morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-11
From: Whistling Gap

To: River Road (Erwin, TN)
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Was anxious to get day started and get to Erwin. So after a double coffee (two servings in one cup - kinda like espresso), a double oatmeal and a hot chocolate, I was off at an amazing 7:20am. Didn't stop for 7.5 hours except for one water filtering session. Lesson learned from a couple of days ago. Ate a couple of energy bars and ... a Snickers :-) while standing in one place with pack on. Some ups but mostly down. Funny thing about coming into towns off the trail. You see it from afar, you start to hear traffic noise then after many, many switchbacks you finally get there. A couple hours later. One big exercise in patience. Got off the trail at 2:50pm at the Nolichucky River (funny name but very welcomed sight!) and was in hotel at 3:30 thanks to a shuttle that was available right after I got off trail. Jumped into chores - laundry, shave, shower, gear cleaning. Then off to a nearby restaurant that wasn't fancy but they had lots of ice water and milkshakes! I'm in heaven! Beautiful evening so the walk to/from restaurant was enjoyable (I know, more walking!!!) Gotta eat! Today's sensation: All day long I got lots of warm breezes with scents of pine bark (smells like vanilla or caramel?), pine needles, other wonderful, woodsy aromas. Felt like Mother Nature was giving me a warm hug all day! I'm tired but satisfied. All set for a 9am shuttle to get me to airport and back home for Easter and a grandson baptism. All is great! Almost to 350 miles and feeling good.
Date: 2017-04-12
From: River Road (Erwin, TN)

To: Erwin, TN / Grand Rapids, MI
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Off trail back to Michigan for a grandson's baptism. Will use the time to rest, restore, replenish and enjoy family. I'm sure I'll be anxious to return to the trail life. I'll be bringing a hiking buddy back with me. I'm sure Cooter and I will have a grand week then.
Date: 2017-04-19
From: Erwin, TN / Grand Rapids, MI

To: Grand Rapids, MI / Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Back in Erwin, TN from Michigan. Back home was very restorative for mind, body and spirit. Beers and dinners with friends and family. Great baptism! Good job, Brady! You set the gold standard for well behaved babies at baptisms! Toes recovered, acquired new larger shoes, Had a massage, Thx Teri, it was heavenly and rejuvenating! Also got a cortisone shot for the left shoulder that was still a little troublesome. Thx Patrick, the PA at Orhopaedic Associates of Michigan. Can feel the relief already! Back here with Cooter from Grand Rapids. We are already enjoying each other's company! Lively and intelligent conversations. It'll be great to have a hiking buddy for a week. Off to Trail tomorrow morning! So ready!
Date: 2017-04-20
From: Grand Rapids, MI / Erwin, TN

To: Beauty Spot Gap
Miles today: 11.8

After a good night's rest at the Super 8,. My hiking buddy (for a week), Cooter from Grand Rapids   MI and I were shuttled to the AT Nolichucky River trailhead. Picked up some stove gas for Cooter at nearby Uncle Johnny's outfitters and were off at 8am on a nice day for hiking. Temps in lower 60s and hazy with a little breeze. Had a few warmer times later in direct sunlight. No shade since leaves not out yet. Cooter hiking strong from the start. He's an outdoorsman and came prepared. Me, getting my Trail legs back. Early in day my trekking poles disturbed a snake along the edge of the trail. It was a Copperhead. It had coiled with head in attack position by the time Cooter got to it. We gave it wide berth and moved on so quickly we didn't take a pic, in the interest of safety. Got in to campsite at 5:30pm. Solid 9 1/2 hrs of steady ups. Great first day with Cooter. Lots of lively, intelligent conversations about families, selves and life. Enjoyed a nice meal together watching a beautiful sunset. Couldn't have gone better . So glad to have this time with a positive person like Cooter!
Date: 2017-04-21
From: Beauty Spot Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

