morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Doll Flats Camp

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I finally broke the 20 mile barrier. It was a good day to do it as the first 10 miles were pretty flat. Towards the end there were some irritating ups and downs, but I could have chosen much worse days.I left at 9.20 today, which is almost a personal best though it didn't get me to the shelter 'til 7.00. Ideally, I'd have more time at the camp before nightfall. It'd be nice to chill out a bit and take it easy. I find it's a scrap to set up the tent, fetch water and cook before it gets dark. But the evenings are getting lighter and soon there'll be more time. Still, it wouldn't hurt to get going at 9.00 AM or a little earlier though.I hiked past the junction US 19E, near the towns of Elk Park and Roan Mointain which have a reputation for hostility to hikers. This is due to some compulsory purchase orders of land for the AT about 20 years ago. I saw no evidence of this except some trash at crossings. The trail does pass close to houses and cross agricultural land. Some people are down on this but it made for a little variety for me. I think today's hike probably featured the lowest elevations too. It even followed a river for a while.Stumblebum hiked with me for most of the day, even though he generally has a slower pace. He sent some stuff home and now wants to speed up a bit. He's a nice guy from Pa.The higlight of day was Jones Falls, the highest and most impressive waterfall I've seen so far. Stumblebum ad I hiked up to it and took a shower in all the spray, which felt fantastic in the freezing water. Luckily, it was really hot, maybe the hottest day so far.Best news of the day? I found my hat, I'd have been struggling without it in the heat. More news? Adrock saw a bear.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kincorra
Miles today: 6.1

I hadn't intended to stay at the hostel, Kincorra, today, but things worked out in an unexpected way: fine by me, usually I hike all day and the change did me no harm at all.As Selma and I arrived at the road we were greeted by Happy who excitedly informed us he'd negotiated a slackpack for $15 with the bloke from Laurel Creek Lodge. For those of you not in the know regarding hiker-speak, a slackpack is hiking without a pack because you have a car ride pre-arranged at both ends to make carrying much stuff unecessary. Purists regard it as cheating, but I have no strong opinions: there's a lot of it about in this area, Miss Janet in Erwin seems to make it a speciality and I knew her shuttles sometimes co-ordinate with Kincorra's. I was a little perplexed why $15 was a great deal as these places do it for free on the understanding you'll stay there that night. After some deliberation, Ad Rock, Selma and I declined the slackpack but Happy and Pleides went ahead.However, this guy from Laurel offers us a ride to Wal Mart for 2 bucks each, even though it was far away. We accepted this as Ad Rock reckoned it would have a photo centre where I could get pics put on disc prior to uploading on to these pages. This was the case and I was very pleased to get the photos sorted as it had been bugging me. However, the guys were less than thrilled that the Wal Mart had no real grocery section save for a few snacks. When we mentioned going to Ingles over the road the guy from the hostel turns a bit pissy on us and wants to get back ASAP. We persisted and went to Ingles and Burger King, which did not improve his mood. Back at the road, we walked to Kincorra to see Stumblebum and see if that esablishment were purveyors of America's finest ice cream, Ben and Jerry's.What a contrast at Kincorra! It is run by Bob and Pat Peoples, AT enthusiasts who welcome hikers whether or not they intend to stay over. In fact, Pat was just about to run a suttle in to town as we got there but was more than happy to have us hang out on the porch or take showers. They didn't provide Ben and Jerry's, but it was no problem to have some brought back. We kicked back on the porch and decided to blow out the rest of the day and spend the night there.By the end of the day about 25 hikers had shown up. Bob went in to town again later and we did All You Can Eat Chinese (AYCE). I thought it was pretty good and was stuffed with that, the Ben and Jerry's and Whopper meal from earlier. On the other hand, Ad Rock did not feel too great during the night, but swears he didn't touch the shrimp. Even I knew better than to go near the sea food at an AYCE chinese in Tennessee. Bob and Pat are some of the most genuine people I have met on the hike so far. Quiet, soft-spoken people without a trace of the bravado of some 'trail charcters'. They do not charge for the hostel, but suggest a $4 donation (4 bucks!). I began to feel sorry for the guy up the road. How can he hope to compete with people who do not run their establishment as a business but as a public service? Enough about Kincorra - did I mention the great coffee?
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Kincorra

