morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-22
From: VA 623

To: Bland
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Slacking again! Yes I am a slacker and I like it!   I took off for Jenkins shelter and the painted privy.   I like this privy not only is it painted with someone's art work but there's no door and you get a nice view of the woods from the shitter.Moonshine was taking a morning nap in the shelter. He had passed the truck on 623 early that morning.   I woke up to "Moonshine was here 5:20am" written in the dirt on the back windows.   Cupcake also singed in too. Moonshine was night hiking when he found cupcake passed out on a rock. they hiked together to the shelter. Cupcake left camp around 8:30. I was hoping that he ran into Tripod at the next road crossing. Tripod went ahead to try and catch Dharma so he could slack with us. Moonshine deiced to join us for the slack. See Mother I got everyone doing it. After we all got a picture of ourselves on the painted privy we took off. I can't wait to see those pictures. At the next road we caught up to everyone. Slim and Biscuit were joining us too. ANother section hiker was there but he was just getting a ride into Pearisburg from Tripod. I was dragging ass again so I decided to skip that last 7 miles and just come back to hike it later. Maybe on my way back to Trail Days I'll do it. I just love driving around Virgnia. I have way too maybe reasons why I love this state. It was another beautiful day too! I know I have a hard life. We ran into Mousetrap in Pearisburg. We gave him a ride up to the hostel in town. I can't believe he was 3 days head of us now. I wasn't too worried it's not like I'm in any rush. On our way back into Bland we picked up Slim and Slips. Everyone else already hitched into town. The 4 of us went into the Dairy Queen to wait for the others. I had forgotten to mention that I had bought Slips a new skirt last night. I could only find one rayon skirt at the thrift shop. It was black with tan tulips on it. Very pretty. And Slips wore it. Not to worry I got pictures.   I think half of these guys are in skirts the other half in pants. I just love hiking with all these girls! They get some great looks from some of these good ole boys. Glad it's them and not me.It didn;t take me long to decide to stay in town. I'll slack 18 miles tomorrow but I'm sleeping in a bed tonight. ANd I'm taking a shower and laundry. Smelling clean again now that's a great idea.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Bland

To: Dismal Creek Falls
Miles today: 19.7

Day # 7018 mile slack and an easy hike.   I was hiking alone so I just went at my own pace. I did the first 9 miles in about 3 hours. Tripod met me at the first road and I left everything I was carrying with him. The next 4.5 miles I ran. I had nothing with me not even my poles. I blew through that section in about an hour and 15 mins. When I got t the next road Dharma was there with Tripod. So now Dharma and I were slacking the last 5 miles together. Tripod was also slacking Moonshine to the next road. Moonshine was about an hour and half ahead of us so he could get a ride into Pearisburg for his mail drop before we were done with that section. As Dharma and I arrived at the next road Tripod and Moonshine were pulling into the lot from Pearisburg. After a quick run to the store we all drove back to see of the rest of the group was waitting by our note to slack. No one was there when we arrived so we just drove back to 606 and starting hiking again. We made camp at Dismal Creek falls. It would be a quiet night with out all the kids. Might be nice! Tripod said his good byes to us and headed back to New Jersey. It was a great 2 weeks of slack packing. Time to get to sleep early for once.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Dismal Creek Falls

