morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Zero Day (Holy Family Church Hostel)

To: Zero Day (Holy Family Church hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Bill picked me up this morning about 8:30. He drove me and Moleman to the PO and showed me where the laundry mat was. I brought the towels from the hostel which needed washing too. On the way back to the hostel I stopped at the Library to update the journal. I was on a computer about an hour before I had to give it up. They have a limited number of terminals and some were reserved. I waited for another one and here I am now. The library closes in about 15 minutes so I finished just in time.Later today I will walk to Wal-Mart and get some things needed for the hostel. It is a cool pace. It's a converted barn with a large common room, a reading room, a kitchen, bathroom, shower, woodstove and the upstairs loft is used for sleeping up to 10 hikers.Tomorrow morning I plan on going to the 11:30 a.m. church service then make a short day on the trail. I am not sure when I will see a computer again. It might be Waynesboro, VA which is over 200 miles north.
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Holy Family Church hostel

To: Zero Day (Holy Family Church hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to take a 2nd zero day. My ankles still feel pretty stiff. This morning I made french toast for Lewabeth and me after finding out that the pancake mix I found in the fridge wasn't edible. We topped the toast with strawberries I got from the produce store at the bottom of the hill.I went to the 11:30 a.m. mass at the church. It was Palm Sunday and I took the Palm and put it up in the hostel. Following the service a helpful man offered me a ride and told me about the places where I could eat in town today. I hadn't planned on going anywhere just yet so I walked back to the hostel. There were 3 other visitors there who had attended the service. We talked and they also offered me a ride. A bit later I was visied by Robert Carter, a local massage therapist who works with the Virginia Tech athletes. We talked a while about what it is like living in Pearisburg and Giles county. Sounds like a nice friendly place to reside.Later I walked to Wal-Mart and Wendys for lunch and then just relaxed around the hostel. Late in the afternoon Jolly Green Giant came in with Yahtzee and Woody Crowe (who kind of looks like a cross between Woody Allen and Russell Crowe). Jolly and I tried to catch up on who's who and who's where.It was a gorgeous day. Lots of sun but it didn't really get warm until after noon. The morning wind kept it cool earlier in the day.
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Holy Family Church Hostel

To: campsite
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

I am departing Pearisburg after I finish this update. This morning I did cheese omelettes, home fries, beans and sausage for Jolly and I. The other two opted for cereal (Huh?). Lewabeth headed out earlier. Think maybe they went to find a restaurant for breakfast.It was about a 15 minute walk to the library. Everything feels good. My pack didn't seem too heavy even though I have a weeks worth of food. The extra day of rest helped my knees and ankles.
Date: 2006-04-11
From: campsite

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

(Been a while since I've had access to the net. Would have been another week but I stopped in at the Dutch Haus B&B in Montebello, VA. Today is actually April 21st).Pretty long day today. I am sitting on Wind Rock waiting for the sun to set, but it looks like the clouds may get in the way. I haven't seen any other living person since leaving Pearisburg except for some locals driving along the road. The bridge over Stony Creek was out so I had to take another detour.I went about 4 miles farther than I had planned but I finished dinner at Bailey Gap shelter around 5:15, so with a few hours of ligt left I pushed on.The sky was clear so I slept under the stars again. About 10:00 p.m. I woke up to a strange sound, a bunch of girls singing. I thought maybe I was dreaming of harpies or something, but a group of girls walked in from the trail head 2/10th a mile away and set up camp right next to wind rock. I was just down the trail a bit. I don't think they knew I was there.It was a good weather day today. About 75 and no humidity. I have a fabulous hiker tan, you know, my face, upper neck and from the short sleeves down on my arms and from the bottom of my shorts down to my socks!Never did get a good sunset picture.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Campsite

