morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Elk Garden Trailhead

To: Damascus, VA (Crazy LarryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel)
Miles today: 22.6

I started the day thinking my slack pack would be easy. I was right in part, as hiking with 3 lbs. of supplies as opposed to 30 lbs. definitely takes some stress off of the knees. But on the other hand, hiking 20 miles is still hiking 20 miles, so I was definitely ready for a break at the end of the day. Even more so, I¢m ready for my zero tomorrow, as a week with multiple 20+ mile days over strenuous terrain has definitely taken a toll on my soreness level.That isn¢t to say I didn¢t enjoy the day, though, as the Virginia countryside has been breathtaking thus far. For my slack pack day, I hiked south back toward Damascus and I began my day just below Grayson Highlands. This section is known for its wide meadows, rolling hillsides, and boulder outcroppings, and I definitely got a taste of it as I began the day. As I progressed I began descending into the river valley and found myself on the Virginia Creeper Trail. This bike trail runs to Damascus as well, and at two points the Creeper and the AT combine for a short while. The trail (AT) eventually split back off and went back into the mountains, gaining 1,000 ft. before dropping all the way down to a large creek. These large ups and downs weren¢t particularly strenuous, but they definitely made my already tired body a bit more lethargic.After dropping down to Laurel Creek, I took a brief break on a park bench by the water. Within a few minutes, a local fisherman stopped and offered me two freshly-caught 14¢ rainbow trout. If I had any means of preparing or transporting them, I would have gladly taken his offer. At the very least, I was reminded of the kindness these towns show toward us hikers.After finishing up my hike, Birdman and I walked to the post office to collect some packages from home. Alison had sent some running shorts from home, and they are going to be essential in the fight against chafing as the weather gets warmer. Unfortunately, the package has yet to arrive ¢ I hope it will be delivered by tomorrow; otherwise, I will have to bounce it further down the line. I drowned my worries in a meatball sub and a beer at Blue Blaze, and am now vegetating at Crazy Larry¢s. My long week is done. Tomorrow I will relax with my parents and, rumor has it, a batch of homemade white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies. Tomorrow will be a good day.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Damascus, VA (Crazy LarryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel)

To: Damascus, VA (Dancing Bear B&B)
Miles today: 0.0

I have been played, a long con set up by my parents. Where I initially thought they would be coming alone to Damascus, they were secretly planning to bring my wife along as well. To help throw me off the scent, Alison also lied about sending my shorts to the post office; I was so preoccupied worrying about my running shorts arriving on time that I wasn¢t paying attention to any details that may have given away their plan. I was duped, subterfuged, tricked!And it was the best surprise ever.I was waiting at the Damascus coffee shop when I saw them all arrive, Alison beaming a smile as she held up the box containing my running shorts. It was great to see my family, and it showed how much they cared, ironically, when they tried so hard to keep me in the dark.Today was a much needed zero day, and we spent it eating, grabbing a few resupply items, and lazing about. The Dancing Bear B & B was my destination for the night, where I spent an ample amount of time soaking my sore muscles in the hot tub outside.I¢ll end this entry there, as I want to spend as much time as possible with my parents and their unexpected passenger. I can¢t think of a better surprise.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Elk Garden Trailhead

