morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-01
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: light rain

Jenkins shelter. 19.1 milesUp at 5:50 left at 6:30.   After a mile downhill the trail turned steep up for a 700 foot climb. A hard climb, but I climb better early in the morning so I did OK. Then it came right back down. At Lick Creek there were a half dozen people camping. Then shortly after, the trail started the long 2100 foot climb up Chestnut Knob. The climb was long and tiring, partly because it was hot and humid and the trail was in a field in the full sun. I was glad to finally see the Chestnut Knob Shelter at 10:30. I stopped for lunch and a rest. As I left about 11am, I could see thunderstorms forming. I walked down to Walker Gap and got water, then climbed Garden Mountain to the rock outcropping. After a rest I continued, but I could hear the storms coming. 20 minutes later it was thundering and lightning around me. I put my rain cover, rain jacket and pants on as it started to rain. It rained for about a half hour then stopped and cleared up. I reached Jenkins Shelter about 3:30. Tonight I am sharing the shelter with Lime Green, Provisions, Frenchie, and King Bee. Diesel, Birdman, Medicine Man, Maxis, GQ, Slingshot, Dakota Dan, TallyHoe and others are camping nearby.
Date: 2012-05-02
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helvey's Mill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Helvey's Mill Shelter. 14.0 milesWoke up at 5:45, started to pack up but I heard thunder in the distance and it was getting closer. So I changed my mind, pulled my sleeping bag back out, and laid back down. I just laid there and listened to the thunder. After while it didn't seem to be getting any closer so I started to pack up again. This time I completed packing up and left at 6:45. Today was a relatively 'flat' day by AT standards. It had 2 small climbs. I was hoping to go 24 miles. However, it quickly got hot and humid again, affecting my pace. After about 10 miles, I knew hiking 24 miles to Jennie's Knob Shelter was beyond what would be wise to do. So I cut it short and stopped at Helvey's Mill Shelter, 14 miles. I believe that in addition to the heat just sapping all my energy away, I was also dehydrated . At the US 52 road crossing I stopped for a break. Only a few minutes after I sat down, a car pulled up and a man and woman came over to me. They asked me about the trail, then asked if I wanted an apple or peanut butter sandwich. Well of course. Hikers take any food they can get. They say the average AT thru hiker burns 4,000-6,000 calories a day. So thru hikers are continually hungry. You cannot carry that much food. My food bag is already twice the size it started at. I eat all the time, as much as I can, yet I am still hungry. Hikers continually talk about food and what they are going to eat when they get to town. Everything I do to minimize the weight of my pack seems to be replaced by carrying more food.
Date: 2012-05-03
From: Helvey's Mill Shelter

To: Trent Grocery Campground
Miles today: 16.3

Trent Grocery Campground - 16.3 miles600 miles todayI got up and out early thinking about doing 24 miles to catch up to Dakota Dan and Lime Green. I felt better than yesterday after drinking a lot of water to get rehydrated. I got off to a good start, but soon tired. I reached VA Rt 606 and walked to Trent Grocery about a 1/2 mile west. I got there about 1:30 and had a cheeseburger for my third lunch of the day. While I sat there eating, I watched thunder storms roll in and then watched it rain. I was feeling depressed about the rain even though I was sitting inside and dry. I sat there for an hour and a half watching the rain. Finally King Bee arrived, followed by MyWay. I was thinking about camping here and continuing tomorrow. They were planning on the same thing; so I stayed. The shower was filthy and the clothes dryer didn't work, so I didn't shower or wash my clothes, but at least I was able to get a hot lunch and a hot supper (I had a double cheeseburger for supper; not very creative). Later in the evening Diesel, Big Sky, and Medicine Man arrived along with a lot of other hikers. I put my tent up after the rain, but before we went for supper. Later, when I went to get in my tent, it was already wet inside and out from the dew and condensation. That is why I don't like using my tent. It's always wet. It doesn't rain through the material, but it is always wet inside even on a dry night from condensation. I may have to consider a different tent. I saw my first backpacking cat today. It rides on top of a girl's backpack. It just lays there and sleeps while she walks all day. I'll bet everybody likes to have her in the shelter! The cat will keep the mice away.
Date: 2012-05-04
From: Trent Grocery Campground

