morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I wole up and got my stuff organized and checked out after checking Trailjournals on the hotel computer. I also call home and talk to Lynne. I walk down the street with my pack on and stop at Hardie's for breakfast. ALmost everyone in town waves hello as they drive by. After breakfast I walk down to the Rendezvous Hotel and pick up a birthday card from Beth and family and buy some fuel for my stove. Then it's back on the trail out of town. I wished I could say it was beautiful but the trail goes over a bridge past a factory which you can hear most of the day. When I got futher into the forest things go better and I soon reached a beautiful grassy bald with spectacular views. This is where the Rice Field Sheter is. I stopped and had a lunch and laid down thinking about taking a nap in the sun on the nice grass. I almost was out when I realized I better bet going if I was going to make miles today. I packed up and started. The weather was perfect, sunny blue skies and a nice breeze. Today's hike would be about 20 miles, not bad for leaving town at 10:30 am. I reached the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter about 8:30, just as it was getting dark. C-Ram and CanDo were the only ones there. I claimed my spot and started setting up. I had to get water at the stream and then start dinner. Tonight I ate good and had a good appetite. I got ready for sleep and fell into dream world.
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, you can hear the creek nearby and the morning was cool. CanDo had gotten up early and quietly and left. CRam and I slept pm amd finally gotup and ready to hike. I went to get water and when I returned he was gone. I probably won't see him again since he is a young, stron hiker. My feet aren't feeling too great, I don't know if it is the new boots or the rocky trail yesterday. I have blisters again. After a few hours I reach the Barley Gap Shelter and have a good lunch alone. Then a group of weekend hikers arrive, we talk, and I leave soon after. My feet are really acting up today and the trail turns very rocky so my progress is slow. I run into some hikers named Dogman and Buglady who through hiked in 98 with the same dogs they were with today. We had a nice talk and they decided to tent at the War Spur Shelter. I had the shelter to myself which was strange. I got water from the creek and started dinner. I decided I'd like a campfire so built a nice one and enjoyed it by myself until around 9 pm. I was getting ready to go to the sleeping bag when I heard loud crunching of leaves and twigs in the woods. I turned my headlamp on and could see two eyes looking at me so I went out to see what was wathcing me. It was a large raccoon who was waiting for my fire to go out so he could look around for food. I made sure my food was secure and got into my bag and finished this entry. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow but it will be another wonderful day in the woods, whatever I decide to do. Good night all, I hope I don't have any ringtailed visitors.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept late again. First up at 6:00 am then 6:30 then 7 then 8. Begin to rise and stretch, soon after organizing my stuff and packing. No visitors last night. It's a peaceful morning and I'm listening to the songbirds sing and the creek nearby. I like sleeping near a creek. I decide to boil water and make a hot breakfast as the day is cool and I am happy. Today I have several mountains to visit. I'm writing this at Sarver Hollow Shelter which is at mile marker 666! Oh well, at least I'm not alone. I thought I'd be here alone, but Casey Jones and Doodles walk up in the dark about 8:30 so I am protected from the devil. Today I walked to Kelly's Knob, a rocky overlook, and had lunch. It was beautiful. The clouds were casting shadows on the mountains and the new leaves gave the mountains a special color. I called Lynne to hear her voice. I was alone all day. Later I walked out into a large valley of pastures and farms and walked across hearing cows and donkeys. The field had many stiles to get over the fences. Later on I went by Keffer Oak, a 300 year old oak that was very large. I had one more mountain and just when I was running out of steam I saw the shelter sign - .25 miles to the shelter. My ass, it was straight down another rocky trail that went forever. (That's a slight exageration - it seemed like it as I was tired). The shelter is very nice with a covered porch and a picnic table. Very clean and with a fancy privey. Too bad it was so far off the trail. I'll finish now so maybe I can talk awhile with Casey Jones and Doodles. Once, when we were in Damascus, Lone Wolf said Vasey Jones looks like a very young Bob Dylan. I think he's right.
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

