morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

Today had an unusually hard climb, the formidable roan mountain. I arrived at the shelter near the top at about 445, just enough time to make the next shelter before dark, but decided not to. I really like the fraser firs, and my achilles is especially crunchy tonight, so im resting it after an anemic 15 mile day. I am working on that being fine with me, but for now I am here and that is enough. A 20 and a 17 and ill be at kincora hostel, then im still thinking of doing the 50 mile 2 day challenge into damascus.Are all old men cumudgeonly and snore?Thanks to catherine and mom for the care packages! I really appreciate them.Little sister and mattlanta just rolled in; one can assume rubber duck is in tow. His mass accent reminds me of the adam sandler tollbooth willie routine. Ha! Good people, but if I make damascus in 4 days im afraid ill lose them for good.Speaking of, I ran into bonified slackpacking today, she says she thinks 501 may be off the trail. Bonified could be the twin sister of mrs g from galloway... Artist and everything. Well, mrs g circa 1990 when I knew her anyway. We hung out at miss janets. I also ran into andrew/achillies slackpacking... If he catches up while I am slacking off I will have known him the longest - since georgia I think.
Date: 2007-04-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 21.0

Today I pushed on down from roan mtn in the morning, crossing 19 in the early afternoon - which marks the end of my travels in north carolina! I met up with two more good groups of younger folks, the texas/georgia boys (I get along with both) and forrest/spaceman/birdlegs. I am camping with the latter down by the elk river after a hard 21 miles. I really ought to settle down with a group... I still move too fast. If I stay at kincora tomorrow night ill only have to do 17.5. I may take it easier on the last leg to damascus to let my ankle heal too. Still the achilles, it creaks a lot when I flex it.
Date: 2007-05-01
To: Dennis Cove, TN
Miles today: 17.0

Woke up early with a bit of a dew problem, will remember not to pitch out in the riverbottom grass again. Made the 17 in serious heat to kincora, an ok hostel that might have been a tad oversold by baltimore jack. But after an arbys 5 for 5 and a chicken finger platter I am only sort of interested in the half gallon of ice cream waiting for me downstairs... Some days you get what you want, some days you get what you need. The walls of this hostel are plastered with photos of happy skinny people on katahdin. 400 miles under me now. It feels substantial finally. For weeks it all seemed insignificant next to such a staggering goal, but now... I want one of those pictures. Climbing uphill for no reason on a hot afternoon I still feel like quitting, but in general ive decided the at is a worthy endeavor in its own right, and when I quit fighting the trail and roll with it I have more fun. The group spread over a few days walk in this section is fun too, and that helps. I dont see myself locking into a clique, but a friendly, familiar face who makes me laugh takes the edge off a long day. Three days to damascus... 10 faster than an average successful thru hiker, 1 month to the day. Gotta take it easy. The psychological quarter point, and only a couple weeks from my new summer gear.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Dennis Cove, TN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 21.0

Today is my first day on the siesta schedule, where I walk till noon then take a break and walk more in the evening, but the weather isnt bad today and we are finally getting some leaf cover so I may cruise this afternoon anyway. The wild azaleas are finally out, bursts of pink and purple. I passed laurel falls this morning, then went for a swim in wautaga lake. I passed birdlegs, forrest, spaceman, b-i and lala slackpacking on my way down. Now im having lunch with hangman with only 7 more to go.I think im done with hostels for awhile, the last two have been pretty sketchy. Compared with what we got at the duckett house for not that much more money its an easy decision.
Date: 2007-05-03
To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: light rain

