morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-20
From: North of Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Sarver Shelter
Miles today: 19.0

Hiked 7:15-6:30. Trail magic saved me today. The weather was great, and the scenery was good, but this was 19 very up-and-downy miles. In the early afternoon, about 4/5 of the way up a long, long climb, right beside a forest service road, was a cooler full of cold Pepsi¢s and another one full of candy bars. I really needed that -- I was exhausted. Two other times I¢ve found coolers on the trail, but both times, by the time I got there, nothing was left but ice.Because water sources and shelters/tent sites control where a person stops for the evening, many times I¢m faced with the choice of ¢Do I stop early while I still have energy, or do I try for a destination that may be out of reach?¢ If I choose the latter, one of three things can happen: (a) I stagger into the intended destination totally exhausted (which happened today) or (b) I find a campsite with water that isn¢t listed in the guidebook (which happened yesterday) or (c) I run out of time and have to camp where there¢s no water and/or no tent site (which happened on May 15). Option (c) has happened two or three times and can be very unpleasant.I had to go for the long destination tonight to assure that I get to a phone by Thursday, so I can call Rosie and iron out the details of our rendezvous on Friday. Can¢t wait! We haven¢t seen each other since March 28 -- can you believe it!?!? That was one sad parting.This afternoon featured several miles of high pasture hiking, which I love. Storybook scenes -- cattle grazing, lovely farms. I sat down in a high pasture for my afternoon snack and felt like James Herriot on the moors in All Creatures Great and Small.
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Sarver Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

Hiked 9:00-6:00. You need to hear about these kinds of days, too. Sorry! It rained steadily most of last night -- and hard this morning until 8:00; thus, a late start. Then rained steadily all day until about 4:00. It¢s threatening as we speak.Morning hiking over Sinking Creek Mountain would¢ve had spectacular views, but everything was fogged in. As it was, it was just dangerous -- not life-threatening, but would have been easy to break some bones. Walking across huge slanted, wet rock slabs. In fact, Earl Shafer said that this part of the trail should have been dynamited and thrown away.Note: Earl Shafer is the first guy to hike the entire A.T. (50-some years ago), and he hiked it again in the 1990¢s when he was in his 70¢s. He said the trail has been revised to be too tough.All in all, it was a pretty depressing day. On the bright side, though, the mountain laurel are now blooming profusely, and they are lovely! Also on the bright side, I¢m only a little over six miles (a very treacherous six miles) from the country grocery where I can call Rosie and arrange our Friday rendezvous.
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: mist

Hiked 7:00-11:15. Scariest six miles I¢ve ever done (even including the White Mountains of New Hampshire). The Dragon¢s Tooth on Cove Mountain was like nothing I¢ve ever seen, and I can¢t begin to describe it, so I won¢t try. Very unusual rock formations and some real challenging ascents and descents. Beautiful, actually, though the spectacular views were again obscured by fog.It was another cool, rainy day, which is one of the reasons I¢m here this afternoon; that and the fact that I need to be near Catawba where I¢m meeting Rosie tomorrow. Another six-mile hike and short walk into Catawba is all that remains before she arrives.Topic of the day: Geezers. There are actually more of us old guys out here than I would have ever thought. I think it¢s more noticeable now that the ranks of the young have thinned more than the ranks of the old.Even the old guys are for the most part faster than I am. They also tend to be more ¢trail obsessed.¢ Even when they do go into town, I see them sitting outside as if they don¢t know what to do with themselves. Perhaps the trail obsession is what it takes to succeed...I wonder. I certainly don¢t have it. When I¢m in town, I¢m reading all the newspapers and watching all the TV news and sports I can; that, plus walking around town to see the sights.Three case studies:(1) Trog, a very tall, slender, strong man, probably older than I am. He hikes at about my speed, and I saw him several times in about a three-day period weeks ago. However, he never takes a zero day. The last I knew, he was about three days ahead of me.(2) Spice Bag (who has recently changed his trail name to ¢Ultreya¢ -- French for ???). He¢s also a bit older than I am. He¢s from Quebec. Hikes a tad more slowly than I do. Although he, too, never takes a zero, I first saw him in the Smokies and saw him again today. He says he has absolutely no interest in what¢s going on in the world. ¢All the news is bad,¢ he says.(3) Spot. About my age. This is his fourth thru-hike. Very fast hiker. Saw him for about three days straight coming out of Hot Springs. The last I knew, he was eight days ahead of me -- and that was a couple of weeks ago. He never takes a zero.Note: This hostel is just a three-car garage that the family decided to make available to hikers. It has mattresses, cots, a furnace, refrigerator full of beer, and a shower. We¢re pretty much on our own. We donate whatever money we feel is appropriate.
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Catawba (VA) Community Picnic Pavilion
Miles today: 5.9

