morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.1

Hiked with Peter most of the day and hiked a new longest day today, 17.1 miles, and am exhausted. Today was also a great day period. Weather was warm and clear with fine views from the Roan Highlands. The Roan Highlands are a series of balds that very much resemble walking above treeline out west, which I have always loved. It took from 9am to 2pm to hike the balds. As soon as we came down from the last bald, the trail turned into a mishmash of rocks and roots where you have to watch every single foot placement, or risk injury, potentially a hike ending one. Eventually, we ended up on nice forest trails. After I crossed US 19, it became more farm like country with the trail passing through old abandoned hay fields and numerous small road crossings. I even got my last water from a Baptist church spigot. Tonight I'm back in the woods, next to the Elk River, just downstream from impressive Jones Falls.
Date: 2011-05-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in my tent at Moreland Gap shelter planning my trip into town for resupply. It's raining outside and temps are falling fast. Low tonight is probably in the upper 30's. I woke up to a beautiful morning on the Elk River. The trail today was good forest with lots of small ups and downs at small stream crossings. The overall elevation change was only 1200', but all day I seemed to be going uphill. Yesterday's big mile day may have something to do with it too. For me, the high point of the day was passing the 400 mile mark. I got into the shelter at 4pm and had enough time to set up camp before it started to rain. Taz and Roo were already here and Peter and Hopeful walked in wet. Stretch, a girl that Hopeful helped and prayed with is also here. The way she tells it makes him sound like a faith healer. He is trying to live it down, but you know how talk can be. I hope rain is done by morning. We'll see if sealer worked.
Date: 2011-05-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.0

I awoke at 3:30 to a growling stomach. Because of the storm, I hadn't hung my food, so it was in my tent. I had a huge snack and went back to sleep. The seam sealer I put on at Uncle Johnny's worked and I awoke to a dry tent. This morning was cold and wet, but the rain had stopped overnight. I got out of camp about 9am for the 6 mile walk to Kincora Hostel. There are probably 40 people here and about 16 bunks. I got a shower and did my laundry before the shuttle into town for resupply. There was a trail crew working out here today and I got a free meal of leftovers from their dinner. Even though it's going to be about 32 degrees tonight, I chose to tent rather than be in the overcrowded hostel. Baltimore Jack, Ramblin Man and Otto, from Mountain crossings were here to help with the trail work and running the hostel. It's almost 11pm and the hostel is just now settling down.
Date: 2011-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.3

Laid in my bag until almost 8am, which is sleeping in these days. Hostel was a zoo until after 2 shuttle runs got 2/3rds of the people out of there at 9:30am. Peter cooked a huge breakfast and gave me 1/2 just because he knows how much I like breakfast. Taz had to got to the doctors. She has an infection and a fever. When they got back, Walkabout Roo told me she was going ahead to Damascus by shuttle and asked me to hike with him. I was close to taking a zero at Kincora and that was the push I needed to get back on the trail. They told us the first couple of miles would be some of the best on the trail. Laurel Falls were beautiful and the trail ran along the river for a while. I saw my first copperhead of the trip, right in the middle of the trail. A 1700' climb over Pond Mountain and a couple mile walk along a reservoir brought us to camp at Watauga Lake shelter 10.3 miles north, not too bad for a noon start.
Date: 2011-05-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.9

Left Watauga Lake shelter at 9am under partly sunny skies. Within 1/2 hour, it became overcast and a light rain drizzle fell for the next 2-3 hours. Mostly comfortable with a LW base and a nylon shirt. The dam crossing was nice and later in the day we saw what a big lake it is. It is one of the TVA lakes. Despite what looked like an easy day from the map profiles, we seemed to still be climbing all day. The sun popped out a couple of times in the afternoon, but it remained cool all day. At 5pm, we arrived at Iron Mountain shelter and called it a day after 13.9 miles. Tomorrow, Walkabout Roo and I are planning to try our first 20 mile day. A huge dinner of 2 lipton packets and 2 tuna packs followed by about 1/2 pound of raisins, peanuts and M&M's finished out my day. Mel built a nice fire and tonight is crystal clear.It's going to get cold. Stretch just hollered that something is sniffing at her tent! Whatever it was ran off. She forgot to wash out her pot. I saw some eyes with my light but it was some little critter. Things are quiet now.
Date: 2011-05-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.5