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The morning crowd at Kincorra thinned out quicker than I'd have expected until I was the last to leave. Well, the coffee was exellent and I had the luxury of heating up my oatmeal in microwave, if you please. I talked with Mr Clean and Mr Freeze for a while. The former is a nice guy who's thru-hike became beset with problems after Hot Springs. He had reluctntly left the trail and was waiting for his father to come and pick him up. The latter is none other than Luis Bigfoot who stayed at the Hiker Hostel the night before we started the trail 5 weeks ago. He has managed the neat trick of putting weight on during the hike, perhaps the only guy who has, but things are going well for him.I felt strangely calm leaving the hostel this morning and content to be back of the pack. I saw few hikers all day, which is fine by me and I was at peace with the knowledge that my 10.30 AM start would have me walking all day if I wanted to make this shelter. It was hot and a little humid at the lower elevations by the river but it felt good. The warmer weather is well and truly here, not that another freeze is impossible this time of year.I saw a snake today. My first of the trip. I love seeing snakes and always get a thrill when they mysteriously materialise. My reaction differs to most people's, I know, as I'm inclined to run after them and sometimes launch myself through the air Steve Irwin style if I feel the urge. I almost trapped this one with my trekking pole but let it go as I thought it might just be a copperhead, a venomous species common here. However, it was probably some type of rat snake.The hike was mostly by water sometimes Laurel Falls, the river or Watauga Lake, which didn't look much to begin with but proved very long and ever more beautiful as the trail moved parallell, but up hill. Finally, it began to resemble the landscape in Corfu, Greece, with trees meeting tiny coves and pretty islands puntuating the clear, green waters.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Low Gap Campsite
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm tenting alone tonight for only the second time so far. I'm not afraid of the woods at night, but I'm camped near a busy road, Low Gap, which is more of a concern. You never know who's going to wander up here.I saw a deer today. A White Tail. It seems incredible that it's the first one in over 400 miles in the woods, but at least the wildlife does seem to be becoming more active now, I was pleased to spot that snake the other day. Still no bears for me, though one was reported in the register close to the last shelter and both Ad Rock and Happy have seen them in the past week. Happy even got a picture.I hung my bear bag tonight, I hang it every night but it seems more purposeful when alone. It's about 40 feet up, but too close to the tent. If a bear climbs up after it the skinny tree will probably snap and I'll be crushed to death...Damascus tomorrow.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Low Gap Campsite

