morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Damascus, VA

To: Saunders Shleter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: moderate rain

Weather - Very warm and sunny with rain laterWent to the bank, post office and outfitters before hiking out of town. Sometimes it is hard to get out of town early. I had been in Damascus 4 nights and I was told by a local that if I stayed more than 5 days, you had to run for city council. As I passed the Laundromat, I saw Skinny B. He told me he was leaving the trail and going to hike some of the Continental Divide Trail in Montana. Stopped at Subway for lunch and again at In The Country for an ice cream. It was 1:00 p.m., now you see why it is hard to get out of town.The trail was in great shape and it followed and was above the Virginia Creeper Trail and Whitetop Laurel Creek most of the day. I was the first one to get to Saunders Shelter and it was a little after 5:00 p.m. What a nice shelter. About 6:00 p.m., a group of 10, North Carolina Methodists, came hiking in. They camped behind the shelter. What a great bunch of teenagers. That is when the rain started coming down. It was after dark when Frond and Azaria came in, a cute couple I had seen at Kincora and Damascus. It was raining hard when everyone went to sleep.
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Saunders Shleter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: light rain

Weather - Rain, rain, rain, rainIt was overcast when I left the shelter, then rained on and off for 2 hours. When I got to Lost Mountain Shelter, I ate lunch and took a short nap before Frond and Azaria showed up. Then it started raining again and the group of 10 showed up. They tried to wait until it stopped raining but at 3:00 p.m., they left in the rain to set up camp about three miles away. I felt sorry for them, hiking in the pouring rain. Frond and Azaria decided to stay here with me tonight. The rain continued to fall. After supper, an older couple (Morning Song and Towhee) came in. So there are 5 of us here tonight. The rain has picked up again and it is raining really hard. It should make for a good night's sleep. That is if the roof doesn't leak. This is another large and well-built shelter.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: light rain

Weather - Rain, rain and more rain.I was the last one to leave the shelter. It is not easy to start the day off hiking in the rain, but today I did. It only rained for an hour then stopped. I passed the group of 10 Methodist hikers, they were planning to stay at Thomas Knob Shelter. It almost looked like it was going to clear up form Buzzard Rock, but more rain came before I reached Thomas Knob Shelter. It was about 3:30 p.m. when I reached Thomas Knob Shelter and there were some frogs just outside the shelter croaking up a storm. I thought "no sleep tonight." Again the sky looked like it might clear so I decided to go for Wise Shelter only about 5 miles further. Around Rhodendendron Gap, I saw my first ponies, about 10 altogether. Then on Wilburn Ridge I saw about 6 more. Boy this area was rocky. It is beautiful with the open balds. Then the rain came again for about 2 hours before I reached Wise Shelter at about 7:00 p.m. It sure feels good to be in a dry shelter. Frond and Azaria were there along with a dad and his two daughters, 10 and 12 years old. After a hot supper, it was time to climb in the sleeping bag. And the rain continued to fall.
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Wise Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

