morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

With so many chores to take care of here in Damascus I have no choice but to declare another zero day. This town is surely a good place to get supplies. There are a grocery store, pharmacies, numerous restaurants, library, Laundromat, banks, and most importantly, two outfitters. But I don¢t expect to find any of them open Saturday afternoon (that¢s why I¢m here on Friday).My primary activity is to buy a less warm sleeping bag. The weather has been unusually hot for the last few weeks. The bag I¢m using is rated at 15 degrees, meaning it keeps me warm down to that temperature. Obviously, now that the nights remain at 60 or 70 degrees, this bag is a bit toasty!In the Mt. Rogers Outfitters I find a lighter weight, cooler bag rated at 40 degrees. So my winter bag gets sent home and I start using the new bag. I sure hope the weather doesn¢t decide to turn cold again, or else my nights will be a little chilly. It¢s really hard to sleep when your teeth are chattering. I expect to retrieve my winter bag again when I reach Vermont in August.After all my work is done we head off to the Old Mill restaurant, this time for pizza and beers. We enjoy the meal with Torpedo and Nice Enough, a new couple we met on the trail this week.In another week Damascus will be celebrating Trail Days, the yearly event that finds current and past hikers congregating in town for a 3 day festival. Activities include a hiker reunion, talent show, hiking-related exhibits, street dances, live music, and the ever-popular hiker parade through downtown (all of 4 blocks long, I¢ll have you know).Having attended the festivities in past years I decide to keep marching northward, foregoing this year¢s party. But most of the hikers out here (especially the younger ones), from various points north and south of town, will be shuttling back into Damascus for the weekend. Lots of Trail Angels will be offering their transportation services, making sure that every hiker wanting to attend Trail Days will have the opportunity. I¢m sure to hear about the great parties I missed.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Low Gap, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

The Outfitter shuttles me back to Low Gap so I can continue my hike north into Damascus. The trail is quite easy with hilltops of no real consequence. And of course, Damascus, being a town in the valley, is 1400 feet lower than where we start out today.Near the end of the day¢s trek we leave Tennessee (3 states down, 11 to go!) and start into Virginia. Five hundred and fifty two long miles later we will cross the Shenandoah River and enter West Virginia. This is the point where most hikers rejoice. It means that they are almost half-way to Maine. But I can¢t focus on that future date, it is SO FAR OFF. Right now I¢ve got to concentrate on surviving the interminable journey through Virginia.Montreal and I make our official grand entrance into Damascus by passing under the welcome sign and naturally getting a picture of it. Later, for the third evening in a row, we find ourselves back at the Old Mill restaurant. The view from the deck out over the river is something I¢ll fondly remember when this day becomes just a distant memory.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mt. Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.8

A big 15 mile day awaits. First we have a filling breakfast at our B & B. All of our backpacks are bulging as we leave town. It¢s up again, as usual, almost straight up 1600 feet to Straight Mountain. We¢ll be on the trail for 5 straight days before we return to civilization, actually kind of a long time for us trail softies.The hiking turns out not so bad with the climb being extended over a 9 mile distance. After Straight Mt. we drop down a ways then have to make the final ascent to Lost Mountain, elevation 3400 feet.We arrive at Lost Mountain Shelter around 5:00 pm. We find more new acquaintances here: Bluedog, Silvan, Teacher, Robo, and a bunch of section hikers. It is great to meet new people and hear their stories. Everyone¢s got one.With a measure of disinterest I contemplate having a dehydrated whatever for supper. Gee, wonder if I can arrange a shuttle back to the Old Mill again?
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Lost Mt. Shelter, VA

To: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We observe amazing views on the trail today. Knowing that these are some of the most beautiful vistas we will encounter on the entire journey, it is impossible to pass through here quickly. Sometimes I find myself just sitting at an overlook for an hour. The day just seems to slip away.There¢s a real crowd at the shelter this evening. Luckily the evening looks to be fair. No one will have to worry about overcrowding because half the hikers will sleep outside in their tents, including me. Why should I stay in the shelter with the mice and the spiders and the snorers?
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

