morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Holy Family Church Hostel

To: Docs Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: light rain

"This is the thing. The good days are really really good, but the bad days...they¢re really really bad." -Bloody Cactus"See, I told you not to weigh your pack!"-Xena"I know this would sound funny to anyone who's not a hiker, but you guys have some really nice privies coming up!"-Xena"Shoot! Even these switchbacks need switchbacks!"-XenaWell, I didn¢t pee Gatorade, but I nearly puked it! 6 liters in just over a day might be overkill, but I¢m feeling better and as ready as I¢ll ever be to get back on the trail.The thunder is rolling and rumbling as we sit around the fire-the Mad German, Boxtop, Packrat, Bloody, Wing, Feather, and I are catching up and telling stories. Great to see old friends and good to be back on the trail.Took awhile to get going today but it¢s a good thing we stopped by the Post Office because our box was sitting there, not being delivered to the hostel. Had a nice blizzard at DQ before we left and are gearing up to get to Grayson Highlands for our time with the mini-term group coming to hike with us.Time to take pictures and crawl into the bag before the storm starts!
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Docs Knob Shelter

To: VA 606 campground
Miles today: 16.0

Bloody Cactus: ¢Kiwis? What are a couple of Kiwis doing here?¢KIWIS: ¢Dunno, mate, but at least we got here in shorts!¢US: ¢How far is it to the road?¢NOBO: ¢Oh, not far, you're nearly there. Mostly flat or downhill for ya'll.¢Translation:US: Are we there yet? We have to be there. We¢re gonna die if it's more than five feet to the road.NOBO: You got a good little up with rocks that are guaranteed to make you twist your ankles ten times each and like five feet of downhill.NOBO: ¢So how¢s the hike from here to Pearisburg?¢US: "Oh not bad. Flat. Watch your water after this next shelter. And you¢ve got a nice downhill into town.¢Translation:NOBO: Saw the profile of that hill you suckers came up. You should be heading north, then you wouldn¢t have had to climb up it! Losers.US: There's no water, you have a little bit of uphill and that downhill is gonna kill you. Make you wish you could tear your kneecaps out...that is, after you¢ve run down it for two miles because gravity won¢t let you stop your downward descent. Sucker.Today was a good day. Not a lot happened, just a nice mostly flat day.We ran into a group of kids getting college credit for a class called "Appalachian Trails" where they talk about hiking and go out for four-day hikes!Met Hippie Longstockings, Dharma, Fitz, Eat, Slips, and saw Poptart again. I forgot to mention running into Wildcat in Pearisburg and running into Sugar Daddy yesterday. Its great going south!After lunch we headed to Dismal Falls which would have been beautiful had it not been for the beer cans littered everywhere and the loud squealy kids splashing us while we tried to take a nap.Once down to the road, we found Trent¢s Grocery, which allows camping, has a phone, has showers (even though they¢re locked), and has pizza. Apparently they have other things, but Trent is behind because he let Pearl have the night off so she could be in a beauty pageant! Isn¢t Trent nice? So he told us we would have to have pizza instead of hamburgers because he's really backed up, and even wrote down our pizza order on the back of a carton of cigarettes! That¢s when I noticed the stuffed deer and bobcat! Yeehaw! I love the South!Well, its time to get to the tent (which, by the way, is between the horse stables and the pig sty!) Should be an interesting night! Hope it doesn¢t rain because I snapped a tent peg and we wouldn¢t be able to peg down the rain fly!
Date: 2004-04-25
From: VA 611