To: Doc Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: few clouds

Nice night. I didn't even have to get up in the middle of the night. It did rain earlier. Tents were all wet. I really don't care to pack up a wet tent. We were supposed to leave camp early like 7:00am. That didn't happen.   It was more like 8:30 when we left.Very uneventful morning. Nice trail, perfect blue sky and not too much climbing. Ok except for a 2000 foot climb at mile 6-8. But that went by quickly. We even stopped up top for some sun tanning at a view. I got a little burnt. Damn Tan Lines!Woods Hole Hostel was open. We didn't stop. We got into camp around 5:30. Then just sat back, relaxed and look at our next 70 miles of trail. When we went to bed we only had a section hiker in the shelter with us. Slim, Biscuit and Fitz showed up much later.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Doc Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early with Dharma. We were trying to figure out who made it in last night and who didn't. Everyone got up right after me. That's when Fitz told us Eats hitched back to Damascus to work for the next month. Apparently he is down to only a few hundred dollars left. I think everyone is going to miss him. Well good news is he'll catch up one day. Especially when I do a side trip. I'm sitting here enjoying the morning listening to the tunes. Bob Dylan sand "How does it feel to be without a home and all alone?" It feels more wonderful then getting a pony for your 8th birthday. Not that I know first hand how getting a pony feels. I'm only guessing it's as great as this.This is a nice Sunday on the trail. Woke up early, stayed in my sleeping bag and watched everyone leave before 9:00. Now I sit here alone drinking my english breakfast tea and listening to some tunes. I'm waiting on the blue sky and sunshine. I still have a days worth of food. I don't mind waiting. If I get bored I'm sure someone will stop by and talk with me. I'm actually feeling so lazy I think I might take a nap.Cupcake showed up around 11:30 so much for that nap. He said he would hang out and wait for me to walk into town. That just meant I was getting out of bed soon. I wouldn't leave camp until at least 12:00. I was taking my time today. I had to have a late start.   The rest of the trail into town was easy walking only took about 3 hours to get in. We arrived in town about 3:30. We got a ride from a pizza hut delivery man who also is a pro wrestler named Dangerous Darryl.   He and his wife drove us up to the hostel. Everyone else was there except Dharma. He got a hotel room for his town stay. I try and save my money so I stay at the hostel with everyone else.Looks like I'll be zeroing tomorrow. I just love zero days in town with beer!
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

#29 Zero day and #73 day on the trail.Spent the day doing town stuff... Post Office, Laundry and FOOD!   This town is kind of spread out and the hostel is way up on a back road. This all makes for a lot of walking around.   I'm a lazy hiker I'll walk 42 miles in a day on the trail but I don't want to walk even a quarter of a mile in town. So we hitched everywhere. Fitz, Cupcake and I met up with Dharma at the post office. They headed for lunch at the sports pub and I went food shopping. I met up with them after I got done. The pub had 22oz Yuengling bottles. That was my kind of lunch. Great place, the bartender was awesome. After a lunch like that I went back to the hostel for a nap. I think we all ended up napping. Cupcake slept right on through until the next morning.   I at least got up around sunset.   After that I only walked down to the nearest phone and made some calls. It was rather late so I didn't get to call everyone. Sorry, Mother. I'll call before I leave town.We all got to bed early. We had a full house in the hostel. Lots of people all over the floor. One had to watch where you were walking when getting up to pee in the middle of the night. Good thing for headlamps.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Pearisburg, Va

To: Leave Town
Miles today: 0.0

Stayed in bed until about 9:00 this morning. You would think with all that sleep I got I would be up early. The temps were on the cooler side so it made for a nice morning to sleep in.   Everyone else stayed in bed for at least another hour.   Our little group was lazy today. Tis ok we're only trying to walk to Maine. We are in no rush.I got one of my mail drops.   A new bed.   One of the items on my wish list. Tripod sent it down to me along with some new socks.   Sweet!   Now I am ready to leave town. Just a quick stop to the post office and I'm ready.I wasn't planning on leaving until later this afternoon. I'll be making some phone calls this morning before I go. Looks like I'll be at Four Pines Hostel by Saturday.   Just in case anyone is in the area and wants to stop by and say hello. Oh yeah, and I have heard from Stumpknocker. He is planning another northbound thru hike. He's trying to do the trail in 4 months. With any luck maybe we'll get to do some hiking together.   That would be great. I just think I might be a little too lazy for him.   Well I'm off. Time to enjoy this great cool spring day.   Lots of white puffy clouds in the sky. I can't wait for the sunset at the shelter.   I just hope it doesn't get as cold as everyone says it's supposed to. We've heard it's going down to 30 tonight. Just in time for everyone to have all their summer gear and no more extra clothes.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Leave Town