Weather - Cloudy, not too coolI got a late start, about 11:00 a.m. Putting on wet clothes is not fun. Coming across Stone Mountain was beautiful, it was as bald and you see Mount Rogers from here. Yesterday and today have been some of the most scenic section of the trail so far. At "The Scales," a rail-fence livestock corral, I saw the dad and two daughters again. They had set up camp because it looked like another storm coming.Oh! It rained really hard last night, word on the trail was about 3 inches. As I left Wise Shelter, I felt like I was a salmon swimming upstream there was so much water coming down the trail. I had to hop from rock to rock for about a mile. The weather broke and it cleared up to make a nice day coming down Pine Mountain. I saw a doe and fawn in the trail and as soon as they saw me, they took off. First deer sighting since the Smokies.I was the first one to reach Hurricane Mountain Shelter. A really nice shelter. I guess it was close to 7:00 p.m. when Morning Song and Towhee came hiking in. They are from PA and have been section hiking for four years now. While I was writing this, I heard sounds coming from the privy and thought it might be a bear. Checked it out but didn't see anything.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather - Clear and not too warmGot out early this morning about 7:50 a.m. The trail was easy walking. It usually is going into towns. But the streams were a little difficult to cross because they are swollen from all the rain.I got to Dickey Gap and VA 16 around 10:30 a.m. and Morning Song and Towhee showed up shorly. We tried thumbing into town, but not many cars and not much luck, so we started walking. We hadn't gone far when a guy named Jack with his grandson pulled over in an open jeep and offered us a ride. You can get 3 people and 3 packs in the back seat of a jeep but it is tight.I re-supplied with food at Troutdale Trading Post and got a hoagie, fries and Coke for lunch. Then I walked up to the Baptist Hostel less than 1/4 miles. Frond and Azaria were there along with two young women from Missouri I had met back in Damascus at the Lazy Fox. Dave from Mount Rogers Outfitters (MRO) came to give them a ride back to Damascus and was going to drop Frond and Azaria off at Dickey Gap and take their packs to MRO so they could slack pack 14 miles. They offered me the same opportunity but I just caught a ride with them to Dickey Gap and hiked 4 miles to Trimpi Shelter. Got there at 2:30 p.m. and had a relaxing afternoon. Morning Song and Towhee are here with me again tonight.
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather - Clear, just a little coolerI was the first one to leave the shelter at 7:40 a.m. Hiking by myself. The trail was real good most of the way, dirt and gravel. Crossed a field and had to side step meadow muffins (cow squat).I got to Partnership Shelter around 11:45 a.m. I was looking forward to this shelter. It is a beautiful log shelter with a loft, looks like it will sleep 30 easy. It has a hot shower and a sink around back with hot and cold water. Up at the Mount Rogers Headquarters is a Visitors Center, restrooms and a phone where you can order pizza delivered to the shelter. Frond and Azaria were still there and a few hours later hiked to the next shelter. Morning Song and Towhee arrived at the shelter. We all went up to the Visitors Center and I came nose-to-nose with a bear. He was a young bear who was stuffed at the Visitors Center! We waited to order pizza to see if any other hikers would show up and they did. It was Frank and his daughter Jess. I had met them at The Place in Damascus. We placed our order and had a pizza party at the shelter. It was another great evening!
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Partnership Shelter

