morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Things don't go as well as planned today, but as usual it worked well for me. We were planning on breakfast at McDonald's, resupply at Walmart and leaving town after lunch at Hardee's on the way out. The skies darkened while we were in walmart and the thunderstorms hit just after we got back to the Holy Family Hostel. That gave me a good excuse for a zero mile day and the opportunity to relax and finish my town chores, including shipping winter/cold weather gear to Lillian's in Connecticut.    Pat asked me the other day if I had any revelations now that I had walked 600 miles. I had to admit that I have not had any so far. I think that right now I am so caught up in the day to day effort that it's hard to see the bigger picture. I think the big insights will probably come after I complete the trail and have a chance to reflect on it. Right now, I have to remain focused on the next shelter, town, mile, ect. Sometimes I actually have to focus on each and every footstep just to avoid a fall. That is really exhausting. One thing I am noticing is that I am being provided for in my journey and I'm truly grateful for that. The break in the rain, letting me finish my town chores, is an example of that.
Date: 2011-05-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Caught a shuttle at 7:00 am to Hardees, only $5 for both of us and it saved a 2.5 mile walk through town. Hopeful had paid for the shuttle and also bought a package of hot dogs and buns for dinner tonight, so I bought him breakfast. It was the least I could do. It was so humid that you could see your breath, even though it was at least 60 degrees.    The first part of the hike out was through empty overgrown land still in the city. Then we crossed the New River on a highway bridge. After the bridge, we went into the woods between a chemical plant and an industrial landfill. Not every inch of the AT is scenic, as the walk out of Perisburg shows.    It seemed like forever till we got to the base of the ridge and away from town. By the time we got to the ridge, it was hot and humid, we were soaked in sweat and moving slow. Once up there the ridge walk was fairly easy with occasional good views. We were planning on stopping about 16.5 miles out from town at a spot marked Streams in the guidebook. When we got there, no water was to be found, so we had to hike on to the next shelter in order to find water, making for a 20 mile day. Thankfully, we were able to find tentsites there and there was already a fire going. The area around Pine Swamp Branch shelter is full of dead trees, making a site free of potential widowmakers impossible to find. Hopeful and I roasted hot dogs and crashed for the night, realizing we should have each bought a package of dogs and buns. To sleep, tired and still hungry.
Date: 2011-05-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Didn't leave Pine Swamp Branch shelter until about 10am. Kind of treating myself after a long day yesterday. Today is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms predicted. Fighter jets were doing treetop sorties as they have for the last three days. I reached the Bally Gap shelter and had lunch. I was moving slowly on the uphill in the heat. Just as I was leaving the shelter after lunch, I heard the first thunder. Had I not just told Hopeful I would go to the next shelter with him, I would have turned around and gone back. The guidebook showed what looked to me like an exposed ridge and I did not want to be caught up there in a thunderstorm. I moved as fast as I could to get across the 6 mile long ridge area, even though none of it was as open as the guidebook suggested. By the time we got down to War Spur shelter i was done hiking for the day. The thunderstorms that had been threatening all afternoon finally broke loose at 8:30pm and heavy rain continued into early morning. Thankfully, I was safely tucked into my tent by the time it started.
Date: 2011-05-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hopeful took off early to hike 18 miles today. I was not so ambitious. Left camp about 8:30 and by 9:30 a light rain had started. I'm having problems with my attitude and need to get it sorted out before it gets too serious. Hiking is starting to get to me. Sun came out this afternoon as I passed through some pastureland and got to see the Keffer Oak. There was a short downpour, which quit as I made for Sarver Hollow shelter. I didn't have the time to hike on to Niday shelter before dark, so I tented at Sarver. I had just enough time to set up before the rain set in forcing me to eat a cold dinner in my tent. The day started in rain and ended in rain, but I don't think the weather is helping my attitude any.
