morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-14
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter (tent) 

To: Holiday Inn Express, Troutville, VA 
Miles today: 9.3

Day 59 Up this morning before the sun, Apteryx would be proud. On the trail by 6am.. OK a little after. Funny how town motivates me. The lure of a warm, comfy hotel room and food. My 9.3-mile jog begins under cloud cover. It rained most of the night, but it¢s already warmer than yesterday ever was. It was a nice walk even through it went up more than I like on a town day. The leaves and grass were wet from the previous nights rain. For that matter the rocks looked pretty slippery. So I thought to myself, one shouldn¢t put his foot there. I then promptly put my foot there. It¢s kinda like when your mom tells you not to touch the hot stove, and then you put your hand on it anyway. Need not to worry, my foot wasn¢t there long. My body quickly followed and I was now flat on my back with arms flailing. Moving at an alarming pace. The bright side is I¢m getting down a lot faster than if I were hiking. The toughest part was getting up after I was at the bottom. It¢s good thing I got over the cliffs yesterday. Crawled over some more rocks, under power lines and down a hill. I ran into a 1997 thru-hiker out for the day and had a chat. When I got to the highway I hung a left and headed to the outfitter. Along the way I ran into Num-tum who walk up to the intersection to take a look. I went to the outfitter bought some fuel and a new pair of socks. I asked if I could leave my pack inside while I ran to the post office. He said just leave it out front it would be all right. I mean I could do that without asking. I¢m thinking even if I¢m a really bad thief I could steal my pack. Plus have an interstate and 2 highways coming together. Needless to say I took my pack with me and headed to the post office where it was customer appreciation day with cookies, cake and lemonade. I went right to the lemonade. I thought about picking up the bowl and drinking right from that. Then I thought that would probably be rude so I filled my cup with the ladle (soupy type thing, big spoon). I walk to my hotel room a mile away through the interchange. I don¢t believe they built the interchange with pedestrians in mind. There are no sidewalks so you have to watch yourself. I¢m at the Holiday Inn Express thanks to my brother Mike. I stayed just off the trail last time, but walked up here for groceries. They have since moved the grocery store by the trail. There is however a Cracker Barrel in the parking lot Thunderstorms are rolling through this afternoon glad I¢m not out there. I just realized that the fuel I bought wouldn¢t screw on to my stove. Who makes fuel without a thread? I¢ll have to go back on Monday as they are closed tomorrow. Oh well pizza and lounging.
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Holiday Inn Express, Troutville, VA 

To: Holiday Inn Express, Troutville, VA 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 60 Crawl from my room to breakfast. Today I plan to do as little as possible. I¢m having my second zero day this week. I walked down to the truck stop to do some laundry and paid to use the Internet real quickly. Thought about heading to the Cracker Barrel, but it being Sunday and half of Virginia is there. Lines out front people everywhere, perhaps dinner. I decide to go to Hardee¢s where I get a monster thick burger 1400 calories and a hand scooped milk shake 700 calories. 2000 calories and I¢m not even including the fries or the pint of Ben & Jerry¢s (1400) calories. People ask why I hike? You eat 4000 calories in town and that¢s just for lunch. Now I¢m off to the whirlpool. I also just talked to Bullfoon who has posted my pictures and Journals through Pearisburg. He won't be hiking with me in Virginia. We are talking about Vermont. I guess this means I have to at least hike to Vermont now. Went over and got my dinner at Cracker Barrel. I sat out front on the rocking chair with a whole bunch of old ladies as the sun set. Feeling a bit weird I went back to my room. It¢s Family Guy/American dad night. I wonder can I reach Waynesboro before next Sunday? Chef Clough¢s culinary tid bit: banana¢s wrapped in bacon bbq¢d. yummie.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Holiday Inn Express, Troutville, VA 

