morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-27
From: hot Springs

To: Sping Mnt Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Stayed aound till lunchtime and then fianlly got going. The towns are always like a vortex and keep pulling you back in but finally got under way. It poured just as i was leaving the caravan park, but decided to continue on, found a large rock to wait out some of the worst of the weather, then it just steadily rained for the rest of the day.It was a steep climb upto lovers Leap Rock but great views. Passed a damwall that was supporting a small pond, more climbing and then reached the shelter. It was a small shelter and it was already full so had to camp out in the rain. Caught up with a few of the regulars like fuck stick and Wild Oats and the PM crew, was suprised to see Bearbait in the shelter thought she would have been well down the trail.
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Sping Mnt Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up and it was very wet and cloudy, it was so cold and so hard to get motivated to get going. Did not get going until after lunch, and after a short walk down a big hill camp to a road junction that offeed trail magic just down the road. It was a couple of former hikers who have a house next to the trail and offer free meals. They started off as really nice people very friendly and nice, beautiful log home. This was the first home that I had been into on my trip. I had a Belgiam waffle, and a bowl of Pork stew both delicious. I had a bana split which was huge, and then came this strange dinner question about absolute truth. I tried to answer it, and before long they proved to be a couple of nutters, religious nuts. I was been beaten around from ear to ear by a pair of bible bashers, real fundamentalists, never met anything like it before in my life. They fitted the stereotype of american bible bashers down here in the bible belt. It was so fascinating, and before long thankfully 6 other hikers turned up to take off some of the heat off me. The beleived in the world being created in 6 days and all other such stuff, although their knowledge of the bible and religion in genenral was very limited, so it was fun to challenge their views, I could not help myself. I pretended that all the food on the menu was all foreign to me, that we do not have any of it in Australia, it is a trick that I have learnt over here. I ended up having 4 deserts, it really was great food, one thing findamentalists sure can do is cook. They pulled out a series of books for me to take on my journey, all religious nutter books, in the next few shelters I would see what happens to many of the books they hand out, great for starting your fire, and some found other users for them to save on toilet paper. The trail in my opinion is not the place for people to hand out trail magic if in the process they are going to force their version of Jesus down your throat in such a foreceful manner, most hikers out here just arent interested in that. It did provoke alot of laughs down the trail as each hiker recounted their own episode with this run in with these people.It was another climb with a full tummy and into anothe full shelter, and this night would get so cold, drop well below zero. I froze my arse off.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Freezing moring, and was so hard to get going, the tent was covered in frost. My feet were so sore, was using some super feet as insoles that I had purchased in Hot Springs, but they had eaten out the back of my feet, not a great sight at all, and boy did it hurt. It made for a real hard days walk, although the scenary for the first half was very pretty. There were some beautiful ridges and rocks along the White Rock Cliffs. In the afternoon it was a long descent to the shelter, including a clim up over Big Butt mountain and a number of open balds with some beautiful views. On a good note the weather did warm up thankfully.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Flint Mtn Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Super short day, because my feet were so soere and I had real bad chaffing. On the previous day i forgot to mention that I did a turd tha was atleast 2 ft long, incredible what one can do out here in the bush, the Jesus food and the four desserts had finally passed their way through.Tomorrow would be some more trail magic at Sams gap so it was worthwile doing a few less kms. It was another reasonalbly big climb upto the shelter jsut for something different, and the walk to go get the water was considerable, everything out here is such effort. Over the last few days been camping with 2 mile, Burrass, weatherman, Bigglesworth, Inchy, just to name a few. Slowing down did give me the chance to meet a few new people on the trail, always new people to meet, and more fun to be had. Even with sore feet still having a great time.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Whistling Gap
Miles today: 13.5

At 1030 made it to sams gap where we had some more trail magic wating for us, had ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, donuts, and so much more. The local news turned up and i got interviewed for the evening news, about time someone in my family got on american television. Bloody Mary forgot her food bag at the sams gap so I packed it in my backpack and carried it up a huge climb. It was a long hot climb upto the top of Bald Mtn, but the views were magnificent. Halfway up I had to drop my pack and run off to the side of the trail for an emergency shit, when it comes out here often you have very little warning, it was another mammoth effort. Climbed down fom the bald and it was off to a camp site for the nite, it was a long day, and some great trail magic, it sure did \give me some energy. I love trail magic and am so grateful to all those who have provided it.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Whistling Gap

