morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Phrase of the Day: "The Ritual".Said goodbye to Dr. Evil, Two Pack, Mary, Ginny and her granddaughter Maddy and was ready to go by 9. Dr. Evil offered me vicadin not valium. Sorry Dr. Evil. He gave me a ride up to where I had finished walking during my time in time. I was actually hiking by 9:10. Later than I normally like to start, but still within reason. Today was a long climb out of Damascus. Not difficult, just long and gradual. One very large switchback. It was pretty much 9.X miles out and up to the first shelter. I stopped there for lunch and met 3 guys. We started talking and I found out that they had just come out of Damascus, but thought they were headed south. I had to break it to them that they had hiked 9 plus miles north. They were actually trying to hike into Tenn for about 10 days. I felt bad that they will have done an 18 mile day and not really gotten anywhere. The next 6 miles or so were ok. Pretty flat and a small climb at the end. My thigh hurt most of the day. If I lifted my leg up more than 6 inches it was really painful. My right foot and right hip were also hurting today. Don't know if it was because I might have been favoring my right leg. I contemplated how back packing is very ritualistic. Same thing day in and day out. Get up, hike, stop every so often. Eat lunch, eat snacks. Find where you are stopping for the night. Get water, take boots off, get changed into warm clothes, cook diner, brush teeth, write in journal, check maps for tomorrow, get in bed, toss and turn all night (this always happens). Get up, pack up most of the stuff, eat breakfast, finish packing and start hiking. Then do it again the next day, and the next day, etc.   Pretty boring actually.Birds - 1st cardinal of the trip, woodpecker, junco.Lots of new flowers that I don't know what they are. The dog woods are blooming and more colors of rhody.I was thinking about the SQ and the girls. I really miss them and everyone else from home.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Lost Mtn Shelter

To: Wise Sheleter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Phrase of the Day: "Heaven on Earth:The shelter was packed last night, actually squeezed 9 into the 8 person shelter. Very tight. And there had to be at least 20 people tenting all over the place. The most that I have had at a sight yet.Today was spectucular. I can't even begin to describe how spectactular it actually was. Started with a long slow climb up to Buzzards Rock. The day started out great because it actually was sunny. Yesterday it rained, so the fact that it was not raining was great.The view from Buzzards Rock was wonderful and the day got even better. All the way from that point to our shelter was like you imagine hiking should be.I felt like I was on the Ponderosa - 360 views. It felt like Hoss and Little Joe were going to come riding in any minute. The scenerie was like something out of a western. I was going to stop at the Thomas Knob shelter because I heard that the wild ponies come there. I think because the weather was so nice they were out in the ponderosa somewhere. So, I decided to keep moving.The last 5 miles were tough, but worth it. It was climbing over rocks that you see out in the desert. And, I could see ponies in the distance. As I crossed the last open section - I saw ponies. Wooo Hooo. Three of them.I got pictures and I actually got to pet one of them. It made my day. I can't even describe what a special day it was.   I ran into Windbreaker and Sara heading south back to Damascus for traildays. I also ran into Two Pack slacking. He had shaved his head and beard totally off. Plus, he was hiking in in real trail runners versus high tops. Seems like Bama got him a job with the outfitter for the week. They must have gotten him the runners. Very cool.Birds - all the regulars plus a rose breasted gross beak, a hawk, and my first chestnut sided warbler.
Date: 2009-05-13
From: Wise Sheleter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 16.1

