morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Campsite near White Rocks Mtn
Miles today: 20.1

Well, my feet still hurt today, but not quite as much as yesterday I don't think - wearing two pairs of socks helped a bit though. I've decided that I will zero in Damascus - if my feet aren't better at the end of that zero, I'll take whatever advice the guys at the outfitter can give me. I know what they will suggest first - Superfeet insoles. Everone raves about those but I already tried them before the trail and they hurt my arches, even though I have high ones. So I would be reluctant to try those but if they're my only option I guess I'd consider it.Tonight I'm camped on a beautiful grassy field - I decided to go a mile and a half past the last shelter. Thought I might be camping alone but there are a couple other people here - The Walrus, Red, and one other woman whose name I don't remember.Saw Bravefoot at the last shelter...I've run into him maybe more than anyone on this trail. Soon he finishes this section though and I probably won't see him again. I got his e-mail address though.I passed 400 miles today and a funny thing happened. The 400 mile points is just past this gravel road (where a hiker named SunBeam had made some nature art by carving "400" out of a large leaf and putting dandelions behind it) and I was sitting there eating a drinking, thinking it was a good place to take a break. Then a car pulled up on the road and who gets out? Mountain Squid, the guy who gave most people on this trip their first trail magic right on Springer Mountain in Georgia. He said he had just come back from Springer and that he was going home, and that he lived only a few miles from where we were sitting. he gave me one of the same sugar drinks he had on Springer and a brownie as well, then drove off after we talked a bit. Good timing on my part - if noone had been there he wouldn't have stopped and I was the onnly one to get the trail magic.It's starting to rain a bit - could our spell of beautiful weather be coming to an end?
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Campsite near White Rocks Mtn

To: Braemar Castle Hostel in Hampton, TN
Miles today: 13.6

Well, I didn't want to stay at a hostel until Damascus, but it looks like I'm locked into it now. I had absolutely no food in my pack after finishing my pop tarts this morning and figured I would just push it 14 miles into Hampton and resupply my calories there. I also notice that I tend to let my water run out on town days, cutting all my weight and going superfast and superlight until I reach town.There was a huge climb that I didn't expect, just after a junction there I had a choice: 1 one mile "blue blaze" (non-AT) trail directly to the supermarket, or another 6 miles to the road without a blue blaze. I had already done about 8 miles and chose the latter because the first choice would have me walking 2 unnecessary (1 there and 1 back) miles even though it would be me there much faster. However, I didn't know how hard and steep and slow those 6 miles would be.Usually hitchhiking is easy and locals are used to picking up thru-hikers. Not so in Hampton, TN. After about 30 minutes I resigned myself to walking on the road towards town with my thumb out, but miracuously someone stopped immediately - it was 2 dayhikers I had passed on the trail, who said thunderstorms would be rolling in soon. They drove me to the town supermarket - "Brown's" - and it was closed. But I just thanked them and said I would figure it out. I was really starving but I kindof enjoy the delay of a reward because it makes it so much better when you finally get it.I saw in my guidebook there was a hostel near the supermarket, so I headed over there, but noone seemed to be home. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go back to the trail without food. I could get back to the main road and hitch to the next town, but I didn't really want to do that. As I was sitting there, wondering what to do (but really just enjoying an excuse to sit for a moment), rain started to fall. I opened up my pack and grabbed my rain jacket, and just then a man walked around from the back. I said hello, that I didn't think anyone was home, and that I just needed groceries, but the store was closed. He thought about this for a moment, then said in a friendly southern accent "Well, I 'spose I can help you with that, seeing as I own the store." This was Sutton Brown, a "friend to hikers" as described in my guidebook, and owner of both the hostel (it's his giant house) and the grocery store.We walked over and he turned the lights on for me, and among other things I bought half a gallon of ice cream and chocolate syrup. We went back to the house. I ate half the ice cream (later I finished it) and a bag of potato chips and passed out on my bunk. I suppose I'm locked into staying now - I would feel bad napping here and then leaving. Besides, it is off and on pouring outside, and my body feels like it could use rest, worth the $10 bunk.Also, for a moment today I was actually ahead of the incredibly fast brothers from Seattle who are on track to finish in less than 4 months. I'm sure they are far ahead again now though. Hopefully I see them again before the end of this journey.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: The Place
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