To: US 11 and Relax Inn
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather - Clear and warmMorning Song and Towhee got an early start. Frank, Jess and I did not leave until about 10:00 a.m. and we hiked together. The trail was easy and we made good time. We came to the Lindawood School House. An old one-room school house built in the 1890's and was still used until 1937. It had some stiff punishment rules back then. You actually got hit with a wooden switch. It is neat how this school house is right on the trail.When we got to US 11 there was some disappointment. The Exxon had closed and the Dairy Queen attached to it was closed. No soft ice cream! What a bummer.Checked into the Relax Inn and went through the regular routine. Pick up mail drop, do laundry, shower, get something to eat. Thanks to Kelley for mailing me brownies again. For supper, Morning Song, Towhee, Frank, Jess, Steve and myself went over to The Red Barn Restaurant. Steve is a southbounder we met at the Relax Inn. I got some "Heet" for my alcohol stove from the truck stop here. It was the only fuel I could find for my stove.
Date: 2006-07-01
From: US 11 & Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather ¢ Clear, AM ¢ Cool, PM - WarmerI was up early, packed and out of the motel by 7:00 am. Walked up to Barn Restaurant for breakfast. Half hour later, Morning Song and Towhee came in, followed by Frank and Jess. Then Ron, trail name Chessman, showed up. He is from Pennsylvania and a friend of Morning Song and Towhee. He was going south and I saw him two days ago. He hiked all the way to Damascus. He is in his early 50¢s and does 20 and 25 mile days. On his last day he did 40 miles and got into Damascus at 1:30 am on July 1st. Then drove and got here at 3:30am.I was on the trail a little after 8:00am by myself, everyone is going to follow later. The first mile and a half was thru fields. They were so wet with dew my shoes and socks were socked, but I saw two doe and two fawn. Saw a luna moth in the trail a short time later. I took a break at Davis Path Shelter where Morning Song and Towhee showed up. We hiked the rest of the day together. Hiked thru fields, woods and over a lot of stiles.When we reached Knot Maul Shelter, Frond and Azaria were just getting ready to leave. At Knot Maul Shelter, I had a good supper of chicken, dressing, four cheese mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken gravy and apple cider. Afer supper, I was stung by a bee on my arm. Bees seem to like biting on hikers, especially their legs. Must be the salt or sweat. Towhee had some medicine to put on the sting.Frank and Jess are here too, along with 3 southbound section hikers. We are all section hikers until we finish the complete AT.
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Weather ¢ clear and warmI was up early and on the trail before 7:00 am, going for 19 miles. It will be a long day. I have a 500 ft. and 2,000 ft. mountain to go over. Going down Lynn Camp Mountain, the 500 footer, I saw 4 turkeys running down the trail then into the woods.I had lunch at Chestnut Knob Shelter with Morning Song and Towhee. We also took a short nap. The 2000 foot climb had zapped the energy out of us but we still had 10 miles to go. Chestnut Ridge was a bald with thick grass that made for difficult walking and there were not many white blazes so you weren¢t sure you were on the trail. Then it got worse, Garden Mountain was a very rocky ridge with a lot of ups and downs. Saw some eastern cowboys when we crossed VA 623.It was almost 7:30 pm when we reached Jenkins Shelter. Frond and Azaria had gotten there about 6:00 pm and had set up their tent. They like to tent camp a lot. It was good to see them again. We finished cooking and eating supper just as it got dark.Morning Song calls the privy a ¢very public privy¢ because it has no roof and no walls. It is just out in the open woods, but it doesn¢t smell since it gets so much fresh air.Everyone is real, real, real tired and it is time to saw some zzzz¢s.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather ¢ partly cloudy and very warmI forgot to mention this about yesterday. I stopped three different times to fill up my water bottles from springs beside the trail. I ran out of water the day before with 3 miles to go and did not want that to happen again. Water is probably the most important thing you need out here.I was the last one leaving the shelter at 9:30 am. Frond and Azaria left early because they were going to Bastain to pick up a mail drop from the Post Office. Morning Son and Towhee left next going to Bland to resupply and spend the night. I hope I see them again.The trail was real good today with mostly small gravel and duff. Duff is matted down leaves or pine needles. Had to take a blue blaze trail to get around the bridge that is out that crosses Laurel Creek. It was real warm today even when the breeze was blowing. As soon as I got on VSFS Road 282 a fawn came jumping out onto the road about 40 ft. in front of me. It was real hot going across the bridge that crosses I-77. As I was headed up the last mountain to the shelter, Frond and Azaria showed up. We hiked up the mountain most of the way together. They are tenting out again. There are one girl and two guys in their 20¢s here tonight also. The guys got in well after it was dark.
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 606 & Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 16.3

Weather ¢ partly cloudy and very warmI got up at 5:00 am and was hiking by 6:30 am. I am glad I had 2 full quarts of water. At about 7:00 am, I came to a view where I could see the mountains stilcking up out of the fog in the valleys.Had lunch with Frond and Azaria at Jenny Knob Shelter. Again, I was glad I filled up with water. I hiked with Frond and Azaria some after lunch. I was voicing my opinion about how hot it was outside. A little bit further up the trail they ambushed me with their water pistols. They had found them in the hikers box at Kincora and brought them with them. It did cool me off for a few seconds. The only place I saw to get water today was at the shelters. The trail was fairly easy with a lot of duff on it. The sky got real dark and there was loud thunder over my head as I was hiking down to the footbridge over Kimberling Creek. Frond and Azaria were waiting for me and we hiked up to Trent¢s Grocery. It never did rain. I re-supplied for a couple days, got a shower, laundry, supper and set up cam. Put my tarp over a picnic table to make a table tent.Happy 4th of July! As it got dark the lightning bugs came out, then some local folks set off fireworks. So even in the woods I got to see fireworks on the 4th of July. There is trail magic!
Date: 2006-07-07
From: VA 634 & Pearisburg