We did it! My first 20 mile day. I'm camped tonight at a campsite with Walkabout Roo after walking the 20.5 miles from Iron Mountain shelter. This morning's trail was smooth and downhill making for some fast hiking under perfectly clear skies. We crossed some beautiful hay fields around lunchtime before heading into the woods again. Just as it started to get too warm for pleasant hiking, the skies became overcast and cooled things off. I estimated the mileage wrong and we had to pound out a quick 4 miles after dinner at Abbington Gap shelter. We ate dinner there so we could dry camp at the first site after we made 20 miles. We got into camp about 8pm with enough time to set up camp and brew some celebratory coffee. Walkabout Roo and I sat around drinking coffee, chatting and generally enjoying our success of hiking our first 20 mile day. Oh yeah, did I mention we did 20 miles toady?! Tomorrow, it's on to Damascus, VA. Hopefully, Taz, Walkabout Roo's wife, is feeling better and had some luck with extending their visa's.
Date: 2011-05-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It rained overnight last night starting shortly after we got into our tents, but the tents were dry by morning. After a quick coffee and a couple handfuls of trail mix, we were off to Damascus. It drizzled on us as soon as we had packed up and continued all the way into town. I decided to stay at "The Place", a hostel run by the local Methodist Church. As usual, I'm tenting outside for the privacy, such as it is. I got my town chores started and I'll finish up in the morning. Last night I texted Pat that I would call today, but once again there is no signal in town. I'll try again from higher ground as I head out tomorrow. Hopeful came up with a plan to hike to the Partnership shelter, then hitch back and I think I'll try that. It's really noisy in the hostel and it's after 10pm, well past hiker midnight. A group of us went to dinner and I got to know Circuit Rider and Sherlock a lot better. Oh yeah, I crossed into VA today.
Date: 2011-05-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Tossed and turned last night over what to do today. Mostly about how to get back to trail days if I leave now. In the end, I decided to trust God. If I am supposed to get back, I will. So I hiked out. But first, I had to finish and mail my journals, walk a mile and a half to the grocery, get some white gas and grab a foot long sub for dinner on the trail. Today was a little too warm but other than that a great day for hiking. Climbs were even pleasant. Mostly all of the knuckleheads had come into town making the woods seem even better. I was hoping to catch up to Taz and Walkabout Roo and Hopeful at Lost Mountain shelter, but it was getting dark, so I camped about 1 1/2 miles short. A big campsite under the Luther Hassinger Bridge along side the river. There must be something huge in the water here (a fish). It tried to eat my collapsible bucket as I was getting water. I wasted about 3/4 mile at the Saunders shelter as it has both north bound and south bound approach trails.
Date: 2011-05-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today started with a thunderstorm at 7am so I just rolled over and went back to sleep. Finally got up and moving at 8am. Today's thought for the day warned of the dangers of rushing, so I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and some quiet reflection. Camping alone certainly gives time for that. Hiking this morning was hot and humid, but the river was beautiful. Pat would have loved all the rushing water. Today is uphill almost all day and clouds start to build by early afternoon. as usual the first rumbles of thunder are heard as I'm crossing the first bald of the day. The rumbles stop and the cloudy skies make for cooler hiking. Around 6pm, the first sprinkles start as I'm climbing to Thomas Knob shelter. I get water at the shelter and head north in the rain looking for a tentsite. Thunder starts in earnest and I search for a spot in an even stand of trees away from the exposed ridgeline. I set up in a thunderstorm but keep everything fairly dry. I end up having to do everything I don't want to do: lightening ? near treeline, eat in tent and sleep with food. And now I think I hear a critter outside. I put the lights on the side of the tent and I think I scared it off. I guess I have to trust that God will keep me safe.
Date: 2011-05-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Amazingly, I awaken to a dry tent after a ton of rain last night. High winds overnight must have dried it. I took my time getting out of camp, enjoying the weather. The Mount Rogers area is beautiful with incredible views. It's mostly balds above treeline with impressive rock outcrops. And of course there are the wild ponies. I got some pictures of them playing with some hiker's gear. They walk right up to you to get petted and yogi a treat. The great scenery extended into Grayson Highlands State Park. The only downside is that trail conditions were rough most of the day with a lot of rock hopping. Trail conditions eased up the last 5 miles for the run into Hurricane Mountain shelter. The weather is the same as last night, forcing me to set up in the rain and hole up in the tent during heavy thunderstorms. It's 10pm now and the storms have passed for now. I better get to sleep. I'm thinking about doing a 20 mile day tomorrow.
Date: 2011-05-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

