morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-15
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We slept in and took our time eating and then drove back into Erwin. We spent the day getting our resupply boxes at the post office, eating at the Pizza Hut buffet, buying a few things at the drug store and grocery store, and using the wifi at the library. After driving back to Ellen's home, I took a nap, worked on uploading some of my trail journals, facetimed with my granddaughter, and talked with my husband on the phone. We all drove to Weaverville for a wonderful dinner at the Twisted Laurel. Before bed, we repacked our backpacks and set our alarms for 6:30am planning to be back on the trail early.
Date: 2015-06-16
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

Ellen drove us back to Erwin in the morning and we were back on the trail by 8:30, heading uphill as is the case most of the time after being in a town. The uphill out of Erwin wasn't as steep as some are, but it was long. We made it to Curley Maple Gap Shelter by 11:30 and had an early lunch. There we met Dan and his son Mason slackpacking southbound back to Uncle Johnny's hostel in Erwin where they had stayed the night before. I told them I had a son-in-law named Daniel and a grandson named Mason.Afer lunch we followed a nice strem for over a mile. It was picturesque with many cascades, and the sound of it was soothing as we hiked. There were several footbridges over it and many easy places to refill our water bottles.After Indian Grave Gap, there was a long, winding uphill stretch to Beauty Spot, which I did not think was nearly as beautiful as Max Patch or Big Bald. The hike uphill was exposed and today was pretty hot, so maybe I just wasn't in a mood to appreciate it.We had intended to camp shortly after coming down from the Beauty Spot, but the water source was dry and there "Bear Activity in Area" signs posted, so we kept hiking. We finally found water a mile later, but there were more "Bear Activity" signs so we kept hiking up and over Unaka Mountain to the Cherry Gap Shelter. We finally arrived at dusk. Our 12.7 mile day turned into a 17.5 mile day, and I was beat. What a welcome back to the trail after a day off in town!We caught up with Pink and Stink at the shelter. We also met "Stick" after reading his trail register entries for the past week. There were only four in the shelter so there was room for us. Others were in tents and in hammocks. There was no privy or bear cables, but at least we had company. It took us a few tries to get our rope over a suitable branch to hang our food bags. We were spoiled by the bear cables that were at so many of our previous campsites. By the time we ate, hung our food bags, fixed our sleeping areas, and turned off our headlamps, it was just after 10:00.
Date: 2015-06-17
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

After that long day yesterday, we slept in until 7:00. I had been too tired to fix a hot meal for supper last night and had just eaten sausage, cheese, crackers, and dried fruit. This morning I fixed a chicken rice meal and downed it all. I was moving pretty slowly after the long day, and everyone else had packed up and left before we did. 10:00 is a late record for leaving camp for us.During the morning hike, we crossed paths with a co-ed scouting group of 9 or 10 from Florida hiking southbound. We were all able to get water at a beautiful little waterfall. We drank what we had carried from the shelter and refilled our bottles.We leap-frogged all day with a couple who had tented at the same shelter where we stayed last night. They plan to hike to the same shelter we are aiming for tonight; it is always fun to see familiar faces.At 11:30 at Iron Mountain Gap at TN107 we caught up with a couple of guys who also had been at the shelter with us last night. One was being picked up there by his wife for a family reunion, and he offered to take our trash bags with him. We had an early lunch there, gave him our accumulated trash, and hiked on with packs a few ounces lighter. Mike would be hiking on alone and was heading to the same shelter we were headed to. We learned that Mike had retired after 30+ years at Lifeway Christian Bookstore.When we arrived at the shelter, Stick was there already. He is a RN from Iowa enjoying this year's section hike of the AT. He had a campfire going, so I helped scrounge up some fallen branches for firewood. Another couple was at the shelter with their college-aged daughter. They said they had been section hiking a few days each year since the daughter was in fourth grade. They joked about whether that was considered quality family time or child abuse. Mike joined us in the shelter a short time later. The other couple from last night's shelter was in the area also, but they set up their tent and we didn't see them much.I sure did enjoy sitting around the campfire after doing my camp chores. I always love a good fire!
Date: 2015-06-19
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: US 19E , 3.4 miles to Roan Mtn, TN
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

