morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Trent's Country Store

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Thursday, May 17, 2007 Day 62We all had breakfast at the store and headed back to the trail. A couple of miles in, Gus and I took a side trip to Dismal Creek Falls. They were small, but quite nice, with a nice pool for swimming. It was too cool for that, so we headed back up the trail. After a climb up Sugar Run Mountain, we caught a nice view of Pearisburg and Pearis Mountain. Later, a group of day hikers from an ATC conference passed. We were hoping to make it to Woodshole Hostel for the night, but had heard rumors that it was closed. After a slow and rocky downhill from Big Horse Gap to Sugar Run Gap, I saw a sign confirming that closure. About then, the day hikers came walking down the road. I know if I had gone up that trail, that I'd take the road down, too. They gave us a bunch of bottled water (saved from the chlorine!) and some chocolate chip cookies, and we continued on toward Doc's Knob Shelter. On the last climb of the day, I heard singing, and soon was passed by Barry Manilow. No, not that one, but the one who had been working at Elmer's in Hot Springs when we were there. After meeting a turkey hunter in the woods, we all ended up at the shelter with Slim and Bogie. We ended up doing 16.1 official trail miles today, our new all-time record. And our per day average climbed to 10.0 miles. And then it rained, and we were glad to be under shelter.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA hostel
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: broken clouds

Friday, May 18, 2007 Day 63We had an easy climb over Pearis Mountain. Six hundred feet, but so gradual it was nearly imperceptible. Four young hikers had built a fire at an overlook of the valley. A thru-hiker named 501 passed us. I got ahead, and on slick and muddy trail hiked past an overlook named Angels Rest, then steeply down toward Pearisburg. I reached a road crossing and sat down to wait for Gus. When she arrived, we hiked back into the woods, and down to Lane Street. On the way, we passed a can of Coleman fuel, just sitting by a tree. I filled up my fuel bottle--one less item to resupply, hit Lane Street and turned right, up the hill into Pearisburg. We stopped at DQ for a Blizzard (thanks, Weeks, for creating a new obsession for me). As we ate, it rained. We reached the post office to find Barry Manilow. His disfunctional stove had been sent home. Our mail contained trail magic from Wayne Hammerstrom, and our sleeping bags, maps, a book, and a lot of snacks from Tina. Thanks, guys. We grabbed the boxes and walked to the laundromat and threw our damp sleeping bags in the dryer. As soon as they were dry, I stuffed them into the box Tina sent and walked back to the post office. With just a bit of trepidation, considering it was windy, showery, and cool, I posted them home.I went back to the laundromat, finished the wash, then we headed to the Food Lion for a six-day resupply. We ate dinner at the Lucky Star (all you can eat Chinese), then after a stop at the Rite Aid for an eye dropper (for the chlorine), hiked to the church hostel across town. We got there at dusk, and WE HAD THE PLACE TO OURSELVES. Everyone else is either on the trail, at the motels, or gone to Damascus for Trail Days. Last year we stopped through, picking up a parcel Gus had been planning for before she got off the trail, and the joint was jumping. So tomorrow, it's off to the library to catch up the trail journal, then to Dollar General for vitamins, and back to the hostel to rest my weary knees.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Pearisburg, VA hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Saturday, 19 May 2007 Day 64When last we met, I related events up to a zero day we took in Pearisburg. I spent a good amount of time at the library updating my trail journal, then we walked over to Pizza Hut for lunch and stopped at the good, old Dollar General and bought a few things like soap and shampoo for the hostel. After walking back to the hostel, we kicked back and relaxed while other hikers strolled in from the trail or returned to the trail from Trail Days in Damascus.Day 64--zero miles; cumulative 630.9 miles; average 9.8 miles
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Symms Gap Meadow
Miles today: 11.6