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Knee and ankle joints felt prety good today. I did take a lot of breaks but that made for poor time. I passed the Keffer Oak which is the 2nd largest oak tree on the AT. It was pretty massive. I could see its gigantic upper limbs before I could even see the trunk.There was a 1000' climb after that and I was really tired. Just no energy. Some days are just better than others. When I got to the shelter, I met Wabash and Pothandle, a couple from Indiana who were out SOBO section hiking for a few weeks. Nice folks. I went down to the water source and flushed some deer. Saw 2 run away and heard a few others breaking brush.Sarvers Hollow is a nice shelter, but, as the name implies, it was a steep, rocky 3/10th of a mile down into a hollow. It was built in 2001 and has a real wood covered porch. There are also some old ruins near the water source and many piles of rock that ran along the ridge near the shelter and along the trail at the top of the main ridge. I think they might be Civil War redoubts.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Hatteras Jack stopped at Sarvers Hollow for water this morning about 8 a.m. He is doing some really insane mileage. Today he was shooting for 36 so he could get to southern BBQ night at The Home Place in Catawba. After he left we had a morning shower. I was hoping for a good steady rain so I could take a zero in the shelter. Believe Wabash and Pothandle were going to take a day of rest there too. It cleared up so I was on my way around 10 a.m. Woody Crow caught up to me before reaching Niday shelter and we stopped there for lunch. I left while he was pumping water and he caught me about 2 hours later while I was taking a break climbing the gigantic side of a ridge toward the Audie Murphy monument. I stopped at the monument for a picture. Murphy had died in a plane crash near the area in the early 70's (not exactly sure of the date).Seeing more wildlife. Reptiles are really coming out. Saw tons of lizards and also a chipmunk and another deer. At Pickle Branch met a few more section hikers camped down by the wtaer source, Cross Cut, Prometheus and Bushman.Another bad day physically. I put on clean socks and everything but that didn't help. My dirty, stand up in the corner sox felt better than my clean ones. Getting lots of hot spots and the center of gravity seemed to be off with my backpack. My upper back started getting kind of tense. Tomorrow I will try packing the load differently. Also think that using my trekking poles is eating up extra energy. Sometimes they are just dragging on the ground behind me.
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: moderate rain

Interesting day today. In addition to the 17 miles on the trail I did a 1 mile round trip to a coutry store and a 2 mile hitchhike to a 2nd country store. Started off climbing the Dragon Tail and it started raining...a little bit. By the time I reached the Dragon Tooth, it was a full fledged rain storm with thunder, lightning and a driving wind. I didn't think being on the Dragon Tooth right then was a good idea but climbing down off of it was like hiking a trail in the White Mountains. Straight down steep grades with boulders and rocks that needn't both hands and feet to maneuver on.At the 1st general store I had only 1 each: cheeseburger, chili dog, egg roll, ugly honey bun apple roll, coffee and gatorade. By then the rain had stopped and the sun came out so I was able to dry off a little bit. However the next 6 miles were very humid. Then when I hit the trailhead at 311, I asked 2 day hikers for a lift to the Catawba General Store. So I squeezed into the Volkswagon they were driving with my pack on my lap. Could barely get the Bugs door closed. At the store I had a pizza and more gatorade. As I was leaving, a local who goes by Brother Love saw me with my pack and offered me a ride back to the trailhead. Another nice person I met along the trail. We talked for a bit before we parted ways. Our conversation led me to believe that Catawba, VA deserves more checking into for a place to live in the mountains.I went up to Catawba Mountain shelter. I was passed by at least a dozen day hikers coming down from McAfee Knob. It was a weekend night so the shelter was full and there were 3 tents set up in the area. So I filled up with water and continued another few miles to Campbell where I met Bogie and Bacall, a couple who are working on becoming 2,000 milers this year. They were from Tennessee. They had a radio and were listening to ROV (Roanoke Valley), which I think is one of the best radio stations along the I-81 corridor.It was supposed to storm again tonight and over the weekend. We did have some more thunder showers over night.
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Troutville/Daleville VA (Travelodge)
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