Walked all the way to damascus, about 30 miles. It poured rain for the last 10 miles, thunder and lightning and fog. I stopped to wring out my socks and kept walking. Im staying at dancing bear, a vacation rental... It is really nice for a zero. I might take two, or I might slackpack. I wasnt planning to be here until tomorrow evening. It is good to be in virginia.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Damascus, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Ah, a zero day. I have 4000 errands to run, but at least I am not walking. I went to the store, then the outfitter (new shoes!), ate several times, gonna get a haircut (I just say "number one"), ankle brace, and the seven Cs (my mneumonic for town stops - clean me, clean clothes, clean gear, charge body, charge phone, camel up (resupply) and call home.) Tomorrow instead of taking a second zero I am treating myself to my first slackpack. I pay the outfitter $60 to take me up to the top of the mountain 24 miles away, and I get to hike with a daypack south back to damascus and sleep in my bed. Included in the price is a trip to the same spot the next morning where ill continue to Atkins. Its legit mileage but much easier than the usual in several ways. A nice treat for myself.*****It feels good to have the head shaved again... it's hard to explain, it's like a commitment thing.Town days arent easy. They remind me just how far out of circulation I am, and are lonely. Theres some drama at home which isn't helping, and ill be glad to get back on the trail tomorrow. I find my head is clearer with 12 hours walking in the woods, and ive grown used to it.
Date: 2007-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 24.0

Im sitting in a place called dairy king in damascus across the street from the laundromat where my clothes are getting washed. The kind owner of the dancing bear loaned me some old sweat clothes.I slackpacked 24 miles today, and I am feeling it! The new shoes have my legs very sore. I climb mtn rogers tomorrow, but ill take it easy.Emotionally I am not doing as well. Drama back home is hard... I try to be compassionate and turn the other cheek always, but I wonder if it is always best. Is it a way of avoiding closure? Unloading would feel good. Sometimes I out-complicate myself.Ive got mountain house dinners as far as the eye can see, and no special hurry to get anyplace. My pace is up a little, which makes it easier to do more.
Date: 2007-05-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 21.0

Today began with an early shuttle to the place id left off yesterday. I climed mt rogers along with about 100 other weekenders and came upon a field of ponies! They were very cute, and a little surreal in the alpine field. I continued on, enjoying my new ipod mix from Jocelyn and trying to process drama from back home. Its good to be out in the wilderness. I hung out with stealth a little, youve got to respect a guy who walks with feet looking like his. 21 today.
Date: 2007-05-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

I am currently stuffed full of cheap pizza, hanging out with a fun group at the ritz carlton of shelters, partnership. In addition to the courtesy phone for pizza delivery, theres a hot shower. I did a super easy 20 to make it here, including some actual flat spots! Tomorrow should be even easier, im only 11 miles from the motel and my maildrop. I plan to stay there tomorrow night. I may need the sleep - the thunderous duo of snorers just rolled in and we cant tent at this shelter. I actually slept for 12 hours last night, kind of a fluke for me.Some bad news today about jocelyns house, her contract fell through. Fingers crossed it sells fast.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Rural Retreat, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 23.0