To: Old Orchard Shelter, VA
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I don¢t know it yet, but today will turn into one of the most memorable so far.We hardly get a mile up the trail when I see the ponies! These are the famous Grayson Highlands ponies, wild ones that just live here on the bald, and provide a lot of entertainment for those hikers lucky enough to encounter them. Official reports say only that a ¢large herd¢ lives here. Even so, sometimes you won¢t see any of them, as happened to me on previous visits. But third time¢s the charm, as they say.The ponies are quite tame and not at all bashful about taking handouts. In fact, as I was unwrapping the camera from its plastic bag, one pony recognized the crinkling sound, thinking it was a food bag. Sorry pony, you¢re not eating my camera! The ponies are also fond of salt, so naturally they like to chew on hiker¢s clothing and backpacks. One of the colts is so cute I can hardly resist taking him home with me. But I¢m sure mama mare wouldn¢t like that idea.The trail is routed through a natural rock tunnel called Fatman Squeeze. It¢s really not that tight, but it does remind me of the continuous half mile of squeezes that we¢ll have to navigate in far-off Mahoosic Notch, Maine. This one provides us with just the slightest opportunity to test our techniques.It¢s a good thing there are very few rules to hiking the A.T. You just have to walk all the miles from GA to ME in a single season, but they don¢t have to be sequential, and you don¢t have to hike them in the same direction. You can carry all your gear in your backpack or you can slack every day and carry none of it. You can spend every night in a hotel (perhaps this is more in theory than reality). You can get off the trail for a week and come back later to resume. We¢re thankful that there is such flexibility in achieving our goals. And of course everyone¢s goal is to achieve the title of ¢2007 GA-ME Thru Hiker.¢So here I am on the trail just north of Grandview Peak and who do I see coming southbound down the trail toward me? It¢s none other than Chuck Norris and Tigger, long lost trail buddies who are walking back to Damascus for Trail Days. They¢ll get there in plenty of time. It¢s only 30 miles and the festival doesn¢t start until Friday. When they¢ve had enough partying, they¢ll get a shuttle back north to the trail.The four of us share the latest in trail stories and gossip, then we bid adieu to Chuck and Tigger as they head south. When they rejoin the trail in 4 days they probably will be south of our location, but hopefully they will catch up. The pair are some of my favorite hiking companions.Quite a memorable day, and now I know it.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

To: Trimpi Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

The terrain is not difficult today. Mostly I hike on a steady course between 3000 and 4000 feet elevation. Along the way there is only one peak to traverse, the ominously named Hurricane Mountain. Not to worry; hurricane season doesn¢t officially start for another two weeks.By noon mist starts to build in the air. It¢s time to speed up if I¢m going to reach Trimpi Shelter before the rain reaches me. I¢m happy that I do make it, with a little time to spare. At the shelter I fetch some water from the spring and get washed up, then the skies let loose. I and a few other hikers spend a dry and warm night in the shelter. My calculations show that I traveled today¢s 14.1 mile distance in 6 hours for an average of 2.4 miles per hour. That¢s a respectable rate.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Trimpi Shelter, VA

To: Partnership Shelter, VA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Another day much like the last except that we¢re at a lower elevation and the rain stays away. The trail leads up and over dozens of rolling hills, many of them used as pasture land. The green fields are lovely in the bright sunlight. There are also lots of cows here and, necessarily, a huge lot of cow poop. Seems the cows would rather walk the trail than adventure out into the grass. So watch where you step! Nothing draws the ire of hikers faster than someone entering a shelter with the brown stuff on their boots.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Partnership Shelter, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today the hiking is good but the lodging is not. Per hiker¢s etiquette, if you utilize an establishment to receive and hold your mailed packages, you are obligated to stay at that motel / B&B / etc. Question: CAN I BREAK THIS RULE JUST ONCE?About a month ago I told Trainman to send me a box of supplies, mostly hard-to-find dehydrated meals, to the Relax Inn here in Rural Retreat, VA. Now granted, this place is real convenient, being right at the intersection of Interstate 81 and the A.T. No hitchhiking is required. But this place is a dive! CAN I JUST GRAB MY PACKAGE AND LEAVE?I decide to do the ettiquettly-correct thing and stay. The saving grace is that the nightly fee is only $38. But then again I¢ve spent that amount for lodging in other towns and have gotten a really nice place.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