I still can't get over yesterday. I forgot to mention that we walked through lots of evergreen forests which smelled wonderful. The scenerie was evergreen mixed in with hardwoods. I have been hiking with Rugged Shark and Just Mike. We are all about the same age. Me 46, Rugged Shark 48, and Just Mike 50. I asked them if I could hitch into troutdale with them so that I wouldn't have to hitch alone. They said sure. I left the shelter by 7. Today started out very cold. I had to wear my long sleeve shirt and winter hat. It was also very windy. As I was leaving the Grayson Highlands, I ran into another herd of ponies. I got more pictures, but they didn't come close enough for me to pet. I also saw my first deer today.Lots of climbing today. And, not a lot of views. Made it to Dickey Gap by about 2:50. Waited for the guys to show up and as I did 4 other hikers including Ace showed up. With 7 us of standing on the road hitching didn't seem possible. Plus, we didn't have cell service so we couldn't call the grocery for a ride. Rugged Shark, Just Mike and I started to walk.   Within 10 minutes a car goes by with the other 4 guys. Bummer.We ended up walking the entire way - another 2.6 miles. Made for a very long day. But, we got justice because they all went to eat first and we headed for the hostel and got the last bunks.   What we saw of Troutdale consisted of the restaurant/grocery and the baptist church & hostel. So, the guys and I and Whittler (met a few days ago - been section hiking since 1995) took showers and then headed to diner. My thigh is feeling better. But both knees are sore. Today, my feet were sore also. Everyday it is a new pain. I got a blister on my middle toe of the left foot (there that left foot goes again). The blister covers all around the nail and the nail is actually just hanging on by a thread. Pretty gross. I am assuming that it will fall off very soon and will hurt even more than it does now. Ouch.Birds - indigo bunting, 1st goldfinch, and woodpeckers and jays.
Date: 2009-05-14
From: Dickey Gap

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Forgot to mention I snagged some trail magic yesterday. I got 3 hershey bars from a couple from Vermont headed to Damascus. And, later in the day I scored a soda from a guy at a parking lot near the trail. I carried it with me up the trail and had it with my lunch. SpecialMy appetite is finally starting to kick in. I had a monster burger, salad, and ice cream for dinner. We were up and at the restaurant by 7 and had a good breakfast. I don't usually like to eat so much before I hike, but it was hard to pass up. Eggs, bacon, toast, coffee and a bisquit. The wait staff did something with the orders and messed them up, so they gave me a free packaged danish to take with me. Another good day.The hike today was relatively easy, but I had no energy. I think it was because I didn't sleep well. Whittler snores really bad. Plus, I can't lay on my left side yet because my leg is still killing me. I was supposed to resupply in Troutdale, but the selection was not very good. So, I am heading to Atkins tomorrow with the guys.Having a hard time finding internet and my phone is not working at all. No service anywhere.The partnership shelter is pretty cool. It is next to the Mt. Rogers headquarters so there is a shower and you can actually order pizza. I didn't because I could eat the whole thing by my self. Met a father and daughter - Bonjour and Earthbound who are section hiking. Earthbound thru'd in 2008 and is headed down to Damascus for Trail Days. Bonjour will continue north with us.I am really close to hitting the 1000 miles mark. I got about 24.5 more miles and I will be over 1000. Pretty cool.The toe is looking really gross.Nice clean shower tomorrow and new food.   Life is good.
Date: 2009-05-15
From: Partnership shelter

To: US 11/VA 683
Miles today: 11.6

The guys and I decided to get up really early to start hiking. Just Mike started moving about 5:30. Bonjour, Earthbound got up and then Shark and I.I decided not to cook because it was still dark and it is a pain to get the stove out and lite up. So, I ate the trail magic danish.I was hiking by 6:30. The first 6 miles were pretty tough. A couple of climbs at almost 4000 ft. They were tough because they were straight up - no switchbacks. I was pouring buckets of sweat by 8am. Tough morning.We made it to the shelter 7.1 miles out by 10:30 and ate an early lunch.The last 5 miles to town were pretty easy. We got into town around 11:30.The motel is right across the highway from the trail. The guys are here, plus Ace, Bonjour and Bluegrass.The motel is pretty skanky. Not quite as nasty as the place in Hotsprings that I begged out of, but pretty nasty. There is enough mold in the shower to conduct experiments on. I ate a great lunch and a good dinner. I am definitely eating more which is good.Whittler came into town also and drove us to the market. He is heading back down to Damascus for traildays and then driving back home to Maryland tomorrow. Very nice guy.I believe that I have enough food to get me to Pearisburg. We hope to be on the trail again by 7am.
Date: 2009-05-16
From: US 11/VA 683

