morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-20
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

The day started warm and sunny with a big climb up the spine of a mountain. We gained almost 2000 feet over 2.5 miles.  The spone takes us straight up and over the  mountain and this approach always has very steep parts.Aftertheclimb wemade our way down to some long meadows and farm fields. Inthemeadows we're walking through tall grass with no cover, whoch keeps it warm - a welcome state giventbecoldrain we've seen the last couple of days.After the meadows we encountered the Kieffer Oak, the second largest tree on the Trail (see the picture in the photos section).  We climbed again and at the top the skies opened with a downpour that lasted the next ten or so hours.We abandoned our plans for a long day and raced to the next shelter. Eberything we owned was wet and tie emps dropped enough to make it uncomfortable but that's part of the trail experience I guess.The shelter filled quickly so I set up my tent and spent the night warm and dry, listenkng to a hard rain almost all night long.Rain is forecast for tomorrow but we haveno wjere else to gobut forward so we'll walk through the wet again.
Date: 2017-05-21
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We left a little later than usual because our sleep wasn't great. The rains fell most of the night andkept me awake on and off.  The trail out took us up and over the spine of the mountain and we hiked across a tight ridge line made up of rocks and boulders. Because the rocks were on the ridge line they slanted away from the peak. Totheleft was a sharp drop off and to the right the boulders slanted away to the underbrush.  We maneuvered slowly but I took a big fall on a slick boulder bigger than a full size car. My elbow and hip paid the price and I stipped my slide in a thicket of thorn bushes. But for the most part I was still OK. Many of the boulders tilted at a 15 to 20 angle so the goung was slow with the wet footing.We spent most ofthe day walking in the clouds which kept us wet and for short stretches we walmed in the rain. That made for days in a row and I have to admit my spirits are pretty low right now.We walk by the Audie  Murphy memorial and took some time to pay our respects. Murphy died in a plane crash near the monument site in the early 70's and it looks like the memorial is well visited even though it is pretty remote.We finished the day in the rain, set up tents and cooked in the rain and called it a night pretty early.They say that Virginia is for Lovers and I think I know why. Since it apparently rains every day in Virginia you can't have fun outdoors so you might as well be doing something fun indoors.
Date: 2017-05-22
To:  VA 624
Miles today: 6.7

My schedule is already off by a day so Foggy and I decided to bail from the trail and find a warm dry place to recover. We called a shuttle driver and headed for Daleville two days early. We also decided to wait out the rain which is forecast to continue for the next several days. So we will be down for awhile.  But before that we had to walk down from the mountain. Brush Moubtain is the home of the Dragon's Tooth, a rock formation at the top that turns a long part of the mountain into a jumble of rocks. We had to climb down through the rocks for a couple of hours and parts got pretty hairy. There were sections we climbed down on ledges less than a foot wide and areas we had to sit and slide down. No fun and wet on top of it.Eventually we got down to the road and walked to a small grocery with a grill and had a burger while we waited fot the driver. We did pass the 700 mile mark which felt like an accomplishment.Not sure when we'll be back on the trail, but until then...
Date: 2017-05-25
From:  VA 624

To: Canpbell Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: moderate rain

We planned short day today hoping we will have plenty of time at McAfee's Knob. The knob is an iconic spot on the trail and worth a stop to take in the view of the Virginia farm lands. The mountains of Virginia are not as high as those farther south but the views are just as nice or better - when the weather let's you see them.First thing in the morning we had to ford our first stream. There were rocks and logs to try hopping across but the water was so high and fast Foggy and I didn't think we would stay dry.  After drying off our feet and putting socks and shoes back on several young hikers came by and quickly hopped across the rocks and logs. But I guess it's better safe than sorry.The climb to McAfee's was long but not steep. The skkes were partly sunny so we got great views and pictures.We stayed at the first shelter after the Knob and were the only ones there when we arrived. Before the evening was over it seemed like a whole troop of girl Scots arrived and it looked like tent city the next morning. I think our twozero days in Daleville allowed the Trail Day but blue to catchup to us. We saw a lot of hikers we hadn't seen before so we'll be walking in a new bubble for a while. I didn't sleep well that night because of the pain in my left hip. It's been bothering me from the start back in Georgia but last night was the worst.By the way I got a haircut in Daleville after three months and I feel a little more human now.
Date: 2017-05-26
From: Campbell Shelter

