morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Baptist Hostel

To: Troutdale Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I went down to the restaurant for breakfast shortly after 7:00. I met John, who attempted the trail ten years ago at age 68, but who got bored after a hundred miles or so. He offered me a ride back to Dickey Gap. We had a nice chat on the way there and he gave me a fresh tomato.About a mile and a half in, Trog passed me going the other way. I said, ¢Are you Trog?¢ He said yes. I asked him if he had gotten dropped off farther north and was hiking back to Damascus and he realized he had gone the wrong way out of Trimpsi Shelter that morning.I stopped at Trimpsi at about 10:30 to eat and get water. I had a nice chat with LoRod and a girl who was having a rough day. I gave them each a Milky Way bar. LoRod said his friends were picking him up just past Partnership Shelter and taking him to town for dinner.I got to Partnership at about 6:00 and ordered a pizza. I had decided at the beginning of this stretch that I would do that in order to carry less food. I hung out talking with Home Brew and three other guys and went to bed in the shelter at 9:00.When I was waiting for the pizza, LoRod and his friends stopped to see if I needed a ride or anything into town. Later that evening he showed up back at the shelter. I could have gone to town to get dinner but one, I didn¢t realize it and two, I didn¢t try to hop on it earlier because I knew LoRod would get to the meet up point ahead of me.
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Atkins, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.6

I'm in the Comfort Inn in Atkins, VA. I'll be heading out soon if I can get myself out of the warm, dry motel and into the pouring rain. I spent 3 days in Damascus. I have all my light summer gear, including a new pack - Granite Gear Virga - and a new down quilt - Jacks Are Better - to use in the hammock. I also have a new Speer side pad extender.I just sent a bunch of journal entries to Mary for her to transcribe. I've been hiking steadily and having a little trouble keeping up with the journal. My friend Lula said my body had really changed since she saw me two weeks ago. I've morphed into a lean, mean hiking machine.I'm still having trouble with my feet. I have another pair of new boots. They're not perfect, either, but hopefully they will get me through the next 3 weeks until my husband, Steve, comes down to meet me. Maybe I will have to buy another pair then.Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the people who helped me to, from and during trail days: Home Brew, Jim, Carol, Tim, Jeff, Wild Life, Lula and Teresa. Thank you Steve for sending all gear and supplies. Thank you to the people in MRO who helped me try on boots for a couple of hours. And please send thoughts and prayers to Friar Tuck who couldn't make it to Trail Days because his father is very ill.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: Big Walker Motel, Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

I left the motel at 6:20. I hiked into town and got to a convenience store that had a breakfast bar that opened at 7 a.m. I waited 15 minutes until they opened, working on my journal. I sat in there about an hour while I ate, drank coffee and caught up on my journal. I put it in an envelope, but I missed the post office when I headed out of town. I walked all the way to the trailhead - a little over three miles.I hiked to Helvey's Mill Shelter. I stopped there to use the facilities and to take a break. It started to rain when I was sitting at the picnic table reading the shelter log, so I sat in the shelter, ate and tried to call Naomi while I waited for the rain to stop.I lucked out. I missed getting rained on. I hiked to Jenny Knob Shelter. Florida Duane was there. I had met Sprawl and Bear Bait earlier in the day. They were at the shelter, too. I helped Bear Bait by showing him how I hang my hammock.
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early and was out by 5:20 a.m. I hung up my bear bag last night and I missed putting the rope in my pack this morning, probably because my rope was black and I packed up in the dark. Luckily, I found another rope a couple of days ago, right after Tracker dropped us off at Laurel Creek.I was really bummed out when I woke up and I called Ross later in the morning to have a melt down all over him. He was good about it and the call helped me a lot.I got to Virgina 606 at about 11 a.m. and headed to Trent's where I ate a turkey grinder and chips, drank a coke and ate a peppermint patty. I had a good time talking with some other hikers and locals. Unfortunately I can't remember the hikers's names. Two of them I had met at trail days the evening I sat around with Tim and Jeff. One of them was local to the area and he and another older guy (not hiking) figured out that they were probably related.I had my only experience so far (in three years of hiking) where I think my body odor offended someone. A woman sitting in the dining area at Trent's gave me a really nasty look as I walked by. Oh, well. I made sure to walk around the shelves the other way after that.I hiked to Wapiti Shelter. I hung around chatting with Bear Bait and Sprawl and a couple who were making veggie hot dogs and offering them to everyone. I had just eaten the rest of my turkey grinder so I was all set. I had a good time chatting. I waited while it rained some and then I set up my hammock behind the shelter.
Date: 2010-05-24
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Stealth Campsite one mile south of spring
Miles today: 13.7

