morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-10-01
From: potayuadjo Spring Lean-to

To: Pollywog stream Stelth
Miles today: 16.0

Rain..it just keeps raining. Today was one of those days where you just put your head down and walk. It isn't a bad thing when you have to do that but at the same time you don't see near as much as you should. You also miss a lot of the small things, like 2 chipmunks chasing each other up and over rocks, up trees, and branch to branch. I hiked most of the morning alone spending time with my mind at my fast speed. I enjoyed walking on the stone beaches next to some of the lakes in Maine. I love the fact that in Maine you feel like your the only one with in miles of you and that you are free of everything(even the rat race of everyday life.) I decided to take lunch at the Wadleigh shelter while waiting for the rest of my group. I flipped through the log book to see what some of the other hikers ahead of me said, and to my surprise most where saying how tried they were, how excited they are to be so close to the end, and how much they enjoyed hiking with everyone. After lunch I found myself climbing a mountain which seemed to be more challenging than it should be. I think it was because I was not as cheery and kinda down. The climb though allowed me to see large boulders in the middle of no where (placed there by glaciers) Everything around them and parts of them where covered in rich green moss. At the top of the mountain I called home to inform them where I was and when I planning to finish the north. I also got to look down on a gorge with lovely fall colors. We decided to pull up early instead of hiking on into the night to make the next shelter. I set up my tarp and my hammock for the night to soon not after find 5 people huddled under it cooking dinner out of the rain. After everyone at there dinner and was heading back to there rightful homes to sleep for the night I caught sight of a large salamander. This guy was about as fat as thumb and as long as a hand from the tip of a middle figure to the top of a wrist. He was black with yellow spots on his back. When I went to go take a picture of him he stopped walking and struck a pose. "Staying positive even in the worse of time, seems to make it become a little bit better through out time."
Date: 2011-10-05
From: end of the white blazes

To: end of the white blazes part 2
Miles today: 0.0

After making it to the bottom of the mountain a celebration was in order! Me with my sweet tea in hand, others with beers in there hands had cheers and celebrated the completion of the trail (half for some) Good byes were said and hugs were passed around. I went and caught back up with my birth family who greeted me with a smile, hug, and a kiss. They also pointed out the mountain behind me, I turned and saw the mountain I just hiked and to my surprise it was clear, with a coating of snow, along with pink from the setting. I then realized that this mountain is one to be enjoyed but also respected. Everyone went into town to the Cafe where we had a celebration dinner, filled with story telling, and memories. I then realized that it was my moms birthday and announced it to the group in which everyone in the Cafe (not only the group) sang her Happy Birthday! We also all celebrated everyone's victory and birthday with a cake! When finally getting back to the hotel room I showered and hit the bed just to find me so excited to were I couldn't sleep. In the morning the group got back together at the Cafe for the last time until next time. Guinness and me went out to the side walk and set up her tent showing me all the do's and don'ts about it. Lets just say we got a few weird looks from some people and questions from other people. You know when your hiker trash when you randomly set up a tent on the side walk of main street. Everyone swapped contact information with each other along with hugs. It was hard to see my Trail Family separate after being together and so close for o so long. But we all know we will see each other once again. "good byes are not always forever, its just the matter or when you will see each other again."
Date: 2011-10-07
From: Gravel Spring Shelter

To: Rt 211 Luray
Miles today: 0.0

After She Bear and Mrs Rose got picked up I once again started my hike south. I was shocked that I had the gitters once again, I forgot what it was like to be alone while hiking. I often times let my mind wonder which never turns out for the better as i'm a social person. I am still trying to learn how to how to hike alone and not have any problems. I have learned that music helps, if you have music. Or just play differnt mind games, like find the hidden animals, name that tree, or what can you hear? While hiking on the trail I hiked up on to a baby bear cub which was not scared of me. This bear decided that he didn't feel threathened my me instead he stop and struck a pose for some photos. After I finshed taking the photos and put my camerma away the bear then started to graze the ground for acorns to eat. The bear actully found a number of acorns while I was watching him, when he bit down on the nut you could just hear the strength in his jaw. I did end up leaving the trail because my mind did wonder and needed to re group and figure out what to change. I ended up recieving a phone call from Guinness and Natedog inviting me down south to Damascus to hike to Springer with them, how could I not take up a offer like that? I am planning on heading down south and hike with fall in the hopefully warmer weather. While hanging at home I packed up my mail drop boxes for the second part of my hike. I decided to make my own snack and lunch bars for the trail, instead of eating the same old cliff bars and sneaker bars. My kitchen today was great smelling and busy as it barely had a break from one recipie to the next.
Date: 2011-10-08
From: Rt 211 Luray