To: Econo Lodge, Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 61 Too nice outside to be hiking. Yep trying to justify another zero. I packed up and headed over to the outfitters to switch my fuel canister. They opened at 10am. They switch it without a problem and were very nice. The manager was there this time a world of difference. Shopped at the grocery and chatted with Milkman, Chubby Knuckles & Rodeo. I had no Motivation to hike today. That and it gives Blue eye a chance to catch up with me before New England. I think I really miss the Girl Scout cookies I met Peeps on my way to get a hotel. I also had lunch at 3 Little Pigs BBQ with Milkman. They had Guinness Oddly Milkman worked in Union City Pa. for 6 months before he started the trail. It¢s pretty close to where I used to live in Pa. Ran into Rabbit & Zeek. Rabbit and I ate at Pizza hut then went and picked up some Sam Adams. We stopped by Chubby Knuckles and hung out. Chubby and Rabbit are both from Mass. I think it would be easier to tell you the people who aren¢t from Mass. hiking the trail. Every other person I think? Had a great time Chubby Knuckles has had boot problems so he got new boots. He¢s also worked out that he can hike 10 miles a day and finish October 1st Rabbit crashed on my floor and bought the Sam Adams. I also met Apple Pie, but was slightly confused. She should be about a month ahead. So now I¢m thinking there¢s two people named Apple Pie. She took 5 weeks off and was headed back to Troutdale. She was talking about doing the CT (Colorado Trail) after the A.T. She¢s already done the PCT & CDT (Pacific Crest Trail & Continental Divide Trail).
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Econo Lodge, Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 62 Well we missed the Krispy Cremes So I settle for coffee, toast and ice cream. Skipping down the trail by 10am. A little late yes, but I leave town nonetheless. I stop for a break with Rabbit at the Fullhardt Knob Shelter. There were two people already there. A guy and a girl with about 150Lbs. of equipment. Very impressive. They had cans of soup, 6 water bottles, thermos, hatchet and too much more to list. We arrived at the Wilson Creek Shelter around 4 pm. Time for another snack. There was no one there. Rabbit and I push on another 6 miles to Bobblets Gap Shelter. The guidebook claims it¢s down a .2-mile side trail. The trail goes down and even has switchbacks. The shelter is pretty full and camping spots are few and far between. The shelter we passed 6 miles ago had a ton of camping. Rodeo had the only spot for a tent that I could see, except right next to the shelter. I wasn¢t about to climb that hill tonight so up went my tent. Montana comes down late, but has a hammock. In the shelter are Rabbit, Patches, Oldman, Shylow, Navigator, & Peeps. I cooked dinner and asked Rabbit if he was hanging a bear rope for food. The section hikers had a pretty impressive one hung. I fetch my rope and Rabbit as offered to throw it. His first throw missed, as the branch was about 25 feet in the air. During this Patches a section hiker wanders over. He suggest, ¢why not just tie your rope onto theirs, then pull it over¢. Brilliant! So we tie our rope onto theirs and pull. Now ours sits over the branch and we are like how do we get the original one back over? Patches says ¢easy just tie it on when you pull your food up¢ Makes sense. We clip our food on and Rabbit says won¢t we have to drag our food all the way over? Patch¢s is like humm..I got to go. We just used their rope to get ours over leaving theirs in a pile on the ground and ours sitting in a tree looking pretty. The whole time Shylow is facing the other way. He had thrown it up originally in one throw. We have no shame so we finish hanging ours. The next 45 minutes is spent watching them try to hang their food at times sending people running for cover in the shelter. They finally do get it over, only you cant reach it. Patches then breaks out a ladder. In the end it¢s probably one of those you had to be there stories.
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter (tent) 

To: ItÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a Wonderful Life Campground 
Miles today: 9.6

Day 63 On the trail by 7am. About an hour later it looks as though I¢ve been eaten alive. I take my first Deet bath. Stop by a shelter and snack. The trail was pretty easy today and I find myself at Jennings Creek where Rabbit already has his feet in the water. I follow suit quickly. He mentions that there is a campground less than a mile down the trail. Since I have no mind of my own I say well if you go, I¢ll go. We got a ride there. Split a site and Oreo¢s some food. Cheech & Chong are camped next us. Two guys from NY who hate government and love weed & guns. Oldman, Navigator & Patches the section hiker from yesterday show up. Turns out I wasn¢t eaten alive, it¢s poison ivy. I¢ve adopted a new trail name ¢Bubbles¢. I have huge poison ivy blisters, 6 or 7 on one leg and 3 on the other. If any pop up anywhere else I¢m heading in for medical attention and rest. Right now I think I can hike. Should impress the ladies. We had a pretty big fire and chatted away with Navigator, Patches & Oldman. Patches is from Detroit and has been section hiking the A.T. Navigator & Oldman have been traveling the country touring National Parks and sights for the last couple years. They were real fun to talk to, lots of interesting stories. Before Rabbit and I turn in we chat with the guys from NY. Interesting guys. It¢s supposed to rain tomorrow. I¢m 100 miles from Waynesboro Va. I¢m thinking 5 20¢s
Date: 2005-05-19
From: ItÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a Wonderful Life Campground 