Hiked 7:30-10:30. Another nondescript hiking day -- rainy, muddy, views obscured by fog. I didn¢t care, though -- Rosie¢s on her way!Last night¢s hostel experience was worth a comment, though. About 20 of us (including four females) were scattered around the floor of the former garage. The owner shuttled us to a classy restaurant in Catawba -- a nice, restored farm house. Seemed too nice for a bunch of dirty hikers, but they treated us great.It was all-you-can-eat (AYCE), family style. They brought us plates/bowls full of fried chicken, barbecued pork, roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cole slaw, spiced apples, biscuits, and apple butter. Also, pitchers of lemonade and iced tea. Cherry cobbler and ice cream for dessert. It was heaven!Not only that, but at our table of seven the conversation was not about hiking mileage, hiking food, and hiking equipment. It must have been the classy restaurant atmosphere, but the conversation turned to, would you believe: (a) journalism -- newspapers and magazines versus online, (b) slavery in the South, and (c) museums in Denver, Colorado! It was wonderful! A couple of the trail-obsessed at our table had to sit there in total silence, not knowing what to say or ask.Rosie is due to arrive here very late in the afternoon, so I¢m just killing time reading. Absolutely nothing to do for a few hours -- rather nice! I¢ll talk to you again on Monday.
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Catawba (VA) Community Picnic Pavilion

To: Econolodge; Daleville, VA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked 8:15-7:30. What a day! Started off with a heart-wrenching parting from Rosie after a great weekend. We had a hard time handling the goodbye. If all goes per plan, the next time we see each other will be in early August in Massachusetts. Seems like a long, long time.I was so down, despite good weather and fantastic scenery. I¢m just now starting to recover.McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs provided views and rock formations as good as any I¢ve seen on this trek.During my double-zero weekend, I switched to a very light pack, so I¢m carrying close to my minimum weight now. Of course, it will get even lighter as I eat the food and use up the fuel. Passed the 700-mile mark today, as evidenced by ¢700¢ formed by small stones in the middle of the trail.Not to beat this to death, but here¢s an event that happened today that illustrates a point I made earlier. Three guys passed me within seconds of each other in mid-afternoon, shortly after passing Tinker Cliffs. The first, a 60-70 year old, commented on the beauty of today¢s hike. The second, a 20-30 year old, also mentioned what a great hike it was. The third, in his 50¢s, said ¢I¢ve already hiked 16 miles today and am thinking about going another ten¢ -- obviously entered in the very popular old men¢s testosterone competition. (Some of you who knew me during my competitive running days may be saying, ¢Chimpy just wishes he could walk that fast¢ -- and you¢re absolutely right!)This was one of those days when I stretched; i.e. went for a destination that may or may not have been out of reach. I did that because (a) the other choice was at ten miles -- not quite a full day¢s hike, (b) there were no campsites with water between ten miles and here, and (c) I was desperate to talk to Rosie to see if she made it home safely (she did). I staggered in here after the longest, toughest day of hiking I¢ve ever done. I¢ll sleep well tonight.
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Econolodge; Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Hiked 11:00-5:00. Things almost always work out for the best. My long, long day yesterday got me a nice motel for what turned out to be a rainy night. Then, since today¢s only reachable destination with campsites and water was 11.2 miles away, no reason to get up early -- so I slept until 8:30, very unusual for me. Still had this big lump in my throat, so I didn¢t enjoy the Shoney¢s breakfast buffet nearly as much as I normally would.Remember the know-it-all guy I described a few days ago -- the guy who dominated the conversation with details of his life? Let¢s call him Magic Man (not his trail name, but close). He¢s a fast hiker, and the last I knew he was two days ahead of me. Well, despite my double-zero last weekend, lo and behold, he turns up in the room next to mine last night. He remembers every detail of his hike -- past and future -- and will tell them all to you. He caught me as I was returning from breakfast this morning, and proceeded to tell me names and room numbers of all the hikers there. I expect he thought I¢d want to go to those rooms and discuss (a) hiking food, (b) hiking mileage, and (c) hiking equipment...I got that sarcasm from my Dad.There¢s a thing called the ¢Virginia blues¢ that a lot of the hikers get. I can tell from the tone of the conversations and notes in the registers that some hikers have it, including, maybe, myself. I think it comes from these circumstances: (a) Virginia is sooooo long (531 miles of A.T.), (b) the newness has worn off, (c) rain, rain, rain, and (d) we¢re looking for easier hiking than the ruggedness of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee -- and not yet finding it.We know that things get much easier in the Shenandoah National Park -- more level hiking and a trail that sticks close to the famous Skyline Drive; thus lots of restaurant meals. Between here and there, though, the vertical profile still looks tough.Today¢s hike was an exception -- well switchbacked (switchbacks are zigzags in the trail to make ascents and descents less steep, resulting in faster walking and happier knees). It rained until mid-afternoon, though, and again this evening; otherwise, sunny and cool. No scenery to speak of -- other than the magnificent mountain laurel, which seems to be at its peak.
Date: 2003-05-28
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Wonderful Life Campground near Jennings Creek
Miles today: 16.9

