morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Damascus, VA

To: Tent Site 
Miles today: 1.0

We spend longer than we anticipated in town today. We ate breakfast at Dairy King again. Mileage and I both decided that we could do some damage to the 5 dollar AYCE pancakes. I had to call it quits after six due to the fact that if I had tasted another pancake I would have hurled, though I still could have gone for some sausage, bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns. Mileage put me to shame and ate 9. She ordered the 10th, but it was too much for her to handle. WE did a load of laundry and went back to the hostel to get ready to head back to the trail. We all felt good today. I figured I would have been in pain after the 35 mile death march. After packing up, I decided to do the last of my errands. I went to the drug store and got a Mothers Day card for my loving mother, and got it in the mail. I bought a new radio at the outfitter there because my MP3 player does not have a radio on it, and I figured it would be good to be able to get weather reports. By this time it was lunch time, so Piker, Mileage and I went to Baja cafe for some fantastic burittos. In the cafe they were playing the new Jack Johnson CD that I had not had a chance to hear before I left for the trail. After inquiring about it, they offered to let me put it on my MP3 player. This made my whole day, and the CD turned out to be one of the best yet. After lunch we decided we needed to get out of town before we spent any more money. Piker and Mileage made a last run to the grocery store to grab some beer and hot dogs for camp tonight. Squid Jerky decided that he needed a hacky sack so I walked with him to the outfitter to pick one up. When we returned to the hostel Piker and Mileage had just gotten back. We spent a few minutes hacking in the lawn before we headed off. Just as we were heading out Domino showed up. We got to talk for a few minutes than off we went. WE only did about a mile out of town. That was about all Piker could do since he had a case of beer strapped to the top of his backpack. WE found a great spot to camp so we set up quick. Soon after piker, Mileage and I got there, Squid Jerky, Moose, and TDS rolled in. We built a fire to cook hot dogs and hacked for about an hour. ( I think the hacky sack will be a hit) Piker and Squid J were pounding the beers hard and we ran out fairly fast. WE then just cooked hot dogs and were down with the sun.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Tent Site 

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: light rain

We cleaned up our mess before heading out of the campsite. We all divided the cans from last nights party and started our climb out of Damascus. The first part of the trail was a fairly good uphill stroll and so was the last part of the day, broken up may a fairly level mile or so. We got into the next shelter in the early afternood, but it was such a beautiful site that we could not leave, also my new radio was calling for rain this afternoon so we decide to stay dry in the shelter. as soon as everyone arrived be were right back playing hacky shack in the pine thicket behind the shelter. We cooked what hot dogs were left from last night for lunch. I decided to try to read a bit, but as soon as I hit the sleeping bag I was out like a light. I napped for a couple hours. I should not have been tired, I had not done much of anythng for 3 days. When I awoke from my nap Cuppa Joe, Serenity, Scholar, and others had showed up. In celebration of Cinco De Mayo, Cuppa Joe had packed in whiskey and other party favors. i declined the drink but quickly took him up on a smore. We then threw his frisbee for a while until dark, at which point we all faded fast.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Past Va. Hwy. 601
Miles today: 6.4

We slept late today, so I should be all caught up on sleep. We headed out around 10 headed to wherever we got. We were on no agenda. All we knew is that we were meeting my dad in Adkins on Weds, so we had all kinds of time. We hiked to Lost Mountain shelter for lunch. Moose gave me some miracle whip to spice up my tuna fish that I was having rolled in Italian Herb flatbread. after and hour lunch break I moved on. Piker, Mileage,Squid J, and TDS headed out prior to myself but be did not have much further to go. On the climb up the mountain, I passed Dorthy and Toto, who I had not seen in a while. They were headed south trying to knock this section out. I talked to them for just a moment before hiking on. I caught up with Piker, Mileage, and squid j as I crossed a field of cows. I saw a house up to the left of the trail and remember thinking to myself how cool it would be to live on the AT. As we got closer we realized that the palce was abandoned. Of course we had to go in and check it out. Mileage refused to go in, so she stayed outside while we checked it out. The place had been trashed but was still in solid shape. We all talked about how cool of a hostel we could make out of this place with just a little work. We said we would have to have horseshoes, basketball, volleyball, and a good place to play hacky sack. In our opinion that would be the ultimate place. We waited on Moose for a long time but decided he may have fallen off a cliff so we decided to move on without him. We left him a note scratched in the gravel at the road with an arrow pointin up the trail. No sooner that we had crossed the road we realized that e were where we were planning on camping. We moved about .1 miles up the hill from the road, and there was TDS with a fire going and his tent set up. We did not argue with his choice of campsites, we just set up and joined him around the fire. Moose showed up just as I got my tent set up. He said he was going to set up his tarp, so I threw my gear on his side of the tent and got out my food for dinner. We all ate and just sat around talking. The sun began to set and soon I realized that I had to take some pictures. From our view it looked like the woods were on fire on the horizon. After everyone snapped a few pictures piker and Moose started wrestling. Piker took down the much larger Moose, but once Moose rolled over on top of him, Piker was finished. This must have worn them out because shortly after, they were all in bed.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Past Va. Hwy. 601

