morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I am enjoying my day off, doing laundry, sending letters, and contacting Granite Gear about my pack. They will send replacement parts to Hot Springs... I would like to have them sooner but can suffer without for a week and a half. I may end up reaching Hot Springs in time for Trail Days.I was pleased to see Pikey, JD, and others from two nights ago at the outfitter store. They are taking a zero today as well.I am looking forward to one more shower before I move on. The forecasted thunderstorms never arrived and the weather is pleasant so I am itching to get back on the trail tomorrow. The scent of French fries is lingering in the air. Hiker hunger stays with you even on rest days. I am glad I got the most for my money with pizza, which served as lunch and dinner yesterday and lunch today Happy weekend!I am thankful for electricity to charge my phone. And for an awesome place to rest.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't sleep well last night due to some noisy guests at the NOC. At 11:30 they were still so loud I actually got up to ask them to be quiet.In the morning I got up and brushed my teeth in the bathroom, where a lady told me I reminded her of Wild. I told her "I get that a lot!" but did not add that I read most of the book and did not appreciate the comparison. Although I do have shoe issues, I like to think I am better prepared than Cheryl Strayed. I crammed my toes into the Toe-Pinchers and headed out into the nice cool morning. I stopped for lunch and talked to a day hiker from Franklin whose daughter is interested in Brown. He expressed concern that she would be homesick so far from home. I told him that I was extremely homesick (and heartsick!) there but that here on the AT, I am much better. I miss friends and family but am having the time of my life here so far. I am lucky to have quite a bit of contact with home and lots of supportive people behind me.I hit an amazing trail magic picnic thrown by hikers who have completed the AT at Stecoah Gap this afternoon. They had everything a hiker could want. I had a hamburger (and another to-go for dinner!), Moleskin plus Padding for my toes, ChapStick, an ENTIRE SLEEVE of Thin Mints, an apple, Clementine's, and more. It was amazing. I saw some friendly faces and heard some good stories. The trail world never ceases to amaze.Hands and Mouth came up to me and handed me... Dan's leatherman! It must have fallen out of my broken top pocket on my way from the NOC. He found it on the trail! I was HORRIFIED but also so happy. If I went through my pack later and was unable to find it I might have had a heart attack. I was so lucky I had asked him and JD if they had any suggestions about sharpening it the other night. Otherwise he wouldn't have known it was mine. I loaded up my pack and filled my water bottles and regretted it as soon as I started heading up into Jacob's Ladder. Up, up, up, I went, my stomach sickeningly full of baked beans and cookies.I have managed to share my Cheetos and some Thin Mints with some college students shooting a documentary who are camping near tonight's shelter. They are really nice, just like everyone else on the trail. I hope to sleep early tonight to catch up and head down to Fontana Dam for a shower(!!!) in the morning. The shelter there is famous (known as the Fontana Hilton) and I will head into town on Monday to pick up my bigger shoes (thanks, Mom and Dan!).I am thankful for my mom telling me some words that I really needed to hear the last few days, for trail magic, and shelter space.
Date: 2015-04-17
To: Smokies
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So despite the horrible weather, there have been some good parts about hiking the Smokies. There are no amazing distant views, but there are these beautiful little white flowers everywhere along the forest floor. I saw an awesome salamander, a HUGE millipede, about a hundred ridiculously long earthworms, and some slugs and snails.That reminds me... when it is cold in the morning my nose is ALWAYS runny. It seemed like it was runny nonstop for the first few days of my hike. I have been getting better at blowing snot rockets, so as not to deplete my toilet paper supply with nose - blowing.As always there are tons of kind people. I passed some gentlemen from Tennessee heading south and one greeted me, "A flower in the forest! Good for you. We'll look for you in Maine!" It made me smile.This afternoon I got out of the rain early and sorted out my food bag as I tried to plan how to get to Hot Springs. As I had sorted my resupply box in the Fontana Hilton, I had asked the other hikers, "How long does it take to get through the Smokies?"What I SHOULD have been asking was, "How long does it take to get to Hot Springs?" Due to my earlier gluttony and poor planning, I realized that I was already running low. I didn't plan to stop in Gatlinburg, or anywhere else before Hot Springs.Later in the evening I was lamenting my stupidity to Hands when two hikers planning to head into Gatlinburg tomorrow (one just for the night, the other leaving the trail completely, were SO KIND enough to hand me some granola bars, hot cocoa mix (Mom, I totally regret asking you to take that hot cocoa out of that box), a MOUNTAIN HOUSE dinner (those are expensive!), and some baby wipes and TP (two things you can never have enough of). I was flabbergasted. They assured me that they were heading into town anyway and didn't mind sharing.Note: I have since eaten said dinner. It was great. I am mad at myself for not asking that guy's name.I am constantly amazed by the acts of kindness I encounter here on the trail. It is like a whole different world. Why can't it always be like this?I am so thankful for the kindness of strangers, and that I now have more TP.Lesson learned: you can never have too much food. And certainly never too many snacks.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: The Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