Started sprinkling at 5am and again at 7am. Luckily stopped before breakfast and breaking of camp but a foreshadowing of the day. Our first breaking of camp together so we made sure we checked each other out for trail worthiness. Pack good? Nothing left behind? Then Cooter asked the all important question ... How's my hair? I said, C'mon Man, you always look good! But I then had to ask, And mine? He said great! And we were off... Big climb up Unaka Mtn. Luckily early in day. Nice views. We shared personal histories in early half of day. Good conversations. Good thing because as we got a little more tired in the day talking ceased. Took turns leading up and down the hills. Were blessed with trail magic in the early afternoon. Rob and his Casper, the friendly AT Van. Rob had soft drinks and mini boxed fruit pies. Hit the spot. Rob said his claim to fame was that he was at the original Woodstock (Aug 15-18, 1969) since he has a musical background. Says he does trail magic since it is something that is more appreciated than anything else he's ever done in life. Heavier sprinkles at 3pm so all the rain gear on. Got into the Clyde Smith Shelter at 5:30pm, same duration as previous day (8 1/2hrs) but 2.5 miles farther. Great hiking day. Saw Bear Bait again after several weeks. She had to take 4 days off due to Achilles problems but now was up to days of 20 and 27 miles!! Yikes, great to be young. I did get my trail legs back today, felt good. Cooter having a good time despite challenging terrain and distances. A real trooper!
Date: 2017-04-22
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Stan Murray Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had thunderstorms and steady rain in the night. With earplugs, I slept well. Cooter as well. Rain over at breakfast and breaking of camp. Off at 7:50am and onward to conquer Roan Mtn. Up, up, up. Busiest hiker day yet. Passed 80+ hikers. Turns out it was a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis. Folks started hiking at 3:30am and planned to hike 30 miles that Sat. Wow! We conquered the 6,193' peak and ducked into a shelter at the peak with just a seconds to spare before a 30 minute downpour. Your prayers are working again! Thanks! We switched to rain gear (turns out it was not needed) and pushed onward after the rain let up. We hiked over three more balds (tough uphill climbs) in the sun but lots of breeze so we stayed cool and got into Stan Murray Shelter at 5:15pm. Tented near the shelter. Cooter-strong morning hiker, Bionic Man- strong afternoon hiker. Great team, getting it done! Met Subway during last part of hike. A retired NYPD cop who was on duty during 9/11. Very interesting thru hiker with lots of stories to tell in his NY accent. We filtered our water and cooked dinner. I surprised Cooter with a Raspberry Crumble backpacker dessert. A big hit! We finished up in time before rain started at 7:30pm and we dove into our tents. Then it was thunderstorms and rain all night long. Earplugs to the rescue again. Even had a signal in tent in the storm in the evening so was able to text wife, Susie, and report in. What a scenario. Lightning, rain, cozy in tent and texting!!!
Date: 2017-04-23
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: US 19E (Roan Mountain, TN)
Miles today: 11.1

Very, very, very, very tough day. Woke to rain, ate light breakfast in tent, broke camp in rain and rain never stopped all day. Off at 7:36am. Challenging gear day. Cooter pressed wrong button and his 2 liter water system drained out somewhere along way, We had to stop in rain and filter more. I had one of my trekking poles refuse to lock into a setting.-too wet. Had to collapse all the way down and hike with them short. In afternoon we crossed two balds- Little Hump Mtn and Hump Mtn. Temps in lower 40s, constant rain and hail (area set record for day-1.8 in of rain), 30-40mph winds. Trail was a river with lots of mud and unsure footing. Cooter and I decided it was the hardest thing we'd ever done in our lives. With our packs on our backs we almost got blown over several times, all while hiking up a steep incline. Brutal! On way down other side I fell a couple of times. Front side plant in mud once. Backside down on rock (luckily cushioned by backpack) but used left hand to break fall. Puncture wound , bruises and a reinjury of left shoulder. Ouch! Finally came to US19E, our destination, at 2:15pm, very wet and chilly and tired. Luckily a self designated city Trail Angel from Roan Mtn, TN was right there. Handed us a Coke and drive us to our B&B 3 miles away. Roan Mtn B&B, run by Steve and Ann was exactly what we needed. It's like their own home in which they live in a half and rent our 4 rooms on the other half. Had a gas fireplace going. We never felt so glad to be somewhere. We did laundry, showered and then shared some bourbon on the rocks from a small bottle Cooter had carried all this way. Then had some grest burgers from Bob's Dairy later and the tough day started to melt away! Whew. Good timing on a B&B night!
Date: 2017-04-24
From: US 19E (Roan Mountain, TN)

