morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2020-09-27
From: Thunder Ridge

To: Bryant Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.5

One of the two volunteers I met the other day said there was a SSP (Sweet smelling privy) at Thunder Hill Shelter. It was one of the nicest privies of seen but I¢d say the smell was neutral which is comparatively excellent for privies. The screech owls (I think)!in this area make the wildest sounds- I almost thought it was a coyote till I asked another hiker. The other sound early this morning was a huge branch falling. The two women at the shelter were concerned it was near my tent but It wasn¢t and I always try to remember to look up before I pitch my tent. My hike today was mostly a descent and  harder on the knees that an ascent (and I couldn¢t practice descents of a treadmill at home). Passed under an aptly name rock formation, the ¢Guillotine¢ and up to an FAA tower at 4,225¢ (see photos). Stopped at Bryant  Ridge Shelter which is an amazing two story structure with a stream wrapping around it. Four local hikers walked past the shelter including a mother with her daughter. The mom had heard so much about the shelter from her family members she wanted to see it herself
Date: 2020-09-28
From: Bryant Hill Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Left the shelter by 8AM as I had a longer day ahead of me plus I slept in the shelter vs my tent so packing up was quicker. The bad part of being out early is that you so get to break though the is spider webs that stretch across the trail (I can see our oldest son and daughter cringing now). But as I met another hiker we thanked each other for clearing the webs. I¢ve really appreciated my Ininji toe socks this trip - no blisters! I decided yesterday I better rinse them out but they weren¢t dry so my pack also functions as a portable drying rack. Met up with 5 sets of section hikers (doing part of the AT vs a thru hiker who does the whole trail).  The AT was shut down to hikers earlier this year so typically I would be running into southbound hikers who start in Maine in the summer but have not met any of those yet. Getting space in a shelter was key tonight since 1.4¢ of rain are expected thru tomorrow and I will probably need to wait out the rain for the day. So after 13.6 miles plus .2 miles down to the shelter I was worried when I saw quite a few hikers that the site might be full.  Turned out to be 4 guys from Connecticut who are taking a gap year between high school and college. Nice group but I was laughing to myself when they were talking about the presentation they gave to their parents to get their approval to do their section hike.
Date: 2020-09-29
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Rain (another 1.75¢) again changed the hiking plan. Luckily when my youngest son helped me with my hike plan (as he has more experience hiking in elevations) we built in some extra time because today I sat in the shelter all day. Besides me in the shelter there were the 4 high school friends hiking. A guy from California stopped for water and he had lived in several cities where I had relatives. The friend he is hiking with is going to owe him dinner since the friend decided it would be shorter to walk the road (Blue Ridge Parkway) not the trail and missed the shelter resulting in the California guy hauling 10 lbs plus of water back to his friend (they were both Purdue grads). Next two Penn State grads (but are 60+ like me) came to the shelter. They had hiked together in college and are hiking part of the AT together.  Piped spring at shelter was really easy to get water from but after all the rain water was cascading over the top
Date: 2020-09-30
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Daleville/Troutville
Miles today: 19.8

Up by 6am and on the trail before 7 meant I used my headlamp and puffy jacket for the first time hiking but knew I had a long day ahead. The heavy rainfall periodically turned the trail into a small stream and other times really amped up the waterfalls and streams I passed or crossed. Met more section hikers including Cotton whose goal is to make it to the AT halfway point in Pennsylvania. After listening to other hikers talk about the delicious food options in Daleville I must have spent at least an hour thinking about food! As I was hiking I realized everything piece of clothing needed to be washed (and going to the hotel laundry room in only my raincoat wouldn¢t be a good option) my first stop was Goodwill to buy a tshirt and shorts ($7). I then satisfied part of my ¢hiker hunger¢ at Three Pigs BBQ with a delicious dinner. After other errands I walked to my hotel, 19.8 miles in all, called my lovely wife and took a nice shower.
Date: 2020-10-02
From: Bland