To: Erwin
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

It was a long walk into town, but after all the climbs it was great to have a day of downhill for a change. Feet are super sore, and chaffing is the worst it has ever been. Plan to pick up some bike shorts in Erwin. Got into the hostel of Uncle Johnnys at a reasonal be hour, went out for dinner at a proper Mexican Restaraunt, Peter would love it, the food here is incredible. I love it, God Bless America. There are some foods they cant do, like cheese, and their beer is pretty terrible, but they sure do have some good stuff over here, really adding to the experience. It has been a great trip and I have now walked 1 7th of the entire journey, body is feeling good, and over the next few days have some more big climbs, but beyond Roan Mtn, the tail begins to flatten off for the mid atlantic states and the walking gets easier and the miles will increase. Sorry my posts have gotten a bit shorter, but having touble getting much time on the computer unfortunately. Using the laundry is sometimes a hastle as it is always busy, but who cares, dirty clothes are fine by me, walking around town with salt stains all over your clothes is rather funny. Rest day tomorrow, and then onto to next big climb, yeah just what i need.Thanks to all those that have written to me, it was good to hear from Bobcat and Tailgate. Thanks to mum for all her football updates, she is becoming a real computer expert and it was great to hear from Mick Stevens, I thought he may have been dead. I am getting alot fitter, legs have got some muscle back, down to about 190 pounds, still have a bit to lose, but not the big boy I once was.Look forward to hearing from you all again soon. It is not long to Trail days in Damascus, then I hope to swap out my boots if i can last that long and get some poper fitting ones with a wide fit. Picking up some bike shorts in town to keep ontop of the chaffing, I have some great pics of it, will get some more pics up soon, you will just have to be patient.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Uncle johnnies

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

Got a late start today, it is always particularly diificult to leave the towns, who wants to hike when you can sit around chat, and eat lots of food. it was a long easy climb. Up over Beauty Spot, which had marvelous views, but kept going to Deep Gap where i was camped with a number of people from Uncle Johnnies. At about 10:30pm someone from wildlife and parks services dropped by and began to hastle us all, the guy claimed he was looking for illegal weapons. He heard my accent and that seemed to calm him down a bit, we chatted for a bit, and then he headed off to probably chase some other hikers. it was all rather strange, but just another experience out here in the woods.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Deep Gap

To: Ash Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Seoncd day away from the shelters and out in my tent under the stars in a gap. Today was a tough climb, many steep ups and downs, but also very beautiful. Unaka Mtn was a beautiful wooded summit up amongst the firs, they smell wonderful, and the pine leaves make for soft walking under foot. There were many ups and downs, and was going to stay at clyde Smith Shelter but decided to push on. Little Rock Knob was a super steep climb, but great views, gradual long descent and then after Hughes Gap it was a hard steep climb upto Ash Gap which was halfway up the mountain, just got in before dark. It was a long tough day and i was exhausted, met some new people who we were sharing the gap with, it was a nice night and had a great sleep.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Ash Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

TOday would be one of the most lovely days of walking on the entire AT.Climbed up the steep rocky climb to the top of Roan Mtn 6285 feet, down at Carvers gap met some of the people who had done the trail magic back at Sams gap. The boys were out doing work on the trail, Ted told me he had seen me on the channel 5 news, so i was on American tv, and it was a rather long segment and i seemed to dominate most of it, so now I am a celebrity...LOL.Crossed over some balds, such beautiful walking and eventually ended up at Overmountain shelter. It is an old barn and it is perched at the top end of one of the most beautiful valleys i have ever seen, it was once the site for a movie that was set up here so it is a well known spot. It was so stunning looking off down the valley. Had a great camp site, was really tired even though it was a short day, and had a nice long sleep.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a long day, got an early start and crossed up over Little Hump Mtn and Hump Mtn, it was clear open grasslands high up in the sky, the views of all the surrounding country seemed endless. It was a long walk back down into the valley, sections of it were very rocky. Passed by Apple house shelter, through an orchard, up another climb, a few ups and downs and made my way to Jones Falls. The waterfall was probably the biggest I have ever seen, then onto Mountaineer shelter.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kincora
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up super early and was off to the hostel at Kincora. As always there were some ups and downs as to be expected, but it was worthwhile to get to Kincora a beautiful little hostel.Met up with some friends there, had both my dinner and breakfast cooked for me, good to have friends on the trail. My contributions is just my personality, amasing how people always seem to just look after me. It would be fair to say that Americans just love me, our sense of humor and laid back approach to life they just find intrigueing. The amount of attention I get is just amasing, it is hard to explain, but everyone bends over backwards for me.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Kincora