This morning ive been mulling over a tricky schduling issue. Rural retreat to bland is 45 miles. I have a mandatory package at the post office there, two miles from the trail. Pearisburg is another 42 after bland. There is a shelter 23 miles in, a nice long day, but no more until mile 30, mileage I dont really like to do anymore. 23-22 is a nice trip, but I couldnt get my package that day unless I started the 22 on day 2 by 4 am, which is bad in several ways. If I dont get the package until the morning of day 3 ill have to yard sale outside the post office as I switch out my gear, and could end up walking well into the night to make 21 on day 3. The lay-up solution is super short, 14-19-12, then 21 21. I am leaning toward yard sale. It gets me there in 4 days, and if I get a good jump I wont have to walk into pitch dark. Weather and my body etc could always change the plan, but it seems like the best of a bad dilemma. Anyway, thought id write about the sorts of decisions I make at each leg.*****At some point virginia got pretty. My pal josh was always saying how virginia was much nicer than georgia, and today his assessment is justified. I had to shoo a lot of cows off the trail, which was fun. It turns out that female cows can have horns, something this city boy didnt know. Which throws a kink into a political cartoon ive been working on. It has these feminist cows scotch taping horns on, and the caption reads "the land of milk and what?" it might still work...Anyway, I passed my friend ghetto blaster taking a nap in a spectacular field with low rolling hills and everything in bloom. It was something. My ipod played chopins number 2 at just the right moment.Its funny the music you like on the trail vs what you expect. Classical is wonderful, but guy with a guitar music unless its beck or tom petty is kind of flat. Even stuff like the dead or the mountain goats dont work for me. Dance music is excellent... I hike 30% faster when fergie is on, no kidding.I went swimming in a creek today, I passed it at the perfect time, like 330 on a hot day.I ate breakfast today at a restaurant called the barn. I had a subtle medley the chef thoughtfully entitled "the 2x4". My weight has definitely stabilized. I had fourthmeal and fifthmeal there last night as well.My friend jason thinks my diet has left me cata-something, but im not seeing it. Weight is stable, energy is up, mileage and speed are up, and the rocket fuel feels good, not yucky like normal. I need more protein or my upper body is going to get mushy, but im hoping shakes will fixy.Jason is a smidge responsible for my newly loquatious entries too, though the primary driver is my ability to hike and type using just my periph. He kind of called me out actually, but he was right, it is my journal and all.Barring some disaster ill make the 23 today. Got emails from kc and rich, love hearing from home!
Date: 2007-05-10
To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Against my better judgment I tented on the grass last night, I figured being at 4400 feet would keep the dew down. No such luck.In a clear reminder of her big brains Jocelyn pointed out that my brilliant plan had me arriving pearisburg on saturday afternoon - 36 hours before the post office opens monday morning. I gotta start sending more packages to hotels. Ill have to get a late start monday, but since it is only food and theres no hitchhiking involved with pearisburg it wont be as bad. Id also like to stall a little and make a pit stop in catawba on thursday, they say it has one of the best restaurants on the whole trail. Sounds a lot like celebration in dallas - never ending homestyle, but theyre only open thu-sun. So I have some screwing around to do. Ill make the 22 today and hitchhike into bland - I have yet to do it successfully so well see.*****I made the 22 but I am feeling it. Both legs are in serious pain, and the pads of my feet are hot to the touch. I dont really understand, 45 in two days of mild terrain with sweeping switchbacks ought to make me tired, but I was having to stop to let the engines cool several times today. I pulled something in my upper right ankle yesterday, I dont even say the words inshay intsplays because of the bad juju, but I dont think its the dreaded hike-ender, just a pulled thing that I apparently use whenever I do certain activities like, say, walking. Fortunately I discovered that the ankle brace I got for my left leg that won't fit because that ankle is perpetually swollen will fit over my right ankle, so im hoping that will help tomorrow. My left leg is also unhappy, whenever the swelling goes down it starts hurting and feeling "wrong", like my achilles is made out of rubber bands. It has been doing that since franklin but it was bad today. Minor expected aches and pains otherwise.I am going to give myself a much needed break between here and pearisburg, planning on 12, 14, 16 to let the body heal. If I decided that some actual time off made sense daleville is the place to do it - right next to roanoke airport and my friend josh. We will see.Tomorrow morning I pick up the summer gear, pretty stoked. I had my first hitchhiking experience today, a nice guy with a pickup stopped for me after about 20 minutes.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Bland, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