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

Today¢s hike got off to a slow start, as I slept in and ate the equivalent of a full day¢s calories before actually setting foot on the trail. Plus, it was hard to find motivation to go tumbling into the woods when family was so nearby. But at approximately 2:30 PM, I finally said my goodbyes and marched into the wilderness.The landscape definitely helped lift my mood, as the surrounding mountains were absolutely gorgeous. Today I entered Grayson Highlands State Park, which boasts rolling fields, jagged mountains, and jutting boulders, all under a warm sunny sky.Oh, and there¢s a herd of ponies.Grayson Highlands plays host to a large herd of feral ponies, which graze the fields and help keep down weed and shrub growth. While technically wild they have become accustomed to visitors and frequently beg for food. I gave one a Cliff bar, and immediately three others marked me as an easy catch and started galloping toward me. Afraid that I would be guilted into sacrificing my food, I decided to get going before being surrounded by begging ponies.My slack pack day seems to have paid off, as I quickly reunited with Canadia and Mumbles. Birdman and Hawk are a shelter ahead, whereas Red took a nap and is somewhere behind. It¢s good to know that some of my usual crew is in relatively the same place, though I guess this will also give an opportunity to meet a few new faces along the trail. Though my time off with family was very needed and incalculably enjoyable, it¢s always nice to be back on the trail.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today I woke up with the realization that I have, in fact, walked over 500 miles toward Maine. I guess I have been focusing more on a slightly bigger milestone ¢ the 1/4 done mark ¢ which I will be crossing later this week. Either way, I know that ¢I Will Walk 500 Miles¢ by the Proclaimers will be looping in my head for weeks. (Note: I have been informed the name of the song is actually ¢I¢m Gonna Be (500 Miles)¢).Today was one of those days where you kept one eye on the sky, unsure if the bottom was ever going to fall out of the grey skies overhead. Oddly, though, the weather only seemed to heighten the allure of the Grayson Highlands. With the treeless landscape, brown grass, and numerous rocky mountains, the windy, gray weather only heightened the feeling of walking through a distant world from another time.The terrain has also become less erratic for the time being, with fewer PUDS in favor of long, slow ascents and descents. Unfortunately, the trail has been littered with another obstacle: Rocks and lots of them. These miniature boulder fields will sometimes last for miles at a time, and the rocks vary in size from large enough to walk on to ankle-twistingly small. Worse, none of them seemed particularly settled, meaning a seemingly secure step could turn into a miniature rockslide at a moments¢ notice. By the time I reached Trimpi Shelter 20 miles in, my feet ached all over and my ankles were on fire. If Pennsylvania can be worse than this, I understand why so many have come to dread reaching that state.At Trimpi Shelter I ran into Red, who I thought was behind me. Apparently, he has taken to the art of napping in the middle of the day, and then making his real progress with a night hike. He plans to continue onto the next shelter 10 miles away. It was tempting to join him, but even after a nap of my own, I was still exhausted and sore. I guess night hiking will have to wait until another day.
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Atkins, VA (Relax Inn)

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was another late start day, primarily due to the sub-freezing windy morning and also in part to the sluggish service at The Barn. Still, it was nice having a full stomach, and even nicer sleeping in late on an actual bed. Last night also went on much later than I¢m used to, as one of Red¢s friends, Levi, stopped by with whiskey and rum. Let¢s just say that Red doesn¢t get quieter the more he drinks¢¦.By the time we left Atkins at 11:00 AM, the weather had warmed to the mid-forties and the wind had finally died down, allowing us a chilly, sunny, perfect day for hiking. I have quickly fallen in love with Virginia countryside. There hasn¢t been a day so far where we haven¢t experienced multiple changes in terrain and scenery. Today we began by walking on a boardwalk through a marsh, then moving onto a ridgeline with views of farmland at the base of the mountains and continuing to the horizon. At one point the trail closely circled a farmhouse, allowing us to look closely at the rustic, beautiful hand built buildings. For the last several miles, we followed a large creek and watched the sunlight dance in its small rapids. I¢m having difficulty thinking of a more beautiful place to be.There were no significant climbs today, with the trail rising and falling gently with the landscape. This allowed Hawk, Mumbles, Birdman and me to take multiple breaks throughout the day, as we would easily make our mileage goal. We stopped for sometimes 30 minutes, chatting about life and soaking in the sunshine.My feet have been continually sore lately, probably due to the abundant rocks. If it continues, I may have to look into a new insole. Otherwise, life has been good on the AT today. We are camped just beyond a shelter, just beside a trickling creek. Just before bed, I sat by our campfire and watched the stars grow bright. It still wows me every time how many I can see out here, away from the light pollution of the cities.
Date: 2014-04-17
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was chilly; reminding us that holding onto winter gear was definitely a good idea. I¢ve heard that several people sent their winter gear home at Damascus. I have a feeling that they are not happy campers at the moment.Despite the cold, I slept well, though none of us got out of bed until the temperatures increased a bit. It has been interesting witnessing (and being a part of) a slow change of perspective among the thru-hikers. Though we still have strong desires to hike long days and many miles, we¢re also taking the time to truly enjoy the opportunities the AT is providing. At noon today, we found a clearing on a mountainside and took a nap in the sunshine. When I awoke, another seven thru-hikers had joined us and napped beside us.These moments were much needed today, as the trail itself was not kind. The day started with a long, switchback-free ascent up Chestnut Knob (4,410 ft.), and much of the remaining trail followed a ridgeline with continual PUDS. All of this would have been more manageable if not for the countless rocks littering the trail, twisting ankles and stubbing toes whenever my attention faltered for just a second. If Pennsylvania is rockier than this, ibuprofen manufacturers will stay in business just because of me.Yet while today was hard physically, my spirits are still high. Hawk, Mumbles, and Birdman have been excellent hiking companions, each having very different personalities. Hawk is an adrenaline junky, always searching for the next thrill. He fell on his hip while attempting to scale a waterfall a few days back, but I would have never known it if he hadn¢t mentioned it. Birdman is constantly scanning the trees for birds and identifying them for us, scouring through his bird encyclopedia if he doesn¢t know it by memory (which is rare). And Mumbles is a recent high school graduate, young and enthusiastic but a little clumsy and under experienced. I showed him how to store his bear line properly tonight; as I noticed it was basically one giant knot.Tomorrow will be another big day, so I¢ll stop there for now. The good weather seems to be holding for a few more days, so we¢re going to take advantage of it while we can.
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a great example of a day that just keeps getting better. I slept deeply and without interruption last night, the chilly night lulling me into a dreamful, relaxing slumber. After waking, we all wished Birdman a happy birthday. He¢s 22 today, and he hiked in two small bottles of wine to commemorate the occasion. After a full breakfast of Pop-Tarts, peanut butter, and coffee, we set off for a semi-long hike of 23.8 miles. I say semi-long because of the terrain: even with a few lengthy climbs, the trail was steady, smooth, and thankfully rock-free, making for a fast, easy hike. By noon, we were so far ahead of schedule that we stopped for an hour long lunch break. For the first time, I may actually completely empty my food bag by the next resupply point, a simultaneously exciting (because I planned well) and terrifying experience (because I am out of food, Oh God!).By 5:30 PM, we reached our destination of Jenny Knob Shelter, where we met two-time AT section hiker, Huff-n-Puff. He is over 60 years old and is just out enjoying another section of the AT. We quickly set up in the shelter and cooked our dinners ¢ my hiker hunger has become almost insatiable. Shortly after we forced ourselves to stop eating, we were joined by section hikers Black Tortoise and Camo. They had with them two pizzas and a case of beer. Our trail angels had arrived. We helped ourselves to a second dinner and beverages as we watched the sky turn from red to purple to black, warming our feet by the campfire. The sky is overcast, but even without stars, I can¢t think of a night that ended in a more relaxing way.Tomorrow morning we will pass the 600 mile mark. Time just seems to pass so quickly out here, with new sights and adventures around every corner. This morning a wild turkey hen walked within twenty feet of us, studying us as we passed by, unafraid despite our proximity. I like to think it¢s because that was exactly where we were supposed to be, and even the animals have come to recognize it.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 21.4

