morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-30
From: Damascus, VA

To: Beartree Gap
Miles today: 11.6

We moved over the Hikers Inn run by Suzanne, a really nice woman who caters to hikers and is ready to help with information, shuttling and whatever else may come up. She grows organic vegetables in her backyard. The evening we arrived a local father and 5 of his children showed up in the neighbors backyard to pick cherries. Half left and I, curious to see the children, ranging in age 2 to 8, 5 of them wandered out to talk to them and see them picking the fruit. While we were out there talking to them, Suzanne came out to see what all the excitement was all about. Her garden where she grows Yukon Gold potatoes was nearby. She asked the kids if they had ever seen potatoes harvested. They said yes but I said no. She gave me a mini lesson on digging them up and gave me the pitch fork. Wow what fun getting dirty to be had. I proceeded with the help of all 5 kids to harvest her whole crop. The plants had some kind of beetles eating them and she wanted to plant new stuff in the area. She gave half the crop to the kids who also had 3 more siblings at home. She promised us to cook the remainder up for us the next day and also make a cherry cobbler, yum.We did hike today from Damascus to Beartree. It crosses the Virginia Creeper trail and passes a beautiful waterfall. Right past the waterfall we settled down by the river for lunch. We both got in the cold water to soak our tired feet. It was a wonderful and welcoming treat! While we were eating, Wild Poodle and Cahoda stopped by, they had already eaten their lunch. We talked for a few more minutes and continued on the hike. About an hour and a half later we were sitting back in Damascus "The friendliest Town on the trail". It sure lives up to the motto!We stopped off for a beer and salad (Suzanne's mix) at the Whistlepig Cafe. It was great food and cold beer for Half Left, I got the limeade which quenched my thirst!We went back to the Hostel and relaxed for the evening.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Beartree Gap

To: Grayson Highlands State Park
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up early knowing it was time to move to a new place. Suzanne surprised all of us with our potatoes and other yummy food for breakfast. She doesn't normally cook for guests but is an incredible cook. She served eggs, bisguits sausage gravy with sausage in it, fruit and the potatoes. It satisfied our hunger both for the food and the conversation with the other guests. Well good things must end. We planned to move to Grayson Highlands State Park where the $21 fee was right up our alley. We said our goodbyes and thank yous to everyone, packed the truck and moseyed on. One of the guests we said bye to was a hiker named GipCgirl from Australia. We met her in Franklin where she had a broken foot. She was now all better and back on the trail, great for her!Off to the park we go, winding up the mountain 27 miles to our new home. We planned to stay about 3 days waiting on our friend Paula to arrive Wednesday. While waiting, we planned to do the miles up to the park and even 10 miles farther slack packing. Our tentsite was roomy enough for all of our tents and close to the showers. We set up camp and went on a hike to a local waterfall, Cabin Creek Falls. During the small hike, Wild Poodle fell on some rocks hurting her lower back and causing a migraine. Half Left also slipped and hurt his ankle. This hike was only 1.8 miles and a side hike for us. Isn't it ironic, injuries usually happen during extra activities and not necessarily when you're doing the real thing. Back at camp, Half Left started a nice warm fire which we cooked up some hamburgers and talked about our hiking the next few days, Wild Poodle decided to "put herself down" a phrase she commonly uses to let us know she is napping. We planed to do the miles up to and including the park but leaving the area where the wild ponies were for when Paula arrives. Hiker midnight arrives early and we all bunker down in our tents.See you on the trail...I also want to thank everyone for continuing to follow us and sign the guestbook. I haven't been able to personally answer anyone back because I am updating with my Blackberry. Next time I get a chance to figure how to respond to the guestbook, I will let you know. Thanks again from all of us!
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Beartree Gap

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

We started at the site where Suzanne had dropped us off 2 days ago. A zero day was used to move to Grayson, but we must keep moving to make Katahdin. Our legs all feel pretty good by now so we push more miles. The terrain is rocky and wet from the rain a few days earlier. We hike close to the Virginia Creeper trail again, seeing the beautiful river that also follows the impressive bike trail. It is starting to get hot during the hikes so anytime we get to a waterfall or stream, we use the cup Half Left carries and douse our heads with the cold mountain water. It is so refreshing! The only shelter we pass today is Lost Mountain Shelter where a church youth group of about 20 boys is perched for lunch. We stopped in and signed the register, also reading entries from our fellow hikers. We always look back a few pages to see how our friends are doing. Sometimes we also leave little notes for other hikers we have met in a town to say hi or something nice to keep everyone going. Hiking the trail is like a little roaming community. We go to towns, do our laundry and resupply, always meeting new hikers or just brushing up on news of the trail. Everyone reads our entries and say they have followed us and are finally glad to meet us. We end our day at a cute pond, nice campsites and lots of pine trees. We reached the road 2 hours before our planned time so we sat in the rain and waited for Cahoda and Wild Poodle to pick us up. They were in Damascus, ordering pizza. It was nice to have the hot pizza at camp!
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Fox Creek, VA 603