To: Helveys Mills Shelter 
Miles today: 2.2

Enjoyed a couple more town meals then Packerbacker (originally from Wisconsin, home of Green Bay Packers) picked me up for my next section hike. Packerbacker parked his car in Daleville and Bubba (AT shuttle driver) drove us 90 minutes south to Bland and the plan is to hike 140 miles northbound back to Daleville (estimated arrival date of October 12). We then met Sundance (forgot to ask him how he got his trail name) and did a couple steep miles to get to Helveys Mills Shelter where there is a 6 person shelter and plenty of space for our tents. Four very nice twenty-something¢s are here too including a couple from the Midwest, a guy from Pennsylvania and Loofa (like the plastic mesh dish scrubber which hangs from his pack from Texas).  All are flip flippers who started near the middle of trail, hiked to Maine and then came back to the middle and will finish in Georgia. Tonight temps are scheduled to get below freezing (coldest night on trail for the flip flippers) so we all put our water filters in our sleeping bags with us so they don¢t freeze and break.
Date: 2020-10-03
From: Helveys Mills Shelter 

To: Jenny Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up once shivering last night so had to fully zip up my sleeping bag to get warm again. After a cup of coffee, Packbacker (correct trail name), Sundance and I set out a fairly short day (10 miles) to the next shelter. Water options are pretty limited out here so Packbacker has done a nice job of making sure water is available each night. Built a fire and two guys from Amelia Island, Florida joined us. One hiked 600 miles on the AT but hasn¢t hiked it in 14 years and this is his friend¢s first time on AT. One of guys is ultralight backpacker and uses a tarp w sticks from the woods for his tent. Then he puts his sleeping bag with a small piece of foam into a bivvy sack. His pack weighs about 10 pounds less than mine so he doesn¢t mind the extra weight of his bourbon.
Date: 2020-10-04
From: Jenny Knob Shelter 

To: Wapiti Shelter 
Miles today: 15.1

Highlight of today¢s 15 mile hike was Dismal Falls, perfect lunch spot and place to soak our feet in the cold water. Day was nice and cool with rhododendron tunnels and the Roanoke Trail Club built wooden bridges over deep gullies plus an impressive suspension footbridge. Tomorrow will be our last hiking day with Sondance (corrected trail name) and I found out more about the book he is publishing next year titled ¢Dancing with the Mountains.  Alzheimer¢s, Angels and the Appalachian Trail, a journey of spirit¢. It is a story about his father (who has Alzheimers) and Sondance (who hiked the AT in 2009 as a fundraiser for Alzheimers). I¢d recommend you email Paul (Sondance) at pctravers@comcast.net to get on the mailing list fir info on the book¢s release in spring of next year. Paul has many great stories including sleeping overnight in an old Arlo Guthrie band bus (surreptitiously on Arlo¢s property), the ceremony where he was ¢knighted¢ with his trail name by a trekking  pole and a shower of whiskey but he also describes the power of the Appalachian Mountains as a healing place. He tells me his website Www.paultravers.com has info on his previous Pearl Harbor book, history-related interests and will add details in the future about his next book.
Date: 2020-10-05
From: Wapiti Shelter 

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 17.9

17.9 mile day to get to Pearisburg today and it began with an ¢up¢ from 2,600¢ to 4,000. Trail was quite overgrown with vegetation and very rocky for long distances which slowed our progress but we had some nice outlooks to see the landscapes below. Mountain Mike from Angels Rest Hiker Hostel Haven (awesome place and staff!) picked us up at the Pearisburg trailhead and for $16 we got a tent site (they have bunk house plus private cabins), shower and laundry. After a resupply trip at Food Lion we brought Mexican carry out back to a large common room with a full kitchen. Met Rockflipper ( has only 400 miles left on his thru hike) plus had a beer and had some fun conversations with 6 pack and Thirsty Bear. 6 pack recently finished his service with the Marines and started his hike with an 80 lb pack! Thirsty Bear was a very successful trader/finance guy who was able to retire after 20 years and hit the trail and is loving it, especially the trail community. Both of these guys lost 30 lbs in just a few weeks of hiking which reminds me I better go eat my leftover fajitas for breakfast. Thanks for following my journal and for your notes of support in my Guest Book.
Date: 2020-10-06
From: Pearisburg

