morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-13
From: Paul C. Wolfe shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 5.1

Hit the trail excited knowing it was just a 5 mile hike to town. Right after Ma'am and I got on the trail a bobcat crossed our path. He was too quick to catch a photo. Towards the end of our five miles we met Regina, a ridge runner.We hitched a ride into Waynesboro in the back of a tall pick up truck. Caught up with Momma Sunshine in town.Ma'am and I had dinner at the Heritage which had live music Saturday night. This evening it was a rockabilly band. Chance joined us later.
Date: 2015-06-14
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero Day!Walked a mile and a half to the outfitters for fuel and a new hydration tube. On my way back to town stopped at the Tastee Freeze for lunch and a malt. Walked to Dollar General and Kroger for food resupply and lounged around the rest of the day.
Date: 2015-06-15
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

Got a shuttle back to the trail at 8am. Pretty quickly after I started hiking I felt like I didn't want to be hiking, but I worked through that and hiked a 20 mile day. So far the Shenendoahs have a nice moderate terrain.Around lunch time, while getting water from a spring, a local hiker and trail maintainer came by and handed out ice cold Pepsi. Which was awesome because Virginia is in an early summer heat wave.
Date: 2015-06-16
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up and on the trail at 7:30am and pretty quickly had that feeling again that I didn't feel like hiking. Tried to figure our how to shorten my day. Went through the campground, it was huge, didn't want to stay there. Went to the camp store for a Pepsi and a postcard for my nephews.Had two hikers I met for the first time today that when I told them my name was Paisley the responded, "You are the one with the really nice handwriting in the trail registers." Toes made an entry below mine and did a PPS "My handwriting looks sloppy next to Paisley's."The humidity is so draining so I was hiking slowly trying not to get drenched in sweat. Ended up with 13.2 miles today and reached the shelter by 4 pm. Resting up for bigger miles tomorrow. Hopefully the humidity will start dropping and hopefully my head is back in it tomorrow.
Date: 2015-06-17
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Much better temps and humidity levels today, which made for better hiking. Actually enjoyed most of my hike today. Each time my feet get wet I seem to get a new irritation on my feet. This time it is right behind the ball of my foot, which barely touches the insole so I am not sure how it is getting irritated. After speaking to other hikers they pointed out that when we are walking on rocks this is the pressure point it hits, mystery solved.Hemingway was the the trail to the hut and asked if I had seen any other hikers today. He was the first to reach the hut and said there was a couple down there with a futon mattress. As I headed down to the hut they were carrying the mattress back to their car.People rolled into the shelter late last night and they did it again tonight. So while others are in sleep mode they are hauling things our of their pack, blowing up mattresses, changing closes, flashing their headlamps around the shelter. GRRR.In the morning the weird couple was back coming down to the hut to see if the hikers had left yet. Very strange.
Date: 2015-06-18
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 8.4

I woke up in no hurry to get on the trail. Major downpour last night which I hoped would bring cooler weather. This humidity is my Kryptonite.Seven miles from the shelter was a wayside where can you can get grill food. I got a cheese burger, macaroni salad and a blackberry shake. I so didn't feel like hiking so I ended up spending three hours there. I wasn't the only one caught in the food vortex. Everyone was forcing themselves back out onto the trail.When I did finally get back on the trail I told myself just get the the next shelter 4.4 miles down the trail. I only made it 1.3 miles down the trail to the Big Meadows Campground. I got a small wooded site, took a shower, did laundry and relaxed.I have been in a funk since I entered the Shenandoahs. I don't know if it is the Virginia Blues, PMS, the weather or what, hopefully the short day with food and clean up will help me shake this funk.
Date: 2015-06-19
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Woke up to cloudy and windy which made for great hiking weather and low humidity. Terrain was nice as well so the 18.4 miles felt good. A couple water sources I was planning on were dry so when I passed the Skyland Restaurant I went down there and found a water fountain to fill my water bottles. And while I was there I grabbed a Pepsi and chips to have with my lunch.Other hikers were waiting there until noon to have lunch in the restaurant. Some hikers are stopping at every single food opportunity out here (wayside, restaurant, hitches into town for food), I don't know how they get miles in always chasing food. And if they are not eating food out of their food bag they are just carrying extra weight.
Date: 2015-06-20
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

