morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob
Miles today: 120.0
Weather: overcast clouds

HELP! My yahoo e-mail address has been kidnapped!!!This really sucks. You just don't know. Anyway, I'm about to pick up and take off out of Bland, VA. Made a slow come-back, but I'm picking up miles. I did my first night hike last week, and that was a trip. Grayson Highlands were beautiful, and the weather's been super cooperative since I've left. Hope to catch up w/ some people soon, somehow! Keep on walkin!
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Damascus, VA

To: Pond Campsite
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 52: Today is a sad day. I will have to say good bye to Marilyn and Jack as they are heading back up to Michigan after their winter stay in Florida. It sure was nice to stay in their RV. Alex is leaving with them too. She will be catching a flight to Phoenix from Charleston, W. VA. She is coming back on Tuesday, May 14. I am going to stay. I have mixed feelings as she is the reason why I am out here. She spent some time with friends last night (Monk, Coach, Hans Solo, Sticks, Bluegrass, Aquaman and many more) at the Blue Blaze Cafe (karoake night) and told them that she was leaving. They all said that they would check up on me from time to time until she gets back on the trail. Also Banter and Even Beard arrived to Damascas yesterday and are planning to leave the same time we are today. They are a father and son from Florida in which we have hiked with off and on since prior the Smokies. So I am with lots of great company.Today was a good day to hike. Bluegrass, Bella and I took our time and rested several times. Our first stop was near Laurel Creek to talk to Home Brew. Another good friend that we have been hiking off and on with since Franklin, NC. He is "zeroing" out in the woods so he doesn't spend money in town. These towns just suck you in and you do spend money. It is always great arriving into towns to eat, resupply, clean gear and generally get cleaned up. However, I am always ready to go after spending one day in them.We arrive at the pond campsite around 7pm (we left around 11:30am today). Bill and Clay (brothers) were there along with Banter and Even Beard. Not a good water source as the ponds are old and stagnate. Glad we got our water at the Saunders Shelter water source. I bought a new tent today so I wouldn't have to carry our 2-person tent which weighs over 5 lbs. This is a one person tent that weighs 1.13 lbs. It is small but still fit me and Bella pretty good. We all missed Alex with us today.Salsa
Date: 2003-07-11
From: Montebello, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hey all!!I made it up to Waynesboro and finally reunited w/ my group!!! We're probably not going to be hiking for a little while...word has it there's this music festival in WV that we HAVE to go to, and then we're thinking of aqua-blazing the Shenandoah's, so we'll be well-rested once we finally make it back on the trail!!! Cheers!
Date: 2013-05-06
From: Moonlight's House in Damascas, VA

To: Moonlight's House in Damascas, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 55: Well did it again - a zero. Woke up to a whole lot of rain coming down. Probably should have gone out today but just couldn't get excited about getting wet and staying wet for the next six days. The other thought was I have not received my box from home with my maps and my pack's rain cover and I really wanted those two items before going out on the trail. Coach, Solo, Monk and Donnie got up early to get on the 8am shuttle with Banter and Even Beard. We decided to walk to town to check to see if my box came in...and it did! I was so excited that now I wanted to get out on the trail. Stopped at Dollar General to get some breakfast stuff and called Moonlight to check to see if we could stay one more night.   No problem so as it rained, saw a movie and then played darts for several hours. Also took the bike to Food City to pick up a few things for the trail. Coming back to Moonlight's house, I stopped by to see if 50/50 was still at Fidget's house (Fidget and his family recently relocated from Dallas, TX to Damascas after they hiked the AT) and he was. Fortunately, Fidget was ok with dropping us off at VA600 Elk Garden while 50/50 is more up the road and will be taken to Grayson Highlands State Park (that is where the wild ponies are). The picture posted here is from last night. Seems that we have several musicians in our group. Anyway, on the trail at 7am tomorrow. Since the last two nights have been staying up until 1am, tonight hopefully will be an early one. No more zeros until Trail Days (May 17-19) when we all will somehow get back to Damascas, VA...again~ Seven more days before Alex gets back on the trail. Salsa
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Well, I am about to leave Duncannon, PA, after slacking about 40 miles the past 2 days, with the help of some of the nicest people I have met on the trail yet. Greg and Mary, in Duncannon, PA, helped us with our slacks, and have taken care of our group since the night of debauchery at The Doyle Hotel. It will be hard to leave here, but we cannot make Duncannon another vortex! Thank you so much, Greg and Mary!Soon to have more pix up!
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Davis Cemetery 
Miles today: 23.3

