morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin, TN / Cantarroso Farm
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Downhill in to Erwin, TN a little ahead of schedule. It was a day of just walking and getting in the miles on the way to a bed. I've been walking with Freebie for a couple of days and we've convinced ourselves that Norovirus is everywhere!I did not take many pics today, so you will be treated to this creative rendition of the traditional 4x6 inch whit blaze. Apparently there are approximately 165,000 on the trail. I take a photo of one every day.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Erwin, TN / Cantarroso Farm

To: US Forest Service Road 230
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Late start out of Erwin since I had to wait til noon to see if the post man brought my food box or not. I did not think it would arrive since tracking showed it back in Fort Worth Texas after a four day loop to Austin. I hope that is not a recurring pattern. A quick resupply at Uncle Johnny's got me enough calories for the push to my next box. On the way up I was reminded that the trail is not always remote. Definitely some reminders of the real world to be seen, but they can be pretty also.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: US Forest Service Road 230

To: Roan High Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I pushed hard today to get back on my schedule. The schedule is really only dictated by how long my food will last. In reality I need to slow down a bit. I wish I knew this before the endless hill climbin today and the pain that it inflicted on my lower right leg. The day ended at the highest shelter on the trail, situated at 6194' above sea level. A great choice for a cold wet night, huh?
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Roan High Shelter

To: US 19E / Mountain Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

By far my toughest day yet on the trail! Mentally and physically exhausting to walk down from all the climbing done yesterday in the forty something degree, sideways rain and creek/mud-big of a trail. To all my Scottish friends, the Roan Highlands gave me a full taste of nasty weather I imagine you get in your fair country. Alas no single malt at the end of my day! Not even a bed at the hostel or anywhere else in town. I had to sleep in my tent again. Bad end to an even worse day. Not walking in NC again may be none too soon!
Date: 2015-04-16
From: US 19E / Mountain Harbour Hostel

To: Mile 410.5 campsite
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

A self-pity induced late start did give the sun a chance to dry out my gear before heading out around 10:30. This was the first sign I saw at the trail head. Time to do a little replanning on the fly. And the leg got concerningly painful today. Hmmmm. Maybe 55 miles in three days was not my best idea yet...
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Mile 410.5 campsite

To: Hampton TN / Braemar Castle Hostel
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

So the leg is bad enough to need some rest. I've put eighty miles on it and it keeps getting more and more wobbly. Fortunately there is a short side trail to Hampton TN and a hostel to get some clean dry rest. Just before the side trail, this remnant of the old life in Hampton presented itself. That is how my lower right tibia feels; structurally deficient and neglected!
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Hampton TN / Braemar Castle Hostel

To: Hampton TN / Braemar Castle Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

A day of icing my leg, visiting the pharmacy and a local diner for my staple town food of a bacon cheeseburger. I am disappointed in some ways to have not made Damascus in one month, but that is actually an arbitrarily contrived deadline that served no purpose. Lesson from the leg, the trail and a day in a small town: Slow Down! There is NO hurry man!In other news, I finally had time to back fill some video clips to the blog. Have a review and see where they popped up.And a huge thank you to my physio friend Jacqui in Christchurch who helped me figure out the most likely diagnosis for my leg and provide some taping options. Fingers crossed! I'm on he trail again bright and early... Hoping I don't fall down in a heap before I get through the bear closure area.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Hampton TN / Braemar Castle Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Two main features today. First, and most importantly, my leg works again!!! The combination of Naproxen Sodium anti-inflammatory meds and a good taping of the ankle got me through fifteen miles on the trail at 85-95% efficiency. The Level of discomfort is drastically reduced so I feel like I am moving normally again. That is such a relief! I hope I accomplished whatever task God had in mind for me in Hampton during my unscheduled layover. The other feature was Watauga Lake. Site of the previously reported Burmese closure. I was happy to be moving well and made really good time through the four mile area where "no lingering" was prescribed. The dam more or less marked the end of the bear zone and provided a nice unobstructed view of this recreational lake. And more rain....
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Second to last night out before a zero in Damascus. It started well after an overcrowded shelter with no flat tent spots put me up on a thin ridge for the night. The views were short lived as the cold and rain came in for another few hours in the morning. I caught up with Alli who was picking up after 600+ miles last year. The planning is quite fluid some days on the trail.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Damascus / Lazy Fox Inn BnB
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

In to Damascus today. The walk was fairly uneventful aside from the fact that I was moving much better on the leg. The highlight was a trip to Abingdon with some trail friends whom I'd met around Hot Springs and not seen for a while. Seven of us piled in to a Hyundai Accent for the 15 minute drive and an excellent barbecue dinner. In the back is me, Comrade, Moon Unit and Puma. Switchback is hidden from view behind Moon Unit. Second Star is in the front seat and the driver shall remain nameless for reasons of traffic legality.AT Twenty is early morning fog and wind.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Damascus / Lazy Fox Inn BnB