To: Pearisburg VA - Rendevous Motel
Miles today: 24.5

Pearisburg, VA. -24.5 milesLongest day, 1%I was up at 5:30, packed up my wet tent and was underway at 6:20. It's about a half mile walk back to the trail, and MyWay was 100 yards in front of me leaving the campsite. As he reached the road, he put out his thumb for the 1st car to pass by and it stopped. I immediately started running to catch the ride too. Fortunately the guy saw me and waited. So with no effort I got a ride back to the trail and was hiking by 6:30. The first 8 miles to the Wapitti Shelter was smooth and an easy walk. I got there and had my first lunch. Leaving the shelter I had the big climb of the day. It went well and the view at the top was good, so I stopped for a 10 minute break. As I walked along the ridge I started to tire, but after I had a 2nd lunch I felt better and moved good, reaching the Docs Knob Shelter by 2:30; 16 miles. I ate my 3rd lunch. I felt pretty good so I decided to move on and go to Pearisburg tonight, another 8 miles for a 24.5 mile day. By doing so I would catch up to Dakota Dan and Lime Green again. Once on top of the ridge outside Pearisburg, I was able to get a cell phone signal and I tried to call to reserve a hotel room. The Plaza, the Holiday, and the Rendevous Motels, all the motels in town, were booked up. So I texted Dakota Dan and asked if I could crash on the floor of the room he and Lime Green were sharing. They agreed, so I pushed on. I finally reached the Rendevous motel in Pearisburg about 7 pm, after 24.5 miles my longest day yet. Thanks Dakota Dan and Lime Green for letting me stay there.
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Pearisburg VA - Rendevous Motel

To: Pearisburg, VA - Plaza Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Pearisburg VA - 0.0 miles7th zero dayAhh, a day off. We went to breakfast followed by the Walmart. Then picked up our boxes at the post office and I mailed stuff I didn't want back home. I got a new pair of shoes in my box. My original shoes are worn out. They are ripping on the side, the tread is wearing down, and the cushioning is gone. My feet have been hurting due to the lack of cushioning in the shoes, so a new pair is a welcome relief. I bought 4 pairs before I left home, the first pair are trash. The 2nd through 4th pair are a 1/2 size larger because your feet tend to grow a little during a hike. I hope the new shoes will help my feet feel better but it may take a few days for them to heal. We moved from the Rendevous Motel to the Plaza Motel. The Rendevous is closer to the trail, but far from everything else in town. The Plaza is in the middle of town. We went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch, then I went through all my food and gear. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, talking to my wife, mother, and son on the phone and talking to other hikers. For supper we went to the BBQ. I updated my journal on line but as usual I could not upload pictures. I was able to upload the text but pictures timed out every time I tried. The AT&T cell signal is very poor in these mountains. Verizon is much stronger.
Date: 2012-05-06
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. 19.1 milesWe left at 7 am and went to the Hardees for breakfast and actually got started on the trail about 7:20. After crossing the New River the trail starts to climb up to Rice Field. Most of the way the incline was gradual and I kept going until I reached Rice Field Shelter about 10:30, and stopped for my first lunch. From there the trail was mostly flat for the next 10 miles before turning down to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. The only place for a good view was Rice Field, but that was in the clouds; so no views all day.
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Laurel Creek Shelter - 18.5 miles30% complete Up at 5:45, left at 6:30. The first 2 miles to the road were easy walking, but after the road, the trail turned up and got rocky. I stopped at the Bailey Gap Shelter for a break where I met Mad Hat, a retired railroad worker from Minnesota. The rocks continued for the next several miles before the trail got flat and smooth and finally dropped down to War Spur Shelter, where I stopped again. After a 45 minute break I continued on. The trail turned up again climbimg Kelly Knob. It was a long and tiring climb, but at least it was the last climb of the day. I stopped at the view on Kelly Knob, then hiked on to Laurel Creek Shelter. Tonight I am sharing the shelter with Lime Green, Dakota Dan, Bottomless Pit, Mad Hat and Hillbilly. Frodo and Pancake are camped nearby.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Niday shelter - 12.4 rainy milesSlept in till 6:15 since I'm only planning on walking 12 miles today. It was misting and overcast. I fooled around and left at 7. The trail went down and through some pastures. The grass was all wet and quickly soaked my shoes. After crossing the road, we started back up through more pastures. Shortly I reached the Keiffer Oak. It is the largest oak along the southern AT. It measures 18 feet around and is estimated as 300 years old. The climb up Bruisers Knob was long and hard, and the mist turned into rain. I caught up to 3 day hiking section hikers; 2 men and a woman. They do 2 week sections using 2 cars to day hike each day. It must be nice to get back to town each night. I stopped for lunch at the trail intersection for Sarver Hollow Shelter where the day hikers caught up while I sat there. They stopped also, and we talked and ate. After lunch the trail followed the ridge and crossed some very tricky rock outcroppings. I am sure these provide a nice view in good weather, but all I saw was the fog and rain. The rain made the rocks very slick and slippery. I had to cross them very slowly and carefully or else take a bad fall. The rest of the walk to the Niday Shelter was OK but wet. I reached the shelter about 1:30. It was nice to get out of the rain. I took a nap for a while and fooled around all afternoon. Tonight I'm sharing the shelter with Lime Green, Dakota Dan, Mr Wrong, and 2 others. Bottomless Pit, Hillbilly, Einstein, and Nacho were camped in the rain nearby.
Date: 2012-05-10
From: 4 Pines Hostel

