morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday April 24thFound a cooler full of Gatorade, OJ and Apple Juice at VA Rte 615 near Laurel Creek! Trail magic from Green Valley Methodist Church. THANK YOU so much! I don't know if I was happier about the drinks or the fact that there was a garbage can. It's amazing how much you come to value a trashcan. I guess except for the A-hole hikers who think that the earth is their dumping ground.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 16.3

April 25 FridayIf you're expecting to take a shower here. DON'T. I wonder if anyone from these guidebooks have gone by to check some of these facilities before putting them in their publications. On the up side, however, I was able to buy milk and ice cream.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Trent's Grocery

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: few clouds

Saturday April 26thBoth Lady and Mangy Mo reported that this shelter had the worst privy yet. Needless to say I decided to take their word on it and used the woods.Mangy Mo said if he came down with the Junta virus this privy would probably be the source.
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Pearisburg VA!

To: Pearisburg VA, Plaza Motel
Miles today: 0.0

Monday April 28Zero Day! Woke up to rain this morning. Since I didn't want to carry my maildrop and bouncebox in the rain, I went to the Courthouse Cafe and had a breakfast bagel and coffee. Patrick, the owner, is very hiker friendly, so please throw some business his way. During a brief period of non-rain I went to get my boxes. The woman at the Post Office was very nice and helpful. Went back to room at Plaza Motel and sorted through maildrop and bouncebox. Charged up camera, battery, and MP3. I haven't used the MP3 yet, but decided I was tired of the voices in my head. Like the one that is questioning my sanity and complaining about all the damn uphill climbs. Or the one that keeps asking "are we to the top yet?" Then there is the one that keeps telling me that I smell horrific. I'd much rather listen to Tracy Chapman or Sarah Mac. Went to Food Lion and bought more food for the trail. Also bought a bag of salad mix, a pint of tomatoes, a large cucumber, and a small yellow squash. Devoured that straight out of the bag for dinner. MOOO.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Pearisburg VA, Plaza Motel

To: Plaza motel
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday April 29thApparently I'm having another zero day. I woke up at 5:50 am and started getting ready. After I got dressed I walked out the door and thought "it's freaking freezing". The wind was blasting the chill through every stitch of clothing. I immediately go back inside and switch from my baseball cap, to my fleece hat. I brave through the icy wind to Hardees with my 150 lb pack. Okay, so it wasn't that heavy. I get there about 30 minutes before Lady and the Tramp wanted to meet, and had coffee. While I waited I considered my options. I could hike in the freezing ass wind to the first shelter, only 6.8 miles away, then go another .3 miles to the shelter, then walk another .3 miles down a steep hill for water. Then get into my sleeping bag for the rest of the day, because there's no way that I would be able to build a fire with all the rain that we had yesterday and last night. Second option: hike to a campsite 1.4 miles farther than the first shelter, set up my tent in the freezing ass wind and climb into my sleeping bag. Then carry a soaked rainfly from all the condensation tomorrow. Option #3: Hike to the next campsite, get water from a pond (yuck) then do the whole tent drill from option #2. Option #4: Hike 19.1 miles to the 2nd shelter that a tree fell on and apparently doesn't have a roof, then the whole tent drill from #2, and #3.Lady and Tramp get there, and before I can say it's too damn cold to hike, Lady says they're thinking about zeroing again. I think that this fifth option suits me just fine. My feet are sore, my toes are sore, my back is sore, and my hip is sore and has a big ass bruise on it from me falling coming down into Pearisburg Sunday. I hike from Hardees to Rendezvous Motel and get a room. Then go to Courthouse Cafe and spend the day writing almost a months worth of journals. I am now waiting in my room for pizza delivery. Later a long soak in a tub full of the hottest water I can stand.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Plaza motel

To: Symms Gap Meadow
Miles today: 11.9

Wednesday April 30Had breakfast at Hardees again. It was considerably warmer today over yesterday. Had to do some road walking past the motel as part of the trail. Tramp had scoped it out on a previous day. Thankfully I was following behind him and Lady, because it was slightly confusing. Along the way we were passed by Knuckles and then a group of 4-5 young guys. Later I came to suspect that those same guys were leaving their trash in the fire pits. I know the people that think of this trail as some kind of athletic endeavor and nothing more want to lighten their pack, but leaving your trash behind is inexcusable. If you have no respect for nature, go give your ego a boost from something else. Symms meadow was a perfect spot for tenting. It even had an area (the kitchen) for sitting down to cook and eat. While I was cooking I saw a guy walking up and realized that it was Loafy, who I hadn't seen since Hot Springs. He had taken a week off for a music festival. It was nice to see him again, but I knew that this would probably be the last time I saw him unless he took another week or more off somewhere along the way.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Symms Gap Meadow

