morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-17
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

What! The mileage is out, why yes it is. We even got a car ride from Mcaffees Knob to the hostel, avoiding 8 miles, so how does that add again...The story goes like this, we awoke at 6:15 and watched a beautiful sunrise from Campbell Shelter, we then, after some procrastination, hiked out at 7:30 and did 4 miles to the car park.It was here we met Joys family and friends. Our party today consisted of myself, Xena, sister Amy, Mr and Mrs H, Steven from Northern Ireland, Norma and Olen and of course Gwyn the 90 pound akita.With this epic party we set off to the peak of Mcaffees Knob for the second time. It was a tough arduous journey in the heat of the day with the sun beating down opon us, baking the granite and making the little flies buzz around. Water was quickly consumed and Gwyn even had to lay in the river a few times to cool off.Upon reaching the top, we fired off at least 200 rolls of film and digital shots.Then began the hike back down the mountain, for the third time.So here we are now at the 4 Pines Hostel, which is really cool. It's a donation place, inside a converted garage. You get showers and mattresses to throw down. For dinner we hit a restaurant called Homeplace, which served home-style servings, aka big bowls on the table and everyone helps themselves.. so, with not drinking much water over 2 days, I guzzled homemade lemonade and eating dinner fast I got some nasty indigestion, started dry heaving... no more fried chicken please...Everyone here at 4 Pines, was serenaded by Xena, who found a guitar and started playing a few songs which was really cool.It's nearly 9pm and I am sooo done, mega really tired. Stick a fork in me. Bye bye.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Still at Four Pines 
Miles today: 0.0

Woke with a nasty headache this morning. I really didn't want to hike in the oppressive heat with a 35 pound backpack and a throbbing headache..So we zeroed at 4 Pines Hostel. I think it was a good decision, as I know the headache would have turned into a migraine out there. It also let me stay off my blisters for a day.We drank lots of Gatorade and wrote pocketmail.Also rang home which was good to hear mum and dads voice again.Carrying 4 days food and tomorrow will be carrying 3 litres as there is no water for 10 miles.Ooh and one other thing, I've got some beef jerky... starting back on the red meat... if all goes well i'll be eating steak again soon.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Still at Four Pines 

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was mentally taxing, physically exhausting and a mental high.I"ll try to keep things in order of the day to keep them straight in my head.First we climbed Dragons Tooth, now everyone told us it would be haaaard to climb up, and it was tough, at some places they had metal laders up the rock, and other places you're trying to shimmy up a crack in the granite with a 40 pound pack. Tough stuff.At the top we had some really awesome views and an intimidating rock jutting straight up into the air. Naturally cat like Xena wanted a photo atop it. After much scrambling she was sitting up there and I took said photo...Now getting back down, showed that the cat like skills had disappeared. It took a while.Now it was my turn. My chinese horoscope is a wooden rabbit, but I think it's wrong, I climbed up there like a mountain goat in record time.To celebrate this feat of mountaineering we each had a laffy taffy, cherry flavour of course.Just as we were leaving we ran into a group of northbounders named Waterfall, Walkon, and someone else. They started March the 1st as well as us.Later we pased Heald and Wonderdog. His dog has something like 10,000 trail miles, and really looks old and tired. Heald made me think of Ned Kelly with his big beard.During midday we siesta'd at Pickle Branch Shelter and spent about 2 hours by the creek. I managed to drop my food bag into the mud and water trying to cross. Yay for having everything inside of ziplock bags.After lunch it became a slog in the heat. There was 10 miles of no water, and with Xena having no camelbak bladder (it sprung a leak), we had one 3 litre between us to go 10 miles.... not good at all but we made it.The shelter here tonight is a blast, Haiku, whom we started with walked in, so there is two kilted guys here, which Xena is kinda thrilled about. We also have a section hiker here with us, who aims to hike Virginia by the time he is 50. He has a titanium hip from a motorcycle accident. Broke lots of bone, got dead muscle tissue in his leg, has no sense of smell. He is a cool guy., said his wife wont let him cook chilli anymore.Tomorow we will attempt to get up early, and hike before lunch and see if we can get our miles in before noon sun.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Niday Shelter