There was an interesting incident today, I interrupted a pair of thru hikers taking "virginia is for lovers" literally. Or something to that effect; as I rounded the bend there was a flurry of getting up, and adjustments, square in the middle of the trail. The guy volunteered "um, hello, we were just taking a break." the girl looked like the cat who ate the canary. No pun intended. They were actually a little standoffish in addition to making faces like busted teenagers... I chose not to address it and went on.This is actually not the first experience like this ive had, brian and I walked up on MUCH more explicit shenanigans, fortunately in a tent but also in the middle of the afternoon and directly on the trail back in texas. I dont get it. The jefferson national forest is huge, and any aspiring thru hiker (even if they dont think it counts until they get to maine, smartass) has to know somebody is going to come along every few minutes, so why fool around on the middle of the trail? It didnt seem like they were pleased at all to have been happened upon either. To say nothing of them not appearing to have showered recently and it being a sunny afternoon in the mid 80s. Honestly.Yeah, it made me a tiny bit lonely, but not bad.Anyway, I traded out my summer gear this morning, even with my pic-a-nic lunch my pack seems lighter. Im under a yellow flag for my ankles so - only did 12 today. I purposely got a really late start but im still here at the shelter by 4. Both ankles are now wrapped and both feel "much better" though honestly 12 miles isnt enough to tell. I am only scheduled to do 14 tomorrow but that may be hopeless, I may do a few more to ensure a short day into pearisburg. Knowing it doesnt help to get there early because of the post office helps.There are turkeys in the woods below me making a racket. Turkeys and squirrels are really loud, and both run from you out here. Deer and bunnies dont run from you rather they want to have staring contests right on the trail, and the groundhog I saw was shy but interested. Raccoons waddle away when they see you and hide stupid places. All the different kinds of mice and voles and moles make a funny Squeak! When they see you, then scamper off. Chipmunks are the cutest though, because they have such a flair for the dramatic when theyre running from you. If a chipmunk is running toward his hole in the ground, he will always leap high into the air so that he can swan dive headfirst. If possible they like to leap from fallen logs from as far away as possible. Weeee.
Date: 2007-05-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 22.0

After my journal entry yesterday ghetto blaster showed up and we made another 2 miles, bringing the total for yesterday to 14. It really illustrates the problem with trying to do short miles to rest - boredom. Today dawned really warm which is a bad sign, but it has since clouded over. Last nights two pulled a shelter to within 19.8, a mileage im ok with. Itd give me a nero into p-burg tomorrow. Ankles feel great under their braces... So far.I talked to josh, hes planning to meet me in catawba. Im thinking of skipping daleville altogether and staying at his farm. Itll be a nice break to see them.*****Today I met some good guys and made some decent milage in spite of feeling really sluggish. TDS, green hornet, boat drinks, and donnie quixote are all in this new pod, and I caught back up with trail blazed. I also met bandito and no problem heading sobo for trail days, then returning closer to where ill be.I got some awesome trail magic at the perfect time tonight, burgers and potato salad and salad and strawberry shortcake. Id have to say its the best magic yet.Ill wind up with 20 on the day, leaving only 7.8 for tomorrow into town. Ghetto should have made it to pearisburg, ill catch him and GG and rhodo etc later next week.
Date: 2007-05-13
To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: few clouds

This morning I woke up early and made the nero 6 miles into pearisburg. I got a room at the holiday motor lodge, and got something to eat. Everything here is really spread out - ive already had to walk a mile just in town. A local woman was unhappy with my towel and raincoat at the laundromat, but my options are limited.I finally met crazy bear and saw paloma, we have lots of friends in common. They and ghetto are going to do 6 today, so I might just catch them before catawba. I also heard GG and rhodo are taking a zero, so theyll start off with me tomorrow. My feet and ankles are hurting, so im looking forward to pizza, ice, and tv this afternoon.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

This morning I hit the post office for resupply and got back on the trail. Mom sent biscoti and aunt cindy sent brownies which ive been enjoying with my bag of hardees biscuits. Gonna try to do 20 on this beautiful day.*****More bears! A really big mom with a cub on a ridge. I saw them first, the cub was closer to the trail just ahead of me than he was to his mother. I backed up a good distance until I could just see the cubs ears. I started to talk in a loud voice so they would think I was just coming up, but like with the other bears I watched the ears turn toward me but not move. So again I took a deep breath and gave my best thundercat impression... "Hhhhoooooo!" it was interesting to see that the cubs can run just as fast as the adults as both ran down the far side of the ridge, crashing all the way.That makes six bears, and I find im not even looking for them anymore.Despite my late start I made 20 and felt ok. GG and rhodo are here with me, though ghetto and co. moved on. Tomorrow theres a shelter 18 away - perfect. I should easily be able to meet josh thursday, then spend friday and saturday night at the farm.Im also getting really excited about memorial day, Jocelyn is flying in to see me. We are planning to hang out in washington dc a week from sat and sunday. Itll be a nice vacation from my vacation to wear street clothes and order room service.
Date: 2007-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Had a case of "second day" lethargy this morning, its become extremely common for me to be tired and slow the day after I leave town. The trail also absolutely sucked the entire day. The afternoon was better, I had a nice bath in a creek, and got a trail magic soda. Will make 18 or 20 today depending on my mood...
Date: 2007-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