We have decided to end our section hike early due to Susan's twisted ankle. Unfortunately, there is no road access nearby. We will have to hike 10.6 miles to US19E, where we planned originally to hike into Roan Mountain to get our next resupply boxes from the post office.We had some gorgeous views from Yellow Mountain Gap, looking back at the Overmountain Shelter. We called our husbands from there and let them know our change of plans. Today's hike was not too strenuous, although there were several false summits going up Hump Mountain. Today we ran into the same large group of trail maintainers that we had talked to days ago. It is amazing that the whole 2200+ mile trail is maintained completely by volunteers who coordinate their efforts to keep the trail usable.We finally passed the NC/TN border at Doll Flats. Then it was mostly downhill with several stretches of stone steps and plentiful streams down to US19E. We were only there a few minutes when Susan's husband arrived to pick us up. We drove into Roan Mountain just in time to get our boxes before the post office closed, and then we stopped at Subway for sandwiches.Mike took me into Waynesville where I got a hotel room, and then Susan and Mike headed to their home. By 8:00 I had showered and was propped up in bed in clean clothes eating a pizza delivered to my room by Papa Johns, already planning what stretch of trail we would be doing next year.
Date: 2015-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I thought it would be interesting to add up the calories I consumed in a typical day on the trail. Here is one day's food, in no particular order:Mountain House oatmeal with milk and blueberries(supposedly 2 servings)= 500  Millville peanut and dark chocolate almond chewy bar = 180Millville almond sweet and salty bar = 1605 cheddar cheese sticks @ 85 calories each = 4256 Sims beef sausage snack sticks @ 60 = 360Nature Valley dark chocolate cherry trail mix bar = 1403 fun-size Snickers @ calories each = 2401 fun-size Baby Ruth = 651 whole Mountain House beef stew (supposedly 2.5 servings) = 5001 pack Doritos = 2401/2 cup dried fruit medley = 1805 quarts water = 05 Nuun electrolyte tablets added to water @ 8 calories each = 40TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED IN ONE DAY = 3050   A moderately active 150-pound female, should consume 1,800 calories per day to maintain weight. This is why I lose weight while backpacking. There is no way to carry and eat enough calories to balance out the amount of calories burned while backpacking 15 miles a day. Backpacking is a great weight loss plan!
Date: 2016-05-13
From: US19E between Roan Mtn and Elk Park

To: Elk River campsite
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: clear sky

My husband and I spent last night in Maggie Valley to celebrate our anniversary; we had spent our honeymoon in Maggie Valley 35 years ago. After a great filling breakfast at Joey's, I met Iris and we drove to Forks of Ivy to meet Janet. We took both cars to Damascus, left Janet's car at the Hiker Inn, got Subway sandwiches for lunch, and drove to the Mountain Hostel on 19E between Roan Mountain and Elk Park. We made arrangements to leave Iris' car there. Our plan is to hike to Damascus, then drive Janet's car back to the Mountain Hostel to get Iris' car.We hiked .3 to the spot on the trail where we stopped last year and were ready to begin this year's hike. Imagine our surprise when Janet recognized a caver friend who was waiting at this same spot for a ride to pick her up from the trail. After chatting with Janet's friend, it was 2:15 before we got on the trail. We hiked six miles or so, had dinner by Jones Falls, then continued hiking to a nice campsite along the Elk River. I love camping beside running water and hearing the running water all night.While trying to throw a bear rope with my tent stake bag attached, I got the stakes stuck in a tree. I used Iris' bear rope and finally got the rope over a suitable branch. We didn't get in bed until 9:30. It got colder in the night and I kept putting on more clothes through the night to try to stay warm.
Date: 2016-05-14
From: Elk River campsite