DAMASCUS, wooo! New state - Virginia! Just strolled into this major trail milestone...again a true trail town, probably the most famous one on the trail. White blazes going right down the street.Tonight I'm staying at "The Place" - a very famous donation-based hostel provided by the Methodist Church. It was kinda crazy...I walked up to it, knocked on the door, didn't get an answer, let myself in, put my stuff on a bunk, and walked out. I guess that's just how it's done. These trail towns are so laid back and convenient...the library was right next door so I just walked over here right afterwards. Feels so good to be out of my boots and into my flip-flops.Pearl, Trainwreck and Nest are very late risers, plus it was like 30 degrees this morning and noone wanted to get up but I knew it was only 10 miles of easy hiking to Damascus and I really wanted to get there. I played "Eye of the Tiger" on the ukulele, thinking this might provide sufficient motivation, but alas, they chose to sleep in. So I went on alone and got here a bit before noon. I'm just kinda waiting for them to get here so we can all get a drink or meal together.===Later on, I met up with Daniel and Thunder Thighs from Seattle and we hit the grocery store, bought two half gallons of ice cream and some chocolate syrup (this is becoming a tradition) and got to work right in the grocery store, which had a dining area. They were about to dig in but I was like "Wait!" - and took out the chocolate syrup and wrote "460" over the ice cream - the number of miles we've walked since Springer Mountain at the start of the trail in Georgia. It was a bit of a celebration. Afterwards I played chess with Thunder Thighs at the hostel...we are both horrible and it took forever and he ended up beating me. Then we played 20 questions in one of the common rooms. Doesn't sound that exciting but it was actually kinda fun.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: The Place

To: The Place
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ahhh..."zeros" (non-hiking days) are so nice. Nothing to do, sitting in the quaint little trail town of Damascus, VA, everything in walking distance, a cool, sunny day. I need the rest. Or at least my feet do.Today I got up and did laundry where I saw Bravefoot (of course), called home, then walked to the dollar store and bought some milk and a box of Cocoa Pebbles, which I devoured back at The Place. Now I'm at the library. I might expand this entry later since it's only 12:30pm, but I'm not sure. I've got to go to the outfitter now, which is next door. Haven't been there yet but it is legendary. The outfitters in these trail towns are the best outdoor stores in the country.Looking forward to a day of eating and a night of drinking, and just a whole lot of relaxing and healing all around.Thanks again for your guys' notes in my journal, I really appreciate them.Sometimes I worry that I will lose my motivation to do the trail, but as soon as I'm in a town for more than 24 hours, I start to feel the pull of the trail and the desire to be back out there. I am very content to spend the rest of this day in town, though.One funny note about hostels and bunks in general - I've never slept in one that was long enough for me. Just as an experiment last night, I wanted to see if it was possible for me to fully stretch out on the bunk I was on. I touched the top of my skull to the concrete wall in front of me, and stretched my legs out all the way. My toes just barely were inside the wooden frame that bounded the bunk. It was completely uncomfortable and I just had to laugh and accept that it was like every other hostel bunk I've encountered, and tucked my legs in again. The bunks here are basically wooden platforms, stacked up in twos.Haha - side note - there is this woman who sat down at the computer next to me, hopefully she can't see this, and instantly just started conversation with me. "Is that your bible?" she asks about my red journal sitting on the floor. "Nope, that's my journal" I say. "Oh, I was going to ask you what it was doing on the floor." I laugh politely. "Well, you should come over to the First Methodist Church when you get a chance." "Yeah, I'm staying at The Place." "Oh...I've been living here over two years..."Haha, man...people are friendly here but sometimes they start up conversations when you're trying to do something.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Campsite 2.5 miles past Lost Mtn Shelter