Looking forward to last wayside seven miles up the trail today for lunch and another blackberry milkshake.While at the the wayside other hikers had a weather report that a storm was headed our way this evening, remnants of a hurricane. So everyone went racing up the trail to the next shelter hoping for shelter space. I didn't want to squeeze into a full shelter to I tented. Park service was there when I arrived, I guess they were going to the ones they could reach by vehicle to make sure we knew about the storm.Just rained on and off all night, not bad at all.
Date: 2015-06-21
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

Summer solstice....Naked Hiking Day!Since I was in a National Park I didn't expect to see any naked hikers. And I didn't. But I saw a lot of families out hiking for Father's Day.Short hike today to the Terrapin Station Hostel for shower, laundry and resupply for Harper's Ferry.Terrapin Hostel was nice. Bunks with big air mattresses, sodas, we ordered pizza and watched Mission Impossible III and then sat around eating quarts of ice cream. Only six there for the night: Haulin' Oats, Grazer, Hollywood, Cowboy, Popsicle and myself.
Date: 2015-06-22
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Manassas Gap shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

Hostel owner took us to town for resupply in the morning and I was on the trail by 9:30am.Had lunch at the Jim and Molly Denton shelter, which is a gorgeous shelter.Received trail magic as I headed toward my final climb of the day. A woman in a vehicle just left the parking lot offering Gatorade and chips. Much appreciated because it was a warm day.After leaving the gorgeous shelter I end up at a shelter that is downwind of the privy. Stinky!
Date: 2015-06-23
From: Manassas Gap shelter

To: Rod Hollow shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Headed out with plans for big miles. It was warm so I made sure to stay hydrated.I was almost to Rod Hollow shelter when a section hiker stopped me to ask questions about Osprey backpacks. While I was talking to her I started to get lightheaded. I told her I needed to keep moving so that I didn't pass out. I hadn't realized how much the heat was affecting me until I stopped moving.Got to the shelter and was going to rest a bit and then try to get in some more miles because it was too early to stop for the day. While there another hiker comes in saying there is a storm warning that included hail. Since I was headed to a campsite and not a shelter from there this had me rethinking my plans. Ended up staying where I was and the storm ended up just giving us a sprinkle of rain. Murphy's Law, you know if I had hiked to that campsite the storm would have hit full force.
Date: 2015-06-24
From: Rod Hollow shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 11.6

Up early since I stopped early for the storm that didn't happen and was on the trail at 7am headed for the portion of the trail known as the roller coaster. This section is 13.5 miles of back to back ascents and descents. Temps and humidity were much better today which was the one good thing about stopping early yesterday.Hike was going smoothly and I had plans to hike all the way through the roller coaster and stay at the AT Blackburn Center.I hiked passed the 1,000 mile mark and just before 2pm I tripped on a root and in front of me was one of those large logs we like to sit on because they are the height of a chair. My face hit the log with the full force of the fall. Immediately started bleeding, did not pass out, checked my nose: not broken, checked my teeth: all there.After about 5 minutes Ewok arrived and I let him know I needed help. He let me know there were open wounds on my upper lip and right cheek that were the cause of the blood as well as a bloody nose. He told me to hike up to Bears Den hostel and he would carry my pack. So I covered my wounds with a wet bandana and hiked just under a mile to Bears Den for help. When I arrived I asked someone to head down trail to help Ewok with my backpack since he was trying to carry two at once.I was taken to Urgent Care in Purcellville and they cleaned me up and stitched my open wounds. Ten stitches on the cheek and five on the lip. Rick "One Step" came back to urgent care to get me and took me to Harper's Ferry where I was supposed to meet my sister the next day for a few days off the trail with family. When I got to the ATC I called my sister to let her know I needed to be picked up a day early. The doctor wanted me off trail 5-7 days to keep sweat and dirt out of the wounds and stitches could come out in 5 days.
Date: 2015-06-25
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Sister's House in Clarksburg, MD
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day after the fall and assessing the damage. Overall very lucky, this could have been much worse and thankfully I was close to family when it happened.Lacerations with stitches, swelling and bruising, nothing broken. My teeth did some damage to my gums but nothing that needed stitches. No headache or neck ache. It feels weird to be off trail because my body feels fine and my face doesn't even hurt much. But I need to keep the wounds sweat and dirt free while the skin is healing. It is on my face so I'd like to give it the best opportunity to leave minimal scars.I plan to get back on trail early next week after the stitches are removed. Right where I left the trail at Bears Den Hostel and finish that crazy roller coaster ride.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: David Lesser shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