To: Damascus / Lazy Fox Inn BnB
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My second zero. I spent both nights at the Lazy Fox Inn. I believe he house was built around 1903. The dogwood trees may be just as old.The rest was good and the company I had in town has been great. It is always nice to bump in to prior walking partners and this time I caught up with PA Trail Runner for dinner. The AT Twenty is on the front porch of the Lazy Fox Inn in Damascus, VA. Breakfast was amazing!
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Damascus / Lazy Fox Inn BnB

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

I met Peck today on the way out of Damascus, VA. He is the 3rd person I've seen wearing an Aarn pack. He is using a Featherlite Freedom with 12 liter balance pockets on the front. That just happens to be what Aarn recommended to me. Peck is as happy as I am with its ride and convenience.  We both think Aarn packs should send a rep to trail days since everyone responds to seeing them with positive comments and insightful questions. The leg is at 95%. So nice to be walking without wincing on every other step. The road to full recovery should be another week. Thanks to all for the encouraging notes and comments. AT Twenty is Genesee singing at the Lost Mountain shelter, mile 484.9
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Scales Corral

To: Campsite at mile 525
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Today's GPS TrackA couple of things happening here today. First for the team back at Bluewater Systems in New Zealand, see that the onesie has been rocked!  Not by me but your suggestion has been heard by Math Rage. He was a 2004 thru hiker who was part of a huge trail side impromptu party that I came across at 9 am. It was still going from the night before with at least twenty people and one keg actively participating. The party stopped Comrade, Moon Unit and Switchback whom I've socialized with in Hot Springs and Damascus but not seen on the trail much. We walked together most of the rest of the day. Today's trail twenty is Comrade explaining his idea of a "bang, bang" visit to the towns of Marion and then Atkins to keep the party going. I passed on the invite after my own 20 mile day. When the thunder and lightning started at 10 pm and really kicked in at 2 am, I reconsidered my choice.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Campsite at mile 525

To: Atkins, VA / Relax Inn
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

I met Jesus today! The thru-hiker trail named Jesus due to his resemblance to the popular modern visual depictions. After skipping the Bang! Bang! party push to Marion yesterday, I got an early start and was moving really well on the leg thanks to the less demanding terrain today. Seventeen miles in seven hours including breaks. But sometimes the best part of a day is when there is a food drop waiting in town.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Atkins, VA / Relax Inn

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I woke up early today but not in a hurry. A leisurely breakfast at The Barn was followed by a 9:40 start to my walking. The pack was stupid heavy with extra food and a few added items. I will send some ahead or home in pearisburg in four days. Until then it is dead weight. But all that means I just went easy all day. And the highlight was passing the one quarter point! Hard to believe I've done that much already. Seems like I just started and also like I've been going forever. And when was the last time you let yourself take the time to watch the sun move across a hillside? Enjoy.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

Today I walked through a part of the trail that was deeded (either outright it just mineral rights) to the ATC by a friend of the family. My backup trail boss Betty has family from Burkes Garden, VA. She sent through some coordinates of the property location so I used all my technology to take a photo of the white blaze nearest the boundary marker she gave. And I recorded some of the trail walking. Just a note Betty, grandpa left ALL the rocks on the ridge! I'm just sayin...
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Campsite at 610.8
Miles today: 33.7
Weather: light rain

Today I was blessed with good fast trail, great weather and happy legs. That all added up to knocking off one of my personal challenges earlier than I would have anticipated; a thirty+ mile day. 33.7 all up. Not many pics other than the sunlit trail in the morning and twenty seconds of my fast feet on an easy trail.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Campsite at 610.8

To: Docs Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I caught up to pa trail runner properly today. We both had the same plan for the next two days so we took it easy and chatted about our last couple of weeks near but not really in touch with each other. I decided to try an interview for the at twenty. It is longer than twenty seconds.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Pearisburg / Holiday Lodge

To: Pearisburg / Holiday Lodge
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in Pearisburg. Unplanned really, but I had a terrible nights sleep on Friday and the leg can always use some recovery time. I watched tv and balled most of the day after getting a big bag of real fruit for breakfast.Then the gang (now known as ALD; a little distasteful)  of Comrade, Moon Unit and Switchback rollover in to town. They had friends from home down to visit so the bar was visited. And the bar was enjoyed.
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Pearisburg / Holiday Lodge