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Lambert Meadows Shelter 16.3 beautiful milesOver 700 milesThe dog at the hostel barked all night waking me up several times; but the building was warm, and I slept OK on the couch. Besides, it was dry. I got up about 6 AM packed up and left. After the walk back to the trail, I was hiking by 7. It was cool and windy, but dry. The trail went over a hill, then crossed several pastures with grass wet from the rain or dew. My feet were quickly wet. Sad, since I had put on my dry pair of socks, and now they are wet too. Otherwise the trail rather uneventfully climbed a couple of mountains before coming down to VA Rt 311. This was the start of the interesting section. The 4 mile climb up McAfee Knob was easy and rewarding. When I got there, the wind was blowing hard making it feel cold, but the view was fantastic. I took tons of pictures including the standard shots standing on the rock overhang. I also had Pancake take pictures of me 'falling' off the cliff. (I got down on a lower rock and made it look like I was hanging off the edge, holding on by my fingertips). I stayed at McAfee Knob for an hour and a half. I took pictures, I ate, I took more pictures, I talked to people. Finally I just had to leave; I was getting too cold. The 5 mile walk to Tinker Cliffs was uneventful, but again the view from the cliffs was fantastic. I took more pictures and stayed almost an hour. This stretch of trail is some of the most scenic anywhere and I recommend McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs to everyone. From the cliffs I walked down to Lamberts Meadow Shelter where there are only 3 hikers: Lime Green, Dakota Dan, and myself. The end of a very nice day
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