To: Bland, Va
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

0600-Alarm goes off.0601-Hikers notice the sound of rain and go back to sleep.0700-Still raining-hikers debate what to do.0800-Still raining, still debating.0830-Raining-hikers eat breakfast in hopes that it stops raining soon, but getting darker inside tent.0845-Thunder.0900-The heavens open up, everything that's already soaked (which would include everything) gets even wetter.1000-Realize the rain isn't going to stop and decide to pack up and head to town to dry out.1500-Get into Bland finally (and as a side note--I will forever pick up hikers with backpacks, even in the pouring rain--hikers need love, too) after walking 2.5 miles down a busy road since no one would pick us up.1530-Hang all clothes in hotel room and turn heat on high.1535-Go to DQ for meat.1550-Talk to other hikers. Find out we have 13 thigh-high river crossings.1600-Come back to room and open door to the now sauna/rain forest that is our room.1700-Bedtime-rotting our minds with television, hitting mental walls and waiting for the stupid rain to stop, thinking about how bad of a day it was and glad its almost over.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Bland, Va

To: Bland, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Who knows what fears lurk in the hearts of hikers? The trail knows. The trail knows.Today I dyed my hair purple and silver, tried on prom dresses, and contemplated buying a DVD. Wolf Wookie and Dances With Wolf Cookie showed up at our hotel room with their parents and whisked us away for a steakhouse lunch and then drove us into West Virginia to a mall! The plan was to see a movie, but they didn¢t start till 7 pm and we weren¢t going to wait around.....so....what to hikers do in the mall for two hours? We try on clothes.We take pictures.We run from store to store.We get dirty looks from cashiers for not buying the clothes we tried on and took pictures of ourselves in.We go to movie stores and wander around in awe of all the things we could be buying.Then...we find Spencers--and buy hair dye and funny sweat bands with trail name initials on them.And then we eat lots of snickerdoodles and sleep on the way back to the hotel.So once back at the hotel Ssatori came and said hello and informed us that the Camera Crew was there! And then, as if the day couldn¢t get better, we hear a scream and see Lekiless coming towards us dropping his pack along the way!So we ran over to DQ and had a nice reunion over blizzards and burgers. Then we said our goodbyes and now its time for bed!
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Bland, Va

To: Wise Shelter (Grayson Highlands)
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

We saw Beavis! We saw Beavis! He came to the motel as we were getting ready to leave. Gosh, it sure was good to see that kid! Don¢t know how I can miss someone I only hiked with for a day or two, but I sure was glad to see him!It was good to catch up and its amazing that so many people are hitting this wall that I¢ve hit. I don¢t feel so alone in it now. Bloody just doesn¢t talk about it, though I¢m sure he has his days. How can you not? We have 4 more months left! More than 2/3 of the trail left! It¢s depressing.Anyway, Mr. Yoder showed up early with the kids and we headed down to Grayson Highlands, first taking the wrong road and then getting stuck on a small road right behind an accident.We finally got here and Grayson Highlands is amazing! Incredible!
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Wise Shelter (Grayson Highlands)

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

In 2 days we will have hiked for two months.   Seems like longer than that.The Highlands are incredible. Had a wonderfully lazy day of hiking, until I lost the map and had to do 1.5 miles back and then 1.5 miles back again when I found it.I am no longer in charge of the map. This is a good thing.Saw some ponies near Rhododendron Gap and then some more near the shelter.It¢s going to be another cold night...not sure I should have switched to my summer bag yet!Should have a nice sunset tonight, but its gonna be cold!The Highlands are incredible. Everyone should come here.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Lost Mountain
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, 12 miles, plus four to the car and four back to the shelter--so technically, 20! And we¢re at the shelter by 5:30. Not too shabby.Can¢t wait to head into Damascus tomorow. I need to see Nuffy! There¢s also quite a bit for sale right now.   Two B&B¢s and the Side Track Cafe. Ahhh, dreams of life after the trail in a hiking town...with no money. Oh, well!Sad saying goodbye to the group and Grayson Highlands. Miss the ponies and the fields already. If I haven¢t said it yet, the Highlands are amazing. Everyone should come here. I wish I could live here!Well, 16 miles to Damascus and we want to get there for lunch, so I have to get some sleep!
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Lost Mountain

