morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was a good day. Nesquik decided that he was going to zero at Standing Bear because of his knee. Fob was also dealing with pain and taking some time to decide. Hiked out with Orbit & mom, and hiked with them a lot of the day. Passed some trail maintainers from Carolina Mountain Club. Those folks are awesome. They put in a lot of hard work so we can enjoy the trail. Thanks to all AT club volunteers!Hit some awesome trail magic at Brown Gap from "hiker family." They (all 7 of them) thru-hiked last year. They had been doing trail magic about 4 days and said they saw around 100 hikers a day. Wow. Really nice folks. I got chili chips, a coke, cookies, and lemonade. That helped boost me up to Max Patch, which is a beautiful grassy bald with great panoramic views. Nice hiking today, but the feet hurt a lot. After big mile days the day before, they usually do hurt. Met Cheena, Conundrum, Jared, Poptart, Pedro Dynamite and a few others. At the shelter, I met Southbound, who thru-hiked in 2013, he gave me a beer, some whiskey, carrots, chips, and hummus that he packed in. The beer was an (can't decipher it) IPA from Asheville. Then he played and sang us his AT song, whihc was good. Looking at maybe an 18 tomorrow into Hot Springs. MOm & dad will be waiting in a cabin. Definitely need to rest the feet. And better yet to see familiar faces!
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs Resort & Spa Cabin
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

The day didn't start super eventful. Long, quiet, cold miles. At one point around lunch, it was snowing but there were clear blue skies and a shining sun. Maybe it was blowing down off trees. Then after 18 miles I descended into Hot Springs, and there was Mom & Dad! They had been giving out trail magic since 2:30. They saw about two dozen hikers before I got there at 4:30. Krispy Kreme donuts, soda, gatorade, and chips! And family! Stitch showed up just after me with my tent poles. I guess I drop lots of things! Ate at spring creek tavern and had a nice meal and saw Wan, Sylvan, El Tejano, Monster, Bryson, Chris Zeman, Josh, Maria, Yukon, and a few others. Great night. Zero tomorrow. Worried about numb big toes.P.S. The other day at Mt Cammerer a lady pointed to a prop plane and said "That's my husband flying that." Pretty cool.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Hot Springs Resort & Spa Cabin

To: Hot Springs Resort & Spa Cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

An incredible zero day! Got lots done. Laundry, resupply, replaced some things at the outfitter there. Hot Springs is a beautiful town and at this elevation it actually looks like spring. There's interesting history to Hot Springs as well with a former Nazi POW camp in the 40s. On site of the resort are the ruins of the original "warm spring" house, built in 1788. Me, dad, and mom bought beer and wine and did an hour in a mineral bath. It was awesome. It sort of fizzed like carbonation. Also got some stories from Mom & Dad I've never heard. Had dinner at the Iron Horse, which was great, and then walked to Spring Creek Cafe for a drink. Chris Zemon, the 3 ladies shooting a documentary on females on the AT, Mom & Orbit, Moses, Fob, and a few others. Great times. Thanks to my generous parents! Many hikers enjoyed their trail magic.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Hot Springs Resort & Spa Cabin

