morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Daleville Va
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

16. something today. 7/2I was on the road at 6:15 this morning from the four pines hostel. This hostel was some guys three car garage with mattreses on the floor and a shower. He even let me borrow his car to go to the store. On the way back from the store we saw Nomad on the way to the hostel and picked him up. It was nice to relax after a tough day and I ate a ton. I think my belly needed that.So I walked through the clouds this morning and some fields and I think I love starting my days in this weather. It's nice and cool and so quiet. I saw a bunch of deer this morning and it was amazing to watch. The fields had really tall grass and when they ran they jumped to move faster. Except for the doe at the privy, these were my favorite. They were so graceful.I did a face plant today. I tripped on a root and there was nothing I could do to save myself. So, I fell and not a scratch on me. I was glad it was a face plant actually because at least it wasn't on my hip. I was very happy about that.On to McAfee knob. A long climb but I really amazed myself. I passed a bunch of highschool kids from Roanoke and just kept my head down and moved. It was amazing.....2 months ago I was lucky if I could hike ten feet without stopping. Now, I can go faster and sometimes not stop at all. And if I do stop I don't sit now. I got to McAfees knob before 11:00 a.m. and took some pictures and took a power nap and off I went. I drank a bunch today and tried to eat alot and I felt great. It's so hard to eat during the day. So, I just chew and chew and chew and swollow hard. bleck. Food at night tastes great but during the day it's tough to swallow.I passed Tinkers Cliffs today too. There were so many dangerous scarey places today but it was so much fun. I would get as close to the edge as I could and just peek over. A long long way down. On the cliffs the white blazes were right on the edge. It was incredible. I arrived at the shelter at 2:30 and felt great.....hot and some sore feet but really felt great. That means I am averaging over two miles an hour and that includes breaks and naps. So, I must be getting stronger. And whoever says you get your trail legs by Virginia was absolutely right.Ummmmm....the mosquitos are out and I am pretty sure I have poison ivy. So, I am an itching machine! It is driving me batty. Not when I hike though.....just when I stop. Go figure huh?happy hikingsparepocket
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Daleville Va
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: haze

10. something milesIn to Daleville.I had an interesting day. Only ten miles to go and I was just dragging my butt. I can't tell you how many times I stopped. Yesterday I flew and today I barely crawled. Up, down, up, down.....it never stopped and it was so hot. I got fed up today and did something radical. I was on top of some mountain and I saw a white blaze straight up this cliff....and I had just had it. I looked to my left and the mountain appeared to go straight down....and I took it. No blazes, no trail, no nothing. I had no idea where it went......but I could hear traffic wayyyyy far away. I would not recomend this to anyone. Down, down down......not knowing where I would end up.....I was excited and scared but had made up my mind. And besides it was too steep to walk back up. I found the best berries in the world.....I ate and ate....and fell once. After about a mile and a half....I started seeing no trespasing signs.....at least I knew I was getting near people. I ended up in someones ba!ck yard and then into a neighborhood. I stopped at a house and got some directions to town.....and I walked....and walked. Maybe two more miles. I found a gas station and had a big rootbeer and called H at work. We were supposed to walk 3 and a half more miles after Daleville but I knew I couldn't do it. So, I had decided right there and then to get a room. I had no idea where K-bear and One thing were but I knew I had to stay. I walked a while and sat under a tree at a cemetary for a while to cool off. I was right around the corner from the outfitter....I stopped in and they didn't know if they saw my buddies or not so I headed to Krogers. Stacey and Gary were sitting in front. Gary had just found out that his Mom had passed away on the previous Saturday and was just buried the day before. He was ready for it but it was still a shock. We got a bit to eat and all had decided to spend the night. I picked up my mail in Troutville. Thank you to everyone who sent stuff. And Dr. Rooney.....you have an honorary trail name. Since your initials are D.R......you are Dr. Dr.. Of course now I can't get that old song out of my head. We have enough carbs for the next month!Stacey and I went swimming in the pool and it was so nice to be in clean water.And I took an Aveeno bath and it really seemed to help my bug bites and itching.One weird day over.Sparepocket
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Daleville Va

