morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-08
From: Kimberling Creek

To: Sugar Run Gap
Miles today: 13.9

Thurs., May 8thSugar Run Gap,Sugar Run Rd., in Hostel, 13.9 m Beautiful sunny day, temp in the high 70's, and a nice breeze, what more could you ask for? Actually the day got off kind of slow when we didn't finish breakfast at the restaurant in front the campground until 0900, but we walked back up to the trail and were off by 9:10.Just before taking the sidetrip to Dismal Creek Falls we found a turtle on the trail. Shell was like an American army helmet and he had bright orange legs and head.Later on we saw a bird with a bright red back and black wings and breast. Real steep climb after lunch when we ascended about 1300' in a little over a mile.We are now in one of the little places that are so special to the trail. This is a hostel, Woods Hole, run by Tillie Wood. It is an old log house built about 1880. Her late husband found this place in the 40's and they let out the fixed up barn as a hostel [no charge for thru-hikers]. She serves breakfast to the first 8 who sign up for $3.50.It is probably one of the nicest places we have seen on the trail.The house is made from chestnut logs and the barn is made of oak logs.
Date: 2003-05-09
From: Sugar Run Gap

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Fri., May 9thWow, we should really start with the breakfast that Tillie served us. Eggs, sausage, grits, southern biscuits coffee. All for $3.50. We were off at 0815 and at the trailhead at 0830. It may have rained last night but today was sunny and warm. Went across nice ridges for most of the day with views into the valleys on each side. The drop down at the end of the day was dramatic 2000' in a little more than a mile. After last nights rain, the trail was a very slick, but with our skating/skiing skills, we only fell a couple of times. We got to town by 1:30 and soon found a motel, AYCE Chinese food, and a laundry.We should be out of here and back on the trail for an easy 10 miler tomorrow.
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Sat., May 10thIn Rice Field Shelter, 7.3 m I guess we should start with my second shower in 24 hrs when I woke up this am. Yesterday after my shower and going to the laundramat to do our laundry, I thought I still had that hiker "hum". I just don't think that one shower washes off a week of trail grime and odour. We even bought shampoo to help with the job. That nice hiker tan on my legs sort of scrubbed off this am, and I didn't have the hiker hum either. All in all pretty good. We were up and at Hardees for breakfast at 0730.After eating, I took my coffee across the lot to the pay phone and tried to call my mum. Well if I tried the # once I tried it about 30 times. No dice. I went back into Hardees and got a free coffee refill and tried again and again.... We finally left the Hardees and started walking down to pick up the trail. The next payphone already had a hiker at it, so we continued. Finally there was another pay phone in front of a supermarket, so I headed for that one. First time I dialed the # I got right through. It was nice to talk to my mum so close to mothers day. She even got the card I sent last Friday. There is one thing we are beginning to realize now. If you have to make a big climb down to a town you can be pretty sure you are going to have to make a big climb back out. We might not have climbed up quite as high but it was the toughest morning we have had yet. The temp was high 70's with high humidity. I drank 2 litres of water in less than an hour and a half. We were sweating, even the sweat came down my arms and onto my hiking stick handles. A good thing it was a short day. We just didn't think we could afford a zero day with leaving the trail for "Trail Days" and then going home for a week. We got to the shelter at about 1:30 and understand the next 10 miles will be across ridges. Now if the expected thunder showers are only for tonight we should be okay. Spent a couple of hours watching very large [turkey vultures?] birds floating on the thermals as we looked into the as we looked into the valley 2000' below. I just can't help but wonder - wouldn't it be nice to be able to "float" and fly like a bird. Maybe when I return home, I'll take up hang gliding. About as close as you could get, I would think. Tomorrow we hope to do 16 miles. It is supposed to be fairly level. Tonight the low is expected to be 62 f. I am pretty sure that is higher than the high at home.
Date: 2003-05-11
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Mother's Day Sun., May 11thIn Bailey's Gap Shelter, 16.2m Up and out of camp at 0715. The first half of the day was across ridges and finally the promised thunderstorms came. It wasn't all that bad in the trees as they tend to break up the rain. For breakfast as we weren't near water, we had bagels and peanut butter, honey and cream cheese. We sat under huge chestnut trees and you wouldn't have hardly known it was raining. A couple of dogs passed us doing what looked like a nice hike. They were very sociable, stopping for a head pat, and then heading south like they actually knew where they were going. For lunch, we made a shelter and had scrambled eggs and oatmeal and coffee. We dropped about 1000' in 7/10 of a mile heading into that shelter. After lunch [or was that breakfast?], we had 4 miles to this shelter. On the way we passed a dead possum on the trail. Then we had a tough 1100' climb up here. They are always tough at the end of a day.Into the shelter at 4:40. It is quite nice now, sunny, 75 f, and a breeze. In Pearisburg, I bought a radio. It is almost impossible to believe that there are so many radio stations that don't give any news. They do give out weather, flood and tornado warnings for counties we have never heard of. In the shelter with us tonight are Toe-Bow, Twofiddy, Josh and Peaches. Homebound and Psycho-hiko are tenting/hammocking outside
Date: 2003-05-12
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