At first we thought this was a convenient measuring stick for hikers to check their height, just in case they had forgotten. WRONG! It¢s really the flood gage for that teeny stream off to the left. At some time of year the water must really accumulate here. Certainly 5 feet of water on the gage is going to flood a lot of acreage, not just this path we¢re standing next to. Careful reading of the guidebook reveals that in this vicinity the Holston River Bridge "may be underwater" and instructs hikers how to make a 3 mile detour. Glad that is of no concern to us today.Cow pastures predominate the landscape. Every so often the landowners thoughtfully provide a ¢stile¢ so that hikers can painlessly get over the barbed wire. We appreciate that.Landowners also are careful to instruct hikers that this is private land and they must stay within the ¢scenic tread.¢ By that I guess they mean the footpath itself which is, at times, only 18 inches wide. What happens if we step outside ¢ are there land mines? We should at least be forewarned of the possibility.Or maybe we have been, assuming we can read legalese mumbo-jumbo. The official sign, as-posted, is not grammatically well constructed. Here it is verbatim, see if it makes perfect sense to you the first time through.¢Notice:For the next 1.4 miles the Appalachian Trail travels through a narrow corridor that includes scenic tread right-of-way easements through private property. Use outside the trail tread in these easement areas requires written permission of the landowner.¢First of all they could have written it with the words hikers understand. No one I know ever mentioned the ¢scenic tread right-of-way¢ or suggested he would be careful of ¢easement areas.¢ Who writes this stuff?Secondly, you will have great difficulty with the meaning the second sentence if you think the word ¢Use¢ is a verb rather than the intended noun. (As a verb it means that you shall walk outside the tread. But that¢s where the land mines are! They really need the help of a Garrison Keillor English Major!)Despite the confusion, we figured it out and made sure to stay in the absolute center of the trail (just in case).
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VA

To: Jenkins Shelter, VA
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

My schedule shows I am a little behind in the mileage so I pushed hard to pack in 19 miles today. The hiking seems a bit more difficult than when I was last here in 2004. Might it be that I¢m three years older? Probably, but I feel great and am still having fun every day.Along the way I come to a familiar area called ¢God¢s Thumbprint.¢ It is a large crater-shaped depression surrounded on all sides by a high ridge. The viewpoint into the Thumbprint is from 4000 feet elevation. It¢s is a very beautiful valley.When I get to the Jenkins Shelter all I want to do is eat and eat and eat. It seems I can¢t get enough. Hope Trainman sends me a box of Oreos soon.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Jenkins Shelter, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

The New Hope Church, located not far from the shelter, has a long-standing offer of a free hiker¢s breakfast on Mondays. Praise the Lord! Today is Monday! The note pinned to the shelter wall directs everyone to gather at the road crossing about 500 feet up the trail. Be there at 9:30 sharp.We cannot risk the possibility of missing out on free food, so we all line up at 9:10. Right on schedule the shuttle truck shows up. A short time later we are feasting on egg casserole, biscuits, toast, orange juice, coffee and cookies. We even take goodie bags with us for later in the day.I recall that this is my second time at the church, having had breakfast here in 2004. Sure enough, upon inspection of their ¢yearbook¢ I find my name and a photo as proof that my memory has not completely failed.Everyone is now about 2 pounds heavier. We¢re thankful that the trail is an easy upgrade stroll. During the day we hike around 3000 feet elevation. When we get to the US 21 crossing we take a quick detour into the appropriately named town of Bland. There at the Post Office I pick up a new backpack to replace my 2 month old Osprey which has started to self-destruct. By previous arrangements with the manufacturer and an outfitter south of here I had the new pack sent to me. The old pack goes into the box back to the manufacturer for analysis. The new one goes on my back. Let¢s hope this new one makes more miles than the last.The P.O. here is ok, but the remainder of the town is not much good for anything other than getting some food and taking a shower. Food we have enough of and a shower we don¢t have time for, so right back into the woods we go. Tonight we sleep in our tents.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Bland, VA