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

After many attempts, I finally managed to get the tent stake bag out of the tree this morning. I felt like I was playing one of those weird carnival games and I won the grand prize! I enjoyed my ALDI brand bacon jerky for breakfast and we were on the trail by 9:00. We crossed several stream and saw falls and cascades several times today. We are staying at Moreland Gap Shelter with two thru-hiking  brothers from Ocala, FL. We had been leap frogging with them all day. There were many dayhikers on the trail today along with two separate southbounders.
Date: 2016-05-15
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

It was really cold when we woke up, so we packed quickly and got on the trail to warm up. After about two hours we stopped by a lovely little spring for breakfast. Lunch was at a nice little stream. We met several dayhikers out today and one agreed to let us leave our trash in the bed of their truck at a parking area. It's always nice to get rid of any extra weight even if it is only a few ounces. We stopped to talk to an older couple from Lexington SC hiking back from Laurel Falls to their car. He gave Janet his emergency blanket and Ziploc full of mini snickers bars. It made her day and hopefully will help her stay warmer tonight. Laurel Falls was beautiful, but it was too cool to be able to enjoy getting in the water. Another mile past the falls and we were at our shelter. We are the only ones at the shelter tonight, so I set up my tent in the shelter to help keep the wind out.
Date: 2016-05-16
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I was glad that we were the only ones in the shelter and that I had set my tent up inside the shelter. It really helped against the wind and cold of the night. While Tagalong and Iris were wearing every stitch of clothing they had and doing calisthenics in the night to keep warm, I was nice and toasty! We got moving before 8:00 am. The mountain laurel was in full bloom and we saw plenty. Pink Ladies' slippers also bloomed in many places along the trail. There was a great sheltered picnic area with restrooms by Watauga Lake at the Shook Branch Recreation Area where we stopped for lunch.. We enjoyed the picnic tables, flush toilets, bathroom sinks, and access to potable water. Evidently there is more water in the lake than last season, because we noticed a few of the picnic tables were actually in the water this year.We saw notices that there was bear activity in the area and that Watauga Lake Shelter was closed because of bear activity. Notices said no picnicking, loitering or overnight camping is allowed.  Nevertheless, we noticed two tents set up near the park. Some people just aren't very smart. When Tagalong and Iris stopped to take pictures of more flowers they recognized, I continued hiking with Mariposa. I knew they are stronger hikers than I am and that they would catch me sooner or later. Mariposa is an ER nurse from out West. She had wanted to hike the AT for years and actually went back to work for a time to be able to afford lightweight gear. Now retired, her husband was slack packing her for a few days. She was planning to meet her husband at Wilber Dam. Tagalong and Iris caught up with us there and the three of us hiked on to Vandeventer Shelter.There was a German woman and a Swiss man there already. When we noticed the mice getting bolder in broad daylight as we fixed our dinners, I decided to set up my tent and sleep without being bothered by them. Later a man arrived at the shelter with stories of a group of five hikers who had been charged by a bear at Watauga Lake Dam. They had waited an hour or so and tried to pass again and got charged again. Finally they banded together, waving their hiking poles, blowing their whistles, and yelling. They had picked up rocks and sticks to throw at the bear if necessary. Finally the bear left. And this is why I do not want to hike alone! There is truth to the "safety in numbers" adage and also in the saying, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun my hiking partner." :)The man from Switzerland, explained that he had stopped to eat lunch at Watauga Lake Shelter without realizing it was supposed to be closed.  Just as  he saw the sign, he also heard a bear growl. He had left the area as quickly as possible.
Date: 2016-05-17
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We were the last of about ten tents to be packed up and leave the shelter. This was a relatively easy day with not much elevation change. There were more flowers to brighten the trail. During the day we again hiked with Mariposa.  In the afternoon we came to a road crossing and saw an awning set up. TRAIL MAGIC! A man who had thru hiked years before was now following his daughter up the trail as she thru hiked. He was cooking hotdogs and grilled cheese sandwiches and had a cooler full of cold drinks. Mariposa's husband met us there and brought us each a fresh orange. What a treat!We continued on with full bellies and renewed energy, through a cow pasture, over a stile, and into the woods, but not before I managed to step in a huge pile of cow manure. Thankfully there was plenty of grass to clean off my shoes as we continued through the field.  When we reached Double Springs Shelter, the man from Switzerland was the only one staying there with us for the night.
Date: 2016-05-18
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Hikers Inn, Damascus
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