To: US 19E (Roan Mountain, TN)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Surprisingly tough to settle into sleep last night after grueling day! Guess new surroundings and reluctance of body to unwind. Did finally get to sleep and still did usual 6am awake. Coffee out in B&B kitchen so had a couple of cups while reading the GR Press. Nice breakfast by Ann, the proprietor. Two other young men, also spending a zero at B&B, joined Cooter and me. Chopsticks (long torso and skinny legs like chopsticks) and Orange Crush (wears orange shirts). We spent the day together shopping for resupply, eating dinner and attending a town ceremony. Had a lot of laughs and good trail conversations and stories. The ceremony, which we were lucky to be in town for, was to celebrate the designation of Roan Mountain, TN as the 41st official AT city. The locals were proud of having applied and received the designation. Good for business and a sign of AT support. Speeches and cake. Several thru hikers like me in crowd. The picture of us holding the official town designation sign shows the county mayor (they do that mayor thing differently here). Rest of day cleaning, packing, resting, blogging. Really restful. The proprietors couldn't have been friendlier or more accommodating. Found a local BBQ place for dinner with a $6.99 special. That's a throwback! All set for a 7am breakfast and at trailhead at 8am. Passing 400 miles tomorrow. One step at a time!
Date: 2017-04-25
From: US 19E (Roan Mountain, TN)

To: Tentsite 
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

Fantastic night's sleep in the B&B followed by another luxurious shower and a sumptuous breakfast by Ann. Such a gracious lady! Been a great stay. She shuttled us to the trailhead and after hugs for Ann (couldn't resist) we were off at 8:15am. Cooter strong, me a little weak. Guess zero days do that to me. Did get stronger as day went on, as I've done previously. Stopped at a beautiful falls - Jones Falls. It was the 400 mile point. Another milestone! Felt great to click that off! Had a scary fall in afternoon. Slipped on rock at a creek crossing. Fell flat on my face on the rocks. Couldn't get up so Cooter pulled me up by my backpack until I could get my feet under me. No damage! Guess the prayers and my guardian angel are working overtime. Yikes! Later in the day we actually laughed how comical that sight of me laying prone was! Passed Bear Bait and her new hiking buddy guy, Drop Top. She tried to talk Cooter into staying on the trail instead of going home. Guess he's made his usual great impression out here. She even gave him a going away hug. What a guy! Filtered water and found a great tent site with flat spots for two tents and a place to hang bear bag. Had a great dinner and pack up before the sun set . Great to see the sun after three days without. Great ending to our long 14.9 mile day.
Date: 2017-04-26
From: Tentsite 

To: Dennis Cove Rd (Hampton, TN)
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

Up and out of tents at 7am to cook our last breakfast together. As always Cooter and I had several good laughs during breakfast, Broke camp and were on our way by 8:10am. Turned out to be pretty good terrain so made good time. Really a nice sunny pleasant hiking day. Stopped at a shelter for a break knowing we are making good time. Felt like teenagers as we were goofy and snapped a bunch of selfies. One of those are posted with this entry. Were nearing our arranged meeting spot with friends at 2:00pm when we spotted them coming up the trail. They knew we'd be early (original time was 2:30pm) so they were early. So like that Navy Buddy, Mike, and his wife, Dee. So great to see them. They were kind enough to meet us (on their way to a son's home in PA) and take Cooter to the airport for his departure back to MI. Timing worked great to make his flight. Really going to miss his company. He was a great hiking buddy and a joy to get to know better. A special week! Then it was off to hotel in Johnson City, TN with Mike and Dee. I did a shower, laundry and then we went out for resupply at local grocery and a dinner out to celebrate Dee's birthday. Fun night of BBQ and then a beer in town at the Johnson City Brewing Company. Sat outside on a very pleasant evening. Really a splendid day of friends and camaraderie.
Date: 2017-04-27
From: Dennis Cove Rd (Hampton, TN)

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

My dear friends and Trail Angels, Dee and Mike, delivered me to the trailhead after I was fortified with the free Fairfield Inn breakfast. After goodbyes they were off to visit their son and family in PA. I was back hiking at 9am. At Watauga Lake the trail was covered in parts due to high water. The younger hikers forded, I took the road around and stayed dry. Watauga Lake is a TVA river dam project. Beautiful place for fishing, recreational water sports and power generation. The trail gave us views of the lake all day. High point was to hike over the earthen dam - a thrill for this civil engineer! In early afternoon treated to trail magic by Leapftog, a young man from Ohio who thruhiked  last year and was giving back.Grades not too bad today and so got into shelter area at decent time and got a place in shelter due to threatening rain. Nice not to have to put up tent. Indeed had periods of rain so cooked in shelter and chatted with Shaky(she) and Puddin''(he) husband/wife.Names bestowed by grandkids.Shelter tough overnight. The Shaky /Puddin' team snored and earplugs not a help. The young lady in shelter ran off into woods overnight coughing and barfing, the nearby young tenters decided to wake at 3am and start  34 mile Dash to Damascuscus in 17 hrs. Not a restful night.However the day's hiking was long but beautiful with lake views and good grades.
Date: 2017-04-28
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: mist

