn't seen before. Most look like foxes but this one looked like a little bear which was also its trail name. From the shelter it was easy going until I felt a drop then another. I didn't want to put on my rain gear only to have to take it off shortly after. However today the rain didn't stop. It kept raining for most of the day. The rain skirt kept my shorts dry! In about 2 miles I came to a gap with a handwritten sign that said mom and dad shop 100 feet. I went up check it out. It was a dilapidated building that had boards over most of the windows. The inside was really dark but they were selling junk food, soda, and beer. I picked up a Snickers and a PBR. Scissors stopped in to tell me that she was going to a hostel down the road. After Scissors left the man at the mom and dad mentioned that women talked a lot. I told him that wasn't true and was just a generalization.  After leaving the shop it was about a 5 mile climb to the shelter in the rain. The trail was slick mud all the way up. It made it difficult to finish miles as I couldn't keep my footing. I ate my lunch in the rain. My tortilla was half filled with rain water as I added the filling. It was a sad lunch.  I finally made it to the shelter around 5 pm. Booga bear, Ann, and Wizard were already there. The shelter was full so I had to pitch my tent. I setup my tent in the rain trying not to get the internal area wet by setting the rain fly first. It mostly worked. About 20 minutes later the rain stopped... figures. I hung out by the shelter making a taco Mac n cheese dinner. Amazonian, Francis, Mountain goat, and his mom were in the shelter. After dinner I really had to use the privy except it was so close to the shelter that you could make eye contact with everyone in the shelter. Also the stall walls only came up to your hips with no front door. I made eye contact with Booga bear as I was using it. What a treat!  I headed off to bed in my wet tent. The rain is picking up again. I heard it's going to rain until 1 pm tomorrow. I can't wait!
Date: 2018-04-28
From: Bald campsite

To: Campsite North of Sam's Gap
Miles today: 14.5

I woke up today pretty well rested. My feet were feeling better as well. I heard two people outside my tent at 7:30. It was Forgiven and Sunshine. They started hiking at 5:30 in the morning to do some night hiking. They were trying to catch up with their original tramily. Jeans and Slayer headed out with them. I took my time making breakfast. We were planning on an 18 mile day.We headed out at 9 pm. The first 3 miles were gradual and easy. I got to the flint rock shelter that apparently had noravirous. It was empty and the shelter seemed like a great place to stay except the Nora. From the shelter we went another 5 miles. It was the weekend and were were hoping for some trail magic. The first road we came to didn't have any magic but a large open field with dandelions. We stretched and lounged in the grass for a little while. I could have slept there all afternoon. From that gap we came to another crossing with a sign for Laurel hostel that advertised beer and pizza. We were sold. When we arrived a small dog named Oreo came out barking at us. We tried to calm him down but it took him awhile to get used to us. The hostel was nothing more than a shack with a few bunk beds. The guy running the place sold us totinos pizzas and PBR. We hung out there for an hour and drank another PBR. The hostel had signs about 2nd amendment rights. I wouldn't want to steal from that place! From the hostel was the real climb of the day. It wasn't as bad as some of the others we'd had before. We huffed up the mountain halfway to find Jaipur taking a nap on his air mattress. We caught our breath and moved onto the summit. At the top, we cracked open our beers that we had been packing out. It was refreshing. We marched another 3 miles to the next shelter. Jaipur and Santiago showed up a few minutes later. The water source there was about .2 miles away. It seemed to take forever to get to it. We headed another 2.4 to Sams gap. Someone going south had told us about trail magic there. Unfortunately, it was too late when we got there. We hiked another mile and a half to our camping spot. It was a 16 mile day. My feet were sore, but nothing else hurt. I put up my tent and tried to hang my beer line. It took me a few tries and I scraped up my legs from the briars in the area. I made my dinner then rolled into my tent.Tonight it's supposed to freeze again. I'm hoping for a warm night.
Date: 2018-04-29
From: Campsite North of Sam's Gap