Day 58: Turtle Trax got up early and so did everyone else in the shelter. So leaving Trimpi Shelter at 7:30am and seeing Quaker about a mile from the shelter was a welcome site. With all feeling pretty good but with damp clothes, hiking was very much welcome as it would warm you up. About two miles from the shelter, there was trail magic already set up with a huge wooden cabinet that had all sorts of snacks, drinks, dinners, first aid, and even dry socks! This day seemed to have gone quickly as we didn't stop hiking until it got dark. There was a lot to see because along the trail were an old school, 1890 farm house/barns and a settlers museum. All was pretty much open after hours for the hikers except for the settlers museum. It was really cool. We were about 4-5 miles from Adkins, VA which was a resupply stop at a truck stop. We did not plan to go all to Adkins, VA but we just kept walking. First stop was at the Red Barn Restaurant to order the hiker 16 oz burger and fries. Then resupplied at the truck stop store and then down the trail. We met up with Footloose, Sundance and Homebrew who all decided to stay at the Relax Inn along with Aquaman and 50/50. I didn't want to stop to stay in a hotel so decided to go another 1-2 miles. We heard that Monk and Coach were out of town in a campsite just three miles out. We didn't get that far and decided to stay again at another cemetery. This time this cemetery is an old one and dates back to mid-1800's. This day was my first "over 20 miles" hiked...woo hoo!
Date: 2003-08-24
From: Warwick, NY

To: The Trail
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

Today, I had a tough day. After thinking and stressing on making it to Katahdin before the cut-off date, and after being sick for a few weeks, and after a day from HELL hiking out of Vernon, NJ (95 degree heat, 100% humidity, mosquito army, then way-too-close lightning, followed by rain and hail), I decided to go into Warwick, NY, and contemplate the future of my hike. Actually, I got off the trail, and went into Warwick, in order to go home. I was tired, sick, and frustrated. I felt defeated for the first time on the trail. So, I called a few people from home, took some time to myself, and decided that I really didn't know what I want to call this hike this year (thru-hike vs section), but that I also wasn't ready to call it quits and go home yet. So, I didn't. The next day, I packed up, and started walking out of town. I passed by a street that held a sign, stating: BUS/YARD SALE. Having lost all of my town clothes, I decided to go check it out, in case they had any clothes. So, I walked down the street and came upon a large school bus, filled with items for sale, and a little person, conducting the sale. I am not sure if he was a dwarf or a midget (I honestly don't know the difference), but I am leaning toward dwarf. Anyway, he saw me coming, came over, and started talking to me about the trail. I asked if they had clothes for sale, and he said no...but that he did have hats and wanted to give me a "special" one. He dug around in his box of hats, discarding them left and right, until he came to a red cap. He held it up, smiled in self-satisfaction, and handed it over to me. I thanked him kindly, and was on my way. I'm no fool - - you can't NOT accept a magical red cap from a dwarf that lives on a school bus! Yes, magical. How can a hat NOT be magical if it once belonged to a dwarf? Think about it. Anyway, I've got the mental willpower to keep going for a while longer, so we'll see where that goes!
Date: 2013-05-11
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 60: I woke up to rain...of course. Bluegrass has been fighting a really bad cold and Bella got sick this morning so we decided to take a zero in the shelter. We said goodbye to our friends and told them that we may stay here or we may go to next shelter. I really did not want to go to the next shelter because this shelter is high in elevation and is really known to very cold. It was suppose to get in the 30's tonight so it may be colder at Chestnut Knob Shelter so most will go 17 miles to the second shelter where it is warmer. With both of them being sick, we decided to chill here and make the 17 miles tomorrow. Stand Up joined us as well as Trouble (from Canada) and her dog Milky (Golden Retriever). We mostly slept till about noon and listened to the rain and thunder. Later in the afternoon, I decided I needed to move so I gathered firewood. I also performed minor surgery to my foot. I got my first blister due to walking in wet socks for three plus days. I also was able to remove my left big toenail...what a relief! So now that we zeroed today, we either need to go 31 miles tomorrow to the meeting place we arranged with Bluegrass's dad or try and get a hold of him to reroute him. We need to figure out what we can do.All in all, it was a great day just relaxing, watching the rain from inside a dry shelter and just talking. Everyone is feeling a little better towards the end of the day.
Date: 2003-09-25
From: Manchester Airport