Date: 2011-05-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Awoke to a soggy and foggy morning, but at least it ain't raining. I think part of my attitude problem has to do with setting too many mileage goals instead of just going with how I feel. It seems to average out the same, but is less stressful without the schedule. The wet weather and some somewhat chronic aches just add to it. I hiked up to Niday shelter to lunch and stock up on water, and as I was leaving I saw a sign about trail magic at the next road crossing. The lure of trail magic got me moving. Nothing at the road, so i thought I had misread the sign and kept moving. By the time I was sure it wasn't happening, I was 2/3 of the way up the next 1800' climb. Just as I got to the top of the climb, there was a sign: Hiker feed 100 yards right. You don't have to tell me twice! About a dozen other hikers were hanging out drinking soda and beer. The feed was just about to start and it's going on until Monday. Forget hiking! I'm going to hang out and just have some fun. Briarpatch, from 2001, his wife Ripple and his friends Burl, 2010 and Casey are out benefactors. Thanks to all!
Date: 2011-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Last night was a real late night by hiker standards, midnight. Of course, one guy got too drunk. But what do you expect when there's free beer. A bunch of boyscouts were camped here also and the leaders cooked me a nice breakfast first thing this morning. Then our hosts got up and I got a second one from them. I've decided to take a zero here, load up on food and finish resetting my attitude. It seems like a good investment of my time.    At Neel Gap I was warned, "If you ain't having fun at it, you won't finish because it is a lot of hard work". Right now, I'm here alone, at the parking lot for the Audie Murphy Memorial, holding down the fort while our hosts are out buying more supplies and shuttling hikers. I mostly hung out all day. Had some dogs when Briarpatch and Ripple got back. Then Burl and Casey cooked us a great chicken and artichoke dinner in their dutch oven. It's 12:30 now and I'm totally relaxed and ready to start hiking again. just watching the campfire die out as I lay in my tent. Although it's still sore, my right forearm and wrist seem to be improving and my left knee also benefitted from the day off. The weather today was great, but warm and the same is expected for the next 3 days. The only hikers here are 3 Hats, Cotton and myself.
Date: 2011-05-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Three Hats took off early, as Cotton and I packed up. I was making coffee when Burl got up and gave us 1/2 dozen eggs and 2 lbs bacon. I boiled the eggs and we cooked the bacon in Burl's dutch oven (he's car camping). Bacon and eggs for breakfast, yeah baby! Then we split a couple of boxes of honey buns open and ate as many as we could before taking a couple for the road. I finally got going around 10am, after Briarpatch showed up to clean up. The temp today went from warm to hot to brutal.    The first thing on today's hike was the Audie Murphy Memorial that roughly marks where he died in a plane crash. From there, it was on to the Dragon's Tooth, a rock formation. The trail up to the Dragon's Tooth was rocky with many false summits. Hiking it in the heat was brutal and slow. I ran into Roadie and Shotgun on the way up and we were on top at the same time.    The trail off the back was straight down to start. There were 2 sets of 2 "staples" on some of the short vertical slabs. "Staples" are steel hand or foot holds, depending on how you use them. The climb down definately qualified as scrambling, if not outright rock climbing. When I got to the road, I kiked down to the Catawba Grocery for ice cream and chili dogs. Joe Mitchell from 4 Pines Hostel showed up, so I went with him to tent up at the hostel. It's a small farm and Joe pretty much gives you the run of the place. he told me to set up anywhere on the property I wanted. Beautiful starry night, lightening bugs everywhere and the smell of fresh mown hay.
Date: 2011-05-31
From: 4 Pines Hostel