As it was a very cold night, we were up and moving out of camp without breakfast early the next morning to get warm. I jokingly said I would call ahead to reserve a breakfast spot in a nice sunny clearing by a water source. As it turned out, we came to Low Gap by US 421 and found a wonderful piped spring and a concrete picnic table. Its always nice when something works out just the way you want it to!As we ate, we were joined by a former Marine who had thru hiked a few years previous and was now a trail runner. He was full of braggadocious stories that he assumed we would love to hear. Wrong! While we endured his self-promotion, we were joined by our Swiss shelter friend. His knees were really bothering him and he decided to try to get a ride into town while he had the chance. The long descent into town would not have been nice to his knees. We wished him well and continued down the trail.At some point we crossed paths with Odie who is the guy who puts together the Hike Yearbook annually. He pulled out last year's yearbook from his pack and began to tell us all its merits. He gave us each a sticker to remind us to email him a picture to be put into the yearbook and of course told us how we could order a copy for ourselves.After we left Odie, it began to drizzle. Rain helps us to hike faster because we don't want to stop to take pictures, eat or rest in the rain. It rained the rest of the way to Damascus. We walked into town in our ponchos in the rain, down sidewalks embedded with the AT symbol, to the Hiker Inn where Tagalong's van was waiting for us.I collapsed into a chair and let Tagalong and Iris take their showers first. After I showered, we put all of wet muddy clothes into one load to be washed by the Hiker Inn. We donned scrubs provided by the Hiker Inn and went to The Old Mill for dinner. We were mistaken for doctors by one fellow and then he realized we had all spent the night at a previous shelter together.At the Hiker Inn we met a Canadian hiker who had come to hike the trail with her son. At the border they had been questioned endlessly about their intentions and accused of trying to immigrate illegally. They had to cancel their flight from Buffalo to Atlanta and return the next day to provide extra documentation to the border agents. Eventually they were able to convince them that their intentions were legitimately to hike the AT and they were allowed into the US. They decided to take the trail names Detained and Denied. Now the mom was tending her problem feet in Damascus and the son was hiking farther north with a new group of friends.
Date: 2016-05-19
From: Hikers Inn, Damascus

To: Mountain Home Cabbin, Front Royal VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day! We left Damascus in Janet's car, dropping off our new Canadian friend along the way in  Marion . We picked up Iris' van at the Mountain Harbor hostel. While there, we used the bathroom and saw the hostel. It seemed like it would be a nice place to stay and maybe we will some day.We drove both vans to Pen Mar Park and left Iris' van there with a "do not tow" sign on the dash. It had been a long highway drive and we all rushed to the restrooms at the park. They were locked. We all got in Tagalong's van and then drove off looking for a nearby restroom.  Thinking we had found one, we parked and walked in . . . to a package store and adjoining pool hall. I felt a bit out of place, but thankfully we were able to use the restrooms quickly and be on our way again. We called Mountain Home Cabbin in Front Royal VA to let them know we were running late.  When we arrived, there were instructions on the door telling us what bunks were available and asking for our preferences for breakfast. What great service!!Our plan was to spend the night, leave Tagalong's car here, and hike north in the morning. Lots of miles on the vehicles today! (but not many on our feet)
Date: 2016-05-20
From: Mountain Home Cabbin, Front Royal VA