To: Rest Day
Miles today: 0.0

Weather - Clear and not too warmThere were seven of us in Ernie and Louise's car with our wet, dirty clothes going to the Laundromat in town. After saying our sad goodbyes, the rest of us went about washing and drying laundry. We took our packs so we could put our clothes and food from mail drops in them. And it is easier to thumb a ride with a pack. We all went different ways after doing laundry. I went and picked up my mail drop of food from the Post Office. While I was walking back up the main street, Frond came out and said they were having lunch at a little small caf©, so I joined them for a BLT. It was so good I even bit my tongue. I walked most of the way back to the hostel when a woman named Karen stopped and gave me a ride the rest of the way. I packed up my stuff and walked back to town to the Plaza Motel. My daughter and granddaughter are coming to see me tonight and are going to stay for a day or two. I am excited about seeing them again. Even when you are in town you still do a lot of walking. Kelley and Shanna should get here about 10:30 p.m.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Rest Day

To: Rest Day
Miles today: 0.0

Weather - Cloudy then sunny and not too warmKelley and Shanna got to the Plaza Motel a little after 10:30 p.m. It was great to see them again. It was after 11:30 p.m. before we finally got to sleep.This morning we drove up to the Holy Family Hostel to have breakfast with Frond and Azaria. They had fixed a wonderful breakfast of blueberry pancakes, an egg omelet, toast and jam, orange slices, cherries and hot chocolate. After breakfast we all climbed into Kelley's car. What a treat to ride and not walk! We rode about six miles to Cascade Falls. We had invited Frond and Azaria to go with us. There we hiked up a beautiful 2-mile trail that followed Cascade Creek. This creek had small cascades with huge boulders and even went thru a gorge. The falls were breath-taking as they cascaded down 70 feet with a huge pool below. There was an easy 2-mile trail back to the parking lot. We drove about 19 miles to Blacksburg to Blue Ridge Outdoors where I was able to get some Superfeet shoe inserts for my shoes. I need some that are a little stiffer because I have been feeling every rock I step on and my feet have been killing me. Kelley told us that the move, "Pirates of the Caribbean, Deadman's Chest" was at the theaters. We found out there was a movie theater three miles away in Christianburg, VA. We rode up there and found a Ryan's Steakhouse with a buffet. A buffet is where a hiker gets more than their monies worth for what they eat. Then at 7:45 p.m., we were off to the movies. The movie was great but we had more entertainment to follow. Frond saw a Starbucks, so we stopped and he ran in to get some ground coffee to take on the trail. We all sat in the car and watched him. He was so excited! It was like watching a kid in a candy store. He loves his coffee.It was after 11:00 p.m. before we dropped Frond and Azaria off at the Holy Family Hostel. Hanna was there, she told us that Lil' Red had gotten off the trail and that she had called her mom to come and get Coco her dog several days earlier. Dana, Ryan and Adrian who we had seen at the hostel earlier that morning had left and were on the trail. It had been a busy and wonderful day to do something different with my daughter and granddaughter and to share it with my friends, Frond and Azaria. But getting to the motel was great just to get a good night sleep.
Date: 2006-07-09
From: VA 634