To: Pig Farm Campsite
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Decided to make coffee and take a shower. Took my time and didn't leave 4 Pines Hostel until 10:30. I decided to walk to Catawba Grocery and have some ice cream and pizza to go with the donuts I ate at the hostel. It will add about a mile to today, but I really want ice cream now that it's hot. The big thing today was McAfee Knob. The view is great and much to my surprise, we are right outside Roanoke, Va. From the Knob, we were looking right over the airport and into downtown Roanoke. Looking out the other way were beautiful farms tucked in among the mountains. I was sharing the view with Cheetah, DVD, and Dnob. In spite of the camping ban ?? was staying the night and wanted me to join in but I was out of water and had to get to the Pig Farm Campsite for the next water source. The campsite was OK, but the water was less than appealing. It was a muddy spring with a pit covered by a trap door. The water looked stagnant, but it's the only water there is. Night time ended kind of magically as the lights of Roanoke dimly illuminated our camp.
Date: 2011-06-01
From: Pig Farm Campsite

To: Daleville, Va
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

   Got moving early today to try to beat the heat. The half mile walk along Tinkers Cliffs was fantastic. The trail actually runs along the edge of the cliffs for a 1/2 mile, a better view than McAfee Knob, in my opinion. The heat today became totally oppressive, somewhere in the mid-90's.   In the afternoon, the trail ran along a rocky ridgeline with so many PUD's (pointless ups and downs) that I was really starting to get pissed. There were some nice views, but when it's 96 degrees and there has been no water for 9 miles, no one cares about the view. At least I didn't. Finally, I get to the big powerlines and can see Daleville below me.    Somehow I got off trail, on some old trail I think, but managed to get back on to the official AT pretty quickly. At htis point, the heat is really getting to me and I'm not functioning at 100%. With only a 1/4 mile left to the road and town, I come upon Dnob and 3 paramedics. The heat got him; he's cramping up so bad, he can't even move to get onto the stretcher. I offer help, but they got it, so I head for town to avoid Dnob's fate. 100 yards from where the trail comes out at the road is a gas station with gatorade and ice cream. I grab a 32 oz gatorade and a pint of ice cream to cool off with before walking next door to Howard Johnson's to get a room. I get a shower and some food, but am still too burned out from the heat to accomplish anything that requires thinking.
Date: 2011-06-02
From: Daleville, Va

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

Taking a town day today. The air conditioner was not working so I changed rooms and got a good cold one. Took care of town chores and also found time for a nap. This evening had dinner at 3 Little Pigs BBQ with a bunch of the younger hikers then stopped by Kroger's to finish resupply. Also ordered new shoes.
Date: 2011-06-03
From: Daleville, Va

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hung out at Howard Johnson's until the last minute, even taking one last shower 1/2 hour before checkout. Still in no rush to leave town, I stopped by the outfitter to say Hi to Worldwide and fill up on white gas. Then a quick stop by the bank. Finally, ice cream and gatorade at the gas station next to the trail. Around 1pm, I finally started hiking out of town. Trail was pretty easy compared to most which is good considering I'm carrying a ton of food. Tented at Wilson Creek with a bunch of section hikers from Florida and Moses from Va.
Date: 2011-06-04
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Todays highpoint: I saw a turtle on the trail and got to watch a bear foraging on a hillside about 50 yards away as I filtered water. Today, I crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time. Most of the day I spent crisscrossing the Parkway along the actual Blue Ridge. It hasn't rained in about a week and water sources are running weak and the distances between them has really increased in this stretch. Felt good today about pulling a 20 mile day, but had to set up in the dark. I'll have to see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2011-06-05
To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