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, after a few days of solitude and contemplation, I decided to return home for a while, to let my head heal. So, I started out on the way home Monday evening. I took a short bus ride to the airport in Manchester, NH, and arrived there around 10:40 P.M. I apparently was not thinking too clearly as to how an airport works when I picked out the departure and arrival time for the bus, because I got to the airport after the ticket terminals had closed up for the day. Here I am, sitting around at the airport, after almost everything has closed, trying to figure out what to do. Well, I decide to just sleep on one of the airport benches. We've all been there, right? Besides, could you think of a better way to end the hike than to fall asleep, bum/hiker trash-style, on a public bench? Anyway, I'm trying my best to sleep through the night, as the floor waxing machines dart and swirl around me and the bench, and eventually give up, after a meager 2 hours of sleep. I end up passing time by watching the huge, illuminated clock on the floor...for 3 HOURS. After the 3rd hour, it was time to get in line to get the plane ticket. I had originally planned on taking a mid-day flight, but after watching a clock tick for 3 hours, my plans had changed. I got up to the counter, and asked for the first flight out of town. It happened to be a 6:30 flight. So, I got a one-way ticket (flag # 1), paid by cash (flag # 2), and went on my way. So, of course, I am going to be pulled aside at the security checkpoint for the special intense screening. I am ordered to place all my belongings, including excess clothing and shoes, into the x-ray tub, and step over to the interrogation table. I started giggling, which did not seem to help me out any. You have to understand, though, I've had 2 hours of sleep, and haven't had my coffee yet. Lest we also try not to forget that this is the first time I've been in heavy civilization traffic, such as this. Anyway, after the spread eagle body search, and hand-inspection of my baggage, I was on my way. The plane trip itself wasn't so bad..I never had to share a row with anyone (I can't understand why...it's not like I smelled like a hiker or anything), and they started serving up the cocktails at 9 o'clock sharp. I needed one of these.I got back into Houston around noon. I became quite nervous and anxiety-laden as we were circling Houston on the way down. The ariel view was quite a shock. Just to see how huge this city was (larger than I remember) was a bit frightening. All I kept thinking was, "What am I doing coming back here?" It was an uneasy thought.So, here I am, sitting at home, updating my journals, and browsing through my developed pictures. I just picked up my car today, but have no plans on using it any time soon. I am also beginning to plan some mid-fall hiking, to fill in a few holes that I have on the trail (Virginia, etc). I'm not finished yet this year..just taking another break. To those still out there, good luck, and keep on pushing! Peace, Love, in a tee-pee...
Date: 2013-05-16
From: VA623

