morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-11
From: Camping along the trail

To: Thompson Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

Ooops.... I fell today while hiking. I stepped on a rock that I thought was well used but it wasn't. I went down and off the trail with my leg caught between a few rocks. After dislodging my leg I was able to roll over onto my back with my pack behind me. I thought, "I hope no one sees me" and then realized how funny that was.If anything, I needed someone to come help me up.So I pulled out my iPhone grabbed my nearby hiking pole (with a selfie attachment) and made a video about falling down.I got back up and felt energized by being able to take a mistake like that (thankfully I was ok) and turn it into something amusing. I was on the last step into the parking lot at Elk Garden when my right knee (on my GOOD leg) gave out and went backwards in the wrong direction. I cried out in surprised pain, but then was ok after walking across the parking lot. I'll need to get a better brace so that this body can have a chance of making it to Maine. Late today I climbed up the rocky, rooted, trail to Thompson Knob Shelter. Theres some section hikers camping nearby and the clouds lifted enough to provide a fine view.I haven't seen any wild ponies yet... maybe tomorrow.Thanks for coming along on my journey.
Date: 2016-03-12
From: Thompson Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Saw a bunch of wild ponies today!Robbie, a section hiker from Canada had some carrots (which I found out later you're not supposed to feed the ponies anything) which helped the ponies to run over to us.The AT goes thru Fat Man's Cave and I made a video for my youtube channel showing this.I also made a video to celebrate getting to 500 miles. I thought there might be a bunch of rocks spelling out "500" like I've seen on youtube but after 1/2 mile or so of looking I did my own thing.The video is uh... exuberant. Five minutes after making it I ran into a day hiker who asked "Are you the 500 mile guy?"Oh, did you see my video, I asked,"No, but I heard you making it"I heard my first 2 grouse of the year today. They beat their wings and make an interesting thumping sound.While hiking across the Grayson Highlands today I stopped and looked around. The area is a grasslands with sparse small trees and brush. The colors are more Western US looking, with copper color and browns that I don't usually see out East. I was awed by the ability to look 360 degrees around and see wilderness as far as the eye can see. I just stood there and soaked it up, knowing that this was the only time I'd be in that beautiful spot on the trail. I'm hear by myself again at the shelter. One of these days the faster thru hikers who are starting now will catch up to me. Until them I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Date: 2016-03-13
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail was much easier today, smoother and way less rocks/roots as compared to the area up on the Grayson Highlands. I went over Iron Mountain in the morning, stopping at the top where I had cell coverage to text with Chuck from Woodchuck Hostel who is picking me up later today. It was mostly just woods with a decent trail today and then I was surprised by a waterfall that was down in the valley - not on the AT. I could see it and hear it, I'd even have hiked to it if I wasn't trying to get my 8 miles in today. So I made a video about it instead : ) My test of drinking water with crystal light flavor thru my Sawyer filter resulted in my taking the filter out of the line in my camel bak. Even though I back flushed it, using it all day with the flavor/sugar (or what ever it is) caused the filter to clog up. I'm going to switch to MSR tablets - I'm drinking about twice as much as before using the flavoring so I'm finally getting the hydration that I need. Plus I'll save the extra ounces that the filter weighs I'm here an hour ahead of time for my ride. I don't mind waiting as I can plan my next 5 days on the trail. Rest day tomorrow.
Date: 2016-03-14
From: Room at House on Lake Holston

To: Room at House on Lake Holston
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I rested and ran errands.I pulled all of my various boxes of food and supplies out and then inventoried and sorted everything. I've got enough stuff to make it for the next month and a half or so. Today's photo is of the pop tarts that I piled up while counting them. I eat a package for breakfast along with some hot chocolate. I used to eat oatmeal but I got pretty tired of it. Got a slow leak fixed in my car's tire, went to the outfitter in Bristol and got some new undershorts to wear while hiking with my rain pants. Went out for a nice dinner - Alfredos in Bristol is pretty good. Saw the movie, Relevant, where Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the Bear and tries to survive in the wild. I thought this might be interesting since I'm out hiking in bear country.
Date: 2016-03-15
From: Room at House on Lake Holston

To: Room at House on Lake Holston
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm resting another day since I have this nice house to hang out in. The owner went down to Florida so I have the place all to myself. I'm surprised at how fast my rest days go by. I had brought my piano keyboard with me but I have not yet had a chance to play it. Or, more accurately, my time has been focused on hiking related stuff rather than my piano playing. My experiment of having a home base to drive my car back to worked out well for this month. I'm planning to stay in either Hostels or airbnb places over the next six weeks. This should result in less driving for me. I've enjoyed my time here and it was nice getting to know Bruce, the owner of the house. Tomorrow I head out for another 4 days on the trail. I promise to update my journal when I get back.Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Date: 2016-03-16
From: Dickey Gap