Since I had planned to spend today as a rest day before Columbo offered to pay for me to stay at Elmer's, I used Dan's pizza money to pay for a bunk at the Laughing Heart hostel tonight. Thank you, Dan! I get to shower, brush my teeth in a bathroom, enjoy running water, and don't have to worry about hanging a bear bag. Most of all, I can let my feet relax, as my toes were starting to get a little numb again after a long week of hiking.Also, this place has a toaster oven! I made NACHOS for dinner from chips and salsa I got at Dollar General and cheese from the Hillbilly Market (I kid you not, that's what it's called).It was windy and downpouring this morning before I left Elmer's but turned into a beautiful day. Tie greeted me when I arrived this morning and has been a great host. I pilfered some oatmeal from a hiker box for breakfast, but then Tie gave me some bread and tortillas and permission to use some eggs out of the fridge. I had a delicious egg sandwich for lunch. I bounced around town all morning, going to the post office (which was closed), back to Elmer's to stamp my journal (many hostels, outfitters, and other places along the trail have stamps for the AT passport book), back to the post office to mail the Toe-Pinchers home, to the Dollar Store to look at umbrellas since mine seems busted (they didn't have anything good), to Bluff Mountain Outfitters to see if they carry hiking umbrellas (no luck, but they did have a cute ladybug one for kids), to the laundromat where I wore only my rain pants and rain jacket while washing all of my other clothes, to the post office to mail home clothes I decided I didn't need (they were closed for lunch), back to the hostel to answer emails and post journal entries (this took hours), back to the post office, to Dollar General to get ChapStick and the Hillbilly Market for cheese... It was a ridiculously busy rest day. Finally I was able to make my nachos and enjoy some time sitting outside. Of course it started to rain (but is clear again now!). I am looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow! I am thankful for new shoes and insoles, a bunk to sleep in, a stomach full of delicious food, kind people as always, and a beautiful day! I wish I could have spent it hiking but my toes are feeling better so they will be put back to work tomorrow.Most of all, I am thankful and SO EXCITED that Mom and Dan are planning to head down and meet me on the trail in a few weeks, if they can swing it. I love the trail but I do miss my friends and family! I crave contact from home all the time. It has been really hard not to be able to call or text or email since AT&T sucks in the trail (acceptable since it is in the middle of the woods most of the time, though). I have an awesome new goal and even more motivation to head north !
Date: 2015-04-21
From: The Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

I wrote a long journal entry and I swore I saved it but now I can't find it on my tablet. Bummer. I will try to remember most of it. But I am tired so I will try to be brief.Left Laughing Heart Hostel this morning with a hug from Tie, who was so sweet. She gave me two nice pillows to sleep with last night. I am super sad because I forgot my cheese there.Got lost on a side trail this morning because I missed a switchback and got very frustrated and scrabbled around crazily in the woods searching for white blazes... but figured it out eventually and embraced the suck.New shoes are okay, a little big and feet slide going downhill. One bug blister on right heel (used blister bandage from Dan - thanks!). Just cursed when it comes to feet. I think it is justnthe way I hike. I want squishy blue Dr. Scholls for the balls of my feet. Rest of my body is fine, except now the area above my tailbone hurts because the new backplate of my pack digs into it.Exhausted after no sleep last 2 nights (ate too much junk in town, gaining weight now, hiker hunger OUT OF CONTROL). Also last night high guy in bunk room across the hall woke me up with loud Napoleon Dynamite credits. He seemed asleep so I turned the TV off. Might have been funny another time but I ws so tired.Sparrow talked to me as I was journal writing and sitting against a tree this evening. Nice conversation but he still seems weird for some reason. He knows Torrington - took the bus there then walked to the AT and hiked to Katahdin. Weird.I am exhausted. Going fast, I LOVE the hike. Love love love it. My feet hate hate hate me Was a bit homesick tonight but okay. Hikers have a guitar and are playing music by the fire ans the view is amazing and so is my life.Made curry for dinner because I craved it after Candace told me she was making it this morning. Craved something after... mostly have candy and granola bars but wanted fruit so decided on apple cinnamon oatmeal from a hiker box. It was sickeningly sweet and terrible but I had to eat it all. Terrible regret.Cold night but I am cozy in my bag (so thankful for this wonderful sleeping bag!).I am thankful I have too much food instead of not enough (though I do need to get my hiker appetite under control... I could eat some pizza right now). Also for my life, the view, my jacket, getting to talk to Dad today... I am just plain thankful.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: My crazy head
Miles today: 0.0