To: US 52 - Bland
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 65: Today we bid farewell to Grommet. It was great to have hiked with him especially with great weather and great trails. We are slack packing today. We left around 7:15am and got done around 1:00pm. We actually ran parts of the trail so it was nice to be free of the packs. We arrived at Moonlight's house around 4pm. Monk, Donnie and Coach arrived a couple of hours later. Coach made some of her famous spaghetti tonight. Tomorrow starts "Trail Days" and will run until Sunday. Pictures will be updated at a later date. Salsa
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Daleville, Va

To: Random Campsite
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 75: So something magical happened this morning! Their were five of us in the hotel room; Lone Wolf, Coach, Bluegrass, and Mom and me. Lone Wolf purchased some new shoes so Coach asked if she could try on his old ones because hers have become too tight. They fit perfectly. Then I thought I would give her shoes a shot and they fit me perfectly too! It was a hiker shoe swap. Now I have another new pair of old shoes. This is the second time the trail has provided for me. The first was when I was freezing during my first couple days. I asked the trail for a beanie and I got three! We left the hotel a little late but packed out a pizza and two loafs of pb&j's. We took it easy today and the terrain was wonderful. We did 11 miles in under five hours. My feet were much happier, still hurting from the previous damage but my mood had changed significantly from hating the past few days to loving the trail again. Happy feet =happy hikers. We decided to go another few miles then cowboy tent somewhere before the third shelter. We made a fire, ate dinner and went to bed. It was a great day.Twix
Date: 2003-03-14
From: Neels Gap

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Neels Gap and made about 6 miles- now about 36 miles from Springer. We met Art from Hikers-R-Us group who said Regan was at Neels last night but got a late start. Art was with John, another hiker who was at the PA Ruck. We saw two cute deer, just yearlings and a nut hatch. Art and John passed us up and then a hiker named Rolling Rock, after his favorite beer. He was really rolling along too. We were surprised to learn he had lived in Cambridge, OH. Later we saw three young guys, two from NY and one from Detroit. They were standing in the drizzle before hiking up the mountain from Tesnatee Gap. It was a pretty rocky climb up and as we climbed, we were overtaken by Regan( F-Stop) and her friend Jen (Bear Bait). By this time it was getting really foggy and raining a bit. When we got to Hogpen Gap we decided to stop and camp a little past the road. The rail was really coming down by then, and it was only 4 PM. Gary and I are in his tent together for warmth and we are all using my tent to keep the gear dry. Jan has a hammock and had a hard time putting it up. She is cold and has all of her clothes on. I gave her a survival blanket to help. We had trouble hanging the bear bags. I got mine up, but it is too close to the tree. It's an Ur Sack, so even if the bear gets it down, he shouldn't be able to get the food out. I hope we don't have any guests tonight, but I did see some bear scat on the trail a little ways from here. We are warm enough now, but I think we are in for a really cold night. We are also kinda bored. It is only 6:20- too early to sleep but we need to stay inside because of cold, fog and rain. Gary and I played, I'm going to California and I'm going to take a ________ memory game for a while. Now I am writing this journal . It's nice to be all cozy in the tent. Took some pictures today of the trail- rocks up and rocks down. We are doing a lot better at hiking. Nothing even hurts tonight! We weighed the packs at Neels Gap, Gary's is 38 lbs., mine was 35 lbs. but that wasa fully loaded with food and water.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Petites Gap
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

Day 77: Everyone in the shelter was up at the crack of dawn but not our group. We slept in past 9 o'clock. Then took our time to get ready. We had a huge climb that was going to take most of the day. Who would be motivated for that? The best way to get it done was put one foot in front of the other. It actually wasn't too bad. We stopped at the water sources to take breaks then at the shelters. We also were rejoined with Smokes and Smiley Virgin (from Germany). They were about 3-4 days ahead of us but they took their time getting back to the trail after Trail Days. Around noon Bluegrass received a text from his Dad saying him and his wife, Sharon, were going to do trail magic at Petites Gap. On the menu was hot dogs! We all jumped to our feet and took off. No one saw me until the top of the hill. We again took another break to let everyone catch up, especially Bella. We are all sore from the last few days but Bella is having the hiker waddle all day and night. She deserves a much needed break. The last six miles was down hill. We arrived at Petities Gap right as the hot dogs got off the grill. We all wanted to drop to our knees. We had just completed 150 miles in 9 days. After eating several hot dogs the five of us went back with Bluegrasses parents and were spoiled with showers, beds, laundry and food. Also need to mention that Lone Wolf ate eight hotdogs and an assortment of salads, snacks and Gatorade!Twix
Date: 2003-03-15
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