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So It is time to start my second summit! I figured most people have one summit to work towards, and that is the one at the end of thier hike. For me being a flip flop I decided to have 3 summits- Katahdin, Springer, and home. The easy thing for me is when I say walking home I actully mean it as I have a side trail all 0.1 one it leading to the front door to my house. But right now i'm not focusing on that 3rd part of my hike as I still have to knock out the second part of it. I am traveling down to southern Virginia today to start my journey south as a SoBo, with the help of my sister, Guinness, and Natedog. Today also we will be having a hiker trash get together, which I can't wait for! Although the trail came to a ending the love for one another did not which is why we try to find some way to all hook back up again. Tomorrow though I will be walking south with Guinness and Natedog making my way to the end of the white blazes the other way. "Your always going to have ups and downs, just take with them a smile and realize that there is always a reason."
Date: 2011-10-21
From: Damascus,va

To: Abington gap shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Life is always better when you have your trail family back together. I finally had someone to talk to who understands the whole trail life thing and not think I'm crazy. I also realized that I was not the only person who started to go stir crazy. The trail down south is amazing! There is real switchbacks, and limited rocks and roots! The weird thing is that there is little roads down south that it is more wilderness. "when there's nothing to look at, on the trail then STOP, SIT, and SEE!"
Date: 2011-10-22
From: Abington gap shelter

To: Iron mnt campsite
Miles today: 16.0

Why, why is there scouts talking at 3:30 in the morning? I got lucky as one guy from another group shouted quiet! When I actully got out of my warm sleeping bag and out of my tent I found myself enjoying a colorful horizon. The trail today was mainly a ridge walk with peeping views. I also got to walk through a cow feild today and saw a cow up close. The water on the trail has been flowing/ seeping but you do have to work for it. "life is good; good is life"
Date: 2011-10-23
From: Iron mnt campsite

To: Pond flats mnt stelth
Miles today: 16.0

Most people are not happy in the morning when waking up, I on the other hand love to get up and see the lights on the horizon. Hiking today was the normal plodding along, one foot infront of the other while enjoying lovely conversions. I did see a deer this morning when I emergered from my tent into the cool crisp fall air. I was looking forward to a flushable tolite this afternoon, but when i got there to my surprise they were locked. I did on the bright side meet another sobo today, young, fast, and on the go."notice the small stuff and see how it changes."
Date: 2011-10-24
From: Pond flats mnt stealth

To: Kindle hostel
Miles today: 8.0

Good morning Ally said as she was barking at the animal walking around the campsite. After truly emerging from my tent I found myself enjoying a ray of sunshine through the fall trees. After taking a deep breath I found myself climbing a useless PUD called Pond Flats. Although it is a pretty PUD, it was still really useless. The hike down the other side was steep but bearable as you went leaf skiing down. I enjoyed hiking through the the gorge and enjoying the waterfall and finding myself at Bob Peoples' house where I indulged in a shower, food, and a hot nights sleep next to a woodstove. "Women thruhikers are like unicorns....rare, amazing, and unique."
Date: 2011-10-25
From: Kindle hostel

To: Laural waterfall stelth
Miles today: 11.0

Is there a better place to sleep than next to a warm wood stove to the sound of popping? I was toasty warm last night to the point of not needing my sleeping bag at all. I went out for coffee this morning so I can connect with cyber space the the Ipad, then over to southern breakfast for a hearty rib sticking meal. After killing the morning resting and relaxing we went over to dollar general to buy something to get cash back, so I ended up buying -BOO- my hiking ghost. -BOO- has been following me everywhere since I brought him to the trail....I think for the next week or so he will be hiking with me for a little bit. The trail has been fantastic! I was able to hike all day and not break stride! I was also blessed with some wonderful mountain views today and a abundance amount of water. I did hike my longest 0.2 miles from the USFS Rd to the waterfall campsite as it took my 15 minutes to hike it as I think it was rerouted and was more than 0.5 miles long. After making it to the waterfall I was in heaven to know I will be sleeping here tonight! "How can you get very far, if you don't know who you are?" The tao of pooh, pg 58
Date: 2011-10-26
From: Laural waterfall stelth