Hiker HungerA poem by yours trulyPlease note: This is a work in progressPart 1: The HungerHiker hunger, whyMust you tempt me so?Hershey bars and Oreos, Peanut butter and M&Ms,CLIF bars are my new best friends.I stuff my face to leave you behindBut three miles later, Pizza's back on my mind.Food bag, whyMust you mock me so?"Trail magic oranges, oh no!'What about my apples?' you say?You ate the last one yesterday!"Trail magic, whyMust you burden me so?Take some PopTarts to go!The angels implore.My food bag is fullBut how can I say no?Pizza thoughts whyMust you obsess me so?I ate three slices, And you still won't go!Broccoli, barbeque, no matter the typeMy pizza appetite is always ripe.Town food whyDo I crave you so?My budget says stop But my stomach says go.Pizza, nachos, and ice cream in storeMy waistline can't take much more.Part 2: The ConsequencesStop, we're chafing!My chubby thighs cry.But I just can't resistOne more slice of that pie.Diabetes! Cholesterol!My arteries scream.But that hostel window'sAdvertising ice cream.My hip belt won't buckle!That's not a good sign.But look! There's a shelter!It must mean snack time.Epilogue:My trail name should be Glutton,Red Panda no more.Loading up on chipsAt the dollar store.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichuky Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 0.0

I was joined by Columbo last night to enjoy the wonderful dinner put on by Uncle Johnny and Miss Charlotte. A happy Friday night: a delicious meal and a friendly face. Afterwards, hikers gathered around a fire in the backyard. It was a very pleasant night.I then had the pleasure (haha) of sleeping in the bunkhouse. With a fire going in the wood stove. Of course, there is ALWAYS a snorer. Worse, though, were the hikers COMPLAINING about the snorer. Needless to say, I didn't sleep that well.I will be taking another rest here today, at the insistence of Columbo. I still hate taking lazy rest days, but there will be festivities all day, and I have more errands to do (why do they never end?). I am hoping to get the shuttle into town, to mail home extra clothes (mom sent me some I am swapping out) and my broken camera. I also hope to get a thicker pair of socks to make my size 10s more tolerable, and to go to Wal-Mart to buy some Dr. Scholl's for my toes. I will be happy to avoid rain and thunderstorms tonight.I believe that I have managed to fit all of my huge package of food into my backpack I have many extra meals now, especially extra dinners. This is good because although it will make my pack heavy (I can take it) I can have some of those extra dinners as lunches, instead of eating protein bars for lunch all the time. There is a pancake breakfast this morning, put on by a local church, which starts... sometime. I'm not sure when, but I am looking forward to it!
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a long, long day of hiking with Easy Strider, Yeti, Amish, and Tinkerbell. The group repeatedly separated, rejoined and separated again throughout the day. We enjoyed a nice river stop, where Strider caught a fish and everyone enjoyed a very brisk swim. We all agreed that it was something we really needed. That the hike needs to be more about enjoying the wonderfuk things that the trail has to offer and less about the miles.Of course we all still pushed a lot of miles today, wanting to reach Partnership Shelter. Because this shelter has a SHOWER. A HOT shower. I am SO CLEAN. It is amazing. Also, Pizza Hut delivers to the visitor's center nearby. Yes, I have not only had a shower, but also pizza. In the same day, and not in town. It is wonderful.My feet hurt but my heart is lighter.I have caught up with Chris, my roommate from Elmer's in Hot Springs. I ran into him in Damascus as well, and was surprised to see him here.My poison ivy mystery affliction hasn't really healed, but thankfully hasn't gotten worse and isn't bothering me much.The hike didn't end until nearly 7 p.m. However, the last two hours of the day brought the wonderful joy of a rain shower (NOT. IT SUCKED.) Of course, when I was two miles away from the shelter (ONLY TWO MILES), it started to rain. I threw Bertha to the ground, ripped out my pack cover and threw it on, then sprinted to the shelter like a rampaging rhinocerous through the rhododendrons. It was not my best hour. I hate ending my hike so late. I like having time in the evening to relax and regroup, cook dinner, clean up, organize and journal. It was good for me to break out of my routine, though.Tomorrow my new friends will head into town to resupply and feast on real food. I will continue on. Hopefully we will meet again.I am exhausted and ready for bed.I am thankful for new friends, a beautiful day, a swim and a shower. I am looking forward to Friday!!!
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins Relax Inn
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early, following Chris (or at least trying to) out of the shelter. The hike started with miserable, miserable uphill. But after that it was wonderful, smooth sailing down into Atkins.The trail was beautiful as we descended, rambling through old fields and orchards. The scent of wildflowers wafted on the wind, and it was wonderful. I was so happy, even worried about my face frying in the sun.We happened upon an old schoolhouse absolutely FULL of trail magic. It was so cute, with little desks and a wood stove. Chris and I kept looking at each other, saying, "This is AMAZING."The methodist church did an amazing job, providing coolers full of ICED beverages, fresh fruit, a million snacks, even dog treats. They had wet wipes, soap, safety pins, extra clothes... almost anything a hiker could need! I was so happy to eat an apple.I filled my water bottle with cold water and added some delicious raspberry lemonade drink mix. I tried to drink it as I walked and spilled it all over my face. Luckily Chris was hiking in front of me and didn't see this shameful display of thirst-gluttony-disaster.We continued into town, heading to The Barn restaurant, where Chris needed to pick up mail. We enjoyed the most pitiful salads ever and debated our plans the afternoon. I was trying to figure out how to get to a road crossing to meet mom and Dan. Then we looked at the weather and saw that it was supposed to thunderstorm during the afternoon. We debated plans to wait out the rain, or hike quickly and set up for the night before the storms hit.Of course, we both at some point said, "Well... we could just stay in town." It didn't take much convincing. I have been feeling amazingly lazy lately so I was happy to seize an excuse to rest.So I have enjoyed a lazy afternoon, a clean body and clean laundry. The shower only has cold water, but I don't even care. I am CLEAN. I washed my hair in the sink. I am still cleaner than I have been in days. And I get to be clean until probably about five minutes after I start hiking tomorrow, since I sweat like a faucet, matching my drippy nose.Chris even shared amazing chocolate. I can never get enough chocolate. I had M&Ms for breakfast the other day. I know that is amazingly disgusting but I am not ashamed to admit it. They were delicious and I would do it again. Actually, I probably will do it again at some point during this hike.I have planned a tentative route for the next couple of days. I am hoping to make a lot of progress tomorrow despite a fair number of horrible, miserable, depressing uphills.I am thankful for chocolate, for another day in good company, a friend to split the hotel bill with, and trail magic. Also a beautiful day and an inspiring stretch of trail.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Bland, VA