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 8.5

Doing a flipflop where Cahoda and Wild Poodle hike north and we hike south. This time both groups have trucks, they park ours at their beginning and we park theirs at our begining. This way noone has to wait on the others to drive around and get picked up. The hike today was really just miles. Only one waterfall highlighting the day. Much less excitement especially after the ponies and views yesterday. We pass by the entrance to the trail to Hurricane Campground and pass the group of youth hikers we saw at Lost Mtn Shelter. They are leaving the trail today with blisters and sore feet. It is really nice to see young people out on the trail experiencing nature at it's best. It is hard work they will surely be rewarded with in memories for years to come.
Date: 2010-06-05
From: Settler's Museum

To: VA 42
Miles today: 13.5

Moving camp yesterday to the Virginia House Inn allows us to pick trail miles that suit the day. We decide to do a large day today crossing cow fields, meadows, steep uphills, the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Holston River and getting to see the Settler's Museum, a 1800 schoolhouse and farm.The trail is nice for a change, rolling meadows with flowers and views for miles. The cows stand in the trail along with their deposits. It makes the terrain difficult in some areas such as a downed tree in the trail. The step over is full off cow poop, yuck. It is also wet and muddy everywhere. Oh well it is to be expected. The trail is not especially steep except on climb up Big Walker Mountain. Hiking southbound, we see lots of hikers we know. Wanderer, the Japanese hiker we met at Greasy Creek, Mohawk and Hemi we met at Mountain Harbour, and a few others. I love hiking against the flow and seeing them.When we reach the Holston River we could see some trout swimming around and a crayfish along with butterflies everywhere. Starving, we break out lunch and gobble the food like we hadn't eatten in days. There is a camp near the crossing of VA617 with a note in our book that says camp and spring on side trail. We need water so Half Left goes on the blue blaze to get it. When he stays for an extended length of time, I go to see what is keeping him. The spring looks like a swimming pool, not usual up here. In Florida we see lots of crystal clear springs. When the book says spring, it usually means a little pool of water about 18 inches across. This was 12 feet across and crystal clear. He was dipping his bandana in the spring and dousing his head. He had a huge smile on his face. I called for Iron Maiden to join us. We all followed Half Left and poured multiple bottles of cold water on ourselves.Continuing on, we cross another beautiful meadow and the headwater of the Holston River, then under I81 to the Exxon station whree everyone gets ice cream. We break and decide to eat dinner at the Barn Restaurant across the street. It's home style cooking and very good.
Date: 2010-06-06
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 9.2

Partnership shelter is located on VA16 right behind the Mt. Rogers visitor center. The shelter has hot showers, restrooms, sleeps 24 and you can go to the visitor center and order pizza. One of hikers favorite foods. We didn't stay there but Wild Poodle and Cahoda did. We choose to stay at the inexpensive Virginia House in $43 out the door, can't beat it. The hike was easy crossing a really neat cow pasture where the cows come right up to you. There was also an old broke down school bus up on the hill above the cows, it made a great photograph I don't think anyone would ever believe it isn't photoshopped.Iron Maiden (Paula) is nursing blisters and is hurting on every step. It's hard to see her in so much pain. We also passed by another shelter, Trimpi shelter. It is named for a young man that passed away at an early age. Apparently his family donated it. It is very unique with bunks on each side and a stone fireplace in the center. Widowmaker was clearing out the old privy because his group, the trail maintainers from the area built a new one. His real name is John and his companions are 3 lovely dogs. He got his trail name from clearing trees for the trail and creating "widowmakers" leaning trees that could fall at any second. Definitely don't get stuck under on in a storm and for sure don't place your tent beneath one.It's been raining alot lately and the trail is slick and slimy. Another reason to be careful at each step.
Date: 2010-06-08
From: Walker Gap