Mon., May 12thIn Laurel Creek Shelter, 14.6m Mondays are such good days to be on the trail. All your friends are going back to work after another all to short weekend and we just continue on. Also next Monday we are flying home for a week. I do miss my wife, and my kids, my dogs, and my cat. I have tried not to think of it until a week to go. Last night was pretty nice, warm and a half full-moon and lots of stars. But around midnight it changed and got windy and cool 45 f.When we left camp, it was still only high 40's and very windy. We stopped at Wind Rock for our first break and it was windy living up to its name. By 11:00 we had moved over to the other side of the ridge and the wind immediately died. The temp moved quickly to high 60's and it turned into a great hiking day. We stopped at Kelly Knob for the view down into the valley and a turkey vulture took off from just below us. Now I could see the featherless red head that wasn¢t visible when they are soaring on the thermals. So far in the shelter are the Grayhounds, Toe-Bow and Two Fiddy, and Josh and Peaches.
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Bailey's Gap Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Tues., May 13thIn Niday Shelter, 12.4 mA great day, lots of ridge walking, sunny and warm, high 60's. There were nice views into the valley on each side. We passed an oak tree that was 28 feet around at the base. It was on the edge of a farmers field so you could step back and look at it from a distance. We stopped a couple of times and just lay on the lea side of the ridge soaking up the sun, and watching the birds "float" on the thermals and looking down into the valley. Staying in the shelter with us tonight are Toe-Boe, Two-Fiddy and the Two Grandmothers. One would have thought we would be safe from snorers, but one grandmother snored and the other was a heavy breather. Tomorrow, we hope to make a hostel that has a restaurant nearby.
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Niday Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Wed., May 14thVA624, In Four Pines Hostel, 15.9m Another great Virginia day, warm, low 70's, bit of a breeze and sunny. Spent a couple of hours walking a ridge. Went by the Audie Murphy Memorial, placed near the spot where his plane crashed in 1971. He really was a greater person in real life than in movies. We finally made it to a beautiful vista at about 4 called Dragon's Tooth. It certainly made all the work today worthwhile. It was fantastic. I think some of our friends back home might have missed the best part as they are a little afraid of heights. We then descended quickly down to the road. We didn't have water but there about 200yds from the road was "trail magic". Jeff Williams had left soda, apple pie, homemade peanut butter bars, gatorade, water, and chocolate bars. I think we inhaled a soda each in about 5 secs. No sooner did we come out to the road to start the .5 mile hike to this hostel, when the next 1/2 ton by volunteered to give us a drive and we weren't even hitch-hiking. This hostel is really just a 3 bay garage that Joe Mitchell throws open to hikers all year round. Soda and beer 75 cents and he went to the local pizza joint to pick up our pizzas. Free shower. Life is good. Here tonight are Mag and Dag, Deja Vu and Songbird, Toe-Bow, TwoFiddy, Josh and his brother and Peaches, and three bikers [two wheel, non motorized] as well the Grayhounds. Tomorrow 6 miles into Catawba.
Date: 2003-05-15
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Catawba
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: light rain