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

Short hike in from Dickey Gap today. Shuttle driver picked me up in front of the Relax Inn near Atkins which is where I parked my car for this four day run. No one else is here at the Trimpi shelter with me tonight. This shelter is nicely built of stone, has a privy, and a fireplace inside the shelter. I was able to see the first signs of Spring today. The yellow flowers on the bushes here by the shelter are starting to bloom and the farmers fields out in the valley today seemed to turn bright green overnight. I¢m enjoying the solitude both on the trail and in the shelters at night when I¢m alone. This seems a bit odd for me as in the past I¢ve felt isolated on the trail even when surrounded by other hikers at the shelters in the evening. Somehow I¢ve discovered the beauty of the quietness, the stillness, the realness that happens when all of the everyday distractions disappear.
Date: 2016-03-18
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6

I woke up earlier than usual this morning at about 5 am. The sun wasn¢t up yet but I was awake. Despite this I staying in my sleeping bag, turning from side to side and massaging the sore muscles in each of my hips. I noticed that my knee didn¢t hurt last night. I¢ve been using a new brace that I got from CVS to give it some more support. I sprung for the most expensive one with the hinges that will hopefully keep my knee from hyperextending, which is what I discovered it¢s called when your knee goes the wrong way like mine did a few days ago. Finally I got up, and made my daily hot chocolate to go with my frosted cinnamon pop tarts breakfast. I was able to get hiking by 8:30 which is earlier than I¢ve done lately. I decided to combine my last two days into one by hiking almost 12 miles into Atkins. I stopped at the Settlers Museum and checked out an old one room schoolhouse that had been saved or restored. The local church had several boxes of ¢Trail Magic¢ for hikers in the schoolhouse. Trail Magic is anything.. food, clothing, free rides, that is offered by various people to help thru hikers with their adventures. In this case there were foot warmers, hats, mittens, gloves, and some handmade scarves. Very nice to have people looking out for you : ) I mentally fussed preparing to talk with the owner of the Relax Inn in Atkins where I had left my car. I had told him I was expecting two boxes from Amazon to be shipped there and he had said that his fee was going to be $5 for EACH box, unless I stayed at his (super rundown) motel. Turns out that when I limped into the parking lot he came out from vacuuming a room asking if I was ok. ¢I¢m fine¢¦ old injury¢¦ ¢ I said, and then asked him how his day was going. After I mentioned the boxes I was looking for he went into the office and brought them out to me.¢Here you go, no charge.¢ He said, smiling at me. Wow. Thanks. By the way - It used to really bother me when people asked me if I was ok. I would get angry at them. I realized today that I don¢t do this anymore. I feel like I¢m walking on hope rather than dragging along a ton of resentment over my injury. The Appalachian Trail must be slowly healing me.
Date: 2016-03-19
From: Atkins, VA

To: Bristol, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I drove down last night to Bristol Virginia where I'm seeing a massage therapist who is doing some work on my leg tomorrowIt's nice to take a day and relax and allow my leg and muscles to catch up with all the hiking I've been doingI've seen a few first signs of spring so that's what today's photograph is aboutI drove halfway back up to Atkins today and I'm staying at the Woodchuck Hostel in Damascus. There's several interesting people here one named 1046 who is a writer. He's taking notes and recording me as I share my story of hiking the trail with my injured leg. I also met another through hiker who I'll call Bandit who shared his story of getting shot while serving for our country in Iraq. Oh, by the way he was shot in the head. He's doing fine now but it was very interesting listen to his story.One the best things about staying at Hostel's is getting to know the other Hikers who stay there.Thanks so much for following along with my journal. I really appreciate it.
Date: 2016-03-20
From: Bristol, VA

To: Campsite at Mile 550
Miles today: 7.6

I woke up this morning at the Woodchuck Hostel in Damascus and had a delicious breakfast of blueberry waffles made by the owner, Chuck, himself.I spent some time listening to stories from some of the other through hikers and then packed up to drive up to Bland Virginia where I was meeting my shuttle driver.On the way I called the shuttle driver to let her know that I was going to be one half hour later than expected. She answered the phone with a groggy voice and seem to have no idea whatsoever that she had agreed to shuttle me that day. It's seem to take her at least a half hour before she recognized me even though she had given me a shuttle just two days before. She shared many of the same stories about her life and family going on about family squabbles and various medical issues. I can say I was happy when the shuttle came to an end and she dropped me off in Atkins by the relax inn so that I could continue hiking from the point I stopped at two days ago. It was an easy hike today up to a camping spot about 7 1/2 miles in. I didn't want to go the full 14 miles to the first shelter because that distance will likely make it hard on my leg. I'm now camped out in the little green tent you can see in today's photo. I'm trying out dictating my journal using Siri so please forgive any grammar or spelling errors that are made.
Date: 2016-03-21
From: Campsite at Mile 550