To: Star Haven Shelter
Miles today: 6.8

I've been in some sort of funk lately.   I haven't felt like writing much. I feel as if I'm just running through what I did during the day in my journal. This happens to me every so often. I notice it more during new or full moons. During the full moon, I feel as if I'm all over the place. The new moon makes me feel kind of left in the dark not sure what I really want to say. The moon can rule my world especially when on the trail for so long. We left town around 4:00. I was trying to find a wool hat before I left. I still can't believe I lost my hat. I couldn't find one before I got out of town. Sucks to be me.   I did manage to call my parents, the Yuppie Chic, Tripod and I left a message for shitty bartender. I still haven't spoken to shitty bartender in a while. I hope all is well in her world.I've made camp at Star Haven shelter for the night.   I'm tenting tonight to help keep me warmer. I knew as soon as we all switched over to our summer gear the tempatures would drop for a few days.   There is frost warnings for tonight and that's for the valleys and we're at 3400 feet.   I'm glad at least I have a silk liner for my summer bag. That adds 10 degrees of warmth to my bag. I hope to stay warm tonight.Well if I don't stay warm tonight at least I'll be able to dream of my Rasberry Jelly Donut I brought up for dinner.   Donuts and beer that's a perfect ending to my day. Maybe all those calories will keep me warm.   Just another perfect day in Virginia.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Star Haven Shelter

To: Bailey's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Got down into the low 30's last night. I was a little chilly.   Yeah a 35 degree bag is not nearly as warm as my 5 degree bag. I hope not to have too many more really cold nights like that. I almost wish I had my fleece jacket back. Or at least a warm hat.   I'm really starting to regret not having my hat. Fitz and Slips never made camp last night.   Cupcake arrived around dark.   He must have froze in his fleece sleeping bag. I couldn't do it. I was cold in my 32 degree bag I couldn't imagine being in a 50 degree bag.   Plus Cupcake is like 6'2" and weighs about 140 lbs soaking wet and having no body fat might not help when it's that cold.   I'm starting to plan a trip back home before trail days.   There is a few things I need to take care of at home. This also means I'm leaving the group. Well not much of a group. We all just seem to end up in the same place at the end of the day. But it has been fun being in hostels and hotel rooms with these guys. There is just never a dull moment.We only made it to Bailey's Gap Shelter.   I'm not sure why this day seemed so difficult. I should be in shape for this kind of stuff.   It just seemed to be a long day today.   Maybe one of these days I'll feel like a real hiker. You know in shape and all.Tonight I have Dharma, Slim, Biscuit and Condor in the shelter with me.   Condor is a funny kat. He just gets really happy all the time.   He makes pottery up in Maine and he loves it.   I'll look over at him across the table and he'll have this big smile across his face. If I ask him what's so funny he'll just answer "I'm just happy."   The man is just happy all the time. That's pretty cool that he enjoys life that much.   Come to think about it almost everyone in this group is happy almost all the time. Slim and Biscuit never seem to be anything but happy. Dharma is happy most of the time I guess.   He just has some days where he just isn't enjoying himself. It's ok by the end of the journey he might find his key to happiness. I hope.Another wonderful day in Ol'Virginia.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Bailey's Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek SHelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day # 76Nice walk today.   Deep blue skies and lots of sun. A little wind to keep things cool.   The trail was pretty easy for a while. We had only one big climb half way through our day. It was a little steep but I got up there slowly. Dharma and I took a long break to catch some sun up at Kelly's Knob. We sat up there for a while enjoying the afternoon.   We only had a couple of miles all down hill into camp from there.   The walk down was an easy one.   Slim and Biscuit were the only 2 that showed up.   We think Cupcake got lost up at Wind ROcks.   It's an easy mistake the old trail is still blazed and stays straight, while the new trail makes a hard right turn.   He just kept going straight ahead. Later we found out that he had walked 3 miles before he realized that he was no longer on the trail. That's an extra 6 miles added onto his day. Sucks to be Cupcake.I'm ready for sleep. This was just a great day.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Laurel Creek SHelter