Subject: Thur.,May 15thVA311, in motel, 5.9mGreat day to start a long break. We are going back to Damascus for Trail Days and then going home for a week. We will be back on the trail on Tuesday May 27th. Today was pretty easy. The Mountain Laurel were out as well as the RhodosWe said our "good byes" to Deja Vu and Songbird and Toe-Bow who we Have been travelling with for a while. When we got out at the highway, the second car by picked us up and took us down to Catawba to the P.O. After picking our mail, but not our maildrop which didn't make it. We then hitched into Roanoke to a motel. We rented a car and after the laundry, library e-mail thingie, we drove back to Catawba and The Homeplace Restaurant. Wow, now we know why it is considered the best food on the trail by most hikers. It was an AYCE and it was out of this world, chicken, BarBQ pork, biscuits, mashed potatoe, gravy, beans, peas, apples, cole slaw, and of course blueberry grunt and ice cream washed down with iced tea and lemonade and coffee. There were about 12 other thru-hikers there who had got a shuttle down from Joe Mitchell of Four Pines Hostel. We are now back in our room unable to move. The Grayhounds - Gimp, Goat & Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Catawba

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Subject: Fri. and Sat., May 16 and 17thTrail DaysThere was a weekend not to be missed. We saw again lots of the hikers thatwe had passed and that had passed us. We caught up on the trail happenings. We spent almost a whole day checking out the latest in packs and tents and tarps and poles and footwear and stoves and clothes and organizations. We listened to various people who know so much more about the trail.Maybe most importantly, I met Leaf who is so instrumental in setting Up "trail journals" and makes it so easy for all of you to keep track of This little adventure. I thanked him but still feel that wasn't enough. The Grayhounds -Gimp, Goat& Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Damascus

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Subject: Tues.,May 27thAnd then there were only two.The Grayhounds returned home for a week of R&R and lost one of their members. After an MRI, the Goat was found with a suspected Fractured Vertabrae. No exercise at all, no lifting, needless to say no hiking. He couldn't even run for Team Grayhound at the Cabot Trail Relay. His absence was felt but the 'hounds still finished in the top half of this prestigious event, and won the much coveted "best water stop award" for a small [9'] well lit Xmas tree and Santa Claus wishing everyone a "Merry Xmas". Well back on the trail tomorrow and we'll see who will be hiking with us now. We will miss Gonzo, Mighty Mouse, Turtle, Deja Vu, Songbird and all the others but will follow them in the shelter registers. The Grayhounds - Gimp and Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-28
From: Catawba

To: Daleville
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Subject: Wed., May 28thUS220, staying in Econo Lodge in Daleville, 19.6m Wow, we thought when we got back on the trail, we wouldn't know anyone. Last night at this motel, there were Sassafras, Flying Cricket, Zack's Dad, Pete [of Pete and Repete], Ompala, Jack in the Mountain 2 and others. We took back our rental car this am and they drove us back to the trailhead. We slacked 19.6 miles in our running shoes, as we left our hiking boots home. It was a little harder than we expected, but then again we haven't been hiking for 12 days so all in all it went well. We passed MacAfee's Knob and it was sunny so we took some nice pictures and the views were spectacular. Nice day, 70's and a little breezy when we started and cloudy but still warm later in the day. Quiet day on the trail as we only saw 2 sobos and late in the day passed 4 people setting up camp. There were some nice cliffs that we passed full force and we saw a third colour. We have seen white and light pink ones but today there were some much darker pink ones. I finally got a picture of a 6" lizard/salamander. The Grayhounds or at least 2/3 of them, Gimp and Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Daleville