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

Phrase of the Day: "Jumping cow pies and stiles".My evening was pretty relaxing. I talked to the SQ for a long while. It is nice to talk, but then it makes me a bit homesick. I got all of my supplies in Marion. I actually bought a can of cheese spread. I know, I know - who eats that stuff. I got real cheese in Damascus, but it didn't hold up well to the heat and it was heavy. This is not as heavy, and should hold up to a nuclear holocaust so the heat should be no problem. I forgot to mention that I am up to $1.58 cents. I changed the change into a bill to lessen the load. I will mail it back home to the SQ as soon as I can.The trail the last few days has been really rocky. I find it very interesting how deep in the woods on top of mountains you will find all these rock piles. Just huge piles of all sizes of rocks. They really seem out of place. They do make for very hard walking.Today was totally different. We climbed a few mountains, but by 12:30 we were out of the woods and into pastures. The trails were lined with beautiful pink rhodies. Really cool to walk through them.I finally have begun to see lots of butterflies. All sorts. I don't know them very well, so I don't really know what kind. I will have to wait for Birdsong to get on the trail to teach me about them.The afternoon was very nice. We went over many climbs through pastures - were it was basically cow pie city. They were everywhere on the trail. Based on what I saw, it makes me think that cows never have any issues with constipation. Passed many cows and even a couple of young bulls. At first I was a little wary, but they were more afraid of me than I of them. They couldn't get away fast enough. I climbed about a dozen stiles today. Not really my cup of tea. The issue is that they are built for taller people - most likely men. Either the first rung is way high off the ground, or the ladder rungs are spaced too far apart. And once you get to the top you have to go down the other side. I often feel like I am going to fall off backwards.The weather has been really nice since Monday. We did have a sun shower today, but it didn't last very long.I met a father and son team yesterday at the motel. Steve and Ethan Lennox from Indiana. Steve is the father and he is an ordained minister/college professor at a Wesleyan Methodist College.   Very nice guy and very interesting. Ethan is a college student who is thru hiking.   His father joined him for a section and hopes to do the 100 mile wilderness with him.We are all at the shelter, plus Bonjour (who will meet back up with his daughter tomorrow), Ace, Bluegrass, Shark, Just Mike, Ethan and Steve, plus some other guys who I haven't really met yet.Saw a small doe today before I left the woods in the morning.Birds - chicadees, woodpeckers, thrasher, and lots of warblers.
Date: 2009-05-17
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Phrase of the Day: "1000 mile milestone"It started raining pretty early in the evening and poured all night long. Got up pretty early and was hiking by 7:30. We had a big day of hiking ahead and wanted to get moving.The map showed some big climbs and some supposed ridge walking.I started hiking with my raingear on, but within the hour I had removed the coat. It keeps you dry, but it is so hot that it is worse than getting rained on.It was a very tough day. The climbing never ended. The first 9 miles went pretty good. I was done and at a shelter by 11:30. Ate lunch at a very cool shelter that looked like a bomb shelter. Totally made of cement instead of the normal wood. Plus, it was totally enclosed. More like a house than a 3 sided shelter. As I left the shelter, the wind picked up. A cold front had moved in.I had to put my rain gear back on just to stay warm. The climbing was killing me. It was like being on a rollercoaster. Up and down, Up and down. Everytime I would think we were going to head down for good - nope up we went again.With the rain and the cold my left foot started to hurt.   It was one of the toughest days this trip. But, I made it over the 1000 mile mark.Birds - juncos, towhees, vultures, thrush, jays.
Date: 2009-05-18
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mills Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Phrase of the Day: "Saved"It got really cold last night and we were all in our sleeping bags by 7:45. Very cold and very windy. I slept in my long pants, long shirt, winter hat and socks. I was asleep in no time, but had a very fitfull night. I woke first at 9:30 and then pretty much every two hours after that.I was cold off and on all night. Both knees ached all night. Very brutal day followed by a bad night. It was very hard to get up and out of the bag because it was so cold. Had to be in the low 40's.I started hiking with my pant legs on, my fleece, winter hat and gloves.I was feeling pretty down. Cold, tired, hurting toe and not looking forward to hiking 14 miles especially if it was going to be like yesterday.Well it wasn't. The terrain was much better. No rock fields and not a lot of mud. Pretty much climbed up and down switchbacks in scrubby pine forests.We started hiking by 7 an at 9 we had reach a road and were walking down it when somebody pulled up and asked if we wanted to come to their breakfast. The Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry (ATOM). They promised to bring us back to the same spot. We said sure (shark, Just Mike and I).We crammed into the vehicle and they drove us to a country church. The church ladies weren't quite ready for us so we had to sit out in the yard for about 10 minutes. The food was already prepared - they cook it off site and bring it to the church basement. It was pretty good - egg dishes, pancakes, bisquits, egg & ham bisquits and juice.The pastor came in and asked where we were from. I said Mass, Pittsfield - Stockbridge figuring maybe he heard of one of them. Well, he pulls out his guitar and starts to sing "Sweet Baby James". How cool was that. And, then he begins to sing a tune from the movie "Oh Brother". Which is one of my favorite movies and soundtracks.   The ladies were really sweet. And, they never really did any preaching. Bibles were there for us to take, but nothing more. They do breakfast every Monday in April, May, and June. They even let us have a card to fill out and they would mail it to whomever we wanted. They paid the postage and provided the greeting card. And, they even gave us snacks to take with us.It really was what I needed. It saved my day. Within an hour they had us back where they picked us up.While hiking we found 2 more trail magic spots before we got to the shelter. Nice cold drinks. I drank one at one spot and carried the other back to the shelter to have later. Great Day and it really helped my spirits.The three of us are here with Ethan and Steve. Steve is leaving tomorrow and Ethan will continue. Ethan is now Easy Strider. Because he makes it looks so easy.Just Mike is now Pyrite. Shiny stone, but worthless.The guys are great and have really made the trip that much better.As of today - 229.6 trip miles and 1019.6 total miles.Birds - not a lot today, but there is a phoebe hanging around the shelter.
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Helveys Mills Shelter