To: Ridge line campsite 
Miles today: 14.5

Heavy dew made for very wet tents this morning plus food shopping while ¢hiker hungry¢ resulted in  heavy food bag. Not a great combination. Mountain Mike drove Packerbacker and I to the trailhead without Sondance as he stayed at another hostel last night. On the way up the trail we met a local (Gobbler) who is 76 years old and has done an 8 mile trail (with ascent to 4000¢) 195 times this year! We also met 2 guys (Wardrobe and Spice Rack) who warned of us a Copperhead snake not too far ahead. Luckily Packbacker saw the snake who didn¢t mind being moved out of the way too much. View of West Virginia from Rice Shelter overlook was one of widest views we¢ve had so far. Since a hurricane in the south looks like it will make for a rainy weekend we hiked further than planned to a campsite on a ridge with a fire ring and just enough room for a few tents.
Date: 2020-10-07
From: Ridge line campsite 

To: War Spur Shelter 
Miles today: 17.9

Lots of rocks in the trail today plus overgrown vegetation made it a long (17.9 miles) and challenging day. War Spur Shelter had a perfect, rhododendron-canopied stream so I had a chance to rinse off. At the shelter was a local who was day hiking from the shelter. He is also maintains 2.5 miles of the AT for the Roanoke Trail Club (one of the key groups that selflessly maintain the trail). No easy task for him, hiking several miles with a weed wacker and fuel.  One of the things he was reporting back was appx 16 trees across the trail. At my height of 6¢2¢ and with a 28lb backpack, the challenge of going under a 4¢ - 5¢ tree crossing the trail is I use one arm to swing under it. Better than crawling on the ground but I think I need to work on some different sets of muscles. The three of us capped off the evening with a camp fire.
Date: 2020-10-08
From: War Spur Shelter 

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

An epic day- at a remote crossing we came across Fresh Ground¢s hiker feast van where he was cooking up free breakfast for hikers! I¢ve read and seen YouTube videos about Fresh Grounds and his ¢trail magic¢ but since he usually follows the hiker bubbles I never thought I¢d experience it.  Amazing blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage and coffee right there at a trail crossing!  At the feast we met a large group of hikers who started in Maine in July including Gravity (originally from Michigan) and her teenage son. Later in the day we met another group of 8 southbounders including Treeboy who had a backpack guitar. Toughest part of day was when we had to walk hundreds of yards on huge, sloped pieces of granite right on the edge of the ridge.  Very glad it wasn¢t raining!  Also passed the Keffer Oak (largest tree on the AT) and went past the Eastern Continental Divide.
Date: 2020-10-09
From: Niday Shelter

To: 4 Pines Hostel
Miles today: 17.2

Today we began the section of the trail that includes 3 highlights (Dragons Tooth, McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs). On the way to Dragons Tooth we had the opportunity to do more rock scrambling across large, slanted granite slabs and some nice views. Also talked to an ATC Ridge Runner who is like a park ranger for the trail and saw the memorial to WW 2 hero Audie Murphy. Dragons Tooth is consists of tall vertical slabs of granite and you can climb all over them. At 4 Pines Hostel we were met by dogs, cats, chickens and guinea fowl. Natureboi (who works there) took hiker Disciple and me to a local gas station for a very good cheeseburger plus some things for breakfast. Natureboi gave us the rules of this donation-based hostel which included shower but no towels (luckily my 12¢ x 12¢ camp towel managed) and for the guys ¢hang your hose out¢ which means guys use the outdoors not the toilet when possible.
Date: 2020-10-10
From: 4 Pines Hostel