To: mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 13.0

There is nothing better than crawling out of your tent just to see a waterfall tumbling down a set of rocks. The famous 4 legged Ally decided that she wanted to come visit me while I was in the tent so she tried to crawl under my tent vestibule although the other side of the tent was open and pulled back. The actual hiking today was pretty one foot in front of the other as the mind wonders. I did get to see a tall shower like waterfall today which was amazing! We stayed at Mountain Harbor hostel which was just fantastic as it was the top of a barn fully furnished with real beds and sheets. They also had 3 goats and 3 horses that wondered around and through the barn. The shower in the place was really nice also as it has decorated with wood flooring. "The mind wonders for the good, if you can control when it shouldn't go."TEAM YARDSALE TWELVE STEP THRUHIKER REINTEGRATION PROGRAMStep One: Stop walking.Step Two: Buy and wear cotton, it wont kill you in the office. Step Three:Don¢t pee in public or dig cat holes in your neighbors yard. It upsets the civilians.Step Four:Learn to say, ¢Excuse me,¢ not, ¢I have to visit a bush.¢Step Five:Don¢t change clothes in public. It upsets the civilians.Step Six:Learn to refer to Saturday and Sunday as ¢the weekend,¢ not a ¢double zero.¢Step Seven:Don¢t eat off the ground. It upsets the civilians.Step Eight:When in a restaurant, don¢t eat food left on another table. It upsets the civilians.Step Nine:While traveling, don¢t look for stealth sights, and it is ok to travel more than 3mph.Step Ten:Males, get a haircut; females, shave your armpits.Step Eleven:Don¢t blow snot rockets on the sidewalk. It upsets the civilians.Step Twelve:Open a bank account ¢ for your next hike.
Date: 2011-10-27
From: mountain Harbor Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We decided to take a zero day as the weather did not look very nice nor sounded nice. They were calling for rain all day, and temperatures hovering above freezing, and snow accumulation on the higher elevations. Mountain Harbors breakfast was the best on the trail! French toast (french bread), stuffed tomatoes, banana pudding, home fries, egg bake, homemade ketchup, and ooo so much more. We then went over to sparky's house were I got to shower, do laundry, and rest. I was forced to watch princes bride as I have never seen it before, and it turned out to be a nice movie. "follow your heart, but consider what others say."
Date: 2011-10-28
From: mountain Harbor Hostel

To: over mountain shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light snow

The trail today was unimaginable! There was snow and ice on all the bushes, trees, and a blanket on the ground. The sun was shinning through all the ice and reflecting off the snow making it all look like a winter wonderland. Although there was snow on the ground it did not keep me from sweating and delayering down to a tee-shirt and my blue puffy skirt along with poly pros. We stopped at apple mountain shelter for lunch, and there we found a older man in his 60's. I have heard about this man not to long ago as I was informed that he lived in the shelter during the fall and winter months. Looking around it looked like he was living there but was not for sure. Sparky asked for a knife to open something so I reached into my pocket and flipped out my knife to hand to him. When I did this the older man in the shelter and Guinness's eyes both got very large as they were surprised I had that kind of knife with me. As I told Guinness later in the day, you may never know who you run into on the trail and should always be on your toes but not afraid. My knife is for practical use but can all dub in for protection to. "Stand your ground, but don't let it stand over you."
Date: 2011-10-30
From: hughes gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day! We got to hang out at Sparky's house for the night where ALL of Team Yardsale got together for the night. It was great to share stories again and to see how put upon hopeful is, once again. I can say though that ALL of TEAM YARDALE has warn the blue fluffy skirt now, that hopeful has warn it and Ally. Hopeful also ended up have tuna cans dispersed in his car labled one through eight. :P
Date: 2011-10-31
From: hughes gap

To: usfs 230
Miles today: 18.0

After a awesome breakfast prepared by Sparkly and his son Ben we all said our good byes until next time. Guinness brought us up to the trailhead where she said her good byes as she had to get off trail and head back home to pack up and head to Virginia for work. At the trailhead there was a bus of prisoners who were out to pick up trash off of the road. We also passed a large number of bear dpgs and there rightful owners on the trail which made me alittle un nevered as I was not wearing orange but was wearing bright colors. (I do now have orange.)We hikes aways today which lead to a nice glutus maximums workout. I did get to see a great sun set today between the gap were we spent the night. "Trust; friends, family, and God."
Date: 2011-11-01
From: usfs 230