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

Mile 284.7.It's hard to push yourself out of comfort. But I did after breakfast at the diner. The Trail goes through town, so I hiked through and over the French Broad River. Oh and Nesquick came into town this morning. Good to see that guy. Today I leapfrogged with Ceena, Buckeyes, McLovin and Stone. A nice, cloudy day of hiking. Crossed some former tobacco fields that the NFS maintains for turkey and grouse mating areas. Also hiked through some areas that have been burned in recent prescribed fires. I could still smell it. It's always tough to hike uphill with a full foodbag. Slow day but a good day. I was thinking about this hike. I'm literally becoming an endurance athlete. Every day walking over 10 miles with approximately 30 pounds of weight, is to endure. Enduring pain, discomfort, cold, heat, hunger, while managing resources like food, water, etc. Learning to deal with this constant negativity takes away its harm. When you get used to being uncomfortable, you're not uncomfortable anymore. Reprogramming the body and mind. Howww bout it?!
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was a night. 6 people in a 4 person shelter. The middle 2 baffles in my pad popped and formed one speedbump which is incredible hard to balance on. Conductor's Exped pad popped the other day too, so I don't recommend them. Going to get a new pad in Erwin. Also last night there was a mouse gnawing on a log of the shelter. After what was probably 2 or 3 hours, it finally stopped and something sounded like it fell free. Then there was a chorus of victorious mouse squeaks. I can't even make this stuff up. Today it snowed off and on all day. Tomorrow it will be even colder. There's a hostel 10 miles out, so if it keeps snowing I may do that. Today Poptart brought my z-seat in the shelter when he showed up. Stitch carried my tent poles in to Hot Springs days ago. I have to learn to stop dropping stuff and strap it down tight! Hiked a lot of the day with Tyler today. Nice kid. Had some nice views today at Camp Creek Bald Lookout Tower and Blackstock Cliffs.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Jerry's Cabin Shelter

To: Hiker's Paradise Hostel
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another snowy night and another cold, snowy day. Typically I try to stay positive in these journals, but I think it's important to be honest too. It has been a very taxing few days. Physically, I'm sick of being freezing cold and in the wind. Mentally, it's even more taxing to be so uncomfortable all the time. You're either in your bag with your winter gear on, hiking uphill, or you're freezing. I'm not considering quitting or anything, but it's tough. It was low 20s and windy last night, and was supposed to be colder and windier tonight, so Stitch, Tyler, Matt, Nick, Chrome, and I all headed into Hiker's Paradise. It's only been open 39 days, so it's still under construction and they are still figuring things out but it will be nice. Unfortunately the bunkhouse was full, so we're all tenting out back by a creek. Going to be cold, but I did get a pizza, a Yoohoo, a bunch of candy, and a warm shower. So out of the bad came some good. This is hard stuff out here, but I remind myself why I'm doing it. If I can stop dropping things, get a new pad, and get some warmer weather, along with a million dollars, a lambourghini, and world peace, I should be good.
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Hiker's Paradise Hostel

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

So more baffles popped in my pad last night. It became shaped like a Twinkie, which are not known for being great to sleep on. And it wasn't. I had to deflate it. It's dead, Jim.The ground was cold, but I bundled up. Not a great night, but I did sleep a little and I did wake up (obviously). The sound of the creek behind the hostel was very soothing. In the morning, I broke down my igloo, bought another Honeybun and got shuttled back to the trail. Tyler (Just Tyler) and I hiked through the cold all morning. I was a Grinch. We saw nothing and nothing happened. Ha! Sorry, but some days are just bleak. There's no sign of Spring up here. Just brown and gray. It's like Gears of War up here (a video game with a predominantly brown and gray color palette). So then *drumroll* we hit trail magic! A guy named Paul was cooking eggs and hashbrowns and had root beers. Another nice person from Asheville. That lifted our spirits a bit. We crossed under the highway at Sam's Gap and I think we crisscrossed states again. One moment we're in Tennessee, the next North Carolina. Then hop back and forth a lot out here. We hiked up Big Bald today. It had beautiful 360 degree views. Passed a large group of folks out biking, but were associated with Carolina Mountain Club. They gave us granola bars and we all chatted awhile. Some of the ladies tried to pick up Tyler's pack and said it was 50 lbs (it's 30 lbs). Eventually made it to Big Bald Shelter with Tyler, Stitch, Pop Tart, Spongebob and his brother Gangha Dan (sp?). Morning Glory and Notabear(she has a big black pack) tented outside. This day ended better than it started. Stitch and I can't stop saying "Sookie!" in vampire Bill's voice. That is all!
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Erwin, TN Rob Bird's Apartment