To: Brushy Mountain, VA
Miles today: 15.7

The area north of town carries the same description as the town: bland. This is a good day for simply walking and doing the miles.TRAINMAN¢S SIDEBAR COMMENT: The BaldsAprilshowers and company will soon travel out of the area where the balds are located. Therefore it¢s timely that I write something on this topic before that event occurs.Although the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and Virginia do not rise above the treeline, there are many balds throughout this 400 mile-long area, the origins of which baffle scientists. Some point to the climatic conditions which are harsh at these elevations (generally 4500 to 6000 feet). Others claim that the mountains were cleared by Indians for religious ceremonies. There is also much proof that extensive logging and grazing in the 1800s denuded the landscape. But for unknown reasons the trees fail to return. For today¢s explorers, the lack of trees makes the balds a good place to get a wicked sunburn.Of special note is the 6189 foot summit of Grassy Ridge, 12 miles south of Roan Mountain, NC. It is the only NATURAL 360-degree viewpoint near the trail that is above 6000 feet. True, Clingman¢s Dome in NC and Mt. Washington in NH are higher, but Clingman¢s has a tower and Mt. Washington has numerous buildings. So they don¢t qualify.April never mentioned this peak in her writings from the trail, and now I know why. My research in the trail guide indicates the Ridge is on a side path, requiring a total detour of 0.8 miles. That¢s just too far for most hikers to venture off course. So, with no photo, we¢ll just have to guess what the view looked like.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Brushy Mountain, VA

To: Sugar Run Gap, VA
Miles today: 16.8

Tigger and Chuck Norris are ahead of me somewhere so I¢m doing my best to hike more miles and find them. I know this because they leave messages in the registers at the shelter, the messages saying simply ¢Aprilshowers, catch up with us! See you in Podunk Town. Signed T&CN.¢ I know that eventually I will catch them but I¢m not sure when or where.An impressive suspension bridge crosses the equally impressive Kimberling Creek. (In Connecticut we would call this a river.) This type of bridge could be justified if the Creek floods often, but otherwise it seems pretty extravagant for the A.T. In any case, it¢s a nice piece of woodwork.The weather here in Virginia has been terribly hot and humid for weeks. We make an effort to stop and cool off wherever we can. Just 2 miles past the bridge we find Dismal Creek Falls. It¢s really not that dismal but it sure is a relief from the heat. While in the falls other hikers / swimmers show up so naturally we have an impromptu water fight. Even though we have another 12 miles to hike before stopping, this is our shower for today.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Sugar Run Gap, VA

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

Starting at Sugar Run the hike today goes up a little to a nice overlook of Pearisburg at elevation 3600 feet, then it drops straight down into town at elevation 1600 feet. Yes, it is true what they say about going downhill; it is harder, overall, on the leg muscles. Use of walking poles helps reduce some of the pressure from each downstep. That¢s why you find that probably 95% of thru-hikers use poles for assistance.Once out of the woods we find that the center of Pearisburg and our motel is one mile uphill along Highway 100. But almost before we have a chance to extend our thumbs up comes a black truck driven by Jack, a section hiker we met a few days ago. He graciously hauls us into town, preventing our ten mile day from becoming eleven.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Stony Creek, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Jack helps us arrange for a slack today. Since Pearisburg is at a low elevation, we get a ride 22 miles to the north, are dropped off at the trailhead, and hike southbound back to town. After 7 miles of hiking we are 1000 feet higher than when we started, but for the remaining 15 miles it is all down hill. Our net loss today is 800 feet, and while this is not a really large savings in elevation, given the choice we always prefer walking down rather than up.It¢s strange when you hike the opposite direction of your trail mates. Greeting them always provides a good opportunity for wisecracks and smart remarks. And are they ever jealous when they see you have discarded your packs for a day! Sorry Navigator and Snail!
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Stony Creek, VA