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Thursday May 1stWatched a beautiful sunrise this morning. Symms Meadow has been my favorite camping spot so far. Got a reasonably early start this morning, but wasn't that motivated...so I decided to listen to some music. This helped out with my motivation because I did move a little livelier, but I started singing along. Since I can't carry a tune for anything, I'm glad no one else was around for my disturbing unmelodic renditions of the Dixie Chicks. Said my goodbyes to Loafy since he was going on to the next shelter.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

Friday May 2Since it is July 19th, I haven't got a clue if anything interesting happened this day, so here's a stanza from "Songs of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman.The earth never tiresThe earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at firstNature is rude, and incomprehensible at first Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop'dI swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Niday Shelter

To: Stealth Camping at VA RTE 624
Miles today: 16.8

Sunday May 4Today was a long day and we had to set up our tents illegally after dark. It started out good. Took the small jaunt up to the Audie Murphy Monument. Did not realize that he was a Texan. Texas has put out some good ones. It has also put out some bad ones, and with any luck it can distance itself from the one's that say they're Texans (Bush), but that's just wishful thinking on their part. Anyway, originally the plan was to stop at Pickly Branch Shelter, but Tramp got a wild hair notion to get to Catawba, which seemed ok until we started climbing up to Dragon's Tooth. It took forever to actually get to Dragon's Tooth, then we had to climb down sheer sheets of rock ledges. Where the hell the "Bad Weather Trail" for this hellacious climb down was, I do not know. This was the first time that I thought WTF were they thinking?!!It was the first time that I was actually afraid. After that we saw the first blooming rhododendron...which at that point, I didn't really give a damn.We finally made it to Catawba Grocery and had a burger and resupplied. Tramp filled up with water from the bathroom faucet, but I couldn't tolerate the sulfur smell, so I bought some bottled water. We then got back on the trail and stopped at the first flat spot we found.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Stealth Camping at VA RTE 624

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Mon May 5thGot to Mcafee Knob and took pictures. Then came Tinker Cliffs and for some reason the Appalachian Pages deemed it necessary to warn us that it was dangerous in bad weather. Where exactly was this warning for Dragon's Tooth?!! Tinker Cliffs was an ADA approved walkway compared to the climb down from Dragons' Tooth. What the hell were they thinking?
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Tues May 6Had a pretty easy hike today. Was glad to get into town for a shower and food. I immediately took a shower and afterwards was kind of repulsed when I found a tick in my hair near my ear. I then make an appointment to get my head shaved at the closest salon. I figured that if I had very little hair, someone would have said, "Hey, you've got a tick gorging on your blood." So I had the stylist use a #1 guard and off the hair came! We decided that we would zero the next day.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Daleville, VA

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday May 8Got a fairly late start since we were only going 5 miles. Met Miles, who is also from Austin, TX and Toots and Burples. They all continued on. It was looking pretty rainy so Tramp hung up his tarp and I hung the fly from my tent across the front of the shelter to keep the rain from blowing in. It was a good thing because we had a pretty good thunderstorm that night. Also, the water source was a cistern that caught rain water from the roof of the shelter. This was my first experience with brown water. Yuck.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Bobblet's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Fri May 9Started section running through the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had some good views, but the best thing was that a lot of the pull offs had garbage cans. Garbage cans are almost as good as trail magic!We had a full shelter tonight, Jack Frost, Daddy-O, Peacock, Dave, me, Lady, Tramp, and Half-time.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Bobblet's Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Sat May 10Great Shelter!! So good that we zeroed there because of the rain. Tramp hiked back down to a camp store for extra food, and Lady and I collected wood for a fire. We broke it up and stored it under the shelter since it rained off and on all day. A group of women section hikers showed up soaking wet and were very happy about the fire.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Mon May 12A cold miserable day today. There was no visibility, and we went through the Guillotine in a shroud of misty fog. When I got to the Thunder Hill Shelter I decided to stay because it looked like more rain. Lady and Tramp decided to tent at Marble Spring- since it was at a lower elevation, they thought it might be warmer.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

