morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Erwin

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a sleep-in day. After breakfast Goof drove Stewie and I out to Iron Montain Gap to slack back into Erwin.Slackpacking is a funny feeling. I have grown so used to carrying 30 lbs on my back, carring water and lunch made me feel very lazy. Uzak Mountain was very cool, it would have been a fantastic place to camp among the red spruce. We didn't meet too may other hikers until we got down to the shelter. TBone was there, as well as some other hikers we had meet the day before. Between the shelter and Erwin we ran into the 'GoLite twins' and Courtney.Back in Erwin, a local couple gave us a hitch back into town and dropped us off at the Erwin Burrito. Stewie had two burritos again, but I had fajitas. We meet Destiny and Texas Dreamer who had been a day behind.After dinner Stewie, Texas Dreamer and I watched the Princess Bride before heading off to bed.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

This morning Texas Dreamer and Miss Janet make breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy. All the hikers and Miss Janet ate outside at the picnic table. Some people were slackpacking and others were taking a zero day. I packed up my bag and waited out on the front porch for Miss Janet to be finished with the things she had to do. Just before we left Miles Away came in from the trail. We told her that Texas Dreamer was inside and she went screaming into the house to see her. Miss Janet drove Stewie and I out to where we had started our slack-pack the day before. Miss Janet gave Stewie a bit of a lecture about hiking too fast and gave him a one-in-a-million chance of finishing his hike. I know that she meant well, and wants all the hikers to finish their hikes, but it really got Stewie down for a few hours.I think that we really underestimated Roan Mountain. Things have been getting flatter and as we approach Virginia all the hikers start talking about how things are going to be really flat. It was an intense uphill, and the false tops don't help. At the top there is a parking lot and a restroom. I'm not sure if things are closed for the season or if it was because it was later in the day but everything was locked. We headed down the hill.We really wanted to get to Overmountain Shelter because of all the good word about it that we heard at Miss Janet¢s. We met Kokomo at the shelter 2 miles before Overmountain. He was too tired to go any further. We got to Overmountain shelter just after dark. It really is a very cool shelter. There's a lot of room upstairs and cooking areas downstairs.In the middle of the night the nasty storm that everyone had been forecasting came. The wind was really blowing and blew the rain in the cracks in the barn. Half the people upstairs had to move further into the centre of the barn at that time to avoid getting wet. The storm was a good one and I was happy to be inside for it. It continued raining into the next morning but luckily it stopped and allowed us an 8:30 start.
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Morland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: moderate rain

The rain ended in te morning but it was still a bit cloudy. Stewie and I didn't get a very early start, but I think that we were the first ones to leave. The balds this morning were beatiful, but windy. Stewie wears a sports kilt andhe said that this moring was the first time that the draft was actually painfull. I wear a skirt too, but I wear underware underneath, so I don't have that problem. Mule caught up with us, and Stewie and I got this awesome picture taken at an outlook. I'll post the picture as soon as I can. I am holding Stewie up with his entire pack. Walking with Mule was cool because he had a radio. It was the first time on the whole trip that I hiked with music.At Apple House Shelter we meet Yin and Yang. We said good-bye to Mules as he was staying at a bed and breakfast on US 19E.Later the same day we meet the SBU or Short Bus Unit. Scared of the Dark. Doc Holiday Inn, Lightining Rod, Snackman, Rollergirl, and Weatherman Bill were a hoot. Three of them had just bought a 6-pack of ber each and Scared od the Darkspread the trail magic at the shelter tonight.
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Morland Gap Shelter

To: Watuga Lake Campsite
Miles today: 16.3

This morning we said good-bye to the SBU and headed down the trail.We decided to go down a blue-blaze to Denis Cove Falls. We went down the trail because we wanted to find a swimming hole that some other hikers had told us about. The trail went to the falls then kept going. We kept going down the trail and ended up on a road. We walked down the road a bit and ended up at the Laurel Forks Lodge. Since it was almost lunch we decided to stop and have some food to eat. They have a bunkhouse that has a kitchen on one end. We heated the pizza up in the microwave there. There was a TV and VCR in there too. Stewie and I ended up watching Turner and Hooch and eating three more pizzas.After lunch we climbed backup the trail and walked around to the road again. Walking through the Laurel Gorge was beautiful, but the mountain laurels and rhododendrons there were making my eyes swell up and water.There was a family that was barbecuing by Watuga Lake. Stewie and I tried to look pitiful and hungry when we talked to them but they didn't offer us any food. We went and sat in the grass and pulled out the Ramen. Stewie started to eat his raw. The mother and a couple of her daughter walked by on their way to the washroom. She asked Stewie if that was his dinner. He replied yes and she continued on, then Stewie added, 'sometimes I spread peanut butter on it to spice it up'. That got her attention and she turned around and told her daughter to make up the left over hot dogs and hamburgers. They also gave us a couple of cold pops. (Thanks for the yogi advice Baltimore Jack)After eating we continued onward towards the shelter. On the way threw ran into Buckaroo, THX, Grenade Boy and Lady Scarecrow. They told us that the shelter had no view of the lake so they had come back to cap there. We set up camp there too and sat around the campfire before heading off to bed.
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Watuga Lake Campsite