Hiked 7:00-3:15. I have nothing to complain about today. Sunny and cool most of the day. Although there were some ups and downs, they were gradual and neither rocky nor muddy. You can tell how easy it was by my average speed -- over two miles per hour, including the usual rest stops. Two miles per hour is nothing for most hikers, but for me it¢s a sprint.The trail hugged the Blue Ridge Parkway for about seven miles today, which was nice. The A.T. actually crossed the Parkway four times -- all of them at scenic overlook areas. The educational displays at those overlooks were very interesting, and the views were outstanding. The guidebook says that there¢ll be trail relocations in the future to get it away from the Parkway; if that happens, too bad, because it adds some nice diversity. Note: One of the educational displays gave the A.T. distance as (an outdated) 2050 miles; you can see that it¢s just getting longer and longer -- now over 2170 miles -- as well as tougher.This is the last I¢m going to say about the marvelous mountain laurel, which are peaking right now, I think. These little flowers are about one inch in diameter -- usually white, though some are light pink. All are trimmed in pink, and, in fact, they look very pink when they open up. There are 20-40 flowers in each cluster, and 20-40 clusters in each bush. They¢re everywhere on the trail these days. Exquisite!I passed the 1/3 mark, mileage-wise, today. The first third is the toughest. Not only is the terrain very rugged for the entire time, but there are so many adjustments to make -- conditioning-wise, equipment-wise, etc. There¢s some even more rugged terrain in New England, but, unlike the South, that ruggedness doesn¢t go on for weeks and weeks and weeks. I can¢t wait for it to let up, whenever that may be. At the latest, it should happen in Shenandoah National Park, about 108 trail miles -- or eight days -- from here.Note: The 1/2 mark is in southern Pennsylvania. There¢ll be a major celebration when and if I get there!
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Wonderful Life Campground near Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked 8:00-3:45. This shelter is within earshot of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was just a day to be survived, totally opposite of yesterday -- rainy, cold, steep, rocky, muddy, no views. Started out below 1000 feet and ended up above 4000 (Floyd Mountain), with several ups and downs.The A.T. definitely isn¢t mellowing yet. Walking in the rain can be very pleasant, but generally just causes all kinds of problems. I have very few clothes, so a couple of wet days can really be problematic.It also affects breaks. On a normal day I take several breaks, sitting in a scenic spot -- or at least a sunny one -- eating, drinking, reading the guidebook. When it¢s raining, though, there¢s no dry spot to sit, no scenic views, no reading. If it¢s cold (which it usually is at high elevation) you can¢t stop for long, or serious shivering will ensue; thus, breaks become hurried standup affairs -- not relaxing at all. Not only that, but it¢s not unusual for my fingers to freeze up (as they did today) due to Reynaud¢s Disease. I then have to stay and thaw them out, which can take quite awhile. Not to mention the all-important morale factor -- sun versus rain -- and not to mention the extra weight (wet stuff).Saw another guy wearing a kilt today (about the fourth one I¢ve seen on the trip). Actually, it¢s just called a ¢kilt¢ to make it masculine -- this thing really looks like a lady¢s wrap-around skirt. I got to thinking about this and decided, depending upon the answer to one question, this could be the solution to three problems I have with shorts. Now I¢ll tell you what the question is and then about the three problems. Darn! My pen seems to be running out of ink...
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Wright Place Motel; Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked 6:45-2:45. Quite a nice one. Weather sunny and breezy. Lots of ups and downs, but generally nice and gradual -- neither rocky nor muddy. Scenic, too. Lots of Catawba (pinkish) rhododendron. The James River was the destination. It¢s quite wide, but the A.T. has its own footbridge -- very unusual.You¢ve certainly noticed that I¢m in a motel pretty often. This is because I¢m soft. If this were golf, I think you¢d say I¢m playing the Senior Tour -- same course as the youngsters, but I¢m ¢riding in a cart.¢ I need the contact -- with Rosie, with the news, with people other than hikers.Last night¢s shelter stay was okay. The conversation strayed from food, mileage, and equipment. Maybe the hikers are starting to think of the ¢other world¢ again. Topics included marijuana and the life of a flight attendant. The young guys were quite the experts on pot growing and smoking.It amazes me, too, how, despite their college degrees (in most cases), the young people still use one word (starts with ¢f¢) as the universal generic adjective and adverb. I¢m really offended by it, actually, and hugely disappointed in them. (I know -- I¢m out of touch -- only an unchanging sojourner in a world that¢s changing way too rapidly. So be it -- I can live with being out of touch.)
Date: 2003-05-31
From: Wright Place Motel; Glasgow, VA

