morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Carver's Gap

To: Greasy Greek Gap
Miles today: 9.8

Now pay attention...don't get confused...today You Go Girl and I slacked pack southbound. After breakfast CeeCee shuttled us to Carver's Gap. She was shuttling Red Tornado (78 years old) and Granny Gear there and it made sense to take us there too. The twisty-turny road made me car-sick. I just closed my eyes and held it together until we reached the destination. When the car stopped, I got out and went over to the wooden fence and just held on to it. You Go Girl was beside me, just holding the fence too. She was also car-sick. We said our good-byes to Red Tornado and Granny Gear as they headed north and we headed south. We both felt miserable. After more than a half hour of feeling urpy, I remembered that I had Pepto Bismol tablets in my first aid ziplock. I gave some to You Go Girl too and after a while we both felt better.I liked the novelty of doing this section backwards. In 2004 it was my hardest day. It took me 10 hours to hike the 6 miles from Clyde Smith Shelter to Roan High Knob Shelter, the higheat shelter on the whole trail at 6,285 feet. This time it only took me 5 hours going the other way. I was suprised to see spring beauties and a couple of trout lilies as if I was in the Smokies again. When we reached Little Rock Knob, we had a terrific 180* view of mountains and valleys. Somewhere during our hike we saw unusual shrubs with no leaves, just clusters, in rows, of small (1cm) cream colored bell shaped flowers.Everything was giong well until halfway through today's hike. Suddenly my left shin was in pain. You Go Girl explained to me that shin splints is a muscle thing, not a bone thing. It slowed me down. I was taking little steps to baby my shin. It put more stress on the bottoms of my feet and on my knees. By the end of today's hike I was moaning and groaning. By the time I was hiking down the side trail to Greasy Creek Friendly, I was mildly cussing.When I reached the Friendly I took 4 ibuprofen and had 3 dragonflies. No more pain.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Greasy Creek Gap 
Miles today: 4.2

Today is my 2 month aniversary on the trail. Remember, I got off the trail for 10 days in April.At breakfast I talked with Stranger who is from New Zealand. After breakfast CeeCee carefully and slowly drove us to Iron Mountain Gap where she picked us up Tuesday. She felt so bad when she learned that we got car-sick yesterday. Tomorrow You Go Girl and I will both get to ride shotgun in the two cars headed from Greasy Creek Friendly to Trail Days in Damascus. Today's hike was easy. I had no pain, and cool temperatures and no rain. I was suprised how soon our hike was over. The main flower today was the purple one with blossoms coming out the stalk. There were trilliums too. We just hung out at the house the rest of the day.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Greasy Creek Gap 

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A lot of waiting around today. Of course hikers don't have as much to pack as CeeCee...two cars(one with a mattress and card table tied to the top) packed tightly with 7 hikers, 7 back packs, one puppy in a cage, and all CeeCee's camping gear. The hikers included ourselves, Wipeout, Inside Out, Flying J, Stranger, and Turtleback. We stopped in Hampton at a McDonald's and gas station. Someone had the bright idea to hit an ATM machine before we get to Damascus. On the TV the news said that Damascus is expecting 30,000 people for Trail Days.Once in Damascus, we went straight to Tent City. We had to pay a $5 fee (first time ever) and received a wrist band to wear for the duration of Trail Days. Tents are everywhere. We headed towards the "quiet area" and kept walking down the road until we found an area not tented in. I wanted a level spot, hopefully not in the poison ivy.After we pitched our tents, You Go Girl and I headed towards town. I steered us to the area where the vendors were set up. The Harpers Ferry Outfitters were there. I got to visit with Cootie Queen. She remembered me from my 2004 visit. Also there shopping was Jan Lite Shoe. It was great to see her again. (I have a case of hero worship here.) We went by the ATC tent and took an AT quiz. I won a small package of Appalachian Trail Blend coffee. Yea! Now I have real coffee to try my Nalgene drip coffee maker.You Go Girl and I went to Sicily's for dinner. There was a 2 year old girl devil child (I didn't name her that) running around the restaurant. She tried to yank You Go Girl's necklace off and then spit on her. I saw Pips there. I didn't recognize her at first with her hair down. The devil child had taken Pip's shoes from her.Back at Tent City I was so glad to see Kyanite, Sunkist, and the beagles again. I missed those guys. Back in Franklin I had suprised them with a tiny bottle of Jamison's from the liquor store. They were delighted in telling me how they made that bottle last 3 days between the two of them. They offered me a sip from the regular size Jamison's. OK. I went to sleep before dark.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Damascus