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 26.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today Stewie and I had big plans to get up early and do the 40 mile challenge into Damascus. We both slept in a bit and when we did get up and moving it was so nice out we decided to go swimming and check out the rope swing.I really recommend that everyone passing by to try it out, it is really a lot of fun. To me the water in the lake seemed to be normal summer temperature, but I think that Stewie found it a little cold. I guess that it what happens when you are from Georgia.After swimming, drying off and packing up we were off. I think that it was my latest start not coming out of town. The views climbing up the ridge looking back at Watauga Lake were fantastic. They really made me miss being at home where lakes are common. Then I thought about how cold the water at home would be and decided that the weather here was better.The day was pretty uneventful; we didn't meet too many people hiking. I got too sleepy to keep walking so we tented out at Double Spring Gap. Just after we had settled into our sleeping bags it started to rain. There was heavy rain all night as well as thunder and lightning. The storm kept me up some and I didn't get as good of sleep as normal.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Double Spring Gap (19th through to 23rd)

To: Damascus
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

It was wet this morning when I awoke but the raining had stopped. Things were a little wet, butit wasn't a big concern since tonigt I would be sleeping inside and would get a chance to clean and dry everthing.The start of the hiking day was foggy but it soon cleared away and the sun came out. The trail went mostly downhill into Damascus. Fortunatly for my knees it wasn't ever steep and we made good time.Not too far out from the town we arrivd at the unofficial TN/VA border marked by the Jefferson National Forest sign. The requisit pictures were taken and we contined onward.Once in Damascus I visited the post office, Mount Rogers Outfitter, laundamat, Dollar Store, Baja Burrito and Sicily's. The food at the Baja burrito was fantastic. They have a computer with internet access there that hikers can use. I had steak tacos and Stewie had the giant burrito. They hav regular sized burritos and giant ones for 2 dollars extra. I think that this was the first trail town that Stewie didn't eat three entres in.We both stayed at The Place tonight. It is a hostel run by the United Methodist Church. It is an old house that is full of bunks. Rollergirl, the Honeymooners, Chainsaw and TBone are also here tonight. The rest of the SBU is supposed to be here tonigh after they finish the 40 mile Damascus challenge.On the way to Sicily's for dinner we met up with Mule and Buckaroo who had just gotten into town. The whole lot of us had dinner and then returned back to the Place. I was feeling tired so I turned in early.
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Damascus

To: VA 600
Miles today: 23.8

This morning I got up and mailed my bounce box forward. I went back to the Place and packed u p my pack. T-bone, Mule, Stewie and I went to Dairy King for breakfast. Mule and T-bone got normal breakfasts but Stewie and I had the all you can eat pancakes. The day before Colonel Mustard ate 13 pancakes so Stewie decided that he had to eat more than that. I stopped after 5 and a half, by that time Stewie had eaten 11. Shortly after Blazer and Sideshow came in and ordered the AYCE breakfast too. It got Stewie to eat more than he planned on, eventually eating 18. Sideshow ate 21. Both of them looked really sick when they were done. After some walking around and rubbing his stomach Stewie went outside and threw-up in the woods. He said he felt better after that so we got on our way.The rhododendrons on the hills were beautiful. They were in full bloom and looked like pink balls dropped al over. Fortunately my allergies were taken care of so I was able to enjoy them.
Date: 2005-05-25
From: VA 600