To: Campsite 0.1 miles past Wise Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: broken clouds

I pet wild ponies today. I suppose that was the highlight of my day and one of the highlights of my whole trip.The Grayson Highlands are beautiful - the guidebook says many people liken them to wilderness generally seen in Montana - green, rocky, rolling hills and lots of sky. A beautiful day to visit them on, too - 70 degrees and sunny all day. Wild ponies inhabit this area, which is pretty shocking to people who haven't even heard of it. It's pretty cool - sometimes the ponies walk right on the trail with you. Some are scared of people but most arent.I also saw more dayhikers and weekenders today than any other day on the hike. That's to be expected, I guess - beautiful scenery and wildlife, and easy road access fairly nearby. It's not that bad but the trail seemed a bit congested sometimes. I did get to hike alone for most of the day though.We're at a campsite past the shelter right now because "the fam" has taken over the shelter - the dreaded "know everything about the outdoors" dad and his 3 screaming children. I was planning on moving on anyway - I think I like just tenting away from the shelter when the weather's nice and using shelters when the weather sucks.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

I'm really tired...I did 20 miles but couldn't do the other 10 that Daniel wanted to do - he went ahead and did it but I stayed here because it's such a nice spot. The shelter is really nice, too, the first of its kind I've seen - stone with bunks inside. Although I'm in my tent, which is actually better because we're up here on a grassy bald and my tent is on the ridge overlooking a valley. It's really cool. [Just want to add that it was awesome at night...the clear sky was full of stars above me, and the town in the valley below was all light up as well]I wanted to do 30 today but I got really tired around 2:00 and stopped at this shelter at 4:00, then Daniel moved on.Went through another cow pasture today, that was fun.It's pretty windy, hope the wind against my tent doesn't keep me up.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: broken clouds

This morning I was frusterated becaue I thought I just needed sleep yesterday so I slept in a bit...actually only until about 7:45, but I was frusterated because I began to get that tired/sleepy/exhausted feeling almost immediately whereas I usually get it in the afternoon.Then I suddenly had the thought that it would be easier hiking without my poles, so I just picked them up and carried them without using them. I do this often, because often the terrain is just too rough for them, but this time I had a revelation - trekking poles vastly increase the amount of energy you expend, at least the way I use them. I collapsed the poles and put them in my pack, and I think I hiked faster and longer than normal without them. I had better posture, I felt better. So I think I will send them back in Pearisburg. Kinda disappointing to think I've been using them all this time, but then again almost all thru-hikers have them.Let's see...as far as what happened today, the trail went over (via a bridge) a huge highway, I think it's I77 or something.And the big surprise - I found Daniel at this shelter. He was worn out from the extra 10 miles that he did but that I didn't want to do with him, so he only did 14 and I caught up to him. He did 10 more than me yesterday, and I did 10 more than him today. We will probably hike together until at least Pearisburg.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Campground near Trents
Miles today: 16.3