To: Bearwallow Gap
Miles today: 21.7

Subject: Thurs., May 29thBearwallow Gap VA43 Blue Ridge Parkway, Motel, 21.7 milesMy anniversary and I miss my wife. Talking on the phone just isn't the same. Actually we slacked today and hiked back from Bearwallow to the motel in Daleville. We caught a ride to Bearwallow this am and were out on the trail by 0745 hiking south back to Daleville. We must have passed 25 or 30 hikers heading north. It was raining [so what else is new?]. We hear now that the weather is causing some to drop out. Someone said today that they had rain 51 of the last 60 days. We haven't found it that bad, but then we are from Nova Scotia and we have had a bit of rain in our lifetime. We tend to look forward to the next town day and a warm dry motel.When you are in the woods, I don't find the rain that bad. Today we had on our frog togs and you don't get wet and you don't have any condensation on the inside. Very little rain makes it through the trees anyhow. We scared up a turkey hen with her brood of 6 or 8 young. She headed up the trail ahead of us for at least a quarter of a mile before heading off into the woods. Sometimes the trail was pink with all the rhodo blossoms that the rain has driven off the plants. We were side by side with the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 6 miles today crossing back and forth 5 times. We did see one of the Three Wisemen, the other two have dropped out. We also saw Disco and Glide. We also met Grounhog who was repairing his tent [without any shorts on] not a pretty sight. We went by a charcoal pit that was used in the 1700's and early 1800's. They made charcoal there. Just how do you make charcoal? Tomorrow, we get a lift back to Bearwallow Gap and put our packs on and get back to normal hiking. Should be fun. The Grayhounds - Gimp and Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Bearwallow Gap

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

Subject: Fri, May 30thIn Cornelius Creek Shelter, 15.1 milesSunny and high 60's. What more could you ask for? A really nice to hike with some nice views. It wasn't that bad a day to start hiking with a pack again. Now the 1000' and 2500' climbs at the end of the day weren't anything to write home about. We averaged almost 2 miles an hour even with all the uphills at the end. Does a tree make any noise when it falls in the woods without anyone around to hear it? I don't know but if it falls when you are only 10 feet from it, it makes a lot of noise and scares the daylights out of you. A huge branch broke off just above us and came crashing down on the trail-just ahead of us. No wind, no warning, just a huge crash as it broke free from the branches above. Tonight in the shelter, we have 2 Grayhounds, Cuba Libre, Tank and Willow. We did see Rhodos today that still had their blossums on and between them and the Mountain Laurel, you can hardly smell a hiker. The Grayhounds - Gimp and Scrounger
Date: 2003-05-31
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Subject: Sat., May 31stUS501/VA130 Glasgow, motel, 19.9mIt started to rain 10 mminutes after we broke camp and it rained for the next 3 1/2 hours. We stopped for breakfast at Thunder Hill Shelter at about 10:30 and finally the rain stopped. We passed by Apple Orchard Mtn and that is the highest [4225'] we get until we reach New Hampshire. We then descended 3500' until reaching the James River. Of course at about 3 PM the rain returned in force. As we had planned on trying for Glasgow and a motel and an AYCE, the rain wasn't really all that bad. when we crossed the James River, we crossed on the longest [780,] pedestrian only bridge on the AT. We have long passed the 1/3 mark of the trail. We are now on Map # 10. We are moving north, slowly but steadily one step at a time. The Grayhounds - Gimp and Scrounger
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Glasgow

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Sun. June 1stIn Punchbowl Shelter, 10.5 miles A great day. Started with an AYCE breakfast, an only 10 miles to do. Now if you'll remember yesterday, we finished with a long downhill. Yes you are right, we climbed up about 2500' before descending to this shelter. At the highpoint, Bluff Mtn, we passed a memorial to a young boy whose body had been found there in 1891. He was only 4 yrs and 11 months old and wandered away from school and somehow ended up 7 miles away at the top of this mountain. His body was found on April 5th. I can only imagine how cold it must have been. We met a young couple up there and without even doing any begging they offered us a whole container of canteloup. Was that ever nice? Here in the shelter tonight, we have 2 Grayhounds, Fortune Cookie, Walkabout and OFF, who we haven't seen since Fontana Dam. Halfway and Season are tenting. Tom in the Woods just showed up and sort of got the bum's rush as he is known to be a very loud snorer. A couple of nights ago, at midnight, the snoring actually drove a couple of girls to leave the shelter and set up their tent in a rain storm.
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Buena Vista Motel, 
Miles today: 10.6