Tues May 13Got an early start, since Lady and Tramp were about 7 miles ahead. Finally caught up to them as they were leaving Matt's Creek Shelter after a lunch stop.I was happy to hear they were planning on stopping at John's Hollow Shelter, because I didn't want to have to do a 20+ mile day. The hike along the creek was nice and if it had been warmer there were some nice spots to get in for a cool down. There was a walk along the James River which we crossed over by way of the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT. Lady and Tramp got to the shelter awhile before I did and Tramp had gathered some firewood for me to start a nice fire. We had a pretty good fire going by the time Willing and Able both arrived. Since they did not cook, and didn't even have any matches or a lighter, they were happy to have a fire.Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up to what sounded like someone walking near where we had hung our food bags. I could hear pads of feet hitting the ground. I looked over and saw that Lady and Tramp were both still in the shelter, and Willing and Able had hung their food bag somewhere else. That's when the red flags started going up. I got my headlamp and shined it in the direction of the food bags, then I heard something very heavy crashing through the leaves up the hill. Still Lady and Tramp slept on. At this point I really had to pee, but I was thinking that I didn't want to see a bear at a point when I needed to pee. After not hearing anything for awhile I went to the privy.The privy, by the way, was brand new. Someone had even left some patchouli oil inside, so the experience wasn't as repulsive as most other times. After the 2AM probable bear episode, came the 4:30AM wake up call from the Whippoorwill-on-crack. In my experience the call of the Whippoorwill is a soft easy call of mornful longing. Hence the suspicion that this fella had been smoking the crack. This screeching went on and on, and ulike the disturbing screaming of the alarm clock stealing your sleep, there was no hitting the snooze button.At least I got an early start.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: John's Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Wed May 14Went by a sign that mentioned there was a 300 year old Chestnut. I wonder how it has survived when the Chestnut tree was wiped out. If only I could have admired the survivor."Into My Own" Robert FrostOne of my wishes is that those dark treesSo old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,Were not, as twere, the merest mask of gloom.But stretched away unto the edge of doom.I should not be withheld but that some dayInto their vastness I should steal away,Fearless of ever finding open land,or highway, where the slow wheel pours the sand.I do not see why I shoud e'er turn back,Or those should not set forth upon my trackTo overtake me, who should miss me hereAnd long to know if still I held them dear..They would not find me changed from him they knew-Only more sure of all I thought was true.
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tuesday May 20We got dropped off at the trailhead around 10AM, we were only going 7.0 miles. Calf Mountain Shelter was rumored to have considerably large rats. Luckily did not experience any sightings there. After about .5 miles into the hike I started feeling a hot spot on both ankles. I had to get Montrail insoles at the outfitter the previous day because they didn't carry Superfeet. Apparently the heel thickness is different and the back of my ankles were rubbing on some hard plastic part. I kept adding molefoam and tape along the way. I was getting very disgruntled and almost turned around to go back to Waynesboro. After the 4th time adding tape it was a little less painful, so I continued on. The shelter was not one of the better ones, but we did experience trail magic. A former thru hiker and friend had hiked up with Brie, Yes! Brie! Chips, salsa, apple juice, cookies and other treats. Epicurean trail magic, Wow! After everyone had gone to bed, some noisy drinking hikers came in. They made no attempt to be quiet and then started smoking non-cigarettes right in front of the shelter. This was a little surprising to me. I guess I thought this would happen a little more discretely. I was very annoyed with them at first, but I learned to appreciate them more, later down the trail. I guess everyone has their good points, sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to find the good in some.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Calf Mountain

To: Blackrock Hut (first shelter in the Shenandoah's)
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Wed May 21st (first shelter in the Shenandoah's!)Rained last night, so I had an early slip and fall before I even got back to the trail from the shelter side trail. Damn slick rocks!
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Blackrock Hut (first shelter in the Shenandoah's)

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

Thurs May 22Stopped by Loft Mountain Campstore to resupply. They actually had a pretty good selection, and their prices were not even that bad. Met Lady and Tramp at Loft Mountain Wayside and Grill for a cheeseburger and blackberry shake. I think I might like this Wayside thing.
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearface Mountain Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: few clouds

Friday May 23First legitimate 20 + mile day!!! I did do a 20 slackpack in TN at Hemlock Hollow, but that's because I got lost and went 2 miles out of my way. Then had visions of Deliverance when a man in cammo gear and gun appeared. Don't meant to stereotype but you have to admit that there's a reason I would be freaked out. The terrain was good enough for even me to do a 20. Even had time to stop at Lewis Mountian Campstore for food, Root Beer (IBC- yum) and Ice Cream. By the time I got to the shelter, I had a hellacious blister from the new insoles. My first 20 and my first hellacious blister! I guess they go hand in hand. Met Lucky Star at the shelter. She told us accounts of her triple crown experiences. It was great to meet a female Triple Crowner! Even the rowdy boys were impressed and a little better behaved around her.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Bearface Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Sat May 24Stopped in at Big Meadows Wayside for lunch. Had a Reuben and a Blackberry shake. Campstore is connected to Wayside so did a resupply as well. Went to camp area and took a shower and dressed my blister. Afterwards, had a beer at the taproom. Several section hikers at the shelter including a woman and her teenage son. The son slept on one of the upper platforms and in the middle of the night rolled off. Luckily he was not injured, but I'm sure he was very stiff and sore the next day.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Sun May 25Stopped for breakfast at Skyland Lodge. On the way back to the trail I saw a mature doe with white markings along her hindquarters. The rangers have named her Dolly. We thought if we watched her long enough we might see he fawn, but didn't see any. Ended up at Pass Mountain Hut, which is where I think the Kissing Tree is located. I foolishly forgot to get a picture of this. A crew of trail maintainers drove down to the shelter, which was a little strange. They did a little weed eating, and took all our trash. The best kind of trail magic. Saw several deer roaming around the shelter.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Tom Floyd Wayside 