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

I left camp around 7:00 this morning. The plan had been for everyone to get up early and catch he sunrise on top of white top, but we all woke up too late. I headed out before everyone and took my time climbing White top. When I got to the top, it was really windy so I took cover behind some large rocks to wait on the rest of the crew. After 45 min, and still no sign of anyone, I moved on powered by Jack Johnson playing on my MP3 player. I headed down the other side of the mountain and stopped half a mile short of the road crossing at VA600 to take some pictures and wait on everyone to go into town for a burger and small resupply. While I was stopped I picked a bag full of ramps for dinner tonight. TDS caught up with me shortly, and we walked down to the road. We waited for about 15 min before the rest of the crew showed up. Mileage got us a ride into town from a couple guys. I had a burger for lunch at konarock community and made a few phone calls. WE got a ride back to the trail and had to pack in a hurray. In the rush Moose left my new Radio laying on the ground. He did not realize it until we were back at the trail so we hope that TDS would grab it. WE took off through the cow field toward Thomas Knob Shelter and the start of Grayson Highlands. I hiked up with Squid J. We made great time up Mt. Rogers. On the way up we passed about 50 Boy Scouts headed down. We got to the shelter and unpacked for the night. The privy there had a solar panel on top to power the fan, but it still smelled like the other privies. Everyone slowly showed up and we went behind the shelter to see the ponies that run wild there. I got several pictures of squid giving the ponies beer that he had packed in from lunch.
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter tenting
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

We sat off this morning for Grayson Highlands. The wind was blowing fairly strong but the sun was out and made for a nice day. I started off the day taking lots of pictures. Squid and I were hiking together and decided early that it was going to be a nice day, so we were going to take out time and enjoy it. We got off the trail to climb some rocks to the left when Moose, Piker and Mileage moved on past us. They did not seem like they wanted to play like we did. After we climbed down we hiked up the trail about .3 more miles and took a blue balzed trail to the top of a huge rock formation. We dropped our packs at the botton of the rocks and climbed up to the top. The wind was crazy up there but we had fun and got some great pictures. We climbed down and moved on towards the highlands. Just before we got there we found Piker and Mileage sitting in a great meadow enjoying the day. Squid and I sat for a while then moved on to see more ponies. We stopped at Wise Shelter for lunch and a game of hacky sack. Pikers knee was bothering him so he did not play. He and mileage moved on ahead of Moose, Squid and I. We finished our game and took off. Moose was ahead of Squid and I but I caught him just after the highlands down at the Scales. From there I hiked with him til I stopped to take a nap on a big rock. I made it to Old Orchard jsut behind him, piker and mileage. We decided to camp here because here was a great meadow in front of the shelter. Moose decided to move on in order to get to Marion a little earlier to catch a bus back home for his brothers graduation and cousins wedding. We were in no hurray because we were meeting dad in Adkins to go back to Trail Days in Damascus. We said bye to Moose and Set up camp. Several people started to show up and filled the shelter and several camped by us. I hit the tent to read for a while jsut as the sun set. Just as dark hit, Squid yelled at me to get out there with my camera. There was an owl that was hanging out at our camp. He would fly and wathc us but never got more that a few yards away. He stayed around, paying no attention to the crowd of people around him, or all the flashes of camera going off. After 20 min. or so he flew off into the woods out of sight. He gave us a good hoot goodnight and I went to bed excited abouit what I had just seen.
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Old Orchard Shelter tenting