To: Hard Core
Miles today: 0.0

I told You Go Girl that today will be a hurry up and wait day. We got up early, hurried up and packed our packs, took down our tents, headed toward town and Cowboys for breakfast. Then to the P.O. parking lot for the waiting part with 60 others. After everything was sorted out, You Go Girl and I ended up with Bag Lady as our driver. She hiked last year. Also in the car was Duck and Buttercup. They remember me from the Wayah Bald Shelter. We discussed the bear bag lady. The incident, I was told, ended up on Whiteblaze.net. Deja vu, we were back at Iron Mountain Gap, again. After picking up a pulaski, a fire rake, and gloves, we were put into teams and started hiking south on the AT to where the orange flag markers were. I, being Slow Barbara, could not keep up with my team. I had to let another team go ahead of me. I managed to catch up with my team after the safety instructions. And then we dug and cut roots. Later while we were doing this, it rained. Working kept us warm. I was caked and covered with mud. We learned later that together we cut 2000 feet of new trail relocation. When we got back to the gap, we girls piled in Bag Lady's SUV because we were so cold. Nobody goes anywhere until the tools are cleaned and sorted. When that was done all cars and trucks caravaned to a picnic area. We washed our hands in the creek and lined up for dinner of BBQ. After dinner the Hard Core patches were handed out. I was thrilled to collect my "Year 2" rocker patch. And we all got t-shirts too. I'm going to toss my nasty stinky permanantly soil stained hiking shirt and wear my Hard Core shirt while hiking.I was delighted to run into Forest Phil again. I first met him in 2004 at Hard Core. He asked about my brother, who he met at 2005 Hard Core. He was stunned to learn of his death. Phil and another guy were just remenising about Richard (1/4 of the Way) today as they worked during this year's Hard Core.After the picnic, Bag Lady drove us to Braemor Castle Hostel in Hampton, TN. Deja vu, we went through Hampton to get to Trail Days. There were several hikers staying there. (But not as many as the ones staying at Kincora.) Otto was there. He had just colledted his "Year 7" rocker patch for Hard Core. Otto is a trail icon to me. When my brother and I did our first section hike in 2000, Otto and his dog, Raven, were among the first thru-hikers we met at our first shelter (Rock Gap Shelter.) Since his thru-hike in 2000, he has been very involved in AT doings. He, of course, doesn't know who I am unless I remind him that I was the one that asked if his dog wanted a leftover taco from town. Forget the dog...Otto wanted and ate the taco.By the time I took my shower the water was cold. I even waited awhile in hopes it would get warm. I ended up with a quick luke-warm shower. To bed.
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Hard Core