To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Early morning sucked. We hit what was called gauntlet, which was 3 miles of 45 degree angled slabs of granite that we had to traverse. That's tough on the ankles.Lunch was nice. We took a 4 hour break at Sarver Creek Hollow. Behind the shelter is some old ruins of a house. They say if you photograph it you can see ghosts.From here we pushed on to Laurel Creek. It was before this that we ran into Deja and Kungfu. We also saw the Blair Witch house, which was spooky. Xena was freaking out, but I had not seen the movie so don't understand the fuss. It is a spooky looking house in the forest though, so I took some photos and you can see the handprints where people are trying to "escape" anyway.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Laurel Creek

To: Holy Family Church Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, we walked 1 mile south, then back to the road going north! Still with me, for the last day I've had trouble trying to get Xena to eat anything at all, and there was a bite on her leg. Anyway, this morning I needed a crowbar to get her out of bed, and still couldn't get her to eat, and the bite mark! ouch. It had this bullseye target around the large welt... so, there was a road to the south, 3 miles, we started for this, but decided the road we had crossed yesterday was bigger, so turned around and headed for that.Luckily a lady picked us up at the road and dropped us at the Newport Emergency Rescue Center, who diagnosed it as a brown recluse bite, so drove us to casualy at Pearisburg.The doctor here took one look and dismissed it as a normal bite and said the non-eating was dehydration, so here we are at the church hostel, which is full tonight, sleeping on the porch and drinking lots of Gatorade.I told Xena I'd make her drink Gatorade till she peed Gatorade.There are about 12 hikers here tonight, so were crashing on the porch.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Holy Family Church Hostel

To: Still at Holy Family Church Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today was our zero at doctors orders.Drank 3 litres of Gatorade, hit the all you can eat pizza buffet.Managed to get wolf whistled at twice in my kilt, Xena was quite put out that I got the whistles and she didn't.Did a bunch of emails, etc...just waiting for our box to show up today so we can hike out in the morning.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Still at Holy Family Church Hostel

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: light rain

Last night in the hostel I bought a box of fortune cookies, which I handed around to everyone.Mine was;"you are doomed to be happy in wedlock""if you want to understand a mans mind, listen to his words""fortune cookie says, there are no heads harder than empty ones"Xenas were;"good opportunities: make up your mind to grasp the next""you think that it has been a secret but it has never been one"This morning we hit the Post Office to send some stuff and we asked about our box, and it wasn't in the Church delivery, so we checked General Delivery on the off chance... and lo, it was put on a shelf two days prior! Ouch. We decided to hike out this afternon and do 8 miles. Everyone we met at the hostel moaned and gnashed teeth and cried about the downhll into town.. so for us we had a mammoth climb out, we were full of hesitation. It started to spit rain as we neared the Dairy Queen, so we went in for a blizzard and french fries..As the rain pattered the window we debated going or staying.. we choose to go in the end..What a disappointment the mountain was, the swithcbacks needed switchbacks, they were that steep. But in the end we conquered it but it was nothing like we had been led to believe.On the way to the shelter we ran into Nasty Lobstah, Dragonslayer, Sugardaddy, Packrat, Mad German, and two Kiwis showed up, Kea and Kakapo.It's good to hear the native accents of home.I managed to get some responses from Nuffy today, she is rocking away down Damascus, working in the Side Track cafe. so it was good to hear from her. Making Anzac biscuits for Anzac Day on the 25th.When I stopped for the night here, I noticed a big big rash on my legs, its not itchy and might be a heat rash but who knows....
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Va 606 Campsite
Miles today: 16.0