To: VA 42
Miles today: 12.5

Wow, Walker Gap is in the middle of nowwhere. Just to get there, we drove 12 miles down a forest road, which came out in the edge of a township called Burkes Garden. It is a valley surrounded by huge mountains all around. It has a school, small country grocery store, lake and lots of friendly town folk. Looks very secluded and lots of farming. We stopped to ask a farmer about the road where we had to park. It went straight up and was rocky and creepy looking. He said we only had about 1/2 mile and our truck would be okay. We meandered up and parked in a muddy lot next to another truck. Our hike began with a huge climb, it reminded me of Sassafras Gap, strenuous and hardly what I like first thing. But enough whining, we climbed, climbed and climbed more. 1000 feet in 1.3 miles. The reward though was on top of Chestnut Knob shelter that overlooks mountains for miles. The shelter looks like it belongs in Italy. It's smooth stucco, has wood beams and very open with bunks for at least 10. In the middle is a nice picnic table where we all gathered and ate our lunch. Big R and Utah were in the shelter preparing for their day. Iron Maiden gave Utah some pistachios and we offered Big R some water that was down in the back of the truck. Water is hard to get in this area. We make sure we check our book for sources and keep our platypus full.Continuing on the trail after lunch, we travelled downhill for 6 miles, through fields with flowers, butterflies and mountains galore. There was a nice pond, which says it's a watersource, but it was a mosquito haven to me. Half Left and I went to look at it and about got eaten alive by flies and many flying creatures.Cahoda and Wild Poodle started the other way today during our slackpack. We expect to see them about half way during our journey.After the end of the pastures, flowers and views, the green tunnel returns. No views, just more vegetation everywhere. Rocks, mud and more rocks and mud.We see the girls about half way and give our greetings. They will stay at the hotel tonight with us so we say see ya later.Finishing the day is the climb over Brushy Mountain, something that is not welcome at the end of the day. We also pass Knot Maul Branch Shelter which is dirty with trail trash and leftover stuff people don't want to carry. I don't knot what's happening lately but the shelters and campsites are littered with trash. It is not what we all like to see, it's leave no trace out here.
Date: 2010-06-09
From: Walker Gap

To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Cahoda's daughter is having surgery in Jacksonville on Friday so she has decided to be with her. To make things easy on us, we dropped Iron Maiden's truck at Laurel Creek where we plan to camp for 2 nights. She then brought us back to Walker's Gap, the dreaded road near Burke's Garden. The group has me do all the mapping and direction making for the slackpacking. Also, they like me to drive so no rest for the weary. I drove us all to Walker Gap, then Cahoda headed for Florida.We got started a little late because of the driving but it was a nice morning and off we go. Iron Maiden's blisters are still bothering her and she is sore.Wild Poodle gets going up the trail first and we don't see her for hours. We stayed with Iron Maiden to make sure she is okay. We found an unreal overlook that shows Burke's Garden from overhead, wow what a view! Iron Maiden checks the view and plops down for a rest, she tells us to go ahead. We continue on the trail but not fast so we can wait on her. We don't see her and Half Left yells our WOOOOO WOOOOO very loud. NO response, we travel back up the trail, there she is, limping a bit. She had slipped at the overlook and saw her life before her eyes. On the trail, there is no turning back. To the trail you must go, so she sucks it up and comes along, a little slower than before. Up and over the terrain, up and over Brushy Mountain we go. Half Left, in order to set up camp leaves Iron Maiden and I to hike the last 4 miles. Wild Poodle was also ahead. Iron Maiden and I get into camp as Half Left is putting the finishing touches on the tent and sleeping bag. It is a nice but secluded site next to a beautiful creek. Local people bring their horses to this camp and deposit mounds of unwanted stuff so parts of the area stink. Half Left builds a nice fire, I start our little portable grill we bought to make hotdogs and chili. It's nice to be all together enjoying a good cookout.
Date: 2010-06-10
From: Laurel Creek

To: VA611
Miles today: 15.9

Since we only have one truck now, Wild Poodle and Iron Maiden team up and Half Left and I are team 2. We drive the truck to the end as team 1 starts at Laurel Creek. We picked up camp and decided to move to Trent's Grocery. The Laurel Camp was nice and free but very secluded. We all decided it was to our best interest to go to a better safer area. We will also be able to leave our tents set up which is an advantage!They set out as we go to park the truck at our beginning. It's a great sunny day the trail topography shows an easy hike but long, 15.9 miles. Our hike is up and down but not severe, we practically jog most of the first 8 miles. As we come up to Kimberling Creek, we cross paths with Wild Poodle and Iron Maiden. They said the hike has been easy and we would have a good time of hiking. Half Left and I get to the creek where a trail angel has placed a 24 pack of Budweisers and 3 large Gatoraides. It was hot and these were refreshing!!! Half Left downs one of the Buds and I guzzle the orange Gatoraide pull out lunch and we sit to rest. We did 8 miles in 2.25 hours a record for us (it's mostly me that's slow) but we are exhausted and glad to have a seat.We finish up and continue on up this long long long road uphil uphill and more uphill, it's hot no shade just sun beating down on the pavement. It was at least 2 miles up and over I77, the interstate the goes from Columbia SC toward Michigan. The trail from the interstate is almost all uphill and still hot! We came across another trail angel that had place 10 gallon jugs of water for us to refill our Platypus. She said it is in memory of Soleman who passed away just before he was to start his thru hike in 2003. Sad story.We arrived tired and hot at Laurel Creek 15 minutes before the girls came to get us. We took off our shoes and waded in the creek while we waited.We all stopped at the grocery store on the way to Trent's Camp and picked up some chicken to grill. We arrived at camp, set up, cooked and talked over the trail. Iron Maiden decided she wasn't hiking tomorrow, after yesterday's fall and the worsening blisters, we all agree.
Date: 2010-06-11
From: VA611

