morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Spring Mountain shelter

To: Little Laurel shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: moderate rain

27 April 2010, Little Laurel Shelter   This morning started out as overcast but it was nice out. Everything was great for the first two hours, then the skies let loose and it poured. It poured and hailed for over two hours straight. I wanted to set up camp on the side of the trail but I kept moving on thinking that there were only three people in front of me and there would be room in the shelter. I ran into a day hiker heading south about 1/2 mile from the shelter and he told me the shelter was about 15 minutes away. That gave me hope because I was so close to setting up right there on the trail because I could feel hypothermia starting to set in. When I got to the shelter there were four people there already, all wrapped up in there sleeping bags. They had felt the same way I did. I got into my sleeping bag right away and got warm. I also made two servings of hot chocolate and ate a bunch of snacks.    I passed a few memorial plaques today along the trail today.   We had four people in the shelter until about 20 minutes ago. Two more cane in, Truth and Krispy Kritter. Krispy Kritter and I shot the breeze for about 1/2 hour or more. I knew Krispy previously from attending Trail Days in Damascus from years past. He got his name because he is a retired fire fighter. He left shelter and moved on to his tent. I am sure I will see him or run into him again.   I-40 and Noah came in too just to get warm and then moved on. I-40 got his name because he was under the I-40 overpass and had to use the privy, with no privy around he just could not wait.   With stopping early today I am going to have to do one big mile day in order to get into Erwin on the 30th now.Here tonight are: Montana and her dog Meko, Legends of the Fall, Muffin Man, Krispy Kritter, Truth.
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Little Laurel shelter

To: Hogback Ridge shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

28 April 2010, Hogback Ridge Shelter   What a long day this was and another longest to date. My right shin started hurting; I hope it is not shin splints. I will cross my fingers and hope the pain will be gone in the morning. The pain got so bad that it took me 1/2 hour to cover the last quarter mile to the shelter.   It seemed like all the mileages were wrong today. It seemed like everything was longer then what the books said. I know the book is right.   There are a few that are talking about hitching at the next road crossing at Sam¢s Gap, which is two or so miles from here to get breakfast in the morning. I would like to but we are also considering doing a 20 mile day tomorrow. If I do that then a 20 mile day is out of the question. I am not sure I can do a 20 mile day the way my feet feel.   I went by the Shelton graves sites today. These are two brothers that fought in the civil war for the north and were ambushed. They are buried facing each other.   There is a full moon tonight, it lit up the sky and you did not need a flashlight at all during the night. I would have taken a picture but it would have not done it justice so I did not bother.   The water source for this shelter is a long ways down in the woods, too long.   There a lot of hikers here that was at the shelter last night and a lot of new faces. I got in too late to meet them all.   If I had days like yesterday going through the Smokies I don't know if I would have stayed on the trail.   There are only four of us in the shelter tonight, Pepper, Chili, Krispy Kritter and myself.   After it got dark the owls started hooting and Montana's dog howled once and then barked. It must have been a new noise for him.   Truth built a nice fire in the fire pit tonight.   Here tonight are, Montana and her dog Meko, Legends of the Fall, Muffin Man, Barley, Noah, Pepper, Chili, Truth, Krispy Kritter. There were some weekends too but they were anti social.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Hogback Ridge shelter

To: Muskrat Creek shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Muskrat Creek shelter 11.3   I got started late this morning. The shuttle left late. My start was around 9:45. I arrived at the shelter around 4.   For me this seemed to be the hardest day so far. The day was overcast all day. I passed a lot of places that were great views but I just could not see anything because of the overcast. It is suppose to rain tonight a the temps are already pretty darn cold. I took my pain killers and a sleeping pill a little bit ago.   I am really hoping to do a 12.2 mile day tomorrow, and the sun is suppose to be out for the rest of the week. This will make hiking a lot more enjoyable.   The sleeping pill is starting to kick in so now I need to close.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Muskrat Creek shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