To: Piped Spring and campsites
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Not every day can be yesterday. Got shuttled back to the trail today by Rob. They were in a hurry to pick up some other hikers out of the rain, so Stitch volunteered to print the return label for my sleeping pad and ship it. I gave her the money and thanked them all. After one short stop into Uncle Johnny's, I got a new pad and put on my rain gear. Hiked all day in the mist, drizzle, and rain. But you know, solitude is an echochamber for your recent moods. Rain schmain. I took a lunch break at Curly Maple Shelter and hiked roughly 12 miles. Camping with Juan, Sylvan (now Sweet Potato), and Monster. Nice fire, nice sunset. The scale at Rob's place said I lost about 5 pounds. Not too bad. One day closer to Katahdin.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Piped Spring and campsites

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was a much warmer day of hiking in the sunshine. Around 10 AM I ran into Stitch and Tyler going the other way. They were hiking southbound and slackpacking. It was great to see them. Slackpacking is when you only take a daypack with water and snacks, and hike to a destination where your actual pack is. It makes for faster, easier miles. I had the same opportunity as well, but it didn't feel right to what my purpose is out here. I don't judge others at all, and I'm still not certain, but I think I may forgo slackpacking. I think I'll feel more accomplished if I take my pack the whole way. I dunno. So, I think the novelty of hiking the AT is gone. The routines are established. It's just waht I do now. Day in and day out. And I think I've said it before, but 99% of the time, it's not fun. It's something else. It's character-building, it's fulfilling, but rarely is it fun. Fun is easy. This is not. But that's okay, I think. I may do some audiobooks while I hike. At least until plants start blooming and animals start moving. Today I saw what looked like a trashbag on the trail. I thought "trail magic!" But to my disappointment and slight horror, it was a dead turkey someone had carved the breast out of and disposed of...right on the trail. Ended the day at Clyde Smith Shelter with the same group as last night plus Doc from Alabama (a rabbit tattoo). Monster (nice German guy) did the southern half of the Te Aroa (sp?) in New Zealand. And Juan (it is Juan, not Wan. Juan-durer) has done ironmans and bike races. People just do cool things. I guess the AT attracts a certain breed. This is my first big adventure, but certainly not my last. I'd like to do the JOhn Muir trail with Jamie. Someday.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning I was awakened by a chorus of competing woodpeckers. Some close, some distant. The woody percussion gave me the idea to write a piece of music that starts similarly, and gradually incorporates more woody instruments, woodwinds, etc. Forest themed. Beautiful day today...not the coldest night. I think I'm getting sick, but oh well. I passed 2 southbounders today. Moxie and Bald. They started on June 18th of last year! Hachi machi! Hiked around 16 or 17 miles today. Passed 'Roan High Knob Shelter" which is the highest shelter on the AT. Also passed some day hikers who gave me an apple and an orange. So appreciated. Then I went up June Bald. Absolutely amazing up there. Ended today at overmountain shelter, which I think is the biggest on the AT. Two stories and can easily sleep 20. Hung out with some cool folks tonight. Canuck, Moonboots, Savage, Juan-durer, Socket, and Doc. Juan and Savage played ukulele and I got a bunch of pots and logs and played "drums." Had a lot of laughs and some good tunes. Canuck says Canadians don't even have power. They have to "watch TV by candlelight." Ha! Great view from this shelter. Good day.
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour B&B
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up from a restless, drafty night and hikeds out into the wind. As I went higher, the wind got stronger. Up, up, and more up until I hit a bald, the first of two. The second being Hump Mountain. The largest view I've had yet of open trail, just winding up this grassy mountain. I could see Orange Pacer far up ahead, a speck in the distant rising sentinel. Going up that mountain, with wind so strong I had to walk at an angle, birds flying sideways, I seriously felt like I was hiking Everest. The gusts were unrelenting, but the panoramic 360 views - absolutely stunning. I had to earn that view. Often it's at these times, when things are hardest, that memories are forged. A vista I'll never forget. These epic days help me when I have tough days. I have to remember that I'm not at the top of the mountain yet, and I can't see all of the intangible things that I'll see so clearly at the end of this trek. The rewards are sometimes invisible until you reach the summit. I hiked down with Orange Pacer today on account of me picking up his sweater that had blown off. Finally I returned the favor Stitch and Pop Tart did for me! Cool guy. We talked about alcohol, ha!He also enjoys Bells Two Hearted and Moscow Mules. Then we walked into the B&B here, where we are both staying. Showered, resupplied, and I awaited my good friend Erik Roethlinger's arrival. And arrive he did, bearing gifts of Krispy Kreme, Bells Two Hearted Ale and medicine to help me "embrace the suck." We caught up, went out for Tennessee BBQ (it's got nothing on NC BBQ), came back and goofed around until far past hiker midnight and eventually actual midnight. As far as sleep goes, "we only got half" due to our shenanigans. Earlier in the evening, I went into the hostel to offere the 2 available seats in Erik's car to anyone who wanted a ride into town. But no one could be torn from the VHS copy of City Slickers they had started. Hikers forget what moving pictures are. El Tejano is also at the hostel. So it was nice to talk to him again. P.S. The goat out front here seems like he's judging you all the time.
Date: 2016-04-16
From: Mountain Harbour B&B

