morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-06
From: No Business Shelter

To: Erwin, TN (Miss Janet's House)
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Up early and into Erwin by 9am Got to Miss Janet's house early enough for breakfast. Going to do alot of chores today laundry, shopping, and the post office. Silky, A hiking friend from last year is suppose to be coming to Miss Janet's house today So I Will get to hang out with her for a little bit maybe do a slackpack tomorrow that seems to be the theme from Miss Janet's.
Date: 2005-04-08
From: Indian Grave gap

To: Hughes Gap
Miles today: 20.0

SciFi, Kitty Liter, Spoonie, FT and I did a slack pack of 20 miles today. It took me about 9 and a half hours what a long day in the rain. It was a tough section so I am glad I had a very light pack but I feel I cheated on my first 20 mile day so I will have to do a real 20 soon. Silky, Spoonie, Scfi, Ft and I are at the Holiday Inn tonight. Ft and I split a x large pizza from pizza hut the rest ate take out from Erwin Burrito. Everyone is tired and so much to do yet since we are hitting the trail super early tomorrow.
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Hughes Gap

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

First off I have to thank Silky for the two days of slacking packing and the best trail magic picking up the bill for the two night stay at the Holiday Inn. The morning was a very tough morning starting off with Roan Mountain it took most of us almost 3 hours to go up the 3 miles. A few of us ate lunch at the top of Roan, when we hiked down to Carvers gap we ran into some trail magic Pepsi's and Coors light. I made it to the shelter by 5 pm and I realized my Hiker appetite and my hiker perma stink has started in the same day.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

I was the 1st out of the shelter and had a great walk up two balds called little hump and hump mountain, Ft caught me at the top while I was taking pictures and eating. When Ft gets his pack weight from 55 pounds to something reasonable he will be very fast. At lunch Ft and I found some Pepsi's in a stream from Dejavu from 03. Ft and I walked the entire day together without seeing anyone else. We had dinner and waited for Scifi and Spoonie at Walnut mountain road but they never showed up. My first real 20 mile day and my feet hurt.
Date: 2005-04-11
From: Campsite

To: Laural Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

It felt like the first six miles were all uphill, or the legs were hurting from yesterday's hike. FT and I had a quick a lunch at Moreland gap shelter then we headed to the Kinkora hiker hostel for a nice hot shower and laundry. A section hiker gave a few of us a ride into town for food. At Arbys I ate 3 bacon and cheddar sandwiches and a few fries, also did some quick shopping for some food to get me to Damascus. Ft and I headed out to the shelter that was 2 miles from the hostel so we could get a early start tomorrow.
Date: 2005-04-12
From: Laural Fork Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Well FT and I got a early start but that went to waste because we decided to hitch into Hampton for a early lunch. When it is raining it is usually easy to get a ride because people feel sorry for you standing there getting wet. Onto subway where I enjoyed a foot long sub and mountain dew, then over to the post office to send a few things home I haven't used in a few weeks. The day was long day where you just put your head down and hike, it rained the entire day. The shelter is full tonight and no water around here so I made due with rain water, off to bed hearing the rain drops on the tin roof.
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Shleter
Miles today: 22.7

I was going to try to make the 33 mile hike into Damascus but the rain had something to do with me not making that today. It was a cold day with nothing but rain and fog with a few birds chirping about. Four of us at the shelter FT, The North Carolina brothers and I. I am going to get up early and make Damascus for breakfast.
Date: 2005-04-14
From: Abingdon Shleter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Made it to Damascus by 10 am seems just as the town was opening up. I Am staying at the church hostel called The Place and I am going to take a zero day tomorrow I hope Scifi and Spoonie catch up. Not much to do in Damascus except rest and buy things.
Date: 2005-04-15
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day, I bought some new socks, fuel for my jet boil stove and ate lots of food. I think I am going stir crazy in this town there are not to many hikers here and not alot to do. I have alot of pictures, but I am not sure when I will be able to upload them maybe when I get to PA at my uncles house. I still haven't been able to get a good night sleep out here yet unless I take some sort of sleeping aid. I am going to hike out of town tomorrow so it might be a few weeks before my journal is updated again. I should add I will be in Pearisburg VA 24134 at the post office in a few weeks if anyone of my friends has cookies or candy.
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Damascus

To: Campsite
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Flying Turtle and I stuck around Damascus to see if Spoonie, Gravity, Danger, and Scifi would arrive in town. We gave them until noon then we were leaving, wouldn't you know it they got in town as soon as we were leaving. Spoonie, Ft and I went to subway to eat, FT and I stayed in Damascus stayed in town until 2pm. Its hard leaving friends that you have been hiking with for 6 weeks, hopefully I will see them again somewhere down the trail. It was a long afternoon on a full stomach we tried to make the 2nd shelter but it got dark so we decided to camp.
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Campsite (Bridge)