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

11.2 miles. Daleville to Wilson Creek shelter.Uneventful day. Ate alot at the continental breakfast and left around 9:30. Sprinkled just a bit. It would have felt better if it had rained hard because of the heat. It is around 6:30 now and has been rumbling for about an hour. I hope we get a good storm.A few amusing miscalculations today. We thought we had 13 miles into the campground tomorrow and it turns out it is closer to 18. No biggy....we are going to be starting to zig zag with the Blue Ridge Parkway. If it gets late I can just hitch in to the campground to meet H and Larry.Also, we only had one night out so I decided to leave my hammock with the mail at the hotel. My load would be almost two pounds lighter, right? Well, K-bear and One thing had to listen to me so now when we get to the campground tomorrow night.....no hammocks.....LoL. Why people listen to me I will never know. Saw one cow and one deer and lots of crawfish. uneventful day....all in all.Sparepocket.
Date: 2004-07-04
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Buchanan Va
Miles today: 18.6

18.6 miles plus a mile and a half on a road.....so way too many.Long and hot day. We got out of camp at 6:30 a.m. We were moving along in the mist. It makes it nice and cool. After a while I was hiking alone and no views and no animals. It was bumming me. Plus, I had lost my radio a few days back so no music. We had started crisscrossing the Blue Ridge Parkway. At one of the road crossings I decided to get rid of my trash. It's always a treat to come across a trashcan and empty your pockets. Well, K-bear likes to say that our standards keep lowering. Instead of the five second rule with food, it is now the five minute rule. My standards almost took a nose dive today. Hikers will understand this....non-hikers....hmmmm....not sure how you will take this. So, I emptied my garbage and sitting in the trashcan IN a box was three glazed donuts. I guess I was hungry cause they looked soooooo good. I almost took them.....instead I hiked off quickly to end my dillema. A few more seconds and I swear I would have been eating them.I crossed onto the parkway for a few miles too. It was the original A.T. anyhow and I got some fantastic views and saw a few snakes.
Date: 2004-07-12
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: light rain

7/12/04 -- 15.0 miles today. I had a rough night last night. I had the scoots really really bad. The bummer was that I couldn't use the privy. Remember the scene in Amyitiville horror where there are millions of flies in the attic? Well, the privy looked like that. I got about five feet from it and started hearing this hum and I have never seen so many flies in my life. So, I made many many deposits in the woods.It was a full shelter last night. Turtle Don....Half way....Forrest and 1-thing and tenting last night was Ginger and Mercury. The shelter seemed so noisy last night. Lots of crinkling and readjusting and talking. I finally grabbed my sleeping bag and mat and left the shelter. I slept under the stars until I started seeing lightning and hearing some rumbling. Around midnight everything looks so different. I had a tad trouble finding the shelter. After I settled back down we had a great storm. I don't mind THAT noise.At 4:45 a.m. the troops started moving. 4:45 is still night if you ask me. And I don't care how quiet people try to be it's still noisy. And no matter how careful they try to be with their lights they invariably shine in your eyes. I like hiking in the morning BUT.....I think I may start putting the tent up. It's just a pain if rain is in the forecast. Who wants to carry a wet tent?Well, I was out of camp at 6:30. It felt hot already. I did a quick 13 miles before noon. I met a nice couple overnight hiking and they gave me two apples. Those apples were amazing! I have never had a better apple.Forrest and 1-thing and I hiked through a little storm and walked across a foot bridge on the James river that was pretty cool. When we walked up to the parking lot on 501 a man was there with the trunk to his car open and asked us if we wanted sodas. He pulled out 20 oz pepsi bottles......mmmmm.....did that taste good. He then told us to put our packs in his trunk. He drove us into Glasgow and gave us his number if we needed anything. Is that a trail angel or what?? We found a dr. in town.....he was on vacation until tomorrow morning so I have an appointment at 9:00 a.m. I hope I can finally get rid of this thing! About Glasgow.....nice little town with a thing for dinosaurs....big ones...and everywhere. Pictures coming shortly.sparepocket
Date: 2004-07-15
From: Brown Mountain Shelter