A lot was accomplished today, at least in terms of my hike. I got up early and made it out of camp at 7:30. Trails were easy and I was feeling strong. I made it to Trimpi shelter by 1pm for lunch, 9.1 miles before lunch; not bad. Trimpi shelter struck me as very nice with great tenting. The afternoon was uneventful and as always, the last miles were tough mentally. I managed to finish by 6:30 at the Partnership shelter. This is one of the few shelters with a shower. I took a shower as soon as I got there. Taz and Roo and Hopeful were already there. Hopeful told me signup for hardcore was in the morning, so I managed to catch a ride in with a former thru-hiker. I'm tented out at Tent City and I doubt if there is any quiet hour. There is a drum circl going in the woods and conversations all around my tent. Oh well, I got my 20 miles in and I made it back to Damascus for Trail Days. I'm going to try to get a little sleep, so I can wake up early to sign up for Hardcore crew.
Date: 2011-05-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got up early and headed to town to sign up for hardcore crew. We already had a line formed, so when Bob Peoples got there at 8am, he let us start signing up. I no sooner got done with that then I saw my old friend Walkin Home. After talking with him for a few minutes, I headed out to find some serious breakfast. I got to Cowboys and ate the last order of blueberry pancakes they had and then went to the Coffee House and got the last egg breakfast they had. I went to a talk by Gene Espy, the 2nd thru-hiker, and generally just hung out around town, catching up with all the hikers that I've met and who are now either ahead of or behind me. I was very surprised to find out that I'm ahead of some people who I thought were far ahead of me, like Redstripe and Broomstick. I had lunch with Hopeful, then hung out some with Walkin Home. I haven't done any town chores yet, and will have to get after them tomorrow. I ended up getting the very last cup of chili at the hiker feed because I was helping a fellow named Birdman set up his new tent. Spent the rest of the evening just wandering the camps in the woods, saying Hi to people I know. At one point, it was so surreal, I felt like I had just stepped into Apocalypse Now. It's really late and the party is going full steam. I'm going to try to get some sleep.
Date: 2011-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Started the day doing laundry and charging my phone. Then back to Tent city after a quick breakfast at Cowboys. Next stop was a walk out to the grocery store and a quick lunch of a chef salad and one pound of meatloaf before shopping. Finish shopping and its back to tent city, just in time to head back downtown for the hiker parade. The hiker parade is hilarious. Both the hikers and the spectators are armed with anything they can find to soak each other with water. Hoses, squirt guns, garden sprayers, water balloons, you name it they use it. We were even bombed from the 2nd floor windows and rooftops downtown. The whole town seemed to be in it. After the parade, I just hung out with Walkin Home and some of his friends before hitting the dollar general and heading back to tent city yet again between rain storms. About 6, I headed to City Park for a hot sausage sandwich and hung out listening to bluegrass for a while. I stopped by Bluville ? for a look at their useless gear contest. I was making a quick stop at Fort DuQuanse when it got overrun by about 30 cops and Firestarter was charged with selling alcohol without a license. The cops asked us to leave, so I went back to my tent to try to sleep. I need to be packed and ready at the pickup point for hardcore tomorrow. It's even noisier tonight.
Date: 2011-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It rained overnight, but had quit and things were reasonably dry as I awoke at 6:30. I decided to make breakfast before taking down the tent. As soon as breakfast was ready, the skies let loose and it continued to rain as I ate in the tent. Eventually it eased, but I had to pack up my wet tent in the rain. I broke camp and left tent city in continued light rain. Ox and his wife, Squirrel Friend, offered Hopeful and me a ride out to the work site, so we rode over with them. I ended up on the same section as Ox, doing heavy rock work, mostly building retaining curb or making little rocks out of big ones, for fill. at the end of the day, we had a feed for the crew at lake Wautaga. The food was great but wasn't enough for a bunch of hikers. Mountain Squid offered to put up some of us at his house, including me, Hopeful, Mark Trail, El Flaco and Mad Hatter. Thankfully, we stopped by the grocery to supplement dinner. We crashed in the basement and it was surprisingly quiet and comfortable. Thanks, Mountain Squid!
Date: 2011-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Because of weather and other considerations, we continued work on the same project we started yesterday, a relocation near Pond Flats. We were replacing an eroded trail that went straight up the ridgeline with a well-graded series of switchbacks. By 3pm they were painting blazes on the newly completed trail. Baltimore Jack had a huge spaghetti dinner waiting at Kincors Hostel and there was no running out of food tonight. In spite of the dreary day and rain during dinner, spirits were high. Once again hopeful and I were lucky enough to stay at Mountain squid's house. It would be just wrong not to mention Pork Chop. He was a great crew leader and a lot of fun to work with. He's one of those people who manages to encourage everyone to do their best. Hopeful and I had the basement at Mountain Squid's all to ourselves tonight and Mad Hatter offered to drive us back to Partnership shelter in the morning.
Date: 2011-05-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 7.0