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

Best part of my day was finding Ferris and Obi Wan at a great camp spot twelve miles in. The spot had a resident chair of which I availed myself for a good ten minutes. That was the vantage point for the daily photo. I was then invited to pass another bit of time throwing the frisbee wih Obi Wan. Ferris kindly rolled tape for the twenty. Alas I moved on.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: VA 630

To: VA 620
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Sometimes trail magic shows up on a hot Tuesday in Virginia at the most unexpected place.  Such was the case for a few of us today. After 10 miles or so, I came down a hill to a dirt road and was offered a hot dog from a past hiker named Runaway. He and Grasshopper were giving back. And they were giving heaps!  Five hot dogs, some salad and fruit and Fritos and Gatorade. That was my feed. If you guys are reading this, THANK YOU so much for making a really tough couple of days turn around so fast. You made my week, not just my day.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: VA 620

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Well here is the classic obligatory AT picture from McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed places on the entire trail. It graces the cover of several trail narrative books. A huge thanks to Jorge, a guy I talked with while walking up the trail only to find out he used to live 10 minutes from my home in the Dallas area.At the shelter just beyond, I met Skipper who is carrying a violin to play at nights. Such a surprising treat some days out here.
Date: 2015-05-08
From: Daleville / Howard Johnsons

To: Daleville / Motel 6
Miles today: 0.0

Today is a zero. Mainly to let my friends Comrade, Moon Unit and Switchback catch up; but also to rest my feet a bit. The last two days of downhills turned my little toes in to skin bags of fluid (i.e. giant blisters that encompassed the entire toe!) I'm not sure why since I've not had the issue before, but I suspect the heat is playing a role.The gang is encouraging me to "double zero" while they have their own day of rest. That is a dangerously slippery slope that I can not entertain.On the flip side, days in town are when a lot of the chores get done, like laundry and drinking really nasty but delightfully cheap beer like Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Daleville / Motel 6

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

A nice day of walking. Virginia is NOT flat, but they do a pretty good job of making gentle slopes of most uphills. The trail maintenance guys should get an award for all the switchbacks they've built.I came across a hiker named Karaoke playing and singing Irish folk songs while sitting on a rock in a creek.
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Today is the day I started listening to audio books on the trail. I had no need or desire for music or books for the first 700 miles. But Virginia is a long way and some sections look a lot the same for hours on end. I'd given myself permission to use my iPhone as an entertainment device starting in Virginia.First book on a recommendation from my friends the Coxons in New Zealand: Red Rising.The main downside to listening to books on the trail: you are done in 1 to 3 days! The main upside: you no longer have to listen to your own breathing or footsteps for 8 or 10 hours a day.Still paying enough attention to see the wildlife though...
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Glasgow / Hiker Pavilion
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

A long day of walking on a hot and sunny day. But if this 74 year old, third time AT Through-Hiker (with terminal cancer) can do it... well no reason to complain about the piddly hardships like temps in the high 80's (F, not C).Most of my town stops have been in "trail towns" where the AT goes right through. Glasgow required a 6 mile hitchhike which Rabbit and I were lucky to get straight away.
Date: 2015-05-12
From: Glasgow / Hiker Pavilion

To: Glasgow / Hiker Pavilion
Miles today: 0.0

I am trying an experiment: SLOW DOWN! Partly because it is supposed to get to 90 degrees F today. Also because I have been doing more miles than necessary. At my current pace, I'm done 6 or 7 weeks before I need to be. So I'm hanging out in the air-conditioned library in the town of Glasgow, VA. Clean toilets, cool air, and free computers.It's hard to say what the best part of the day will be, but the new tires (shoes) will certainly be a help.Edit: At 7 pm two lovely ladies, Apple Butter whom I met headed in to the Grayson Highlands and her friend visiting from Utah dropped in with an ice chest full of drinks, real food like carrots and yogurt, necessities like soap and q-tips and a whole lot of candy bars and good will. We were the last stop on their day of trail magic. Thank you Ladies!!! That was the best part of today. The shoes will be the best part of tomorrow.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Glasgow / Hiker Pavilion

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

The James River was my starting point this morning. From five miles up the trail it already seems a distant memory. Seventeen miles up the trail I ran in to Obi Wan and Ferris again. Ferris was trying her luck at fishing for dinner in the reservoir while she and I chatted about the free hiker shelter in the town of Glasgow.
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The return of Tom Blue included another mile or more of walking together in the morning and was punctuated with a trail magic breakfast of omelette, Oreos, Pop-Tarts and Orange soda. Such a good way to fuel up for a day on the trail. Thanks again Tom!I also Got to walk with 3-Mile and Rabbit today. We all go at the same pace and it was really nice to chat with new people most of the day as opposed to walking alone. 3-Mile is a professional photographer so that made for lots of conversation. Rabbit threw out a number of hypothetical questions from the "would you rather" variety. End result was a great day with little progress on my next audio book.
Date: 2015-05-16
From: Maupin Falls Shelter