I was awake for an hour or two in the night and in the morning it was raining, so I took my time getting up and out. I ate breakfast by the shelter and had fun talking with Bear Bait, Sprawl, Zen Dog and Fireball. I got out at 8:30.The morning passed very quickly even though it was miserable at times with pouring rain. I sat on a rock and ate lunch at noon.I got to Doc's Knob Shelter around four. Bear Bait and Sprawl were already there. We all agreed that the stretch we had just hiked seemed longer than the milage listed in the books. We commiserated about the weather - we had all gotten poured on. I got water and moved on after a short break. They hadn't decided if they were staying or going when I left, but they didn't pass me, so I assume they stayed put.I hiked until 7:15 and then stopped and set up my hammock on the ridge, about 5 miles from town, I guessed.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: Stealth Campsite, south of town

To: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 4 a.m. and thought I heard something batting at my food bag which was tied to a tree near the hammock. I hollered, and then fumbled, cursing, for my headlamp and shone it outside, where all was well. I think I heard my umbrella bumping something as it swayed in the wind.I lay there with my headlamp on for awhile, just in case, and I could see the mist blowing into the hammock through the mosquito netting.I got out by 6:30. I would have been a half an hour earlier if I hadn't tied a half hitch on each end of the hammock before I lashed the rope. Big mistake. Those knots where wet and tight and it took me what seemed like forever to get them undone.It was a quick hike into Pearisburg. I took a pretty bad fall on the way and I hit my backside on a rodk. I put the Superfeet back in my boots because my feet were wer. I wanted to try the Superfeet again since the boots seemed broken in. No go. Cramps in my toes.I got into town and showered. I went to the Goodwill and bought a shirt and shorts so I could get all my clothes laundered. Ah, cotton.I walked to the library and used the internet. On the way back I did a little shopping - epsom salts for a bath, supplies to fix my pack and SPE, etc.I napped for a couple of hours in the afternoon, sat outside and read a book, watched a little TV and got some take-out from the Mexican place.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA

To: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up and went to the Dairy Queen for coffee and brought it back to the room to drink with the rest of last night's supper. I soaked in the bath and finished my novel. Then I spent a couple of hours going through stuff - getting food together for the next 5 days, making a drop box for the next 5 days after that and sending the rest back to Steve.I'll be meeting Steve on the 10th of June. He's bringing Vigo! Yay! (Vigo is my little Maltese.) I'm going to hike my butt off between now and then.This afternoon and evening I still need to go to the post office, get a couple of things at the store, finish up my journal entries and do my mending. Hopefully, I will have time for another bath and time to just chill. Also, I've missed Naomi twice, so I'd like to call her.
Date: 2010-05-27
From: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