Woke to a pretty morning. Many songbirds are singing as I wake and begin the morning ritual of eating breakfast, packing everything and deciding where I'm going. My hike began at 8am with a warm up to the top of the ridge. Then I went down to the Niday Shelter for a break. My lunch stop. The trail is taking me through ever changing parts of the spring season. What once was brown is now green. The new leaves are out and spring wildflowers are in bloom. The new leaves rustling in the wind sounds different than when it was whistling through the bare branches. Light and shade are now more interesting and some of the openness of the woods is now changed to a more intimate world. I now feel better walking through this daily walk of ups and downs all day until I decide I've had enough. Sometimes I need to rest even when I'm doing something this perfect. Later in the day I reached the sign for Pickel Branch Shelter, along with Casey Jones and Doodles. The shelter is .5 miles off the trail. We decide to go in and get water and continue on the trail. We heard that it was going to rain, so Casey Jones and Doodles decided to stay at the shelter and get an early start on a long day. I decided to hike on and as I reached the summit of the ridge I cold see storm clouds blowing in. It looked so bad that I put my pack cover on, along with my rain jacket. I walked on, up and over then down and up and over along numerous ridge tops, when it began to get sunny behind me. Up in front of me I saw the perfect rainbow, end to end, each end in a different side of the ridge in its own valley. I took it as a sign that I would find a campsite on these rocky ridges. I walked down into a nice, flat camping spot and just had enough time to set up and get dinner before dark. It did rain but by the middle of the night the stars were out and the wind dried off my tent by morning. That worked out perfectly!
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Campsite

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

I was up and out early. The hike is on a ridgeline and goes through some interesting and challenging tops ending with the Dragon's Tooth. This is hard and requires foot maneuvers to get up and over this rocky ridgetop with rocky trail approaches. When I reached the junction of trails with a sign saying PARKING LOT, a dayhiker named Rolling Stone (when he through hiked SOBO)showed me his map and said it would be better to continue to VA624. He wished me luck on my through hike. Today I focused on the wildflowers - they are everywhere. I stopped many times and took many pictures which I'll send home to Lynne when I get to Daleville. Before I reach VA624 I come upon a cooler and a campseat. On the top of the cooler is a cool, artistic print done by Southpaw, a trail angel. Inside the cooler are many different drinks, a bag of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and homemade peanut butter bars and snack items. The above had been delivered today and I was the first one to it. I had my craving for a soda and I ate an apple pie. I wrote thanks in his journal and reluctantly headed on. I reached the road not too much longer down the trail. I decided to walk to a store and came out shortly after with a cheeseburger, sausage in a bun, a bottle of orange juice, another dinner and some lunch items and a bottle of Obipoku. Oh, and a six pack of beer. I ate what I could and packed the rest, was ready to head out when I heard my name called out by someone in a van. It was Rolling Stone, who drove me back to the trailhead. I started out and went up and over many ridges, through pastures and farmland. Up and over stiles as I cross property lines, to the trail to McAfee Knob. Highly anticipated, and now I am here! The hike up is a nice climb to a breathtaking view from the knob. A friendly dayhiker was up on the knob and agreed to take my picture. It was very windy and I kept a safe distance from the edge. I walked around as there were other viewpoint knobs. I don't know why McAfee gets all the press, the others are equally breathtaking. As I walked around, I happened upon Sidewinder hiking with Marie and another friend named Zack. We had a nice talk and Sidewinder pointed out where the trail was headed. He has hiked this area many times. We all walked to the next shelter, Campbell Shelter. They were tent camping and I would stay in the shelter. Tonight I am alone again in the shelter. First, we all cook dinner and talk. Sidewinder has already prepared the fire for lighting at the proper time toward the end of dusk. As the fire glows, it becomes the perfect fire composed of logs and smaller branches giving off some welcome heat. We stay up late and I am now completing this entry at past midnight.This evening was perfect. The breeze, the fire, the company and, oh yeah, I forgot the best thing. Sidewinder has an IPOD with speakers and has the best catalog of songs you could pick. A sweet evening.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