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

"ain't not a lot o' action in this town! we ain't even got a red light."-damascus local doing laundry.wow. 16 miles in 4.5 hrs. not too shabby....We ended up taking the Virginia Creeper Trail today. Lots of people were talking about it in the shelter last night and it sounded too pretty to miss, so we jumped on there and flew to town...but not before having our ten o'clock snack at a trailside cafe. I had a hamburger and hot chocolate. Bloody had french toast, FREE, which he will not let me forget.Something about the accent, I suppose, because he wasn't wearing the kilt to show off his legs today!Got into town around noon and found the side track cafe where we happily suprised nuffy and bloody put in a request for toasted cheese and vegimite. (yuck!)then off to a b and b to get a room, do laundry and take a shower because nuffy says we stink! a couple weeks of the trail and shes gone soft! soft, i say!
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Montgomery Homestead B + B

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

my parents came toay to brng food and drive bloody and i to Miss Janet's in Erwin so we an hike into trail days.We found the long lost, but never forgotten Bono! He's working at Miss Janets, helping shuttle people around until Trail Days.after driving with bono for an hour and a half and almost dying at a tricky intersection--thats a stop sign bono!-- we hiked the most boring 8 miles of the trail!headed back to a very full miss janets and crashed on the couch until someone wathing a movie gave up a bunk so we could get some sleep.24 miles tomorrow and I'm not feeling good at all.yuck.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Sam's Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

start-sams gapstop-erwin, tndistance-24 milesafter a wonderful breakfast of omlets, sausage gravy, fruit and biscuits we got started on our hike around 11:15.big bald was pretty, but after the highlands, everything else seems blah. We didn't even take any pictures except of one pretty humorous sign we found in the middle of the woods.i had forgotten how the lower states likes to go up and over every single mountain instead of around them and i had also forgotten how much i hate it.now i remember.i feel like crap and cant breathe
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

miss janets househappy cinco de mayo.the desire to hike has totally left my body.i have 120 miles to hike to get to damascus by next thursday and i dont have any motivation to do even an inch of it.it could be that im sick and cant breathe through my nose.it could be that i've just lost my desire to hike this trail.it could be a mixture of the two.im going to get some medicine and see if that helps.this morning bloody and i did work for stay at mis janets. in exchange for shower, bed, breakfast, laundry, and shuttle, we cleaned, organized and mopped the kitchen. bloody cactus also is working on miss janets computer.miss janets houe is truly incredible and she is a wonderful woman. opening her home to hikers constantly is no small feet. she is truly an angel!
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Erwin, TN

To: Harrisonburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's time to regroup.Bloody Cactus and I got Bono and Roadster to give us a ride up to my house so we can figure out what we're doing. It's been hard on me lately, being sick and not wanting to hike both happening at the same time. I need my mom's food.I need my dog.I need my teddy bear.And I need my best friend. Big decisions can't be made by yourself.So we're off to my house for a few days, until Trail Days, actually, to just get some much needed R + R and to give me time to figure things out.The drive was interesting, especially getting a flat on I-81--and anyone that's been on 81 KNOWS that 81 is not the place to get a flat! Semis will roll over you without hesitation!We got home and had a wonderful meal with my parents and just hung out for the evening. Bono and Roadster will leave sometime tomorrow after we go up to the Parkway to try and find Heald and Dog Wonder. They want a ride to Damascus and Bono is driving by there on his way back to Erwin. Looks like we'll be picking up Haiku in harper's Ferry to give him a ride to Trail Days.It's good to be home.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Harrisonburg, VA

To: Harrisonburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Days.How do you describe something like that? It was just an incredible experience. It was so great to see everyone--burn, the camera crew, leki, wolf cookie and dances with, airferret, dave and miranda, haiku, sugar daddy, miss janet, wicked, baltimore jack...and the list goes on and on and on.The sport kilt guy was there so everyone bought them and my sister's friends Stephen, Mars, and Jared(all from N. Ireland) bought some too! We got pictures with all the kilted guys so I can look at it all the time! It was almost too much to handle!It was great to have my best friend down there with me, hanging out at the Side Track and just having a blast. The parade was incredible, a huge water fight, town vs. hikers. Will have pictures posted soon.As for us, we're going to do the Shenandoahs with my parents, taking it slow and just enjoying the mountains. We'll start tomorrow and do it over the next two weeks. We're not rushing.Everything else is up in the air, but we're still hiking and we're still at my house, so we'll update on the days that we get out on the trail and actually do something!
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Harrisonburg, VA