I fell asleep at six p.m. last night and slept almost 12 hours. I've still been processing some stuff that went on with Steve last week and I wrote a letter to Ross. And that's enough of that. I don't know where I'll be living when I get off the trail. I don't know if Steve will take care of it or not. If I have to deal with it when I get back, then I'll deal.It was sunny today, but mostly it wasn't too hot. I came down the first way into Pearisburg, by the Dairy Queen, so I had to go back up the hill this morning. It still seemed like a better way to get in and out of town to me. Shortly after I got to the trail, Dr. Rock came from behind me and I hiked with him for a few minutes.There were two PUDs between the roads and then a steep uphill section, some of it rocky. Part way up I stopped for a break and discovered that a raw egg had broken in my pack. I hadn't put the half carton (with 3 eggs in it) in a plastic bag. I set it on top figuring I was going to eat them the first time I stopped. Really dumb. And yes, I eat them raw.I cleaned up the mess. Luckily, I had extra water and I had stopped right by a stream. I ate the two eggs I had left and a Heath bar.A little before 4 p.m. it started to thunder and got very windy. I stopped and pitched the hammock (badly) and got in it to ride out the storm. I stayed in there for about 45 minutes until the storm moved off. It never really rained - just a sprinkle. Right after I pitched the hammock, two people slacking south (Clarity and Blue Moon(?)) told me I was almost to Rice Field Shelter. It turned out I was only about 3 minutes away. I stopped there and ate and called Steve briefly. there was a big storm in Greenfield last night and he spent the day getting and keeping computers up and running.I chatted with Loon, who is on the Geezer Hike. I may join them. I would like a more supported hike. This seems to really be tiring me out this year. I'm not sleeping as well as I usually do out here.I moved on to the next campsite. It was a mile and a half away from the shelter and I make it in a half an hour on some easy terrain. Too bad I can't always make that kind of time.I'm sharing the campsite with Fishbone who has the same kind of hammock that I do. Its about 8 o'clock and I'm in for the night. Its a really nice spot. I'm glad I stopped here.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: Campsite

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

I slept fitfully. Someone came in about ten p.m. and woke me. They weren't rude or anything. They weren't excessively noisy, but their arrival woke me up.I got out about 6:30 or so. I did everything except eat. I started to eat, but I spilled my coffee all over myself when I tried to sit down on the ground while I was holding it, so I decided to hike out and eat at a more comfortable spot.About an hour past the campsite I saw 3 bears. I saw a cub running first - in front of me and to my right. I didn't see the mama bear so I backed up a couple of steps. Then I saw that she was in the lead, with two cubs following right behind her.It was hot and muggy. I met Chef Glen at Symm's Gap meadow, just heading out, and we leapfrogged each other a bit. We both stopped at a spring in the early afternoon. I didn't stay long because I wanted to take a break at the shelter.As I was nearing the shelter I heard thunder and said, "Oh no!" because it was only about two o'clock. I wanted to hike into the evening.I got to the shelter about 2:30. I already had water, so there was nothing to do but to wait for the storm to come and go. It didn't start raining until about 4 p.m. Then it poured. Around 5:30, just as I was starting to decide that I was stopped for the day, it started to rain again, even harder than the first time. I was glad I was dry.Road Runner was in the shelter, as was Chef Glenn, another hiker named Chef, and Indigo. Scrabbit and Doppler stopped in for a bit and then headed on to the hiker feed at the Captain's. It turned out that Indigo was the person who came into the campsite at 10 last night. She had camped farther north and was cooking her supper when she was approached by a bear. When she jumped up to yell at it, she spilled her dinner all over the ground. The bear was hanging around so she packed up and moved. The bear had headed toward trail north, so she backtracked south and stopped when she saw the two hammocks pitched at the campsite.   I couldn't begrudge her getting in late.I hung out, read, ate, talked with people and then went to bed.
Date: 2010-05-29
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Wind Rock
Miles today: 7.8