To: Marble Spring Campsite 
Miles today: 20.9

Day 64 Tiny Bubbles¢¦ Bubble Man! They¢re getting BIGGER. Poison Ivy is out of control. They just get bigger and bigger. No more frolicking in the fields without pants on I guess We¢ll be naming them tonight I think. They don¢t itch or hurt. I¢m hideous! Anyway we were at the camp store by 8am for breakfast. We shuttle to the trail and are hiking by 9am. Straight up and over Fork Mtn. To Bryant Ridge Shelter. A pretty impressive 2-story shelter. It was up hill most of the day, climbing 3,000 ft then dropping and climbing again. We would pass 2 more shelters. Rabbit has to hitch into a campground tomorrow for a mail drop. I¢m tagging along to beef up my first aid kit. This poison ivy is a real pain. Try crawling in and out of a tent with huge blisters. We got to Marble Spring tent site just before dark. It had been pretty dark for a while as we were in a cloud for most of the afternoon. Radio, Krazy Kate, Vision Quest & Rodeo were there. We set up camp then went to cook. Thunder and lightening and a whole mess of rain followed. It would rain all night with a couple loud storms. Radio & Krazy Kate had their food bags hung quite high. They say they don¢t worry so much about the bears as they do the giraffes.hmm Rabbit¢s trail journal site: www.Xanga.com/coreystrailadventure
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Marble Spring Campsite 

To: Wildwood Campground 
Miles today: 7.7

Day 65 Out of camp at 9am on a very wet morning. Rabbit had a mail drop too pick up at a campground 5 miles off the trail. We had crazy rain last night with much thunder and lightening to accompany it. By the time we had reached Matts Creek Shelter Radio & Krazy Kate were coming along. Since my 1999 hike they have built the James River Foot Bridge. They rerouted the trail in what I think is a first off a mountain and on to a flat pathway along a creek. The bridge is quite amazing. 625 feet long and dedicated to Bill Foot who was the driving force behind its construction. He had given us a ride in 1999 into Glasgow Va. Sadly he passed away in 2000. This year the 4 of us got a pretty easy hitch in a pickup truck. Wildwood Campground was a great stop. They have tent sites for $10, the cleanest bathrooms I¢ve ever seen, shuttles to and from the trail, camp store, pay phone, laundry, snack bar, Ben & Jerry¢s, a swimming pool, horse shoes, shuffleboard, swings, and hosted by some of the friendliest people on the trail. Did I mention the free circus train rides? They also hold mail drops. Good news Rabbit gets Girl Scout cookies too J Krazy Kate & Radio put down 2 cheeseburgers and a Ben & Jerry¢s before heading out on the trail. Rabbit and I decide to stay the night. Ok I decided to stay and Rabbit happily stayed too. I had a western cheeseburger with an egg on it Yummie. We played old arcade games and had a big fire. I won¢t mention Rabbit playin Insync on the Jukebox. Big day tomorrow. 3 or 4 days to Waynesboro.
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Wildwood Campground 

To: Wildwood Campground again?
Miles today: 21.4

Day 66 We packed up camp by 7:15am. Trail angel Ken was ready to go. We had breakfast at Big Island. Ken dropped us at the trailhead around 9am. Awall & Wandering Bull got a ride into Glasgow but first wanted to see my blisters. They actually jumped back. We decided to take the bubbles on tour. A southbound slack pack. I had lots to write about including running into Grey Walrus & Trip, but at 10ish there was a horrific accident in front of the campground. Rabbit and I both ran down. Rabbit is a wilderness responder. Think he helped quite a bit. Jaws of life and a helicopter were called in. A sobering moment. I don¢t think the driver made it, but I really don¢t know. Life is short kids.
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Wildwood Campground again?