To: Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

It was another one of those cold mornings where I didn't want to crawl out of my sleeping bag into the cold breeze. I knew though that I had to before Natedog so I could hang up my gear in the cool breeze to dry it all out, as my bottle leaked about a litter of water in my tent in the middle of the night. I found out this happen at 2:30 in the morning when I turned over to find the bottom of my down sleeping bag was wet. When I turned on the head lamp I saw puddles of water and a half empty bottle...me was not happy. I hanged my gear from a perfect tree branch as the wind was easy blowing across it and dried it out in a snap! Natedog slept in today which was nice for me as I got to see the sun rise between the gap, stop and listen to the birds sing, and relax as I was reading my book and drinking a hot drink. Since we were camped out near the road a hunter or two drove by slowly looking for animals and stopped at us to say hi and informed us to put oarnge on. We then had a game warden drive by and inquire where we were from and going. She had a rich Tennessee axcent which made me smile as I never really heard it before. There was also another guy who drove by right when we were leaving and stopped to was us what was down the trail next to the camping area, we looked where we was talking and informed him that it lead down to a spring to get water. We walked into Erwin around 2 or so and headed over towards the hostel as Miss Janet was not in town Sparky decided to come over to Erwin and kidnap us again and bring us back to his house for the night. While waiting for him I challenged Natedog to a game of checkers, but unfortuanallly we will not know the winner as Sparky showed up in the middle and it was called a drawl. That night we watched Mighty Python in all of it's glory. "Don't expect time to make for you, but make time for you."
Date: 2011-11-02
From: Erwin, Tn

To: Bald Mountain shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

I don't want to get up, you sure I cant sleep anymore. Althoguh I slept really nice last night for some reason I spent the morning walking around in a fog and yawning. I did get to mail a can of Tuna today to Hopeful Lady Britchs! The trail today was mainly up..up..up! It started to rain on us two miles away from the shelter so we kicked it into high gear (natedog's gear was much higher than mine.) It was cold and windy and just nasty outside outside and I didn't want to get my jacket or shirt wet so I just stripped down to my skirt and bra, and it was cold and windy but my close stayed dry. The shelter had two other hikers in it 9lives and buscits. We all enjoyed conversions about what all happened on the trail. "RAIN...a waterfall all around."
Date: 2011-11-03
From: Bald Mountain shelter

To: Hogback Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

BLAH! It's still raining and I don't want to leave in it. Natedog and me decided to stay at the shelter until the rain passed, needless to say i didn't leave the shelter until 1pm. The other two hikers in the shelter were serious hikers and left in the nasty rain over top of the bald which I hear had heavy wind on it. We did hike in the clouds most of the day which had winds mixed in. For some reason I felt like my leg mussels were disappearing but like always you just keep walkin. When we got to the shelter I found 5 guys hanging around a nice fire playing cards and just enjoying the day. I enjoyed talking to all the guys and had new people to talk to. "Those stupid thru-hikers they always have there heads it the clouds."
Date: 2011-11-04
From: Hogback Shelter

To: Little Laural Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

We go over half of the mountains and the other half we skirt around. Today I was mentaly preparing myself to hike up and over this large standing mountain, but the trail just skirted us around the mountain. We hiked up this mountain that was called Big Butt mountain and I realized that no one with a big butt is going to be calling this mountain. I turned around to natedog and told him that and he says that if he wasn't sucking air he would have been cracking up laughing. I did have a large boxer bark and come charge me today that wa snot on a leash so out of instent I grab my trekkig poles and was ready to fight back, luckly though I di dnot have to. We got to go over this spine today which was amazing with great views! It was also all rocks with cliffs on both sides, it kinda gave you a thrill. "Don't let your fears or douts keep you from doing something."
Date: 2011-11-05
From: Little Laural Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

The volunteers who built this shelter did not take into consideration the way it faced and the wind. I decided not to stay in the shelter like I wanted to do but instead set it up right behind the shelter and used it as a wind break. I can say though that I barely got sleep last night because of the wind roaring over the mountain and being stopped suddenly by a four sided tent. We decided to hike into town today and stay the night, so we put on our serious hiker faces and do the death march into town. The elevation profile looked to be a down hill trend today, but much to my surprise I kept finding myself going uphill. There were 3 major up's to do today right in the middle which looked easier than they actully where as the had a steeper grade and for a lond period of time...lets just say it wasn't much fun. The last major drop into town was a DROP...lets just say the whole side was large boulders with cliff sides, the trail has you skirt around the cliff just to do steep rock steps. It was a knee killer especiallly since my knees do not like to bend like that plus i'm always afraid i'm going to fall forward when doing so. After we got to the bottom I got talking to a couple who was out for a walk along the river bank. They asked me different question (like most people do) and like always the same answers are given. We later saw them at the same reastrant the we were at so we chatted alittle bit more about this and that. I meet "mismatch" again as we took a number of days off to go vist family and friends. He ended up staying at Elmer's were Natedog and me were staying to, we all spent a good portion of the night talking about this and that while just relaxing ina warm cozy place. When I went to bed I took the Ipod and listened to Alison Krauss and sank into no mans land, while listening to the lyrics and thinking who it reflects on my life. I feel like her song "Gravity" would suit me just fine for my life right now if I change road to trail. "sometimes you just have to stop and relax"