After rough night in shelter I was rewarded with a beautiful sunrise. Mountain tops clear but valley clouded in. Really a dramatic scene. The photo shows Mayapples with the morning dew and sun and the valley clouds in background. Warm humid day so, a first, short sleeve shirt, zipped off bottoms of pants and no gaiters! Whoa, Baby, breezes on the  legs and up the crotch! First time all the hike.Talked with with Slow and Steady, an older lhruhiker who is, well, slow and steady. He says, " I have my ass handed to me by the Trail every single day!". Humbling, I said. Trail Magic at just the right time by a young couple, Dusty and Crymson. I guzzled three Gatorades, just what I needed on the hot, sunny 80 degree day. At day's end found a great flat spot away from Shelter and enjoyed my evening meal in cool breezes. Perfect end to day. Only concern is second toe left foot. Still red. Not painful but concerning.
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Solid sleep overnight! No nearby snorers or middle of the night hikers.Felt amazing! Got out of tent and cooked breakfast in short sleeve shirt and shorts, a first! I like it! Leapfrogged Mojito and Sonic, a young hiking couple, and two young New Zealander young men with hearty laughs. I hike, they pass, they rest, I pass. Beautiful day for hiking. Spring flowers and butterflies out. Passed a few postcard shots, one of which is posted. Since I was watching out for the toe thought I'd go a short day to rest.Got into shelter area early at 1pm. Ate lunch and crawled into tent with feet elevated. I was proofreading a book for a Navy Buddy so used that time for that. Very restful. Also had afternoon rains so tenting was well timed. After dinner crawled back into tent to finish  book and call it a night. Toe looks better. Elevation helped.
Date: 2017-04-30
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter 

To: Damascus. VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

A little windy and blustery overnight. Earplugs in and slept well enough.Packup seemed to click well except for running out of gas. Lukewarm coffee and oatmeal. I filtered water just in case bugs not dead since I started with unfiltered water to boil. Flexibility! On way by 7:30am. Late morning passed TN/VA line. At that photo op met Grey Eagle.Although he had celebrated earlier it was his actual retirement date from Marine Corps as a Colonel. Started AT Mar 26 and already had scruffy beard and longer, gray, hair. Said he has had mixed emotions about retirement. Semper Fi! Did 10 mile trip in 5 hrs. Very easy grade and pretty hike. Just after state line noticed all trees fully leafed! Do trees know state lines?!? Into edge of town by 12:15pm. Too nearly for B& B check in so scouted out a burger and beer at Bobo Macfarlands. A name only Damascus, VA could have. They had Devils Backbone  Lager. Heaven in a glass! Had two! :-) Checked in to B&B, Dancing Bear B&B. Got a single room that shares bath with three other rooms. Been working out fine.  Very adequate, nothing fancy.Shower and shave, as  always, really a treat. Windows  open with nice breeze and birds singing. Did a little shopping at local outfitters and headed back to Bobos for an evening meal (meat loaf-comfort food!) and more beer(only two more :-) ).Called it a night.
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Damascus. VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Arose at 6am. Body clock always set to that. The shave and shower felt great. An early cup of coffee from the pantry was a great way to wile away time and prep resupply list before a great B&B breakfast. A lively crowd of older bicyclists who had stayed on property in the apartments were there at breakfast. One  of gents, himself retired Air Force B-52 pilot, figured me out as military (does it show that much?). Sat with another older, very friendly thruhiker, Jayhawk (yup, from Kansas but now living in Atlanta). After breakfast, since toe still red and swollen, went to health clinic and set up appt for later in day. Appt was very fruitful. Doc diagnosed it as infection and prescribed topical and oral antibiotics. Hopefully swollowimg pills for next 14 days will beat this. Wound care also part of plan. Sent cool weather gear back home at Post Office. At last minute kept knit hat and gloves. Talk of another cold snap. At least my extremities will be warm! With health visit, resupply, home shipment, beer and journaling, very good productive zero day! Tomorrow hiking on to Marion. VA over next several days. Onward!
Date: 2017-05-02
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Enjoyed a last shave and shower early to avoid taking up  shared bathroom time from other guests. The early coffee from pantry and relax time in room's BarcaLounger - priceless! Was only one at breakfast. Enjoyed Melissa's special mini-molded quiches. Mouthwatering! Since it was only us two she chatted. She's on Damascus' City Council. Dealing with a hostel owner who allows too many tents on site with associated partying, etc. Ahh, small town politics! Since trail is through town was able to walk out from door of B&B and be on my way at 8:45am. Beautiful hike all day. Leaves out, temps in low 60s, breezy. Part of trail along a rails to trails route (VA Creeper Train -early 1900s). Also followed the Straight Branch River-a trout street. Postcard perfect! Three ups today, challenging, but got into Shelter area at 6pm after a 9hr 15 min hiking day. Nice flat tentsite for me away from all the snorers, etc. Enjoyed a backpacker meal, and them some audiobook while waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in. Really a great, albeit long, day of hiking. Toe looking good, shoulder a bit stiff - all manageable.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