To: Campsite (Grayson Highlands)
Miles today: 16.5

What a great day for hiking. The morning started out real cold but warmed up quickly by the time I got to the second water crossing I found some trail magic - Dr. Peppers in a stream. The day was rather tough because most of the hiking was uphill. There were the Feral Ponies all over Mount Roger's area. I walked after dinner a few more miles and it was perfect. The sun was setting. You could see and hear the ponies running around. Flying Turtle and I decided to Cowboy camp where some section hikers were camping. I am worried I am going to wake up with a pony going to the bathroom on me or stepping on me.
Date: 2005-04-18
From: Campsite (Grayson Highlands)

To: Campsite (Dickey Cap)
Miles today: 19.0

I woke this morning to a beautiful sunrise and a pony licking my air mattress. These little guys were trying to get in everything. Other than the good morning, I had a bad afternoon. My feet hurt like I walked 23 miles, oh wait, I did but only 19 were on the AT. I won't name names but someone had the idea of hitching in town for some cold Pepsi's. I figured we crossed the 500 mile mark today so that be cool. Bad idea. We got a hitch to Trout Dale very easy but back to the trail was a different story. Flying Turtle and I walked and hitched at the same time. Four cars passed us in 4 miles of road we walked back to the trail. So we had no luck. Grrr extra miles.
Date: 2005-04-19
From: Dickey Gap

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

I awoke to the sound of traffic so I ate fast and packed up. I was not looking forward to today, last year I had a problem with this 15 mile stretch because of heat. I think that was on my mind a lot because I never really got a good pace going so it took a long time to get to the shelter. There is a visitor center very close to the shelter with a phone so out of 18 people here we ordered 17 large pizzas from Pizza Hut. Total charge with tip was $150.00. This shelter also has a hot water shower which I did not use tonight because I was busy ordering the pizzas and collecting money. A few people hitched to town to get beer so the day might have been bad for me but it was a great evening.
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Marion

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Flying Turtle had to get new shoes somewhere so I decided to go to town with him and resupply. As we were hitching, Selena also decided to go to town. We all decided to take a zero day and split a room at a hotel. I mostly did town chores: laundry, shower, shopping and I sent some winter things home. Flying Turtle and I did get some pool and bowling in. I beat FT in both even after all his trash talking about how good he is at bowling. Going to bed early to try to get out of town early.
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Marion

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 13.3

We decided to take a cab back to the main road to hitch back to the trail. It wasn't a bad morning. We had a bad continental breakfast and we were back on the AT by 9am. It was a nice day to hike. It wasn't too hot. Flying Turtle and I went to the Dairy Queen for a late lunch in Atkins. Selena joined us when she got in town. We were just wasting some time since we were only going 2 1/2 more miles to the shelter when I looked outside and saw a huge storm coming in. We packed up and practically ran to the shelter. Tonight there were five of us: Shadow, Sassy, Selena, Flying Turtle and myself.
Date: 2005-04-22
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got a real early start this morning and did a lot of walking through cow pastures with a lot of mud. It was a short day. Selena, Flying Turtle and I decided to stay at the first shelter we can to today because it was raining pretty hard. So I took a few naps and listened to my radio on and off. I need to pick up a book so I have something good to read. Sassy and Shadow are here also tonight along with three section hikers.
Date: 2005-04-23
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

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

What a day. I was the first to leave the shelter this morning. I didn't get more than two miles and it started pouring. I walked the entire morning alone in the rain and snow. Yes, that's right, when I got to chestnut Knob Shelter at 4,400 feet it was snowing. I ate lunch as fast as I could because I was getting very cold quickly. As I was about done, Selena came into the shelter and ate lunch in three minutes and we left. As soon as we dropped 500 feet the snow stopped and it wasn't even raining. It looked kind of weird, the clouds seemed to be stuck on the mountain because there were blue skies above me. This afternoon the trail was up and down and pretty rocky. Selena and I were eating dinner when Flying Turtle showed up. It started raining again and it felt like it was going to be a cold night. Lumber Mack showed up just as us three were getting in our bags for the night.
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light snow

There was snow on the ground when I woke up. It was cold and still snowing so FT, Selena and I decided to go for Bland and get a room. I knew from last year if we stayed on the AT, we would get wet feet and none of us wanted wet feet when it is this cold. So we took the high water trail to cut off 12 stream crossings. The plan was to meet at Subway when Selena and I got to the road to Bland FT wasn't there so he must of got a ride already. It took us about 15 minutes to get a ride. Ten minutes later I was eating two footlong subs. We got a room in the only hotel in town and they know it 60 bucks for a crappy room. We dried out and did some resupply and watched tv the rest of the day/night.
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Bland