To: Paul C Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Today's entry is all about the volunteers who make the AT a better place. Actually they make the trail safe, usable and even passable. Nobody gets paid to look after this 2,189 mile playground for hikers. People who are part of clubs make it happen for no other reason than they are passionate about it. Today we saw dozens of workers over several miles of trail. Mostly from the Old Dominion AT Club. So THANK YOU for your time, energy and efforts team. We sincerely appreciate the clean fire pits, water cuts to protect the tent sites and graffiti-free shelters. Thank means you Lori, Phil and Mark... And everyone else on your team we did not meet.
Date: 2015-05-17
From: Paul C Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro VA / Quality Inn
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: broken clouds

Yesterday was about trail volunteers. Today is about town food. We arrived early in to Waynesboro after scoring a hitch within minutes of getting off the trail. Destination: Weasie's Kitchen. THE place for breakfast in town. As you can see by the pile of packs, all the hikers make this stop.For lunch it was the legendary Ming's Chinese Buffet. For less than $12 we sat and ate good food including fruits and veg for almost two hours.
Date: 2015-05-18
From: Waynesboro VA / Quality Inn

To: Waynesboro VA / Tree Street Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a big fat ZERO. I spent some time in town and we treated ourselves to a movie. The most interesting part of the day was an impromptu tour of the Fishburne Military School. Virginia has its share of history and this includes a diploma for the founder signed by the R E Lee.
Date: 2015-05-19
From: Waynesboro VA / Tree Street Inn

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Today we entered the Shenandoah National Park. It is the second of two national parks on the AT. The SNP is reported to have the densest black bear population in the world with nearly one bear per square mile. Fingers crossed for more safe sightings. This photo does not include a bear... It is for control purposes only.
Date: 2015-05-20
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

A full day in the park.... And no bears. Lots of wild blackberry thickets which bears love. No bears. On the flip side, our camp site was 150 yards from one of the best sunsets I've seen on the trail yet. The phone camera does not do it justice.
Date: 2015-05-21
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: High Top Hut
Miles today: 14.7

Still no bears but the deer are plentiful! Three mile and I were out early, like walking by 06:15 early, to catch some of the critters before they we're scared off by other hikers. It worked. We saw a few deer early and then came across a group of bucks which will stay together before the breeding season. This one is just starting to get the antlers coming through.
Date: 2015-05-22
From: High Top Hut

To: Bug Meadows Campground
Miles today: 20.8

Today was a great day! A long 20 miles but beautiful sunny and cool weather after the previous day's rain. We also hit a camp store around lunch time. The first store was closed on day 2 in the park but this one made up for it. Hungry hikers four days removed from a real meal will destroy a convenience store and that is pretty much what we did here.The odd thing is that even a retired military lawyer who should be adept at following the rules after a lifetime of minding and then enforcing the details will let his sense of "hiker trash" win and demonstrate the peculiar sense of entitlement that all long distance hikers have for the simplest comforts. It can be most simply summarized as "I've walked over 900 miles to get here, I'm cold and the asphalt road is warm. Go around me. I don't care that is the only way in or out for 50 vehicles."
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Bug Meadows Campground

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

It is Memorial Day weekend in the national park. I could not have planned to be here on this holiday if I tried, but it worked out that way. I thought it would be annoying with all the tourists I n what seems to be the Wild West to most inhabitants of Washington DC. But it has actually been very refreshing to talk with lots of day hikers and see a real cross section of he American public. With the exception of the exceedingly busy people who rush through the scenic overlooks without getting out of their cars. We saw too many cases of the iPhone or iPad being stuck out the side window to snap the view and move on. Likely discussing where to eat for dinner instead of relishing the vista (such as this one captured by Three Mile) or pondering the history.
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I stayed at the shelter that was the scene of my favorite anecdote in bill Bryson's book a walk on the woods. Some local weekend hikers obnoxiously come in late on a rainy day and display a complete lack of awareness for Bryson and his hikin companion katz. So much so that the two pitch their tents in the rain to get away from the weekend wankers. In the morning, Katz notices the most obnoxious lady has left her shoes outside while sleeping of her hangover. So he steals her laces. We had two weekend hikers at the shelter, amongst ten thru-hikers. They were really nice though, so no laces were to be stolen. We so had a local hiking club member stroll in around five pm and present us all with a selection of cold bottles of beer!  That settled the truce for us in full. And back to be darn bears... We were warned by several southbound hikers about a problem bear at this hut. The log book warned about a problem bear at ghis hut. The only bear problem is that they stay away from me! Stupid national park. Still no more bears.