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

So, I survived the bears and crazy biker dudes who hang out in Low Gap revving up throughout the night. It made a change to get up and find myself alone, normally I wait for sounds of activity before I stir. I was on the trail by 9.15. I've knocked off cooking the oatmeal in the morning which saves both time and meths. I don't start the day with that Ready Brek glow, but as the weather warms, I don't really need to.It was a remarkably level walk to Damascus, said to be the 'friendliest town on the trail' and only the second place right on it. Remarkably, I didn't see a single hiker all the way in, the first time that's happened. The weather was slightly drizzly, but I was fine in just my Golite wind shirt - I might send my main rain jacket ahead one day.I'm staying at The Place in Damascus, a converted house run by the Methodists and free to hikers, with a 4 buck recommended donation. It's large and rambling and has plenty of room as there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of hikers in town. In fact, there doesn't seem to be a much activity at all, but it's an attractive little place with plenty of period properties with porches that wrap all the way round. I like that and aspire, one day, to have a place with a rocker on the porch... and maybe a hammock too.I mooched around the outfitter toying with the idea of getting some summer gear, perhaps getting into tarping, but my pack is already pretty light and the best way to make the difference for me is to send clothes on, there's some winter stuff I don't really need now, or soon won't. Anyhow, I didn't buy anything. I went to the barber and had a real 'southern experience', the place hadn't changed much since the 1950s and the barber cut hair with the chair facing the waiting customers, the better to keep up a constant flow of bouncing wit and repartee. There was a young guy in there with an accent thicker than Adventure's and he can get about 4 sylables out of the word 'well'. So now I have a sharp new haircut. As he was cutting I watched the falling hair and coudn't help thinking that there weren't so many gray ones at the start of the hike.In the evening I went to the AYCE evening meal at the Side Track Cafe. It was a really good Mexican thing and I ate far too much. I must admit I was expecting a big bowl of slop and a pile of tortillas. It amazes me that a cafe and hostel get by on donation only, it shows the amount of goodwill there is to hikers around.The cafe also served beer. Uncharacteristically, I was so stuffed from the food I wasn't really in the drinking mood, which is not like me in town. Slainte didn't seem to be experiencing the same problem.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I did something really stupid this morning. Last night I went to the Side Track Cafe and asked Mountain Man if I could upload photos to trailjournals here. He said it was fine, which was great as local libraries don't generally let you do it, so what did I do?   I went straight to the Post Office this morning and sent the CDs containing the photos on to Harpers Ferry (over 500 miles away) along with the prints that I hadn't really wanted and some winter gear I was discarding. So now you won't get any new photos for about a month when I had high hopes of getting a load online very soon. Oh Well!Today turned out to be a great zero day as Slainte and I went tubing. It was great fun and the water was wilder than I'd imagined. I was slightly worried as the last time I did this activity was in Thailand when I hit a dead tree and a big spider fell out and hit me in the chest prompting an emergency exit into the river, but this time was critter free. It was a spur of the moment decision and as we were dashed against a granite cliff and the tubes crashed together like dodgems I started to wonder If I'd just made one of my smarter ideas. But it was brilliant, water temps not too bad - apparently we were the first tubers of the season - and the weather bright and sunny, the river scenery beautiful, the banks alive with squirrels and signs of spring, trout jumping in our wake. Tubing - the perfect zero day activity, you get to see stuff and yet you just sit there.In the evening I went out to Sicily for a pizza with Selma, Slainte and Ad Rock. It was pretty good. We hit the local bar, Dot's later and quite a few pitchers were consumed. The juke box played ear-splitting country music that Slainte insisted on singing along with, attracting the attention of a local granny who soon had him dancing around the bar stools before getting a little more frisky than was really called for. Slainte left the bar a chastened man and the rest of us received an object lesson of just what nearly 6 weeks on the trail can truly do to a man.We went back to The Place, there was talk of a double zero.
Date: 2004-04-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So, I stayed another day in Damascus. I got side tracked. I had high hopes of making it out in the afternoon but it got late, then there was a rainstorm, you know how things are. Slainte was hungover all day, he wasn't going anywhere and Selma had made up his mind to stay. Only Ad Rock got away, so he's probably at least 17 miles ahead by now. I haven't done much, but you're not supposed to on a zero day. Right?
Date: 2004-04-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero....I went down to the Side Track with Selma and we had breakfast up on the counter. We hung out with Nuffy who was hiking with Bloody Cactus 'til she got off the trail. She's Australian and a good laugh. It was a real novelty talking to a non-American. I was trying to think of the last time I had gone this long and not spoken to another Brit. I concluded there wasn't one. In fact, Ross, the day hiking academic from Georgia and 'Aussie John' (originaly from Bedford) are the only ones I've met all trip.Today it rained hard 'til 3.00, so there was some rationale to the zero. However, round about 2.00 I experienced an overwhelming desire for a beer and peruaded Selma the right thing to do would be to head back to the Side Track for 75 cent Mickey's. We had high hopes of collecting Slainte at 3.00 and hitting the trail late, when it had finally stopped raining but, finally, the flipping of a coin back at The Place indicated that a 3rd zero ws in order. Of course, we headed straight back to the bar for more Mickey's and other assorted beers.Later that night we hit Sicilt's again for pizza. At the end of the day Chef strolled in to town who I haven't seen for weeks.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