I had a great day!It's 10:40 p.m. and I'm in my hammock. Wind Rock is aptly named. I wished I had a camera to take a picture of this campsite. It's so beautiful. Green leaves and green grass everywhere.I got up at 5 a.m. A guy at the shelter (Chef) said, "Boy, you weren't kidding when you said you got up early." I said, "No, I wasn't." I slept fitfully, waking every hour our so to change position because my back hurt.I hiked three quarters of a mile and took the zipline across the creek to the hiker feed. I was there a little before 7 a.m. I sat and drank coffee and chatted with the hosts and other hikers. I kept thinking I should have kept hiking, but decided to wait for food. I ate fruit and biscuits and gravy around 10 a.m. I decided to stay for lunch which was around noon - hot dogs, hamburgers, lots of salads and dessert. It was great. Florida Duane was there (I last saw him at Jenny Knob Shelter). I met Peacepipe. Others there were Grizz, Skidmark, Scrabbit, Rock 'n' Roll, Chef Glenn, Achilles the Red and Indigo. Skidmark saw the two small cubs and the mama bear just south of Symm's Gap Meadow at 2 p.m. yesterday. The mama took off and the cubs went up a tree where he got pictures of them.Scrabbit's kitten was there and it was on my lap for awhile in a styrofoam take out licking up corned beef gravy bits.I left a little after 2 p.m. I crossed over the new bridge over the creek and hiked up the hill to Bailey Gap Shelter. Peacepipe passed me on the way up and we had a nice little chat at the shelter. I went and got water at the spring and headed out from there at five.I didn't remember the next section at all except that it was windy the day I hiked it and I had gotten chilled the day before so I was having trouble with the wind. This time it was sunny, evening and fairly pleasant, although I was working up a sweat. It was also uphill (mostly not too steep), rocky and slippery from the rain.I pushed it some. I was planning to hike until 7 p.m. but when seven rolled around I decided to keep going and try to do the 5.1 miles from the shelter to a campsite, but to stop and pitch camp if I ran out of daylight.I got to the road at 7:2 and took a 10-minute break. I walked two tenths of a mile up to Wind Rock. I took a quick look at the view, intending to move on, but there were 3 tents pitched so I went down what looked like an overgrown two-track and found this beautiful campsite. I set up camp and went back to the rocks to watch the sunset. I met a nice young woman who is working at a nearby biology station, studying the predator and prey relationships of newts. We watched the sunset and a mouse that was running around on the rocks.I went back to the hammock and was just starting to settle in, when a young man I had met earlier invited me to his camp for hot dogs. I went and ate hot dogs and drank a couple of beers with Dylan and his Dad, Chris. (And Brute, the dog.)What a great day.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Stealth Campsite one mile south Trout Creek
Miles today: 13.9

I was up at 5:40, went down to the cistern and got more water, ate, packed up and was out by 7:15 and back up to the AT by 7:40. Path was granite and rocky. There was a nice view. It was hot and sunny. I took a break and got a cell message from Mary, but couldn't get enough of a signal to call out. I got to Niday shelter just before noon. I was very tired and considered setting up the hammock to take a nap. I also considered doing some laundry. I went the wrong way to look for water - twice. Finally, I looked at the trail guide and went slightly north on the trail to the blue blaze to the creek.I ate and then it started to rain so I went and laid down in the shelter to rest. I ended up staying in the shelter until 2:45. By then there were a whole bunch of people in there. I continued on, trying to get to closer to Pickle Branch Shelter so that I can make it to the store tomorrow.At first it was flat and downhill to the road and a little beyond. I listened to the radio and walked fast. I walked fast up the mountain toward the Audie Murphy monument for the first hour and a half, then I slowed down. The trail was steep, but switchbacked. Most of the people who had been at the shelter passed me. I got to the bench near the monument at 5:50 with one 15-minute break. I sat on the bench for 10 minutes.The trail was flat along the top of the ridge for quite a ways, then it was little ups and downs along the ridge and then it headed down. I stopped to camp partway down the ridge at about 7:25. My feet were tired and it seemed like it might rain. One guy who was at Niday shelter this noon had said he was going to camp at the road. I had thought I might camp there if I knew someone was there, but I realized that if I got there and no one was there I would have to keep going so I stopped short of there. I found a nice spot, with good trees for the hammock and the food bag.I tied out the hammock and tarp to trees instead of staking them to the ground. I could get wet if it blows and rains at the same time. Its 8:40 now and time to sleep.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Stealth Campsite one mile south Trout Creek