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

I've finally met a few other through Hikers today. I haven't seen many other through Hikers lately and it was great to be able to spend time hanging out with them at the not mall shelter.Salty, and waffles his girlfriend are an interesting couple who are making great time going up the trail. Cosmo is also a younger hiker who is lean and thin. After he said hi to me on the trail I looked up a few seconds later and he was all the way down at the bottom of the next hill.I also met old growth who is a hiker in his 60s who just started his through hike in Damascus. He is going to go north from Damascus and then flip-flop from Damascus and go south down to Georgia.so there's four of us here in the shelter tonight and old-growth is sleeping nearby in his Hamic which is tied between two trees.
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To:  chestnut knob shelter 
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

The trail today was very rocky with many little PUDS. PUDS stands for pointless ups and downs. I don't mind them but the trail followed along the ridge and went up and over many little humps today.The trail was also fairly Rocky in places which causes me to slow down and take my time so I can find a flat spot to put my left leg down onto. The end of the day was a climb up through an open grassy area and I stopped at a spring near a pond 2 miles down the hill from the shelter here. This was because the chest not knob shelter is Highup on a ridge with no water source nearby.You can see in the photo that there's no trees around it and right now the wind is howling through the Roof of the shelter. Luckily it has four walls and a door, along with metal cables that go through the walls to hold the roof on and keep it from blowing off.
Date: 2016-03-23
From:  chestnut knob shelter 

To: Jenkins shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a much easier day because the trail was smooth and level in many places. This contrast it quite a bit with yesterday's Rocky Trail which went up-and-down over many PUDS.There's a few other people here near the shelter camping however I'm the only one in the shelter here tonight.I was able to make a small fire and can look out and see the The flames nearby which are slowly dying out in the darkening light.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Jenkins shelter

To: bland, Virginia
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was awesome. The trail was smooth and level with any inclines spread out over a long period of time.Off to my left is an area called God's thumbprint which is a valley surrounded on all four sides by mountains. On my right is another Valley with the big ridge which looks like a big blue ocean from here.The temperature is in the mid 60s and it's just a perfect day for hiking along the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2016-03-25
From: bland, Virginia

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I finished hiking yesterday by 2:30 PM so that I could drive down to Bristol Virginia to get one last massage treatment from the therapist there. Here's a photo of that Valley called gods thumbprint. I stayed at an Airbnb place in Bristol last night and then drove up this morning to Woods Hole Hostel where I'm spending the night tonight.We're all helping out to cook dinner which looks like it's going to be delicious.Tomorrow i'll shuttle back to Bland Virginia and then I head out for three days of hiking which will take me back to the Woods Hole Hostel. It's great to be out here hiking Appalachian Trail and I'm so thankful to have the time and support of my family to make this happen. Especially the support that my wife is giving me. I'm going to try and find a way to drive up north and spend a few days with her soon.
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Jennys Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.1

Well I passed the 600 mile point today and I can hardly believe it. It feels great to be out on the trail and my mental and physical health seem to be doing well.My injured leg does bother me some late in the afternoon so I will limp along and when I see people on the trail they ask me "are you OK?" Yes I'm fine, of course, is my response. I've been walking this way for three years and every day gets a little bit better. I had a great dinner at the Woods Hole Hostel last night. The owners Michael and Neville put on a fine show including getting most of the Hikers to help make dinner and doing a special ceremony of holding hands and going around the circle so everyone can share something that they are thankful for. We do something similar to this every Thanksgiving at home and it is a treasured family tradition.I left my car at Woods Hole Hostel and shuttled back to Bland Virginia which is where I left off a few days ago.It's great to be out hiking again. There's a family of other hikers here at the shelter with me tonight so I've got some company. Speaking of company, I saw four additional through Hikers pass me on the trail today. Does this mean that the first of the bubble is starting to show up here in southern Virginia? Thanks for reading my journal : ) You can also check out my YouTube channel which is called secrets of a successful hike. Or you can just search in YouTube for flash 52 things hike
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Jennys Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It was raining this morning when I woke up but after an hour of staying in my warm sleeping bag the rain had stopped. It was still early, 7:30, when I started hiking. It was an easy trail today with just one hill in the morning. I hit the road crossing where Trent's grocery was .5 miles away and debated on whether I was interested in a hamburger or not. I noticed that they offered shuttles so I decided to call and see if I could pay them to drive me the 1 mile distance to get there and back. Turns out the driver was not in, so I kept hiking.Within a few more miles I came to the .3 sidetrail to Dismal Falls. I pulled up the photos of the falls by doing a google search and it looked good but not spectacular. I decided to keep walking even though my motto has been to take the time to see the warerfalls and fire towers along the way. The rest of the day was pretty smooth with most of the afternoon down off the ridge hiking along Dismal creek in the rhododendrons. I came to the camping spot I had selected ahead of time around 3:00 but continued hiking since I was still feeling good and the trail was so smooth. Before long I was only a few more miles from the shelter so it was easy to keep going for my longest day yet, 14.5 miles!
Date: 2016-03-28
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