   Woke up at 3am by thunderstorm. It was so bright and loud there was no way to sleep so I got something to eat since I was up already. Took my time breaking camp and spent a little while writing as I finished breakfast. Today is all about climbing, starting out at 1302' and passing over Apple Orchard Mt. at 4225' with all the little ups and downs along the way. As i was crossing the bald at the top, a thunderstorm was approaching so I headed down to Thunder Hill shelter and called it a day. Bugs were terrible as I set up. Earthman showed up and we lit a fire to run off the bugs. Worked great and we had an enjoyable evening. The storm passed without a drop of rain. Heat is still in the forecast.   I've been writing aa lot of facts about my hike with the intention of filling in more after I finish and can sit down without having to think about the next miles, food, etc. But I know that I need to make some entries about how it feels too. This morning, I'm over 750 miles into my hike and I pulled a 20.7 mile day yesterday. On both counts, it's way more than any average person would ever consider and with good reason. When I look at myself, I can see that I'm pretty much out of bodyfat and I've lost some muscle mass also. I knew my body would start eating itself from the constant calorie deficit, but didn't expect it to start so soon. Traildust told me some things in Franklin that I didn't believe , but they are now coming to pass. 1)I don't feel bad, but I don't feel all that good. 2)Things like joints and muscles (my left knee) will just ache 24x7. 3)Attitude will be the biggest problem. The crazy thing is that in spite of all this, i continue to become a stronger hiker capable of doing higher mileage and traveling faster. I've goofed off most of the morning now and the no-see-ums are getting to me. Plan on 15miles with a 3000' climb for today. Guess I better get moving.
Date: 2011-06-06
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

   It was a cool night and I woke up to a beautiful morning surrounded by blooming rhododendrums. This hike would be easy if I could feel this way all the time. It's one of the times I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. If the bugs weren't so bad, it would be perfect. Gotta get moving to escape the gnats.   It seems Virginia has some of the best and some of the worst trail on the AT and today was a mix of both. Significant today was a 750' climb over a double summit rockpile with absolutely no view whatever, followed up by a punishing downhill. Textbook PUD on rough trail. The highpoint of the day was seeing a grouse playing hurt to protect her chicks. Also a first look at the James River from the ridgeline where a fire crew was mopping up hotspots after a small fire that originated in a dead stump along the trail. I was planning on going 4 more miles to the next shelter, but my left knee was killing me, so I stopped here at 6:00 giving me time for a nice relaxing dinner and evening all around. Dust made some seaweed wraps for everyone, so I had to try one out. A couple of zeros and a couple of low mileage days have put me into a new group of hikers.
Date: 2011-06-07
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

   Yesterday's downhills really beat up my knee, so I started on the Vit I (ibuprofen) today and it seems to be helping. Since we went down over 3000' yesterday, the only thing for the trail to do today is go back up. That's not such a bad deal for me though as uphill is way easier on my knees. Heat and humidity are rough this afternoon and that only seems to bring the bugs out even more. I crossed the James river and climbed the face of the mountain for some great views. I couldn't get a decent picture because the haze was so thick it messed up the exposure. The last climb of the day was over Bluff Mountain and past the memorial erected right where little 4 year old Ottie Cline Powell was found dead in 1891 after wandering away from a schoolhouse 7 miles away. This is important to know because it has been reported that Ottie occasionally shows up at the Punchbox shelter looking for help to find his way home. The gnats at Punchbox are fierce and even the fire doesn't run them off. Thankfully they pretty much disappear after dark. Maybe the gnats are afraid of ghosts.
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

   In spite of continuing to use aspirin and/or ibuprofen, mu left knee is pretty tender by 1pm. It's probably caused by another big downhill this morning. Heat and humidity seem high today, but bugs are not as bad as yesterday. Oh, I almost forgot, we did not see Ottie last night, nut there were plenty of weird noises, probably from the frogs in the pond and cars on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. I'm doing things a little different and breaking from 3-5 for dinner and a swim at Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. Swim felt great and the cold water really helped my knee.   I had a different experience today. I was walking in a secluded woods and I hear a phone ringing and I can't figure out from where. I round a corner on the trail and below me is a marina at Lynchburg Reservoir. The marina must have had an outside ringer on their phone. Got back on trail at 5:30 and started climbing. 5 miles and 2800" later, I reached the top drenched in sweat and pissed off that I had to climb yet another of Virginia's steep, poison-ivy covered rock piles with no view. Ended up hiking into Cow Camp Gap to try to find water. Couldn't find anything in the dark, so I just set up my tent and crawled in.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