To: Stealth Campsite appprox. mile 695.9
Miles today: 11.6

It was a good day, but tough. The alarm went off at four after I had woken up at three. I got out at 5:30. There were Daddy Longlegs all over the place. There were about 20 of them on and around one end of my hammock attachment to the tree.I got to the road/Trout Creek at six. I took a half hour break to get water and eat and rinse out some laundry. Then came the climb up Dragon's Tooth. It was fun. The weather was sunny, but breezy and not too hot. It took me three hours and 45 minutes climbing time to go 5.2 miles. Achilles the Red passed me when I was sitting at the top, taking in the view. It was tough going down, like I remembered. I got to Lost Spectacles Gap at 12:30.After that, the trail went up and down. The terrain (rocks, sand) and vegetation (including blueberries) reminded me of Vermont. I got to the road and hiked to the convenience store with two guys whose names I don't remember. One of them might be Neutron. The "crew" I had been hiking near was at the store, as was Seven. I don't remember many names - Achilles the Red was there and Left Field, among others. I ate an eggroll, 2 hot dogs with chili (no bun), chips, a V8 and most of a pint of chocolate ice cream (gave the rest away). I bought 2 more hot dogs to take with me, 2 liters of water, ibuprofen, peppermint patties, cheese popcorn and a coke that I drank before I left.I walked to the trailhead. The "crew" scored a ride and pulled up right when I got there. It was only .4 miles. No big deal. The battery to my mp3 player was dead, so I stopped to find a fresh one and to brush my teeth. Then I started out again.The trail was uphill through the woods, then it was flat along a little creek, then a steep uphill through a field. It was hot. Then the trail went up and down, up and down in the woods, some of it steep, some rocky. I passed Skidmark and the kitty (Yogi) hiking south bound. I had started on the trail at 2:15 and at a little before four I stopped to check out why the seat of my pants were so wet. Ther were so soaked that I thought maybe I had some water leaking, but it was just sweat rolling off the pack which was so wet that it wouldn't absorb any more. I practically chugged a liter of water that I bought at the store.It sprinkled a little while I was sitting and I almost stopped up on top at four p.m. I started to hear thunder. A half an hour later I stopped to camp down lower in a gap. I saw the trail going slightly uphill out of that gap and I couldn't do it. I was done.Now its 5:45. The sun came back out. I'm still glad I stopped. I couldn't make it to Daleville tomorrow anyway. I was a little concerned about water. I carried 2 liters out of the store (and drank the coke and the V8). I couldn't slake my thirst. I drank another half liter when I stopped and save half for morning. I should be fine. Its only 3 to 4 mile to John's Spring Shelter.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Campsite

To: Lamberts Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't sleep for a couple of hours in the night. I was so awake that I read for awhile. I got up around five and was out around 6:20. I ate breakfast before I left - hot dogs with relish, chips, cold instant coffee and a peppermint patty for dessert. Ah, trail food.It didn't seem as hot as yesterday. I made pretty good time. I felt like I needed to drink a little more this morning. I drank the half liter I had left from yesterday and stopped at John's Spring Shelter and got more water. I drank another liter or so. I stopped again at the spring just before Catawba Shelter, drank some more and filled up two and a half liters. It was heavy, but I had hardly any food so the pack still probably only weighed about 20 pounds. I hiked up to McAfee Knob. I offered to take pictures for a young couple. I sat on the knob, called Mary and Steve, and then ate my lunch. I ran into a 2002 thru-hiker named Bucky.I continued past the pig farm campsite and Campbell shelter. They were deserted. I knew a bunch of people had stayed at the campsite last night. Now they were gone. It was interesting to think about.It was a really pretty day. I was tired so I stopped and took a couple of breaks on the way up to Tinker Cliffs. There were a couple of really steep climbs. I put the radio on. Sometimes that is      . "Forty-nine cent wings!" "Fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella salad at Panera!"The cliffs were very impressive and I felt I had earned my way up there with the steep, hot climb. The trail ran right on the edge of them for a ways. I think the trail curves and you are looking back at McAfee Knob from there. The last time I did it I was pretty sure, but this time I couldn't identify it. I was very happy. I just realized that the last time I was there I was with Dr. Bob. One of my favortie people I've met out here. I wonder how he's doing.It was only another mile or so to Lamberts Meadow Campsite. My feet were starting to hurt on the bottoms from the downhill on the way there. I wanted to go a little farther - get closer to town - but it was posted to camp at the designated sites in this section.So I stopped for the night at a little before five. Sat at the picnic table and chatted with Beardilocks and Karma. (I wish all campsites had picnic tables. Under a roof would be nice.) Dr. Rock passed by on his way to town, but neither of us recognized each other. B and K are hiking from Pearisburg to Maine, skipping Pennsylvania. They are taking their time and having fun.I went to bed early, about seven. I said to Beardilocks, "You know that feeling when you are beyond tired. That's where I am right now."