To: Hard Core
Miles today: 0.0

You Go Girl and I caught a ride to the local greasy spoon for breakfast and caught a ride back. Both times in the back of a pickup truck. Duck, Buttercup, You Go Girl and I were picked up today by Mountain Squid, a retired Navy Cheif. Today we were shuttled to Carver's Gap. (Hey, we were here before.) This time we here to hike north for three miles to reach the assigned work area. It was 45* and windy in the gap. The wind chill had to be near freezing. I hike slow even without a pack. Pretty soon everyone passed me and looked like ants traveling up the trail on the next bald. Even You Go Girl was long gone. But I found a new friend in Okie Girl, who hiked as slow as I did. I only carried a pulaski today as I brought along my Nalgene for water to drink.When we reached the work site, Okie Girl and I started working at the closest end, knowing it will take us a long time walking to get back to Carver's Gap. It was a nicer day - sunny and no rain. The dirt was easier to move. But my muscles were like wet noodles. You Go Girl found us and worked at our end.We were in agreement to leave earlier than the others, and did. Three of the trail maintainers managed to pass us going downhill. We turned in our tools and stood around freezing until we found an unlocked truck or SUV to sit in. Finally Mountain Squid arrived and we piled in his truck to go to Kincora for dinner.Everyone stood in line waiting patiently for dinner. The Chef, Baltimore Jack, did not want to start serving until everyone had arrived. First was the soup course, a delicious potato garlic mushroom soup. I went to the back of the line to be ready for the main course. I was so hungry. We had heaping plates of spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread. It was so delicious. Okie Girl found me and You Go Girl and let us sit on her truck's tailgate. Most of the hikers just sat on the ground. It was enough food for me. I didn't want dessert.I found Forest Phil to ask him where was the section that my brother worked on in 2005. It's called Hard Core Cascades and I haven't hiked that far yet. Later, another hiker called Lugnut found me. He had worked with my brother in 2005 and had pictures of him. He wanted my email address to send them to.Bag Lady found us to take us badk to Braemar. Halfway there I realized that I didn't have my Nalgene anymore. Shoot! I didn't get to make coffee in it yet either. I can just buy a new one in Damascus and use a one liter bottle from some store. Bag Lady managed to talk the local laundrymat into staying open later for us to wash our clothes. All the mud did not wash off my new Marmot rain jacket. For some reason, most of the hikers at Breamar weren't ther the second night. I got to have a hot water shower.
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Carver's Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

"On the trail again..." Our assigned driver, Ben, picked us up promtly, stopped at McDonald's, ( I bought a one liter bottle of water next door,) and dropped us off at Carver's Gap. This is our third time here. (Oh look, You Go Girl, there is our fence we hung on to after getting out of CeeCee's car.) It was freezing cold and windy. I quickly put on my fleece jacket under my rain jacket. It was also gray and cloudy. And back up to Round Bald and Jane Bald we go. It was easier hiking with poles.We were excited to reach the new, (1800 feet) section of trail that we helped build. Everyone did such a great job, especially the ones who did the rock work. This relocation replaces a relocation done in 1953.We reached Overmountain Shelter after 1:00pm. A short day for us. We are under a roof if it rains and I can catch up on my journal writing. The last few days have been hectic. Overmountain is my favorite shelter. It's a red barn with an open side containing 2 sleeping platforms facing a beautiful scenic vista. There is also an upstairs for sleeping too.After 2:30pm. We are patting ourselves on our backs for stopping here. It just started to thunderstorm.The flowers for today were first, some dandilions on the balds. Then the little white ones with the fringe revisited. And also little half inch lavender ones with four petals and yellow centers.OK, now the rain is blowing in on the platforms. Girl (short for You Go Girl) and I moved our stuff upstairs. It is more protected and dark even though there are wide cracks between the boards.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 8.7

4:33am. Wha? Hikers coming in at this hour? Why?? Well, since I'm awake...pee run.I woke up around 7:30am and heard Girl and Flash talking. Got up and went downstairs to have breakfast with a view. The Southern Balds are my favorite part of the whole AT. Today we did Little Hump Mountain and Hump Mountain. The wind was so strong and cold today that I was being blown sideways off the trail. Otherwise it was a beautifully sunny day with big fluffy clouds leaving shadows across the mountains.By the time we reached Apple House Shelter I was already moaning ad groaning with each step because my feet hurt. I strongly dislike my boots. Four years ago I had wonderful boots. If only I could find the same ones again....Go Girl suggested that I wear my crocs instead. That sounded like a good idea until I started walking. They didn't help. My feet still hurt. But I didn't want to change back into my boots since I only had a little ways to go.I was walking along US 19E, facing the traffic like my brother always lectured me to do, (even though there wasn't enough space,) when I tripped and fell on the asphalt. My first thought was to roll away from the traffic and then to get my pack off. I had skinned a large part of my right knee off. It hurt. But my feet still hurt more.We went to Mountain Harbor B&B/Hostel. What a treat! The hostel is over a barn with horses and goats, but you would never know it. Very clean and cozy and nice. I finally got to wash my hair after 12 days. I didn't wash it at Greasy Creek Friendly because there wasn't enough water pressure there. It would take forever to wash and rinse my long hair. Other places I've been at didn't have shampoo. Mountain Harbor had lots of hot water and water pressure and towels and shampoo. Lovely!I was going to put Neosporin on my skinned knee but Girl had Neosporin+Pain Relief. Great stuff. She gave me hers and told me she'll get some more.Mary shuttled us to Bob's Dairyland for dinner. Cheesburgers and onion rings and ice cream. Yeah.We were at Mountain Harbor on a day Mary doesn't serve breakfast in the morning. Ever since, I've been hearing hikers rave about the breakfast Mary serves.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: US 19E