To: VA606
Miles today: 9.6

Iron Maiden drops us off early, we are just hiking back to camp so she gets the day to herself.The hike is short compared to the past few we've done so we are all anxious to finish. We are also excited about crossing the 600 mile mark today. Wow 600 miles!!!!We all start out together then we stop to make adjustments and Wild Poodle continues ahead, she likes to hike ahead of us. We mosey along uneventful, green tunnel type terrain nothing special except the 600 mile mark.As we come around a curve, Half Left spots a huge buck down about 30 yards, he alerts me and we take his picture right before he runs off. Around the corner, Wild Poodle is sitting on a rock eating an apple. We greet her and continue on. Half Left hears thunder so we hurry on our hike. As we get to the mark, Half Left makes the numbers out of twigs, we smile for the picture and hurry on. 5 minutes later the bottom falls out of the sky and rain pours down. We still have 4 more miles to hike so we jog and walk fast. Of course we get soaked but it was hot anyway so we don't care, just need to be careful because of the mud.We cross a really neat suspension bridge over Kimberling creek and finally get to VA 606.As we approached camp, we stopped at Trent's Grocery and got burgers and fries, yes!Wild Poodle arrives wet and cold about 20 minutes later. She said she would never hike behind us because she felt alone and had also fallen. She wants to know someone would come up behind her, we agreed.Iron Maiden was glad to see us and set our stuff under the canopy of a deserted RV at the campsite. We looked like redneck hikers. It was nice and dry!
Date: 2010-06-13
To: Sugar Gap
Miles today: 15.9

We packed up camp this morning heading north to Sugar Gap where we plan to stay at Woodshole Hostel an old 1880's farmhouse set on 100 acres. Trail talk says this is a must stay. Iron Maiden drops us at the trailhead and drives to the hostel. We start heading up the trail, the topography maps show an easy hike until after Wapiti Shelter. The first blue blaze is Dismal Creek Falls where Half Left and I plan to eat our lunch. Shortly before the turn off we spot a Bobcat which ran off as we startled him. We go to the falls which are beautiful and have areas where you can swim and fish. We sit and eat our sandwiches and take photos. The area is accessable by car on the road across the falls. We find out later that this is the original location of Wapiti Shelter. In 1981 a couple was murdered by a local crazy who last year attempted to kill 2 fisherman. He was caught and died a short time later. I knew it happened in the shelter and had already decided we would NOT be staying there. The shelter was relocated about 5 miles up the trail but should be removed and a memorial to the couple built.The creek meanders for many miles up the trail as well as horse trails weaving over the creek and AT. We make it to the relocated shelter and find lots of blue butterflys flying all around. At the time we didn't know it had been relocated so it was disturbing to us. We spoke to a small group of section hikers from Georgia, Goose, Big Brother and Prune. They ask who we were and as soon as we told them, Goose said she is a trail journal junky and have been following us. They also plan to stay at the hostel. We told them thanks and continue on the trail.The hike up Sugar Run Mtn is tough, lots of rocks in the trail and uphill 1400 feet. The descent is even more brutal with large missplaced rocks that are real ankle twisters. We arrive at Woodshole Hostel greeted by the owners Neville and Michael. Iron Maiden and Wild Poodle are also happy to see us. The place is amazing! Another must stay. The house is remodeled with 2 indoor rooms for guests and a bunkhouse. They grow their own produce, have a wood burning hotwater/heat heater, cook dinner and breakfaSt, do yoga and massages. What more could you ask for?A good nights stay!
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Sugar Gap

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

We started the day with sad news that Iron Maiden has decided to go back to Jax. She sis sore and still nursing blisters. Neville and Michael serve a wonderful breakfast to the 18 guests. It was unreal organic food complete with eggs, cheese grits, sausage gravy, bisquits, amish made jellies, apple juice and coffee. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.Half Left and I prerpare to do thje 10.4 miles into Pearisburg while Iron Maiden and Wild Poodle take our gear and food to The Plaza in Pearisburg. The hike is fairly easy except for the rocks and a HUGE downhill. We just take snacks because we plan to be in town and eat a hamburger for a late lunch. The 10.4 miles take us about 4 hours. As we get to the end, a huge storm appears so we race to find cover. It is about a mile of road walking which hurts the feet to get to the local Dairy Queen. Just in the nick of time! The rain comes down as we devour burgers, fries and the infamous hand dipped cones. The hotel happens to be 3 doors down. We finish up and hurry to our room for a shower and clean clothes. The meal turns out to be our dinner. We stay in for the night, privacy at last.