My sister and nephews returned me to the trail today after I had my stitches removed this morning. They walked me down the first white blaze on the trail and off I went. I was a bit anxious to start but eventually relaxed and got back into the hiking groove.About 4:30pm I saw a juvenile bear on the trail. I was enough distance away I could get my camera out and zoom in to take a few photos. It started walking down the trail towards me so I tapped my trekking poles and it ran off.Reached the shelter about 6:15pm with a butt cramp for the last mile that had me limping down the trail. The shelter had just reopened before I arrived because it was closed for trail maintenance to remove all the fallen trees from a storm on Saturday.
Date: 2015-06-30
From: David Lesser shelter

To: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Headed to Harpers Ferry to the ATC to get my thru hiker number for the season. On my way I saw another juvenile bear. It dropped out of a tree like it was coming down a fireman's pole then he quickly scurried off into the woods. Two bears in two days, I think Virginia is trying to apologize for slamming my face into a log last week.Left Virginia for good today and entered West Virginia. Went to the ATC to get my thru hiker photo taken and I am thru hiker #996 for this season. I had planned on hiking through West Virginia and into Maryland today but the butt muscle started cramping again and had me limping again. So I headed to the Teahorse Hostel for a short day today. About 4:30pm a downpour went through that made me glad I had stayed in Harpers Ferry. Chance for more severe weather tonight.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Appalachian Trail Conservancy

To: Rocky Run shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: moderate rain

Headed out of Harpers Ferry about 9am after a waffle breakfast at the Teahorse Hostel.Nice mild elevation for today's hike. Trail angel Vicki was doing trail magic at Gathland State Park. She follows trailjournals.com and recognized my name from my journal.Met Dave who started a potential flip-flop thru hike starting at Harpers Ferry going northbound today. Asked lots of thru hiker questions that I was more than happy to share what I knew.As I was hiking today I saw a hiker with his shorts down low and as I came closer he pulled up his shorts. He was hiking with his "package" hanging out.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Rocky Run shelter

To: Raven Rock shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Smooth hike today overall. Hiked with Dave on and off. Dave stopped at Ensign Cowell shelter and I moved on to Raven Rock shelter for a 20 mile day.It has been nice being on a part of the trail that I have already done. And it is nice that it feels easier this time.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Raven Rock shelter

To: Tumbling Run shelters
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up and Tiger Mike had heard from Trail Angel Vicki and that she would be at Pen Mar Park around 10am with trail magic. She brought us (Tiger Mike, Dave, Stretch, Recalc and I) egg sandwiches, sodas, apples, peaches, fresh apple pie, fresh peach praline pie and fudge. The most decadent trail magic I have ever had! It was amazing! THANKS VICKI...YOU ARE AWESOME! She then drove some of the guys to Waynesboro for resupply.Tiger Mike and I headed for the Mason Dixon line to hike into Pennsylvania. A short distance up the trail was a cooler full of ice cold sodas! More trail magic!Met some day hikers out hiking this holiday weekend and talked with them for a while.Stopped sooner than I expected today but it allowed me to air out and dress some hot spots on my feet and I was able to meet the caretakers of the shelter where I stayed.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Tumbling Run shelters