It was a rough day! After spending 16 hours in the tent, we packed up in the rain. My thermometer on my pack said it was 35 degrees and with the wind, it must have been much colder. Gary really hates spending time awake in the tent.He gets a little claustrophobic, especially when we are both in the tent together. It warmed up as we went alon, which was a real blessing because my gloves had gotten wet and my hands were freezing. Gary debated giving up the hike several times last night and a couple of times today. There were a lot of ups and downs again and even the sort of level trail had big rocks that we had to climb over. Our packs were packed wrong because of the rush to get moving and the tents are holding rain, so they seem especially heavy today. We made 11 miles today by pushing until about 6:30. Met up with Regan and Jen just before Blue Mountain Shelter. They had started before us but ended up behind because they had taken a two hour break at a shelter to dry out their gear and eat. We were just trying to decide if we were going to camp or try for the shelter when they came long. They were going on so we did too. We were glad we did once we got there but the trip up the mountain was filled with moss covered bolders. The moss and ferns are really beautiful! If I had time, I would like to look at them under a magnifying glass. They have such delecate little leaves and they are all different variations of green and greenish blue. The shelter is nice and the company is great. They built a fire, F-Stop, Bear Bait, Art, John, a couple with a beautiful Malemute Dog named Sci and some others in tarps. Two of them are guys who maintain the shelter and their dog, Peanut. Both dogs were very nice campers, well behaved! I can't say enough about the people who maintain the shelters and trails, all volunteers. They are fantastic. The two who were camped with us want to build a privy, but there is little money to do it. Last year they painted the shelter with paint they paid for themselves.   My new stove worked well and we had noodles and chicken and a hot beverage. We will try for 7 miles or maybe 9 today. We walk about 1 mile per hour. Our day goes like this, 1 hour packing up, leave about 8:30 AM, hike until 5:00 or 5:30 PM, set up camp and eat, go to bed about 8 or 8:30 and sleep until 6:30 or 7:30.
Date: 2003-03-17
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

This was one difficult day! It seemed good starting out. We hiked up Tray Mountain, the second highest in GA. The view from the top was fantastic! We were above the clouds and you could see just the tops of the mountains sticking up above them. I said to Gary, " It might be raining down below." That proved to be too true. No sooner than we started down, the drizzle began and it lasted all day and all night and the next day too. It was OK while hiking in our rain gear, but if we slowed down at all, we got cold and there was no way to stop without getting ourselves and the packs all wet and muddy. So we hiked from 8:30-4:30 solid without a break. The ups were awful and the trail was slippery with mud. F-Stop passed us and another hiker with a pretty red beard, Kevin, then the three boys we had met a the gap the other day from NY, then one who has glowing trekking poles, Gary says his trail name should be fire fly. I think it is catching on. His companions seem to like it. We kept hiking after them and finally got to Deep Gap shelter where we are all cooking and passing the time while the rain falls. A couple of the boys helped us set up the tents close to the shelter because there is not much room in there, and we like our privacy. We had pop tarts, oatmeal and little sausages for supper. Only 3 miles to Dick's Creek Gap that is where we can hitch into Hiawassee- real food, bed, beer, shower- not in that order of course. I can also get some attention for a medical problem which may keep me off the trail a bit. I'm hiking in pain from an infected insect bite on my butt- what a pain in the A__ __, literally.