We started at a shelter and ended up at a campsite along the Virginia 606 road.It was a nice day, not a scorcher, but a nice and sunny day. The highlight of the day was passing a school class doing an "Appalachian Trail" class, they even get credits for it. How's that, trail hiking in school.The sad thing was, it was hot and none of them had any water and most were in jeans and such. Ouch. Uncomfortable.Later we came opon the Dismal Falls, which were quite pretty, a few locals were there with kids jumping in and out. We only put our feet in and kept a couple of overly curious dogs away.Ialso stumped Joy with two isms today I suppose. One was "crack a tinnie" which is a beer can, and the other was "can't take a trick" meaning I can't win anything.We're spending the night in some guys paddock (Trewnts Groceries) that he uses to store some caravans. I don't think there is a bathroom here, well there is a locked building... should be fun, we are sharing Xenas 1.5 man tent. Squishy, but we will cope. There is no fly on tonight so hopefully it won't rain on us! I guess I am smaller than Gwyn, so I should fit in the tent ok. If a 90 pound akita can fit, a scrawny Aussie can fit.Xena is so strong, when we were setting up the tent, she broke a tent peg clean in half. I didn't argue after that. Hahaha.And good luck to my nan in the Anzac Day march, woooo! Go nan. You show em. I'm so proud that your still going out for the march each year.And Nuffy, have a great Anzac Day.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Va 606 Campsite

To: Va 611
Miles today: 10.0

Today was a short day. We had a mediocre breakfast at Trents Groceries. We watched a drunk guy walk around, moan that he put chainsaw fuel into his truck and ask about buying ammo outside of a cartridge or something and about black powder. Bought a case of beer and drove away.At the first shelter we hit paydirt,as we ran into Dave and Miranda, which was so so cool. They are two great people.We had a two and a half hour talkfest with them.Most of that was trail rated about what's coming up and what they can expect to run into. From all reports even the south of the trail is starting to dry up as well with water sources shrinking.To quote Xena, "we nearly died".As we climbed the mountain, lightning struck right in front of us, and the thunder cracked right over our skulls.I about hit the deck, in a half crouch, turn around and see Xena in a half crocuh as well. From there we raced back down the uber slick mud and slate rock surface back to where the road crossed about 80 feet in front of us and pitched next to two other hikers.Now, pitching a tent in the pouring rain is fun at any time, pitching in a torrential downpour when someone says to you "lets pitch it with the fly on", well we ended up with a soggy loose tent in a tsunami. Water everywhere. After the coastal hurricane passed we had to repitch the tent.So, two stinky hikers, wet gear, dinner and various wet socks, shoes and other bits all jammed into a 1.5 man tent... oh yes, when it rains, we have lots of fun.Hopefully we can withstand any tropical cyclone tonight, but have to do extra miles tomorrow.Everything we have is soaking wet and stinky. The kids are gonna love hiking with us.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Va 611

To: Bland Va
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

After a waterlogged night, we woke to rain. Great. As if our spirits were not low enough from last night, we had to get up and pack tents in the rain.Into soggy, like a sponge, backpacks went a wet tent, and wet gear. I wore nothing but rain pants and shell, and I tell you, it's not fun.Makes me wonder how we would have hiked the A T last year when it was something like 100 out of 110 days of rain.Eventually we hit town like a soggy drowned cat. In our room we hung our bear bag rope end to end and strung our gear, cranked the heater full blast and hit the Dairy Queen.By the time we came back it was like a sauna.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Bland Va

To: Still in Bland 
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a zero in Bland. Did nothing of note...Well.... we met Wolfcookie and Dances, had lunch at Sagebrush Restaraunt and went to the mall, The girls went off on their own and I went off with Dances, we mall walked, ate some cookies and that was it.Apparently the girls coloured their hair and got some accesories, sweatbands with their trailname initials on it. They also tried on prom dresses, and tshirts with slogans on them.When we came back to the hotel we met up with the camera crew and Lekiless! What timing. It was so cool to see Heather and Arwen again, then with Leki turning up later on, it made the night.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Still in Bland 