Daleville, VA - 9.4 easy milesSaw my first bearI slept in and was the last one up at 6:30. During the night Bottomless Pit had come into the shelter, but he was so quiet I never heard him. I only learned he was there when I woke up and saw him. Not only was I the last one to get up, I was also the last one to leave the shelter. That is the first time. I am often the first and once in a while the second, but never last. Ten minutes after leaving the shelter, I saw my first bear for this trip. It was a black bear next to the trail. I saw him when he either saw, heard, or smelled me and took off running. It was his running that made me see him. He ran down the ravine and up the other side. He was so fast no person could match his speed. He tore through the woods at break neck speed and was out if sight within seconds. Seeing him made me feel joy and appreciate the wildlife. On this trip I have seen much less wildlife than on my previous section hikes. I assume because of the number thru hikers. The wildlife know to stay away from the trail this time of year. According to the ATC web page, as of March 22nd, 1700 people have left Springer Mountain heading for Maine. Of course by this point a pretty good percentage, maybe 40-50% have left the trail for one reason or another but that still leaves a lot of people walking down the trail each day. That has to scare the wildlife away. The rest of the morning walk was uneventful; a nice easy stroll on a beautiful day, heading to town to shower, wash clothes, and resupply. I reached Daleville VA by 11:15 and went directly to the Howard Johnson to get the room Dakota Dan and I reserved. I got a shower and we went to lunch at Three Little Pigs restaurant followed by stopping at the Outfitter and the grocery store. After returning I washed my clothes. For supper we went to Rancho Viego. A very nice day.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Daleville VA - 0.0 miles8th zero dayI didn't sleep well last night. Maybe I had too much caffiene to drink. I got up at 7:00. I decided to cut off my beard. I have not shaved since starting the trip and my grey beard is getting long, unkept looking, and hot. I had to cut it with scissors to make it shorter, then I used up 2 disposable razors shaving it off. It was thick and I had to keep cleaning the razors. By the end, both disposables were unable to cut anymore and they were trash. I packed up and separated my food. Yesterday I bought food for all the way to Wayneboro, 10 days away. Some of the resupply points in the next section are 8-10 miles off the trail, so I bought food for the whole thing, but I'm going to mail some to myself at Wildwood Campground 4 days up the trail, and Dutch Haus, 8 days up. After separating it I took the 2 bags to be mailed to the nearby UPS store and mailed them. Afterwards I went back to the Outfitter and bought a pair of lightweight convertible pants (the legs zip off to make shorts). The material is quick drying and I figure I can use them in camp, in town, or hiking. I sent my Under Armour pants home. As we left the store to go to the barber shop on the other side of town, a woman offered us a ride. Great, the roads here don't have a shoulder and are not made for walking. We got to the barber and I got my hair cut short. Then we went to a pizza restaurant for a late lunch. After getting back to the room I called my wife and mother and updated this journal on line. I have 4G service here, plus the hotel wifi, so I was able to upload pictures. I have not been able to upload pictures since using the library in Damascus, so I uploaded pictures all the way back to that date.
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Wilson Creek Shelter - 11.2 miles1/3 done 733.7 milesI slept in again and got up at 7:00. I didn't feel like rushing out of town. I ate breakfast at the hotel continental breakfast, packed up, and finally left at 9:00. I walked slowly; I didn't feel like rushing. After 2 miles of traversing a narrow wooded area, I crossed I-81 and then US 11, after which the trail turned up and into the woods. About another mile up I came to Trail Magic sitting on a fence stile. There were 2 beers and a coke sitting there. This stile had a flat top (most don't) so I sat on the stile and drank the coke. When I reached Fullhardt shelter there were maintainers there remodeling the privy. They really are building a new privy here. Since government regulations say everything new must be handicap accessible, even at a shelter in the woods that no handicapped person could ever walk to, they always remodel; they do not build new. They used a few usable pieces from the old privy, and declared the rest of it in need of replacement. I had a snack and thanked the maintainers for their work. I hiked on and reached Wilson Creek shelter about 2:30. It's early to stop, but they are predicting rain starting late this afternoon and I would like to stay dry at least for today. Tomorrow and Tuesday they are predicting rain and I expect to just have to walk in it. So I stopped early and settled in for the evening. It is now 7:30 and it hasn't started to rain yet so I could have continued, but you make your best judgment based upon the information you have and go with it. I'm happy. I'm sharing the shelter with Hillbilly and Sugar Plum.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Boblett's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Boblett's Gap Shelter - 7.3 miles in rainIt rained all night. I was up at 5:45, packed up and left at 6:30. It wasn't raining, but the trees were still dripping and everything was wet. I didn't get more than 15 minutes down the trail before the rain started again. I had left with my pack cover and rain jacket already on because it was cool and I expected rain. It rained steadily and when I was on the ridge, or on the eastern side of the mountain, the wind was blowing. I was OK for the early miles but eventually I started to cool down. My feet were soaked, as were my clothes, making me feel cold. When I reached the side trail to Boblett's Gap Shelter, I decided to go over (1/4 mile off trail) so I could temporarily get out of the rain. When I reached the shelter, there was Dakota Dan still in his sleeping bag! He had spent last night here and had decided to stay so he didn't have to walk in the rain. I was soaked and cold; that was enough to convince me. It was 9:30am but I was done for the day!I put on dry clothes and wrung out my wet ones to get as much water as possible out of them. Then I hung them up inside the shelter but nothing is going to dry. The air is super saturated. It rained all day. The saturated air makes even my 'dry' clothes damp. The shelter is now full, everybody wants in out of the rain. If all days were like today, I would be done.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Apple Orchard Falls Trail 