Shortly after waking and starting our hike today, I hit yet another milestone: 600 miles of the AT have been completed. Though the numbers have definitely been back loaded, I¢m currently averaging 100 miles a week.That number will pick up considerably; however, as we have noticed a great change in the terrain. While most days will still have 1 to 2 significant climbs, much of our time is spent riding the ridges, dropping elevation only when nearing a shelter or town. Looking further ahead, the trend toward flatness will only continue throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. That means that my mileage, God-willing, will only improve from here.We stopped briefly today at a road crossing to visit Trent¢s Grocery, a gas/station/restaurant/hiking supply/hunting supply superstore all crammed into a tiny cinderblock building. The food was cheap but adequate, and I grabbed an extra canister of fuel for my stove. Over lunch, Mumbles brought to our attention how close we were to Woods Hole Hostel. Woods Hole prides itself on organic dinners grown in their own gardens, and our hungry hiker minds immediately knew what our goal for the day was: to make Woods Hole by dinnertime.We got back to the trail and made tracks for the hostel, our only major obstacle being the long, steep climb over a nameless mountain, gaining 1,500 ft. in two miles. We were guaranteed to arrive on time.Then we found more rocks.For the last five miles, a boulder field resided before our goal. We went as speedily as we could, stubbing toes and griping the entire time. Finally, just fifteen minutes before dinner, we arrived at the road to Woods Hole. Mumbles was so happy that he yelled and ran all the way to the front door.Once we were at the table we gorged ourselves, we knew there was something to yell about. Our meal consisted of homegrown salad, oven-baked pizza, fresh tomato marinara with peppers, onions and beef over rice, and black raspberry ice cream for dessert. For the first time in a long time I was completely full.I will go into the charms of Woods Hole more tomorrow, as I am exhausted from the hike. Sleep will find me quickly.
Date: 2014-04-20
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Holiday Lodge (Pearisburg, VA)
Miles today: 10.4