To: Buena Vista VA
Miles today: 2.0

July 15th. My three month anniversary on the trail. I had a good nights sleep last night and slept in till 6:30 a.m. It cooled down last night. I had breakfast with Mercury and Ginger and left camp around 7:15. It was a beautiful morning. I don't know when it occurred to me but somewhere during the two miles to rt. 60 I decided to take a little detour. So, instead of crossing the road I took a left. I love the freedom of taking a left just cause I wanted to. Why do I have to wait until Harpers ferry to move north? No good reason that I can think of. Out goes my thumb. No rides for a while but I did get some great tasting berries and some deer. People sure like to wave down south. An old guy in a pickup truck finally picked me up after a few miles. It's always the old guys who seem to pick me up. And boy are they nice. He told me about both motels in town and which ones were closer to stores and dropped me off right at the door. I got a room for the night. I had a bathtub!and two beds for the price of one and a telephone....wooooohoo!And I began planning. I haven't been this excited about my hike in about a month. No stress, no worries, no "what if's", just a renewed sense of adventure. And the excitement of the unknown. I talked to Shoe today. It was nice hearing how he was doing and his trail magic and slackpacking adventures. And he had a great suggestion. Instead of going to Maine I will go to Delaware Water Gap and resume my hike. Then when I am finished with Katahdin I will drop back down here and go north to Delaware water gap and be done. I LOVE this plan. I will get to meet lots of new people and see people that have long since passed me, I will still get the sense of walking towards Maine and I will finish in PA. near family and friends and home.There's a knock on my door and a fellow hiker introduces herself and says she is going to Waynesboro in the morning. My eyes lit up and she asked if I wanted to go. So, I have a ride to a city with a bus station tomorrow. Can it get better? Of course! I will spend a few days with Sherry, Jeff, Henry and Sam. They don't know it yet so let's keep it quiet ok? :-)Sparepocket on a new mission but still with 2,174 miles at the end.
Date: 2004-07-16
From: Buena Vista VA

To: Waynesboro Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

July 16th. Did I mention that I saw TWO BEAR CUBS!TODAY 7/16 Karen is getting ride to Waynesboro and from there will get bus or train to Montclair NJ to spend a couple of days with her Family. Then return to trail at Delaware Water Gap to continue North.Gertie
Date: 2004-07-16
From: Waynesboro Va

To: Montclair NJ
Miles today: 0.0

July 16th. Here I am. Sitting ina Greyhound station in Charlotsville. I know I spelled that wrong.This morning little engine and I got picked up right at our doors from Charles Byers who was just another great ol guy with great stories. He drove us to Waynesboro at which point we inquired about bus tickets. Originally I was going to spend the night but on the trip to the hotel little engine decided that Delaware water gap sounded like a great plan.So, by 9:30 p.m. tonight....we will be in Times square. Life changes fast out here. From there I will go to my sisters house and little train will visit an aunt on the upper east side.While I am sitting on a bench I meet and old man from New York named Harvey. What a unique man. Raised in the Hamptons in NY and lived most of his life in the city and wintered in the south. He talked about flying all over the world for business but he would never say what kind of business. Well, I wasn't going to let him get away with that. So, after all my hinting I looked him square in the eye and said...."what kind of work do you do? I know you're avoiding my question so now I REALLY want to know!" He STILL wouldn't tell me. But I wouldn't let him get away with it. I told him, while looking directly in his eyes that he was either in the arts or the mafia. He said no to the arts right away and hemhawed about the mafia. I said, "you're in the mafia?" I never did exactly pin him down on his work. He buys out big companies who are going bankrupt. I know he has lots of money cause who else flies his chihuahua in his own first class seat? And maybe he had some contracts wit!h the government too. I wish that I had had more time to talk with him. He was a hoot. Hey Harvey, I hope you see this!! :-)I got on the bus....went to D.C. A young girl from D.C. told me what all the buildings we passed were. She was like my own little tour guide except she wasn't as good as Clogger!Then from D.C. a long ride into the city. The air in the city was so dirty. It's just as hot in the mountains but you don't feel the dirt in your pores. I walked a few minutes outside. Taking in New York and all the lights and the people. Then I had a piece of pizza and got my ticket to Montclair. I had a nice talk with a man on vacation from Kansas and was off the bus at 11:30 p.m. Jeff and the pups were glad to see me. Sam was in bed and Sherry and Henry came on Sat. She was totally suprised.Ok, I am not going to write more till I am back on the trail. It may be a few days cause I have to see Sam pitch a few ball games.Sparepocket feeling fabulous.
Date: 2004-07-21
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