To: Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

400 miles, woohoo! A great accomplishment, but 500 will feel better. I've been out here so long it feels like I should be able to say I'm 1/4th done, but I can't. Soon! Today, Seal (Erik's trail name) and I had breakfast from the B&B. It was really great and 25 hikers were there, including: Stitch, El Tejano, Animal, Sweet Potato, Morning Glory, Not a Bear. NIck and his dog Luno. Good times! I took a shower, we parked and took our leftover donuts and beer and shared them with folks in the hostel. I might have also enjoyed one of each. Erik and I got about half a mile up the trail and I realized I still had the room key, so I jogged back and dropped it off. When I came back to Erik, he said he realized once I was beyond hearing range that I could have given them the key when they shuttle him out tomorrow. Damnnnnn...so being jogged, drugged, sick, buzzed, stuffed, and exhausted made the miles slower today. But it was excellent hiking with good company. For some reason, all day we were trying to figure out whether Kansas or Boston did "carry on my wayward son" and we heard both sides from hikers. So, this is what it was like before Google. We ended our hike at a little campsite next to a creek, nestled in the rhododendrons. Hung out with some cool section hikers and made a fire. Good stuff. The Nyquil is kicking in. Night!
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Campsite

To: Black Bear Resort
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was a great day! After a bit of a slow start, Seal and I hiked the 5 miles to the road where he was getting picked up. Great conversation can really distract from pain and sickness! His knee was barking at him, and I felt weak. Off day from this cold. Not too terrible, but slow and lacking energy. After Seal exited stage left, I threw in some podcasts and kept on trucking. It was fairly warm today and I drank a lot of water. A hint o fthe upcoming summer. Not much happened after that today. I saw almost no one, which is sort of unusual. Got to (??)'s Cove Rod around 5, and hiked half a mile down to the hostel. Nice place with lots of cabins and such, but the bunkhouse is fine for me. Nick and Luna are here, along with Cheena, and Conundrum, Socket and Ralphie (with his glasses he looks like Ralphie from A Christmas Story). I got pizza, a pint of ice cream, beer, a powerade, and resupplied for my push to Damascus. Tomorrow will be a 19 miler. The Watauga Shelter is closed due to a bear tearing up some people's food bags and tent, apparently. There is that Nyquil working. Goodnight!
Date: 2016-04-18
From: Black Bear Resort