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I suppose it's about time to get back on the Trail. None of this sitting around, watching movies, petting doggies and taking leasurly strolls down to my lake and back.Bloody and I are heading out today and will get to Maine on Tuesday. We're going to spend the next 10 days hiking the 100 mile wilderness and Katahdin, where we'll visit with Grace and Ross and get our pictures taken at the top.I swear I'll give a better update of things when I get back, but you CAN expect some thrilling entries while I'm in Maine We went to Harper's Ferry the other day to hang out with the Camera Crew and got our pictures taken at the ATC. We were numbers 46 and 47 on the "flip flop" list. I don't know why this upset me, but it did. I may have flopped a bit and gone south, but I'm STILL a northbounder. I should still get a northbound number, which would have been 170, by the way, but noooooooooo, I'm a flip-flopper. I feel like I've failed somehow. I'm not saying flip-floppers are bad. I'm definately not a purist that needs to touch every white blaze on the way up and who won't go south. I see nothing wrong with changing things up a bit, but I should still be a northbounder...Well, I suppose it's time to hike a bit.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Amicolla Falls

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

I finally made it. The wait has been long. I started hiking around 9am this morn. It took me 7 hours to make Springer Mountain. I never hurt so much in my life. When I arrived to the summit there was a gentleman who said he was a ridge runner. His trail name was Gizmo. He then began a speach about bears.Excuse me, BEARS! They will get your food,they will get your gear and they will get you. Then we all recieved a quick class on how to dig a cat hole. If you do not know, well then I am giving out our first homework assignment. I met two fellas today on the way up. One was from New York and the other was from Atlanta Georgia. What a difference between the two. Look who's talking, im the biggest redneck I think on the whole trail. I brought my AM/FM radio so I would'nt miss Nascar. The day ended with one of the most spectacular sunset's a man could possibly ever see. I was in a state of awe! The sun sank slowly into the haze which had accumalated right over the top of the mountains. When it was through the haze the mountains underneth lit up like a light from heaven shinning brightly down on me and only those who witnessed it. I am happy. I am at peace.
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk mountain shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

This morning i was a stiff as a log. I ate my breakfast and loaded my pack. The hike was not as tough as the previous day. I passed a beatiful water fall. I believe it was called Long Creek Falls. It was marvolous darling, absolutly marvalous. It was cold to.When we arrived at hawk mountain shelter, there was a gentleman there who had just turned 65. I do not recall his name, but I do know that he had taken a few days to hike what he did. He had all kind of extra gear. Sat phone,Huge stove,GPS with 14 band walk about. He had to lay down to put his pack on then roll over and use a tree to get up. My pack is heavy, will retain my true pack weight until a little bit later. It is quite heavy I must say. Around 4pm out of the blue there were two f-14's flying tree tops. It sounded as if it were world war three. Black Hawks flew by,deploying an attacking army only few miles away. In the back ground you could here explosions and small arms fire. This went on until around 11pm. At that time 200 tired, hungry and pissed off Army Rangers hiked by. It sounded if a herd of buffalo has stampeded by.When all had settled down and i had settled down There was another attack. This time it was by 101st airbourne attack mice. These mice were trainned by the best. I believe they rapelled down out of the rafters on us. Sadly we lost one mouse. I believe he was having marital problems and committed suicide in a fellas Nalgene bottle that he had left half full and open when he went to sleep.It was in the fellas best intrest that I not reveal his name or trail name or someone might laugh at peach monkey.oops! Well, now that everyone knows. We laughed hard about that one.I am enjoying the newness to everything. I feel as if i am on ride at a theme park and my time is going to run out. The cool thing is if it does, I have a pocket full of tickets.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Hawk mountain shelter