Woke early so Mad Hatter could get an early start back to Vermont, where he lives. After a trip to Shoney's breakfast buffet, thanks for breakfast Mad Hatter, we got dropped off at Partnership shelter and Mad Hatter headed home. It was another dreary day, overcast with a light rain, and Hopeful was all for just hanging out at the shelter. I needed to get moving to avoid being sucked into the town vortex. In the end, we decided to hike 7 miles to the Chatfield shelter. Enough to let me feel we had escaped town, but only about 3.5 hours of hiking, now that I have my legs. I was most of the way to the shelter when I noticed I was leaning on my trekking poles really hard and the strap was digging into my right wrist. My wrist was sore and swollen. I almost felt like I had broken it. I tried to baby it but needed my poles for balance on the muddy trails. Made it to shelter and will see how it feels tomorrow. Breakfast with Mad Hatter was the high point of today. Tried calling Pat on his phone, but no luck.
Date: 2011-05-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0

Hopeful woke me at 6:30 so I could get into Atkins, VA with him for breakfast. I skipped breakfast and packed up as quick as I could and hit the trail. My arm is still swollen and painful. I'm not sure how I hurt it. Breakfast at the Barn was great and we left with full bellies. On the way into Atkins, I fell twice. All of the recent rain has made the trail very slick. Today's hiking was mostly over forest and farmland. Skies were overcast almost all day but the sun finally broke for an hour or so. We hiked 18 miles to Knot Maul shelter and are tented with at least a dozen others and the shelter is full also. The sloppy trail lasted at least an extra hour to the hike today. I'm beat.
Date: 2011-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Woke to overcast skies. Managed to have breakfast and pack up before rain started. I was surprised to find Peter in camp. he came in after I went to bed. In spite of light rain all morning and early afternoon, today's trails were not as bad as yesterday and I only fell once when I slipped on a wet rock. I'm almost out of food, so I had to pull 20 miles today so that I can get into Bland, VA tomorrow to resupply. I'm planning on hiking in with Hopeful in the morning. I just missed running into Smokestack today. He was getting water and I passed him up. Arm is still painful but swelling is down some. It has rained at least some everyday now for the last 7 days. I need some sunshine to get everything dried out including my spirit.
Date: 2011-05-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Today started off sunny and warm. Since yesterday, Hopeful and I had been talking about Subway sandwich's in Bland, VA, when we stop for resupply. What i do is eat a foot long at the Subway and carry a second out to camp. It is impossible to describe how hungry we are all the time and I'm told it only gets worse. Today was a very good food day. here is what I ate today. For first breakfast: 2 instant oatmeals and 2 cups of coffee. About an hour later it was 1/3 pound of trail mix. An hour and a half after that we ran into trail magic at a road crossing thrown by some former hikers. Since they were former hikers, they understood what we wanted and hungry we were and they encouraged us to eat up and not be shy. Here is what I had: 1 banana, 3 tangerines, 1 apple, 2 hot dogs, 1 cheeseburger, 2 helpings of potato salad, beans, peanut bars, chips, 2 cookies, brownie and a soda. Then I got up and hiked 7 miles to the highway and hitchhiked to Subway in Bland to eat some more. A foot long at the store and one to go. A quick hitch back to the trail and 2 miles to the shelter where I ate the second sub.    My phone actually worked in town today and I was able to make some quick calls and this evening I was even able to talk to my wife Pat for the first time in about a month. My arm is still painful, but less swollen and my knees are holding up well. Going to try to get moving early in the morning to get to Trent's grocery at a reasonable time. It really is all about food right now. Oh, I also had a coke at the Deer Skull trail magic.
Date: 2011-05-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.0