To: US 220 Daleville
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

First thing in the morning I saw my first bear. We had just left the shelter area and about 75 to 100 yards ahead I spotted a bear running up the hill toward the trail. I didn't know what else to do so I shouted Bear and pointed. Foggy spotted him as well. After the bear ran off into the woods we proceeded carefully but saw no more sign of him.The walk was uneventful after the bear. We got some great views walking across Tinker Cliffs and while the sun was shining the wind picked up considerably. We were fortunate that tje wind blew in from the cliffs so we didn't have to worry a out being blown over the edge.Since we had already spent three nights Im a Daleville hotel we decided to camp just short of the town and walk in for dinner. My hip still hurt quite a bit but I'm going it will take care of itself. I slept a little better but still woke up sore.
Date: 2017-05-27
From: US 220 Daleville

To: Back at Daleville
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

We left Daleville before 8 am and headed to VA 652, the official one third mark. We celebrated a bit but I was in serious pain with my hip. We continued on for a total of 4 miles and I knew I couldn't keep going. After much thought and regret I had to turn back to Daleville. I said goodbye to Foggy and assured him I'll find a way to catch up if my hip comes around.The pain was pretty intense and seemed to getting worse and I'm worried that I might be doing some permanent damage.Walled back to tom and went directly to the Urgent Care facility just off the trail. After some X-rays and a visit with the doc Was told nothing damaged but I have a lot of arthritis in both hips. The doc told me that I won't do any more damage but I maynot be able to tolerate the pain for the entire trip.She advised a few days off and then suggested I give it another chance. So, I'm back at the hotel for 3 more days. My palm is to rest and relax and then I'll jump ahead to rejoin Foggy in Buena Vista.If the pain comes back, especially as and as it was yesterday I think I'll have to quit.  At this point I can only wait to see what happens.Until then...
Date: 2017-05-31
From: VA 607 Trailhead

To: VA 60
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

I followed the physician's advice and haven't hiked since turning back to Daleville Saturday morning. Yesterday I moved ahead about 70 trail miles so that I can catch up with  and rejoin Foggy. I enjoy hiking with Foggy and I thought it was worth moving forward to get our schedules synced up again.Until this morning I was doubtful that my hip was going to recover enough but when I woke up it was much improved over yesterday. I'd estimate that it's at about 90 to 95 percent at this point. I spent yesterday icing the hip and following up with a heat pad I made by filling my water bladder with hot water. It seems to have done  the trick.  As a final test I decided to do a short slack pack to see if my hip would hold up on the trail. I tried 10 miles and my hip did great. I had a few twinges throughout the day but it felt strong.The ten miles took me past the 800 mile mark. Of course, I'm about 60 miles short of 800 miles but I'll plan to come back here after I finish in Maine and hike these 50 or 60 miles as my last test on the trail.The day was perfect for hiking - sunny and warm and the trail crossed and followed a small river for a long part of the day. About half way through the day I met up with Grey Beard and we hiked several miles together. Grey Beard is the 81 year old trying to become the oldest recognized through hiker. He's going strong and looks fit and several times he left me behind for a bit. But he rests a lot and I eventually catch up and ended the day before him. But enjoyed chatting with him and seeing that he's getting close to his quest. The last time I saw him was back in April two states ago.Just as I finished today the skies opened up. There was a small information shelter at the Trailhead and I stood there to stay warm and dry.  There was a collared dog at the Trailhead and he joined me in the dry shelter.  As I was waiting, contemplating calling the shuttle service another hiker came off the trail and offered me a ride back into town. I graciously accepted the offer and the dog tried to accept as well, trying to climb into the car with me. I'm not a dog thief so I closed the door quickly and left the poor thing sitting in the rain. I hope it had the good sense to go back to the little shelter but I'll never know.  My trail angel driver was a college chemistry professor from Kansas and we chatted a  bit about life in academia these days (not that I have a lot of experience there) and she delivered me back to Budget Inn at Buena Vista.  I plan to do another 10 mile slack pack tomorrow to test whether my hip can do back to back days. I iced it down after today's test and I'm optimistic it will be fine. I'm looking forward to being back on the trail for real - I even miss my tent a bit.Until then...
Date: 2017-06-02
From: VA 60