To: Dickey Gap (VA16) Troutdale,VA
Miles today: 10.2

I was up and out of camp before anybody this morning. I threw on my music and hiked. I crossed the 500 mile mark this morning around Fox creek. I made the climb up to the new Hurricane shelter in no time and had breakfast there. I was hoping to get there before moose left but when I got there, there was no one there. I stayed for an hour or so waiting for everyone to show up. Just as I was headed out I met up with Piker and Mileage on the trail, and Squid was right behind. We we headed for the hostel in Troutdale. The terrain looked like it would not be too bad so we took off. Squid and I pulled ahead and moved on. We took a break and Piker and Mileage caught up. We realized we had made better time that we thought. We were only a mile from where we were supposed to be and We had only been hiking an hour. We came out at the road crossing at Troutdale and Cuppa Joe, Scholar, and the rest of the crew was there. We hitched a ride and Everyone piled in the back of the truck. We had 11 people with 11 backpacks in that truck into Troutdale. We got dropped at the Trading Post and went in for lunch. We headed up to the hostel. We signed in and found out that Moose had been here last night but left this morning. The hostel had everything we needed. We threw horseshoes and frisbees. WE played some hacky sack and basketball, and then got a shower. All this on a great day, what else could you ask for. Piker got a ride from the minister to the medical clinic up the road to have his knee checked out. While he was doing that Squid and I got a ride into Marion with Footloose and Fancy Free who had their truck down here. We ate at KFC and came back. When we got back Piker said that the Nurse told him to take a week or 2 off. I told hime that we4 could stay there and just ahd dad pick us up there for Trail Days and give him time to rest. He said he wanted to hike so we planned on leaving in the morning. Just at that time squid comes up and tells Piker that Milage is on the phone crying. It turns out that her Uncle had passed away unexpectadly. We made arrangements for the two of them to catch a bus back home tomorrow. Squid and I decided that since they were leaving and Moose was gone that we would just say and extra day and go to Trail Days from here. That way we would not break up the group.
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Troutdale, VA
Miles today: 0.0

squid and I zeroed today and are just going to wait for Dad to pick us up here for Trail Days. I really wish that Everyone could go with us, but I understand that situations will not allow that. squid and I both went to the medical clinic today to have injuries checked out. It turns out that I have been hiking with a sprained ankle the past week or so, and Squid had tendonitis in his foot, so they sugested I take a couple weeks off. I said that I could do a week, since I would be at Trail Days. After that we hitched into Marion, which was about 17 miles. We went to the post office and library. It started to rain so we found the closed place to get out of the rain and get some food. We ended up eating at a Japaneese place. We both had sushi and shimp. The food was great, but we are hikers and are not supposed to eat good food right? We finished and the rain had passed so we decided to hitch back to the hostel. After and hour and a half of trying to get a ride with no luck, the same lady that took us there drove by and picked us up again. We chilled out at the hostle. Domino and his friend JP showed up today, I was glad to see him again. I told him that we would have room to give them a ride back to trail days and he said it sounded like a good idea. Lion King was also there and said he may need a ride as well. He had filmed a documentary last year on the trail and Backpacker magazine was showing it at trail days.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Back to Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We we got up and decide to try and hitch to Damascus and just meet Dad there. Lion King left early and It iwas just Domino, Squid, Jp, and I. We got a ride fairly quick and we eating lunch in Damascus when we saw Dad drive by. I waved him down and we all had lunch. The rest of the day was spend talking to people I had not seen in a while, like Wyatt who was one of the first people I saw in town. Captin chaos was also there when we got there. the mojority of people will not be here til friday when the festival get kicking.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Dickey Gap (VA16) Troutdale,VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Got the kids back on the trail today. I think they were ready to start hiking again. Piker & Ms. Mileage returned from Kentucky on Sunday & Moose met the group at Partnership Shelter tonight. The rest of the group along with Phil & I had a good but wet time at Trail Days. They say that it always rains and this year was no exception. It was great to meet the hikers that I've been reading about in these journals. Lion King's video "Walking With Freedom" was great. I spent $20 on a copy so you know it had to be good. I'll be uploading lots of pictures over the next few days so keep checking in. Skip
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

 We left Partnership and Moose headed back to Troutdale to start his hike. He said he would catch up to us asap. It was strange to be back on the trail, but it felt good. I could tell I was tired and my body was a bit out of shape, but I would soon work the kinks out and start hiking like I was before. We hiked the 7 miles into Chatfield Shelter and ate lunch. The hike had not been as bad as I expected. After lunch Squid and I took off and were hiking together. We stopped at the Settlers Musem and left a not on the chalkboard for Moose in the Schoolhouse. Later we ran accross an old four wheeler with no wheels just sitting in a field. We ate a burger at Dairy Queen In Adkins, before moving on a few miles and setting up camp about .9 miles south of Davis Path shelter.
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Campsite