To: Hurricane Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Ponies! Wow, Grayson Highlands were amazing. There really has been no where else like it on the trail so far.The trail was out in the open for miles and miles today. On the balds the trail is out in the open for a while, but then you go back into the trees. The views from Mt Rogers northward were amazing. The views from the rocky outcroppings are hard to describe in words. Compared to the rest of the trail so far, today had the most rocks, mostly big ones that let you step from rock to rock.At Thomas Knob Shelter wild ponies appeared from behind the bushes and wandered over to the picnic table. We had met a college group in the morning from Chicago who were out collecting salamanders and they gave us some cold cereal. I fed the mini-wheats that they gave me to the ponies. One of the ponies had a foal with it. It was really small.As I hiked northbound I ran into a whole bunch of ponies on the trail. They are really quite tame, but some of the foals are a bit skittish.I met Dutch and Stretch at Old Orchard Shelter. Dutch had had his sleeping bag stolen by a thru-hiker named Firedog in Damascus. I haven't met Firedog yet, and I hope that I don't, I don't want any of my stuff to disapear.While I was eating some candy today I managed to knock the retaining bar in my mouth behind my bottom teeth off. I only dislocated one end so it was sticking into my mouth making it difficult to talk and impossible to eat. At the next shelter Stewie pried the other side off for me with his Swiss Army knife. In retrospect it would have probably been a better idea to use something other than a knife to do this. Things turned out ok but the glue is still stuck to the back of my teeth, making them feel all dirty and gross.
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Hurricane Mtn Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

Today I stayed at the 'pizza shelter'. There were a lot of other people here too. I think that every hiker that passes through this area stops long enough to order pizza. We ordered pizza with Bearcan(less), Colours, Swayze, TO, Saxy Lady, Dandy, Flashhands and Stewie. I think that the order was 11 or 12 pizzas in all.There was also a lady from Quebec here today. She is out on a three-week section hike. She is the first person that I have met that is from Canada beside myself. She lives about 200 km outside Montreal and mostly speaks French. She can speak enough English to get by down here but she can't really participate in the big group conversations. I thought that it was awesome that I s able to speak to her. I guess those 13 years of French schooling paid off. I guess I really am bilingual.Flashhands was also at the shelter last night. He is deaf and speaks using sign language. I don't think that most people know sign language so he has to write out what he wants to say when he is talking with most people.My allergies were acting up again and my eyes were swollen shut. Another hiker gave me some Benadryl to help. I ended up taking 4 of them, which made me feel better, but also made me sleepy. Son after I ate I went to bed.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today four important events occurred.1. I entered the green tunnel. Prior to now, the leaves were either not totally out or I was climbing mountains to get a great view at the top. Now I just roll along under the trees. I don't know if I really think this or I am just reflecting what everyone else says, but VA seems boring.2. I have caught up to the 'rush' of thru-hikers. The shelter was more than full; there were tents set-up all around and at the campsites a bit down from the shelter. Although the hikers in what I am calling the rush say that they are the tail end. I can't even imagine what the rush-rush would be like.3. Today I passed 25% of the total trail distance. It really doesn¢t seem that bed. I could imagine myself hiking that far three more times.4. Today is my one-month anniversary on the trail. Most of the people at the shelter were surprised at that. It seems that most people that we are hiking with now started the end of March.At I-81 Stewie and I stopped for lunch at Ramona's Restaurant and had a blizzard each at Dairy Queen. I think that every hiker must stop there for a break, a DQ right on the trail is sooo hard to resist. I was all set to have a Skor blizzard, but apparently it isn't an option in this area of the world. Honestly I think that a Skor Blizzard is second only to the classic Oreo blizzard.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter 
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

I can't believe how many hikers there are around now. It seems like there are just more and more every day. For the second time the shelter is more than full and there are tonnes of tents all around the shelter. Stewie and I are really not used to this. We're used to rolling in at 8 o'clock p.m. and the shelter being half-empty. It is only going to get worse for Stewie, but I will get behind the rush when I am home for university graduation. I guess I will catch back up with them again though.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Jenkins Shelter 

To: Dismal Creek Falls Trail 
Miles today: 32.0

Today we got up before the sun to do a long day. We packed up quickly and as quietly as possible as not to wake the other hikers. A ways down the trail we stopped for breakfast.The trail descended down off the ridge to a creek (which we crossed what seemed like a thousand times) and then a road. On the other side of the road we were surprised with some trail magic of cold juice left in a cooler with the weather for the area. A big thank-you to the trail angel out there who left us that treat.The day on a whole was pretty boring. Up the ridge, along the ridge, down the ridge repeat. The one interesting sight we did encounter was a larger woman hiking topless. It was a sort of strange encounter; it wasn't even hot out. I just said hello as I walked by. I am not sure if I surprised them while they were getting busy or what have you, but she still had her bra on her shoulders, just open in the front. At the next shelter we read in the register that another thru-hiker Moss had interrupted them doing the nasty the day before and had therefore nicknamed them "Bump" and "Grind".Both Stewie and I were running low on food so we decided that we would tent out at Trent's Store and get food for the next day as soon as they opened. When we got there at 7:00pm we experienced the best luck on the trail so far - they were open and not only that we could order hot food for dinner. After stuffing ourselves and filling up on food Stewie secured a hitch back 0.4 miles to the trail and we hiked in and set up camp.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Dismal Creek Falls Trail 