To: Birch Run shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: moderate rain

I was the only thru hiker at the Tumbling Run shelters. There were two weekenders in hammocks.Up and on the trail about 8am just as Stretch, Recalc and Dave were hiking by.Rained on and off today. Hiked with Dave part of the day. Slipped and fell in the mud, right on my butt. Dave and a day hiker helped me get back on my feet while keeping my pack on.Had lunch with Stretch, Recalc and Dave at the snack bar at the Caledonia State Park. Not a lot of holiday picnickers to yogi from due to the rainy day.Tomorrow we cross the official halfway point and we pass through Pine Grove Furnace State Park where they do the Half Gallon Challenge.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Birch Run shelter

To: James Fry shelter
Miles today: 17.1

Two and a half miles into the day I crossed the official halfway point on the trail at 1094.6 miles. Also crossed the 1100 mile point today.Once I reached Pine Grove Furnace State Park I did NOT attempt the half gallon challenge. I did have some ice cream, soda, hawaiian burger and fries.Stretch, Recalc and I set up tents at the James Fry shelter and were later joined by Rigga and Zipp. Zipp had a guitar and Stretch, Recalc and Zipp took turns playing and singing. Really nice way to end the day.Heading to Boiling Springs tomorrow for a maildrop and a bed, shower and laundry.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: James Fry shelter

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and on the trail around 7am and headed to town. On the hike today was a section of rock maze that we had to climb over and around large boulders.The trail brings you right to the ATC Mid-Atlantic office where I picked up some thicker socks to cushion my feet on the Pennsylvania rocks.I stayed at the Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse. They have theater on site. And of course I rolled in on a day that everything is dark: theater, restaurant and bar.Thinking about zeroing tomorrow to rest my feet, update my journal and take in some theater.
Date: 2015-07-07
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Continental breakfast in the morning. Extended by stay one more day and going to the matinee performance this afternoon.Had the best zero day! There was a lunch buffet before theater. Salads, catfish, ham, turkey, chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes. And for dessert: coconut cake, key lime pie, chocolate on chocolate cake.Theater at 1 pm was Damn Yankees. Summer stock theater is so cool. This place totally reminded me of The Barn Theater in Augusta, MI. I saw that Dave and Wolf had arrived at the resort before I attended the matinee.After theater I went for a swim in the pool. For dinner Wolf, Dave and I went to the tavern in town for the fanciest meal I have had on the trail: chicken stuffed with spinach and artichoke and covered in a creamy crab sauce.Wolf is getting off the trail here and going home to Germany. Sad!
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Cove Mountain shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a raspberry buffet! The locals called it another type of berry, but whatever it was there were lots of them and they were good. About an hour into my hike I was crossing a field and hiking in the other direction was Warren Doyle.The first 13 miles of the hike today was flat so it went by fast. The last 2.5 miles was very rocky and slow.Saw lots of deer, fawn and bunnies while hiking today.Rolled into camp with a sinus headache. Took meds and laid down at 7:30pm. Woke up at 9:15pm, hadn't eaten dinner. Grabbed some trail mix for a calories before bed.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: Cove Mountain shelter

To: Clarks Ferry shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Dragged my feet a bit this morning wanting to reach Duncannon for lunch at The Doyle Hotel and I was only 4 miles away.The rocky 4 miles went quicker than I expected and I arrived at 10::30am and they open at 11 am. So Keychain and I waited. Once they opened there was a group of hikers Vicki had issues with; leaving beer bottles on the balcony railing and using the out of order bathroom. No one would confess so she asked them all to leave even though they were planning on paying for another night.Finally left Duncannon at 1 pm, got to the shelter at 3:30pm with word that a storm was coming. Had to decide if I could make to the the next shelter before the rain hit. You could see the gray clouds blowing over. I stayed put and so did Sunshine and it rained once an hour for the next few hours. We had wet hikers coming in later.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Clarks Ferry shelter