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

We got picked up at the motel by the guys from school. They drove us to Grayson Highlands, so today was a short day, hiked slow up from the carpark to the shelter.The shelter is full tonight, and a load of hikers have turned up. Later that night Saint Rick turned up, Rick is one of my mates from England, he has done lots of hiking over there like the west highland way, etc. it was really cool to hear a Bristol accent.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Wise Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We did a blue blaze trail from Wise Shelter to Thomas Knob, there was loads of great scenery, lots of rock to scramble up, so we took quite a few photos up each one.We saw a few ponies, left the map behind at the scales, met St Rick again.When we climbed one rockface before Rhododendron Gap, I Maralyn Monroed everyone as I went up and down. Kilt waaay up around ears. Ohwell!Late in the day we climbed Mt Rogers, the highest mountain in Virginia, and all that is up there is a USGS token, it doesn't even give the elevation. A bit disappointed.Tonight I am dining on Bushwacks and Brambles fine homemade vegetarian lasagne. I am really looking forward to this meal. Joy is chowing their homemade vegetarian chilli.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today saw the kids off at the carpark, which was 6 miles in and out. Resupplied for 1 day, and hiked out. Our destination was as close to Damascus as possible. After 20 miles and 5pm, we decided Lost Mountain would be it, so tomorow we'll do 15 into town and see Nuffy. I'm in an indifferent mood today and find it hard to write much beyond the physical happenings.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

This morning we got up at a reasonable hour and took the creeper trail into town. This is a very beautiful and scenic old railway trail that runs into town. It has bridges that cross it every 100 yards.About 6 miles down we found a tiny cafe in a small town, where I yogied free french toast and had a hot chocolate, courtesy of some mountain bikers.From there it was a nice easy and beautiful amble into town... except we did 4 miles an hour to get there by 1pm.Running straight into the Side Track cafe we grabbed Nuffy in a big hug, and proceded to eat and find a bnb to stay in.The Montgomery house bnb was top notch, is all I can say, our host, Susie was great, and the breakfasts she fixed for us were quality stuff.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Devils Fork Gap

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 8.0

Mr and Mrs H drove us down from Damascus this morning to Erwin, destination Miss Janets house.We are using this as a base to slackpack us some miles back to Damascus.Today we did 8 miles and what a sad and boring 8 miles it was. It felt like purgatory and something we had to do, but it's done now.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Sams Gap

To: Nolichucky Bridge
Miles today: 24.0

With or without a pack, high miles are torturous. We had to sustain a 3 mile per hour rate. Of course we spent too long sitting on top of Big Bald admiring the view and weather.. so we got to our destination in the dark and 30 minutes late.Coming down a mountain in the twilight is aweful. Between sundown and moonrise it's pitch black, and down below the canopy in the grottos... mmmm DARK.Got a few blisters from it too. im having little luck lately).
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Rockfish Ga[

To: Jarmin Gap
Miles today: 8.0

Well, we are going north again. Finally after a long bout of southboundness, were going the 'right' way again.We are slackpacking the Shenandoahs with Joys family, wer'e taking it easy as they are hiking with us. I like it, as it gives me short days.The Shenandoahs seem very easy, the terrain is nice, except the blackberries that scratch you, and that I pulled 3 ticks of me, and Joy pulled 5 off Gwyn.A short day gives a short entry.
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Black Rock Gap

To: Ivy Overlook
Miles today: 13.0

We (the royal we), consisting of Xena, myself, Dave and Miranda, and Heather and Arwen, were travelling north in pack formation. Our aim was to slackpack 12 miles. Our progress was hampered by poor information and bad numbers of all the markers and guide books.Black Rock was really pretty, a whole course of rocks flowing down the mountain. There was some good insect specimens out, like stoneflies.None of the mile markers seemed to add up. The books are wrong, it's all wrong.It was great to be hiking with the crew again, miles ticked off as we hiked and chatted and argued and sang Paula Abdul songs. Or maybe confused a Janet Jackson song with a Paula Abdul song. We have such a camraderie that it's very much family like. It's so cool.We had a beaut tea cooked by Heather and Miranda with some input from Leki overseeing the onions and Dave making some dessert.
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Monson