Sunday, 20 May 2007 Day 65We called Tina before we left town to find out that she had to put our old dog Freeway to sleep a few days earlier. We had been surprised he lasted as long as he did, but he had been suffering from increasing intestinal distress, and the vet finally advised that it was pretty much out of control. We will meet a new member of the family, as Tina and Eric went out shortly thereafter and adopted a puppy, Bertram, a border collie/golden retriever mix.After a bit, we got back on the road, catching a ride down to the trail. It went up and over, through poison ivy, past a dumpy industrial site, across the New River, and up and down more crummy little hills between roads than was worth the effort, with the din of the largest factory in the area roaring behind us.It took us two to three miles of climbing to get away from the industrial noise, and we took a break up high with several other hikers. We stopped at Rice Field, then later for water, and pushed on to Symms Gap Meadow where we set up our tent with a slew of others, and enjoyed a fabulous sunset.Day 65--11.6 miles; 642.5 cumulative; average 9.8
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Symms Gap Meadow

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Monday, 21 May 2007 Day 66The sunrise was the mirror of the previous sunset. We passed by the junction with the beginning of the Allegheny Trail which traverses West Virginia (we were right next to the WV border), and dropped down to the creek. We had our choice of taking a road or fording the creek further up while staying on the trail. We chose the trail, which climbed and fell, climbed and fell, while staying close to the creek. We finally reached a point where we thought the ford was, crossed a piddly little brook, and couldn't find the trail.Turned out we didn't go far enough. The trail was a good half-mile up, so we ended up road-walking anyhow until we found the trail again. It had been a hot day with lots of climbing, and although we only did 11 miles, it seemed like a lot more.Day 66--11.3 miles; 653.8 cumulative; average 9.9
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday, 22 May 2007 Day 67The air is foul. I don't know if it's from the fires in Georgia and Florida, or just the lack of rain over the past few weeks, but it is hot, humid, and so hazy you can't see five miles when there is a view, which on the AT is not often. After a section of nasty rock, the trail improved and we made good time. The mountain laurel is blooming, and it is a sight to behold, all pink and white and green. We stopped at Warspur Shelter for lunch and spent a little time with Jerry, a hiker from Australia who is doing 20 miles a day, so we will likely never see him again after tomorrow. It began to thunder, but didn't amount to any rain, scored some trail magic at Rocky Gap after a stiff 1,400 foot climb, and rolled into Laurel Creek Shelter to find Jerry, Troll and Double Bird. The mosquitos are out. Time for the bug shelter.Day 67--14.6 miles; 668.4 cumulative; average 9.9
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

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

Wednesday 23 May 2007 Day 68We walked into rural Virginia today, and met Ralph Bradley, owner of the land surrounding the trail. He had lived there his whole life, and had been a bit perturbed by the action of the federal government in taking over part of his land for the trail. He likes hikers, though. We talked for a bit, then crossed the meadow, and walked through a field with three donkeys. After visiting with them, we crossed the road and climbed up into the forest. At the next opening there was a 300 year old open-grown oak tree. We took a break there, then climbed to the next ridge. We needed water, so when I reached the turnoff for the Sarver Cabin Shelter, dropped my pack and climbed down 300 feet to the shelter and water. The ridge became very rocky and filthy with poison ivy. It took some time to get over, but on the way we spotted a couple lizards and an indigo bunting. We dropped down through more blooming mountain laurel to the Niday Shelter for the night. We pitched our tent with a big crowd of others catching up with us after going to Damascus.Day 68--12.4 miles; 680.8 cumulative; average 10.0
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Niday Shelter

To: Lost Spectacles Gap
Miles today: 15.1

Thursday 24 May 2007 Day 69One of the things we ran into often in this stretch of Virginia was trail magic in the form of coolers left near a road. The coolers contained bottled water, soda, gatorade, or some variation. It had been quite dry and a lot of the water sources were dry, more so last year than this, but dry or not, the magic was magic. We dropped down toward a road early and found some. There followed a long but decent climb, not too steep, and not too hot.There was a bench at the top of the climb, and not too far beyond that, a memorial to the World War II hero and movie actor Audie Murphy, who died in a plane crash nearby in 1971. We missed the trail to the memorial, so I'll have to go back some time, if I really feel the need. We descended to Trout Creek, and I was in the middle of filtering water when a car pulled up looking for two hikers a bit behind us. We had a nice conversation, then several sodas and cookies later, headed back up the trail. The trail passed by a shelter we had walked to last year when looking for Harley Hogpit, after we had both ended our hikes. We kept on going toward a mountain called Dragons Tooth. We got there about 6.The ridge leading to Dragons Tooth was a bit rocky and narrow, and slow going. After we passed the top, the trail dropped down through rock faces that were, in places, five and six feet tall. There were a couple of iron bars cemented into the rock, allowing us to lower ourselves with full packs down the mountain. I was concerned at our slow pace and the late hour, but we eventually got past the steep, got past the rocks, and dropped into a cute opening with room for a few tents. Troll and Double Bird were there waiting for us as we strolled in at 8 pm, set up, ate and crawled into bed. (This was the night the stove decided not to work, so we ate our tuna fish and cheese cold, without the usual rice or potato hot dish.)Day 69--15.1 miles; 695.9 cumulative; average 10.0
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Lost Spectacles Gap