29 April 2010, Spivey Gap   A bunch of us hiked the two miles to the road crossing this morning and hitched down to the diner for breakfast. It was well worth it. A must have for a breakfast here is called the ¢skillet¢ or something to that effect. For breakfast was, Pepper, Chili, Legends of the Fall, Muffin Man, Truth, Montana, Barley, Noah, and myself. It took me almost an hour and a half to get a ride back to the trail. There was a nice elderly lady that called one of her friends and she said he would be there in about a half hour for lunch and he would give us a ride if we still needed one. About five minutes later a lady in a very small pickup pulled over and told us all to pile in the back. There were seven of us in the back with all our packs. We were hanging off the sides. I wished I could have gotten a picture of this.   We went across big bald today. That was the best bald I have crossed to date. We all sat around up there chatting and eating. I was the last one to show up so the others started moving on shortly after I arrived. I am glad they waited for me. I did not stay long because it was 3 pm and I still had six more miles to do. When I left Barely was there still napping.   This was a long day for me. It was not a big mileage day but it took a toll on me.   I ran into Pepper and Chili about an hour before our schedule camping spot for the night. They told me that everyone had decided to move on to the next shelter instead of our planned stop. That bummed me out and I was mad. The three of us had decided to head into town after that. When we got to the camping area we saw three of our crew all set up. That meant that only Krispy Kritter and Truth moved on. Pepper, Chili and I went to the road crossing anyways and talked to some section hikers. They told us they were camping for the night in their vehicles but would give us a ride in at 7 in the morning. Pepper needs to get into Erwin to get some dental work done. I was going to go in with them in the morning but have decided to hike the 11.2 miles into Erwin. That should put me in there by 2 pm   I am going to talk to Pepper in the morning and see if he will take my pack and leave it at Uncle Johnny's so I can slack pack the 11.2 miles into Uncle Johnny¢s. I should be able to do that in about four hours if me feet will let me, five hours max.   Legends started a fire tonight and we all sat around talking and eating our dinners.   Here camping tonight are Montana and her dog Meko, Legends of the Fall, Muffin Man, Barley, Pepper, Chili.
Date: 2010-05-03
From: Hughs Gap

To: Overmountain shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

03 May 2010, Overmountain Shelter   We woke up this morning to rain. The weather forecast was finally correct. We made the right decision to duck into the hostel.   We ate breakfast and packed and were ready to leave before 10 am. We were at the mercy of CC for a ride back to the trail. She was still busy doing breakfast and squaring up peoples bills until noon. We were not able to get back to the trail head until 1 pm.   When we got dropped back off this morning we ran into two women that told us that they were talking to a hiker just a little bit ago and he left his wallet behind. They said they thought he was going to the hostel. We knew right away who it was. It was Snickers. CC told the lays she was the hostel owner and said she would take the wallet back to him.   The climb up to Ash Gap was bruttle but I made it. Ash Gap was just over the halfway point for going up over Roan Mountain. We all met there and took a snack break. While on break Red Stick showed up but did not have his red walking stick. He said he left it at the Uncle Johnny's in Erwin and they were going to try to get it to Mountain Harbour Hostel for him. The last half of the climb over Roan Mountain I found not as bad. Others thought it was just as bruttle. At the top there were foundations of the old Cloudland Hotel. This was a hotel from the 1800¢s hotel that was not longer there. There was a information board with pictures of it. It was interesting. Red Stick wanted to stay there for the night. It would have been a great place to camp but it would have been very cold. He decided to move on with use.   We stopped again at Roan Mountain Shelter for water and a snack break. This shelter is the remains of an old fire warden¢s cabin. The fire tower is no longer there but the cement corner posts are still in the woods. I hope that the rain will get over with so we can get back on the trail. I like being on the trail but if the rain can be avoided it that is better. There is a loft here with a hole in the ceiling and ladder going up into it. We were all talking loud and walking around until Bismarck looked in the loft and realized someone was sleeping up there. The person up there was Wildman.   We made it here tonight around 7 pm. We got all settled in. This is a large old barn. There are three of us with hammocks set up in the top of the barn. Notes:   Hopper called me just as my dinner was done and we talked for probably one hour. We talked about how we could hook up to hike at hiking partners again. We also talked about her oral surgery that she was scheduled for in the morning. I really like hiking with her and did not realize the connection I have for her until now.
Date: 2010-05-04
From: Overmountain shelter

To: Mountaineer Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

04 May 2010, Mountaineer Shelter   What a great day this was. It will be one of my most memorable days on the AT. We went over the Roan Highlands, Little Hump and Hump Mountain. The tops of these mountains were all grasslands and the views were spectacular. It was very windy going across the tops and the gaps between these two mountains but the views mad it well worth it. I definitely want to come back and hike this section again. The five of us took a long snack break on Hump Mountain, Krispy Kritter, Truth, Bismarck, Limestone and I. We have been hiking together for some time now. We should probably come up with a name for our group. We are five guys between the ages of 46 and 63.   During our break on Hump we talk about getting to highway 19 and hitching in to a restaurant for lunch. No one took it serious until we got down off Hump and it was brought up again. I think Truth brought it back up. He was hiking along and would start saying this to us about an all you can eat salad and lunch buffet and French fries. He would keep taunting us about food. Then the game was on, we decided to hitch into the restaurant. We came up with and name for this. We now call it spork blazing. This is when you get off the trail to eat at an establishment. When we got to the road crossing there was a sign for a steak house 1/2 mile to the right. We all walked the 1/2 mile to find out it was closed. A local man stopped and offered us a ride to another restaurant that was a couple more miles up the road, we accepted. After we finished eating a young guy in an SUV offered us a ride back to the trail head before we even stuck our thumbs out. Now that was luck. Krispy and Bismarck was going to take down the steak house sign at the trail head for the steakhouse and started beating on it with sticks until Krispy read the sign and realized that we read it wrong. It was only open something like three days a week and today was not one of those days it was not open.   We took a side detour on the trail to Jones Falls today and that was well worth it too. I recommend this side trip.   De Ja Thru met Bismarck on the trail today and thought it was me. She started carrying on a conversation with him that he knew nothing about. She apologized when she got to the shelter tonight and realized it was not me. She said me and Bismarck look alike. I don't see how that is but now we are having fun with that and I have been calling him bro.   Here tonight are Krispy Kritter, Truth, Bismarck, Limestone, Draggin Tail, Sherpa, De Ja Thru
Date: 2010-05-05
From: Mountaineer Gap shelter