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Slept great last night! I think Nyquil might be amazing. Hit up the store at Black Bear one more time for an orange, breakfast biscuit, and hot chocolate. It's hard to walk away from food sources! But I did. Walked the half mile back down Dennis Cove Rd and started up the trail. Up indeed. The trail followed a river for awhile and was gorgeous. Saw a waterfall (unfortunately (can't figure out what this word is) died in a whirlpool there by the frost) and lots of beautiful spring blossoms. Still no allergies. I'm convinced it's cats. I'd never give up our 3 cats, but at least I know it is their faults now, ha!I passed Stitch and Brighthogs going southbound and slackpacking. That's twice I've passed Stitch this way. It was nice to catch up. Apparently Tyler's trail name is now Briefthief. There was a laundry mixup and he ended up with someone else's underwear. Stitch warned of a fire up ahead. After that, I met a nice older couple named Jan & Jim. He does trail maintenance, but also trail magic in Maine. I might catch him in early August. People are nice. I crossed over Watauga Dam today. It was pretty awesome. This is an enormous lake, supposedly when the government took the land and flooded the valley, they didn't bother to knock down buildings. Farmers houses and they say there's at least one church still at the bottom. So then I crossed into the area with a problem bear. Signs said Watauga Shelter was closed and not to stop in that 4 mile stretch. Don't have to tell me twice! Also, everything on the right side of the trail was burned. I ran into a volunteer, who I noticed had a Kincora hat. It's a famous hostel run by trail legend Bob Peeples. I asked if he was Bob, and he was! Very nice gentleman. He explained to me that the fire was a couple nights ago, and that the forest service and Hot Shots used the trail as a natural break and backfired down toward the shore of the lake. That kept the fire from spreading. I saw a few areas still on fire, and smoke billowing up from random spots. Well, this was maybe my biggest day hours-wise. 8:30am to 7pm of hiking. Here at Vandeventer are: Conundrum & Cheena, who have been married 3 years, Super nice couple. Also, Ricky and Joe from 2 nights ago, section hiking to Damascus. Once the sun went down, I got out on some rocks with Ricky and enjoyed the view of towns and their lights twinkling on the lake shimmering in nearly full moonlight. He told me all about his passion for lake diving, something I would never, ever do but fascinating nonetheless.
Date: 2016-04-19
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Gap
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a nice hike today. A pretty good old walk in the woods. Today I briefly ran into Ten-Hut, a nice gentleman I first met at Mountain Harbour. We talked for a bit, I took the lead and didn't see him again. Passed the Nick Grindstaff memorial/grave today, no clue who this was, but the headstone said "Lived alone. Suffered alone. Died alone." Geez that's heavy, ha! Sorry Nick! Sounds like he got a bad hand dealt to him. So the past two days I feel like I've been in a weird anti-bubble of hikers. I just haven't seen that many. And mostly section hikers going the other way. No one has passed or caught up to me in awhile. Very odd. When I resupplied at Black Bear, I underestimated how many snacks I eat. Dinners are fine, but I almost ran out of supplementary food for between meals. I eat a lot, folks. Like a lot, a lot. Luckily, there was an orange metal box on the trail today, and in it was trail magic. A cold soda, a can of Beanie Weenies, and a cheese danish. This really sort of saved me. Thank you, Nelson Baptist Church in Mountain City, TN! These great folks restock this chest daily, which is why it wasn't empty like most coolers I've encountered. Today I went through an open meadow of hilly farmland. Beautifully green with yellow dandelions. It looked like the Windows 98 background, ha! Just beautiful. Passed an odd and angry couple today. I asked how the day in the forest was, and he said something like "trying to be good." Something seemed like they were fighting. He had a duffle bag on his back and was talking about getting all the bags out there. I didn't understand but kept moving. Later I saw a woman's bag hanging on a stick with what looked like a blow dryer handle sticking out. Then I passed a single candle in the trail. Whattt?? I pushed past my original destination and put a few more miles between myself and that stuff. Here at camp. Highway and Brightbags both saw the weird couple. Brightbags said if the candle was lit, he would have ran, ha! Tomorrow I hit Virginia, and then Damascus, where Jamie will join me on Thursday. Wahoo, baby!