To: Buena Vista Motel; Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 21.1

Hiked 7:30-6:30. The name of this motel (and town) is pronounced ¢BYOO-nuh VIZ-tuh¢ -- yep -- that¢s right.This was the first 20-mile day for Chimpy! Not in the plan, but circumstances forced me into it. When I reached my 15-mile target destination campsite, it was raining with lightning and thunder, so I had to go on the 19-mile point (a shelter). But with ¢civilization¢ only two miles farther, and mosquitoes thriving, there was no reason to stop at 19, right?This was no easy 21-miler either. The morning was cold, windy, and rainy, which caused all of the possible problems I mentioned in yesterday¢s entry. Finally got to sit down and rest about noon.Also some major climbing -- from the James River (lowest point on the A.T so far -- 609 feet) to the top of Bluff Mountain (3372 feet). Lots of mud. This extremely rainy spring has left part of the trail so slippery that I literally can¢t get any traction up or down. Hate to say it, but some rocks would help. I¢ll probably be executed for admitting it, but I had to occasionally walk off of the path to make any headway. I expect the thru-hikers are not liking the A.T. much these days.Speaking of that, I saw no thru-hikers all day. On a typical day, five or six will pass me, while I pass none, of course. Neither did I see any at the three shelters I passed. Spooky! I believe lots of hikers are staying in towns, waiting for a weather break.Despite my poking fun at the mileage-obsessed hikers, they perform some really amazing feats. Twenty-mile days are routine; 25-mile days are the thing now, with an occasional 30-miler. To give you an example, two days ago when I was snuggled up in the shelter at 4:00 PM, three of them stopped for a break, then went on, targeting a shelter 13 miles on down the trail! I don¢t know if they made it, but nightfall held no fear for those studs.So here I am, enjoying life in a motel again. This is my way of fending off the Virginia blues.Note: I¢m now only about 55 miles from Waynesboro, the gateway to Shenandoah National Park -- and my next zero day. We¢re all anticipating Waynesboro.
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Buena Vista Motel; Buena Vista, VA