   Woke up and could see the shelter and the spring that I couldn't find last night. Bugs were bad, but I made coffee and ate some cereal as I quickly broke camp. As I was hiking back up to the trail, I realized the trail does not care. Not how I feel, not what I think, not what I want. It exists indifferent to everything about me. I can choose to continue to thru hike or quit right now and the trail does not care. The high temps and humidity along with the bugs and long, dry ridge walks are taking a toll on me and everyone else. We are all just doing whatever we can to get through the next stretch. My knee is sore and makes it hard to walk at a decent speed. I'm almost out of aspirin. Just as I sit down to second breakfast and attempt to write some poetry about how the trail doesn't care, Lucky shows up. She asks how I'm doing and I tell her about my knee and even complain that I haven't even gotten any wild strawberries because they are never ready when I go through. Lucky tells me she has tons of NSAID's and gives me a nice mixed bag of them. I start taking 3 vitamin I every 4 hours and am able to hike at normal speed within a couple hours. Then as I finish a climb and hike onto a bald, ripe wild strawberries are everywhere. My mood has definitely improved. I've had an idea in my mind of a grassy ridge with views off both sides that I thought should be in Virginia. Today I saw it and some locals who were up there painting landscapes told me it was the only spot like that in the state. Later on I caught up with Lucky and thanked her for her help. We hiked together for a couple of miles talking to help pass the time. Got to Seeley-Woodworth shelter and cooked dinner. I was planning to move on but Guiness and Ally came in with Biscuit as I was saying goodbye to 2Bows, so I decided to stay here and hike the last 2 miles to the pickup for the Dutch haus B&B in the morning.
Date: 2011-06-10
From: Seeley-Woodworth shelter

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 0.0

   Got to the Dutch Haus this morning. I met up with 7 on the trail this morning and we hiked in together. Instead of sitting around the parking area for an hour, we walked the 1 1/2 miles in, stopping at the store for ice cream on the way in. Our free lunch was 2 hot dogs, potato salad and 1/2 an apple, plus dessert. After lunch, I took a shower and gave Lois my clothes to wash while I hung out in a bathrobe, talking to Bismarck and 7. The boots I ordered got here, but are too large, so I'll have to get a little more out of my old ones as I wait for replacements. Resupply at the store was weak, but I think I have enough for the 3 days to Waynesboro. Ate a second pint of ice cream before dinner. I hard boiled a dozen eggs as part of my resupply, since they were one of the only good priced things there. everything else was double what I usually have to pay. Dinner here was a very nice salad, chicken leg with pasta and fresh green beans and a brownie with ice cream for dessert. The only problem was I could easily have eaten another. Thank God, I got the second pint of ice cream. I'm in the bunkhouse now with 2 other guys, looking forward to sleeping on a mattress with clean sheets. Oh, I almost forgot this: all the store had was 2 packs (2 pills) of vitamin I for $0.79 each, so Lucky gave me some more so I can get to waynesboro. I have to think of some nice way to repay her.
Date: 2011-06-11
To: Tye River
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up at 7am for breakfast at the Dutch Haus B&B. Nice breakfast. Pancakes and eggs with cheese and bacon scrambled in. Dutch Haus meal rules are: if you can't finish it pass left. A regular guest didn't even touch her eggs, so she passed them to Lucky, who took 2 bites, then passed them to me. Who would have thought I would enjoy eating the leftovers from a stranger's plate so much? Got to the post office and mailed back my boots. Then back to the Dutch Haus for lunch: chicken salad with grapes, fruit and dessert. Then a ride back to the trail. I'm feeling pretty good today. Spy Rock was an easy climb to a nice 360degree view. Lots of dayhikers out today and i talked to quite a few. It's really hot today again. I stopped at Priest Mt shelter for water and met Trail Rocker. Stuck around Priest for a cup of coffee as I let a thunderstorm pass. The much dreaded climb down the Priest was long, but not painful (for my knee). Stealth camped with Fred and Lucky just across the Tye River. I just got set up and ate as a thunderstorm hit. Safe and dry in my tent, I'm calling it a night.