To: Piney River North Fork
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Got a call from Foggy last night and he said he was going to hike past Buena Vista today and keep moving toward Waynesboro. I changed my plans to slack pack one of the sections I missed and decided to meet him on the trail at VA Highway 60.While waiting I got involved in an argument between  AT Conservancy Ridge Runner and a local shuttle driver. Words were exchanged and threats were made and before I knew it I was talking with a sheriff's deputy, recounting the exchange between the two.  When Foggy finally arrived I was told that I'd be contacted if I needed to be involved any further. Good luck on that because I'm hiking the trail and don't want to new bothered. Holy Moly! I'm carrying extra pack weight because of the last minute change - I needed to mail some stuff home and reduce some of my food stock but that will have to wait until Waynesboro. My hip held up fine and the short day went well although I felt the climbs today after so many days out of the big pack. It's good to be hiking again and I'm looking forward to making it to the half way point in Harper's Ferry.
Date: 2017-06-03
From: Piney River North Fork

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Today's hike was a long one after all the time off and for awhile I wasn't sure I'd make the distance.  The highlight was a brief stop at Priest Shelter at Priest Mountain. It's a hiker tradition that you use the shelter log book to confess your trail sins and I wrote a short note, more tongue in cheek than anything else. Many of the confessions were meant to be funny but several were sincere statements about shortcomings and omissions even before trail life began.After the shelter we learned the Penance we had to pay with about long, rocky descent of almost 3000 feet down the mountain. Long downhills about real painful to the knees about rend he rocks attack your feet and ankles.  By the time I reached the bottom I felt.like I had a atoned for all my sins on the trail.We crossed the Tye River at the bottom of the mountain and used the river as an opportunity to rest and recover.  Foggy took a quick swim but I just soakedyet feet because the water was doggone cold!  We fixed dinner at the river before hiking the final three miles to the shelter area and pitched tents and alost fell into our sleeping bags. It was a long day with a big climb and descent but again it felt great to be back on the trail.
Date: 2017-06-03
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: VA Highway 52
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: few clouds

We left camp early today with aission in mind. At Highway 52 we have the opportunity to get off the trail for a short break and have some good food and beer at the Devil's Backbone Brewery.  Chili Dog left early and said he was said Kipling he brewery but Foggy and I said we'll catch up later - it was off to the brewery for us.Weadequate quick work of the 7 miles and had saidkippongaidome luck at the highway. Within the first severalintestinal with this out and nice lady picked us up and we headed to the brewery. She was the wife of a through hiker and was glad to give us a ride. But before qe left the parking area we got a text from Chili Dog that he was waiting at the brewery for us.The plans was to grab a cold beer and get a good.hot lunch and then get back to the trail for and other four miles. But our plan was weak ( or maybe our resolve was weak) and one beer turned into a few or several and we did dinner at the brewery as well and then slept at their free tenting field in the woods behind the brewery grounds.It was great fun and a much needed break from the trail. All I'll say at this point is what happens at Devil's Backbone stays at Devil's Backbone (except for the stuff that inevitably makes it to Facebook.)
Date: 2017-06-04
From: VA Highway 52