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Today You Go Girl and I had to split up by necessity. She needed to jump up to Damascus to meet her boyfriend coming in from Indiana. When I get to Damascus next week, I have to get off the trail to go home to take care of estate business. And I get to see my husband!It was strange hiking alone today. I mostly let my mind wander and do free associations. It was a beautiful clear day. And I didn't see another hiker. Four years ago I had also not seen another hiker on this section. That is, not until I reached Jones Falls. Then all these hikers showed up. So there I was, waiting at Jones Falls to see if it would happen again. Only one came. It was Mango, who I remembered from Wayah Bald Shelter. I was surprised to see her. I thought she was way ahead. She was slack-packing to Kincora today and the only northbounder I saw today. I saw a few southbounders.My feet started hurting after my visit to Jones Falls. I semi-noticed some controlled forest burns as I hiked, but I was more focused on my painful feet. What can I do about them? New boots? Try another way to lace them? Then my right knee started to throb. I wanted to hike a longer distance today but my feet weren't willing.Mountaineer Shelter was built in one and a half days during the 2006 Hard Core. It's beautiful and it comes with a 3 foot high carved wood bear. I was here all by myself. That is for an hour and a half, until the hikers arrived one by one. There are 7 guys and 1 girl so far. I had Lime Shrimp Ramen with tuna again. Mmm.The flower of the day was buttercups.
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

7:00am. I'm awake before anyone. Well, I wanted coffee NOW. Nylon and plastic is so noisy when one is trying to be really quiet.Usually I don't have any pains in the morning. This morning my feet are still throbbing. Not Good.It was a hot, sweaty, painful day. Other than that, I had some private high points. I went by the place on the trail I helped build during Hard Core in 2004. Laurel Fork brought back memories. I had tented there in 2004 just before a thunderstorm. The thunder and lightening lulled me to sleep and I slept through the hail storm. North of Laurel Fork I finally found Hard Core Cascades. My brother did Hard Core here in 2005. He had helped move these rocks.Other than that, the trail was uninspiring. I felt that I was going in circles all day. I was glad to see the shelter. There is a crowd here...a high school group from Chapel Hill, 3 middle age section hiking guys, and 5 young thru hikers who are keeping to themselves. So far I've taken 6 ibuprophen and my feet are still throbbing. Tomorrow I'm only going 6 miles to Kincora. Yea! No coffee in the morning, I want to get going as soon as I wake up.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kincora
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up before anybody, had no coffee, and left around 7:30am. It was raining.I was in a blah mood. I was worried about my feet. Do I need to see a foot doctor? An outfitter? Both? Would not having coffee affect me this way? I also missed my hiking partner. You Go Girl dreamed about hiking the trail for 35 years. She has run marathons. Her hearing is very acute. She can hear different sounds long before I do. And her cell phone blares out the tune, "When the Saints Come Marching In," whenever it rings. It was most startling while hiking in the woods. She also liked to tease me by telling others that I was much older than she was. We had been with each other through emotional ups and downs as well as the trail's. A little while before I reached Kincora, the sun came out. Instead of being gray and misty, the woods became lovely and green. I couldn't take pictures because I left my camera in my pack because it was raining earlier.I was relieved to reach Kincora. I could make myself coffee, get clean, wash my clothes, and just relax. The dryer was broken. Bob appologized that he couldn't ge a repairman to fix it until after Memorial Day.I was tickled when Bob asked me, where was my partner in crime. He was asking about You Go Girl. I figure she'll be about four days behind me.Bob and Pat took four of us to Elizabethtown to do our shopping while they went to church. I was the only one to remember to bring my damp clothes to dry at the coin laundry.Later, while I was upstairs reading and chilling, Bob had come upstairs to check on me because I wasn't with the others. Thanks Bob, that made me feel special.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Kincora