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

We woke up late after our long drive. We had a wonderful breakfast with a selection of jams cooked by Lisa. We reorganized our packs, since we picked up a food drop we had left in our cars. We hiked down US 522 to where the AT crosses the road.  We came to the intersection, viewed the kiosk and crossed the road to the Front Royal sign. We hiked on the boardwalk that ran parallel to 522. Bunches of people passed us on the trail around 11 am. We saw lots of showy orchids.   At 1:30 pm we stopped for lunch at one of the nicest shelters on the trail, Jim and Mollie Denton. It had a large front porch with Adirondack chairs, a separate eating pavillion, a horseshoe pit, and a solar shower! There were reflectors on all of the structures. I'm sure they are helpful in the dark.     We ended our hike at Manassas Gap Shelter. Robin and Toxic Foot from Hamburg Germany were there already. They pointed out a spot on the ceiling with "leak" and an arrow pointing down. We were glad there was room for us in the shelter. The weather report was predicting rain. We accommodated the "leak" as we spread out our sleeping pads and bags. The German couple had whole carrots; they said they always hiked with some fresh produce.
Date: 2016-05-21
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

There was a 90% chance of rain in the forecast. It started just after midnight and rained all night. It definitely made it hard to get out of the sleeping bags in the morning and even harder to pack up and leave the shelter! There was still a light rain when we left about 9:30. We made it to Dicks Dome Shelter in record time and had lunch there. We didn't do much stopping, snacking or drinking along the way in the rain. It continued raining on us all day. We met one interesting woman, Trooper Dot, from Zimbabwe today. We could hear several voices on the way to Rod Hollow Shelter around 5:00 and were concerned that it might be full and we would have to tent in the rain. Thankfully it was a group of Boy Scouts. They were on a preparation hike to get ready for their annual scouting competition at Philmont in Cimarron, New Mexico. They were doing their cooking and eating under the pavillion but they all had their tents set up.There were only two guys from Wisconsin in the shelter, so there was plenty of room for us. We got our water, made our warm dinner, and changed into warm dry clothes quickly. I was in my sleeping bag journaling by 7:45 when Shooting Star a young Amish woman joined us in the shelter.
Date: 2016-05-22
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we began The Roller Coaster, a 13.5 mile stretch of PUDS (pointless ups and downs). We were cold and wet already from yesterday when we started hiking this morning. We were excited to be heading to Bears Den Hostel for the night. Before long, we weren't even trying to go around puddles or stay out of creeks, It was pointless, because everything we were wearing was already soaked. We stopped at the Sam Moore Shelter for lunch, but all I wanted to do was keep hiking and get to the hostel. I was cold and wet. My feet were swelling and I had some blisters.It was wonderful to finally reach the turn off for the hostel.  We checked in and got showers and dry clothes. We put all our wet stuff in the washer and dryer. When we were finally clean and dry, we took advantage of the hiker special - a frozen pizza, a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a soda. I definitely don't eat a meal like that very often, but here on the trail, it seems perfectly acceptable. Shooting Star was there and we met several others also. Steve and Erik, retired soldiers, were hiking together. We had seen some of their SEGA stickers in registers already (Steve and Erik's Great Adventure).Never have I enjoyed a dry, warm bed so much!
Date: 2016-05-23
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

In the morning my shoes were still wet and my feet were in bad shape. I couldn't bear to put those wet shoes back on and hike another day in the rain. Iris and Janet and all the other hikers hiked out without me. I got a ride with Tamara into Harpers Ferry. She had met her thru-hiking boyfriend at Bears Den for a few days. She was leaving to go back to Philadelphia this morning and agreed to take me to Harpers Ferry on her way for gas money. I left my shoes on the boot dryer until the last moment before we left and they were almost completely dry.I had mailed my resupply box to Harpers Ferry May 9, but it was not at the post office.   After the disappointing trip to the post office, I checked in at the EconoLodge. Finally I realized I had sent the box to the ATC, not the post office. I decided to walk back up to the main street in town and over to the ATC that sunny afternoon, and it immediately began sprinkling. Soon it was pouring on me. I got my box and waited on the ATC front porch for the rain to taper off, I walked to the only outfitter in town, looking for moleskin for my feet. No luck. There is no pharmacy, drug store, or grocery store in the whole town.  I walked 1.2 miles back to the hotel. At least it wasn't raining anymore.I spread out my tent and sleeping bag and all my gear to dry out overnight in the hotel room and collapsed into bed.