I cant remember a day I woke up feeling less like walking till dusk. The fatigue is still with me, I got a bad headache, and it rained all day long. But now its time for the payoff... I made the 20 miles to pickle shelter, and from here I am in civilization at some point every day but one for the next two weeks. Dont ask me how I managed that, but between josh, Jocelyn, daleville, glasgow, montebello and waynesboro, I wont have another day this stinky for at least a couple weeks.Saw a cool salamander in the rain, he was orange with black spots and about 4 inches long.Last night I saw a perfect replica of the blair witchs house... Complete with open dark windows and creepy vibe - right at dusk, as I was about to make camp alone.   It actually made me think of wendy at last years halloween party crawling around looking for "paranormal activity" in their attic. Which made me laugh, so I didnt get the heebie jeebies. Speaking of the keffers, I am supposed to pass a spectacularly large tree called the "keffer oak". I cant make this stuff up.I debated getting a psp this morning while I was slacking off talking to Jocelyn, but I dont think its worth the money or weight since the battery life is so short. Id rather try to find a way to get more onto the dash.Tomorrow night at this time ill be hanging out with josh... Full to the point of illness on ayce bbq. Actually I may be limping the 3 miles I plan to do afterwards so that I can do 17 into daleville, mcdonalds, and econolodge. Then joshs farm sat and sun night - that way I can space the food out, stay an extra night in a real bed, and space having company better.
Date: 2007-05-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

Today, though ayce is apparently waiting for me, is definitely day 3 of The Suck. I slept poorly because of the old people in the shelter I had to sleep in because of the rain, but whatever the reason - sleep, nutrition, lonliness - I have had zero energy since leaving pearisburg... (josh drove up at this moment)Fast forward to evening, GG and rhodo caught up to me, and I had a really good time with josh. I didnt expect civilization to shock me, but roanoke did. So many stores... with things to buy. All whizzing by so fast. As soon as id made a mental note of what I liked to eat at one place, three more had passed. The ayce has made a new man of me in terms of energy, lets hope my doldrums were just nutrition. I picked up a secret weapon - red bull - just in case.New jammies from target! The shirt is a bit tight but the pants are awesome.
Date: 2007-05-18
To: Daleville
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

I saw another bear today just before tinker cliffs, and though it was the seventh bear ive seen it was a wholly different experience. Some other people had just come through so he must have just moved there, and he was a brute. Absolutely massive, and not cuddly at all. On all fours, but alert, and looking straight at me before I had seen him. He was also too close, maybe 50 feet away. This was the first one which wasnt just intellectually able to run me down, kill, and eat me, this one was ... instinctively able to. It wasnt just that he had a hundred pounds on the next largest bear id seen and several hundred pounds on me... he felt like a predator, an association which was wholly subconscious and a gestalt of each of those aspects.Long before I remembered my plan to get a picture of the next bear I saw I heard my voice summoning a rather sickly thundercat "hooo!" which instantly broke the spell and he was gone. I followed it up with a much more robust HHHhoooooo!!! To remind us both who was el jefe, but I must have been a little shaken afterwards because I immediately lost the trail. I ended up going the long way around tinker cliffs until I spied a notch where I could climb up and rejoin the trail.I already have a secured reservation at the econolodge tonight but I plan to meet josh for some of that indian food ive been craving so much.