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

If every day had been like today, I would have been home 2 months ago. I felt good comming out of camp. We had camped at the water before Davis Path Shelter. It was Squid, Piker, Mileage, and I. We are still waiting on Moose to catch us. As the day went by the more exhausted I got. We came to a large stream and took a break and the crew caught us. We decided to move on up since we were only a few miles from the shelter. That is when It all went downhill for me. I had a snack and started hiking. the had a big climb into the shelter and it turned out to be one of the worst ones yet. I barely had the energy to pull myself up the hill. I was the last one from our group to get there. I was stopping every 2 minutes to take a break. When I did make it to the shelter the frst thing I did was cook up the biggest meal I had. I decided then that I had to change my diet in order to get all the nutrients that I need. After my dinner and a nap I felt 100X better. We were at the shelter when four ladies that were out section hiking showed up. We had stayed with them at Partnership. Everyone sat around and talked for a while, but when it was all said and done everyone was tired and turned in early.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to eat a big breakfast before we started today since we were talking about doing a fairly big day. I had 3 packs of oatmeal and packed up and hit the trail. We were anticipating a fairly tough day since we had heard rumors of 2 big climbs one of which was 2000 ft. We took it easy and cruised for a couple hours. I stopped and at lunch with v3 and toolman beside a stream before the start of the big climb up to Chestnut Knob. That gave me the boost I needed. I found the rest of the crew by the pond sitting with the four ladies we camped with last night. This was supposedly our last chance for water for the next 10 miles so everyone was stocking up and eating lunch. I filled up my water and did the 1.8 up to chestnut. The shelter was nice, more like a hostel than a shelter. It was a fully enclosed rock buliding. The view from there was amazing. It overlooks a valley the is called "Gods Thumbprint". This was the first choice for the Biltmore Estate before it was built in Asheville NC. We left Chestnut at 2:45 trying to beat the storms that were headed our way. The last 10 miles of the day were not bad, but they were really rocky and full of ups and downs. I caught up to Domino sitting on the ground leaned up against a tree cussing the rocks and the hills. He decided to call it a day so I moved on past him. About 4 miles from the shelter the rain moved in. It started to pour so I looked for cover in order to organize my gear. Just as I found a spot that I could duck out of the rain and put my camera and other things away, it stopped raining. At the same time Stilts caught up and we hiked on together. Squid had powered on and I had not seen him in a couple hours, but when I got to the shelter there he was. I guess he had been there for a while. I was fast to cook up a pot of food because I was worn out after the 19 miles. We surveyed the shelter situation and decided there would be just enough room for everyone. Bonedancer was there with his Mom, tinkerbell, and his brother. He had a banjo and played us some dinner music. It was good to hear music for a change. We all hoped Moose would catch us today, but we all doubted it since the weather turned bad.
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up this morning to Piker cooking breakfast. He and Mileage had decided to get an early start to make it into Bland before the post office closed. It sounded like a good idea so I got my stuff together and headed out, but not before I got a picture of the privy. It was just a pot on a platform, no walls, and visable from the water trail behind the shelter. The hike started with a steep climb, but I felt good so I flew up it in no time. After the first climb it flattened out a bit and I made good time. Squid caught me a couple hours into the day, and we hiked the rest of the day together. We crossed the same stream at least 12 times today and the next to the last crossing I soaked my foot. (just my luck) We rolled into Bland around lunchtime and got a ride right off the bat from a guy dropping his wife off at the trailhead. We got a room at the only motel in town, and walked accross the road for a couple Dairy Queen burgers. The remainder of the day was spent being lazy and watching TV. Moose rolled in right before dark. It was good to finally see him, I had almost forgotten he was part of our group.It is so strange to get to look in a mirror about once a week. Each time I do I realize that my hair is longer than before, and I still can't grow a beard. I look like a dog with the mange. But that is what is great about being out here, nobody cares!
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

We got up and had breakfast at dairy Queen and got ready to head out. We all got a ride from the motel from a nice lady. We went to the post office and mailedoff a few things, and when they went to the trail, I went to the library so I could catch up on journaling and send out a few emails. I finished a little after lunchtime and grabbed a sandwich on my way out of town at the local store. I got a hitch out of town at around 2:30 and started my game of catch up. As I was just starting the trail I met domino who was slackpacking south. He told me what lied ahead so off I went. I felt really good and made quick time only stopping to talk to Pilgrim and hopper. Pilgrim I just met today, but I talked to him for a few minuted as I passed his campsite by the trail. He was drinking and had a fire going. Just as I started the fire exploded and sent flaming coals flying high and towards me. after one more explosion, I decided it would be in my best interest to move on or risk injury. As I climbed the small hill past his campsite I heard a loud boom come from his direction, I was sure he would be ok, and moved on. The day went fast, and I did not see much until justbefore the shelter when I spooked a doe and it dashed accross the trail into the woods to the West. I rolled into an almost full shelter but there is always room for a spruce, so we sat around and talked for a while before dark hit and we faded.