I made it out of Damascus today. For a while there I was wondering what was going on, I never intended to stay 3 days, that was the last thing I wanted, I had only taken 3 zeros in total for the entirety of the trip 'til now. There were people I hadn't seen for weeks rolling in to town and overtaking me; Adventure and Mellow Yellow just turned up, they seem to have lost 40 pounds in weight each. Chef was there, it's really good to see him. It was time to move on. I feel chastened.We had a good breakfast at In the Country, a slightly twee craft shop and cafe on the trail the other end of town. The day was cool and looked like rain most of the time but it held off. Some folks followed the bike trail, the Virgina Creeper, rather than the AT as it follows a pretty, fast flowing river and is flat. This is technically known as cheating, but each to their own.The land climbed steadily but was well graded, my enormous breakfast served me well and I skipped the first shelter not stopping for lunch. I got in at the second shelter about 4.00PM, there were already quite a few people here, I didn't know many of them, they seem to have emergered from the wood work during my 'down time'. In fact, I haven't seen so many in camp since the Smokies.I was all for pushing on a bit further, but when Slainte turned up he'd pulled a ligament in his leg, or something like that, and was hobbling around in some pain. We decided to stay. It was chilly by now and the elevations map showed a steep climb from this shelter to nearly 5000 feet, where it would probably be really cold. I'm glad we decided to hold on to our winter bags 'til at least Pearisburg, Slainte and me bought new ones in town. They reckon it could be down to about 20 F tonight.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

I overslept 'til 9.00, so not the greatest way of making up miles lost to Damascus. Selma and I were the last to leave the shelter at about 10.15, as late as any time since the Smokies.Today has been beautiful with wide open scenery and great views. It's the Grayson Highlands and most resembled the Old West, a landscape of yellowing balds, rocky outcrops and stunted trees. I half expected to see a herd of 7000 head of buffalo up on the horizon.There were no buffalo but, as I was admiring this vista at Thomas Knob Shelter, two deer emerged from the woods behind. Half tame. They walked right up to the shelter and I saw that one was lame. I have now seen three deer only on this trip.Wise Shelter was packed. To my surprise one of fits occupants was none other than my old London honcho, Bloody Cactus, the kilt-wearing Aussie himself. It was great to catch up with him as I have heard little news directly beyond his journal. He seemed on great form and has overcome most of the injuries that have followed him around. He was with a group from Xena's old school. They are doing a circular hike for a couple of days before they resume their southbound flip-flop from Shenandoah to Erwin.You are not supposed to tent at Wise Shelter, so we pressed on for another .3 of a mile to tent in a semi-marshy spot between a clear flowing stream and some rhododendrons.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Campsite