To: VA RT 55
Miles today: 11.1

Wed May 28Made it to VA RT 55 and saw Grasshopper and one of his hiking partners. He asked if a girl was going to be picking me up. After I said yes, he told me that she had driven 2 other thru hikers into town to pick up some food. Way to be a trail angel Melissa. So she gets back and immediately tells me that I stink, but she does clarify that by saying that I didn't stink as bad as the guys she drove into town. So Melissa takes me, Lady and Tramp to Linden for pie. It wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. Then we drove to Front Royal to the outfitters and coffee shop. After, we dropped off Lady and Tramp at the Quality Inn and went to the cabin Melissa had rented. It was very nice, and only about .5 miles from the trail. That night we picked up Lady and Tramp and went to dinner at an English Pub in the next town. I don't remember the name, but they had fish and chips and Newcastle...what more could you ask for? Oh, somewhere before dinner Melissa did find a deertick on my back. She pulled it off and it left an ugly bullseye mark. I was a little freaked out about that, as soon as we picked up Lady and Tramp, she had my shirt hitched up in the parking lot, to show them the tick bite. I'm sure it must have looked very strange for anyone driving by as 3 people stood inspecting something on someones back with her shirt hitched up to her shoulders. If they knew Melissa, they would understand.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: VA RT 55

To: Ashby Gap, US RTE 50/14
Miles today: 11.7

Thurs May 29Slackpacking for me, Lady and Tramp. Then shower and trip to clinic to get the tick bite checked out ($256). Physician Ast. took blood to check for Lyme's Disease and went ahead and prescribed antibiotic. Great, more crap to carry, plus it makes you more sensitive to sun, so I had to start packing sunscreen.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Ashby Gap, US RTE 50/14

To: Snickers Gap
Miles today: 14.1

Fri May 30Melissa dropped us off at Ashby Gap and we slacked to Snickers Gap. Went through the Roller Coaster, which is 13.5 miles of ascents and descents. I made it to Snickers Gap as Lady and Tramp were loading up to hike back to Bears Den Hostel to spend the night. Melissa and I went back to Front Royal and grilled some beast for dinner, rib eye and New Castle - hiking is hard.
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Snickers Gap

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sat May 31Melissa dropped me back off at Snickers Gap and I slacked to Harpers Ferry. It started to rain at Blackburn AT Center and then started pouring. Got drenched then got chilly. Stopped raining after about an hour, but the trail was like a muddy ditch for most of the rest of the way. Luckily Melissa had brought me dry clothes to change into. We both got ice cream, but I threw mine away because the cone was stale. I still have some standards. They are few and far between and getting fewer and farther between the longer that I'm on the trail. It's late July and a few days ago in Dalton, MA I found myself licking my fingers in a restaurant. I told Lady and Tramp that I think I've lost all my manners.
Date: 2008-06-01
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Old South Mountain Inn (Turners Gap)
Miles today: 17.5

Sun June 1Slackpacked south back to Harper's Ferry and met back up with Lady and Tramp. Tramp was out on the porch with Melissa at Town's Inn drinking wine. Everyone else was all clean and fresh and I was dirty and stale, maybe even rancid at that point. Lately my pack has developed this...well let's just say putrid mildew/moldy stench. You know the kind of smell that comes from the outside furniture of your redneck cousin's. The outside furniture that had once been inside furniture, but after the pets had chewed, clawed, and urinated on it so much that even your other redneck cousins wouldn't sit on it anymore, then it sat out on the porch for years in the elements. THAT is what my pack smelled like. This thing that I was carrying on my back with only a very thin layer of shirt and bra separating my skin from billions and billions of microscopic one-celled organisms that could potentially cause a multitude of unsightly, uncomfortable and unimaginable skin irritations. So, the next day I soaked it in the bathtub with whatever chemicals I could find, and then let it cook in the hot sun all day. Regretably with a few hours of sweating the next time I wore it, the smell was back.