To: Gouch Mt. shelter
Miles today: 10.0

It rainned all day today. I dislike hiking in the rain. I took my rain gear off. I was just as wet wearing it. When you stop it gets cold so I hiked on. When I made it to the shelter there were a few people already there. I met Bain from Maine and his son. I believe we have given this young 12year old boy a trail name. He snored louder than any adult I have ever heard. The funny thing was he was sleeping on his stomach. He ran three people out of the shelter.Then just when I finally fell asleep he had rolled across the floor and was sleeping with his leg on me. I quickly shoved him across the floor. He returned with in minutes. I shoved him even more. I think i had shoved him over this guy named papa john. PJ is another kid who obviously works at papa johns pizza place. The shelters are becoming a bit to festive for a good nights sleep. The trail still is very enjoyable to me. The hikes up some of these mountains are very tough. When I get up top there is no view or we do not even go to the top.I have plenty of time so I am taking it. I really do enjoy the feeling of just being here.
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Gouch Mt. shelter

To: Neils Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started ot this morning at woods hole shelter. I ewnt over Blood Mountain today. It was very beautiful up there. I even got lucky and got some pictures. I sat on a rock outcropping and had lunch. The old rock shelter there was very neat. I am starting to pick up my pace a little now. I am hiking over ten miles a day now. There are very intresting people out here. I am going to try to make Neils Gap today. I think we are going to stay in a cabin that Bains wife rented. Stakes and cold beer. Yeah! I enjoy the times i am having. I hope to remember these days.
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Neils Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got back on the trail today. The wallassi yi outfitters was pretty cool. I bought a bell for my food bag and some patches. I also found some walking staff pins. I made it to low gap shelter. It was a tough hike. It rainned all day. I am begining to hate rain. Blah. It is real humid too. Everything is wet. I just wanted to eat and go to sleep. I was told that the night before that a man was awakened by a bear stradleing him. Everyone woke up and scared him off. That dude is a lucky son of a @!#$@$. I put my tent up. I am tired of the asault mice and the mormon tabernacle snorers. I want to get a good nights sleep. If a bear wants my food he can have it if he can get it tonight. The poison ivy has spread to most of my body now. I don't know how i got it on me. I am very careful. There are fields of it out here. In the morn i will head to unicoi gap and the neat town of Helen. It looks as if you are in the alps. I believe it is bavarian(german). I want a shower and some good food. I am so Hungry! I am still in good humor. I am glad to be here and have this chance to hike this part of the trail in a big section. I trudge on.
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

I made it into town. Man what a tough hike. It rainned all day. Blah.Blah.Blah. I soaked in the pool for along time. It made my poison ivy feel beter. I ate at the hudle house which is next to my hotel. I am staying at the super 8 hotel. I found a cool little pub in the back of town. We went and had a few drinks and shot some pool. I was still pretty tired. Everyone is taking off in the morning. I am going to stay one more day and get some rest. I cant keep up with these guys. They are wanting to slam miles out. I still am out of shape. I am working on it. It takes time. I just enjoy being out here. I feel like the boys who played hooky in pinocio. I think im going to turn into a donkey at any time. The trail is demanding. I hope i can keep up with it. it is my trail to hike. I can only do what i can do. I have to just keep heading forwards.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Unicoi gap

To: sassafras gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I arrived late at unicoi gap. The outfitter was going to take me but never showed up. The manager at the super 8 motel took me. She was real nice. she had once lived in clarksville TN where I was from. I ran into a couple from Georgia who were section hiking. They camped right next to me. It was an extremly hard day. I went over two 1000 foot climbs today. I ran out of water for the hour of my day. I did get to have a nice lunch on top of rocky mountain. Then I was up and down on a ridge. The views were inclosed so I didnt get many pictures. The hooty owls put on a symphony for us tonight. The couple next to me hollared out" Boomhouser, what is that?" I couldnt lie and tell them it was a banshe which a screech owl did squal a little later. They never said a word. I do believe that it was a male owl looking for a mate. By the sounds of it, he found her. LOUD! I am glad to be back on the trail and out of town. The towns are fun but I am always glade to get back out. I have a long way to go...