To: Dismal Creek Falls
Miles today: 20.5

Got a early start out of bland, had breakfast at the gas station across from the hotel. I walked on and off all day with flying turtle and Salenna. It was a warm day compared to the snow we had yesterday. The plan was to have dinner at a store off of rd VA, 606. I got there and Turtle decided to camp there, at the campground. I had a cheese burger and some fries then waited for wingit but she never showed so I went on to a camp spot I knew about by the falls. Put up my tent just as dark came.
Date: 2005-04-26
From: Dismal Creek Falls

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke to some rustling out side my tent, when I looked there was a little squirrel making alot of noise. I packed up and started my way back to the trail hoping I would catch Flying turtle or wingit. I stopped at Wapiti shelter for a late breakfast, early lunch. I took my time today as I was just going to go to the shelter before Pearisburg. I was sitting on a rock when I heard Flying Turtle call my name, he said he has been trying to catch me all day. We walked to Doc's nob shelter talking about food. When we arrived Salenna was there, we all had dinner and decide to shoot for town. We had to hike fast to beat a rain storm that was coming. We got to Pearisburg and went right to the laundry mat to get these stinky clothes washed.
Date: 2005-04-28
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Selana and I left the Hostel early to get a good start on the day. The climb out of Pearisburg wasn't as hard I as remembered it. Fling Turtle caught up when Salena and I were having lunch at Rice field shelter. We played leap frog all day passing each other many times. We met some section hikers that gave us some news of Spoonie, Gravity and Danger they are in Pearisburg and taking a day off. The sad news we heard was Spoonie was thinking of going home her feet have been giving her alot of problems.
Date: 2005-04-29
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

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

Decided to take a slow day today, the weather was not the best today, it drizzled on and off. There are 2 section hikers at the shelter tonight, there ride was suppose to pick them up but never showed. They are staying here tonight and walking to a road tomorrow. Going to bed early.
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Warspur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Another short day for turtle and I. We were sitting at a rd and decided to go to a store to get something different to eat. A women stopped picked us up, drove us to the store and back to the trail. Thanks Jill that was great for you to wait for us at the store. This section is where I hurt myself last year so it will be a mental challenge for me I am sure. A section hiker is here with us tonight, Turtle and him were up awhile talking keeping me awake, so I am reading a book.
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Lost Spectacles Gap Cowboy Camp
Miles today: 21.1

Another late start 9:30 am. FT and I walked across the slab of rock they call sinking creek mtn. I despised this walk last year because I did it in the rain and slipped and fell many times. All went well today, took a quick break at niday shelter then went on to climb 2000 feet in two miles to audie murphy memorial. At the next water crossing, FT sat and made dinner and I went on to dragon's tooth. On the way there I caught up ith Selena and we hung out at the dragon's tooth with some day hikers taking pictures. After FT showed up we decided to look for a place to camp. We came to a flat area and decided to cowboy camp. Since I haven't found water I will not be cooking tonight but eating my breakfast that I had for tomorrow but there is a store in two more miles. I'll stop in there and get chocolate milk, orange juice and some breakfast snacks. My feet hurt with all the rocks in this section today and I left a little blood on some rocks from a skinned knee.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Lost Spectacles Gap

To: Lamberts Meadow
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

FT, Selena and I cowboy camped last night and the wind was blowing pretty good so it was very hard to get out of the sleeping bag. So another late start 9:00 am. One of the first things we came across in the morning was a road with a store four tenths of a mile down the road. So we decided to go. Never drink a quart of chocolate milk and a liter of gatorade and expect to hike very fast. FT and I sluggishly hiked th enext six miles through farm fields taking pictures and making fun of cows. The day was mostly cloudy with grey skies and looked like it might rain but when we got to mcafee's knob the skies cleared and we got some very good pictures of great views from the knob. We hit campbell shelter and I decided to cook some dinner. FT decided to go on for a short day into town. Selena decided to stay at the shelter and cook. After sitting around after dinner getting cold and bored Selena and I decided to head to the next shelter to catch up to FT. We arrived at the shelter just after dar. There were three people there: FT, Ael and Gel and Gel's son. They were talking so we didn't wake anyone up. I am going to hit the sack now they are saying it is going to get down into the 30's tonight. This is May, right?
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

A short day into town. FT, Selena and I split a room at the Howard Johnson against my better judgement but oh well only 20 bucks a piece. Just did the necessary things in town: shower, laundry, food shopping and the post office. FT and I ate at a placed called three little pigs. They served bbq. The restaurant was excellent I had a bbq sandwich with onion rings and it was probably the best lunch I have had on the trail so far. I cacn't forget the Guiness I had also. For dinner Selena FT and I went to Taco Bell. The first one I have seen in fourteen miles.
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Daleville