It was an easy day today with just under 7 miles to get back to the Woods Hole Hostel where I had left my car. I mostly prefer to hike along while listening to the sounds of nature and just pondering my own thoughts, but this morning I'm listening to a John Grisham novel called The Broker. It's only 12 pm when I get to the road above the Hostel which is .5 miles down the hill. This is .5 miles which is NOT on the AT - miles which I try to avoid if I can. Luckily for me there's a guy in a red pickup truck right there with the motor idling. He's waiting for the rest of his crew to arrive to help install a new cell phone tower which is sitting on the back of a nearby tractor trailer. "Any chance I can get a ride down the hill?" I ask."Sure thing, hop in" he responds.I'm now back at the hostel looking forward to another delicious dinner. Tomorrow morning I'll also get to sample breakfast which is supposed to be french toast. Yum!
Date: 2016-03-29
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Campsite at mile 632
Miles today: 7.9

I spent the night at Woods Hole Hostel and woke up to enjoy a delicious breakfast of French toast juice and hot coffee.After breakfast,I did some planning for the pieces of trails that are coming up, deciding how far I would go each day and where I plan on stopping for each night. I called my wife and let her know that I would like to drive up to Maryland sometime in the next few weeks to spend a few days with her. We were both excited about this idea.I finally headed up the hill towards the trail at noon and was soon on my way hiking along on a beautiful day. I saw three or four NOBO through hikers go by today. One of them was named TP and he was kind enough to walk at my slower pace with me for awhile and chat. I'd made my way to the cliffs overlooking Pearisburg and there were beautiful views there. In fact, the views were so good that I hiked further North to the spring and campsite where I had planned to stay for the night but instead I picked up water for dinner and hiked backwards on the trail a few tenths of a mile to get to the top of the ridge so I could camp with the beautiful views out over Pearisburg.I unpacked my new Z packs duplex tent which Im really excited about trying out even know I had no idea how to put it up. I watched a few YouTube videos to give me an idea of how to do it. I managed get the tent up started a nice fire to warm me up a bit while I make dinner. Its supposed to get down in the low 30s tonight so I'll see how well I do in my spring bag which is what I have with me now. I'm a little concerned because the wind is picking up here tonight and I'm worried that I might end up being cold.Thanks so much for reading my journal, please send me any comments through my guestbook and I'll do my best to get back to you when I'm in town.
Date: 2016-03-30
From: Campsite at mile 632

To: Campsite at mile 643
Miles today: 11.1

Today's photo is another view looking out over the valley from the top of Pearis mountain. It got down to 32° last night which is about the limit for my spring bag which I have with me now. I do have my homemade down booties with me so my feet were warm but my body got a little cold a few times during the night and I had to move around in order to warm up. I made my way down the steep trail into Pearisburg and noticed that the trail has been rerouted from what is shown in Guthooks app which I use for navigation in addition to AWOLS guidebook. It appears they've turned the trail west to keep it in the trees and on the hill rather than going through town like it used to do.I hiked back up the other side looking out across the valley at the top of Pearis mountain where I was last night. Even though it's been uphill most of the day it's been an enjoyable hike today. I stopped and made a Trailside update video for my YouTube channel called how to poop in the woods. It's a bit of an uncomfortable topic, however I think it may be helpful for other people who are interested in going out and hiking the Appalachian trail.It was around 530 pm when I came to the Ricefield shelter and since no one else was there and my legs were still feeling good I decided to go another couple miles to a campsite a little further north on the trail which is where I am now. I'm s settling down for the second night in my new tent which I really like. It's a two person tent but it's still very lightweight. This gives me more room inside to move around and not feel so cramped when I'm in the tent at night.Thanks so much for reading my journal. I hope you're having a great day.