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

We got off to a late start. I hit the trail last at 10.00 AM having watched the occupants of shelter all file past whilst I listlessly stirred the oatmeal. I was back to my old, slow routine this morning. It's boring to go in to details but my decision was influenced by condensation and a nip in the air.At 10.30 I ran in to Bloody Cactus and stopped for a half hour chat. I'm glad we managed to fix that meeting in London and that I've now met Ross and Cactus over here. It seems to give the trip some kind of time frame and a reality that goes beyond the day to day. It's hard to explain. As I spent so much time in Damascus recently I probably won't go to Trail Days, so hope I catch up with them again some other time.The day ended with big mileage but started slow. I left the first shelter at 1.00 PM having clocked up a massive 6 miles. Not long after, I ate a lengthy lunch with Selma on rocky ground at a place where a gurgling stream spilled out over the trail. The miles came late when the rocks relented and the knotty roots smoothed over. We were beating ourselves up earlier about the slow pace but, at day's end, rolled in to here before 7.00 PM. Plus, the herd is thinning, only King Alabar, Just John and dog (Casey) here tonight.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Relax Inn, Atkins, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today a new record was sent for early rising: 7.30 AM. Ooohh! We nearly went and ruined it all by hanging around shooting the breeze, talking about cheeseburgers and cooking 4 pounds of oatmeal, but managed to hold it all together at the last minute and leave at 9.00. I know this is pants by most people's standards but it's a record for us and you gotta start somewhere.It was a pretty days walk through mainly low country, several pastures that reminded me of the scenery on the edge of Bath and some pretty old buildings and a rustic school house maintained in 19th Century condition. Earlier, we reached the partnership shelter where much of the 'pack' we have been hiking with decided to stay. It's one of the rare 'luxury' shelters with a shower, a loft, a water tap and only a short walk from a park HQ which had a phone, a soda machine and sold snickers. You would have thought we'd stumbled upon the Chateau Marmont, so easily pleased have we become.I walked 22.2 miles today, another record. It was mostly easy walking and was inspired by the thought of a Dairy Queen fast food joint at the truck stop in Atkins. I was struck by the contradictions inherent in rushing through some lovely scenery spurred on by the thought of reaching a truck stop but this is America and the folks I was hiking with needed a cheeseburger. As we neared our nirvana the weather, a little muggy all day, turned slightly showery and overcast so, after meeting some section hikers who informed us of the dismal forecast, we decided to splash out on a motel room. At the Relax Inn we caught up with No Dog, No Beard, Maine Sail and Just John. There was a disappointing session at Dairy Queen - where the footlong chilli dog was nowhere near as good as he one I had in Atlanta - before we picked up some beers, did some much needed laundry, ordered in pizza and wings and hunkered down for the evening.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Relax Inn, Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Apart from the seismic sounds of Selma snoring, falling out of bed, then getting up at 4.00 AM to finish off the one remaining can of Bud, I got a reasonable nights sleep at the Relax Inn.I like to 'camel up' on food as well as water when in town (or at the truck stock) so I went out for the 2x4 breakfast at the Barn Restaurant as well as polishing off some old pizza from last night. That way I don't need lunch, can walk all day and eat minimal food in the evening as well. It's the Masai Mara principle, make like a big cat.Today's walk was short after yesterday's record breaking mileage. It wasn't high but there were some steep climbs. I hiked with Just John in the afternoon and his dog, Casey, a friendly border collie who has a little problem with stiles which were fairly common today as we crossed some privately owned pastures. We had a wide ranging conversation from Iraq to 80s music, from healthcare to cricket.So now we seem to have moved on from the pack and find ourselves in quieter shelters again, only Maine Sail and John here apart from Selma, Slainte and myself, which suits me better. I am not in to doing big miles for the sake of it, but felt we should put a spurt on to atone for the 3 zeros in Damascus.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

It rained today.And I got wet - twice - but I have to remind myself how lucky I've been overall with rain, I'd be surprised if there's been 5 rainy days in total and I've yet to set up or take down a tent in the wet. Not fun. Nevertheless, I was a little downhearted as I approached Chestnut Knob Shelter soaking and with a howling wind whipping over the bald. Luckily, it was one of those rare shelters with 4 walls. Hell, it even had a door.After drying off at the shelter for an hour it was time to get drenched again in the afternoon, but it did brighten up before I rolled in to camp, so things were more or less dry by the time I set up the tent. Bandit and Bandicoot were here, the latter nursing an injury, they already had a fire roaring.Tomorrow is my birthday and Selma, Slainte (maybe John) and I are making for the alluringly named town of Bland for a meal, maybe a beer, by way of celebration. With my luck it will probably be a dry county.