To: US Highway 250
Miles today: 19.9

To make our scheduled arrival at Waynesboro after enjoying the beer and food at the brewery we had to do almost 20 miles today. After getting back to the Trailhead we all wondered about the wisdom of our decision to party away the day. But we were far from alone. Today would be and do other day of Penance for our trail sins.The brewery offered a ride back to the Trailhead and they managed to pile sixteen hikers and backpacks into a large pick up truck and once back at the trail we marched on like a small army on the move.The day was beautiful and we knew tomorrow was bringing rain so we made steady progress for 20 miles  to the road crossing that would get us a ride to Waynesboro.Foggy and I made it almost exactly at 7 p.m. after a late start from the brewery but we still made record time for the two of us. Dinner was at a pizza place at about 9 p.m. on a Sunday night but we were grateful and happy to be taking a zero day and avoiding the rain on Monday. Tomorrow we'll restock and recharge and Tuesday we'll walk into the Shenandoah National Park, just about 150 miles from Harper's Ferry.
Date: 2017-06-06
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Skyline Drive Mile 90
Miles today: 16.2

Yesterday was a zero day as we waited out a full day's worth of rain.  When it pours all day and you're sitting in a hotel you feel really smart.  And then the next day you put on a heavy pack and go walking in the woods and any sense of smartness goes away!Today's hike starts about a week in the Shenandoah National Park.  Rockfish Gap is where the Blue Ridge Parkway ends and Skyline Drive begins and I'm finally beginning to feel like Virginia will end soon.  The hike in Virginia is over 500 miles and it seems like we've been in Virginia since the very beginning of the walk.You self register when you enter the park at a kiosk with a little metal box full of registration forms.  It's free to enter the park as a hiker but if you get caught without a registration form there is a fine of sorts so we dutifully filled out the triplicate form and stuffed the pink and yellow parts into the box - good little soldiers we are!You can hear the road noise from Skyline Drive throughout the day and there are plenty of motorcycles moving both ways on the road.  The Park is a busy one so, at least for the first day it doesn't feel like you're too far into the wilderness.Shenandoah is a little different from the trail we've experienced so far.  The mountains are lower with longer flat sections to walk.  This makes for easier hiking but the water sources are spread out farther.  There's still plenty of water in the creeks and springs, but there are fewer along the way.  The park also provides waysides, places for cars to pull off and get a bite to eat and we'll be walking close to several.  I'm sure we'll track them down and enjoy a few burgers and shakes along the way.
Date: 2017-06-07
From: Skyline Drive Mile 90

To: Ivy Creek Overlook
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

The second day in Shenandoah National Park is a lot like the first - relatively easy hiking with ups and downs that take us back to Skyline Drive.  The trail doesn't have a lot of landmarks and features and more than one hiker has commented that it feels like you're walking the same sections over and over again.BUT - we hit our first wayside today and lunch was a burger, onion rings, a chocolate shake and a Dr. Pepper.  It's heaven when you get real food.  If not for the wayside lunch would have been some tuna salad from a foil pouch on a piece of smashed bread - my typical lunch on the trail.We stayed too long at the wayside and our lunch was in late afternoon so we had the benefit of snacking a bit and not having to cook dinner.  Still went to bed feeling full but without the bother of cooking and cleaning up - another benefit of the waysides.Chili Dog saw eight bears today, including a mother bear with three cubs.  I imagine seeing three cubs is pretty rare and he was lucky enough to get the troop on video.  He's becoming known as the Bear Whisperer because he seems to see bears a lot - and usually has video and photographic proof of his encounters.  My preference is to see no bears along the way so I'm happy to leave the bear encounters to Chili Dog.Tomorrow is another milestone - 900 miles done (1300 to go).
Date: 2017-06-08
From: Ivy Creek Overlook