To: Laurel Meadow Shelter 
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

We¢ve continued to add more daily mileage due to expected heavy rainfall today and tomorrow from Hurricane Delta and plan to finish our hike tomorrow¢s one day early. Quickly shed my raincoat on the first big incline and decided I¢d rather be wet from rain than hot and sweaty from my raincoat. Even with the rain the parking lot for McAfee Knob was crowded but it is one of the most photographed spots on the AT but once we got up there we could see why. Even with cloudy conditions it is a beautiful backdrop of the area.  Tinker Cliffs, the final stop of the Triple Crown, was socked in by weather but still worth seeing. We made it fairly early to Laurel Meadows Shelter and met up with Disciple on the way there. At the shelter were Nowhere & Meadows plus 2 people in hammocks and another 3 or 4 in tents.
Date: 2020-10-11
From: Laurel Meadow Shelter 

To: Daleville Holiday Inn Express 
Miles today: 9.4

My inflatable sleeping pad developed a slow leak last night so I was up about 4 times blowing it up and every time I woke up the rain was steady. Packerbacker, Disciple and I made good time and had good conversations along the way. Packerbacker dropped Disciple and I off on the his way back to Georgia which was definitely appreciated. After a quick shower and starting a load of dirty/wet laundry we headed to Cracker Barrel for pot roast. I knew I was extra hungry when I dipped my 2 packs of saltines into my blue cheese salad dressing. Spent the rest of the day catching up on this journal (4 days in arrears due to lack of cell coverage) and catching up with family.
Date: 2020-10-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It had been 5 years since I hiked my initial 700 miles (2 hikes in 2014/2015) from Kent, CT to the James River Footbridge in Virginia so I wasn¢t exactly sure how I would do on this 200 mile segment. Again ¢the trail provides¢ and I connected with great hiking partners, got my trail legs (this section had 46K feet of ascents & 48K feet of descents- not something we can train for when you come here from the Midwest), trail magic from Fresh Grounds and his Leapfrog Cafe), southern hospitality from hostels, hotels, shuttle drivers, local AT clubs and fellow hikers. The AT is not only a national treasure but a place where you realize every day how many wonderful people there are in this world. Finally thank you to my incredible wife and family who continue to support my interest in this adventure. Happy Hiking!
Date: 2020-03-15
From: Kittatinny Visitor Center

To: Stealth Site Near Wolf Rocks
Miles today: 11.3

After the drop off and goodbyes at Kittattiny Visitor Center on the NJ side of Delaware Water Gap, me, Frank, and Tony walked just about a mile and we entered Pennsylvania. Couple quick pics at the border and onto the Village Farmer Bakery for some apple pie. After Tony ruined the port a pottie we were off into the woods. Some really nice views of the river for the first couple hours then onto the ridge for several hours of rocky trail. First spot for the night was a stealth site near Wolf Rocks.
Date: 2020-03-16
From: Stealth Site Near Wolf Rocks

To: Stealth Site Near Stempa Spring
Miles today: 15.1

Below freezing last night, froze our water. Took awhile to get to sleep then woke up every time I turned a little in the hammock. Packed up and started hiking. Filter froze so we couldn't treat water so H2O rationing was in play until we made it to the Wind Gap road crossing. My hiking App Guthooks said water could be had at the Gateway Motel about a half mile from the trail. Allison at the Gateway hooked us up with water and even offered some snacks or even equipment if we needed. Thanks Allison! Back to the trail for our climb out of Wind Gap. Day 2 was tough on the feet for us, and the weather became raw and windy. We found a semi-flat campsite and struggled maintaining a fire during dinner. We marveled over how pointy the rocks are on the trail. We believe that Trail Gnomes come out at night and file the rocks into little points and place them every so carefully to twist your ankles and poke into the bottoms of your feet with every step. Tony swore that he could hear them chant each night when they were done, "Long Live the Trail".
Date: 2020-03-17
From: Stealth Site Near Stempa Spring