This morning I travelled about 6 miles to Lamberts Meadow shelter to get more water and have breakfast. On the way passed over Tinker Cliffs which had views just as good as McAfee Knob. (sorry, but still can't get pictures of all these great views up on the web. I'm using disposable cameras and its kind of hard logistically to get them on a disk then find a computer, etc. Bad thing is I took my last picture from the Knob). Coming down from the cliffs, I saw 2 very fearless deer. I stopped dead thinking I would spook them, but they were in the middle of brunch and didn't seem to care. I moved slowly and got within 25-30' of one of them.Since I was in town, I ate a whole bunch again. A little Taco Bell, a little fried chicken, more junk food and too much coffee. At least I didn't have more pizza!
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Troutville/Daleville VA (Travelodge)

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Today was Easter. Hit Shoneys for breakfast and only made 2 trips to the buffet. Got back on the trail at 10:30 a.m. My 1st stop was Fullhardt Shelter. As I was preparing to leave, Mrs Gorp was coming in. We hiked together toward Wilson Creek Shelter and started to find little plastic eggs along the trail filled with candy. We later met the Easter Bunny, who turned out to be Greg Sexton, a member of the local trail club (Roanoke ATC) who wants to do a thru hike of his own soon.Then we met 5 ladies who I will call the New England Gang. They were mostly from Vermont (1 from Maine) and all in love with the AT. They were D-train (the Gang leader, I think), Cloud 9, Inchworm, Christine and Sylvia (who may also be known as Fire Fly). She is the oldest female I met so far on this trip. She is in her 70's but still out there showing us youngsters how its done. Also along were the 2 mascots, Jake and Lola, a couple of loveable pooches. The Gang is heavily involved with the AT/LT (Long Trail) in Vermont and they also take care of my favorite shelter, Spruce Peak.We all ended up at the shelter and the party also included Bogie & Bacall and 2 SOBO's, The Janitor and Boy Floyd. The Janitor is from the Raleigh NC area just out for a 2 week gig. Boy Floyd started in Duncannon, PA and is headed to Springer. (He is the one who 1st told me about the Dutch House, where I currently am on April 21st).The Gang had some left over chili (possibly on purpose?) from one of their secret trail food recipes and I graciously offered my services to finish it up for them. My own meal was chili-mac, but their chili was far tastier. Thanks Ladies!
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Middle Creek Campground (Jennings Creek)
Miles today: 16.9

It rained this morning about 4 a.m. Around 7 everyone began to get up. I did so at a leisure pace, waiting out the rain. It did stop for a while. All the other hikers left except for the Gang and then I departed too.I met up with Mrs Gorp for a few minutes at Cove Mountain shelter. I told her I might see her at Bryant Ridge or might stay at the CG. Although not technically a hostel, I listed Middle Creek as one. It is about 1 1/2 miles off the trail. I had a mail drop sent there. The CG was recently taken over by new owners who seem to be hiker friendly. Susan opened her grill for me, and I had, you guessed it, 2 cheeseburgers, fries, mozzarella sticks and gatorade.In my mail drop were my Montrail boots since my Lowas are falling apart. I continued to wear the Lowas, though, because they are so comfortable. Even though I had a big seam blow out on the left boot (the right one was quickly catching up) the goretex liner was keeping major debris from getting in the boot.Susan offered me a good deal on a cabin and it was that or walk more in the rain (yes, today was a wet day) and maybe sleep in the rain if I didn't make it to the next shelter. I'm just not as hard as I used to be in my Army days, so I opted for the cabin at the CG. I am way over my "lodging budget". I better get back to being hardcore. But for for me, life off the trail along the trail is part of the journey.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Middle Creek Campground (Jennings Creek)