To: Catawba Shelter
Miles today: 9.4

Friday 25 May 2007 Day 70We dropped the rest of the way off the mountain, then began a new climb. The terrain was rolling, without a massive climb, and I ended up hiking for a time with a section hiker, an Air Force senior master sergeant who was out with some friends for a couple weeks. We cruised down the slope making good time, and then I continued while he stopped for a break. I arrived near the road to Catawba to find a cooler left by Buttercup and her mother. Buttercup is a thru-hiker from Kansas, her mom was visiting for a couple weeks, playing in Virginia, taking Buttercup off the trail for some diversion. They left a cooler with sodas and candy, and several hikers, including Gus, Double Bird, Troll, Lala and me, congregated at the magic. After a bit Gus and I walked to the road and hitched into Catawba. We stopped at the general store to attempt to resupply for a couple days, then went to a restaurant called The Homeplace, which offered family-style meals four nights a week.After pigging out with Jim E. Cricket and Tree Whisperer, we hitched back up to the trail and hiked in a couple miles to the Catawba Shelter. It was buggy, but Jim E. was at a nearby campsite and TW set up his hammock, so Gus and I put up our bug tent inside the shelter and went to sleep, only to wake up about 11:30 when some annoying section hikers came walking past like it was midday.Day 70--9.4 miles; 705.3 cumulative; 10.0 average
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Catawba Shelter

To: Past Angels Gap
Miles today: 13.1

Saturday 26 May 2007 Day 71One of the highlights of the hike through Virginia is a feature called McAfee Knob, an overhang with a view. We stopped there, taking the required legs dangling over the abyss pictures, even though it was still real hazy. We dropped off the ridge, picked up water near the Campbell Shelter, then back up and over Tinker Cliffs, another spot with a nice, hazy view. We dropped into Scorched Earth Gap and on to Lambert's Meadow, where we got water again. We had been sharing the trail with a troop of boy scouts, and continued throughout the day. They were talking about a parking area a couple miles away, and when two of the boys lost track of the rest of their troop, we got concerned that they had missed their turn. Turns out the leaders had the mileage wrong, and they had to do all the mileage we had to do, and we all met up at Angels Gap. My plan had been to camp in Angels Gap, but it was a pipeline right of way, with very little vegetation, and a thunderstorm coming through. We got back on trail after talking with the scouts for a bit, and threw up our tent just a short way past the gap, in a space next to the trail just about big enough for our tent. It rained, just a bit, and we had a nice breezy evening. I had given up on the stove, so we ate cold again.Day 71--13.1 miles; 718.4 cumulative; 10.1 average
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Past Angels Gap