Mon., June 2ndUS60, Buena Vista motel, 10.6 miles " A great day Monday and the rest of our friends are going to work and we are going for a walk. " Beautiful day sunny and warm high 60'sWe were short of food so pulled out to get resupplied. 2 hours later, we made it into town after 2 different drives.Now we are 2 miles from the grocery store but we are in town so it sounds like a long walk ahead of us.Went through an old sharecropper settlement as we followed Brown Mtn Creek. It had been established in 1868 by a former slave who bought it and had cabins built that he "rented" out until 1918 when the US Forest Service bought him out. " We just arranged to get a ride back to the trail tomorrow at 0730 from the pizza delivery guy. Today we met Monk on the trail and Lion King in town.The Grayhounds - Gimp and Scrounger " "Leprachaun Eggs" For the last month we have noticed small [golf ball sized] light green, with small brown spots, things on the trail. They are very light in weight, obviously almost hollow. Today we found that they are wasp eggs[?].Off told us that the wasp lays an egg on an oak leaf and somehow the egg metamorphs the oak leaf to this hollow ball. We cut one open today, one that was obviously a little older, and found that the inside is sort of like one of those static electricity machines where you have a center core and all the charges rush out to the perimeter. At the center of this green thingie was a hard core that when we cut it open had an almost fully developed wasp. Wow, and we had been tripping over these things and wondering for a month.
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Buena Vista Motel, 

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: moderate rain

Tues., June 3rdAt Seely-Woodworth Shelter, 14.0 milesNow this was a day to put in the books and remember. The first couple of hours were nice but then the heavens opened. it rained hard for the 6 or 7 hours. We did pass a 3' snake attached somehow to a tree at eye level. We also passed the wreckage of a US fighter plane that crashed in the 60's. It is said that the pilots helmet landed right on the trail. We got to the shelter at 2:30 and decided to make a hot supper to warm up. Monk showed up looking for his shirt and vest that he had left behind. About an hour later, Nightwalker showed to stay for the night. He started on April 20th. Moving or what? After supper Ben [from England] and Billie [from Atlanta] showed up to also spend the night. They are light hikers. Now I mean light. I am sure their packs didn't weight more than 20# each. A family passed through and onto town to resupply. They were Montana, the father, Theat, the mother and Makoshika, the 14 yr old daughter. They seemed to be really enjoying the experience. They sold their house in Philadelphia, put everything else in storage and set out to hike the AT. When they finish, they will relocate to Montana.
Date: 2003-06-04
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Wed., June 4thIn Maupin Field Shelter, 20.5 milesA pretty good day for what was supposed to be a rainy one.The rain didn't start until about 4 and we made it to the shelter by a little after 6 so didn't do too bad. Cloudy weather meant all day with no views. The temps were low 70's so all in all pretty nice compared to yesterday when the temp was low 50's. We passed on the trail today the "grandmothers". We hear that they are called "Turtle" because they are so slow and "Bear" because they snore like bears. In the shelter tonight are In and Mem as well as Monk. Tenting outside are Ben and Billie.
Date: 2003-06-05
From: Seely-Woodworth Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

Thurs., June 5thRockfish Gap, in the Quality Inn, 21.1mA great day. Started at 0510, when we were serenaded by a whip-er-will, sitting right on the picnic table or at least he sounded like he was that close. He sang a solo justfor us for about 15 minutes. Quite impressive, or least it would have been if we wanted to get up at that time. It was a beautiful day 75 deg and a little breeze. We passed, heading north, about 5 or 6 hikers, one scout troop of 7 and one runner with his dog. Nice to seea trailrunner out there exercising his dog.We are one day ahead of schedule and just might take a zero day tomorrow. we have to do the post office thingie, laundry, library - check e-mail, grocery shop and check for a shuttle out. Speaking of a shuttle, when wecame out onto the Blueridge Parkway and were trying to figure out how to get down to rt 250, a fellow stops his car across the road and asks us if we need help. He truned his car around and rove us into the motel. Waynesboro is trying to be the friendliest town on the trail, and they are to right step. When we arrived at the motel, they gave us a list of people who will drive us back to the trail for nothing.