To: Mile 913.8
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

The hiking is easier so we've upped our miles a bit. I'm hoping this will let us get out of the park a day sooner.  All the ups and downs crossing Skyline Drive are getting old.  I think before it's over we're going to cross the Drive about 20 times which means twenty times down and twenty times up the other side.At one cross Chili Dog made some trail magic happen.  He hiked with a day hiker for a bit and when the reached her car at one of the crossings she was kind enough to give him a ride to one of the nearby waysides so when Foggy and I got to the road he was on his way back delivering fried chicken and cold cokes.  A little bit of heaven and another day of avoiding foil pack tuna.As promised we crossed the 900 mile mark and as with every significant milestone someone had created a marker milestone so we could pose for pictures.  I'm really looking forward to the 1000 mark and, of course, the halfway point - 1095.  today we got to the halfway point of the Park and the trail seems quieter with fewer hikers.  I"m wondering whether people are getting stuck at the waysides because of the food availability - I'm not sure why but it just seems like there are fewer hikers than normal.
Date: 2017-06-09
From: Mile 913.8

To: Big Meadow Campground
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

We cut back on the miles today to enjoy the Big Meadows Campground. Big Meadows is a large campground that attracts tenters but also a whole lot of RVs and other kinds of campers.  We got a spot near the Appalachian Trail, set up our little camp of four tents and found ourselves surrounded by motor homes, fifth wheels, RVs, pull behind campers and all sorts of outdoorsy vehicles.  We felt very small and out of place with our small collection of backpack size tents.Our day started by passing through Lewis Mountain Campground - a much smaller campground - that afforded the opportunity for coffee and breakfast.  That stop, along with a late lunch at Big Meadows and dinner at the lodge gave a n entire day where we didn't have to pull the food back out of our packs. That is a rare but welcome event on the trail!  Again, we had Chili Dog to thank - he has a way, with his southern charm, of talking people into giving us a ride and we were driven a couple of miles to a wayside near Big Meadows for lunch.The campground had hot showers and a laundry so it was a great chance to freshen up.  The showers were coin operated and for $1.75 you could get five minutes of hot water.  I learned that when soaking in a stream of fresh, hot water five minutes doesn't last so long - my shower ended up costing me $3.50.  It was worth every penny.Near the end of the day  a couple with a fifth wheeler showed up and had to back the monster into a camping space.  It was great entertainment watching the wife directing the husband, yelling at the top of her lungs and doing nothing to really help out.  It was great entertainment for us but finally they got the  thing in reasonably well and left it alone for the night.  A little later some people pulled up into the area just next to ours and pitched a tenting that took the concept of car camping to an extreme.  About twenty feet from me they set up a tent big enough to park a car in (I mean REALLY!).  They set up cots, chairs and a table in the tent and a special little pad for their dog - who let us know all night long whether anyone was sneaking around the campground.Before nightfall we were all basking in the peaceful, serene and tranquil outdoors.  I'm really looking forward to a small space in the woods tomorrow night - just big enough for my tent and quiet enough to hear the crickets.
Date: 2017-06-10
From: Big Meadow Campground

To: Byrd's Nest #3 Hut
Miles today: 14.0

Our new friend (the one who gave us a ride to lunch the previous day) gave us a ride down to the wayside again so we could start the day with a hot breakfast.  We got a late start because  of this but it's always worth the time when you get a hot and hearty breakfast.But eventually off we went, until we came across a photo shoot going on for a rapper and another young singer.  The bright lights and commotion attracted us down a side trail and all of a sudden we were at a scenic overlook parking area watching a rapper we think is named Nice being videoed and photographed in front of a hot car with some of his friends.  His friends were very nice young ladies who apparently made so little money they couldn't adequately clothe themselves.Our Southern Charmer went to work and before long we were taking pictures with the young ladies - a little awkward but still an interesting experience that I'm sure will spark some interesting conversation with Linda when I get home later this summer.  We didn't really pay any attention to the rapper, although I'm sure he's really good at what he does, whatever that might be.  There was another young lady there - a singer we think is named Sahara.  She was very interested in why four guys would stumble out of the woods in the middle of nowhere and she chatted us up for awhile about the trail and all of our experiences along the way.  She was very nice and seemed really interested in what we were doing - I hope her singing career goes well.Because of the delays and interruptions we didn't make it to the hut until about 8 p.m. so we had to cook dinner and set up tents in the twilight - but a great breakfast and a brush with semi-famous rappers and an entourage of scantily clad young ladies was certainly worth it!