July 21. 10 miles. Nice easy day to get back to hiking. Sherry dropped the kids off at camp and drove me to the Delaware Water Gap. I was on the trail by 11:00 a.m. I was a little anxious to get back on the trail but there was no real reason and after about ten minutes of hiking I got my stride back. It was a hot day but I had great views of the Delaware river. It reminded me of the three day trip H and Joe dog and I took. I had previously hiked up to Sunfish pond also so I was excited when I got there and then went on to something new. The pond was bigger than I remembered. 42 acre glacial lake. I have never seen more frogs in my life. And there were some big ones too. I was on the lookout for snakes too. I don't think I will ever like snakes. There were tons of chipmonks too. They were odd. I don't know if they were used to people or what but they were not afraid of me. One fat one sat in the trail and stared at me like I was supposed to be the one moving. For a !second I thought it might have been rabid.....I swear I thought that chipmunk was going to attack me. And then it dawned on me that seeing two bear cubs didn't scare me so I shouldn't let one chipmunk give me the willies. He finally moved but the next couple of miles there were so many. That must be the NYC for chipmunks. At 3:30 I came to my stopping place. I thought about going on but thought ten miles was a nice warm up day. And besides a quarter of a mile from a camp road was the Mohican Outdoor center. For 12 dollars I am in a cabin with a mattress and pillow and have had a shower. That was too good to pass up.I will make an early start tomorrow and let's see where I end up. I like not knowing. It makes it feel more like an adventure.I have already met some thru hikers. Trail dog and calamity and more are expected in. It's interesting meeting a whole new group of people.Sparepocket, back on the right track.
Date: 2004-07-22
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Not Sure
Miles today: 21.2

July 22. 20. something miles. Brief synopsis cause it was a long day. Not a hard day. Hot, hot, hot.Between Bumpkin and calamity and myself we arranged a slack pack for the first 18 miles. I left the hostel at 6:15 and was done with that by three. Oh, should I mention that I saw a mama bear and two cubs? And should I mention that I got pictures? Hahahahahahahaa......I was a tad more scared this time. And these cubs were small and playing in the trees. Mama didn:t look too concerned with me and she didn:t seem to mind the photo either. Lots of kids camps around here so lots of kids.The worthington bakery was closed but Gyps Tavern was open and within a half hour I had three cokes, a fabulous hamburger, a grilled cheese sandwich and onion rings and for dessert a Sasparilla. It was all so good. I thought about grabbing a motel but nothing was cheap or easy so I hiked a few more miles. I stopped at a fire tower as it was geting dark. I climbed to the top and was going to sleep up there but it was a tad too windy. Plus, some thunderstorms might be rolling in. I had all my gear unpacked and was laying down when my senses came to me. I climb all the way back down and threw my bag on a picnic table and when I turned around a pretty big sized bear was sneaking away. Yes, you heard right...another bear....the fourth just today. Well, this one DID scare me. He was so quiet it freaked me out.....and here I am going to camp. It"s only a mile to the next shelter but it was almost dark. So, here I am sitting in my tent and every little noise sounds like the b!ears are coming for me. Now, I don:t know if this works or not but I have heard that urinating around your tent will keep bears away. There is as much pee as I could squezze out all around the perimiter of this tent. I hope it works!now, I hope I can have happy dreams tonight.sparepocket biting her nails for the first time ever!
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Not Sure