I awoke to a beautiful morning with big plans for a fast 16 mile hike to Trent's grocery. I started about 7:30 to ensure that I had plenty of time to eat there and then hike on to a campsite about 2 miles further on. The trail was well-graded, and Hopeful and I were moving fast for the first 7 miles. As we came across a road crossing, someone waved us to come down where they were. I couldn't believe it; it was Fred, his wife Linda, and Richard, the trail angels from yesterday, and they still had plenty of food! Since someone else was doing a large organized hiker feed where we saw them yesterday, they had moved 20 miles north on the trail, perfect for us. I ate a little less today, but packed out 2 hot dogs and a bag of Frito's for later, since it was still 9 miles to Trent's. Continued nice trail and great weather had us at Trent's at 4:30pm. I hung out for about an hour and grazed. Trent's sells a little bit of everything and not too much of anything. The sandwich was good though. All in all, I walked 19 miles today, if you count the walk to Trent's and back. I'm tented up about 2 miles north of Trent's and ate those hot dogs for dinner.
Date: 2011-05-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today we have an easy day planned, 14 miles to Doc's Knob shelter, so we had a leisurely breakfast and a nice talk before starting out. It was a beautiful day and a few hikers passed us as we packed up. Easy walking and great weather in the morning changed over to hot and humid with an increasingly rocky trail. just as our water was running out, we ran into another hiker's wife and Hopeful was able to yogi us some water and cookies. Our trail angels were supporting their husbands on a 40+ mile day and one of the husbands was going for a 77 mile day thru-hike. We managed to drag ourselves to Doc's Knob shelter where we met Smoke. We hung out with him and ate dinner. During dinner, Strider (a German) and Let It Be (a French Canadian)came in. We heard the first rumbles of thunder and headed into the woods to look for tent sites, since there was no place flat around the shelter. Thunder, lightening and occasional light rain as I lie secure in my tent. A steady rain has started now.
Date: 2011-05-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.0

Woke up this morning to clear skies and low humidity. Rains last night cleared the air. The 8 miles into town were rocky and the last mile or so was a steep downhill from Angel's Rest. The afternoon was hot and humid and we were ecstatic to reach Dairy Queen at the edge of town. Lunch at DQ revitalized me and I was greeted by Taz and Roo from their hotel room not 100 yards down the road. Hopeful and I made plans to meet them for dinner and headed for the post office to get his mail drop and Dollar General for stuff to take a shower. After showers, we managed to get laundry done before going to the AYCE buffet to meet Taz and Roo, Very Mary and another hiker for dinner. After dinner, a quick run to Wal-mart to look for a fleece blanket to use for a summer sleeping bag. I couldn't find one and the store people told me they were a seasonal item. I was able to find a children's Sponge Bob fleece so that'll be my summer bag. Time for me and Sponge Bob to crash.