morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-12
From: campsite after Catawba Mountain shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

No bear run-ins last night, though I did wake up a couple of times thinking I heard one walking around. The first time I yelled at Sideways but he didn't hear anything. Today was a really tough mental day for both of us. Neither of us were into hiking today and physically I was dragging. I'm pretty sure I was dehydrated and it was so hot, the morning climb to McAfee's Knob felt brutal. The knob was cool and we got some good pictures, but my mind was just not quite there. I just had to keep reminding myself that we'd be in town the next day and thoughts of a shower and a bed kept me plodding along, though begrudgingly so. Right before I got to Tinker Cliffs, I stopped for a snack and a storm started to roll in. Sideways met up with me and we threw our pack covers on. I looked at my guidebook and realized there was a blue blaze trail somewhere close by that went around the cliffs in case of bad weather and given the amount of thunder and wind, we decided it would be safest to take the blue blaze. We couldn't find it, however and the skies opened up. We walked a little ways up a hill and saw a house of some sort and decided to try to take cover there. We bushwacked there and it ended up being some kind of abandoned hunting lodge. There was slaughtering equipment there and it was kind of creepy, but it kept us dry. We could see a trail to the side of the shelter and I walked down to see if it happened to be the blue blaze trail we were looking for, and it was. So once the rain slowed a little, we started hiking again. We also decided that given our moods and the rain, which did not look like it was going to let up, we would push on to town today and zero tomorrow. It was a tough walk due to our lack of motivation but we kept going. Right before we got to town I stopped to check how far away I was and ended up being stung four times by yellow jackets, three of which were on my face, because I set my pack down by a hive. It was icing on the cake of this crappy day, but we were only half a mile away from town, so I shrugged it off and kept hiking. We finally made it to the road and I don't think either of us have ever been so happy to get to a town. I can't wait to shower- I am abslutely disgusting.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Today was a great zero day. Aside from laundry and resupplying, we did absolutely nothing. We sat in our air conditioned hotel room watching movies and it was delightful. I heard from Ripple, Peach and Bam Bam and they're going to be getting into town tomorrow so we're going to wait around for them. Sideways also needs to see a dentist and may try to go while we're here. Though I feel pressure to get out of town and stop taking so much time off, I have little motivation to hike right now and something tells me that when our friends get in, we won't want to leave.
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Shocker- we didn't leave. Sideways got a dentist appointment for tomorrow and all of our friends are here and staying, so here we are. I'm trying really hard not to feel guilty about not leaving but the pressure of Maine looming over my head is ever present. It's been a really fun day though. It's Wingin It's birthday so a bunch of us took him to dinner and we spent the rest of the night hanging out in Ripple's room drinking wine and laughing. It feels great to be reunited with our friends and I am going to try to enjoy these moments without guilt. The trail will still be there when I'm ready to go.
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Daleville, VA

To: Fullhardt Knob shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

At least I got out of Daleville. It was so incredibly hot today, we waited out the heat and didn't leave town until almost 7 pm. We planned on hiking further but right as we were getting packed up to leave, we realized Sideways yet again was missing his shoes. We looked everywhere and never found them, so it looks like someone took them. We leave them outside generally because they are so nasty so we're guessing someone swiped them from outside the room. Who would want these beat up shoes that have hiked 700 plus miles, I don't know, but there you go. So he had to go back to the outfitter for a new pair. That, the heat and continued lack of motivation landed us a very late start, but at least we left. Ripple is still sick so she stayed an extra night, but me, Sideways, Peach, and Bam Bam made it to the first shelter, which we have all to ourselves. Peach and Bam Bam hiked out turkey dogs so we set up our tents, made a fire and grilled out. It ended up being a really nice night.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Fullhardt Knob shelter

To: Bobblets Gap shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

I made a fairly large mistake. It's been so hot lately, I haven't been using my sleeping bag, so I decided to send it home. The original plan was to find a liner or a summer bag for cheap at the outfitter in Daleville, but everything was really expensive so Sideways and I figured we'd make do without bags until Waynesboro, especially after my mom graciously offered to find cheap liners and mail them there for us. Well, it cooled off a decent bit last night and though I put on my down jacket and long johns, I was still pretty cold. I slept like a true bum, wearing all of my clothes with my rain jacket pulled over me, curled up in a ball. I smell like a bum, so I guess I might as well go all the way with it. Lesson learned, but something had to be done. Enter trail magic. Throughout the section of the trail from Daleville to Waynesboro, we cross the Blue Ridge Parkway several times, giving us access to generous people and appparently ample trail magic. At lunch, a nice biker gave us fruit cocktail cups and granola bars. At the end of the day, however, serious magic happened. We were just a couple of miles from our intended destination and we crossed the parkway again. Right as we were going through the parking area, two men, Ocean Joe and Mountain Joe, walked up to us and asked if we needed anything. Peach told them we needed a blanket and cold drinks and before we knew it, we were piled in their car headed for Buchanan. Buchanan ended up having little more than a gas station, so no blankets there, but cold drinks were obtained. When we asked the clerk at the gas station about a place to find a blanket, she mentioned there was a fire and rescue station a couple of blocks down the road so we stopped by there and they gave me a blanket! I ended up cutting it in half so Sideways could have one as well. I'm praying it works because last night was miserable. When we got back, we night hiked the last couple of miles and made it to the shelter. Ripple pulled a big mileage day today so she's here as well, which is always a pleasant reunion. There are a ton of people here so our camp spots are less than desirable, but we made it work. Here's hoping I stay warm tonight.
Date: 2010-06-18
From: Bobblets Gap shelter