To: George Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.7

Last night was wet and windy. Horrible sleep in hammock, if it was sleep. Very warm and comfortable when starting then as soon as I turn left or right I lose the "sweet spot" of laying in a hammock and then its a struggle to get comfortable again sleeping primarily on my back. Did learn something last night when I shined my light into the woods. Apparently hunters will place these thumbtack size reflectors on trees to help guide them in the early morning, well these reflectors at 3am look like a thousand bear/wolverine/Silence of the Lambs Buffalo Bob eyes staring back at you. Woke up to some snow/ice on ground which melted away within hour of sunrise. Back out onto the foggy/rocky trail, although this day had more large pine areas with pine needles softening the path. Skirted the mountain side today and had views of Palmerton area for many miles. Steep descent with alot of hand work to get down to the parking lot. After Frank and Tony got back to their truck I was officially on my own to the George Outerbridge Shelter. Set up camp in the shelter, made a small fire, ate, and right to sleep.
Date: 2020-03-18
From: George Outerbridge Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: clear sky

Up at sunrise with temps in low 30's. Weather was great until late afternoon. Went about 8 miles before I saw the first hiker near Bake Oven Knob. Stood near the edge on one graffiti ridden rock, battling my fear of heights or my fear of a sudden stop, and had my pic taken by a day hiker. Handful of people at Bake Oven Knob and then no more folks until I pull into camp much later. I was lucky to have dry rocks for the walks today to include Knife Edge. Stopped after 17 miles for water at Allentown Shelter and was able to load up from a stream about an inch and half deep. While filtering my water I checked the weather due to increasing clouds and dampness and saw it was supposed to rain pretty good throughout the night and saw the Eckville Shelter was a mere 7 more miles away and I had about 2 hours of daylight left. Although beat the temptation of an indoor shelter, one of a few along the trail, I decided to go for it. Past Dans Pulpit to find the iconic mailbox that has grown somewhat into a tree has been reclaimed by termites and gravity. Well I make it just at dusk to a misty-drizzly CLOSED Eckville Shelter. Closed Due to Virus said the sign. Well I set up my hammock across the street at the tenting area where two "young ladies" are busy smoking the Devils Lettuce at a picnic table while waiting for their ride. Apparently being one with nature and smoking her fine offerings doesn't mean you have to clean up your trash before you leave. Good Job Thelma and Louise. Anyway, camp was nice but the rain soon relinquished me to cook dinner under the tarp. No waking to hearing woodland creatures walking around tonight, just the sounds of steady rain on the tarp, until I roll right or left and the uncomfortable hammock kicks in. Great.
Date: 2020-03-19
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Hamburg
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: moderate rain

Got moving around 7am to anything not under the tarp wet. Ankles are feeling the 24 mile day yesterday. Walked through the mist past some flowing streams with a goal of getting to Hamburg for resupply and a hotel stay(shower!). Past a group of people camping about a half mile from Eckville Shelter and that was it for the rest of the day for seeing people. With the exception of the first two nights with Frank and Tony I have seen no one else at shelters at night and only day hikers primarily near road crossings. Overcast day made for lots of fun on wet rocks and roots today. Nothing to see at any lookouts, which are not too frequent in Pa. Made it down to Route 61 in Port Clinton and walked over a mile to the Microtel in Hamburg for the night. Felt like a little kid getting the train engineer to hit the horn for me when I crossed the bridge(see video). Checked into my room, ordered a sandwich from local shop, then fifteen minutes later I ordered a pizza and ate all but one piece. I dried everything out all my gear in the room which looked like a garage sale. Decided I would resupply at WalMart and stop at Cabelas in the morning to switch to a tent and air mattress for better sleep.