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 4.7
Weather: few clouds

Sunday 27 May 2007 Day 72We got on the trail at the unheard of hour of 7:17!! Dropping off the ridge, we found ourselves in fields filthy with poison ivy, and by 10 we were in Daleville, waiting for a room at the EconoLodge to be cleaned. We did our laundry in the world's stinkiest motel laundromat, then got our room. We resupplied at Kroger down the hill, had a late lunch at 3 Lil Pigs BBQ, and found the outfitter closed (no new stove). It was another hot, hazy day, and we layed around our room, me watching part of the Indy 500 and another race, Gus trying to ignore the tv. she ended up feeling sick, but we're not sure whether it was the ice cream, the bbq, the heat, or NASCAR.Day 72--4.7 miles; 723.1 cumulative; average 10.0
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Monday 28 May 2007 Day 73We slept in a bit, then checked out, leaving our packs at the office, and walked back down to Krogers. We went to a coffee shop, had some chai and a smoothie, read the paper and waited for the outfitter to open. We got our replacement stove and some other stuff, went back to the motel, and left near noon. It was an easy walk to and under I-81, and we made good progress past Troutville and up Fullhardts Knob. We stopped at the shelter after getting nice and wet (and cool) in a thunderstorm, then continued on. Saw two turtles on the trail. One was about three weeks ahead of the other, but I never figured out whether they were northbound or southbound. We reached the Wilson Creek Shelter near the Blue Ridge Parkway about 6, and shared it with Radar and Tree Whisperer, and a section hiker named Stretch, who stretched more than Spicy Shrimp.Day 73--11.2 miles; 734.3 cumulative; average 10.0
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 16.9

Tuesday 29 May 2007 Day 74Another hot, humid and hazy day. We crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway several times. It seems to be designed for touring motorcylces. Around noon we turned off to the Bobblets Shelter, two tenths of a mile off the trail, only because we needed water. This place had the world's nicest outhouse, with room for two and a plexiglass roof designed for easy reading. Back on the trail, we hiked through Bearwallow Gap and on to Cove Mountain Shelter. With no water there we pushed to Jennings Creek for a much anticipated dip in the creek. We met Captain Insane-o there, and despite the name, pitched our tent. Day 74--16.9 miles; 751.2 cumulative; average 10.1
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

Wednesday 30 May 2007 Day 75We left Jennings Creek and immediately climbed from 951 feet to over 2,000 feet. We stopped at a super shelter, Bryant Ridge, complete with hikers Crutch and Rutabaga. We first met Crutch last year in Franklin, helping out Ron Haven with driving and cooking for the hiker bash in Franklin. They were at the picnic table playing cribbage, fighting off the gnats. After leaving, we climbed up to 3,500 feet through blooming spiderwort and lots of green. A grouse came flapping across the trail, sounding like a chicken in danger of losing her head. The day continued with a long, tedious climb over Apple Orchard Mountain, complete with FAA facility and rocky trail. We crossed the Parkway again to thunder, and strolled into Thunder Hill Shelter as the rain hit. We set up the bug tent in the shelter again, filtered water, cooked with the new stove, and went to sleep.Day 75--14.0 miles; 765.2 cumulative; 10.2 average
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Tired Feet Motel, Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Thursday 31 May 2007 Day 76We dropped back across the Parkway, stopped at an overlook, pitched our trash at the parking area, then descended to Petites Gap, where trail magic (another cooler with soda and candy) struck again. High Cock Knob was our next climb, and after some nice graded trail pitched upward on a very steep angle. They climb down began just as steeply, and at one point I slipped and wrenched by right knee. I got up and thought I might be okay and made it down to a lunch break at Marble Spring (complete with resident tame deer). After lunch the knee was a bit stiff, but it wasn't until after a long, hot traverse on a west facing slope, a stop for water, and a long downhill run that the knee began to give me some real difficulty.I gimped down to Matts Creek Shelter, stopped to rest, and decided I needed to push into Glasgow and get a room to give the knee some proper care. I was grateful the trail flattened out and was only two miles to the highway. I made it across the James River Foot Bridge with Matterhorn and Gus and I got a ride from a fellow just out enjoying the woods. We got a room at the Tired Feet Motel, ate dinner, got a bag of ice, and spent the evening (after the library closed), icing the knee and watching tv.Day 76--14.6 miles; 779.8 cumulative; 10.2 average
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Tired Feet Motel, Glasgow, VA

To: Tired Feet Motel, Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Friday 1 June 2007 Day 77We had breakfast at the Tired Feet Diner, then went to the laundromat. Afterwards, we sorted our gear, packed up the old stove and some other things, and headed to the post office. We mailed seven pounds of stuff home. We did our resupply to get us to Waynesboro, called home, then I washed out the sweat from my pack and Nikwaxed my boots. Watched a little tv, happy that the swelling in my knee was down.Day 77--zero; cumulative 779.8; average 10.1
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Tired Feet Motel, Glasgow, VA