To: My crazy head
Miles today: 0.0

I feel like it must be boring to read a trail journal. All we do out here is hike, eat, hike, dream of pizza, drink, hike, eat, eat, eat, sleep, eat, and hike some more. Throw in the occasional bath, and that's my life. The Suchandsuch Shelter and the trail towns mean nothing to a lot of you. It's sad! I wish that you could see it as I see it. I hope I can at least add more pictures soon.The trail is a huge adventure for me, thought. Every person I cross paths with is a potential new friend. Almost every day brings gifts of trail magic, be it a sandwich, a snack, a familiar face, or the shelter roof visible through the trees ten minutes before you thought you would arrive.I wish that you could see it as I see it, breathe it as I breathe it, and even hike it as I hike it (although you probably wouldn't enjoy that part, since I hike it rather hot and sweaty and smelly). My photographs definitely can never do justice to a beautiful view at the end of a 20 mile day. Nothing can capture that majestic feeling.Thanks for enjoying the journey with me. I wish I could really capture it for you. I am trying! I am adding pictures when I can.
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Abingdon

To: My crazy head.
Miles today: 0.0

I am using the opportunity to type on my laptop, which is about 100 times as efficient as my tablet or phone, to quickly write something that I have been meaning to for a while.I have to thank Alexa, my Trail Mentor, for inspiring me to hike the trail. She thru-hiked in 2004, and last fall kept talking about the trail. She told so many stories, so many inspiring and amazing tales, that I started to get it into my crazy head that I might like to hike the trail, too.So I started asking people, "What do you think?" "Would I be crazy?" "Dad, I'm thinking about hiking the WHOLE Appalachian Trail."I got a lot of positive responses. "You should totally do it." "Wow, that's a big thing!" "Just don't take a cast iron pan like Charlie did when we went." (that last one from Dad).And over time, I slowly convinced myself, and allowed myself to be convinced by those who actually thought I could do it, that the hike needed to be in my future.And it has been the most amazing, wonderful experience of my life. I can't imagine NOT doing it, now. I have learned so much, experienced so much in just a a few weeks. I am so excited that I still have nearly 3/4 of the journey left (although I do admit I am NOT excited for the heat and sweat and uphills of summer, haha).So thank you, Alexa. This is the most amazing, life-changing thing that I have ever done. And I would definitely not be here without you. Not only did you inspire me, but you DROVE ME TO GEORGIA. AND MAILED ME CHOCOLATE AND MONEY FOR FRESH FOOD. Could a hiker have a better Trail Mentor? I think not.