Quiet, comfortable and warm enough overnight. A bit restless but final settled in. Morning hot coffee and oatmeal fortified me for what was to be an UP kinda day. Sunny and breezy throughout the day. Wind jacket on across the mountaintops and balds and off in the valleys and gaps. Today it was up and over Whitetop Mtn- El 5,172'. And near top of VA's highest peak-Mt Rogers El 5,729'. Saw Snapchat who was doing 20 mile days! Oh to be young again. However, even she admitted to going home for a few days in DC area to reboot. Saw day and section hikers throughout day enjoying scenic part of trail. A shorter day planned. Good thing, besides lots of ups, trail was lots of rocks and roots. Beautiful views from Shelter area where I tented. Near base of Mt Rogers .Warm sunny evening so washed head and socks and air-dried both! :-) Nice quiet campsite. Went to bed with warm breezes and birds singing.
Date: 2017-05-04
From: Thomas Knob Shelter 

To: Fox Creek Tentsite
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well ... overnight the howling winds and low temps roared in. Had heard rumors of same (can't always check weather with no signal) especially at higher elevations where I was. Clouds ( or is it fog where clouds hug the ground?!?) had moved in. Toughest part of this adventure is transitioning from warm sleeping bag to the trail. Mental!! Layered up and was on way luckily with no rain in the mix! Wool shirt, fleece, wind jacket, knit hat , two layer glove syatem, rainpants, pack cover and phone on dry bag. Bring it on! Up and over Grayson Highlands. No views in fog but came across ponies grazed there to consume "negative" vegetation - briars, hawthorns, etc. At one point one of the ponies galloped out of the fog, did a 360 on the trail and galloped back into the fog. No, it did not have a horn on its forehead! No, I was not seeing unicorns! But it was magical! Once again went over several exposed balds in fog and wind -with pack sail area was blown all over the place.Rain held off long enough to prepare dinner but ate it in the tent and  stayed there .
Date: 2017-05-05
From: Fox Creek Tentsite

To: Trimpi Shelter 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Went to bed with winds howling and rain pelting tent. Tent has been very effective in keeping me dry. Earplugs in and I slept very soundly. Woke to 50 degrees, calm and sunny! On way just before 8am. Passed several day and section hikers but pretty much had trail to myself. At about 12:30pm passed Sis and Curly. Sis had section hiked AT with brother (hence the Trail name). Curly (curly hair-see pic) is a phenomenon!. She has thru hiked both AT and Pacific Coast Trail. She has also completed the Continental Divide Trail via section hikes. Each of those are 2,000-3,000 miles long! They said they had put out Trail Magic up the trail. Sure enough at next road crossing they left their van with cokes, hard boiled eggs, homemade choc chip cookies, nut  snack bags, tangerines! Amazing kindness-just giving back they said! Weather turned overcast so hiked hard. Into Shelter area at 3:10pm. Cooked meal at shelter table with section hikers-Crisscross (biked across USA with wife), Corkscrew( collects red wine) and Deceived (other two (brothers)  didn't tell him all about AT challenges! :-/ ) Rain at 5:10pm so into tent for night. Late arrivals, in rain, surrounded my tent with 10 others! Yikes! But it all worked out.