To: Wildwood Campground (tent) 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 67 Not much sleep last night. I didn¢t know whether or not I would put anything in my journal about it. I finally decided that since it happened during my hike I¢ll touch on it. Around 11pm as I lay in my tent a minivan with 3 people and a big pick-up truck towing a race car collided pretty much head on. There were four people in the truck, which flipped onto its side trapping three. Rabbit tried to stabilize the driver in the minivan. One was thrown from the truck, but seemed just dazed. Rabbit hopped from vehicle to vehicle. It seemed like a long time before rescue units got there, but when they did there was a lot of them. A helicopter weaved its way between power lines. The driver of the mini van didn¢t live. The other driver had broken back and legs. The hardest part was watching the family who also were involved. I hope I never see that again. My prayers go out to the family. I don¢t know that my hike will be the same. Rabbit did an incredible job before rescue squads arrived. I look towards the road every time I heard I truck. The skies were blue and last night seemed like a bad dream. We opted for a zero day. Rabbit¢s feet needed some rest as they had hot spots from yesterdays 21-mile hike. We got our shuffle board game in. I won¢t put the score down, as I hate to embarrass Rabbit. One should never lose to someone from Canada in something that doesn¢t involve ice or snow. The rest of the day we had a fire and gave Rabbits feet a rest. Roasted marshmallows and read the paper. Ken our trail angel came back so we have a ride in the morning. I¢d like to thank everyone at Wildwood Campground for everything. On the lighter side of things this was an actual story in the paper: ¢A women called for help on her cell phone after a 1500 pound camel sat on top of her while she painted a fence¢ humm¢¦ this happened in West Virginia.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Wildwood Campground (tent) 

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 68 Ken our trail angel couldn¢t give us a ride until after 9am. We broke camp and crossed the street for some coffee & biscuits. We said our last goodbyes to Wildwood Campground, which has become home. The blister/bubbles had an uprising and sadly Scuba Steve didn¢t make it 10am he was popped. Beetle Juice is still kicking. Yes they all have names. Every once in awhile you¢ll hear Beetle Juice say ¢viva revolution¢ and ¢where¢d Steve go?¢ So another late start on the OL¢ A.T. We start up Bald Knob a 2000ft climb from route 60. We run into Patches, Old Man & Navigator who are going south today. They also named Beetle Juice. Blue eye is about 20 miles behind us and will probably catch us in Waynesboro. Bald Mtn was a wooded summit, which quickly leads to Cold Mtn with an open summit. On top I run into Chuck & Rabbit. I haven¢t seen Chuck since Gatlinburg. He seemed to be pretty happy to see us. He hasn¢t seen very many thru-hikers in the last 4 days. We all go down Hog Camp Gap and swing on one of the 2 swings on trees. It was sunny, it was cloudy it couldn¢t decide. We got to Seeley-Woodworth Shelter and there was a huge tarp and about 12 girls. They attend an outdoor school. There was no one in the shelter so this will be home. 14 miles and the threat of rain. I waited 3 hours and finally set up my tent. It started to rain shortly after. We scored tortillas, rice & beans off the girls. So burrito¢s tonight.
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter (tent) 

To: Maupin Field Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: moderate rain

Day 69 We got a pretty decent start today around 7:30am. Rabbit, Possum & Chuck played with the mice all night. To think they were making fun of me in my tent. It was a quick 2 miles to Spy Rock. Grey skies with a bit of wind. We scaled the rock, but it was very cold out so our stay was short. Lunch was at The Priest Shelter. Soon as I step into the shelter it begins to pour. Hour and a half lunch as rain dictates our schedule. It was then down 3000ft to the Tye River and back up. Sadly today Beetle Juice didn¢t survive the Priest decent. The last of the really big bubbles. He will be sorely missed. It was a long hike up Three Ridges with weather constantly threatening. Chuck kept me company with many an entertaining story. We set up camp with Rabbit just off the A.T. by Maupin Field Shelter as the sun goes down.
Date: 2005-05-25
From: Maupin Field Shelter (tent) 

To: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va. 
Miles today: 21.5

Day 70 I get up to eat breakfast and Chuck looks ready to go. Rabbit appears to still be sleeping. I run down to the shelter and sign the journal then talk to Chubbs. When I get back Rabbit is stirring and Chuck is gone. I eventually leave around 8:30am. It rained all night and today looks no better. I¢ve decided after this trip to become a weatherman for Virginia. Tuesday and Wednesday should have been sunny. Instead it¢s been overcast, rainy and cold. 46° as I head for Waynesboro. I¢m very slow in the morning for a town day. The trail was very slippery. Most of the morning was a game of trying not to fall off wet rocks. I pass a section hiker from Pennsylvania named Jim. We had a long chat. Vision Quest showed up slack packing (a thru-hiker doing the trail without one¢s pack) the 21 miles. She was staying at Rusty¢s Hard time Hollow. Yes he¢s very much open. Her highlight so far was goat milk fresh from a goat at Rusty¢s. Rabbit and I break on top of Humpback Mountain. I take off down the trail. I get to the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter where Chuck is waiting. Rabbit limps in. His feet are really hurting, but he decides to push to town 5 miles away. Chuck, Rabbit & I head to town. We pass Patches & Ole man heading south. They were deeply saddened to hear Beetle juice didn¢t make it. I hope we run into them again. As we reach the road I realize my tent poles are no longer on my pack. Hopefully someone finds them and brings them to town or I¢ll be setting up my tent with twigs. Feeling pretty stupid I hitch into town. Quality Inn is home for the next day or two. Rabbit¢s feet are in bad shape. I have gauze stuck to where my blisters were. I think Chuck feels left out, as he doesn¢t seem to be ailing from anything. Dinner was a pizza where we see Grey Walrus & Pathfinder. Pathfinder broke a bone in his foot a couple weeks ago, but is ready to give it another whirl. Always glad to see them. The hike if you take away the wet rocks was pretty easy today.
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va. 