To: Moreland Gap shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

05 May 2010, Moreland Gap Shelter   I woke up sometime after midnight last night for a bathroom break. The minute I stood up my stomach got queasy. As soon as I walked away from my hammock my stomach let lose, I hate the dry heaves. I did that once more in the early morning hours. When I woke up I was still feeling bad but Truth offered me a cinnamon raisin bagel and I was able to keep that down. When I got about three miles out from the shelter there was a bench looking out across an opening in the woods. I stopped there and tried to get some electrolytes in me. As soon as I got up and walked about 50 yards from the bench I could not keep it down. I started projectile vomiting. Bismarck caught up to me shortly afterwards. He came upon me just as I got done throwing up. He was great about it and walked with me the rest of the day until we got to this Moreland Gap Shelter. He could have left me and moved on but I am internally grateful he did not. I don't know if I could have made it this far if he had not walked with me.   Bismarck is going to stay with me again tomorrow and go to the hostel and do a nero day there with me, what a great guy.   I am still feeling like crap right now. I sure hope I feel better in the morning or the 6.0 miles to the road is going to take forever.   While Bismarck and I were lying around in our hammocks this afternoon talking about our thru hike and where we have been and done, there was a section hiker named Curly in a tent next to us listening. He told us how much he enjoyed listening to us. That had me reflecting back to when I was in his shoes listening to thru hikers at camp at night doing the same thing. Now I am in the shoes of a thru hiker. It put a tear in my eye realizing that I was living my dream.   Bismarck got a good fire going. Curly hung around the fire for a bit and then went to bed. Bismarck and I sat around the campfire tonight having good conversation after Curly left. We talked about everything under the sun. This was a good talk and it felt great to talk very openly to someone I trust.   Here tonight at Bismarck, Kaleb, and. Curly a section hiker.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Kincora

To: Braemar Castle Hostel
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

07 May 2010, Braemar Castle Hostel   Bismarck and I left Kincora this morning at about 7. We ran into Rider and Noah on the road head in out, they coming in as we were leaving. We made the easy walk to Laurel Falls. The falls were spectacular, the best falls I have seen on the trail so far.   About three fourths of the way up Pond Flats Bismarck started feeling sick. When we got to the top he was not getting any better. We decided it was best to head into the town of Hampton at the next road crossing. We still had at least four more miles to go to reach the road crossing. I was feeling a lot better but my stomach was still not in the best of shape. I knew if Bismarck was coming down with the same thing that I had just gotten over the he needed to be someplace other then the trail. Just before we reach the road we ran into Core Girl heading south bound. She was slack packing south back to Kincora. We made it to Watauga Lake and called Braemar Castle Hostel to make sure they had room. After they confirmed they had room we got a quick hitch in.   When we got to the castle and walked into the common room area I was surprised to see Brian and Ham (Cabana Boy and Dutch Tape). They were taking a zero day. We got caught up on the trail news and exchanged stories.   I told Brian I needed a haircut and he recommended a place he went to earlier in the day. I went there and got my hair cut, it was a nice country barber with the atmosphere of the old days.   I love this hostel. It is nice and quiet and clean with not many people here. I highly recommend it. The person that is helping run it is a four time thru hiker named Reverend. He had a segment in the film 2,000 Miles to Maine. I recognized him after we had met. He is a great guy.   Five of us went to Bob's BBQ for dinner, Cabana Boy, Dutch Tape, Chicken Feathers, and Reverend. The place is great. Bismarck was not up to eating yet.   When we got back from dinner Bismarck said he felt a little hungry and ate some roman for dinner. That is a good sign. He has also been eating saltine crackers all afternoon. He has not thrown any of his food up since he felt sick. This is also a good sign. He was watching the hockey play offs between Boston and Philadelphia when we got back. I watched it with him and then we all went to our rooms. I don't think I mentioned this before but Bismarck played hockey in the minor leagues years ago. I almost made it professional; in fact he did play in some NHL games as a fill in. I was amazed when he told me that around the camp fire at Moreland Gap Shelter.   Here tonight are Cabana Boy, Dutch Tape, Chicken Feathers, and Bismarck.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Braemar Castle Hostel