To: Cornelius Creek shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

I will confess; we didn't actually hike all 18 miles today. It was a very strange day. No one slept very well last night- our camp spots weren't great, there was a raging snorer in the shelter and a very restless guy in a hammock. When I woke up in the morning, Sideways had already left. He couldn't sleep and just got out of there. I found him about a mile away at the road laying on his sleep pad. As evidenced by my frequent mention of decreased motivation in Virginia, we've had a touch of the doldrums lately and needed something to spice up the hike. When I met up with Sideways, he'd decided that he was going to hike the rest of the way to Waynesboro on the Blue Ridge Parkway; about 90 miles. I decided to join him and convinced Peach and Bam Bam to try it out, as well as Wingin It. Ripple is true to the trail so she opted out, but the rest of us set out on the road. Road walking is a totally different beast. The heat is more intense, the gnats are horrific and the feet and legs take an alternative beating. It was pretty fun at first; we were getting way better views than in the woods and it was something different. We made it to a lake called the Peaks of Otter and decided to have lunch at the lodge. After lunch and a drink, we all sat by the lake for a while. Sideways started talking about getting off of the trail for a while because he's having serious motivation issues and I started feeling restless to get back to it. After a long break we started walking the road agan, minus Wingin It- he's been sick and is getting off the trail. We didn't have much of a plan and after a few miles of wandering and a misguided plan to camp at a waterfall that didn't work out, we found ourselves at dusk with no place to call home for the night. Enter some of the best trail magic yet. A man named John Hastings drove up and asked us if we'd like pancakes, eggs, sausage, and OJ...of course we do. He'd been at a shelter close by providing trail magic for hikers and had some leftover supplies. So we sat on the side of the road at a overlook while he cooked us breakfast for dinner on a stove out of the back of his truck. The food was amazing and after eating, he mentioned we were very close to a road that would take us to the next shelter on the trail, so we hitched a short ride up the road and hiked to a campsite right next to the shelter. I'm finished with road walking, but I'm glad I did it today. It gave me the break I needed to remember how much I love the trail. I think it was just what I needed to get my head back in the game. As for Sideways, he's still saying he's going to get off of the trail tomorrow. The shoes he bought in Daleville are bothering him and causing his knee pain to come back. Hopefully he'll change his mind after a good night's sleep, but if not, I may be on my own for awhile.
Date: 2010-06-19
From: Cornelius Creek shelter

To: Matts Creek shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

It feels really great to be back on the trail and to put in a good day of hiking. Sideways woke up feeling a little better so he's going to try to make it to Waynesboro as planned. I felt good today- my head is definitely back to where it should be. We all planned to try to make it 17 miles, but it looks like Peach and Bam Bam stopped a bit short because they never showed up at the shelter. Sideways and I are going to try to hitch into Glascow tomorrow to resupply for the stretch to Waynesboro, but we're definitely not going to stay in town. I don't think there's much going on in Glascow, which will help keep us from being tempted to spend the night. After tomorrow's pit stop, the goal is to get to Waynesboro in five days or under, not zero and start the Shenandoahs. We feel a little behind, but I think we can easily make up some time and still finish the hike in time. We are getting very close to being halfway finished with the trail, which is both extremely exciting and a little sad.
Date: 2010-06-20
From: Matts Creek shelter