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Weather - Clear and WarmerAfter getting our showers, packing up the car and checking out of the motel, we drove toward the hostel but saw Frond and Azaria at the General Dollar parking lot. They told us that a family with 7 kids had stayed at the hostel last night and that they had to get out of there. We loaded up their gear and headed down the road where we picked up Hanna at the Post Office parking lot. Now we had six people, 4 packs and luggage in Kelley's car. She took us up to VA-634 and dropped me, Shanna, Frond, Azaria and Hanna off so we could slack pack for about 2.8 miles. We met her at Stilehouse Road where we picked up our packs. After big hugs, we said goodbye and I was off climbing another mountain. When I got close to the top of the mountain, I saw old friends coming down the trail. It was Miss Day Hiker and Slower Walker, the trail angels from Roan Mountain. It was about 5:30 p.m. when I got to Rice Field Shelter. Frond was over talking to some farmers on the other side of the hill when a storm came up. The farmers were looking for some cattle they had lost. It was still raining when we went to bed. It is me, Frond, Azaria and Hanna here tonight.
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: light rain

Weather - Cloudy and coolerLeft the shelter around 8:30 p.m., Frond and Azaria were still there. Hiked thru some fields with lots of flowers. At several points you could see the mountains that you were getting ready to climb. Ran into Hanna a couple of times during the day. Thought Frond and Azaria would pass me because they hike faster but they never did. Hiked by myself which is good because you move thru the woods quieter, but only saw one deer. When I got to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, there were two young brothers there from North Carolina. One was in college and the other high school. The water source was a stream in front of the shelter which is good. Frond, Azaria and Hanna came in a little later. When it was almost dark, a dad and his 12-year-old son came hiking in. They are doing 20-mile days and his 12 year old son is carrying a 50 lb. pack. Amazing! Same old routine when you get to camp: get water, cook supper, write in journal (if it is not too late) and go to sleep. Oh! Frond's eyelid is red and swollen and bothering him.
Date: 2006-07-11
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather - Clear, warm then rainThe bridge was out going over Stony Creek so we had to take a detour over the bridge on Big Storm Creek Road. Frond, Azaria, Hanna and I were hiking together. Frond's eyelid was still bothering him so we decided to stop and see the brother and sister, John and Jeanne, that we had met in the Hardee's in Pearisburg. They told us to stop and visit them when we came by. It is 8:30 a.m. and I am knocking on a stranger's door hoping it is their house. Sure enough, John answered the door. They were happy to see us again. When we told them about Frond's eye, John offered to take him to the emergency room in Pearisburg. So John, Frond and Azaria headed down the road. Jeanne made coffee and toast for Hanna and me. And we sat out on the porch and talked. Jeanne is a retired chemistry teacher. It was close to 11:30 before John, Frond and Azaria got back. They had given Frond a prescription for an antibiotic and some eye drops, which they got filled at Wal-Mart. Jeanne and John would not let us go until they feed us lunch and there was no way we could say no. We had sandwiches with meat, cheese, fresh tomatoes and lettuce, along with chips and ice tea with ice. Ice is something we don't see too often and when you do, you really appreciate it. John and Jeanne are wonderful people and are "Super Trail Angels." It was a little after 12:30 p.m. when we left, with about 11 more miles to go and about a 1,500 foot climb. We all got separated again because of our different hiking speeds. There were a lot of rocks to go over and a real test for my new shoe inserts. When I reached Bailey Gap Shelter for a break and to get water, Frond and Azaria were there. They showed me the shelter journal where the Kentucky Boys had put my picture in it. It was a picture from our Virginia Creeper bike ride with me sitting at a little kids picnic table. Later in the afternoon, the clouds began to gather and it got darker in the woods. A short time later I could hear the roar of thunder. Another storm was coming. I picked up my pace but could not outrun it. About 20 minutes before I got to the shelter, it started to rain. Frond and Azaria were there along with Eagle. Eagle is hiking the AT to finish his triple crown. That is the AT, Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. He started in 2001. Hanna came in later, she was caught on the top of the mountain when the storm hit.