To: Yellow Springs campsite
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

First one out of the shelter this morning and man were the trail webs abundant. I have never been more coated in webs while hiking. I was more than happy to step aside when other hikers finally came along to pass me.I was at a shelter taking a break when Boomerang, who hikes with Warren Doyle and his group, stopped there as well. I had signed the shelter register and when he saw that I was Paisley. He said, "Warren saw your writing in the registers and wants to meet you."To get back on track after the short miles yesterday I needed to do 24.7 miles. If I wanted to hike until 9pm I could have done it. I prefer to end hiking around 6pm. So I did a 20 mile day and stopped at the Yellow Springs campsite.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Yellow Springs campsite

To: William Penn shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Beautiful hiking weather today, low humidity. Wreck and I were the only ones at the Yellow Springs campsite last night.About halfway through my hike yesterday my trekking pole broke for good. Was a little anxious about hiking on all these rock with one pole, but I adapted.Just before I arrived at the shelter tonight there were rocks that said, "1,000 to ME." The shelter is located at mile 1,189.3 so when I left that next morning I only had 999.9 miles left to hike to reach Katahdin.There were a few locals who hiked in a couple miles to camp at this shelter. There was a family in tents, young men who hiked in with beer aand hammocks and a couple who stayed in the shelter with Nick (PA section hiker) and I. They had alcohol with them so I was a little concerned on how they might act tonight. But they were very courteous and even offered me the extra corn on the cob and ice water. The woman was very, very chatty.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: William Penn shelter

To: Eagles Nest shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: overcast clouds

While hiking today I saw Excalibur hiking southbound. I asked him where he was going. He was having major symptoms of dehydration so he was going back to the road crossing to go into town to get rehydrated.At PA183 road crossing there were trekking poles on a rock with a note...for ME! Space Cowboy left me a pair of trekking poles to use to get into Port Clinton over the rocks. Over the months I have been out here I have seen notes left for other hikers but this on was for me. I was very touched that another hiker cared to find me poles.Pulled out and used my bug head net for the first time to keep my sanity today. I was tired of kamikazee gnats flying in my eyes and mosquitos buzzing in my ears. I am sure the headnet looked ridiculous but I didn't see anyone else that afternoon and I didn't care. That headnet kept my eyes clear of gnats and no buzzing in my ears. It was like I was invisible to those pests.
Date: 2015-07-13
From: Eagles Nest shelter

To: Hamburg, PA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I was eager to get on the trail and into town for a shower, visit to Cabelas and resupply. Arrived in town about noon with lots of running around to do so I can get back on trail in the morning. Going to try to get rides to a few places so I don't have to walk so much. ( :I walked to Cabela's for new poles, socks, shirt and new sleeping pad. Previous pads baffles were coming apart causing a bubble of air on one side of the mattress. Enlisted the help of locals to help me run the rest of my errands. Got a ride from the hotel to the post office. Another ride from the post office to Walmart. Another ride from Walmart back to the hotel. And finally a ride in the morning back to the trail. Thank you Hamburg locals your assistance was much appreciated.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Hamburg, PA

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Was raining when I started out this morning but eventually cleared up. Chance of rain all day.Miles went more smoothly than expected today and arrived at the shelter at 4pm. Chance of rain tonight so I stayed. Received a soda from the caretaker to go with my dinner. Thanks Mick!I introduced myself to Warren Doyle today.Hollywood and MacDaddy arrived at the shelter later. Haven't seen Hollywood since Damascus.Kind of feels like I am wasting time because I stopped hiking at 4pm. All I know is I have until the afternoon on Saturday, July 18 to get to Delaware Water Gap where my mom is meeting me.