As I wake and prepare breakfast I have another time to talk with Sidewinder, Marie and Zack. I wish I could continue with them because they are such great company. I reflect back on my first few days on the trail when I was lucky enough to have spent several days with Sidewinder and his Dad Sourdough and their great dogs. Seeing him again I am aware of what a great outdoorsman he is and if you can judge a person by his friends, Sidewinder is very special. I can't imagine meeting anyone nicer than Marie and Zack. Marie supports Sidewinder's hike and is really into the whole experience, she has met many hikers in person and keeps up with many trailjournals, hoping to hear someone has mentioned Sidewinder, so she can fill in the blanks. Marie, as you know, he is doing fine and you should be proud to be part of his success on and off the trail. We all need someone to help us do this and I appreciate all the help we get. Without Lynne, I could not pull this off and I'm sure Sidewinder feels the same.Today starts out with a perfect dark blue sky framed by the beautiful young spring leaves. I walk along a rollercoaster of hills along a ridgeline. The songbirds are active and I can hear the flies and bees humming along the way. I have stopped to put my bandana on my head, and am breaking in the shade of some boulders the size of houses. All is good. Resuming my hike feeling refreshed, I came upon a samll monument with a smiley face and Follow Your Dreams. It's cool, because I am doing just that, and am happy. I walk up to Tinker Cliffs. It's an uphill grind to get there, but the views are magnificent. It's as good, or maybe better, than the knobs. I take a lunchbreak at the perfect spot and celebrate with a soda I carried up from Catawba. The trail goes along the cliffs for a while and the rock formations and views are incredible. I love this place. It would make a great weekend hike. I take a lot of pictures here and think one bordered with pine branches came out sweet. Reluctantly I walk on down to the Lambert's Meadow shelter for another short break. I'm happy the rest of the day's 9-10 miles will be easy, but soon discover I will be challenged by many rocky climbs before the day ends. Later, I am talking to myself saying "I'm beaten and have had enough, please be the last mountain." About two more ridges later I am heading down at about 6pm and arrive at a highway in Daleville about 7pm. Almost immediately I see CaseyJones and Doodles walking with grocery bags and call out to them. They are staying at Howard Johnsons and I do too, arranging to meet them at a Mexican restaurant at 8pm. I get to my room, and LowKey, 4Today, Sasparilla and Crumbs with Bandit are in the room next to me. Sasparilla is having knee soreness and they are resting. Crumbs is sitting on the curb in front of the room cooking a hot dog using a bic lighter. It seems like a new low, considering we have microwaves in our rooms. I have a picture as proof of this cooking technique. The Mexican restaurant is good and I partake in some Dos Equis beer.
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Daleville VA

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

A zero in Daleville, breakfast, laundry. I decide to launder my clothes twice to help with the scent. Cinco de Mayo! Back to the Mexican restaurant for dinner. Picked up my mail at the PO and received birthday cards and chocolate chip cookies from Jill. Thank you!! I will carry them back into the woods. Spent some time talking to Zack who I met yesterday zeroing at the Lambert's Meadow shelter. Ran into Ajax and ate dinner with him and his hiking group.
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Daleville VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke, got organized and struggled to pack all my food into the pack. It weighs a lot today. I will leave in a few minutes, but first I'll make a call to Lynne before I heading out of town. I've got about 4 days of food and plan on making it to Glasgow for the next resupply. The trail enters a wooded area across the highway from the hotel. It's nice to be able to jump back into the woods from town. The hike starts gently and I quickly feel better now that I am walking in the woods. Eventually I start going over stiles to get across fences, then up to the forest. After about 5 miles I reach the sign for shelter and walk to the Fulhardt Knob shelter for a lunch break. Thru hiker Dirt is there and a day hiker looking for mushrooms. The day hiker talks about the medicinal qualities of some plants and mushrooms, but it seems like he has another reason in mind. After a nice lunch I move along through nice rolling trail to the Wilson Creek Shelter. There is a tent set up there with two thru hikers, Lady Green and Sir Wounded Knee. As I'm sitting here deciding what to do, Ajax and Freight Train roll in. We talk, and they cook a quick dinner, then we walk down to the water source and talk some more before returning to the trail. They decide to go on and we say our goodbyes and wishes for a good hike. I really miss Ajax and it was good to see him. He's in good company and hiking strong, so I am happy for him. I return to the shelter and am deciding what to do when I see Marie and Tucker, the dog, approaching from the trail. She is looking very happy to have made it to the shelter. I am confused because I thought she and Sidewinder were a day or so ahead of me and I would not see them. They had gone into town so we were even again. Sidewinder then walks in after stopping at a creek for water. I am very happy to see them as they are great company. We gather firewood and after dinner get a nice fire going. We sit and talk by the fireside into the night. Later, after they have gone to their tent and I am in the shelter, I hear something large crashing around in the woods. I shine my headlamp into the dark several times and can't find what it is. Eventually I fall asleep and am not visited by the mystery creature during the night.
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bobbet's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I have slept very late. I made breakfast and I'm catching up on my journal at the picnic table in front of the shelter. Soon I am gathering firewood and making a fire from the coals left from last night. It starts to rain and eventually the drops make it through the leaf protection and the forest is wet. I keep the fire going and feel lazy today. I find myself considering hiking options that are short today. It's after lunchtime and I haven't made a move to start walking. The fire is still burning despite the rain and I am content to sit on the edge of the shelter out of the rain and listen to the drops while the day plays out. I only have so much food to get to Glasgow so eventually I must move onward.   I called Lynne, she was at a bike race, and talked to her about the grandkids' races and her summer plans. I am homesick but happy to be where I am at the same time. At about 4pm I start out in the rain and walk slowly, since I have my rain gear on and I don't want to work up a sweat. I walk through some gentle rolling forest for about 7 miles and arrive at Bobbet's Gap Shelter. Uber Dude and Bandit are there and announce that there is no room. They have all their wet gear all over the shelter and it's a mess. I can't say what I replied, but I made room. It was a damp, cold night. In the morning I was not very motivated, again, to get going.
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Bobbet's Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke to UberDude's alarm clock, which he let play out since he had ear plugs in. Go figure. I went back to sleep and didn't get going until 11 am. It was damp, rainy and cold. Today's walk was in rain, then clearing with misty conditions, turning colder as the day went on. The path crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway several times at overlooks, but there was no view as I was in the clouds. I reached Cove Mountain Shelter and had lunch and moved on. It was 3pm and 49 degrees. The trail went over a few hills but on the whole it was gentle. Today's walk was between 13-14 miles, and I arrived at the shelter at 6 pm. Lady Green and Sir Wounded Knee and two weekend hikers had set up their tents in the shelter. The shelter is big enough for 20 and deluxe. I will stay the night and have begun cooking and eating, now I will clean up and hang my bear bag. I haven't been hanging a bear bag lately, instead hanging it from a mouse proof hanger in the shelter, but everyone else has done it outside, so I will comply tonight. It's going on 8pm and everyone else is going to sleep. I will wait until it gets dark. Good night.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter 