To: Dismall Creek Falls
Miles today: 18.2

Phrase of the Day: "Sea Shells by the Mountain Top"We had the shelter all to ourselves - pyrite, shark and I. Easy Strider and Steve were tenting nearby.I had another painful nights sleep. I realized that my knees do ache, but my left thigh bone actually hurts more. And, I believe it is related to a non cancerous tumor that I have. Which from what I read - causes a lot of pain. I will attest that it does. One good thing is that my thigh itself is actually healing (from when I biffed in Damascus). I can actually lay on my left side now. While I was hiking the other day (19.1) I saw lots of beach sand on top of the ridge that was like a roller coaster. Plus, there was rock that almost looked like coral. Well, today while were were taking a break - Shark picked up a rock and it had a couple of very small scallop fossils in it. Everytime we stopped to take a break - we would check the rocks out and sure enough we found more fossils. Really cool to think that at some point, this whole area was under water. The weather last night was cool again - I slept in 2 long sleeve shirts and was cold at times.Today, it was very sunny but cool. I ended up hiking with my hiking pants on (versus shorts) plus my winter hat. The terrain today was fairly easy - it is all relative. Lots of switchbacks.Nice day, but long. We hiked from 7 to 4:30.At times I was flashing back to childhood camping trips. We were in scrubby pine forests and the sun was baking the needles. It gives off a distinct smell that is very comfortable and reminded me of many camping trips.We are camping tonight near a waterfall. You can hear the river and the falls from where we are set up.I pulled the bandaid off my toe and it finally pulled the nail right off. Yooow. But, I think it really feels better already. I soaked both my feet in the river and they feel prett darn good.Hopefully, it will continue to feel good tomorrow. This is the first night I have tented since the day I started. We'll see if I sleep any better tonight.We stopped for lunch at a shelter prior to this site and there was a nest of pheobes. The mother was hovering around and the babies were screaming....Birds - junco, nuthatches, jays, woodpeckers, grouse, owls, turkey, and ovenbirds.
Date: 2009-05-20
From: Dismall Creek Falls