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 16.5

This morning was pretty cold but at least the wind stopped. I ate my usual breakfast of oatmeal that was made by Theresa. We hit the trail at 9:30. Upon leaving we saw Comicazi and Theo walking down the trail. She said there was trail magic with pancakes and coffee. However it was 1.5 miles behind us. We were not going to walk backwards.It was a pretty steep climb but the reward was well worth it. I could see it from miles away, Big Bald mountain. From the top you could see a 360 view of the mountains. Theo and Comicazi showed up. Theo the dog was rolling over over the ground because his pack itched. Eventually a treat fell out of the pack and he scarfed it down. I believe he was really going for that. We headed out and found a discarded tennis ball on the bald. Theo was super happy to have a new toy!  On the little bald we saw the remains of a chimney that belonged to Hog Greer. A hermit who lived on the bald in the early 1800s. He was scorned by a woman and left for the mountains. He declared his own domain over the mountain and was a nuisance to the townsfolk. The government tried to bring him to court for tax evasion. He ended up breaking all the windows in the courthouse. He was eventually shot in the back by a blacksmith. They say his ghost still haunts the bald.  We trekked it to the bald mountain shelter for lunch. We met a southbounder named House Keeping. We picked his brain about the trail ahead. He said Pennsylvania was pretty tough from all the sharp rocks. As we left the bald we saw Beats approaching.  He always has music playing as he's hiking. You can hear him coming from a mile away.  From the shelter it was still another 10 miles to the next shelter. We passed a few gaps then approached Spivey Gap. A woman came up from there and said there was Taco Bell trail magic in the gap. It was close to 3:00 and I took off running down the mountain. Booga bear, Ann, and Wizard had been talking about Taco Bell for the last few days. I really wanted it! I ran down the trail as fast as I could. When I arrived at the gap there was no one there. Two missed trail magics today. :(We took off for the last leg until the shelter. It was a tougher hike without that wonderful trail magic.  The shelter also didn't have a bear line, water, or privy. It was the saddest shelter we've. At the shelter we ran into Jeans and Slayer. Jeans gave Booga bear and I ramen from yesterday's trail magic. We were going to eat a cold dinner since we didn't have any left. It was amazing to have a hot dinner. We saw Yelp and talked about bodily functions. We're that comfortable with each other.  Tonight is supposed to be another cold one, but we'll be in Erwin tomorrow!
Date: 2018-04-30
From: No Business Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 6.2

Last night my air mattress decided to fall apart. The internal seems started coming apart. Everytime one separated it let out a loud boom. The mattress looked like it had a goiter. I packed up my stuff and we headed off to Erwin.The 6 mile trek into town was all downhill. We got amazing views of the Nolichucky river. We arrived at Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel around 11:30. I picked up my sister's package drop. She sent Booga and I a chacud party with the full spread of cheese, summer sausage, crackers, and wine! She also sent me some other snacks as well some good instant coffee. It was a great surprise for our town day.From the hostel we rented bikes and headed to Taco Bell and the laundry mat. We stopped by the gas station for tall boys for the bike ride. Erwin surprisingly had a biking trail to downtown and it fallowed the Nolichucky river. We've been talking about Taco Bell for days. We loaded up on tacos, burritos, and crunch wrap supremes. We took some hot sauce packets to pack out as well. We hit the laundry next. Jeans and Slayer were already doing laundry there. We hung out in our rain coats and skirts. Booga was sitting outside in his outfit when a bus of children went by. He made sure to cross his legs! After 6 days it was amazing to have clean clothes again. I was excited to have clean socks so I wouldn't get blisters. We booked it back to the hostel to catch the 5 pm shuttle to Walmart. At Wally world I was overwhelmed with the amount of choice I had to buy stuff. It was hard not to buy too much. Booga, Spineli, and Wizard went to the liquor store for tonight's festivities. The shuttle came back 2 hours later and we all crammed in. I sat closest to the door and felt that I was going to fall out. We got back to the hostel and put together a meal of chacud, salad, hummus, grapes, pickles, mixed nuts, wine, cocktails, and beer. I had my fill of food and lounged around in our cabin. We got the heater going. It was warm and cozy compared to the last few nights.Tonight we're watching planet Earth on Netflix and resting our feet for the trek tomorrow.
Date: 2018-05-01
To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: clear sky