To: Audie Murphy Monument
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Mr. Mule do you know that you named my backpack? You did!   Do you remember what you called it?   I really dig the name. you said "wow that's got some weight to it. It's just a little bullet." It still is!   I have no idea how I'm going to drop more weight. I got rid of almost everything I can but I still am about 27 lbs. with 3 days of food. Damn food bags weighs about 12-15lbs by itself. I just love to eat.We tried for a 20 miler today. We hiked 17.5 miles instead. We had enough daylite to make it.   We just petered out. That last climb up from Rt 621, Craig Creek Valley, was never ending. It just seem to go up and up and up.   Dharma said it was an hour and a half we climbed steady. I was ready for camp.We made it another half a mile to the Audie Murphy Monument to camp. We're just camped on the side of the trail.   Tomorrow we'll do 10.9 miles to Four Pines Hostel. All I kept thinking about was food, all day long. I have a few pieces of a chocolate egg that the Yuppie Chic gave me. Thanks so much for that care Package Mary Ann and Arpad. I loved those tye dyed eggs. Although sugar free snacks are mean. I'm a hiker I need all the sugar and calories I can get. I found a pastry that has 840 calories in it. It's perfect trail food. Although those fruit snacks were fun with the Mr. Potato head package and the checkers. That was great Mary Ann.I just can't stop with the food thoughts. Must be the empty food bag fever. Must get up early and hike to FOOD!!!!!!!!!   Oh hell with that maybe Dharma's got something in his bag for me.   Another Blue SKy Day in VA!~
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Audie Murphy Monument

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: haze

Got up early this morning.   I'm out of food and I'm hungry!!!!!!! I never stopped during the day. All I kept thinking was burger and soda! Burgers and soda. Oh that sounds so good doesn't it?!I met up with Condor about a mile from the road to the hostel. We walked together to the road. He headed to the hostel and I headed to the store with soda and burgers. It didn't take long for Joe at the Hostel to pick me up and drive us all to the store. Dharma was soon to follow. He saw me get into the truck from up on the trail. I bet he was sorry he wasn't down at the road with me. It wasn't a far walk. We loaded up on goodies and headed back to the hostel. Slim and Biscuit showed up later. We saw them when we were on our way to the Home Place with Fearless Leader and Pappy. Cupcake showed up later. The Homeplace was great.   It always is!   All you can eat, good southern home cooking.   I love the food but love the all you can eat even more. Another great day in Virginia and great food too!
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Boy Scout Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

I am the Drag Queen of Catawba!!!!!!!! Kidding!Today I did a little trail magic for some section hikers.   It first started with Fearless Leader and Pappy.   They had me drive them in their car to Route 620, Trout Creek, drop them off at the trailhead and then drive the car back to the hostel.   I haven't driven in a while so I thought it would be fun to drive!   Haven't driven stick shift since I was last home. Not to worry my truck is a stick so I didn't forget much, (but I did conveniently forget to mention my speeding ticket and the beauty mark I left on Tripod's truck.) It just takes a few miles to get used to shifting again, and to get used to another car's clutch.   It was fun to drive again. I dropped them off at the trail and headed back to the hostel.   Then Scuba's dad showed up. He needed to be brought out to the trail at Craig's Creek Valley Route 621.   So I drove out to the trail head with him. Dharma took the ride out there with us. We waited for a little while for Scuba to show up so he could slack pack with his Dad back to the hostel.   While there, we got to go up to the trail register and check out the nest of baby birds on top.   It was cool when we passed through there a few days earlier the eggs hadn't hatched.   They were so tiny.   That was neat.After Scuba got there I drove back to the hostel with his car. It was a Honda Day. Every one of those cars were Hondas.   So that makes it my Honda Day.   We hit the store on the way back to the hostel. I need a Mtn. Dew for hiking today.   Although I wasn't really into the hiking today.   I'm not sure why. We got back and decided to slack up to Rt 311, 6 miles north on the trail. When we got up to 311 we hitched a ride from a Honda back to the hostel. We picked up our packs and asked Fearless Leader and Pappy if they could give us a ride back up to the trail. Joe was at the hostel showed up with girlfriend, Candy and gave us a ride back up there. We made it only 0.9 of a mile when the sky opened up and poured down on us.   Lucky for Dharma and I we were right in front of a shelter when this happened. Actually we timed it so well that it started to pour just as we got under the shelter.   Perfect timing!   Slim and Biscuit weren't as lucky. They got just a little wet!   We now were held up in the Boy Scout Shelter waiting for the rain to end.   I luckily brought out 3 Yuenglings which we all shared.   RockHound, Hoplite and Squish were also held up in the lean-too,  I gave them one of the beers.   With the exception of Slim and Biscuit we all spent the night in that lean-too. Slim and Biscuit went on another mile to Catawba Mtn. Shelter.   The rain ended a little after we all unpacked and made camp. It figures. It always happens that way. Tis ok it still was another beautiful Virgnia day.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Boy Scout Shelter