To: Braemar Castle Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

08 May 2010, Braemar Castle Hostel   Bismarck was still feeling sick this morning. We decided it was best not to hike today so we took a zero day. We went to breakfast and the Dollar General store for some resupplies. The Dollar General is the store of choice for us hikers when they are available.   This afternoon we walked to Subway for lunch.    We arranged for a slack pack south bound from TN 51 tomorrow.   Hear at the hostel tonight are Dutch Tape, Cabana Boy, Too Soon, Too Late, Chicken Feathers, Dust in the Wind, Animal.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Braemar Castle Hostel

To: Damascus
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

10 May 2010, Damascus   Chicken Feathers and I got dropped off at TN 91 around 8 am. Bismarck was still not up to hiking yet. He told me that I could move on without him. When we got to Double Springs Shelter we ran into Jaybird who was just getting done eating. He told us that he had to stop to cook a meal because he lost his snack bag last night at Iron Mountain Shelter. He said while he stopped in the evening after dark to filter water a raccoon grabbed his snack sack bag he left out and ran off. I told him about the incident that Core Girl and Seven D's had at the shelter previously. I moved on from the shelter leaving out on my own.   I made it to Abingdon Gap Shelter at about 12:30 and ate my subway sandwich and drank my orange juice that I picked up on the way to the trail head this morning, signed the registry and moved on. My goal was to try to make it to Damascus by 4 pm.   I walked up on a deer today. I did not see it until it was too late and it just jumped off into the woods.   It took me a while to get motivated again because just the thought of doing 10 miles or more was really bumming me out. After I reached Backbone Rock trail Grizzly came up behind me and passed, he said he was in a hurry to try to make it to the post office before they closed. Having him pass helped my motivation, I had been hiking alone all day and that was depressing. I missed my hiking partner Bismarck.   I made it into Damascus at 4:15. That was good for me.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

11 May 2010, Damascus   I went and did laundry today. I also picked up my mail drops at the post office. I shopped around for a summer bag at both outfitters and ended up getting one at Sundowners. I found a down 30 degree bag that weighed 1.13 pounds. That will save me two pounds off my pack weight when I send my zero degree sleeping bag home. I wish I could send it home now but they say Mount Rogers can get cold. I have decided to send it home in Atkins.   I ran into Chef today. He is actually right here on the trail in Damascus right now. He had to get off the trail for a week to go back home for some reason.    I went to eat at Subway today and at Shoney's for dinner.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

12 May, Damascus   I did absolutely nothing this morning. I could not sleep last night. Went to the continental breakfast this morning and had waffles. Then I came back to the room and slept till 11:45 when the maid service knocked on the door. Then I walk up the road to the outfitters and ate at Burger King. Then back to the room and on my laptop. I have been going through my photos and uploading them to my journal.   I called Bismarck and left him a message on his phone. He should be coming into Damascus today. I asked him if he wanted to do a slack pack into town tomorrow. I want to do a 20 mile slack but I really do not want to do it alone.   I went the burger feed at the Baptist church and ran into many thru hikers that I have been hiking with. I also found Bismarck and he told me he was signed up for the shuttle to White Top Mountain back to Damascus in the morning. I went to Mount Rogers Outfitters and signed up for the same shuttle in the morning. This will put me ahead one day after Trail Days is over. I will try to do another slack pack one day further then that on Friday if possible. The further I can get out of Damascus after Trail Days the more I will be away from the crowd that will all be leaving at the same time.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: overcast clouds

13 May 2010, Damascus   This morning five of us caught the slack pack shuttle from Mount Rogers Outfitters today. We went north to Whitetop Mountain and hiked back to Damascus. Avatar got dropped off three miles further north on the trail Bismarck, Lift and Step, Gram Cracker and I ended up doing 21.3 miles today. It was a good day. We expected rain but it never came. I ran into Seven D's again who was heading north because he decided to skip Trail Days. We talked some more. I mentioned that I had thought about exchanging emails but had thought about that after our last meeting but it was too late after he left. I asked if he knew anyone in Bangor named Andy Field, to my surprise he said yes he knew him real well. He also said Andy had installed a stereo system in his vehicle for him. The reason I mentioned Andy to him was because I knew he was retired Air Force out of Bangor, ME and Andy was in the Air Force Reserve and lived in Bangor. We chatted some more and I got his email address and we parted. It took me a while to catch up to the other three after this but I did finally catch them because they had also ended up stopping and talking to two north bounders.   Avatar passed us during our lunch break. The four of us stuck together most of the day. I was the one lagging behind everyone today. I had some things on my mind and really was not in the mood to do a 21 mile day but I managed.   The four of us made it back to Damascus around 5:15. We stopped at the ice cream place just on the outside of town.