To: The lake
Miles today: 9.7

Went passed Laurel Fork falls, really lovely, nice walk along the river, and then a huge steep climb just for something different, legs really were struggling. it was a gentle descent and down to a huge damed lake were we found a lovely campsite. There was a rope swing, and all the girls striped off to knickers and bras and went in for a ride, i just sat back and watched just to make sure they were safe. The water was far too cold for me, still have not adjusted to how cold it gets in this country.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: The lake

To: Campsite Piped Spring
Miles today: 11.9

It was a late start again, just after lunch after everyone went for a swing on the rope. Mudslide, and rock and roll, and Thor brought over some beers, so we had a few drinks the night before, and more fun on the rope swing in the morning.Crossed over a huge dam wall, I always enjoy that. Walked up over Iron Mountain, the climb was not so bad, and then walked up over a ridge, the view from Vandeventer shelter was great, decided to walk on with Fuck stick, Wild Oats, Ularu, and slayer, and found a good campsite further on.
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Campsite Piped Spring

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up nice and early, but it was so cold, so laid in bed. Kept warm in the tent but it had rained over night, and that would be the theme for the day. The walking was relatively easy, but it was so darn cold. Got to Iron Mtn Shelter and it poured with rain, major thunder storm, so we kept dry, it cleared up and we moved on. When we got to Double Springs Shelter once again it poured with rain, so the decision was made to stay put.it was so cold, the temperature dropped and it was awful. Atleast we were in a shelter, I slept next to Wild Oats and Fuck Stick and that was a horrible experience. The sisters had been eating tonnes of chille, and the flatulance that they produced was so disgusting. I had a dream that night that I was off to the gas chambers at Aushwitz, for such small little girls boy could they drop thier guts. It was some of the worst farting and smells I have ever experienced, even worse than what my mother has produced over the years.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Long easy walk into Damascus. it was so cold in the morning and it was a total white out. Passed Y2K he had been caught up on the ridge in the storm and forced to camp, he did not have a pleasant night, I just laughed as I passed him. Made good time into town, and went to the free hostel ran by the Methodists, great spot, in a beautiful town. Went up to Dotts pub and had some local beers, caught up with so many of my hiker friends. Will hike out tomorrow after getting some new boots, and a new headlamp which I left back at kincora, silly me. Will be back in this town in a few days for Trail Days. They are expecting thousands of people for the Trail Days, so will hike on for a few days and then come back on Friday, that way will avoid the crush when leaving town on the Sunday as many people slow down to arrive here just for trail days. Will just get a shuttle back into town in a few days time. Cant wait as it will be a chance to meet up with so many people that i have made friends with but have not seen for some time. making friends out here is so easy, like falling off a horse, really loving this trip, and with some wider better fitting boots, life in the trail should be even better.Hope you are all well. Cause Trail days will be so crowded, be hard to sue facilities, so should be a number of days till i get to use a computer again. Not sure how I will get my photos off my camera
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Damascus

To: Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I did not leave until very late, and climbed a big hill with a full pack, why do I do this to myself? It was still a lovely day of hiking. Had to use my new headlamp and it was great, worked fantastic. Night hiking is fun, and it is easy to see the trail, stumbled into camp and there were a number of people set up on the campsite, good to see some familiar faces.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Pond Campsite

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a long hard day, purchased new boots back in Damascus a wide fitting pair, and some new super feet. Super feet just chewed out the back of my feet again and today over the rocks they were terrible. Climbed up over the side of Mt. Rogers, got to the shelter and it was full of bloody section hikers so walked on a bit and found an amasing campite.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: VA603
Miles today: 12.7

During the night could hear a chomping noise and 5 ponys had walked into my campsite and were eating the grass at about 3am. One did a big turd right next to my tent so it was a very unpleassnt smell for the next half hour, but I did manage to get back to sleep. Walked over the Grayson Highlands some of the most beautiful walking in the south, but it was almost complete white out, but it did clear up. There were many ponies and they are so tame like dogs, back in the 20s the park services brought them up to keep the grass on the balds nice and short, and htye have done a great job, now they are a big attraction, and are so tame like a dog, will walk right up to you and beg for food.Made it to the road crossing with Fuck stick, Wild Oats SLayer and Ularu, to grab a ride from Fuck sticks fiance Jim, all round good guy. Thanks Jim.
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Lots of fun around the huge campfire, chance to catch up with so many hikers that were in front and behind that Have not seen since the beginning, chew the fat, and swap stories. Oh yes and drink a few beers, I caught up with an Australian up at the pub, the entire pub were taken with us and our funny accents. It is not unitl I hear another Australian talkking that I realise just how different we sound. We stick out like dogs balls, it was great to be around the Sandgropper, he was the one that the people from the Bibbulmun Track put me in contact with, a real character, and we had a great night, and I did have a small hang over the next day.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Damascus