To: North in New Jersey
Miles today: 8.0

july 23. short 8 miles. So far anyway. No bear ate me for dinner last night. I was rather happy about that. I didn't sleep well though. Every little noise made me think a bear was attacking. I can't imagine a bear attacking with urine around my tent and my socks and boots smelling up the place but when you are scared and alone in the middle of no where your imagination begins to get the best of you. Woke up to the wet. Hiked in the damp for a few hours. Ate alot of blueberries and blackberries and stopped at a shelter with no water. But then the rain started. It rained and rained and I wasn't wet. So, I decided a nap was the best course of action. It is now 3:00 p.m. and I am comfy and warm and my belly is full. Now, it is 6:40. I guess I am staying. I met a guy today who started at 4:30 a.m. and was going 74 miles in one day. He started in ny and will end in Pa. Can you imagine that? He stopped at the shelter and had an ammo box he had stashed with food and a dry shirt. The next guy who walked in the shelter was talking about doing too many 25 mile days. I said, "ahhh, that's nothing!" And he gave me a look. I chuckled and explained it later. Turns out he is a writer.....struggling writer but with a significant body of work. He read something he had written a few days earlier and it was quite good. His name is Duke and the other guy....well, kid really. !He is 20 years old and his name is rooney tunes. He is taking a break from college to hike. He is a computer animator.....so far. With lots of time to figure out what he wants out of life. Interesting stories tonight....it is a pleasure meeting new people and getting their take on everything.life is good and getting better.sparepocket
Date: 2004-07-24
From: The Secret Shelter

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 12.0

July 24th. Happy Birthday Sherry!12. something miles. Beautiful perfect weather day. And trail magic. Pepsis and cokes and twinkies and hohos and apples. I had a sugar buzz for a few hours. I got to high point and it was a great view but NO Nyc view. I can't imagine a more beautiful day but still no view. The hiking was easy today. Or maybe I am just getting fitter. Met lots of day hikers. And K-bear said one time that when you talk to people about your hike that it makes them realize that their dreams can happen too. I think she's right. You can see a sparkle in peoples eyes when you tell them what you are doing and how you got here. Dreams do come true but you have to make them happen and not just wait. Waiting will just get you old. Not that there is aything wrong with geting old but life is too short to keep putting things off. I am at the "secret" shelter. It's not much of a secret. It's in wingnuts book. What a beautiful piece of property. Two mules are here. I made the mistake of thinking they were as friendly as the last bunch. So, I step over the electric fence to pet them. Maybe not the brightest thing to do. One was near me and I called the other one and he starts running towards me. At first I thought he was just being friendly. Then when he got close to the other one he started braying so loudly that he sounded like someone was being murdered. Scared me silly but people were watching from a distance so I pretended to act brave and not run away crying. I quickly found the other side of the fence though. I explored a little more and found a big pond with an inflatable raft and a paddle. I have taken some pictures so you will be able to see soon. The owner was here when I got here doing some yard work. His name is Jim Murray and he thru-hiked in 1989. He is a photograher with a studio no!t far from here. 85 acres here and it is pure heaven. And I must say, for a 70% chance of rain it is the most beautiful day.By the way, last night Rooney tunes and Duke gave me an honorary bachelors degree. So now I am a college graduate! Woohoo! What kind of gifts do people get for graduating college huh? ;-) I have definately been learning lots and lots. Oh, and I am in New York. The secret shelter is in New York but when I get back on the trail I will be in Jersey again and then in three or four days I will be in New York....and then Connetticut. Maybe I should learn to spell it before I write it huh?Life is good. And it just keeps getting better.Sparepocket