To: Doc Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Phrase of the Day: "Big Green Tunnel"We cooked dinner down by the falls. It was really peaceful and relaxing, plus the rocks were high enough it was almost like sitting on chairs. About 7:15 a young woman came up (Wampus Cat) and asked if she could tent with us. She doesn't really like to tent alone and she thought she could see bear scat on the trail. I can relate to the tenting alone - I have done it a lot, but it is not my favorite. All four of us have Hubba Tents. It was a Hubba Tent City. Had a little better night, but prett much the same. Plus, it was pretty damp because we were so close to the water.Up and out hiking by 7. The first 3 miles were pretty good terrain. Evergreen forest - almost like a old carriage road. Then we started climbing.Went from about 2640 ft to over 3800 ft. It wasn't switchbacked at all, but was a pretty gradual climb. It was scrubby pine with lots of small rocks, but mostly flat not pointed.We stopped for lunch at an outcropping. It was pretty spectacular. Sat there for almost an hour. I rarely do that.The trees are just popping here and with the sun the lighting makes it seem like you are in a light green tunnel. Shadows of butterflies on the ground mixed in with the shadows of the leaves. Once we started down the mountain, the terrain changed. Very rocky, hardwood trees, and ferns everywhere. We stopped at another outcropping and sat for almost a half hour. Fourteen miles that was fairly easy going through a green tunnel.So far we are the only ones at the shelter except for a couple of juncos walking around.I am up to $2.15 cents - woooo hooo.Birds - hawk, vulture, junco, thrush, phoebe, vireo, jay, ovenbird.
Date: 2009-05-21
From: Doc Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: few clouds

Phrase of the Day: "The Scream"Quiet night at the shelter. Some section hikers came in for water and to chat, but kept moving.Another hiker came into eat and was going to keep pushing on to town, but once he sat around he decided to stay. His name is Papa Squat. He got his name because when he first started the trail - he didn't realize what would happen and he started eating 4 packets of Fiber One oatmeal each day.   He learned after a few days and a few squats to not eat that kind. One additional hiker showed up (Grizzly). He is doing a flip flop. He lives in Harpers Ferry, so he started there going south. He will then go up to Katadin and hike back home. We were up at 5 am and started hiking by 6. The sun wasn't even up yet, but it was light enough to hike. It was a pretty easy hike over rocky terrain.The sun finally came up while we were hiking. At one point, we came out of the woods into an opening on Pearis Mountain and the sun was so bright it was if we were hiking into the light. It really was beautiful.As we were coming down the mountain into town I started thinking about the scream. As with most trail towns, they are lower in elevation than the trail. So, you always go down into them. Your knees are screaming because of the downhill. And, this had no switchback - it was straight down. Your back is screaming Halleluah because the pack is pretty empty and it is rejoicing that fact. Your stomach is screaming - I am starving. Lets get to town and eat.But, your head is screaming - not again. Because it knows - easy going in, but hell coming out. The pack is full. And you came down into the town and you know you will need to come up out of the town. Ugh.We made it to town around 9:30 and decided to hitch because we need to get more than a mile away down a highway (where the motels, and stuff are).So, we put out our thumbs and wouldn't you believe we got picked up by a traveling religous school bus. It goes to the schools and picks up the classes of kids (4 and 6 grade). They get on the bus and drive away from the school and are taught about Jesus. The bus was set up like a classroom. The regular bus seats were gone replaced by benches down the sides and small tables in front of them.   Pictures and scripture adorned the bus. A woman teacher and the driver were the only ones on the bus. They pulled up to the post office and stopped the bus and said a prayer for us.Those southerners - got to love them.We are in town and will zero tomorrow.