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: moderate rain

Not sure if i got the date right but i think this w3as the day I left, Jim had room for me in his car, and I did forget to mention the parade for trail days. All the hikers walk down the middle of the street, and all the former through hikers, and many locals throw water ballons at us and big water guns are fired back and forth, it turns into a huge water fight, great fun. They had some local beauty queens on a float all dressed up looking gorgeous, but the hikers and crowd thoguth it was funny to throw water ballons and squirt them with water to, it was great.It was an easy walk, met Micro, and got a bit wet with an afternoon downpour.
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Chatfiled Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

It was easy and flat in the morning and fast walking to Partnership Shelter, there is aphone there to order pizza, but they were not answering, real bugger that. Ups and downs in the afternoon, that is more like the AT, got to the shelter and met up with Long Portage and Bearbait.
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Chatfiled Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Very pretty walk in the morning and then made it to a major road crossing. It had a small truckstop for ressuply, and we found a restaruant that did eggs and pancakes, and a large cup of OJ. Back out on the trail over some pretty open grasslands, in fact it was a farm. We often now walk through frmalnds, with cows, and many stiles to climb over, more of a challenge with a fully loaded pack. Passed Davis Path Shelter, or what remained of it, just had the platform, had a rest at Crawfish Valley, was going to stop beut spot, but decided to chase some miles. Hard evening walk with lots of steep ups and downs, but made it to next shelter late, and ran into Babu, Kirk, Twinkletoes and a few others.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: few clouds

Started off the day with some big climbs, walked over some beautiful ridges, Chestnut Knob Shelter was gorgeous, very solid made of stone. In the afternoon thought it was going to be an easy ridge walk, but it was terrible, rocky, and continuous ups and downs, one of the toughest days of hiking yet. To finish off with a long steep rocky descent, not what the knees and feet needed at the end of a long day. A guy called Quatro was hammock camped next to the shelter, and during the night he heard a beer, it stalked around our shelter for most of the night, I slept through it all. We are not alone out here.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a bit of a climb in the morning for something different, in case you have not caught on yet, that is mostly what I do each day, climb up and down. The others went into Bland and picked me up some food and I was to meet them at the next shelter, people sure do look after me out here. They packed in some hotdogs, and Smores, it was great, and some strawberries. I Met Racoon and his wife Lipstick. Lipstick sure is one of the nicest people I have met on the trail, following her husband along doing lots of trail magic. Mustang Sally was also at the shelter, it was a great night. Did I mention the nasty climb up to the shelter?Racoon, Daisy, Mustang Sally at Helveys Mill ShelterUlaru and SlayerUlaru packing his tent awayRacoon and Mustang SallyLipstick and Racoon
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: few clouds

This was another hard long day, it was dry and rocky up on the ridges, and long descent, legs feeling the extra miles of late. Pearisburg is great, and stayed with Slayer and Ularu in a hotel with a pool, caught up with many friends in town, and had chinese buffet for dinner, buffets really lose out to hikers, cause we can sure eat.
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Pearisburg again

To: Oak Tree
Miles today: 12.2

Big climb out of town as always, and it was rather warm. First shelter, Rice Field Shelter was just stunning up on the ridge with open views over the grasslands, relatively easy afternoon stroll, just a few ups, and camped in the middle of a big meadow, one of the most beautiful campspots on the trail thus far, had a great night around the campfire, it was rather crowded, popular spot.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Oak Tree

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: light rain

It was a very wet and cold miserable day, with lots of ups and downs, and big miles again, hard day, it was good to get in. At the shelter was Hot Tang, and Earthbound, it was great to finally meet them.Earthbound and Hot Tang, Racoon photo of their first day on the trail
Date: 2008-05-28
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

Going to fly through a few of these entries just to catch up on things, computer time is running out in town.Walked past Keffer Oak it is the biggest onthe trail down here in the south, very impressive. Was very rocky on the approach to the shelter, the rocks are terrible and really slow you down, and would take its toll on many hikers with broken ankles and severe spraisn down the trail.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Niday Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

The day before was tough with some of the rocks, they were huge slabs tilting at huge angles so hard to get over, really tested me and it was wet at the time. today was just a tough day, and I was feeling super ill. Tired, temperatures, hot and cold, etc..
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: John Springs Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today crossed over the Dragoons Tooth, stunning. The descent was just mad, it was so steep and the rocks had steal bars sticking out of them to help make it easier, I really hate this type of thing, you need to be a mountain goat. Finally made it to Catawba, and early dinner here, god the food was good, real southern home made stuff, I ate and ate. Got a ride out of town, and off to the first shelter.