Booga, Spineli, Wizard, and I woke up in a warm cabin this morning. We slept in until 10 am then packed up our mess. I ate some of the food my sister sent me so I'd carry less weight on the climb out of Erwin.   We were planning on having a nero today and only hiking 4 miles. At the hostel the septic broke and we couldn't use the bathroom. Wizard and I rode bikes to the Citgo station so we wouldn't have to dig a cathole. On the way there Wizard got flat tire. There was a screw directly in the center of the tire. I walked back with Wizard to the hostel. Luckily it was only a mile away.We lounged around the hostel for awhile. We needed to rest our feet from our 65 mile trek from hot springs. We hung out with a few people who we've been seeing over the last few days. Lorax was applying for teaching positions in the fall. She was editing cover letters on her phone and sending them out. I couldn't image trying to apply for a job while hiking.  We got a late start on the trail around 4:30 pm. The start of the trail crossed the Nolichucky river and the railroad. Spineli was hiking in front when suddenly she slipped and fell off the side of the trail. Luckily some trees stopped her fall. She didn't break or twist anything but had a few scrapes on her hands and legs. We waited while she bandaged herself up then we headed out again.  The last mile and a half to the shelter was a steep uphill. It seemed to go on forever. Shortly after the climb I could see the shelter. It was a lot bigger than the others since it was renovated in 2010. We metup with Amazonian and Francis there. Spineli and Wizard didn't show. We assumed that they stealth camped earlier on the trail.  We made dinner and hung up our bangs. It looks like there might be mice in the shelter tonight. I hope they don't run over my face!
Date: 2018-05-02
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night it felt like my air mattress was going to throw me off the top bunk of the shelter. The bubble that has been forming has gotten so large that it resembles a small pillow. When laying on it, the bubble pushes me to the head of the mattress and to the edge of the top bunk. I ended up moving my mattress sideways so it didn't feel like I was going to fall off. Booger bear and I packed up and ate breakfast. As we were eating Spineli and Wizard showed up.   They had camped next to the river about a mile before the shelter.  We headed out around 10:15. It was a sunny day and it only got hotter. At Indian grave gap we met Brother Tom who usually does trail magic most days. I had coffee, lemonade, and a homemade brownie. It was a great pick me up for the next climb in the heat of the day. In 2 miles we came to beauty meadow. It was a large bald on the mountain. I had a snack there and rested my feet. At the next water source, I met up with my crew again. Two Crows and Last Spot showed up. Two Crows told us a story about him meeting a girl who drove him to Ashville, took him to the grocery store, then let him spend the night at her place. He said they shared a bottle of wine then he went to sleep in the guest room. In the morning she left him the WiFi password as well as some Epson salts for a bath. We felt that he changed the story about the guest room. Next time we'll call him out.  The next section was the hottest hike of the day. As we climbed Unaka Mountain we were cooked by the sun's rays. The trees in the mountains didn't have leaves yet and we were left shadeless. When we reached the top we were greeted by a spruce decorated in Christmas ornaments. It was a memorial for Max who passed away a few years ago. The dense spruce forest provided shade from the sun. In another 4 miles we were at the shelter.  We hung out with Amazonian and Francis. We learned that Francis was hard of hearing. Which made sense now when Amazonian repeated phrases to him. I tried eating a lot of my food for dinner but failed. I filled up too fast on pasta sides.Tonight I setup my tent without the rain fly so I could see the stars. There is a dog or a cayote howling in the distance. Luckily I only hear one.