To: Pedlar River Bridge
Miles today: 15.0

Saturday 2 June 2007 Day 78After a brief flat section, we began a 2,000 foot climb to Big Rocky Row. We climbed further over Bluff Mountain, dropped our trash at the Parkway, then dropped back, way down to the Pedlar River. A trail relocation took us away from some prime camping, and we shared an old, cramped forest road just across the Pedlar River with Bonafide, Touch My Stuff and Lynx that evening. The knee gave me very little trouble after it warmed up, although I had some serious soreness in the muscules just above the knee.Day 78--15.0 miles; cumulative 794.8; average 10.1
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Pedlar River Bridge

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

Sunday 3 June 2007 Day 79A light rain started during the night, and being down in the jungle, we ended up sleeping a bit late, nearly 7. The trail followed above the edge of the Lynchburg Reservoir, then climbed up along Brown Mountain Creek. In rain we reached the shelter with Bonafide and stopped for lunch. Birdlegs cruised up, and we spent some time getting water. Soon after leaving we climbed to Highway 60, dropped our trash again (thank goodness for roadside trash cans), and began another long climb. At least with the rain it was cool. We reached a turnoff to Cow Camp Shelter, but the shelter was a half mile down. Forget it. We pressed on over Cold Mountain, which I renamed Wet and Cool Mountain. There was no view, even though it was maintained as a bald (by mowing and grazing). It stopped raining, and we reached another forest road and Hog Camp Gap. Hog Camp was a nice open meadow, and by the end of the day we were set up with Birdlegs, Bad Influence, Cheeks and Step Small.Day 79--13.1 miles; cumulative 807.9; average 10.2
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Priest Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

Monday 4 June 2007 Day 80We actually had a sunrise today. The rain had stopped, but we had quite a breeze. There was a move afoot to get to Fish Hatchery Road by 11 to take advantage of a free lunch at Dutch Haus B&B. Gus and I took off about 7:30 with no real intention of doing that, but as the miles ticked off, I realized we could make the second shuttle by 12:30. I took off about 11, determined to hold the shuttle for Gus, but when I reached the road, I found a note that the shuttle was from the bottom of the road, a mile away. I went down, about 800 feet and the mile, caught the shuttle, had lunch, then brought a root beer and a Snickers back with me, because Gus didn't make it. It was a tough climb uphill, then a couple miles beyond had another 600 foot climb up The Priest. I reached the Priest Shelter about 5 to find Gus already there, and ready to go further. We stayed.Day 80--14.6 miles; cumulative 822.5; average 10.2
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Priest Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Tuesday 5 June 2007 Day 81We finished an easy climb over Priest Mountain, then dropped 3,000 feet to the Tye River. We climbed up to the Harpers Creek Shelter, stopping for water and lunch, then had a long, nasty climb over Three Ridges. The saving grace was the day was beautiful, the haze was gone, and it was fairly cool. I took off near the top and cruised ahead to the Maupin Fields Shelter and met a section hiker from Norfolk by the name of Dave. After Gus arrived, I was getting ready to make dinner when Pam and Craig Bennett showed up with hot dogs and ice cream. Nearly two miles in the woods. Talk about trail magic. There were 16 hot dogs, and to finish them all off, I needed to eat eight of them. I did.Day 81--13.6 miles; cumulative 836.1; average 10.3
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Paul Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Wednesday 6 June 2007 Day 82We reached the Parkway at Reeds Gap in less than an hour, then endured a couple of hours of rocky trail to Dripping Rock. I had pushed ahead to try and catch the people shuttling out of Dutch Haus, as I had been carrying a shirt we found on the trail the day before. I didn't succeed in finding the owner, so I paused at Dripping Rock to wait for Gus. We climbed over Humpback then dropped down slowly to the Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter, deep in the woods, where we shared the shelter with Maineiac Uno, Maineiac Deweu, Usual Suspect, and Dave. Sven and Uffda rolled in at dark.Day 82--15.8 miles; cumulative 851.9; average 10.3