In 1981, a man shot and killed two hikers at Wapiti shelter, just a few miles from here. Last night, he shot two men fishing at a camp near here, then wrekced his car trying to escape the police. All three survived and are in critical condition.24 miles of the trail were closed today, and we were diverted to a gas station/restaurant just 0.5 miles down a road crossing off the AT. We're all camped on a field near here. Tomorrow morning at 8:00am, the police announced, they will be re-opening the trail.We're not at all freaked out, actually. The trail is very, very safe and the people on it are all friendly. A powerful cameraderie flows from Georgia to Maine through hikers. This was one man, one crazy person who should never have been let out of jail. Thankfully, he is not on the loose and we can all continue without fear. The media will probably get their hands on this tomorrow. If they ask me how I feel I'll just tell them what a great experience this is and how safe and welcome the trail is.The first I heard of this was from 2 section hikers in the morning who told me a murderer had shot two people last night but rest assured because they had caught him. The next was from 4 southbound flip-floppers who had just come from the road where the block was in effect. So when I encountered the yellow tape and the cop cars I knew what to expect. They showed me a picture of the man and asked if I had seen him, I said no. Then they asked if I was known by any of a few trail names they listed, and I said no. It was interesting, the man didn't look very creepy or evil, just a normal middle-aged guy, I wouldn't think much of seeing him on the trail.We were diverted to a gas station/deli with nothing around it - just some fields with horses and trailers in them.At the store, I got pizza and ice cream bars (they didn't have half gallons) and soda. So that was one positive thing.The funny thing is that me and a guy named BearTrap later went into the store and they SUDDENLY HAD HALF GALLONS. It was like a miracle - the ice cream guy must have supplied them. We got two, plus chocolate syrup and cool whip. Then something great happened, which I caught on video - BearTrap ate his entire half gallon, then threw all of it up about 5 minutes later. We were crying laughing. Then a guy named Circumstance who had really long hair got his head shaved. There was a lot of mirth in the campground despite the circumstances surrounding it. We're anxious to get back on the trail.I was disappointed to get stopped today because I was going really strong on a quest to do 30 miles to make tomorrow an easy 8 into Pearisburg. I did the 17 miles to here by 1:00. I was flying. Oh well...24 more to Pearisburg tomorrow...I think me and Daniel will stay at the hostel in Pearisburg tomorrow night and have a lazy day in town on Friday, probably leaving mid-afternoon and putting in 10-15 miles before dark. Daniel is considering a trail name I gave him: Neo because he ate an entire half gallon of neopolitan ice cream.P.S. 600 miles tomorrow morning!
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Holy Family Church Hostel in Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

Today was a lot of running around and I got a super late start, like 5:00pm, but that's cool because Daniel was only planning on doing the 7 miles to the first shelter today and so was I.In the morning, Father Pernelli took a bunch of us out for breakfast. That was a good time. I don't want to sully Father Pernelli's reputation but he tells some funny stories, not all of which you would expect to hear from a priest.Then Daniel and I used the library computers for a while, then I went to the post office and sent my trekking poles and SteriPen back to my parents. I sent a postcard off to my mom for mother's day, resupplied for $20 at the Dollar General (great store), then hit Dairy Queen again for another burger/milkshake session. I also got more stove fuel - a lot of errands today.I accidentally left the church hostel without making a donation and feel really bad, but I ran into Jenkin at the DQ and he said "Man, I'm Catholic, don't worry about it, I've already given them so much money, you're covered!"
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 25.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I got a not-so-early start at around 8:00am on the trail, then walked the first 12 miles really fast. Daniel must have been moving too because he got there just after me. The first 12 miles were easy. I also saw Hoosier Ben, who camped 1.4 miles away from the shelter we stayed at and said he got up before the sun was out. He also showed me a newspaper he had, the front page of which featured a giant picture of BearTrap. It was about the AT shooter, of course. BearTrap stayed behind at the campsite and I guess the press found him.There were a couple climbs today but mostly it was pretty easy, but I dunno, I'm starting to feel a bit run down after about 20 miles. Either I need to just push on or I need to take my mileage down a bit. Maybe the latter. I think these big mile days might be losing their thrill.
Date: 2008-05-11
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