To: Johns Hollow shelter
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I forgot to mention in my journal yesterday something really cool that happened. When I got to a shelter for a quick break, there were three past thru hike attempters; a couple and a man. They attempted to thru hike in 1988 and made it about 1500 miles. I talked to them for awhile, they gave me a cold coke and a snickers and went on their way. A few minutes later, while Sideways and I were breaking, the woman walked back and asked a favor. The other man they were with, who they hadn't seen since they hiked together in 1988, Bandana Man, wasn't able to complete his thru hike because he has muscular dystrophy. She had with her the bandana he carried in 1988, signed by several hikers from that year, and asked one of us to carry it with us. I volunteered to carry it with me all they way to Katahdin for him. So now I have yet another reason to make it all they way.Back to today. Our mileage was low today because we had to go into Glasgow to resupply to get to Waynesboro. The town is off the trail so we had to hitch a ride in and out. There wasn't much to the town, but it gets my vote as friendliest town we've stopped into on the trail. Everyone was super friendly and wanted to talk to us. We resupplied at the Dollar General and because the town's only motel closed down, the town built a shelter for hikers with a shower in a field close by. The shower was cold but it was a great surprise to be able to bathe. We both washed our hiking clothes in the shower as well and let them air dry while we packed our food bags. We went to eat at the town's only restaurant and as we started walking back to the main strip, a really nice woman offered to give us a ride. She couldn't believe our story when we told her about the trail and what we were doing- it's always really difficult yet very entertaining to try to explain this journey and why we're doing it to someone who doesn't even know about the trail. We hitched back in the early evening and had just enough time to hike a couple of miles to the first shelter. Tomorrow morning we begin the first of what appears to be a difficult stretch of trail with several 3,000 ft. climbs.
Date: 2010-06-21
From: Johns Hollow shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: few clouds

We had a nice 3,000 ft. climb to start the day today. It was sweltering and I was immediately drenched, but it felt good to climb a decent mountain, which we haven't had to do in a while. I made it down the mountain to the parkway for lunch and Sideways made it a little while later, so we sat by the road in the shade for a while and after talking to some past hikers that stopped by, we were able to score some cold sodas, which is always amazing. I left lunch first and had an incredible animal afternoon. Shortly after setting out, I heard rustling up the mountain and saw a bear running up the hill away from me. It's always a bit scary to see a bear but it was far enough away and was obviously trying to get away from me so it was a cool sight. Soon thereafter, I heard rustling again close by and because I was on the lookout and on the defense after spotting the bear, I was a bit nervous when I saw an animal running straight toward me. It ended up being a small fawn that stopped about 50 ft. away from me. It was a curious fawn and we spent some time checking one another out and I was able to get some great pictures. I stopped at a bridge for a break and Sideways caught up to me. After we started hiking again the trail took us around Pedlars lake and we were getting frustrated that it was so close but the trail didn't appear to take us down to the water. I spotted a steep trail that went down to it so we went for it and took a quick swim. It's been so hot that you can't pass up an opportunity like that. We were still able to get to the shelter by dark and were pleasantly surprised to find Yum Yum and Herro here, who are always a lot of fun to be around. We're tented by a creek tonight and tomorrow morning brings yet another 3,000 ft. climb to start the day.
Date: 2010-06-22
From: Brown Mountain Creek shelter

To: Montebello, VA
Miles today: 18.1

We started the morning with an immediate 3,000 ft. climb up Bald Knob, followed immediately by another 1,000 ft. climb up Cold Mountain. I felt good and the climbs weren't too tough, though we haven't had so many large climbs like this in some time. Bald Knob was viewless on top, which was disappointing after such a hefty climb, but Cold Mountain was beautiful. There were great views and long rolling hills of tall grass and wildflowers. At the bottom of the mountain, I found a great lunch spot by an apple tree and spent two hours eating and laying in the shade. The afternoon wasn't as tough but it was really hot and water was scarce. I stopped at the last shelter for a quick break before moving on to the campsite we planned on staying in but the gnats were so bad I had to cut the break short and keep moving. On my way out I ran into Sideways, who'd been hiking without water for the last seven miles, so he wasn't in the best mood. I hiked on and met him at the campsite. We looked in the handbook and realized we were only a few miles from a hostel, so we decided to hike there for the night. When we got to the hostel, which was 2.5 miles off of the trail (making this really a 20 mile day), it was full. The woman that ran the hostel, the Dutch Haus, offered to take us to a nearby campsite and pick us up for breakfast the next morning. So we're camping tonight afterall, but there are showers here and promises of a nice home cooked breakfast in the morning.
Date: 2010-06-23
From: Montebello, VA

To: Maupin Field shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Breakfast at the Dutch Haus this morning was incredible and really set the day off well. It's amazing how much good, wholesome food can matter to your energy level out here. The bad part was that while the handbook indicates that the owners will take you back to the trail head, they really only take you part of the way, so we added an extra very steep, very rocky mile to the morning. After I finally made it back up to the trail, I immediately climbed spy rock, followed by a climb up The Priest. I made it down to the Tye River for lunch and geared up for the third and final 3,000 ft climb up Three Ridges. I ate some chocolate covered coffee beans which have proved to be a nice little boost before a climb and started up the mountain. I ran into Herro and Yum Yum at a shelter part way up the mountain and Sideways caught up to us as well. We all trudged up the mountain separately but it felt good knowing it was the last substantial climb for some time. The walk down seemed endless but I finally made it to the shelter. It's just the four of us here tonight and Sideways and I have decided to try to push 21 miles tomorrow to make it into Waynesboro. Promises of a bed, shower and a day off are excellent motivators.
Date: 2010-06-24
From: Maupin Field shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