To: James River - Wildwood Campground
Miles today: 17.3

James River/ US Rt 501 - Wildwood Campground - 17.3 miles - slack packI slept OK but didn' get enough, getting up at 5:30 after not going to bed until midnight. SOS, his daughter, Meghan and I started hiking from Apple Orchard Falls Trail, where we left off yesterday. From there the trail climbed Apple Orchard Mountain. On top is an FAA radar station. They have an open grassy field in front of the station providing nice views. In addition, there are some rock outcroppings nearby which provide a view in the opposite direction. We stopped to enjoy, and I had a snack. Shortly after summiting Apple Orchard Mountain, we came to the 'guillotine', two large side by side rocks with a third rock wedged high up between them. It looks like a guillotine. The trail crosses directly between the rocks and under the guillotine. Shortly afterwards we reached the car we had positioned earlier so that Meghan could cut the hike short about 4 miles. She drove back to the campground from there. SOS and I continued north. The trail was uneventful for several miles until we reached this very scenic view of a mountain valley surrounded by mountains. The trail travels around this valley from high up on the mountain for a good mile. We finally started to see the James River far below, and the trail started a long descent down to it. We reached the James River Bridge with US Rt 501 on the other side and the end if our hiking day. SOS's wife and daughter were waiting there in the car to pick us up. We drove back to the campground where I picked up the resupply box I had sent from Daleville. I took a shower and started my laundry. Then we all went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant in Lynchburg. We arrived back at the campground about 9 pm. I finished my laundry, repacked my pack with my new supplies, and went to bed at 10pm.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: James River - Wildwood Campground

To: Punch Bowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Punch Bowl Shelter - 10.5 milesSlept in until someone else got up, about 7 am. It felt good; I needed the sleep. I packed up then waited until SOS was ready. We started walking at 8:30. After about a mile, the trail started the long climb up Rocky Row. When we reached the top, SOS and I stopped for a break and to enjoy the view of the James River running off into the distance. The climb along the row of peaks that make up Rocky Row was interesting. Then it dropped into a gap and climbed Bluff Mountain. On top of Bluff Mountain is a memorial to Ottie Cline Powell. He died there at the age of 4 years and 11 months in 1891. He went to collect firewood for his one room school house and apparently became lost. They searched for him, but could not find him. His body was found the following April by hunters. He was 7 miles from his school on top of Bluff Mountain. No one knows why he went there. After a break on Bluff mountain, I hiked over to Punch Bowl Shelter where I stopped for the day, but SOS continued on. I probably will not see him again except when he plans to take 5 days off at Harpers Ferry. Maybe I will catch him there. Tonight only Einstein and I are in the shelter, a new low for me. There is probably 6-8 people camped nearby.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hog Camp Gap. 17.6 miles800 milesA beautiful day. Sunny and nice. Up at 5:35 out at 6:15 for an uneventful walk to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. The last mile of the walk is along Brown Mountain Creek which was the home to a community of share croppers in the 1800s. There are supposed to be ruins there, but I didn't see anything except a stone fence. I'll bet if you search around you can find them. After the shelter the trail turns up and climbs almost 3000 feet to Bald Knob. It was a long slow climb but I got there. I took a short break then hiked on to Hog Camp Gap. I crossed 800 miles today.