To: Buena Vista Motel; Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 0.0

The weather is actually good today, but I decided to give the trail another day to dry out. Also, my sore body was telling me to give it a rest. Most importantly, though, this was my first real chance to attend church since I began the trip. How I miss that! Between worship and Bible study, church was a three-times-per-week thing for me at home, and I need that. I do the nightly reading of my devotional and related scriptures, which is always comforting, but I certainly miss the fellowship and Pastor Tim¢s sermons.So I attended worship at the First Brethren Church down the street. It was so nice to be ¢back,¢ although I was a bit underdressed in my t-shirt, cargo pants, and Tevas; these people really dress up! The music was fantastic, and, for the most part, familiar, so I could join right in. It was a lot like my home church (Trinity United Methodist in Van Wert), and I enjoyed it very much. It helped to get my focus back on what¢s really important -- a pleasant change from attitudes on the A.T.Rosie and I are making a real effort to keep me in touch with home as much as possible. She sends many local newspaper clippings, and we talk every time I can get to a phone. This keeps me from getting too trail obsessed and, as a result, hopefully, from burning out. Down the line, when this venture ends, one way or the other, it should also help me settle back into the real world. This settling back in is a problem for a majority of thru-hikers -- I don¢t want to be one of them. On Bluff Mountain I saw the grave of little Ottie Cline Powell, whose story is a sad one indeed. Ottie was four years old and barefoot when he wandered away from his schoolhouse in Amherst County, Virginia while out gathering firewood in November, 1890. Despite an extensive search, his body was not found until the following spring, seven miles away, on the peak of Bluff Mountain. It is believed that the boy, upon discovering he was lost, ran with all his might, and eventually collapsed with exhaustion and froze to death. The monument on Bluff mountain reads:"THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT.LITTLE OTTIE CLINE POWELL'SBODY WAS FOUND APRIL 5, 1891, AFTERSTRAYING FROM TOWER HILL SCHOOL HOUSENOV. 9, A DISTANCE OF 7 MILES.AGE 4 YEARS 11 MONTHS."
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Buena Vista Motel; Buena Vista, VA

To: Montebello Campround; Montebello, VA
Miles today: 16.3

Hiked 7:00-4:00. Nice one! Hardly a cloud in the sky, and pretty scenic hiking. Some ups and downs, but well switchbacked.Cold Mountain (not the one for which the book is named, I think) was a real highlight! It¢s a bald (has a grassy top, providing a great view in all directions). I love hiking across these balds, but often the weather doesn¢t allow good views, or it¢s too cold and windy to stop and enjoy. Today it was sunny and warm up there, so I lay down in the grass, drank my Gatorade, and ate my cinnamon brown sugar Pop Tart -- that¢s definitely a highlight for me!There are many stretches of trail where you ascend to high altitude, then stay up there for several miles, with only minor ups and downs (like today). The good things about being up high are the views and the brightness. If the weather¢s bad, though, you bear the full brunt of snow, rain, wind, fog, and lightning; that¢s when you want to be down in the darker, gloomier hollows.Passed the 800-mile mark today, though there was nothing to say so.It¢s a 2 1/2 mile downhill walk from the A.T. to the Montebello post office, where I picked up my mail drop. I was lucky enough to catch a ride for the last two miles on the seldom-traveled forest road, and got to the post office five minutes before closing time.I¢ve hitchhiked some serious miles the last three days -- a couple of six-milers and a couple of ten-milers. All but one was at a time or location with almost no traffic, which can worry me. One time, though, I got a ride on the sixth vehicle, and another time on the tenth, so it turned out okay. One very nice guy who gave me a ride was the brother of Charley Manuel, ex-Cleveland Indians manager. The Manuel kids -- five boys and five girls -- grew up in Buena Vista.