To: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va.
Miles today: 0.0

Day 71 A day of rest it wasn¢t. Zero days never are. Hit the free breakfast at the hotel. My blisters are now festering sores. Rabbit and I first walk to the post office, then over to do laundry. We run into Blue eye at the post office and partake in his homemade cookies. He¢s meeting his parents in Front Royal Va. So he¢s leaving today. The town is really spread out. It¢s already noon and we still have to go to the outfitter and library. Worries shouldn¢t be left alone when in town. Laziness is key. I rent a car. I recommend it to all. We drove to the outfitter where I buy a MSR Hubba tent to replace my Big Agnes that no longer has poles. I went through the whole too buy or not buy thing. I buy the tent my poles show up, I don¢t they sell their last light tent. So I buy. We take Rodeo to the trail and Vision Quest to the hotel. Chuck, Rabbit & I do lunch at McDonalds then visit the library. We try to find Blue eye & Chubbs, but no luck. So the 3 of us head to Strougton to watch Star Wars highly entertaining trip. Three bearded guys will travel. Chuck and I went to the Kroger for food. It¢s late and I still have too much to do. I hear my tent poles may have found their way to town.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va.

To: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va
Miles today: 0.0

Day 72 Why am I still here? Weasie¢s for breakfast today. We decided not to do the pancake challenge. There was too much other stuff we wanted. They couldn¢t fit all the food on our table. We stop by the post office and find Jake, Grey Walrus & Pathfinder. Jake needs a ride to Montebello and back and I have a car. What¢s one more day. Rabbit, Chubbs, Chuck, Jake and I pack up the car and head for Montebello. We stopped by the Kroger for soda, beer and fruit. Some traveling magic on the way to get Jakes pack. It took a couple hours for the round trip. We saw a few hikers Motoring, Freeheal & Tapeworm and gave away fruit, soda and beer. We left the rest in bags at a trail crossing. In a weird moment I found out that Jake¢s birthday is on the same day as mine. No good can come from this. Spent most of the day driving around people. Chinese buffet with Crab Rangoon¢s my fortune cookie tells me not to depart from my path. Hmm¢¦is that the A.T. or town? We watch the Fifth Element tonight. Rabbits feet look ready to go and seem happy in their new shoes. I check the hostel where there were sightings of my tent poles, but in the end turned out not to be mine.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va

To: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va
Miles today: 0.0

Day 73 I have no excuses. Though we did flip a coin. Yep, we blame the coin. Spent most of the morning getting everyone else out to the trail. When we returned the rental car it¢s already 11am. They try to talk us into taking it for the weekend. We hear Virginia Beach is beautiful this time of year. Fortunately we are oaks and decline the offer. Leaving town however, isn¢t as easy. They have many grills set up in parking lots with BBQ chicken and ribs. We are no match. If Rabbit & I do ever leave Waynesboro we¢ll be hiking for a while. I think we are both short on money. We feel good about tomorrow. I¢d say there¢s at least a 65% chance we¢ll leave Motoring & Freehaul brought in my tent poles today. I thanked them and mailed them home. The weather said rain, but all we saw was sunshine. We watched Ghost Busters and Wedding Singer today. We had dinner with Red who now goes by Rocket since there are two Reds on the trail. Doing nothing seems like more work than hiking. Four nights in Waynesboro and three in Daleville in the last 2 weeks have me wanting to hike again. We¢ve spotted Blue eye a 50-mile lead. No Zero¢s to Mass. I¢ve had 3 pints of ice cream in 3 days.