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: few clouds

Stewie and I were off at what I would call a reasonable hour this morning, but what he would call really late. The trail this morning was very peaceful as it wandered through pine groves along the creek. In the national forest there must be horse trails as well as the AT, as I meet about 6 horses on a break by a pond. Horses aren't supposed to be on the AT, but there was definite evidence that at least one had been on the trail. We stopped for lunch at Wapiti Shelter, which is a very cute small log shelter.This afternoon we were back walking on the ridge-a-ma-coaster.   There are some very beautiful views. The mountains in this part of the Appalachians are different than further south. Whether you are looking east or looking west, you can look down into a valley and then up to another parallel ridge off in the distance. From the top of the ridges the valleys kind of remind me of golf courses. The trees are the roughs and the cleared areas are the fairway.At Doc's Knob Shelter I read in the register that T-Bone had checked in earlier in the day. It kind of drove Stewie crazy thinking about what kind of miles T-Bone must have pulled to take a zero in Damascus the day we left and still beat us to Pearisberg when we were putting in pretty big miles ourselves.Once we got down to the road we managed to get a hitch into town. The Rendez Vous Motel is right on the trail and it would have been an option if they had not been full. We had Chinese buffet with UPS and Skywalker. It was ok, but nothing special. Stewie was definitely disappointed that they didn't have any tofu. He's decided to go back to being a vegetarian except for fish and if someone offers him food and he is starving.After dinner we hitched a ride with a Virginia Tech engineering Prof. who lived in town to Wal-Mart. Stewie got some food to supplement what his mom was sending him and we found light-up toothbrushes like the ones the Rum Sisters had in the Smokies.Stewie really is the master hitcher, after paying for our purchases he found us a ride to the hiker hostel run by the catholic church.There were tonnes of people at the hostel. All the beds up stairs were full and there were a few people outside on the porch. The amount of noise and energy was a bit over whelming. There were a few people drinking beer too. Now I don't have a problem with people enjoying their suds, but if a hostel asks you not to do something, then you should really follow the rules. It would be a shame if the hostel were no longer available for hikers.T-Bone appeared from upstairs and we caught up a bit. He said he was planing on sleeping in tomorrow and that we should go to breakfast tomorrow morning. Stewie and I as well as another hiker slept on the floor of the area outside the kitchen. It wasn't much different from sleeping in a shelter, as far as the floor felt, but hot showers awaited next morning.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: North Bay ON Canada

To: Waterloo ON Canada
Miles today: 0.0

Today my mother and I drove down to Waterloo ON for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Ceremony. Waterloo is about a 5 and a half hour drive away from North Bay so we had to leave "the Bay" before 6 am to ensure that we were there on time. Fortunatly being much further north than the AT the sun comes up earlier here. In fact it is starting to get light out at 5 whereas last I was on the trail it started to get light out at 6. It is also light out later too. North Bay is just north of 46 degrees north (ie half way to the north pole), so no, it isn't ever light out 24 hours a day here. For that you would have to go north of 60. The weather this morning was barely 50 F, in the north of Ontario, it was 32 this morning, but down in the south it is supposed to get up to 80.The ceremony was fantastic. I would have to admit that Prince Edward was a lot shorter than I thought that he would be. I guess since I am so tall I just assume that everyone else will be too. He took the time to talk to all the award recipients. When he was younger he was an award participant and for his gold expedition he went hiking in Scotland with his friends in May. Unfortunatly for him it snowed and his boots froze. He says he has since learnt that you should keep your boots in your sleeping bag with you to prevent such occurances.After the ceremony my mom is dropping my off at Hwy 9 to hike south on the Bruce Trail. My plan is to hike to Hwy 7, take the GO into Toronto then out to Burlington where I will continue south. I am going to be skipping around a section of the trail that I hiked last summer. I might take a day or so off over the weekend to go mountain biking with a university friend.I miss the AT and hiking more than I thought that I would. I have to admit that I have felt quite bored this past week.