To: Petites Gap Campsite
Miles today: 18.7

This morning I went in to turn in my cabin key and asked Susan to make some coffee for me, which she gladly did. We talked for a while and I tried to give her some tips on what to stock in the store that might be to hikers, as far as food resuppy and non-food items that are needed on the trail. So I got a late start (again).I didn't get back on the trail until about 10:30 a.m. Shortly, I met 2 nice ladies from the Natural Bridge ATC who were clearing blow downs. One of them had 2 Jack Russell dogs and 1 of them was obviously a killer. He (or she) tried, well was, actually, biting my boots.I passed Bryant Ridge shelter and it is the biggest shelter I've seen on the AT (I missed the one at Fontana Dam). It has 3 stories. the 2 lower floors are relatively close to each other, but the upper loft requires climbing a ladder. It sleeps 20, but could probably sleep more than that if really squeezed in.Saw the strangest thing then. A lone man, going SOBO, at a very fast pace, no pack, no day pack, no water, long sleeve shirt and blue jeans. Not a hiker, I thought. I said hi to him but he ignored me, so I said, harumph to you too! This was around noon. Later around 6:30 p.m. when I was sitting on the BRP eating dinner, here he comes again, walking north along the road. I'm not real sure, but I think he passed a little while later driving south on the parkway in car.I walked through an area which seemed to be old growth. There were some very large trees along the trail, little siblings of the Keffer Oak. Also saw a pair of does in this area. Many of the rocks and downfall were covered in moss. I also passed under the "guillotine" which is one of 3 places on the AT where you pass under a rock.
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Petites Gap

To: Salt Log Gap Campsite
Miles today: 17.3

This morning I could hear a creek across Petites Gao Rd. There was no trail so I bushwhacked toward the sound, walked across a rock slide and wah-lah, there was a beautiful stream cascading down over the rocks down the mountain. After my typical morning of breakfast and coffee, I started out and was met with a short, STEEP, climb up and over High Cock Knob, then a short, STEEP descent down. I came across a man, Gary, and his son, who were section hiking SOBO. Climbing down toward the James River I met Survivor. He chose that name because he is a cancer survivor. He was out for a dat hike. Before parting ways he asked if he could say a prayer for me and I said yes. He placed his hand on my shoulder and asked said a few words including asking God to keep me safe on my pilgrimage north. Thanks, Survivor.At Matts Creek shelter, 2 more SOBO section hikers came in with a dog. They were Mudrock, his brother Tramper and faithful companion Yellow Dog. Before I left a NOBO thru hiker came in. She was Do-Rag. Tramper performed some trail magic by bestowing upon me a snickers bar, a pack of crackers and a bit of gorp.Walked along Matts Creek for a while. Walks along water have been few and far in between here on the southern AT. I then turned to follow the James River and crossed the one foot traffic only bridge on the AT. Took another break at Johns Hollow and Do-Rag caught me again.Began the long hard climb up to Rocky Row. The central VA section of the AT is beginning to remind me of the GA-NC-TN sections...hard! Decided to break for dinner and Do-Rag caught me for the 3rd time today and passed me on the way to Salt Log Gap. I'm pretty sure that the James is the lowest point that I have crossed so far at 698'. Big Rocky Row was at an elevation of 2,992'. So, at the top of Little Rocky Row, my pooped out body needed a break. Thats when Bleach, a 19 year old thru hiker from Minnesota, caught me. We hiked together to Salt Log Gap and camped with Do-Rag. Those two knew each other from hiking together previously. I had 4 liters of water when I left Johns Hollow, but between dinner, me drinking water heavily and the leak in my platypus, it was empty when I got to the gap.When I say camped, for me that generally means throwing down my tarp, my sleeping pad, my bag and sleeping under the stars. I've used my bivy sack less than a 1/2 dozen times and used a tarp shelter once.
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Salt Log Gap Campsite