Woods Hole Hostel was originally built back in 1880¢s, and though there have been additions and buildings added to the compound, dinner and breakfast are still held in the original cabin. It¢s a rustic, delightful touch that adds to the relaxing atmosphere. Neville, our host, prepared the best breakfast I have had so far on the trail: French toast with yogurt and strawberry topping, eggs with sausage, and fresh baked bread with homemade apple butter. If for nothing else, Woods Hole is worth visiting for the food alone.Post-breakfast, Neville led us in an Easter morning yoga routine, relaxing my aching legs from the dozens of miles hiked this week. After that we were treated to fruit smoothies filled with berries and ice cream. If it wasn¢t for Neville and her husband leaving for church, I may have never left.Birdman decided to join Neville for church, so Mumbles and I hiked the 10 miles to Pearisburg with hiker Sea Biscuit, a 23 year old from Columbus, Ohio. Sea Biscuit has a penchant for neck tattoos (paste-on of course) and brings a new energy to the group. Currently he plans to hike with us for at least the next few days.The trail today was again smooth and easy ¢ I¢m afraid I¢m getting spoiled. The only real challenge was the descent into Pearisburg, a steep series of switchbacks that slowly reintroduced us to springtime ¢ the mountaintops are still brown an leafless, so seeing green leaves and wildflowers is still a novel event. This section went by extra quickly, though, as we ran most of the way downhill.Pearisburg reminds me somewhat of Erwin, as it is very spread out and requires a lot of walking to reach certain places. Fortunately, the place where I¢m staying is across the street from a Food Lion, making resupplying an easy affair. We¢re also close to a Chinese buffet, so once Birdman rejoined us a few hours later, we promptly entered and shamelessly gorged ourselves. I have a feeling that we won¢t be getting an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2014-04-21
From: Holiday Lodge (Pearisburg, VA)

To: Campsite at mile 639.7
Miles today: 8.4

Hikers acknowledge that trail towns have a type of vortex that always prevents them from leaving early. Even well-rested, resupplied, and prepared hikers ¢ as I was today ¢ end up dragging their feet when it comes time to actually start hiking again. When it came to leaving Pearisburg, our procrastination reached a new level, with our boots hitting the trail after 3:00 PM. Several members of our crew still needed to resupply, we all slept in late, and the call of the Chinese buffet was too much to resist.Yet by 3:00 PM we finally hit the trail. The first section took us alongside a highway as we passed over the river, putting us face-to-face with rushing vehicles. We then got a glorious view of a Pearisburg manufacturing plant, where a chemical for cigarette filters is produced. After 30 minutes of this scenery, I was ready to be back in the peace of the woods, and I wondered if our brief proximity to these modern, unsettling views was part of the AT¢s design, making us treasure nature¢s solitude all the more.The climb out of Pearisburg, like most trail towns, was a long slog, gaining 1,500 ft. in elevation in just over two miles. The switchbacks were few and the temperatures were warm, leaving us dripping with sweat. Halfway up we were reunited with Canadia, who we had seen briefly in town and had started hiking ahead of us. She joined the train and we completed the haul to Rice Field Shelter by early evening. However, due to our desires to keep hiking and avoid a particularly annoying hiker, we pushed an additional 1.5 miles to a campsite with a water source.Our camp is on a ridge separating Virginia and West Virginia, and we have views of cities on both sides of the mountains (which ones, I cannot say). Yet even with our proximity to the towns, we are always reminded that we are in the wild. Just before bed, I heard a long, low howl from a single coyote. Within 30 seconds, we were treated to an entire symphony of yips and howls. We could hear both the low voices of adults and the tiny squeaks of pups, all thrilled, as we were, to be alive on such a glorious evening.
Date: 2014-04-23
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

After the long hike yesterday, the beginning of the day today was extremely slow going. No one was out of bed before 8:00 AM, meaning the mileage was relatively low. Fortunately, the weather was chilly and breezy all day, making for a hike with minimal sweating.Well, outside of two insanely steep and long climbs, anyway. There has been a rumor since Georgia that most of Virginia¢s AT section is relatively flat. I would like to dispel this rumor with extreme prejudice. While there have been several sections that run along ridgelines, people often forget that you have to climb up to said ridgeline from every road crossing, shelter, gap, or water source. Today we had two switchback-free ascents, the first gaining 2,000 ft. in elevation, the second 1,500 ft. It made for a sweaty, knee-aching exercise that, when accomplished, makes you feel like a complete champion.Today was also my first experience of running out of water for a significant amount of time, which was a complete blast (add in a sarcastic voice to that last line). Since we spend much of our time on ridgelines, that means we have little access to water until the trail drops back down into the valleys. I only hiked nine miles without water today, and I have no intention of letting it happen again.I feel as if I complained a lot today, and while there definitely were some difficulties, I¢m still having a blast pushing myself through such adversities.   Add in the excellent views and friendship, and everything is going just fine.BONUS: I saw at least a dozen deer on the ridgeline today. Even though there are still no leaves on the trees, spring is slowly crawling up to the mountaintops. I also saw the Keffer Oak tree, which is over 300 years old and 18 feet in circumference. Just another cool slice of history on the trail.