A pretty nasty day...Downstairs Dave, Daniel and I planned to do only 18 miles today so we got going about 10:00am, it was already raining a bit. We made good time and got to the first shelter at 12:00...it was funny because Daniel left about 10 minutes before us to head on, and what happens? The sky opens up and it starts POURING and even hailing a bit. I've had this experience before and immediately got into my sleeping bag. Honestly, there's nothing better than being in a shelter in your bag when the weather is crappy. You get to be warm and resting and looking outside at the stormy world. The thunder was crazy, making the floor of the shelter tremble. It was me, Downstairs Dave, and Hoosier Ben in the shelter. I fell asleep for a bit, and when I woke, Downstairs was telling me to move over because two people were coming in. When I saw their packs I knew who they were. I had heard of a guy and a girl traveling with 3.5 pounds of base weight (the weight of your back without water or food) who are doing the AT in 90 days, but I hadn't met them yet. They are nice, but here was mu first example of why it isn't always desirable to go that light: they came in, wearing the only clothes they had (shorts and t-shirt), soaking wet, and shivering uncontrollably. I gave the girl my jacket since I was already warm, but the guy was to principled to accept anything. Even he said that he wishes he had maybe carried more like 7 or 8 pounds. After the storm passed the sun came out and we took off, but not north. Yep - it had to happen at least once - we accidentally climbed uphill for about a mile southbound until we realized what we had done. That's 2 wasted miles, and not flat ones. There was only 6 miles to the next shelter, but on the way there it started pouring again and I knew I would just stop there. I was so happy to get there - it had a very large covered area with a table where we could cook our food and stay dry - how fortunate, not many shelters have that, and it was just what I needed.RestStop, Downstairs Dave, Sampson, CrossOver, and Thinker are here, they want me to play another song before bed, so I'm gonna go do that...
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

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

A continuation of the bad weather - though it is not yet as bad as yesterday.Everyone pretty much headed out at 10:00am this morning. We woke up to rain. I went over what Daniel must have had to do when it was storming so bad yesterday - the trail was just a slab or rock at a 20 or 30 degree angle - it was so easy to slip and once I fell completely. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to do it yesterday.Stopped for lunch at Niday Shelter with CreekDiver and Thinker. CreekDiver is interesting - she's from London, quite a long way from home. She started with a guy who is now a day ahead but apparently they had a falling out and are not hiking together anymore. She's not the only person I've met on the trail with a foreign accent - there is also Daisy, an Australian guy.I got here about 4:00pm - it was really windy all afternoon...someone had a radio that said 50-60 MPH gusts. The skies are dark - could open up anytime now...this bad weather is a good excuse to do low miles and rest.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Pig Farm Campsite
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

My earliest start yet - went to bed so early, didn't sleep well later on into the night and got up around 5:30am and was on the trail by 6:00am. The store I was planning on going to was only 0.4 miles off a road about 7 miles away so I figured I'd be there by 8:30. I didn't get there until 10:00 - the trail this morning was probably the roughest terrain I've encountered yet. Just a jumble of rocks and boulders that would rise up, then drop dramatically, or require you to scale them horizontally and slowly lower yourself back on to sure footing. It was frusterating to go so slow and have it be so hard on your body - the knees especially felt it, and I still have good knees. Sometimes there were metal bars drilled into the rocks so you could descend them like ladders. Crazy...and crazy to think that this is probably what most of the trail with look like in New Hampshire.Getting to the store was so satisfying...after eating my poptarts in the monring I had no food and I was starving by the time I got there. I ate, for the first time, an entire half gallon of ice cream in one 15 minute sitting...maybe not even that long. Then I ate half a pizza. It was so good. The store was actually just a gas station but they had quite a selection. A bunch of people showed up at the store then - Tennessee, Downstairs Dave, Hometown, and Pinenut. It was fun - too much fun, we observed, to be having ni the parking lot of a remote and rural gas station. But this is the lifestyle of a thru-hiker. The gas station was a fun place to hang out at.We hung there for a while, then filed out at around the same time. We were headed for McAfee Knob, probably the most photographed spot on the AT. It is very nice - one of the few spots where you have high, overhung cliffs jutting out over the valley below. You can see a lot of the Appalachians from there. We took our cliche McAfee Knob pictures, with us sitting on the edge of the cliff. My plan was to hang from the cliff and dangle there for my photo-op, but there were no good holds so I decided against it. Downstairs packed out pizza and beer for the knob, so he was enjoying himself. We watched the sunset there, then headed out 0.6 miles to the campsite. I'm enjoying doing lower milage and just relaxing a bit.