To: Laurel Creek, VA
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

Can the humidity get any worse? Why of course, all it needs to do is rain! Just when we think 95% humidity is bad, a short 10 minute downpour guarantees that the humidity goes right back to 100%. Even when the temperature is moderate, the humidity gets us sweating after our first few minutes on the trail.A tough 1500-foot climb to the top of Wind Rock just about kills us, but amazingly we find waiting Trail Magic in the form of cold Gatorade. These Magicians have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. The many streams we pass today offer no cooling solace, being mere trickles of liquid. The streams will return in the fall. For right now we¢re quite happy to have Gatorade.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Laurel Creek, VA

To: Craig Creek Valley, VA
Miles today: 13.7

This is my third visit to the Keffer Oak. I never fail to be impressed by its huge size. The Keffer is about 18 feet around and is estimated at 300 years old. Generations ago trees this size were common in the U.S., but now they are rare and protected. Back in Connecticut there are some really large oaks about a mile from our house, but they are not as big as this one.We hike along a continuous ridge today at elevations ranging between 2100 and 3500 feet. Then we come upon the freshly painted Continental Divide sign. On the western side of the ridge the water flows to the Mississippi River, then the Gulf of Mexico. On the eastern side the water flows to the James River, then to the Atlantic Ocean. For the next 400 miles, far up into Pennsylvania, the trail will take us through the Chesapeake Bay watershed.Our group had prepared to stop for the night at the Niday Shelter, but when we get there we hear that Trail Magic is available at the route 621 crossing another mile ahead. So we keep going. The Magician here is South Paw 95, and he provides some great food and drink. We also meet up with hikers Music Man, Hiking Pole, Critters Daddy and Fire Marshall, all heading to Maine.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Craig Creek Valley, VA

To: North Mountain Trail, VA
Miles today: 15.3

The interesting scenery tries to compensate for the oppressively humid weather. Along the way we visit Dragon¢s Tooth, Lost Spectacles Gap, Devil¢s Seat and a ¢knife-edge ridge.¢ It¢s fun to take a few moments away from ¢making the miles¢ and just scramble over the rocks. We must carefully watch our footing through here. One misstep could definitely ruin our day.Trainman calculated that a hiker takes 6 million steps traveling the length of the A.T. Throughout the 2200 miles it only takes a single bad step to put you out of business. All hikers occasionally fall down, trip on a rock, slip on a slimy root, slide off a wet rock. This is normal. Hopefully all injuries are minor and recoverable.What happened to me in 2004 was not minor or recoverable, but that¢s another story.At the Route 624 crossing we decide to visit Catawba Grocery about a half-mile away. We are lucky to get a hitch right away. Why walk if you don¢t have to? At the well-equipped store we load up with giant hamburgers, chips, soda, beer and ice cream. Now we¢re starting to feel better! Getting another hitch back to the trail head helps a lot, too. We waddle about a mile up the trail and pitch the tents for the night.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: North Mountain Trail, VA

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

A nine mile hike this morning brings us to McAfee Knob, elevation 3250 feet, claimed by some to have the best views in Virginia. I think the photos don¢t lie. Depending how artfully a photo is composed, it can be made to appear that the drop off is 1000 feet straight down. Reality dictates otherwise, but you still wouldn¢t want to fall off.Five miles further north we come to Tinker Cliffs, a half mile long ridge offering wonderful views. This stretch is probably the most scenic in the whole state. The Guidebook informs that the name derives from Revolutionary War deserters who hid in these parts and repaired pots and pans (¢tinkers¢).At Lamberts Meadow Shelter we see in the register book instructions from Chuck and Tigger: ¢Aprilshowers, join us in town tomorrow for dinner.¢ Sounds like a good idea to me. The town of Daleville is only ten miles further north; we should easily get there by noon.