To: Daleville & a hotel
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #80I woke everyone up at 5:00am. We all wanted an early start to get into town. We had at least 18 miles to go today.   We got up to McAfee's Knob early.   Slim and Biscuit were still asleep when we stopped into Catawba Mtn. Shelter.   We did miss the sunrise up on top.   It was ok. There were so many clouds we might have not gotten that great of a show.   It was cold on the knob. Too cold to hang out and get a lot of pictures. We still got a few good ones.   Then we were off. The cold wind made for the perfect motivator to move our asses through the miles. It was another morning that made everyone wish they still had some of their cold weather gear. It was easy terrain all throughout the day.   I love days like this...easy terrain, colder weather and great views.   We took a break up at Tinker Cliffs to enjoy the view. We could see all the way past Dragon's Tooth, which we crossed over before Four Pines Hostel.   There were many clouds but the sun still shined through.   It made for a nice way along Tinker Cliffs.   We got into town before 3:00. That's nice 18 and half miles and still are in before 3:00.   We still had a lot of time for walking around town.   Dharma and I shared a room at the Howard Johnsons. Rockhound, Squish and Hoplite shared the room next to us.   I think we all just went out to eat and resupplied early and then just hung out in the rooms and watched TV.   Well I channel surfed most of the night. I just love flipping through the channels. There isn't anything really worth watching in it's entirety.   Oh yeah and I had some Yuenglings too. It's all about the Yuengling!Another great day for all of us in VA!
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Daleville & a hotel

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

We took a short day today. Too bad, we had a great pace. It was a perfect day. 60*F and not a cloud in the deep blue Virginia sky. We got into camp around 5:00. What a nice relaxing evening. I hiked out 2 Yuenglings which I am just now enjoying. The sun is still shining. Everyone is sitting around the pinic table writting in their journals. Relax now for tomorrow we are all hiking 20 miles to Bryant Ridge Shelter. I finally figured our plans out.   It looks like Cupcake and I are heading home for Mother's Day. John Galt said he would help us out with a ride down to trail days on Thursday. Everything is working out. We're not even hitching, Tripod's coming down to give us a ride home.   Maybe even a 20 mile slack on Saturday. We'll see about the slack.More zero days! Tis ok I would love to see my niece and nephew. I like to travel but sometimes it's nice to know you're heading home. Even if only for a little while. And I can also take Yuppie Chic out for her birthday. Olive Garden it's a beautiful thing.Only thing more beautiful then Olive Garden, this Virginia Day!
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge SHelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: few clouds

Woke up at 4:40am this morning. Everyone wanted to kill me for getting up so early. I told them I wanted to tent because I was getting up early and I didn't want to wake them up since I was so loud in the morning. They are the one's who said "oh no you're not loud." Besides I had good reason to be loud. I went out to pee and startled a bear walking around the shelter. He did not expect to see my light and I didn't expect to see his eyes. That's my first bear of the year. I'm glad I wasn't tenting with my food bag as my pillow. That might have sucked.It was a long day. I was happy to have the early start.   23.8 miles today.   I took a lot of breaks along the way. The best was the bowl of sugar smacks at the overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also got some trail magic when I crossed Route 43. Grape soda in the stream just before the road. The sugar rush was awesome. Just what I wished for soda in a stream. I would have rather have had Mtn. Dew but grape was great too.Later on at mile #17 Dharma and I walked to It's a Wonderful Life Campground store. He was hoping for ice cream and they had none. I wanted soda and got a lot. Mtn. Dew is Great!We got to the shelter by 5:30 ate a lot and relaxed. I do not feel as if I walked almost 24 miles today. Either the trail is getting easier or I'm getting in better shape.Got to love that Virginia Blue Sky.