To: Montvale Overlook Blue Ridge Parkway
Miles today: 11.5

I was the first to leave town and I got a late start. The climb out of town was real easy. The climb had a lot of switch backs. By the time I reached fullhardt knob shelter Selena and FT had both caught up to me. We moved on to Wilson creek shelter where we all ate dinner and moved on to camp. We are camped at one of the overlooks on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. I hope a ranger doesn't come by. It was a beautiful day not to hot and no rain. I am going to hit the sack I have to be up early and moving before the sun comes up.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Montvale Overlook

To: Cornelius Shelter
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I was the first one up and moving. I was hiking by 6:30 am. It looked to be another great day. I was low on water so I had to go thirsty for most of the morning until I found a stream that wasn't in the guide book. I took a quick break at cove mtn shelter and moved on to bryant ridge shelter. I had a good pace going today and I knew I had to be a good hour ahead of FT so I shashed my backpack behind the shelter and made a quick one mile detour down a blue blaze trail to a store. I had a cheeseburger and a mountain dew. I grabed a pepsi for FT and a coke for me and headed back for the shelter. It took a little longer to get back with food in my stomach but no one was there yet when I returned. Selena showed up about ten minutes later followed by Gel the FT. Ft, Selena and I headed to the next shelter to camp for the night. It took longer than I expected to get there. The ups were pretty steep. Just us three here tonight at the shelter.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Cornelius Shelter

To: GlasGow/Buena Vista
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Well we all left the shelter about 8 am with a big up first thing this morning. What a disappointment when we climbed our way to the top of apple orchard mtn. One, there are no apple trees up here and two, there are work trucks up here and no views. So we moved on to the Guillotine (a large boulder hanging between some rocks and you walk under it). We took some pictures and headed for the shelter to take a break. On the way there a forest service guy stopped me to talk and gave me a huge hershey bar. When I got to thunder hill shelter I divided it up between us three. I had some more snacks got some water and moved on. This afternoon was difficult with lots of ups and downs. FT and I were going to stay at matts creek shelter but Selena, FT and myself came up with a better idea, town. It was only another two miles so we headed on to the road to hitch. Lets just say our great idea turned out to be a horrible idea. It took us about 30 minutes to get a hitch and we arrived in glasgow 8pm and everything, what little there is, was closing. We asked around where we could get some food and we were told we would have to go to Buena Vista. So we had to hitch there and it was already getting dark. Let's just say our great idea left us with the worst hotel I ever stayed in (Budget Inn), bad Burger King food and twenty miles from the part of the AT we got off at. Tomorrow is not going to be fun.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Glasgow/Buena Vista

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

FT wasn't in a good mood so he was up and out of the hotel early to try to get back to the trail. Selena and I decided just to get on the AT here by Buena Vista and hike south to Glasgow and hitch back up here once we reached US 501 again. We went to the library and the dollar store then hitched down US 60 to find the AT. Since we got a late start, Selena and I only made it 11 miles. FT made it here also from the other direction. Snal another thru hiker is also here tonight.
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Bald Mtn
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: light rain

I was up early and moving by 7:30 am because I had a long day ahead of me, I told FT I would try to meet him at cow camp bap shelter tonight. So Selena and I walked south for 10.5 miles back to US 501 and it took two hitches to get back to Buena Vista. The 2nd hitch was real easy. The guy gave us a ride all the way to food lion so we could resupply. We spent about 3 hours in town eating and watching cars go by. The hitch back to the trail took almost an hour to get a ride but we finally did get one. Selena and I are camped on Bald Mtn tonight about 2 miles short of where FT is. It has been a long day and i didnt have the energy to make it. Cowboy camping tonight and having a fire.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Laurel Springs

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Flying Turtle did a night hike into Waynesboro to go stay with his Uncle. Selenna and I split a room, and did town chores. Not many people in town. I am going to take it a little slow so Flying Turtle can catch up when he is done at his Uncle's.
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Damascus

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Just a quick update. I have made it to Waynesboro I hope to have my journal entries with some pictures updated soon.(1 or 2 weeks) I am doing great and having fun. I have been hiking with Flying Turtle most of the time and I have only seen 5 other thru hikers in the past 2 weeks. I am headed back out on the trail today and it is suppose to rain for the next 4 days. Flying Turtle is taking 2 days off at his uncles house and is hoping to get his journal totally updated so check his journal out if you have the time.
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Calf Mtn Hut
Miles today: 7.0

WEll it was a slow day out of town. Selenna and I went to Ruby Tuesday for a good meal, it started to rain so we made sure we stayed and ate alot of there salad bar. Saw a bear this evening just before the shelter, Selenna then scared the crap out of me of coming up fast behind me as I was looking for the bear.