To: Pond Flats
Miles today: 5.7

I'm so unmotivated today. I figure if I just hike 2 miles today I would be making progress. I called and talked to my husband. When I get to Damascus, he'll come and pick me up. It will be so good to see him again. Funny, I had no problem being gone for 5 months in 2004....I was hanging out and talking with Bob and the two hikers still here. Bob suggested that I not stay at Laurel Fork Shelter because this is a holiday weekend (I forgot that it was) and the locals will be using and abusing that shelter.Earlier I was talking with Panama Snail. She has the same foot problem as I am. So I asked Bob if he knew anything about feet. He said he had a machete and then my trail name could be Stumpy. Then he seriously explained that I'm losing my arch support and recommended insoles. I'll have to wait until Damascus.I'm an achy mess. My left knee is hurting , my left shin is hurting where I scraped it during Hard Core, and my skinned knee was hurting. I put on some more Neosporin+Pain Relief and a new bandaid and now it feels better.I left Kincora around 1:30pm. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the insects buzzing when I discovered myself smiling. I was happy to be outdoors and hiking.When I got to Laurel Fork Falls it was populated with weekenders. Come to think of it, I was the only backpacker. There was a 1.5 mile trail along the stream. It was as busy as a city sidewalk. Adults and chilren of all ages just walking the trail. I left them all behind when the trail began to go up.I had camped by myself at Pond Flats four years ago so I figured history was repeating itself until I came back from getting water. I met RockLocks and Normal and their dogs. They asked if they could camp by me. Of course! They then asked if I wanted a hot dog. That was funny because I was just thinking about hot dogs. Trail magic. Normal made a fire and we roasted the hot dogs over the flame.Later, after I had gone to bed, I heard what I thought were coyotes.My feet are not too bad tonight, but I am going to have to ration the ibuprophen until I get to Damascus.Oh yes, the flowers for today are pink blooming laurel, pink rhodendron, and pinks (which are red.)
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Pond Flats

To: Vandenventer Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Normal and RockLocks told me that the coyotes I heard were turkeys. (?)After an hour into my hike I met Warren slack packing south. I first met him at Kincora yeaterday as I was leaving. He wanted me to leave him messages like I'm leaving for You Go Girl in the shelter registers. He is such a tease. He tried to convince me that I was going the wrong way, not him.When I reached Shock Branch Recreational Area on US 321, I was reminded again that it was Memorial Day. Lots of people picnicing and swimming. I saw RockLocks and Normal again with a bunch of other young hikers at a campsite on the other side of the lake. They were all having a picnic and planned to go swimming.At Watauga Lake Shelter I met a nice family day hiking. From them I received a natural science lesson on locusts. Locusts crawl out of holes and up a tree where they leave their body shells. I was shown a locust on the shelter. It was black with red eyes and twice as big as its shell. Earlier I was hearing a wierd sound like an alien space ship. One of the hikers I paassed thought it was the dam making that noise. Nope. It was the locusts.I met two hikers going southbound. They knew me but I couldn't place them. They were telling me the places they had seen me. I felt embarrassed and brain dead stupid. I later learned their names from the shelter register. Mozzie and Sprite (a different one). They decided to hike south from Damascus after Trail Days instead of finding a shuttle to get them back where they were.I didn't like having to get my water 1.7 miles before reaching the shelter. But I was advised to do so by several people. The water source at the shelter was 3/4 mile straight down. So there I was carrying my water bag and poles. My attention was downward and I was noticing what was growing next to the trail. Only a few of the mayapples had blossoms. The plant of the day is sassafras. I hadn't seen any earlier and today it was all along the trail.As I was walking downhill on the trail, I saw two men standing next to a fire. I thought they were camping at a level spot. It wasn't until I got closer that I dicovered the shelter hidden behind the rhododendron. Scott and Ken are section hiking. We were the only ones here. Scott gave me 4 ibuprophen so I didn't have to use mine.