To: wilson creek shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

start: Monsonstop: wilson Creek Sheltermiles: 11Today was.. very hard.I'm hiking with Cheers for this 100 mile wilderness. Today I said goodbye to Xena and Grace in the parking lot and stepped forward. Maine is so beautiful up here. Immediatly after dropping off the highway we skirted a pond, hit bog logs to cross, beaver dams, moose tracks, trail maintainers, the works. even a few south bounders.Hiking today was very hard. As soon as I picked up my pack this morning, it weighed a tonne. 41 pounds to be exact, and when it was on my shoulders, I knew why I didn't want to be on the trail anymore. Later in the afternoon I had an execution of a headache, coupled with my pack, I really didn't want to hike anymore.The other annoyance is the blackflies, they will literally eat you alive. When they bite, they draw blood and leave behind a small blood blister type lump. By the time I got to the shelter, I was covered in blood, my arms, legs, neck, all smeared with blood. They even bite through clothes. I hate them. I want to be home with Joy. I don't want to be here on my way to Katahdin.Apart from the above, we had some awesome stuff today. The evergreens are beaut, the pines. the ponds. its all very picturesque. Beaver dams and bogs. The fun part today was fording the rivers. scary stuff. It got crotch deep and it was cooold. Had the kilt rolled up around my waist like a big belt. Pack on and wearing my sandals, I edged across after Cheers. We made it safely, but it had a strong current and if it was deeper or faster we would have been in trouble.Magic was through here on the 4th, so he will finish as number 1 this year. Whoopdedoo. (sarcastic note there).It's so different hiking with someone other than Xena. All the things we would talk about are nonexistant now. My left arm has been cut off.I'm gonna chow 3 ibuprofen and try and sleep. Night all.Statistics:ate 6 ibuprofenate 3 laffy taffykilled inumerable blackfliesgot bitten 1,000,000 times by blackflies-- Stu "Bloody Cactus" George --
Date: 2004-06-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My attempt at thruhiking the AT this year is now over.In a way Im a bit sad, but also I am glad it's done with. Many things happened during my time on the trail that caused this conclusion of my hike to end early.I had an awesome time on the trail, some days stand out, while most just blend in together. I have met some great people, some of which I hope to remain friends with for a very long time.And there is one in particular with whom I have become very close with, Xena. She and I are now engaged to be married next June in 2005. (In Harpers Ferry I might add! such a pretty place.).There came a point on the trail where I was living to go from town to town rather than be on the trail. It was not so much as becoming a job but as becoming a chore. I still love hiking, but it became something very monotonous living day to day.Then there was the 100 mile wilderness.I had seen the start, so had decided I would have liked to see the end, and the plan was formed to hike the 100 mile wilderness and climb Katahdin. I started at Monson, and lasted 1 and a half days. The trail was so rough and rugged we did 10 miles in 8 hours the first day and 4 miles in 3 hours the next. The trail was so overgrown we would often spend 10 minutes looking for the next blaze as there was little to no trail to follow, especially once you climbed/skirted several down trees. (I did love the river fordings tho).The blackflies in the wilderness drove me mad, and I still have a great many welts on my legs, arms, neck from their bites and they itch itch itch! (and its nearly 8 days later).I didn't start the hike with anything much in mind. I was not looking for anything in my life, rather I just wanted to hike, and I ended up hiking for a few months and found a fiancee in the process.I will hike again, I still love it, and one day I may even finish the northern half of the AT as well.I will write some more conclusion entries and review various bits of my gear and so forth over the coming days.Tally ho ladies and gentlemen! (hope to see some of you at the wedding next year!)
Date: 2003-11-01
To: The Beginning
Miles today: 0.0

My husband Andrew and I are both 34 years old and decided to do this for the 2004 season about a month ago. We've been collecting some equipment and reading everything we can. We got the inspiration from a youth trip at our church that went to Blood Mountain. I was a chaperone and discovered thru hiking. I had never known about it before and decided I had to do it one day. That was almost 2 years ago. After traveling the country in a camper for almost a year and doing a little backpacking we decided to hike the A.T. before going out west because we were just too excited about it.Lots of plans to be made yet.Linda