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: overcast clouds

HUGE day today. New record for mileage: 28.4 and new record for time: a little over 14 1/2.Since I had little water in the morning, I left about 7:30 and walked to the Blue Ridge Parkway where there was supposed to be a spring. Of course it was dry. So I had to bush whack way down into a draw where the would-be spring drained into a creek. I had breakfast at a parking area on the BRP. Bleach and Do-Rag passed me there.Near Little Irish Creek, a group of 8 ladies day hiking went by SOBO. One of them, Fruit Loop, offered me a banana. Good day for extra potassium, it was warm! Thanks, Fruit Loop. At the suspension bridge over the creek, I found Bleach and Do-Rag. They went for a dip in the water but repoted it was kind of nasty.Another group of 4 day hikers passed SOBO. I later passed them again as they were day hiking on Bald Knob with some other people. From the creek to Brown Mountain Creek shelter, I kind of played leap frog with Bleach and Do-Rag while we were getting water at different places. I detoured off the trail on and old woods road to take care of "business". I was a bit surprised when the other 2 passed right in front of me about 30 feet away. I didn't know it, but the AT had made a turn to the right after the woods road. If they had looked uphill, I would have been on display.The walk along Brown Mountain creek was nice. It is a bit of a historic spot there. Freed slaves started a community there after the Civil War which lasted until the 1920's. At the shelter along the creek, I found Bleach and Do-Rag eating some cookies left by a trail angel.After crossing U.S. 60, I had another monster 2,000' climb up Bald Knod. There were several cars parked at the trail head and I passed by several day hikers traveling down the mountain as I gasped and sweated up the mountain. 4 of those were the day hikers I mentioned earlier and one of them told me rain was expected this weekend possibly starting tonight. So I decided to go for Seeley-Woodworth shelter even though I knew that would mean hiking after dark.At the top of Bald Knob, which took 90 minutes to climb, I had dinner to try to fuel up for the 11 miles I had left. I then crossed Cold Mountain. Ironically, Bald Knob is not bald, but Cold Mountain is. Following the 2nd peak, the trail went along an open grassy woodline for a ways. I noticed that the clouds to the west did not look good. I was done with the really big climbs for the day but the next several miles still involved elevation changes in hundreds of feet. Not too hard but no piece of cake either.I passed Do-Rag and Bleach about 8:30 p.m. They had camped on a ridge. I told them it looked like rain and was pushing on to the shelter. They told me to be careful and wished me luck. I got to the shelter a little after 10:00 p.m., by far my latest time arriving at a destination. The shelter was occupied by Gene and Kurt, section hikers from Wisconsin. Even though I was exhausted, I had a difficult time getting to sleep. Probably because me feet hurt so bad.
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Dutch Haus B&B (Montebello, VA)
Miles today: 2.3

Woke up around 6:15 a.m. Gene reported that it started raining about 4:00 a.m. I didn't want to ask him if my snoring had kept him awake. We talked for a while before they left (read that as I did most of the talking). Kurt apparently has walked all of the AT so we had a lot to discuss. The rain was kind of intermittent. 3 minutes after they left they came back to put on their rain pants. They finally moved on and about 8:00 Do-Rag and Bleach stopped in for breakfast. We did some pictures and they moved out. I finally packed up and did the 2.3 miles of trail (hey, I walked 28.4 yesterday) to Fish Hatchery Rd and walked the 1 1/2 miles to the country store in Montebello (the country store IS Montebello!). I went into the PO there and finally mailed home my worn out, but loveable, Lowa boots, along with a few cameras, my fleece shirt and my knee and ankle supports. (I'm hoping for the best and pray I will not need either one of those. Until now they have been dead weight in my pack).From the country store, I called Lois at the B&B. I got her answering machine and told her I was at the store. She came in around 12:30 to get me. This was after I had another one of those ugly apple fritter things, a cup of chili, a reeses PB cup, a cookie and a few coffee's. But I still ate the lunch that Lois made me, a delicious corn chowder, a meat loaf sandwich a a luscious piece of chocolate cake. Lunch is served free to all thru hikers and they have a great thru hiker overnight rate, perhaps the best I have found considering what I am getting in return.Now, having written all that, I'll tell I've been on the PC about 5 hours now. I had tons of e-mail to check and respond to, had to check up on my hockey team, read other hikers journals and am trying to find out about Trail Days coming up in Damascus in about 4 weeks.I should make one more entry tomorrow before heading back on the trail. I hope to be in Waynesboro by April 26th to use the library to do this again.