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Started out about 9:30 am. The weather is cool and damp. It looks like it will rain. The Bryant Ridge Shelter is next to a creek and at a pretty low elevation, the hike today goes up over Floyd Mountain at 3560 feet! It's a good up but the trails are nicely graded with long switchbacks most of the time. I stopped at the Cornelius Creek Shelter for lunch and found no water there. The weather turned for the worse and I was walking in a thick mist in the clouds. Soon after it started raining. I already had my pack cover on so I kept going, wearing my shorts and short sleeved shirt on even though it was 49 degrees and raining. My body was generating enough heat as long as I kept walking and I had fuel to burn. I passed through the Guillotine, where hikers pass through large boulders with a smaller boulder suspended over their heads. Eventually I made it to the Thunder Hill Shelter. It was cold and wet and I was thinking about speding the night. The next shelter is about 12 miles away and it was getting late, so I claimed my spot and settled in. Soon after, Lady Green and Sir Wounded Knee arrived and then came the Maine Train group. Most of the Maine Train pressed on, but Novacaine and Buttercup decided to stay. We had an early dinner and I tried to start a fire but everything was too wet. I am sitting on the edge of the shelter writing my journal. It is staying light until about 8:30. I had a big conversation about people we know in common (on the trail) and also discussed was Bandit's decision to go off trail today. My thoughts are with you, Bandit, and I hope you work things out and do what's best for you. You are a strong hiker and the trail will always be here for you when and if you decide to return. I am listening to the songbirds as they sing their best, just before I retire. Good night all.
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Commercial Campground
Miles today: 14.6

Up and out by 7:30 am and hiking on a great trail. Arrived at a special viewpoint and looked out over a valley filled with low clouds. Then walked through a high ridge covered with wildflowers. The morning's long shadows make for a picturesque walk. The trail was graded over many ridges then down a long series of switchbacks to a nice creek, site of Matt's Creek Shelter. I went downcreek and washed up and rinsed my clothes. I left my shirt to dry in the sun while reading the shelter register.   I found out that the Mom and Pop hotel where I had planned on staying and resupplying was closed. I waited for Lady Green and Sir Wounded Knee and we walked out to the road across the longest footbridge on the trail, crossing the James River. We hitched a ride to a commercial campground and each rented a small cabin. They picked up their maildrop and gave me some extra food. The shop there at the campgound was slim pickins, I was grateful. We met an AT hiker named John who gave me some food as well and offered to drive us back to the trail. John and his family were staying there in their Airstream while John hiked sections of the trail. John was very knowlegeable and offered us much good advice. Thanks John! We really appreciate all your help.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Commercial Campground

To: Punch Bowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

John picked us up at 8:30 and drove us to the spot where we left the trail. We immediately started up and it started to rain. We walked 10+ miles in the rain and clouds and wind until we reached the Punch Bowl Shelter. It was a very cold and rainy day so we stopped. The Maine Train group was also here and heading out to the next shelter, which is 10 more miles. With their group the shelter would be full. We decided to stay. There's a pond by this shelter and we are serenaded by many Virginia Peepers. The small frogs are very loud and their noise is like a lullabye, making me very sleepy. I will end for today - I am so lucky and happy to be here.