We did not get the early start intended this morning and about six miles into the hike today it was sweltering and I was wondering how in the world we were going to make it to town in time to hitch before dark. Enter trail magic. I was just about to get to a road crossing (praying for beverages per usual) and I saw a note on the trail. I always read them, though I know they're never for me, and was surprised to see my name on it. It was a note from Wingin It telling me to wait at the road so he could slack pack me to Waynesboro. I ran up to the road and there he was with a cooler full of drinks and a day pack for me. I pounded a gatorade and an orange soda, packed the day pack with a little food and water and set off. It felt so strange to hike without a full pack but I was able to fly up the trail. I did take one bad spill, banging my knee and elbow on a rock but I walked it off and kept going. I ended up finishing the 21 miles by 5:30, right as it started storming. Wingin It was waiting for me in his car at the road and we waited for Sideways. Once he got there we went into town and checked into the Quality Inn, where Yum Yum, Herro and several other hikers are staying. We didn't plan on taking a zero here but because we got into town a day early, we're going to stay tomorrow. Wingin It has also offered to slack pack us through all of the Shenandoahs so we can make up some time and make it to Harpers Ferry by the first of July, which I believe we're all going to take him up on. Now for a much needed bath.
Date: 2010-06-25
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero days are great, but only one is tough because you don't actually get to rest much. Most of the day is spent doing laundry, resupplying, going to the post office, etc. It's always 8:00 before you know it and the day is shot. I was able to pick up some new shoes and a sleeping bag liner at the post office (thanks mom!) and purchased a water filter at the outfitter. I have been using polar pure, which is primarily iodine, since my steri pen never works and I'm over it. The taste is pretty bad and the water sources have not been the best lately so I decided to invest in a filter. Sideways got his sent out to him and I've been able to use it a few times and loved it. So I picked up the same one; an MSR Hyperflow. Hopefully this will be my last gear purchase aside from maybe one more pair of shoes. I'm switching to trail runners for awhile now that it's so hot- I'm trying out some Salomans.On a different note, I want to spend a minute talking about the crazy things that happen to a hiker's body while out here. It's a topic most hikers spend a great deal of time talking about but not one I've seen mentioned in a lot of journals. While most people lose weight and tone up, terrible things also happen to one's body. Right now, I am missing a layer of skin on both heels and have burn-like blisters on the tops of my feet from my feet rubbing against my boots. I have a mixture of poison ivy and bug bites surrounding my ankles- there's so much going on down there, I'm not really sure what's what. I have heat related red bumps on my upper legs and I sometimes smell worse than I ever thought my body was capable of smelling. I have pain in my ankles and knees on a pretty regular basis and usually if I take a day off, my ankles and feet swell. It's pretty nuts to see what happens to your body when you do something like this to it, but it's all part of it- battle wounds.Tomorrow we start hiking in Shenandoah National Park and begin the final stretch of Virginia. I can't explain how great it will feel to be finished with Virginia and hit 1,000 miles.
Date: 2010-06-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Gap
Miles today: 19.3

I believe this is the first day I've ever managed to get out of a town after a zero and put in a full day of hiking. It helped of course that we were slackpacking, but I'm proud nonetheless. The four of us; me, Sideways, Yum Yum, and Herro are all going to be hiking together and slackpacking with Wingin It until Harpers Ferry, which we should be able to hike to by next weekend if we keep high mileage. We got a fairly early start and made our way into Shenandoah. The hiking today was easy and according to Wingin It, who has hiked the entire park, the terrain today was a good representation of what to expect for the next week, which is refreshing. There aren't really mountains to climb and a significant portion is flat, so the miles come easy. We made it to Blackrock Gap at a reasonable hour and decided to camp on an adjacent fire road so we could cook dinner tonight and breakfast the next morning without hauling all of the gear up to the shelter. Another major advantage to slackpacking is Wingin It has coolers and tons of car camping gear so we can cook real food...and endless beverages, which I'm always a fan of. We cooked dinner and were getting ready to set up camp but as Sideways started making his way down to the area we'd scoped, he yelled that there was a bear right where we were going to camp. I have to admit I didn't believe him initially, but we all went to look and sure enough there was a nice sized bear just hanging out right there by the parking lot. We made noise and yelled at him, but he didn't move. In fact, he got closer. Time for plan B. We loaded into the car and drove to a campsite close by to camp well away from the bear. This makes the third bear I've seen and the second time I've had to leave a campsite because of one of them. We set up our tents quickly and now it's bedtime.